Editor's Take: September 02, 2008
Credit: Kristi T/ Flickr
Farewell To Thy Auto
Is it hard for you to envision a nation without cars? With
the "genie out of the bottle," as columnist Neil Peirce tags it, the US
may finally be on a path toward a car-reduced
future. Before we see cars parked at the curb, certain
infrastructure, such as bike lanes, need to be improved, as the Washington
Post reports.
Editor's Top Picks
Your editor today is Christina Claassen | View All Today's News
Views: Curbing Our Cars, Reclaiming Our Streets
Seattle Times
08/31/2008
For close to a century, the automobile has so boldly seized Americans' imagination -- sparking the economy, paving the continent, designing our neighborhoods -- that even the thought of curbing its dominion seems unnatural.
But something new is happening now, as gas prices, and global warming, are coming into peoples' radar.
Go to article.
Canada's Transit Can't Keep Up with Demand
Vancouver Sun
09/02/2008
Gasoline prices are driving Canadians to public transit, but the nation's mayors and transit authorities warn that their overloaded buses and subways aren't able to meet this surging demand.
Go to article.
California's Doldrums Sends Some Immigrants Home
Los Angeles Times
09/01/2008
With the ongoing economic downturn and the collapse of the construction industry, day laborers in California are feeling the effects. Now, some immigrant workers are choosing to go home rather than wait for a rebound.
Go to article.
Gravel Study Examines How Dams Affect Salmon
Coos Bay World
09/01/2008
Scientists with Portland General Electric and the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs are starting a multiyear study to look at how gravel and rocks are washed down the Lower Deschutes.
Since rocks like these serve as nest materials for steelhead and salmon, the project is designed to see if the Pelton-Round Butte dam complex, located just upstream, is blocking necessary components of fish habitat in the wild and scenic river.
Go to article.
For Bicyclists, a Widening Patchwork World
Washington Post
08/31/2008
When it comes to using a bike for everyday transportation, the boom appears to have bypassed many countries. While Northern Europe and Japan have figured out how to make bicycle commuting a safe, cheap alternative to driving, the United States, Canada, Australia and Britain have not.
Go to article.
Green Energy Companies Booming in Montana
Missoulian
08/31/2008
Solar Plexus is in the business of renewable energy, and these days, it's busier than ever.
It's a fine pace when compared with general slowdowns and layoffs elsewhere, and some conservation and economic development groups in Montana are pushing politicians to help the Big Sky State tap into a new energy economy - and considerably brighten the Labor Day celebrations to come.
Go to article.
Equal Voices Seeks Equal Outcomes
Seattle Post-Intelligencer
09/02/2008
Nearly 800 Washington residents will travel to Los Angeles to participate Saturday in Equal Voices for America's Families, a bottom-up campaign to bring attention to the concerns of low-income families.
Go to article.
Training for the Blue Collar Job
KUOW
09/02/2008
The economy is slumping, but the demand for skilled trade workers is on the rise. Continuously these jobs pay more, offer more job security, and insure more upward mobility than their white collar counterparts. Why then, do many parents discourage a vocational education track? What drives us away from these programs? What are its benefits and shortcomings, and what programs are offered in Seattle?
Go to article.
A Balancing Act on Emissions
New York Times
09/02/2008
The Apollo Alliance, a coalition working to promote green jobs and clean energy, has been struggling with how to offset the global warming pollution that results from its day-to-day operations, especially from its travel. How do environmental organizations like this one "walk their carbon talk?"
Go to article.
More NW Travelers Choosing the Train
KPLU
09/02/2008
High gas prices and scaled-back airline schedules have sent many summer travelers looking for alternatives. For a growing number, that alternative has been a train. As KPLU environment reporter Liam Moriarty found out, rail travel seems to be making a comeback as a more economical, less-stressful and greener choice.
Go to article.
