Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is hovering at a landmark 400 parts per million, a level never before experienced by human beings. Scientists say we’re playing with fire, risking the planet’s future if we don’t start to lower the greenhouse gas levels forcing climate change. How should we react to this news? First, we need to envision climate change more accurately, as a deadly threat.
Tags: · 400 ppm, BarbaraKesslerBlog, Carbon Dioxide, Climate Change, CO2 pollution, disease, Drought, fires, Forest, freshwater, global warming, Greenhouse Gases, ice melts, Oceans, planet, rising seas, super storms, Wildlife
I remember 2007, when we started this website. People were tip-toeing toward greener behaviors. Activists were writing kids’ books explaining the greenhouse effect and urging tots to turn off the faucet while brushing their teeth. Scholars had assembled tomes, politely pointing out that we’d be running out of oil pretty soon. How things have changed on this Earth Day 2013…
Tags: · BarbaraKesslerBlog, Climate Change, Earth Day, food system, Fossil Fuels, GMOs, green incentives, Keystone XL pipeline, Plastic bottles, pollution, Recycle & Reuse
You know those righteous 20-somethings you see on the news inveighing about how they’ve got the Earth on their shoulders and have to pick up the pieces of their wanton, consumerist elders? They do have a burden unlike any previous generation. God help ‘em. But here’s a little secret, they’re no greener than those elders, in fact, the Boomers out-green their kids in significant ways, according to a new survey by DDB.
Tags: · BarbaraKesslerBlog, Climate Change, Earth Day, Electric Cars, Fossil Fuels, Green Events, green survey, Packaging, Recycle & Reuse, reuse
Can one person make a difference? Each Goldman Environmental Prize recipient has. But it wasn’t easy. These grassroots environmentalists faced down pollution, mining and drilling interests, entrenched officials and even assassination their efforts to save and restore natural lands, stop air pollution and encourage recycling. Read on for inspiration…
Tags: · BarbaraKesslerBlog, coal pollution, fracking, incinerators, land conservation, Recycle & Reuse, waste
The Mayflower, AR, oil spill did not involve tar sands oil, but was regular heavy crude from Canada. ExxonMobil is setting the record straight, and so are we. Still, it looks like a gooey mess out there in Arkansas.
Tags: · Arkansas, BarbaraKesslerBlog, crude oil, diluted bitumen, Exxon, Green Energy, Mayflower, oil sands, oil spill, tar sands
When last we wrote about the notorious “Monsanto rider” tucked into the last big federal budget bill, it appeared to have attached itself magically to the legislation. No one stood up and claimed ownership. But of course someone originated the insidious rider, which gives Monsanto carte blanche to plant, even in the face of federal lawsuits.
Tags: · BarbaraKesslerBlog, Food & Water Watch, Food Democracy, foods, GE, GMO, Missouri, money in politics, Monsanto rider, Organic Consumers Association, Sen. Roy Blunt
I am saddened when I visit most bookstores these days, and that goes even for the big chain stores that I know have made it difficult for local booksellers. I feel for all of them, because no matter what time of day I visit, it seems a little quieter at that time than it used to be.
Tags: · BarbaraKesslerBlog, bookstores, community, digital books, Roanoke, The Book Carriage, TX
Despite opposition from farm and food groups, and a petition on SIgnOn.org, Congress passed the controversial Monsanto Protection Act on Thursday, freeing the giant biotech firm, and others like it, from annoying oversight by the USDA. Read about this window into how Washington works, for companies that are big enough.
Tags: · BarbaraKesslerBlog, Continuing Resolution, food safety, GE foods, GMO foods, Monsanto rider, Senate
Fresh, clean, drinkable water. In some parts of the world, it dictates life and death. In developed nations, it’s under appreciated, and in decline. We celebrate World Water Day this week with pangs of concern.
Tags: · BarbaraKesslerBlog, save water, water, Water Conservation, World Water Day
The Monsanto “rider” is a noxious attachment to the Continuing Resolution budget bill pending in Congress, and not just because it would accelerate the adoption of controversial GE foods. Lawmakers and groups opposed to the rider say it’s an affront to due process.
Tags: · BarbaraKesslerBlog, food industry, GM crops, Monsanto rider, regulation, USDA
Dozens of people worried about the environmental effects of gas and oil drilling in the US, gathered at the Stop the Frack Attack conference in Dallas this weekend. Highlights included presentations by people whose water and land have been contaminated by fracking, and a Skype address by Gasland director Josh Fox, who urged people to “stand and fight.”
Tags: · air emissions, BarbaraKesslerBlog, Frack Attack, fracking, Gas, Gasland, Josh Fox, oil, water contamination
The looming ‘sequester’ budget cuts would affect virtually all government spending — except Social Security recipients — including Medicare and defense, energy, medical, education, nutrition and agriculture programs. It would even trim money for air traffic controllers. But that’s not the only scary cut on the table…
Tags: · BarbaraKesslerBlog, budget sequester, CSPI, E. coli, FDA, food illnesses, food inspections, food safety, salmonella, USDA
Barbara Kessler
Andrew Winston
Danielle Nierenberg
Anthony Swift