Published on December 22, 2009
- Reports:
Europe Report: Nanotechnology– engineering extremely small particles at the molecular level to create materials with new behaviors and chemical properties– is a powerful new scientific pursuit, one with the potential to produce the next electricity or combustion engine – the next thing to change everything. Unfortunately, the enormous potential of nanotechnology to quell the world‚ problems may be offset by its potential to cause harm. There is legitimate concern that the nano-sized particles employed in this new technology will have seriously damaging effects on the health of humans and the environment. Dozens of studies from the emerging field of nanotoxicity have already demonstrated hazards associated with nanoparticles.
Published on December 22, 2009
- Reports:
During 2008, rising food prices, accelerated by an unprecedented run-up of prices on the commodities futures markets, created a food crisis that increased global hunger, sparked civil unrest and hurt farmers in America and worldwide. The global food crisis is an overlooked symptom of the broader global economic crisis. The food crisis shares many characteristics of the financial meltdown – it was exacerbated by the deregulation of the commodity markets (including agriculture) that encouraged a tidal wave of Wall Street speculation – leading to further increases in already rising food and energy prices.
Published on December 19, 2009
- Fact Sheets:
The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council and National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) are federal bodies that make decisions about fish in U.S. waters. In September 2009, despite receiving thousands of letters opposing fish farming in Gulf waters, NMFS allowed a plan approved by the Gulf Council to permit open-water fish farming to go into effect. This industrial form of fish production is sometimes called “open-ocean aquaculture,” “ocean fish farming” or “offshore aquaculture.” Whatever the name, it can cause serious problems for coastal and fishing communities and our waters.
Published on December 19, 2009
- Fact Sheets:
The Peru Free Trade Agreement is based on the same flawed agriculture policies that have already threatened U.S. tomato, bell pepper and cucumber growers in the United States under the North American Free Trade Agreement. The Peru FTA would provide permanent access to the U.S. market for Peruvian fresh and processed vegetables as well as other crops. American vegetable farmers would be especially vulnerable to Peruvian fresh and processed vegetable imports since Peruvian asparagus, green pea, and onion imports are already significant and growing. American vegetable companies are already investing in processing plants in Peru to take advantage of lower farmland, labor, and environmental costs.
Published on December 15, 2009
- Fact Sheets:
Clean water is a precious resource to be wisely utilized and conserved. Irrigation claims 70 percent of the water that we use. The excess water leaving industrial farms is often contaminated with silt, pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers, making it unfit for reuse.
Published on December 15, 2009
- Fact Sheets:
Since the 1980s, the University of the Virgin Islands (UVI) Agricultural Experiment Station in St. Croix has been conducting research on recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS). Much of the UVI research is conducted using a commercial-size RAS that incorporates aquaponics. Aquaponics is the practice of growing herbs and vegetables in water from a RAS system that has fish growing ina connected tank. Through years of research, the staff at UVI has established an aquaponics RAS that is made of easily procured material and is simple and efficient to run. Using an eighth of an acre for production, the staff raises fish and produce that is sold at a farm store located on campus. The system includes four fish tanks, six hydroponic tanks and filtration tanks to support good water quality and growth for both the fish and plants.
Published on December 11, 2009
- Fact Sheets:
Also called open ocean aquaculture or offshore aquaculture, it is the practice of growing finfish in huge, often over,crowded cages out in open ocean waters. Before any regional or federal plan for ocean fish farming moves forward, we need to better understand how these intensive fish farms affect human health, the economies of local fishing communities, wild fish populations, marine mammals, endangered species, birds, and essential fish habitat.
Published on December 07, 2009
- Fact Sheets:
We all know that driving a gas-guzzling SUV contributes to climate change, but did you know that what you put on your plate could too? Here‚ how your food choices affect climate change and what you, as a consumer, can do about it.
Published on December 04, 2009
- Fact Sheets:
Ocean aquaculture, the mass production of fish in enormous, floating pens or cages in the sea, has been largely an unmitigated disaster in the countries where it has been practiced commercially. Expanding this dirty, costly industry in the United States could harm consumers, fishermen and the marine environment. Here‚ why.
