OceanaGold

In 2009, three of my closest friends were murdered. The four of us—and other members of the National Roundtable on Mining—were fighting to stop international conglomerate OceanaGold from building a gold mine near our home in El Salvador that would absolutely devastate our community. Because of our activist work, my three friends were murdered. To this day, I don't know why I got to survive and they didn't, but I do know I'll never stop fighting to win our cause. We secured a major victory when our democratically elected government did not grant the permit to build this giant mine. Our government was right to make this decision, because the corporation didn't come close to meeting the environmental or social safeguards our laws require. But now, OceanaGold is suing my country in an obscure court of the World Bank. They say that the nation of El Salvador owes them $300 million because we wouldn't let them build a mine that would contaminate our limited clean water and devastate our lands. I think this is absolutely absurd. I started a petition on Change.org calling on the World Bank Tribunal to stand up to OceanaGold and side with the people of El Salvador. Will you click here to sign? El Salvador is in the midst of a serious water crisis — in fact, more than 90% of the surface water in my country is contaminated. One river in eastern El Salvador contains nine times the amount of cyanide that is safe for human consumption because of a gold mine just like the one OceanaGold wants to build in my community. My family shouldn't lose access to clean water just because an Australian company wants to make money! My wife Zenayda and I—and many others—have kept fighting to stop this mine, and we have endured countless death threats, armed robberies of important case files, even unknown assailants breaking into our home and and drugged us while they stole the evidence that linked the mine with local elected officials. But through all this, we refused to give up. We cannot let our friends’ deaths be in vain. Now, three people on a World Bank panel in Washington, DC will decide whether my country will be forced to give $301 million in badly needed tax dollars to a corporation that has terrorized my family and my community for years. I know that with your help, we can convince this panel to do the right thing. Please sign my petition calling on the World Bank tribunal to protect the people of El Salvador from OceanaGold's vicious lawsuit. Thank you for standing with my country, my family, and the memory of my friends. I have been shouting about this issue for so long, it is good to have your voice added with mine. Héctor Antonio Garcia Berrios Cabañas, El Salvador

Climate change blame and liability

I can sincerely say this is the most important petition we've ever done.
  
Sorry for the language, but one top scientist just warned that we are all "f*cked" if global warming releases gigantic amounts of methane gas from the arctic tundra. The UN knows this, and is bringing world leaders to New York for an emergency summit.
  
Hundreds of thousands of us will take to the streets for the People’s Climate March just before the summit. Let’s make sure that on that day we deliver the largest Avaaz petition ever, for the only solution: mobilize the world to shift to 100% clean energy. Add your voice, and forward this widely:

https://secure.avaaz.org/en/100_clean_78/?bnJLaib&v=44756

Whether it's the 'arctic methane bomb', the rapid acidification of our oceans, or apocalyptic flooding, climate change is the biggest threat humanity is facing, and we need the biggest petition ever to meet it. The number of us who sign will be read out to all leaders at the summit, published in hundreds of media articles, and be delivered by our marches worldwide.
  
100% clean energy is a realistic goal. Already, 20% of the world's electricity comes from clean energy, and solar power is cheaper than coal in many countries! We just need to get our leaders to agree to put our foot on the accelerator.
We're gearing up for the largest climate mobilization in history on September 21. Already hundreds of events are organised and hundreds of thousands of people signed up. But the events are designed to deliver our petition to decision makers. Let's make it the largest call to action ever. Join now and tell everyone:

https://secure.avaaz.org/en/100_clean_78/?bnJLaib&v=44756

We're all different, and beautifully diverse. But whoever and wherever we are, climate change threatens everything we love, and brings all of us together. Let's come together now.
  
With hope,

Ricken, Danny, Lisa, Judy, Alex, Iain, and the rest of the Avaaz team
PS - Every signature really does count! Add your voice here: https://secure.avaaz.org/en/100_clean_78/?bnJLaib&v=44756 


MORE INFORMATION: 

Climate scientist drops the F-bomb (Salon)
http://www.salon.com/2014/08/06/climate_scientist_drops_the_f_bomb_after_startling_arctic_discovery/

EU to beat 2020 climate targets, split over 2030 ones (Reuters)
http://uk.reuters.com/article/2014/05/14/eu-carbon-idUKL6N0O06BG20140514 

The most influential climate change paper today remains unknown to most people (Inside Climate News)
http://insideclimatenews.org/news/20140213/climate-change-science-carbon-budget-nature-global-warming-2-degrees-bill-mckibben-fossil-fuels-keystone-xl-oil?page=show

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Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Newly leaked documents have revealed how U.S. negotiators at the U.N. climate summit in Warsaw are opposing efforts to help developing countries adapt to climate change. According to an internal U.S. briefing memo seen by Democracy Now!, the U.S. delegation is worried the talks in Warsaw will "focus increasingly on blame and liability" and that poor nations will be "seeking redress for climate damages from sea level rise, droughts, powerful storms and other adverse impacts."

the fantasy of economists, businesses and politicians

How Economic Growth Has Become Anti-Life

By Vandana Shiva

01 November, 2013
The Guardian

An obsession with growth has eclipsed our concern for sustainability, justice and human dignity. But people are not disposable – the value of life lies outside economic development

Limitless growth is the fantasy of economists, businesses and politicians. It is seen as a measure of progress. As a result, gross domestic product (GDP), which is supposed to measure the wealth of nations, has emerged as both the most powerful number and dominant concept in our times. However, economic growth hides the poverty it creates through the destruction of nature, which in turn leads to communities lacking the capacity to provide for themselves.

irreversible climate change

Capitalism and the Destruction of Life on Earth

Sunday, 10 November 2013 00:00  
By Richard Smith, Truthout | Opinion

When, on May 10, 2013, scientists at Mauna Loa Observatory on the big island of Hawaii announced that global CO2 emissions had crossed a threshold at 400 parts per million for the first time in millions of years, a sense of dread spread around the world - not only among climate scientists.

