Author Archives: Kit Stolz

Contemplating the lace-like fabric of streams outspread over the mountains, we are reminded that everything is flowing — going somewhere, animals and so-called lifeless rocks as well as water. Thus the snow flows fast or slow in grand beauty-making glaciers and avalanches; the air in majestic floods carrying minerals, plant leaves, seeds, spores, with streamsContinue reading “Happy Birthday, Johnnie”

Interesting Q&A from Mother Jones magazine on a group of documentarians (working on a film called "Melting Planet") wrestling with the question of how to bring the issue of global warming home. No one has yet found a simple but effective image to tell the story  (though plenty are looking). The crucial quote: On aContinue reading “Looking for a “Crying Indian””

One of the charms of California’s central coast, at least if you ask yours truly, is that residents in places like Ventura County cannot be counted on to be either left-wing or right-wing; often, they turn out to be neither, or both, or some combination thereof. One such Ventura County resident is a local heroContinue reading “The Cowboy Environmentalist”

Hard-working science reporter Chris Mooney points out that President Bush’s chief science advisor, John Marburger, is talking about climate change and the need to take action. Specifically, in a speech in Boulder, Colorado in February of this year, Marburger said: There simply isn’t any way to do it. You have got to change things veryContinue reading “Global Warming: The White House Position”

According to a story from Editor & Publisher, General Motors’ decision to pull corporate advertising from The Los Angeles Times will cost the newspaper ten million dollars a year — or maybe twenty. (That’s the estimate from the Prudential Equity Group.) If this is how General Motors treats outsiders who criticize its policies, one canContinue reading “LA Times vs. General Motors: Round Two”

Duke Energy, which produces electricity primarily by burning coal, has proposed a tax on carbon.  "As a major coal-burning utility, some might expect us to duck this issue," said James Rogers,  president and chief executive. "But avoiding the debate over global climate change and failing to understand its consequences are not options for us." InterestingContinue reading “Duke Energy Proposes “Carbon Tax””

Thomas Friedman, a moderate columnist for The New York Times, has gone from supporting the Bush administration’s effort in Iraq…to criticizing the Bush administration for a misguided energy policy. Once Friedman was said to be so influential in Washington that even the Bush Administration tracked his columns. But in the last few weeks he’s beenContinue reading “Will George Listen?”

In a recent interview in the NRDC magazine  OnEarth noted wit and prolific novelist T.C. Boyle talked about the fundamental problem with environmental writers like Bill McKibben (who wrote the devastatingly convincing The End of Nature).    The End of Nature is the most depressing book in the history of humankind. I can guess whatContinue reading “Can Enviros Be Funny? T.C. Boyle Thinks So”

 "Get Used to High Gas Prices" reads a headline from Friday April 8th’s Los Angeles Times. In the business section on that same day, the newspaper mentions that General Motors has stopped buying advertising in the paper, claiming the coverage of GM cars was inaccurate — although refusing to specify any particular examples of inaccuracy. Continue reading “Combo of the Week”