Blog
Why I’m going to Rio
In just less than a month, social movements, civil society, Heads of State (accompanied by government delegations), the private sector, and many other groups and individuals from all around the world will gather in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. In fact many are already making their way to Rio in order… Read More
Are nanoparticles unknowingly part of your Memorial Day plans?
This begs a further question: what happens when nanoparticles are released into the environment, and how will they be recycled? Nano-silver has been shown to be toxic to fish and other organisms in soil and water. Read More
Support builds for the End Polluter Welfare Act
The public has reached a strong verdict on the billions of dollars of subsidies that our government hands annually to fossil fuel corporations making historic profits: end them. According to one recent poll, seventy percent of the public opposes giveaways to oil, coal and gas companies, support that largely… Read More
Keep the Dolphin Safe tuna label safe!
One of the best-known and trusted environmental labels is the “dolphin-safe” label that today can be found on much of the tuna sold in the U.S. On May 16, a World Trade Organization appeals panel ruled that this label unfairly discriminates against Mexican tuna fishers, and violates international trade law. Read More
Enbridge confirms plans to build New England tar sands pipeline, announces massive pipeline expansion
Yesterday evening, Canadian pipeline company Enbridge kicked off one of the most sweeping expansions in its history, a $3.2 billion (Canadian) series of pipeline projects that would carry some of the world’s dirtiest oil—tar sands oil—across Canada, the American Midwest, and even New England, a region that currently doesn’t… Read More
Synthetic Biology – Big promises backed by bad theory
Synthetic biology is the newest purported cure-all technology for remedying our social, environmental, and public health ills. As many prominent synthetic biologists proclaimed in 2007, the world “face[s] daunting problems of climate change, energy, health, and water resources. Synthetic biology offers solutions to these issues…Fifty years from now, synthetic biology… Read More
Activists demand Obama save the Arctic from Shell oil exploration
Activists from a broad coalition of environmental groups including Friends of the Earth, Oceana, the Center for Biological Diversity, Ocean Conservancy and Alaska Wilderness League, converged yesterday in front of the White House to demand that President Obama take bold, courageous steps to prevent Royal Dutch Shell from destroying… Read More
Naval activity imperils whales
Fred Felleman, Friends of the Earth’s Northwest consultant, stood on the dock in Everett, WA, this past February capturing evidence of the U.S. Navy’s active sonar use with a hydrophone. But the sonar gradually became so loud it could be heard standing at the dock without any special… Read More
Understanding E15: the dangers of more ethanol for consumers and the environment
Today, the majority of U.S transportation fuel is comprised of approximately 10 percent ethanol and 90 percent gasoline, a blend known as E10. However, the ethanol industry recently cleared all federal hurdles required by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to sell a new fuel blend – E15 –… Read More
Ethanol industry toots its own horn, ignores the cost of ethanol to American taxpayers, consumers, and the environment
Today the Renewable Fuels Association, a trade group for the ethanol industry, released a report claiming corn ethanol reduces gas prices at the pump. It is no surprise that a report bought by the corn ethanol corporations champions their industry. The Renewable Fuels Association claims are dubious at best. … Read More