By Der Spiegel Germany has put the brakes on plans to use hydraulic fracturing, commonly known as fracking, to extract natural gas in places where it is difficult to access, such as shale or coal beds. Environment Minister Norbert Röttgen and Economy Minister Philipp Rösler have agreed to oppose the controversial process for the time … Continue reading German government rejects fracking, saying they are “very skeptical” about the technology→
By Dawn Paley / Vancouver Media Co-op On Friday, the Chilean Supreme Court ratified a lower court ruling that rendered Goldcorp’s environmental assessment for the El Morro mine null, due to irregularities including the company’s failure to properly consult with the Diaguita Huascoaltinos Indigenous and Agricultural Community, whose lands would be destroyed if the mine … Continue reading Chilean Supreme Court votes unanimously to halt development of proposed Goldcorp mine→
By John Nichols / The Nation Pressured by watchdog groups, civil rights organizations and a growing national movement for accountable lawmaking, the American Legislative Exchange Council announced Tuesday that it was disbanding the task force that has been responsible for advancing controversial Voter ID and “Stand Your Ground” laws. ALEC, the shadowy corporate-funded proponent of … Continue reading Corporate governance project ALEC disbands “Stand Your Ground” taskforce→
By ENews Park Forest Without help, more than 50 coral species in U.S. waters are likely to go extinct by the end the century, primarily because of ocean warming, disease and ocean acidification, a government report said today. The National Marine Fisheries Service released a status review of 82 corals that are being considered for … Continue reading 56 coral species may go extinct this century due to climate change and ocean acidification→
By David Swanson / War Is A Crime The Vermont State Senate voted today calling for an amendment to the Constitution that would make clear that corporations are not people and money is not speech and can be regulated in political campaigns. The vote was 26-3. State Senator Virginia Lyons (D) spearheaded the effort, working … Continue reading Vermont Senate calls for a constitutional amendment to abolish “corporate personhood”→
By Andrew Pollack / The New York Times The Environmental Protection Agency on Monday said that the widely used herbicide 2,4-D would remain on the market, denying a petition from an environmental group that sought to revoke the chemical’s approval. The E.P.A. said that the environmental group, the Natural Resources Defense Council, had not adequately … Continue reading EPA rejects petition to ban the herbicide 2,4-D, formerly a component of Agent Orange→
By Jason Burke / The Guardian The leaders of thousands of forest-dwelling tribesmen who have fought for years to preserve their ancestral lands from exploitation by an international mining corporation have promised to continue their struggle whatever the decision in a key hearing before India’s supreme court on Monday. Dubbed the “real-life Avatar” after the … Continue reading Dongria Kondh people of India vow to continue struggle against mining corporation Vedanta→
By Agence France-Presse Poland will impose a complete ban on growing the MON810 genetically modified strain of maize made by US company Monsanto on its territory, Agriculture Minister Marek Sawicki said Wednesday. “The decree is in the works. It introduces a complete ban on the MON810 strain of maize in Poland,” Sawicki told reporters, adding … Continue reading Poland to issue “complete ban” on Monsanto’s genetically modified maize→