Friday, 13 Apr 2007

The time has come, the Gristers say, to march for many things: stop climate change, bring carbon down, and maybe find a fling. Ahem. What we mean is: Step It Up 2007 has arrived! Tomorrow -- that's Saturday, April 14 -- thousands of your fellow citizens will hit the streets to demand political action on climate change. It's gonna be big! Be there or -- no, just be there. Let's make some history, so we can have a future.

Latter-Day Paints

EPA says racism isn't a factor in Ford Superfund saga

A strange environmental-justice saga is unfolding in New Jersey, pitting Ford Motor Co. against a community of Ramapough Indians and their allies. Decades ago, Ford dumped thousands of tons of toxic paint sludge at a former mining area. The dump was declared a Superfund site, reportedly cleaned up, and delisted. But neighbors said that sludge remained, and was causing illnesses and deaths. So last year, the site was put back on the Superfund list -- the first-ever such relisting -- and now the EPA inspector general's office is studying the reasons for the decades-long fustercluck. At a community meeting this week, EPA reps said the agency's oversight of the process undeniably sucked, but they found no evidence of racism. Residents scoffed: "Asking them if there was discrimination is like asking an ax murderer standing over a body if he killed anyone," said community leader Wayne Mann. "With all due respect to you guys, you failed." Both the clean-up and the investigation will continue.


From registry to honeymoon, Meghan Meyers can help make your wedding a little lighter on the earth. This week's InterActivist is the founder of Portovert, the go-to magazine for eco-savvy nuptials -- and it surely made a great resource as she fielded reader questions on veggie banquets, out-of-town relatives, and do-it-yourself decorating. Check it out -- because you can have your cake and green it too.

But Now What?

Bush withdraws controversial EPA nominations

Earlier this month, we reported that President Bush was re-dangling three controversial names for key environmental positions in his administration, suggesting that he might appoint them while Congress was on a break. While he did manage to push one such recess appointment through last week -- Susan Dudley as White House regulations chief -- he has pulled the other two nominations: William Wehrum for head of EPA's Office of Air and Radiation and Alex Beehler for EPA inspector general. Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), Environment and Public Works Committee chair, had blocked the nominations when they first arose last year, then agreed to hold a confirmation hearing this month to avoid any sneaky appointments. But fearing the hearing was a lost cause, Wehrum and Beehler are said to have withdrawn their own names. Critics had pointed to Wehrum's weak work as acting EPA air chief and Beehler's oil-industry ties; Boxer called the withdrawals "good news" and did a little end-zone dance. In our heads.

Wen, the Time Is Right

China agrees to participate in post-Kyoto negotiations

China has agreed to participate in talks about a framework to fight global warming after the Kyoto Protocol expires in 2012. Enviros danced a joyful jig, as the decision puts pressure on other, non-communicative nations (we're not naming names). China is a signatory to the Kyoto Protocol as a developing country, so its emissions aren't regulated under the current agreement, but by 2013 it may well be the world's top emitter of greenhouse gases. Premier Wen Jiabao made the announcement Wednesday along with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe; the two countries, which are trying to rebuild their rocky relationship, will also cooperate to reduce pollution, monitor toxins, conserve water and energy, and (sigh) pursue "clean coal" and nuclear development. China wasted no time following up on its green responsibilities: yesterday, the state press reported that China aims to reduce coal consumption 3 percent and increase the energy generated by natural gas to 20.5 percent by 2010. Hey, it's a start.