DAILY GRIST WEEKLY COMPILATION / 4-2-2005
1.
AND POD SAID, LET THERE BE LIGHT
Solar-powered iPod to debut next year
Could Apple's iconic pearly white iPod be turning a shade of green? Ever since the iPod hit the market in 2001, the mini music machine has met with staggering success. Last year, hypnotized by that damn U2 song, consumers gobbled up 4.5 million of the gadgets. But all is not well in Apple-ville: The company has received flack from greens about the non-replaceable battery in the iPod, which destines it and its constituent toxic heavy metals for a premature trip to the landfill. Some fans have clamored for a change, and Apple is starting to listen. "It's time for the consumer electronics industry to catch up" to other industries that are going green, said spokesperson Beth Feehan, "and Apple wants to lead the way." Feehan said that the company is developing a solar-powered ePod, which it hopes to unveil by October 2006, and hinted that a biodegradable version of its iPod mini may be in the works as well.
straight to the source: MacHome, Chris Bridges, 28 Mar 2005
<http://grist.org/cgi-bin/forward.pl?forward_id=4693>
straight to the source: MSNBC.com, Associated Press, Artis Ivey Jr., 30 Mar 2005 <http://grist.org/cgi-bin/forward.pl?forward_id=4695>
2.
THE PASSION OF THE CRICHTON
Mel Gibson may direct "State of Fear" movie
Michael Crichton's techno-thriller novel "State of Fear" would seem an obvious gem for Hollywood, what with its exotic locales, action-packed plot, and attractive heroines. But Crichton has had difficulty getting a high-profile director to take the project on -- because, he says, liberal Hollywood blanches at the thought of producing a movie that attacks the theory of global warming. But the author may have found his hero in Mel Gibson, whose "Passion of the Christ" made him the go-to director for movies focusing on, um, topics of interest to far-right conservatives. Gibson and Crichton are reportedly in talks, and should Gibson sign on to the project, filming could begin late this year. Though Gibson declined to comment, Crichton was only too happy to. "It's time for someone to expose the myths perpetrated by scientists and activists who claim we're on a collision course with doom, and no one's better at exposing myths than Mel Gibson," he said.
straight to the source: Hollywood Reporter, Paul Hewson, 01 Apr 2005
<http://grist.org/cgi-bin/forward.pl?forward_id=4695>
3.
BARACK O'BOMBSHELL
Barack Obama plans to resign, renew flagging green movement
Illinois senator and progressive hero Barack Obama (D) provoked a furor yesterday with the announcement that he will resign from the Senate at the end of the year. Instead of fulfilling his term, he plans to head up an environmental coalition called Bright Green Future, with a charter to forge working alliances with labor groups, national security experts, hunting and fishing groups, religious congregations, and, said Obama, "anybody else who shares our vision of a prosperous, sustainable future for America." The coalition has been enthusiastically endorsed in press releases by the Sierra Club, Natural Resources Defense Council, and some 15 other big national green groups. "There's a limit to what we can accomplish in Congress until environmentalism becomes a genuine political force," said Obama. "I'm going to redirect my energy to work toward reviving the momentum behind green issues." The announcement prompted a firestorm of outrage and disappointment in Illinois, where Obama was elected by a wide margin last year. But enviros were ecstatic to find an ally with a proven record of, well, being noticed.
straight to the source: Chicago Sun Times, Cherilyn LaPiere, 01 Apr 2005 <http://grist.org/cgi-bin/forward.pl?forward_id=4694>
straight to the source: The Washington Post, Eve Jihan Jeffers, 01 Apr 2005 <http://grist.org/cgi-bin/forward.pl?forward_id=4695>
4.
GOOD FOR THE GOOSE, GOOD FOR THE PROPAGANDER
"Death" authors tied to government money
Was "Death" a contract hit all along? The news in past months has been rife with stories of creative government efforts to sway the opinions of the citizenry. From prepackaged local "news" segments to pundits like Armstrong Williams being paid to shill for government policies, critics say the line between government propaganda and, well, everything else is fading. Now the issue is hitting home in the environmental movement. It seems that Michael Shellenberger and Ted Nordhaus, authors of the notorious "Death of Environmentalism" paper, have been at the government teat -- namely, being paid by the U.S. EPA. Details of the arrangement are hazy, and still hotly denied by the authors. But an anonymous source inside the agency claims to have documents revealing a contract wherein the authors were commissioned to "think outside the box about the efficacy of environmental regulations, and the environmental movement as a whole" in exchange for payments upward of $75,000. Said Carl Pope, head of the Sierra Club, "If this turns out to be true, I'm going to personally kick their asses."
straight to the source: The New York Times, P. Rogers Nelson, 01 Apr 2005 <http://grist.org/cgi-bin/forward.pl?forward_id=4693>
5.
BYCATCHER IN THE EYE
Iconic Galapagos Islands threatened by longline fishing, other stuff
The Galapagos Islands are iconic for biologists and conservationists, home to a dizzying array of rare and endangered species that inspired Charles Darwin's seminal work on evolution. Today, the entire marine ecosystem surrounding the islands may be in jeopardy. The militant fishing unions that hold sway over the administration of Ecuadorian President Lucio Gutierrez are asking him to permit longline fishing throughout the Galapagos Marine Reserve, an internationally protected area since 1986. Longline fishing involves laying lines that are miles long, strung with hundreds of thousands of baited hooks. In some cases up to 80 percent of the resulting catch consists of dolphins, sea turtles, sea birds, sea lions, and other (tourist-attracting) marine animals. The situation is sufficiently alarming that UNESCO is sending a delegation to the islands in April and may add them to its "danger list" of ecosystems in immediate peril.
straight to the source: The Independent, Daniel Howden and Michael McCarthy, 31 Mar 2005 <http://grist.org/cgi-bin/forward.pl?forward_id=4688>
6.
