More news from 2009-11-04

Life in the laboratory. Exotic tiny striped zebrafish and silvery fathead minnows are part of the unrelenting march forward of a global chemical industry, in the bid to produce medicines, industrial chemicals and pesticides which do not harm the natural environment. South Devon Herald Express, United Kingdom. 4 November 2009.
Study links C8, high cholesterol levels. A study found children with higher levels of C8 in their blood tend to also have higher cholesterol, but the data doesn't prove whether C8 caused it, the report said. Parkersburg News and Sentinel, West Virginia. 4 November 2009.
Tuberculosis jabs cut 60pc off risk of melanoma. Mass vaccination against tuberculosis - a practice abandoned more than 20 years ago in Australia - should be reconsidered, following evidence it could slash the risk of melanoma by as much as 60 per cent. Sydney Australian, Australia. 4 November 2009.
White House goes on the defense over H1N1 response. The Obama administration is trying to stave off criticism that it was ill-prepared for the swine-flu pandemic amid a shortage of vaccines and long lines of frustrated people awaiting inoculations. Houston Chronicle, Texas. 4 November 2009.
Older patients most likely to die from H1N1 influenza. An analysis of more than 1,000 California patients hospitalized with H1N1 flu during the first four months of the pandemic found that infants were most likely to be admitted, and patients 50 and older were most likely to die once admitted. USA Today. 4 November 2009.
Record seasonal flu shots expected in U.S. The United States will probably set a record for seasonal flu shots this winter, but there is continuing frustration over the slow rollout of swine flu shots, federal health officials said Tuesday. New York Times. 4 November 2009. [Registration Required]
A long day and long lines at Glendale swine flu clinic. Long lines at public flu clinics--initially intended to serve the uninsured--are now commonplace nationwide as doses of vaccine remain scarce. Many have been unable to get a vaccination from a private doctor because they have run out. Los Angeles Times, California. 4 November 2009. [Registration Required]
Premature births lift U.S. infant death rate. Poor access to prenatal care, maternal obesity and smoking, too-early cesarean sections and induced labor and fertility treatments are among the reasons for preterm births, experts said. Associated Press. 4 November 2009.
The incomparable honey bee. You could thank a honeybee for the last meal you ate. Bees help produce about one out of every three bites we eat. But… worldwide… bees are dying at a rate never seen in history. Environment Report, Michigan. 4 November 2009.
Oyster ‘gardening’ restores reefs after hurricane. “Oyster gardening” is one of several creative projects, paid for by federal and state grants, under way to restore a small portion of the 8,000 acres of oyster reefs killed when Hurricane Ike buried them in sediment a year ago. Christian Science Monitor. 4 November 2009.
Vietnam storm death toll rises to 91. In the hardest-hit province of Phu Yen, 26 more deaths were reported as information trickled in from isolated areas, bringing the death toll there to 65. An additional 13 people were missing. Associated Press. 4 November 2009.
Rent clothes to cut carbon emissions, says green watchdog. Large wardrobes of seldom-used clothes are no longer environmentally acceptable and people should instead rent outfits and accessories, according to the Government’s waste watchdog. London Times, United Kingdom. 4 November 2009.
Coming clean. Disagreement over carbon capture and storage, or CCS, has opened a fissure in the environmental movement and divided opinion shapers who ostensibly want the same thing. Melbourne Age, Australia. 4 November 2009.
Brazil raises cane over U.S. ethanol tariff. Brazilian sugar producers say sugar-based fuel is more environmentally sound than electricity or corn ethanol as an alternative for powering cars. But the odds are long for a change. Los Angeles Times, California. 4 November 2009. [Registration Required]
Why African countries are boycotting climate change talks. UN climate change talks in Barcelona have stalled as African countries say the world's rich nations must do more to cut emissions. Christian Science Monitor. 4 November 2009.
Senate panel's climate markup in holding pattern. A partisan standoff over Senate global warming legislation clouded the start of the Environment and Public Works Committee's markup of the sweeping proposal today with just one Republican in attendance. Greenwire. 4 November 2009.
GOP senators warn Boxer on climate-bill strategy. Six ranking Republican U.S. senators Monday warned the head of the environment committee that pushing ahead with a vote on a landmark climate bill this week would "severely damage" the chances of passing the legislation. Wall Street Journal. 4 November 2009. [Subscription Required]
Kyoto climate treaty's greenhouse 'success.' A new UN report describes how the Kyoto Protocol has achieved real strides in slowing the growth of greenhouse-gas emissions, thanks to mostly to European nations. Science News. 4 November 2009.
