Athletes are seeking a new, controversial technology that may make it possible to alter their DNA, allowing them to run faster or hit harder. Genetically manipulating a person's genes can be fatal – gene therapy experiments have ended in death. Yet athletes have already approached scientists asking for this technology to give them an extra edge. Chinese doctors are providing current Olympic athletes with new gene doping methods.
We have great news to share! Just last week, Congressman Sam Farr (D-CA) introduced the Clean Cruise Ship Act of 2008 (H.R. 6434), a bill that would finally put an end to the dumping of sewage and other pollutants by cruise ships within 12 miles of our coastlines. In a single week, one large cruise ship can dump over 200,000 gallons of raw human sewage and one million gallons of graywater (polluted water from sinks,…
For decades, we've let Big Oil and the Highway Lobby write our energy and transportation policies, making our nation more oil-dependent and auto-dependant than any other country. This has left our workers and families with few options but to use their products - gasoline and roads. For transportation, most people have little choice but to get in their cars and fill their gas tanks with gasoline or diesel fuel. As a result, we are at…
Welcome to Ship Shape, a new series featuring our Clean Vessels Campaign! Friends of the Earth's Clean Vessels Campaign is working to fight pollution from ocean going vessels such as cargo ships and cruise ships. Ocean going vessels discharge enormous amounts of pollution -- from particulate matter, to greenhouse gas pollution, to raw sewage and oil spills. Ships also harm marine mammals directly through routine collisions with whales and other creatures.
Gillian Madill, Friends of the Earth's Genetic Technologies Campaigner, recently testified to the House Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation and Trade on new human biotechnologies. Her testimony addressed the implications of various biotech issues, from bioweapons to human-animal hybrids and gene doping -- technologies already gaining ground that can present a very serious threat to human life and the environment if not approached with caution.
We can help American families cope with high gas prices by investing in public transportation and communities with transportation alternatives through climate change legislation.
Gas prices have shot up by more than a dollar per gallon in less than four months.
From the Friends of the Earth Newsmagazine
WITH THE ARRIVAL OF SUMMER, many people look forward to time away from school, work, and the responsibilities of everyday life. As a vacation choice, cruises have grown increasingly popular over the past two decades, making the industry one of the world’s fastest growing tourism sectors. Last year more than 9 million passengers took cruises on the seventeen largest cruise lines.
Killer Cribs: Protecting Infants and Children from Toxic Exposure
Friends of the Earth has found that commonly used baby and children's products and upholstered household furniture contain dangerous levels of toxic chemicals called halogenated fire retardants.