Uncategorized

Sand Witches

Artificial and Restored Beaches Threaten Marine Ecosystems Beautiful sand beaches are one of Ma Nature’s most splendid creations — except sometimes they’re actually the handiwork of humans. Every year, millions of dollars go to creating sand beaches on previously rocky coasts and rebuilding beaches at key tourist destinations that have been eroded by storms, changing […]

Deserters

Conference on Desertification Gains Little Ground The sixth international conference on desertification ended yesterday in Cuba with few results, save for a decision on how to finance efforts to slow the encroachment of arid regions and the loss of fertile lands. Leaders of 10 African and Caribbean nations attending the U.N. Convention to Combat Desertification […]

Giving Up the Ghost Fleet

U.S. Navy Ships Get Ready for Transatlantic Trip, Toxics and All Thirteen is not a lucky number, and many fear that bad luck could trail in the wake of 13 decrepit and pollution-laden U.S. ships that are set to embark on a 4,500-mile voyage from Virginia to the British region of Teesside.* The ships are […]

It Was Fund While It Lasted

Superfund Money Will Be Gone in One Month, GAO Says The countdown has begun: In one month, the Superfund will run out of money, according to a new study by the General Accounting Office. Money in the fund comes from a now-expired tax on industry and is used to clean up “orphan sites,” toxic waste […]

Andy Holdsworth, conservation biologist

Andy Holdsworth is a PhD candidate in conservation biology at the University of Minnesota. He studies the ecological effects and conservation implications of nonnative earthworms in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Tuesday, 2 Sep 2003 MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. There is a blurry line between work and play in my life. My wife, Hillary, learned this lesson for the […]

Trickle-down Economics

Saving Forests Can Mean Clean Water for Cities Cities around the world could save billions of dollars on water-treatment plants if they dedicated resources to protecting nearby forests, which naturally filter and purify drinking water, according to a new report by the World Wildlife Fund and the World Bank. Researchers came to this conclusion after […]

For the Shell of It

Shell Won’t Drill at U.N. World Heritage Sites Royal Dutch/Shell, one of the world’s biggest oil companies, has pledged not to explore or drill for oil or gas on U.N.-designated World Heritage sites. A week before Shell made its announcement, the International Council on Mining and Metals, which represents the world’s 15 largest mining companies, […]

One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, New Fish

New Fish Species Discovered in Venezuela In an era of mass extinction, it’s always nice to hear about the discovery of new species. So the members of an expedition sponsored by Conservation International were thrilled to discover 10 new fish species in Venezuela’s Upper Caura River. Of the 10 new species, only one has been […]

Rest Assured

We Gristers will be taking a break on Labor Day, but have no fear — we’ll be back on Tuesday, Sept. 2. Have a swell weekend.

Vehicular Geocide

EPA Declines to Regulate Greenhouse Gases Automakers and oil companies will not be required to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles, the U.S. EPA announced yesterday. In 1999, three environmental organizations petitioned the agency to regulate carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act, saying the gases contribute to climate change, which […]