Monday, 10 Jul 2006

One Minute to Midnight

Bush plans nuke deal with Russia; G8 to spread nuclear power worldwide

On the eve of next weekend's meeting of the G8 -- where developed nations will unveil an ironically named "global energy security" plan that would expand nuclear-power technology across the globe -- the U.S. will announce a deal with Russia that would allow broad cooperation between the two countries' civilian nuclear industries. Russian President Vladimir Putin has been pushing hard for nuclear power: Under the G8 plan, he hopes to use his country's nuclear expertise to mass-produce floating nuclear power plants on barges. Seriously. And under the deal with the U.S., Russia would be paid billions to store much of the world's nuclear waste -- especially comforting given the country's solid nuclear security record. The G8 plan would resurrect fast breeder reactors, which don't require as much uranium but produce highly fissile waste; thankfully, developing nations that receive the technology would have to promise not to use it for weaponry. Possibly even pinkie swear. We sure hope Iran and North Korea aren't reading the newspapers.


This ain't your mother's drivers' ed. Drivers Ed Direct, founded by Blake Mycoskie, puts students in hybrid cars and teaches them eco-responsibility as well as the rules of the road. In answering questions from Grist editors, Mycoskie -- this week's InterActivist -- chats about visiting the Brazilian rainforest while on The Amazing Race, caring for the oceans, and more. Send Mycoskie a question of your own by noon PDT on Wednesday; we'll publish his answers to selected questions on Friday.

Cry of Newt and Woe of Frog

World's amphibians in big trouble, experts warn

The world's amphibians could go extinct. All of them. Soon. So warned 50 amphibian experts from around the globe in the journal Science on Friday. Along with the same-old, same-old threats of habitat destruction, pollution, pesticides, UV radiation, and invasive species, amphibians are being wiped out by a rapidly spreading fungal disease. Climate change has made frogs, toads, newts, salamanders, and other amphibians more susceptible to the disease. "For the first time in modern history, because of the way that humans are impacting our natural world, we're facing the extinction of an entire class of organisms," said Claude Gascon of Conservation International. The scientists announced an Amphibian Survival Alliance with a goal to fund a five-year, $400 million rescue mission. Up to 122 of the 5,743 known amphibian species have gone extinct since 1980, at least 427 are critically endangered, and almost a third are threatened.


Readers keep asking Umbra to shed more light on the topic of compact fluorescent bulbs. Today's question: What happens after you hand off your used-up bulbs to the hazmat folks? Will the mercury inside be reused? Umbra screws up her courage and hands down some answers.

So Near, Yet Sonar

Deal lets Navy make limited use of sonar in exercises off Hawaii

A temporary ban on Navy sonar use has been lifted, after the Navy agreed to take steps to protect whales in return for the dropping of a lawsuit by the Natural Resources Defense Council. The Navy is in the midst of the world's largest naval war exercise near Hawaii; for the remainder of the exercise, mid-frequency active sonar will be disallowed within 25 nautical miles of the brand spankin' new Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Marine National Monument. Also, some Navy sailors and pilots will be designated with the important if not glamorous job of, well, whale watching -- keeping eyes and ears out for whales in distress. "Military readiness does not require, and our laws do not allow, our natural resources to be sacrificed in the name of national defense," said Joel Reynolds of NRDC. He added that while enviros didn't get everything they wanted, they believed the settlement was the best they could do. Marine mammals have been harmed or killed in at least 11 naval exercises worldwide since 1998.

Outstripped

Demand for organics outpacing local supply

With demand for organic food soaring in the U.S. and U.K., manufacturers of organic products are struggling to find adequate supplies of organic ingredients and are increasingly looking and buying abroad. While exporters like Australia welcome the trend, it creates a dilemma for many organic enthusiasts, who also tend to support local, small-scale farmers; they cheer the rise of organic awareness but bemoan the current need for large-scale imports. Hoping to increase stateside production, a number of U.S. organic companies are providing technical help and financial incentives to local farmers who switch to organic. The Soil Association, Britain's organic certification body, gives Jamie "Naked Chef" Oliver partial credit for increased interest in organics; we bet if he were actually naked, interest would increase even more.