Gaza farmers have lost 187 hectares of crops to aerial spraying of herbicides by Israel hundreds of meters within the territory's borders. The action, carried out in the name of 'security', further undermines Gaza's ability to feed itself and may permanently deprive farmers of their livelihoods. It may also represent a war crime under the 1977 Protocol to the Geneva Conventions.
… by Israel hundreds of meters within the territory's borders. The action, carried out in the name of 'security', further undermines …
A radical new Seed Law drafted by Venezuelan people, farmers and NGOs was signed into law in the closing days of 2015, write William Camacaro, Frederick B. Mills & Christina M. Schiavoni. Striking back against the corporate takeover of seeds and peddling of GMOs, the Seed Law bans transgenic seeds, protects the country's germplasm, and establishes the legal foundation for a participatory, agroecological food and farming system.
… farmers and NGOs was signed into law in the closing days of 2015, write William … Christina M. Schiavoni. Striking back against the corporate takeover of seeds and peddling of GMOs, the Seed Law bans transgenic seeds, protects …
The finance industry faces a 'wicked' problem, says Mark Carney, Governor of the Bank of England. Climate change creates risks that threaten the financial system to its foundations - but on a timescale beyond the usual horizon for investment decisions. The only way to reduce those risks is to act with unusual foresight - and avoid abrupt and destabilising transitions.
… Financial instability and the tragedy of the climate horizon Mark Carney | 5th October … Finance Climate Change tree-clouds-recut.jpg The finance industry faces a 'wicked' problem, …
The nuclear industry and its supporters have contrived a variety of narratives to justify and explain away nuclear catastrophes, writes John Downer. None of them actually hold water, yet they serve their purpose - to command political and media heights, and reassure public sentiment on 'safety'. But if it's so safe, why the low limits on nuclear liabilities?
… Fukushima and the institutional invisibility of nuclear … Science Nuclear Japan fuku-blacksmoke-cut.jpg The nuclear industry and its supporters have … catastrophes, writes John Downer. None of them actually hold water, yet they serve their …
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.
… Health Farming Corporations spraying-cut.jpg The British establishment does nothing quite … corruption, writes Georgina Downs - whether it's the Hillsborough disaster or permitting …
The anti-fracking movement scored a great victory when Lancashire councillors refused planning permission for two fracking wells, writes Damien Short. But dig deeper and the triumph was all the greater, as it overcame not just Cuadrilla, but a morass of pro-fracking bias and legal and scientific misrepresentation from those meant to be providing impartial advice.
… Human Rights Law Science camp-frack-cut.jpg The anti-fracking movement scored a great … writes Damien Short. But dig deeper and the triumph was all the greater, as it overcame not just …
After an apparent cave-in to Europe's pesticide industry, the European Food Safety Authority's latest guidance on pesticides conflicts with European law, writes Georgina Downs - by ignoring the real-life agrochemical exposure of rural residents. Commission President Juncker must step in and demand the withdrawal of this disgraceful document.
… cave-in to Europe's pesticide industry, the European Food Safety Authority's latest … law, writes Georgina Downs - by ignoring the real-life agrochemical exposure of rural … President Juncker must step in and demand the withdrawal of this disgraceful document. …
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.
… Vandana Shiva invites him to join in securing the essential human freedoms to seeds and food … India into changing its laws to allow the corporate domination of life. We, as … and democratic citizens of India, and the US, welcome the coming together of two of …
A new species of eco-lawyer is emerging from the legal undergrowth. James Thornton advocates a wig-and-gown approach so campaigners can strengthen their case against unethical corporations
… Can lawyers save the world? James Thornton | 12th June 2007 … A new species of eco-lawyer is emerging from the legal undergrowth. James Thornton … approach so campaigners can strengthen their case against unethical corporations …
The apparent conspiracy by the UK government and its agencies to conceal the real cause of death of 7-year old Zane Gbangbola may go right up to Prime Minister David Cameron, writes Paul Mobbs. He was chair of the COBRA emergency committee at the time when it appears to have held back the truth that he was killed by cyanide from the toxic landfill site his home was built over.
… Politics Law UK selly-oak-landfill-cut.jpg The apparent conspiracy by the UK government and its agencies to conceal the real cause of death of 7-year old Zane …
A small fishing community in Mexico's Baja California is playing involuntary host to a gigantic tourism and real estate development, writes Viviane Mahieux. And while the branding of the Tres Santos resort is all about mindfulness, ecology and sustainability, the reality is one of big money, high level politics, and the unaccountable deployment of state violence against those who dare oppose it.
… Brutal, opaque, illegal: the dark side of the Tres Santos 'mindfulness' eco-tourism … writes Viviane Mahieux. And while the branding of the Tres Santos resort is all …
Britain's long-suffering nuclear bomb test veterans have once again had justice denied to them, writes Chris Busby, by a shocking piece of judicial chicanery in London's High Court in which the judge whimsically excluded all the scientific evidence that did not suit the Ministry of Defence. But the veterans' fight for justice and scientific truth continues, facing its next test in the Court of Appeal.
