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Whale Killers

The killer whale population has declined 20 percent since 1995, and scientists think they’ve found one of the reasons why: whale watchers. The motorized boats that serve whale-watchers disrupt the orcas’ sonar, reducing its efficiency by as much as 99 percent. That means whales have to swim harder and longer to find food; in so […]

Grading, Nuclear-Plant Style

Golden State Worriers

A large portion of the American are at risk of developing cancer from exposure to any of 32 common toxic chemicals, according to the first nationwide study of the toxins, released Friday by the U.S. EPA. About 200 million face roughly a 1 in 100,000 lifetime risk, while about 20 million people — many of […]

The Answer, My Friends

The biggest wind-energy meeting ever held in the U.S. opened today in Portland, Ore. Industry-watchers say the large turnout — more than 1,500 people have registered for the three-day conference — is a good sign for wind energy in general and for the role of the Pacific Northwest in the wind market in particular. Oregon […]

Dry Upheaval

As if Colombia needs any more bad news: The war-torn nation’s water supply could be reduced by as much as 40 percent over the next 50 years due to deforestation and other degradation of fragile high mountain ecosystems, according to Carlos Castano, director of the country’s Institute of Hydrology, Meteorology, and Environmental Studies. The paramo, […]

Dave Hadden, Montana Wilderness Association

Dave Hadden is coordinator of the Montana Wilderness Association‘s Transboundary Organizing Project, which works to link wildland conservation across the U.S. – Canada boundary in the Crown of the Continent Ecosystem. The Glacier – Waterton International Peace Park forms the wild heart of this ecoregion. Monday, 3 Jun 2002 BIGFORK, Mont. I live and work […]

G-ratify-ing News

It’s official: All 15 nations of the European Union have ratified the Kyoto Protocol, solidifying their commitment to combat climate change and highlighting the difference between European and U.S. environmental politics. The ratification was formalized during a ceremony held this morning at United Nations headquarters in New York City. E.U. Environment Commissioner Margot Wallstrom called […]

Environmental Procrastination Agency?

Health and environmental organizations in eight Southeastern states announced yesterday that they would sue the U.S. EPA for “dragging its feet” in implementing a strict air-quality standard established five years ago. The new standard limits ozone, the primary component of smog, to 0.08 parts per million instead of 0.12 ppm. The EPA claims it has […]

Time to Get ExxonMobilized

ExxonMobil, long a target of progressive activists for its appalling environmental and human rights record, is now catching flak from more mainstream critics as well. In an unusual move, shareholder advisor Institutional Shareholder Services, Inc., recommended that ExxonMobil’s shareholders vote for two controversial proposals, one to outline plans to promote renewable energy use, and the […]

Dead Bird Flying

Upon hearing reports of his own demise, Mark Twain famously retorted that rumors of his death had been greatly exaggerated. The same could be said of the golden-crowned manakin, a small Brazilian bird thought to have gone extinct almost a half-century ago but recently rediscovered in the Amazon rainforest. The bird was found by German […]