Ban Ki-moon urges religious leaders to 'act boldly'. The UN secretary-general today urged religious leaders to "set an example for the lifestyle of billions" by establishing green places of worship, purchasing environmentally friendly goods and investing ethically in sustainable products. London Guardian, United Kingdom. 4 November 2009.
Oregon curbs controversial tax breaks for wind and solar firms. Oregon energy officials released new rules Tuesday aimed at curbing a controversial state program that grants lucrative tax subsidies for wind, solar and other renewable power plants. Portland Oregonian, Oregon. 4 November 2009.
Russia still dragging its feet on climate change. Russia doesn't seem to care about global warming. Most Russians would probably be happy if the country was warmer. Melting icecaps would enable Russia to drill for oil and gas in the Arctic Ocean. For the rest of the planet, however, the picture is not so cheerful. Time Magazine. 4 November 2009.
Climate change belief given same legal status as religion. An executive has won the right to sue his employer on the basis that he was unfairly dismissed for his green views after a judge ruled that environmentalism had the same weight in law as religious and philosophical beliefs. London Daily Telegraph, United Kingdom. 4 November 2009.
Economists see threat in climate change. Researchers who deal in cold numbers rather than warming climates believe the "significant benefits from curbing greenhouse-gas emissions would justify the costs of action," a new survey finds. USA Today. 4 November 2009.
'Whitewash' could slow global warming: Peruvian scientist. A Peruvian scientist has called on his country to help slow the melting of Andean glaciers by daubing white paint on the rock and earth left behind by receding ice so they will absorb less heat. Agence France-Presse. 4 November 2009.
Coral bleaching gives rise to reef bullies. To the average snorkeller a coral reef might seem like a watery paradise, but new research has found coral bleaching could turn reefs into rough neighbourhoods. Coral bleaching is expected to become more widespread because of the effects of global warming. ABC News, Australia. 4 November 2009.
State's clean-coal gamble. Victoria will rely on fossil fuel for energy for decades, with leaked documents revealing the Brumby Government is set to take a multibillion-dollar gamble on ''clean coal''. Melbourne Age, Australia. 4 November 2009.
Reducing emissions growth in emerging economies could be cheap. How much would it cost to stop increasing greenhouse gas emissions in Mexico? According to a new study from the World Bank, not very much. New York Times. 4 November 2009. [Registration Required]
State firms bottle up emissions. Major State-owned companies have taken great leaps to cut down on their carbon emissions, according to a State-run commission, in a key boost to the government's campaign to combat climate change. China Daily. 4 November 2009.
China pushes CO2 capture, storage questions loom. China is pushing to complete its first commercial-scale power plant that can capture and store emissions, but must do more research on how and where to lock away carbon dioxide if the technology is to get wide roll-out. Reuters. 4 November 2009.
Solar companies focus on nuts and bolts to cut costs. Even as solar companies cook up high tech ways to cut costs, the next push to make the renewable energy source more economical could come from workers who bolt panels onto rooftops and mount them across empty fields. Reuters. 4 November 2009.
Garmin's ecoRoute saves on gas, but maybe not time. We're used to GPS car units telling us where to go. Now they also have the ability to urge us to be more eco-friendly drivers. Garmin International Inc., a leader in global positioning systems, has added a new function called ecoRoute. Los Angeles Times, California. 4 November 2009. [Registration Required]
Coaxing auto makers to go electric. The next two to three years could see the arrival in force of a new generation of electrified vehicles. More than a dozen car makers have announced plans to offer battery-powered vehicles in the U.S. by 2013. Wall Street Journal. 4 November 2009. [Subscription Required]
Israel can't stop growth in emissions by 2030. If Israel continues business as usual, it will double its emissions by 2030 from 71 million tons of carbon dioxide to 142, according to an analysis prepared by McKinsey & Company presented on Tuesday. Jerusalem Post, Israel. 4 November 2009.
SE Asia peatland loss helps drive warming, scientists warn. Scientists pointed the finger, on Wednesday, at Southeast Asian countries for draining wetlands for palm oil and cheap timber production, warning the practice was stoking dangerous global warming. Agence France-Presse. 4 November 2009.
Obama admin weighs costs of doing nothing on climate. A quiet struggle that could weigh heavily on future regulations. ClimateWire. 4 November 2009.
