Culture

From Guzzlers to Greenlanders

Size does matter Fingering the Hummer H2 is so last year. The latest trend in Hummer humiliation? Video of die-hard haters humping the gas guzzlers. If a picture’s worth 1,000 words, this specimen is infinity squared. (Safe for work, but only if your boss has a sense of Hummer humor.) Photo: ihumpedyourhummer.com Damn those special […]

Katharine Wroth & Sarah van Schagen Culture

Bawh-Chikka-Baaawh

Report accuses U.K. media of indulging in global-warming “porn” The first comprehensive analysis of climate-change coverage in the U.K. media has deemed it “confusing, contradictory, and chaotic.” Produced by the Institute for Public Policy Research, the report, “Warm Words,” accuses media outlets of presenting apocalyptic pictures and portents as a kind of “climate porn” to […]

Grist staff Culture

Selfishness

I was somewhat dismayed to hear that environmentalism can only save itself by explicitly becoming "selfish" and "cool." (Or is there a difference?)

I was even more dismayed to find that Grist is, apparently, the house organ for this line of thinking:

David Roberts Culture

From Roberts to Redford

The Brockovich is back America’s sweetheart (back off, Witherspoon!) Julia Roberts has agreed to serve as a spokes-star for clean-energy developers Earth Biofuels, joining fellow Oscar winner Morgan Freeman and country singer Willie Nelson. We’re glad she’s green and all, but still, let’s hope she burned that unsettling sprite get-up from Vanity Fair. Photo: Kevin […]

David Roberts & Sarah van Schagen Culture

Green-burial movement gets more ambitious

Resting in peace at Ramsey Creek. Photo: Memorial Ecosystems. “I’d prefer to be put in the ground, under a tree,” says Joe Sehee, contemplating his inevitable demise. “But I don’t want to go in the ground with anything, I just want to be buried in a simple pine box or shroud, and that’s it.” If […]

Gregory Dicum Culture

Umbra on fridge-freezer efficiency

Dear Umbra, Are there any environmental advantages to the refrigerators with the freezer on the bottom and the fridge on the top? Annette Indianapolis, Ind. Dearest Annette, There are three fridge/freezer configurations: side by side, bottom freezer, and top freezer. In models with comparable storage volume, the least efficient is the side by side. Top […]

Ask Umbra® Culture

Media Shower: Game on!

I don't know if anyone else pays attention to the Google ads in Gristmill, but I just clicked on an ad for the game Xeko Mission: Madagascar and, wow, it sounds really cool! I'm all for creative ways of educating the public and this seems like a great way for families to learn about ecosystems.

And speaking of gaming, I direct you to this New York Times article by Clive Thompson titled "Saving the World, One Video Game at a Time". Here's a taste:

Chris Schults Culture

Tierra Del Forte, eco-jeans designer, answers questions

Tierra Del Forte. What work do you do? I’m a designer and the founder of Del Forte Denim. How does it relate to the environment? We design and manufacture a line of premium organic denim for women. We also strive to educate consumers about the dangers of conventional cotton agriculture and the restorative effect of […]

Grist staff Culture

Umbra on countertops

With the home remodeling boom, we keep wondering: what is the best countertop choice? We’ve gone through a couple homes since getting married, and are now considering building our own. Laminate, Formica, butcher block, concrete, granite, plastic, composite, tile … they all have their own durability merits and drawbacks, but from creation to home health, […]