Sundance Channel

Green tech finds: Got some organic matter lying around?

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 20:01:04 +0000

Dead leaves? Grass clippings? Fruit and vegetable peels? Sure, you could compost them, or you could turn them into robot fuel or solar cells. Plus, a gadget for harvesting the power you generate while walking, and an app for showing off your gas and carbon savings from driving a plug-in vehicle.

Keystone XL Tar Sands Pipeline: the facts deserve repeating

Robert Redford — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 21:01:56 +0000

Joe Nocera's op-ed in the New York Times yesterday deserves a response and a reiteration of the facts surrounding the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline. President Obama rejected the pipeline's permit last month when the GOP, in a political stunt, forced his hand to approve it without even the final route evident.

Agenda 21: First, they came for the light bulbs

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 18:07:12 +0000

Remember when threats of a global government were symbolized by black helicopters and implied by the phrase "New World Order." They're so 20th century, it turns out: these days, the phrase "Agenda 21" and compact fluorescent light bulbs are the new signs of "They're coming to get you." Agenda 21 - it does sound a little spooky. You might think of it as a plan for world domination cooked up by a cabal of wealthy evildoers in a dark backroom. In truth, it's much more innocuous: Agenda 21 is the title of a non-binding plan released at the 1992 Conference on Environment and Development in Rio. No secrets or backrooms here: Agenda 21 even has its own UN website.

Farming Chicago’s rooftops: The Urban Canopy

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 17:46:18 +0000

Back in August when I wrote about The Plant, a former meatpacking warehouse turned urban farm in Chicago, I made only the briefest of mentions of the business incubation plans the founding organization envisioned for the space. The brewery planned for the space has received the most attention thus far, but if you head up to the rooftop of the building, you'll find another sustainable business at work: The Urban Canopy. As you might imagine, they're in the rooftop farming business, though they're taking a quite different approach from most with their rooftop hydroponics system.

Green tech finds: the power-free kitchen appliances edition

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 20:42:39 +0000

Refrigerate and cook food without electricity? We've got finds this week that get you pretty close, along with mushrooms that eat plastic, and plans to reuse dirty diapers (really!). The DIY, electricity-free refrigerator: Ever heard of a zeer pot? This very old concept for keeping food chilled only requires two clay flower pots, and some sand and water to build yourself. (via @dothegreenthing) And then cook that food without power: Well, not exactly, but with a lot less power. The Wonderbag keeps food cooking after the heat's turned off, and was originally designed for very poor people who couldn't afford much fuel. (via Inhabitat)

How to park your lawn mower for good: the Meadow Project

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 17:40:37 +0000

Got a lawn? Ever stopped to consider the amount of time, money, and natural resources you put into keeping that grass green? The watering, fertilizing (whether through organic or conventional means), mowing, and weeding? No doubt that lawn grass is the most high-maintenance plant on the planet (as the expert in the video above observes)! Even if you're not a greenie, is that really how you want to spend your time, energy, and money?

Crack gardening, or how to turn a pothole into a work of art

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 19:09:02 +0000

Potholes and sidewalk cracks are an ugly reality of urban living - but they don't necessarily have to be ugly! East London guerrilla gardener Steve Wheen sees such blemishes as opportunities "to put smiles on peoples faces and alert them to potholes" (as well as show authorities "how shit our roads are"). As the video above shows, Wheen goes beyond just sticking a plant into a hole in the pavement: he creates very small themed gardens in the crevices he finds in his part of the city.

Green tech finds: from solar power to the Super Bowl

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 17:51:54 +0000

Super Bowl Sunday is coming up, and while I don't pay enough attention to say whether it'll be a good game, it will definitely be a green(er) game. That, plus cooler roofs for more efficient solar power, and a very quick look at over a century of global warming: your green tech finds for the week. Buy renewable energy for your Volt: While the arguments about the energy sources for electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids are generally really overblown and oversimplified, many EV drivers do want the cleanest power they can get for their vehicles. So, GM is developing a system for its OnStar platform that would notify Volt drivers when there's renewable energy available on the grid so they could plug in at the right time. (via Earth 911) What does global warming look like? If you're thinking big picture in response to that question, the folks at NASA have released a video that shows 131 years of global temperature fluctuations in 26 seconds. (via Climate Central and @NRDC)

What can you do with an old gas station? How about live in it?

