Simple Answers to Simple Questions
After noting some positive poll results regarding climate change, Cara asks: So, can we get cracking on a clean energy and jobs bill in the Senate? No. This has been another edition of simple answers to simple questions....
CONTINUE READINGFrom Songs to Film
So the obvious next step -- in follow-up to the debate about the top ten environmental songs -- is to debate film. Sean, Cara and I had an e-mail exchange about the topic and decided that environmental films could be divided, roughly, into three or four categories. First are the toxic torts/nuclear horror films. Silkwood, The China Syndrome, Erin Brokovich and A Civil Action come to mind. Then there are the envirornmental apocalypse films: Avatar, of...
CONTINUE READINGNot-horrible climate polling news
Yes, it's been a bad few months for climate science, as Ann wrote. And it also hasn't been great for Congressional climate politics. But, finding hope where I can, I'll seize on some good (or -- at least not terrible) polling news about US support for climate action. Last week, the Yale Project on Climate Change released its latest poll results assessing Americans' attitudes on climate change issues -- this one focusing on support for domestic climate and energy pol...
CONTINUE READINGOur Carbon-Based Trade Deficit
A lot of people are worried about the trade deficit. As it turns out, more than half of the deficit is due to petroleum imports, as Matthew Yglesias points out. This graph tells the story: ...
CONTINUE READINGNew environmental dating site matches fossil fuel industry lobbyists, elected officials
I've never been involved in either of two trends that have exploded in recent years: internet dating, and lobbying of federal officials by fossil fuel-based energy-producing companies. But I just learned about a new website that links the two. The site, Polluter Harmony, says it "is the #1 matchmaking site for polluters, industry lobbyists, & politicians." Although I'm married, I couldn't resist checking it out just out of curiosity. "Success story" testimon...
CONTINUE READINGMore on Great Environmental Songs
Several people have suggested the Talking Heads' Nothing But Flowers. The question is whether Byrne is being ironic, or whether it really is an attack on environmental over-the-top-ism. One could actually argue that it's an anti-environmental song, but given Legal Planet's strong commitment to being Fair and Balanced, we wanted to include it. We post, you decide: More traditionally, but no less ironically, here's Randy Newman's great ode to Cleveland, Burn On. A cel...
CONTINUE READINGEven more green songs
Okay, if Jonathan and Tim are going to go there, I feel compelled to follow up as a former performing musician. Plus, someone has to mention a song written after 1974. Here are mine: 10. "Earth Song" by Michael Jackson. Yes, I know, but the guy did just die, and this song is as explicitly pro-environmental as you're ever going to get. 9. "Come Monday" by Jimmy Buffett. "I spent four lonely days in a brown L.A. haze and I just want you back by my side." Arguably the mos...
CONTINUE READINGGreen Songs
As one Jonathan's unnamed colleagues, I will take up his challenge and propose three songs for the top ten pop environmental songs: Arlo Guthrie, Alice's Restaurant (solid waste management and enforcement) The Eagles, The Last Resort (Land use--does that count as environmental law?) Neil Young, After the Gold Rush (well, it does mention Mother Nature on the run in the 1970's)...
CONTINUE READINGThe New Federal Climate Agency
With climate legislation stalled and probably dead until the archaic and dysfunctional filibuster rule can be changed, the Obama Administration is moving forward with positive baby steps. Yesterday, the Commerce Department announced the creation of a Climate Service within the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration: The proposed entity would provide "user-friendly" information to help governments and businesses adapt to climate change, creating a centra...
CONTINUE READINGCul de Sacs are a Dead End
Cul de Sacs are a familiar feature of suburbia. They are also coming under increasing attack, according to TNR: So, for instance, one study of the city of Charlotte found that places where the streets weren't very well connected (thanks, in part, to the heavy use of cul-de-sac) required a lot more fire stations to be built, costing the area more money. Another study found that areas with poor connectivity have much worse congestion—up to 80 percent worse—because...
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