August, 2009

Bambi, Yogi Bear, Woody Woodpecker — they should matter, too. These characters may be fictional but their real-life counterparts are often what we think of when our minds drift to the woods. They’re also what we hope to see when we actually venture out to our forests. Even spotting a baby deer alongside a city bike trail is a thrill, let alone watching a brown bear scoop up a salmony snack in Alaska. more

Big Oil and Dirty Coal are making quite a name for themselves as they spend millions on pulling out all the stops to keep America addicted to toxic fuels. By now you’ve probably read about what we’re up against as we pivot from our clean energy and climate victory in the House to what we hope is an even bigger win in the Senate. more

Will dirty Coal stop at nothing? The scandal over coal industry lobbyist stealing identities — to protect their profits has deepened. Yesterday Washington’s Roll Call newspaper reported that: “Rep. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) has uncovered five more forged letters as part of his investigation into fraudulent correspondence sent by Bonner & Associates on behalf of the American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity opposing the House climate change bill.” more

In wilderness, one expects a stunning vista or two. You anticipate the spicy aroma of towering pine and fir. And, if you are lucky, the fleeting sight of an endangered species, maybe a Nelson’s bighorn sheep scuttling up a rocky peak. This time, though, our hike in California’s Cucamonga Wilderness in the San Gabriel Mountains began with a humbler sight. Ladybugs. more