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Planet Tahrir: The Coming Mass Demonstrations against Climate Change (Klare)

Posted on 11/18/2013 by Juan Cole

clean coal

Germany’s Renewable Energiewende: Pioneering Path or Troubled Turn?

Tuesday, 16 April 2013 00:00 Lauren E. McKee

This article will examine the challenges to Germany’s policy of nuclear abandonment. Though Germany has made extraordinary moves away from their nuclear program, a full move will be riddled with trials that other countries contemplating such a move could face as well. Germany’s success or failure will likely set the course for the future of renewable energy in Europe and abroad.

elixir of life

Vasanth Mysoremath 

Many believe that there will be future wars over water. Humans consume hardly 5 litres of water for drinking and about 20 litres for cooking. For bathing, washing etc., water treated according to standards prescribed is required. Further, water supplied through municipal taps is also old, used and recycled. Some facts: Water, "elixir of life" is a natural resource and has existed since millions of years and there is no extraordinary arrangement for getting water from anywhere from the space and existing water continues to be circulated within the atmosphere around the earth. This available water must be shared equitably between all living beings on earth. Those authorized to handle water are only its trustees and not owners and they have no right to sell or alienate or impound beyond a limit. Around 3/4th of the earth is water of which 97 per cent is saline and unfit for human consumption. Two per cent of the remaining water is frozen. Half the rest is in rivers, streams, rivulets etc., while the balance exists in the form of groundwater. So, there is enough water for everybody for millions of years. Nature has no other system to pump water into the earth from outer space since it may not exist. Water does not vanish and cause deficit. It evaporates, crystallizes, becomes cloud or snow, moves around the earth's atmosphere and depending upon hot or cold atmospheric pressure, it pours as rain and the entire cycle resumes. Some rain or snow pour over the sea but whatever falls on the ground can be useful to all if harvested properly. Water circulates within the earth's atmosphere.
Countries that tried to commoditize water unsuccessfully are reverting to the municipal supply system to ensure equitable distribution of this priceless natural resource. But some people are still trading in it. Current water consumption pattern reveals that we must rejig our requirements/priorities and innovate to protect and harvest/conserve/reuse/recycle either good water or bad water. While people are struggling for minimum quantity of water, many are seen wasting it or use it in excess. Further, some industries use potable water for industrial purposes and let out toxic waste water that becomes permanently unusable. Many farmers also overuse water without adopting scientific methods that prescribe minimum need based water usage for different crops or drip irrigation. The run-off from irrigated lands contains several chemicals from fertilisers and pesticides sprayed. Bottom line: Earth's natural supply system will ensure continuous supply to all living beings because it does not get exhausted nor can it vanish/escape into outer space.
The poor worldwide, traverse miles to fetch even minimum quantity of water. Many diseases are attributed to water-borne impurities. An outbreak of water borne diseases prompts health authorities to advise boiling water. People who consume municipal piped water believing it is pure are affected the most. Hence, even those who cannot afford have started buying bottled water for fear of contracting diseases through municipal water.

Food Safety

Published on May 23, 2013

The world's leading Scientists, Physicians, Attorneys, Politicians and Environmental Activists expose the corruption and dangers surrounding the widespread use of Genetically Modified Organisms in the new feature length documentary, "Seeds of Death: Unveiling the Lies of GMOs".

Senior Executive Producer / Writer / Director: Gary Null PhD
Executive Producer/Writer/Co-Director: Richard Polonetsky
Producers: Paola Bossola, Richard Gale, James Spruill, Patrick Thompson, Valerie Van Cleve
Editors: James Spruill, Patrick Thompson, Richie Williamson, Nick Palm
Music: Kevin MacLeod (Incompetech.com), Armando Guarnera
Graphics: Jay Graygor

atrocities are always committed by somebody else

Posted on 10/17/2013 by Juan Cole

A new household survey of Iraqis has projected the civilian death toll from the Bush administration’s invasion and occupation of Iraq at roughly 450,000. Passive information-gathering techniques like logging deaths in the Western press have produced estimates closer to 150,000, but such techniques have been proven to miss a lot of people. (To my knowledge no one was counting all the deaths reported in the some 200 Arabic-language Iraqi newspapers in the 2000s, so even the passive information-gathering was limited. And, the Wikileaks US military log of civilian deaths did not overlap very much with e.g. Iraq Body Count, so both of them were missing things the other caught.)

Tar sands danger

By Kiley Kroh on October 15, 2013 at 9:35 am

Petroleum coke, a byproduct of tar sands refining, is building up along Chicago’s Calumet River and alarming residents, reported Midwest Energy News.
Petroleum coke is a high-carbon, high-sulfur byproduct of Canadian tar sands that are shipped from Alberta to the U.S. to be refined and is rapidly becoming a cause for concern in Chicago. “It’s growing by leaps and bounds,” Southeast Environmental Task Force member Tom Shepherd, told Midwest Energy News. “It’s coming at a breathtaking rate.”
The pet coke is owned by billionaire industrialists Charles and David Koch whose operations drew similar outrage from residents and elected officials in Detroit earlier this year. In July, a large black cloud of pet coke dust was spotted over the Detroit River and caught on camera by residents across the border in Windsor. Members of the communities in close proximity to the piles were complaining of respiratory problems as the thick, black dust was blowing off the piles and into their apartments.

