Is anyone else frustrated to see that they are using plastic water bottles? Image via Flickr user UN Climate Talks (cc). This time of year, many of us find ourselves fantasizing about warm weather, white-sand beaches, palm trees and clear blue water.  In December, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) got to fulfill that fantasy, although it wasn’t supposed to be for fun…. From November 29 through December 10, the UNFCCC, which is charged with determining what can be done to reduce global warming and to cope with inevitable temperature increases, met... (continue reading)

If you’ve been following politics at all recently, I think it’s pretty safe to assume that from a purely environmental standpoint, you are, like me, feeling frustrated.  I mean, we have Rep. Joe Barton attempting to head the Energy and Commerce committee because he wants to destroy energy saving light bulbs (true story), and Rep. Ralph Hall, a notorious global warming skeptic, is going to be be the new chair of the Committee on Science and Technology.  Unfortunately, this is only the beginning.  Head, meet desk. Photo courtesy of Flickr user dsearls (cc) Luckily, all hope is not... (continue reading)

If you follow current events (or if, like me, you watch the Colbert Report), you’ve likely heard some of the recent public outcry over the cold shoulder Frito Lay gave the environmental movement by scrapping SunChips’ compostable packaging.  Apparently, after 18 months of producing the bag, consumer feedback overwhelmingly showed that they were “too loud,” and product sales were suffering as a result.  While I wish I were joking, it’s the truth:  American consumers care more about how much noise their bag of chips makes than they do about the impact those bags have on the... (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)

They say third day’s the charm. The sun is out, music is blasting from the cooking bus and almost ninety eco-justice activist and trainers are ready to learn and share talents. I think I believe it. For the past two days I’ve spent my time and energy at the Advanced Ruckus Camp on Eco-Justice in Harmony Park, Minnesota.  I am one out of around 85 organizers who are the best of the best in the field; of course this includes the Ruckus staff who are exceptionally good at what they do. Strategy Training The training is based on three tracks: climbing, blockade, and arts &... (continue reading)