Articles by Chris Schults

Thank you Alanis, thank you PBS, thank you …

Looks like Oprah and Leo aren't the only celebs concerned about climate change. This week (Wednesday, Nov. 2, 8-9 PM ET/PT), Alanis Morissette will host and narrate a PBS documentary on global warming:

International recording artist Alanis Morissette hosts and narrates a one-hour PBS network prime time documentary on global warming, people across America facing the possibilities of grave consequences of a changing climate, and the innovative individuals, communities, and scientists creating new approaches to safeguard our children's future. Filmed across the U.S., Asia, and South America, this accessible, empowering program brings the reality of climate change to life and offers viewers ways to make a difference in their own communities. See what's melting, what's rising, what's drying up, and what's drowning ... and how school kids, county sheriffs, architects, and community planners are taking action.

You can watch a two-minute preview of the doc here [20MB MPEG] or a smaller promo [3MB MPEG] at www.alanis.com.

Find out which PBS station is airing this documentary in your area.

Dateline NBC explores that question

Here at Grist, we like to keep you on your toes. On the one hand, we tell you that the Christian Right is swaying politicians and threatening the environment. On the other, we show that some of the evangelical leadership is urging its members to adopt eco-friendly living habits and exhorting the government to lighten America's environmental footprint.

For those of you who don't have anything better to do on a Friday night, you have an opportunity for a different perspective. Dateline NBC will be airing "In God They Trust," in which Tom Brokaw "explores why so many Americans are turning to this expression of faith, and asks whether or not some Evangelicals are going too far."

I doubt they will be discussing the environment, but one can pray hope.

And look to nature

Jeremy Faludi over at WC has written what I've found to be a fascinating primer on biomimicry:

It's easy to talk about how exciting biomimicry is, and how we'll see more of it in the future, but it's another thing to actually design and built things that are biomimetic. Most designers, engineers, architects, and other people who build things just don't know that much about biology and the natural world; and even when they do, there's often a gap of capability in available materials, manufacturing methods, and economic systems. Some of these obstacles are out of the designer's hands, and you just have to move on to things that are more feasible. (But don't forget your ideas; maybe ten years from now the technology will be there.) Even with existing technology, however, an enormous realm of possibilities is feasible, it just requires the right approach. Here is my attempt to describe the biomimetic approach, with a comprehensive list of principles. It combines lessons from Janine Benyus, Kevin Kelly, Steven Vogel, D'Arcy Thompson, Buckminster Fuller, Julian Vincent, and my own limited experience. I also mention at the end where biomimicry will not help you, a subject often glossed over, as well as further resources (books and schools).

And to get the discussion going here in Gristmill, are there any natural designs that you think humans can steal learn from?

Japanese dolphins on Primetime

If you found my post about the plight of dolphins in Japan interesting upsetting, ABC News' Primetime will be covering the issue this Thursday:

[T]he popularity of dolphin parks is booming, with visitors lining up to get up close and personal with the adorable animals. But a "Primetime" investigation finds that there's a dark side to the dolphin park industry.

For more information, read the press release from the Earth Island Institute.