BeyondKONA: Politics & Policy
Power, politics, money, and finally policy are undeniably linked in every modern democracy, and Hawai’i is no different in this regard, yet the Aloha spirit can set Hawai’i apart from mainland and global political influences. Vested interests may work to divide us, but we are one island and one community living together here on Hawai’i Island.
Outsized voices seek to fulfill special interest agendas; some succeed by influencing government policy that benefits a few at the expense of many. Hawai’i can transition to a home grown clean energy economy that benefits all, and supports sustainable lifestyles once successfully practiced by the ancient Hawaiians serving as our guide for the 21st century.
Hawaii’s rich environment and its people are its primary assets. Community participation is the political engine that drives policy and solutions — both require public voices to be heard loud and clear in our island community and across the state legislature. All good things are possible when guided by science, progressive governance, cultural and economic fulfillment.
- How one Utah community fought the fracking industry — and wonby Peter Dykstra on January 17, 2020 at 9:25 pm
Kanab, a small Utah town that’s home to the famous Best Friends Animal Society, took an unconventional path to face down a frac sand mine that threatened […]
- LISTEN: EHN's Pittsburgh reporter discusses air pollution from U.S. Steel's Clairton Coke Worksby EHN Staff on January 17, 2020 at 2:26 pm
PITTSBURGH—EHN's Pittsburgh reporter Kristina Marusic joined Allegheny Front's Kara Holsopple to talk about U.S. Steel's Clairton Coke Works, one of the […]
- Health officials: U.S. Steel faces $743,625 in fines for Clairton Coke Works violationsby EHN Staff on January 17, 2020 at 1:56 pm
The Allegheny County Health Department has slapped U.S. Steel with $743,625 in fines for pollution violations at its Clairton Coke Works facility, the agency […]
- Feb. 5 hearing set by PA House environment committee on bill to take away DEP authority to enact greenhouse gas emissions reduction programsby Autumnspanne1 on January 17, 2020 at 12:20 pm
On February 5, the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee is scheduled to hold a hearing on House Bill 2025. […]
- Florida to protect Everglades land permitted for oil drillingby Jim Germond on January 17, 2020 at 12:20 pm
A swath of land in the Everglades at the center of a fight between a family determined to drill those urging them not to might finally have a new future. […]
- The past and the future of the Earth’s oldest treesby Jim Germond on January 17, 2020 at 12:19 pm
Bristlecone pines have survived various catastrophes over the millennia, and they may survive humanity. […]
- Louisiana tribes file complaint with United Nations over US inaction on climate changeby Jim Germond on January 17, 2020 at 12:18 pm
Four coastal Louisiana tribes claim the U.S. government has violated their human rights by failing to take action on climate change. […]
- UN warns hunger crisis in southern Africa ′on scale we′ve not seen before′by Jim Germond on January 17, 2020 at 12:17 pm
A record 45 million people across southern Africa are in need of in urgent need of food aid, the UN has said. […]
- Why fossil fuel companies are reckoning with climate changeby Autumnspanne1 on January 17, 2020 at 12:15 pm
How should a company that generates most of its profits by serving the world's enormous appetite for oil navigate a long-term future in which shifting […]
- Outbreak of E. coli in Salinas Valley romaine lettuce is over, CDC saysby Autumnspanne1 on January 17, 2020 at 12:08 pm
Federal health authorities have declared an end to three E. coli outbreaks traced to romaine lettuce grown in California's Salinas Valley. […]
- Lake spill earns Mariner East pipelines another $2 million fineby Autumnspanne1 on January 17, 2020 at 12:03 pm
The pipelines’ owner, Energy Transfer, has been penalized more than $15 million by Pennsylvania regulators for the project. […]
- Long shaped by fire, Australia enters a perilous new eraby Autumnspanne1 on January 17, 2020 at 11:58 am
The latest massive conflagrations there are evidence that a hotter climate has thrust Australia into a new normal where fires will keep burning on an […]
- Blowing in the wind: Why the Netherlands is sinkingby Autumnspanne1 on January 17, 2020 at 11:53 am
