Big environmental win sans the U.S.
The U.S., under new management, has taken a remarkable U-turn. Long recognized as the “leader of the free world,” it now seems to have switched…
Will our technology overwhelm us?
Two articles appearing the same day in The New York Times reminded readers how technology, so generous to our way of life, can turn on…
Alberta phases out fossil fuel
You read that right. Alberta has phased out a fossil fuel. Not, unfortunately the tar sands. That would be way too much to hope for,…
A carbon tax on cows?
Consumer carbon taxes seem to cause something akin to hysteria among Canadian conservatives. The federal leader of the Conservative party endlessly repeats his slogan “axe…
Taming plastics
What would we do without plastics? Perhaps the greatest material humanity ever invented. They are used for everything from furniture to DVDs to heart valves…
August 2—Earth Overshoot Day
The Global Footprint Network performs the public service of calculating how rapidly we are devouring the Earth’s natural resources. The Network is a charitable not-for-profit…
About eating meat
The Colorado River and those who depend on it are in trouble. A once-in-a-millennium drought now entering its third decade is shrinking water levels to…
BIG step toward saving the oceans
Along with our other environmental sins, we are fishing the oceans dry. According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, over a third of global…
Reining in the reign of plastic
I was modestly surprised last week when my groceries were packed not in the usual plastic but in brown paper bags. The idea, of course,…
The Earth groans
Tuesday, according to the United Nations, was eight billion day, i.e. the world’s population was projected to reach eight billion souls on November 15th. Even…
A great teacher retires
No one has taught Canadians more about nature and science generally than Dr. David Suzuki. He has now announced that, after 44 years at the…
Time to hit the oil companies up for some clean-up money?
The oil companies are rolling in it. According to the Pembina Institute their free cash flow will add up to $153-billion this year, the highest…