New international regulations to reduce air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions from ships will be considered in London next week at the United Nation’s International Maritime Organization meeting which is being held from July 13 to July 17, 2009.
In Mongolia, increased mining in recent years has caused severe damage to the country’s environment and the traditional communities that have lived off the land for centuries. The country’s scarce water resources (less than 1% of surface area) and forests are being stressed by mining companies exploiting Mongolia’s vast mineral deposits. Now, as the rivers disappear into parched desert and communities are forced to move to the overcrowded and polluted capital
Congressional Leadership rewarded Representative Peterson for throwing a temper tantrum by eviscerating the climate and forest safeguards from the biofuels mandate in order to buy a handful of votes to pass the already flawed Climate Bill in the House. When EPA released their analysis of the full global warming impact from biofuels, it found that
In an era of green living we often overlook one of the simplest ways to fight global warming – critically examining the food we eat. An ideal low-carbon diet consists of plant-based foods that are locally and organically grown.
Nine years and two court battles after Friends of the Earth first demanded that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) craft more protective air pollution limits for large ships, the agency announced proposed cleaner air pollution standards for ocean-going vessels last week. The rules would reduce harmful pollutants by 80 percent or more by 2030, preventing between 13,000 and 33,000 premature deaths.
Statement of Brent Blackwelder, Friends of the Earth President, on June 26, 2009 regarding Rep. Pete Stark's vote on the American Clean Energy and Security Act: Today, Congressman Pete Stark took a courageous stand in voting against the American Clean Energy Security Act of 2009. His statement to the House of Representatives described Friends of the Earth's own opinion of the bill. Rep. Stark said:
ActionAid USA***Center of Concern***Church World Service
Friends Committee on National Legislation***Friends of the Earth US
Gender Action***Jubilee USA Network***Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns
Friday, June 26, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Right now, the Waxman-Markey house climate bill is being debated in Congress. We would like to thank those members who took a courageous stand and vowed to vote against this bill. Below we have the statement from Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), who made an impassioned speech about the bill's flaws, including its enormous payouts to polluters.
Congress has a historic opportunity this year to pass legislation that dramatically reduces greenhouse gas pollution and puts us on a path to clean energy. Unfortunately, that opportunity could be squandered this week when a deeply flawed bill comes to the House floor.