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Big stuff could be happening

It isn't a big deal yet, but if this has a measurable effect on the coming elections, it will be seen in retrospect as a big, big deal:

Democratic strategists are joining forces with conservative evangelicals to promote a faith-based campaign on global warming, in an improbable alliance that could boost Democratic hopes of taking control of Congress.

At a news conference today, the president of the Christian Coalition and a board member of the National Assn. of Evangelicals -- both groups closely tied to the religious right -- will announce Call to Action, an effort to make global warming a front-and-center issue over the next three weeks for Christians in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Tennessee, North Carolina, Colorado and several other states with pitched election campaigns.

Fun

Arnold Creek Productions has a whole series of short films -- mainly clips of smart people talking -- about sustainability and related matters. Lots of good stuff.

For instance, you can watch Michael Shellenberger & Ted Nordhaus say reasonably valid things in a tone of insufferable smugness.

Or, if you're less cranky, you can watch pastor Jim Wallis talk about why global warming is a religious issue.

A note to Arnold Creek (and this goes to all the folks out there making online videos): Quicktime won't work on some browsers, and works poorly in others. Same for Real and Windows Media. Start using Flash, like YouTube. And make it easy to embed your videos on other web pages. There's no excuse not to any more.

Unsolicited tech advice: part of the Gristmill value add.

A report shows how big businesses are preparing

The Pew Center published a report today on business strategies for dealing with climate change [PDF]. The report was authored principally by University of Michigan Professor (and recent Grist contributor) Andrew Hoffman.

I've only had a chance to glance at the report, but it looks like good stuff (here's an article about it).

Travis Bradford thinks so

This afternoon I talked with a guy named Travis Bradford, who has a new book out called Solar Revolution (you can read sample chapters here). In it, he makes a rather bold and startling claim. To paraphrase:

In coming decades, solar energy is going to become the dominant energy source on the global market. This is true irrespective of possible increases in the price of fossil fuels; irrespective of possible global warming regulations; irrespective of government subsidies; irrespective of possible future technological advances. Even given conservative assumptions about all those factors, the tectonic forces at work in the global energy situation make solar's dominance inevitable.

Bradford is not some hippie dreamer. He comes from the world of corporate finance, investment funds, and other such things I don't understand. (He now runs the non-profit Prometheus Institute for Sustainable Development.) He doesn't make predictions idly.

Anyway, the Q&A will be up on the site in a week or two. This is just the kind of person I love to meet -- young, knowledgeable, forward-thinking, and in the thick of things rather than shouting from the sidelines. I may try to absorb him into the Grist Borg.

The Bees’ Needs

Scientists worry about declining numbers of honeybees and other pollinators Researchers are warning of a significant population decline in species that together pollinate three-quarters of all flowering North American plants, […]

Power Shift

E.U. launches action plan for reducing energy use The European Union has adopted an action plan for reducing energy use 20 percent by 2020, saying increased efficiency could save it […]

Ice Vice, Baby

Iceland to resume commercial whaling despite international ban Iceland plans to resume commercial whaling for the first time in nearly 20 years, despite an international moratorium. Through August 2007, the […]

Weigh in on the question

Wiscidea raises an interesting question: Could GM be used to reduce the need for fertilizers and pesticides and boost the organic-food market? Would the sustainable-food movement accept genetically modified organic food?

Put aside for a moment the execrable global corporate-welfare copyright clusterfuck that is the current GMO industry.

Imagine instead collaborative, transparent open-source biotechnology, fueled by volunteers or money from progressive foundations, wealthy donors, and NGOs. Unlikely? Yes. But imagine.

Would environmentalists accept it, or is there something intrinsic to genetic manipulation that greens are supposed to object to?

What do y'all think?

U.K. opens eco-friendly chalk building

A new conference and events center in the U.K. is said to be one of Europe's "most sustainable and healthy" structures. And it was built with almost $1.5 million worth of chalk. No kidding.

Extracted from the White Cliffs of Dover, the chalk was literally pounded into place to create the walls of the structure. Other sustainable materials -- like locally sourced clay tiles and an insulated soil roof -- were used as well, and the building as a whole needs just 15 percent of a conventional building's energy requirements.

Revenue from events held at the Pines Calyx will go toward maintaining the grounds. Which, I can only imagine, will involve a lot of dusting. Perhaps they could put those furry hats to use?

Seeking veggie-friendly flu remedies

So I'm feeling a bit under the weather ... and no, I'm not talking about Seattle's forecast. I've been fighting something flu-ish this week -- something involving fever, aches, and an unhappy tummy. It's the third day now, and all I'm munching on is some crackers and tea. Mom says the remedy is some old-fashioned chicken soup. But where does a vegetarian turn in times like these? Many of the vegetable soups out there have an acidic tomato base that isn't appealing. Any of y'all have time-tested soup (or other) recipes to soothe a sickly (but anti-chicken) stomach?