From Time we hear that as a newly-elected Mayor of Wasilla, Vice-Presidential nominee Sarah Palin tried to ban books from the town library: One thing all sides agree on is that the valley was in flux. The old libertarian pioneer ethos was giving way to a rising Christian conservatism. By shrewdly invoking issues that matteredContinue reading “What Books Would Sarah Palin Ban if Sarah Palin Could Ban Books?”
Category Archives: activism
STOP THE PRESSES! Rush Limbaugh Sees Environmental Problem
For perhaps the first time ever in his radio career, Rush Limbaugh has spotted an environmental problem. He talked about how bad publicity thanks to Hurricane Gustave could hurt the image of the Republican convention on Wednesday. He asked former Republican candidate Mike Huckabee a question about it live on the air on Wednesday: LIMBAUGH: Continue reading “STOP THE PRESSES! Rush Limbaugh Sees Environmental Problem”
Why Editorials Mean Nothing in the Age of Bush
Well, I exaggerate. A little. Not much. Here’s an example: The New York Times editorializing against the latest outrage from the Bush administration, their attempt to kill the Endangered Species Act: The Bush administration has never masked its distaste for most environmental laws or its ambitions to thwart Congress’s will. Now in its waning months,Continue reading “Why Editorials Mean Nothing in the Age of Bush”
Another Reason To Fear the Factory Farm
Superbugs. An alarming story in this week’s The New Yorker focuses on man-made new diseases that cannot be eradicated with almost anything except bleach, even inside hospitals. The writer quotes Michael Pollan to explain the connection to your local meat factory: “Seventy per cent of the antibiotics administered in America end up in agriculture,” MichaelContinue reading “Another Reason To Fear the Factory Farm”
Green and Conservative in East Tennessee
Interesting post from Kayla Webley of Off the Bus, who reports (here) that East Tennessee is conservative politically — and environmentally. …conservative here implies much more than tight tax laws and low government interference. To be conservative is, well, to conserve. "It’s been interesting living in East Tennessee because I think it is very muchContinue reading “Green and Conservative in East Tennessee”
Stewart Brand on Why the Country Sucks
Short but fascinating Power Q & A with the great environmental activist Stewart Brand, courtesy of the revamped Mother Jones: MJ: What is your favorite personal energy-saving trick? SB: I live in a tugboat with 450 square feet. And living in a city is bloody brilliant, especially in Manhattan, which has good public transit andContinue reading “Stewart Brand on Why the Country Sucks”
Young Enviro Activist Slams Street Theater
Blunt post from Rachel Barge (here) at the leading youth climate site, It’s Getting Hot in Here, on why environmental street theater is counter-productive. She writes: I think there’s 3 major chain-reaction problems with using street theater as a means to build a movement: 1. We look stupid2. People feel alienated3. ItContinue reading “Young Enviro Activist Slams Street Theater”
The Tax That Might Just Save the World
Those wild-haired nutjobs at the Financial Times explain. Using statistics and studies to delve below the obvious (prices go up, people become conscious of their energy useage — and waste). It’s textbook economics: In the long run, simple energy saving should trim energy demand by 3 to 5 per cent for each 10 per centContinue reading “The Tax That Might Just Save the World”
Keeping Dead Orangutans Out of Your Hair
Good to see my fellow writer on Grist, Glenn Hurowitz, pop up in the Los Angeles Times. His op-ed against the use of palm oil is a good model, I think, of how to firmly but fairly encourage people not to use products that destroy planetary health. He writes: While showering a few weeks ago,Continue reading “Keeping Dead Orangutans Out of Your Hair”
“Gas Tax Holiday” Will Flop, Experts Say
Now that the would-be Panderer-in-Chief, Hillary Clinton, has joined with Republican candidate John McCain in calling for a "gas tax holiday" this summer, the Wa-Po’s "Fact Checker" asks: Will it work? Short answer: no. Why? Two words: supply and demand. Some economists say that a nationwide "gas tax holiday" would have even less impact onContinue reading ““Gas Tax Holiday” Will Flop, Experts Say”
Kit Stolz 