Salem-News.com Environment articles Page 1

Marines Failed to Safeguard Water Supply

Lejeune ignored reports from the Army and an independent contractor that its base wells were contaminated with organic solvents. As many as one million Marines, dependents and civilian workers were exposed to toxic chemicals at Lejeune.

(SALEM) - Camp Lejeune could have used a simple test mandated by the Navy in 1963 to learn that its water wells were seriously contaminated. The AP broke the story on May 19, 2013.[1] (UPDATED MAY 22, 2013)

As early as 1963, the Navy’s Bureau of Medicine and Surgery issued “The Manual of Naval Preventive Medicine.” Chapter 5 is titled “Water Supply Ashore.” The Navy Manual required Lejeune (and other Navy and Marine Corps bases like El Toro) to use the carbon chloroform extract (CCE) test to check the quality of water for base wells.

Hawai`i May Face Federal Prosecution Over Bird and Other Wildlife Deaths

Light pollution from certain street lights causing fatal attraction.

(WASHINGTON DC) - The Federal Govt has warned Hawai'i that it should either enter a plea agreement with the Department of Justice (DOJ) or face criminal prosecution, including possible jail time.

This is over the deaths of a large number of Wedge-tailed Shearwaters and other wildlife caused by the continued use of certain street lights.

Conservation Groups Call for Increased Protections for Rapidly Declining Seabird

Murrelet habitat on state and private lands continues to be lost to logging.

(WASHINGTON DC) - In a letter sent today, over 100 conservation and scientific organizations are calling on the Obama administration to provide new protective measures for the Marbled Murrelet.

The federally listed bird species population is rapidly declining.

Legislature Approves Bill that Confirms Oregon is Weaning Itself From Coal Power

SB 242 restates the language applying the standard to out-of-state power...

(SALEM) - The Oregon House today passed a bill that confirms a 2009 policy reducing the amount of coal in Oregon’s power supply. SB 242 was approved by a vote of 44-15.

“We are gratified that legislators reaffirmed Oregon’s emissions performance standard,” said CUB Executive Director Bob Jenks.

Israeli Forces Demolish Hebron Wells, Electric Network

Parts of Beit Ula are classified as Area C, land under the full military control of Israel.

(HEBRON Ma’an) - Israeli forces on Monday morning damaged agriculture lands and destroyed an electric network and water wells in Beit Ula village west of Hebron, officials said.

The bulldozers uprooted trees and were causing continuous damage, a spokesman for the popular committee in Beit Ula said.

Trade Disputes at Global Solar Summit

"Dumping is the fundamental problem in the European solar market" - Milan Nitzschke, President of EU ProSun

(MILAN) - The forecast is for an extremely heated debate, full of surprises, between the international associations representing the solar power industry at the first Global Solar Summit.

It takes place at the Milan Rho Fair from 8 to 9 May 2013...

Upcoming Action at Dow Chemical`s Shareholder Meeting

The ongoing chemical disaster occurring in Bhopal, India, has claimed over 25,000 lives in the past 29 years.

(DA NANG Vietnam) - An upcoming action at is planned for the Dow Chemical shareholder meeting in Michigan, the event is organized by the International Campaign for Justice in Bhopal--North America (ICJB-NA)

ICJB-NA strives to hold Dow Chemical accountable for the ongoing chemical disaster occurring in Bhopal, India, which has claimed over 25,000 lives in the past 29 years.

Facing the Climate Change Upon Us

Rep. Lujan Grisham’s message helped frame a New Mexico climate town hall this week organized by the Sierra Club.

(LAS CRUCES, NM) - “New Mexico is in the middle of a climate crisis,” Congresswoman Michelle Lujan Grisham told an Albuquerque town hall via video.

“Make no mistake about it, climate change is real and we need to do something about it.”

Complementary Actions Protect Both Rare Birds and Water Resources in Northern Peru

“This is a truly innovative project that benefits multiple communities by securing their rights to land and water resources” - Tino Aucca, President of ECOAN.

(WASHINGTON DC) - Four communities in Peru have agreed on complementary land actions that will protect 930 acres of vital cloud forest.

This will double the size of an increasingly popular bird reserve – generating benefits for all.

Documentary Explores Students Bringing Water to Kenyan Community

Prgram is a collaboration between OSU's College of Engineering and University Relations and Marketing.

(CORVALLIS) - In July of 2012, a group of Oregon State University students traveled to the small village of Lela, Kenya, to help the community gain access to safe water.

The story of their journey will be told in Kel Wer ("to bring song" in the native Dholuo language), a documentary that will debut at Kearney Hall on Tuesday, April 30.