Articles by Grist staff

Shiver Our Timbers

Washington state timber industry gets exemption from species act For the next 50 years, the Washington state timber industry will be shielded from prosecution under the Endangered Species Act for harming salmon. In return, the industry has agreed to help the fish by leaving more trees standing near critical streams, reducing logging on unstable slopes, […]

That Thing Utah Do!

Bill to sell federal land in Utah could set off cascade of land sales In the American West, many of the fastest-growing regions contain the most federally owned land, which limits expansion. This puts developers, local officials, and the vacation-home set in conflict with the public interest, and … well, we hardly need to finish […]

A commute point

Tomorrow is Commute Another Way Day! In Maine, at least (anyone know of this happening elsewhere?), this is an annual event to promote carpools, vanpools, public transit, biking, walking, pogo-sticking, and other eco-friendly alternatives to that long, lonely slog to and from the 9-to-5. According to the CAWD website:

Last year, more than 500 employers and 5,000 commuters got involved statewide, helping to reduce traffic congestion and auto emissions by eliminating 6,000 auto trips; 62,000 auto miles; 1.65 tons of harmful pollution; and $32,000 in commuting costs ... all in a single day!

And you know what else those commuters did? They won prizes! Who doesn't love prizes?

So hop in/on/around/to one of these official Transportation Mode Choices and commute another way!

And speaking of earth-friendly commutes, this week's InterActivist, Don Shaffer, is co-owner of Comet Skateboards -- a San Francisco company making eco-'boards at the world's only solar-powered skateboard factory. Shaffer takes his work home (and then back to work?) by commuting via a skateboard + BART combo.

And as InterActivist this week, he's also taking questions from the Grist peanut gallery -- until the deadline tomorrow at noon (PDT), that is. Ask him about poppin' ollies on the way home from work. Or ask him about his other passion -- providing support to small, local businesses trying to fight corporate cronyism. Ask him anything! We'll publish his answers to selected questions on Friday.

Register now for Global Green’s New Orleans Sustainable Design Competition

Go register for Global Green's New Orleans Sustainable Design Competition. Seriously. Go now! Would you register if Brad Pitt asked you? Well, I can pull some strings and make that happen. Ha ha. No, not really. Seems Pitt has joined up with Global Green of his own accord. (Apparently he's very much into architecture these days. Is sustainable design the new Black? Man, I'm good.)

Perhaps what's holding you back is that you don't know anything about the competition besides the fact that Brad Pitt is involved? (Hello, what more do you need to know?) Well, read on, my friend.