Wednesday, 27 Oct 2004

Are You There, God? It's Me, Grist

Christian-right views sway politicians and threaten environment

The politicians endorsed by far-right fundamentalist Christian groups are remarkably consistent in voting against environmental protections. Why would that be? Perhaps because they believe, as Reagan-era Interior Secretary James Watt once put it, "After the last tree is felled, Christ will come back." In other words, environmental destruction merely serves as a harbinger of the End Times, when righteous Christians will be lifted to heaven. These views are not held just by a few fringe types, but by a large and influential voting bloc that backs more than 40 percent of the members of Congress, including much of its leadership. And that's bad news for the planet, writes Glenn Scherer -- today on the Grist Magazine website.

What's Bad for the Goose Is Good for the Pander

Presidential candidates woo outdoor enthusiasts

Ah, to be a member of a voting bloc in a swing state. It must make you feel so special. One such group being assiduously wooed by campaigning presidential hopefuls is the hook-and-bullet crowd, a.k.a. the hunters and anglers. Traditionally conservative sportsfolks are concentrated in states crucial to the candidates' electoral fortunes, and unlike many conservatives, they take conservation seriously -- so Kerry thinks he can snag a few, and Bush is in full pander mode. The president gave his only full interview in recent months to Field and Stream magazine, backed away from some plans to drill in the Rocky Mountains, and rescinded a proposal that would have reduced the acreage of protected wetlands. For his part, Kerry went goose hunting. Oh yeah, and voted consistently in favor of environmental protections for 20 years in the Senate.

The Price Is Finally Right

High oil prices raise interest in renewables, and this time it may stick

Whenever the price of oil spikes, interest in renewable energy spikes along with it -- but despite the perpetual hopes of advocates, interest recedes as prices go back down. This time, though, as oil tops $55 a barrel, it may be different. Really. For one thing, although most analysts agree that the current spike is temporary, the long-term trend is clear: Global supplies of oil and natural gas are dwindling, demand is rising, and prices will trend upward. In addition, renewables are finally more than a novelty. The Rocky Mountain Institute estimates that, at today's average wholesale prices, wind power is running 4.2 cents per kilowatt-hour, with oil power at 9.1 cents, natural gas at 6.8 cents, and nuclear at 10 cents. Large-scale wind farms and renewable-energy targets are springing up in many states. Home Depot is going to sell solar panels. Gas marketers in Seattle and elsewhere are blending ethanol with their gas to save money. FedEx is rolling out a fleet of hybrid trucks. It could be real this time! Really! We hope.

Maple Leaf Drag

Canada slacking off on environmental protection

Canada is not doing enough to protect the environment, concluded a harsh report released yesterday by the nation's commissioner of the environment, Johanne Gelinas. "Why is progress so slow?" she asked. Mandates are in place and commitments have been made, so the culprit must be "lack of leadership, lack of priority, and lack of will," she said. The report outlines several areas where talk is not matched by action or clear measurement. Canada ratified the Kyoto Protocol, but has yet to produce a plan to meet its targets. A 1990 cabinet directive requires all federal departments and agencies to account for the environmental impact of initiatives bound for ministerial approval, but few have developed concrete plans to do so. National salmon policy remains hobbled by a lack of clear objectives or information on salmon populations. And so on. The opposition seized on the report: "When it comes to the environment, this government is racing George W. Bush to the bottom of the international heap," said the New Democrats' Nathan Cullen.

Now That's a Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown

Pumpkins found to absorb pesticides from soil

Pumpkins are not only good for jack-o'-lanterns, pie, and carrying Cinderella home -- they are also extremely effective at drawing persistent organic pollutants like the toxic pesticide DDT out of soil, according to a new study by Canadian researchers. They tested rye grass, tall fescue, alfalfa, zucchini, and pumpkins, but the oddly Halloween-specific orange gourd won by a large margin. While the Canucks acknowledged that phytoremediation -- the use of plants to clean contaminated sites -- will never fully replace more high-tech methods, they suggest that it offers a "green solution" that may work well in communities and countries where such technology is not available. Obviously, DDT-ridden pumpkins would not be used for pies or jack-o'-lanterns (unless some sicko just wasn't satisfied with razors in apples). Rather, they would be buried or incinerated.