TODAY A REPORT, TOMORROW ... WELL, WE'LL SEE
Ford acknowledges global warming, but makes no big promises
Pressure from shareholder activists is producing effects at large companies -- if not yet concrete proposals to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions, at least notable signals that they're starting to take global warming seriously. The latest to hop on the bandwagon is Ford Motor Co., expected to announce today that it will produce a report analyzing the range of effects climate change -- and the government regulations and incentives that may be enacted to address it -- could have on its operations. It follows ChevronTexaco and other, smaller U.S. oil companies in pledging to produce such a report; on Tuesday, coal-fired energy giant Cinergy released its own. Of course, Ford's vehicle fleet still has the lowest average fuel economy of any automaker (and word is that the company will be the target of numerous on-the-ground protests tomorrow over that very fact). But Mindy Lubber, who heads shareholder-activist group CERES, believes the report "will end up informing a changed business model for the company."
straight to the source: The Wall Street Journal, Jeffrey Ball, 31 Mar 2005 (access ain't free) <http://grist.org/cgi-bin/forward.pl?forward_id=4684>
see also, in Gristmill: Fossil Foolishness -- Ford takes a small step on climate just as activists gear up for protests against the company <http://gristmill.grist.org/story/2005/3/31/11835/6876>
see also, in Grist: Not Just Lippman Service -- Steve Lippman, expert on shareholder activism and green investing, InterActivates
<http://grist.org/cgi-bin/forward.pl?forward_id=4475>
7.
UNDERMINED
Ruling halts proposed mine under wilderness area, for now
Plans to build a massive copper and silver mine beneath Montana's Cabinet Mountain Wilderness was successfully halted (again) yesterday when a federal judge ruled that U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service officials put the area's bull trout and grizzly bears at risk by approving the mine. The ruling orders the FWS to amend the biological opinion it issued in 2003 that concluded the Rock Creek mine -- which would produce some 10,000 tons of silver and copper ore per day for 35 years and pour over 3 million gallons of wastewater per day into an area river -- posed "no jeopardy" to the trout or grizzlies. An earlier biological opinion, issued in 2000, concluded that the mine would in fact "jeopardize" the bears unless special measures were taken for their protection, but the agency signed off on the mine anyway. A coalition of enviros sued, forcing the FWS to reconsider, eventually leading to the weaker 2003 decision. Yesterday's ruling again orders reconsideration.
straight to the source: Missoulian, Michael Jamison, 31 Mar 2005
<http://grist.org/cgi-bin/forward.pl?forward_id=4686>
8.
JE SYRACUSE
Onondaga Nation sues for land rights in New York state
The Onondaga Nation earlier this month filed a lawsuit claiming ownership of some 3,100 square miles of New York state, including Onondaga Lake in northwest Syracuse -- a large body of water to which the community claims to have ancestral connection. That lake also happens to be one of the most polluted in the country; once a source of trout and medicines, the lake was used for decades as a dump site for industrial wastes and is now a Superfund site awaiting cleanup. In their lawsuit, the Onondaga are not asking to uproot current residents or for monetary compensation; instead, they want the right to influence major policy decisions regarding the environment of their ancestral lands, as well as increased agricultural and housing opportunities and the ability to protect ancestors' gravesites. The Onondagas feel they were not properly consulted before the state's announcement of a $448 million lake cleanup proposal, which they believe is inadequate. "This is our home, this is where our history is, and it was treated as a trash dump," said Brad Powless, an Onondaga chief.
straight to the source: The New York Times, Kirk Semple, 31 Mar 2005
<http://grist.org/cgi-bin/forward.pl?forward_id=4683>
9.
DOOM AND GLOOM WITH A SENSE OF, UH ... DOOM
Comprehensive assessment of world's ecosystems released; be very afraid
The largest and most comprehensive assessment of the world's ecosystems ever undertaken was released today, and the results constitute a "stark warning" that "the ability of the planet's ecosystems to sustain future generations can no longer be taken for granted," according to the 45-member board of the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment. The study was written by 1,360 experts from 95 countries, including government officials, scientists, members of civil-society groups and indigenous tribes, and industry representatives, under the rubric of the U.N. Environment Program, using widely agreed-upon scientific evidence. It warns of rapid decline in biodiversity and freshwater availability, and says the likelihood of disease outbreaks (a la SARS), "dead zones" in coastal waters, and destructive climate shifts will rise sharply in the coming 50 years. It recommends means of slowing some of the damage -- developing markets for freshwater, improving forestry practices, removing some agricultural subsidies -- but stresses that none of those means are yet being applied.
straight to the source: The Philadelphia Inquirer, Seth Borenstein, 30 Mar 2005 <http://grist.org/cgi-bin/forward.pl?forward_id=4676>
straight to the source: Scripps Howard News Service, Joan Lowy, 29 Mar 2005 <http://grist.org/cgi-bin/forward.pl?forward_id=4678>
straight to the source: The Washington Post, Shankar Vedantam, 30 Mar 2005 <http://grist.org/cgi-bin/forward.pl?forward_id=4679>
straight to the source: Planet Ark, Reuters, Alister Doyle, 30 Mar 2005
<http://grist.org/cgi-bin/forward.pl?forward_id=4680>
10.
