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.
- Sustaining sustainabilityby EHN Staff on April 1, 2020 at 5:19 pm
The current crisis shows in unequivocal terms that frontline and shop-floor employees surviving hand to mouth will be disproportionately affected when the […]
- Coronavirus shows we must change how we live or face self-destructionby EHN Staff on April 1, 2020 at 4:55 pm
Indigenous knowledge has a lot to teach us about global pandemics.
- Nature scores a big win against fracking in a small Pennsylvania townby EHN Staff on April 1, 2020 at 3:25 pm
After a seven-year battle, Grant Township fought off a permit for an injection well. “Fights like ours should mushroom all around Pennsylvania,” […]
- The long-term effects of Covid-19 on field scienceby Autumnspanne1 on April 1, 2020 at 11:33 am
As scientists wait, worry, and hunker down, they’re also looking ahead to how their projects will need to adapt.
- On being the (only) Black feminist environmental ethnographer in Gulf Coast Louisianaby EHN Staff on April 1, 2020 at 11:30 am
For a Black feminist environmental ethnographer in the field, being "Black girl reliable" means supporting frontline communities.
- EPA rules changes will increase coronavirus deathsby Megan McLaughlin on April 1, 2020 at 11:28 am
The sustained effects of air pollution appear to make people particularly vulnerable to the effects of the coronavirus.
- Trump administration moves forward with looser air rules as respiratory disease grips USby Autumnspanne1 on April 1, 2020 at 11:28 am
Scientists studying coronavirus are looking at whether pollution increases the risk of infection.
- In a pandemic, we need green spaces more than everby EHN Staff on April 1, 2020 at 11:27 am
Here's why some neighborhoods don't have them — and what we can do about it.
- Outbreak reveals radical climate idea: Economic 'degrowth'by Megan McLaughlin on April 1, 2020 at 11:27 am
Some climate-focused economists see the COVID-19 pandemic as an unwitting experiment for a radical strategy to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions.
- Plastics industry insiders reveal the truth about recyclingby Autumnspanne1 on April 1, 2020 at 11:25 am
They never believed it would actually solve the plastic waste problem. Today, it’s estimated that no more than 10 percent of plastic produced has ever […]
- Trump administration weakens clean car standards despite its analyses showing rule favors big oil over healthby Autumnspanne1 on April 1, 2020 at 11:20 am
According to the government's own analyses, the move is expected to benefit the oil industry and harm consumers, public health, and the climate.
- Cancer Alley: Fury as new chemical plant rises in town battling toxic pollutionby Autumnspanne1 on April 1, 2020 at 11:16 am
Plastics factory will not only contribute to pollution in heavily polluted Louisiana town, but will also be a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions.
- Ex-wildlife chief: Trump rule could kill billions of birdsby Autumnspanne1 on April 1, 2020 at 11:13 am
The Trump administration wants to end the 50-year practice of using the criminal penalties under the migratory bird law to pressure companies into taking […]
- Cash-strapped coal giant Murray Energy faces liquidationby Autumnspanne1 on April 1, 2020 at 11:08 am
Bankrupt coal miner Murray Energy Corp. could be forced to liquidate unless a federal judge lets it cut health-care payments to retirees, according to court […]
- When does recycling your plastic make sense? The answer isn't so simpleby Autumnspanne1 on April 1, 2020 at 11:04 am
The vast majority of plastic — about 76 percent — ends up in landfills. Here's what to do about yours.
- Companies’ new pledges to boost recycling face old pitfallsby Autumnspanne1 on April 1, 2020 at 10:55 am
Some of the world's biggest consumer brand companies have promised to dramatically boost recycling. Yet some of those same companies have made — and […]
- Methane-eating bacteria could help decrease greenhouse gas emissions from thawing Arctic tundraby Autumnspanne1 on April 1, 2020 at 10:46 am
A new study published in the journal Nature Climate Change has discovered a type of methane-oxidizing bacteria living in upland Arctic soils that could […]
- EPA rule changes will increase coronavirus deathsby Autumnspanne1 on April 1, 2020 at 10:39 am
The sustained effects of air pollution appear to make people particularly vulnerable to the effects of the coronavirus.
- Coronavirus has more Americans turning directly to farms for foodby Autumnspanne1 on April 1, 2020 at 10:30 am
The spike in traffic for businesses that have been delivering to customers for years has prompted others to consider adapting their business models.
- Billions of tons of "irrecoverable carbon" in nature are at riskby Autumnspanne1 on April 1, 2020 at 10:13 am
If we keep cutting down trees or destroying marshes, it won’t matter how many emissions we stop: The planet won’t be able to reabsorb the carbon […]
- Trump projects up to 240,000 coronavirus deaths in US, even with mitigation effortsby Autumnspanne1 on April 1, 2020 at 9:56 am
The president took a newly somber tone — and contradicted many of his previous assessments of the virus — as he urged residents to follow measures […]
- Seven workers at national parks test positive for coronavirusby Autumnspanne1 on April 1, 2020 at 9:48 am
At least seven National Park Service employees have tested positive for the novel coronavirus, yet the Trump administration continues to operate the park […]
- Trump calls new fuel economy rule a boon. Some experts see steep costsby Autumnspanne1 on April 1, 2020 at 9:26 am
The president said the measure, announced Tuesday, would lift the economy, but outside analysts said the administration's rosy numbers did not represent an […]
- In the most polluted part of America, residents now battle the US's biggest plastic plantby Oliver Laughland in Welcome, Louisiana, and Emily Holden in Washington on April 1, 2020 at 9:00 am
Plastics factory will not only contribute to pollution in Louisiana town of Gramercy, but will also be a significant source of greenhouse gas emissionsGail […]
- Scotland's first floating tidal power farm to be set up in Orkneyby Jim Germond on April 1, 2020 at 5:03 am
When up and running, the pioneering floating devices are predicted to generate enough electricity to power up to 3,400 homes.
