Wednesday, 08 Feb 2006

The Only Boy Who Could Ever Teach Me

Evangelical leaders launch new campaign to fight global warming

Eighty-six evangelical Christian leaders have joined together to launch an "Evangelical Climate Initiative" and call for federal legislation to reduce carbon dioxide emissions via a cap-and-trade market system. This move comes after 22 evangelical leaders -- including Bush-friendly political heavyweights James Dobson and Charles Colson -- warned the National Association of Evangelicals against issuing just such a statement earlier this month. The NAE didn't sign on to the new statement, but its president Ted Haggard says he's personally convinced global warming is real and dangerous, and NAE VP Richard Cizik helped persuade other leaders -- including best-selling author and megachurch leader Rick Warren -- to get on board. The initiative plans to spread its message via programs at churches and Christian colleges and an ad campaign in targeted states. Says a planned TV ad, "The good news is that with God's help, we can stop global warming, for our kids, our world, and for the Lord." Hallelujah!


Enviros are, by nature, optimistic types (well, except for that whole "the world is melting and we're all doomed" thing). That's why, when a product seems to serve our needs while being kind to the planet, we get all giddy-like. Today, a reader wonders if bamboo is the magical flooring material she's been looking for. Ever so gently, advice maven Umbra Fisk bursts her bambubble.

You'll Eat It, and You'll Like It

WTO says E.U. illegally blocked genetically modified crops

After years of striving to pry Europe open to biotech crops, Washington scored a crucial victory yesterday: A World Trade Organization panel found that the European Union had illegally blocked imports of genetically modified crops, and that several E.U. nations had no legal right to impose their own bans. Although the E.U. has licensed limited GM crop imports recently, the Bush administration says the issue now is clearing a decade's backlog of trade applications -- and dispelling the chilling effect E.U. resistance has had on sales worldwide. European consumer and eco-advocacy groups say the ruling is an attack on the rights of E.U. nations to decide what kinds of foods they will approve. A coalition of 170 European regions and 4,500 smaller areas has vowed to be gene-mod free, and the foods remain extremely unpopular with European consumers. The E.U. may appeal -- or could opt to accept penalties instead of complying with the ruling.

Bodies, Asbestos, and Motion

Controversial bill to create asbestos trust fund moves ahead in Senate

An epic drama is playing out in the U.S. Capitol over ... asbestos. Seriously. A bill -- which, after a 98 to 1 vote in the Senate yesterday, will now move to the floor for debate -- would create a $140 billion industry-financed trust fund for victims of asbestos-related illness, but would also put a halt to the hundreds of thousands of pending asbestos lawsuits. Veterans came to D.C. to lobby for it; asbestos victims have collected 150,000 signatures against it. Lawsuit-fearing manufacturers support it, while an array of insurers, labor unions, and trial lawyers oppose it. The White House and GOP leadership support it, as do some Democrats, but bipartisan opposition means passage is far from assured. Said Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), "One would have to search far and wide to find a bill as bad as this." With so many of Washington's most powerful lobbying groups geared for battle, expect a titanic struggle in coming weeks. Pass the popcorn!

Paradise Found

Researchers discover treasure trove of new tropical species in Indonesia

Just when we thought we'd colonized it all: Scientists have discovered a jungle in New Guinea's Foja mountains that is home to hundreds of rare and dozens of previously unknown species of flora and fauna. Researchers were helicoptered into the Rhode Island-sized area and spent a month in a state of awe. Among their findings were a new species of honeyeater bird, a nearly extinct tree kangaroo, a rhododendron with blossoms the size of bread plates, and an aptly named bird of paradise that hadn't been recorded since the 19th century. "It is as close to the Garden of Eden as you're going to find on earth," said chief scientist Bruce Beehler of Conservation International, who also noted that the animals in the tropical utopia were not afraid of humans. The group plans to return in July to prepare for logging crews. No, we kid!