Photo by M.V. JantzenGood morning, District. As the world turns its attention to Copenhagen for UN climate talks that seek to shape the global debate about planetary climate change, District residents have a few opportunities to affect change at a local level. For some in this media-rich town, that charge is read as a challenge to generate the most counter-intuitive angle possible on climate change. Our own disgraced climatologist George Will wins that game, with a lede to his column in yesterday’s Washington Post that asserts that the one-time carbon cost associated with jet flights to Copenhagen outweighs the monumental and lasting change that delegates there could affect.
Giant Food Stores and the D.C. Council seem to understand the environment a little better. The Washington Business Journal reports that Giant will distribute 250,000 free re-usable bags after January 1 — the same date the city’s brilliant 5-cent disposable bag fee comes into effect. That legislation is primarily geared toward preventing the pollution associated with plastic bags, in particular litter that finds its way to the Anacostia River. But the carbon footprint of producing and incinerating plastic bags — which most Americans use each and every day — is not negligible, and neither is the cost of coming up with new solutions to increasingly clogged landfills.
It will be difficult to keep global warming on the brain as local temperatures plunge this week. The Capital Weather Gang says the city can expect another outbreak of dread wintery mix on Tuesday night or early Wednesday — so enjoy today’s sunshine.
PG House Fire Injures Eight Firefighters: A fire that broke out in a two-story house in Prince George’s County just after 11 p.m. last night could be seen well over a mile away. It might have been put down more quickly, according to ABC 7, but firefighters arrived on the scene to the dread low water pressure associated with failed hydrants in D.C. It’s unclear yet whether hydrant failure is to blame in this situation; the cause of the fire itself appeared to be accidental. Emergency dispatchers said they received phone calls from all over the area reporting the fire, which took place in University Park. Five residents escaped to safety, while firefighters battled the blaze for over an hour, with eight sustaining minor injuries in the process.
Boss of All Bosses Honored at Kennedy Center: U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and President Barack Obama were among the officials on hand at the Kennedy Center Honors reception to celebrate the work of Robert De Niro, Mel Brooks, Dave Brubeck, Grace Bumbry, and Bruce Springsteen. The Associated Press suggests that the Salahis didn’t make it into this one, but you can check NBC Washington’s slideshow to be sure.
Briefly Noted: New Georgetown dorm evacuated after smoke reported . . . Accidents clog I-295 . . . Pit bull attack leaves woman in critical condition . . . Police arrest suspect in cutting of pregnant woman.
This Day in DCist: WMATA touched up its Web site and some puppies saved a toddler.
