This is an odd post to write from Beijing, but I took this photo some weeks ago and have been wanting to tell you about a wonderful result of planting native species: a great increase in insects, including butterflies of different types. And because we now have two types of milkweed, we have been enjoying [...]

I’m blogging in haste from Narita Airport in Tokyo, en route to China, and here’s a link I’ve been meaning to pass along: SustainableWebsites, Green Web Hosting. We’re planning to look into this at the office, and I’ve heard good reports. More from China, as I meet with environmentalists there.

I recently received a copy of the Thai edition of the Armchair Environmentalist, and am pleased to announce the free online version of Eco Living (2000) in Chinese at GuanxiOnline.

In some cases, a new household appliance can save a good deal of energy. This is true for refrigerators and freezers, and for washing machines (especially if you choose front-loading). But it’s not true of televisions, as this article, Science & Technology” href=”http://news.independent.co.uk/world/science_technology/article1218933.ece”>”Plasma screen TVs sap energy supplies,” explains:
“Britain’s seemingly insatiable appetite for [...]

Food has always been a central environmental concern, but there are some new issues arising. One is the growing conflict between fuel and food–or, one might say, between SUV drivers and the world’s poor–and another is the mass marketing–or, perhaps, the industrialization, of organic food.
It’s a little hard to tell whether Michael Pollan thinks [...]

I’ve noticed a trend here that strikes me as a good sign. I’ve seen two or three people drinking water out of glass bottles they’ve obviously refilled. This solves the perennial water bottle challenge of taste (how many discussions have you heard about the latest, greatest new sports bottle?), and is so much better for [...]