Peruvian indigenous leader Alberto Pizango made headlines today after being arrested on charges of sedition, conspiracy and leading a rebellion. Last summer, Pizango led months of protests which prompted Peruvian President Álan Garcia order police to “use force” to remove a road bock near Bagua Grande. About 50 people were killed, according to Amnesty International. [...]
Entries Tagged as ‘Environment’
May 12, 2010
First Look at the Kerry Lieberman Energy Bill: Pros and Cons
The long awaited Kerry-Lieberman climate and energy bill was finally unveiled today without a Republican co-sponsor after Lindsey Graham withdrew his support. Still, the American Power Act reflects most of the promises that had been made by the trio over the past months; both good and bad. A strong push by electric, coal, and gas [...]
April 14, 2010
Kerry-Graham-Lieberman Climate Bill Could Make Matters Worse
Months have passed since the Senate trio took up the task of cobbling together a climate bill that everyone might agree on. However, as details continue to be revealed about the draft legislation, many an eyebrow is being raised over certain provisions that could prove a step backward for environmental protection. In wide-sweeping attempts to [...]
April 5, 2010
California Climate Change Initiative Under Attack
Why are a number of Texas-based oil companies pouring money into a nascent ballot initiative in California? Becasue they don’t want to clean up their act. In a desperate attempt to undermine the state’s ground-breaking environmental policies, these companies are funding a campaign to stall – or cancel completely – California’s comprehensive plan for climate [...]
March 10, 2010
Obama on Climate: We Need a Carbon Cap
In a meeting with key Senators and administration officials yesterday, President Obama made one point abundantly clear: the U.S. needs to put a cap on our carbon emissions. Politico reports: In opening remarks, according to Senators in attendance, President Obama took the idea of an energy-only bill – the preferred approach of moderate Democrats – off [...]
February 10, 2010
Global Climate Action: At Least We All Agree
As international climate negotiations continue to be thwarted by politicians fanning the flames of an alleged divide between rich and developing countries, people around the world are coming to the conclusion that action must happen soon, and it must be taken together. A 2009 Gallup Survey taken in four key negotiating countries asked participants who [...]
February 9, 2010
The Search for Workable Climate Legislation: Cap-and-Dividend
Robert N. Stavins, a climate economics expert at Harvard, expressed yesterday his hope for an effective climate bill that can please both sides of the aisle. His solution rests on a system of “upstream” cap-and-trade, in which all carbon allowances are sold to carbon emitters and a large portion is then returned to American households [...]
February 7, 2010
India: Education Deficit Hinders Climate Mitigation
Pollution is undeniable problem in many of India’s metropolitan centers. In the capital of New Delhi, smog has been known to reduce visibility to less than 600 yards. But the connection to between air pollution and climate change is not on the minds of most Indians. One of the greatest challenges to global climate change [...]
January 26, 2010
So Far, DC Bag Tax is Working
This month, the District instituted a 5 cent tax for each paper or plastic bag used. The Washington Post looked into the impact of the tax. The tax revenue will be used to clean up litter around the Anacostia river, which experts say is polluted largely by plastic bags. Like the cigarette tax which funds [...]
January 2, 2010
The Trouble with Cap and Trade
Climate finance was considered one of the few small victories at Copenhagen, where developed countries made hefty commitments to assist developing countries in climate change adaptation and development of alternate technologies to reduce emissions. The question is whether these programs, which will largely be funded by the private sector and the carbon trade market, will [...]
