Climate Culture

Festival-goers hop free ride — and stay car-free, too

As we’ve reported in the past, music festivals across the country are making moves to be more sustainable — mostly involving recycling efforts, compostable utensils, and biodiesel generators. But this year’s Coachella music festival, held in Indio, Calif., April 25-27, took an interesting track, chartering an Amtrak train to transport festival folk to and from […]

Why should gardeners worry about lead?

Lead may no longer be in gasoline, but it's still a major issue.

There’s a metaphor in here somewhere

Why the seal attempted to have sex with the penguin is unclear.

Kunstler meets Colbert

Painful:

Friday music blogging: The Ruby Suns

In 2005, New Zealand indie band The Ruby Suns put out a (self-titled) dreamy, beautiful psych-pop album that’s been one of my favorites for years. Now they’ve finally released the follow-up: Sea Lion. The product description at Amazon is unusually accurate: The melodic musings of “Sea Lion” found inspiration in the natural world and Ryan […]

From D’oh to Dash

Jessica and Ashlee not included Universal Studios is launching a Simpsons-themed ride, but don’t have a cow, man! It uses LED lighting and energy-efficient electronics — so it’s as green as Ned Flanders’ sweater. Ay, caramba! Though, not, of course, as green as having no ride at all … D’oh! © 2007 Universal Orlando. All […]

Target launches eco-friendly line by Rogan Gregory

Photos: Target Big-box store Target — or Tar-zhay, as I like to call it — is launching its first eco-friendly line of apparel … at luxury retailer Barneys New York. The collection, designed by Rogan Gregory of Edun and Loomstate denim fame, uses organic cotton, hemp, linen, and bamboo to create a "beach safari vibe" […]

Today, No Pants Day will undoubtedly spark dialogue about climate change

Arguably, a far superior cousin to Earth Day: No Pants Day. It may seem to be an innocuous, juvenile ritual devoid of underlying political intentions, but neglecting one’s trousers provides unavoidable commentary about global warming. Conversation starter: “My legs are hot … and so is the planet.” (Bringing up body hair and deforestation is optional.) […]

An interview with Stacy Malkan, co-founder of the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics

Stacy Malkan. Beauty, they say, is only skin deep. But given the load of toxic chemicals in everyday products like shampoo, deodorant, and makeup, that superficial truth is still cause for concern. With increasing frequency, studies point to hidden dangers in the medicine cabinet: things like lead in lipstick, phthalates in baby lotions, aluminum in […]

A History Channel production on climate is worthwhile

A coworker lent me an amazing piece of work called A Global Warning? It does an excellent job illustrating the chaotic nature of terrestrial climate and explaining the theories behind some of the most dramatic climate transitions. It's not a perfect movie, but if you won't read With Speed and Violence, it's probably the best thing there is. It gets into both ocean clathrates (methane hydrate crystals) and the melting permafrost (more methane).

Best of all, not a single denialist or confusionist in the whole thing. It simply says "most scientists," cites the IPCC (the only appearance by Gore is him picking up the Nobel), and makes a strong case that while climate may undergo some rapid changes without us, we have our collective finger on the trigger on the climate howitzer. No James Hansen, but lots of Lonnie Thompson (Ohio State), whom people will recall from The Weather Makers and other good books on the climate crisis.