Climate Culture

Why not more solar power in Tucson?

I did not see a single cloud in my four days in Tucson last week. But what really surprised me was that I also did not see a single solar panel. The University of Arizona, which I suspect may be an intellectual bubble in the middle of Tucson, did spawn a large number of Priuses. Most people drive pickup trucks. The strip malls and subdivisions stretched out until they bumped up against a national park or a mountain range.

If there ever was a place suited for solar power, it is Tucson.

Slow Down, You Hoover Too Fast

Humans consuming planet’s resources at unprecedented rate, warns WWF Humans are consuming the planet’s resources 25 percent faster than the earth can renew them, a rate “unprecedented in human history,” the World Wildlife Fund said today in its 2006 Living Planet Report. If we keep it up, we’ll need two planets’ worth of natural resources […]

Umbra on battling cockroaches

Dear Umbra, Help! I’m having a mysterious cockroach problem. I found four in my apartment in two weeks, and not in the expected places: one in a stack of papers (I know, I should pay my bills faster), one near my vitamin bottles, one nowhere near water in my bathroom, and, the worst one, crawling […]

License Plates Never Looked So Good

Inmates exposed to toxins in e-waste recycling program, says report A federal recycling program that uses cheap prison labor to recycle computers and other electronics exposes inmates to unsafe conditions, says a report released by activist and environmental groups last week. Prisoners paid from 23 cents to $1.15 an hour by government-owned Federal Prison Industries, […]

From Real Life to Real Men

Leo-topia Once upon a time, we swore we’d never watch reality TV, but now we’re Dancing With the Bachelor’s Top Model every week. And soon Leo may join the lineup, greening a yet-to-be-chosen American town (ooh, pick us! pick us!) in E-topia. But will it restore our dwindling dignity? Stay tuned. Photo: Steve Granitz / […]

Umbra on dryer sheets

Dear Umbra, You mentioned toxic dryer sheets in your recent column on clothing, but without a reference to how they are toxic, etc. Lisa Milligan Fayetteville, Ark. Dearest Lisa, I appreciate the brevity and directness of your query. I’ll strive to meet the same standards herein. Fresh air beats faux fragrance any day. Photo: iStockphoto […]

Umbra on chocolate

Dear Umbra, Although I buy most of my chocolate as fair trade or organic, I was wondering if you might enlighten me on the politics and economics of the chocolate (cocoa) industry. Where is most of it grown? What are the working conditions of those who are employed there? How effective is fair trade in […]

Energy is better spent elsewhere

(Warning: If speaking frankly about religion's dark side upsets you, please read no further.)

There has been a lot of discussion on this site recently about the potential positive role religion (specifically Christianity) can have in solving our environmental problems.

Call me skeptical.

From Ellen to Illin’

Ay, there’s the scrub First came the ads and webisodes showing Dawn detergent cleaning itty-bitty oil-soaked critters. Now Ellen DeGeneres is barking about becoming a seal on Dawn’s world-saving website. Nemo has yet to comment on the development. Photo: Kevin Mazur / WireImage.com Remote controlled Channeling vintage Grist List, Connecticut has launched a “No Child […]

LEED is expanding to neighborhoods, and Doug Farr is leading the way

Doug Farr was heading into The Grind, a local fair-trade coffee spot in Chicago’s swanky Lincoln Square neighborhood, when he ran into Peter Nicholson, the organizer of the city’s monthly Green Drinks. The two well-heeled unofficial flag-wavers for the local green scene exchanged enthusiastic greetings, and began discussing the latest goings-on. Doug Farr. “Ugh. I’m […]