LICE AGE
Farmed salmon infect wild stocks with sea lice, study finds
A new study of wild and farmed salmon in the Pacific Northwest reveals that farmed salmon breed parasitic sea lice that infect juvenile wild salmon swimming nearby and could affect stocks of other important commercial species. A Canadian research trio looked at some 5,500 young salmon as they swam through a narrow channel past a salmon farm, and they recorded unnaturally high rates of lice infestation as the small fish migrated through a cloud of lice stretching nearly 19 miles around the farm, which itself is only about one-eighth of a mile. "Conservatively, this means that the parasite footprint of the farm is 150 times larger than the farm itself," said study coauthor John Volpe. But the troublesome parasites aren't the only nasties to come out of fish farms; a study in the journal Science last year found more cancer-causing PCBs in farmed fish than in their wild-caught counterparts, and in Europe, chemicals used to control the parasites and dye the salmon pink have led enviros to encourage boycotts of farm-raised salmon.
straight to the source: The New York Times, Cornelia Dean, 30 Mar 2005 <http://grist.org/cgi-bin/forward.pl?forward_id=4674>
straight to the source: Seattle Post-Intelligencer, John Heilprin, 30 Mar 2005 <http://grist.org/cgi-bin/forward.pl?forward_id=4675>
11.
ALL YOUR BASE ARE BEFOULED BY US
Military base closures leave behind toxic, uninhabitable land
Military bases frequently serve as economic engines for the communities they inhabit, and with what could be the biggest round of base closures ever on its way from the Department of Defense, those communities hope that developing the land freed up by the closed bases will replace some of the lost revenue. But they may be out of luck: The bases frequently leave behind contaminated water, asbestos-ridden soil, unexploded munitions, the presence of endangered species, and a variety of other environmental concerns that can make development more expensive than it's worth. Since the late '80s, the DoD has spent some $12 billion on environmental cleanup at closed bases, but one-third of that land remains uninhabitable thanks primarily to toxic contamination. Developers have sued the military over contamination on some bases, but even for residents on adjoining land -- suffering from cancer, miscarriages, and other ailments -- "every bit of cleanup they get is a struggle," said Tara Thornton of the Military Toxics Project.
straight to the source: Scripps Howard News Service, Joan Lowy, 29 Mar 2005 <http://grist.org/cgi-bin/forward.pl?forward_id=4677>
see also, in Grist: There's No Base Like Home -- Is contaminated housing poisoning military families? -- By Justin Scheck
<http://grist.org/cgi-bin/forward.pl?forward_id=4681>
12.
ROUTE SCOOTIN' BOOGIE
Shell alters pipeline route to spare whale feeding grounds
It's one small step for environmentalists, one giant leap for endangered gray whales: Energy giant Royal Dutch/Shell has agreed to alter the planned route of a massive oil and gas pipeline off of Russia's Sakhalin island by 12 miles to preserve the charismatic mammal's feeding grounds. Shell and its partners bowed to pressure from enviros concerned that the project could harm the roughly 100 gray whales remaining off the island with noise, ship traffic, and possible oil spillage. The project has been delayed since last April after Shell's own research revealed that work in the area could harm the whales. Though the new route "does avoid the whale feeding areas quite significantly," said John Kidd of the World Conservation Union, "there are still concerns" because a longer pipeline "obviously increases the risk of spillage once the pipeline is in operation."
straight to the source: Bloomberg.com, 30 Mar 2005
<http://grist.org/cgi-bin/forward.pl?forward_id=4672>
straight to the source: San Francisco Chronicle, Associated Press, Alex Nicholson, 30 Mar 2005 <http://grist.org/cgi-bin/forward.pl?forward_id=4673>
13.
DON'T THINK OF THE ENVIRONMENT
Enviros recruit Lakoff for reframing project, but will he come through?
The mere mention of framing guru George Lakoff sends progressives into weak-kneed, hankie-to-the-forehead swoons. Apparently tree-huggers are no exception, as the Green Group -- a behind-the-scenes coalition of top enviro group leaders -- contracted last year with Lakoff for an ambitious project to reframe environmental issues, to the tune of some $350,000. Thus far, however, the project has produced nothing except a report stating the obvious: enviros aren't framing their issues well. So, um, what's up with the other $349,995? Find out the state of play in Muckraker -- today on the Grist Magazine website.
today in Grist: Lakoff's green reframing project up in the air -- in Muckraker <http://grist.org/cgi-bin/forward.pl?forward_id=4667>
sign up: Receive word by email each time a new Muckraker column hits the scene <http://grist.org/cgi-bin/signmeup.pl?source=daily>
14.
CLIMB EVERY MOUNTAIN. THEN REMOVE IT.
Activists plan summer of mountaintop-removal protests
Environmental activists are planning a summer of focused protest against mountaintop-removal coal mining in West Virginia and surrounding coal states. "Mountain Justice Summer" will call for nonviolent protests against this highly destructive mining technique, whereby entire mountaintops are bulldozed into surrounding valleys to uncover large coal seams. Activists will likely block roads, bar access to mines and mining offices, engage in civil disobedience, and maybe even perform a bit o' the old monkeywrenching. Events are being sponsored by an EarthFirst! chapter in Tennessee, while the event kickoff Thursday will be hosted by West Virginia-based enviro group Coal River Mountain Watch. "[W]e think it's time to get a little more confrontational," said EF! volunteer John Johnson, explaining that lobbying and conventional tactics have failed. MJS is seeking volunteers (hey students, this could be more educational than that summer internship you were eyeing!).
straight to the source: Charleston Gazette, Ken Ward Jr., 28 Mar 2005
<http://grist.org/cgi-bin/forward.pl?forward_id=4659>
see also, in Grist: An interview with Julia Bonds, head of Coal River Mountain Watch and winner of a Goldman prize
<http://grist.org/cgi-bin/forward.pl?forward_id=4666>
do good: Check out Mountain Justice Summer
<http://mountainjusticesummer.org/>
15.
