Green News & Events
Transgender Fish Found; Fertility Compromised
The latest U.S. Geological Survey found that 85 percent of male smallmouth bass in and near wildlife refuges in the Northeast show compromised fertility: They have eggs where their testes should be, according to the Washington Post. Earlier, surveys had found as much as 100 percent of fish in the southern Potomac River were affected, and 90 percent in West Virginia. A reported 37 species of fish have been identified as exhibiting “intersex changes” that affect fertility, and although scientists have not yet identified the culprit, many believe endocrine disrupting chemicals are to blame.
Microbead Free Waters Act Becomes Law
Now this is something to celebrate. Just under the wire of 2015, President Obama signed into law the Microbead Free Waters Act. Why is this important?
Responses Vary to TSCA Vote
Well, that came out of nowhere. This week, without much warning, the Senate passed legislation to update TSCA, the Toxic Substances Control Act. The House of Representatives passed a different bill in June—and until the vote, the language of the new legislation wasn’t made public. Talk about smoke and mirrors! Now the two bills will need to be reconciled in committee before anything becomes law. So how does the new legislation break down?
Paris Agreement Passes: What’s Next?
Even Pope Francis approved of the Paris Agreement, which passed muster with delegates from nearly 200 countries on Sunday. After five sets of negotiations this year and two full weeks of debate in Paris, the agreement set a world goal of limiting rising temperatures to within 2 degrees Celsius compared to pre-industrial levels, through 2100. So what happens now?
Is GMO Labeling Fight Over?
Despite the fact that a full 93% of Americans support GMO Labeling, it looks like a losing fight, according to a new article in The Hill. But does that mean it’s been lost?
Monsanto Faces Hague Trial
Is Monsanto ready to pay the piper? Earlier this month, a collective group of non-profits concerned about food, farming and environmental justice announced that they will put Monsanto–responsible for developing glyphosate (better known as Round-Up) and polychlorinated biphenyl (aka PCBs), among others–on trial next year for crimes against nature, humanity and the environment, Global Research reported.
EPA To Restrict Toxic Pesticide Chlorpyrifos
Finally. It only took nine years of sitting on a lawsuit before the Environmental Protection agency decided to ban toxic pesticide chlorpyrifos on the day of the court-ordered deadline, according to Beyond Pesticides.
Senators To Investigate Artificial Turf
Abby Wambach called artificial turf a nightmare to play on. Schools have reported their artificial turf fields melting in the summer heat. And pet owners are worried about a study linking artificial turf to bladder cancer in dogs. But that’s nothing compared to the carcinogenic concerns about crumb rubber that lines artificial turf fields. Now two senators are on the case.
