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Some stuff in The Nation

The Nation, like just about every lefty media outlet in the world, is running a "Real State of the Union"-type series in their latest issue. It's about what you'd expect. Of particular interest to Gristmillians are Raul Grijalva on "Coming Clean and Green," Marcy Kaptur on "Saving Small Farmers," and Dennis Kucinich on "The Big Fix" (about reconstructing New Orleans).

And while you're over there, you might as well check out Mark Hertsgaard's "Green Power," about the German Green Party, "without question the most influential environmentally based party ever" (despite having been booted from the ruling coalition in the last election).

Who will advocate for green measures that don’t make anyone money?

So, when pondering Bush's upcoming SOTU speech -- specifically, the energy proposals contained therein -- I had a thought (stop the presses!). It's not an original thought, but it's worth discussing in a general way.

What smart greens would like to see happen is a balanced program of changes. A move to clean, renewable energy from an array of decentralized sources, perhaps with some bridging technologies to buffer us until we get there (clean coal, nuclear, etc.). Eventually, electric cars run by renewable power. Also, less driving, more public transit, more compact communities, more sustainable agriculture, more application of the precautionary principle in manufacturing, dramatically improved energy efficiency in all areas of the economy. Etc.

Here's the problem, though: Out of that grab bag of changes, there are two kinds. One kind has the backing of large financial interests. The other doesn't. I fear that difference, rather than any particular suitability to the problems at hand, will decide which are implemented.

Hazel Wolf Environmental Film Festival

Are you an aspiring filmmaker hoping to have your work reviewed by Grist one day? Or perhaps you love watching movies about your favorite subject: the environment! If so, the 8th Annual Hazel Wolf Environmental Film Festival will be taking place March 23 - 26 in Leavenworth, WA.

For a sense of what this year's event will be like, you can watch a video, consisting of footage from previous festivals.

Iran and oil

If you're interested in the energy implications of increasing tensions with Iran, Big Gav has an insanely comprehensive roundup of various discussions of the matter.

Wanna win some money?

The Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes seeks nominations for its 2006 awards. The Barron Prize honors young people ages 8 to 18 who have shown leadership and courage in public service to people and our planet. Each year, ten national winners each receive $2,000 to support their service work or higher education. Half of each year's winners are chosen for their work to protect the environment. Nomination deadline is April 30.

While you were away

I never remember to look at site stats, so I have no real empirical backing for my suspicion that no one reads the blog on the weekend. Nonetheless, that's my suspicion, and since we had lots of good stuff this weekend, I thought maybe I'd do a Monday-morning round-up.

There's been a plethora of good reporting on climate change and related mattersh lately, and I pointed to some from Andy Revkin, Juliet Eilperin, and Jane Kay.

We also recently welcomed two new authors into the Gristmill family (group hug!): Don't miss the first post from Tom Andersen, author of This Fine Piece of Water: An Environmental History of Long Island Sound, and the first post from Christina Larson, managing editor at Washington Monthly.

Word.

Readers write back about the Cape Cod wind-farm project and more

  Re: The Wind and the Willful Dear Editor: While I think RFK Jr. has been a huge and important presence in the enviro community, I can’t agree with him […]

At Least the City’s Back Up and … Oh

Gulf Coast ecosystems slow to bounce back after hurricanes Gulf Coast ecosystems are struggling to rebound from last year’s record hurricane season. Hurricanes Rita and Katrina destroyed over 100 square […]

Ladies and gentlemen, your president

"... I want to see different kinds of cars on our road that don't require upon crude oil from overseas, but we have got a serious problem, and now is the time to fix it, and I'm going to address it again at the State of the Union."

Hunting and fishing groups are increasingly vocal about global warming

If you're a regular Gristmill reader, you've probably already digested this weekend's front-page coverage of climate change in The Washington Post and The New York Times.

Global warming also recently made the cover of Trout, the quarterly magazine of the sportsmen's group Trout Unlimited. The article, "Weathering the Change," explains how climate change could impact stream habitats and trout populations (which thrive in cold waters):

A study prepared in 2002 for the Pew Center on Global Climate Change predicted that a 1.5-degree increase in air temperature in the Rocky Mountain region could reduce suitable stream habitat for trout by 7 to 16 percent. A 4.8-degree increase could reduce habitat by a staggering 42 to 54 percent.

Along similar lines, The Waterfowlers' Guide to Global Warming (PDF), released last summer by the National Wildlife Federation, looks at how rising temperatures could evaporate the water necessary for duck breeding grounds in the U.S. and Canada:

The Prairie Pothole Region contains millions of shallow depressions that fill with water in spring, providing breeding habitat for millions of ducks and other migratory birds and many species of resident wildlife. As the climate warms and evaporation and transpiration by plants increase, many of these ponds are likely to dry up or be wet for shorter periods, making them less suitable habitat for breeding pairs and duck broods. Models of future drought conditions in the region due to global warming project significant declines in Prairie Pothole wetlands, from no change to a loss of 91 percent. This could lead to a 9 percent to 69 percent reduction in the abundance of ducks breeding in the region.

Sportmen's organizations in America have traditionally focused their resources on private habitat-restoration programs. Trout Unlimited, for example, organizes efforts to clean up abandoned mines and watersheds in Appalachia. But such groups are becoming increasingly active in public debates. Bringing their members up to speed on global warming is just one example.

P.S. Pleased to make your acquaintance here at Gristmill. Most of the time I write for The Washington Monthly, where I'm now researching a series of articles on the intersection of rural politics and environmental concerns. Feedback is more than welcome: larson_at_washingtonmonthly.com.