$1 billion to get rid of Syria's chemical weapons

By Patrick Rucker

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Bashar al-Assad said on Wednesday it would cost about $1 billion to get rid of Syria's chemical weapons under a U.S.-Russian deal reached last week.

In an interview on the Fox News television channel, Assad said his government would dispose of its chemical weapons arsenal and it would take about a year, Assad said.

"I think it is a very complicated operation technically and it needs a lot, a lot of money. Some estimated about a billion for the Syrian stockpile," he said.

the mysterious mass die-off of honey bees

the mysterious mass die-off of honey bees that pollinate $30 billion worth of crops in the US has so decimated America’s apis mellifera population that one bad winter could leave fields fallow. Now, a new study has pinpointed some of the probable causes of bee deaths and the rather scary results show that averting beemageddon will be much more difficult than previously thought. 

the pesticide clothianidin

Bees have been dying off in the US at an alarming rate — nearly 30% of our bee population, per year, have been lost to so-called colony collapse since 2006.

Scientists have long thought that the pesticide clothianidin was at least partially to blame.¹ But the EPA has repeatedly ignored scientists' warnings and Americans' urgings to ban its use, citing lack of evidence.

Now, a blockbuster study released last week by Europe's leading food safety authority, EFSA, has for the first time labeled clothianidin as an "unacceptable" danger to bees.²

The EFSA study could be a major breakthrough to convince the EPA to take emergency action, and suspend the use of clothianidin to stop the precipitous decline in global honeybee populations.

In addition to finding clothianidin too dangerous to use on plants pollinated by bees, EFSA's study specifically identifies as too flawed to be useful the shoddy studies provided by pesticide manufacturer Bayer as evidence of clothianidin's safety.³

It was these sham studies that EPA used to first approve clothianidin in 2003, even against the objections of EPA's own scientists.⁴

The pesticide, which is used to treat seeds like corn and canola, expresses itself through the plants' pollen and nectar — the honeybee's favorite sources of food. Clothianidin is in a class of pesticides called neonicotinoids, which are relatively new, and their use coincides with the rise of colony collapse.

If EPA does not take emergency action now, it won't review clothianidin again until 2018.

Given the rate of colony collapse, and the indispensable role that pollinators play in our food system — pollinating one-third of our food crops and providing literally billions of dollars in economic benefit — it would be stunningly irresponsible of EPA to continue allowing the use of this dangerous pesticide for at least another five years.

Thank you for speaking out for the bees.

Elijah Zarlin, Campaign Manager
CREDO Action from Working Assets

Fumigants

Last spring, we won a great victory for safe strawberries when our pressure helped get the cancer-causing fumigant methyl iodide off the shelf, and out of our strawberry fields.

But instead of looking for non-fumigant alternatives, the pesticide industry is using this as an excuse to bring back the toxic fumigant methyl bromide — which has such negative impacts, it was globally banned over a decade ago.

Under pressure from Big Ag, the EPA has been granting exemptions to allow the use of increasing quantities of this ozone-depleting chemical and developmental toxicant.

That needs to stop, so we're standing with our friends at the Pesticide Action Network to oppose methyl bromide.

Tell the EPA: Keep banned methyl bromide out of our strawberry fields. Click here to automatically sign the petition.

Fumigants are particularly nasty and difficult-to-control pesticides applied as gasses to fields at rates of hundreds of pounds per acre.¹ They are among the most toxic chemicals used in agriculture, and pose serious health risk to nearby communities and farmworkers.

The good news is that farmers all over the world have already stepped up to the plate, and learned how to farm without methyl bromide and methyl iodide. Allowing the use of methyl bromide only undermines the progress that has been made since the global ban, and since the pressure that convinced methyl iodide manufacturer Arysta LifeScience Corp. to pull the product from the U.S. market.

EPA should work alongside farmers who are investing in safer farming practices, not turn back the toxics-clock on a pesticide that the world has already agreed is too dangerous to use.

The EPA needs to stop granting exemptions for the use of methyl bromide as a fumigant on our strawberry fields. Click below to automatically sign the petition: 
http://act.credoaction.com/r/?r=6993354&p=methyl_bromide&id=52047-5154581-Qo5KJlx&t=9

Thank you for taking a stand against toxic pesticides in our food system.

Elijah Zarlin, Campaign Manager 
CREDO Action from Working Assets

1. Fumigants," Pesticide Action Network

Water and land for gold

Three Argentineans put themselves in harm's way as they try to stop a gold mining company destroying their environment.

Activists: Gabriela Romano, Jenny Lujan and Marcela Crabbe Filmmaker: Rodrigo Vazquez Argentinians are used to hitting the streets to start revolutions, fight for their rights or overthrow governments. But now people are taking to the streets to protect the country's valuable water sources up in the Andean mountains from multinational mining companies. This film is made from within the anti-mining activist movement and will follow three teachers that have defeated a Canadian mining company and are now mounting a campaign against a Chinese one.

