Articles by Grist staff

Niaz Dorry, oceans campaigner, answers questions

Niaz Dorry. What work do you do? I’m the cofounder of Clean Catch, a new project aimed at promoting diverse, healthy oceans by supporting the people who have historically shown themselves to be responsible stewards of the ocean — small-scale fishing communities. What does your organization do? Clean Catch works with and supports small-scale fishing […]

Back from the dead …

We know you've been itching for yet more commentary about "The Death of Environmentalism." Well, today's your lucky day.

Grist has just published a lengthy rebuttal to the Reapers written by Michel Gelobter of Redefining Progress and friends. "The Soul of Environmentalism" looks at the green movement -- past, present, and future -- from the perspective of activists of color.

For a bite-sized taste of this hearty dish, check out an essay we excerpted from it: "Standing on Whose Shoulders?: Why Race and Class Matter to the Environmental Movement."

And for just a crumb, here's this:

The authors of "The Death of Environmentalism" begin by invoking their ancestors. ... [But] many environmentalists would rather not stand on the shoulders of certain early conservation heroes. [John] Muir developed his conservation ethic during the Civil War and the expropriation of Native American lands, the two great racial struggles of the 19th century. He pretty much ignored both of them ... Before we sanctify Muir, we need to understand how his racial attitudes affected his commitments to conservation. If the environmental movement is ever going to revive, it must first confront the many ways in which the U.S. has reserved open space for the exclusive use of whites. ...

[T]he authors of "The Death of Environmentalism" completely ignore a second set of ancestors who need to be included in our deliberations. We're talking about the people who brought you the civil-rights movement.

Modern environmentalism was, after all, the Elvis of '60s activism. It was a radical and innovative departure from the conservation movement that preceded it. And in almost every way, the politics and innovations of the early environmental movement derived directly from the same era's fight for black power and racial justice.

Come on -- you know you want more where that came from ...

Freecycle founder, fans, and defectors talk back

  Our article on Freecycle’s growing pains, by Matt Weiser, elicited a torrent of passionate response, including a lengthy letter from Freecycle founder Deron Beal. Here’s a sample of the commentary, and there’s a whole lot more posted in Gristmill, our blog. Dear Editor: After having read your article about Freecycle, I felt compelled to […]

Putting on the Breaks

Grist kicking back for Memorial Day Attention Daily Grist junkies: You’ll have to do without your fix on Monday, as we Gristers will be involved in a high-level meeting with Tony Blair. OK, we’ll actually be lazing about by the Grist pool, eating peeled grapes and sipping organic lemonade to celebrate Memorial Day. Woo-hoo! We’ll […]