Planet Watch

UN: world refugees break record

War across large swaths of the Middle East and Africa in the first six months of 2014 forcibly displaced some 5.5 million people, signalling yet another record, the UN reports.

Planet Watch

Behind oil slump: shale boom or geopolitics?

Experts tell us the North American shale oil boom is responsible for low prices despite Middle East unrest. But the price slump serves Western aims of weakening Russia and Iran.

Planet Watch

Canada’s high court upholds aboriginal title

First nations across British Columbia are celebrating a unanimous ruling by Canada's Supreme Court that recognizes aboriginal title to traditional territories outside reserves.

Planet Watch

Obama climate plan: too little, too late

The EPA's Clean Power Plan, bashed by the GOP and industry as draconian, would cut carbon emissions by a grossly insufficient 7% by 2030—and of course through market mechanisms.

Planet Watch

Polar Vortex: Yes, it’s global warming!

Climate-change denialists are gloating at the "Polar Vortex"—failing to understand that it was unleashed by destabilization of the Jet Stream due to loss of arctic ice cover.

Planet Watch

WHY WE FIGHT

From the San Francisco Chronicle, Nov. 8: Man who sought safe streets killed in S.F. crash A wheelchair-using San Francisco man who fought for safe streets for the disabled is being mourned this week by friends and family after he… Read moreWHY WE FIGHT

Planet Watch

Nez Perce block tar-sands ‘megaload’

A 225-foot “megaload” of oil equipment hauled along US Highway 12 through Idaho and Montana, bound for a tar-sands site in Canada, was repeatedly blocked by protesters.