Disaster threatens England's nightingales, already down 90% in 40 years, if ministers fail to block a plan to build 5,000 homes on SSSI breeding site in Kent. But as Robin McKie writes, the government is showing no sign of intervening, as campaigners warn of an 'open season' for development on our most important wildlife sites.
Nightingales at risk as housebuilding threatens 'protected' SSSI breeding site Robin McKie the Guardian Environment | 1st January 2015 News Birds Natural World Development Regulation Politics UK …
The Government is preparing 'rules' that will enable the planting of GM crops in the UK as soon as 2017, writes Lawrence Woodward. A ministerial letter also signals a significant weakening of GMO safeguards compared to the Tories' 2010 manifesto. Now is the time to exert maximum pressure and fight off a planned GMO invasion.
… in place 'rules' to govern their use once the EU has finalised its new regulation - which … who have feared that proposed changes in the EU's GMO authorisation process would lead to … at least a few years as no GM crops in the EU approval pipeline are of major interest to …
Bangladesh's Sundarbans forest, home of incredibly rich biodiversity, is under unprecedented threat, writes ASMG Kibria. The recent oil tanker capsize on the Shela river puts the forest at risk of widespread biodiversity loss, but just this week, the authorities re-opened the Shela river to shipping with no restrictions on hazardous cargoes.
As rivers re-open to shipping, oil threat to Bangladesh's Sundarbans forest continues ASMG Kibria | 9th January 2015 News Bangladesh Oil Polluition Biodiversity Cetaceans Regulation Transport …
Indonesia appears to brought rainforest logging under control - but it's all a huge illusion, according to a new EIA report. Traditional logging has been replaced by the mass clearance of rainforest for oil palm plantations, creating massive supplies of hugely profitable but often illegal timber. And lurking beneath the surface is a pervasive network of criminality and corruption.
Indonesia: palm oil expansion drives massive illegal logging Environmental Investigation Agency Oliver Tickell | 14th January 2015 News Forests Indonesia Farming Law Regulation pt …
Following a disgraceful EU stitch-up, the European Parliament today passed a law permitting EU-wide GMO crop cultivation. With regulation and safeguards devolved to member states, and only limited 'opt-out' rights, it is a recipe for chaos that GM corporations will ruthlessly exploit.
… EuroParl votes in new era of GMO farming … Oliver Tickell | 13th January 2015 News GMOs EU Food Farming Seeds Politics Law Regulation … (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0). Following a disgraceful EU stitch-up, the European Parliament today …
The government's relentless drive to frack Britain is an affront to our democratic traditions, John Ashton, the UK's former top climate diplomat, told an enthusiastic audience at an anti-fracking demo outside Parliament this week - and now it's up to us all to make it a core issue in the forthcoming general election.
… getting ahead of us on clean energy, our main European competitor is actually widening its …
Trawlers in an MSC-certified 'sustainable' lobster fishery producing have been caught in the act of using illegally modified nets to target valuable cod. The MSC has been notified but considers the evidence insufficient to act, so the lobsters still carry the MSC label.
… to preventing illegal overfishing in European seas - observed fishermen illegally … runs 28 projects in 12 countries around Europe, with an international team of 30 …
Sweden's biodiverse ancient forests will be largely wiped out within two decades, writes Alec Forss - and along with it will go thousands of species that depend on mature forest ecosystems. But with powerful logging companies riding roughshod over the law, regulators, politicians and certifiers, who is to stop the destruction before it's too late?
… country's land area is one of the highest in Europe, it is calculated that more than half … of the forestry sector, much of it bound for European markets, the vast majority of the … main reasons for the loss of biodiversity in European forests. Of over 20,000 species of …
Scientists, environmental and consumer groups have decried USDA's approval of two 'Arctic' apple varieties, while major food companies and apple growers have no plans to source or grow them - despite their potential to 'generate consumer excitement in the apple category.'
… may cause important export markets such as Europe and China to reject US grown apples or …
The discovery of over 16,000 cracks in two Belgian reactor vessels may have global implications for nuclear safety, says the country's nuclear safety chief. He and independent experts are calling for the immediate checks of nuclear reactor vessels worldwide.
… as a result of the constant irradiation by neutrons which gradually destroys the metal … Belgium energy campaigner Eloi Glorieux. "Iit appears that hydrogen from the water … residents, or the surrounding area." But Glorieux dismisses such complacency: "As we …
Ever since its creation in 1970 the US-EPA has been a failing organization, writes Carol Van Strum in her review of 'Poison Spring' - serving the corporations it was there to regulate, falsifying data, suppressing the truth about pesticide toxicity, and crushing whistleblowers.
… that have come under the influence of pseudoscientific advisors." [2] Feynman's …
As scientific evidence grows of the many ways in which glyphosate - pipe-cleaner, herbicide and antibiotic - damages the environment and health, governments and regulators turn a blind eye, writes Dr Eva Sirinathsinghji, and the EU has even raised allowable residue levels. It's time for us all to put bans in place wherever we can!
… eye, writes Dr Eva Sirinathsinghji, and the EU has even raised allowable residue levels. … one of the main exposure routes in the EU where GM crops are not commonly grown. … of UK oil seed rape (canola) and 50-60% of EU sunflowers are sprayed with glyphosate, …
A proposed factory farm at Foston, Derbyshire, condemned by locals as a 'pig prison' for 25,000 animals has been refused a permit by the Environment Agency because of the powerful stench it would emit and potential risks to health and the environment.
