The Realist Idealist

“The current race is to see who will control renewable energy technologies, and we are in the race,” Algerian Energy Minister Chakib Khelil told reporters. “We have the human and financial resources, and we have the will.”
Minister Khelil’s statement was made in the recent announcement that Algeria is undertaking a massive initiative to generate enough [...]

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This six part series by Richard Behar of Fast Company entitled “China in Africa” is the single best piece of investigative journalism I’ve read in months. Maybe years. Maybe ever.

Behar breaks down and brilliantly weaves the geo-political, business, governmental, community, historical, and personality issues that plague a handful of resource-rich countries across the sub-Saharan [...]

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I first heard Van Jones speak in 2005 in Berkeley. I still get chills recalling his call for a “new politics” a “new religion” and truly a new way of operating in society.
I’ve followed Van since then through his work with the Ella Baker Center and just saw him here today at the 2008 [...]

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Just finished this TIME article
The Clean Energy Scam
Without giving my own personal views yet, I’d really love to know others thoughts on it and get some discussion going.   I know some of you are ardent biofuel supporters.  Some of you have even raised vast sums of money to invest in biofuel infrastructure.
Some of [...]

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I just learned about this unusual day - PARK(ing) Day - that takes place annually in San Fracisco as a project of the Rebar Group.
(thanks, Meg!)
Pretty awesome. A great example of thinking a bit (or far) outside the box and making something (actually) happen around it.
http://www.rebargroup.org/projects/parking/index.html

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I just saw these photos (and the accompanying request to send more) from Gulf News.
Rain.  In the Persian Gulf.
I’ve spent at least two weeks worth of time (usually more) in the United Arab Emirates every year since 2000, and I’ve seen it rain 4 times in all those years. I’ve actually got a [...]

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