… have once again had justice denied to them, writes Chris Busby, by a shocking piece … chicanery in London's High Court in which the judge whimsically excluded all the scientific evidence that did not suit the …
As the world’s poorest countries sink further and further into debt, Western corporations grow fat from government-backed projects that fuel conflicts, harm the environment and have built-in kickbacks.
… Backing the Bad Guys Noreena Hertz | 1st December 2004 … Science And Technology Investigates_5.jpg As the world’s poorest countries sink further and further into debt, Western …
The 2011 Fukushima catastrophe is an ongoing disaster whose end only gets more remote as time passes. The government is desperate to get evacuees back into their homes for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, but the problems on the ground, and in the breached reactor vessels, are only getting more serious and costly, as unbelievable volumes of radiation contaminate land, air and ocean.
… Finance Water Radiation fuk-4-iaea-cut.jpg The 2011 Fukushima catastrophe is an ongoing … end only gets more remote as time passes. The government is desperate to get evacuees back into their homes for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, but …
First corporations gained legal personhood, writes Don Fitz. Next they seized the right to force 'free trade' on unwilling populations. Now they are making sure that 'corporate rights' trump citizen rights - like the right to wholesome food and a healthy environment. That's where the 'Right to Farm' constitutional amendments come in ...
… legal personhood, writes Don Fitz. Next they seized the right to force 'free trade' on unwilling populations. Now they are making sure that 'corporate rights' …
The Government is struggling to spin its policy to fast track fracking, writes Paul Mobbs. So as it cuts the public out of the regulatory process, exempts exploratory wells from controls, and forces the Environment Agency to issue permits with 1-2 weeks, its spin machine has resorted to outright lies and misinformation to conceal the scale of the attack on our environmental rights.
… Law Regulation fracking-its-happening-cut.jpg The Government is struggling to spin its … fracking, writes Paul Mobbs. So as it cuts the public out of the regulatory process, exempts exploratory …
A huge hotel development has been built on a pristine beach belonging to the 'Amis, one of Taiwan's indigenous tribes, despite numerous court rulings confirming its illegality. Glenn Smith met 'Amis campaigner Sinsing, whose fight for justice began when the government handed out eviction notices to her community - and will continue until the hotel is razed and the beach restored.
… been built on a pristine beach belonging to the 'Amis, one of Taiwan's indigenous tribes, … Sinsing, whose fight for justice began when the government handed out eviction notices to her community - and will continue until the hotel is razed and the beach restored. In …
This summer families of atom bomb test veterans who have died of cancer took the UK government to the High Court for its failure to compensate them, writes Chris Busby. Also on trial was the 'official' radiation risk model, which understates the true health hazards of internal exposures by a factor of 1,000. But 17 weeks after the case, litigants and veterans are still awaiting judgment.
… bomb test veterans' long wait for justice: the last battle Chris Busby | 11th November … test veterans who have died of cancer took the UK government to the High Court for its failure to compensate …
A letter from Energy Secretary Amber Rudd leaked to The Ecologist shows that she misled Parliament by promising the UK was 'on course' to deliver on its renewable energy targets - when in fact there is a delivery shortfall in 2020 of almost 25%. Her plan to fill the gap relies on more biofuels, buying in green power and 'credits' from abroad - everything but wind and solar.
… from Energy Secretary Amber Rudd leaked to The Ecologist shows that she misled Parliament by promising the UK was 'on course' to deliver on its renewable energy targets - when in fact there is a delivery shortfall in 2020 of …
Little publicised government plans to 'reform' court costs are intended to foreclose access to environmental justice for all but the wealthiest individuals and communities, writes Paul Mobbs. Meanwhile cuts to agencies and regulators will make it ever harder for them to do their jobs - making public participation in environmental protection all the more important.
… access to environmental justice for all but the wealthiest individuals and communities, … and regulators will make it ever harder for them to do their jobs - making public participation in …
The official 'fitness test' on the EU's nature directives carried out for the EU Commission under its 'better regulation' initiative finds that the laws are 'fit for purpose' in every respect, writes Oliver Tickell. But there's a mystery: the report was completed in January, yet it remains unpublished. Did it reach the 'wrong' conclusion for a Commission intent on a bonfire of red tape?
… EU Law Conservation Regulation kemeri-cut.jpg The official 'fitness test' on the EU's nature directives carried out for the EU Commission under its 'better …
After over a century of coal ash and colliery waste dumping, the Tyne and Wear coastline is no stranger to industrial pollution. But soon a horrific new technology - underground coal gasification (UCG) - will endanger human health and the environment, backed by unflinching Government support and generous lashings of taxpayers' money.
… hell-fires threaten Tyneside and the North Sea Paul Mobbs | 3rd April 2015 News … of coal ash and colliery waste dumping, the Tyne and Wear coastline is no stranger to … (UCG) - will endanger human health and the environment, backed by unflinching …
Britain's nuclear bomb test veterans suffered severe genetic damage from radiation, writes Chris Busby, and their case for compensation is being heard in the High Court today. Key to their case is evidence of similar damage inflicted on in utero babies exposed to radiation from the Chernobyl disaster, and how the dreadful health impacts of radiation cascade down to future generations.
… Chernobyl, genetic damage, and the UK nuclear bomb tests - justice at last? … from radiation, writes Chris Busby, and their case for compensation is being heard in the High Court today. Key to their case is …