Blog
Victory: Deutsche Bank divests from Bumitama after civil society pressure
Our partners at Friends of the Earth Europe announced yesterday that Deutsche Bank has sold its shares in the Indonesian palm oil supplier Bumitama, an important supplier to palm oil giant Wilmar International. Friends of the Earth U.S. works closely with Friends of the Earth Europe to pressure financiers… Read More
Biotech industry cooks up PR plans to get us to swallow synthetic biology food
Like traditional GMOs, the products of synthetic biology are unlabeled, virtually unregulated and the novel risks to human health and the environment posed by synthetic organisms have not been adequately assessed. Read More
When our land is free, were all free: Liberian communities (almost) kick out Equatorial Palm Oil
It is all too rare that communities in the global south — or anywhere — win recognition of their rights to say ‘no’ to extractive projects on their lands. So when we received news a few weeks ago that Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf stood up for communities there to… Read More
More spin than science: The latest efforts to take down organics
A recent Oxford University study found that “organic farms support 34 percent more plant, insect, and animal species than conventional farms,” including important pollinators. Read More
Rowing against the tide: Friends of the Earth’s update on Wilmar and its sustainability policy
Campaigners from Friends of the Earth U.S., Friends of the Earth Europe and NAPE-Friends of the Earth Uganda are in Indonesia this week for strategy meetings with Walhi-Friends of the Earth Indonesia and a closed-door discussion with palm oil giant Wilmar International to make the company aware of ongoing problems… Read More
ExxonMobil + Exim Bank = Tragedy in Papua New Guinea
In a powerful new video, When We Were Hela, Pulitzer Prize – winning journalist Ian Shearn takes us to the jungles of Papua New Guinea, where a massive natural gas project has caused death and destruction in local communities. The story in his video, as well as in his in-depth… Read More
Dirty money, dirty fuels: why money in politics matters to the environment
What if fighting dirty money in our elections was the key to fighting dirty fuels in our economy? That’s the question asked in a recent report released by the Sierra Club and Oil Change International. From the perspective of the fossil fuel industry, political contributions are just another form of… Read More
Follow the honey: 7 ways pesticide companies are spinning the bee crisis to protect profits
Follow the Honey: 7 ways pesticide companies are spinning the bee crisis to protect profits Read More
Government By the People Act takes back political power from big polluters
On April 23, 2014, President of Friends of the Earth Erich Pica gave remarks at a press conference hosted by Rep. John Sarbanes (D-Md.) on the environmental benefits of the Government By the People Act, recently introduced by Sarbanes. The bill would provide tax incentives for small donors and match… Read More
EPA report shows violation of federal airborne lead standards at two California airports, yet it continues to delay action
Update, April 21, 2014: Friends of the Earth, Physicians for Social Responsibility and Oregon Aviation Watch have filed a petition asking the EPA to address the continued use of leaded aviation gasoline. The below blog post, originally posted in June 2013, details the Friends of the Earth’s history of… Read More