By Joshua S Hill •
September 14, 2007
It’s definitely not one of the ‘Top Ten’ lists you’re likely to be campaigning for, but independent environment group The Blacksmith Institute announced their top ten worst polluted places list on Wednesday.
The list contains regions from seven countries, affecting more than 12 million people, according to the research done by Blacksmith with Green Cross in Switzerland. Those 12 million people mentioned are well open to respiratory diseases such as asthma,
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By Maria Surma Manka •
September 14, 2007

Clean energy was the hot topic at the National Press Club this week, where public leaders gathered to discuss "Securing a Clean Energy Future." Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman was there, as was Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius (D) and Minnesota Governor and president of the National Governors Association (NGA), Tim Pawlenty (R).
Pawlenty explained that cutting global warming emissions was a top priority for the group of governors, with the hope that it would spur federal
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This week the world mourns the loss of an inspired activist and entrepreneur: Anita Roddick, founder of The Body Shop. Sadly, Roddick passed away Monday at the age of 64. Known for her passion for the environment and her commitment to fighting social injustice, the passing of Anita Roddick reminds each of us of how far she was willing to go for what she believed.
Beginning in the world of business with absolutely no
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By Maria Surma Manka •
September 12, 2007
Despite Americans’ rightful wariness of nuclear power, other nations are embracing it: France gets 75 percent of its electricity from it, Australian Prime Minister John Howard called nuclear power “inevitable,” and Finland is building a new reactor.
In fact, the U.S.’s Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is expecting 12 new applications to build nuclear power reactors at seven different sites, plus another 15 are in the pipeline for next year. These are the [...]
By Maria Surma Manka •
September 11, 2007
Last week China reiterated its commitment to renewable energy, particularly hydropower. The Asian nation plans to triple its hydropower production to 300,000 megawatts by 2020.
Chinese officials also asked the world to cut them some slack in their efforts to cut global warming pollution.
China’s contribution to global warming has been relatively small compared to the more developed Western nations, they argue, and they shouldn’t be held overly accountable. According to Chen Deming
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By Heidi Strebel •
September 10, 2007
A wind of change is blowing through the world of rugby. A green wind.
The 2007 Rugby World Cup, the 3rd largest sports event in the world with an estimated 2.5 million spectators from around the world, is being held in France from September 7 to October 20. The organizers, including a special rugby committee, a government agency and the French Rugby Federation, have vowed to make the event tangibly eco-friendly, and number
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By Joshua S Hill •
September 9, 2007
Native solely to the Arctic, and the land’s largest carnivore, the polar bear has long been a favorite of children and scientists alike. But, give it a hundred years, and we may very well be seeing the end of the polar bear for good, if something isn’t done soon.
According to a report conducted by the US Geological Survey, released this past Friday, two-thirds of the world’s population of polar bears could simply
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By Joshua S Hill •
September 8, 2007
John Howard, Prime Minster of Australia, and lap-dog to George Bush, has been granted the power to help shape the Asia-Pacific regions future goals and targets to combat global warming and increased carbon emissions by leading this year’s APEC Forum.
I have but few words to say to that: “God Help us All!”
For too long Howard has managed to stumble blindly along in Bush’s wake, acting almost as if he was Bush’s man
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By Maria Surma Manka •
September 7, 2007
Vestas, one of the world’s leading wind energy companies, is leaving Australia, calling the nation’s wind energy market "unviable."
Vestas Australia Wind Technology will close its 2 1/2 year-old turbine blade factory in Portland, Victoria at the end of this year. Consequently, 130 jobs will be lost. The Danish company’s Asia-Pacific senior vice president, Jorn Hammer, was quite forthcoming with his criticism of the Australian government:
"It’s not viable for us to make further
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By Maria Surma Manka •
September 5, 2007
Sunrise Powerlink is a transmission project proposed by San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E). According to a SDG&E map, the 150-mile line would wind its way from Imperial County east of San Diego, through Anza-Borrego State Park, and down into San Diego. It would be the first new transmission line connecting the San Diego area to the state’s energy grid in 25 years. SDG&E says the line is needed to transport wind and
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By Heidi Strebel •
September 4, 2007
Currently over 250 million people experience the direct consequences of desertification. Many of them are the world’s most destitute and vulnerable citizens.
2000 participants are expected in Madrid for the eighth international conference of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), which runs from September 3 - 14. Ecologists, representatives from 800 NGOs, and envoys from the 191 countries that ratified the Convention will meet to report on recent developments in the battle against
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