Okay, partly good news. By my standards, which are not everyone's, as you all have tried to teach me. And the oil spill news is not good by anyone's standards, much as I would like it to be. But I had to say it.
Many thanks to the loyal readers who have allowed me to fulfill my community service requirement so enjoyably. I will miss sending these.
ECO-NEWS, WEEK 9
BP failed to plug the Gulf oil leak with mud, and their next attempt to staunch it -- making a clean cut in the broken pipe and fitting a funnel-tube over it -- could easily make it worse. (AOL)
Sand berms will be built to help block oil from some of Louisiana's coast. But marshes, brown pelicans, shrimp, oysters, and other wildlife -- and humans -- are already getting slammed. (Agence France-Press)
Obama suspended plans for new oil drilling in Alaska, Virginia, and the Gulf of Mexico, along with all new deepwater oil/gas drilling. (New York Times)
Montgomery County, Maryland, adopted the first US carbon tax (Grist)
Alaotra grebes, birds endemic to a lake in Madagascar, were declared extinct. Fish nets, introduced fish, and poaching are probably to blame. (BBC)
Pressured by Greenpeace, the world's largest container-shipping company announced its refusal to ship shark, orange roughy, 'Chilean seabass' or whale meat. (Fish Information and Services)
A double-hulled oil tanker struck another ship near Singapore and leaked 2.5K tonnes of oil, some of which washed up on several miles of beach. (Pakistan Times)
http://www.pakistantimes.net/pt/detail.php?newsId=11570
Endangered Atlantic salmon, currently being re-stocked in the Penobscot River, returned in relatively high numbers this spring. (Bangor News)
Climate skepticism is on the rise in Britain. [They should come here] (New York Times)
To help wildlife in the Gulf, an 11-year old artist in NY started a high-profile partnership with several organizations, sending customized bird illustrations to anyone who donates. Well, the art/nature/activism combination made me happy. (AOL)
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Monday, May 24, 2010
Corporate-enviro deals, ADHD, the oil hits land
ECO-NEWS, WEEK 8
Masses of heavy oil have begun washing into Louisiana marshes. BP is siphoning up some of the newly-emerging oil, but plenty is still escaping into the sea. (Associated Press)
The oil spill has also hit deepwater reefs and entered two cross-Gulf currents. (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
Obama announced plans to set mileage and emission standards for big trucks and tighten those for cars. (AP)
A buncho timber companies and a buncho environmental groups agreed that the former will stop logging certain large swathes of Canadian boreal forest if the latter stop promoting boycotts of Canadian timber. (CBC)
Nestle said it will work with two NGOs to prevent itself from buying palm oil grown after illegal deforestation. (Guardian, UK)
A study demonstrated a possible link between pesticide exposure and ADHD in children. (Voice of America)
Criticism of said study (Psychology Today blog)
Masses of heavy oil have begun washing into Louisiana marshes. BP is siphoning up some of the newly-emerging oil, but plenty is still escaping into the sea. (Associated Press)
The oil spill has also hit deepwater reefs and entered two cross-Gulf currents. (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
Obama announced plans to set mileage and emission standards for big trucks and tighten those for cars. (AP)
A buncho timber companies and a buncho environmental groups agreed that the former will stop logging certain large swathes of Canadian boreal forest if the latter stop promoting boycotts of Canadian timber. (CBC)
Nestle said it will work with two NGOs to prevent itself from buying palm oil grown after illegal deforestation. (Guardian, UK)
A study demonstrated a possible link between pesticide exposure and ADHD in children. (Voice of America)
Criticism of said study (Psychology Today blog)
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Sea squirts, carcinogens, climate bills, oil spills
ECO-NEWS, WEEK 7
A major climate and energy bill entered the US Senate; here's a summary and a chart of comparison with other pending legislation. (Grist)
Some commentary on its chances.
A US government panel released a report highlighting environmental chemicals as likely cancer-causers -- which was criticized by the American Cancer Society. [Sandra Steingraber, where are you?] (New York Times)
A dreaded Japanese tunicate was confirmed to be colonizing Oregon's coast. (Oregonian)
A Canadian government plan to field-test oil cleanup methods in Arctic Ocean waters met resistance, for some strange reason. (Canada East)
The Gulf oil spill may be much bigger than initially calculated, and the latest efforts to stanch it have failed. (New York Times and Washington Post, respectively)
More Q. & A. on the oil spill's coming environmental impacts. (Environmental Defense Fund)
Maine passed five energy bills which -- among other things -- promote wind farms and efficiency improvements. (Bangor News)
Living on Earth
This week: oil dispersants, E. O. Wilson's new novel, and a growing farmers market in inner-city Los Angeles.
