EarthJustice
SDG&E Wants More Money From Customers Who Don’t Buy Much Electricity. A Lot More.SDG&E Wants More Money From Customers Who Don’t Buy Much Electricity. A Lot More. San Diego Gas & Electric's proposal to charge households a minimum of $38.40 a month would hurt rooftop solar and disproportionately burden low-income customers. The skyline of San Diego, where the local utility wants to raise most residential customers' minimum bills to $38.40 each month. a.canvas.of.light / CC BY 2.0 The utility San Diego Gas & Energy has an aggressive proposal pending before the California Public Utilities Commission: It wants to charge most residential customers a minimum bill of $38.40 each month, regardless of how much…
La Hija de Berta Cáceres Continúa La Lucha de Su Madre en Honduras: ‘Somos Un País Que Nos Merecemos Justicia’La Hija de Berta Cáceres Continúa La Lucha de Su Madre en Honduras: ‘Somos Un País Que Nos Merecemos Justicia’ En entrevista con Earthjustice, Zúñiga Cáceres discute los desafíos que enfrenta como lideresa del COPINH, su búsqueda por descubrir el autor intelectual de la muerte de su madre, y por qué multinacionales de Europa y Estados Unidos deben adquirir conciencia de su rol en un esquema de seguridad cada vez más deteriorado en Honduras. Desde 2017, Bertha Zúñiga Cáceres, una activista de origen Lenca, ha llevado las riendas del Consejo Cívico de Organizaciones Populares e Indígenas de Honduras (COPINH), la…
Daughter of Murdered Environmental Activist Carries on Her Mother's Work in HondurasDaughter of Murdered Environmental Activist Carries on Her Mother's Work in Honduras In an interview with Earthjustice, Bertha Zúñiga Cáceres discusses the work she has inherited and the role the U.S. plays in Honduras' security woes. Environmental activist Bertha Zúñiga Cáceres is now leading the National Council of Popular and Indigenous Organizations of Honduras. angelamcave / CC BY 2.0 Leer en español When Honduran environmental defender Berta Cáceres was brutally murdered, it was a stark reminder of the perilous work environmental activists face in one of the world’s most violent countries. Although her grassroots movement suffered a tremendous blow following…
9 Justices, 30 Minutes: Our Lawyer’s Big Moment at the Supreme Court9 Justices, 30 Minutes: Our Lawyer’s Big Moment at the Supreme Court Earthjustice attorney David Henkin heads to the Supreme Court to protect everyone’s right to clean water. Earthjustice attorney David Henkin stands in front of the Supreme Court, where he will soon argue Hawaiʻi Wildlife Fund v. County of Maui. Melissa Lyttle for Earthjustice What you need to know → On Nov. 6, 2019, 10:00am EST, Earthjustice attorney David Henkin presented oral arguments at the U.S. Supreme Court. Read highlights from the hearing. → Hawaiʻi Wildlife Fund v. County of Maui threatens to gravely weaken the federal law that protects…
Clean Water Case at Supreme Court Could Have Ripple Effects Across CountryClean Water Case at Supreme Court Could Have Ripple Effects Across Country No one voted for polluted rivers, lakes, and oceans. Savannah Riverkeeper Tonya Bonitatibus documents pollution around the Anderson County pipeline spill in 2016. Image Courtesy of Mike Mather / SELC What you need to know → On Nov. 6, 2019, 10:00am EST, Earthjustice attorney David Henkin presented oral arguments at the U.S. Supreme Court. Read highlights from the hearing. → Hawaiʻi Wildlife Fund v. County of Maui threatens to gravely weaken the federal law that protects the nation’s clean water. (See legal documents.) → Read an explainer of the legal…
How Climate Change Is Fueling Extreme WeatherHow Climate Change Is Fueling Extreme Weather The spike in global temperatures is contributing to climate disasters that will only get worse unless we take action. Emily Scott walks through the ruins of her house burned in the July 2018 Carr Fire in Shasta, CA. Climate change is making wildfires more ferocious. John Locher / AP Across the globe, extreme weather is becoming the new normal. Torrential rains and flooding. Record hurricanes. Destructive wildfires. Deadly heatwaves and drought. From season to season and year to year, weather events that were once rare occurrences are now increasingly commonplace. In late October…
As New Study Shows Smog’s Deadly Effects, Court Orders EPA to Protect PublicAs New Study Shows Smog’s Deadly Effects, Court Orders EPA to Protect Public Breathing smog can be as bad for you as smoking. The good news is, a court rejected EPA’s plan to let the air stay dirty. A haze of smog covers the Port of Houston. James Dillard Emphysema is commonly known as a “smoker’s disease.” Yet a recent study shows that merely living in a smoggy place puts you at higher risk for this lung condition. Instead of working to protect millions of people from the harms of dirty air, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has decided not…