A LITTLE CRAB'LL DO YA
New Chesapeake Bay conservation ads appeal to appetites
The Chesapeake Bay Program's current public-education campaign features the catchy, slogan "Save the Crabs ... Then Eat 'Em," sure to enrage easily enraged animal-rights activists everywhere. Via billboards, TV commercials, and print ads, the campaign asks area residents to wait until fall to fertilize their lawns. Spring rains can carry typically toxic lawn chemicals out to crab territory during prime mating season and cause the crustaceans to "suffocate slowly from lack of oxygen," the ads explain. With blue crab harvests close to record lows, the campaign managers hope their outside-the-box advertising tactics will grab the attention of the Chesapeake Bay-area public -- 90 percent of whom are concerned about pollution in the bay, a recent survey indicates. "It's a lighter approach to a serious issue," says program spokesperson Christopher Conner. "It's about getting people engaged, reaching them through their seafood."
straight to the source: Los Angeles Times, Justin Dickerson, 27 Mar 2005 <http://grist.org/cgi-bin/forward.pl?forward_id=4658>
16.
OIL TOGETHER NOW
Bipartisan coalition presses Bush to get behind oil-use reduction
Lambasting U.S. oil addiction: It's not just for America-hating radical homosexual vegetarian Schiavo-killing eco-terrorists anymore! A growing bipartisan coalition is arguing that U.S. dependence on foreign oil is a serious national security threat. Today, a letter signed by 26 former national-security officials from both Republican and Democratic administrations is winging its way to the White House, bearing a plea for President Bush to kick off "a major new initiative to curtail U.S. consumption." "I don't often find myself in agreement with those at the Natural Resources Defense Council, but ... I do think there is common ground," said neocon Frank Gaffney, a former Reagan administration official. The letter was organized by the bipartisan Energy Future Coalition, which arose in the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks to advocate for tighter fuel-economy standards and higher subsidies for alternative fuels. Auto-worker unions, automakers, and farming groups -- traditional foes of environmental groups -- are on board, perhaps more comfortable around the manly men of the national-security apparatus.
straight to the source: The Wall Street Journal, John J. Fialka and Jeffrey Ball, 28 Mar 2005 (access ain't free)
<http://grist.org/cgi-bin/forward.pl?forward_id=4644>
17.
BAN OF THE CAVE BUG
High court to decide whether to hear challenge to Endangered Species Act
The fate of the Endangered Species Act may rest in the hands of the U.S. Supreme Court, if they decide in coming weeks to hear a case from a Texas man hoping to remove development restrictions on his land. Revoking the ESA protection of the tiny cave bugs inhabiting Fred Purcell's property would, of course, also affect protection for some 600 other species. Financed by the American Land Foundation, which uses landowner donations to fight development restrictions, Purcell's lawsuit began in 1999 and argues that the government should never have been given the right to protect rare species like the cave bugs, which have no commercial value and are found only in Texas -- meaning they don't cross state lines and, Purcell's lawyers argue, should be a state matter. Although the Supreme Court has rejected similar cases in the past and greens say chances are slim that the case will be heard, property-rights advocates are hopeful that this is the case they've been waiting for to undermine the ESA.
straight to the source: Los Angeles Times, Scott Gold, 28 Mar 2005
<http://grist.org/cgi-bin/forward.pl?forward_id=4645>
18. BOG BITES MAN
Everglades restoration stagnating after five years
Restoration of the Florida Everglades is, well, a bit bogged down, according to a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers internal memo. Written by Everglades project manager Gary Hardesty, the memo was addressed to Army Corps colleagues preparing to write a five-year update on the 30-year restoration plans. Hardesty noted that the undertaking was over budget, behind schedule, slowed by paper pushing, and facing negativity from the Hill. "We haven't built a single project during the first five years," the memo states. April Gromnicki of Audubon Everglades says the memo's frankness is an indication that the Army Corps will produce an "honest assessment of the current state of Everglades restoration." But others worry that the memo's admissions about ballooning costs -- including a $1 billion price increase for the first four projects -- and questions about the project's science could simply give critics additional impetus to siphon money away from the already pricey venture.
straight to the source: Sun-Sentinel, Neil Santaniello, 28 Mar 2005
<http://grist.org/cgi-bin/forward.pl?forward_id=4643>
19.
GIRL, YOU TRIPPIN'!
Cameron, Arnold lead brigade of celeb eco-spokesfolk
What formative experiences led to movie star and galactic hottie Cameron Diaz's commitment to the environment? "Nothing, dude. Life! Life!" We couldn't have said it better. Or hotter. Diaz will be bringing her commitment to a new MTV series called "Trippin'," debuting tonight, in which she travels around the world to ecological hotspots, toting an entourage of fish-out-of-water celebrities. On upcoming episodes, rapper DMX will go camping in Yellowstone and Diaz boy toy Justin Timberlake will demonstrate his beat-boxing skills to Masai tribe members in Kenya. My god, our brains might explode with the sheer meta-meta-meta-ironic glory of it all! Diaz is not the only celeb trippin' on the environment. Actors Ed Norton and Matt Damon will each provide narration for upcoming green-themed PBS series. And just yesterday, action movie star -- and, wait, this just in ... we're told he's also governor of California! -- Arnold Schwarzenegger appeared on "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" to demonstrate the wonders of photovoltaic solar panels. Truly, we live in interesting times.
