Like most natural disasters, the tragic tornadoes in the Southeast and Midwest have triggered a veritable storm of media attention. One question that has come up repeatedly in both mainstream and environmental outlets is this: Could global warming be making tornadoes stronger and more frequent? Joe Romm, one of the Web’s most thorough climate bloggers, published a detailed post on the subject. He quoted two scientists “who have done more research and publication on extreme weather and climate change than most,” Kevin Trenberth and Tom Karl. Trenberth is head of the Climate... (continue reading)

Some thoughts to take home from this year’s eco-festivities… Started in 1970 as a national teach-in, Earth Day has become one of the green movement’s most obvious marks on mainstream society. Each year, more than 500 million people observe Earth Day; among them are hardline activists, greenwashed businesses, open-minded students, political campaigners, and SUV-driving soccer moms. The festivities draw large crowds, but has the message been watered down? The concept of Earth Day brings up two points that modern greens should take notice of, if we want our core values to... (continue reading)

Cross-posted from Through a Green Lens. Over the past week, thousands of people in thirteen countries staged the world’s first art show visible from space. Coordinated by 350.org, the project included aerial installations from Los Angeles to Egypt to Iceland. Like October’s Global Work Party, this event highlighted our species’ vulnerability to climate change–and our ability to find solutions. DigitalGlobe, a Colorado-based aerial imaging company, photographed the formations with satellites 400 miles above the equator. The project ended November 27, just in time... (continue reading)

Cross-posted from Gosztola Blog (http://open.salon.com/blog/kevin_gosztola) By Kevin Gosztola More than a hundred activists sit in front of the White House demanding the practice of mountaintop removal coal mining be abolished. by Kevin Gosztola Over a thousand Appalachian residents and activists participated in a rally and march in Washington, D.C. on Monday, September 27th. The action was the culmination of a multi-day convergence that had been put together by a coalition known as Appalachia Rising, which organized the activity to advance the movement to abolish mountaintop removal coal... (continue reading)

It will soon have been five months since the Deepwater Horizon exploded and the ensuing disaster spilled across headlines. Being particularly awful, the Gulf oil spill occupied the spotlight longer than many catastrophes do. But now the leak is under control; the oil is being cleaned up. Heck, 74 percent just disappeared, according to the government.  The media has moved on, and life with it. Actually, most of the spilled oil was still in the Gulf in early August, when an independent team of oceanographers released their study. But that’s another story. In light of the past summer’s... (continue reading)