Thursday, 23 Mar 2006

No, No, We Said Hit the Road, Gale

In parting gesture, Norton paves way for more roads on federal lands

Yesterday, as a Cruella-De-Ville-esque parting shot, Interior Secretary Gale Norton issued a new policy that enviros warn could allow local and state governments to build hundreds of roads on national parks, wildlife refuges, and other federal lands in the West. At issue is an 1866 law that gave states and counties rights of way across federal lands; the law was repealed in 1976, but allowed claims for already-existing "routes." Since then, local governments and enviros have sparred over what routes deserve to be maintained as roads, with some local officials claiming that cattle tracks, dry streambeds, and old jeep tracks qualified. Norton's directive gives Interior officials more freedom to determine which right-of-way claims are legit, and to then let local governments maintain them as roads. That prospect makes greens nervous. Utah wilderness advocate Heidi McIntosh calls the move "classic Gale Norton. It's like getting punched in the head with a velvet glove." Adieu, Ms. Norton.


Three years ago, the Sokaogon Chippewa tribe of Northern Wisconsin bought the nearby site of a proposed mine, winning a 30-year battle to preserve their land and community. But this April, the mortgage comes due, and the tribe is still struggling to raise money to pay it off. Tribe member Tina Van Zile leads a virtual walking tour of her community, reflecting on the past fight for justice, her present frustrations, and her hopes for future generations.


Hollywood tends to like its women in diamonds and sparkly dresses, but some moviemakers can't take their eyes off poor, female eco-activists. Charlize Theron's Oscar nomination for North Country this year proves that the allure of such tales hasn't worn off in the years since Silkwood, but has the take-home message changed? Ken Eisen compares eco-chick movies past with eco-chick movies present.

They Got Seoul But They're Not Eco-Soldiers

South Korean Supreme Court rules in favor of eco-damaging seawall

In a bitter defeat for a worldwide coalition of environmentalists, the South Korean Supreme Court has ruled that construction can continue on what will become, if finished as planned, the world's longest seawall. Begun in 1991 and about 90 percent complete, the 20-mile-long wall will convert over 99,000 acres of wetlands into filled land and a reservoir. Conservationists point out that the wall will affect migratory birds from Mongolia to New Zealand by disrupting a crucial feeding area. The filled land was initially going to be used for rice paddies, but as South Korea is currently producing a rice surplus, plans have been floated for a tourism site with the world's largest ... wait for it ... golf course. The government says it will encourage eco-friendly development, use the land for raising livestock, and establish marshes and a bird sanctuary. Don't you feel better?

Chop Revenuey

China creates new taxes to curb timber and energy use

China has announced an array of new "green taxes" on diverse goods -- from throwaway chopsticks to golf balls to SUVs -- to try and rein in deforestation and skyrocketing energy use. Chinese nibblers use around 45 billion pairs of disposable wooden chopsticks a year, which adds up to about 25 million full-grown trees, contributing to heavy pressure on the nation's forests; those chopsticks will now be taxed an extra 5 percent. There will also be new or higher taxes on vehicles with engines larger than two liters, like SUVs and luxury sedans; the tax on smaller-engine autos will actually drop. China-manufactured cars tend to be smaller, while imports -- notably American vehicles -- generally feed the market for gas-guzzlers. The auto taxes may signal that some senior Chinese officials are reconsidering the phenomenal growth of China's private-car economy, which is straining fuel resources and increasing air pollution. The new green taxes take effect on April 1.