zerochampion

Grist's begging bowl

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I see that the much respected, and witty, green website over in the US, Grist, is seeking some urgent donations in the next week from its audience. It needs $60K to "keep our computers running" over the summer months. I'm probably going to put my hand in my pocket on this one but wonder why the site is still non-for-profit. Am I being a rampant capitalist but shouldn't a brand such as this, which clearly has built a considerable audience and influence in the US and beyond, be looking to establish itself as a business? Is it squeamish about attracting advertising? For me if brands such as Grist remain charitable ones then so does the movement.

Pitt put in his place

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I see Brad Pitt's self importance knows no bounds. Not content with boring us with self importance about his acting craft he now has taken it upon himself to explore his "passion" for architecture. Announcing his desire to design a "sustainable" resort in Dubai he adds: "It will underpin not only my values for environmentally-friendly architecture, but also embrace my career in entertainment." Thankfully some Building readers, including a D Vinnels, give it to him with both barrels. Please leave our industry alone Brad.

Biblical proportions

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Interesting, and probably planned, appearance of two pages of content in today's Guardian, nestled together on a spread. On the right hand side sits an article on a Texas oil giant's plans to 2,700 wind turbines across the State. The appositely-named T Boone Pickens is no green but wants to "make a lot of money" out of the venture. On the opposite page is an advert for a book written by author Vernon Coleman called, wait for it, Oil Apocalypse: How to Survive, protect your family and profit through the coming years of crisis. A couple of thoughts spring to mind.

From our Accra correspondent

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I'm chatting to a college friend, Sara, who is out in Accra, Ghana. She threw away a cosy policy job at the 350-year-old Royal Society, St. James, to work on projects helping commercialise health research out in the field. She turned that bourgeois malaise that many in the West feel into energy to do something useful in the developing world, despite the fact that the shortsighted VSO turned her down for lack of practical experience.

Gore news, or not

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News from American environmental site, Grist, that Al Gore is planning to run for president as an Independent had us all of a flutter in the Building Sustainability office. "I can't believe he would split the vote like what happened to HIM, like eight years ago!" I fumed (I was in the US at the time; it brings back bad memories.) "Mention on your blog that he spoke at Think! last year," said Phil, as ever slaying narrow self-interest for the bigger picture. Of course it was an April Fool.

Fools Cap-and-Trade

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I've been trawling through the Government's response to the consultation on Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC) scheme. This will mean that firms that pay more than about £500,000 for energy a year will have to purchase allowances to a set Government cap and have to buy allowances beyond that. The idea is that 'polluting' companies will have to buy credits off 'clean' companies.

Life without oil

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Among the global marker turmoil (GMT?) of yesterday. An important development was lost. Reuters reported that Dick Cheney (still VP, still surviving, dicky ticker and all) on a tour of the Middle East said that crude oil at $100 a barrel reflected market conditions. The charmingly named 'light sweet crude' was $50 in 2005. Cheney continued more startlingly, saying: "One of the problems we've got now obviously is that there is not a lot of excess capacity worldwide."

Green on Red

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Guest post from France by Phil's boss Adrian Barrick
To Cannes for Mipim, the alcohol-fuelled annual gathering of Europe's property and construction clans. In many ways, Mipim is an odd setting for a serious debate about sustainability. Apart from a few laudable souls who take the train, or - bravissimo! - cycle, most of the pin-striped pilgrims jet in to nearby Nice airport, immediately jump in a cab, and spend the next three or four days emitting sufficient hot air to blow a hole in the ozone layer the size of France.

11th Hour review

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To a swish Soho hotel last night for a preview showing of new film The 11th Hour. This was care of consultancy firm Gleeds, who had managed to bag an early copy of the Leonardo Di Caprio-backed and fronted offering before its UK release. The firm invited a pretty impressive guest list of industry green figures along, a few of which (Paul King from the UKBGC, RIBA president Sunand Prasad) discussed the challenge raised by the film after the showing. Unfortunately I found the film somewhat of a disappointment.

Weekend Review

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Ken's Congestion Charge is mutating into an emissions charge with confusing results. Some people point out that, since the area covered is expanding, more residents will be able to travel for free. The Charge is getting increasingly complex and Livingstone doesn't seem to have worked out the difficulties of pursuing this new policy - such as the need to raise targets based on performance over time. The Sunday Times points out others say that increasing numbers of cars - 10% - are now able to sneak in beneath the new £25 fee. Janice Turner in the Times says all these new, free-to-enter runarounds are driven by potential voters.