Last week: possible upcoming reforms of synthetic-chemical regulation in the US, and the man who relocated Marsh Forks Elementary School.
(Click Archives on the page above)
A major climate and energy bill entered the US Senate; here's a summary and a chart of comparison with other pending legislation. (Grist)
Some commentary on its chances.
A US government panel released a report highlighting environmental chemicals as likely cancer-causers -- which was criticized by the American Cancer Society. [Sandra Steingraber, where are you?] (New York Times)
A dreaded Japanese tunicate was confirmed to be colonizing Oregon's coast. (Oregonian)
A Canadian government plan to field-test oil cleanup methods in Arctic Ocean waters met resistance, for some strange reason. (Canada East)
The Gulf oil spill may be much bigger than initially calculated, and the latest efforts to stanch it have failed. (New York Times and Washington Post, respectively)
More Q. & A. on the oil spill's coming environmental impacts. (Environmental Defense Fund)
Maine passed five energy bills which -- among other things -- promote wind farms and efficiency improvements. (Bangor News)
Living on Earth
This week: oil dispersants, E. O. Wilson's new novel, and a growing farmers market in inner-city Los Angeles.
Last week: possible upcoming reforms of synthetic-chemical regulation in the US, and the man who relocated Marsh Forks Elementary School.
(Click Archives on the page above)
Monday, May 10, 2010
Dolphins, bottled water, more oil spill news
ECO-NEWS, WEEK 6
The latest: BP failed in an effort to block one of the wells, tarballs have begun washing up in Alabama, and the Gulf's fishing industries are at a standstill. (Guardian, UK)
Regular news updates from the Gulf Restoration Network.
California's governor withdrew support for proposed offshore oil drilling in the state (Christian Science Monitor)
Other political news, including the feds' investigation of BP. (CBS)
The [also-Gulf-destroying] corn industry made a plug for ethanol as an oil alternative. (Grist)
Q&A with a biologist about potential effects on wildlife. (Environmental Defense Fund)
Early possible victims: 29 endangered Kemps Ridley sea turtles. (AP)
In other news...
Concord, MA became the first US town to ban bottled water sales. Synergeeee. (AOL)
Conservation spotlight in Australia: endemic and very endangered snubfin dolphins. (Sydney Morning Herald)
The latest: BP failed in an effort to block one of the wells, tarballs have begun washing up in Alabama, and the Gulf's fishing industries are at a standstill. (Guardian, UK)
Regular news updates from the Gulf Restoration Network.
California's governor withdrew support for proposed offshore oil drilling in the state (Christian Science Monitor)
Other political news, including the feds' investigation of BP. (CBS)
The [also-Gulf-destroying] corn industry made a plug for ethanol as an oil alternative. (Grist)
Q&A with a biologist about potential effects on wildlife. (Environmental Defense Fund)
Early possible victims: 29 endangered Kemps Ridley sea turtles. (AP)
In other news...
Concord, MA became the first US town to ban bottled water sales. Synergeeee. (AOL)
Conservation spotlight in Australia: endemic and very endangered snubfin dolphins. (Sydney Morning Herald)
Monday, May 3, 2010
Oil spill updates etc.
Not much else was in the environmental news this week, and there are many more articles on the subject.
ECO-NEWS, WEEK 5
The latest: it's baaaaaaaaaaaad, hasn't quite reached the coast yet, and may enter the Gulf Stream. Economies and ecosystems are gravely threatened, and Obama has temporarily halted new oil drilling in all US waters. (AP)
Possible fates of the recovered oil [posted before they started burning it, so might not still apply, but interesting.] (Slate)
Some of the political fallout.
In other news...
As you probably heard, the nation's first offshore wind farm was approved. (MSNBC)
Living on Earth: Documerica, valley fever, GE alfalfa and Cuban agri-culture.
On Beijing's declining birds of prey, and their human allies. (Public Radio International)
ECO-NEWS, WEEK 5
The latest: it's baaaaaaaaaaaad, hasn't quite reached the coast yet, and may enter the Gulf Stream. Economies and ecosystems are gravely threatened, and Obama has temporarily halted new oil drilling in all US waters. (AP)
Possible fates of the recovered oil [posted before they started burning it, so might not still apply, but interesting.] (Slate)
Some of the political fallout.
