Friday, 18 Nov 2005

Comedian Larry David -- co-creator of Seinfeld and star of Curb Your Enthusiasm -- is famous for being a curmudgeon, and no wonder. His wife is giving away his Prius, cushiony non-recycled toilet paper has been banned from his home, and he's terribly worried about climate change. At least he'll get to vent some of his angst this Sunday on TBS's "Earth to America!" comedy special about global warming, alongside jokesters like Will Ferrell, Steve Martin, and Ben Stiller. Grist's Amanda Griscom Little chatted with David and got the inside scoop on the show and his reluctant environmentalism.

See You in the Handbasket

Climate-change studies project fun future of droughts, floods, illness

The latest issue of the journal Nature has three new studies on the likely impacts of climate disruption. Turns out it's gonna be a cakewalk! Ah, sadly, we kid. Millions who depend on mountain snow and glaciers for their water supplies -- especially in Asia and South America -- are expected to face shortages as rising temperatures turn snowfall into rain and melt snowpack and glaciers faster than normal, according to one study. Another study forecasts dramatic changes in worldwide streamflow patterns, with many regions unprepared to handle the abnormally timed droughts or surpluses. And a third finds that warming trends have likely led to 150,000 deaths and 5 million illnesses every year for the past 30 years, and that climate change is likely to increase infectious disease outbreaks, respiratory illnesses, flooding, and other calamities -- with poorer countries the hardest hit. "Those least able to cope and least responsible for the greenhouse gases that cause global warming are most affected," said University of Wisconsin-Madison researcher Jonathan Patz. "Herein lies an enormous global ethical challenge." And you know how well we handle those ...


After Hurricane Katrina swamped the Gulf Coast, the words "wetlands" and "levees" were on everyone's lips. If only more swampy areas had been preserved and then could have blunted the storm's force. If only protective infrastructure had been properly maintained so it could hold up to a walloping hurricane. If only the feds had funneled a little more money down south or the states' priorities had been different, all those people wouldn't have been plunged into misery. That got us wondering: Where are the other vulnerable spots in the U.S.? Where's the next "if only"? We talked to experts to find out, and then we made a pretty map for you.

All That's Gold Does Not Glitter

Indonesian judge tosses out pollution suit against mining giant Newmont

This week, an Indonesian judge threw out a $133 million civil suit against Colorado-based Newmont Mining Corp., the world's largest gold miner. Indonesia Environment Minister Rachmat Witular filed the lawsuit in April, charging that a now-closed Newmont gold operation dumped mercury- and arsenic-laden waste into Buyat Bay in an eastern region of Indonesia, sickening nearby villagers with skin and neurological disorders. Newmont hasn't exactly been exonerated: The judge ruled that the case should be resolved through an arbitration court, and that Witular had no legal authority to represent the government. Environmentalists disagree; they're urging the government to appeal. A related criminal trial is still under way -- one that could put Newmont's director in Indonesia, Richard Ness, in jail for up to 10 years.


As InterActivist this week, pilot Rick Durden was bound to get questioned by readers about the eco-appropriateness of the pro-bono flights his organization LightHawk offers to green groups. He explains why taking enviros on aerial jaunts over threatened territory can make a huge contribution, and contends such flights are more part of the solution than part of the problem. He also fields questions about biodiesel jets, plane noise, and some of the amazing things he's seen from the air.

A Green Room of Her Own

Eco-friendly dorm room is part of a greening trend at Berkeley

Eco-conscious college living: not just for off-campus hippies living 12 to a house anymore! At the University of California-Berkeley, sophomore Rachael Robertson lives in what's being billed as America's first green dorm room, replete with energy-saving devices and a free supply of natural toiletries. It's part of a larger movement to bring sustainability to daily campus life, which at Berkeley includes solar panels on the student union, waterless urinals, and cafeteria takeout containers made from biodegradable sugarcane. "A lot of people come to the room thinking ... it's going to have to be something revolutionary -- for me to live sustainably, I'm going to have to change my entire life," says green-room committee member and sophomore Desirae Early. She counters that all it takes are a few small changes -- like the right aluminum-free underarm deodorant, natch -- to make a difference. Have these people not seen the latest issue of Nature?