Archives for February 2014

EPA considers blocking massive gold mine proposed for Alaska

A worker with the Pebble Mine project test drills in the Bristol Bay region of Alaska. (Al Grillo/Associated Press)February 28, 2014, www.washingtonpost.com | “The Environmental Protection Agency announced Friday it will examine whether to block a massive gold and copper mine proposed in Alaska — a major win for environmentalists, native tribes and commercial fishing companies that have been seeking to kill the project for more than three years.”

Thanks to Anita Andazola for reminding me about Bristol Bay
EPA considers blocking massive gold mine proposed for Alaska
www.washingtonpost.com
EPA’s decision to study Pebble Mine plan is a major win for environmentalists, native tribes and commercial fishing companies.
  • Nurjamila Elliott, Luz Engelbrecht, and Shalahnia Riversong like this.

LA City Council moves forward with effort to ban fracking (Updated)

High Oil Prices Continue To Drive Gas Prices Steadily Upwards

February 28, 2014, www.scpr.org | “The Los Angeles City Council voted Friday to seek a ban on fracking and other controversial drilling techniques at oil and gas wells throughout the city, though it’s unclear how a moratorium would impact sites already operating in the city.”

“What a huge step! The city council of Los Angeles voted for a moratorium on fracking within city limits with a 10 to 0 vote! This makes LA the biggest city in the United States to have a moratorium on fracking.”
LA City Council moves forward to ban fracking
www.scpr.org
The City Attorney will draft an ordinance to ban various oil extraction techniques until there are regulations that bring the practices into compliance with federal law.
  • Kevin Village-Stone, Connie Ashby, Diana Hartel, Joa Lila, Larry Morningstar, Diana Burke, Shalahnia Riversong, Rosalie Anne, Larken Safady, Nancy Brophy, Merry Bindner, and Ricky Van Heart like this.

Environmentalists applaud as Lend Lease withdraws from port project

barrier reefFebruary 27, 2014, www.smh.com.au | “Environmental groups have claimed a victory against plans to expand coal shipments through a port on the Great Barrier Reef with major construction firm Lend Lease withdrawing from one of the terminal expansion projects.”

t last, some FANTASTIC
Good News.. for our Great Barrier Reef!
Construction giant Lend Lease has announced its withdrawal from the biggest proposed coal port in this World Heritage Area!
At last, some FANTASTIC news for our Great Barrier Reef! Construction giant Lend Lease has announced its withdrawal from the biggest proposed coal port in this World Heritage Area!

In recent years, Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton have done the same. We’ve still got a long way to go to protect our Reef and climate from plans to expand coal exports through the Reef, but this is another sign that companies should move away from Reef wrecking projects.

Join the movement to #SaveTheReef: www.SaveTheReef.org.au

Congrats to our friends at Australian Youth Climate Coalition and SumOfUs for making this incredible win happen.

Photo: At last, some FANTASTIC news for our Great Barrier Reef! Construction giant Lend Lease has announced its withdrawal from the biggest proposed coal port in this World Heritage Area! 

In recent years, Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton have done the same. We’ve still got a long way to go to protect our Reef and climate from plans to expand coal exports through the Reef, but this is another sign that companies should move away from Reef wrecking projects. 

Join the movement to #SaveTheReef: www.SaveTheReef.org.au

Congrats to our friends at Australian Youth Climate Coalition and SumOfUs for making this incredible win happen.

Condors Fly Again In Chile

February 27, 2014, blog.therainforestsite.com | “Recently, a dozen rare, Andean Condors were rescued after they mysteriously fell to the ground. The cause for their crash is unknown, but thankfully, they were nursed back to health with the help of the Chilean Agriculture and Livestock Service and released back to their mountain habitat.”

“Fantastic!
Condors Fly Again In Chile
blog.therainforestsite.com
Recently, a dozen rare, Andean Condors were rescued after they mysteriously fell to the ground. The cause for their crash is unknown, but thankfully, they were nursed back to health with…”
  • Robert Brothers likes this.

Wild About Baltimore

Brad-Hunter

February 27, 2014, sierraclub.typepad.com | “Baltimore public school teacher Brad Hunter, above at right, a volunteer leader for the Sierra Club’s Inner City Outings program, says he found out about ICO totally by happenstance.”

“PROFILE: Sierra Club’s Program for Inner City Youth -> Wild About Baltimore
sierraclub.typepad.com
Baltimore public school teacher Brad Hunter, above at right, a volunteer leader for the Sierra Club’s Inner City Outings program, says he…”
  • Kevin Village-Stone and Mehmood Mehmood like this.

