The United Nations must be a fan of the D.C. Council's intention to impose a 5 cent fee on consumers for every disposable bag -- the international body's environmental chief this week called for a worldwide ban on single-use plastic bags. Via McClatchy:

"Single use plastic bags which choke marine life, should be banned or phased out rapidly everywhere. There is simply zero justification for manufacturing them anymore, anywhere," said Achim Steiner, executive director of the U.N. Environment Programme. His office advises U.N. member states on environmental policies. more ›

This week, Phillyist saw the waters of a landmark fountain run red for a Showtime marketing stunt, the Phils pull ahead, and some serious nostalgia. They also got a chance to review an awesome tribute album, reminded folks to see the King, and appreciated their beautiful skyline. Chicagoist knows what it's like to like the Cubs. But naming your kid Wrigley Fields? At least they can breathe a little easier now that Grossman's out and... more ›

Good morning, Washington. Last night's Unbuckled concert at DC9 was a huge success, having sold-out in under an hour and providing a rocking good time for all those who made it inside -- thanks to all of you who came out! We couldn't be happier, and we'll have some photos and other details to share later on, to be sure. In the meantime, the Washington Post has some video of yesterday's topping off ceremony in... more ›

Once again, everyone but the U.S. government might finally realize that the denial of voting rights for District residents is an affront to democracy and human rights. We've received word that Timothy Cooper, Executive Director of Worldrights, a human rights advocacy organization, testified on Monday before the United Nations' Human Rights Committee in Geneva. Cooper's grief? The lack of voting rights for District residents. In reference to the persistent injustice we constantly harp on, Cooper... more ›

Last night, cellist and, since January, United Nations Peace Ambassador Yo-Yo Ma played a sold-out solo recital in the Kennedy Center Concert Hall, sponsored by Washington Performing Arts Society. On the program were three of the unaccompanied cello suites of J. S. Bach, pieces with which Yo-Yo Ma is widely identified in the United States. (The last time we heard an all-Bach cello suite recital like this was from Mischa Maisky at the National Gallery... more ›

Official Washington can be filled with moments of official awkwardness. And this past week was filled with multiple instances of slips of the tongue, or at least Ciceronian rhetoric that could have been crafted and executed in a slightly better fashion. Starting with another pitched confirmation battle, President Bush’s nominee for ambassador to the United Nations, the sartorially impaired diplomatic guru John Bolton (left), faced some intense scrutiny from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. The... more ›

And you thought he was washed up when he walked out of the White House four years ago. But no, former D.C. resident and President William Jefferson Clinton has done us proud, being appointed as special UN envoy for tsunami reconstruction efforts in southern Asia. This appointment piggybacks upon current President Bush’s bipartisan appointment of Clinton and Bush’s father, former President George H.W. Bush, to foster private support for the aid and reconstruction efforts on behalf of the United States. more ›

The group behind the effort to build a massive video slots and entertainment complex on New York Avenue in Northeast D.C. is making a slight retreat as it has withdrawn about 10% of the 3,800-some petitions submitted to get a measure approving D.C. gambling on the Nov. 2 ballot. The Post reports that the group's lawyer, John Ray, listed 389 petitions that the initiative's pushers "would like to withdraw." Three petition circulators told the D.C.... more ›