"Historically, this region's never had enough water, so when a mining company comes to use 1,000 litres of water per second, we risk becoming a ghost town, disappearing, because it doesn't make sense to stay in a town without water, and I don't want to leave. I was born here, I love this land, and I will defend it." Gabriela Romano, activist

Their preferred method of activism? Putting people on the streets to physically stop the heavy machinery from entering the town, training villagers and filming every protest. http://www.barrick.com/

no limits on carbon pollution

By Barbara Lewis and Valerie Volcovici

BRUSSELS/WASHINGTON | Sun Dec 9, 2012 4:10am EST

(Reuters) - The European Union's landmark effort to charge foreign airlines for carbon emitted on flights in and out of Europe was already failing by the time French President Francois Hollande shared his deep concerns with the European Commission chief in October.

The U.S. aviation industry had mustered fierce political opposition, China was threatening to withhold aircraft orders from Airbus and the most influential European nations feared retaliation against their national carriers. Chinese and Indian airlines refused to submit emissions data; U.S. lawmakers were readying a law that could make it illegal to pay the tariff.

Ultimately it came down to an economy-versus-environment debate, with issues of national sovereignty and freedom of the skies also playing a decisive role in grounding the effort for now, to the relief of global carriers and airplane makers whose businesses stood to lose out.

Direct pressure from the EU's three most powerful members, and France in particular, forced an abrupt one-year postponement of one of the most contentious efforts to curb global greenhouse gas emissions since the 1997 Kyoto Protocol, according to European sources familiar with the negotiations.

a major increase in the use of 2,4-D

Ready for what's next from Dow Chemicals? GE crops modified to be resistant to the herbicide that's a main ingredient in Agent Orange!

The herbicide, 2,4-D, is linked to cancer, reproductive problems, and Parkinson's and is banned entirely in parts of Canada and Europe. And yet the USDA seems ready to approve the new GMO Corn and Soybeans, unleashing a major increase in the use of 2,4-D.¹

Now, the EPA is considering stepping in to stop or restrict the application of 2,4-D, which would be a major blow to Dow's Agent Orange veggies. Can you urge EPA to reject Dow's plans to spray this incredibly toxic herbicide?

Tell the EPA: Say no to Agent Orange Corn and toxic pesticides on our food! Submit a public comment now.

If you care about food safety or the environment, you know about Roundup, developed by Monsanto, and so toxic to plants that Monsanto had to engineer "Roundup Ready" crops that wouldn't be killed when farmers applied Roundup to their fields.

From 1996, when Roundup Ready crops were introduced in the US, through 2008, there was a 383 million pound increase in the use of herbicides. Now, it turns out that weeds are becoming Roundup resistant, requiring the use of even stronger pesticides (like 2,4-D) and the engineering of crops that can withstand their use.

That's where Dow's "2,4-D resistant" corn comes in.  Because the corn will be resistant to 2,4-D, farmers will be able to blast their fields with the main ingredient in Agent Orange.  We can expect the increase in the use of 2,4-D to be enormous.²

Big Ag armed with 2,4-D is a scary scenario — 2,4-D has been shown to be contaminated with dioxins, is linked to numerous health problems, is highly likely to drift onto neighboring fields, is frequently found in groundwater, and is likely to already be negatively impacting several species of at-risk animals. But despite this, the USDA has not done any meaningful review of possible consequences to human health, the environment, or other farms that could result from approving "2,4-D resistant," genetically engineered corn.

With the USDA seemingly ready to approve the 2,4-D resistant corn, the EPA's involvement is crucial. If the EPA stands strong, and rejects 2,4-D, they can effectively kill Dow's 2,4-D resistant corn and soy. Please take action now:
http://act.credoaction.com/r/?r=6883009&p=poison_corn&id=42033-5154581-al3UbKx&t=6

Thanks for fighting to keep dangerous pesticides out of our food system,

Heidi Hess, Campaign Manager
CREDO Action from Working Assets

1. "Going Backwards: Dow's 2,4-D-Resistant Crops and a More Toxic Future," Center for Food Safety
2. "Dow, Monsanto Herbicide-Tolerant Crops Need U.S. Study," Bloomberg News, April 18, 2012.

perfectly logical but totally insane

DATE: December 12, 1991
TO: Distribution
FR: Lawrence H. Summers
Subject: GEP

'Dirty' Industries: Just between you and me, shouldn't the World Bank be encouraging MORE migration of the dirty industries to the LDCs [Least Developed Countries]? I can think of three reasons:

1) The measurements of the costs of health impairing pollution depends on the foregone earnings from increased morbidity and mortality. From this point of view a given amount of health impairing pollution should be done in the country with the lowest cost, which will be the country with the lowest wages. I think the economic logic behind dumping a load of toxic waste in the lowest wage country is impeccable and we should face up to that.

2) The costs of pollution are likely to be non-linear as the initial increments of pollution probably have very low cost. I've always thought that under-populated countries in Africa are vastly UNDER-polluted, their air quality is probably vastly inefficiently low compared to Los Angeles or Mexico City. Only the lamentable facts that so much pollution is generated by non-tradable industries (transport, electrical generation) and that the unit transport costs of solid waste are so high prevent world welfare enhancing trade in air pollution and waste.

