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The Latest by David Lawlor

Development Writer

David Lawlor was a writer in the Development department. His environmental activism stems from an affinity for nature and the deep ecology philosophy espoused by the Norwegian philosopher, Arne Naess.

January 26, 2011

Reframing the Climate Change Debate

By David Lawlor  /  Headquarters Office

Whether or not the United States addresses impending climate change hinges largely on the marketing message driving the discussion. Last night, President Barack Obama made his best pitch to reframe the climate change debate, casting it through the prism of a Works Progress Administration-style plan for achieving a clean energy future. While Obama’s idea of …

January 25, 2011

Trading Clean Energy for a Lump of Coal

By David Lawlor  /  Headquarters Office

The Union of Concerned Scientists has a snazzy new interactive slideshow on its website, highlighting states that are bypassing opportunities to ditch dirty coal and embrace clean energy. The slideshow is both interesting and an office-safe distraction good for at least a five-minute break from your spreadsheet formulas. Go ahead, call it up on your …

January 11, 2011

Taking Australia Beyond Zero Emissions

By David Lawlor

By now, we all know the refrain. Sure, politicians and pundits tell us, it would be swell to make the switch to clean energy, but such a move is infeasible at any time in the near future. No, they say, we must not stray from our well-hewn path of environmental destruction paved by fossil fuels. …

January 4, 2011

Poisoned by the Midas Touch

By David Lawlor

Silver was the precious metal at the foundation of the Roman Empire’s economy and since silver is often embedded in lead ore, lead was an abundant byproduct available throughout the empire. As such, Romans used lead in everything from plumbing pipes to wine to women’s makeup. In a sense, it was the high fructose corn …

December 28, 2010

Court Rules in Favor of Mexican Environmentalists

By David Lawlor  /  International Program

The Inter-American Court of Human Rights has ruled against Mexico and its army in the case of two Mexican farmers who were persecuted as a result of their environmental advocacy. The Interamerican Association for Environmental Defense (AIDA), Earthjustice’s partner organization in international environmental law, submitted an amicus brief in the case supporting the farmers. Teodoro …

December 21, 2010

New Study Shows Hexavalent Chromium In Drinking Water

By David Lawlor

The nonprofit public interest organization Environmental Working Group (EWG) this week released the results of a study that tested the water supplies of 35 American cities. In 31 of the 35 cities tested, the known carcinogen hexavalent chromium was present in the water supply. The result of industrial manufacturing and processes, hexavalent chromium can seep …

December 15, 2010

Restoring The Smelt And The Bay-Delta Ecosystem

By David Lawlor

Court orders revisions to federal plan to protect the smelt

December 10, 2010

I Brake For Cute Animals

By David Lawlor

Zoos still hold to the notion of the “great chain of being”

December 9, 2010

Europeans Reject Genetically Engineered Crops

By David Lawlor

More than 1 million sign petition to block BASF’s Amflora potato

December 6, 2010

A Complete Accounting of Ecosystem Death

By David Lawlor

Google Earth Engine tracks environmental destruction in near real time