Climate Culture

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  • I’d Like to Buy the Crops a Coke

    Indian farmers use Coca-Cola as a pesticide Urban legend has it that Coca-Cola works well to remove rust spots, clean corroded batteries, polish toilets, and — we can confirm this one — dissolve baby teeth that have fallen out of an innocent 5-year-old’s mouth, thus yielding a lifelong terror of soft drinks. But Indian farmers […]

    Grist staff Culture

  • Home Is Where the Bloat Is

    American homes are growing and consuming more electricity American homes are sucking more and more energy, contributing to a cycle of rising prices that is putting a financial crunch on poor and fixed-income families. In 1970, the average new home was 1,500 square feet; in 2003, it was 2,230 square feet. Even that startling statistic […]

    Grist staff Culture

  • Umbra on protecting decks

    Dear Chip, You may remember me; we met most recently at Jenny’s parents’ house for dinner when you all were here in New Jersey. Anyway, the reason I’m writing you is because I’m looking for some advice. Do you have any recommendations on environmentally conscious ways to protect household decks? Lori and I just bought […]

    Ask Umbra® Culture

  • Victoria’s Dirty Secret

    Enviro group launches campaign against Victoria’s Secret catalogs An enviro group called ForestEthics has trained its sights on the Victoria’s Secret catalog, urging the company to make the shift to more eco-friendly paper and avoid fiber that comes from endangered forests. The real target is Victoria’s parent company, Limited Brands Inc. Limited Brands procures coated […]

    Grist staff Culture

  • Mandatory Caps

    Suzy Becker Culture

  • Marc Ross, rocker and activist, answers questions

    With what environmental organization are you affiliated? I am president and executive director of Rock the Earth. What does your organization do? What, in a perfect world, would constitute “mission accomplished”? Rock the Earth is a relatively new environmental advocacy nonprofit organization based in Denver, Colo. It was created to work with the music community […]

    Grist staff Culture

  • Umbra on the mysteries of produce code numbers

    Dear Umbra, I recently learned that the UPC numbers on produce indicate whether the item is conventionally grown (beginning with a 4), organically grown (beginning with a 9), or genetically modified (beginning with an 8). I like to buy organic, locally grown produce at my local health food store whenever possible, but recently at a […]

    Ask Umbra® Culture

  • Sex! Violence! Sitting in a Tree!

    Story of tree-sitting activist Julia Butterfly Hill headed to big screen Celebrated activist Julia Butterfly Hill, author of the memoir “The Legacy of Luna,” is heading for the bright lights (and sudden fame, subsequent substance abuse, rehab, appearance on “The Surreal Life,” and rehabilitation by hot indie filmmaker) of Hollywood. Hill, you may recall, protested […]

    Grist staff Culture

  • Porn activists go all the way to save the rainforest

    Warning: The following article contains naughty words — but we can’t help it, as they’re the whole subject of the story. It also contains links to websites that are, as they say, “not safe for work.” So all you kids, go play Pokemon or whatever it is you do these days. The rest of you, […]

    Lissa Harris Culture

  • Umbra on hemp fabric

    Dear Umbra, You didn’t mention hemp as a fabric alternative. JordanMarquette, Mich. Dearest Jordan, No, I didn’t. Thank you for writing such a concise letter; it stood out among the 4 million other hemp letters and cut straight to the point. I apologize for the omission. Hemp is currently a narrowly available fabric with a […]

    Ask Umbra® Culture