3) The demand for a clean environment for aesthetic and health reasons is likely to have very high income elasticity. The concern over an agent that causes a one in a million change in the odds of prostrate[sic] cancer is obviously going to be much higher in a country where people survive to get prostrate[sic] cancer than in a country where under 5 mortality is 200 per thousand. Also, much of the concern over industrial atmosphere discharge is about visibility impairing particulates. These discharges may have very little direct health impact. Clearly trade in goods that embody aesthetic pollution concerns could be welfare enhancing. While production is mobile the consumption of pretty air is a non-tradable.

The problem with the arguments against all of these proposals for more pollution in LDCs (intrinsic rights to certain goods, moral reasons, social concerns, lack of adequate markets, etc.) could be turned around and used more or less effectively against every Bank proposal for liberalization.
—Lawrence Summers

The Summers memo was a 1991 memo on trade liberalization that was written by Lant Pritchett and signed by Lawrence Summers while the latter was Chief Economist of the World Bank. It included a section that both Summers and Pritchett say was sarcastic that suggested dumping toxic waste in third-world countries for perceived economic benefits.^[1]

After the material was leaked, Pritchett (who worked under Summers) stated that he had written the memo and Summers had only signed it, and that it was intended to be "sarcastic".^[2] According to Pritchett, the memo as leaked was doctored to remove context and intended irony, and was "a deliberate fraud and forgery to discredit Larry and the World Bank."^[3] This interpretation is strengthened by the final sentence of the leaked excerpt, which points out that "The problem with the arguments against all of these proposals for more pollution in LDCs... could be turned around and used more or less effectively against every Bank proposal for liberalization." That is, it appears to be a Reductio ad absurdum of the arguments of orthodox free-market economists that were in vogue at the time the memo was written.

Daniel Hausman and Michael McPherson have argued that the satirical section might seem to be based in economics as a science, but in fact contains strong moral premises which cannot be removed and still leave the argument intact.^[4] Brazilian Secretary of the Environment Jose Lutzenberger argued that it demonstrated "the arrogant ignorance of many conventional 'economists' concerning the nature of the world we live in."

Postscript

After the memo became public in February 1992, Brazil's then-Secretary of the Environment Jose Lutzenburger wrote back to Summers:

"Your reasoning is perfectly logical but totally insane... Your thoughts [provide] a concrete example of the unbelievable alienation, reductionist thinking, social ruthlessness and the arrogant ignorance of many conventional 'economists' concerning the nature of the world we live in... If the World Bank keeps you as vice president it will lose all credibility. To me it would confirm what I often said... the best thing that could happen would be for the Bank to disappear." 

Sadly, Mr. Lutzenburger was fired shortly after writing this letter.

Mr. Summers, on the other hand, was appointed the U.S. Treasury Secretary on July 2nd, 1999, and served through the remainder of the Clinton Admistration. Afterwards, he was named president of Harvard University.

World Energy Outlook; Gas

Golden Rules for a Golden Age of Gas (Released 29 May 2012)

Natural gas is poised to enter a golden age, but this future hinges critically on the successful development of the world’s vast unconventional gas resources. North American experience shows unconventional gas - notably shale gas - can be exploited economically. Many countries are lining up to emulate this success.

But some governments are hesitant, or even actively opposed. They are responding to public concerns that production might involve unacceptable environmental and social damage.

This report, in the World Energy Outlook series, treats these aspirations and anxieties with equal seriousness. It features two new cases: a Golden Rules Case, in which the highest practicable standards are adopted, gaining industry a "social licence to operate"; and its counterpart, in which the tide turns against unconventional gas as constraints prove too difficult to overcome.
New York Times, Editorial, 10 June 2012: “‘Reports from international agencies usually make for dull reading. “Golden Rules for a Golden Age of Gas,” from the Paris-based International Energy Agency, does not. It should be required reading for regulators and the industry — and for anyone who cares about energy, the environment and climate change.”
Follow worldwide press coverage of the “Golden Rules for a Golden Age of Gas” special report.
Press Release
Download the full report
Download the annex of regulation and best practice

Executive summary in Chinese
Executive summary in Polish
Video launch of WEO-2012 Special Report in London:

VIDEO: IEA Presents Golden Rules for a Golden Age of Gas

VIDEO: Q&A: Golden Rules for a Golden Age of Gas

VIDEO: Opening Remarks: Golden Rules for a Golden Age of Gas

Fluoride and Infertility

“A few human studies suggested that high concentrations of fluoride exposure might be associated with alterations in reproductive hormones, effects on fertility, and developmental outcomes, but design limitations make those studies insufficient for risk evaluation.”

SOURCE: National Research Council. (2006). Fluoride in Drinking Water: A Scientific Review of EPA's Standards. National Academies Press, Washington D.C. p 6.

"Fluoride-induced reproductive effects have been reported in experimental models and in humans. However, these effects were found in heavily exposed scenarios. Therefore, in this work our objective was to study reproductive parameters in a population exposed to fluoride at doses of 3-27 mg/day (high-fluoride-exposed group-HFEG). Urinary fluoride levels, semen parameters, and reproductive hormones in serum (LH, FSH, estradiol, prolactin, inhibin-B, free and total testosterone) were measured. Results were compared with a group of individuals exposed to fluoride at lower doses: 2-13 mg/day (low-fluoride-exposed group-LFEG). A significant increase in FSH (P<0.05) and a reduction of inhibin-B, free testosterone, and prolactin in serum (P<0.05) were noticed in the HFEG. When HFEG was compared to LFEG, a decreased sensitivity was found in the FSH response to inhibin-B (P<0.05). A significant negative partial correlation was observed between urinary fluoride and serum levels of inhibin-B (r=-0.333, P=0.028) in LFEG. Furthermore, a significant partial correlation was observed between a chronic exposure index for fluoride and the serum concentrations of inhibin-B (r=-0.163, P=0.037) in HFEG. No abnormalities were found in the semen parameters studied in the present work, neither in the HFEG, nor in the LFEG. The results obtained indicate that a fluoride exposure of 3-27 mg/day induces a subclinical reproductive effect that can be explained by a fluoride-induced toxic effect in both Sertoli cells and gonadotrophs."

