Curbing supermarkets' power: will the Groceries Code Adjudicator have the teeth to bite?

Murray Worthy

16th May, 2012

Tackling the unfair buying practices of the big supermarkets is a vital step forward for securing the rights of over a million workers. From fruit to textiles to cut flowers, abuses in the supply chain are rife. Now we must guard against lobbying from the retail giants, says Murray Worthy more...

Should Coca Cola be allowed to sponsor the London Olympics?

Andrew Wasley

10th May, 2012

Following the row over Dow, BP, and Rio Tinto sponsoring the forthcoming games, another Olympic partner, Coca Cola - linked to a controversial orange harvest in Italy - should now face scrutiny says Andrew Wasley more...

‘We are ready to die for our land’, say pastoralists in Ethiopia’s Lower Omo Valley

Elizabeth Hunter

3rd May, 2012

A hydroelectric dam Gibe III in south-west Ethiopia threatens the livelihood of the ancient tribes of the Lower Omo River, say the campaign group Survival more...

Grave threat of pesticides to bees' billion-pound bonanza is now clear

Damian Carrington, Guardian Head of Environment

April 2012

Replacing the pollination of food crops that the UK's bees perform for free would cost £1.8bn. With hard data now linking pesticides to bees' rapid decline, there is no excuse for inaction, says Damian Carrington more...

Midwifery on screen: how 'One Born Every Minute' gets it wrong

Sarah Montagu

8th March, 2012

Forget alarmist TV birthing dramas- get the real low-down on midwifery from Sarah Montagu more...

Anatomy of a C-section: they save lives, but would you choose one?

Andrew Wasley

8th March, 2012

Andrew Wasley watched his partner endure two invasive births, one elective, the other life saving more...

Maternity special How birth was hijacked

Matilda Lee

7th March, 2012

For International Women's Day, the Ecologist reports on the maternity care crisis and looks at ways to overcome the culture of fear facing mothers-to-be more...

Response: biomass 'needs to be part of our low-carbon future'

Jess Lennard

2nd March, 2012

The biomass industry responds to an Ecologist article by Biofuelswatch to counter what it says are the 'myths' around biomass, arguing that it is sustainable, proven and low carbon more...

Nuclear special Fukushima: the social impact of a nuclear disaster

Hiroki & Ngaire Takano

15th February, 2012

The earthquake and nuclear meltdown in Japan last year compounded pre-existing issues like falling birth rates, fragmented families and shrinking communities. What does the future hold? more...

Nuclear special Campaigners say no to nuclear new build at Hinkley Point

Nikki Clark

15th February, 2012

Campaign group South-West Against Nuclear want to stop the government's plans for a 'nuclear renaissance' beginning in Hinkley Point in Somerset. Nuclear, activists say, is plagued by problems from beginning to end more...

HS2: Why low speed rail - or closure - is vastly preferable to high speed

B W Edginton

8th February, 2012

Politicians, 'dynamic' business and the media (even if it denies it) all want high speed rail. But they are missing the point , says B W Edginton. After all, who wants to visit London, Birmingham, Manchester or Leeds? more...

The great badger and bovine TB cover-up: is it really a health risk?

Ed Hamer

30th January, 2011

With controversial plans to allow farmers to cull badgers later this year, Ed Hamer asks whether Bovine TB is really a health problem for either cows or humans more...

UK needs scientific research into agroecology not GM

Patrick Mulvany

25th January, 2012

The greatest challenge facing agricultural scientists is how to work with farmers producing more ecological and healthier food - not GM, argues Patrick Mulvany, chair of the UK Food Group and advisor to Practical Action more...

Getting a good deal from the Green Deal

Hannah Kyrke-Smith

25th January, 2012

The Green Deal and Energy Company Obligation (ECO) have the potential to reduce emissions from the UK’s ageing housing stock, create warmer homes and new jobs, says Hannah Kyrke-Smith. But will there be enough uptake? more...

Risks and uncertainities accompany efforts to reduce Britain's carbon

Matthew Leach

20th January, 2012

A low carbon Britain rests on the electrification of our energy supply. But new research by the University of Surrey has highlighted the challenges facing government, market and civil society-led pathways to reducing emissions more...

Beyond HS2: invest in existing rail and reduce rail fares to make travel greener

Richard Hebditch

11th January, 2012

More investment in existing rail lines, joining up the high speed line to public transport and ensuring rail fares are sustainable and affordable are what the government should focus on argues Campaign for Better Transport more...

Can biodiversity be accommodated in today's urban environment?

Austin Brown

10th January, 2012

A bold new initiative is designed to raise public awareness of the issue of biodiversity and the need to incorporate native species back within London more...

The communities taking renewable energy into their own hands

Ed Mayo

5th January, 2012

A new report by Co-operatives UK and The Co-operative Group examines those investing time and money in installing solar panels, wind turbines or hydro-electric power for their local communities more...

Seal pups 'sliced open alive': horror of Canadian hunt prompts Russian skins ban

Robbie Marsland

23rd December, 2011

Russia's decision to ban the import and exports of harp seal skins is a big step forward for the campaign against the Canadian seal hunt, says Robbie Marsland, Director of IFAW-UK more...

The National Trust awards recognising pioneering eco-campaigner Octavia Hill

Mike Collins

19th December, 2011

Octavia Hill was a tireless advocate for saving land and green spaces in and around Victorian London. She was also a founder of the National Trust, which is launching an award to recognise modern day 'unsung environmental heroes' more...