The Blue Notebook

A few weeks ago Jim Johannessen of Coastal Geological Services announced the release of a technical report called Beaches and Bluffs of Puget Sound and the Northern Straits. Behind this mild-sounding title is a detailed analysis of how key aspects of the Puget Sound coastal habitat are being compromised by shoreline modifications, particularly the building of retaining walls or bulkheads. I was amazed to learn that more than 800 miles (34%) of the Puget Sound shoreline has been artificially modified in this way; I was more amazed to learn how much of a negative impact this practice has had on important shorline features such as gravel beaches and eelgrass beds.

As fascinating as the report is, what’s really intriguing to me is the web site where the report is posted. Continue Reading »

According to an article from EcoGeek.com Toyota joined GM and Ford in opposing a law that would require more efficient vehicles. “The Union of Concerned Scientists, Tom Friedman and others are asking why…and whether Toyota still deserves it’s Green Image.”

And I’m asking why isn’t anyone talking about greenhouse gasses? So much that is being said fossil fuels right now is so off the topic it’s not even funny. Try this. Go to epa.gov/greenvehicles. Do a sort on the “greenhouse gasses” column. The Toyota Prius (OK I admit I bought one a few years ago) comes out at the top of the list.

There’s a lot of things I’m not happy about with my Prius, like the 40 pounds of nickel-metal hydride in the back. Not only do I have to figure out what to do with it after only 100,000 miles, but I also have to pay three grand if I want replacement batteries. (Bio-diesel is looking pretty good right now.)

What I don’t like about this campaign against Toyota is the tone of moral outrage and righteous indignation some commentators are managing. It’s a car company folks, and there’s no shortage of felony corporate polluters out there if you really want to go after someone.

An article by Chris Mooney in a recent issue of Seed Magazine has this pull-quote at the top of the page: 

If we’re serious about building a society that makes scientifically informed decisions, then science needs to figure out a way to get its message across effectively (Emotional Rescue, Seed Magazine, May/June 2007).

What I’m not clear on is why it’s assumed that it’s up to scientists to do the communicating. There’s this funny cultural quirk we westerners seem to have about how we’re supposed to be able to sing, dance, and play the old bassoon; but being a scientist and communicating about science are completely different activities, and the ones who can do both well are definitely the exception and not the rule. ( A tip of the fedora to E. O. Wilson, the member of this exclusive company whom I’ve been reading most recently.)

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As I transition from writing for The Man to writing as an independent contractor, I’m casting about for an interesting topic to shop around to the environmental magazines. Meanwhile, several people, in quite random fashion, have started talking to me about something called “eco-psychology.”

So I found a mental health professional who practices in this area (locally even), and have made an appointment with him–not to find out where my own neuroses lie, since I know those all too well, but to find out what is troubling people, and what is keeping otherwise caring and conscientious folks from moving from a studied apathy to awareness, and from awareness to action on the topic of — let’s just call it Biodiversity Crash.

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I was intrigued by an article in this weekend’s Seattle Times Pacific Magazine about a proposal to develop some of the unusual geological features of Eastern Washington into an interpretive tourist route focusing on climate change.  In some ways it’s kind of goofy: I’m just not picturing a carload of tourists from Wisconsin schlepping from kiosk to kiosk across the state and dutifully snapping pictures of impending doom.  On the other hand maybe it’s just the kind of thing needed to take global warming out of the category of abstract debate. The ultimate audio-visual aid.

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