One of the most critical problems created by capitalist expansion is enviromental devastation.  Some believe that the culture of capitalism is incapable of sacrificing capital accumulation (profits, wages, goods, etc.) for environmental reform.  These sites should provide you with lots of information from which to form your own opinions.

AirNow
http://www.epa.gov/airnow/

As part of the Environmental Monitoring for Public Access and Community Tracking (EMPACT) initiative, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has created this site to keep the public informed about air pollution and its effect on health. (Scout Report, 9/4/98)  What are some of the health and environmental consequences of ozone levels?  Why should we be concerned about it?

"Just what’s on that apple, or in that salad or ice cream? Although they are unlikely to be happy with what they find, users can now discover which and how many pesticides are likely to be on the food they eat. Provided by the non-profit Environmental Working Group (EWG), this site allows users to match selections from hundreds of food items with more than 90,000 government lab tests." Check out the collection of press releases for lots of good information on pesticides in the environment. (The Scout Report, 1/22/99)

Anti-Environmental Myths
http://members.aol.com/jimn469897/myths.htm

Jim Norton exposes many of the myths that anti-environmental forces use to argue against environmental action.

Attack of the Killer Weeds_ -- EWG [.pdf, 621K]
http://www.ewg.org/pub/home/reports/killerweeds/killer-foreword.html_ -- EWG [.pdf, 621K]
http://www.ewg.org/pub/home/reports/killerweeds/killer-foreword.html
Press Release
http://www.ewg.org/pub/home/reports/killerweeds/press-release.html

This new report from the Environmental Working Groups (EWG) is a spirited expose of what it describes as hypocrisy on Capitol Hill regarding the Food Quality Protection Act of 1996 (FQPA). The EWG claims that, under the influence of pesticide company lobbyists, members of Congress have worked to expand loopholes and delay children’s health protections mandated by the FQPA. While certainly written from a specific viewpoint, the report makes interesting and at times disturbing reading. Users can access the full text of the report in .pdf format or by chapter in HTML format. (Scout Report 12/17/1999)

Basil Action Network
http://www.ban.org/

Center for International Environmental Law
http://www.ciel.org/index.html

The Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) is a public interest, not-for-profit environmental law firm founded in 1989 to strengthen international and comparative environmental law and policy around the world.  CIEL provides a full range of environmental legal services in both international and comparative national law, including: policy research and publication, advice and advocacy, education and training, and institution building.  CIEL’s work covers more than sixty countries on six continents, with emphasis on the Western Hemisphere, Central and Eastern Europe and the Newly Independent States, Asia and Africa.

Clean Computer Campaign
http://www.svtc.org/cleancc/cccpage.htm

Good source of information on dealing with the toxic waste problem created by computers.

Cleaning Up the Nuclear Weapons Complex: Internet Resources
http://www.rff.org/nuclearcleanup/

Launched in late January by Resources for the Future (RFF), an independent, nonprofit organization devoted to the economic aspects of environmental issues (see the August 28, 1998 _Scout Report_), this metasite offers about 100 annotated and categorized online resources on the cleanup of the nuclear weapons complex. The site is divided into four main categories: Recommended Reading, Research and Stakeholder Organizations, Federal Government, and News Sources and Periodicals. Links point to the organizations’s Webpages, relevant documents, and other resources. Suggestions are welcome. (Scout Report, March 3, 2000)

Climate Action Now
http://www.imaja.com/change/environment/can/can.html

"The magnitude of the climate crisis requires nothing less than an all-out emergency effort to convert western economies away from fossil fuel dependence. To build a truely sustainable economy and eliminate human interference with global climate cycles, the Climate Action Now will present a wide range of resource access for activists, educators and journalists, and opportunities for personal involvement in what must become one of the greatest mobilization efforts in human history. " 

Demographic, Environmental, and Securities Issues Project (DESIP)
http://www.igc.org/desip/

Ronald Bleier's site  defines its purpose " to emphasize the connection between rising population pressures, environmental degradation and political and violent conflict."  There is a  definite emphasis on the threat on population growth to the world (and some letters refuting those who argue otherwise).   There is some excellent information on current military occupations, and links to other population, environmental,  sites.  The site also emphasizes Middle Eastern political developments.