In other news...
As you probably heard, the nation's first offshore wind farm was approved. (MSNBC)
Living on Earth: Documerica, valley fever, GE alfalfa and Cuban agri-culture.
On Beijing's declining birds of prey, and their human allies. (Public Radio International)
Monday, April 26, 2010
Whaling, toxic waste, and much much more
Happy Earth Day...
ECO-NEWS, WEEK 4
An oil spill followed a probably-deadly rig explosion in the Gulf of Mexico, and has yet to be contained. (BBC)
The IWC, pushed by Japan, is likely to overturn the international ban on commercial whaling (The Times, UK)
In return, Japan proposed to catch fewer minke whales around Antarctica. Yes, I mentioned this two months ago, but now it's happening. (Japan Times. Check out the comments)
A summary of the "peoples' climate summit" in Bolivia. (United Press International)
In Orrington, on the Penobscot River, the mercury-laden landfills of an old chemical plant are set to be cleaned up -- but how thoroughly? [Most recently, residents voted narrowly for the less extensive cleanup option, but this article has more background]. (Bangor News)
Hawaii's government is working on a bill to ban the sale and possession of shark fins, as a cultural concession to the natives. (Honolulu Advisor)
Introduced lionfish continue spreading in the Caribbean, devastating native fish. (Underwater Times)
Reminder: the aquifer below the Great Plains is getting severely depleted (AOL)
Living on Earth: REDD in Borneo, high-profile environmental justice, and efforts to industrially fish the Mississippi's Asian carp.
New York Times
Several environmental groups jointly petitioned the EPA to list 404 southeastern river species as Endangered.
The UN banned cruise ships from running high-sulfur "heavy fuel" in Antarctic waters, which will hinder the industry when it is enacted in August 2011.
New York City began to clean up (i.e. isolate) a toxic, illegal, 34-year-old landfill on Staten Island.
Earthjustice
For the third time, a court ruling blocked a silver/copper mine in Montana.
NGOs and the EPA struck a(nother?) deal for regulating toxic air emissions from US power plants.
ECO-NEWS, WEEK 4
An oil spill followed a probably-deadly rig explosion in the Gulf of Mexico, and has yet to be contained. (BBC)
The IWC, pushed by Japan, is likely to overturn the international ban on commercial whaling (The Times, UK)
In return, Japan proposed to catch fewer minke whales around Antarctica. Yes, I mentioned this two months ago, but now it's happening. (Japan Times. Check out the comments)
A summary of the "peoples' climate summit" in Bolivia. (United Press International)
In Orrington, on the Penobscot River, the mercury-laden landfills of an old chemical plant are set to be cleaned up -- but how thoroughly? [Most recently, residents voted narrowly for the less extensive cleanup option, but this article has more background]. (Bangor News)
Hawaii's government is working on a bill to ban the sale and possession of shark fins, as a cultural concession to the natives. (Honolulu Advisor)
Introduced lionfish continue spreading in the Caribbean, devastating native fish. (Underwater Times)
Reminder: the aquifer below the Great Plains is getting severely depleted (AOL)
Living on Earth: REDD in Borneo, high-profile environmental justice, and efforts to industrially fish the Mississippi's Asian carp.
New York Times
Several environmental groups jointly petitioned the EPA to list 404 southeastern river species as Endangered.
The UN banned cruise ships from running high-sulfur "heavy fuel" in Antarctic waters, which will hinder the industry when it is enacted in August 2011.
New York City began to clean up (i.e. isolate) a toxic, illegal, 34-year-old landfill on Staten Island.
Earthjustice
For the third time, a court ruling blocked a silver/copper mine in Montana.
NGOs and the EPA struck a(nother?) deal for regulating toxic air emissions from US power plants.
Monday, April 19, 2010
Garbage, freshwater cod, veterans and the Amazon
The Stinson sardine plant closing featured on NPR's Weekend Edition show yesterday, and got a headline on underwatertimes.com. As it should.
