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The Gold Shoulder

Latin American activists have string of successes against gold mines Even with mining laws, environmental laws, and international free-trade agreements heavily weighted against them, activists in Latin America have had […]

Corporations need to be encouraged when they embrace environmental talk, not bashed

After all the hugging and smooching of big corporations on Gristmill today, I thought I'd try to recapture our righteous insurgent credibility by linking to some primo corporation bashing, in the form of GreenLife's just-released list of America's Ten Worst Greenwashers.

But after reading it, I'm afraid I just can't sign on. I may have to go back to being a Running Dog Whore for The Man.

I felt a sense of disquiet as I read through the list, and the reason why is captured perfectly in the "notes on methodology":

Where did all the fishies go?

In all the Northwest's big dailies today: the annual run of big spring Chinook are nowhere to be found on the Columbia River. Normally, by this time of year, roughly 3,100 King salmon have made their way past Bonneville Dam on the Lower Columbia--the vanguard of a run that can easily number a quarter million.

But this year so far, only 200 have arrived. It's the worst early showing since the Bonneville Dam was constructed in 1938. (The last time it was close was 1952 when only 478 had arrived by now.) Scientists are unanimous about only one thing: they don't know what's wrong.

Despite accusations otherwise, U.S. enviros are working to help their Chinese counterparts

I'm going to take my own advice, though I was mostly thinking about oil and global warming. Let's engage.

Cicero, on the neoconservative blog Winds of Change, writes about the recent riots against pollution in rural China:

I would like to see people calling themselves environmentalists take a stand on this. Stopping seal clubbing is not going to change the world. Signing on to feel-good accords like Kyoto accelerates environmental destruction in places like China. Taking a stand with the villagers of Huaxi -- if only a symbolic gesture -- would be a step in the right direction. In the end, we should all do business for child and survival.

I don't think there's any evidence that Kyoto would have any effect one way or the other on "environmental destruction in places like China," so I don't know what he's talking about there. It's a red herring. But China is an environmental catastrophe, and I agree that China's environmental problems are more important than seal-clubbing.

Here's a quick overview of China's disaster from Joshua Kurlantzick:

Pollutocrats need not apply

Must enjoy long walks on the beach and vegetarian cooking. I kid. But seriously, the good folks over at Clean Air-Cool Planet are looking to encourage high-level decision makers in the public and private sectors to attend their upcoming conference: Global Warming Solutions 2005: Navigating the Risks and Opportunities. The conference aims to bring together the private sector, including businesses and investors, with regulators to focus on climate economics and public policy. The two-day event will be held June 8 and 9 at the Roosevelt Hotel in New York City. Conference sessions will include surveys of the latest climate science, advice on navigating new climate-related regulations, and workshops on emerging climate and financial issues. Early-bird registration ends April 30, so hop to it!

Americans want more and bigger stuff, and they’re getting it

Check out Mother Jones' two-page spread on the upsizing of the American Dream (text here or in two PDFs). Here's how it starts:

• Since 1950, the average new house has increased by 1,247 sq. ft. Meanwhile, the average household has shrunk by 1 person.
• The National Association of Home Builders' "showcase home" for 2005 is 5,950 sq. ft. That's 15% bigger than last year's model.
• The Unabomber's legal defense team cited the size of his shack -- 10' x 12' -- to buttress his insanity plea.

Read the whole thing.

(Via Alan)

Poultry in Motion

Poultry-to-oil plant in Missouri struggling to survive Like many renewable-energy ventures, a high-profile processing plant in Carthage, Mo., built to turn turkey waste into usable crude oil has been struggling […]

It’s an Honor Just to Be … Oh, Screw That

Grist flogs Webby nod, shamelessly asks for reader votes Grist is in contention for a Webby Award, like unto an “Internet Oscar.” You know it’s true, ’cause their site says […]

When Bisphenol Is Said and Done

Key ingredient in clear plastics called unsafe, except by industry A chemical widely used in the making of clear plastic products, including baby bottles, food storage containers, and even dental […]

Powerful House committee chair shoots down fuel economy standards

The House Energy and Commerce Committee shot down an effort to raise CAFE standards yesterday. Mike Millikin has the grimy details.

Speaking of that committee, do read today's WA Post profile of its new chair, Joe Barton, a man deeply and unapologetically in the pocket of big industry lobbyists.