2009 July | Film@11

Head's Up, Polar Bears

Posted on 31. Jul, 2009 by michelemitchell in Environment

Well look what else just landed on the congressional plate? The U.S. is the only major industrialized nation not to sign on to the UN Law of the Seas Treaty. (Something about Reagan, and sovereignty, and stuff kept it from coming up for a Senate vote.) But this may change–because there’s about to be new Arctic mapping, and this in turn means oil. There’s about to be a new black gold rush, with Russia, Denmark, Canada and Norway (among others) in the race.

The only way to get in it? Sign the damn treaty. We explain it here.

You want oil? Here's your oil.

Roadtrip!

Posted on 30. Jul, 2009 by michelemitchell in Environment

Ecotourism has passed from hip to mainstream (even China–yes, China–has gotten into it). What’s next?

Photographer James Montanus highly recommends a road trip to
Love Canal.

“As a child growing up in western New York, I remember seeing many nightly news reports about Love Canal as I ate dinner with the family watching the six o’clock news,” Montanus told us. “It wasn’t until I was much older that I read a very interesting article by a former Buffalo News reporter that piqued my interest. After doing much reading on the Internet I was compelled to venture out and see what remained at the actual Love Canal site. ”

This piqued our interest, and we started wondering–where else could we go for radioactive tourism?

Tastes Just Like Chicken!

Posted on 29. Jul, 2009 by michelemitchell in Environment

You might have missed it, but the House Appropriations Committee made sure that the EPA couldn’t regulate livestock as a greenhouse gas source. Earlier in the year, the EPA conducted a survey on taxing businesses that emit over 100 tons of methane gas a year–not from cows or sheep themselves, but from their droppings. This survey was declared by a Greensboro, NC dairy farmer to be “a buncha bull” (we just love that quote).

Part of the issue here is the American taste for meat. The Aussies love their meat, too, but there’s a push now to eat more kangaroo as a way to reduce methane emissions. We tackle this in “A Minute of Your Time,” and wonder what Americans might substitute on their dinner plates instead of steak. A hint: has something to do with this guy….

Do I look tasty?

Slime Trail Slithers South, Slug Arrested

Posted on 28. Jul, 2009 by michelemitchell in Environment

The E Men have struck again. After two anonymous tips (and cooperating with Mexican and U.S. authorities) the Environmental Protection Agency snagged a member of their Most Wanted list: Robert Wainwright.

Wainwright has a toxic history–and not just with the environment. His list of crimes includes possession of firearms (and 2,840 rounds of ammunition), disposal of slag and brick waste into a nearby wetland in Lake County, Indiana, and child molestation.

Bad Man

He fled to Mexico to avoid the seven counts of violating environmental management laws (for which he faces up to 24 years in prison). EPA officials say the savvy tipsters reported in from Mexico after spotting Wainwright on the list of 21 Most Wanted eco-criminals.

Wainwright’s on his way back now–he will face charges of environmental violations, fleeing and federal munition charges.

–Kayla Ruble

Size Does Matter, Senators…

Posted on 27. Jul, 2009 by michelemitchell in Environment

There are many wonderful members of Congress, hard-working folk who don’t appear on television programs to spout off the latest talking points because, well, they’re working.

And then there are the others. This little segment is dedicated to the ones who are always talking about “the children” and then do something like this.