Over the centuries, windmills built to drain peatland for agriculture have been causing the ground to steadily sink. It's unclear who's in charge of fixing the […]
- Turning 3000 Tonnes of India's Waste Flowers into Incenseby Autumnspanne1 on January 17, 2020 at 11:41 am
What do you do with a river full of dumped spiritual flowers? Make a product that gives back. […]
- Weather shows evidence of climate change every single day since 2012by Autumnspanne1 on January 17, 2020 at 11:36 am
Children born in 2012 haven’t lived a single day unaffected by climate change. […]
- Energy companies have a great friend at Trump's Interior Department: Their former lobbyistby Autumnspanne1 on January 17, 2020 at 11:33 am
They've spent $30 million lobbying the government since Trump arrived. […]
- Copenhagen's new Fælledby development is all wood constructionby Autumnspanne1 on January 17, 2020 at 11:29 am
Copenhagen’s new Fælledby development will house 7,000 people, all in multi-story wood buildings. […]
- Report: YouTube is running ads from major brands, including Samsung anby Autumnspanne1 on January 17, 2020 at 11:25 am
In total, 108 brands had their ads run on climate misinformation videos, including companies that pride themselves on their green stances.&nbs […]
- Climate change won’t result in a new normal but in constant, horrifying new disastersby Autumnspanne1 on January 17, 2020 at 11:21 am
From “wet bulb” heat waves that create deadly humidity to cascading economic effects of sea level rise, a new report catalogs some of the […]
- U.S. water data, refreshed dailyby Autumnspanne1 on January 17, 2020 at 11:16 am
New U.S. Geological Survey tool displays where water is – and isn’t – in the Lower 48 states. […]
- Why FEMA is fighting for money set aside for California fire victimsby Autumnspanne1 on January 17, 2020 at 11:08 am
Expect more tussles like this as climate change worsens. […]
- Democrats spar over environmental impact of Trump's North America trade dealby Autumnspanne1 on January 17, 2020 at 11:05 am
Sanders is against USMCA and Warren is for it. […]
- Murdoch family discord plays out publiclyby Autumnspanne1 on January 17, 2020 at 11:01 am
James Murdoch and his wife, Kathryn, have issued a statement condemning the Murdoch media empire’s coverage of climate change. […]
- Eruption of Taal in the Philippines is a warning about global volcano hazardsby Autumnspanne1 on January 17, 2020 at 10:53 am
The volcano is capable of caldera-forming eruptions. […]
- Germany agrees timeline, compensation for coal phase-outby Autumnspanne1 on January 17, 2020 at 10:50 am
The deal removes a key hurdle in the country’s plan to curb greenhouse gas emissions over the coming decades. […]
- Watching the beach town of my childhood burnby Autumnspanne1 on January 17, 2020 at 10:46 am
The beach town of Mallacoota is mythologized in my family as the place we returned to every summer. I visited again after it was ravaged by fire, to find […]
- How hard is it to quit coal? For Germany, 18 years and $44 billionby Autumnspanne1 on January 17, 2020 at 10:32 am
The 18-year time frame shows how costly and politically complicated it is to leave the world's dirtiest fossil fuel in the ground. […]
- Inside BC Hydro’s lost battle to protect major hydro dams from fracking earthquakesby Jim Germond on January 17, 2020 at 5:50 am
Documents released through an FOI request show BC Hydro failed to convince B.C.'s oil and gas regulator to impose outright bans on such activities close to its […]
- ‘A colossal waste’: BC Hydro report hints at cost overruns at Site C damby Jim Germond on January 17, 2020 at 5:43 am
A revealing update from BC Hydro says the project's budget — which has grown from $6.6 billion to $10.7 billion — is 'under pressure.' […]
- New Mexico OKs Widespread Trapping Despite Broad Public Oppositionon January 17, 2020 at 12:00 am
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- London's new year fireworks left sky full of metal particlesby Gary Fuller on January 16, 2020 at 9:30 pm
Lack of wind not only obscured view but created the capital’s first air pollution incident of 2020Around the world, capital cities celebrated the new […]
- ‘It tastes like clay’: residents of Rio alarmed by murky, smelly tap waterby Dom Phillips in Rio de Janeiro on January 16, 2020 at 10:00 am
The city’s water company insists the murky water is safe to drink and was caused by an organic compound found in soilJust weeks before hosting its world […]