Climate action - decades late. U.S. President Lyndon Johnson and British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher made stark warnings about global warming decades ago, but convincing evidence for action only amassed in recent years, experts say. Reuters. 4 November 2009.
Boycotts in U.S. and abroad signal trouble. Boycotts on either side of the Atlantic yesterday showed just how difficult it will be to clinch an agreement on global warming next month. Associated Press. 4 November 2009.
'Black Liquor' tax credit restriction rides on health care bill. A measure that could save the federal government $24 billion in biofuel tax credits over 10 years by restricting the eligibility of a controversial fuel was attached last night to health care reform legislation. Greenwire. 4 November 2009.
Climate deal needed to prevent forced migration. The world urgently needs a climate deal out of a summit in Copenhagen next month to forestall forced migration that is already occurring in Asia and Africa, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said Wednesday. Agence France-Presse. 4 November 2009.
Commercial fishing banned in Arctic waters. The NOAA said that the plan to put a large area of the Arctic Ocean off-limits to commercial fishing establishes an orderly process to consider requests for fisheries and provides time for science to catch up to changing conditions, specifically global warming and the loss of sea ice. Associated Press. 4 November 2009.
Using forests to finance conservation and communities in a former war zone. REDD offers the Columbian Chocó an alternative development model that could allow them to continue using their lands for traditional activities while gaining access to improved health and education, microfinance, and sustainable business opportunities. Mongabay. 4 November 2009.
Carbon capture tech makes progress, but enough? It could be decades before carbon capture and storage technologies are ready for use on a wide scale. And by then, models show us that carbon in our atmosphere will likely already have warmed the planet by several degrees. Louisville WFPL Public Radio, Kentucky. 4 November 2009.
Energy Dept. awards money for electric cars. The federal government and some states are plugging into the future of electric cars with subsidies to develop charging stations. But their plans are generating opposition. USA Today. 4 November 2009.
Disney Co. spending $7M on conservation projects. Seeking to help fight climate change, the Walt Disney Co. says it will spend $7 million in partnership with three conservation groups to protect tens of thousands of acres of forest lands in the Congo basin, the Amazon basin and in two regions of the US. Associated Press. 4 November 2009.
Disney invests in saving forests. The Walt Disney Company announced Tuesday that it has made a $7 million investment in forest conservation projects to decrease carbon dioxide emissions. New York Times. 4 November 2009. [Registration Required]
Annapolis considers 'renewable energy park.' Hoping to make some green out of going green, Annapolis officials are weighing an ambitious plan to convert an old municipal dump into a "renewable energy park." Baltimore Sun, Maryland. 4 November 2009.
More volunteers thinning forests. Because trees absorb carbon dioxide, forest conservation has become more significant against the backdrop of frequent torrential rains that triggered landslides in various parts of the country this year. Volunteer groups working to preserve trees in danger are surging. Kyodo News, Japan. 4 November 2009.
From smart meters to smart thermostats. As utilities install more smart meters in homes, EcoFactor aims to use the data collected by them as well as data about weather and an consumer's individual climate-control habits to adjust their home's AC and heating systems. New York Times. 4 November 2009. [Registration Required]
State Energy Commission to vote on TV power standards. The California Energy Commission says the controls will help keep the proliferation of bigger televisions from swamping the state's other efforts to save energy and fight global warming. Sacramento Bee, California. 4 November 2009.
Tories’ plan on low-carbon electricity. A Conservative government would be likely to create additional financial incentives to encourage investment in low-carbon electricity, the shadow energy secretary has indicated. London Financial Times, United Kingdom. 4 November 2009.
Distiller's grain set to ride ethanol coattails. Demand for distiller's grain, a byproduct of distilling corn into ethanol, will continue to grow domestically and abroad as livestock producers turn to the feed as a cheaper alternative to corn, analysts said. Reuters. 4 November 2009.
Cobo hosts wind energy expo. The nation's advocacy group for wind energy is in the Motor City to talk about making small-scale wind power a possibility for homes, businesses and local governments across the country. Detroit News, Michigan. 4 November 2009.
