Three things are pretty central to my hometown, Springfield, IL: the state capitol, Abraham Lincoln, and corn as far as the eye can see. In a way, all three of these central Illinois icons pushed me to where I am today with an abiding love for nature, history, and catty politics. They also combine to make me acutely aware that we occupy a unique moment in history where our actions or inaction will resonate for generations to come.
As for NRDC, I handle communications for a weird mix of NRDC's efforts including energy issues in the Midwest, greening of Chicago, endangered species and western wildlife issues.
When I am not worried about dirty fuels and changes to the Endangered Species Act, play bass guitar, try to keep my 120 year old house on the south side from crumbling and chase around a wee-bitty son, born on … you guessed it … Lincoln's birthday.
Posted May 22, 2012 by Josh Mogerman in The Media and the Environment
I look at Pitchfork and Midwest Energy News online every day. And before this week, I’ve never seen the same story covered on both sites. But really, that is no surprise. Music nerdery and energy wonkery never cross paths… …until...continued→
Posted May 15, 2012 by Josh Mogerman in Saving Wildlife and Wild Places
The effort to ban trade in shark fins is going swimmingly in Illinois! Nick Magrisso just reported from the Statehouse that the Senate has voted overwhelmingly to approve a measure that would ban the sale, trade, distribution or possession...continued→
Posted May 7, 2012 by Josh Mogerman in Curbing Pollution
It is planting time on central Illinois farms where millions of pounds of the controversial herbicide atrazine are being applied to corn fields. But the endocrine disrupting chemical is a bit more highly visible than usual in the region this...continued→
Posted April 12, 2012 by Josh Mogerman in The Media and the Environment
Reality is never as neat and clean as anyone would like it to be. Usually, it is pretty dirty. Look at the banks of the Kalamazoo River where nearly two years after a million gallons of diluted bitumen was belched into...continued→
Posted March 7, 2012 by Josh Mogerman in Curbing Pollution, Health and the Environment
There are few things that grate on me more than the constant sight of the looming smokestack from the Fisk Generating Station. I see it every day. I see it on the L platform. I see it driving. And...continued→
Posted February 29, 2012 by Josh Mogerman in Health and the Environment, The Media and the Environment
A little while back I was puzzled by an uptick in anti-NRDC hatchet pieces and troll comments online related to the ancient history of alar. Seemingly out of nowhere, I was suddenly seeing references to the high profile fight from...continued→
Posted February 12, 2012 by Josh Mogerman in Curbing Pollution, Living Sustainably
I take the CTA’s Green Line trains to work most days. Yeah, that is the line dissed by “Stuff Chicagoans Say” recently… It is the oldest line in the system, including some sections that were built in 1892 during...continued→
Posted January 13, 2012 by Josh Mogerman in Curbing Pollution, Solving Global Warming, The Media and the Environment
Over the long Keystone XL campaign, I have continued to be astounded at how differently the pipeline---and tar sands infrastructure projects in general---are seen in the U.S. and Canada. The narratives from binational pipeline supporters couldn’t be further apart...continued→
Posted December 23, 2011 by Josh Mogerman in Moving Beyond Oil
Channukah. Hannukah. However you spell it, we are now half-way through a holiday commemorating one day's worth of oil lasting for eight days. It is a pretty minor holiday in the Jewish calendar, but perhaps we should be making a bigger deal about...continued→
Posted November 10, 2011 by Josh Mogerman in Curbing Pollution, Solving Global Warming, The Media and the Environment
Maddeningly, like a ton of issues that we work on, the Keystone XL pipeline debate has been boiled down to jobs vs. the environment in the media repeatedly. The pipelines proponents have told a shovel-ready story that has been picked...continued→
Posted October 25, 2011 by Josh Mogerman in Curbing Pollution, The Media and the Environment
As sports paraphernalia goes these days, it pains me to say that Green Bay Packers fans are tops with the foam cheeshead hat. Yeah, it is played out. Still, you have to admire the statement that fans are making in...continued→
Posted September 27, 2011 by Josh Mogerman in Solving Global Warming
I take the L to work most days. And for the most part, I love it. (There is still something fun about hopping a train...) But on my travels, I hear plenty of riders complaining about the Chicago Transit...continued→
Posted September 15, 2011 by Josh Mogerman in Curbing Pollution, Solving Global Warming
I’ve never liked the University of Nebraska football program. Years of watching them run up scores against my beloved Missouri Tigers in the Big 12 filled me with jealous disdain. And the sea of red in Faurot Field created...continued→
Posted September 2, 2011 by Josh Mogerman in Curbing Pollution, Solving Global Warming
I am ready for the Labor Day weekend because, frankly, it’s been a disappointing couple of weeks with some hugely disappointing messages coming from the administration on Keystone XL pipeline and ozone. Can someone please show me the research that says...continued→
Posted August 31, 2011 by Josh Mogerman in The Media and the Environment
In the last 48 hours, two spectacular New York Times pieces on the controversial Keystone XL pipeline hit the Web. The fact that the Times has been on the right side of the pipeline debate (in the opinion of a...continued→
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