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Peak oil’s voice in Congress about to get louder

By January 24, 2011
Rep. Roscoe Bartlett

One of just two Republicans in Maryland's House delegation, after the GOP takeover of the House in November Rep. Roscoe Bartlett stands ready to assume leadership on both energy and climate in the new Congress. An 18-year veteran of the House, Bartlett's seniority puts him in key positions on committees "at the fulcrum of two key debates in the 112th Congress -- on climate change and on the future of the US military," according to the Washington Post. And that could be good news for … [Read more...]

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Ralph Nader: Open letter to President Obama

By January 10, 2011
illustration of President Obama

Dear President Obama: The sentiments expressed in this letter may have more meaning more for you now that the results of the mid-term elections are clear. You have seen what can happen when a number of your supporters lose their enthusiasm and stay home or do not actively participate as volunteers. In your first two years, you have developed a wide asymmetry between your association with Big Business executives and the leaders of national civic and labor groups whose members are in the … [Read more...]

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Americans: hapless fools or budding heroes?

By January 5, 2011
sign "make things better"

When you worry about peak oil and climate chaos, it's easy to get frustrated at the slow pace of change in the world's biggest economy and most powerful nation, the United States. For my part, I'd like to see my country start preparing for both of these civilization-shaking challenges yesterday rather than tomorrow. Though I'll gladly settle for tomorrow if the other choice is "never," as it often seems to be these days. But sooner rather than later, we should enact a national energy policy … [Read more...]

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Small bite in the right direction

By January 2, 2011
Fresh fruit for lunch.

Last month, after a year and a half of Senate and House lobbying by First Lady Michelle Obama and school food advocates, President Obama signed the Child Nutrition Reauthorization Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 (CNR) to the tune of $4.5 billion. A seemingly enormous amount of money, until you consider that it will be disbursed over ten years. Half of the money is slated to come directly out of the food stamp program. At that cost, I was curious to see what tangible effects we could … [Read more...]

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America in decline?

By December 15, 2010
Sunrise.

E. J. Dionne Jr.'s recent column in the Washington Post, "Can Obama Find His Morning in America?" notes an increasingly widespread domestic view that America is in decline. Dionne argues that such an infectious tumult could either cripple Obama or, alternatively, create an opportunity to right his presidency and recapture the confidence of the American people. What Obama needs, says Dionne, is a morning in America moment. But what he lacks, Dionne believes, is a compelling narrative around … [Read more...]

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Bianca Jagger on human rights and peak oil

By December 1, 2010
Bianca Jagger at a protest in London

Human rights activist Bianca Jagger faced down a death squad in Honduras in the 1980s. Now, she's set her sights on peak oil, climate change and polluting corporations. Jagger spoke at the ASPO-USA conference in Washington, DC in October. Afterwards, she agreed to talk to us about the relationship between human rights and energy, why Canadian tar sands oil is a bad idea and her plan for the international community to hold polluters responsible for crimes against future generations. Why peak … [Read more...]

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Locals going loco

By December 1, 2010
This synthetic carnival villa is probably not what the Lorax meant when he warned against biggering and biggering."

I live in New Hampshire. If Democratic Governor John Lynch and the COO of the state’s largest utility corporation, Gary Long, prevail, we’ll soon commence a $1.1 billion construction project to upgrade a transmission line that will bring power from Quebec’s elaborate network of hydroelectric dams to New England electricity markets. The project, dubbed The Northern Pass, will be a short term boon for the City of Franklin—one of the more depressed urban centers in the Granite State. If … [Read more...]

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What the Stewart rally means for Transition

By November 15, 2010
Sarah Palin is so important that this look alike showed up at the Rally To Restore Sanity

Listening is a much needed virtue, says Transition movement co-founder Rob Hopkins. And, he says, it's crucial to the effort to relocalize on which the Transition movement makes its case. That's why the model of civility in Transition has a welcome ally in the recent Rally to Restore Sanity. Gathering to do anything begins first with being able to gather peacefully—to listen, to honor, to be present. And never more so than now. That's why all the media grousing about the rally makes little … [Read more...]

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Midterm elections bring energy for dummies

By November 12, 2010
nuclear plant cooling towers

Now that the dust has settled from the US midterm elections, it's clear that in the energy world, nuclear power and oil and gas were winners, while the big loser was global warming. Democrat Henry Waxman, co-sponsor of the failed cap-and-trade bill, will be out as chair of the Energy and Commerce Committee and Michigan Republican Fred Upton will be in. Upton loves nuclear power and claims that building new reactors would create jobs and meet America's energy needs. “Nuclear makes a lot of … [Read more...]

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Peak oil packs congressional briefing

By November 1, 2010
US Capitol at night

Jim Baldauf, Texas oilman and environmentalist, began his briefing at the National Press Club in October by citing the BP Gulf oil disaster, drought in Russia at up to 130 degrees, and massive flood-devastation in Pakistan as evidence that this is the worst year for the environment in recent history. “I would submit,” he said, “that all of these tragedies are due to peak oil. Peak oil will affect every aspect of our life.” Aptly enough, Baldauf was speaking in the club’s Edward R. … [Read more...]

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