Wednesday, 15 Oct 2003

Electoral Collage

Introducing Grist's Special Edition on Elections and the Environment

It's 2003. Do you know who your presidential candidate is? We at Grist wouldn't dream of telling you (we don't endorse candidates out of respect for the diversity of our readership and the demands of our nonprofit status), but we're more than happy to cast a critical green eye on the options. To that end, we're pleased to introduce "Electoral Collage," a special edition on the lead-up to the 2004 presidential elections for those with a keen interest in the environment. From the role of the Green Party to the recycling habits of the candidates, "Electoral Collage" assesses the state of politics and the environment, circa Y2K+3. (For more detailed descriptions of the contents of the special edition, read on -- or go the issue's intro page using the link below.)

See How They Run

Interviews with the 2004 Democratic Presidential Contenders

It's time for a little quiz to test your Democratic-candidate savvy: Match the statements that follow with the would-be prez who made them. 1) "I'm a nudge about recycling." 2) "Sustainability is a principle that must infuse our whole approach to life." 3) "I don't believe that GMOs are harmful to human health. But I do think that people have a right to know what they are eating, so I favor labeling." 4) "Bush makes his father look like the president of the Sierra Club." A) Joe Lieberman. B) Howard Dean. C) John Kerry. D) Dennis Kucinich. No, we're not going to tell you the answers -- but you can figure them out by reading Grist's candidate interviews in "Electoral Collage," a special edition of Grist Magazine.

Unified Field Theory

Can a Beat-Bush Effort Yield a Progressive Coalition With Staying Power?

To build a progressive coalition with enough oomph to boot Bush out of office, environmental organizations are buddying up with labor unions, civil-rights organizers, women's groups -- and, for once, each other. Can progressives play together nicely enough to make Bush quake in his boots? Will they stay pals after the election? Could this dark hour actually be the moment the progressive movement has been waiting for? Environmental journalist Mark Hertsgaard offers some answers, only in "Electoral Collage," a special edition of Grist Magazine.

What's Good for the Michigander Is Good for the Goose

Lessons on How Enviros Can Win Votes and Influence People

Here's a little story for Grist readers, about a determined chief executive. His party controls both houses of the legislature. He mounts a stealthy attack on laws that protect forests, water, air, and public health. His advisors, whose top priority is advancing the economic prospects of select industries (aka major campaign donors), zealously pursue the mission. No, we're not talking about President Bush. We're talking about John Engler, former Republican governor of Michigan -- and the good news is that the state's voters nixed his hand-picked successor in 2002, thanks in no small part to a focused, determined, and highly effective environmental lobby. Writer Keith Schneider argues that, with some smart planning, this victory could be repeated on a national level in next year's presidential election. Check out the blueprint, only in "Electoral Collage," a special edition of Grist Magazine.

Green Thumbs-Up, Green Thumbs-Down

What Role Should the Green Party Play in the 2004 Elections?

The Green Party is salvaging the progressive movement in America by running a candidate in the 2004 presidential elections. No, wait; the Green Party is sabotaging America by running a candidate in the 2004 presidential elections. Which is it? Ever since the Bush/Gore/Nader debacle in 2000, sentiments have run high about the Green Party. Now, the party's own Robert Franklin argues in favor of running a candidate, while author and columnist Norman Solomon offers an opposing view -- only in "Electoral Collage," a special edition of Grist Magazine.

Gimme Some More

Wait, that's not all! Also in this special edition, we take a peek at what's going on at the state and local levels in environmental politics for 2003. Meanwhile, everyone's favorite advice columnist, Umbra Fisk, tackles some environmentally minded political questions (is Bush's Texas ranch really off the grid?), and we round up some intriguing facts on the environment and voter participation (9 percent of Americans believe Bush is strengthening environmental protections). All this and more, only in "Electoral Collage," a special edition of Grist Magazine.