Blog
White House pushes risky biofuels for military
This past week the Obama Administration announced $62 million in new funding for the advanced biofuels industry. The White House’s goal is to jump-starting the commercial-scale development of drop-in biofuels – biofuels that do not require special infrastructure to be blended with gasoline or diesel – for use… Read More
New report on China Development Bank shows the bank lagging behind its peers
Over the past several years, Chinese overseas investments have had a powerful global impact, from the Gibe 3 dam in Ethiopia, to the Alberta tar sands in Canada, to the Shwe oil and gas project in Myanmar. In the past, many of these environmentally and socially controversial… Read More
Save the dolphins: the 40 year battle is renewed
Who will join the fight to save the dolphins? Consumer boycotts and “save the dolphin” demonstrations over the course of many years resulted in a U.S. program for dolphin safe labeling for tuna products. Most Mexican commercial fishing operations, however, continued to ignore U.S. dolphin safe practices. They can still… Read More
My thoughts on Rio
Rio+20 and the People’s Summit (attended by more than 50,000 people) both came to a close over the weekend. Much effort from many individuals was poured into relatively few days of meetings. Both events required months of preparation, with some aspects of the meetings even taking years to prepare. Read More
Outrage over the Obama administrations fast-tracking of Keystone XL bubbles over
A short piece appeared in the New York Times on Tuesday, quietly noting that one of the three regional Army Corps of Engineers offices reviewing TransCanada’s federal permit application to build the Keystone XL pipeline through Oklahoma and Texas had rubber-stamped the southernmost section through Texas the day… Read More
Robin Hood hits home — Let’s give him a warm welcome!
Why is the Incredible Hulk smoothly whistling on YouTube as he takes a dollar and draws a Robin Hood mask on George Washington’s mug? Because Mark Ruffalo — who plays the green superhero in the movie The Avengers — stars in a video to kick off the U.S. Read More
State Department to use flawed, conflicts-ridden impacts study in new review of Keystone XL
You’d think the State Department would’ve learned its lesson from the first round of review of the controversial Keystone XL tar sands oil pipeline, wouldn’t you? Especially after it took 1,253 people risking arrest on President Obama’s doorstep (including Friends of the Earth staff and activists), dogged… Read More
Shut down San Onofre: The continuing nuclear threat to southern California
The San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station, located in San Clemente, Calif., between Los Angeles and San Diego, poses a threat to the health and safety of the people of southern California. The reactors have been shut down for nearly five months, following a release of radioactive steam into the environment… Read More
Burning trees to save the planet?
Politicians and industry folks have been arguing for years that the best way to transition away from petroleum-based fuels and save the world from climate doom is to use biomass for electricity and to run our cars. That is, burn our food and forests for energy. Think about that for… Read More
TPP trade negotiations: from Chicago to Dallas to San Diego
“There’s no reason in the world why trade agreements can’t be written that create a more just and sustainable world.” — Jerry Greenfield, co-founder of Ben & Jerry’s, TPP Labor Day Rally, Chicago, September 5, 2011. Friends of the Earth is a leading advocate calling attention… Read More