Tuesday, 03 May 2005

Helen Caldicott has been speaking out about the dangers of nuclear power and nuclear weapons for more than 30 years, ever since she gave up her medical career to be a full-time activist. In an interview with Gregory Dicum, Caldicott talks about nuclear's resurgence in popularity, the myth of carbon-free nuke power, the importance of unleashing women's nurturing instincts, and the psychosexual pathology of nuclear-weapons proponents.

Tit for Habitat

Habitat conservation plans poorly monitored, sporadically effective

Today, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer kicks off a big three-day series on the increasingly ubiquitous but nonetheless poorly understood and poorly monitored phenomenon of habitat conservation plans (HCPs). Congress authorized the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to administer such plans in 1982, but it wasn't until the late '90s that they started catching on, as disgruntled landowners in Southern California threatened to sue the feds when the Endangered Species Act kept them from developing their property. HCPs, in exchange for some protection of species and habitat, offer landowners and developers permanent immunity from ESA lawsuits and authorization to off some endangered animals. There are now almost 400 HCPs in the U.S., covering some 37 million acres, and federal officials say current applications could raise that number to around 100 million acres. But the P-I's investigation found that while there's no evidence species have gone extinct under HCPs, no one knows if they're being protected, the process is being abused by local and state governments, there's little public input, and even land that is set aside as habitat is often poorly protected.

Reservoir Hogs

Norton won't reduce water releases from Lake Powell

Following a year's worth of unsuccessful negotiations between governors of seven parched Western states, Interior Secretary Gale Norton stepped in yesterday to make a decision on how to divvy up the much-coveted water of the Colorado River. A winter of heavy precipitation and subsequent spring thaws have made the debate over how much water to divert to the river's two largest reservoirs -- Lake Powell to the north and Lake Mead to the south -- even more heated. Upper-basin states Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, and New Mexico argued that water levels were finally high enough to decrease water flow out of Lake Powell, which is only one-third full after years of drought. But Arizona, Nevada, and California countered that such reductions would decrease their ability to draw water and power downstream. Norton's final decision? Leave things as is, a situation that benefits downstream states. To which Arizona, Nevada, and California replied: "Face!"

Out of Tuna

Bluefin tuna, unable to swim inside the lines, at risk of extinction

Apparently western Atlantic bluefin tuna don't understand the concept of fisheries quotas, and may soon face extinction because of it, marine scientists report in the journal Nature. Bluefin tuna can grow up to 10 feet in length and weigh 1,500 lbs., and, due to high demand for sushi, they can fetch as much as $98,000 on the Tokyo fish market. Scientists have known there are two populations of bluefin tuna -- a western population whose numbers have declined by 80 percent in the last 30 years and an eastern population thought to be larger -- but weren't sure if the different enforced catch quotas on these populations were really working. Electronic tagging of hundreds of tuna allowed marine biologists such as Stanford's Barbara Block to see that using separate quotas for the two populations may not be effective, what with the fish seeing no boundaries and often voyaging into each others' territories.

Pedi Cure

Pedicabs catching on in Germany

Bicycle taxis, or pedicabs, have been thriving in Germany recently thanks to changes in national law, concerns about pollution and global warming, and a souped-up model dreamed up by former DaimlerChrysler project manager Ludger Matuszewski. The $9,000 German pedicabs -- rented to operators for about $8 a day -- are decked out with disc brakes, 21 gears, and an auxiliary rechargeable electric engine for use when operators need that extra boost. Because the posh modern pedicabs are relatively small and principally human-powered, they can transport their fares not only on city streets but on bike paths and in pedestrian zones as well. Popular, but unfortunately not replacing conventional taxis just yet, pedicabs are billed as a useful contribution to the overall transportation mix. "They've increased people's awareness about other forms of transport," said Christoph Rau of the European Academy of the Urban Environment.

You Like Us, You Really Like Us!

Grist wins Webby Award

Aw, shucks! Y'all know we produce this magazine for completely selfless reasons, so far be it from us to flounce about indulging in unseemly celebration just because we WON A WEBBY AWARD, WOOOO-HOO! Ahem. Anyhoo, we won the People's Choice award in the magazine category. You, our loyal readers, are the people, and we are your choice, and we are flattered, humbled, and newly re-energized to keep kicking pollutocrat derriere. Thanks!