Wednesday, 18 Jan 2006

Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer (D) is a rising star who's reshaping his state's political scene -- and giving renowned environmental writer Rick Bass a feeling of Clintonesque déjà vu. Organic farmer Jon Tester -- who's likely to challenge Sen. Conrad Burns (R) this year -- is also stirring things up in Big Sky Country. Bass examines the likely effect on wilderness campaigns and other enviro issues in the state. And in a separate opinion piece, former Montana Rep. Pat Williams celebrates the way his fellow Westerners are keeping pols from selling and developing their land.

Keeping Up With the Bushes

Conservative Canadian politico vows to back out of Kyoto agreement

As Canada's federal election looms -- yes, Canada is having an election -- Conservative leader Stephen Harper is campaigning on virtually abandoning the Kyoto accord on climate change. Harper, who proclaimed in 2004 that the treaty would never become international law (oops), says victorious Conservatives would jettison mandatory targets and timelines for reducing greenhouse-gas emissions in favor of voluntary ones. The Canadian Climate Coalition accuses Harper of putting Canada "into the same camp as U.S. President George W. Bush." Liberal Prime Minister Paul Martin is using the issue to hit back at Harper, exhorting Canadians to vote their values -- and most Canadians say they support Kyoto. The election, for those of you who haven't been following closely (ahem), is Jan. 23.


If your computer is becoming obsolete (i.e., you bought it more than a month ago), you're probably already itching for an upgrade. But what's the most earth-friendly brand to buy? The answer depends on a bevy of factors, which advice maven Umbra Fisk spells out in today's column -- by pecking on her old Smith Corona, of course.

Here Today, Oregon Tomorrow

Feds say local recovery plan is enough to save Oregon's coastal coho

Oregon coastal coho salmon will not be returned to the federal threatened species list. The National Marine Fisheries Service says there's no need for federal protections, crediting improving fish numbers to the recovery plan developed by a coalition of local, state, and federal players, including the timber and agricultural industries. Coastal coho runs dropped to about 25,000 fish in 1997 -- from historic highs of about 1 million -- and currently hover around 100,000, according to Oregon wildlife officials. But salmon advocates, including some NMFS scientists, worry the stock's comeback may be due to recent weather patterns producing more food in the ocean, a variable that can change over time.

I Am Dyin', Hear Me Roar

Lion advocates support trophy hunting to help save big cats

When one contemplates saving an endangered species, one's thoughts naturally turn to ... shooting it. (Wait, yours don't?) So it is with the fast-shrinking lion population of southern and eastern Africa: A historic meeting of conservationists, regional government representatives, and safari hunters last week in South Africa concluded that legal trophy hunting might be just the ticket to preserving the iconic great cats in the wild. Trophy hunting, combined with other strategies like strong crackdowns on illegal lion kills, could help save lion habitat and finance conservation efforts. Lions have disappeared from about 80 percent of their historic range in Africa, thanks to habitat loss, disappearance of wild prey, and more human-lion conflicts -- all of which are likely to increase if Africa's human population continues to grow.