Climate Culture

Bill McKibben questions thinking as usual when it comes to climate.

The old thinking, as author and thinker Bill McKibben explains in today's LA Times, goes like this: bigger is always better, growth is good no matter what, and a booming stock market is the ultimate measure of our success.

McKibben illustrates the kind of lopsided priorities that naturally flow when we're ruled by the bottom line, pointing to a scarcely-reported White House report that said the U.S. would be pumping out almost 20 percent more greenhouse gases in 2020 than we did in 2000, our contribution to climate change going steadily up -- against all warnings to the contrary.

That's a pretty stunning piece of information -- a hundred times more important than, say, the jittery Dow Jones industrial average that garnered a hundred times the attention. How is it even possible? How, faced with the largest crisis humans have yet created for themselves, have we simply continued with business as usual?

New thinking, by contrast, might go something like this: measure what matters.

And they (heart) us!

You may find this hard to believe, but there are people we love even more than we love ourselves -- our readers! Especially those of you who help us fight the good fight by sending a li'l dough our way now and then.

And how do we show our love in return, aside from imparting daily wit and wisdom? By giving away nifty prizes to donors whose names are randomly drawn out of our recycled hemp hat!

Below, we show off a couple of unsolicited photos that came after our last fund drive. Look how attractive and intelligent and funny (and did we mention attractive?) our readers are! (And see, we really do give away those prizes!)

Skating arenas can be bad for your health

I avoid ice skating at all costs, because I value my tailbone. And now I have all the more reason to stay home, as a CBC News investigation finds that ice-resurfacing machines in hockey and skating arenas can spew particulate matter to a health-endangering extent. At 14 percent of arenas studied across Canada, skaters were […]

Nope, still hunting

Hunting is, as this article demonstrates. There will always be tensions between hunters and environmentalists (not that they can't collaborate), but hopefully, the major groups can agree that ending sport hunting of polar bears is something we should do ASAP.

Metamucil’s bold new marketing, uh, move

Most people know intuitively that when they eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, they feel better and probably even look better. It’s a virtuous circle, and you can try it at home. Eat fresh produce. Feel better. Look better. Crave fresh produce. But the food-pharmaceutical industry (yes, they’re related) doesn’t make much money when […]

Also known as bikes

Is your car safe? I’m not talking seat belts and air bags. Nope, I’m asking about that new-car smell. Take a big whiff, and ask yourself again: Is your car safe? What you smell may be part of a toxic soup of chemicals off-gassing from parts like the steering wheel, dashboard, armrests, and seat. These […]

Get your copy today!

The green issue of Outside hits the newsstands today -- flip it open, and what to your wondering eyes will appear but some wacko with a chainsaw and a skeptical guy in a newsboy cap. There they are, Grist President Chip Giller and Staff Writer David Roberts, illustrating a feature article about Grist. (Outside likes us, they really like us!) Stop squinting to read the tiny print -- check out an excerpt below the fold.

Endangered species and Beijing

China is currently the world's largest consumer of illegal "wildlife products" -- 40 percent of the global market. And that number's only going to grow as its economy strengthens. WildAid has gone to the battlements with its Conservation Awareness program, using the '08 Olympics in Beijing as an opportunity to highlight the need for conservation. They'll be enlisting athletes to educate folks about this issue during the games, and have developed a number of PSAs featuring Chinese and other athletes, on view here.

Umbra on organic liquors

Hi Umbra, After an epic weekend of drinking, I realized I’ve never seen or heard about any organic liquors. I’ve seen organic beer and wine, but never any organic gin, vodka, scotch, etc. Any chance I can drink in the future without having to feel guilty about not being organically drunk? David Tucker Rockville, Md. […]

Evangelical environmental movement gathering strength

For some Christians, teaching the science of climate change contradicts religious beliefs. But a growing group of evangelical environmentalists has been working to change that view.