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Putting on the Breaks

Grist kicking back for Memorial Day Attention Daily Grist junkies: You’ll have to do without your fix on Monday, as we Gristers will be involved in a high-level meeting with […]

Recent move actually protects public

Back in March, we reported on a pending EPA decision that would have allowed untreated sewage to be released on a regular basis. Yuck.

We're happy to report that someone -- namely 98,000 people who took the time to make comments, and hardy Congressman Bart Stupak (D.-Mich.) and cohorts -- convinced the EPA that was gross. Last week, the agency announced that it would not approve the proposal, which had been lingering in the air since 2003.

"Blending is not a long-term solution," said EPA administrator Benjamin Grumbles. "Our goal is to reduce overflows and increase treatment of wastewater to protect human health and the environment."

What a concept!

Now if only Stupak could work his bulldog magic on mercury. Or carbon. Or ... oh, fine, I'll just be happy about semi-clean sewage for now.

Well, That’s One Way to Shrink the Population

Studies link common chemicals to reproductive harm Stronger evidence that a class of ubiquitous chemicals called phthalates — found in a wide variety of plastics, nail polishes, fragrances, and other […]

At Loggerheads

Mexico pressured to protect eco-activists after two murders last week International human-rights groups yesterday urged the Mexican government to take action to protect the lives of environmental activists who are […]

… heat, love, and understanding?

OK, I've worked at a weekly paper. I know how tough it is to put out annual summer guides and make them feel fresh. I mean, how many new things can you say about berrypicking and lighthouses?

But Seattle Weekly's latest issue gave me pause. They headlined their summer guide 50 Ways to Celebrate Global Warming.

All in good fun, I know. And I like good fun (I mean, look where I work). But I also know there are an awful lot of literal-minded readers out there. And now may not be the time to make this huge concern sound ... fun.

I'll lighten up now. Happy summer!

Inhofe v. Mooney

Chris Mooney has had a great deal of fun bashing Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.) for his flat-earthism on climate change and his general antipathy toward environmental causes.

Now Chris has experienced the great honor of having his work directly cited -- though his name was changed to "alarmist writer" -- by the senator on the Senate floor. (Unsurprisingly, Inhofe takes passages out of context, distorts the plain meaning of words, and otherwise misrepresents the work.)

Congrats, Chris, you've hit the bigtime!

Scratched Cat Fever

Tigers in dangerous decline in India The accelerating disappearance of endangered Bengal tigers from India’s 28 tiger reserves has Indian officials and charismatic-megafauna enthusiasts the world over in a tizzy. […]

Situation Normal All Canucked Up

Air pollution on the rise in Canada Canada’s self-image as North America’s most enlightened steward of the environment has taken a blow with the release of a new report from […]

BushGreenWatch says it’s a win, but the argument is weak.

Today in BushGreenWatch, Doug Kendall of the Community Rights Council -- which, along with Earthjustice, has been fighting a campaign to highlight the environmental stakes of the judicial battles -- argues that the nuclear-option deal "may help the environment."

Or at least that's the headline. I don't see much in his essay that backs up his position. Maybe he's putting an optimistic spin on things because his organization's taken a high-profile position on it, but still, it's a pretty meager argument.

The "landmark victory," he claims, is that Dems can still, if they choose, filibuster the appointment of William Myers III, who is indeed bad news. We let three loony, anti-environment judges onto the bench, but retain the option to block one, and this is a "landmark victory"?

This is even weaker:

... the deal takes the nuclear option off the table, stating "In light of the spirit and continuing commitments made in this agreement, we commit to oppose the rules changes in the 109th Congress." 

No. It doesn't take the option "off the table." It says the Republicans won't use it as long as Dems reserve their filibusters for "extraordinary circumstances." But Dems have approved almost all of Bush's judges -- if the five remaining fruitloops don't constitute extraordinary circumstances, I don't see what ever will.

In the end, what you think about the deal rests on what you think would have happened if R's had pulled the trigger, Dems had ground Senate business to a halt, and the whole thing had gone before the court of public opinion. I think the Dems could have won that battle, with some canny messaging. Maybe not. But the deal just postpones the fight and weakens the Dems' position. Come Supreme Court appointment time, the fight will happen anyway.

(Owen was just confirmed.)

The Secret of Nimrods

Monsanto’s confidential research finds that GM foods mess up rats Rats fed with genetically modified (GM) corn exhibited health problems including shrunken kidneys and blood changes that could indicate immune-system […]