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Drilling in Russian Arctic Threatens Entire Ecosystem
Environmentalist author Chellis Glendinning’s 2002 work of nonfiction, Off the Map, is an indictment of maps and cartography. Glendinning asserts that maps have historically served as tools of conquest that define the territory which is to be exploited. With that in mind, Exxon’s announcement on Monday that the company inked a deal to drill for…
Read MoreUnplugged: DOE Standards Will Save Americans Money
Thanks to action taken by the U.S. Department of Energy, American consumers are expected to save more than $21 billion (through 2043) on their utility bills as a result of new energy efficiency standards for home refrigerators and freezers. The new standards will improve the efficiency of these appliances by about 25 percent starting in…
Read MoreAnti-Environmental Legislators Plan New Attack
Today, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor declared war on environmental regulations.
Read MoreReport Sheds Light on Chemicals in Oil Dispersants
Pop quiz: nearly 2 million gallons of chemicals are about to be dumped into the ocean where they will mix with oil gushing from a blown out well. Do you: A. Study beforehand the chemicals’ effects on marine life? B. Study beforehand the chemicals’ effects on humans? C. Study beforehand what will happen when the…
Read MoreThe Fight to Stop the Tar Sands Is Not Over
The U.S. Department of State today issued the final environmental impact statement (FEIS) for the Keystone XL pipeline project, which would transport tar sands crude oil from Alberta, Canada to the Gulf Coast. Despite the fact that the Alberta tar sands represent the second largest pool of carbon in the world, despite the fact that…
Read MoreCalifornia Ignores Its Own Scientists on Dangerous Pesticide
Internal documents reveal toxic secrets behind approval of methyl iodide
Read MoreNational Parks as Living Art
Remember the “Star Gate” sequence from 2001: A Space Odyssey when Bowman takes his far-out, psychedelic-twinged trip through deep space? Well, a new series of aerial photos of national parks at Wired offers you a similarly mind-blowing experience all from the comfort of your desk chair. The NASA-sourced images of Death Valley National Park, Hawai’i’s…
Read MoreTr-Ash Talk: Shake, Rattle and Coal
The earthquake that yesterday rattled foundations along the eastern seaboard, shut down a nuclear power plant and cracked the Washington Monument also shook a great many dangerous coal ash dams, similar to the one that failed in Harriman, Tennessee almost three years ago. Several large ash ponds are located near the epicenter of the quake,…
Read MoreMcKibben, Others Arrested In Tar Sands Protest
D.C. police have arrested 160 people and counting, in response to a non-violent protest against the Keystone XL Tar Sands pipeline. Among those arrested– Bill McKibben, prolific environmental author and co-founder of 350.org. Released today after three days in jail, McKibben encouraged the continuation of the two-week protest, which is taking place in front of…
Read MoreNorthwest Salmon Re-Birth Dam Close
Next month, contractors will start removing two massive dams on the Elwha River which runs through Washington’s Olympic peninsula. It is expected to bring about the largest single increase of salmon habitat and population in the Northwest. The dam removal caps efforts started more than 20 years ago by a local tribe and visionary activists…
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