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Supreme Court further empowers corporations, undermines democracy
Washington, D.C. – Today the Supreme Court, in Burwell v. Hobby Lobby and Conestoga Wood v. Burwell struck down the requirement that family-owned corporations pay insurance coverage for contraception under the Affordable Care Act if they oppose it for religious reasons. This decision opens the door for other corporations to… Read More
House GOP spearheads bill to expand domestic drilling
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, the House passed H.R. 4899, The Lowering Gasoline Prices to Fuel an America that Works Act by a vote of 229-185. If enacted the bill would expedite oil and gas leasing on federal lands, open new offshore drilling areas and expand drilling in Alaska’s National Petroleum Reserve. Read More
Billion dollar Big Oil leasing loophole under attack
WASHINGTON, D.C. – An amendment by Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore) to curtail royalty-free leases was defeated in the House of Representatives by a vote of 179-229. Created in the late 1990s, royalty free leases exempt companies from paying royalties on certain oil and gas leases acquired in the Gulf of… Read More
Saving bees: Home Depot, BJs Wholesale Club take action on on bee-killing pesticides
New study shows half of “bee-friendly” plants tested contain neonicotinoids Washington, D.C. – On the heels of a study released yesterday by Friends of the Earth and allies that found bee-killing pesticides in “bee-friendly” home garden plants, Home Depot (NYSE: HD), BJ’s Wholesale Club (BJ:US) and other retailers have begun… Read More
New tests find bee-killing pesticides in 51% of bee-friendly plants from garden centers across U.S. and Canada
Washington, D.C. – Many “bee-friendly” home garden plants sold at Home Depot (NYSE: HD), Lowe’s (NYSE: LOW) and Walmart (NYSE: WMT) have been pre-treated with pesticides shown to harm and kill bees, according to a study released today by Friends of the Earth and allies. The study, Gardeners… Read More
Friends of the Earth statement on the North American Energy Infrastructure Act
Washington, D.C. – By a vote of 238-173 the House of Representatives approved the North American Energy Infrastructure Act (H.R. 3301). If enacted, the law would pave the way for Canadian oil company TransCanada to build the Keystone XL pipeline. Friends of the Earth’s Climate and energy program director Ben… Read More
Friends of the Earth responds to White House pollinator initiative
Washington, D.C. – President Obama issued a memorandum directing U.S. government agencies to take additional measures to protect pollinators by establishing a new Pollinator Health Task Force. This task force will conduct research on pollinator declines and create a public education campaign to teach people ways they can help pollinators. Read More
Friends of the Earth statement on Keystone XL vote in Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
Washington, D.C. – With a vote of 12-10 the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee moved legislation by Chairwoman Mary Landrieu (D-La.) that if enacted would circumvent President Obama and the National Interest Determination process for the Keystone XL pipeline. The bill would grant TransCanada immediate approval to build the… Read More
White House set to unveil initiative to protect pollinators
WASHINGTON, D.C. — During National Pollinator Week (June 16-22), the White House is expected to announce an initiative to protect pollinators in light of recent population declines, particularly among bees. Exposure to neonicotinoid pesticides has been identified as one of the key contributors to significant and unsustainable bee losses. The… Read More
Friends of the Earth statement on EPA’s Clean Air Act rules for existing power plants
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Environmental Protection Agency released rules, today, to reduce carbon dioxide pollution from existing power plants under section 111(d) of the Clean Air Act. Electric power plants produce approximately 2.2 billion tons of carbon dioxide each year — amounting to almost 40 percent of the United States’… Read More