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Unjust Deserts

U.N. Warns of Spreading Deserts As you celebrate World Day to Combat Desertification today, remember it’s not just another excuse to buy Hallmark cards and fancy gifts. (Holidays are so commodified these days!) This week, as the United Nations marks the 10th anniversary of the Convention to Combat Desertification, keep in mind that some one-third […]

Show Them the Money

Russia’s Delay on Kyoto Masks Internal Financial Debates Russia’s will-she-or-won’t-she tap dance on the question of ratifying the Kyoto Protocol may be less mystifying than it appears to outside observers: It might just come down to money. Many economists and energy experts inside and outside of Russia believe the country stands to make millions, possibly […]

An interview with Hollywood eco-crusader Laurie David

Those who are quick to snub Hollywood environmental activists as dabblers in eco-chic or peddlers of a pet cause would likely have a change of heart after shooting the breeze with Laurie David. Laurie David Photo: Tierney Gearon. David began her career booking comedians for David Letterman and met her husband Larry David — co-creator […]

It’s the Real Thing

Climate Experts Say Global Warming Is Really, Really Real — Really A group of 10 leading U.S. climate researchers expressed frustration yesterday that despite overwhelming scientific evidence that global warming is already underway, U.S. policy makers continue to dither and U.S. citizens remain blithely unconcerned. Meeting at the American Association for the Advancement of Science, […]

The Summer of Gloves Off

Greenpeace Promises Summer of Forest Protests Stalwart enviro group Greenpeace has promised a summer of unprecedented activism and civil disobedience to protect old-growth forests in the U.S. “If Bush continues to ignore the public’s wishes to keep their forests healthy,” said Bill Richardson, the group’s campaign director, “it will be up to the American people […]

Outbackwards

Australian Prime Minister’s Energy Package Pushes Oil and Gas Australian Prime Minister John Howard released a major white paper on energy policy this week, outlining a series of proposals that, while nodding in the direction of renewables, keeps the country’s fortunes squarely tied to oil and gas. “The reality is that the older fuels, of […]

House to repass energy bill to vex Democrats

Our House is a very, very, very fine House. If at first you succeed, well, try again anyway. That’s how GOP leaders in the House are reinterpreting the old elementary-school bromide as they attempt to create the illusion of hope for the doomed, pork-laden energy bill — and to deflect the political heat over high […]

Readers sound off on Ronald Reagan, animal testing, and more

Ashok to the System Re: Tax On, Tax Off, by Dear Editor: If the NRDC’s Ashok Gupta really thinks we need leaders who can tell Americans why higher gas prices are good for them, then Gupta needs to go intern for some mayor’s campaign somewhere. Or pick up a day-after-election newspaper and see what’s happening […]

This Is the Place … for Off-Roading!

Supreme Court Restricts Enviro Groups’ Ability to Sue Government In a unanimous decision handed down yesterday, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected an effort by enviro groups to force the federal Bureau of Land Management to more aggressively protect 2 million acres of “wilderness study areas” in Utah from damage by off-road vehicles. The decision, written […]

Do You Have a Reservation?

Researchers Say Marine Reserves Cheaper Than Fishery Subsidies A vast, worldwide network of protected marine reserves would cost less than governments are currently spending to subsidize commercial fisheries, reports a group of researchers from the World Wildlife Fund in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Marine reserves encompassing 30 percent of the world’s […]