The state of Florida has banned employees from using the terms 'global warming' or 'climate change'. But as George Marshall writes, it shouldn't have bothered. 'Climate change' sounds curiously reassuring and even 'global warming' has a comforting ring. How about 'climate chaos' or 'global heating'?
Lost for words? If 'climate change' and 'global warming' are banned ... George Marshall | 19th March 2015 Comment Climate Change USA miami-beach-cut.jpg The state of Florida has banned employees …
Fire is an essential part of the life-cycle of the forests of the American West, writes George Wuerthner, and the complex, biodiverse habitat that burning creates sustains hundreds of species that cannot survive without it. So please - no more talk of forests 'recovering' after fire - OK?
In the American West, a burnt forest is a healthy forest George Wuerthner | 6th March 2015 Comment Forests USA Ecology charred-forest-cut.jpg Fire is an essential part of the life-cycle of the …
America's shale gas boom threatens families, pets, and food, writes Allison Wilson. Fresh from her reading of 'The Real Costs of Fracking', she finds a host of adverse health impacts on those living near fracking sites, the toxic pollution of the food chain, and a wall of corporate and official secrecy.
Exposed: what fracking really does to you, your family, pets and food Allison Wilson | 25th February 2015 Reviews Fracking Health Energy Toxics Pollution Food Farming USA …
With Monarch butterfly numbers down by 90% in 20 years - largely as a result of GMO crops in key feeding areas - the US Fish and Wildlife Service is reviewing the insect's status with a view to granting it legal protection under the Endangered Species Act.
Monarchs may win 'endangered species' protection The Ecologist | 6th January 2015 News Natural World USA GMOs Farming Law monarch-butterfly-cut.jpg With Monarch butterfly numbers down by 90% in 20 …
A grassroots movement of eco-activists is achieving unprecedented success in challenging fossil fuel developments in the Cascadia region of the US's Pacific northwest, writes Alexander Reid Ross. And that has attracted the wrong kind of attention - from local police, FBI and right-wing legislators determined to protect the corporate right to exploit and pollute.
FBI harassing fossil fuel activists in the Pacific northwest Alexander Reid Ross | 6th January 2015 News Climate Change USA Law Protest megaload-cut.jpg A grassroots movement of eco-activists is …
Ranchers can deliberately abuse public land and the wildlife that lives on it at will, writes George Wuerthner, confident that any breaches of the law are likely to be overlooked. But it's another thing altogether if you're trying to protect that land from destructive exploitation. Why the double standard?
Who are the real 'eco-terrorists' on America's public lands? George Wuerthner | 27th January 2015 Activism USA Natural World Farming Biodiversity Commons bighorn-sheep-cut.jpg Ranchers can …
President Obama will shortly be on his way to India. In this Open Letter, Vandana Shiva invites him to join in securing the essential human freedoms to seeds and food - and to set aside any plans to pressure India into changing its laws to allow the corporate domination of life.
Obama - stand up for Seed Freedom and Food Democracy Vandana Shiva | 23rd January 2015 Comment Food Farming Seeds India USA Human Rights Law varanasi_green_chickpeas-cut.jpg President Obama will …
The recent death of Ventana the condor in Los Angeles zoo illustrates a simple truth, writes Dawn Starin: wild condors cannot survive so long as the dead amimals they eat are riddled with lead from spent ammunition. With lead poisoning to blame for 60% of condor deaths, it's time to ban lead ammunition across their entire range - and beyond.
Condors or lead ammunition? We can't have both Dawn Starin | 21st January 2015 News USA Birds Conservation Toxics Hunting california-condor-cut.jpg The recent death of Ventana the condor in Los …
CSP, the 'other' solar power technology, has been largely forgotten as solar PV price falls have transformed energy markets, writes Chris Goodall. But it's set to take a big role in the future energy mix, and huge price falls are coming. Just one question - how to reduce CSP's thirst for water?
Concentrating Solar Power will soon be beating fossil fuels Chris Goodall | 2nd February 2015 Comment Energy Renewables Water Spain USA abengoa-solana-arial-view.jpg The Abengoa solar plant at Gila …
Even as the controversial TTIP 'trade' deal runs into sand, writes Glyn Moody, a spate of similar deals to empower corporations over national governments and democratic forces are being negotiated even more secretively - like CETA, TPP, TISA - and could become cemented into binding treaties before civil society even knows of their existence.
TTIP is sputtering, but other 'trade' deals threaten our sovereignty Glyn Moody | 25th January 2015 News Trade USA Canada EU Politics Corporations …
India made no promises to cut its CO2 emissions from coal power stations, writes Nivedita Khandekar, and refused to reveal its ambitions for the Paris climate talks - but Obama promised US support for its plans to roll out 100GW of solar power.
100GW solar support in US-India climate talks, but no emissions cuts Nivedita Khandekar | 27th January 2015 News India USA Climate Change Renewables Solar Nuclear modi-obama-cut.jpg India made no …
In the face of environmental atrocities like the recent spill of crude oil into the Yellowstone River, writes Grant Mincy, quiescence be damned! To stop more of the same, we must reclaim from the corporate-captured state the rights of commons and community to decide on how local resources are used.