Making solar power mobile power. GreenTow, a startup based in St. George, Utah, sells self-contained solar power trailers. The units come with a block of solar panels that extend and tilt out from the trailer, as well as batteries, inverters and - just in case - a backup diesel generator. New York Times. 4 November 2009. [Registration Required]
Solar power when the sun goes down? The holy grail of renewable energy is a solar power plant that continues producing electricity after the sun goes down and a Santa Monica, Calif., company called SolarReserve has taken a step toward making that a reality. New York Times. 4 November 2009. [Registration Required]
What is clean coal? Clean coal technologies seek to reduce emissions from coal-fired power generation. But how do these work exactly? World News Australia. 4 November 2009.
Going to 2010 Games? Offset your carbon. Spectators, media and sponsors planning to attend next year's Winter Olympics in Vancouver will be under pressure to offset their carbon emissions, organizers said on Tuesday. Reuters. 4 November 2009.
Vancouver Olympic organizers say 2010 Games will be greener than first thought. Wood burning cook stoves for the Uganda are one of the projects being funded in the quest by Vancouver Olympic Games organizers to negate the environmental impact of hosting the Games. Canadian Press. 4 November 2009.
Maldives says carbon neutral goal ahead of schedule. The Maldives could achieve its aim of becoming carbon neutral well before its 2020 target, the Indian Ocean island nation's president said on Monday. Reuters. 4 November 2009.
Utah snags $16.3 million for energy projects. The federal government announced Tuesday that Utah will receive $16.3 million in grants for energy conservation and research into geothermal energy and carbon capture. Salt Lake Tribune, Utah. 4 November 2009.
The high price for coal's Holy Grail. Leaked details from a draft statement show the Government wants billions of tonnes of coal from Gippsland to be opened up for wider exploitation, with lower emissions, to generate investment and jobs. But the valley's workers will no doubt be sceptical after a parade of mega-projects promised much for Gippsland but delivered little. Melbourne Age, Australia. 4 November 2009.
Greenies see climate cloud silver lining. There is an upside to climate change and it could amount to a million new jobs, a key lobby group says. Western Australia Today, Australia. 4 November 2009.
How the world found out about global warming. A U.N. conference in Copenhagen next month is due to agree a new pact to combat global warming after mounting evidence that human activity is disrupting the climate. Reuters. 4 November 2009.
Republicans walk out of Senate hearing on climate-change bill. On Tuesday, Republicans boycotted the start of a Senate hearing on climate-change legislation. The Republican members of the Environment and Public Works Committee are demanding a full EPA analysis of the climate bill. Los Angeles Times, California. 4 November 2009. [Registration Required]
It's a dirty business -- the new gold rush that is blackening Canada's name. Canada faces a dilemma as it prepares for next month’s UN climate summit. It wants to present itself as environmentally responsible but also wants the profits from tar sands, which cover an area of Alberta’s natural coniferous forest larger than England. London Times, United Kingdom. 4 November 2009.
UN secretary general calls for increase in pledged funding for climate change. Money paid by rich countries to fight global warming will have to "be scaled up" from the $100bn a year on offer, the UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon said today. London Guardian, United Kingdom. 4 November 2009.
Obama vows to redouble effort on climate change. U.S. President Barack Obama and European Union leaders pledged on Tuesday to redouble efforts for a deal on climate change at a summit in Copenhagen, but gave no details of how to reach that ambitious goal. Reuters. 4 November 2009.
EU agrees on climate. The European Union leaders agreed on an offer to put on the table at global climate talks in Copenhagen in December after healing a rift over how to split the bill. Scientific American. 4 November 2009.
How will U.S. climate negotiators approach Copenhagen? When U.S. negotiators show up in Copenhagen next month to work on a deal to tackle global warming, they probably won't have in their pockets what they most wanted: a law enacted by Washington committing the country to carbon pollution reductions. Reuters. 4 November 2009.
UK's Stern sees good chance for deal in Copenhagen. World powers have a "very good chance" of reaching a political deal to target global curbs in carbon emissons at a U.N. conference in Copenhagen next month, British climate change expert Nicholas Stern said on Wednesday. Reuters. 4 November 2009.
Giant climate deal is too little says UN chief. The giant cash deal to save the planet – proposed by Europe for the forthcoming Copenhagen climate conference – will not be enough, the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon, said today. London Independent, United Kingdom. 4 November 2009.
UN says climate deal unlikely. Governments are unlikely to agree on all the details of a new global climate change deal when they meet in Copenhagen next month, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said today. Reuters. 4 November 2009.
Full climate deal unlikely by Copenhagen: Barroso. A full-fledged international climate deal to fight global warming will not be reached next month in Copenhagen but a framework pact is still possible, the head of the European Commission said Tuesday. Reuters. 4 November 2009.
