Friday, 16 Jan 2004

The Big Disease-y

New Controls Needed on Wildlife Trade to Prevent Disease, Scientists Say

Leading wildlife and conservation experts from 10 nations say that stronger controls on global wildlife trade are needed to stem the spread of deadly diseases from exotic animals to humans. "Most wild-caught animals found in pet shops and food markets have never been tested for diseases and parasites that can harm humans and other animals," said Mary Pearl, head of the New York-based Wildlife Trust. The scientists, who made their announcement from Bangalore, India, said that unscrupulous trading also could wipe out wild populations of endangered species such as gorillas and chimpanzees. Claudio Padua of the Brazil-based Institute for Ecological Research was in on all the action in Bangalore this week and reports from the scene as a Grist diarist. Also, check out scintillating facts on the interconnections between wildlife trade and disease in a new Counter Culture -- only on the Grist Magazine website.

Gore Text

Gore Calls Bush a "Moral Coward" in Speech on Environment

The Bush administration is "wholly owned by the coal, oil, utility, and mining companies," said former Vice President Al Gore in a fiery address to a packed theater in New York City on Thursday. The speech -- fourth in a series cosponsored by activist group MoveOn.org and Democratic group Environment 2004 -- took the administration to task for its disregard for global warming, destructive rollbacks of air and water protections, and secret consultations with industry in formulating policy. Prompting one of several standing ovations, Gore claimed, "While President Bush likes to project an image of strength and courage, the real truth is that in the presence of his large financial contributors he is a moral coward, so weak that he seldom, if ever, says 'no' to them on anything, no matter what the public interest might mandate." Republican National Committee Chair Ed Gillespie, since 2000 a prim believer in political Queensbury Rules, called Gore's address "political hate speech."

Hot in Herre

2003 Tied for Second-Warmest Year Ever

The year 2003 tied with 2002 for the dubious distinction of being the second-hottest year since 1880 (when such records started being kept), according to federal government data released Thursday. The hottest year ever was 1998, which scientists attribute to the U.S. release of 'N Sync's debut album. We're kidding about that. We're not kidding, however, about the fact that all five of the hottest years ever have occurred since 1997. The world's average temperature rose by 1 degree in the 20th century; scientists predict that it will rise by 2 to 10 degrees by 2100. So enjoy the current frigid temperatures while you got 'em, okay?

Pesticidal

EPA Sued Over Consultations With Pesticide Industry Group

Fourteen leading chemical companies have formed a task force that is meeting in secret with the U.S. EPA, attempting to weaken endangered species rules relating to pesticide use -- so charges a lawsuit filed against the EPA on Thursday by a coalition of Seattle-based environmental groups. The lawsuit claims the meetings violate a federal law prohibiting government agencies from consulting with advisory panels composed exclusively of representatives from a single industry, and prohibiting secret meetings with advisory panels of any kind. The suit is part of a larger attempt by environmental groups to stop the EPA from changing rules that currently require it to consult with other agencies -- like the National Marine Fisheries Service -- when considering how a new pesticide might affect marine life. Industry groups want the EPA to be able to act more quickly, on its own. An industry task force spokesperson claims that the group is merely providing the EPA with technical data, not lobbying. Mmm-hmm.

Do Good

Get the Presidential Candidates to Talk Green

With the Iowa caucuses next week, the fight for the Democratic presidential nomination will really get rollicking. Remind the candidates to come out swinging for the environment. More than 80 percent of Americans agree that the environment should be a national priority, but you wouldn't know it from listening to candidates' stump speeches. Sign a petition that calls on the Democratic contenders to give environmental issues their due.

The Oil Hits the Fan

Oil Pipeline Through Georgian Republic Runs Into Trouble

A $3 billion, 1,000-mile pipeline -- slated to be pumping oil from the newly opened Caspian oilfields through Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Turkey to the world market by April 2005 -- has run into a whole mess of trouble. Environmentalists and many local groups are incensed that the pipeline, being built by BP, is set to run through the Borzhomi mountain gorge, a pristine and landslide-prone area that is the source of Borzhomi mineral water (Georgia's third-largest export) and many of the region's tourism dollars. Farmers are incensed that the land-development grants distributed by BP -- originally seen as an economic boon to the poverty-stricken villagers -- have been swallowed by a notoriously corrupt and rickety government and judicial system poorly equipped to handle them. Georgian construction workers are incensed about what they claim are poor working conditions and compensation plans. Meanwhile, Western officials are incensed that their oil's getting held up. What's the Georgian word for "fubar"?