Looking Down on Creation: Over the weekend I read "Fight for the Top of the World," the lengthy Time Magazine cover story mentioned here last week that analyzes the impacts of climate change in the Arctic. So I can now affirm that the article is very much worth the time it takes to read it.

 

The shrinking ice cap will surely create many new commercial opportunities in the coming decades. In anticipation of that eventuality, the countries whose lands encircle the Arctic -- Russia, Canada, the United States, Denmark (Greenland) -- are jockeying for position, maneuvering in an effort to claim as much territory and as many rights of passage as they can.

 

Along with the imminent commercial opportunities, of course, the risk of environmental damage will increase as well. It will be fascinating to watch this whole process unfold. Much more so than, for instance, watching ice melt.

 

News We Already Knew: The Washington Post reports that the EPA´s pursuit of criminal cases has dropped sharply during the current presidency.

 

The number of prosecutions, convictions and new investigations have all declined by more than a third, according to data provided by the EPA and the Department of Justice.

 

In the Toilet: When it comes to catchiness and memorability, the phrase "toilet to tap" wins hands-down over "reservoir augmentation" or "indirect potable reuse." The phrase´s alliterative appeal and sensory revulsion pack a powerful one-two punch. And that fact spells trouble for water-starved cities like San Diego.

 

The San Diego Union-Tribune yesterday ran a good informational Q&A on water recycling, followed by a string of reader comments that illuminate what an emotional topic this remains for many people.

 

Pete Fehrenbach is managing editor of Waste News. Past installments of this column are collected in the Inbox archive.

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