Dieoff Website
http://dieoff.com/page1.htm

A site maintained by Jay Hanson that contains a host of resources (articles, bibliography, etc.) on the relating largely to the relationship between population growth and environmental destruction.  Lots of information on the themes of "limits to growth," and "carrying capacity."

Disposable Planet
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/in_depth/world/2002/disposable_planet/

Based on a six-part BBC series, the site addresses the proposition that the "Earth's population is soaring, but its resources are finite. Can we provide food, water, energy – and televisions, cars and holidays - for everyone, and leave future generations more than a planet-sized rubbish tip?"  You can take a quiz to measure your ecological footprint, examine the problem of cities, tourism, waste disposal, and a host of other environmental issues.

Earth Island
www.earthisland.org/

Excellent souce for news and articles on environmental issues such as global warming and sustainable development.  Check out the article on Sustainable Alternatives to the Global Economy.

Earth Summit +5--United Nations
http://www.un.org/esa/earthsummit

The followup to the 1992 Brazil summit on the environment sponsored by the United Nations.  On this site you can find out how well signed agreements have been implemented.  Check out, for example, the Kyoto Protocol designed to halt global warming (the United States was one notable dissenter to the agreement)

Earth Times
http://www.earthtimes.org/

"The Earth Times is the leading independent international nonpartisan newspaper
on the environment and sustainable development, and such interrelated concerns
of the international system as population, conflict-resolution, governance, human-rights,
trade, and women's and children's rights. Published by the not-for-profit Earth Times
Foundation, the newspaper specifically explores the subject of change--how individuals
and institutions work in their own societies to tackle their challenges and generate
positive change in social and economic conditions."

Earth Trends
http://earthtrends.wri.org/

The World Resources Institute provides this site that contains fact sheets on a country-by-country basis which highlight data on each country's economic and social context, agricultural resources, forests, freshwater, marine and coastal resources, biodiversity resources, energy and mineral resources, and involvement in international agreements.

ECONET
http://www.igc.apc.org/econet/index.html

One of the issues addressed in Global Problems and the Culture of Capitalism is the degree to which people on the periphery of the culture of capitalism disproportionately suffer from the consequences of environmental devastation.   At the Econet you can find out how some groups are fighting back and resisting environmental exploitation.  The site contains up-to-date reports on trouble spots as well as links to other organizations representing groups affected by environmental exploitation.

Ecological Footprints of Nations
http://www.ecouncil.ac.cr/rio/focus/report/english/footprint/

"This 'Footprints of Nations' report compares the ecological impact of 52 large nations, inhabited by 80 percent of the world population. It also shows to what extent their consumption can be supported by their local ecological capacity. One key finding is that today, humanity as a whole uses over one third more resources and eco-services than what nature can regenerate. In 1992, this ecological deficit was only one quarter."  If you dare, you can calculate your own ecological footprint.

The Ecologist Online
http://www.theecologist.org/

One of the best magazines addressing environmental issues.   This address will take you to the main site where you can read articles from the latest issue or search back issues. You don't get all the articles that are included in the print edition, but a good sampling.

"Ecology and Capitalist Costs of Production: No Exit" , by Immanuel Wallerstein[Keynote address at PEWS XXI, "The Global Environment and the World-System," Univ. of California, Santa Cruz, Apr. 3-5. 1997]

In this essay, Immanuel Wallerstein, considered the originator of world-systems theory, offers his analysis of origins of the environmental crisis, and offers some solutions to it.  Why, from his perspective, is the environmental crisis inherent in global capitalism?  What is the "dirty secret" of capitalism?  What solutions does Wallerstein offer to solve the problem?

Economics for Conversation
http://home.earthlink.net/~durable/index.html

A hyperlink article by Barry Brooks that focuses on the conflict between the need for perpetual economic growth and the need to perserve the environment.  As Brooks puts it, "There seems to be a dilemma in the need to stimulate the economy to make jobs which is opposed to the need to slow the economy to avoid upsetting the natural balance too much. Federal reserve policy is being used to slow the economy, while congressional tax/borrow and spend is being used to stimulate the economy. It's like driving with the brakes and the accelerator pressed together. Our inconsistent use of use of fiscal vs. monetary policy implicitly confirms that we can't continue economic growth, but we can't give it up either. " 