ECO-NEWS, WEEK 3
The "Climategate" scientists were cleared of climate-data-manipulation charges. (LA Times)
Plans for a huge hydro dam in Brazil, briefly halted by local and international activists, got the go-ahead from a judge. (NY Times)
Researchers discovered the Great Atlantic Garbage Patch. (Associated Press)
The amount of human-made "space junk" orbiting Earth is rising rapidly (AOL)
British scientists think they found a way to farm saltwater fish (e.g. cod) in fresh water. [Which is so abundant these days.] (London Daily Mail)
A major Maine landfill is being converted to a source of natural-gas energy (Bangor News)
Living on Earth: the changing EPA, eco-activist war veterans, and Earth Day founder Gaylord Nelson.
ECO-NEWS, WEEK 3
The "Climategate" scientists were cleared of climate-data-manipulation charges. (LA Times)
Plans for a huge hydro dam in Brazil, briefly halted by local and international activists, got the go-ahead from a judge. (NY Times)
Researchers discovered the Great Atlantic Garbage Patch. (Associated Press)
The amount of human-made "space junk" orbiting Earth is rising rapidly (AOL)
British scientists think they found a way to farm saltwater fish (e.g. cod) in fresh water. [Which is so abundant these days.] (London Daily Mail)
A major Maine landfill is being converted to a source of natural-gas energy (Bangor News)
Living on Earth: the changing EPA, eco-activist war veterans, and Earth Day founder Gaylord Nelson.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Windmills, eggs, and troubled waters
ECO-NEWS, WEEK 2
A coal freighter struck Australia's Great Barrier Reef. The resulting fuel-oil spill was smaller than feared (NY Times)...
...but is still predicted to notably impact the coral. (Sydney Morning Herald)
Israel banned fishing in its famously-fecund Sea of Galilee to prevent stock collapses. (UK Telegraph)
A broken oil pipeline badly soiled a Louisiana wildlife refuge. (WWL/AP)
A popular new Facebook page opposes shark fin soup -- and was made in Hong Kong. (UK Independent)
Living on Earth: wind-powered prisons, 8,000 antique bird eggs, "cap-and-dividend," and the really evil Don Blankenship.
Bangor News
Hundreds of "ghost" lobster traps were removed from Maine waters (incl. 400 around MDI) in a federally-funded cleanup.
Another large and apparently unpopular wind farm opened in Washington County.
Home-scale windmills got mixed reviews from owners [and scorn from the perpetual commenters].
A coal freighter struck Australia's Great Barrier Reef. The resulting fuel-oil spill was smaller than feared (NY Times)...
...but is still predicted to notably impact the coral. (Sydney Morning Herald)
Israel banned fishing in its famously-fecund Sea of Galilee to prevent stock collapses. (UK Telegraph)
A broken oil pipeline badly soiled a Louisiana wildlife refuge. (WWL/AP)
A popular new Facebook page opposes shark fin soup -- and was made in Hong Kong. (UK Independent)
Living on Earth: wind-powered prisons, 8,000 antique bird eggs, "cap-and-dividend," and the really evil Don Blankenship.
Bangor News
Hundreds of "ghost" lobster traps were removed from Maine waters (incl. 400 around MDI) in a federally-funded cleanup.
Another large and apparently unpopular wind farm opened in Washington County.
Home-scale windmills got mixed reviews from owners [and scorn from the perpetual commenters].
Monday, April 5, 2010
CITES, Chagos Islands, car-emission standards, carbon trading
ECO-NEWS, WEEK 1
Outcomes of last week's CITES meeting: bluefin tuna trade ban rejected, shark-finning regulations rejected, coral protections rejected, ivory sales rejected. (Discover; multiple articles. There are many others on this subject.)
The federal US government announced nationwide standards for greenhouse-gas emissions from cars...
... though credits for "green" cars could weaken the effect. (Christian Science Monitor)
Canada did the same. (Winnipeg Free Press)
The UK established a huge marine reserve around the Chagos Islands, miffing the islands' previously-evicted human population. (BBC)
The EPA proposed new regulations that could theoretically impede mountaintop-removal coal mining significantly. (Grist)
http://www.grist.org/article/appalachians-hail-epas-great-victory-for-clean-water-act-and-justice/
The US Supreme Court refused to consider reopening a loophole in airborne-toxin emissions standards for major polluters. (Earthjustice)
Living on Earth: Carbon trading and forest preservation in the Congo.
Outcomes of last week's CITES meeting: bluefin tuna trade ban rejected, shark-finning regulations rejected, coral protections rejected, ivory sales rejected. (Discover; multiple articles. There are many others on this subject.)
