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7 Billion and Counting
Posted by EcoWatch: Michael Brune on July 11th, 2015
EcoWatch: Today is World Population Day, and it’s easy to focus on the numbers—starting with the more than 7 billion humans now sharing our planet. Within many of our lifetimes, that number could surpass 10 billion. But grappling with the issue of global population is about much more than the numbers—it’s about the needs of the people behind those statistics. It’s been 20 years since the United Nations defined voluntary family planning as a basic human right. Unfortunately, 225 million women around the world...
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Why Keystone XL Flunks the Climate Test
Posted by EcoWatch: Michael Brune on August 29th, 2013
EcoWatch: In June President Obama set a climate test for his decision on the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline. He said he will not approve the pipeline if it would significantly exacerbate the problem of carbon pollution. Today the Sierra Club, Oil Change International and 13 partner groups have released a report that settles the issue unequivocally: Keystone XL would be a climate disaster. The State Department, though, tried to ignore this 181-million metric ton elephant. It argued in its environmental review...
Fracking: What’s That Smell?
Posted by EcoWatch: Michael Brune on March 12th, 2013
EcoWatch: You know what natural gas smells like. Or do you? Natural gas is actually odorless. That rotten-egg smell is added for safety reasons. Otherwise, you might not notice a potentially deadly gas leak.
If only we could add a similar smell to the natural gas industry. Too many people--especially politicians--aren`t paying attention to the dangers of the current "boom" in natural gas development. Here are three big reasons why we should stop new gas drilling before it starts and replace fossil fuels...