- Conservationists Seek Wolverine Protectionon January 16, 2020 at 12:00 am
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- Lawsuit Challenges Trump Administration’s Suppression of Grid Study Bolstering Clean Energy Transitionon January 16, 2020 at 12:00 am
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- Cardiff proposes £2 congestion charge for non-residentsby Steven Morris on January 15, 2020 at 12:54 pm
Leaders unveil 10-year plan to improve public transport and tackle climate crisisCardiff council is proposing to charge non-residents £2 to drive into […]
- 'I was really scared': Jakupovic on her collapse because of Australian Open air quality – videoon January 15, 2020 at 11:07 am
Dalila Jakupovic has spoken about her collapse at the Australian Open after she suffered a coughing fit because of the poor quality of air in Melbourne. […]
- Australians need a 'slip slop slap'-style campaign to learn about air pollutionby Amaani Siddeek on January 15, 2020 at 1:48 am
Doctors liken this summer’s hazardous bushfire smoke to the days when we realised the sun contributes to skin cancerUnprecedented bushfires have sparked […]
- Lawsuit Challenges Trump Administration’s Fast-tracking of Louisiana Plastics Projecton January 15, 2020 at 12:00 am
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- Experts study first orca stranding in England and Wales since 2001by PA Media on January 14, 2020 at 2:05 pm
Discovery of dead juvenile killer whale is first confirmed stranding in nearly 20 yearsExperts are investigating the first confirmed stranding of an orca in […]
- Can air purifiers improve students' academic performance?by Mario Koran on January 14, 2020 at 11:00 am
After purifiers were installed in southern California classrooms following a gas leak, students saw gains on math and English testsA 2015 gas leak that belched […]
- Lawsuit Challenges Trump Plan to Frack, Drill 1 Million Acres of California Public Lands, Mineralson January 14, 2020 at 12:00 am
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- The sweet relief of rain after bushfires threaten disaster for our rivers | Paul McInerney, Klaus Joehnk and Gavin Rees for the Conversationby Paul McInerney, Klaus Joehnk and Gavin Rees for the Conversation on January 13, 2020 at 10:37 pm
Fire debris flowing into the Murray-Darling Basin will exacerbate the risk of fish and other aquatic life dying en masseWhen heavy rainfall eventually […]
- The case for ... never demolishing another buildingby Oliver Wainwright on January 13, 2020 at 10:45 am
The construction industry is wasteful and creates huge CO2 emissions. But what if new buildings had to be adapted and resused or built only with materials […]
- Even as an air pollution expert, these months of bushfire smoke have been a shock | Nancy Cushing for the Conversationby Nancy Cushing for the Conversation on January 13, 2020 at 4:16 am
Fire smoke is considered outside human control and not subject to regulation. It’s time to rethink the way we protect air qualitySmoke from this […]
- Air pollution could kill 160,000 in next decade – reportby PA Media on January 13, 2020 at 12:26 am
British Heart Foundation predicts current total of 11,000 particulate-related deaths per year will continue to riseMore than 160,000 people could die over the […]
- Lawsuit Challenges Trump Administration’s Failure to Protect Endangered Species From Livestock on Arizona, New Mexico Waterwayson January 13, 2020 at 12:00 am
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- Minnesota Appeals Court Strikes Down PolyMet Copper-sulfide Mine Permit, Orders New Hearingon January 13, 2020 at 12:00 am
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- Plan: Ending Extinction Crisis Requires $100 Billion, 500 New National Parks, Refuges, Ocean Sanctuarieson January 13, 2020 at 12:00 am
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- Trump’s other war is going wellby Peter Dykstra on January 11, 2020 at 12:00 pm
While the "Three I's"—impeachment, Iran, and ineptitude—steal headlines, key battles in another war with lasting consequences go largely unnoticed. […]
- Belgian police cars fall foul of tighter controls on urban emissionsby Reuters in Brussels on January 10, 2020 at 5:02 pm
Federal force unable to afford to bring fleet into line with new regulations in major citiesBelgium’s federal police have fallen foul of tighter […]