Tuesday, 26 Nov 2002

Flipping the Bird

In search of a snappy comeback to use when Uncle Oscar attacks your choice of vegetarianism at Thanksgiving? Look no further. In her latest column, Umbra Fisk, Grist Research Assistant II and environmental advice guru, explores whether human beings are naturally vegetarian. She also examines whether organic food is better than conventionally grown food, period (her answer may surprise you). All this and more food for thought from Our Lady of the Stacks, only on the Grist Magazine website.

Braked Alaska

The oil giant BP has withdrawn from the lobbying group that is leading the campaign to open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska to drilling, company spokesperson Paul Laird said yesterday. The decision underscores the growing concern among oil companies that the drilling debate could damage their public image. In the past, BP had worked closely with the lobbying group, Arctic Power, hosting journalists and Beltway politicians in Alaska in an effort to encourage them to support drilling plans. Laird said BP would consider drilling in the refuge in the future "[w]hen and if the American people decide ANWR should be opened."

Gill-ty

Not only has Washington state failed to warn people against fishing in many spots polluted with toxics, it has gone so far as to recommend fishing in some spots known to have high concentrations of mercury, according to a new report released by two environmental groups. The report by the Washington Toxics Coalition and Washington Public Interest Research Group also found that the state has sometimes waited years to issue warnings after identifying spots that were too dangerous to fish in. Contaminated fish can be especially damaging to women of childbearing age and children. Washington immigrants who can't read English are also often at risk because they eat lots of locally caught fish. David McBride, a state Health Department toxicologist, said the agency would seek funding to establish a more systematic fish advisory program.

A Hard Rowe to Hoe

Some heavyweight funders have ponied up $10 million to create a National Commission on Energy Policy, pulling together former members of the Bush and Clinton administrations and representatives from industry and environmental groups to recommend a long-range energy plan for the United States. Over the next two years, the commission intends to develop a "centrist approach" between Republicans and Democrats to avoid the type of clash that occurred this year over President Bush's proposed energy plan, according to the commission's co-chair, John Rowe, who is the top dog at Exelon Corp., a company that runs the nation's largest group of nuclear power plants. William Reilly, U.S. EPA administrator during the first Bush administration, will also co-chair the group. Energy expert Ralph Cavanagh of the Natural Resources Defense Council is the most prominent environmentalist on the commission. Funders include the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, Pew Charitable Trusts, John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, and David and Lucile Packard Foundation.

Mao-ie Zow-ie

China is moving forward with a massive project to redirect water from the nation's longest rivers (including the Yangtze and Yellow) to the arid north, helping to quench the thirst of Beijing and other major northern cities. The water will travel via a canal network built over 50 years; costs could eventually exceed $24 billion. The project, initially envisioned by Mao Zedong a half a century ago, will eventually supply the north with 48 billion tons of water a year -- enough water for New York City for a quarter of a century. Critics worry that the project will alter the landscape significantly and cause numerous environmental problems. They argue that the country's leaders have been too quick to adopt a mega-project when smaller-scale projects and improved resource management could do a better job providing northern populations with water.

That's All, Folks

Grist will not be publishing Wednesday, in honor of Travel to Grandmother's House Day, or Thursday, in honor of Thanksgiving. And Grist will not be publishing Friday, in honor of Buy Nothing Day. Happy munching. And stay away from the malls!