Pressure Grows on Bush as Libby
Charged with Lying to Grand Jury |
The Bush presidency was profoundly damaged yesterday when Lewis Libby, a top White House official who helped push for the Iraq invasion, was charged with obstruction of justice, lying to the FBI and committing perjury before a grand jury. Mr Libby immediately resigned his post as chief of staff to the vice-president, Dick Cheney. The president's own chief political adviser, Karl Rove, escaped indictment, but was warned that he was still under investigation in the case. full story |
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Can They Build a Future? |
In the early morning chill, Kashechewan's sick and vulnerable huddled together in small groups yesterday near the gravel airstrip that is their only year-round link with the outside world. Some of the smaller children had pus-filled sores and blisters on their hands that their parents blame on the E. coli that has infected the drinking water. Others complained of itchy skin and painful rashes they say were caused by chlorine used in a futile attempt to kill the bacteria. full story |
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Conservation of American
Landscape Treasures Underfunded |
New oil and gas development in the West and increasing numbers of visitors are impacting the lands and waters of the 26 million acre National Landscape Conservation System, but inadequate funding and staffing of the Bureau of Land Management means the agency lacks the means to address these threats, new research reveals. “Conservation is supposed to be the priority for these places but BLM simply is not getting the job done.” full story |
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A Rapid Warm-up For the Northwest |
There are growing indications that the Pacific Northwest, from Oregon to British Columbia to Alaska, is warming up faster than elsewhere on the planet, a trend that's likely to accelerate, according to scientists at the University of Washington in. Glaciers and snowpacks in the Cascade and Olympic Mountains are shrinking. So is Arctic sea ice in Alaska, where the permafrost in some areas is turning mushy. full story |
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Half of the World's Coral Reefs
Could Be Dead in 40 Years |
International scientists are calling for a global network of marine-protected areas to conserve dwindling fish stocks and dying coral reefs. The World Conservation Union meeting in Geelong, west of Melbourne, heard yesterday that half of the world's reefs could be lost in the next 40 years unless measures were taken to protect them against climate change and pollution. full story |
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Pombo Would Sell Federally
Protected Lands to Mining Companies |
The House Resources Committee is set to vote today on a budget measure that would give mining corporations control over much of America’s federal public land. The budget reconciliation proposal put forward by Resources Committee Chairman Richard Pombo, a California Republican, would allow foreign and U.S. mining corporations to buy millions of acres of public lands in the West, including land in national parks, wilderness and other protected areas. full story |
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Warm Oceans Threaten Caribbean Coral Reefs |
The extremely warm ocean waters fueling this season's record hurricane season are stressing coral reefs throughout the Caribbean and may kill 80% to 90% of the structures in some areas, scientists reported Monday. These colorful undersea landmarks, homes for tropical fish, are bleaching, in an area extending from the Florida Keys to Puerto Rico and Panama because of warmer-than-usual water that has persisted in the Atlantic for months. full story |
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Amazon Drought Worst in 100 Years |
Manaus, capital of the state of Amazonas, and the entire eastern region of the state are suffering the worst drought in more than a century. A government scientist who calls it an "atypical" drought says it is chiefly caused by warmer ocean temperatures. In the eastern part of the region, this is the worst drought in the last 50 or 60 years, he estimates. The governor of Amazonas state has declared a crisis due to the drought. full story |
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Warm Earth, Bigger Storms |
Scientists say there's strong evidence that warming of the planet's oceans and atmosphere -- the result mainly of rising levels of manmade "greenhouse" gases -- increases the probability of extreme weather. That means greater chances for heavy rain and snowstorms, more of the most intense hurricanes and more extreme heat waves and droughts.
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Products of Nanotechology Can Be Harmful |
The products of nanotechnology, substances engineered up to 1,000 times smaller than bacteria, are flowing into everyday life, in cosmetics, sunscreens, clothing and microelectronics. Down at such scales, matter acts differently. Aluminum can become an explosive. Carbon becomes a semiconductor and so much stronger than steel that NASA has challenged scientists to raise an elevator to space on lightweight, carbon nanotubes. full story |
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Breakup of Glaciers Raising Sea Level Concern |
In a new report to be released in the journal Science, researchers outline dynamic mechanisms of glacial change that appear to be under way, could significantly speed up the melting of major ice sheets, and have not been considered in current projections for sea level rise. A possibility, scientists say, is that the melting and collapse of floating ice shelves near the coasts of Greenland and Antarctica will continue and in the process destabilize the ice sheets behind them. full story |
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Global Warming A Major Threat in Africa |
Deadly epidemics. Ruined crops. The extinction of some of Africa's wildlife. The potential consequences of global warming could be devastating for the world's poorest continent, yet its nations are among the least equipped to cope. The ice cap is receding on Mount Kilimanjaro. Desertification is spreading. Droughts, flooding and other extreme weather events are becoming more frequent and severe. Numerous plant and animal species are in decline. full story |
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Sick Babies Add to Chechen Woes |
The arrival of a new baby at Grozny’s Central Maternity Hospital is often far from the joyous occasion it should be. Babies are born sick more often now than ever before, some made ill by the effects of environmental contamination. Doctors say more than half the babies delivered there have serious illnesses. Nationwide, the statistics are just as grim, with every fifth baby born with health problems such as pneumonia or defects of the heart and nervous system. full story |
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U.S. Navy Sued to Block Mid-frequency Sonar Harmful to Whales |
Loud as a rocket launch, sonar used across the world’s oceans during testing and training by the U.S. Navy harms marine mammals in violation of U.S. environmental laws, claims a lawsuit filed here today in federal court by a coalition of conservation and animal welfare orgs. Whales, dolphins and other marine animals could be spared injury and death with common sense precautions, but the Navy refuses to implement them, according to the NRDC lawsuit. full story |
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Panama Bay Protected for
Millions of Migrating Shorebirds |
Shorebirds, hawks and songbirds winging their way on a 20,000 mile round trip from pole to pole at heights of 20,000 feet, stop to feed and rest at Panama Bay. Counts of shorebirds along the Panama coast at times are among the highest in the Western Hemisphere. Today, the Upper Bay of Panama won a conservation status that ensures the migrating birds will be able to rest and feed there for generations. full story |
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Rain Replaces Snow as Puget Sound Warms |
Temperatures in the Pacific Northwest have been rising faster than the global average, finds a new report. Lake Washington is warmer, there is evidence of rising temperatures in the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and snowfalls are giving way to rain. A warming climate has already "profoundly altered the Puget Sound environment," the research team writes, saying that "bigger, more severe problems" are likely to be in store for the region. full story |
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The Future of The Earth:
Is This The End of The World? |
The earth shakes in Asia and a generation of children is lost. The wind flails America and a city is destroyed. A giant wave rises in the Indian Ocean and whole islands are drowned along with swathes of coastland. The sea is turning to acid, the air is choking us, the polar ice caps are melting. Famine, pestilence and plague used to be dread words from the Bible; now they are reasons for compassion fatigue.