SOURCE: Ortiz-Perez D, et al. (2003). Fluoride-induced disruption of reproductive hormones in men. Environmental Research 93:20-30.

"The first step in assessing a health risk by a substance to humans is the identification of its harmful effects on animals. A health risk to humans is assessed using results from human epidemiological studies in conjunction with results from animal studies. The Newburgh-Kingston Study (Schlesinger et al, 1956) showed an earlier age of first menarche in girls living in the fluoridated Newburgh than in unfluoridated Kingston. The current animal study indicates that fluoride is associated with an earlier onset of puberty in female gerbils. Furthermore, more research was recommended on the effects of fluoride on animal and human reproduction (USPHS, 1991). This project has contributed new knowledge in this area."

SOURCE: Luke J. (1997). The Effect of Fluoride on the Physiology of the Pineal Gland. Ph.D. Thesis. University of Surrey, Guildford. p. 177.

"OBJECTIVE: The present study focuses on serum testosterone concentrations in patients with skeletal fluorosis, in order to assess the hormonal status in fluoride toxicity... RESULTS: Circulating serum testosterones in skeletal fluorosis patients were significantly lower than those of Control 1 at p < 0.01. Testosterone concentrations of Control 2 were also lower than those of Control 1 at p < 0.05 but were higher than those of the patient group. CONCLUSIONS: Decreased testosterone concentrations in skeletal fluorosis patients and in males drinking the same water as the patients but with no clinical manifestations of the disease compared with those of normal, healthy males living in areas nonendemic for fluorosis suggest that fluoride toxicity may cause adverse effects in the reproductive system of males living in fluorosis endemic areas."

SOURCE: Susheela AK, Jethanandani P. (1996). Circulating testosterone levels in skeletal fluorosis patients. Journal of Toxicology and Clinical Toxicology 34(2):183-9.

"A review of fluoride toxicity showed decreased fertility in most animal species studied. The current study was to see whether fluoride would also affect human birth rates. A U.S. database of drinking water systems was used to identify index counties with water systems reporting fluoride levels of at least 3 ppm. These and adjacent counties were grouped in 30 regions spread over 9 states... Most regions showed an association of decreasing TFR [Total Fertility Rate] with increasing fluoride levels. Meta-analysis of the region-specific results confirmed that the combined result was a negative TFR/fluoride association with a consensus combined p value of .0002-.0004, depending on the analytical scenario. There is no evidence that this outcome resulted from selection bias, inaccurate data, or improper analytical methods. However, the study is one that used population means rather than data on individual women. Whether or not the fluoride effect on the fertility rate found at the county level also applies to individual women remains to be investigated."

SOURCE: Freni SC. (1994). Exposure to high fluoride concentrations in drinking water is associated with decreased birth rates. Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health 42:109-121.

"There are no published reports in the literature on reproductive toxicity of fluoride in men. However, two Russian studies showed that chronic occupational exposure to fluoride-contaminated compounds might affect reproductive function. Men who had worked in the cryolite industry for 10-25 years and who demonstrated clinical skeletal fluorosis showed decreases in circulating testosterone and compensatory increases in follicle-stimulating hormone when compared with controls (Tokar and Savchenko, 1977). Of the exposed men, those exposed to cryolite for 16-25 years had increased luteinizing-hormone levels as compared with men exposed for 10-15 years. Women exposed occupationally to air heavily laden with superphosphates demonstrated increases in menstrual irregularities and genital irritations when compared with unexposed controls (Kuznetzova, 1969). However, occupational exposure to many other compounds in the cryolite and superphosphate industries makes it difficult to implicate any one substance, such as fluoride, in inducing these health effects. A recent study of women employed in silicon water manufacturing (fabrication room workers) showed a relative risk of spontaneous abortion of 1.45 times that of women (of the same ages) who worked in nonfabrication rooms (Schenker et al., 1992). The overall increase in risk ranged from about 20 to 40%. There was a dose-response relationship and a consistency of findings for persons exposed to on specific class of solvents. Spontaneous abortions were also associated with fluoride exposure but only in one work group, and a strong dose-response was not present. The authors characterized the fluoride-associated increase in relative risk of spontaneous abortions as 'less consistent' than the results of exposure to some solvents in this study and 'less consistent' with other research."

SOURCE: National Research Council. (1993). Health effects of ingested fluoride. Report of the Subcommittee on Health Effects of Ingested Fluoride. National Academy Press, Washington, DC. p. 73-74.

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High doses of fluoride have repeatedly been found to interfere with the reproductive system of animals. Commonly observed effects in fluoride-exposed animals include: oxidative stress, damaged sperm, reduced sperm count, and reduced fertility.

According to the authors of a recent study in the journal Reproductive Toxicology:

"We conclude that fluoride treatment is associated with testicular disorders, which may be due to induction of oxidative stress in reproductive organs along with possible adverse effects of fluoride on pituitary testicular axis.The detailed mechanism of fluoride treatment on the male reproductive system has not been elucidated and will be the subject of future experiments " (Ghosh et al 2002).

