Free Willie: An Environmental Studies Class Fights for Fontenot

In today’s terror-fighting climate, do students and teachers still have the right to take field trips on public property? Thirteen students, two teachers and Willie Fontenot may learn that answer the hard way. Fontenot, the long-time environmental justice advocate working for the Louisiana Attorney General’s Office, claims he was forced out of his job April 5 by Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr. Fontenot’s supposed "crime" was assisting the students and faculty who were part of an Antioch New England (ANE) Graduate School’s field course studying environmental justice issues in Louisiana.

Unlike U.S., Canada Taking Mercury Pollution Seriously

In marked contrast to U.S. policy, Canadian environment ministers have agreed on a draft plan to reduce mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants north of the border by as much as 58 percent by 2010. The plan calls for the utilization of cleaner-burning coal and the widespread implementation of technological fixes to help implement the reduction in emissions.

Senate Passes Energy Bill With Something For Everyone

After years of partisan bickering, the Senate last week passed a comprehensive energy bill, which provides incentives for boosting domestic production of oil and natural gas and extends billions of dollars in tax incentives for nuclear energy development and cleaner coal-fired power plants. Meanwhile, the legislation also promotes solar and wind power initiatives while calling for increased energy conservation.

Going Nuts

Many restaurants now include nuts in many different dishes, especially salads and desserts. And with the recent low-carb craze, nuts have been recognized as nutritional protein powerhouses that are great for snacking. Many children today don’t just respond to nuts with a sniffly nose or scratchy throat; they are literally deathly allergic. In fact, nut allergies are among the most deadly; they cause 100 to 200 deaths every year, mostly in children and adolescents.

Unplugging

Unplugging is back, baby! A whole new generation of back-to-the-landers are getting away from it all and living off the grid.

Buy Now, Pay Later

One way credit card companies are working to attract customers is to offer affinity programs, in which cards are branded with the logo or name of an organization. The organization gains name recognition and donations while the credit card company or bank gains customers and member lists. "The program has no cons for us; we get a lump sum of a half a percentage point of all purchases made with the card," explains Fred Brandon of The Wilderness Society about his group’s affinity card program.

Wearing Your Values

Launched to provide an alternative to chemically treated clothing, the eco-fashion business has been slow to catch on, and was for years linked to potato sacks and oddly styled t-shirts. These days, fine natural fabrics made from organic cotton, wool and linen, tencel (made from wood pulp), hemp, bamboo, Ingeo (made from corn) and silk are used to create sharp, stylish outfits. After much experimentation with these materials over the past 15 years, even such household names as Patagonia, Nike and Timberland have embraced the concept.

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