The federal US government announced nationwide standards for greenhouse-gas emissions from cars...
... though credits for "green" cars could weaken the effect. (Christian Science Monitor)
Canada did the same. (Winnipeg Free Press)
The UK established a huge marine reserve around the Chagos Islands, miffing the islands' previously-evicted human population. (BBC)
The EPA proposed new regulations that could theoretically impede mountaintop-removal coal mining significantly. (Grist)
http://www.grist.org/article/appalachians-hail-epas-great-victory-for-clean-water-act-and-justice/
The US Supreme Court refused to consider reopening a loophole in airborne-toxin emissions standards for major polluters. (Earthjustice)
Living on Earth: Carbon trading and forest preservation in the Congo.
Monday, March 8, 2010
Assorted oceanic events and issues
ECO-NEWS, WEEK 9
The International Whaling Commission denied a request by Denmark to allow aboriginal hunting of humpback whales off of Greenland. (Independent Online)
Multinational support is growing for a trade ban on Atlantic bluefin tuna -- but Japan doesn't care. (Washington Post)
The US will "embargo" wild-caught Mexican shrimp, after learning that some fishers there aren't using devices to prevent sea turtles from drowning in trawls. (Pretoma)
Reports from the Maine Fishermen's Forum on Friday. (Bangor News; check the paper or website on Monday for news of Saturday -- I hear it was interesting)
Ocean acidification is being recognized as a serious and growing global problem (Sydney Morning Herald)
...despite efforts to debunk it (CO2 Science Magazine). [As the speaker on this topic said at the Fishermen's Forum, "Prove me wrong and I'll be grateful.]
California may ban the use of ocean water as power-plant coolant, as sea life is sucked in with it. (San Jose Mercury News)
On the human ecology of baaaad dead zones in the Baltic Sea. (National Geographic)
The International Whaling Commission denied a request by Denmark to allow aboriginal hunting of humpback whales off of Greenland. (Independent Online)
Multinational support is growing for a trade ban on Atlantic bluefin tuna -- but Japan doesn't care. (Washington Post)
The US will "embargo" wild-caught Mexican shrimp, after learning that some fishers there aren't using devices to prevent sea turtles from drowning in trawls. (Pretoma)
Reports from the Maine Fishermen's Forum on Friday. (Bangor News; check the paper or website on Monday for news of Saturday -- I hear it was interesting)
Ocean acidification is being recognized as a serious and growing global problem (Sydney Morning Herald)
...despite efforts to debunk it (CO2 Science Magazine). [As the speaker on this topic said at the Fishermen's Forum, "Prove me wrong and I'll be grateful.]
California may ban the use of ocean water as power-plant coolant, as sea life is sucked in with it. (San Jose Mercury News)
On the human ecology of baaaad dead zones in the Baltic Sea. (National Geographic)
Monday, March 1, 2010
Pythons, beetles, Montana, Walmart, United We Fish
ECO-NEWS, WEEK 8
Florida now has a hunting season for large invasive reptiles. (Miami Herald)
Wal-Mart pledged to make its suppliers majorly reduce their greenhouse-gas emission, sparking much debate.
Montana's government intends to ban mining and drilling in its part of the trans-border Flathead Valley, following British Columbia's lead. (Missoulian)
A major cement maker promised in court to cut its emissions of airborne toxins. (Earthjustice)
Living on Earth: nuclear waste, bark-beetle battling, tennis balls, the Chagas Islands, and the intensifying fight over US fishery management. Plus some lovely prose about herons.
Florida now has a hunting season for large invasive reptiles. (Miami Herald)
Wal-Mart pledged to make its suppliers majorly reduce their greenhouse-gas emission, sparking much debate.
Montana's government intends to ban mining and drilling in its part of the trans-border Flathead Valley, following British Columbia's lead. (Missoulian)
A major cement maker promised in court to cut its emissions of airborne toxins. (Earthjustice)
Living on Earth: nuclear waste, bark-beetle battling, tennis balls, the Chagas Islands, and the intensifying fight over US fishery management. Plus some lovely prose about herons.
Monday, February 22, 2010
Penguins, treaties, Target and the Ganges
Yes, my eco-news remains fish-focused. I'm relying on underwatertimes.com -- and I have a one-track mind.