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Baby Products Found to
Contain Hazardous Chemicals |
Toxic chemicals can be found in common baby products in the United States, such as teethers, bath books, and sleep accessories, according to a new report released today by the Maryland Public Interest Research Group (MaryPIRG) based on testing of these items. "The Right Start: The Need to Eliminate Toxic Chemicals from Baby Products," documents toxic chemicals, including phthalates and PBDEs, in commercially available products. full story |
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Abuse, Forced Labor Rampant in
New Orleans Justice System |
When Robert Davis emerged from the temporary detention center in New Orleans, his eye was swollen nearly shut, his face was bruised, and he had a couple of stitches under his left eye. He told The NewStandard that police had beaten him and then charged him with public intoxication and battery, even though he had not had a drink in 25 years and had merely asked a police officer to leave him alone.
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World Urged to Prepare Now for
50 Million Environmental Refugees |
Within the next five years, as many as 50 million people will be environmental refugees, on the move to escape the effects of creeping environmental deterioration, according to United Nations University experts. Problems such as sea level rise, expanding deserts, and flooding induced by catastrophic weather events have already contributed to large permanent migrations and "could eventually displace hundreds of millions" of people. full story |
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Persistent Red Tide Takes Toll
on Florida Sea Life and Tourism |
Even when the beaches are free of dead fish and bad smells, it is evident: Coughing, sniffling and itchy, teary eyes confirm that red tide is out there, killing sea life by the ton and tainting the air along Florida's southwest coast for a ninth straight month. "The earth is an entity just like us, and it's saying, 'You're abusing me bad,' " said Juda Bynum, feeling the familiar catch in her throat as she watched the sun set over Bradenton Beach one night this week. full story |
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Bush: God Told Me to Invade Iraq |
President George Bush has claimed he was told by God to invade Iraq and attack Osama bin Laden's stronghold of Afghanistan as part of a divine mission to bring peace to the Middle East, security for Israel, and a state for the Palestinians. The President made the assertion during his first meeting with Palestinian leaders in 6/03, according to a BBC series which will be broadcast this month. full story |
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Climate Change And Pollution
Are Killing Millions, Says Study |
Almost 1/5 of all ill health in poor countries and millions of deaths can be attributed to environmental factors, including climate change and pollution. Unsafe water, poor sanitation and hygiene as well as indoor and outdoor air pollution are all said to be killing people and preventing economic development. In addition, says the bank, increasing soil pollution, pesticides, hazardous waste and chemicals in food are significantly affecting health and economies. full story |
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Some Experts Say It's Time
to Evacuate the Coast (for Good) |
As the Gulf Coast reels from two catastrophic storms in a month, and the Carolinas and Florida deal with damage and debris from hurricanes this year and last, even some supporters of coastal development are starting to ask a previously unthinkable question: is it time to consider retreat from the coast? Yes, said Howard Marlowe, a lobbying firm that represents counties and local govts., often in seeking support for coastal infrastructure, like roads, sewers and beach replenishment. full story |
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Tourists Destroy Unique
Turtle Habitat on Greek Island |
Thousands of summer tourists, illegal sunbeds, umbrellas, bars and boats have once again invaded and irreparably damaged Greece’s National Marine Park of Zakynthos, pushing the Mediterranean’s largest nesting population of loggerhead turtles towards extinction, WWF warned today. The situation in Zakynthos is totally unacceptable, violations within the protected area happen every day," said Demetres Karavellas, WWF-Greece's chief executive officer full story |
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Global Sea Levels Could Rise 30 cm by 2100 - Study |
World sea levels could rise 30 centimetres (12 inches) by the end of the century and freak weather will become more common due to rapid global warming, according to a new study by a leading German research institute. The Max Planck Institute for Meteorology in Hamburg said computer models it had created showed the average global temperature could rise by as much as 4.1 Celsius by 2100, melting sea-ice in the Arctic. full story |
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