Plastic-based litter from human beings is inundating the world’s oceans and polluting shorelines down to the microscopic level, according to British scientists who recently completed a multi-year study on the problem in and around Great Britain.
Scientists call it "global dimming," a little-known trend that may be making the world darker than it used to be.
According to a newly released report by the Pesticide Action Network (PAN), many U.S. residents carry unhealthy levels of pesticides in their bodies, with children, women and Mexican-Americans disproportionately exposed to the toxic chemicals.
Sales of full-size sport-utility vehicles tumbled last month, and sales of some smaller, more fuel-efficient SUVs boomed in what could be a sign that higher fuel prices are hurting automakers’ high-profit models. One of the largest sales drops was experienced by GM’s Hummer, which is now sold with rebates.
Environmentalists told the Environmental Protection Agency on Wednesday that they intend to sue the agency for the way it responded to revisions of a state Everglades cleanup law.
Last week, Vermont Independent Senator Jim Jeffords and Maryland Democratic Senator Paul Sarbanes introduced a long-awaited bill that would help clean up lead contamination in the nation’s drinking water. Meanwhile, a group of Democratic representatives introduced a companion bill in the House.
According to noted Kenyan environmentalist Richard Leakey, mankind’s closest animal relatives, the great apes, are facing extinction and need urgent action in order to survive.
Scientists joined environmental groups last week in petitioning the U.S. government to add 225 plants and animals to the endangered species list.
It’s great when spokespeople for giant corporations point out basic environmental truths. In calling for patience in the efforts to build the hydrogen energy economy, Scott Foster, a <a href="http://www.gm.com">General Motors</a> spokesperson on advanced technology vehicles, points out that the 70 million cars on American roads could double to 140 million by 2025. These cars would also double the number of miles traveled.
Last week’s column was about rivers. This one’s about oceans. Carl Safina, author of Song for the Blue Ocean and Eye of the Albatross, sees the current ocean crisis this way: "For those who take seriously the overwhelming scientific evidence showing a precipitous decline in fish populations, the answers to ocean recovery lie in fishing slower than fish can breed, farming seafood in ecologically less-destructive ways, and giving consumers the information they need to vote with their conscience and their wallet. There is time. And, yes, there is hope."