Economics of Biodiversity 

"The International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) manages this clearinghouse on the economics of biodiversity in support of equitable and sustainable natural resource use. IUCN arranges their discussion papers in full-text by theme, and a mixture of relevant economic, legal, and policy information is highlighted throughout the site." (Scout Report for Business and Economics, 4/8/99)

Economy and Environment--EPA [.pdf]
www.epa.gov/docs/oppe/eaed/eedhmpg.htm   (No Longer Available)

The Environmental Protection Agency's site on the program that "carries out research and analyses of the interactions and relationships between the economy and environmental pollution control as well as other aspects of environmental economics. This includes determining the economic benefits and costs of pollution control, the use of economic incentives for pollution control, and the size, composition, and impacts of the pollution control industry."  The site promises to explain the purpose of the agency, but you have to work your way through various pages to get at the goals, which assume that economic costs and benefits can be applied to environmental destruction.  Check for yourself at how the EPA does Economic Analysis.

Eco-Portal Search Engine
http://www.eco-portal.com/

"Those interested in the environment can carry out full text searches through an extensive list of reviewed environmental Internet content. This premier content has been fully indexed to make it searchable from one search screen. This goes well beyond the typical "Portal" site, composed of lists of links to sites of varying information quality. Eco-Portal searches allow you to explore the entire content of hundreds of different environmental sites at the same time—for free. Portal searches are currently available for the Best in Forest, Rainforest, Temperate Forest, Biodiversity, Water, Climate Change and Ozone Layer web sites."

Eldis: the Electronic Development and Environment Information System
www.ids.ac.uk/eldis/eldis.html

A comprehensive collection of documents and Websites on the environments.   For example, you can select a country and get information on the environmental situation.  You can also select a subject and do a comprehensive search for online documents.

Energy Cost Calculators  (No longer Available)
http://www.eren.doe.gov/femp/procurement/calc-index.html

Offered by the Federal Energy Management Program of the US Department of Energy, the Energy Cost Calculators Web site allows visitors to calculate lifetime energy cost savings for products at various efficiency levels and hours of operation. Although a bit involved, the tools can help the public educate themselves on energy-saving issues related to such things as refrigerators and showerheads. The related Energy Star Cost Calculator Tools link at the bottom of the page, from the Environmental Protection Agency, offers more simplified calculators on similar appliances.

Energy Information Administration
http://www.eia.doe.gov/

Official U.S. government site that contains offical energy statistics on energy usage and reports on future energy needs.  The site allows you to organize data by georgraphy, energy type, sector and price.  There are also historical statistics.

ENN (Environmental News Network) Online
www.enn.com/

Imagine a newspaper that gives the latest news on the environment the same priority as the mainstream press gives sex scandels and high profile murders.  This is it.  There are many interesting articles. 

EnviroLink Network
www.envirolink.org

Created in 1991 by Josh Knauer, while he was a freshman at Carnegie Mellon University, Envirolink Network us "a grassroots online community that unites hundreds of organizations and volunteers around the world with over 375,000 users daily in more than 150 countries. EnviroLink is dedicated to providing you with the most comprehensive, up-to-date environmental resources available." 

The Environment: A Global Challenge
http://library.thinkquest.org/26026/

The Environment: A Global Challenge describes itself as "the web's most comprehensive site on the environment.  With 400 articles and 811 pages, the site covers every aspect of the environment and provides many interactive features."   The site was the product of students working on a Web Site contest sponsored by Thinkquest.  Lots of good stuff.

Environment News Service

http://ens.lycos.com/

A good place to keep up with news on environmental concerns.  You can find out how some states allow sewage to be injected into ground water, or how herbicides are poisoning indigenous groups in Southeast Asia.  If you are interested in keeping up with environmental news, this is a good place to do it.

Environmental Defense Fund (Acess to Chemical Scoreboard)
www.edf.org

Do you want to find out whether or not there are polluting chemicals being released in your community?  Check the Chemical Scoreboard at the Environmental Defense Fund site (I checked on my area and found 4 polluters releasing chemicals  more hazardous than most).   You will also find much more information about environmental issues and past problems, including the continuing dangers posed by the nuclear disaster at Chernobyl.

