Wednesday, 07 Dec 2005

Fry Me a River

China's benzene spill flows toward Siberian tiger territory in Russia

China's latest claim to international infamy -- a Songhua River-borne, 100-ton, 90-odd-mile-long benzene spill -- is expected to reach the Russian city of Khabarovsk, on the Amur River, next week. Conservationists in the region worry that the toxic slick will further imperil the extremely endangered Siberian tiger, which eats birds that feed on fish from the already-polluted Amur. In China, the government has vowed severe punishment for anyone who tried to cover up the spill, which originated with an explosion at a Jilin chemical plant on Nov. 13 but was not formally confirmed until 10 days later. The director of China's environmental protection agency has resigned, the head of the chemical firm and other company managers have been fired, and Jilin vice mayor Wang Wei has apparently hanged himself -- in the spill's immediate aftermath, he said publicly that it would not cause widespread pollution.


Still getting used to those icicle lights? You're a trend behind. The hot new thing in holiday illumination is energy-saving LED lights. But what's to be done with the scratched and fizzled light strings of old? Today, a reader wonders how to relight up her life, and advice maven Umbra Fisk offers counsel on making the switch.

The Summit of Our Discontent

U.S. continues to stomp mightily on Montreal climate summit

Poor Canada got it from both sides this week at the Montreal climate summit. On Tuesday, it suggested that the 189 nations party to the original 1992 U.N. climate convention meet formally over the next two years to discuss post-Kyoto strategies for greenhouse-gas reduction. The Bush administration/ExxonMobil delegation responded with a big fat middle finger; its complete opposition to such meetings is likely to kill the idea. Environmentalists kicked the proposal when it was down, with Greenpeace's Bill Hare calling it "almost meaningless" and charging Canada with going too far in a vain attempt to appease and engage the U.S. Meanwhile, the Munich Re Foundation announced that weather-related financial losses in 2005 would exceed $200 billion, with insurance claims topping $70 billion. Foundation CEO Thomas Lobster said that these highest-ever figures are a "powerful indication" that "we are moving from predictions of the likely impacts of climate change to proof that it is already fully under way." Yikes.


Not everything going on in Montreal is as depressing as the climate summit. In recent citywide elections, Projet Montreal -- a municipal political party devoted to dense urban development, public transit, and social justice -- picked up two city-council seats and took a big step toward becoming an established opposition party. In doing so, it brought to North America the red-green union of social democracy and environmentalism familiar in European cities like Paris and London. Payton Chung surveys the scene in Gristmill.

Holey Moly

Antarctic ozone hole may persist 20 years longer than expected

Remember that hole in the ozone over Antarctica? The one we fixed? Big environmental success story? Turns out it may take roughly two decades longer than expected for it to fully heal -- until around 2065, instead of 2040 to 2050 -- because sizable amounts of chlorofluorocarbons are still being released into the atmosphere by industrialized nations. Researchers reported this week that the U.S. and Canada are responsible for about 15 percent of total global CFC emissions, even though CFC production in industrialized nations has been phased out under the 1987 Montreal Protocol. The scientists say they underestimated how long already-produced CFCs would remain a factor; the chemicals continue to leak from equipment like old refrigerators and air-conditioners. And the widely used pesticide methyl bromide -- another virulent ozone-destroyer -- was to be phased out in industrial nations this year under Montreal, but the U.S. is leading efforts to keep it in use.

Catch Him if You Can

Leonardo DiCaprio to produce documentary about global warming

Eco-minded actor Leonardo DiCaprio -- who tools around L.A. in a Prius and has been outspoken about issues like worldwide access to potable water -- is now bringing a tree-hugging message to film. According to spokesdude Ken "Walkin' on" Sunshine (we made that middle part up), DiCaprio has started work on 11th Hour, a full-length documentary about global warming. The multi-talented DiCaprio will produce, co-write, and narrate the film, scheduled to hit the big screen in fall 2006. "Global warming is not only the No. 1 environmental challenge we face today, but one of the most important issues facing all of humanity," said DiCaprio. Hey Leo, we'd warm your globe ...