Plastics containing Bisphenol-A linked to child misbehavior

Yes we know, everything causes cancer, nothing is safe for our kids, a lot of paranoia, right?

Sometimes these concerns are for real. A chemical of significant importance to parents and scientists these days is Bisphenol-A (BPA). BPA is a common chemical used in plastics for increased flexibility and molding. It can be found in your child’s plastic sippy cup, binkies, and even canned food. The lining found inside some canned foods is very similar to high density plastics, thus likely to contain significant levels of BPA. Numerous studies have proven that BPA can negatively impact your health. Experts have advised people to shop for BPA-free products. In general, avoiding plastics whenever possible is a good idea.

It’s Halloween, the day all the monsters come out of the woodwork – but don’t forget, your house is already full of vampires. Energy-sucking vampire electronics, to be precise. Not only do they pack unnecessary dollars onto your electric bill every month, they also waste tons of energy, forcing those polluting factories to work overtime.
It’s […]

The European Council opted for vague messages on most of the essential issues blocking international climate change negotiations today, further diminishing hopes on strong European leadership in the global fight against climate change.

“It is especially frustrating that no clear European financial offer to developing countries has been agreed, and that the increase in CO2 emission reduction targets is made conditional upon comparable efforts by other developed countries“, says Jason Anderson, Head of EU Climate and Energy Policy at WWF.

“Europe is being particularly relaxed on mid-term emissions reductions - in order to reach its current 20% reduction pledge, it would actually have to slow the current pace of emissions reductions. What kind of signal about being ambitious on climate is Europe sending to the rest of the world ahead of Copenhagen?”

“We do welcome the new goal of CO2 emission reductions in Europe of 80-95% by 2050: the upper end is in line with what’s needed. To meet that goal, however, we have to pick up the pace.“

The EU’s emphasis on the need for a legally binding agreement is a step in the right direction as is introducing language around innovative financing. This can give impetus to the upcoming United Nations Climate Change Negotiation in Barcelona from 2-6 November as well as the EU-US summit on 3 November which also has climate change as one of the main items on its agenda.

With Halloween just around the corner, we’d like to leave scary witches and willowy ghosts aside for just one minute and focus on one helpful critter that might get forgotten otherwise. After ridding crops of plant lice and scale insects, the Hallowe…

Bunches of grapes grown in a radioactive environment? The genetically modified eggs of some strange unidentified marine species? Or a fungal growth that would call for a hasty trip to the doctor? Nothing of the sort. It’s stunningly beautiful bubble co…

The high tech industry will play a significant role in the battle to reduce greenhouse gas emissions as long as the Internet remains a level playing field.

A Vermont dairy farm is producing something other than milk. Earlier this month, state officials were on hand to visit Vermont’s newest methane facility. Westminster Farms Inc., along with Green Mountain Power (GMP), have been working together in an on-site plant that converts methane gas released from cow manure into electricity.

The Sea Shepherds organization works hard to protect whales from slaughter all over the world, as documented on Animal Planet’s ‘Whale Wars’– but nobody is safe from Trey Parker and Matt Stone, who made the group the focus of yet another hilarious episode of South Park entitled ‘Whale Whores’.
Not even the Miami Dolphins are safe […]

The multiyear ice covering the Arctic Ocean has effectively vanished, a startling development that will make it easier to open up polar shipping routes, an Arctic expert said on Thursday.

Gland, Switzerland – Every day of delay in taking action against rapidly progressing climate change would have severe consequences for us and future generations.

Delegates gathering for yet another round of climate talks in Barcelona next week should show their leaders back home that progress can be made and a safe and ambitious climate deal not only can but must be sealed.

Signals from some politicians suggesting the climate deal would not be sealed in Copenhagen but in an unforeseeable future are irresponsible and could trigger a domino effect where one country after another will try to give up and lower the level of ambition.

Leaders who will not take action will be responsible for climate chaos, the weakening of the authority of public institutions and finally loss of trust of their voters around the world who believe that these negotiations must have an ambitious and binding outcome.

“Asking whether we should strike an ambitious climate deal in Copenhagen now or later is comparable to debating whether to move out of the way of a fast and heavy lorry that is driving straight towards us immediately or wait and see what happens,” said Kim Carstensen, the leader of WWF Global Climate Initiative.

“If we don’t agree on an ambitious and binding treaty we will be remembered as the generation which spent billions on credit cards, spread environmental vandalism and did nothing to confront the most intractable problem of our times.”

“I am sure none of the leaders would want to be remembered this way.”

When delegates gather in Barcelona next week it will be a litmus test of whether their political leaders have given them a mandate to move towards a political deal in Copenhagen that has the potential to save the world from climate change.

A fast moving, open and ambitious progress on the political essentials of the deal at this meeting would send a strong signal back to the world that yes, a climate deal can be done.

“We call on the delegates to kill the rumors about delaying the deal. They must show that they can do it and show willingness to agree the political essentials.”

WWF also calls on leaders to get together ahead of Copenhagen and give new, honest and powerful political impetus to bring the talks forward. In the United States the domestic legislation process must be moved forward and the US and other major players need to live up to their roles and inspire the rest of the world with ambitious greenhouse gas cuts and generous financial commitments.

The debate whether the agreement should be legally binding is not helpful. We need a strong climate agreement, and Copenhagen has to set the direction by agreeing the necessary political substance.

“After all these months spent in talks and negotiations we cannot come out now and say that all this was just informal chat, can we?” Carstensen said.

“A lot of political momentum has been built up around Copenhagen, and the world expects leaders to show courage and cut the deal in Copenhagen. Any talk about delaying the deal is extremely dangerous because it takes pressure off the negotiations.

Stopping climate change can no longer be dependent on which political party you belong to, how many lobbyists you have waiting in front of your door and how many banks you need to bail out. We need a worldwide political climate coalition to prevent the worst.”