Published on December 03, 2009
- Fact Sheets:
United Water provides services to more than 7 million people nationwide, making it the second-largest private water service company in the United States. The company, founded in 1869, owns and operates 25 regulated utilities and manages 145 municipal systems through public-private partnerships and contract agreements. This includes two of the nation’s largest water and wastewater contracts. The value of United Water, a subsidiary of French water company Suez, registered at more than $10 billion in 2007.2 Suez water facilities reportedly treat the water of more than one billion people worldwide and supply 68 million people with drinking water.
Published on December 03, 2009
- Fact Sheets:
What may be the most notorious water privatization deal in the United States came to a close July 17, 2007 when the Stockton city council decided against appealing a judge‚ ruling that its contract with OMI-Thames Water had violated California environmental law. For four years, the Concerned Citizens Coalition of Stockton waged a grassroots campaign that culminated in a legal victory to defeat the privatization of their municipal water utility. The company must now return control of the utility to Stockton, effective March 2008.
Published on December 03, 2009
- Fact Sheets:
Who knew that washing your hands could harm your health and the environment? Thanks to the chemical industry, a hazardous antibacterial compound called triclosan is now an ingredient in many household and personal care products such as soaps, cleaners, cosmetics, clothing, and even children‚ toys. While consumers might think triclosan can protect them from harmful bacteria, it turns out that the use of this dangerous chemical in household products is no more effective than soap and water — and may be doing more harm than good.
Published on December 03, 2009
- Case Studies:
What may be the most notorious water privatization deal in the United States came to a close July 17, 2007 when the Stockton city council decided against appealing a judge‚ ruling that its contract with OMI-Thames Water had violated California environmental law. For four years, the Concerned Citizens Coalition of Stockton waged a grassroots campaign that culminated in a legal victory to defeat the privatization of their municipal water utility. The company must now return control of the utility to Stockton, effective March 2008.
Published on December 02, 2009
- Fact Sheets:
The waters of Tennessee belong to the people of Tennessee, and the resource must remain public to keep it safe and affordable. When water and sewer systems fall into private hands, costs grow and consumers end up paying too much for poor-quality water. It can lead to sewage spills and service problems. Because of these failures, taxpayer money should neither incentivize nor subsidize private ownership, management or operation of water and sewer systems.
Published on December 02, 2009
- Fact Sheets:
The waters of Oregon belong to the people of Oregon, and the resource must remain public to keep it safe and affordable. When water and sewer systems fall into private hands, costs grow and consumers end up paying too much for poor-quality water. It can lead to sewage spills and service problems. Because of these failures, taxpayer money should neither incentivize nor subsidize private ownership, management or operation of water and sewer systems.
Published on December 02, 2009
- Fact Sheets:
The waters of Massachusetts must remain public to keep the resource safe and affordable. When drinking water and sewer systems fall into private hands, costs multiply and consumers end up paying too much for water that becomes a commodity for shareholders. It can lead to sewage spills and service problems. Because of these failures, taxpayer money should neither incentivize nor subsidize private ownership, management or operation of water and sewer systems.
Published on December 02, 2009
- Fact Sheets:
The people of Illinois need public control of their drinking water and wastewater service to keep it safe and affordable. Although public entities typically manage water utilities, when these systems fall into private hands, costs grow and consumers end up paying too much for poor-quality water. It can lead to sewage spills and service problems. Because of these failures, taxpayer money should neither incentivize nor subsidize private ownership, management or operation of water and sewer systems.
Published on December 02, 2009
- Fact Sheets:
The waters of California belong to the people of California. The resource must remain public to keep it safe and affordable. When water and sewer systems fall into private hands, costs grow and consumers end up paying too much for poor-quality water. It can lead to sewage spills and service problems. Because of these failures, taxpayer money should neither incentivize nor subsidize private ownership, management or operation of water and sewer systems.
Published on December 02, 2009
- Fact Sheets:
The waters of New Mexico belong to the people of New Mexico, and the resource must remain public to keep it safe and affordable. When water and sewer systems fall into private hands, costs grow and consumers end up paying too much for poor-quality water. It can lead to sewage spills and service problems. Because of these failures, taxpayer money should neither incentivize nor subsidize private ownership, management or operation of water and sewer systems.
Published on December 02, 2009
- Case Studies:
State Privatization Factsheets
The Top Five Reasons to Keep Florida’s Water in Public Hands
