Articles by Grist staff

Don't Let Them Eat This Cake

France yesterday called for the sales of all new genetically modified foods to be suspended in the European Union until they are clearly labeled, but EU officials said it’s unlikely the proposal would be accepted. EU environmental ministers are meeting today to settle differences on policies for genetically modified foods. Meanwhile, biotechnology companies are engaging […]

Pilot Crashes into Senate

Republican Senate leaders yesterday accused the Clinton administration of violating a congressional ban against carrying out the Kyoto climate change treaty by planning a pilot program with Russia to jointly cut greenhouse-gas emissions. Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.) said GOP leaders plan to insert language barring the program into a bill funding the EPA. The project […]

Removing Heavy Metal from the Radio

The European Union is weighing a proposal that would require electronics makers to take responsibility for their products once their useful lives are over, with the intent of encouraging companies to design products that are more recyclable. Computers, cell phones, medical equipment, and household appliances would all be affected. The proposed legislation would also require […]

Virginia Slim on Pollution Controls

Environmentalists have won a court order forcing the federal government to act more aggressively to protect Virginia waterways from pollution. A federal judge ruled that Virginia officials have been lax in setting maximum pollution levels and that the EPA is responsible under the 1972 Clean Water Act to make sure the state sets the levels […]