straight to the source: The New York Times, Ned Martel, 28 Mar 2005
<http://grist.org/cgi-bin/forward.pl?forward_id=4646>
straight to the source: San Francisco Chronicle, Associated Press, 26 Mar 2005 <http://grist.org/cgi-bin/forward.pl?forward_id=4647>
AND POD SAID, LET THERE BE LIGHT
Solar-powered iPod to debut next year
Could Apple's iconic pearly white iPod be turning a shade of green? Ever since the iPod hit the market in 2001, the mini music machine has met with staggering success. Last year, hypnotized by that damn U2 song, consumers gobbled up 4.5 million of the gadgets. But all is not well in Apple-ville: The company has received flack from greens about the non-replaceable battery in the iPod, which destines it and its constituent toxic heavy metals for a premature trip to the landfill. Some fans have clamored for a change, and Apple is starting to listen. "It's time for the consumer electronics industry to catch up" to other industries that are going green, said spokesperson Beth Feehan, "and Apple wants to lead the way." Feehan said that the company is developing a solar-powered ePod, which it hopes to unveil by October 2006, and hinted that a biodegradable version of its iPod mini may be in the works as well.
straight to the source: MacHome, Chris Bridges, 28 Mar 2005
<http://grist.org/cgi-bin/forward.pl?forward_id=4693>
straight to the source: MSNBC.com, Associated Press, Artis Ivey Jr., 30 Mar 2005 <http://grist.org/cgi-bin/forward.pl?forward_id=4695>
2.
THE PASSION OF THE CRICHTON
Mel Gibson may direct "State of Fear" movie
Michael Crichton's techno-thriller novel "State of Fear" would seem an obvious gem for Hollywood, what with its exotic locales, action-packed plot, and attractive heroines. But Crichton has had difficulty getting a high-profile director to take the project on -- because, he says, liberal Hollywood blanches at the thought of producing a movie that attacks the theory of global warming. But the author may have found his hero in Mel Gibson, whose "Passion of the Christ" made him the go-to director for movies focusing on, um, topics of interest to far-right conservatives. Gibson and Crichton are reportedly in talks, and should Gibson sign on to the project, filming could begin late this year. Though Gibson declined to comment, Crichton was only too happy to. "It's time for someone to expose the myths perpetrated by scientists and activists who claim we're on a collision course with doom, and no one's better at exposing myths than Mel Gibson," he said.
straight to the source: Hollywood Reporter, Paul Hewson, 01 Apr 2005
<http://grist.org/cgi-bin/forward.pl?forward_id=4695>
3.
BARACK O'BOMBSHELL
Barack Obama plans to resign, renew flagging green movement
Illinois senator and progressive hero Barack Obama (D) provoked a furor yesterday with the announcement that he will resign from the Senate at the end of the year. Instead of fulfilling his term, he plans to head up an environmental coalition called Bright Green Future, with a charter to forge working alliances with labor groups, national security experts, hunting and fishing groups, religious congregations, and, said Obama, "anybody else who shares our vision of a prosperous, sustainable future for America." The coalition has been enthusiastically endorsed in press releases by the Sierra Club, Natural Resources Defense Council, and some 15 other big national green groups. "There's a limit to what we can accomplish in Congress until environmentalism becomes a genuine political force," said Obama. "I'm going to redirect my energy to work toward reviving the momentum behind green issues." The announcement prompted a firestorm of outrage and disappointment in Illinois, where Obama was elected by a wide margin last year. But enviros were ecstatic to find an ally with a proven record of, well, being noticed.
straight to the source: Chicago Sun Times, Cherilyn LaPiere, 01 Apr 2005 <http://grist.org/cgi-bin/forward.pl?forward_id=4694>
straight to the source: The Washington Post, Eve Jihan Jeffers, 01 Apr 2005 <http://grist.org/cgi-bin/forward.pl?forward_id=4695>
4.
GOOD FOR THE GOOSE, GOOD FOR THE PROPAGANDER
"Death" authors tied to government money
Was "Death" a contract hit all along? The news in past months has been rife with stories of creative government efforts to sway the opinions of the citizenry. From prepackaged local "news" segments to pundits like Armstrong Williams being paid to shill for government policies, critics say the line between government propaganda and, well, everything else is fading. Now the issue is hitting home in the environmental movement. It seems that Michael Shellenberger and Ted Nordhaus, authors of the notorious "Death of Environmentalism" paper, have been at the government teat -- namely, being paid by the U.S. EPA. Details of the arrangement are hazy, and still hotly denied by the authors. But an anonymous source inside the agency claims to have documents revealing a contract wherein the authors were commissioned to "think outside the box about the efficacy of environmental regulations, and the environmental movement as a whole" in exchange for payments upward of $75,000. Said Carl Pope, head of the Sierra Club, "If this turns out to be true, I'm going to personally kick their asses."
straight to the source: The New York Times, P. Rogers Nelson, 01 Apr 2005 <http://grist.org/cgi-bin/forward.pl?forward_id=4693>
5.
BYCATCHER IN THE EYE
Iconic Galapagos Islands threatened by longline fishing, other stuff
The Galapagos Islands are iconic for biologists and conservationists, home to a dizzying array of rare and endangered species that inspired Charles Darwin's seminal work on evolution. Today, the entire marine ecosystem surrounding the islands may be in jeopardy. The militant fishing unions that hold sway over the administration of Ecuadorian President Lucio Gutierrez are asking him to permit longline fishing throughout the Galapagos Marine Reserve, an internationally protected area since 1986. Longline fishing involves laying lines that are miles long, strung with hundreds of thousands of baited hooks. In some cases up to 80 percent of the resulting catch consists of dolphins, sea turtles, sea birds, sea lions, and other (tourist-attracting) marine animals. The situation is sufficiently alarming that UNESCO is sending a delegation to the islands in April and may add them to its "danger list" of ecosystems in immediate peril.
straight to the source: The Independent, Daniel Howden and Michael McCarthy, 31 Mar 2005 <http://grist.org/cgi-bin/forward.pl?forward_id=4688>
6.
