• slice of an artwork depicting a desert scene, wildlife and livestock drinking from a small pondThe Big Dry
    A 21st Century Water War Erupts in Texas.
    By James William Gibson
  • photo of burned railcars in a heapWarning: Highly Flammable
    Oil trains are crisscrossing North America with volatile cargo, yet many communities
    are unprepared for an accident.
    By Adam Federman
  • photo of people drumming and singing in a forestIt’s a Hardrock Life
    In Wisconsin, a battle over iron ore extraction pits environmentalists and Native Americans against mining companies. By Mary Catherine O’Connor
  •  

Latest News

Federal Coal Leasing Undermining Obama’s Climate Goals

Coal mining on public lands could wipe out power plant reforms, Greenpeace report finds

by Sharon Kelly – July 28, 2014

A report published today by Greenpeace highlights a growing contradiction in government policies on one of the dirtiest of fossil fuels: coal. In June, the Obama administration announced a plan to crack down on carbon dioxide emissions from power plants. Meanwhile, the federal Bureau of…
> Read more

Time in the Wilderness Supplies Lessons for (Planetary) Survival

In celebration of the Wilderness Act’s 50th anniversary

by Jason Mark – July 28, 2014

Ah, summertime — the season for getaways to the great outdoors. Maybe that means a lazy float trip down the Russian River, a weekend at the beach, or camping at the nearest state park. If you're especially intrepid, getting away might involve…
> Read more

Unsafe at Any Speed

Will new DOT regulations prevent another oil by rail disaster?

by Adam Federman – July 25, 2014

Who is responsible for the series of oil train derailments and accidents that have occurred recently? A little more than one year since a train derailed in the Quebec town of Lac-Megantic, killing 47 people and destroying more than 40 buildings, this…
> Read more

Radar Station on Tiny Indian Island Could Harm Rare Hornbill Population

Conservationists fear India’s new government is ignoring environmental concerns in rush to clear projects

by Prathap Nair – July 24, 2014

When the new Indian government came to power in May, its focus on speeding up approvals for defense and infrastructure development projects had environmentalists concerned that the administration would ride roughshod over environmental clearances for these projects. Those fears were reinforced last…
> Read more

The Comeback Cat

Jaguars have critical habitat set aside for them in the Southwest. But is it enough for the predator to recover?

by Eliza Murphy – July 23, 2014

Jaguars are returning to a portion of their historic range in the southwestern United States, having surmounted numerous obstacles along the increasingly militarized US-Mexico border. Yet whether this mysterious carnivore will be able to make a full comeback is in doubt as…
> Read more

A Pledge that Promises to Keep Seeds Free For All to Use

In battle against seed patents, plant breeders and advocates find inspiration in open source software

by Zoe Loftus-Farren – July 22, 2014

For years, many of us have kept an eye out for organic and pesticide free vendors at our local farmers markets. Thanks to a new movement hitting the American food scene, we may soon be looking for another important environmental marker: open…
> Read more

EPA Restricts Mine Waste Disposal in Bristol Bay Watershed

A crucial step towards protecting the world’s most prolific salmon fishery

by Bonnie Gestring – July 21, 2014

On Friday, the US Environmental Protection Agency released its long-awaited plan for restricting mine waste disposal in Alaska's Bristol Bay watershed — a crucial step towards protecting the world's most prolific wild salmon fishery and the 14,000 hardworking fishermen who depend on…
> Read more

more articles

Voices

Senator Sheldon Whitehouse
The Rhode Island Democrat is on a crusade to wake up Americans to the threat of global warming.
> Read more
A Prayer for Earth
The Rev. Canon Sally G. Bingham on how her faith fuels her environmental activism.
> Read more
Shoot to Save?
Humane Society International and Safari Club International debate whether hunting can help conserve wildlife.
> Read more
Readers Poll
What do you think? Is hunting animals a viable conservation strategy?
> Read more

Current Issue

thumbnail of the cover of the Earth Island Journal

Gemstone Mountain

In a remote Cambodian province, children as young as seven risk their lives mining for a shiny blue rock

Microbeads: Don’t Use as Directed

Our columnist, Annie Leonard, warns that plastic microbeads are the newest environmental hazard.

“We Came Back to Struggle”

Indigenous communities in Honduras are fighting against new mining projects.

Earth Island Updates

Partner Feeds

0.1533