January 2009

Wild Arctic
In January, Senator Joe Lieberman introduced a bill to designate the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge as Wilderness. If enacted into law, the legislation will afford the strongest protection to this refuge for caribou, muskoxen, and other animals. Wilderness designation will protect the refuge from oil drilling.

Fatal blow
In a great Christmas present to California, the Bush Administration Commerce Department upheld the California Coastal Commission’s rejection of the proposed toll road through San Onofre State Park. The Commerce Department could only override the Coastal Commission’s decision if construction of the road was essential for national security or if the project had no alternatives—both far-fetched arguments even the Bush Administration didn’t buy.

Play it safe
Plant Physiologist Martha Booz recommends buying organic soy and corn since most non-organic soy and corn are routinely sprayed with Roundup. (“Roundup Ready”) A December article in the journal Chemical Research Toxicology found that Roundup residues are toxic to human cells even at “low levels of residues in food or feed.”

New EPA head
Sierra Club is pleased with Lisa Jackson’s appointment as head of the EPA. In her six years with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection she took the lead in New Jersey’s fight against global warming, advocated for renewable energy and efficiency measures, promoted a buy-out program for flood prone properties, increased stream protection, led the effort to retrofit diesel school buses and more. Jackson will be an important member of the Obama Green Team.

Volume’s up
Researchers have found that the ocean is becoming more acidic as its level of CO2 increases. The more acidic seawater enables sound to travel farther interfering with marine mammal communication and navigation. In the past 200 years (since the industrial revolution) scientists believe the ocean has become 30% more acidic. Another reason to get serious about addressing global warming.

Performance label
The California Air Resources Board now requires an Environmental Performance label on new motor vehicles sold in California. The label shows how that vehicle compares with others in both smog and greenhouse gas emissions. Much like the Energy Star rating for appliances, the new label will help consumers choose greener vehicles. An example of the new label is shown below.

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