Solar developers are planting native flowers and grasses near—or even in between—solar panels, addressing the twin problems of pollinator decline and climate change. Between a colorful array of wildflowers and the harmonious buzz of bees and butterflies circling overhead, the aesthetics alone of so-called pollinator-friendly solar farms may intrigue developers—making for easy marketing. But proponents […]
How meritocracy entrenches inequality
A conversation with political philosopher Michael Sandel Meritocracy is not an alternative to inequality. If you think about it, it’s a justification for inequality. That’s what it’s become, and the effect of this has been to generate hubris among the winners and anger, resentment, even humiliation among those left behind. Because it is not only […]
Preparing for Disaster While Making Electricity
Humboldt County, California, is at the end of the line, electrically speaking. Earthquakes, floods, landslides, and wildfires cut off utilities—and roads—into the area. PG&E, the state’s largest utility, has begun preemptively cutting power when the fire risk along the path of its transmission lines is high. So, Redwood Coast Energy Authority, a coalition of local […]
COVID-19 in the U.S.: How do Canada’s provinces rank against American states?
by Jesse Tahirali, CTVNews.ca TORONTO — How do Canadian provinces compare to American states in terms of COVID-19 cases? We’ve calculated reported cases per million people each day of the pandemic to get an idea of how the two countries stack up. Overall, even Canada’s highest-reporting regions are low compared to places south of the […]
The World’s Most Influential Values, In One Graphic
Our basic values can inform ideals, interests, political preferences, environmental views, and even career choices. With sweeping data covering half a million surveys in 152 languages, Valuegraphics identifies 56 values that influence human behavior. It uncovers what people care most about around the world, through a contextualized dataset. The 10 Most Important Values Individual motivations and values are universally organized. That […]