- Citgo must pay for a massive 2004 Delaware River oil spill, Supreme Court rulesby Jim Germond on April 1, 2020 at 4:58 am
The former owner of a Philadelphia area asphalt refinery must pay back millions of dollars in cleanup costs, the Supreme Court ruled on Monday.
- California poised to sue Trump again to stop another clean car rollbackby Jim Germond on April 1, 2020 at 4:13 am
Trump's loosening of fuel economy standards means that cars will be allowed to emit more climate-warming carbon dioxide as well as pollutants that cause smog.
- Asbestos inhalation poses cancer risks to workers and consumersby Jim Germond on April 1, 2020 at 3:41 am
US EPA finds unreasonable risks for 6 current uses, including chlor-alkali diaphragms.
- Coronavirus in sewage foreshadowed outbreak in Dutch cityby Jim Germond on April 1, 2020 at 2:45 am
Scientists say they found the virus that causes COVID-19 in a Dutch city's waste water before the first confirmed case in the city.
- Antarctica experiences first known heat waveby Jim Germond on April 1, 2020 at 2:44 am
Researchers expressed concern about the damage the phenomenon could have on flora and fauna.
- For nesting hawksbill turtles, this Philippine community is a sanctuaryby Jim Germond on April 1, 2020 at 2:29 am
Hawksbill sea turtles' low survival rates in the wild are caused by natural predators and, recently, exacerbated by rising sea levels and poaching.
- Lawsuit Launched to Save Endangered Southern Nevada Butterflyon April 1, 2020 at 12:00 am
- Terrawatch: plastic-rich canyons forming in the deep oceanby Kate Ravilious on March 31, 2020 at 8:30 pm
Study suggests that 99% of the plastic arriving in the ocean is being whisked down to its far depthsThe Earth’s oceans are the graveyard for almost […]
- Burning question: plastic pollution scars poorest countries – in picturesby Daniel Msirikale, Tearfund on March 31, 2020 at 7:50 pm
A new report by the NGO Tearfund calls out four of the biggest single-use plastic polluters, Coca-Cola, Nestlé, Pepsi-Co and Unilever. Photographs from […]
- Air pollution: through the smog darkly - archive, 31 March 1965by Betty Thorne on March 31, 2020 at 4:30 am
31 March 1965 Bringing up a family amidst the filth that spews out of factory and domestic chimneyI’ve put my baby down for the night. He’s […]
- 100+ Groups Urge Congress to Invest $100 Million to Save Monarch Butterflyon March 31, 2020 at 12:00 am
- Trump Administration Cripples Effort to Curb Car Pollutionon March 31, 2020 at 12:00 am
- Lawsuit Challenges Trump Administration’s Authorization to Kill 72 Grizzlies Near Yellowstoneon March 31, 2020 at 12:00 am
- Report reveals ‘massive plastic pollution footprint’ of drinks firmsby Sandra Laville on March 30, 2020 at 11:01 pm
Report says plastic from Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Nestlé and Unilever products could cover 83 football pitches every dayFour global drinks giants are […]
- Builder aims to help UK construction industry kick its plastic habitby Henry McDonald on March 30, 2020 at 6:00 am
Neal Maxwell wants trade to go from 50,000 tonnes of plastic waste each year to zero by 2040A builder from Merseyside has launched a project that aims to […]
- Trump Administration Denies Endangered Species Protection to Bi-state Sage Grouseon March 30, 2020 at 12:00 am
- Trump administration allows companies to break pollution laws during coronavirus pandemicby Oliver Milman and Emily Holden on March 27, 2020 at 2:53 pm
Extraordinary move signals to US companies that they will not face any sanctions for polluting the air or waterCoronavirus – latest US updatesCoronavirus […]
- Coronavirus UK lockdown causes big drop in air pollutionby Damian Carrington Environment editor on March 27, 2020 at 9:32 am
Air quality in big cities is likely to improve even more in coming weeks, say scientistsCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageThe […]
- Scientists find bug that feasts on toxic plasticby Damian Carrington Environment editor on March 27, 2020 at 5:00 am
Bacterium is able to break down polyurethane, which is widely used but rarely recycledA bacterium that feeds on toxic plastic has been discovered by […]
- Environmentalists Object to Broad EPA Waivers for Polluters During Coronavirus Crisison March 27, 2020 at 12:00 am
- Pollutionwatch: why cycling is better for you in 99% of world's citiesby Gary Fuller on March 26, 2020 at 9:30 pm
While pollution and road safety are concerns, the benefits of riding a bike generally outweigh the risksNew York has reported a surge in cycling as people try […]
- Senate Republicans Bail Out Major Fossil Fuel Polluterson March 26, 2020 at 12:00 am
- Crews Break Ground on Formosa Plastics Project in Louisiana Despite Coronavirus Crisis, Flood Riskon March 26, 2020 at 12:00 am
- Congress Urged to Reject $400+ Billion Fossil Fuel Bailouton March 24, 2020 at 12:00 am
- Washington Enacts Law to Protect Rivers, Endangered Salmon From Suction Dredge Miningon March 24, 2020 at 12:00 am