By Michael A. Weber •
December 18, 2008
Friendly words from the police last week have done nothing to dissuade Tasmanian activists from continuing their nonviolent protests in the island’s forests. Seven protesters were arrested each on Tuesday and today, while one activist remains in a tree despite the warrant that has been issued for her arrest.
One week ago, Tasmanian police caused an outcry from conservation groups when they publicly named anti-forestry protesters as a make-believe terrorist group threatening the airport in an otherwise typical drill. The Wilderness Fund complained to the police that forestry protests in the country have always been nothing but peaceful in their opposition to clear cutting.
By Alex Felsinger •
December 3, 2008
The Canadian government opted last week to allow the killing 500 narwhals trapped beneath ice rather than calling in icebreakers to free the animals, claiming the process would have been too stressful for the whales.
Paul Watson, founder of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society and star of Animal Planet’s Whale Wars, wrote a lengthy condemnation of the Canadian government’s decision. He noted that the government provides millions to fund ice-breaking for the annual baby seal hunt, but rejected the idea when proposed in order to save the whales.
By Alex Felsinger •
November 8, 2008
A growing group of environmental activists are taking advantage of emergency power shut-off switches found on the exteriors of businesses throughout France; toting broomsticks, they wander the streets at night to find businesses with neon lights still blazing in the window despite being closed, and simply reach or climb up to switch the power off.
They call themselves Le Clan du Néon and believe they are doing the planet a favor. Thousands of shops across Europe leave their lights on overnight, just as they do in America, unnecessarily eating up tens of gigawatt hours of power every year.
