Climate Culture

Funny

Here is Stephen Colbert discussing the “reduce reuse re-psychos” and interviewing Colin Beavan, whose family is shooting for a year of zero eco-impact. Beavan puts in a plug for Step It Up. Nice work Mr. Beavan! Funny stuff:

I prefer to fly

I changed my mind. I no longer want a plug-in hybrid car. Them's for punks.

Now I want a solar/plug-in airplane. Video below the fold.

Takeaway message: battery technology is the roadblock. That and rain.

Ticket info and line-ups also announced

After much back–and–forth over D.C. locations for Al Gore’s Live Earth Concerts on 7/7/07, organizers today announced the U.S. concert will be held at Giants Stadium in New Jersey. Tickets for the show will go on sale Monday, April 16, at 10 a.m. EDT. Locations were also announced for five of the other seven concerts […]

Political parties may be divided on the issue of climate, but Americans agree on solutions

On the heels of the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that the Environmental Protection Agency has authority to regulate greenhouse gases as a pollutant (some called it a strong rebuke of the Bush administration's policies), George W. Bush saw fit to ramp up his language on the issue of global warming (hint: the new key word is "serious"):

The decision (of) the Supreme Court we take very seriously. It's the new law of the land. I've taken this issue very seriously. I have said that it is a serious problem. I recognize that man is contributing to greenhouse gases.

But, despite this outpouring of concern, the Prez kept to old-school thinking, arguing that "anything that happens cannot hurt economic growth." (Clearly, nobody gave him any of the the reports on the enormous costs that we will likely bear as a result of climate changes, or for that matter, the compelling memos that have been circulating about the economic opportunities the climate challenge presents to those with a touch of "American ingenuity.")

The American public, on the other hand, appears more ready than Bush to embrace new thinking when it comes to solutions. Republicans and Democrats alike broadly embrace actions to curb emissions.

Based on a March telephone survey of 1,009 American adults, ages 18 and older, Gallup reports that an overwhelming majority supports stronger government restrictions on greenhouse gas emissions. And, majorities, regardless of political persuasion, say we should spend more tax money to develop alternative sources of fuel and energy.

Rich Westerners bypass gov’t to save rainforests

I have mixed feelings about these "conservation cowboys" — rich Westerners who tromp down South in pursuit of grandiose eco-preservation schemes. They possess immense amounts of discretionary capital and can often sidestep cumbersome, slow-moving government machinery. But there’s a tinge of colonialism about it. If they tread too heavily, I fear they’ll end up sparking […]

Somehow, I don’t feel that bad for you

The latest impact of climate change: eco-anxiety. Symptoms: Generalized discomfort and stress related to the future of the world and possibly your personal role in said future. Ways to fight it: Blame “the media.” Blame the IPCC. Spend lots of money on an “eco-therapist.” Carry around minerals. Buy greener stuff to make yourself feel better. […]

Was It Something We Said?

Global warming and other woes cause rise of eco-anxiety The world already has ecotourism, eco-movies, and eco-purses — in fact, more eco-trends than you can shake an eco-stick at. So it was only a matter of time before another trapping of modern life took the prefix: eco-anxiety. Seems people are flocking to, yes, eco-therapists to […]

SF baseball stadium goes solar

Baseball season has started, and the Seattle Mariners are 2 and 1, which means the weather is still fair for this fan. If I lean a bit from my desk, I can see the M’s Safeco Field out of Grist’s downtown-office window. I cannot wait until some large building is named after Tampax. Or Ex-Lax. […]

Meghan Meyers, founder of green-wedding mag Portovert, answers questions

Meghan Meyers. What work do you do? What’s your job title? I’m the founder and CEO of Portovert Magazine. How does it relate to the environment? Portovert is the first and only eco-savvy wedding magazine. We share inspirational tips and ideas on ways to have a stylish and sustainable event. You’ll find a mix of […]

In Second Life

How did Grist miss this one last week, as reported by National Geographic News?

Tokyo, Amsterdam, and the entire Mediterranean island of Ibiza were inundated with floodwaters today due to rising sea levels brought on by global warming.

Oh: