Thursday, 09 Sep 2004

True Colors, Shining Through

Schwarzenegger Reaches a Green Crossroads

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) came to power on the strength of his image as a moderate and an environmentalist who, like Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) or Gov. George Pataki (R-N.Y.), might shake his party's eco-unfriendly reputation. However, his recent industry-friendly proposals for restructuring the state's government have enviros questioning his bona fides. With a stack of pro-environment bills on his desk, the Governator is at a crossroads: Will he side with the greens or the pollutocrats? Two roads diverged in a wood -- in Muckraker, today on the Grist Magazine website.

Oh, So Nov. 15 Is After the Election? Who Knew?

Bush Administration Delays Roadless Ruling

The Bush administration announced yesterday that it will delay a final decision on whether to repeal the enormously popular Clinton-era Roadless Rule in order to gather more public input -- two more months of public input, as it happens. Some enviros (oh, the cynicism!) noted that the delay would put the final decision off until after the election, and further pointed out that much of the pristine land that could be logged, mined, or otherwise developed if the rule is repealed is in Western swing states. Agriculture Undersecretary Mark Rey put such crass political speculation to rest, saying the delay is "unrelated to the elections." In fact, said Chris West of the American Forest Resource Council, a timber industry group, the delay "shows how transparent this administration is in truly wanting thoughtful and substantive comments." The original Clinton plan received a record 2.5 million public comments, about 95 percent of which were in favor of it, but hey, you can never have too many comments!

My Left Footprint

Ask Umbra Tracks Down the Truth About Environmental Footprints

A reader has taken the Ecological Footprint Quiz, and she is distraught. Despite all her efforts -- public transportation! vegetarianism! simple livin'! -- it would take two planets to support a population composed of people like her. Horrors! Inimitable advice columnist Umbra Fisk suggests that, just maybe, your personal eco-footprint is not the be-all and end-all of environmental consciousness. Find out more in Ask Umbra -- today on the Grist Magazine website.

18 and Life

Air Pollution Does Long-Term Damage to Kids' Lungs

Regular exposure to air pollution can stunt the growth of children's lungs, leading to a lifetime of reduced respiratory capacity, health problems, and even early death, according to a landmark study published today in the New England Journal of Medicine. The study, the longest and most comprehensive of its kind, followed a group of 1,759 schoolchildren in Southern California from fourth grade to high school graduation. Children breathing dirty air were up to five times more likely to grow up with weakened lungs, a finding true across the board, not just in children with preexisting conditions like asthma. Professor C. Arden Pope, who wrote an editorial accompanying the study, tried to put a positive spin on the results, calling them "good news" because they confirm that "the control of air pollution represents an important opportunity to prevent disease." Hey, great!

Cornographic

European Union Gives Go-Ahead to GM Corn

In a highly symbolic move, the European Union yesterday approved the first genetically modified seeds for planting and sale across E.U. territory, outraging greens and defying public opinion (70 percent of E.U. citizens oppose GM food). The European Commission approved 17 varieties of GM corn developed by U.S. biotech behemoth Monsanto, marking a decisive end to a de facto biotech ban that's been in effect in the E.U. since 1998. Enviros expressed dismay that the commission did not issue E.U.-wide guidelines for keeping GM, conventional, and organic crops separated. "[T]he widespread contamination of conventional crops is highly likely, posing a massive threat to Europe's food, farming, and environment," said Geert Ritsema of Friends of the Earth. In slightly happier news for Euro-greens, the commission abandoned an earlier plan to allow some percentage of GM seeds in food without labeling, unable to agree on a percentage after three years of debate. The decision will be passed to the next commission, which takes office in November.