Articles by Grist staff

U.S. Department of Frankenculture

The U.S. Department of Agriculture frequently approves the use of new genetically engineered crops based on unsupported claims and shoddy studies by seed companies, say many scientists who have studied the approval process. The USDA, the primary agency responsible for assuring the ecological safety of such plants, has not rejected a single application for a […]

A Tarriffying Story

A new White House study argues that logging around the world would increase by no more than 0.5 percent if the World Trade Organization liberalized global trade in forest products, as the U.S. is advocating. The study admits that logging in Indonesia, Chile, Malaysia, and several other nations would increase sharply under a proposal to […]

Bonn Fire

Emissions of carbon dioxide, the primary cause of climate change, would be cut by 4.6 percent if eight major developing nations scrapped their energy subsidies, according to a report released yesterday by the International Energy Agency. Energy consumption in the nations, which include China, India, Indonesia, and Iran, would be reduced by 13 percent and […]

Mr. Smith Stays in Washington

In a move that worries enviros, Sen. Bob Smith, a New Hampshire conservative who recently bolted the GOP, then rejoined it on Monday, was elected yesterday by Senate Republicans to be chair of the important Environment and Public Works Committee. The position had been held by Sen. John Chafee (R-R.I.) until his death last month. […]