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Who will advocate for green measures that don’t make anyone money?

So, when pondering Bush's upcoming SOTU speech -- specifically, the energy proposals contained therein -- I had a thought (stop the presses!). It's not an original thought, but it's worth discussing in a general way.

What smart greens would like to see happen is a balanced program of changes. A move to clean, renewable energy from an array of decentralized sources, perhaps with some bridging technologies to buffer us until we get there (clean coal, nuclear, etc.). Eventually, electric cars run by renewable power. Also, less driving, more public transit, more compact communities, more sustainable agriculture, more application of the precautionary principle in manufacturing, dramatically improved energy efficiency in all areas of the economy. Etc.

Here's the problem, though: Out of that grab bag of changes, there are two kinds. One kind has the backing of large financial interests. The other doesn't. I fear that difference, rather than any particular suitability to the problems at hand, will decide which are implemented.

Hazel Wolf Environmental Film Festival

Are you an aspiring filmmaker hoping to have your work reviewed by Grist one day? Or perhaps you love watching movies about your favorite subject: the environment! If so, the 8th Annual Hazel Wolf Environmental Film Festival will be taking place March 23 - 26 in Leavenworth, WA.

For a sense of what this year's event will be like, you can watch a video, consisting of footage from previous festivals.

Iran and oil

If you're interested in the energy implications of increasing tensions with Iran, Big Gav has an insanely comprehensive roundup of various discussions of the matter.

Wanna win some money?

The Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes seeks nominations for its 2006 awards. The Barron Prize honors young people ages 8 to 18 who have shown leadership and courage in public service to people and our planet. Each year, ten national winners each receive $2,000 to support their service work or higher education. Half of each year's winners are chosen for their work to protect the environment. Nomination deadline is April 30.

While you were away

I never remember to look at site stats, so I have no real empirical backing for my suspicion that no one reads the blog on the weekend. Nonetheless, that's my suspicion, and since we had lots of good stuff this weekend, I thought maybe I'd do a Monday-morning round-up.

There's been a plethora of good reporting on climate change and related mattersh lately, and I pointed to some from Andy Revkin, Juliet Eilperin, and Jane Kay.

We also recently welcomed two new authors into the Gristmill family (group hug!): Don't miss the first post from Tom Andersen, author of This Fine Piece of Water: An Environmental History of Long Island Sound, and the first post from Christina Larson, managing editor at Washington Monthly.

Word.

Wenonah Hauter, director of Food and Water Watch, answers questions

Wenonah Hauter. With what environmental organization are you affiliated? I am the executive director of Food and Water Watch, a brand-new consumer advocacy organization in Washington, D.C. What does your organization do? We’re focused on protecting two critical essentials: food and water. Our mission is to challenge the economic and political forces that are promoting […]

Readers write back about the Cape Cod wind-farm project and more

  Re: The Wind and the Willful Dear Editor: While I think RFK Jr. has been a huge and important presence in the enviro community, I can’t agree with him on this one. This project needs to be built, and built now. He wants to send the windmills five miles farther out in the interests […]

Billy-Come-Lately

Bill Clinton calls climate change public enemy No. 1 In a Saturday speech to the assembled corporate bigwigs and governmental muckety-mucks at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, former President Bill Clinton called global warming the single most pressing problem facing the world. “It’s the only thing that I believe has the power to […]

At Least the City’s Back Up and … Oh

Gulf Coast ecosystems slow to bounce back after hurricanes Gulf Coast ecosystems are struggling to rebound from last year’s record hurricane season. Hurricanes Rita and Katrina destroyed over 100 square miles of wetlands in Louisiana alone. They spread salt water inland and killed many plants, including marsh grasses along the Louisiana coast, popular chow for […]

Take a Drink Every Time He Says “Nucular”

Bush will talk up nuclear, hydrogen, and ethanol in State of the Union “We’ve got to wean ourselves off hydrocarbons, oil,” said President Bush on Friday. Yup, you read that right. In an interview aired on CBS, the president said he would use this Tuesday’s State of the Union address to decry “foreign oil” and […]