After the oil spill: ode to the Yellowstone River Grant Mincy | 1st February 2015 Comment Fossil Fuels Oil Commons Pollution USA oil-yellowstone-cut.jpg In the face of environmental atrocities like …
The global rebirth of nuclear power was meant to be well under way by now, writes Jim Green. But in fact, nuclear's share of world power generation is on a steady long term decline, and new reactors are getting ever harder to build, and finance. The only real growth area is decommissioning, but that too has a problem: where's the money to pay for it?
… Green | 29th January 2015 News Nuclear Energy UK Japan EU USA France Germany Japan Saudi … problem: where's the money to pay for it? The UK's planned Hinkley C nuclear plant is … support package on offer, at the expense of UK taxpayers and energy users. Only last week …
Nebraska has become ground zero for the fight against Keystone XL, and Art Tanderup - farmer and retired schoolteacher - has become a leading voice in the struggle. He spoke to Kate Aronoff about the divisive impact of the pipeline on the local community, threats to the Ogallala Aquifer, and the urgent need to shift to clean, renewable energy sources.
Art Tanderup: How Nebraskans are winning the fight against Keystone XL Kate Aronoff Waging Nonviolence | 30th January 2015 Comment Fracking USA Water Commons Corporatioons Farming Society …
California's worst drought on record is far from over, writes Kieran Cooke. But while residents are getting used to dusty cars and parched lawns, the state's massive agricultural sector is still growing water-intensive crops like rice. How crazy is that?
California drought: rains bring scant relief Kieran Cooke | 29th January 2015 News USA Water Farming Climate Change Mexico california-drought-cut.jpg California's worst drought on record is far from …
When US Trade Representative Michael Froman testified before Congress last week, he made impressive claims for the benefits of Fast-Tracking the controversial Trans-Pacific Partnership, writes Ben Beachy. Just one problem - all those claims were either untrue, or profoundly misleading.
Lies, damned lies, and the arguments for Fast-Tracking the TPP trade deal Ben Beachy | 8th February 2015 News USA Trade Politics michael-froman-wef-cut.jpg When US Trade Representative Michael Froman …
North America's environment campaigners face a fearsome enemy in the 'Big Club', writes Alexander Reid Ross - the nexus of fossil fuel and infrastructure corporations, government, militarized police, private security contractors, PR agencies, astroturf NGOs and quasi-judicial bodies. But the activists are winning key victories in their battle to halt the industrialization of Cascadia.
… and to allow for reverse natural gas flows to Ukraine from its EU neighbors." Fossil fuels … and 'national security' The reference to Ukraine is crucial, because it suggests … reasons for the EU's militaristic interest in Ukraine (gas pipelines). According to the …
Moms Across America founder Zen Honeycutt took on Monsanto chief Hugh Grant at the company's Annual General Meeting - and won, winning 53% of the vote on a call for Monsanto to reform its practices and safeguard the health of millions of children exposed to its toxic products - and Roundup in particular. In her own words, this is what took place ...
In the lion's den: my victory against Monsanto Zen Honeycutt Moms Across America | 3rd February 2015 Activism Corporations USA Health Farming zen-monsanto-mam.jpg Moms Across America founder Zen …
Why is the dairy industry joining in the legal action against Vermont's GMO labeling law? Could it be because a fifth of US 'cheese' can be vegetable oil and starch from GMO crops, asks Alexis Baden-Mayer - and even more of a 'frozen dairy snack' or 'processed cheese food'?
Why does the dairy industry oppose GMO labels? Alexis Baden-Mayer Organic Consumers Association | 12th February 2015 Comment Food Farming USA GMOs Health triple-cheese-pizza.jpg Why is the dairy …
The raft of 'free trade' agreements under negotiation represents a massive seizure of power by corporations, writes Joyce Nelson - effectively stripping democratic governments of their power to legislate for health, environment, labour or anything else that could reduce corporate profit. But the mainstream media are mysteriously silent.
… hard work by activists. Canada's David Suzuki has written that by 2012, several …
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.'
USDA approves world's first GMO apples The Ecologist | 16th February 2015 News Farming USA GMOs Regulation Food apples-cut.jpg Scientists, environmental and consumer groups have decried USDA's …
The same pattern of severe droughts that extinguished the Ancient Pueblo culture of the southwest US in the 13th century will come back with a vengeance later this century as climate warms and dries, writes Tim Radford. And it could have precisely the same effect on the region's modern-day residents.
Southwest USA faces long term 'megadroughts' this century Tim Radford Oliver Tickell | 17th February 2015 News Climate Change Water USA mesaverde_cliffpalace-cut.jpg The same pattern of severe …
A powerful call has gone out the the US Export-Import Bank not to finance a massive coal mine, railway, port terminal and dredged 'canal' through Australia's Great Barrier Reef with $1 billion in loans and guarantees.
US tax dollars must not finance $1bn Great Barrier Reef destruction! The Ecologist | 20th February 2015 News Coal Fossil Fuels Australia USA Finance Climate Change Natural World Oceans …
Montana legislators have brushed off the attempts of farmers, ranchers and landowners to effect 'zoning' regulations to protect them, their land, their water and their livestock from the toxic impacts of fracking. Now they say: 'See you in Court!'.
Montana's Carbon County farmers sue for protection from fracking The Ecologist | 22nd February 2015 News Law Fracking Waste Pollution Energy Fossil Fuels Oil Corporations USA spogen-lake-cut.jpg …