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 11:30:22 +0000

Neighborhood gas and service stations are largely a thing of the past: the large-scale convenience store located on main drags or interstate off-ramps seems to have replaced them. Just because the businesses are gone doesn't mean the buildings are, though, and many of these older structures have unique architectural and design features. Might make for a good business location with some renovation, but a home? It would take an artist's eye to transform such a structure into a place someone wanted to live.

Something Borrowed: a lending library for brides-to-be

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 19:44:16 +0000

Do you need to own a copy of every book you've ever read? Every film you've ever watched? Every tool you'll ever want to use? No: in most cases, borrowing or renting these items from a traditional library, another lending or rental outlet, or someone who already owns them works just fine for everyone involved, and gives our natural resource base a bit of a break. We want the use of these items; we don't have to own them to get that. That mindset often doesn't carry over for one of the biggest days of our lives: our weddings.

President Obama stands up to big oil

Robert Redford — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 20:42:00 +0000

Photo by Emma Cassidy, licensed under a Creative Commons license

Let's face it: Big Oil is used to getting its way. But not today... and we have President Obama to thank for standing up to them in spite of the political risk. President Obama has just rejected a permit for the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline -- a project that promised riches for the oil giants and an environmental disaster for the rest of us. His decision represents a victory of historic proportions for people from throughout the pipeline path and all across America who have waged an uphill, years-long fight against one of the most nightmarish fossil fuel projects of our time. But make no mistake: Big Oil is going to fight back hard and fast.

Urban beekeeping on two wheels: Bike-a-Bee

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 14:00:28 +0000

Bike·a·Bee from Jana Kinsman on Vimeo.

Start a beekeeping business in the city? Seems like a bit of a pipe dream, doesn't it? After all, you need space for lots of beehives, and that means you need a big piece of land. Doesn't it?

Green tech finds: big ideas in small packages

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 21:12:53 +0000

A "camper van" built over an electric bicycle may not attract a lot of buyers, but a 480 square foot off-grid cabin (with plenty of amenities and style) just might. Those and more in this week's green tech finds.

Sometimes NIMBY is good: ATOMIC STATES OF AMERICA

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 20:48:11 +0000

"Not in my backyard" - it's an attitude environmentalists frequently encounter when proposed renewable energy installations move closer to becoming real ones. The Cape Wind project, for instance, has encountered stiff resistance from wealthy part-time residents of Cape Cop who, while supporting renewable energy in general, don't want their view spoiled. That's a fairly easy example of the NIMBY attitude to dismiss, as are those involving resistance to most wind projects. But what if a coal or nuclear plant was planned for nearby? Would you want to be "downstream" from either of those? Would the label NIMBY seem fair for those who protested such development? If you think so, you may want to check out ATOMIC STATES OF AMERICA, which premieres on January 23rd at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival.

Green tech finds: the monster trade shows edition

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 19:44:16 +0000

CES and the Detroit Auto Show are going on this week, and we've got finds from both! The tiny electric pick up: Need to haul stuff? You won't get much into the Smart For-Us, but, as Charis Michelsen at Gas 2.0 points out, it's awfully cute, and may serve the actual hauling needs of most truck drivers. Your plants are Tweeting: And they're thirsty. That's right: the Botanicalls gadget (not sure what else to call it) sends you a tweet when your plants need watering. Only marginally green, but kind of cool. (via Crisp Green)

Occupying the mountaintop–Tennessee’s prayers for the planet

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 18:09:49 +0000

While those of us following the Occupy movement online or on television may see it as a fairly conventional protest movement, complete with marching and chanting, a quick look at various encampments (or remnants thereof) around the country shows something quite different: alternative communities that value the input of all participants. Those communities themselves are the real protest: by living something quite different, even temporarily, Occupiers are able to highlight the absurdities of the current political structure.

Beasts and Saints: environmental drama at Sundance 2012

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 19:30:00 +0000

Environmentally-themed drama generally takes one of two directions: the apocalyptic horror (think THE DAY AFTER TOMORROW) or the docu-drama (i.e. ERIN BROCKOVICH). In other words, if environmental issues are going to play a role in a fictional film, they've got to play a big, central role. Two films in competition this year at the Sundance Film Festival play with that dramatic tradition, and incorporate "the environment" into the story in either genre-bending, or even mind-bending, ways.

Green tech finds: Architects to the rescue!

