Latest Articles
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Lakoff worship
George Lakoff, framing guru and pundit to the (lefty) stars, is officially hitting the halls of power. Tomorrow, he will meet with House Democrats, who are desperate for someone, anyone to help them craft a winning message.
The danger, of course, is that Lakoff's work on framing, which actually has deep roots in cognitive science, will be watered down to the point that it's just about a new collection of catchphrases. To wit:
He has suggested that same-sex marriage should be referred to as "the right to marry." Trial lawyers like vice presidential nominee John Edwards should instead be called "public protection attorneys," and the term environmental protection, which brings to mind big government and reams of regulations, should instead be termed "poison-free communities."
Lets hope the Dems take the underlying message to heart, and don't just view this as a soundbite buffet. -
Bjorn again
Bjorn Lomborg has an editorial in yesterday's L.A. Times, presenting -- in extremely rudimentary form -- the results of his already notorious Copenhagen Consensus. While the composition of Lomborg's group and its specific conclusions have been harshly criticized -- in particular see John Quiggin's blog here, here, here, and here, and also this Disinfopedia entry -- it's worth saying that the enterprise itself is entirely worthy, if done properly and honestly.
It is true that aid money is not spent rationally. If it were possible to get a serious, empirical accounting of the world's problems from a wide variety of experts and use it to rationalize and prioritize spending, every enviro should be foursquare behind it, even if some enviro priorities get bumped down the list.
Sadly, Lomborg's enterprise bears little resemblance to that ideal.
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Up the Leak Without a Paddle
New documents point to Union Carbide culpability on Bhopal Since the Bhopal disaster in 1984, Union Carbide Corp. (UCC), owner of the leaking chemical plant, has denied responsibility, saying that its Indian subsidiary (Union Carbide India Limited, or UCIL) was solely responsible for the plant’s design and management. But newly uncovered documents cast doubt on […]
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Grousal Abuse
Sage grouse unlikely to receive protection under ESA A panel of biologists and managers at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has recommended against listing the greater sage grouse under the Endangered Species Act. FWS Director Steve Williams will make a final decision by Dec. 29, but observers say he’s likely to follow the panel’s […]
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Encyclopedia Brown and the Case of the Poison Spray
Afghan poppy fields mysteriously sprayed with chemicals Recently, planes have been flying over the poppy fields of Afghan farmers, spraying them — along with houses, orchards, and perhaps even families — with toxic chemicals apparently intended to kill poppy crops and keep them from being converted to heroin. Afghan President Hamid Karzai expressed shock at […]
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States Hafta NAFTA
International trade treaties hamper states on environmental protection When the U.S. signed on to international trade treaties like NAFTA, enviros warned that it could hamper efforts to pass and enforce eco-friendly laws and regulations, and there’s mounting evidence to support those dark predictions. After a period of caution and reticence, U.S. trading partners are more […]
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“De-urbanizing” Yosemite
Think everything is going to hell? Well, you're right. But still, the fact that Yosemite National Park is undergoing something of a renewal is happy news nonetheless.
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California contains multitudes
California, home to the most stringent auto-emission restrictions in the U.S., is also home to the most SUVs in the U.S., with 2.8 million (Texas, by comparison, has 1.8 million). But wait, you're saying, California has no snow and most people live in cities...
"In Southern California, image is important," said Arthur St. Antoine, an editor-at-large with Motor Trend magazine. "I think the big allure is how the SUVs make you look. Any number of people would be better served by a minivan. They have more room and are more comfortable for five, but they don't have that rough-and-ready 'I just got off the Serengeti' image."
So people are willing to screw the planet to improve their image. Fine. But perhaps more depressing is this:Thousand Oaks mom Sue Short, who bought a Chevy Tahoe after her third son was born, said the first time at the gas pump was a shock. "Oh my God," she said as the price to fill up rose. "Oh my God."
"Your first time filling up?" a fellow SUV driver nearby asked her. She's since gotten used to the price and loves her SUV.
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Burning bright
Congrats to the tiger. According to a survey of more than 50,000 folks by the cable TV channel Animal Planet, the tiger is the world's favorite animal, narrowly beating the dog. One wonders, of course, if it is the world's favorite why it is threatened with extinction in so many of its natural habitats...
Without further ado, the top ten:
