Monday, 06 Nov 2006

Under the Macroscope

Protests, international conference focus on U.S. climate stubbornness

How many delegates does it take to convince the U.S. to address climate change? No one knows, but the 5,000 gathered in Nairobi, Kenya, for the latest U.N. climate conference are giving it a shot. The two-week event opened today with remarks from Kenyan Vice President Moody Awori: "We are all gathered this morning on behalf of mankind because we acknowledge that climate change is rapidly emerging as one of the most serious threats humanity will ever face." U.S. negotiator Harlan Watson didn't get the hint, telling those assembled that the U.S., despite shunning Kyoto, is controlling emissions better than some other countries and isn't likely to accept mandatory cuts. This despite the growing fury represented by thousands who protested political foot-dragging this weekend in locales from London (20,000-plus) to Melbourne (30,000-plus) to Taiwan, Sweden, and the U.S. One Canadian protester said climate apathy was "like calling 911 and being put on hold." Man, those Canadians are needy.


You might think there's nothing purer in this world than a baby feasting on milk from its mother's breast. But even that rosy image has been tainted by industrial progress, with scientists now finding traces of chemicals in breast milk. When new mother Mary Brune learned the facts, she resolved to act. The result: a group called Making Our Milk Safe that's putting retailers and manufacturers on the spot. Don't make them pull this car over.

Thou Shalt Not Passage

Canada, U.S. debate shipping rights in legendary Northwest Passage

Remember when we said Canadians were needy? Well, get a load of this: they want to maintain control over shipping rights in the legendary Northwest Passage, just because they own it. The nerve! With climate change melting Arctic ice, the Atlantic-to-Pacific byway -- long traveled seasonally by ice-breakers and stealthily by submarines -- is becoming more accessible. And the U.S. is reheating an old rivalry with its neighbor, arguing that ships should be allowed to pass without restrictions, as is the case in other international straits. Canadian officials have quietly pointed out that monitoring ships is the best way to avoid spills and other dangers, and former U.S. ambassador to Canada Paul Cellucci even tried to support that position by playing the homeland security card. But his successor, David Wilkins, reiterated the U.S. stance in response. Folks, it looks like there's only one way to resolve this: Operation Canadian Freedom. (Canada, we kid on all fronts. You know we love you.)


A reader in Concord, Mass., wants new windows, but he doesn't want just any old efficient, environmentally smart product. He wants to take things a step farther, looking for transparent manufacturers who reuse materials or use green-certified wood. It panes advice maven Umbra Fisk to admit that she doesn't know the full answer -- but she does know where to look.

Adventures in Agriculture

U.S. gets approval for ozone-depleting pesticide, despite international objections

Pursuing its goal of world destruction (mwahaha!), the U.S. won approval to continue using and making a pesticide banned under an international ozone treaty. The decision, which countered the recommendation of the treaty's technical committee, allows a 5,900-ton methyl bromide exemption in 2008 -- less than the nearly 7,100 tons requested. Treaty-abiding countries are upset at the move, in light of the recent revelation that the U.S. has stockpiled nearly 11,000 tons of the chemical. As Finland's head delegate put it, "It was indeed a very big concern that there were quite substantial amounts of stock existing, which we consider that they should now consume as soon as possible." (Expletive no doubt deleted.) Said Sascha Von Bismarck of the Environmental Investigation Agency, "It's extremely disappointing that ... [the U.S.] continues to fight tooth and nail to get special treatment in the world to use a gas that will cause [a host of] environmental effects." Special treatment? You don't say.


What's the best way to get da yoots active in environmentalism? How about giving goodies to concertgoers who carpool or corralling major artists to make recycling-bin masterpieces. That's Eric Ritz's plan, as his group Global Inheritance aims to reinvent activism. As InterActivist this week, Ritz chats about hijacking the news for eco-updates, convincing God to damn litterers, and more. Send Ritz a question by noon PST on Wednesday; we'll publish his answers to selected questions on Friday.