TOP STORY
Know Thy ELF
'Eco-terrorism' suspected in Seattle-area arson
Four unoccupied multimillion-dollar homes burned in a Seattle suburb Monday in what officials have reason to believe was eco-related arson. Explosives were found in the homes, and a spray-painted sign out front -- "Built green? Nope black! McMansions in RCDs r not green" -- bore the initials of radical environmental group the Earth Liberation Front. The Woodinville, Wash., homes were built with water-pervious sidewalks, efficient insulation, and recycled materials, but critics had raised concerns that the development could have a negative impact on a nearby creek and wetlands. Said the president of the targeted "Street of Dreams" development, "My understanding is that it was an act of terror." Time for everyone to get hot and bothered about "eco-terrorism" again!
[ email | discuss | + digg | + del.icio.us ]
sources: Associated Press, CNN
see also, in Grist: An interview with jailed "eco-terrorist" Jeffrey Luers, Conflating environmentalists and terrorists is all the rage
Tip #8 from Grist's new green-living guide, Wake Up and Smell the Planet
Q. Are all diapers diabolical?
A. Actually, it's a wash. Sorry to bum you out. Click here for more green-living tips, or buy the book!
TODAY'S NEWS
Starting to Tank
Americans using less gasoline
Well, it's finally happened: Americans are starting to use less gasoline. It took a weakened economy and record oil prices -- crude hit an all-time high of $103.95 a barrel Monday -- but in the past six weeks, U.S. gasoline consumption has fallen by an average 1.1 percent from 2007 levels, the most sustained drop in at least 16 years (excepting the drop-off that followed Hurricane Katrina). As Americans move to mitigate their gas-pump pain by seeking out more fuel-efficient cars, migrating into walkable neighborhoods, and riding public transit, analysts are suggesting that reduced gasoline use could be a long-term trend.
[ email | discuss | + digg | + del.icio.us ]
sources: The Wall Street Journal (access ain't free), Associated Press
Science Unfair!
Climate skeptics hold conference in New York City
A conference of climate-change skeptics gathered in New York City this week to congratulate each other for daring to challenge the accepted science of global warming. A range of high-profile deniers painted themselves as put-upon independent thinkers branded as heretics by the church of climate-change dogma. Films were shown. Speeches were made. Al Gore jokes abounded. But actual climate science was largely avoided. Michael Oppenheimer, a Princeton University geosciences professor, said that with the media and most policymakers now largely ignoring the climate skeptics, "they have to get together to talk to each other, because nobody else is talking to them."
[ email | discuss | + digg | + del.icio.us ]
sources: The Washington Post, The New York Times
see also, in Grist: How to Talk to a Climate Skeptic
Cutting Carbofuran
EPA attempt to ban bird-killing pesticide runs into opposition
The U.S. EPA has proposed a ban on a pesticide lethal to birds, but is running into resistance from the company that produces the chemical. The pesticide, carbofuran, is typically used on crops such as corn, alfalfa, and potatoes, and has been linked to the die-off of 558 separate bird flocks since 1972. A manager with pesticide manufacturer FMC Corp. says carbofuran, "when used according to its label, can be used without causing adverse effects." But the EPA says the chemical poses an avian threat even when used as directed, and that safer alternatives exist. Nonetheless, congressfolk from agricultural states have also asked the agency to withdraw its proposed ban on carbofuran. Wrote Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) in a letter to the EPA, "Utah farmers have expressed to me their mounting concerns over the reduction in the number of agricultural chemicals available to combat pests." Perhaps said farmers would like to get in on the organic market?
[ email | discuss | + digg | + del.icio.us ]
source: The Denver Post
Dam Strait
Western states look into building new dams
Concerned about climate-caused drought, officials in at least six Western states are looking into building new dams to create rain-capturing reservoirs -- even as dams across the country are being torn down over environmental concerns.
[ email | discuss | + digg | + del.icio.us ]
They Doth Protest Again
U.K. activists to hold big protest at coal plant this summer
Activists in the U.K. have announced that an annual weeklong climate camp, held last year to protest expansion of London's Heathrow Airport, will this summer be held at the site of a proposed coal-fired power plant in Kent. In case you're wondering, though, plenty of activists are still quite riled up about Heathrow.
[ email | discuss | + digg | + del.icio.us ]
source: The Guardian
GRIST COLUMNS AND FEATURES
How to green your car
Wherever you are at this moment, you probably won't stay there long. Most of us don't like staying. We like leaving -- in our cars. Americans own nearly 250 million vehicles and take hundreds of billions of trips in them each year. But even if you're an auto-addict, you can still shift into a greener gear. Find out how in today's From A to Green.
[ email | discuss | + digg | + del.icio.us ]
new in Grist: How to green your car
Coming Wednesday: Ask Umbra on organic honey
Grist: Environmental News and Commentary
©2008. Grist Magazine, Inc. All rights reserved. Gloom and doom with a sense of humor®.
No comments:
Post a Comment