Illegally Shipped Waste to Return to U.K.

ENN, July 23, 2009

When Brazilian port workers began inspecting the contents of a cargo ship from the U.K., they were surprised to find more than 1,400 tons of waste, labeled as recyclable plastics, included with the cargo.
The waste, packed in 89 shipping containers, was unloaded in three southern Brazilian ports and was said to contain batteries, computer parts, DVDs, cleaning product containers, clothes, shoes, old toys, baby diapers, food remains and medical waste, among other items. Read more...

«Εμπάργκο» επιβάλλει η Ευρώπη στα προϊόντα φώκιας

In.gr, 27 Ιουλίου 2009

Την απαγόρευση εισαγωγής προϊόντων που προέρχονται από φώκιες ενέκριναν τη Δευτέρα οι υπουργοί Εξωτερικών της Ευρωπαϊκής Ένωσης, επικρίνοντας το «βάρβαρο» κυνήγι τους.
Τα προϊόντα αφορούν γούνες, κρέας και λάδι φώκιας, αλλά από την απαγόρευση εξαιρούνται όσα προέρχονται από παραδοσιακές μεθόδους κυνηγιού, όπως εφαρμόζονται από τους αυτόχθονες Ινουίτ του Καναδά και της Γροιλανδίας. Διαβάστε περισσότερα...

Air Pollution Linked to Diminishing IQ of Children

ENN, July 21, 2009

A new study published in the August 2009 edition of Pediatrics shows a possible disturbing correlation between increased urban air pollution and decreased IQ points in children. The study sites polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), or "chemicals released into the air from the burning of coal, diesel, oil, and gas, or other organic substances such as tobacco" as the major perpetrators of inner- city air pollution, with a particular focus on motor vehicle use. Read more...

Institute Studies Clash Between Wind and Raptors

MatterNetwork, July 16, 2009

A new group is attempting to better reconcile high velocity wind power development with its impact on avian victims.
Wind power has come a long way from technology employed earlier this century, but according to Dr. Judd Howell of the American Wind and Wildlife Institute, more research is needed
Recently named the first Director of Research at the AWWI, Howell's background is a combination of wind energy impacts and raptor studies, which culminated in extensive work in the Altiplan.
Raptors, as birds of prey and top predators, are fewer in number than other species and could be threatened by any excessive damage to their numbers. Read more...

Exxon to Invest Millions to Make Fuel From Algae

ENN, July 14, 2009

The oil giant Exxon Mobil, whose chief executive once mocked alternative energy by referring to ethanol as "moonshine," is about to venture into biofuels.
On Tuesday, Exxon plans to announce an investment of $600 million in producing liquid transportation fuels from algae — organisms in water that range from pond scum to seaweed. The biofuel effort involves a partnership with Synthetic Genomics, a biotechnology company founded by the genomics pioneer J. Craig Venter. Read more...

Exxon Mobil biofuel program

U.S. power plant emissions fall

ENN, July 8, 2009

U.S. power plant emissions of sulfur dioxide dropped sharply in the first half of the year as the electricity industry prepared for tighter regulation in 2010, Genscape said Monday.
Sulfur dioxide emissions were down 24 percent compared to the first half of 2008, much more than would be expected due to the recession and lower electricity demand, the power industry data provider said in its quarterly review of energy trends. Read more...

Tropic zones expanding due to climate change

ENN, July 6, 2009

MELBOURNE: Climate change is rapidly expanding the size of the world's tropical zone, threatening to bring disease and drought to heavily populated areas, an Australian study has found.
Researchers at James Cook University concluded the tropics had widened by up to 500 kilometers in the past 25 years after examining 70 peer-reviewed scientific articles. Read more...