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 19:22:14 +0000

Can good design save the world? Well, maybe the Great Lakes, anyway. That, plus community-based solar, clothing recycling, and more: your green tech finds for the week. The DIY bike seat: Ever wanted a second seat on your bicycle, without investing in a tandem? Or just carrying space without a trailer? Israeli designer Yael Livneh has you covered with his concept made from a used plastic milk crate. He's entered the concept in Designboom's Seoul Cycle Design competition. (via Unconsumption and @dothegreenthing) Occupy the sun: We generally think of solar power as something that individual home and building owners do, but Francesca Rheannon at CSRWire takes a look at community-based efforts to adopt solar technology.

Miller Lite meets tapioca, and creates opportunity for African farmers

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 23:28:53 +0000

Ever finished a bowl of tapioca and thought "Boy, if they ever brewed that into a beer, I'd buy a six pack!" Monster brewer SABMiller (which makes Miller Lite, other Miller products, and a ton of other beers) now has you covered: their new Impala lager is made with 70% cassava, tapioca's main ingredient. But, no, it's not a gimmick to rope in pudding lovers; rather, Impala represents an effort by the conglomerate "to create a portfolio of high-quality, affordable beers made using locally-sourced raw materials for lower income consumers in Africa."

Dirty hippies and ice: green docs at this year’s Sundance Film Festival

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 19:52:11 +0000

If filmmakers are poets, than documentarians stand out for their use of synecdoche: the most powerful docs almost always rely on stories that point to issues bigger than themselves. AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH isn't just about climate change, but also about human shepherding of resources. GASLAND isn't just about fracking, but corporate power, and its effects on the lives of individuals. Two documentaries premiering at this year's Sundance Film Festival not only follow in this poetic tradition, but even revel in it.

Women run the social entrepreneurship show

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 18:51:11 +0000

When Wangari Maathai won the Nobel Peace Prize for her work founding the Greenbelt Movement, the word "pioneering" got thrown around a lot, and often applied to the Nobel laureate's gender. Maathai was a pioneer, but not because she was woman: if anything, social entrepreneurship involves recognizing the value of activities often denigrated as "women's work." This year, the United Nations Environment Programme's SEED Award continued this fallacy with its creation of a "gender equality" prize: just a quick look at the 34 other social enterprises it recognized with awards this year shows that when it comes to creating businesses around activities that value people and planet while creating a profit, women seem to "get it" much more often than their male counterparts.

London’s Boxpark: Trendy short-term retail space

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 19:01:13 +0000

When the Dekalb Market opened in Brooklyn last Summer, the use of recycled shipping containers gave potential tenants a sense of stability: developers didn't have long-term access to the land, so businesses could open shop in a structure that could be easily moved if that access dried up. Apparently, such flexibility has universal appeal (especially in a down economy): London's new Boxpark development is also constructed from shipping containers, and designed to make relatively short-term use of land that might find buyers or other developers once the economy picks back up.

Green tech finds: Earthships and solar get affordable

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 19:17:11 +0000

Think "green tech" automatically means "expensive?" Nope: costs are dropping on everything from Earthships to solar power. An affordable Earthship: I've been in love with the Earthship building concept for years, but no way I'd ever be able to afford one. That may be changing, though: the "Simple Survival" model Earthship is designed to provide the amenities of these self-sufficient structures without the "mortgage bondage." Check it out above.

Woodstock Jews mark Hanukkah with solar-powered menorah

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 18:56:14 +0000

No winter holiday lends itself to environmental discussions quite as well as Hanukkah: getting eight days' use out of one day of oil (the miracle on which the celebration is based) inevitably leads to discussions of efficiency and conservation. Numerous Jewish organizations have recognized this connection, and organized a variety of "green Hanukkah" celebrations in recent years involving everything from CFLs to recycled menorahs.

Congress and Keystone XL: A national disgrace

Robert Redford — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 18:19:54 +0000

Photo credit: tarsandaction The Congress is ending the year much as it began -- playing politics with our nation's future and putting American families at risk to score partisan points. In the closing act to a shameful year of paralysis and indecision on the issues that matter most, House Republicans held common-sense tax relief for American families hostage to a holiday gift to Big Oil. After the GOP-led House welded the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline rider onto the tax-relief bill, the Democratic-led Senate went along for the ride, passing a bad piece of legislation rather than being accused of blocking a needed tax cut. When the United State Congress intentionally ties these two things together, though, it's not a joke: it's a national disgrace.

