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Author |
Published |
Section |
The Missing Links
Public transit ridership is up, but no one's talking about a better system |
Ryan Avent |
06 Jun 2008 |
Grist Feature |
| But how long will they wait for infrastructure improvements? Photo: Sharat Ganapati One year ago, as America prepared for the traditional summer-driving crush, op-ed pages nationwide fretted over a disturbing trend. Only a decade earlier, oil had plumbed depths near $10 per barrel, and dirt-cheap gas had allowed us to roll over the nation's blacktop in vehicles of monster-truck ... |
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| Topics: green living, placemaking, politics, public transportation, sprawl, urban planning (all these topics) |
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From Turnoff to Turn-on
What's on our radar this week |
Sarah K. Burkhalter, Sarah van Schagen |
06 Jun 2008 |
The Grist List |
| By Sarah K. Burkhalter and Sarah van Schagen 06 Jun 2008 Just don't hit eject Overpopulation give you pause? Then give it pause, boys, with a remote control that halts sperm in its tracks. Perfect for dates on fast-forward -- though it does involve microchipping your manhood. But did we mention the remote control? Booty call to action If you're bummed about climate change, panty up for some eco-skivvies. Made in the world's first carbon-neutral clothing factory, these ... |
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| Topics: green living, Grist List, lists (all these topics) |
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Shop on Pop
An eco-friendly gift guide for Father's Day |
Holly Richmond |
06 Jun 2008 |
Grist Feature |
| I will be your father figure, I have had enough of clime. You're already planning to whip up a delectable dinner for Dad; the lawn is freshly mown; and you're saving that request for plumbing advice 'til June 16. What else could a father ask for? If you still feel the need to shop, make sure the green you drop is actually green with these easy-on-the-Earth gift ideas. Mmm, the world of organic beer. Organic swi ... |
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| Topics: green living, green products, holiday, parenting, shopping (all these topics) |
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Neve gonna get it
Neve Campbell's eco-flick won't air in the U.S. |
Sarah van Schagen |
06 Jun 2008 |
Gristmill |
| Neve Campbell. Burn Up is the (totally and completely fictional) story about a clash between Big Oil and Big Green. The Canadian/British miniseries features Party of Five star Neve Campbell as an environmentalist hired to work for an oil company (as a greenwash decoy, of course, though she doesn't realize it until too late ... mwahahaha).Unfortunately for us Yanks, though, Burn Up will not be airing stateside. (At least not yet.) But if you're one of our lu ... |
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| Topics: Big Oil, celebrity, green living, movies (all these topics) |
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Flock Together
New climate campaign aimed at U.S. consumers |
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05 Jun 2008 |
News |
| Posted at 3:30 PM on 05 Jun 2008 A European campaign to raise consumer awareness of climate change has made its U.S. debut. The Together campaign -- not to be confused with the similarly named-and-agendaed "we" campaign -- was initiated by the nonprofit Climate Group and kicked off in the U.S. by California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, and United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon. Var ... |
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| Topics: Arnold Schwarzenegger, climate, consumerism, environmental movement, green living, messaging, news (all these topics) |
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Departed from gasoline
Oceans of love for the Tesla-driving Matt Damon |
Holly Richmond |
05 Jun 2008 |
Gristmill |
| Photo: PBS Not that I'm f*cking (in love with) Matt Damon and would use even vaguely green news as an excuse to write about him -- what would give you that idea? -- but the Bourne star was spotted earlier this week taking a Tesla prototype for a spin. Autofiends.com chatted him up about how fast it accelerates; it took the writer minutes to notice that the guy he was talking to was Damon (!). Ecorazzi reported in August that Damon added his name to a waitin ... |
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| Topics: cars, celebrity, electric vehicles, green living, hotties (all these topics) |
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Red, White, and Green
A primer on organic wines, and a sweet way to bring them to the table |
Roz Cummins |
05 Jun 2008 |
'Tis the Season |
| Psst! Organic wine doesn't suck. About 15 years ago, a friend brought an organic wine to a dinner party I was giving. He explained to me that in addition to being made from grapes that are grown organically, organic wines don't contain any added sulfites (some sulfites occur naturally as a result of the fermentation process). Since I try hard to use organic products as much as I ... |
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| Topics: food, green living, recipes, Tis the Season (all these topics) |
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Take a Number
On carbon calculators |
Umbra Fisk |
04 Jun 2008 |
Ask Umbra |
| Dearest Umbra, I recently heard an interesting interview on NPR, and the speaker was talking about how, to stop global warming, all humans would have to limit their carbon emissions to just one ton of carbon per person, per year. I've never weighed my carbon emissions, but I'm going to guess that I throw a lot more weight around than one ton. What would I have to do to slim my ton to one? I'm approaching my carbon tonnage like a diet ... |
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| Topics: advice, Ask Umbra, climate, climate change mitigation, ecological footprint, green living, greenhouse-gas emissions (all these topics) |
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Atoning for a carbon footprint?
