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Will Gucci be next?

Now that Chanel's off limits.

McDonough

Nothing new in this short profile of William McDonough, but as a confirmed McDonough fanboy, I feel obligated to link to it.

Nothing he wants to go affirming to the UN

Uh oh, this doesn't sound good.

The Bush administration, whose pro-business policies on climate change have long rankled environmentalists and U.N. delegates, has done it again. The United States is pressing to scrap a proposal to have world leaders gathering in New York next month express "respect for nature."

Eh, pardonne moi?

That phrase was included in a draft statement of principles to be agreed to by 175 heads of state and government attending a Sept. 14 United Nations summit on poverty and U.N. reform. The statement invited leaders to embrace a set of "core values" that unite the international community, including respect for human rights, freedom, equality, tolerance, multilateralism and respect for nature.

Is there some confusion in the Washington Post offices? Is this some kind of treaty? Mandated CO2 emissions cuts? Banning of toxic chemicals? Compensating poor nations for the effects of climate change?

The offending phrase would place no fresh legal or financial burdens on U.S. taxpayers...

WTF?!

...but the Bush administration voiced concern that it would distract attention from the main goal: reforming the United Nations.

WTF!?

Um, wait, so, 175 nations are gathering in New York to work on U.N. reform. To start off, they want to affirm their shared principles. Bush is okay with this. Human rights? Sure. Equality? Yup. Multilateralism? Ah, what the hell.

Respect for nature, though? C'mon. Let's not go off the rails!

Ric Grenell of the U.S. mission to the United Nations said the phrase "is too broad a subject, and if we had to define the multiple ways the U.S. government respects nature, the document would be too long and way off its original intent."

Oh, gosh, the ways we respect nature ... don't get us started!

No, really. Don't. We mean it.

Louella Hill, local-food ambassador, answers questions

Louella Hill. What work do you do? What’s your job title? I am the director of a program called Farm Fresh Rhode Island. For my work with Brown University Dining Services, I call myself the “Local Food Ambassador.” What does your organization do? At Farm Fresh Rhode Island, we connect local eaters with local food […]

Seventh Generation partners with Target

In the summer of its ground-breaking ad buy of an entire issue of the New Yorker, Target has also begun a pilot project to sell Seventh Generation's eco-friendly household products.

This is not your father's mega-retailer.

Where’s the line between scientific accuracy and effective advocacy?

It's hard to know what to say about the ongoing disaster in New Orleans (good coverage here). Good luck to all our readers there.

It sounds like it's not going to be as bad as feared, which is some comfort. For a glimpse at how bad it could have been, read Mooney's prescient AP piece from three months ago. And for a lament about the woeful lack of preparation, read his followup: "prescience sucks."

Katrina is sure to reignite the ongoing debate over hurricanes and global warming. A few thoughts on that debate below the fold.

Gas prices in Parade? What next?

Today's news of Gulf-Coast battering deserves lots of attention. But first, let us return to Sunday. Ahh, Sunday.

Spotted two instances of environmental shtuff creeping into otherwise "fun" parts of the paper. First, as further proof that the Sunday comics really aren't for kids (don't get me started on how my nephews are supposed to understand the Lockhorns ...), one panel showed a guy getting his car towed. Caption: "The car's fine, but with gas prices the way they are, it's cheaper getting towed everywhere." Ba-dump-bump.

Even more revolutionary: in Parade magazine, somewhere between the celebrity Q&As and the medical tips, lay a one-paragraph squib on local food. With gas prices rising, it reported, food prices might also rise. So buy local. This message brought to you by the Earth Policy Institute, which must have a persistent PR person. Well done.

OK, now back to our regularly scheduled weekday.

La Cage aux Hasselhoff

Humans go on display at London Zoo Five women and three men — ranging from a professional dancer to a veterinary student — have put themselves on display as the London Zoo’s resident Homo sapiens for the past three days. The posse of fit and frolicking humans, barely clad in bathing suits pinned with fake […]

Your Love Is Liftin’ Me Hybrider

California dealers jacking up prices for scarce hybrids Californians may find themselves paying up to $4,000 over the manufacturer’s suggested retail price for a gas-electric Toyota Prius — if they can get their hands on one at all. Folks hankering for a Honda Civic or Insight hybrid also face dealer premiums and lean supply. Thanks […]

Athens Never Looked So Good

Beijing struggles with pollution, gridlock as 2008 Olympics approach China has promised to throw a “green” Olympics in Beijing in 2008 — but simple livability may be the megacity’s bigger challenge. Beijing has 15.2 million inhabitants; if current trends hold, that number could grow to 21 million by 2020. Gridlock is endemic, as the number […]