EXTINCTION: It’s all around us

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 19:53:30 +0000

How long will it take a plastic bottle or bag to biodegrade? How long will it take for greenhouse gas emissions to raise atmospheric temperature 2-4 degrees? How long can we ensure the safe storage of nuclear waste? All of these questions are central to current environmental debates, and, of course, all involve consequences that none of us will live to see. The "seventh generation" approach to judging our actions gives us a sense of the long view, but may not ultimately provide a ton of motivation: we don't know those people, after all. Of course, not all environmental issues revolve around long-term impacts: it's taken a relatively short amount of time to create ocean dead zones because of increasing nitrogen pollution, or the Great Pacific Garbage Patch from larger amount of plastic in our waste streams. We'll see other species go extinct in our own lifetimes while we watch our own population balloon. Sure, we should consider the needs of future generations, but we can look around ourselves right now and see the consequences of refusing to consider ourselves a part of the greater natural order.

Green tech finds: Wildlife goes virtual, Farmville gets real

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 18:09:28 +0000

Assembly lines rolling out the Focus Electric: Think Nissan's the only game in town for a true electric vehicle? Not anymore: Ford's started production of its 2012 Focus Electric in Michigan. (via @edbegleyjr) Ranger Rick comes to the iPhone: Your kids bug you to play games on your smartphone? The National Wildlife Federation has created a way to make sure they're learning something. The new Ranger Rick mobile apps provide games for kids as young as 2 (yes, 2!) to sharpen their knowledge about wild animals.

You can pry the steering wheel out of Chevy Volt owners cold, dead hands (despite fiery rumors)

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 20:00:32 +0000

Heard about the Chevy Volt fires? Seems like you're most likely to answer "yes" to that question if a) you're a true car geek, or b) you get your news from right-leaning media. Conservative commentators have latched onto news about fires in two of the vehicles after test crashes as proof of everything from the immaturity of the battery technology to logical outcome of government investment in the auto industry. In response, General Motors has not only worked closely with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on its preliminary investigation, but also offered Volt owners loaner cars and even buy-backs to address potential concerns.

Keystone XL and jobs: just more pipe dreams

Robert Redford — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 21:04:37 +0000

Photo credit: EcoWatch This week the GOP leadership, once again, has sided with Big Oil against the will of the American people. They are trying to circumvent President Obama's decision to further investigate the impacts of the controversial Keystone XL tar sands pipeline. GOP leadership is instead advocating for granting the permit now, or else they will hold up important legislation meant to benefit real people's real lives. They want you to believe it's about jobs, but that's not what the facts bear out. Just take a look.

Green gifts: the dematerialized edition

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 16:10:02 +0000

The holidays can be a tough time for a good greenie. Sure, you want to participate in the rituals of giving and receiving associated with Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa, and, yes, you want to give your family members and friends gifts they want. But does that have to mean pushing aside any sense of environmental responsibility (or good ol' fashioned green guilt) and hitting the mall (or the internet) for "stuff" that we'll box (in that "free" gift box) and wrap (in unrecyclable paper)?

Green tech finds: Recycled guitars and impromptu speakers

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 19:46:54 +0000

Cool concept cars and planes, speakers that turn ordinary objects into amplifiers, and the potential environmental cost of washing your jacket: this week's green tech finds. Honda's very cool, very light electric concept vehicle: Unfortunately, "concept" often means we'll never see one on the road. Still, Honda's EV-STER (which rolled out last week at the Tokyo Auto Show, and is pictured above) shows the company combining electric power with light weight (through lots of body elements made from carbon) and sweet styling; maybe they'll keep thinking this way as they work towards new production vehicles. (via Earth Techling)

The 30 Project: Three decades to a more sustainable food system

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 18:13:45 +0000

Remember 1980? The Miracle on Ice? Voodoo economics? "Funkytown" at the top of the charts? Seems like eons ago, doesn't it? You may not remember (or even realize) that 1980 was also a seminal year (or, the round-about time for big changes) in our food system. Consolidation of agriculture? That's when we started to see it. High-fructose corn syrup? It started showing up in, well, everything right about then. A decrease in US agricultural aid to other countries? That, too. So, is any of this important to us now, or just a little food history trivia?

