Hear Ye, Hear Ye
Tune in to our weekly podcast to get an earful of Grist. This week, Barack Obama and John Edwards talk to us about their energy plans, and more.
 | NEW IN GRIST Dennis, Anyone? Dennis Kucinich talks to Grist about energy and the environment |
"We need to see the connection between global warring and global warming, and it's oil," says Democratic presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich in an interview with Grist and Outside. "Sustainability is the path to peace. And I'm the only true peace candidate in this election." Kucinich, who represents the Cleveland, Ohio, area in the U.S. House, is a died-in-the-wool greenie with a long record of fighting for environmental protections and against corporations. In the third in a series of interviews with presidential candidates, Kucinich outlines his plans to create a Works Green Administration, slaps down the coal, nuclear, and utility industries, and explains how his veganism reflects his whole philosophy of life. Check back tomorrow for an interview with prez hopeful Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd, and next week for chats with the rest of the Democratic lineup. 
One Swamp Forward, Two Swamps Back
Everglades, stripped of U.N. endangered status, may see federal funding
The Florida Everglades may get a budgetary boost from the U.S. government, a month after being removed from the U.N. World Heritage Committee's list of endangered sites. The nearly $2 billion is part of a $21 billion national water bill expected to be passed by Congress this week. The money is a nod toward the Everglades restoration plan created in 2000, which said Florida and the feds would split the costs evenly; of the more than $7 billion spent so far, about two-thirds has come from the state. Is that because the Bush administration thinks things are going swimmingly? They did push for the U.N. endangered-list removal, citing progress -- and going against a recommendation from the National Park Service. (The U.S. delegation was led by an Interior official who's a former aide to ex-Rep. Richard Pombo, eco-hata.) Says Robert Johnson of the South Florida Natural Resources Center at Everglades National Park, "I think for the Bush administration, it was seen as a black eye to be on that list."
Spaghetti Midwestern
Citizens, politicians, EPA face off over BP refinery discharges
Good old-fashioned fury continues to build over Indiana's decision to grant oil giant BP permission to increase discharges of ammonia and sludge into Lake Michigan. A group of eight shoreline mayors has formed a task force to fight the plan. Tens of thousands of residents have signed petitions. Last week, the U.S. House overwhelmingly passed a resolution introduced by Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D-Ill.) and Rep. Vernon J. Ehlers (R-Mich.) that urges Indiana to reconsider the move. And lawmakers have met with officials and BP reps to ask them to put the refinery permit on hold. So how did U.S. EPA administrator Stephen Johnson respond to the pleas of an entire nation? With half-assed talk about supporting the permit and pledging to work with companies, including BP, to improve the condition of the Great Lakes. "The administrator's comments aren't surprising, but they are unacceptable," said U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), and Waukegan, Ill., Mayor Richard Hyde called the whole situation "mind-baffling."
| | NEW IN GRIST Getting Sloshed Umbra on wave power |
Last week, advice maven Umbra Fisk took on the topic of tidal power. Today she weighs in on wave power. What's the difference, and which energy-generating scheme holds more promise? Surf on over to today's Ask Umbra column to find out. Fencing Match
Mexico may file complaint over U.S. border fence plans
Mexican environmental officials are the latest to get peeved over the U.S. government's plan to build a 700-mile fence along the countries' shared border. The barrier, intended to stem illegal immigration, would "place at risk the various ecosystems that we share," says Environment Minister Juan Rafael Elvira -- including the Sonora Desert. A report prepared for Mexican officials by experts in both countries said the fence could isolate animals including jaguars, black bears, and the Sonora pronghorn; it said the accompanying radar and lights could also harm nocturnal species. Mexican officials say they may file a complaint with the International Court of Justice, but are exploring their options; Argentine President Nestor Kirchner stoked the fire yesterday by calling the project "an insult ... to all the nations of Latin America and all the nations of the world." Suggested alternatives to the fence include roadless wilderness corridors, permeable fences, and "live" cactus barriers. Ouch.
see also, in Grist: Critics say U.S.-Mexico fence could threaten wildlife, cause flooding
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