A trio of recent studies, one conducted in the U.S. and the others in Europe, are highlighting some alarming facts regarding the daunting realities of neonicotinoid pesticides and their prevalence in industrial agriculture. The timing of this research coincides with the closing of the public comment period for EPA’s proposal, which is part of the White House Pollinator Strategy and once again emphasizes why the administration’s policies should focus more heavily on eliminating neonicotinoid pesticides…
Developing countries urgently need money -- and lots of it -- to address climate change. To tackle this tremendous challenge, the international community is looking to the newly established United Nations Green Climate Fund to be the primary channel for multilateral climate finance for the poor and the vulnerable in developing countries. But a recent meeting of the GCF board in Korea brought some worrying developments regarding how the fund will work and for whom.…
As the plight of honey bees and other crucial pollinators gains more attention worldwide, a growing number of nurseries, garden retailers and landscaping companies both large and small are starting to listen to the growing body of science, consumer demand and take action to get neonicotinoid pesticides out of their gardening practices and off their shelves while avoiding regrettable substitutions and adopting healthy practices for bees and the environment. In our recently released report, “
On the heels of the introduction of Sen. Murkowski's (R-Alaska) bill last week to crack down on the potential introduction of GMO salmon, Costco is at a crossroads. Will it join its grocery competitors and reject AquaBounty’s GMO salmon, currently pending FDA approval, or will it welcome the first commercialized genetically engineered animal onto its shelves and become “the GMO salmon store?” A coalition of consumer, environmental and labor activists recently held a protest in front…
While President Obama's 2015 State of the Union speech highlighted his administration's progressive initiatives, a continued focus on environmentally disastrous trade deals undermined his strong rhetoric on climate action.
This fall, the EPA released a report confirming what scientists have long been saying: soybean seeds coated in neonicotinoid pesticides, which contribute to mass bee deaths, “provide negligible overall benefits” to soybean growers. The report provides yet another reason that we need to suspend these bee-toxic pesticides take large-scale action to protect bees and other pollinators on which our food system depends. That’s why we’re calling on those who care about bees and who…
Over the last ten years, damage from hurricanes has resulted in the loss of 2,334 lives and more than $310 billion in damages. UNC@MPA, the online component of the Master of Public Administration program at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, recently took a look at the last ten years of hurricanes and created the below infographic, entitled “Decade of destruction: The high cost of hurricanes.”
When it comes to extreme weather, climate…
Follow the Honey: 7 ways pesticide companies are spinning the bee crisis to protect profits
In a new issue brief, Friends of the Earth Europe and other allies detail the potential threats that the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, a massive trade deal currently being negotiated between the EU and the United States, brings to the efforts to control fracking (also known as hydraulic fracturing).
The scale of TTIP is huge, and threatens to roll back safety, health and environmental safeguards on food, chemicals and fossil fuels. The proposed…
Update: As of late in the evening of January 6th, the Kulluk has been attached to a tow line and pulled away from the shore of Sitkalidak Island, where it had previously been grounded. The salvage efforts were aided in part by a late high tide and improved weather conditions. Salvage crews have not found any sign of fuel leak, but waves did cause water damage to some of the rig's interior.
In addition,…