Monday, 31 Oct 2005

The Old Munitions and the Sea

U.S. Army dumped heaps of chemical weapons in Davy Jones' locker

Between 1944 and 1970, the U.S. Army secretly dumped about 64 million pounds of chemical warfare agents, plus over 400,000 mustard-gas-filled munitions, off several state shores -- and more than that in the waters around 11 other nations. A fair amount of the dumping took place right after the end of World War II, when the Army needed to divest of a lot of spare chemical munitions. A two-part investigation by Virginia's Daily Press reveals that the Army doesn't know where most of these dump sites are, whether the munitions are leaking, or what effect they may be having on the environment or fishers. The situation is "a disaster looming -- a time bomb," says Gert Harigel, a physicist and expert on chemical weapons. "The scientific community knows very little about it. It scares me a lot."


Last month, a reader asked advice guru Umbra Fisk if biking in city traffic was hazardous to the health. Umbra replied with semi-comforting words (something along the lines of, "Well, it could be worse"), provoking heaps of letters from concerned and confused cyclists the world over. What about heaving lungs that suck up pollutants? What about exposed flesh and bone? What about distracted drivers? Today's column yields more tips for riding in the city and facing mortality with bravado. Thus spoke Umbra.

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Gaggin'

China's economic boom leading to dreadful air quality

China's zooming economy is a wonder of the modern world, but the eco-toll is becoming increasingly severe. Acid rain affects about a third of the country, approximately 70 percent of its lakes and rivers are polluted, and more than 400,000 Chinese a year are estimated to die prematurely due to extreme air pollution. And the problems don't stay within China's borders: The country is the world's second-largest greenhouse-gas producer, and the U.S. EPA says that at times nearly a quarter of the particulate pollution over Los Angeles originated from China. Last week, environmental official Zhang Lijun cautioned that China's pollution levels could quadruple or worse within 15 years if automobile use and energy consumption are not curbed. Though the government has been setting higher benchmarks for auto fuel efficiency and clean energy development, and boasting of a green Beijing Olympics in 2008, it's also been cracking down on environmental activists. 'Cause obviously they're the problem.


EarthCorps is the eco version of the Peace Corps. The Seattle-based nonprofit puts young people to work restoring green spaces, and in the process rejuvenates the human spirit as well, says Su Thieda, EarthCorps program director and this week's InterActivist. Send her a question by noon PST on Wednesday; we'll publish her answers to selected questions on Friday.

Lather, Prince, Repeat

Prince Charles frets over climate change, promotes organic foods

Britain's Prince Charles is getting dreadfully worried about climate change. In an interview with the BBC last week, he called it the "greatest challenge" to face humanity. And on CBS's 60 Minutes last night, he said, "You know, if you look at the latest figures on climate change and global warming ... they're terrifying, terrifying." But he was mum on whether he'll raise the subject when he sups privately with President Bush at the White House this week -- wouldn't be proper to comment on a private dinner, old chap. (Man, we'd love to be a fly on the wall for that meeting of the minds.) Charles and his wife, Camilla, are making their first trip to the States as a couple this week, and they'll use it to highlight another of the prince's top environmental issues: eating local and organic. During a jaunt to the San Francisco Bay area, the royal duo will shop at a farmers' market, lunch at an organic farm, and visit the Edible Schoolyard project where green celebrity chef Alice Waters teaches kids how to grow organic food. Jolly good.