The oil and gas industry has admitted that its canals and drilling rigs have destroyed 1,900 square miles of coastal wetlands on the US Gulf Coast, but a Federal Judge with deep industry ties has ruled that 97 companies off have no liability for the $50 billion damage.
Oil lawyer turned judge rules: industry not liable for $50bn Gulf Coast damage Farron Cousins DeSmogBlog | 19th February 2015 News Oil Oceans Fossil Fuels Law gulf-oil-depot-cut.jpg The oil and …
Reeling from California's decision to ban glyphosate, fearful of 're-evaluation' by EU and US regulators, and facing ruinous cancer claims in federal courts, the US chemical industry are fighting back, writes Carey Gillam. Their key argument: don't trust independent doctors and scientists - trust us! And as they just told a California court, profit must come before people.
On trial: Monsanto's 'alternative facts' about glyphosate Carey Gillam USRTK | 1st February 2017 News Pesticides Corporations Health Law USA Un Science roundup-cut.jpg Reeling from California's …
The chemical industry and the European Food Safety Authority are refusing to disclose key scientific evidence about glyphosate's risks, citing 'trade secrets' protection, writes Corporate Europe Observatory. They must be compelled to publish the 'mysterious three' scientific studies EFSA used to assess glyphosate as 'unlikely' to cause cancer to humans - contradicting the IARC's view.
… property which if released would harm their industrial and commercial interests as well as … which it represents, which rely heavily on industrial secrets to protect their …
Thanks to Andy Hall's investigations of abuses of migrant workers in Thailand's fish and pineapple industries, a criminal trial begins today in Bangkok - his own. He faces eight years in prison and a $10 million fine for exposing their crimes in a devastating report that has inspired international action against the companies involved.
On trial today - Thailand's food workers' rights Andy Hall | 2nd September 2014 News Food Thailamd Law Corporations andy-hall-team.jpg Thanks to Andy Hall's investigations of abuses of migrant …
We, the signatories of this declaration, are calling on the European Union (EU) to exclude bioenergy from its next Renewable Energy Directive (RED), and thereby stop direct and indirect subsidies for renewable energy from biofuels and wood-burning.
… The EU is provoking a global expansion in industrial bioenergy use and the rapid … as it relies on a major expansion of industrial agriculture, of monoculture tree plantations, and of industrial logging. These industrial …
After a five year battle against fracking companies, the New York Court of Appeals has ruled that towns and cities can pass zoning laws that forbid fracking and other industrial land uses. The verdict will inspire other communities across the USA to enact similar measures.
… zoning laws that forbid fracking and other industrial land uses. The verdict will inspire …
The government's policies on climate, energy and industry are not merely stupid, writes Alan Simpson. The repeated cuts to renewables and energy efficiency, combined with limitless largesse to fossil fuels, has reached the point of insanity in the face of the UK's legal obligations and the growing climate crisis. Only we, the people, can end the madness.
… blame it on 'green' energy rather than crap industrial policy. This is the heady terrain …
The lesson of fracking in the US and Canada is a simple one, writes Naomi Klein. The fracking industry is vicious, brutal and will stop at nothing to get its way. British anti-frackers can celebrate yesterday's achievements - but the fight ahead will not be an easy one.
Message to the UK: the fracking 'bridge' is burning! Naomi Klein | 27th January 2015 Comment Fracking Fossil Fuels Energy Climate Change Pollution Corporations Law US UK Canada …
The British establishment does nothing quite so well as lies, cover-ups and high-level corruption, writes Georgina Downs - whether it's the Hillsborough disaster or permitting polluters to poison us. Georgina won her own High Court legal victory protecting rural residents from pesticide exposure as long ago as 2008 - only to have it snatched away as Court of Appeal judges closed ranks.
From Hillsborough to pesticides: establishment cover-ups, lies and corruption Georgina Downs | 4th May 2016 News Law Human Rights UK EU Health Farming Corporations spraying-cut.jpg The British …
Internal Glasgow University emails show that it terminated geophysics professor David Smythe's email account and access to scientific papers because his concerns about the impacts of fracking were upsetting its 'industrial research partners', writes Kyla Mandel - not as part of a 'routine review' as previously stated.
… the impacts of fracking were upsetting its 'industrial research partners', writes Kyla … by cutting off this lifeline." Making 'industrial research partners' unhappy The … suggests, some of the university's "various industrial research partners" were not happy …
Thanks to damage to coastal wetlands by the oil & gas industry, Louisiana is losing two acres to the sea an hour, writes Julie Dermansky. The companies are legally obliged to repair their damage - but they haven't and the cost has reached $50 billion. The answer? A Bill backed by the state governor to make them immune from lawsuits.
New Orleans: oil & gas evading $50bn coastal restoration obligations Julie Dermansky | 5th September 2014 News USA Oil Fossil Fuels Oceans Law Politics la-wellhead-paul-goyette-cut.jpg Thanks to …
Denton's 59-41 vote to ban fracking has got right up the nose of the state's fossil fuel elite, writes Julie Dermansky. The Texas city has already been hit with two lawsuits - but it's going to fight them all the way, with a $4 million legal fund ready and waiting.
