Environmental Roundup: January 30, 2009

Multibillion Dollar Bailout for Nuclear Industry Snuck into Senate Stimulus Proposal
Nuclear lobbyists' political contributions appeared to yield dividends this week when the Senate Appropriations Committee stealthily added a preemptive, up-to-$50-billion bailout for the nuclear industry to its economic stimulus proposal. Fortunately the bailout is not included in the stimulus bill that passed the House of Representatives.

Learn more and help us keep the bailout out of the final stimulus by clicking here.

Evaluating States' Plans to Spend Stimulus Transportation Funds
Friends of the Earth released an analysis today of how 19 states propose to spend economic stimulus transportation funding. The analysis finds most states' proposals rely on outdated thinking and will create fewer jobs than cleaner alternatives.

Read the analysis and then take action to keep the stimulus clean.

The World Social Forum
Our Health and Environment Campaigner, Ian Illuminato, has spent the past week in Belem, Brazil for the World Social Forum. He gave a presentation on nanotechnology at the forum on the democratization of science.

You can read more about his experiences and see photos from Brazil here.

Call for Eco-Comedy
Are you a full-time student? Do you have an interest in film? Friends of the Earth and the Center for Environmental Filmmaking have teamed up to sponsor a film competition. The winner will receive $1000 and a screening at the D.C. Environmental Film Festival.

You can read the rules here.

Ship Shape: Take A Deep Breath!
Over the years, Friends of the Earth has worked with the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to strengthen air emission standards for ships across the globe. Next on our list is establishing an IMO-sanctioned Emission Control Area (ECA) along U.S. coastlines to provide even stronger air quality protections from vessels. Presently only two ECAs exist in the world, one in the Baltic Sea and one in the North Sea, but the good news for the breathing public is that North America should be next! (Photo by Van der Veer, courtesy Greenpeace.)

Read more here.

News
Activists gather for World Social Forum
Washington Post

Senate Appropriators Add $50 Billion Nuclear Waste To Recovery Plan
The Wonk Room

Third World Gold Mines Spawn a Global Mercury Threat
Los Angeles Times

Long Droughts, Rising Seas Predicted Despite Future CO2 Curbs
Washington Post

Current Actions
Stop the Nuclear Bailout in the Stimulus

Stop Chevron's Poison Fire

Tell EPA to Regulate Nano-Silver

Coal Ash Disaster

New Roads = New Pollution

Actions from Our Allies
Tell Treasury What's on Your Heart
Jubilee works for the cancellation of debts to fight poverty and injustice in Asia, Africa, and Latin America.

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