EcoTalk's Archives

Marty Hayden: The curious Omissions and Emissions of Bush's SotU

EarthJustice VP of Policy and Legislation Marty Hayden muses on Bush's big speech this week: "I think he sought to avoid Katrina, both in the context of climate change and social justice." LISTEN (11 min)

Why doesn't the EPA protect us from Mercury pollution?

EarthJustice Attorney Jim Pew has won two court orders from the EPA to act to protect us from cement-industry created Mercury pollution, but hasn't seen any results yet: "If we knew more about how much mercury they're putting out, the picture would be even bleaker." LISTEN (8 min)

Environmental Impact Statements Cut from U.S. National Forest Plans

Tim Preso, attorney for EarthJustice-- "because the Earth needs a good lawyer"-- tells Betsy how the US National Forest Service has decided to do away with all environmental review for projects-- road paving and logging included-- in our National Forests. "What we've seen over and over again is that this White House is very hostile to the process of environmental review and disclosure. This is just the latest in a series." LISTEN (11 min)

Earthjustice Elections Wrap-up

Marty Hayden, VP of Policy and Legislation at Earthjustice, offers a nuanced and insightful view of what the recent mid-terms will and will not bring our good green Earth. "I think we'll see the President veto more than one bill, for starters." LISTEN (8 min)

Earthjustice continues to push EPA for limits on greenhouse gas pollution

David Baron, Managing Attorney in Earthjustice Washington DC's office talks about the case that will be heard by the Supreme Court at the end of November about the responsibility of the EPA to regulate greenhouse gases from motor vehicles.
LISTEN (7:50 min)

Gold Mine Threatens Pristine Waters of Lower Slate Lake

This is a rerun of our May 13 program.
Demian Schane, Staff Attorney with Earthjustice - Juneau office explains  how the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has authorized the giant Coeur d'Alene Mine corporation to operate the Kensington Project and dump millions of tons of gold mine tailings directly into pristine Lower Slate Lake. LISTEN (8 min)

Risks with biopharmaceutical crops

Paul Achitof is Managing Attorney for Earthjustice’s Hawai'i office. He gives us an update on efforts to ensure oversight of biopharmaceutical developments, growing drugs in food crops. LISTEN (7 min)

Gold Mine Threatens Pristine Waters of Lower Slate Lake

Demian Schane, Staff Attorney with Earthjustice - Juneau office explains  how the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has authorized the giant Coeur d'Alene Mine corporation to operate the Kensington Project and dump millions of tons of gold mine tailings directly into pristine Lower Slate Lake. LISTEN (8 min)

Saving Salmon

Kristen Boyles, Staff Attorney for Earthjustice explains the most recent judicial decision concerning the Klamath River. The Klamath that runs in Southern Oregon and California used to be the third largest salmon producer. Due to excessive irrigation and obsolete dams the flow has become to small and the water too warm for the fish. The court has now set a minimal flow level. Meanwhile the Federal government is urged to close salmon fishing along 700 hundred miles of coastline in Oregon and California.

LISTEN (7:50 min)

Unethical Testing of Humans is Wrong

Jan Hasselman staff attorney with Earthjustice in Seattle talks about the lawsuit filed against the EPA. Pesticide companies should not be allowed to take advantage of vulnerable populations by enticing people to serve as human laboratory rats.
“EPA’s rule ignores Congress and allows unethical human tests to be used to weaken pesticide regulations.” The lawsuits were filed simultaneously in New York City and in San Francisco by Pesticide Action Network North America, Pineros y Campesinos Unidos del Noroeste (Northwest Treeplanters and Farmworkers United), San Francisco Bay Area Physicians for Social Responsibility, and Natural Resources Defense Council. They are represented by attorneys with Earthjustice and NRDC. LISTEN (7 min)