Africans boycott meetings at UN climate talks. African countries ended a boycott of meetings at U.N. climate negotiations on Tuesday, after winning promises for more in-depth talks on how much rich nations need to cut greenhouse gas emissions. Associated Press. 4 November 2009.
UN climate negotiations hit snag amid African objections. Negotiations aimed at clearing the way to next month's showdown on climate change in Copenhagen ran into problems on Tuesday as African countries demanded rich nations show their hand on curbing carbon emissions, delegates said. Agence France-Presse. 4 November 2009.
Africa demands deep carbon cuts from rich world. Some 50 African nations staged a show of force at world climate talks here Tuesday, demanding that rich countries commit to deep cuts in the carbon emissions that stoke global warming. Agence France-Presse. 4 November 2009.
Groups press U.S. and China on carbon. Three American research organizations pushing for greater cooperation between the Obama administration and China on climate change say the two governments should support the use of carbon capture technology and the creation of a market for carbon. New York Times. 4 November 2009. [Registration Required]
Obama to push harder for climate change deal at Copenhagen. The US and Europe had agreed to "redouble" their efforts to combat global warming, President Obama said today, as European leaders pressed Washington to take action on climate change ahead of next month's summit. Agence France-Presse. 4 November 2009.
Europe ups climate pressure on US Congress. European leaders Tuesday urged the US Congress to take action on climate change ahead of next month's high-stakes Copenhagen summit but Republican lawmakers shunned key talks on moving ahead. Agence France-Presse. 4 November 2009.
Angela Merkel presses U.S. on climate in speech to Congress. German Chancellor Angela Merkel urged the United States Tuesday to agree to binding climate goals, telling U.S. lawmakers in a speech to Congress there was "no time to lose" in the fight against global warming. Reuters. 4 November 2009.
Republican boycott delays climate bill. Democratic efforts to push a sweeping climate change bill through the Senate this year suffered a severe set-back on Tuesday, when a Republican boycott delayed a key committee’s vote on sending the bill to the full chamber. London Financial Times, United Kingdom. 4 November 2009.
U.S. Senate panel tries to advance climate bill. Senate Democrats on a key committee kicked off a debate on reducing U.S. carbon dioxide pollution on Tuesday despite a boycott by Republicans who want to delay climate change legislation. Reuters. 4 November 2009.
Senate Dems spurn Voinovich on climate-change bill. Senate Democrats have apparently rebuffed a plea today by Sen. George V. Voinovich for a delay of at least a month in approving a major bill aimed at reducing the impact of global warming. Columbus Dispatch, Ohio. 4 November 2009.
Climate change on the back burner? Climate change has slipped so far down on the agenda that at least one key committee chairman has suggested it might have to wait until after the 2010 elections. Politico. 4 November 2009.
Big oil attacks Senator Graham. Tackling a climate change bill is the next big issue for Congress. And special interest groups are going on the offensive. Big oil is going after Republican Senator Lindsey Graham for working with Democrats on a climate change bill. Environment Report, Michigan. 4 November 2009.
US rightwing activists curb efforts to cut CO2 emissions. Americans for Prosperity took its “hot air campaign” – against the Obama administration’s efforts to cut carbon emissions – to South Carolina in a direct attack on Lindsey Graham, the Republican senator. London Financial Times, United Kingdom. 4 November 2009.
German Chancellor Merkel urges U.S. to act on climate change. German Chancellor Angela Merkel urged Congress and the Obama administration Tuesday to take bold steps to address global warming, even as Senate Democrats and Republicans feuded over whether to press ahead with a climate bill. Washington Post. 4 November 2009. [Registration Required]
Republican Senators boycott debate of climate change bill. The Republican boycott of climate change discussion leaves Senate Democrats going it alone for now. GOP lawmakers want more details on the bill’s economic impact. Christian Science Monitor. 4 November 2009.
Al Gore 'profiting' from climate change agenda. Al Gore has been accused of profiting from the climate change agenda amid claims he is on course to become the world’s first “carbon billionaire”. London Daily Telegraph, United Kingdom. 4 November 2009.
GOP wants more climate bill analysis. Environment and Public Works Committee Chairwoman Barbara Boxer moved ahead with her climate bill on Tuesday, even as Republicans on the committee refused to participate in hearings on the legislation, which is a key priority for the Obama administration and many Democratic lawmakers. Politico. 4 November 2009.