Research on possible reproductive effects in humans is limited. Some recent research, however, indicates that fluoride exposure (at lower doses than given to animals) can cause toxic effects to human Sertoli cells and gonadotrophs, reduction in circulating testosterone, and reductions in total fertility rate. The dose at which fluoride can begin to cause these effects is not yet known.

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Why We Changed Our Minds About Water Fluoridation

The Fluoride/Thyroid Connection

From Richard L. Shames MD & Karilee H. Shames PhD, RN

Updated April 27, 2006

Like many of our professional colleagues, we long held a belief that the practice of water fluoridation was highly beneficial and relatively low-risk. Currently, we feel otherwise. We are now convinced that it is of small benefit, and carries an unacceptably large risk.

What changed our thinking so dramatically on this important issue?

While reviewing medical studies for a new book, we were shocked to learn about the disturbing fluoride-thyroid connection.

We had been a prevention-oriented doctor-nurse team working together for twenty-five years. We had raised three children together, and had always viewed good dental care as an integral part of a complete health program. After training at Harvard and Walter Reed respectively, Rich worked at the National Institutes of Health and Karilee served as a nursing professor, before we each eventually settled into private practice.

Nothing on this path shook our faith in fluoride. In fact, it was not until we were working with a New York publisher that we really did our homework on this subject. The topic of our book, Thyroid Power (HarperCollins 2001), was the unexplained skyrocketing of thyroid disease and its spin-off epidemics of fatigue, depression, anxiety, infertility, and overweight.

While researching influences on the thyroid gland, we were astounded by the large number of fluoride citations. We were confronted with long lists of articles, from scientists around the world, reporting in medical journals about the harmful effects of fluoride.

We then did a review of the history of thyroid treatment, which showed that fluoride had previously been used by the medical profession to deliberately slow down overactive thyroid glands. It is no longer used for that purpose, only because now there are stronger anti-thyroid drugs [like Tapazole and PTU].

This surprising data was at first an unexpected challenge to our medical and nursing education. But then we recalled being taught that no substance has just one action on the human body. They all have multiple actions. Every medicine has a good action, called “the benefit,” and other less desirable actions called “side effects.”

In hindsight, it did seem odd that fluoridated water was the only substance ever discovered that had a great benefit with no side effects at all. Once we thought about it carefully, it also seemed curious that fluoride was the only medicine ever to be added to public drinking waters.

At this point, we felt compelled to investigate further. After reviewing hundreds of articles and books, it became clear that, regardless of any other benefits and side effects, fluoride could indeed be considered a “hormone disruptor.” These are a class of chemicals from many unrelated sources, that have the unintended consequence of altering the proper function of important hormones in the body, such as thyroid.

For example, in the Archives of Oral Biology (1982, Volume 27), Kleiner found that fluoride interfered with proper metabolism of cyclic-AMP and thus diminished cellular energy.

Next, a career university scientist showed us a large textbook about the mechanisms of fluoride tissue harm. Kenneth Kirk in his carefully written volume called Biochemistry of the Elemental Halogens and Inorganic Halides (Plenum Press NY, NY: 1991), described fluoride’s remarkable disruption of enzyme systems.

We then consulted with a toxicology expert, who explained still another harmful fluoride effect. It progressively disrupts the sensitive G-proteins. These are the building blocks of our body’s hormone receptors. (For example, receptors are where thyroid hormone actually starts doing its job at the cell level.)

But at what dilution did fluoride have this disruptive effect? At high concentrations, it is well known to be acutely poisonous and caustic. Could it be that at the low concentrations in municipal water, teeth are being helped without thyroids being harmed?

No, the data showed otherwise. Contradicting the hoped-for scenario is research going back half a century. For instance, we came across a 1958 study by Galletti and Joyet, published in the prestigious Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism. The paper was titled, “Effect of Fluorine on Thyroidal Iodine Metabolism and Hyperthyroidism.” These scientists showed that fluoride in the range of 2-5 mg. per day (what people now ingest in a fluoridated area) was enough to slow down thyroid function.

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The Fluoride and Infertility Connection
Where Do We Go From Here?
By Heidi M. Jost RN, CCP IKH, CH

Male and female infertility is increasing. The effects of fluoride on female and male fertility are and have been an area of growing concern. Our environment has become a fluoride dumping ground.

Fluoride is in our air (It is the number one pollutant.), water, soil, food, vitamins, toothpaste, medications, clothes, toys, carpets, furniture and non-stick cookware; Teflon, just to list some of the sources. Fluoride is an industrial waste-product from the pollution scrubbers of phosphate fertilizer plants, aluminum producing plants, etc. Fluoride has been added to the United States’ water supply for over 60 years now. Fluoride toxicity is linked to problems of infertility, endocrine disorders; i.e. hormonal imbalances, thyroid disorders and diseases and diabetes, neurological disorders and diseases, osteoporosis, arthritis, heart disease and cancer.