What the Trump Administration Is Doing to Your WaterWhat the Trump Administration Is Doing to Your Water The administration is attempting to undo the landmark 1972 Clean Water Act. Read on to learn why you should be concerned. Waste floats on the Colorado River near Yuma, Arizona, in 1972. Congress passed the Clean Water Act that year, establishing federal protection for all waters in the U.S. Charles O'Rear / National Archives Everyone and everything needs clean water. Without clean drinking water, humans get sick. Plants, animals, aquatic life, and the entire food web need clean water to survive. That’s why the Trump administration’s efforts to gut federal clean…
Big Victory for Mega-Trees and for the ClimateBig Victory for Mega-Trees and for the Climate Protecting trees, particularly old-growth trees in Tongass National Forest, is key to protecting the climate. A recent court victory halted a timber sale on Prince of Wales Island in Alaska. ANDREA IZZOTTI / GETTY IMAGES Majestic mega-trees that are key to combatting climate change are off the chopping block for now after a federal judge halted the government’s latest plans to log Alaska’s Tongass National Forest. Containing nearly one-third of the world’s old-growth temperate rainforest, the Tongass is home to large stands of trees that have lived on this planet for centuries.…
Time to Listen to Those Affected Most by Climate ChangeTime to Listen to Those Affected Most by Climate Change Earthjustice has worked with environmental justice leaders and colleagues at other national organizations over the last year to co-author the Equitable and Just National Climate Platform. Deborah Adegbile lives in Lagos, Nigeria, where extreme flooding has made it difficult for her to get to school. She is one of 16 youths who brought a UN petition calling for immediate climate action. Michael Rubenstein for Earthjustice This week, 16 young people from around the world came together to demand a future. Represented by Earthjustice, they brought to the UN an incredibly…
‘Why Study for a Future That’s Not Going to Exist?’‘Why Study for a Future That’s Not Going to Exist?’ 14-year-old Sarah Goody explains how she found her place in a global movement of youth activists who are confronting the adult world. Sarah Goody spends her Fridays protesting climate change in front of San Francisco’s Ferry Building. Martin do Nascimento / Earthjustice Sarah Goody spends her Fridays protesting climate change in front of San Francisco’s Ferry Building. The 14-year-old found her place in a global movement of youth activists who are confronting the adult world. Earthjustice is amplifying these young leaders as part of our Zero To 100 campaign to…
Greta and 15 Kids Just Claimed Their Climate Rights at the UNGreta and 15 Kids Just Claimed Their Climate Rights at the UN Sixteen youths, including Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, are calling out countries for violating the human rights of children everywhere. Petitioners attended the global climate strike on Sept. 20, 2019 in New York. Pictured from left to right: Raslene Joubali (Tunisia), Ridhima Pandey (India), Carlos Manuel (Palau), unidentified, Chiara Sacchi (Argentina), David Ackley III (Marshall Islands), Deborah Adegbile (Nigeria), Iris Duquesne (France), Litokne Kabua (Marshall Islands), Raina Ivanova (Germany), Ranton Anjain (Marshall Islands), Carl Smith (USA), and Catarina Lorenzo (Brazil). Michael Rubenstein for Earthjustice Sixteen young people from…
For This Climate Strike Poster Artist, Art Is a Survival ToolFor This Climate Strike Poster Artist, Art Is a Survival Tool Lukaza Branfman-Verissimo says her art and activism are inextricably linked. Activist and artist Lukaza Branfman-Verissimo stands in her Oakland studio. Image Courtesy of Lukaza Branfman-Verissimo Lukaza Branfman-Verissimo is an artist and activist in Oakland, CA. Through printmaking, painting, and sculpture, she illustrates the complexity of the voices in her community and sparks dialogue among the people who view her art. In advance of the Sept. 20 Global Climate Strike, we asked Branfman-Verissimo to make art inspired by the strike. She spoke with Earthjustice Communications Associate Lisa Pradhan, a friend…
La Promesa de Puerto RicoLa Promesa de Puerto Rico Hasta ahora, los planes de reconstrucción de la isla contradicen al compromiso por cambiar a energías 100% renovables. Un técnico instala un sistema de energía solar en una casa en Adjuntas, Puerto Rico, en julio de 2018. La isla forma parte de una lista creciente de estados y ciudades de EE.UU. que se han comprometido con la energía limpia al 100 por ciento. DENNIS M. RIVERA PICHARDO / AP Read this story in English. El huracán María devastó a Puerto Rico en cuestión de horas, pero para muchos el mayor desastre han sido las consecuencias…
Puerto Rico’s PromisePuerto Rico’s Promise So far, the island’s plans for rebuilding are at odds with its commitment to switch to 100% renewable energy. A technician installs a solar energy system at a home in Adjuntas, Puerto Rico, in July 2018. The island is part of a growing list of U.S. states and cities that have committed to 100% clean energy. Dennis M. Rivera Pichardo / AP Leer en español. Hurricane Maria blew through Puerto Rico in a matter of hours, but for many, the aftermath was the bigger disaster. In the months that followed, nearly 3,000 people died and the entire…
