AR-News: Environmental news from Grist Magazine

[Andrew Gach]

ORGANIC:  FRIEND OR FAUX?
USDA Dilutes Meaning of "Organic" Label

If you expect your organic milk to come from antibiotic-free cows, or 
your organic produce to be grown with absolutely no toxic pesticides, 
or your shampoo that's labeled organic to have actually met some 
organic standards, then you might be miffed by new Bush 
administration tweaks to organic policy.  Activists say changes made 
last month, with no public input, could water down organic standards 
and make the federal organic program more to the liking of 
agribusiness.  Read all about it in Muckraker -- today on the Grist 
Magazine website.

today in Grist:  The USDA waters down organic standards -- in Muckraker
<http://www.gristmagazine.com/muck/muck051804.asp?source=weekly>

sign up:  Receive word by email each time a new Muckraker column hits the scene
<http://www.gristmagazine.com/signup/subgrist.asp?source=weekly>


BACKSTROKE
Bush Administration Will Continue to Protect Wild Salmon

Responding to a hurricane of criticism over its plans to count 
hatchery fish along with wild fish in determining which species to 
protect under the Endangered Species Act, the Bush administration is 
now pledging to safeguard wild salmon in the Pacific Northwest.  It 
announced on Friday that "conservation of naturally spawning salmon 
and the ecosystems upon which they depend" will remain the central 
focus of its policy and that 25 of 26 salmon runs currently listed as 
endangered or threatened will likely remain so.  The surprising 
announcement was met with guarded praise from enviros, who said the 
true test will come when the full policy is announced later this 
month.  Business and development groups, in sharp contrast, reacted 
with outrage.  Attorneys for the Pacific Legal Foundation, which has 
filed suit over salmon listings in the past, promised to take the 
administration back to court over the issue.

straight to the source:  The Oregonian, Joe Rojas-Burke, 15 May 2004
<http://www.gristmagazine.com/cgi-bin/forward.pl?forward_id=2464>
straight to the source:  The Seattle Times, Craig Welch and Hal 
Bernton, 15 May 2004
<http://www.gristmagazine.com/cgi-bin/forward.pl?forward_id=2465>


GROWING CONTROVERSY
U.N. Food Agency Supports Biotech Crops

The U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization waded into the debate over 
genetically modified crops this week, and anti-biotech activists are 
none too happy about the development.  A new report from the FAO 
argues that biotech crops hold "great promise" for alleviating the 
suffering of the world's poor, as they can reduce the use of 
herbicides, increase yields, and enhance nutrition by boosting 
vitamin content.  The report also claims that GM crops have not been 
proven to have any negative environmental or health effects. 
However, it questioned claims by biotech-industry groups that GM 
crops currently help the poor.  The FAO points out that most biotech 
research is focused on crops such as soybeans and corn that are grown 
in rich countries; it's calling for research into biotech varieties 
of crops like cowpeas, millet, and sorghum that serve as staples in 
developing countries.  Anti-biotech organizations responded to the 
report with outrage.  The world's food problems "are not technical, 
they're about access to markets, access to credit, land," said 
Greenpeace's Doreen Stabinsky.

straight to the source:  The Ledger, Associated Press, Nicole 
Winfield, 17 May 2004
<http://www.gristmagazine.com/cgi-bin/forward.pl?forward_id=2462>

straight to the source:  The Washington Post, Justin Gillis, 17 May 2004
<http://www.gristmagazine.com/cgi-bin/forward.pl?forward_id=2463>



DO GOOD
Take Action to Bring Down the Snake River Dams

Wild salmon are in serious decline in the Pacific Northwest.  More 
than $3.5 billion has been spent on failed salmon-recovery measures, 
like trucking salmon around dams.  Activists and many biologists say 
that what we really need to do is leave the salmon in the waterways 
and take the dams out -- specifically, four dams on the lower Snake 
River in southeastern Washington state.  Call on President Bush to 
save these keystone species by knocking down salmon-damning dams.

do good:  Take action and help save salmon
<http://www.care2.com/go/z/13786>

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