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.
… drought: agribusiness, fracking untouched by water rationing Evan Blake | 5th April 2015 News Water USA Corporations Farming Oil Gas … has responded to the drought by rationing water, with $500 fines for domestic 'water …
The dispersant used in the Deepwater Horizon clean-up appears to be more toxic to corals than crude oil, writes Danielle M DeLeo. It also increases the concentration of oil in seawater, leading to higher, more toxic exposures of oil components when they come into contact with corals and other marine organisms.
… Dispersants sprayed after Deepwater Horizon oil spill more toxic than oil … The dispersant used in the Deepwater Horizon clean-up appears to be more … also increases the concentration of oil in seawater, leading to higher, more toxic exposures …
With vast areas decimated by industrial farming, the salad days are over for mass-produced olive oil. Laura Sevier looks at the effect its rise in popularity has had on the European landscape, and at some more sustainable brands.
… hazard (with negative impacts on the soil, water supply and wildlife), and when it comes … groves with few or no agrochemicals, less water and less machinery. Olives are picked … run-off of soils and agrochemicals into water bodies.’ ‘Anywhere in the main …
The fracking boom has caused massive vegetation loss over North America's rangelands, writes Tim Radford, as 3 million hectares have been occupied by oil and gas infrastructure and 34 billion cubic metres of water have been pumped from semi-arid ecosystems.
… Fracking ravages Great Plains land and water Tim Radford | 4th May 2015 News Fossil Fuels Fracking Oil USA Water Ecology bakken-oil-cut.jpg The fracking … infrastructure and 34 billion cubic metres of water have been pumped from semi-arid …
A deal to give up 500,000 acres of public lands in Utah to the tar sands industry in return for 1.5 million acres of industry is a sacrifice too far, writes Alexander Reid Ross, as it disclaims the wider costs of massive water use and contamination in the headwaters of the Colorado River, already seriously stressed by drought.
… as it disclaims the wider costs of massive water use and contamination in the headwaters of the Colorado River, already … the region. The region is located at the headwaters of the Colorado River. Lying 8,000 feet …
A month-long blockade of the Rio Tigre deep in the Peruvian Amazon has secured promises of compensation and cleanup for Peru's Kichwa communities who have suffered 40 years of contaminated waters from oil drilling operations in their remote Amazon region. But until the funds materialize, they are holding firm in their resolve.
… who have suffered 40 years of contaminated waters from oil drilling operations in their … in the river Tigre basin in late 2013. Water samples from the Tigre and its … and aluminium - leaving local communities no water fit for human consumption. The Kichwas …
A unique and pristine coral reef in the mouth of the Amazon is threatened by oil drilling planned by oil giants Total and BP, say the scientists who recently explored it. But the oil companies are determined to press ahead despite the risks, writes Lawrence Carter, and Brazil's environment ministry is set to give its approval.
… year. Together the oil majors own five deepwater exploration licences in the Foz do … State - lies beneath the thick plume of muddy water where the Amazon pours into the Atlantic … discovery amazed scientists because the murky waters shield the ocean floor from sunlight …
British firms lie deep at the heart of the Dakota Access Pipeline controversy, writes Amy Hall. Barclays, HSBC and the Royal Bank of Scotland have lent $800m to Energy Transfer Partners and its subsidaries, London-based Commercial Bank of China has loaned $120m, and RBS $250m, while HSBC and Barclays own over $110m worth of shares in project partner Phillips 66.
… Missouri River, fails it will pollute a vital water source for the Standing Rock Sioux … a mostly white community, partly because of water pollution fears. Not just a protest, but … peak, an estimated 10,000 people joined the water protectors at spiritual camps: Sacred …
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!'.
… to protect them, their land, their water and their livestock from the toxic … establish solid protections for land, air and water quality, giving landowners an essential … are few requirements for protecting our water or how far drilling must be set back …
Could the latest type of tidal-power generator be environmentally benign and deliver cheap, dependable and sustainable energy?
… France Currents Nova Scotia Tidal Energy Water Wheels Companies Carbon Dioxide Hydrogen … barrages can alter the tidal cycle and change water levels – local wildlife is forced to … 10 feet an hour – the rate at which the water level in the Bay of Fundy rises; • as …
Fracking for oil and gas uses a wide range of chemicals that disrupt reproductive function in both sexes, writes Tamsin Paternoster. Now an academic study has found a powerful correlation between stillbirth, miscarriage, low sperm count, and exposure to fracking chemicals.
… Fracking: releasing chemicals in air and water near operations Hundreds of chemicals … layer. The traditional treatment of this wastewater does not remove these chemicals that … from their natural location. This wastewater is then disposed of in landfills, …
After 20 years of oil spills, deforestation, waste dumping and ill health, farmers and indigenous people in the the Ecuadorian Amazon have been fighting the Chevron-Texaco corporation. But despite its three times conviction and a $9.5 billion damages award to the victims, the oil giant looks no closer to making good its damage.