Environmental Sustainability Index-2005
http://www.yale.edu/esi/

The Environmental Sustainability Index (ESI) is a composite measure of the current status of a nation’s environmental systems, pressures on those systems, human vulnerability to environmental change, national capacity to respond, and contributions to global environmental stewardship. A pilot version of the Index was launched in January 2000 at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Subsequently, the Index has received considerable attention from the media, corporations, and policy makers.

Environment and Trade: A Handbook [.pdf] -- UNEP
http://iisd.ca/trade/handbook/

This new 84-page guide from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Economics and Trade Unit (ETU), and International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) is a reference tool for policy-makers, practitioners, the media, and other interested users. Intended for readers with an expertise in trade, development, or the environment, but not the intersection of all three, the handbook attempts to explain how trade can affect the environment for better or worse. In the end, it seeks to help ensure that "trade’s potential for growth and development does, in fact, lead to environmentally sustainable development." Users can read the full text of the report in .pdf format at either the UNEP or IISD site. By June 2000, both will feature a continually updated Web version of the report, with links to online articles and other resources offering more in-depth analysis of the themes covered in the report, a collection of related links, an interactive thematic index, and a searchable compendium of analyses of environment-trade disputes. (Scout Report for Business and Economics, 5/17/00)

Environmental Working Group
http://www.ewg.org/

The Environmental Working Group (EWG) is a leading content provider for public interest groups and concerned citizens who are campaigning to protect the environment.  At the site you can find information on governmental environmental laws and ways that pesticide and herbicide industries find to circumvent them.  Areas of special emphasis at EWG have been the threat posed to infants and children by pesticides and other toxic chemicals; the environmental and economic implications of Federal farm programs; drinking water contamination by pesticides and other pollutants; wetlands conservation; budget and appropriations policies affecting the environment, and the impact of campaign contributions on environmental policy.

The EPA on Fuel Economy
    Light-Duty Automotive Technology and Fuel Economy Trends [.pdf, .zip,.wpd]
    http://www.epa.gov/oms/fetrends.htm

    EPA Fuel Economy Site [.pdf]
    http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/

Arguably the greatest threat to the environment is the automobile.  These two sites from the United States Environmental Protection Agency provide information on fuel efficiency of, first,  US light duty automotive technology and fuel economy trends for model years 1975 through 1999, and, second, on automobiles. You can also find out why fuel economy is importan,  review of current and future fuel conservation technologies, and review  a collection of FAQS; and tips on maintaining your car and driving more efficiently. (see Scout Report, 10/8/99)

EPA/DOE Fuel Economy Site 2001 Update
http://www.fueleconomy.gov/

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced their 26th annual Miles Per Gallon rankings for passenger vehicles and the release of their updated interactive fuel economy Website (originally reviewed in the October 8, 1999 Scout Report). This year, Honda's Insight, a hybrid car, topped the rankings with an average 61 miles per gallon (mpg). Coming in dead last was the Ferrari 550 Maranello, with a 8/13 city/highway mpg average (though it seems unlikely that many Maranello owners had fuel economy in mind when making their purchase). At the updated site, users can download a .pdf version of the agencies' 2001 Model Year Fuel Economy Guide, find and compare the mpg of 1985-2001 model year cars and trucks, read about fuel economy and future technologies, and learn about hybrid and alternative fuel vehicles. (Scout Report 10/6/00)

Flying Off To A Warmer Climate?
http://www.chooseclimate.org/flying/index.html

It is easy for members of the culture of capitalism to fail to appreciate the damage done to others and the environment by everyday activities.   Take air travel for example.   Ben Matthews's site allows you to fly from point to point and then tells you the gashouse emmisions your trip contributed to the environment.  You can also convert the emissions form your trip into other measures, such as how many people the energy used on the trip would feed.

Food Finder
www.olen.com/food/

Fun site.  Check out the total calories, and the amount of fat, salt, etc. in typical fast food meals.

Fooling with Nature (PBS)
www.pbs.org/frontline/shows/nature/

PBS Frontline site to complement the show on the affects of man-made chemicals in the environment on human beings, particularly the reproductive process.  Check out the article, titled "Disruptive Behavior: Endocrine Disruptors, Sperm Counts and Breast Cancer". 