Freight Farms: Turning used shipping containers into gardens

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 18:50:51 +0000

Is there anything you can't do with a used shipping container? Designers have intrepidly redesigned these metal boxes that pile up at ports as everything from office buildings to portable commercial space to prison cells. Industrial designer Jon Friedman and environmental scientist Brad McNamara have found yet another potential use for shipping containers: small, self-contained urban farms. Combining hydroponics, solar power and rainwater harvesting, their Freight Farms concept recycles containers into "modular, expandable, portable crop production units."

Occupy Durban: Addressing global warming for the 99%

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 18:11:05 +0000

Back when I was a full-time academic, I swear we held meetings simply for the purpose of scheduling more meetings. That seems to be what's happening with international climate change negotiations: each round of talks since Bali in 2007 seems to degenerate into a punting of major issues to the next round. This week, delegates have gathered in Durban, South Africa to discuss a global response to climate change, and some representatives of smaller countries most affected by global warming think it's time for new tactics. In short, they're talking about an "occupation" of the meetings.

BAG IT: when plastics get personal

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 18:21:15 +0000

Bag It Intro from Suzan Beraza on Vimeo.

After watching the trailer above, you may well have already characterized BAG IT as another activist documentary that does that Micheal Moore thing of setting an "everyman" out on a journey of exploration, learning and that final "ah ha" moment. And to some degree, you'd be right. Jeb Berrier (the face of the film) describes himself as an "average American," one who doesn't give a lot of thought to the impact of his consumption choices. You may think "Okay, I know where this is going," and again, you'd be half right. While director Suzan Beraza does follow in Berrier's footsteps much like a Moore or a Morgan Spurlock follow in their own, she allows room for the journey to take whatever twists and turns come up...

The African land grab continues in Mali

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 20:30:58 +0000

Last month, I dug into a relatively new phenomenon: the purchase of arable land in the developing world by countries that have largely exhausted their own farm lands and/or aquifers. Done in the name of food security, these wealthier countries are often cordoning off, if not outright displacing, small subsistence farmers from land they could use to meet their own needs...

Creative reuse: the Texas-shaped serving board

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 20:36:11 +0000

Got a Texan on your holiday gift list? As someone who grew up about 20 minutes away from the state line, I feel confident saying there's one things that all residents of the state like, and that's Texas itself. If you don't believe me, take a visit and start counting the "Don't Mess with Texas" bumper stickers - they add up fast. Abilene entrepreneur Kyle Douthit clearly understands this. And as a former countertop installer, he also knows how much of the material from a job gets thrown away. He put two and two together, and about five years ago started collecting pieces of acrylic countertop, cutting them into the shape of the state and giving them away as gifts to family and friends to use as cheese boards, bread boards, etc...

Five ways to get green-washed (in a really good way)

Perrin Drumm — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 20:30:04 +0000

All the flora that's fit to print: People are always talking about how print is dead, but things must be looking up for the ink and paper world (Style.com just launched a print version, and Vogue's sales continue to rise). That, or Wilder Quarterly, a new magazine "for people enthralled by the natural world," is just a ballsy move. But with photography and layouts as gorgeous as the ones in all the fancy cookbooks I can't afford, here's hoping this one's here to stay.

Philips Microbial system fuels your home with your crap – literally

Blair Pfander — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 18:00:21 +0000

Do you fantasize about living your life like a microbe of waste-producing bacteria? Well, now's your chance. Unveiled during Dutch Design Week, Philips' latest home design concept, The Microbial Home, takes inspiration from naturally occurring processes to create energy-saving kitchen, dining and bathroom devices. According to the designers, "'we view the home as a biological machine to filter, process and recycle what we conventionally think of as waste."

Redford & the NRDC to demonstrate against Big Oil in D.C.

Robert Redford — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 15:49:38 +0000

Before President Obama entered office he promised to stand up to big oil. Now it's up to him and his administration - not Congress - to stick to his promise and stop the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline once and for all. The pipeline will increase our dependence on foreign oil, create more pollution and threaten our land, water and climate. We're going to rally in Washington D.C. on November 6th to let Obama know that he has the people's support on this decision. If you'd like to do something about this, click to join the rally on November 6th, 2011.

Green tech finds, 10/20/11

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 19:17:25 +0000

Underground skyscrapers, smart windows and more problems with natural gas drilling: Your green tech finds for the week. Charge your car with your phone: Well, not exactly, but a new app developed by IBM and Swiss utility EKZ allows for better management of when your electric vehicle is charged and what sources of energy are used to charge it. Find out more in the video above. (via @greeneconpost) The grain silo hotel: While not as green as it could be (because the structures used were built for the project), Silo Stay, a nine-unit New Zealand hotel built from grain silos...

