From a (typically excellent) NPR science story, this one about Ken Caldeira, the Stanford researcher into ocean acidification: "Decades ago, everybody was smoking cigarettes — and it was acceptable to smoke cigarettes indoors," [Caldeira] says. "And there was a phase change in social acceptability, where it is no longer acceptable to dump your cigarette smoke in airContinue reading “How to stop global warming: Ken Caldeira”
Category Archives: activism
Don’t like the latest science? Kochify the News!
As has been much discussed, the Tribune chain of newspapers — including the Los Angeles Times — is up for sale, and the billionaire Koch Brothers say they want to buy it, according to reliable sournces, including the Wall Street Journal. A HuffPo summary: Tribune emerged from bankruptcy in 2012, and began preparations to sell offContinue reading “Don’t like the latest science? Kochify the News!”
Climate Myths: The Campaign against Climate Science
Energy analyst Dr. John Berger's Climate Myths: The Campaign against Climate Science expertly separates climate fact from misinformation, and is especially good at reminding us of past deceptions put out by fossil fuel companies. Who can forget, for instance, The Greening Earth Society? "A creation of the Western Fuels Association," writes Berger, "…this benevolent-sounding "green organization"Continue reading “Climate Myths: The Campaign against Climate Science”
Mad Men of climate change denial: Steve Brodner
The right has its ways and means, but the left — as usually seems to be the case — has the artists, including Steve Brodner. No else depicts the banality of climate change deniers (er, "skeptics") with quite the same verve (and this is just the sketch — for the color/adman version, see this): ForContinue reading “Mad Men of climate change denial: Steve Brodner”
The Control of Nature: Rachel Carson
Fascinating little known fact: Rachel Carson's last great book was called "Silent Spring," but the title she first chose for it was "The Control of Nature." She believed that humanity was making a huge mistake when it came to the world around us, applying chemicals recklessly to the natural world and to our foods, and,Continue reading “The Control of Nature: Rachel Carson”
The fall of a mighty oak: The Guardian notices
Nothing against new style longform journalism, but let's give credit where credit is due to a tradional but awesome story from The Guardian on the greatest tree in Wales, and how it fell (but could possibly have been saved). No one knew quite how old it was because it had lost its heartwood, but MichaelContinue reading “The fall of a mighty oak: The Guardian notices”
Want to boycott Koch Bros. products? There’s an app…
The 21st century has another technological moment. Yesterday a new application for mobile phones was released. It can reveal to a shopper with a smartphone what products profit the fossil fuel billionaires the Koch brothers. The app, called Buycott, is eighteen months in the making, and actually is designed to reveal the corporate structures behindContinue reading “Want to boycott Koch Bros. products? There’s an app…”
Climate change denial stands on one leg: Money
Chris Hayes throws a fit over climate denial and inaction tonight on his MSNBC show: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32545640 Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy Extensively quotes from a speech of true outrage and conviction on climate conservation, seventeen minutes long, delivered on the Senate floor by Senator Sheldon WhitehouseContinue reading “Climate change denial stands on one leg: Money”
Wild Ones: Saving Endangered Species (w/soundtrack)
Ever heard of a soundtrack to a book? Me neither, but that's what we have here with blackprairie (including members of the Decembrists) and their lovely, moving collection of songs to a forthcoming book about efforts to save three endangered species, called Wild Ones. The author got to know Chris Funke and friends before theyContinue reading “Wild Ones: Saving Endangered Species (w/soundtrack)”
Alice Waters comes to Ojai for Food for Thought
Alice Waters, famous for Chez Panisse, the restaurant, and for her many cookbooks, brought her own wise self to a celebration of the tenth year of Food for Thought, friends Dave White and Jim Churchill's effort to bring gardens, fresh food, and more to the schoolchildren of Ojai. Wonderful produce (produced in the schoolyards) alongContinue reading “Alice Waters comes to Ojai for Food for Thought”
Kit Stolz 