I know...I know....I promised an all good news version, but I think I'll leave that one for the weekend when we will all need to have a few rays of hope on the weekend we reflect on the gifts that our soldiers both past and present have given us.
Now...Environmental News to USE.
First toys, now imported fish tainted. The vast majority of seafood in the U.S. is imported and it poses a risk because much of the food is pumped with illegal antibiotics, experts say. ABC News.
Why our farm policy is failing. We're not a people of the soil anymore but farms still cover most of our land, consume most of our water and produce most of our food. Time Magazine.
Imported seafood can be dangerous, U.S. government cracks down. The overwhelming majority of the seafood we eat is imported, which has raised some concerns. Jacksonville KLTV
Food recalls likely to become more common. Consumers suffering from recall fatigue should get used to news of contaminated food as underfunded regulatory agencies struggle to police a burgeoning food system that's supplied by all corners of the world market, food safety experts said yesterday. Baltimore Sun
Mattel recalls 155,000 Mexican-made toys. Mattel Inc, the world's largest toymaker, has recalled 155,000 of its products made in Mexico over safety concerns, an official at the company told Reuters on Tuesday. Reuters.
Victorian govt bans toxic toy Bindeez. The Australian Toy of the Year, Bindeez, has been banned in Victoria after it was found to contain a chemical that converts into the illegal drug fantasy when swallowed. Australian Associated Press.
Beyond the age of petroleum. This past May, in an unheralded and almost unnoticed move, the Energy Department signaled a fundamental, near epochal shift in US and indeed world history: we are nearing the end of the Petroleum Age and have entered the Age of Insufficiency. The Nation.
Shipping pollution linked to deaths. A new health study links air pollution generated by international shipping to more than 60,000 premature deaths across the globe annually, including as many as 8,800 in North America. Long Beach Press-Telegram
Claimants offer Grace proposal. Committees representing current and future asbestos-related claimants have proposed reorganization plan for W.R. Grace & Co. that estimates asbestos liability to be "at least" $4 billion. Baltimore Sun
NASA's remote sensing technology helps predict future pandemic outbreaks. NASA scientists have devised a method to predict future outbreaks of infectious diseases by using remote sensing technology to observe environmental changes in various parts of the Earth. Asian News International
Switch to coal threatens to worsen global warming. A massive switch to burning coal will make it harder to limit global warming in the coming 25 years, warns a major report on global energy trends from the International Energy Agency and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. New Scientist
Woodland Hills firm accused of shipping salmonella-tainted seeds to Vegas. Los Angeles City Atty. Rocky Delgadillo filed misdemeanor charges today against a Woodland Hills company accused of shipping 4,000 bags of sesame seeds contaminated with salmonella bacteria to Las Vegas. Los Angeles Times
Global-warming gases set to rise by 57 percent by 2030: IEA. Emissions of greenhouse gases will rise by 57 percent by 2030 compared to current levels, leading to a rise in Earth's surface temperature of at least three degrees Celsius (5.4 degrees Fahrenheit), the International Energy Agency (IEA) said on Wednesday. Agence France-Presse.
Climate change could diminish drinking water more than expected. As sea levels rise, coastal communities could lose up to 50 percent more of their fresh water supplies than previously thought, according to a new study from Ohio State University. SPX.
Reduced ocean life, increased air pollution. Findings indicate that alarming new satellite data show warming of the world's ocean is reducing ocean life while contributing to increased global warming. New India Press
This fall's foliage goes from green to gone. Scientists project that climate change will lead to longer summers in Illinois, which could delay frosts that trigger leaves to change colors. Chicago Tribune
China bolsters Antarctica posts. China is building its third research station in Antarctica, shoring up its presence just weeks after the UK and Chile made renewed territorial claims. BBC
Now with extra crunchy GOOD NEWS!
Power revolution. Thanks to Silicon Valley's money and ideas, solar and other alternative technologies may finally pay off. US News & World Report.
At these restaurants, 'eating green' doesn't necessarily mean ordering a salad. With the average eatery producing 275 pounds of waste a day, some are adopting environmentally friendly approaches. Christian Science Monitor.
Eat more chocolate and help the environment. Chocoholics can assuage any guilt they may feel after a new process was developed that turns the by-products of making chocolate into a biofuel. Reuters.
Green shoots of discovery. Fancy a share of £100,000? Cash awards are on offer for anyone coming up with bright ideas that will help to counter climate change. London Guardian
A food bill, not a farm bill. A new bipartisan approach to the national farm bill offers the Senate a chance to break from the big-crop subsidies that fatten the American waistline and steal markets from farmers in developing countries all over the world. Boston Globe
Zip along with shared cars, bikes. Last week's merger of two member-based, by-the-hour car-rental companies points to a noteworthy development in transport: car-sharing as a way to replace car-owning and to cut costs, energy use, and congestion. Christian Science Monitor.
Keep working for clean water. Many landmark events made headlines in 1972. The Watergate scandal and Vietnam War dominated the news. It was also the year the nation passed the Clean Water Act, ambitious legislation designed to improve water quality and protect public health around the nation. Salem Statesman Journal
Trade agreements must reflect rise of 'green' consciousness. In our globalized world, U.S. international policies - including trade agreements - should reinforce sustainable practices too. San Jose Mercury News
Green machine. Donald J. Tilley isn't joking when he asks how many people it takes to change a light bulb and cut local energy costs by $2.9 million a year - at the same time reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 45 million pounds. Bay City Times