Can’t afford a hybrid? How about a car conversion?

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 19:20:16 +0000

Gone out to kick the tires, or perhaps test drive a Prius, Volt, or LEAF? In some areas of the country you may not have been able to find one; In those where you could, the sticker price may have you rethinking this whole "going green" thing. Even with various state and federal tax incentives, a new hybrid or electric vehicle will likely set you back over $20,000. So maybe this time you buy the conventional subcompact and hope the prices come down next time you're on the car market?

What does real Gulf Coast restoration look like?

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 18:14:31 +0000

When the BP oil spill was in full force last year, I was disappointed about the way the spill was being portrayed as a one-off disaster, instead of what it really was: the latest chapter in the degradation of the Gulf of Mexico. Yes, we had to clean up the spill, but we also had to look at the bigger picture of agricultural pollution, dredging wetlands to create canals for the oil and petrochemicals industries, and other actions that endangered coastal and marine ecosystems. These observations were necessary for the environmental health of the Gulf, as well as its continued productivity for sustainable human use.

Redford urges Obama to stop the Keystone XL pipeline

Perrin Drumm — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 16:34:59 +0000

Robert Redford delivers a powerful message to President Obama, asking him to say no to the Keystone XL pipeline that threatens to destroy "the bread basket of America" so big oil can turn a profit.

Pavements to Parks: Park(ing) Day, every day

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 17:30:06 +0000

People, Parklets, and Pavement to Parks (plus Mojo Bicycle Café) from Streetfilms on Vimeo.

This year's Park(ing) Day (an annual event I covered a few years ago) has come and gone and was another great success. In fact, it looks like they're still counting the number of temporary "parks" people created in parking spaces around the world. Of course, all of those green spaces are gone now, but wouldn't it be nice if parking spaces were being converted into spots for permanent enjoyment of the outdoors?

Green tech finds, 10/13/11

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 20:26:05 +0000

Teenagers build a really fast hybrid, GM's got an all-electric vehicle in the works, and Nissan has a concept for charging a car in ten minutes: your green tech finds for the week. Another EV1? Let's hope not. Chevy plans to start selling the Spark EV (above) in limited US markets in...

Building the perfect urban beehive

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 17:42:20 +0000

Man-made beehives haven't really changed much for centuries, mostly because beekeeping was always something that happened in rural areas. But beekeeping, like produce farming and even livestock keeping, is moving into cities - and urban apiculturists are struggling with the best ways to adapt beekeeping to the city...

THE RHYTHM OF RUTLEDGE: a tiny town attracts big thinkers

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 17:45:17 +0000

You can certainly be forgiven if you've never heard of Rutledge, Missouri. The Mennonite town of about a hundred people is miles from anything resembling a major highway, and surrounded by thousands of acres of farmland in Northeastern Missouri (though it's kind of famous for its flea market, I hear). Despite being tucked away in a pretty conservative part of the state, you might call Rutledge the hub of a (relatively) quiet revolution: three alternative communities, all with an ecological bent, have been founded (and are running just fine) within 1-2 miles of the town in the last 40 years...

Green tech finds, 10/6/11

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 18:30:29 +0000

A plug-in outdoor table, and how your labtop might contribute to rainforest destruction: this week's green tech finds. Wisconsin as a microgrid hub: There's more than ugly political battles going on in the Badger State. A university-industry consortium announced an initiative to establish "microgrids" at UW campuses in Milwaukee and Madison over the next two years. (via @RepowerAmerica)

Africa’s farm land: a new source of exploitation

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 16:30:51 +0000

Quick: think of something that Africa has in abundance. Given the tenor of most of the news we get from the continent, answers like poverty, disease, and social unrest may pop into your head. All of those answers are correct, unfortunately, but governments around the world, as well as investors, are seeing something else: land, particularly farmland. With aquifers falling beyond their refresh rates and soil fertility eaten up by erosion, over-farming, and/or deforestation, many governments are looking for new places to grow food. And Africa, as it has for centuries, is looking ripe for exploitation. According to the World Bank, "approximately 56 million hectares of arable land has been purchased or leased worldwide, 70% of which took place in Africa...