Beekeepers Fight the Sting of EPA’s Bee Killing ActionsBeekeepers Fight the Sting of EPA’s Bee Killing Actions The Trump EPA just approved the bee-killing pesticide sulfoxaflor. On behalf of beekeepers, Earthjustice is fighting back. Beekeeper Jeff Anderson says the Trump administration’s anti-bee and anti-science efforts are hurting his business. Chris Jordan-Bloch / Earthjustice It’s been a particularly terrible year for bees. While the nation's honeybee populations continue to plummet, Trump's EPA has announced it's allowing the bee-killing pesticide sulfoxaflor back on the market. In addition, the USDA has suspended data collection for its annual honeybee survey, which provides critical information to farmers and scientists by tracking honeybee populations…
Coming Soon to Your Home: Cleaner Air and Climate ActionComing Soon to Your Home: Cleaner Air and Climate Action The world is watching how Berkeley implements a new ordinance moving new buildings off dirty gas to all-electric power. Berkeley City Councilmember Kate Harrison authored the first-in-the-nation ban on gas hookups in new buildings, starting in 2020. More than 50 other cities in California are poised to follow Berkeley's lead with similar ordinances, switching new buildings to all electric power. Courtesy of the Office of Councilmember Kate Harrison Update, 10/08/2019:Since this blog was published, the California cities of Menlo Park and Windsor have passed building codes that mandate all-electric new…
Toxic Chemicals Leach their Way into our Food: Report Finds Hidden HarmToxic Chemicals Leach their Way into our Food: Report Finds Hidden Harm Today, we are exposed to the harms of phthalates through a variety of food service polyvinyl chloride (or PVC) gloves and food packaging materials, report found. This class of birth-defect-causing chemicals are known to leach into food upon contact. Good news is that a simple fix is available. As years of phthalates research show links to reproductive, developmental and endocrine health problems, including deficits in child IQ and other learning disabilities, we call leaders in the food service industry to eliminate the use of phthalates-containing gloves and food…
Keeping the Wolverine Wild in a Climate CrisisKeeping the Wolverine Wild in a Climate Crisis Wolverines are among the fiercest creatures on the planet, yet even they are fighting to survive in a warming world. Wolverines, says journalist and wildlife biologist Douglas H. Chadwick, are "not afraid of anything. They climb peaks that human climbers turn back from. So they're just fearless, and they're tireless, and they got no end of attitude." Photo Courtesy of Dale Pedersen Wolverines may be among the fiercest creatures alive — regularly challenging grizzly bears and crunching animal bones like peanuts. Yet biologists say melting snowpack caused by climate change could make…
In Memoriam: David KlipsteinIn Memoriam: David Klipstein Dave’s expertise and financial support enabled Earthjustice to grow its fledgling international program into a major force for transitioning the world away from fossil fuels to clean energy. David Klipstein Earthjustice file photo We recently lost a member of the Earthjustice family. Dr. David H. Klipstein, a scientist and environmental champion, passed away on July 1. Dave’s expertise and financial support enabled Earthjustice to grow its fledgling international program into a major force for transitioning the world away from fossil fuels to clean energy. Those who knew Dave recall his kind and generous spirit, his quick…
Francia Márquez, Renowned Afro-Colombian Activist: What Environmental Racism Means To MeFrancia Márquez, Renowned Afro-Colombian Activist: What Environmental Racism Means To Me In an exclusive interview, Francia sat down with Earthjustice to talk about the state of the environmental movement across the globe, the U.S. role in her community’s plight, and how she deals with constant death threats. Francia Márquez told Earthjustice that "people must be more conscious about the kind of officials they elect, because it’s not just the lives of social leaders that are at stake, but the very existence of humanity today." In April 2018, Afro-Colombian activist Francia Márquez won the prestigious Goldman Environmental Prize, thanks to her…
Entrevista con Francia Márquez: ‘A Muchos Líderes Ambientales Nos Seguirán Matando, Pero La Existencia del Planeta También Está En Juego’Entrevista con Francia Márquez: ‘A Muchos Líderes Ambientales Nos Seguirán Matando, Pero La Existencia del Planeta También Está En Juego’ En una charla exclusiva, Francia compartió con Earthjustice su opinión sobre el racismo ambiental, el rol de los EE.UU. en las dificultades que vive su comunidad y cómo enfrenta las constantes amenazas contra su vida. Francia Marquez, en una foto tomada en La Toma, departamento del Cauca, Colombia En abril del año pasado, la activista colombiana Francia Márquez fue galardonada con el prestigioso Goldman Environmental Prize, gracias a su labor por recuperar sus tierras ancestrales de manos de la minería…
