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Reefer Madness
Between 70 and 90 percent of coral reefs in the Indian Ocean have been destroyed by human activity, marine biologists say, and unless action is taken the remaining reefs will likely be destroyed as well. Sewage dumping, soil erosion, and dynamiting by fishers are all taking their toll, but the most serious problem facing the […]
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Building Owners Painted into a Corner
The feds announced yesterday that they are launching a big crackdown on building owners who fail to notify tenants that their homes may contain lead paint. Attorney General Janet Reno, Housing Secretary Andrew Cuomo, and EPA Administrator Carol Browner said the government had fined four District of Columbia property owners $87,000 and ordered them to […]
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It's Sick, Itzik
Israel’s environment is in deplorable condition, according to a year-long study released yesterday by the Israel Economic Forum for the Environment. The nation’s aquifer systems suffer from serious salination problems, construction is encroaching on open space, and air quality has deteriorated to the point that one in 10 Israeli children has asthma, according to the […]
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Not So Presto Change-o
In a twist that has surprised scientists, new analyses indicate that the growth rate of climate change has declined about 25 percent since 1980. Climate change is still underway, but now researchers believe that humans may have more time than previously thought to cope with the problem. Scientists don’t understand why this has happened because […]
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Old King Coal Reigns On
Pollution from coal-burning power plants is on the rise in the U.S., spurred by competition in the electric market that has encouraged utilities to rely more heavily on the cheaper power generation method of burning coal, two environmental groups charged in a report yesterday. Electricity production from coal-burning power plants rose 16 percent from 1992 […]
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Swill Waters Run Deep
Much of the groundwater and many of the streams in the U.S. are contaminated with pesticides and fertilizers, according to a study released last month by the U.S. Geological Survey. The study examined 20 important river basins and geographic areas and found that in most them, water contaminants threaten the reproductive capacity of aquatic species […]
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No Tax for Japanese Beetles?
A task force of Japan’s Environment Agency recommended yesterday that owners of old, heavily polluting cars be tapped for higher taxes and that those driving low-emission vehicles get tax reductions. The task force had initially intended to raise taxes on most cars but then limited its plan, in part because of pressure from automakers. Under […]
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Miners: Take a Dump Somewhere Else!
The House voted yesterday to back Clinton administration efforts to limit the dumping of mine wastes on public land, with more than a third of Republicans breaking with their party to support the measure, attached to a Department of Interior spending bill. The Senate version of the bill contains an amendment by Sen. Slade Gorton […]
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Water and Mohels Don't Mix?
Concern over water supplies in the Middle East is likely to complicate new Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak’s efforts to make peace in the region. Water resources there are stretched to their limits, while the population continues to grow, and the region is now experiencing its driest spell in 50 years. For decades, Israel has […]
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Serbing Up Poisons
The U.N. is sending a team of experts to Serbia next week to take measure of the environmental damage caused by NATO’s bombing campaign and the Serbian aggression in Kosovo. Despite NATO’s refusal to supply detailed information about the sites it targeted, the task force will try to assess the war’s impact on water resources […]
