Blog
A salute to science over politics
Yesterday the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee approved a bill that would require the EPA to do a more thorough analysis on the effects for consumers, the economy, and the environment of increasing the amount of corn ethanol in gasoline by 50 percent before it is sold at… Read More
Building a better world at the Thematic Social Forum in Porto Alegre, Brazil
I had the privilege of participating in the Thematic Social Forum this past week in Porto Alegre, Brazil. Porto Alegre was where the very first World Social Forum took place back in 2001. The difference between the World Social Forum and Thematic Social Forum is not much, just… Read More
Environmentalists threatened, murdered in El Salvador
Salvadoran environmentalists are fighting for a ban on destructive mining projects in the face of physical attacks at home, and legal attacks from abroad authorized by a U.S. trade agreement. Since 2009, community leaders, staff of a local radio station and a priest have been threatened, assaulted, or intimidated for… Read More
Bye-bye bunker fuel?
The Antarctic already has a ban in place on the use of bunker fuel by ships, the US and Canada are getting an Emission Control Area in August which could likely phase out bunker use in North American waters, and the EU is being pressured to eliminate bunker… Read More
The Olympic Coast is protected from cruise ship sewagePuget Sound should be too
Cruise ship pollution poses a significant threat to marine resources. While treatment is required to discharge sewage and other wastewater, the U.S. EPA has found that older ship sewage treatment systems discharge highly concentrated wastewater in excess of federal water quality standards. Friends of the Earth believes that… Read More
Genetically engineered mosquito buzz continues
While the possible release of genetically engineered mosquitoes in the Florida Keys has been delayed until late spring, the debate around the possible benefits and risks these insects pose to the environment and human health continue to heat up. Even scientists who are supportive of genetically engineered insects are… Read More
Exxon profits highlight misguided priorities
If there ever were a story that illustrated how the top 1% have captured both the economic and political power in our country, we need look no further than today’s earning announcement from Exxon Mobil. The oil and gas giant made $41 billion in profits for the 2011 fiscal… Read More
World Bank’s new lending tool: Less safe, less transparent
The World Bank last week decided to take a significant step backwards on social and environmental protection and transparency. The Bank’s board voted to approve Program-for-Results, also known as PforR, which, according to Bank hype, is “an innovative new financing instrument for the World Bank’s client countries that links… Read More
Demand a fair deal for the environment
Protest at the Trans Pacific Partnership Trade Agreement negotiations this week in Beverly Hills and La Jolla, California. Trade negotiators from around the Pacific Rim are gathering in southern California this week, January 31 – February 3, to hammer out the details on the most significant regional trade agreement the… Read More
EPA gets it right: Palm Oil is not “renewable”
On January 27, the EPA announced it’s determination that diesel produced from palm oil releases too many greenhouse gas emissions to qualify as a renewable fuel. Friends of the Earth applauds the EPA for recognizing the massive amounts of carbon emissions released from the production of palm oil, which… Read More