ECO-NEWS, WEEK 7
113 nations signed a treaty to ban fishing for eight shark species. (United Press International)
Target announced plans to stop selling farmed salmon. (Press release)
India's government began a $4B effort to reduce sewage effluent into the Ganges River. (Wall Street Journal)
Grist
The USDA announced new pasturing requirements for organic dairy farmers.
Three big companies left the industry coalition lobbying for climate legislation.
Studies: Marine protected areas show benefits for penguins in South Africa (Independent, UK)
...and coral reefs worldwide. (Underwater Times)
ECO-NEWS, WEEK 7
113 nations signed a treaty to ban fishing for eight shark species. (United Press International)
Target announced plans to stop selling farmed salmon. (Press release)
India's government began a $4B effort to reduce sewage effluent into the Ganges River. (Wall Street Journal)
Grist
The USDA announced new pasturing requirements for organic dairy farmers.
Three big companies left the industry coalition lobbying for climate legislation.
Studies: Marine protected areas show benefits for penguins in South Africa (Independent, UK)
...and coral reefs worldwide. (Underwater Times)
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Toads, LoraxAg, solar stimulus, grumpy fishermen
ECO-NEWS, WEEK FIVE
The US Senate received an ambitious bill to stimulate production of rooftop solar power and heating. (Grist)
Fishermen from around the US are planning a DC rally calling for more flexibility in federal regulations. (Astbury Park Press)
A new coal-gasification company -- yes, named after the Lorax -- touted its groovy plans to make fertilizer and sulfuric acid from its byproducts. Sigh. (Wonk Room; Journal of New England Technology)
On two zoos' valiant but questioned efforts to save spray toads, a species whose only home -- a waterfall in Tanzania -- was destroyed by a dam. (New York Times)
The BBC annoyed British fishermen by airing an anti-fishing "documentary." (The Scotsman)
Living on Earth: coal ash, Cape Wind, and Obama's nuclear-power plans. Plus human-bear conflicts and the "Bird Whistler."
The US Senate received an ambitious bill to stimulate production of rooftop solar power and heating. (Grist)
Fishermen from around the US are planning a DC rally calling for more flexibility in federal regulations. (Astbury Park Press)
A new coal-gasification company -- yes, named after the Lorax -- touted its groovy plans to make fertilizer and sulfuric acid from its byproducts. Sigh. (Wonk Room; Journal of New England Technology)
On two zoos' valiant but questioned efforts to save spray toads, a species whose only home -- a waterfall in Tanzania -- was destroyed by a dam. (New York Times)
The BBC annoyed British fishermen by airing an anti-fishing "documentary." (The Scotsman)
Living on Earth: coal ash, Cape Wind, and Obama's nuclear-power plans. Plus human-bear conflicts and the "Bird Whistler."
Monday, February 1, 2010
Jaguars, "clean energy," a plague of sharks, an oil spill
And the Triple Demons of Compromise continue their wicked whirling, halting everything in their path.
ECO-NEWS, WEEK FOUR
An Exxon oil tanker sprung a serious leak on a channel in easternmost Texas. (Houston Chronicle)
Obama's State of the Union address covered climate and energy... sort of. (Grist commentary)
The USFWS announced plans to designate "critical habitat" for jaguars in the US; this op-ed critiques the move. (New York Times)
Porbeagle Sharks are on the rise in the Gulf of Maine, greatly annoying gillnet fishermen. (Gloucester Daily Times)
Living on Earth: Atrazine, the depressing promise of geo-engineering, a "recycled" power plant in Copenhagen, and more. Plus filmmaking chimpanzees.
Bangor News
New England fishery managers were pressured out of further shortening the scallop-harvest season...
...while local folks discussed an upcoming bill on the management of said fishery.
ECO-NEWS, WEEK FOUR
An Exxon oil tanker sprung a serious leak on a channel in easternmost Texas. (Houston Chronicle)
Obama's State of the Union address covered climate and energy... sort of. (Grist commentary)
The USFWS announced plans to designate "critical habitat" for jaguars in the US; this op-ed critiques the move. (New York Times)
Porbeagle Sharks are on the rise in the Gulf of Maine, greatly annoying gillnet fishermen. (Gloucester Daily Times)
Living on Earth: Atrazine, the depressing promise of geo-engineering, a "recycled" power plant in Copenhagen, and more. Plus filmmaking chimpanzees.
Bangor News
New England fishery managers were pressured out of further shortening the scallop-harvest season...
...while local folks discussed an upcoming bill on the management of said fishery.
