Friday, 29 Sep 2006

Americans, prepare to be jealous, says Peter Madden, head of Britain's Forum for the Future. In the U.K., the two main political parties are competing to be seen as the greenest -- and the Conservatives are currently in the lead. That's largely due to Conservative Party leader David Cameron, who not only champions tough steps to tackle climate change, but walks the green talk in his own life, from growing organic carrots to affixing a wind turbine to his house (and he cuddles puppies too). Madden surveys Britain's changing political climate.

The Big Glad Wolf

Wolf population thriving in Rocky Mountain states

The wolf population in the Northern Rocky Mountains has grown by more than 20 percent since last winter. Officials estimate that 158 wolf packs, totaling at least 1,229 members, are living it up in Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming. The midyear estimate is the highest population estimate since wolves were reintroduced to the region in 1995 and 1996; however, "[i]t is important to note this estimate is very rough and a lot can change because of wolf mortality during the fall," says Ed Bangs, wolf recovery coordinator for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Guess we'll put away the pom-poms. Importantly to the area's ranchers, the rise in wolf population has not corresponded with a rise in the number of livestock killed or injured.


Coastline development expert Orrin H. Pilkey is a "tree-hugging scientist" with strong opinions about what to do with New Orleans (don't rebuild some areas at all) and how to handle coastal erosion (stop putting up seawalls). In answering reader questions, Pilkey explains why he doesn't want to be labeled an environmentalist, rails against beachfront high-rises, praises young scientists with the guts to speak out, and more.

Bluster's Last Stand

DOD declares wind turbines can interfere with radar, but says some can proceed

The Defense Department has finally completed a long-awaited study on how wind farms impact military radar, which clears the way for some stalled wind projects to continue. At least a dozen projects in Illinois, North Dakota, and Wisconsin had been put on hold pending the DOD study. In its report, submitted this week to the Senate and House Armed Services committees, the DOD declared that turbines in radar line of sight can interfere with detecting and tracking aerial objects, but the Pentagon also showed willingness to allow wind projects to proceed anyway if they pass a case-by-case review process. Wind turbines "present technical challenges to the effectiveness of radar systems that must be carefully evaluated on a case-by-case basis to ensure acceptable military readiness is maintained," the DOD wrote in its report. Wind advocates are hopeful that any conflicts can be resolved. "Decades of experience tell us that wind and radar can coexist," said Randall Swisher of the American Wind Energy Association.

Sure It's Not the Politics?

Wildlife waste blamed for pollution in D.C.-area waterways

Tired of being left out, nature has decided to join in the fun and pollute itself. A significant amount of harmful bacteria in Virginia and Maryland waterways has been pinned on, well, wildlife poop. The Potomac and Anacostia rivers and an additional two dozen or so streams have been declared federally "impaired waters": not ideal for swimming and in need of cleanup. In both rivers, more than half of the bacteria came from the dung of geese, deer, muskrats, raccoons, and other wild animals (humans' poo contributed nearly a quarter of the Anacostia's bacteria, and 16 percent of the Potomac's). "You need to go back and say, 'Maybe the standards aren't exactly right' if wildlife are causing the problem," said Thomas Henry of the U.S. EPA. But enviros don't want to let human-caused pollution sources off the hook. "Just ignore the wildlife and deal with the leaking sewer pipes," said Robert Boone of the Anacostia Watershed Society. And maybe they could build wildlife-designated public restrooms?