Two events occurred after I left Korea that I wished I could have witnessed. First, the 2002 World Cup, though being there in 1996 when Korea the bid with Japan was interesting for Koreans’ collective angst at having to settle for co-hosting that extravaganza. Second, last week much of Korea was buried in 10 inches [...]
Japan is undergoing a huge shift in politics. For only the second time since 1955, Japan’s dominant Liberal Democratic Party lost its control of the House in the Diet, all but assuring Yuko Hatoyama will become the next Prime Minister. How long this change will last is uncertain: Japan in some ways is like the [...]
When one thinks of China, “green” does not come into mind, unless it’s the 50 yuan note, or the algae that often infests its water: by most accounts, two-thirds of China’s rivers and lakes are contaminated. Most of the nation’s electricity needs come from coal, a scary prospect from a nation of over one billion [...]
I’m very disappointed with Van Jones’ decision to resign as White House environmental adviser over the weekend. I just started reading The Green Collar Economy and while I do not agree with all of his ideas, his book is an excellent read that explains how creating jobs and saving the environment are not mutually exclusive. [...]
Having grown up in Silicon Valley, I am proud of how this area has reinvented itself time and time again. Santa Clara County (sorry, San Francisco and San Mateo County, you’re not the valley) survived the defense industry meltdown of the 1990s, the dot-com bust earlier this decade, and now will be the nerve center [...]
Last year I worked for a company that sent me all over North America for really no good reason. On one hand, it was a fascinating experience listening to energy executives talk about their corporate strategy when oil was hovering at US$150 a barrel. But when you are flying halfway across the country spewing out [...]
Detroit has become the butt of countless jokes and to many in Michigan and beyond, it’s a national embarrassment. The automobile industry has collapsed, crime is rampant, and hard numerical evidence is demonstrated by the fact that San Jose recently passed Detroit as the tenth largest US city. Finally, the Motor City is one big [...]
The AQMD’s Green Tech Connect Forum opened this afternoon. I’ve worked on this conference off and on for a few months, so I’m excited about it finally starting in Pasadena. The South Coast Air Quality Management District organized the show in order to introduce financiers to entrepreneurs in the green tech sector. (more…)
“Do you know the way to San Jose? They’ve got a lot of space . . .” – Burt Bacharach, sung by Dionne Warwick
Okay, that song’s a bit dated. (more…)
Last month I mentioned that the future of alternative energy could hinge on investment from big oil. Well, it’s certainly looking that way.
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I visited Bulgaria in 2003. I had zero expectations. Basically I was running out of places in Eastern Europe to visit, so I thought, what the hey. I ended up loving the country—it’s one big open air museum, has friendly people, and great food and wine.
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