Donate Newsletters
Home » Climate + Energy » Weekend Reading: 3/11/16

Weekend Reading: 3/11/16

SwatchJunkies

March 11, 2016

Alan

Over Our Heads, cover photo by Gary Braasch
Over Our Heads, cover photo by Gary Braasch

Gary Braasch: Brother, it’s been years since we schemed of a photo book to lay bare the consequences of American consumerism and since you donated a cover photo for the first-ever book on climate change in Cascadia. Now, before we could scheme and collaborate again, you’re gone. Gary, your deep passion for this planet and the ache in your eyes to capture transcendent light were a gift to us all. Until we meet again . . . .

Eric

As the Northwest weighs whether to permit a trio of huge methanol refineries backed by the Chinese government, here are a couple of recent examinations that may help inform the debate. First, Reuters has a long-form investigate series, “The Long Arm of China,” that examines the various ways that China exerts influence far beyond its borders. Second, the New York Times took a thoughtful look at the data showing that China’s economy is slowing.

At Vox, writer Amanda Taub has maybe the single best treatment of Donald Trump’s popularity that I’ve seen. She links his rise to a nasty strain of authoritarianism that runs through the American electorate and that has been largely overlooked by political reporting to date.

At E&E News, reporter David Ferris pulls back the curtain on energy firm NRG to show how it failed to transform itself into a green and renewable company.

Kristin

Why is Trump winning? Linguistics expert George Lakoff lists the groups Trump appeals to: conservatives who believe in hierarchy where a strong, rich, white, man is on top; conservatives who relate to direct causation more than systemic causation; white men who see themselves as superior to nonwhites, women, and gays and are tired of being told their beliefs are not “politically correct.”

“[T]he trick for a party and a candidate [to win elections] is to maintain a base of heterogeneous special interests, while still appearing to be the champion of the ordinary American.” Yikes!

Talk to the Author

SwatchJunkies

Talk to the Author

Keiko Budech

Keiko Budech, senior communications associate, promotes Sightline's work to the diverse audiences of Northwest media and decisionmakers.

About Sightline

Sightline Institute is an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit think tank providing leading original analysis of democracy, forests, energy, and housing policy in the Pacific Northwest, Alaska, British Columbia, and beyond.

1 thought on “Weekend Reading: 3/11/16”

  1. Re: Trump and “authoritarianism”

    Hi Eric, and greetings Sightline.

    Just wondering, did anyone catch that interview with Donald Trump on Jimmy Fallon’s “Tonight Show” that originally aired about a month ago, and re-ran a few nights ago? I tuned-in to it, out of curiosity, especially since Fallon loves doing impressions of Trump.

    I was impressed by the graciousness of both Fallon and Trump throughout the interview. Trump came across as someone who is surprisingly humble, rationally convincing, and very well-informed globally. Although some of his views can be seen as rather extreme, at first glance — especially when taken out of context– he seems to simply be interested in getting the conversation started about very important issues, in order to bring forth the best solutions. He also struck me as someone who is tired of the political polarization between the Republicans and Democrats in DC, and their seeming inability to “get things done” because of it. He seems to see himself as being able to bring both sides together, as great leaders should…

    Peace,

    Car-Free Lady

Comments are closed.

For press inquiries and interview requests, please contact Martina Pansze.

Sightline Institute is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization and does not support, endorse, or oppose any candidate or political party.

You can power us forward on sustainable solutions.

See an error? Have a question?

Find the author's contact information on our staff page to reach out to them, or send a message to editor@sightline.org.

Privacy Overview
Sightline Institute

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognizing you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

Strictly Necessary Cookies

Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.

If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.

3rd Party Cookies

This website uses Google Analytics to collect anonymous information such as the number of visitors to the site, and the most popular pages.

Keeping this cookie enabled helps us to improve our website.

Additional Cookies

This website uses social media to collect anonymous information such as which platform are our users coming from.

Keeping this cookie enabled helps us better reach our audiences.