Author: Louis Wertz

Preservationist, conservationist, permaculturalist, writer, editor, designer, creative reuser. Tweeter @louwertz. Head of Communications @EcoAgPartners.
Science, Society, Technology

Can Barcoded Species be Good for Science and Monsanto?

National Geographic recently featured a story about a global project, started by Canadian evolutionary biologist Paul Hebert, to “barcode” all known species.

Barcodes are derived from the CO1 gene that produces ATP, an energy carrying molecule found in  every multicellular organism on earth. The barcodes are made up of sequences of 4 colors, one for each of the DNA bases (G,T,C and A, you all remember Gattaca, right?) that make up the unique 600+ character chain of the portion of the CO1 gene that Hebert selected for its commonality. Continue reading “Can Barcoded Species be Good for Science and Monsanto?”

Environment, Preservation/Conservation

In Celebration of John Muir: Travels in the Bay Area

Today, April 21st 2010, is John Muir’s 172 birthday. In honor of the patron saint of American environmentalism, and since I’m lucky enough to live in the area that John Muir called home for the last half of his life, I present a wonderful way to celebrate Muir! Read on below this photo of Muir reveling in the great outdoors:

John Muir in 1907

The San Francisco Bay Area is replete with Muir-related sites, and if I was going to go visit them all in a day, I’d do it in this order, with these fantastic activities and restaurants mixed in:

Start at the John Muir National Historic Site in Martinez. If you’re a public-transit-bound person, this is the most accessible of the Muir sites, just a short bus ride from the Walnut Creek BART station. Muir’s family home and orchard sits at the foot of Mt. Wanda, named for Muir’s oldest daughter. The site is especially fun to visit in late summer, despite the heat, because the fruit from the very productive fruit trees in Muir’s historic orchard is available to anyone who pays the small fee to enter the park. Bring a bag and you can feast for days on one of the National Park Service’s tastiest landscape features. The apricots and figs, from trees Muir himself planted, are especially delicious, based on a visit last July. Continue reading “In Celebration of John Muir: Travels in the Bay Area”

Environment, Politics, Society

Save Coal Miners: Just Say No to Coal Power.

President Obama says we need more than prayers to protect coal miners, we need action. He’s right. Unfortunately, he’s also wrong.

Specifically, he’s wrong about clean coal. This amazingly durable boondoggle has been a buzzword for “free money” to interest groups and “jobs” to unions and workers in the coal states. States where presidential elections have been won or lost the past two decades; Pennsylvania, Ohio, Virginia, West Virginia and Montana (the latter two were closer than you might think in the last election). The one thing clean coal definitely isn’t, however, is good for coal miners.

A lot has changed since 1908, but coal mining remains one of America's most dangerous jobs.
West Virginia Coal Miners in 1908.

Coal mining is one of the most dangerous, dirty, unhealthy jobs on the planet. Thousands of people die around the world every year in coal mining accidents. Admittedly, most of those deaths are in China, which has 19th century worker protection. Continue reading “Save Coal Miners: Just Say No to Coal Power.”

Preservation/Conservation, Society

Preservation Alert: Louis’ Restaurant Needs Your Help

Louis’ Restaurant near the Cliff House in San Francisco is in trouble. The GGNRA says it has to open the bidding for the lease on the property Louis’ occupies, meaning the family-owned business could get shut down by big money interested in building another soulless tourist trap. The Hontalas family has owned and operated Louis’ for more than seven decades in its amazing location, and people who love good things need to demand that it stay!

Louis’ Restaurant, by Rosencruz Sumera at Panoramio

The GGNRA should be in the business of protecting America’s best traditions and locations. As anyone who has ever been to Louis’ knows, that definitely includes this legendary diner with spectacular views of the California coast. Sign this petition to tell the GGNRA how much Louis’ means to you! Continue reading “Preservation Alert: Louis’ Restaurant Needs Your Help”