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Friday, November 28
EPA Moves to Ease Pollution Rules
by
Linda Thieman
on Fri 28 Nov 2008 05:00 AM CST
EPA Moves to Ease Pollution Rules
by Matthew Blake, The Center for Independent Media
 A Final Attempt by Bush Administration to Weaken the Clean Air Act
The Environmental Protection Agency seems on the brink of issuing a new regulation that would make it easier for power plants to operate longer hours - and emit more pollution. Under the proposed rule, power plants would be able to measure their rate of emissions on an hourly basis instead of their annual total output.
As long as the hourly emissions stay at or below the plant's established maximum, the plant would be treated as if it were operating cleanly - even if its total annual emissions increased as plant managers stepped up output. The proposed power-plant rule marks a final attempt by the Bush administration to radically revise the way environmental laws are applied, especially the Clean Air Act.
Throughout his term, George W. Bush has sought to weaken the traditional regulatory authority of many federal agencies - like the Food and Drug Administration and the Consumer Product Safety Commission - to make them more friendly to business. This anti-regulatory stand has had perhaps its most sweeping effect on the EPA.
Read more here.
The Center for Independent Media is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that operates an independent online news network in the public interest.
Tuesday, November 25
Decision on 'Organic' Fish Sets Dangerous Precedent to Gut USDA Organic Program
by
Linda Thieman
on Tue 25 Nov 2008 05:00 AM CST
Decision on 'Organic' Fish Sets Dangerous Precedent to Gut USDA Organic Program
Consumers Union
 In case you missed it, last week Consumers Union derided the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) decision to accept the recommendations for “organic” fish production that will allow fish to carry the USDA organic label—despite being raised under conditions that fail to meet fundamental USDA organic principles. The NOSB recommendations allow:
• Fish to be fed food other than 100% organic feed—the gold standard that must be met by other USDA-certified organic livestock;
• Fishmeal used to feed farmed fish from wild fish—which has the potential to carry mercury and PCBs; and
• Open net cages to be used—which flush pollution, disease and parasites from open net fish farms directly into the ocean, adversely impacting wild fish supply, sustainability and the health of the oceans.
The recommendations have been transmitted to USDA, which will issue an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPR) immediately.
“To slap an ‘organic’ label on this fish is deceptive and undermines the entire organic program,” said Urvashi Rangan, PhD, Senior Scientist and Policy Analyst at Consumers Union. “If enacted, this gutting of the organic standards will not only allow sub-par organic fish to be sold with a premium, but will undermine consumer confidence in the entire organic marketplace.”
Furthermore, it was clear at the NOSB hearing that USDA advised NOSB to circumvent the regulations to lower the organic standards bar for fish--something the American public clearly does not agree with. Just last week, a Consumers Union Poll revealed that 93 percent of Americans think that fish labeled as “organic” should be produced by 100 percent organic feed, like all other organic animals. Nine in 10 consumers also agreed that ”organic” fish farms should be required to recover waste and not pollute the environment and 57 percent are concerned about ocean pollution caused by ”organic” fish farms. Nearly 30,000 signatures have been collected in favor of maintaining strong standards for the organic label for fish.
Read the complete article here.
Monday, November 17
Hormone-disrupting Cosmetics Chemicals Found in Teenage Girls
by
Linda Thieman
on Mon 17 Nov 2008 05:00 AM CST
Hormone-disrupting Cosmetics Chemicals Found in Teenage Girls
The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics
 Teenage girls across America are contaminated with hormone-disrupting chemicals found in cosmetics and body care products, confirms a new study released recently by the Environmental Working Group (EWG), a founding member of the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics. [The report is available here.]
The first-of-its kind study found 16 toxic chemicals in blood and urine samples from 20 teen girls from eight states and the District of Columbia, aged 14-19, including preservatives, fragrance and antimicrobial compounds. Many of these are linked to serious health risks in lab animals, even at low-dose levels.
“Hormone-altering chemicals shouldn’t be in cosmetics, especially in products used by millions of teenage girls,” said Rebecca Sutton, Ph.D, author of the report and Staff Scientist at EWG. “Their bodies are still developing and may be especially vulnerable to risks from these exposures,” added Sutton....
“The findings of this study are further evidence that our system of regulating chemicals in cosmetics is broken. We need smarter laws at the state and federal level to keep hazardous chemicals out of personal care products,” said Lisa Archer, National Coordinator of the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics. “Teenagers are being exposed during a critical period of development to toxic chemicals in products they use every day. Being a teenager is hard enough – girls shouldn’t have to worry about their beauty products contributing to their risk of cancer or damaging their reproductive systems.”
Read the complete article here.
Sunday, November 9
Obama Outlines Areas Where He Can Act Quickly
by
Linda Thieman
on Sun 09 Nov 2008 05:00 AM CST
Obama Outlines Areas Where He Can Act Quickly
 According to the Washington Post, areas where Obama can quickly reverse Bush's executive orders are coming to light:
1. stem cell research
Rep. Diana DeGette (D-Colo.) said that during Obama's final swing through her state in October, she reminded him that because the restrictions [on stem cell research] were never included in legislation, Obama "can simply reverse them by executive order." Obama, she said, "was very receptive to that."
2. global gag rule on family planning
The new president is also expected to lift a so-called global gag rule barring international family planning groups that receive U.S. aid from counseling women about the availability of abortion, even in countries where the procedure is legal, said Cecile Richards, spokeswoman for Planned Parenthood Federation of America.
3. fuel-emission guidelines
California had sought permission from the Environmental Protection Agency to require that greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles be cut by 30 percent between 2009 and 2016, effectively mandating that cars achieve a fuel economy standard of at least 36 miles per gallon within eight years. Seventeen other states had promised to adopt California's rules, representing in total 45 percent of the nation's automobile market. The Bush Administration had denied California this permission.
Read the full article here.
Saturday, November 1
Oxfam, 1Sky Host Town Hall Meeting to Confront Climate Change - Ames, Nov. 3
by
Linda Thieman
on Sat 01 Nov 2008 05:00 AM CDT
Oxfam, 1Sky Host Town Hall Meeting to Confront Climate Change - Ames, Nov. 3
 WHAT: The band, O.A.R. (Of a Revolution), will host a town hall meeting with Oxfam America and 1Sky, to discuss climate change with young people on Iowa State's campus right before their concert and the general election
WHEN: Monday, November 3 from 12:30-2:00pm
WHO: Iowa Oxfam Action Corps organizer Ellen Walsh, 1Sky Field Organizer, Anjuli Kronheim, band members of O.A.R., and the Ames and Iowa State Community discussing climate change
WHERE: MShop in basement of Memorial Union on Iowa State's campus
Oxfam America is an international relief and development organization that creates lasting solutions to poverty, hunger, and injustice. Together with individuals and local groups in more than 120 countries, Oxfam saves lives, helps people overcome poverty, and fights for social justice. For more information, visit: www.oxfamamerica.org.
1Sky is a new national highly-collaborative campaign working to bring local groups together to galvanize a movement in support of the bold federal action on climate change that science and equity demand. For more information about the 1Sky campaign, visit www.1sky.org.
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