A path toward better agricultural investment

February 26, 2014, www.iatp.org | “The food crisis of 2008 led to a broad agreement in the agricultural development community that the lack of appropriate investment in agriculture had been a key contributing factor to unstable prices and food insecurity. The crisis coincided with an increase in land grabbing in many parts of the world, but especially in Africa. It is in response to these events that the idea of developing some criteria on agricultural investments came up in international policy and governance arenas.”

“Open to supporting local agriculture — the United Nations program, the Committee on Food Security.
“responsible agricultural investments should address the specific needs of small-scale food producers and workers: this entails investors as…See More
A path toward better agricultural investment | Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy
www.iatp.org”
  • Kelley Caudell, and Shalahnia Riversong like this.

New laws ban battery cages for hens, sow stalls for pigs in ACT

The ACT Government has banned battery cages and sow stalls.February 25, 2014, www.abc.net.au | “The legislation, which was introduced by the Greens MLA Shane Rattenbury, will prohibit the use of battery cages for hens, along with sow stalls and farrowing crates for pigs in the Territory.”

Australia has gone to work on how they raise their animals! They just banned sow stalls and unhealthily small laying boxes called battery cages. They’re also banning debeaking for hens. It’s a step in the right direction.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-02-25/vote-on-new-laws-banning-battery-cages-in-act/5281574
ACT battery cage and sow stall ban a ‘message to rest of country’
www.smh.com.au
The ACT Government has banned sow stalls and battery cages, in what it says is the most far-reaching legislation in the country.
  • Diana Hartel, Robert Brothers, Kevin Village-Stone, Connie Ashby, and Lyn Mather like this.

San Diego City Council Votes to Protect La Jolla Harbor Seals During Pupping Season

February 25, 2014, www.seashepherd.org | “Good news for seals in La Jolla came yesterday as the San Diego City Council voted 6-3 to ban people from Casa Beach, also referred to as the Children’s Pool beach, during harbor seal pupping season. This has been a contentious issue in this upscale beach community for years, as many have fought for public beach access to continue throughout the year.”

Robert Brothers shared a link

“San Diego City Council Votes to Protect La Jolla Harbor Seals During Pupping Season – Sea…
www.seashepherd.org
A seal happily soaking up the sun at the La Jolla Children’s Pool in CaliforniaGood news for seals in La Jolla came yesterday as the San…”
  • Diana Hartel,Shalahnia Riversong and Michele Grady Scherer like this.

Federal Judge Strikes Down Bush-Era Rule that Allowed Dumping in Streams

February 25, 2014, www.ringoffireradio.com | “On Thursday, a DC federal judge struck down a controversial rule that decreased protections for waterways near mountaintop removal mining operations. The 2008 stream buffer zone rule, which removed protections for waterways, was issued during the final weeks of the Bush administration, Law360 reports.”

 

“Federal Judge Strikes Down Bush-Era Rule that Allowed Dumping in Streams near Mountaintop Removal
www.ringoffireradio.com
A DC federal judge struck down a controversial rule that decreased protections for waterways near mountaintop removal mining…”
  • Frank Bodine, Diane Cort Vaulner, Kenneth Hill, Fulton Hanson, Lynn Kalita-Hausch, Elena Quintero, Eu Genia Ostick Linn, Heather Louise Parker, Marcia Ganeles-Kislik, Donna McIntosh, and Ava Thiesen like this.

Mexico Building Latin America’s Largest Solar Farm To Replace Old, Dirty Oil-Power Plant

shutterstock_93259798

February 25, 2014, thinkprogress.org | “Last week President Obama and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper visited Mexico for what’s traditionally called the ‘Three Amigos’ meeting. In the daylong rendezvous, energy issues were slated to play a major role, with Obama and Harper jockeying for room when it comes to the impending decision on the controversial Keystone XL pipeline that would bring dirty crude oil down from Canada to refineries on the Gulf Coast.”

This comes from Good News For the Earth correspondent Kevin Village-Stone. Thanks for the article! Great news for Mexico.
http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2014/02/25/3328651/mexico-large-solar-plant-paz/#
Mexico Building Latin America’s Largest Solar Farm To Replace Old, Dirty Oil-Power Plant
thinkprogress.org
A week after President Obama and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper visited Mexico under the cloud of the Keystone XL debate,…
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