I’ve just finished “Mountains Beyond Mountains” the selection for One Book-One Bozeman, a worthy effort to promote community and literacy through a common book reading. A schedule of events can be found on the web. The book tells the story of Dr. Paul Farmer, a Harvard trained physician and anthropologist. Dr. Farmer’s calling is to […]

Archaeology interprets past cultures and economies by studying material remains and environmental data. Long associated with analyses of classical civilizations such as Greek and Roman, it is also applicable to more modern times. For example, in 2001 the University of Arizona Press published Rubbish: The Archaeology of Garbage, an analysis of contemporary America’s disposal culture. […]

In a previous column I asked, “What should we do about ecologically valuable areas that are also rich in energy resources? At current prices, these areas act like huge electromagnets, attracting evermore attention.” Montana’s Rocky Mountain Front for example, contains oil and gas deposits. It is also excellent grizzly habitat, a place where they can […]

Last week I had the good fortune to witness and share two contrasting experiences reflecting Montana’s past. One, a hallmark of our region, is easy to appreciate. The other has been neglected, but it may have a more lively future. First, consider the easy one, a roping clinic. Our neighbor, Scott Foster, recently built a […]

With the price of oil flirting around $150 a barrel, Americans’ views on energy and the environment are changing. Polling by the Pew Research Center indicates that people across party lines believe that expanding oil drilling and building new power plants should take priority over energy conservation. Have Americans abandoned support for environmental protection? The […]

Bozeman consistently ranks high among American towns. Unless one is allergic to cold, committed to scuba diving, or loves big cities, Bozeman is wonderful. Cultural and natural beauty abound, while considerate behavior and civility are normal, not aberrations. Community involvement with music and the arts is exceptionally high; consider support for the Bozeman Symphony, Intermountain […]

Governor Brian Schweitzer is a swashbuckling policy entrepreneur. He’s charmed the elite East Coast media with his Western swagger and tough talk about turning Montana’s abundant coal reserves into synthetic fuels: “Why wouldn’t we create an economic engine that will take us into the next century, and let those sheiks and dictators and rats and […]

Montana’s culture, economy, housing patterns, transportation, and politics all evolved assuming we’d enjoy cheap and plentiful energy over the long-term. Low priced energy guided our development and social patterns. I recall occasionally driving to Butte just for dinner in the ‘70s. Many Bozeman friends did likewise, and Billings was a casual destination with little thought […]

After another 4th of July celebration, thoughts of patriotism linger. Is patriotism singing the national anthem or shooting off fireworks? No, patriotism is simply valuing one’s country. Likewise, environmentalism is valuing the environment. Both are abstract concepts that are left to the individual to express. I may display a Support the Troops bumper sticker, while […]

For over two decades FREE has sought to constructively work with responsible environmentalists, e.g., folks with Environmental Defense and the National Wildlife Federation. Our conference last week featured Ted Nordhaus and Michael Shellenberger, authors of Break Through: From the Death of Environmentalism to the Politics of Possibility. They joined us (and a dozen others), seeking […]