Author Archives: Kit Stolz

An emerging environmental/minority climate coalition?

In the Nation, Mark Hertsgaard outlines the possibility of an emerging majority coalition composed of minority and environmental voters: "Just as Latinos overwhelmingly supported Obama over Romney, they also—along with African-Americans, Asian-Americans and youth of all races—demonstrate the highest levels of support for action against climate change and air pollution, according to extensive polling data.  InContinue reading “An emerging environmental/minority climate coalition?”

What’s a few more degrees? Ask the frogs (denier edition)

At the Los Angeles Times, cartoonist/editorialist David Horsey is alarmed about warming:  The climate cnews about 2050 is not good, even for the future of pasta. Though adaptation efforts in agriculture are underway, even in poor countries like Vietnam.  As for frogs, a story by Cheri Carlson in the Star focuses on efforts to move eggs fromContinue reading “What’s a few more degrees? Ask the frogs (denier edition)”

Speaking of heartbreaking: For the child…and the wind

From a collection of poems about the end of the world, in the inevitable New York Times:  LEAVE A MESSAGE When the wind died, there was a moment of silence for the wind. When the maple tree died, there was always a place to find winter in its branches. When the roses died, I respectedContinue reading “Speaking of heartbreaking: For the child…and the wind”

Lord, won’t you buy me a Mercedes-Benz: The Pope

Via man around town Krist Novoselic, formerly of Nirvana, the new Popemobile:  And yes, that's Pope Benedict XVI with his new Mercedes (and its chief exec).   (For those curious about Paul McCartney filling in for Kurt Cobain at a Nirvana reunion for the Sandy benefit fund-raiser, here it is, via Slate. It's not Nirvana,Continue reading “Lord, won’t you buy me a Mercedes-Benz: The Pope”

Breath is God’s intent to keep us living: Mary Karr

The inimitable Mary Karr, author of the spectacular Liar's Club and Cherry, among other excoriatingly beautiful works, is known as a memorist, but deserves to be as well-known as her poetry. She has a clutch of good ones in this month's Poetry magazine (wonderfully laid out and free on-line, as always).  This one is aboutContinue reading “Breath is God’s intent to keep us living: Mary Karr”

How to politely correct a climate denier: Justin Gillis

Justin Gillis, who has taken over the lead reporting duties on climate change from Andrew Revkin at the New York Times, might want to consider tightrope walking in his next life. Consider his exquisitely nuanced recapitulation of an on-line controversy involving a climate change denier named Alec Rawls, who dismisses the entire upcoming fifth assessmentContinue reading “How to politely correct a climate denier: Justin Gillis”

Terrifying geoengineering ideas: Ray Pierrehumbert at AGU

At his much-lauded (and deservedly so) AGU lecture on Successful Predictions (of global warming, a brief history) the delightfully witty Ray Pierrehumbert was asked about the feasibility of geo-engineering. His answer deserves quoting in full, in a text-searchable form: I see lots of [geo-engineering ideas] that are feasible, but they all terrify me. (Except for schemes forContinue reading “Terrifying geoengineering ideas: Ray Pierrehumbert at AGU”

A quick fix for global warming: Replace kerosene lamps

A new study out of UC Berkeley finds that simply replacing kerosene lamps, used by approx one billion people around the world, could substantially reduce black carbon, a tremendously effective heating agent in the atmosphere. From the press release: "7 to 9 percent of the kerosene in wick lamps — used for light in 250-300Continue reading “A quick fix for global warming: Replace kerosene lamps”

Is Earth d**med? AGU scientist Jason Box wants to know

Credit where credit is due: Brilliant story on this year's AGU by Jonathan Mingle in Slate.  Many of us have wondered at some point in almost precisely these terms: “Is Earth F**ked?” But it’s not the sort of frank query you expect an expert in geomorphology to pose to his colleagues as the title ofContinue reading “Is Earth d**med? AGU scientist Jason Box wants to know”