Articles by Grist staff

My Old Kentucky Sewage

Kentucky Sewage System Worst in Nation Poor Kentucky. Not only does the state often find itself near the bottom of national rankings on education and income; now, it’s dead last in plumbing. Fully 40 percent of Kentucky homes are not connected to sewage treatment plants, instead relying on failing septic tanks or “straight pipes” that […]

Not Just a Day in the Park

More than 11 percent of Earth is Protected, But Species Still Suffer There’s good news and bad news from the fifth World Parks Congress, being held this week in Durban, South Africa. The good news: There are now more than 100, 000 protected natural areas on the planet, including large stretches of the Amazon rainforest […]

Thai One on

Thailand Introduces Rules to Limit Pesticides In an effort to become a major international food exporter, Thailand has introduced rules that would dramatically reduce the use of pesticides and other chemicals in agriculture. The proposed rules come on the heels of reports that villagers living near tangerine orchards were suffering from dizziness, rashes, and respiratory […]

A Chilly Reception

Environmentalists Concerned About Increase in Antarctic Tourism Not that long ago, the remote, inhospitable Antarctic would have seemed like an unlikely tourist destination. Now, though, with global tourism on the rise and far-flung places all the rage, tourism to the South Pole is growing rapidly — and possibly at the expense of the region’s environment. […]