Center for Food Safety Testifies Before Panel OREGON–(ENEWSPF)–May 1, 2014.  A twenty-person Citizens’ Initiative Review (CIR) has concluded its review of Jackson County’s ballot initiative to ban genetically engineered (GE) crops from the county. The state-sanctioned review’s “Key Findings” concluded that farms in Jackson County are at “serious” risk of[Read More…]

Binding legislation would green-light energy infrastructure project immediately WASHINGTON–(ENEWSPF)–May 1, 2014.  U.S. Senators Mary L. Landrieu, D-La., the chair of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, and John Hoeven R-N.D., today introduced legislation that would immediately authorize TransCanada’s application with the State Department to build the Keystone XL pipeline.[Read More…]

Illinois Residents Urged to Help Combat Invasive Species SPRINGFIELD, IL–(ENEWSPF)–May 1, 2014.  Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn has issued a proclamation declaring May to be “Invasive Species Awareness Month.” The proclamation will promote awareness of the damage caused by invasive species and encourage Illinois residents to become more involved in combating[Read More…]

Bongo nets are deployed up to 200 meters deep to catch marine snails (pteropods), which are indicators of the progress of ocean acidification. The pteropod samples were collected during the U.S. West Coast survey cruises in 2011 and 2013. (Credit: NOAA) Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–May 1, 2014.  A NOAA-led research team has[Read More…]

CHARLOTTE, N.C.–(ENEWSPF)–May 1, 2014.  A coalition of reform, environmental, faith and social justice groups rallied outside Duke Energy’s annual shareholder meeting today and called on the company to more fully disclose its political spending. Duke’s political spending, including more than $1.1 million spent in support of North Carolina Gov. Pat[Read More…]

Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)-May 1, 2014.  A recent study, Reduction in urinary organophosphate pesticide metabolites in adults after a week-long organic diet, led by Liza Oates found lower trances of organophosphate metabolites in consumers that ate organic food for a week compared to those who ate a conventional diet. The study adds to[Read More…]

Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–April 29, 2014.  Today, a House Agriculture Subcommittee held a hearing on “current research and application of management strategies to control pests and diseases of pollinators,” the first Congressional hearing on pollinators in over a year. While dedicated discussion to such an important issue is welcomed, Center for Food[Read More…]

BERKELEY–(ENEWSPF)–April 29, 2014.  There is a higher cost to steaks and hamburgers than what is reflected on the price tags at grocery stores and restaurants. Producing food – and beef, in particular – is a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions, which are projected to grow as rising incomes in[Read More…]

New Index Excludes Fossil Fuel Extraction Companies NEW YORK–(ENEWSPF)–April 29, 2014 – The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), BlackRock and FTSE Group, the global index provider, partnered today in launching the first equity global index series that will exclude companies linked to exploration, ownership or extraction of carbon-based fossil fuel[Read More…]

NRDC and Southeast Environmental Task Force Signal Toxic Waste Suit on Horizon CHICAGO–(ENEWSPF)–April 29, 2014 – Environmental groups yesterday signaled their intention to sue the owners of two sites that together hold massive mounds of oil refining waste and coal on Chicago’s Southeast Side. The Southeast Environmental Task Force (SETF)[Read More…]