The Ascent of Butterfly Mountain

by Homero Aridjis

One of six pieces by international writers in the September/October 2009 issue of Orion.

First Solo Walk

by Manik Datar

One of six pieces by international writers in the September/October 2009 issue of Orion.

Beyond Radical

by Bill McKibben

Conservatives have a lot to offer the climate change movement.

Murmurations

by Devin Johnston

A lyrical meditation on a very inventive bird species.

A Nation of Addicts

by Franklin Kalinowski

Democracy wasn't built for a culture addicted to oil.

Ambassador of Fruit

by Alec Wilkinson

Idaho reminded Esmaeil Fallahi of Iran. Now he's helping its growers diversify their farms with surprising fruits like jujube and persimmon.

The Story About the One

by Sandra Steingraber

Pro-life or pro-choice, everyone can agree on one thing about abortion. And that's potentially great news for the environment.

From the Editors

July/August 2009

"There is bleakness all around us. There is also extraordinary opportunity to remake the world."

World at Dawn

by Diane Ackerman

The subtle delights of the ghostly realm between night and day.

Forget Shorter Showers

by Derrick Jensen

Why personal change is not a substitute for political change.

The Transition Initiative

by Jay Griffiths

Towns and cities are imagining different -- and positive -- futures in a warming, post-oil world.

The Trumpet of the Swan

by Kim Todd

Childhood memories withstand the test of time, but a fragile species may be another story.

Hell Yeah, We Want Windmills

by Erik Reece

In the heart of coal country, activists are championing an energy economy that can save mountains and save lives.

Climate Justice

by Tom Athanasiou

To fix the climate, get serious about solving poverty.

World at Gunpoint

by Derrick Jensen

How we should live our lives is precisely the wrong question.

The Barbaric Heart

by Curtis White

Are violence and greed too big a match for a naïve and jaded environmentalism?

Pulverized

by Jay Griffiths

What has silenced the language of stones, and why should we want the stones to speak?

The Poetry of Power

by Ginger Strand, with photographs by Jason Houston

When it comes to small hydro, environmentalists are damned if they do and damned if they don't. Plus EXCLUSIVE VIDEO: A Small-Hydro Road Trip.

Oracle in the Desert

Text and photographs by Craig Childs

A retired cop wanders the canyons of Arizona looking for redemption. Plus AUDIO of the author reading this article.

Lunch with Cheeta

Photographs and text by Kirk Crippens

In sunny Palm Springs, a retired movie star elicits reflection on the boundaries of being human. With LINKS to more about Cheeta.

3 Bets

by Sandra Steingraber

A successful environmental human rights movement is worth everything you can possibly wager. AUDIO EXTRA: Interview with Sandra Steingraber.

A License to Be Human

An interview with Van Jones

The Forbidden Forest

Photographs and text by Jonathan Olley

How a long-ago war continues to generate casualties.
FULL TEXT and slide show available.

The Adored, Buzzing Around Us

by Sharman Apt Russell

Finding beauty in unexpectedly beautiful creatures.
FULL ARTICLE available.

Bucking a Stiff Ebb Tide

Text and photographs by Roger Pinckney

Off the Carolina coast, it's still possible to make a real living from real fishing.
EXCERPT