Hansen Attacks “Gagging” by White House

March 20, 2007By Andy RowellBlog Post

James Hansen, the Nasa scientist who first warned the US government about global warming, yesterday delivered a withering critique of the way the White House has “interfered” with climate scientists at the space agency. In a detailed written testimony before the House of Representatives, Dr Hansen said that there had been creeping politicisation of climate … Read More

BP’s “Terrifying” Safety Culture

March 20, 2007By Andy RowellBlog Post

The top honchos at BP will be sweating as they await today’s publication of the US Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board’s report into the Texas fire. By all accounts it will not make for comfortable reading. The ante has been upped by the head of the Board who was she was “absolutely terrified” that … Read More

More Trouble for Iraq Oil Law

March 19, 2007By Andy RowellBlog Post

Four years ago this week, American tanks headed into Baghdad. At the time critics of the war said it was about oil. But those voices were dismissed. Then came Iraq’s Oil Law which essentially hands control of much of its oil wealth to foreign multinationals. Opposition to the controversial law continues to grow. Former Iraqi … Read More

Crops Hit by Climate Change

March 19, 2007By Andy RowellBlog Post

Climate change over the past 25 years has led to a fall in the yield of some of the most important food crops in the world, according to a scientific study. Rising temperatures between 1981 and 2002 caused a loss in production of wheat, corn and barley that amounted in effect to some 40 million … Read More

BP Knew of Texas Risk

March 19, 2007By Andy RowellBlog Post

Tomorrow investigators for the US Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) will publish their long awaited report in the cause of fatal explosion at BP’s Texas refinery in March 2005. However it has now emerged that BP board directors were aware of the link between spending cuts and poor maintenance at its Texas City … Read More

U.S. Increases Military Assistance In Niger Delta

March 16, 2007By Andy RowellBlog Post

The United States is stepping up its involvement in the Nigeria to counter growing violence in the Niger Delta. Theresa Whelan, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense, told a conference sponsored by the Center for Strategic and International Studies that the US had a number of joint training and equipment programs aimed at helping Nigeria’s military … Read More

Winter “Warmest on Record” As Arctic Reaches “Tipping Point”

March 16, 2007By Andy RowellBlog Post 1 Comment

This winter in the northern hemisphere was the warmest on record, the US government has admitted. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said the combined land and ocean temperatures from December to February were 1.3 degrees Fahrenheit above average for the period since record keeping began in 1880. During the past century, global temperatures had … Read More

Giuliani Oil Lobby “Scandal”

March 16, 2007By Andy RowellBlog Post 1 Comment

US Republican presidential hopeful Rudy Giuliani is embroiled in controversy over the antics of his law firm which lobbies for Citgo Petroleum, which is controlled by the Venezuelan state oil company and President Hugo Chavez. Records filed at the Texas Ethics Commission showed the law firm, Houston-based Bracewell & Giuliani, may have received up to … Read More

Germans Unite Against Oil Aid!

March 15, 2007By Andy RowellBlog Post

A group of 40 German NGOs called on G8 Environment Ministers today to phase out fossil fuel subsidies at home and use their influence to steer the World Bank away from fossil fuels and towards a new energy revolution. A long list of German organizations, including the German NGO Forum on Environment and Development, Oxfam … Read More

Pardon My Skepticism

March 15, 2007By Mark FloegelBlog Post

On March 5, the New York Times published a front-page story called “Oil Innovations Pump New Life Into Old Wells.”  Getting new oil from “played out” wells was the thrust of the piece; as the price of oil rises, it becomes worthwhile investing new money into old wells.  The article also indirectly took on the … Read More