Saturday, January 28, 2012

From the Inbox - Why the Everglades are not a sewer

e.Brief: Earthjustice's monthly e-newsletter.
Home | About Earthjustice | Take Action | Donate | January 2012
The Everglades. Left: Gorazd Bozic / Flickr. Right: Amir / Flickr. In The News

The Everglades—Saved By The Law

Florida's Everglades would likely be a corporate sewer today if not for the power of litigation and the Earthjustice attorneys who have wielded it for 20 years. These truths were attested to at a conference of powerful political, business and environmental leaders who paid homage to those attorneys. Read Full Story.

Check out a special report on the two-decade fight
to save the Everglades.

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Help our legal experts fight in court to protect and restore the Everglades ecosystem. Give an urgent gift today to protect this national treasure!
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Lake Tahoe. (Geoff Stearns / Flickr)Keeping Tahoe Blue
Community members and conservationists are hoping to keep the sparkle in one of America's most beautiful lakes—Lake Tahoe—by halting a large, proposed housing development along the shoreline. On their behalf, Earthjustice has filed a lawsuit challenging the environmental impact report for the Homewood development. Read More

Photo Slideshow: Images Of Lake Tahoe

U.S. Capitol.A Gathering Storm In Congress
The halls of Congress are silent right now—in sharp contrast to the anti-environment uproar that dominated the last session. More is coming in this election year, but it's no reason to be gloomy, says Earthjustice President Trip Van Noppen. Read More

Hydraulic fracturing drilling rig. (Chris Jordan-Bloch / Earthjustice)Thousands Comment On Fracking Plans
Just as the comment period ended this week, thousands of activists submitted comments against New York State's proposed regulations on hydrofracturing. Earthjustice activists submitted more than 5,000 letters, helping to set a new record of submitted comments to the state agency. Read More

unEARTHED From Earthjustice's blog:

Ted Zukoski.The Zuke:
Let's not nuke the Grand Canyon.
Read Blog Post

Shirley Hao.Monday Reads:
Climate change makes strange bedfellows. Read Blog Post

In the win column Earthjustice and its allies won advances—or outright victories—across a broad front:

Soot. (Chris Jordan-Bloch / Earthjustice)EPA Reins In Toxic Power Plants
After a decade of legal effort by Earthjustice, the EPA has set the first limits on mercury, arsenic and other toxic air pollutants from coal- and oil-fired power plants—the nation's worst toxic air polluters. Read More

Feature: In the Shadow of a Smokestack

Photo Slideshow: Life Under The Stacks


Salmon May Benefit From Ruling
Weak development standards in Clark County, Washington appear to violate federal clean water regulations, according to a federal court ruling obtained through Earthjustice litigation. The county's poor standards contribute to polluted storm water runoff that threatens salmon. Read More


Aviation Emissions Law Takes Off
Beginning this year, all flights using European airports will be held accountable for their carbon pollution. The new European Union law went into effect, after a decision by the EU Court of Justice affirmed that the law is fully compliant with international law. A trans-Atlantic coalition of environmental groups, including Earthjustice, were intervenor-defendants in the litigation.

Read More

Audio: Attorney Martin Wagner Comments

Fossil Fuel Power Comes Last
Under a new—landmark—clean energy policy, California utilities cannot use fossil fuel-generated electricity to meet customer demand until they first employ energy efficiency and conservation, and seek energy from such renewable sources as wind, solar and geothermal. Read More


Ruling Shines On Hawai`i Solar
Roof-top solar energy got a boost from the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission, which has denied proposals by utility companies to make it difficult for homes and businesses to install solar systems. Earthjustice represented Hawaii Solar Energy Association in the case. Read More


Take Action! Photo of Grand Canyon.
Take Action.Protect Our Water!
The drinking water of 117 million Americans is at risk from pollution and contamination. The White House has promised to fix this, but big polluters are trying to thwart progress. Urge the White House to continue its strong efforts to restore our clean water protections. Take action now to protect our communities and our clean water for drinking, swimming, and fishing!

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Earthjustice. Because the earth needs a good lawyer. Earthjustice is the nation's leading, non-profit law firm for the environment. To learn more about our work, visit our website, http://earthjustice.org.

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Photo Credits - The Everglades—Saved By The Law: Left: Gorazd Bozic / Flickr. Right: Amir / Flickr.
Keeping Tahoe Blue: Geoff Stearns / Flickr. Thousands Comment On Fracking Plans: Chris Jordan-Bloch / Earthjustice. EPA Reins In Toxic Power Plants: Chris Jordan-Bloch / Earthjustice.

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