Greenies see climate cloud silver lining. There is an upside to climate change and it could amount to a million new jobs, a key lobby group says. Australian Associated Press. 4 November 2009.
Now judge puts green beliefs of a worker on a par with Christianity. Green beliefs are as worthy of protection in the workplace as religious ones, a judge ruled yesterday in a landmark case. London Daily Mail, United Kingdom. 4 November 2009.
17,000 species face extinction, group says. A rare Panamanian tree frog, a rodent from Madagascar and two lizards found only in the Philippines are among over 17,000 species threatened with extinction, a leading environmental group said Tuesday. Associated Press. 4 November 2009.
Putting green technology into bricks. Amid buzz about algae biofuel and electric cars, some start-ups hope to use "green" technology to reinvent more mundane products like bricks and cement. Wall Street Journal. 4 November 2009. [Subscription Required]
Israeli firms aim to plug world's water leaks. A plane that reads water meters -- as well as a tiny turbine that can generate electricity from within water pipes -- are among technologies Israeli companies are developing to help save billions of dollars in water lost from leaky pipes. Reuters. 4 November 2009.
Get fit while reducing your carbon footprint. Adrienne Spahr smelled something funny every time she worked out at her swanky health club. But the founder of Green Living Consulting wasn't laughing. She knew that the offending odor came from noxious chemicals in the cleaning products. Washington Post. 4 November 2009. [Registration Required]
2 dead, 28 sick from E. coli outbreak. Two people have died and 28 people have fallen ill with matching strains of E. coli after an outbreak in ground beef, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said. CNN. 4 November 2009.
Health department cautions against lead-tainted venison. A study by the Department of Health and Department of Agriculture shows 5.94 percent of the ground venison samples collected from the meat processors contained lead fragments. Williston Herald, North Dakota. 4 November 2009.
Most canned foods still contain BPA. A new report found measurable levels of BPA in many canned foods, including cans of soup and juice. Evansville WFIE, Indiana. 4 November 2009.
Slow Food founder pushes fair fare. Carlo Petrini, a 60-year-old Italian, is on a mission: He wants cheap, mass produced foods laced with chemical fertilizers and artificial flavors to be replaced by safer, high-quality, and higher-priced, fare. Japan Times, Japan. 4 November 2009.
Welsh lead blitz on plastic bags, with charge promise by 2011. Shops in Wales will charge for all plastic bags from the beginning of 2011, raising pressure on the rest of the UK to follow suit. London Daily Mail, United Kingdom. 4 November 2009.
£75m project will study Scotland's seas. The Marine Alliance for Science and Technology for Scotland will undertake the most thorough study ever of the seas around Scotland. Scientists will attempt to find out how best to utilise the sea for wave and tidal power, as well as studying fish stocks and wildlife. Edinburgh Scotsman, United Kingdom. 4 November 2009.
New uranium mine will destroy Goanikontes. The desert scenery east of Goanikontes in the Namib Desert would be irreversibly destroyed by a new uranium mine and the ‘sense of place’ lost forever, experts who undertook an environmental impact assessment for the new Etango uranium mine have warned. Windhoek Namibian, Namibia. 4 November 2009.
Newmont cyanide spillage affected more people. More people were affected by the recent cyanide spillage at Newmont Ghana Gold Limited Ahafo Mine than the Company stated in its press release. Ghana News Agency, Ghana. 4 November 2009.
Palm project accused of environmental destruction. It is a public-private partnership intended to reduce Uganda's dependence on imported vegetable oil while creating sustainable jobs and income for several thousand people. Its critics say it's destroying forests with no regard for environmental regulations. Inter Press Service. 4 November 2009.
Farmers catch on to organic farming. Farmers countrywide are finding that organic farming techniques are outperforming chemical-intensive conventional farming while providing environmental benefits such as improved soil fertility, better retention of water and drought resistance. Windhoek New Era, Namibia. 4 November 2009.
Erosion a 'state of emergency.' Severe erosion over many years in Anambra, southeastern Nigeria, has cut off or destroyed hundreds of homes, businesses, farms and schools, prompting the governor to call for a state of emergency in the area where he says thousands of people now risk being displaced. UN IRIN. 4 November 2009.
SA 'sitting on a time bomb.' With Durban running the risk of water restrictions, Water Affairs Minister Buyelwa Sonjica says it is "totally unacceptable" that between 35 and 40 percent of piped water in big cities is being lost to theft or leaky pipes. Durban Mercury, South Africa. 4 November 2009.
