Recently in General commentary Category

Over a morning cup of joe, Eric and I got to talking about the pros and cons of carbon offsets.

It's easy to see why hardcore environmentalists would disapprove of them conceptually because of the disincentive to change our own consumptive behaviors. But on a practical level, they are a step in the right direction... aren't they?

Help us frame the debate. Please comment on carbon offsets and whether you think they are a good or bad thing.

I think Mike Tidwell puts himself out there boldly in this piece from the April Voice:

No peace on earth without wind farms and 100 mpg cars

Check it out.

I just read a post on a listserv from a PTA mom who attended a meeting focused on improving the school lunch program in MCPS. How is this an issue that effects the environment you ask?

This wound up in my email inbox this morning, and I decided to post it. It's from MoveOn.org and I realize not everyone who reads this will appreciate it for that reason. ...Though the .org has done a pretty good job of not forgetting about the climate crisis in their support of Democratic candidates, some people just don't like their style. Or so I've heard.

What are your concerns, stories, information, and questions regarding climate change?

Press Release from Enviroment Maryland

Global Warming is impacting temperatures

September 14, 2006—This year’s unprecedented heat wave is part of a broader trend of rising temperatures in Maryland, according to a new report released today by Environment Maryland. 

In the continental United States, the first seven months of 2006 were the warmest January-July of any year on record, according to the National Climatic Data Center. In Maryland, the average temperature was 2.8° F above the 20th century average, making it the eighth warmest January-July on record. The average temperature since 2000 in Baltimore is up 0.9° F compared with the previous three decades (1971-2000).

The Voice features a Q & A column called Earth Talk, from E/The Environmental Magazine. Here's a recent submission.

There are many examples of climate change’s real and present impact. For one, the 20 hottest years since record keeping began in the 1880s have all occurred since 1983, and until this year 2005 was the hottest year ever. Now, according to a new U.S. climate report, 2006 is well on its way to taking the top spot.

Honoring Katrina's Legacy–

The Ravaging Tide: Strange Weather, Future Katrinas, and the Coming Death of America's Coastal Cities by Mike Tidwell
Review by Liesl Groberg

"In 39 years, I have never written these words in a movie review,
but here they are: 'You owe it to yourself to see "An Inconvenient Truth". If you do not, and you have grandchildren, you should explain to them why you decided not to.' "
--Roger Ebert

Come to a Screening of Gore’s global warming documentary, “An Inconvenient Truth” in Takoma Park on Tuesday, October 3rd.

Humanity is sitting on a time bomb. If the vast majority of the world's scientists are right, we have just ten years to avert a major catastrophe that could send our entire planet into a tail-spin of epic destruction involving extreme weather, floods, droughts, epidemics and killer heat waves beyond anything we have ever experienced.

With wit, smarts and hope, AN INCOVENIENT TRUTH ultimately brings home Gore's persuasive argument that we can no longer afford to view global warming as a political issue - rather, it is simply one of the biggest moral challenges facing every person in our times.

On Tuesday, October 3rd, Takoma Park Presbyterian Church will host a screening of “An Inconvenient Truth.” The screening begins at 7pm sharp and will be followed by a discussion led by Mike Tidwell about how global warming will affect you and what you can do about it. Mike is the director of the Chesapeake Climate Action Network, a local group dedicated to fighting global warming in Maryland, Virginia and DC.

Don’t miss the chance to see this life-changing movie in your neighborhood!

WHAT: Screening of Gore’s global warming documentary film, “An Inconvenient Truth”

WHEN: 7:00pm on Tuesday, October 3rd.

WHERE: Takoma Park Presbyterian Church, 310 Tulip Ave., Takoma Park, MD 20912

[Abby Bardi writes a column, Sin of the Month , for the Takoma Voice and Silver Spring Voice. In her August 2006 column, she addresses rising temperatures.]

“What’s 37 Celsius?” Hortense’s instant message asked.