Big stink! 24,500-pig factory farm defeated The Ecologist | 26th February 2015 News Farming Waste Pollution Regulation farms-not-factories-cut.jpg A proposed factory farm at Foston, Derbyshire, …
The history of genetically modified food has been one of systematic deception and fraud by corporations, scientists, media and regulators, Steven Druker writes in his remarkable new book. Jane Goodall finds the story by turn fascinating, chilling, distressing and ultimately, hope-inspiring.
Altered Genes, Twisted Truth Jane Goodall | 26th March 2015 Reviews GMOs Science Technology Media Regulation Food Farming Books altered-genes-twisted-truth600-cut.jpg The history of genetically …
Coal is Europe's biggest source of mercury and sulphur pollution, writes Kyla Mandel, killing tens of thousands of people a year. So how come more than half the members appointed by EU governments to set air pollution standards for coal plants are industry representatives?
… Kyla Mandel DeSmog UK | 11th March 2015 News EU Regulation Fossil Fuels Coal Pollution … weisweiler-coal-pollution-cut.jpg Coal is Europe's biggest source of mercury and sulphur … come more than half the members appointed by EU governments to set air pollution standards …
The US Environmental Protection Agency has just failed farm workers and their families by refusing to ban a neuro-toxic pesticide that causes severe brain damage in utero and to exposed children, writes Patti Goldman - imposing only weak, inadequate restrictions based on flawed science. It must do better!
… and their families by refusing to ban a neuro-toxic pesticide that causes severe brain … and their families from chlorpyrifos, a neurotoxic pesticide that is one of the top …
Thanks to pro-GMO politicans and lobbying by powerful agribusiness interests the UK and other EU countries may soon find supermarket shelves flooded with GM foods, both imported and home grown, writes Linda Kaucher. We must press parliamentary candidates now to defend us from this serious and long-term debasement of our food and farming.
… News Food Farming GMOs Trade Regulation UK EU us-supermarket-cut.jpg Thanks to pro-GMO … agribusiness interests the UK and other EU countries may soon find supermarket shelves … foods in the UK. However law changes in the EU, potential international trade law tie-ins …
California has responded to the drought by rationing water, with $500 fines for domestic 'water wasters', writes Evan Blake. But agribusiness and water-intensive industries like fracking remain untouched by the restrictions, even though they consume over 90% of the state's water.
… 2006, including Chevron, Occidental Petroleum, Southern California Edison, Valero …
A coveted award has put the campaign to protect and recover marine life in the Firth of Clyde, Scotland, into the international limelight. Goldman Prize winner Howard Wood explains how Arran Islanders' efforts to keep scallop dredgers out of Lamlash Bay has brought life, and fish, back to the sea.
… Wood is chairman of COAST and this year's European winner of the 2015 Goldman …
Days after Shell received US Government backing for its plans to drill in the Chukchi Sea in the Alaskan Arctic, volunteers from Greenpeace have occupied its 'Polar Pioneer' oil rig in the Pacific Ocean to demand a halt to all Arctic oil exploration.
Greenpeace occupies Shell rig after Arctic drilling go-ahead Christine Ottery Oliver Tickell | 7th April 2015 News Oil Oceans Pollution Regulation USA greenpeace-shell-cut.jpg Days after Shell …
The strongly protected marine reserve in Lamlash Bay, Arran, has been a huge success, write Bryce Stewart & Leigh Howarth, with abandant life returning to the once denuded waters. The government's refusal to expand such protections represents a huge wasted opportunity for both fishing and the marine environment.
Strong marine protection works for fisheries and wildlife! Bryce Stewart Leigh Howarth | 20th April 2015 Comment Oceans Fishing Natural World Biodiversity Regulation UK ntz complex seabed-cut.jpg The …
The risk of cancer from the world's top herbicide, glyphosate, is just the tip of the iceberg of health damage caused by exposure to pesticides and other toxic agrochemicals, writes Georgina Downs. It's time for governments to correct their scandalous failure to protect rural residents from the cocktails of poisons sprayed on crops.
… claims that pesticides are safe. Also, the EU Regulation on the authorisation of … (and not only here in the UK and across Europe, but on a global scale). As to date, … safety failure on a truly scandalous scale. EU law requires that pesticides can only be …
Shell claims a third party audit into its plans to drill for Arctic oil and gas has found 'no issues of significance', writes Joe Sandler Clarke. But the audit remains under wraps, and may never be released in full. Now Obama pledges his support for the project - just as it turns out that Shell selected the 'independent' auditor.
Shell's Arctic safety audit kept secret, may never see full light of day Joe Sandler Clarke Greenpeace Energydesk | 27th May 2015 News USA Corporations Energy Oil Regulation Politics …
Industrial logging in the world's second largest rainforest is out of control, writes Raoul Monsembula, and spells disaster for both wildlife and forest people. There is an alternative: community forestry has just been enshrined in law. But resources must be committed to law enforcement in Congo and abroad, and to empowering forest communities.
… destinations including China, the USA and the European Union. And this is despite the fact that legislation such as the European Union Timber Regulation (EUTR) , exists with the sole purpose of …