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Organic Farmers vs. Monsanto: Final Appeal to U.S. Supreme Court to Protect Crops from GMO Contamination
Posted by EcoWatch: None Given on December 24th, 2013
EcoWatch: Last week, the Public Patent Foundation filed a brief with the U.S. Supreme Court in the landmark case, Organic Seed Growers and Trade Association (OSGATA) et al v. Monsanto, in the hopes that the highest court in the land would hear and reinstate the case of 73 American organic and conventional family farmers, seed businesses and public advocacy groups that seek protection for America`s farmers from Monsanto`s frivolous patent infringement lawsuits, and their promiscuous genetically engineered pollen...
Posted in Water Conservation 
Comments Off on Organic Farmers vs. Monsanto: Final Appeal to U.S. Supreme Court to Protect Crops from GMO ContaminationWorldwide Electronic Waste to Reach 65 Million Tons by 2017
Posted by EcoWatch: None Given on December 23rd, 2013
EcoWatch: The volume of electronic waste generated worldwide is expected to climb by 33 percent by 2017 to 65 million tons, according to a study conducted by a partnership of United Nations organizations, industry, governments and scientists.
So many computers, televisions, mobile phones and other devices are being tossed away annually that within four years the volume of e-waste would fill a 15,000-mile line of 40-ton trucks, the report said. The report, released by a group called StEP--Solving the E-Waste...
Posted in Water Conservation Comments Off on Worldwide Electronic Waste to Reach 65 Million Tons by 2017Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipeline Gets Approved, Ignores Massive Opposition
Posted by EcoWatch: None Given on December 23rd, 2013
EcoWatch: In a long-awaited announcement, the National Energy Board (NEB) released the final recommendation from the Joint Review Panel (JRP) to approve the contentious Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipeline project--along with a lengthy list of conditions that must be met for the pipeline to go ahead.
The panel’s report, released last week in Calgary, follows years of heated public debate and fierce opposition to the project across British Columbia--opposition that won’t be letting up any time soon.
“This...
Posted in Water Conservation Comments Off on Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipeline Gets Approved, Ignores Massive OppositionPA Supreme Court Finds Parts Act 13 Unconstitutional, Allows Municipalities to Limit Fracking
Posted by EcoWatch: None Given on December 20th, 2013
EcoWatch: The Pennsylvania Supreme Court issued an opinion yesterday in the closely-watched case of Robinson Township v. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, No. 63 MAP 2012.
The case was a challenge filed by several Pennsylvania municipalities against the state legislature’s adoption of Act 13. Act 13 sought to eliminate zoning authority from municipalities over oil and gas extraction.
Act 13 was passed in 2012 to remove any local barriers to the expansion of drilling and fracking across the state. Provisions...
Posted in Water Conservation Comments Off on PA Supreme Court Finds Parts Act 13 Unconstitutional, Allows Municipalities to Limit Fracking16 Arrested Blocking Tar Sands Megaload in Oregon
Posted by EcoWatch: None Given on December 18th, 2013
EcoWatch: On Monday evening climate justice groups stopped a controversial shipment of equipment bound for the Alberta tar sands. Concerned citizens locked themselves to two disabled vehicles in front of the 901,000 pound load, blocking its route along highway 26 outside of John Day, OR. Police responded and arrested 16 at the two blockade sites.
A megaload hauling tar sands equipment heading to the Athabasca oil fields in Alberta, Canada. Photo credit Northern Rockies Rising Tide
Monday night’s action...
11 Arrested Protesting Tar Sands and Fracking
Posted by EcoWatch: None Given on December 13th, 2013
EcoWatch: On Friday, two activists with Great Plains Tar Sands Resistance and Cross Timbers Earth First! locked themselves inside a revolving door at the Devon Tower in Oklahoma City, OK in protest of Devon’s involvement in tar sands extraction and plans to increase fracking in Eagle Ford Shale.
Two activists locked themselves in a revolving door in protest of tar sands extraction and fracking. Photo credit: Great Plains Tar Sands Resistance
Simultaneously, a banner displaying a Mockingjay from the popular...
Landmark Ruling Rejects Disastrous Water Diversion Project in Nevada and Utah
Posted by EcoWatch: None Given on December 12th, 2013
EcoWatch: In a landmark decision released yesterday, Senior Judge Robert Estes of the Seventh Judicial District Court of Nevada rejected the Nevada state engineer’s 2011 allocation of approximately 84,000 acre-feet of ancient groundwater a year to the Southern Nevada Water Authority for export to Las Vegas. The decision is a huge blow to the Water Authority’s plan to suck massive amounts of water out of the Nevada-Utah desert to feed urban sprawl in and around Las Vegas.
Cave Lake State Park in White Pine...
Posted in Water Conservation Comments Off on Landmark Ruling Rejects Disastrous Water Diversion Project in Nevada and UtahGreat Lakes Ecosystems Threatened by Food Scarcity
Posted by EcoWatch: None Given on December 12th, 2013
EcoWatch: Declines of the food resources that feed lake organisms are likely causing dramatic changes in the Great Lakes, according to a new U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) study. USGS scientists and partners found that since 1998, water clarity has been increasing in a majority of the Great Lakes, while phytoplankton (the microscopic water organisms that feed all other animals), native invertebrates and prey fish have been declining. These food web changes fundamentally affect the ecosystem’s valuable resources...
Court Appeals Upholds San Francisco Plastic Bag Ban
Posted by EcoWatch: None Given on December 11th, 2013
EcoWatch: A unanimous California Court of Appeal upheld San Francisco’s expanded plastic bag ban, marking the latest in a string of victories for local laws phasing out single-use plastic bags.
The lawsuit, brought by the Save the Plastic Bag Coalition, had disputed the procedures San Francisco used to expand its plastic bag ban in 2012 and the legality of banning plastic bags in restaurants. This is the first appellate court to consider the restaurant issue. Yesterday’s ruling sets the stage for more cities...
Water Industry Admits Fracking Compromises UK’s Water Supply
Posted by EcoWatch: None Given on November 27th, 2013
EcoWatch: Today, two industry groups signed a Memorandum of Understanding stating that their members will minimize the impact of onshore oil and gas development in the UK on the country’s water resources.
The memorandum accompanies a report released by Water UK. The report concludes that "where water is in short supply there may not be enough available from public water supplies or the environment to meet the requirements for hydraulic fracturing."
While the aim of the mutual agreement was to give the...
Posted in Water Conservation Comments Off on Water Industry Admits Fracking Compromises UK’s Water Supply