Unleashed
How synthetic biology could spell environmental disaster.
Jim Motavalli
Posts by Jim Motavalli:
Finally Fighting Emissions
California’s battle to regulate greenhouse gases from cars goes national.
What Garden State?
New EPA head Lisa Jackson draws mixed reviews.
Hybrid Hype
Hybrid SUVs aren’t doing the environment any favors.
The Meat of the Matter
The meat industry is an environmental monster, responsible for more greenhouse gas emissions than worldwide transportation, gobbling up 26 percent of the Earth’s land for grazing and releasing countless toxins—from nitrogen to antibiotics—into our water supplies.
Destination America
Our immigration debate misses the point: It’s not about race, but the sheer number of new Americans. Sprawl, the loss of open space, challenges to water resources, all these are aggravated by the million new arrivals who become legal permanent residents each year.
Immigration: Two Views
Population-Environment Balance: David Durham vs. Population Connection’s John Seager
The Drugs in Drinking Water Shocker
A vast array of pharmaceuticals have been found in the drinking water supplies of at least 41 million Americans, according to the AP…
The Plug-ins Are Coming
The Detroit Auto Show last January confirmed that plug-in hybrids (with extended all-electric range up to about 40 miles) will soon be on American roads (see "The Hot Hybrids," Consumer News, November/December 2005). The biggest news was that Toyota confirmed it will have a commercial plug-in hybrid on the road by 2010, a date that coincides with General Motors" already announced target. Felix Kramer, founder of the California Cars Initiative, called Toyota’s announcement "stunning and very welcome." The Japanese automaker has early versions of its plug-in, based on the existing Prius, under test at two California universities.
The Slaughter Continues
Animal activists have fought hard to eliminate horse slaughter in the U.S. (see “The Killing Floor” feature, May/June 2006). Under H.R. 2744, funding was removed for U.S. Agriculture Department (USDA) inspectors at slaughterhouses. The Bush USDA countered by allowing inspectors to be paid with private funds. But state laws were later passed banning remaining slaughterhouses in Texas and Illinois.