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].
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
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.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)