Tuesday, 09 Aug 2005

Swag the Dog

Cool new loot offered as inducement to donate to Grist

You really want to support fresh, funny environmental journalism. And you really like swag. Donate to Grist (it's tax-deductible!) and you could kill two pollutocrats with one stone. For each $50 you give, you'll get a chance to win one of 10 Global Warming Survival Kits. The latest goodie added to the kits: a case of Fizzy Lizzy, the refreshing sparkling-juice "it" drink of the season. And that's on top of the solar backpack, sunhat, ice cream, tree seedlings, solar hat fan, and, oh, let's not forget the multi-purpose tool, sure to dazzle everyone in your ragged band of global-warming survivors. Don't miss out; give to Grist today!


If we had our way, this blurb would consist of just one word: Blimey. Mostly because "blimey" is fun to say, and it's our pathetic way of conjuring Britannia in the minds of those who feast on linguistic stereotypes. But also because it's an appropriate response to a scheme brewing in the U.K. The empire is considering issuing a "carbon card" -- along the lines of a credit card -- to each resident, to help monitor and lower emissions that contribute to climate change. Blimey! What'll they think of next? Mike Wendling explains.

The Migrate Outdoors

As the world gets hotter, migratory animals move north

Reports are piling up of odd animal sightings in northern regions: salmon swimming through the Bering Strait between Alaska and Russia; birds like the Cape May warbler moving from U.S. spruce forests to cooler Canadian climes; a fish usually found off the coasts of Africa or southern Europe swimming in a Norwegian fjord; Texas political hatchet men passing pork-filled legislation in Washington, D.C. Scientists are increasingly worried about the impacts such species shifts may have on delicately balanced ecosystems. Those wandering warblers eat a lot of spruce budworm caterpillars, for example, and warbler-free forests will be more vulnerable to wood-drying infestation and subsequent fires. Though many observers link the migrations to global warming, not everyone is convinced. "If you want to measure temperatures, you use a thermometer, not a bird," said noted climate-change skeptic Fred Singer. "Birds have all sorts of reasons for moving north, south, sideways, or whatever." Ah, those whimsical birds.


The Grist List is officially one week old! (Is that a wrinkle?) This week on the List: panties. What, that's not enough? OK, how about crazy grizzly lovers, organic IKEA food, and more. Check it out, and be sure to sign up to receive The Grist List via email.

Inspect Your Gadget

Impending regulation in Europe may de-toxify electronics worldwide

As the clock ticks down toward a tough new environmental regulation in Europe, electronics manufacturers worldwide are busily reworking their supply chains to create less-toxic gadgets. In July 2006, the Reduction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) rule will go into effect across all 25 member nations of the European Union, severely limiting the import of six key toxic substances regularly used in electronics, including lead and cadmium. Thanks to the size of the European market, RoHS will set a new de facto global standard for limiting toxics in high-tech products, and similar regulations are in the works in Japan and China. Despite the notable lack of such standards at the national level in the U.S., a few states are looking into limiting use of some toxics, like lead. Regardless, American electronics manufacturers will need to comply with RoHS if they want to keep exporting their wares to Europe -- a market worth $41 billion to U.S. manufacturers last year.

Prius-toric

Team achieves 110 mpg in Toyota Prius

If you thought fuel efficiency was cool, wait 'til you meet ... Xtreme fuel efficiency! Rawk! Ahem. A team of five oddly obsessive middle-aged American men, seeking to break the unofficial mileage record set in Japan, recently drove a factory Toyota Prius 1,397 miles on one tank of gas, spending two days circling around one 15-mile stretch of highway near Pittsburgh, Penn. By the end they were tired and sweaty but exultant at achieving a mind-boggling 110 miles per gallon. The key was expert application of the "pulse and glide" hybrid-driving technique -- "like playing a video game," said Dave Bassage, the group's avowed tree-hugger. Hey, it's not the size of the car -- it's how far you can drive it.