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Where did all the fishies go?

In all the Northwest's big dailies today: the annual run of big spring Chinook are nowhere to be found on the Columbia River. Normally, by this time of year, roughly 3,100 King salmon have made their way past Bonneville Dam on the Lower Columbia--the vanguard of a run that can easily number a quarter million.

But this year so far, only 200 have arrived. It's the worst early showing since the Bonneville Dam was constructed in 1938. (The last time it was close was 1952 when only 478 had arrived by now.) Scientists are unanimous about only one thing: they don't know what's wrong.

Despite accusations otherwise, U.S. enviros are working to help their Chinese counterparts

I'm going to take my own advice, though I was mostly thinking about oil and global warming. Let's engage.

Cicero, on the neoconservative blog Winds of Change, writes about the recent riots against pollution in rural China:

I would like to see people calling themselves environmentalists take a stand on this. Stopping seal clubbing is not going to change the world. Signing on to feel-good accords like Kyoto accelerates environmental destruction in places like China. Taking a stand with the villagers of Huaxi -- if only a symbolic gesture -- would be a step in the right direction. In the end, we should all do business for child and survival.

I don't think there's any evidence that Kyoto would have any effect one way or the other on "environmental destruction in places like China," so I don't know what he's talking about there. It's a red herring. But China is an environmental catastrophe, and I agree that China's environmental problems are more important than seal-clubbing.

Here's a quick overview of China's disaster from Joshua Kurlantzick:

Coffee giant will buy 5 percent clean power for its U.S. stores

You may hate its coffee, you may hate that it drove your favorite mom-n-pop coffeehouse out of business, you may just hate its bland ubiquity -- but you gotta give Starbucks props for its latest initiative. Today the java giant announced that it will buy enough wind energy to meet 5 percent of electricity needs at its North American stores.

From the company's press release (not yet up online, the slackers):

"Starbucks is mindful of the long-term implications that climate change has on the environment," said Sandra Taylor, Starbucks senior vice president of Corporate Social Responsibility. "Because the energy used at our retail stores makes up nearly 50 percent of our total greenhouse gas emissions, this is a natural starting point for us. By supporting renewable energy sources we believe we are taking a step in the right direction and encourage other businesses to do the same." ...

The move to purchase renewable energy for its company-operated retail stores -- generated by approximately 11 large-scale windmills -- is estimated to cut emissions by two percent. It also catapults the company into the current top 25 U.S. purchasers of renewable energy.

(That last fact strikes me as remarkable. Just by agreeing to buy 5 percent green power for its stores -- not its production plants or business headquarters or whatnot -- Starbucks will become one of the top 25 buyers of clean energy in the U.S.? There are that few big buyers? Damn.)

Sure, it would be easy enough to point out all the bad things Starbucks is doing, and all the good things it isn't doing -- environmentalists have made an art form out of skewering corporations for their sins and failings. But we aren't so good at giving positive feedback. So from me, to the corporate coffee chain that I never patronize: Hey, nice work, keep it up.

Pollutocrats need not apply

Must enjoy long walks on the beach and vegetarian cooking. I kid. But seriously, the good folks over at Clean Air-Cool Planet are looking to encourage high-level decision makers in the public and private sectors to attend their upcoming conference: Global Warming Solutions 2005: Navigating the Risks and Opportunities. The conference aims to bring together the private sector, including businesses and investors, with regulators to focus on climate economics and public policy. The two-day event will be held June 8 and 9 at the Roosevelt Hotel in New York City. Conference sessions will include surveys of the latest climate science, advice on navigating new climate-related regulations, and workshops on emerging climate and financial issues. Early-bird registration ends April 30, so hop to it!

Americans want more and bigger stuff, and they’re getting it

Check out Mother Jones' two-page spread on the upsizing of the American Dream (text here or in two PDFs). Here's how it starts:

• Since 1950, the average new house has increased by 1,247 sq. ft. Meanwhile, the average household has shrunk by 1 person.
• The National Association of Home Builders' "showcase home" for 2005 is 5,950 sq. ft. That's 15% bigger than last year's model.
• The Unabomber's legal defense team cited the size of his shack -- 10' x 12' -- to buttress his insanity plea.

Read the whole thing.

(Via Alan)

Poultry in Motion

Poultry-to-oil plant in Missouri struggling to survive Like many renewable-energy ventures, a high-profile processing plant in Carthage, Mo., built to turn turkey waste into usable crude oil has been struggling to survive. Touted as a solution to foreign-oil addiction (but not to global warming), the plant cooks down 270 tons of bird leftovers into 300 […]

Know When to Hold Him

More drama around Stephen Johnson’s EPA confirmation The political jousting around the confirmation of Stephen Johnson to head the U.S. EPA continues, as yet another senator has threatened to gum up the process. Just last week, Democratic Sens. Barbara Boxer (Calif.) and Bill Nelson (Fla.) held the confirmation hostage, forcing Johnson to cancel a controversial […]

Hey Joe, Where You Goin’ With That Bill in Your Hand?

Joe Barton leading GOP charge to push energy bill through House Undaunted by repeated defeats, House Republicans are having yet another go at crafting energy legislation that can make it through the Senate while still preserving massive energy-industry subsidies and tax breaks. This time around, they’ll have a powerful ally in the new chair of […]

It’s an Honor Just to Be … Oh, Screw That

Grist flogs Webby nod, shamelessly asks for reader votes Grist is in contention for a Webby Award, like unto an “Internet Oscar.” You know it’s true, ’cause their site says so! We’re nominated in the “magazine” category. Members of “The Academy,” including folks from major news and media outlets, will decide the Webby winners May […]

When Bisphenol Is Said and Done

Key ingredient in clear plastics called unsafe, except by industry A chemical widely used in the making of clear plastic products, including baby bottles, food storage containers, and even dental fillings, is the subject of debate between those who say it is safe, namely plastic-industry flacks, and those who say it’s not, namely most everyone […]