SAfrica's Woolworths in environment-safe farm drive. South African food and clothing retailer Woolworths said on Tuesday it had embarked on a new, environmentally friendly farming initiative through which it will grow all its local fresh produce by 2012. Reuters. 4 November 2009.
KZN water supply stressed by rapid growth. Durban and Pietermaritzburg are at risk of severe water shortages in the next two years, Water and Environment Affairs Minister Buyelwa Sonjica said on Monday. South African Press Association, South Africa. 4 November 2009.
China seeks laws to protect polluted lakes: state media. Officials in China have called for special laws to halt pollution of the nation's thousands of lakes, which are drying up at a rate of about 20 per year, state media reported. Agence France-Presse. 4 November 2009.
Chinese academician: land pollution control crucial for lake restoration. China's polluted lakes will never be clean unless efforts are made to eradicate land and water pollution together, a leading Chinese water resources expert said Tuesday. Xinhua News Agency, China. 4 November 2009.
CAP calls for ban on bottled water. The Consumers Association of Penang has called on the authorities to ban bottled water in the country, while also warning consumers not to refill plastic bottles or reuse them as chemical leaching can pollute the water within. Petaling Jaya Star, Malaysia. 4 November 2009.
Timor Sea oil leak stopped at last. The fireball engulfing the West Atlas drill rig has been extinguished and the oil and gas leak fuelling the blaze finally stopped, more than 10 weeks after the environmental crisis in the Timor Sea began. Sydney Australian, Australia. 4 November 2009.
Montara oilfield company seeks $170m insurance claim. Politicians, the oil and gas industry and conservationists alike expressed relief that the oil and gas leak at the Montara oilfield had been stopped, but they also joined a growing chorus for an independent inquiry into the spill. Australian Associated Press. 4 November 2009.
Rainwater safe to drink: study. If you get sick, you can't blame it on the rain. That's the conclusion of a new study into the health of the more than one in 10 Australian households that now drink rainwater. Melbourne Age, Australia. 4 November 2009.
Plastic bag use 30% higher than retailers say. Data on the number of plastic bags supermarkets buy does not match the government figure of 3.9 billion a year, and far more bags are being handed out. Sydney Morning Herald, Australia. 4 November 2009. [Registration Required]
Court ruling halts approvals for sour gas and oil wells in Alberta. The Energy Resources Conservation Board said Tuesday it has stopped issuing licences for sour oil and gas wells, pipelines and other associated facilities until it can develop a response to a recent court decision. Edmonton Journal, Alberta. 4 November 2009.
Rail deal is bet on Obama's infrastructure, climate policies. Berkshire Hathaway Inc.'s planned purchase of Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corp. represents a bet that upcoming Washington policies to improve infrastructure and combat climate change will be a boon to the freight-railroad industry. Wall Street Journal. 4 November 2009. [Subscription Required]
South at war with sharp weeds . An invader is on the march in the Deep South, threatening wildlife habitats, timber and agricultural production, and creating fire hazards. USA Today. 4 November 2009.
Americans using less water. Even as the population grows, the US is using less water. Environment Report, Michigan. 4 November 2009.
Landfill expansion defeated. Voters resoundingly opposed expanding the city's landfill and opponents of expansion hope the defeat will send a strong message to city officials to seek alternative ways of trash disposal. Springfield Republican, Massachusetts. 4 November 2009.
Beef plant operating after E. coli alert. The Western New York beef processing plant at the center of a regional alert for potentially fatal E. coli contamination continues to operate pending a visit from federal inspectors. Buffalo News, New York. 4 November 2009.
Former Portsmouth scrap yard deemed hazardous. A former metal scrap facility along Paradise Creek will be added to the national Superfund program today, becoming the ninth contaminated site in South Hampton Roads on the Environmental Protection Agency's hazardous properties list. Hampton Roads Virginian-Pilot, Virginia. 4 November 2009.
Despite assurances, York County residents worried about cloudy water. Several community wells were closed when contamination was found in the early ‘90s; new wells were dug and are regularly monitored. However, homeowners say that's not enough. Charlotte WSOC, North Carolina. 4 November 2009.
Corroding Williams sewage treatment plant concerns town. A sewage treatment plant in a small northern Minnesota town is failing and threatens to dump thousands of gallons of raw sewage into Lake of the Woods. Minnesota Public Radio, Minnesota. 4 November 2009.
