Articles by Grist staff

Incensed at the Vatican

Upset at attempts by the Vatican to disrupt progress on limiting world population growth, 126 women’s organizations from around the globe yesterday sent an open letter to the Roman Catholic Church protesting its efforts. The letter asked how a church that holds life as “a fundamental value” could watch thousands of women die because they […]

A Tree Grows in Berlin

The fall of the Berlin Wall 10 years ago has meant hard times for many of the city’s old trees, some of which had been fenced off from public contact by Cold War barriers until 1989. Now, massive reconstruction in Berlin has caused fluctuations in the water table, drowning the roots of many trees. Exhaust […]

Stuck a Feather in His Cap

Just in time for the Fourth of July weekend, Pres. Clinton today will announce that the feds want to take the bald eagle off the endangered species list. The eagle has made a strong recovery since 1963, when only 417 pairs were found in the 48 contiguous states. Last year, biologists counted some 5,748 pairs, […]

So That Means Everyone Should Drive Semis?

USA Today reports that 46,000 people have died because of a 1970s-era push for greater fuel efficiency that has lead to smaller cars, but the article gives short shrift to environmental benefits of fuel efficiency, such as less air pollution and lower greenhouse-gas emissions. The article reports that corporate average fuel economy standards, which have […]