Ian McEwan writing a novel about climate change -- with funniness! |
Lisa Hymas |
04 Jun 2008 |
Gristmill |
| Ian McEwan. Photo: Eamon McCabe Booker Prize-winning British novelist Ian McEwan, now best known for Atonement, is at work on a new novel about climate change that will include 'extended comic stretches,' The Guardian reports. The unnamed work isn't due out for another two years, but McEwan read an excerpt to an audience in Wales on Sunday. The protagonist of the forthcoming novel is Nobel Prize-winning physicist Michael Beard, who aspires to save the planet, ... |
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| Topics: books, climate, gossip, green living (all these topics) |
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Discover Planet Green
Discovery's new green network launches tomorrow |
Sarah van Schagen |
03 Jun 2008 |
Gristmill |
| Do not adjust your television set. What you are seeing -- the rebranding of Discovery Home Channel as Planet Green -- is perfectly normal. Actually, it's better than normal; it's making 'green' normal.Beginning at 6 p.m. EDT tomorrow, some 50 million homes will be introduced to 250 hours of original green lifestyle programming as the 24/7 Planet Green network launches. Here's a look at the lineup:Premiering in JuneAlter EcoThe Show Formerly Known As The ... |
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| Topics: celebrity, green living, messaging, TV (all these topics) |
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Are we medicating and educating our solutions away?
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JMG |
02 Jun 2008 |
Gristmill |
| Best talk on education ever, from Sir Ken Robinson: |
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| Topics: education, green living, parenting (all these topics) |
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Some like it really hot
An Inconvenient Musical plays on |
Sarah van Schagen |
02 Jun 2008 |
Gristmill |
| Think the idea of An Inconvenient Opera is a bit off-key? You might be singing a different tune after reading this: Apparently, An Inconvenient Musical opened to sold-out crowds in Toronto last summer. Says Kurt Firla, co-director/writer of the production:It's a satirical look at the climate crisis, corporate greed, and the general public's reluctance to do anything about the problem. It features some of Toronto's top improvisers/comedians, and we're giving $1 from ... |
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| Topics: An Inconvenient Truth, Canada, climate, green living, music (all these topics) |
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A Lung Time Coming
Ozone-depleting asthma inhalers being phased out |
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02 Jun 2008 |
News |
| Posted at 10:27 AM on 02 Jun 2008 Asthma inhalers containing ozone-depleting chlorofluorocarbons will be phased out by the end of 2008, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced Friday. The phaseout of CFCs is required under the Montreal Protocol, an international treaty that the United States actually deigned to sign on to. Alternatives to CFC inhalers use hydrofluoroalkanem as a propellant; HFA inhalers may taste differe ... |
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| Topics: Food and Drug Administration, green living, health, international treaties, news, ozone (all these topics) |
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On the Ball: For compete's sake
Your sporting roundup for the month |
Sarah K. Burkhalter |
02 Jun 2008 |
Gristmill |
| Apparently, people are still playing sports. Who knew? Beijing Olympics 2008: The Games will be 'basically' carbon neutral, according to one official. Technology Minister Wan Gang predicts that the Olympics will emit 1.3 million tons of carbon dioxide -- thanks in large part to athletes' travel -- but that keeping cars off the road and planting trees will 'ensure that emissions will be balanced.' China's Environmental Protection Minister expressed cautious optim ... |
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| Topics: sports, green living, China (all these topics) |
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Hurdles for new transportation technology
More hybrid electric bikes hit the streets |
biodiversivist |
31 May 2008 |
Gristmill |
| I have received hundreds of emails from people wanting to build a hybrid electric bike. I have a standard response that attempts to dissuade them, which seems to work pretty well: You will have to spend about $1,400 on parts, excluding the bicycle. When it breaks -- and it will break -- you will be on your own to fix it. If you are not a reasonably fit cyclist and expect this bike to perform like a scooter, you are going to be disappointed. This generally takes ca ... |
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| Topics: bikes, green living (all these topics) |
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Leading to problems
Implications of the study linking childhood lead exposure and adult criminality |
Liz Borkowski |
30 May 2008 |
Gristmill |
| A study just published in the journal PLoS Medicine (and written up in the L.A. Times) suggests a link between childhood lead exposure and adult arrests for violent crimes. Studying 250 adults for whom they had prenatal and childhood blood lead level measurements, University of Cincinnati researchers found that each 5-microgram-per-deciliter increase in blood lead levels at age 6 was associated with a nearly 50 percent increased risk of arrest as a young adult (the ris ... |
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| Topics: environmental justice, green living, health, parenting, scientific research, toxics (all these topics) |
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When Casual Friday Means Pajamas
More employees encouraged to telecommute, work short weeks |
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30 May 2008 |
News |
