Monday, 31 Jan 2005

By Hook or By Brooks

Richard Brooks, Greenpeace forest crusader, InterActivates

Richard Brooks first battled chainsaw-wielding tree-cutters at age 9 when he stood in front of his family's old willow tree and begged his parents not to let it be chopped down -- it was, after all, perfect for making "Star Wars" light sabers. In the years since, Brooks has studied forestry and joined Greenpeace Canada, where he works as a forest campaigner motivating activists and negotiating with corporations to prevent the demise of ancient forests. He describes the tools he uses (no light sabers involved), why he hates greenwashing, the impact of a crayon-scrawled letter, and more -- in InterActivist, today on the Grist Magazine website. Send Brooks a question of your own by noon PST on Wednesday, Feb. 2.

Purple Haze, All in My Parks

Gas drilling in the West threatens air at national parks

Air quality and visibility at more than a dozen of the nation's oldest and most beloved national parks and monuments, including Mt. Rushmore and Yellowstone National Park, are under threat from the ongoing boom in natural-gas drilling in the Western U.S. Officials from the Bureau of Land Management admit that they were ordered by the White House to fast-track the approval of drilling plans; they did not include any requirements to reduce the expected pollution. Scientists from the BLM, the U.S. EPA, the National Park Service, and the U.S. Forest Service have all expressed concerns about the imminent pollution and the lack of any mitigation or monitoring mechanisms. However, with demand for natural gas rising and Western states still under the impression that their economic fortunes rest with resource extraction, the scientists' concerns -- and a lawsuit recently filed by four enviro groups -- are unlikely to slow the drilling juggernaut.

Where Can a Guy Get a Drink Around Here?

Umbra serves up freshwater facts

Thirsty for an answer, a reader asks how much of the planet's water is drinkable. Research expert Umbra Fisk goes all the way to Canada to find out, digs up handy factoids and analogies, and tries to explain the metric system using truly universal units, like jugs of cider. There's water, water everywhere (in more cubic miles than you thought possible), in Ask Umbra -- today on the Grist Magazine website.

Yucca, Who Needs Ya?

Nuclear advocates take back the whole "Yucca is a necessity" thing

Nuclear advocates have long insisted that the planned nuclear-waste repository at Nevada's Yucca Mountain is necessary before new nuclear reactors can be built, because on-site storage of waste is just too dangerous. But with Yucca's prospects (at least in the short term) looking dim, and the prospects for new reactors looking bright under the "nuclear is renewable" Bush administration, the industry's in a bit of a bind. Industry reps are starting to suggest that hey, maybe on-site or aboveground storage isn't so bad after all. The nuclear-power industry is in a privileged position -- unlike makers of, well, anything else, they have a legal agreement that makes the federal government responsible for their waste, an arrangement that critics say totally distorts the market viability of nuke power. Now nuke advocates face the delicate task of changing their stance on waste disposal without appearing to abandon support for Yucca.

The Truck Stops Here. Please.

Celebrities popularize commercial extreme truck

Move over Hummer. The hip new thing in celeb vehicle bling is the International CXT, or commercial extreme truck. The hugemongous pickup weighs more than twice as much as the Hummer H2 and sits at the height of an 18-wheeler; more important, it can tow a 20-ton yacht and lug another six tons in the truck bed. Celebs like trucker-hat enthusiast Ashton Kutcher who pimp this ride can also expect to get 7 to 10 miles per gallon of diesel fuel and pay up to $120,000, depending on how fully equipped they want it -- some include tiltable truck beds, and one customizer is working on installing a mini-fridge and giant wheel rims. International Truck and Engine -- which manufactures the CXT, alongside cement mixers and dump trucks -- is making plans for more vehicles, including the MXT and the RXT, both of which will be slightly smaller. But then, how will Kutcher carry his six tons of cargo down Rodeo Drive?