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22 April 2002 (Monday): soapbox day

This is going to be a linky post. A few activism-tinged things worth mentioning...

Harper's Magazine reveals that the American Automobile Association (AAA) has been actively lobbying for years against expanding public transportation and increasing fuel efficiency. There goes another thing I thought I could buy with a clean conscience. I wonder if I should write them an indignant letter as a member, or just not renew this year.

A year ago Zach got the two of us tickets to a lecture by Amory Lovins, who was essentially on a book tour to promote Natural Capitalism: Creating The Next Industrial Revolution. I can't remember the last time I walked out of an auditorium feeling so buoyed and optimistic -- here at last was environmentalism that made sense, that answered the corporations' perennial question to activists: "What's in it for me?" Today's second hour of Forum on KQED radio focused on the same theme: partnering ecological stewardship with profitability. There is hope yet.

Peter Barnes of Working Assets wants to start a Sky Trust, which would put a price tag on the remaining capacity of the atmosphere to store carbon emissions, sell use permits to corporations and consumers, and pay out the dividends to every citizen in the country. Apparently a stock exchange in Chicago (not sure if that's accurate) is already running a pilot program along similar lines.

Hey look, a music booking agency that uses 100% solar power.

posted by enjelani @ 11:46 AM PST