Monday, January 25, 2010
Lawsuits, false killer whales, climate shenanigans
ECO-NEWS, WEEK 3
The Senate did indeed receive legislation aimed at blocking EPA regulation of greenhouse gases. (Seattle Times)
The latest climate controversy: were the experts wrong about how fast Himalayan glaciers will melt? (AOL and Grist)
Los Angeles Times
The US Supreme Court lifted corporate spending limits for election campaigns -- "a victory for Big Oil"
Safari Club International wants a federal court to re-remove grizzly bears' "Threatened" status.
NMFS announced plans to work on preventing fish longlines from entangling false killer whales.
Earthjustice
A bunch of groups sued the US government over approval of oil drilling in Alaska's Chukchi Sea.
The EPA announced new restrictions on nitrogen oxide emissions from ships.
The Senate did indeed receive legislation aimed at blocking EPA regulation of greenhouse gases. (Seattle Times)
The latest climate controversy: were the experts wrong about how fast Himalayan glaciers will melt? (AOL and Grist)
Los Angeles Times
The US Supreme Court lifted corporate spending limits for election campaigns -- "a victory for Big Oil"
Safari Club International wants a federal court to re-remove grizzly bears' "Threatened" status.
NMFS announced plans to work on preventing fish longlines from entangling false killer whales.
Earthjustice
A bunch of groups sued the US government over approval of oil drilling in Alaska's Chukchi Sea.
The EPA announced new restrictions on nitrogen oxide emissions from ships.
Monday, January 18, 2010
Airplanes, lobbyists, farmed salmon, seal pepperoni
ECO-NEWS, WEEK 2
The Monterey Bay Aquarium approved a certain type of salmon farming -- freshwater, incidentally -- as "sustainable," a first for the industry. (Scientific American)
Canada stepped up a campaign to market seal products in China, to make up for an EU ban. (Kelowna; British Columbia)
Wildlife-airplane collisions are rising in the US, for various reasons. (AP)
New York Times
Anticipated next week: a senator's proposed bill amendment aimed at blocking EPA regulation of carbon dioxide [or greenhouse-gas?] emissions.
Lobbyists on both "sides" of these regulations are also targeting the EPA.
The Monterey Bay Aquarium approved a certain type of salmon farming -- freshwater, incidentally -- as "sustainable," a first for the industry. (Scientific American)
Canada stepped up a campaign to market seal products in China, to make up for an EU ban. (Kelowna; British Columbia)
Wildlife-airplane collisions are rising in the US, for various reasons. (AP)
New York Times
Anticipated next week: a senator's proposed bill amendment aimed at blocking EPA regulation of carbon dioxide [or greenhouse-gas?] emissions.
Lobbyists on both "sides" of these regulations are also targeting the EPA.
Monday, January 11, 2010
Smog, WWAWWG, coyotes, backward steps
No post-comment-period news yet about the proposed natural-gas drilling in upstate New York, but it could become a theme for this term. I promise to keep reporting other news as well.
ECO-NEWS, WEEK ONE
The EPA approved another mountaintop-removal coal mine in West Virginia, after reviewing its permit and hearing claims by the company to reduce the resulting environmental damage. (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)
A local coyote-hunting "tournament" in Jackman, Maine, has drawn much controversy. (MPBN)
In October, Congress passed a measure exempting factory farms from reporting their 2010 greenhouse-gas emissions under a recent EPA rule. I don't think I posted this at the time. (OMB Watch)
Living on Earth: Where We're At, Where We're Going. *Nods at Davis Taylor*
Grist
the EPA proposed more restrictions on ozone (smog) emissions.
Eco-villain Richard Pombo is running for a seat in the California Congress again, after getting ousted in 2006.
ECO-NEWS, WEEK ONE
The EPA approved another mountaintop-removal coal mine in West Virginia, after reviewing its permit and hearing claims by the company to reduce the resulting environmental damage. (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)
A local coyote-hunting "tournament" in Jackman, Maine, has drawn much controversy. (MPBN)
In October, Congress passed a measure exempting factory farms from reporting their 2010 greenhouse-gas emissions under a recent EPA rule. I don't think I posted this at the time. (OMB Watch)
Living on Earth: Where We're At, Where We're Going. *Nods at Davis Taylor*
Grist
the EPA proposed more restrictions on ozone (smog) emissions.
Eco-villain Richard Pombo is running for a seat in the California Congress again, after getting ousted in 2006.
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