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Marsh o’Potamia

Once-vast marshlands being restored in Iraq The marshlands of Iraq, drained nearly dry by Saddam Hussein, are making a surprisingly robust comeback. Seen by some as the inspiration for the biblical Garden of Eden, the lush wetlands once covered nearly 3,600 square miles near the confluence of the Euphrates and Tigris Rivers. Mid-century drainage projects […]

Vashon Island goes energy independent

From the Seattle PI: Vashon Island, located just south of Seattle, has plans to do what every environmentalist and geo-green wants to see America do: become more energy independent. But Vashon Island is shooting for 100%.

The proposal, which is receiving nearly unanimous support from the island's famously liberal residents, is centered on a report [PDF] from the Institute for Environmental Research and Education. It suggests a variety of renewables to provide power to the 10,000 island residents. On some days, the island might even be able to send power to the mainland via the already established underwater power lines. More on giving back to the grid here.

The one potential sticking point seems to be the wind turbines and the view of the island from the mainland. But even that looks like it will go smoothly, or at least more smoothly than Cape Wind.

Google map of Vashon Island.

Umbra on taking the next step

Dear Umbra, I’ve noticed that often you tell people “don’t sweat the small stuff” and suggest they focus on the major issues (transportation, housing, etc.). What about those of us who already do that, and want to do even more? I can almost guarantee you we are the ones sending you questions about widgets and […]

Hooray for sky-high prices!

In light of this summer's wicked high fuel prices, CNN.com has started a daily "gas gripes" section where readers can spout off about how tough life is.

But here's a little secret -- these aren't gripes! Today's collection, especially, is a quietly inspiring list of conscious eco-choices. These reports bring a tear to the eye: I moved back to the city. I stopped driving my SUV. I vanpool. I bought a hybrid.

It's everything that Grist and a thousand other nattering environmentalists preach every day. But money is making it real -- at least for now. Hooray for capitalism! Hooray for oil! Hooray, hooray, hooray.

Houseboats: good or bad?

Anyone who has seen Sleepless in Seattle knows that we here in the Emerald City have our fair share of houseboats. But I've often wondered how they compare to your good ol' fashion house with regards to their impact on the environment.

Apparently, the fine folks over at Treehugger think that they're a good thing (re: The Houseboat Book):

Houseboats -- they inspire the imagination and, if you're fortunate enough, they can be an inexpensive, and environmentally-sound house to own.

Environmentally-sound? You Gristmillians have any thoughts on the matter?

Jack Frost Nippon at Your Nose

Japan will encourage office workers to bundle up for the winter Japan’s summer “Cool Biz” campaign, which encourages office workers to shed their coats and ties and wear lighter clothing so less energy need be spent on air conditioning, has proven such a success that now the nation’s Environment Ministry is plotting to follow it […]

Power Play

Northeast states crafting plan to cut CO2 emissions from power plants The cantankerous Northeast — last seen suing the U.S. EPA over mercury regulations — is at it again. Fed up with the feds, nine states in the region have preliminarily agreed to reduce their carbon-dioxide emissions from power plants. The coalition — organized by […]

Breed Between the Lines

World population heading rapidly toward 7 billion The global population will reach 7 billion by about 2012 and continue to rise for many decades, according to a new report from the Population Reference Bureau, a private research organization. “Almost 99 percent of population growth today and for the foreseeable future will be in … developing […]

Go Truck Yourself

Bush admin unveils weak new fuel-economy rules for light trucks The Bush administration surveyed the landscape — gas prices rising, fears of oil dependence spreading — and concluded that bold leadership was required. So it invaded an oil-rich country. Heh, well … on to Plan B! Yesterday, the administration proposed a new set of auto […]

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