Latest Articles

Lightweight Reading

Lightweight, fuel-efficient cars do just fine in Rocky Mountain winters, say some Grist readers, disagreeing with a recent letter to the editor that backed SUVs as the practical mode of transportation during snow season. Others agree that SUVs are a big help, and they applaud a push by some automakers to manufacture gas-electric hybrid SUVs. […]

First Contami-Nations

Navajo activists plan to rally today and tomorrow against an energy bill before the U.S. Senate that would give $30 million to fund uranium mining on Navajo Nation lands in New Mexico. They say the mining would contaminate the drinking water of more than 15,000 people. Lori Goodman, spokesperson for Dine Citizens Against Ruining Our […]

Lots Toulouse

An explosion at one of France’s largest petrochemical plants last Friday has left 29 people dead, 10 missing, and 2,500 injured. The blast from the AZF plant in Toulouse sent acid clouds into the air and caused problems as far as three miles away. Philippe Douste-Blazy, the mayor of Toulouse, said some 20,000 homes, apartments, […]

Pygmy-aliens

U.S. District Judge Susan Bolton on Friday upheld the listing of the cactus ferruginous pygmy owl as endangered under the Endangered Species Act, rejecting arguments by developers that the owl didn’t merit protections because large populations of the species exist in Mexico. She said the act focuses on the status of species in the U.S., […]

A Clean Sweep

Coastal cities in Southern California are latching on to a new, relatively cheap way to combat pollution running off their streets into the ocean — the little-heralded street sweeper. Street sweepers of 20 years ago did little more than collect litter and big dirt particles. Sweepers are now equipped to vacuum up pesticides, fertilizers, animal […]

Oh No! Cardoso

A collection of rural lawmakers in Brazil is pushing legislation that would double the amount of Amazon jungle that could be deforested. The government’s current forestry code requires landowners in the Amazon to preserve 80 percent of their land. The new bill, which still must pass both chambers of the country’s Congress, would change the […]

Lori Litman Ehrlich, HealthLink

Lori Litman Ehrlich is a mother, volunteer, and leader of HealthLink, a citizen group working to protect public health and promote cleaner energy sources. Monday, 24 Sep 2001 MARBLEHEAD, Mass. There is nothing quite like a memorial service to provide perspective and bolster environmental motivation. HealthLink, a local phenomenon here on the north shore of […]

Of Fuel Rods and Lightning Rods

Even before the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon, government inspectors had found security to be inadequate at the U.S.’s 103 nuclear plants. From 1991 to 2000, nearly half of the 68 plants tested showed “a potential vulnerability” to terrorists. Now, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission has reversed claims it made right […]

They Could Car Less

Seattle is finding sweet success with an experimental program that encourages couples to give up their extra vehicle. After a recent nine-week pilot program, six of 23 couples were thinking of selling their extra car, two were trying to sell it, and two had already sold it. The couples were paid $25 for the first […]

Montezuma's Revenge

Mexico City, known the world ’round for its air pollution, will soon unveil a new 10-year plan to tackle the problem. The plan by the Metropolitan Environmental Commission will aim to reduce ozone and particulate levels in the air by taking such steps as retiring old trucks, limiting cargo circulation hours, using more natural gas […]