Environment and Health
An Unprecedented Attack from Polluters
As a new mother, it breaks my heart when I hear stories from parents who are struggling with their kids’ health problems. I know parents who live in fear of their child’s next asthma attack. Some can’t even let their kids play outside when local air pollution hits dangerous levels. We do everything we can to protect our kids, even before they’re born.
Tap Water’s Budget Bottleneck
Somehow, with all the recent rancor over spending cuts, pundits and politicians have largely overlooked one of our most essential public services–supplying the public with clean tap water.
Climate Science can Weather a Winter Storm
Chicago was to be Ground Zero for the end of the world. Twenty inches of snow, 35-50-mile-per-hour winds, 30-foot waves coming off Lake Michigan onto Lake Shore Drive. A wind-chill of Don’t Ask.
Our Corporate Courts
In its effort to scuttle President Barack Obama’s healthcare reform, the right wing has gone court shopping. They’ve filed their cases in the courts of judges who are known to be ideologically hostile to government regulation of health care corporations.
Key Hand Sanitizer Ingredient May Cause More Harm than Good
Every year, U.S. consumers spend an estimated $1 billion on household and personal care products to shield themselves from a host of unseen germs. Yet many items marketed for their so-called “anti-bacterial” properties contain an ingredient perhaps more insidious than the microorganisms they’re designed to combat: triclosan.
Finally, Washington Frowns on Mountaintop Removal Mining
At last, a small spark of sanity from Washington. After making a full scientific assessment of environmental impacts, the EPA has revoked the permit for the largest mountaintop removal project ever to assault the natural resources and the people of Appalachia.
We Must Preserve Health Care Reform
Thanks to the landmark health care reform law Congress approved last year, millions of children like Katie will get the health coverage they need to grow up healthy.
Dumping on Texas for Fun and Profit
Thank you, California. And you, too, Florida, Maine, Missouri, and the 32 other states that intend to send a very special gift to Texas–namely, their radioactive waste. Now there’s a gift that truly keeps on giving!
Climate Change is Here to Stay
It wasn’t long ago that climate change was all the rage. Newspaper headlines were touting the Kyoto Protocol. Scientists and citizens alike were discussing Al Gore’s documentary An Inconvenient Truth. Individuals were offering personal pledges of reform. Folks were downright scared.
Our Slow-Motion Global Accident
The Cancun agreement could open a loophole that lets companies in the United States continue to pollute–as long as they pay someone else in another country to reduce their emissions. It’s called carbon offsetting, and it means U.S. families living in the toxic shadow of big polluters will have to suffer the health impacts of dirty energy, while companies get to claim credit for cleaning up their act.
