Before Grist.org burst onto the scene in 1999, environmentalism online was all about doom and gloom. Chip Giller, Grist’s founder, had a feeling that all of the dour finger-pointing and long journalistic articles about sea turtles weren’t exactly drawing a jaded public to the cause. So, Grist’s signature editorial voice was born – one that’s sometimes lighthearted, almost always humorous or satirical. Grist, which began as a tiny online newsletter, is now one of the most influential environmental blogs, drawing in nearly a million daily readers.
Grist.org paved the way for blogs like the one you’re reading at this very moment. The idea that environmentalism can be fun has undoubtedly helped to catch the interest of millions of people who otherwise would have been turned off by the tone of the movement.
For this reason, Chip Giller was named among TIME Magazine’s Heroes of the Environment, an honor he shares with such illustrious company as Al Gore, Wangari Maathai, David Attenborough and the designers of the Toyota Prius. He was also awarded the 2006 National Conservation Achievement Award by the National Wildlife Federation, and has been featured in Vanity Fair, Newsweek and on the Today Show.
Check out what Chip had to say on PBS Now:
When asked by Mother Jones recently what he thought it would take to get people to act on the environmental crisis, Chip said:
I think to get society to act as a whole, people need inspiration. I also think things like the Katrina tragedy are definitely a wake-up call. To be fully honest, I think it probably will take some more disasters to really get people to understand the urgency behind these issues. But the other really important ingredient is inspiration. It’s almost like leadership and inspiration from the top, and there needs to be individual initiative from the bottom up.
Grist.org is the ideal place for people on the cusp of interest in ‘going green’ to get their info and news, so be sure to forward it along to your friends and family! And be sure not to miss regular Grist features like From A to Green, Ask Umbra and The Grist List.
Chip Giller’s Green Score: 32,145
