Articles by David Roberts

And yes even more Verdopolis

When I asked Emily Gertz to cover the Verdopolis confab for Grist, I requested that she focus mainly on what I considered the more weighty topics -- green energy, green urbanism, and green markets. This was, in part, to counter the impression -- found even (gasp) among some Grist staff members -- that the "bright green" movement celebrated by Verdopolis is mainly about a chic lifestyle or a set of consumer products. It is much, much more.

However, it does include a chic lifestyle and consumer products. To wit, Emily's coverage of the last day of Verdopolis over on Worldchanging describes presentations from makers of eco-friendly jeans, furniture, and meat. As excited as I am about reimagining cities and energy grids, I must admit I also look forward to being able to buy a pair of pants with a clean conscience.

Still more vision talk

The discussion described in this post and this post, about whether there's a need in environmentalism, and progressivism more broadly, for a uniting narrative or Grand Vision is continuing. I don't know if anybody but me is interested or following this, but if there are fellow wonks out there, let me catch you up (start by reading the two posts linked above).

Contest: sustainability for college students

Joel Makower (yes, yes, I know I link to all his posts) has a bit of a contest running. He received this query from a reader:

I am teaching a college course this semester on Sustainable Science and Technology and was wondering if you had any suggestions for a one-hour activity that would engage students to learn and possibly apply some of the fundamentals of sustainability.

He's soliciting ideas and offering a nice prize for the best one. Go brainstorm with him.

The gall of Small

A little over a year ago, federal investigators found that Smithsonian Institution Secretary Lawrence Small's private collection of Amazonian artifacts contained several hundred items (mostly feathers) that violated, among other laws, the Endangered Species Act. He was convicted in Jan. 2004 and sentenced to 100 hours of community service.

He is now arguing that he should be allowed to use those 100 hours to read books on, chat with politicians about, and lobby to change what he calls an "outmoded" law.

U.S. Attorney Frank Whitney told U.S. District Court Judge Terrence Boyle, who is handling the case, that Small shouldn't be allowed "to satisfy his obligations to the community for his criminal conduct by reading and chatting with prominent political figures. To do so would minimize his criminal activities and remove any deterrent value of his sentence."

Allowing Small "to spend time learning about the Endangered Species Act so that he may change the law he violated fails to promote respect for the Endangered Species Act."

You think?

(Via Kevin Drum via Sam Heldman)