Japan will ‘redesign’ Antarctic whaling program to make it more ‘scientific’ – ‘They intend to ignore the verdict of the International Court of Justice, and they intend to continue killing whales in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary’

Tokyo, 18 April 2014 (AFP) – Japan says it will redesign its controversial Antarctic whaling mission in a bid to make it more scientific, after a United Nations court ruled it was a commercial hunt masquerading as research. The bullish response, which could see harpoon ships back in the Southern Ocean next year, sets Tokyo […]

Princeton study concludes U.S. government is an oligarchy – ‘The preferences of the average American appear to have only a minuscule, near-zero, statistically non-significant impact upon public policy’

[UPDATE: Objections have been raised about this study, e.g., here. I asked Prof. Gilens for his rebuttal, and he graciously replied. His response is appended at the end of this post. –Des]  By Tom McKay16 April 2014 (PolicyMic) – A new scientific study, “Testing Theories of American Politics: Elites, Interest Groups, and Average Citizens” [pdf], […]

Ecuador will have referendum on fate of Yasuní National Park after activists collect over 700,000 signatures

By Jeremy Hance16 April 2014 (mongabay.com) – In what is a major victory for environmentalists, campaigners with United for Yasuní have collected 727,947 signatures triggering a national referendum on whether or not oil drilling should proceed in three blocs of Yasuní National Park in Ecuador. The effort started last year after Ecuador’s President, Rafael Correa, […]

Virginia Supreme Court rules for U-Va. in global warming FOIA case – ‘This is a victory for science, public university faculty, and academic freedom’

By Tom Jackman    17 April 2014 (Washington Post) – Unpublished research by university scientists is exempt from the Virginia Freedom of Information Act, the Virginia Supreme Court ruled Thursday, rejecting an attempt by skeptics of global warming to view the work of a prominent climate researcher during his years at the University of Virginia. The […]

Death to the Greenies! The message is clear: ‘Get in the way of our profits and we will kill you’

By Captain Paul Watson 16 April 2014 (Facebook) – Being a wildlife conservationist or an environmentalist is now considered one of the planet’s most dangerous occupations. We face very dangerous and powerful vested interests each day. They outnumber us and they are financially and politically connected. They are ruthless and they will deal harshly with […]

More than 900 environmental advocates slain in a decade – Only 10 killers convicted – ‘The convicted tend to have lowest levels of responsibility, such as the getaway car driver. The level of impunity is glaring.’

By DENIS D. GRAY14 April 2014 BANGKOK (AP) – As head of his village, Prajob Naowa-opas battled to save his community in central Thailand from the illegal dumping of toxic waste by filing petitions and leading villagers to block trucks carrying the stuff — until a gunman in broad daylight fired four shots into him. […]

Global rankings study shows America in rapid decline – U.S. #1 in incarcerated citizens per capita, adult onset diabetes, and belief in angels

By CJ Werleman9 April 2014 (AlterNet) – If America needed a reminder that it is fast becoming a second-rate nation, and that every economic policy of the Republican Party is wrongheaded, it got one this week with the release of the Social Progress Index (SPI). Harvard business professor Michael E. Porter, who earlier developed the […]

New York Times publishes dishonest attacks on Showtime’s landmark series about climate change

By Joe Romm    9 April 2014 (Climate Progress) – The good news is the video of episode one of Showtime’s climate series, Years Of Living Dangerously, has been getting great reviews in The New York Times and elsewhere. The bad news is the Times has published an error-riddled hit-job op-ed on the series that is […]

Unprecedented floods leave half of Solomon Islands’ capital without access to water

9 April 2014 (Radio Australia) – Authorities say it could be weeks before water supplies to the capital of Solomon Islands are restored. Last week, unprecedented flooding in the Pacific island nation claimed the lives of 23 people and left 9,000 homeless. It also wreaked havoc on Honiara’s water mains, with around 50 per cent […]

Heartland Institute’s Joe Bast attacks climate science on Fox News

By SHAUNA THEEL8 April 2014 (Media Matters) – Fox News is suggesting a report by the Heartland Institute “debunked” a top climate change report while obscuring the background of the organization, which previously denied the science demonstrating the dangers of tobacco and secondhand smoke. On Fox News’ America’s Newsroom and America’s News Headquarters, Heartland Institute […]

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