TODAY A REPORT, TOMORROW ... WELL, WE'LL SEE
Ford acknowledges global warming, but makes no big promises
Pressure from shareholder activists is producing effects at large companies -- if not yet concrete proposals to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions, at least notable signals that they're starting to take global warming seriously. The latest to hop on the bandwagon is Ford Motor Co., expected to announce today that it will produce a report analyzing the range of effects climate change -- and the government regulations and incentives that may be enacted to address it -- could have on its operations. It follows ChevronTexaco and other, smaller U.S. oil companies in pledging to produce such a report; on Tuesday, coal-fired energy giant Cinergy released its own. Of course, Ford's vehicle fleet still has the lowest average fuel economy of any automaker (and word is that the company will be the target of numerous on-the-ground protests tomorrow over that very fact). But Mindy Lubber, who heads shareholder-activist group CERES, believes the report "will end up informing a changed business model for the company."
straight to the source: The Wall Street Journal, Jeffrey Ball, 31 Mar 2005 (access ain't free) <http://grist.org/cgi-bin/forward.pl?forward_id=4684>
see also, in Gristmill: Fossil Foolishness -- Ford takes a small step on climate just as activists gear up for protests against the company <http://gristmill.grist.org/story/2005/3/31/11835/6876>
see also, in Grist: Not Just Lippman Service -- Steve Lippman, expert on shareholder activism and green investing, InterActivates
<http://grist.org/cgi-bin/forward.pl?forward_id=4475>
7.
UNDERMINED
Ruling halts proposed mine under wilderness area, for now
Plans to build a massive copper and silver mine beneath Montana's Cabinet Mountain Wilderness was successfully halted (again) yesterday when a federal judge ruled that U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service officials put the area's bull trout and grizzly bears at risk by approving the mine. The ruling orders the FWS to amend the biological opinion it issued in 2003 that concluded the Rock Creek mine -- which would produce some 10,000 tons of silver and copper ore per day for 35 years and pour over 3 million gallons of wastewater per day into an area river -- posed "no jeopardy" to the trout or grizzlies. An earlier biological opinion, issued in 2000, concluded that the mine would in fact "jeopardize" the bears unless special measures were taken for their protection, but the agency signed off on the mine anyway. A coalition of enviros sued, forcing the FWS to reconsider, eventually leading to the weaker 2003 decision. Yesterday's ruling again orders reconsideration.
straight to the source: Missoulian, Michael Jamison, 31 Mar 2005
<http://grist.org/cgi-bin/forward.pl?forward_id=4686>
8.
JE SYRACUSE
Onondaga Nation sues for land rights in New York state
The Onondaga Nation earlier this month filed a lawsuit claiming ownership of some 3,100 square miles of New York state, including Onondaga Lake in northwest Syracuse -- a large body of water to which the community claims to have ancestral connection. That lake also happens to be one of the most polluted in the country; once a source of trout and medicines, the lake was used for decades as a dump site for industrial wastes and is now a Superfund site awaiting cleanup. In their lawsuit, the Onondaga are not asking to uproot current residents or for monetary compensation; instead, they want the right to influence major policy decisions regarding the environment of their ancestral lands, as well as increased agricultural and housing opportunities and the ability to protect ancestors' gravesites. The Onondagas feel they were not properly consulted before the state's announcement of a $448 million lake cleanup proposal, which they believe is inadequate. "This is our home, this is where our history is, and it was treated as a trash dump," said Brad Powless, an Onondaga chief.
straight to the source: The New York Times, Kirk Semple, 31 Mar 2005
<http://grist.org/cgi-bin/forward.pl?forward_id=4683>
9.
DOOM AND GLOOM WITH A SENSE OF, UH ... DOOM
Comprehensive assessment of world's ecosystems released; be very afraid
The largest and most comprehensive assessment of the world's ecosystems ever undertaken was released today, and the results constitute a "stark warning" that "the ability of the planet's ecosystems to sustain future generations can no longer be taken for granted," according to the 45-member board of the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment. The study was written by 1,360 experts from 95 countries, including government officials, scientists, members of civil-society groups and indigenous tribes, and industry representatives, under the rubric of the U.N. Environment Program, using widely agreed-upon scientific evidence. It warns of rapid decline in biodiversity and freshwater availability, and says the likelihood of disease outbreaks (a la SARS), "dead zones" in coastal waters, and destructive climate shifts will rise sharply in the coming 50 years. It recommends means of slowing some of the damage -- developing markets for freshwater, improving forestry practices, removing some agricultural subsidies -- but stresses that none of those means are yet being applied.
straight to the source: The Philadelphia Inquirer, Seth Borenstein, 30 Mar 2005 <http://grist.org/cgi-bin/forward.pl?forward_id=4676>
straight to the source: Scripps Howard News Service, Joan Lowy, 29 Mar 2005 <http://grist.org/cgi-bin/forward.pl?forward_id=4678>
straight to the source: The Washington Post, Shankar Vedantam, 30 Mar 2005 <http://grist.org/cgi-bin/forward.pl?forward_id=4679>
straight to the source: Planet Ark, Reuters, Alister Doyle, 30 Mar 2005
<http://grist.org/cgi-bin/forward.pl?forward_id=4680>
10.
