Voices of Reason by Jason D Scorse
A proud member of the reality-based community.
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Calling all conspiracy theorists
So what if global warming is a hoax? 35
Posted 1 month ago As the evidence mounts that global warming is accelerating at an alarming pace, it is equally evident that progressives have done a terrible job of getting people to care about it. Read More -
So sushi me
A new sustainable sushi book, restaurant, and debate 3
Posted 9 months, 3 weeks ago Sustainable Sushi: A Guide to Saving the Oceans One Bite at a Time, the definitive guide to sustainable sushi, was written by Casson Trenor, alum of the International Environmental Policy Program at the Monterey Institute.What I particularly like about this volume is that Casson outlines vegetarian alternatives to fish at the end of the book, since as he freely admits, not eating fish is one of the best ways to protect the oceans.
Casson is not only spreading the printed word, but also walking the walk by putting all of his knowledge into practice at his new sushi… Read More
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An open book
Read: What Environmentalists Need to Know About Economics 5
Posted 10 months ago Back in 2006 I wrote a piece entitled, "Why Environmentalists Should Embrace Economics," which appeared on Gristmill in two parts (one; two). The feedback I received from around the world was so overwhelmingly positive that I decided to expand the themes of the essay into a book. Well, now it's done (with the title What Environmentalists Need to Know About Economics), and it's available online free to anyone who is interested. I hope some of you will find it both interesting and useful. Please spread the word, and I invite all constructive criticism. Read More -
High and dry
We need a price-floor on fossil fuels 20
Posted 1 year, 1 month ago As oil prices tumble -- now hovering around $65 per barrel -- there is growing concern that some of the momentum that was building for renewable energy may be waning. This situation highlights one of the key constraints that we face in moving to a low-carbon society: uncertainty in fossil-fuel prices depresses investments in alternative energy.After the oil shock of the 1970s, the prediction was that alternative energy would take off, but this never materialized because oil prices subsequently plummeted, dropping below $20 a barrel for much of the 1990s.
The high this year of $147 per barrel… Read More
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Pollute-ocracy
Why factory farming must be stopped 5
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Critiquing the food declaration
The 12 (annotated) principles for a healthy food and agriculture system 7
Posted 1 year, 2 months ago Being based in Northern California, I am lucky to be located at the epicenter of the sustainable agriculture and Slow Food movements in the U.S.; it means very tasty cuisine all year round. I was intrigued by the recent 12 principles for a healthy food and agricultural system disseminated by some of the luminaries in the Bay Area.Below is my commentary on the 12 principles, followed by some closing thoughts. Read More
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Energy efficiency alone is not sufficient 10
Posted 1 year, 2 months ago China's power plant emissions have surpassed the U.S. for the first time and are slated to double in the next decade, despite efficiency improvements. Without major technological innovation it will be impossible to decrease the absolute quantities of CO2 in the atmosphere. This is why government involvement is so important; we need massive R&D and investments in new electricity grids. Read More -
The doomed fate of climate change legislation
In either an Obama or McCain adminstration, climate legislation will be back-burnered 33
Posted 1 year, 3 months ago Just months ago there was a palpable sense of optimism that no matter who is elected president this November that the U.S. would soon embark on serious climate change legislation. I think recent events have shown that the chances of that happening are slim to none.Let's start with if McCain is elected. Read More
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The worst job in America 1
Posted 1 year, 3 months ago Many posts on Grist detail the negative environmental impacts of factory farming and the meat and dairy industries overall. Bottom line: There is probably no personal act more effective at benefiting the environment than reducing meat consumption.But a true environmentalist must also take a hard look at the social dimensions of sustainability; again, the meat industry ranks as the worst form of abuse. As this radio show documents, slaughterhouses in America are places of such immense depravity and illegality that they are the worst places to work in the whole country.
The reason these factories persist (more than… Read More
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Peak oil?
New data point shows that OPEC’s production hit highest level ever last month 25
Posted 1 year, 3 months ago I've written about energy issues a few times and been wrong as often as I've been right. One of the reasons predictions about energy prove so difficult is that data on oil production are so poor. But we do have a new data point out today that shows that OPEC's production hit its highest level ever this past month. It's just one piece of information, but it seems as if there was at least some additional capacity in the system. Read More