Friends of the Earth International
http://www.foei.org/

"Friends of the Earth International is a federation of autonomous environmental organisations from all over the world. Our members, in more than 50 countries, campaign on the most urgent environmental and social issues of our day, while simultaneously catalysing a shift toward sustainable societies. "  You can find links to many other sites.

Global Environmental Change
http://www.gecko.ac.uk/index.html

Global Environmental Change (GEC) posts three reports summarizing the findings of an Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) initiative, running from 1991 to 2000 whose original objective "was to bring social science expertise to bear on global environmental research and, at the same time, to take environmental concerns to the heart of the social sciences." The three reports focus on environmental decisionmaking, global governance, and sustainable production and consumption. Together, they constitute an unusually sustained and thoughtful consideration of how to make environmental decisions more thoughtfully and in line with consistent values and criteria. The reports are accessed through individual tables of contents that include a report summary and sidebar features for more detailed background on certain issues. In addition to these three main reports, the site features other documents, workshop and conference information, and research updates related to the GEC project. (Scout Report, 5/5/00)

Global Environment Outlook: United Nations Environment Programme
http://www.grida.no/geo1/

The site of the United Nations Environmental Programme with its special reports on the state of the global environment.  Check out the global overview and, for a more sobering appraisal, look at the section on future trends.

"Global Environmental Protection in the 21^st Century" http://www.foreignpolicy-infocus.org/papers/environment/index.html

Posted by the Foreign Policy in Focus gateway, this special report examines the deterioration of the environment since the promises for global environmental improvement made at the 1992 UN Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED or the "Earth Summit"). Authored by the Executive Director of the Center for International Environmental Law, David Hunter, the report considers why the global environment continues to worsen and what global changes are necessary to reverse this slide. Reasonable rather than polemical, the report offers substantial statistics (easily accessed from a short menu on the table of contents) documenting the state of the environment and proffers concrete suggestions concerning US-supported geopolitical change and integration of environmental needs with those of the global economy. The report will be published as an essay in _Global Focus: U.S. Foreign Policy at the Turn of the Millenium_, forthcoming from St. Martin’s Press in early 2000. (Scout Report for the Social Sciences, 11/16/1999)

Global Fires
Global Fire Monitoring--NASA GSFC      [QuickTime]
http://modis-fire.gsfc.nasa.gov/
Fire Detection Around the World--NOAA NGDC
www.ngdc.noaa.gov/dmsp/fires/globalfires.html

Each year 175 million acres of forest and grassland are burned creating greenhouse gases and aerosols and endangering species of plants and animals.  These sites provide information on the dangers of burning and up-to-date photos that reveal current sources of fire.

Global Forest Watch
http://www.globalforestwatch.org/english/index.htm

A series of new reports released last month by World Resources Institute's Global Forest Watch (last mentioned in the March 3, 1999 Scout Report for Science and Engineering) "concludes that vast areas of remaining intact or old-growth and primary forests are being degraded as the result of unsustainable development practices". Analysis of forest cover maps and land use practices for several countries is provided in summary form, along with links to full reports that can be downloaded. The site also has a Data Warehouse where users can download maps for their own analysis.

"Global Warming and Terrestrial Biodiversity Decline" -- WWF [.pdf. MS Word]
http://panda.org/resources/publications/climate/speedkills/
Press Release
http://www.panda.org/news/press/news.cfm?id=2043

Released on August 30, this 34-page report from the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) warns that "global warming could fundamentally alter one third of plant and animal habitats by the end of this century, and cause the eventual extinction of certain plant and animal species." According to the report, the danger is greatest in the northern latitudes of Canada, Russia, and Scandinavia, where warming is predicted to be the most rapid, destroying up to 70 percent of habitat. In many other areas it predicts local species loss of up to 20 percent. These predictions are based on "a moderate estimate that concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere will double from pre-industrial levels during this century." However, as the press release notes, some have projected a three-fold increase in concentrations by 2010 unless corrective action is taken. The full text of the report is available in .pdf or Word format at the site, along with an executive summary, conclusions, and discussion of the methods used to create the report. (Scout Report 9/1/00)

Global Warming Site of the EPA
http://www.epa.gov/globalwarming/index.html

The Environmental Protection Agency's site on global warming.  A wonderful place to learn about the phenomenon.  You can find explanations of the reasons for and the dangers of global warming, reports on how global warming may affect everything from health to fisheries, measures that can be taken to reduce greenhouse emissions, as well as links to other sites.  You can start out by reading about the dangers of global warming.

