Latest Articles
-
Piping Hot
The U.S. Senate unanimously passed a bill yesterday to require tougher safety measures for oil and natural-gas pipelines, hoping to prevent spills and leaks that pollute the environment and sometimes prove deadly. The bill would increase inspections and fines for hazardous accidents and require pipeline operators to disclose more info to government regulators. Still, some […]
-
We Kid You Not
Louisiana and Texas are the states that emit the most chemicals dangerous to children, according to a report released yesterday by activist groups. It found that about half of all toxic chemical emissions reported to the federal government are suspected to affect the way children’s bodies and brains develop, and drew attention to a finding […]
-
Fishing for Votes
Commercial salmon fishing should be shut down in Washington state to save endangered salmon runs, says former radio talk show host John Carlson, the favorite to win the Republican primary for governor in the state. As governor, Carlson says he would ban nets used by almost all commercial and tribal fisheries. Carlson: “It makes no […]
-
Hot Diggity Smog
The buzz a couple of weeks ago was that Los Angeles was set to regain the title of smoggiest city in the U.S. from Houston — but, hark, the race isn’t yet over. As of yesterday, Houston had rebounded and surpassed L.A. with 37 days above the national standard for ozone pollution compared to L.A.’s […]
-
My Gorge Is Rising
A combination of population growth, drought, desertification, water waste, and global warming is causing a serious water shortage in China that experts say could induce environmental and political crises. Officials are blaming drought for a 9.3 percent drop in the summer grain yield, and water rationing has been imposed on residents and industries in nearly […]
-
Papua Goes the Weasels
Papua New Guinea islanders filed suit yesterday in San Francisco against a London-based mining company, Rio Tinto PLC, over environmental and human rights abuses, acting under a federal law that allows foreign nationals to bring lawsuits in the U.S. against companies accused of violating international law. The suit claims that Rio Tinto broke laws by […]
-
Pour Some Sugar on Me
Historically adversarial players in the Everglades restoration effort joined forces yesterday to support a plan working its way through Congress. Florida’s sugar industry, a number of environmental groups, the office of Florida Gov. Jeb Bush (R), and South Florida’s water utilities announced their backing for a plan that passed the Senate Environment and Public Works […]
-
Sorry, Charlie-san
The U.S. and 18 other nations attending a meeting this week on migratory fish approved a plan on Tuesday to create a commission to regulate tuna catches in the Pacific Ocean, but Japan is threatening to ignore any new regulations. Pacific tuna populations are not yet endangered, but backers of the plan say new rules […]
-
Rodham, Cowgirl!
The Sierra Club endorsed Hillary Rodham Clinton (D) yesterday in the hotly contested race to represent New York in the Senate. The move is viewed as a setback for Clinton’s opponent, Rep. Rick Lazio (R), who won the group’s endorsement in his 1996 House race and fought hard to win it this time. Enviros have […]
