Latest Articles
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Beet It
Some genetically modified crops are likely to crossbreed with organic crops or wild plants, jeopardizing farms that are certified as GM-free, according to a European Union study. The Europe Environment Agency found that rapeseed, sugar beet, and maize had a medium to high probability of transferring genetic materials, while potatoes, wheat, and barley were unlikely […]
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Lent Ills
In the midst of Lent, the conservation group Wildcoast is asking Pope John Paul II to declare that sea turtles are meat, not fish. The group, which focuses on the protecting coastal resources in California and Baja California, says sea turtle populations are hit especially hard during Lent because many Catholics give up meat for […]
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Remote Controls
After months of internal debate, the Bush administration has decided (surprise, surprise) to replace pollution lawsuits with voluntary incentives to encourage coal-powered utilities and oil refineries to clean up their acts, according to U.S. EPA officials. The Clinton administration sued dozens of the country’s worst polluting power plants for violating New Source Review rules, which […]
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Costas Christ, Conservation International
Costas Christ is the senior director for ecotourism at Conservation International, a U.S.-based NGO working in 30 countries with a mission to conserve global biodiversity and to demonstrate that human societies are able to live harmoniously with nature. He is also the chair of the board of directors of the International Ecotourism Society. Monday, 18 […]
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A breakdown of the renewables vote in the Senate
One day after declining to support tougher fuel-efficiency standards, the Senate yesterday voted down a measure that would have required 20 percent of the nation’s electricity to be produced from wind, solar, and other renewable energy sources by 2020. Currently, less than 2 percent of U.S. electricity comes from renewable resources. The measure that could […]
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Drug Bust
A federal survey that found trace levels of medications in rivers and streams throughout the U.S. could prompt the Food and Drug Administration to revitalize its environmental investigations into drug safety. The first-of-its-kind survey of more than 100 waterways found low levels of dozens of antibiotics, hormones, painkillers, cough suppressants, disinfectants, and other products excreted […]
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Mutts and Jeffords
We hate to be the bearer of still more bad tidings, but what can we say? It’s been a rough week for the environment on Capitol Hill. One day after declining to support tougher fuel-efficiency standards, the Senate yesterday voted down a measure that would have required 20 percent of the nation’s electricity to be […]
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Military Unintelligence
The House Subcommittee on Military Readiness held a hearing yesterday to discuss whether environmental regulations are impeding the full functioning of the U.S. military. Subcommittee Chair Joel Hefley (R-Colo.) said his goal was to “find a balance between the need to protect national security and the environment.” He then proceeded to criticize “ever-increasing limitations and […]
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Bush’s global warming plan is just the tip of the iceberg
MEMO TO: All National Petroleum Unlimited employees FROM: Jack Morris, CEO Has this CEO gone soft, or was there something sweet — nay, touching — in the details of President Bush’s new emissions plan? Rather than demand that we do our part to slow the pace of global warming, he’s simply letting us volunteer! Friends, […]
