When the august Financial Times of the UK compares the financial crisis with the climate crisis, and sees the financial crisis as a lesser concern, you know the future in the 21st century is not looking good: The International Energy Agency warned last month that without drastic action to curb greenhouse gases, the world wasContinue reading “Civilization Endangered — but Bruce to Play Inauguration!”
Author Archives: Kit Stolz
From Shock to Trance: Gore Praises Obama’s Analysis
You can almost hear the relish in Al Gore's voice as he digs into the details of climate policy with Fahreed Zakaria of Newsweek in a Q&A called Don't Count on Magic. And although Gore doesn't seem have much faith that Congress will do the right thing, he did speak up for the President, er,Continue reading “From Shock to Trance: Gore Praises Obama’s Analysis”
Quote of the Week: George Bush on Life and Death
As I said, some times are happy, some not happy. I don't want people to misconstrue. It's not — I don't feel joyful when somebody loses their life, nor do I feel joyful from somebody loses a job. That concerns me. George W. Bush, 11/30/08
Hansen Faces Hatred and Death Threats
I interviewed author Mark Bowen a year ago about James Hansen, the great climatologist, with whom Bowen wrote the book Censoring Science. Somehow the discussion went to the intensity of reaction against Hansen from those who refuse to accept the reality of global warming. Bowen mentioned that Hansen had gotten some death threats. He saidContinue reading “Hansen Faces Hatred and Death Threats”
Richard Halsey: Chaparral is Not for Burning
The Los Angeles Times is quite literally not what it used to be. Just five years ago it employed a thousand or more editors and writers; now it's down to about 600, according to former staffer Kevin Roderick's LA Observed. The daily paper weighs about half, often less, of its older, richer self. One canContinue reading “Richard Halsey: Chaparral is Not for Burning”
Financial Meltdown of 2008: A Crisis or a Correction?
In an article in The Progressive, Ruth Coniff blames consumerism for the financial meltdown: A front-page story in The New York Times, "To Buy Children's Gifts, Mothers Do Without," describes a trend away from shopping responsible for an 18.2 percent drop in women's clothing sales from a year ago. People are curbing the Christmas binge,Continue reading “Financial Meltdown of 2008: A Crisis or a Correction?”
Bush Irrelevant, World Leaders Agree
Back in September 2002, in a speech to the General Assembly of the United Nations as part of his laborious effort to justify the invasion of Iraq, George Bush asked: Will the United Nations serve the purpose of its founding, or will it be irrelevant? Now the wheel has turned, and the man who wasContinue reading “Bush Irrelevant, World Leaders Agree”
Thanksgiving
We all have many blessings to be thankful for. For myself, family and friends most of all, But today I am going to be thankful for the rain we had over the last couple of days, which has made our property on the creek rich with the smell of the leaves and the land…oaky, damp,Continue reading “Thanksgiving”
Nothing is More Conservative
In l990, Gary Snyder dedicated a new library at UC Davis with a magnificent speech, perhaps the single most eloquent “environmental” speech I’ve ever heard or read. In it he gave us the library as a watershed, of things and thoughts, and found its commonality with the land on which it stands. It’s called “TheContinue reading “Nothing is More Conservative”
Experts Agree on Rain Forecast: It’ll Be Dry. Or Not.
If you talk to the National Weather Service, they will tell you (link) that we're in an "ENSO-neutral" condition, and for that reason they're unwilling to predict the upcoming rain season in our region. But according to this typically excellent story from Rob Krier at the San Diego Union-Tribune, many forecasters who spoke at aContinue reading “Experts Agree on Rain Forecast: It’ll Be Dry. Or Not.”
Kit Stolz 