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Tag Archives: senate spot
Wow. Thank POTUS and China, this climate deal is huge
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Last night the U.S. and China announced a major breakthrough on climate change– an agreement that could create important political momentum internationally. The U.S. committed to reducing its carbon emissions by 26% to 28% below its 2005 emissions and China promised to reduce its carbon emissions after 2030, a step it had previously refused to even consider. These commitments are sure to have an impact worldwide as all countries begin to set their new carbon reductions.
The US and China deserve to be recognized for this effort. Let’s applaud them but also let them know we need them to continue taking strong measures to address the threat of climate change. We ALL can help.
Click here to send a message of support to the White House.
Click here to send a message of support to the Chinese Embassy.
Now let’s keep the ball rolling! Click here to support EDN so we can continue our campaigns and mobilize to let these superpowers know that we want them to make real progress. It’s our turn to act!!
–The Earth Day Network Team
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A Huge Victory for Forests and the Climate!
Tell the Fast Food Industry to Go Deforestation-Free!
Ask fast food chains to adopt a deforestation-free palm oil policy. There’s no excuse to use palm oil that drives climate change, tropical deforestation, and forest fires.
Take Action Today! a repost
In September, we had an incredible month full of successes—and we couldn’t have done it without your help. Together, we persuaded four food companies—Dunkin’ Brands, Krispy Kreme, ConAgra, and Hershey’s—to adopt zero deforestation commitments for their palm oil purchases.
These new commitments are a direct result of public pressure. The Union of Concerned Scientists and other groups rallied our supporters to voice their concerns at Dunkin’ Brands’ annual shareholder meeting in May and attend Krispy Kreme’s new store openings in Tennessee, Delaware, and Florida. What we have seen time and again is that when consumers speak, companies listen, and act.
But the fast food industry still has a long way to go. McDonald’s. Burger King. Taco Bell. Fast food chains are often the focus of negative attention for their effect on our heath, but they are also having a big effect on our climate.
This spring, the Union of Concerned Scientists exposed how these brands are buying palm oil, largely for their fried and baked goods. As tropical forests are cleared to make way for palm oil plantations, carbon is released into the atmosphere, driving global warming and shrinking habitat for endangered species. Most of the big brands have yet to make a commitment to purging deforestation from their palm oil purchases.
Fast food chains need a push, and that’s where you come in. The Union of Concerned Scientists has been in active dialogues with many of these fast food companies about palm oil—and a few are considering announcing new commitments this year. With your help, we can convince the fast food sector to take this issue seriously.
Send an email today urging the largest global fast food companies to go deforestation-free.
Sincerely,
Sharon Smith
Campaign Manager
Tropical Forest & Climate Initiative
Union of Concerned Scientists
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Sea Lions Vs Climate Change
Voracious sea lions invade Columbia River
Pinnipeds are lured in record numbers by millions of smelt, and to the dismay of many they’ve taken over virtually every inch of dock space in Astoria basin
California sea lions have flooded into the Columbia River in record numbers, thanks to a phenomenal abundance of smelt during a season in which food has been scarce for the voracious pinnipeds just about everywhere else.
The pinniped invasion has overwhelmed the East Mooring Basin in Astoria, Oregon, where 2,340 sea lions were counted recently. That shatters last year’s record count of 1,420 sea lions, and represents “a mind-boggling number,” Bryan Wright, a spokesman for the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife,” told OPB News.
Sea lions have commandeered virtually every inch of dock space and are piling on top of one another, because there is not enough space to accommodate all of them, when they’re not foraging for smelt and salmon.
The blubbery mammals are said to be causing damage to docks and making it port authorities to rent or lease slips to boaters.
Some have come to the sea lions’ defense, saying they could represent a tourism boon if people will pay to see them.
Normal sea lion counts in the basin, from late March through May, average fewer than 300.
The Astoria invasion occurs at a time when young sea lions, who are not strong enough to travel long distances to find food, are starving in California, filling care facilities to capacity.
Unusually warm water in the Eastern Pacific, from Mexico to Alaska, is blamed for displacing bait fish populations the sea lions rely on for sustenance.
The so-called “warm blob,” caused in large part by a lack of significant winds and the upwelling those winds typically cause, was blamed for last year’s heat-up, with sea surface temperatures during the spring and summer averaging well above normal.
