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How Green Was My Rally

Protest on behalf of Arctic Refuge draws thousands to D.C. Thousands of Americans rallied in Washington, D.C., yesterday — some dressed like polar and grizzly bears — to demand that the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge be protected from oil drilling. Congressional Republicans, riding the wake of Hurricane Katrina’s disruptions to the nation’s oil supply and […]

Hybrid Anxiety

Ford plans to hybridize half its models by 2010 Reeling from recent profit declines and concerned about stiff competition from Japanese automakers, Ford Motor Co. today announced a big expansion of its hybrid strategy, including plans to offer gas-electric hybrid versions of half its models by 2010. Its current hybrid offerings are limited to SUVs […]

Ask Umbra on autumn leaves

With summer slinking away and fall breezing in, Grist advice maven Umbra Fisk offers eco-advice for dealing with autumn leaves.

Survey says …

The good news: A survey of 800 voters nationwide found that 79 percent favor "stronger national standards to protect our land, air, and water."

The bad news: Only 22 percent said environmental issues played a major role in their recent voting.

William K. Reilly, former EPA head and chair of the Duke University Nicholas Institute responsible for the poll, states the obvious: "There is a clear disconnect here."

It’s all geek to me

One of the fun jobs at the National Hurricane Center is naming storms. Ponder for a moment.

OK -- so each year, the center publishes an alphabetical list of 21 monikers for the impending Atlantic storm season. (Tricky letters Q, U, X, Y, and Z don't make the cut.) There have never been that many storms -- except once, in 1933 -- but this year there've already been 17, with two months to go. (And no, likely not because of climate change -- read this to find out more.)

So what happens if the names run out? Greek names! Yes, that's right, Hurricane Alpha could be coming soon to a neighborhood near you -- but not before Stan, Tammy, Vince, and Wilma. (For real.)

Took her out and tried to win her

As if they haven't suffered enough: Louisianans spent today dealing with both a potential repeat of the hurricane and a repeat visit from President Bush. The nearly-giddy-with-contrition President is keeping a careful eye on "what we pray is not a devastating storm."

Makes me tired just thinking about it.

Massive planned Vegas complex claims to be sustainable

If you're going to build a gigantically humongous casino/hotel/condo/shopping center megaplex in the middle of Las Vegas, you may as well do it green ... or as green as a project of this size could be in the middle of the desert during a drought.

Brought to you by MGM Mirage, the 18-million-square-foot, $5 billion project will reportedly seek an unspecified level of LEED certification and, The Globe and Mail reports, will be bigger than Times Square, Soho, and Rockefeller Center -- combined.

MGM's claims of "sustainability" are likely more hype than reality, at least in the classic sense of the word, but designers, I suppose, do deserve some measure of credit for going greener than the average megaplex.

Eco-design features are said to include use of reclaimed water, planting of green roofs, and construction of a central power plant to be located on-site (presumably powered by something cleaner than, say, coal). One of the least-hailed features of the complex, though, will be an attempt at some kind of urban density, as well as the creation of a multi-use area amid the sprawl of Las Vegas' strip.

So way to go, MGM! May you and your big-name architects inspire other developers large and small to aim for at least some shade of green.

Former Google chef plans to launch sustainable cafe in Cali

Regular web searching was not enough. Neither were searches for images, news stories, and things for sale. Our own computers were becoming a web of their own, so there is desktop search to help keep us organized. And who can keep up with the ever-evolving blogosphere? But don't worry, there is now a search for that too. And the world is apparently not enough for Google.

In addition to niche searches, Google also provides a number of services, such as email, photo management, text and voice messaging, and web page translation. And there is even a rumor that Google wants to get in on the Wi-Fi bandwagon.

So what could possible be the next Google gift to the world? How about sustainable cafes? That's right; Charlie Ayers, former Google chef, has cashed in his shares and wants to launch a health-conscious and sustainably farmed cafe in Palo Alto, Calif.

We Got No Beef With That

Demand growing for naturally raised meats Americans are increasingly willing to fork over a little extra for free range, organic, and natural meats. And although these still comprise a tiny percentage of the total U.S. market, the food industry is starting to notice. In just one sign of a shift, about 450 growers operating under […]

Herp, Herp, Hooray!

Conservation groups unveil $404 million plan to aid planet’s amphibians Amphibians are having a rough time of it, and by “rough,” we mean terrifically bad. Nearly a third of all amphibian species worldwide are believed to be at risk of extinction, with some 122 already suspected of having died off in the last 25 years […]