If there is one thing the imminent end of the world should not be, it’s boring. I’m sorry, but as much as I admire producer Leonardo DiCaprio for his acting and his long-standing commitment to environmental causes, this is a godawful piece of film. "The 11th Hour" knows a lot about science and the earth,Continue reading “A Short but Unfair Review of “The 11th Hour””
Author Archives: Kit Stolz
Enviro Song of the Year: Steve Earle’s “Down Here Below”
Steve Earle, as I wrote elsewhere, is a unique talent and a unique individual. Though known today for his radical politics, his raspy voice, and his time in jail, we tend to take for granted Earle’s ability to play guitar. We shouldn’t. Earle backed Lucinda Williams on her greatest record, Car Wheels on a GravelContinue reading “Enviro Song of the Year: Steve Earle’s “Down Here Below””
Vegetarian Nudity
I’m all for it. And meat-eating has a major–and negative–impact on the climate. And this is about as close as I’m ever likely to get to a naked Alicia Silverstone. So…
Our Moral Footprint
Great headline in the New York Times atop an op-ed from Vaclav Havel on climate change. I think Havel is one of the great thinkers of our time, have read and reread the piece, and recommend it in full. But here’s what stands out to this reporter. Havel sees climate change not as a technicalContinue reading “Our Moral Footprint”
The Usefulness of Fear, according to Exxon…and IBM
Dave Chase, who once worked for Microsoft, aptly describes the method of Exxon and other global warming deniers as "FUD" — sowing Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt. During the late 80’s and into 90’s, there was a major shift away from so-called “host computing” (i.e., mainframes & minicomputers). That shift nearly killed IBM and did killContinue reading “The Usefulness of Fear, according to Exxon…and IBM”
The Massacre Begins
More news from Asia…as predicted, the Burmese authorities have opened fire on protesters, killing monks and even foreigners, and doing their best to cut the nation off from the outside world. So far, they have not succeeded. In fact, for breaking news on Burma, please see this amazing site, named after Burma’s great river, theContinue reading “The Massacre Begins”
World’s Largest Dam a “Potential Catastrophe,” China Admits
Three Gorges, the world’s largest dam, built over the last decade by China across the Yangtze River, is "a potential catastrophe," Chinese officials now admit. According to [state news agency] Xinhua, the rising volume of water in the reservoir behind the dam has eroded river banks along 91 stretches of the Yangtze, triggering landslides. TheContinue reading “World’s Largest Dam a “Potential Catastrophe,” China Admits”
The “Other America”
A writer for The Guardian recounts a visit to Yosemite and the "other America" he found there. He concludes, somewhat defensively, that beauty can still be found in this "other America." Kind of sad when the only defense against our politics is our land, wouldn’t you say? …what does this have to do with theContinue reading “The “Other America””
Laura Bush Takes Action to Save Burma
Don’t usually discuss non-climate politics in this space, but because I’ve been to the lovely nation of Burma years ago, want to bring up a couple of points. First, until you’ve visited a nation ruled by a Communist dictatorship, it’s difficult to understand how crushing its grip on the population can be. When I visited,Continue reading “Laura Bush Takes Action to Save Burma”
A New Kind of Travel: Climate Tourists
The Wall Street Journal runs a slightly snarky but undeniably fresh article about a new kind of tourism: Global warming has given rise to a new niche in the booming eco-tourism business: climate tourists. These visitors seek out places where a long-term warming trend — subject of a global summit hosted by the United NationsContinue reading “A New Kind of Travel: Climate Tourists”
Kit Stolz 