The phenomenon appears to be evident again this year.
The older and stronger sea lions are lured to the lower Columbia River in part by the early stages of the salmon run, but also by millions of smelt that have returned to the river to spawn.
Harbor seals also are foraging on the bounty. The accompanying image showing 6,000-plus seals grouped near the mouth of the river was captured last month by Steve Jeffries, a biologist with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.
The presence of so many sea lions and seals is cause for concern because the developing salmon run could be decimated by so many voracious pinnipeds.
(The Washington agency has a permit to euthanize a certain number of sea lions each year, to protect salmon entering the river mouth at the Washington-Oregon border.)
While many locals are unhappy with the problems being caused by the sea lions inside the basin, a group called the Sea Lion Defense Brigade tells KGW News that perhaps they will turn out to be a valuable tourist attraction.
“People that come to visit these guys are more than willing to spend money on tourism,” Defense Brigade spokeswoman Veronica Montoya said. “On seeing these guys, on visiting these guys.”
Perhaps, but more than likely, the waterfront community probably wishes it could have its docks back.
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FDA/USDA ~~ Alerts & Safety April 2015
04/03/2015 04:46 PM EDT Henry’s Farm Inc. of Woodford, VA is recalling all packages of soybean sprouts because they may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections to individuals with weakened immune systems. Although healthy individuals may suffer only short term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.
04/02/2015 05:06 PM EDT Raja Foods of Maspeth, NY is recalling its 14 ounce packages of “SWAD Cumin Powder 14 oz” because they may contain undeclared peanuts. People who have allergies to peanut run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume these products.
Updated information is now available. A list of retail consignees has been posted for recall 044-2015, Grand Papa’s Inc. Recalls Fried Pork Skin Products Produced Without Benefit of Inspection (March 13, 2015).
04/02/2015 08:49 PM EDT
The North Carolina Board of Pharmacy has ordered a recall for all lots of non-sterile and sterile products compounded, repackaged and distributed by Prescription Center Pharmacy located at 915 Hay Street, Fayetteville, NC, between September 10, 2014, and March 10, 2015.
04/01/2015 06:59 PM EDT Due to receiving a recall notice from its organic spinach supplier because of possible Listeria monocytogenes exposure, La Terra Fina is expanding its voluntarily recall to include one lot of its 10-ounce Chunky Spinach Artichoke & Parmesan Dip & Spread as outlined in the chart below. This action is being taken out of an abundance of caution due to this product having been manufactured on the same production equipment on the same day as the Organic Spinach Dip.
Updated information is now available. A list of retail consignees has been posted for recall 049-2015, Van Lang Foods Recalls Pork And Chicken Products Due To Misbranding And Undeclared Allergen (Mar 20, 2015).
Updated information is now available. A list of retail consignees has been posted for recall 055-2015, Lebanese Butcher Slaughter, Inc. Recalls Beef, Goat, and Lamb Products Due To Misbranding and Being Produced Without Benefit of Full Inspection (April 2, 2015).
USDA, with Cornell University and the Food Marketing Institute, has released the FoodKeeper, an app to help consumers maintain food safety while minimizing food waste. The application is available for Android and Apple devices. To make our digital content available anytime, anywhere, FSIS offers several apps. Information is available on the FSIS website.
Updated information is now available. A list of retail consignees has been posted for recall 017-2015, Pennsylvania Firm Recalls Pork Products Imported Without Benefit of Inspection (January 21, 2015).
Robber’s Roost Jerky Recalls Beef and Pork Jerky Product Due to Possible Listeria Contamination
Robber’s Roost Jerky, an Ellensburg, Wash., establishment, is recalling approximately 4 pounds of ready-to-eat smoked beef and pork pepper stick jerky product that may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.
03/31/2015 05:59 PM EDT Hannaford Supermarkets is alerting customers of a product recall. Nature’s Place Roasted Unsalted Mixed Nuts and Nature’s Place Cranberry Mix have been recalled due to potential salmonella contamination.
03/31/2015 05:56 PM EDT
Aurora Products, Inc. is expanding its voluntary nationwide recall of certain lots of NATURAL WALNUTS and TRAIL MIXES CONTAINING WALNUTS, to include one additional Private Label branded customer and to clarify the name of two products previously recalled. Products are being recalled because they have the potential to contain Salmonella which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems.
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