Category Archives: activism

How the poor go from food stamps to “food swamps”

All year the Washington Post has been running a series on food stamps that will drop your jaw, but probably the best of all has been this report from South Texas called Too Much of Too Little: McAllen, Tex. — They were already running late for a doctor’s appointment, but first the Salas family hurried intoContinue reading “How the poor go from food stamps to “food swamps””

Deniers scoff at Typhoon Yolanda (aka Haiyan)

From the New York Times:  CEBU, Philippines — One of the most powerful typhoons ever recorded now appears to have devastated cities, towns and fishing villages with heavy loss of life when it played a deadly form of hopscotch across the islands of the central Philippines on Friday. The first and most vocal city to cryContinue reading “Deniers scoff at Typhoon Yolanda (aka Haiyan)”

Muirtweets: Like a wind full of thistledown

A year or two ago I launched a Twitter stream devoted to the thoughts of a hero of mine, John Muir, believing that no one better inspires a person to explore nature.  To be honest, found myself overwhelmed by life and dropped that thread for a while, only to pick up my current edition ofContinue reading “Muirtweets: Like a wind full of thistledown”

Conservative media can’t handle climate change news

In a column today in the Washington Post, Michael Gerson, who once wrote speeches for George Bush, Jr., complains to the Tea Party, re: Obamacare, "You can't handle the truth!" Gerson puts it a little more politely, saying that the Tea Party in Congress "is against anyone who accepts the constraints of political reality." TheContinue reading “Conservative media can’t handle climate change news”

What is the use of forty days in the wilderness?

From a defense of solitude in wilderness, called Forty Days, by Paul Kingsnorth: Sometimes you need to go, and sometimes you need to stay away for some time. The world we have created is terrifying in its complexity and power and in its ability to destroy the small, the precious, the immeasurable and the meaningful, insideContinue reading “What is the use of forty days in the wilderness?”

Remembering the March on Washington: Dylan and Baez

The 50th anniversary remembrance of Dr. King‘s famous March on Washington raised some questions. Kevin Drum (and Chris Matthews) wondered why the Republican party, despite much effort, could not find a single speaker willing to be associated with Dr. King, the great black man who spoke for justice and equality. And ever-thoughtful Randy Lewis forContinue reading “Remembering the March on Washington: Dylan and Baez”

Californians: Not so dumb after all

California's electrical use vs. the rest of the country, per capita: [chart from the US Energy Information Administration] Most analysts credit the state's aggressive push for green energy, insulation, and the other efficiency measures. After all, the state has some of the highest prices in the country. But some wonks disagree.  Don't they always? 

When agencies attack: Interior vs. State on Keystone XL

As another excellent story from Neela Banerjee in the Los Angeles Times makes clear, w the Department of Interior thinks the State Department is just ignoring its concerns on wildlife issues on the controversial Keystone XL pipeline project. Reading only slightly between the lines, Interior looked at State's "it's not going to be a problem"Continue reading “When agencies attack: Interior vs. State on Keystone XL”

Wildlife Conservation: Huge owls need huge trees

Sometimes news about wildlife and habitat isn't surprising, but worth resposting anyhow, for its own sake, just as species are worth saving for their own sake. Here's an example, a news release today from the Wildlife Conservation Society: A study spearheaded by the Wildlife Conservation Society and the University of Minnesota has shown that theContinue reading “Wildlife Conservation: Huge owls need huge trees”