Articles by Grist staff

Gulp of Mexico

The Gulf of Mexico’s dead zone, where nutrient pollution from farms in the Midwest has chocked off fish life, is bigger this year than ever before, according to university researchers. Stretching from the Mississippi River delta to Texas waters, the 8,000-square-mile, low-oxygen area is forcing crabs and other bottom feeders to the surface. Environmental groups […]

Just Say No to G.M. Escargot

The European Commission proposed a framework yesterday to replace Europe’s three-year moratorium on approving new genetically modified foods. The proposed rules would require labels on all approved biotech foods and testing for the presence of genetically modified organisms at each stage of the production chain. The commission tried to dodge one bullet — in this […]

The Brown Lagoon

Lagoons of animal waste from large factory farms are threatening drinking water and recreational waters across the country, according to a report released Tuesday by the Natural Resources Defense Council and the Clean Water Network. The groups want new lagoons to be banned and existing ones to be phased out within the next five years. […]

Backstroke to the Future

Christopher Swain of Eugene, Ore., plans to swim all 1,243 miles of the Columbia River to call attention to what he describes as “a contaminated beauty.” The feds are now investigating the river for sources of mercury and other nasties. Swain, who works for Columbia Riverkeeper, will embark on the 160-day swim next summer; in […]