| Posted at 3:20 PM on 30 May 2008 Employers across the country are offering workers the option to telecommute or work a four-day week to help cut down on fuel costs. Compressed work weeks are particularly attractive to employees who work in places without reliable mass transit -- especially since a 10-hour day can mean coming in early and leaving late enough to avoid rush hour traffic. As an added bonus, ... |
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| Topics: green living, news, placemaking (all these topics) |
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From Libretto to Liquor
What's on our radar this week |
Sarah van Schagen, Sarah K. Burkhalter |
30 May 2008 |
The Grist List |
| By Sarah van Schagen and Sarah K. Burkhalter 30 May 2008 Truth or falsetto An Inconvenient Truth gives its encore performance -- at the Milan opera house. Climate change ain't over 'til the fat Albert sings. Photo: Gil Cohen Magen / Reuters Lookin' fin Feel like a fish out of water? Slip into an itsy bitsy teeny weeny salmon skin bikini. Made from discarded scales and trimmed in Lycra, they may cost a lox, but your chums will surely filet envious. Pop on pop Think t ... |
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| Topics: green living, Grist List, lists (all these topics) |
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Candy-shaped rat poison on its way out
EPA gives manufacturers three years to adjust to new regulations designed to protect children |
Fawn Pattison |
30 May 2008 |
Gristmill |
| The U.S. EPA announced today that it would be tightening up the safety requirements on ten nasty rodenticides that are blamed for poisoning around 10,000 children -- mostly black and Latino inner-city kids -- every year. Those ten chemicals will no longer be available in the form of little pellets that look like candy, and that small children are so prone to stick in their mouths. The new rules will require non-agricultural users of rat poison to use it only inside tam ... |
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| Topics: green living, health, parenting, regulation, toxics, US EPA (all these topics) |
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Mow and mow worse
My yard, a source of shame |
Katharine Wroth |
30 May 2008 |
Gristmill |
| When my fella and I bought our house last year, we tried to make thoughtful decisions as we accessorized our new lives -- years of editing Umbra have left me with little choice. So we bought a reel mower -- completely manual, no gas, no cord, just a few blades and some sweat. And I'm here to report: Our mower sucks. It rattles. It doesn't cut all that well. It completely misses the tall, thin weeds that have populated our lawn this spring, so that even after a fre ... |
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| Topics: gardening, green living (all these topics) |
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Together at the Table
Toward a civil, inclusive national conversation on food -- over a savory tart |
Kurt Michael Friese |
29 May 2008 |
Chef's Diary |
| As the date for Slow Food Nation -- the big sustainable-food conference scheduled in San Francisco this coming August -- draws near, I've been thinking about attitudes toward food in the erstwhile Fast Food Nation. Like a big pot of water that's been on high heat seemingly forever, our national conversation on food seems to be reaching a boil at long last. Slow F ... |
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| Topics: Chef's Diary, food, green living, recipes (all these topics) |
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Truth or falsetto
Inconvenient Truth gives an encore -- as an opera |
Sarah van Schagen |
29 May 2008 |
Gristmill |
| Climate change ain't over 'til the fat Albert sings ... |
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| Topics: Al Gore, An Inconvenient Truth, green living, heroes (all these topics) |
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A fool and his money
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David Roberts |
29 May 2008 |
Gristmill |
| I'm guessing these people just want attention, so I'll give them a little: Conservative grassroots group Grassfire.org wants people to waste as much energy as possible on June 12 by 'hosting a barbecue, going for a drive, watching television, leaving a few lights on, or even smoking a few cigars.' But only a little. |
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| Topics: dumbassery, energy, green living, holiday, websites (all these topics) |
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Metro Effectual
City residents emit less CO2, study says |
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29 May 2008 |
News |
| Posted at 6:58 AM on 29 May 2008 Residents of the 100 largest metropolitan areas in the United States emit less carbon dioxide pollution per capita than the U.S. average, according to a new study. The Brookings Institution analyzed data on household and transportation energy use and found that the average U.S. resident was responsible for about 2.87 tons of carbon pollution a year, but that residents of the U.S.'s 100 largest metro areas ... |
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| Topics: green living, news, placemaking, United States, urban planning (all these topics) |
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Heating heaven
Early appearances of climate change in popular literature |
Erik Hoffner |
28 May 2008 |
Gristmill |
| Last week, I picked up a copy of the newly reissued 1971 Ursula Le Guin classic The Lathe of Heaven, which takes place in dystopic, post-collapse Portland, Ore., circa 2002 or so. It's typical brilliance from Le Guin, of whom I can't read enough, but I was interested to see that the novel begins by describing Mt. Hood devoid of snow due to the greenhouse effect. The climate is entirely different from that of the 1960s, with blue skies a thing of the past and rainfall pa ... |
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| Topics: books, climate, climate change impacts, green living, Portland (all these topics) |
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