… "If you put a stick in here, for example, water and oil come out. The is oil is just … from the drilling process, and any waste water - without any attempt at waterproofing or concern for the environment. …
While other countries apply themselves to environmental challenges from climate change to nature protection, Russia - with its massive wealth of nature and natural resources - is stubbornly refusing to take part, writes Lucy E J Woods. And as the economy declines, the pressure is on: to ignore environmental regulations, and clamp down on environmental defenders.
… Russia is big in oil and gas - but also in water, nature, beauty Russia alone is home to … staggering 20% of the world's unfrozen fresh water resides in just one of its lakes: the … Tasting some (admittedly filtered!) Baikal water, after taking a long journey from …
Food and water shortages and sharp price hikes in the necessities of life are driving civil unrest and rebellion across the Middle East and North Africa, writes Nafeez Ahmed. Adding to the problem, many of the afflicted countries are of strategic importance for their oil and gas, putting them on the front line of destabilizing 'counter-terrorism' operations.
… of war Nafeez Ahmed | 13th May 2015 News Water Food Politics Society Oil Energy Middle … East drought-burkina-faso-cut.jpg Food and water shortages and sharp price hikes in the … resources, including food, energy and water, can, in certain circumstances, lead to …
BP's plans to explore for oil in the deep seas of the Great Australian Bight came under fire today at the company's Annual General Meeting in London, writes Graham Readfearn. The drilling would risk the ocean's rich marine wildlife - while blowing a massive hole in Australia's COP21 emissions targets.
… marine reserve." The Bight's pristine waters, Hansen continued, were home to … companies to drill for oil in the pristine waters off south Australia could take up a … BP's Melbourne HQ this week. No more Deepwater Horizons! Wilderness Society South …
The US is a party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, write Colin Samson & Øyvind Ravna. Both require free, prior and informed consent for any intrusions on indigenous lands and stipulate that indigenous peoples shall own and control their traditional lands. The US is violating both at Standing Rock.
… thousands of people calling themselves 'water protectors' converged upon the Standing … the pipeline was planned to pass are vital water supplies and abundant in wildlife. The … lands elsewhere , contamination of not only water but the local ecology is a real …
Precious World Heritage Sites that protect vital biodiversity and human cultures are at risk from oil decelopment and other industries. Under threat are not just nature, wildlife, land and water but the 11 million people who depend on the 114 sites' environmental quality for their livelihoods.
… are not just nature, wildlife, land and water but the 11 million people who depend on … depend on World Heritage sites for food, water, shelter and medicine, and could be … Uranium mining on the park boundary in its watershed, commercial development in the …
As the melting Arctic ice cap opens a new ocean to the world, governments and private speculators are rushing to cash in on lucrative resource deposits and shipping lanes. But they may find these virgin waters a dangerous place to do business…
… lanes. But they may find these virgin waters a dangerous place to do business… When … navigation'. The AMSA report also pours cold water on the notion that Arctic waters will suddenly become a commercial …
BP won't stop at dangerous deep water drilling: the company is bent on still more dangerous projects, including genetic modification and hacking the planet's atmosphere...
… And Technology Bp Oil Gulf Oil Spill Deepwater Horizon oilinwater.jpg BP won't stop at dangerous deep water drilling: the company is bent on still …
UK banks helping to finance oil giant Total's exploitation of tar sands on the world's fourth largest island despite lack of adequate environmental controls or regulation
… campaigner from Friends of the Earth Europe. Water supplies As well as pollution, … Madagascan campaigners worry about limited water supplies. Unlike in Canada, the tar … area in Madagascar has a much more precarious water situation - the one major river is a …
The Port of Seattle is violating its shoreline permit in allowing Shell to set up a 'home port' for its Arctic oil drilling fleet, according to Seattle officials. The finding could nix Shell's oil drilling plans for the 2015 season.
… including for discharging oil-contaminated water in violation of water pollution laws; violated the Port's … 'Port must now reject Shell's use of Seattle waters' Patti Goldman, Earthjustice's managing …
Humberto Piaguaje traveled from Ecuador's rainforest to Texas to deliver this Open Letter from Texaco's victims to Chevron-Texaco shareholders. Chevron is refusing to pay multi-billion dollar damages awarded to those suffering from its pollution.
… Oil Ecuador Indigenous Peoples USA Pollution Water lago-agrio-ecuador-3-cut.jpg Humberto … used them to contain all the sludge and toxic water. This waste was then poured directly … did not re-inject a single drop of toxic water back into the ground, as they should've …
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.
… "We have spotted dolphins coming out of the water more frequently for air and going down … dolphin corpses do not come to the water surface. The fact that one of them has … seven days after the oil accident, the river water contained 600 phytoplankton and 100 …
The rights of nature and of indigenous communities are enshrined in Ecuador's constitution, writes Kevin Koenig. But down in the Amazon the government is going full speed ahead with oil extraction on indigenous territories whose owners are committed to keeping their forests and waters pollution-free. A mighty battle is brewing that looks certain to come to a head this year.
… are committed to keeping their forests and waters pollution-free. A mighty battle is … Kids were strewn across it, jumping into the water, in an afternoon post-school ritual. We … a small tributary, where the brown turbulent water slowly turned a crystal clear turquoise, …