To the Barricades - - With Ogden?

Terry Tamminen — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 14:25:43 -0400

You know the agitators in any revolution always put up posters and banners to make their point to the public (and to anger the authorities too, of course!). In a Los Angeles suburb last week a dry cleaner named Ogden struck just such a blow for corporate social responsibility - - and greater profits.

Who’s Got the Winning Idea?

Terry Tamminen — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 15:03:59 -0400

As we scramble for solutions to climate, energy, and environmental problems, companies, governments, and individuals are taking action - - so does anyone have a monopoly on great ideas for true “sustainability” or “social responsibility”?

Signs of the Times - - and the Times to Come

Terry Tamminen — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 14:16:06 -0400

In the past week I’ve seen three companies and one surprising manifestation of the cleantech revolution that’s shaping up worldwide. All of these observations are worth sharing as a means of peering into the cleantech crystal ball.

The Easy Way Out

Terry Tamminen — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 19:13:17 -0400

Governor Charlie Crist hosted a Climate Summit in Miami this week and here are a few observations from the front row…

When Water is Clear, So Are the Profits

Terry Tamminen — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 13:22:44 -0400

It’s ironic that the images of flooding in the mid-west are accompanied by stories about government agencies pleading with people in those hard-hit areas to conserve water, because the floods have contaminated drinking water supplies. The recent salmonella poisoning of over 300 people in the US from tainted tomatoes can also be traced to polluted water used for irrigation (add to that the e-coli outbreaks from tainted irrigation water used on spinach and other row crops in the past 2 years).

And Then There Were Two

Terry Tamminen — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 12:24:07 -0400

Yes, it finally happened. We’re down to two in the race. The
others have dropped out, the final holdout brushed aside and the main event
begins.

Of course I’m talking about the NBA finals. Great east-west
rivalry with two teams that have very different DNA and gameplans. Sounds a bit
like the Presidential race, but whatever your “home team”, let me offer some
advice to the next President no matter whose jersey he wears.

Down - - or Up? - - In Flames

Terry Tamminen — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 18:09:44 -0400

OK, so while many environmental leaders are moaning the loss
of the Warner-Lieberman climate bill (S2191) I think we may have actually won
an important battle in the war to get Congress to take this issue seriously.

Given that the President told the world he would not sign a
climate change bill that imposed the slightest cost on industry, no one could
be surprised that Congress didn’t put a comprehensive bill on his desk. So why
go through the charade of proposing and debating (not to mention reading aloud

Waste is...well, Just A Waste!

Terry Tamminen — Fri, 30 May 2008 17:25:13 -0400

In a recent blog, I told you
about a trip to Walmart and how they have slashed waste in all of their stores,
saving money and the environment at the same time. The more I talk about this,
the more I realize how many companies are starting to look for “gold” and
“green” in the dumpster.

Back in the 1990s, California passed a law to divert half its waste from landfills

Mother Knows Best

Terry Tamminen — Thu, 22 May 2008 20:40:44 -0400

With Mother’s Day just behind us, I was particularly moved by a letter
written four decades ago by a very special mom. My friend and colleague, Joe
Lyou, a brilliant advocate and strategist for environmental justice and a
cleaner environment in his own right, shared with me the letter written by his
mother that was so prophetic and profound.

Want a Holiday From Gas Taxes or Traffic?

Terry Tamminen — Fri, 16 May 2008 12:59:28 -0400

Senators John McCain and Hilary Clinton are among many in Congress
clamoring for a gas tax “holiday” as fuel prices rise and the summer driving
season fast approaches. Never mind that they focus entirely on poor consumers
and fail to discuss the implications to businesses trying to get goods/services
to market. Is there any benefit to either group from leaving the tax alone? Or
increasing it?