Blog
Mozambique-EU forest carbon deal is fraught with problems, new report reveals
In Sofala province, Mozambique, a group of initiatives collectively known as the N’hambita Pilot Project have been promoted as a flagship program for the protection of forests and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. The United Nations cites it as a model example; well-known retailers in Europe have purchased credits that claim to offset their carbon footprint… Read More
A Bad Week for Big Biotech: Supreme Court decision invalidating gene patents one of many recent major setbacks to the biotechnology industrys control over life
Today many women’s rights groups, cancer patients, scientists, and concerned citizens celebrated an enormous victory in the Supreme Court: human genes can no longer be patented by big business! As of this morning, over 20% of the human genome had been patented. In the case before the Supreme… Read More
New Princess cruise ship an environmental example for the entire industry to follow
On June 13 in Southampton, England, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, will christen the new Royal Princess, marking the beginning of a week-long inaugural celebration for Princess Cruises. This 4,950-passenger and crew cruise ship spans 330 meters in length (about 3 football fields), weighs over 140,000 gross tons, and is… Read More
Protect forests, reject landgrabs: Tell investors to stop bankrolling big palm oil
Industrial agriculture has long been a major cause of forest destruction, but the ceaseless expansion of palm oil plantations for food, fuel and cosmetics is wreaking havoc on an unprecedented scale, and has become the biggest single cause of forest destruction in the tropics today. In response, Friends of the… Read More
Groundhog Day with State Dept conflicts of interest
Today feels like Groundhog Day with the Department of State. More than a year ago, Friends of the Earth, along with members of Congress including Sen. Sanders of Vermont and Rep. Cohen from Tennessee, charged the State Department with gross negligence for failing to properly vet the consulting firm Cardio Entrix for improper conflicts of interest. Now, more than a year later, we are at a similar juncture with the State Department apparently actively trying to hide potential conflicts of interests with their new contractor, Environmental Resources Management. Read More
The Fukushima Daiichi disaster: Ongoing lessons for California
Former Japanese Prime Minister Naota Kan warned today that restarting the damaged San Onofre nuclear reactor is driven by the same industrial and regulatory forces in the United States that are seeking the restart of Japanese nuclear reactors. He told a nuclear safety seminar that the worst-case nuclear accident at… Read More
Statement on the death of Sen. Frank Lautenberg
Today, the United States Senate and the American people lost a tremendous champion for a healthy and just world with the passing of Sen. Frank Lautenberg. From fighting for greater access to public transportation and Amtrak to working to reform U.S. chemical policy, Sen. Lautenberg was an environmental leader and… Read More
Monsanto wheat scandal: What the discovery of unapproved genetically engineered wheat means for our food
It has just come to light that genetically modified wheat has been found growing on a farmer’s land in eastern Oregon. The problem? No genetically engineered wheat has ever been approved for US Farming. In 2004 Monsanto, the world’s biggest genetically engineered seed company, pulled their GE wheat… Read More
No Room on our plates for genetically engineered seafood
Good news for fish today as more companies pledge to avoid GE Seafood! Earlier this year Friends of the Earth announced the launch of the Campaign for GE Free Seafood with the commitment of over 2000 stores nation-wide, including those owned by Whole Foods, Aldi, and Trader Joe’s,… Read More
Chevron fracks Europe: Transatlantic trade & investment agreement favors big energy companies and threatens the environment
“Chevron has acquired exploration acreage in Eastern Europe offering prospects for production of natural gas located in shale beds.” —Chevron statement of support for Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership “We can’t let little countries screw around with big companies like this – companies that have made big investments around… Read More