LICE AGE
Farmed salmon infect wild stocks with sea lice, study finds
A new study of wild and farmed salmon in the Pacific Northwest reveals that farmed salmon breed parasitic sea lice that infect juvenile wild salmon swimming nearby and could affect stocks of other important commercial species. A Canadian research trio looked at some 5,500 young salmon as they swam through a narrow channel past a salmon farm, and they recorded unnaturally high rates of lice infestation as the small fish migrated through a cloud of lice stretching nearly 19 miles around the farm, which itself is only about one-eighth of a mile. "Conservatively, this means that the parasite footprint of the farm is 150 times larger than the farm itself," said study coauthor John Volpe. But the troublesome parasites aren't the only nasties to come out of fish farms; a study in the journal Science last year found more cancer-causing PCBs in farmed fish than in their wild-caught counterparts, and in Europe, chemicals used to control the parasites and dye the salmon pink have led enviros to encourage boycotts of farm-raised salmon.
straight to the source: The New York Times, Cornelia Dean, 30 Mar 2005 <http://grist.org/cgi-bin/forward.pl?forward_id=4674>
straight to the source: Seattle Post-Intelligencer, John Heilprin, 30 Mar 2005 <http://grist.org/cgi-bin/forward.pl?forward_id=4675>
11.
ALL YOUR BASE ARE BEFOULED BY US
Military base closures leave behind toxic, uninhabitable land
Military bases frequently serve as economic engines for the communities they inhabit, and with what could be the biggest round of base closures ever on its way from the Department of Defense, those communities hope that developing the land freed up by the closed bases will replace some of the lost revenue. But they may be out of luck: The bases frequently leave behind contaminated water, asbestos-ridden soil, unexploded munitions, the presence of endangered species, and a variety of other environmental concerns that can make development more expensive than it's worth. Since the late '80s, the DoD has spent some $12 billion on environmental cleanup at closed bases, but one-third of that land remains uninhabitable thanks primarily to toxic contamination. Developers have sued the military over contamination on some bases, but even for residents on adjoining land -- suffering from cancer, miscarriages, and other ailments -- "every bit of cleanup they get is a struggle," said Tara Thornton of the Military Toxics Project.
straight to the source: Scripps Howard News Service, Joan Lowy, 29 Mar 2005 <http://grist.org/cgi-bin/forward.pl?forward_id=4677>
see also, in Grist: There's No Base Like Home -- Is contaminated housing poisoning military families? -- By Justin Scheck
<http://grist.org/cgi-bin/forward.pl?forward_id=4681>
12.
ROUTE SCOOTIN' BOOGIE
Shell alters pipeline route to spare whale feeding grounds
It's one small step for environmentalists, one giant leap for endangered gray whales: Energy giant Royal Dutch/Shell has agreed to alter the planned route of a massive oil and gas pipeline off of Russia's Sakhalin island by 12 miles to preserve the charismatic mammal's feeding grounds. Shell and its partners bowed to pressure from enviros concerned that the project could harm the roughly 100 gray whales remaining off the island with noise, ship traffic, and possible oil spillage. The project has been delayed since last April after Shell's own research revealed that work in the area could harm the whales. Though the new route "does avoid the whale feeding areas quite significantly," said John Kidd of the World Conservation Union, "there are still concerns" because a longer pipeline "obviously increases the risk of spillage once the pipeline is in operation."
straight to the source: Bloomberg.com, 30 Mar 2005
<http://grist.org/cgi-bin/forward.pl?forward_id=4672>
straight to the source: San Francisco Chronicle, Associated Press, Alex Nicholson, 30 Mar 2005 <http://grist.org/cgi-bin/forward.pl?forward_id=4673>
13.
DON'T THINK OF THE ENVIRONMENT
Enviros recruit Lakoff for reframing project, but will he come through?
The mere mention of framing guru George Lakoff sends progressives into weak-kneed, hankie-to-the-forehead swoons. Apparently tree-huggers are no exception, as the Green Group -- a behind-the-scenes coalition of top enviro group leaders -- contracted last year with Lakoff for an ambitious project to reframe environmental issues, to the tune of some $350,000. Thus far, however, the project has produced nothing except a report stating the obvious: enviros aren't framing their issues well. So, um, what's up with the other $349,995? Find out the state of play in Muckraker -- today on the Grist Magazine website.
today in Grist: Lakoff's green reframing project up in the air -- in Muckraker <http://grist.org/cgi-bin/forward.pl?forward_id=4667>
sign up: Receive word by email each time a new Muckraker column hits the scene <http://grist.org/cgi-bin/signmeup.pl?source=daily>
14.
CLIMB EVERY MOUNTAIN. THEN REMOVE IT.
Activists plan summer of mountaintop-removal protests
Environmental activists are planning a summer of focused protest against mountaintop-removal coal mining in West Virginia and surrounding coal states. "Mountain Justice Summer" will call for nonviolent protests against this highly destructive mining technique, whereby entire mountaintops are bulldozed into surrounding valleys to uncover large coal seams. Activists will likely block roads, bar access to mines and mining offices, engage in civil disobedience, and maybe even perform a bit o' the old monkeywrenching. Events are being sponsored by an EarthFirst! chapter in Tennessee, while the event kickoff Thursday will be hosted by West Virginia-based enviro group Coal River Mountain Watch. "[W]e think it's time to get a little more confrontational," said EF! volunteer John Johnson, explaining that lobbying and conventional tactics have failed. MJS is seeking volunteers (hey students, this could be more educational than that summer internship you were eyeing!).
straight to the source: Charleston Gazette, Ken Ward Jr., 28 Mar 2005
<http://grist.org/cgi-bin/forward.pl?forward_id=4659>
see also, in Grist: An interview with Julia Bonds, head of Coal River Mountain Watch and winner of a Goldman prize
<http://grist.org/cgi-bin/forward.pl?forward_id=4666>
do good: Check out Mountain Justice Summer
<http://mountainjusticesummer.org/>
15.