Without the necessary flow of all phases of our biological systems in relationship to each other, ovulation and sperm production become impaired. Reproduction of the species suffers in variant forms. (Actually, all species) Synchronicity of the flow of hormones needed to support development of a healthy follicle and healthy active sperm is essential for reproduction in its most optimal condition. The appropriate level of hormones is also needed for a normal menstrual cycle and normal healthy viable sperm. It has been noted that small amounts of exposure to sodium fluoride causes reproductive toxic effects.^1-3 In males the reproductive toxic effects include increases in numbers of abnormal spermatozoa,2 loss of spermatogenesis,³ and interference with steroidogenesis.⁴ There is a dramatic increase in abnormal, mutated sperm which has been shown in many animal species as well as in humans.⁶

In Dr. Susheela’s experience consuming fluoride contaminated water and food has resulted in male infertility with abnormality in sperm morphology, oligospermia (deficiency of spermatozoa in the semen), azoospermia (absence of spermatozoa in the semen) and low testosterone levels.5 It is well established that in women, fluoride is known to cause ectopic calcification of arteries. ⁵ This results in repeated miscarriages and still births since the fetal arteries calcify arresting the growth of the fetus.5 Fluoride ingestion also leads to anemia in pregnancy and low birth weight babies.⁵

There is also documentation from Grand Rapids and Newburgh where the first fluoridation was done, and Racine, Wisconsin where they looked at mortality rates 5/10 years later. They found a large increase in stillborns (30%), infant death rate (38%) and neonatal death rate (61%). Within a four year period there was a 100% increase in congenital malformations! Also it is important to note on the topic of
fertility that the halogen, Bromine, was given to our soldiers to lower fertility in World War I. Bromine is presently in our public pools and the teenagers drink of choice, Mountain Dew! Fluoride binds to receptor sites, accumulates in the body and impedes our normal cellular functions. Fortunately, for the most part, fluoride toxicity is reversible.

To ensure fertility in its optimal healthy state you can become proactive and take the fluoride out of your life and those you love. The goal is to remove fluoride from all facets of our lives. The bulk of our fluoride exposure is in our water and in food processing.

To remove fluoride from our water there are distillers and filtering systems. Reverse osmosis removes about 1/3 of the fluoride levels. Distillization removes most. Be wary because some filtration systems do not remove any fluoride. Two good products for fluoride removal are Aquasana and Blue Rhino. If you have well water you should have no more than ½ ppm (parts per million) of fluoride in your water system. Trace amounts of natural fluorine are acceptable.

Activated alumina filters are available for your shower and bath water which remove fluoride. Though studies indicate that under desirable conditions there is no leaching of compounds from the activated alumina filters, I would still get the water tested since you don’t want any synthetic aluminum oxide leaching out since aluminum is neurotoxic.

Just be sure since our skin is our largest organ.

Make sure you are eating good organic food. We need mineral rich food! Know your food source or investigate it since some organic foods are being sprayed with cryolite (contains aluminum and fluoride); a synthetic poison that is acceptable by organic regulations. If you take medications investigate the composition to ensure that there is no fluoride compound present; i.e. birth control pills and Prozac contain fluoride. A study found that women on Prozac where less fertile than normal. If you are not obtaining all necessary daily vitamins and minerals from good food, supplement accordingly.

When you read fluoride studies take note on who sponsors the research. There is testing available on organic and inorganic substances www.galbraith.com (most consistent laboratory thus far with results).

Here are some websites of interest:
www.fluoridealert.org
www.poisonfluoride.com
www.fluorideresearch.org
www.devilspoison.com
www.trafford.com

In the 17th and 18th centuries fluorine was nicknamed “The Devil’s Poison”.⁷ There is a direct correlation with infertility and fluoride in our world. The focus here is being healthier by removing the fluoride in your life. On behalf of this article I would state my phrase “Fluoride Free for Fertility!”

Heidi Marie Jost has been a registered nurse for 26 years and a certified clinical perfusionist for 18 years. She has 11 years of experience with the Arvigo Techniques of Maya Abdominal Massage and is a certified self-care Maya Abdominal Massage teacher. An integrated kabbalistic healer, Heidi graduated from A Society of Souls in June of 2002. She has 3 three years professional training and 4 years of graduate studies in advanced healing.

1. Hoffman DJ, Pattee OH, Wiemeyer SN. Effects of fluoride on screech owl reproduction: teratological evaluation, growth, and blood chemistry in hatchlings. Toxicol Lett 1985;26(1):19-24.
2. Pati PC, Bhunya SP. Genotoxic effect of an environmental pollutant, sodium fluoride, in mammalian in vivo test system. Caryologia 1987;40:79-87.
3. Kour K, Singh J. Histological finding of testes following fluoride ingestion. Fluoride 1980;13:160-2.
4. Narayana MV, Chinoy NJ. Effect of fluoride on rat testicular steroidogenesis. Fluoride 1994;27:7-12
5. Professor (Dr.)A. K.Susheela A Treatise On Fluorosis; 3rd Edition 2007
6. Dr. R. L. Blaylock M.D., Why Fluoride is Toxic, The Blaylock Wellness Report, Sept. 2004, Vol. No. 4
7. Dr. Dean Murphy DDS, The Devil’s Poison. Copyright 2008

Pollution

Pollution is the introduction of contaminants into the natural environment that cause adverse change.^[1] Pollution can take the form of chemical substances or energy, such as noise, heat or light. Pollutants, the components of pollution, can be either foreign substances/energies or naturally occurring contaminants. Pollution is often classed as point source or nonpoint source pollution. The Blacksmith Institute issues an annual list of the world's worst polluted places. In the 2007 issues the ten top nominees are located in Azerbaijan, China, India, Peru, Russia, Ukraine and Zambia.