Denton, Texas hit with lawsuits after landslide fracking victory Julie Dermansky | 11th November 2014 News USA Oil Gas Fracking Law Politics frack-free-denton-cut.jpg Denton's 59-41 vote to ban …
As falling milk prices push dairy farm out of business, new mega-dairies and feedlot operations of 700 or more cows are filling the void, writes Andrew Wasley. Never mind the pollution, slurry lagoons, and heavy plant on country lanes - do we want the cows that produce our milk confined to sheds? And what's the future for traditional dairy farmers with small, well cared for herds?
… The march of the industrial mega-dairy - is this the future of … where we want our milk to come from? It is an industrial scene a world away from the popular … But campaigners have warned that this new industrialised model of milk production could …
A Spending Bill now under debate in Congress would cut over $100 million from renewable energy, grant extra funds for dumping nuclear waste and fossil fuel research, exempt 'mountain top removal' coal from regulation, and limit the EPA's power to enforce clean water laws.
House Spending Bill's huge dirty energy giveaway Farron Cousins | 24th June 2014 News US Law Politics Fossil Fuels Nuclear Energy Renewables mtr-wva-cut.jpg A Spending Bill now under debate in …
The global catch of fish and seafood is falling at three times the rate reported by the United Nations and urgently needs to be slowed to avoid a crash, reports Christopher Pala. The finding comes in a new study for Nature which quantifies the huge illegal industrial fish pillaging taking place around the world, together with artisanal catches, which in 2010 added over 50% to UN estimates.
… for Nature which quantifies the huge illegal industrial fish pillaging taking place around … the world's international fleets of industrial fishing vessels are seeing their … and Agriculture Organization their so-called industrial catches - few large vessels, few …
The Philippines is taking a huge leap forward in the climate wars, writes Ellen Baker, with the world's 'top 50' energy giants standing accused of violating international human rights law as a result of their fossil fuel production. This is the first such investigation ever to take place anywhere in the world - and it just opened up a whole new front of corporate vulnerability.
… were responsible for over a fifth of global industrial emissions in 2010 . Industrial emissions are accelerating climate …
President Modi is determined to sweep away 'obstacles to growth' including the laws that allow marginalised communities to challenge the confiscation of their lands and forests for dams, mines and other 'development' projects, writes Arpitha Kodiveri. If proposed 'reforms' are enacted, the only remaining avenue of dissent may be one of armed conflict.
… in the nearby area, which is heavily industrialized, while submerging over 4,000 … in the case of misrepresentation. This allows industrial interests to be adequately …
Air pollution from vehicles is killing tens of thousands of people every year in the UK alone, write Jean Lambert, Molly Scott Cato & Keith Taylor, an outrage set into stark focus by VW's 'test cheating'. The EU's response? To relax tests and allow cars to be more polluting - with the full support of the UK government.
Time to crack down on car pollution - the silent killer with powerful friends Jean Lambert Molly Scott Cato Keith Taylor | 3rd February 2016 Comment Health Pollution Transport Politics UK EU Law …
Last December Brazil's indigenous Peoples defeated the PEC 215 constitutional amendment that was meant to open up their territories for agribusiness, mining, power generation and industry, writes Chris Lang. But now, thanks to 'Chainsaw Queen' Kátia Abreu, minster of agriculture, it's back on the agenda ... and resistance is growing once again.
… to Brazil's plan to open indigenous lands to industrial exploitation! Chris Lang REDD … the building of highways, waterways for industrial transport, ports and railways." In …
A new Trade Secrets law to be voted on next week by the European Parliament threatens a massive clampdown on journalists and whistle-blowers, write Anne Friel & Anaïs Berthier, giving corporations the right to sue those who disclose private information even in the public interest to protect health, safety and environment.
… of the Directive is protect businesses from industrial espionage and unfair competition. …
The nuclear industry and its media cheerleaders have raised a chorus of misinformation over Fukushima, writes Karl Grossman. But their attempts to suppress the truth are ultimately doomed to failure.
'No one died, no one's health was damaged' - Fukushima's big lie Karl Grossman | 8th March 2014 News Fukushima Nuclear Power Health Radiation Law Politics fuku-graffitti.png The nuclear industry and …
Wales should lead the UK in bringing an end to the entire coal industry from opencast mining to highly polluting power stations, writes Gareth Clubb. A new report by Friends of the Earth Cymru shows the Aberthaw plant alone imposes social and environmental costs of nearly £1 billion per year on the country and global climate.
… unmitigated by government activity. The new industrial revolution The fate of coal is … closure of Aberthaw, the birthplace of the industrial revolution can focus instead on a new industrial revolution. A revolution where …
The EU Court has made a landmark judgement we should all be glad of, writes Tess Crean, firming up our right to know when products contain chemicals known to be seriously damaging to health. Now we must make sure that reluctant regulators step up to the mark.
EU Court overrules regulators, protects people from toxic chemicals Tess Crean ClientEarth | 17th September 2015 Comment Law EU Toxics Corporations bicycle-cut.jpg The EU Court has made a landmark …
For 16 years the Thai government has ignored the plight of a community where toxic lead mine waste is causing severe chronic poisoning - defying both a 2013 court order, and its international obligations. It's just one of many toxic sites across Thailand that need to be cleaned up - but the government's main concern is to encourage further industrialisation.
… main concern is to encourage further industrialisation. The Thai government has … "This is one of the most heavily polluted industrial sites in all of Thailand, hundreds … obligations ignored As a result of increasing industrialization and mineral extraction, …