A LITTLE CRAB'LL DO YA
New Chesapeake Bay conservation ads appeal to appetites
The Chesapeake Bay Program's current public-education campaign features the catchy, slogan "Save the Crabs ... Then Eat 'Em," sure to enrage easily enraged animal-rights activists everywhere. Via billboards, TV commercials, and print ads, the campaign asks area residents to wait until fall to fertilize their lawns. Spring rains can carry typically toxic lawn chemicals out to crab territory during prime mating season and cause the crustaceans to "suffocate slowly from lack of oxygen," the ads explain. With blue crab harvests close to record lows, the campaign managers hope their outside-the-box advertising tactics will grab the attention of the Chesapeake Bay-area public -- 90 percent of whom are concerned about pollution in the bay, a recent survey indicates. "It's a lighter approach to a serious issue," says program spokesperson Christopher Conner. "It's about getting people engaged, reaching them through their seafood."
straight to the source: Los Angeles Times, Justin Dickerson, 27 Mar 2005 <http://grist.org/cgi-bin/forward.pl?forward_id=4658>
16.
OIL TOGETHER NOW
Bipartisan coalition presses Bush to get behind oil-use reduction
Lambasting U.S. oil addiction: It's not just for America-hating radical homosexual vegetarian Schiavo-killing eco-terrorists anymore! A growing bipartisan coalition is arguing that U.S. dependence on foreign oil is a serious national security threat. Today, a letter signed by 26 former national-security officials from both Republican and Democratic administrations is winging its way to the White House, bearing a plea for President Bush to kick off "a major new initiative to curtail U.S. consumption." "I don't often find myself in agreement with those at the Natural Resources Defense Council, but ... I do think there is common ground," said neocon Frank Gaffney, a former Reagan administration official. The letter was organized by the bipartisan Energy Future Coalition, which arose in the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks to advocate for tighter fuel-economy standards and higher subsidies for alternative fuels. Auto-worker unions, automakers, and farming groups -- traditional foes of environmental groups -- are on board, perhaps more comfortable around the manly men of the national-security apparatus.
straight to the source: The Wall Street Journal, John J. Fialka and Jeffrey Ball, 28 Mar 2005 (access ain't free)
<http://grist.org/cgi-bin/forward.pl?forward_id=4644>
17.
BAN OF THE CAVE BUG
High court to decide whether to hear challenge to Endangered Species Act
The fate of the Endangered Species Act may rest in the hands of the U.S. Supreme Court, if they decide in coming weeks to hear a case from a Texas man hoping to remove development restrictions on his land. Revoking the ESA protection of the tiny cave bugs inhabiting Fred Purcell's property would, of course, also affect protection for some 600 other species. Financed by the American Land Foundation, which uses landowner donations to fight development restrictions, Purcell's lawsuit began in 1999 and argues that the government should never have been given the right to protect rare species like the cave bugs, which have no commercial value and are found only in Texas -- meaning they don't cross state lines and, Purcell's lawyers argue, should be a state matter. Although the Supreme Court has rejected similar cases in the past and greens say chances are slim that the case will be heard, property-rights advocates are hopeful that this is the case they've been waiting for to undermine the ESA.
straight to the source: Los Angeles Times, Scott Gold, 28 Mar 2005
<http://grist.org/cgi-bin/forward.pl?forward_id=4645>
18. BOG BITES MAN
Everglades restoration stagnating after five years
Restoration of the Florida Everglades is, well, a bit bogged down, according to a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers internal memo. Written by Everglades project manager Gary Hardesty, the memo was addressed to Army Corps colleagues preparing to write a five-year update on the 30-year restoration plans. Hardesty noted that the undertaking was over budget, behind schedule, slowed by paper pushing, and facing negativity from the Hill. "We haven't built a single project during the first five years," the memo states. April Gromnicki of Audubon Everglades says the memo's frankness is an indication that the Army Corps will produce an "honest assessment of the current state of Everglades restoration." But others worry that the memo's admissions about ballooning costs -- including a $1 billion price increase for the first four projects -- and questions about the project's science could simply give critics additional impetus to siphon money away from the already pricey venture.
straight to the source: Sun-Sentinel, Neil Santaniello, 28 Mar 2005
<http://grist.org/cgi-bin/forward.pl?forward_id=4643>
19.
GIRL, YOU TRIPPIN'!
Cameron, Arnold lead brigade of celeb eco-spokesfolk
What formative experiences led to movie star and galactic hottie Cameron Diaz's commitment to the environment? "Nothing, dude. Life! Life!" We couldn't have said it better. Or hotter. Diaz will be bringing her commitment to a new MTV series called "Trippin'," debuting tonight, in which she travels around the world to ecological hotspots, toting an entourage of fish-out-of-water celebrities. On upcoming episodes, rapper DMX will go camping in Yellowstone and Diaz boy toy Justin Timberlake will demonstrate his beat-boxing skills to Masai tribe members in Kenya. My god, our brains might explode with the sheer meta-meta-meta-ironic glory of it all! Diaz is not the only celeb trippin' on the environment. Actors Ed Norton and Matt Damon will each provide narration for upcoming green-themed PBS series. And just yesterday, action movie star -- and, wait, this just in ... we're told he's also governor of California! -- Arnold Schwarzenegger appeared on "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" to demonstrate the wonders of photovoltaic solar panels. Truly, we live in interesting times.
straight to the source: The New York Times, Ned Martel, 28 Mar 2005
<http://grist.org/cgi-bin/forward.pl?forward_id=4646>
straight to the source: San Francisco Chronicle, Associated Press, 26 Mar 2005 <http://grist.org/cgi-bin/forward.pl?forward_id=4647>
posted by T. Scott Brineman at 8:28 PM
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