ECOLOGY

SEA ACIDITY COULD DOOM CORAL REEFS, OYSTERS, CRABS

JONATHAN LEAK, TIMES, UK - The world's coral reefs could disappear
within a few decades along with hundreds of species of plankton and
shellfish, according to new studies into man's impact on the oceans.
Researchers have found that carbon dioxide, the gas already blamed for
causing global warming, is also raising the acid levels in the sea. The
shells of coral and other marine life dissolve in acid. The process is
happening so fast that many such species, including coral, crabs,
oysters and mussels, may become unable to build and repair their shells
and will die out, say the researchers.

http://www.commondreams.org/headlines06/0226-06.htm

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BRITS TOLD TO GET READY FOR DROUGHT

Water companies in south-east England have been told that if they delay
introducing hosepipe bans and other water-saving measures households may
get water for only a few hours a day and standpipes will have to be
introduced as in the drought of 1976. In what is shaping up to be the
worst drought in 75 years, scientists warn that despite two weeks of
average rains, the environment will suffer seriously unless the next few
months are exceptionally wet. "We're in a serious situation now, where
both the environment and our water supplies are at risk," said Dame
Barbara Young, chief executive of the Environment Agency, calling for
compulsory metering and better education of customers. . . "The rainfall
from November until earlier this month was the lowest in 40 to 50 years
[across England] and in the south-east there has been nothing as bad
since the 1930s," said Terry Marsh, a senior hydrologist at the centre.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/water/story/0,,1716685,00.html?gusrc=rss

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KOREAN COURT RULES AGAINST MONSANTO

ORGANIC CONSUMERS - In a landmark lawsuit last month, a Seoul, Korea
High Court ruled against Monsanto and Dow in favor of Korean veterans
who fought in the Vietnam War and have suffered serious health injuries
from Agent Orange. The court ruled there is ample evidence that Monsanto
and Dow knew how toxic Agent Orange was before the corporations dumped
19 million gallons of the now banned herbicide on Vietnam between 1965
and 1972. The court said there is conclusive scientific data connecting
Agent Orange with 11 types of medical conditions, including
non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease, prostate cancer and diabetes

http://www.organicconsumers.org/monsanto/orange060216.cfm