Blog
North American zone established to limit air pollution from ships
On March 26, 2010, an international body governing the shipping industry approved rules to limit harmful air pollution from ships in most U.S. and Canadian waters. The rules are expected to prevent millions of illnesses and 14,000 premature deaths by 2020. The rules will begin to take effect in 2012. By 2015, ships traveling within 200 miles of U.S. shores will be required to cut their air pollution by 80 percent or more. Read More
Who is the Biggest Biofool?
Biofools Day is rapidly approaching! We’re calling out some of the biggest promoters of harmful industrial biofuels. We’ve highlighted five major biofuels proponents, including corporate executives, industry lobbyists, and government representatives, and we’ve dubbed them Biofools. Now, we need your help to vote for number one. Vote below now! Take action and Vote Now! 2010 Biofool Nominees Read More
Subsidies for Bad Energy To Be Retroactively Reauthorized?
Happily, at the end of 2009 several environmentally damaging tax credits expired. These subsidies went to a range of dirty energy sources, including fossil fuels and bioenergy, at the expense of taxpayers. The various tax credits went to a long list of environmentally damaging energy sources, including: Read More
A 200,000-Strong Coalition Calls on the USDA to Prohibit Genetically Engineered Alfalfa
Hundreds of Friends of the Earth supporters joined a coalition of more than 200,000 NGOs, farmers, consumers, and organic producers in calling on the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to prohibit genetically engineered (GE) alfalfa. We were also signatories of a letter with over 300 organizations asking USDA to deny approval of Monsanto’s GE alfalfa. Read More
Who Owns Your Genes? Gene Patents and the Threat to Public Health
Did you know that around 20 percent of the human genome has been patented? That corporations and researchers own hundreds of animal genes and thousands of plant genes? That even some DNA sequences of viruses like AIDS and SARS are patented, and a researcher could be violating the law if he or she uses them to create a new life-saving vaccine? Read More
President Obama’s Risky Nuclear Industry Bailout
By Ben Schreiber, Climate and Energy Tax Analyst for Friends of the Earth Read More
GM Crops Failing to Tackle Climate Change
A new report from Friends of the Earth International reveals that claims made by the biotech industry that genetically modified (GM) crops can combat climate change are both exaggerated and premature. Read More
EPA Releases Final Biofuels Mandate Rules (RFS2)
In early February 2010, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its final rules on the Renewable Fuels Standard. Friends of the Earth and allied groups had pushed the EPA to account for the indirect greenhouse gas emissions that biofuels production causes when calculating the global warming impact of biofuels. Read More
New Ads in Opposition to Obama Administration’s Nuclear Bailout
Friends of the Earth recently released two TV ads in South Carolina and Georgia opposing the Obama administration's proposed bailout of the nuclear industry. For more information about the ads, see our release. They're called "Family" and "Risk," and you can see them below: Family: Read More
Tar Sands: Resources and Information
Below, are resources and information on Friends of the Earth's tar sands campaigns. Fact sheets: General tar sands factsheet Keystone XL fact sheet Refinery tax credit fact sheet Read More