Eco Watch

20,000+ Elephants Poached In Africa In 2013

Southern Africa continues to hold the lion’s share of Africa’s elephants, holding close to 55 percent of the known elephants on the continent.

Eco Watch
By Eco Watch

More than 20,000 African elephants were poached across the continent in 2013 according to a report released on Friday by the Secretariat of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Although the sharp upward trend in illegal elephant killing observed since the mid-2000s, which had peaked in 2011,

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China Bulldozes Mountains To Expand Cities

While it seems like an ecological disaster in itself to alter the landscape by getting rid of mountains, the environmental consequences go well beyond aesthetic changes.

Eco Watch
By Eco Watch
China

Between its massive population and booming economic growth, it’s no surprise that China is experiencing a shortage of land. What is surprising, however, is how China is handling the situation. The country is opting to literally decimate mountains in order to clear more space. Mountains—particularly those adjacent to urban areas—are being leveled to

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Residents In Colorado Town File Class-Action Lawsuit Against State And Governor To Uphold Fracking BaI

While the suit centers on fracking, it seeks to protect the citizens’ right to self-governance under the Community Bill of Rights.

Eco Watch
By Eco Watch

Lafayette, CO residents passed a measure to ban fracking within city limits in November, yet they’re still fighting for clean air and water. A month after elections, the Colorado Oil and Gas Association filed a lawsuit against the City of Lafayette to overturn the newly passed Community Bill of Rights. Now, residents are turning the tables back

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Scientists: Fracking Linked To Groundwater Contamination

“The EPA knew about this water pollution, as it did in Wyoming and Pennsylvania. But at the moment of truth, EPA withdrew in all cases rather than definitively declare that fracking pollutes drinking water.”

Eco Watch
By Eco Watch
Colorado Fracking Boom Photo Essay

Last week a Texas TV station broke the news that new independent scientific analysis refutes the claim by the oil and gas industry that “there’s never been a confirmed case of fracking polluting drinking water.” WFAA, the ABC affiliate in Dallas, reported that two independent scientists using data from Texas regulators confirmed fracking in

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2 Million Animals Killed By Federal Wildlife Program In 2013

The new numbers reveal a 29 percent increase in the program’s killing, up almost a half-million animals since fiscal year 2012, despite an increase in public awareness.

Eco Watch
By Eco Watch
Wolf

Wildlife Services, the highly secretive arm of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), has released new data showing that the agency killed more than 2 million native animals during the last fiscal year. The new numbers reveal a 29 percent increase in the program’s killing, up almost a half-million animals since fiscal year 2012,

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Mitch McConnell’s Pro-Coal Response Bill To Obama’s Carbon Plan Struck Down

McConnell’s measure would have blocked the regulations within Obama’s proposal. It would have also provided the Senate minority leader a key piece of legislation for his November re-election bid, enabling him to discuss all the jobs he saved for his coal-reliant state.

Eco Watch
By Eco Watch

U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnnell (R-KY) surprised nobody with the bill he introduced Wednesday in response to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Gina McCarthy’s detailing of President Barack Obama’s plan to reduce carbon dioxide emissions across the country. McConnell’s measure would have blocked the regulations within Obama’s

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How Chemicals In Everyday Products Accelerate Every Disease You’ve Heard Of

Last week’s March Against Monsanto proves that our awareness of chemicals has ballooned over the years, but do we truly understand how many chemicals we put in our bodies and just how unavoidable many of them are?

Eco Watch
By Eco Watch
chemicals

Last week’s March Against Monsanto proves that our awareness of chemicals has ballooned over the years, but do we truly understand how many chemicals we put in our bodies and just how unavoidable many of them are? This Earth Focus report discusses the “soup of chemicals” our bodies take in every day from food, cosmetics or simply breathing. Even

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