Your Environmental News...to Use.
Getting cozy with Conoco? Scandal continues to haunt Washington, and the latest allegations involve two top environmental regulators. Living On Earth.
Fargo's environment better than S.D.'s? Oh, you betcha. San Diegans love to crow about the region's weather and natural beauty, but a new analysis of urban areas nationwide shows the city isn't nearly as environmentally healthy as many locals might think. San Diego Union-Tribune
Katrina update: Bush's friend in the Upper Ninth. After the storm, President Bush visited Ethel Williams and promised that the federal government would help her rebuild. But Williams still has not had her house rebuilt. National Public Radio.
Enter the obesogen. Exposure in the womb to certain chemicals may lead to obesity, according to a panel of experts in a symposium at the AAAS meeting in San Francisco. Economist.
Farmers feeding a desire for fresher produce. Full Circle is among the growing number of farms that focus on selling directly to customers, whether it's at neighborhood farmers markets or through subscriptions for delivery of weekly produce boxes. Seattle Post-Intelligencer
Is San Luis Obispo County designed for healthy living? Facing high rates of obesity, asthma and heart disease, health officials are calling on community planners and elected officials in San Luis Obispo County to consider how community design can promote or discourage healthy living. San Luis Obispo Tribune
Senator's new views on climate surprise foes. Environmentalists were shocked last month when Sen. Ted Stevens of Alaska introduced a bill that would require cars to be more fuel efficient, a move he said would reduce greenhouse gases. St. Petersburg Times
Under an Arizona sun. Scientists say that the western part of the United States is feeling the effects of climate change more than the East right now. And one part of the West where changes are becoming more tangible is Arizona. What does the future hold for Arizona? Living On Earth.
Feinstein tactic on her first bill to affect climate -- start small. The fight against global warming isn't going to be an easy victory in Congress, and environmentalists might have to make some compromises they'd rather avoid, Sen. Dianne Feinstein said Friday at a UC Berkeley conference on climate change. San Francisco Chronicle
Feinstein tackles global warming. Sen. Dianne Feinstein is calling for "bold action" to stem greenhouse gas emissions and said America must become a global leader on the issue. Oakland Tribune
California poised to require emission data on new-car labels. California is preparing to label new autos to show for the first time the vehicles' annual emissions of so-called greenhouse gases linked to global warming. Los Angeles Times
Polk Award. Living on Earth shares this year’s prestigious George Polk award for radio journalism, for the series "Early Signs: Reports from a Warming Planet." Living On Earth.
Labour accused of climate bill chaos. Labour was accused of downgrading its commitment to tackle global warming yesterday as Tony Blair and David Miliband, the Environment Secretary, were charged with reneging on a promise to introduce a Climate Change Bill. London Daily Telegraph
Europe warns Greece to curb pollution. European Commissioner Stavros Dimas yesterday warned Greece to reduce its carbon dioxide emissions and embrace cleaner energies or face 'irreversible consequences'. Kathimerini
Global warming endangers harp seal pups - report. Global warming is making it harder for newborn harp seals to survive in the Gulf of St. Lawrence and off Newfoundland in Canada, the International Fund for Animal Welfare reported on Friday. Reuters.
Climate change, cod decline, changing life in Atlantic. Climate change is partly responsible for a rapid change in the ecosystem along the continental shelf waters of the Northwest Atlantic. CBC Canada
Area man produces his own electricity. Bob Martin wasn't worrying about peak oil production or pollution when he got involved with solar power. The first solar power system he installed was just a practical way to bring electricity to a dock he owned. Baxter Bulletin
Lake Superior is heating up. Duluth researchers say Lake Superior is quickly warming, even faster than the climate around the lake. Minnesota Public Radio
Larger dead zones form off Oregon coast. Unprecedented recent changes in the yearly pattern of ocean currents off North America's West Coast have wreaked havoc on aquatic ecosystems there. Science News
KKR lining up $32bn buyout of Texas utility. The private equity firms Kohlberg Kravis Roberts (KKR) and Texas Pacific Group are lining up a bid for the US utility group TXU Corp in what could be the largest buyout in history. London Times
TXU sale could cost $32 billion. Private investment companies are close to a deal to buy Texas utilities giant TXU Corp.. The sale will include "not only the acquisition, but some very major announcements related to global warming." Los Angeles Times
TXU may get record buyout. The purchase would take TXU private. TXU is facing public and political backlash over a plan to build 11 more coal-fired power plants and over high electricity prices. Dallas Morning News
Oil prices driving U.S. military to alternative energy sources. In the next few months, U.S. troops at an outpost somewhere in Iraq will unpack a mini power station capable of producing electricity from both solar and wind sources. CanWest News
Chevron bets on Galveston biodiesel plant. Next month, the world will get a glimpse of what Big Oil can bring to the fast-growing alternative fuels movement when a new biodiesel plant here, backed by a major U.S. oil company, opens for business. Houston Chronicle
Local farmers react to Japanese beef on U.S. Senate menu. Japanese beef is a sensitive issue for many farm-state lawmakers, as Japan resumed limited U.S. beef imports last year after a ban that lasted more than two years. The ban, issued because of concerns about mad cow disease, irked American ranchers and caused a strain between the two countries. Frederick News-Post
Choking toxic sand storms head for S Korea. South Korea said a pall of sand mixed with toxic dust from China could make its way to the Korean peninsula late on Thursday, starting a seasonal event blamed for scores of deaths and billions of dollars in damages. Reuters.
High levels of uranium, radon found in water supply. A survey done on villages across Korea revealed potentially hazardous uranium levels in the drinking water. Seoul Hankyoreh
Birds of prey are a pollution magnet. China's birds of prey are carrying an unexpected cargo: record-breaking amounts of flame retardant, which seems to be accumulating in animals to a much greater degree than anyone thought. New Scientist
Chinese banks to blacklist polluting firms. Chinese enterprises that violate environmental protection rules will find it hard to secure bank loans, according to the State Environmental Protection Administration (SEPA). Xinhua News Agency
City choking on e-waste; spews out 19,000 tonnes annually. Mumbai faces grave health and environmental risks posed by a whopping 19,000 tonnes of electronic waste produced here apart from a good amount of the same being imported clandestinely, a new report has revealed. The Hindu
Mexican trucks coming. U.S. and Mexican leaders announced a test Friday to allow Mexican trucks full access to the state and the rest of the nation, a move that alarms air quality regulators who believe it will foul Southern California's air and crumble its roads. Los Angeles Daily News