County donates land instead of paying fine. Mower County has agreed to donate 33.1 acres of land to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources instead of paying a $31,000 penalty for alleged stormwater violations during a ditch repair project. Austin Daily Herald, Minnesota. 4 November 2009.
People near nuclear plant given pills to take during an emergency. Residents and people working within a 10-mile radius of DTE Energy’s Fermi 2 nuclear power plant are being offered the option to take a pill during a nuclear emergency, blocking radioactive material from entering their thyroid gland. Southgate News Herald, Michigan. 4 November 2009.
EPA works to clear contaminated soil from Wayland site. The Environmental Protection Agency is working to clear contaminated soils from a former recycling business site in Wayland. Grand Rapids Press, Michigan. 4 November 2009.
Trimble coal ash pond worries environmentalists. An expanded LG&E ash pond next to the Ohio River in Trimble County would have 100 foot tall walls and store more ash than burst across hundreds of acres in Tennessee last year. Louisville Courier-Journal, Kentucky. 4 November 2009.
UT administering Idle Smart program. The University of Tennessee is trying to help the state get pollution control efforts out of idle gear when it comes to long-haul trucks. Knoxville News Sentinel, Tennessee. 4 November 2009.
Summit for a Sustainable Tennessee has rural focus. Alternative modes of transportation, pollution prevention and conservation of green spaces are some topics that will come up at next month's Summit for a Sustainable Tennessee in Lebanon. Nashville Tennessean, Tennessee. 4 November 2009.
Oklahoma quizzes ex-Tyson exec over training document in poultry trial. Poultry giant Tyson Foods Inc. cared more about preserving its public image than protecting a million-acre watershed from environmental pollution, attorneys for the state of Oklahoma claimed Tuesday. Associated Press. 4 November 2009.
Lawmaker calls for action after toxin found at gas operations. State Sen. Wendy Davis is expressing surprise and concern this week about preliminary results of air testing in the Barnett Shale. As a result, she's asking Lt. Governor David Dewhurst to convene a Senate investigation prior to the next session. Fort Worth WFAA TV, Texas. 4 November 2009.
East Dallas neighborhoods want to bust the rust in their water. The city may have unwittingly given rise to the red tide when it equipped its water-treatment plants with ozone, a special oxygen molecule that efficiently gobbles up toxins, but also tends to corrode the cast-iron pipes in use throughout 60% of the city. Dallas Morning News, Texas. 4 November 2009.
Yellowstone cleans up fuel storage, other sites with polluted soil, water. Contractors have almost finished initial cleanup work at several sites around Yellowstone National Park where leaky underground fuel tanks had contaminated soil and groundwater over the past few decades. Billings Gazette, Montana. 4 November 2009.
Industry use of ‘disposal' wells likely to increase. A state environmental engineer warned Garfield County officials that they can expect an increase in the number of “injection wells” as the regional gas industry looks for ways to get rid of water left over from its drilling operations. Glenwood Springs Post Independent, Colorado. 4 November 2009.
Colorado gov. pushing natural gas. Governor Bill Ritter has long championed wind and solar power. But lately he's also been touting natural gas as a clean burning fuel. Greeley KUNC Radio, Colorado. 4 November 2009.
Who's blowing smoke? The president of the Idaho-Maryland Mine in Grass Valley on Tuesday accused opponents of using misleading information in an effort to stop his company's years-long effort to reopen the historic underground gold mine. Nevada City Union, California. 4 November 2009.
Water plan has local goodie. A nonprofit tolerance center in midtown Sacramento, championed by state Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg, could get a vital economic boost from an unlikely source: a mammoth $10 billion water bond proposal. Sacramento Bee, California. 4 November 2009.
State says it's keeping close eye on gas line project. State officials said Tuesday that they are closely monitoring a major pipeline company's progress on a North Slope gas line to ensure the state's multimillion-dollar stake in the project is well-spent. Anchorage Daily News, Alaska. 4 November 2009.
Big bang sparks media interest in oil disaster. As Hollywood is well aware, people love a good explosion. Perhaps that is the reason attention was finally paid to the oil spill off the Western Australian coast. ABC News, Australia. 4 November 2009.
High speed rail needs Feinstein's help. In the next few weeks, the Senate will decide whether to heed calls here in California and around the country for increased high-speed rail investment. San Jose Mercury News, California. 4 November 2009.