Global warming Site at the New York Times
www.nytimes.com/library/national/120197resources.html

A directory of Web links on global warming and a list of books on the subject.

Grand Challenges in Environmental Sciences
http://books.nap.edu/catalog/9975.html
Press Release
http://www4.nationalacademies.org/news.nsf/(ByDocID)/F37E655AA4985DF385256965006 DB220?OpenDocument

Not yet available in print, this forthcoming title from the National Academy Press (NAP) is accessible in its entirety online. Requested by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and written by the National Academies's National Research Council, this report identifies and describes eight important areas of environmental research for the next generation. Not in order of importance, these challenges are Biogeochemical Cycles, Biodiversity and Ecosystem Functioning, Climate Variability, Hydrologic Forecasting, Infectious Disease and the Environment, Institutions and Resource Use, Land-Use Dynamics, and Reinventing the Use of Materials. As with all online NAP titles, the report can be read and browsed using the Open Book interface. (Scout Report 10/6/00)

Great Green Web Game
http://www.ucsusa.org/game/index.html

This game is based on a new analysis of the environmental impact of consumer decisions. It's premise, shared in Global Problems and the Culture of Capitalism, is that air pollution, water pollution, destruction of natural habitats, and global warming are the main forms of environmental damage caused by consumer-related activities today.
The Great Green Web Game shows how you can reduce this damage through effective consumer choices.

Greenpeace
http://www.greenpeaceusa.org/

"Greenpeace is an independent campaigning organization that uses non-violent, creative confrontation to expose global environmental problems, and to force solutions that are essential to a green and peaceful future."  Best known, perhaps, for its actions on the seas, you can find out about the history of Greenpeace by taking a journey in its time machine.

The Heat is Online
http://www.heatisonline.org/main.cfm

This site supports the book, The Heat is On that details the scientific information on global warming.

International Energy Annual 1996 [.pdf]
www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/iea/contents.html

There are many predictions of how soon, given our rate of energy use, we will use up the world's energy resources.  At this site you can check how much energy remains and in what form, and the world carbon dioxide emmisions from 1987-1996.  Check out, for example, the quantity of coal reserves that remain in the world.

International Water Management Institute
http://www.cgiar.org/iwmi/

The International Water Management Institute describes itself as a nonprofit scientific research organization focusing on the sustainable use of water and land resources in agriculture and on the water needs of developing countries. IWMI works with partners in the South to develop tools and methods to help these countries eradicate poverty through more effective management of their water and land resources.

The Kosovo Conflict: Consequences for the Environment & Human Settlements [.pdf, 106p.]
http://www.grid.unep.ch:80/btf/final/index.html

UNEP Press Release on Four environmental hotspots found in Serbia
http://www.grid.unep.ch:80/btf/pressreleases/unep1410.html

In discussions of the reasons for environmental devastation. war is an often neglected source. Yet it clearly is a major threat to environmental integrity.  This report is about the environmental impact of NATO’s bombing campaign in Yugoslavia.  "The report finds that the heaviest pollution is confined to industrial cities, four of which it identifies as "hot spots" in need of immediate attention. More on these "hot spots" can be found at the UNEP page. The BTF report itself is offered in .pdf format and contains an introduction, chronology of the Kosovo conflict, analysis of the state of the environment in Yugoslavia before and after the conflict, and recommendations. A number of maps and photos are included, which can also be accessed from the main page." (Scout Report, 10/15/1999)

Living Planet Report [.pdf, MS Word] 
http://www.panda.org/news_facts/publications/index.cfm

The World Wildlife Fund’s (WWF) _Living Planet Report_ is available on line, along with other publications.  

"National Water Quality Inventory: 1998 Report to Congress" [.pdf]
http://www.epa.gov/305b/98report/

Released online on November 8, this report from the EPA is "the twelfth biennial report to Congress and the public about the quality of our nation's rivers, streams, lakes, ponds, reservoirs, wetlands, estuaries, coastal waters, and ground water." For the first time, the report also contains a chapter on drinking water with information provided by states, territories, and American Indian tribes. The full report, along with fact sheets and appendices, is available in .pdf format at the EPA site. (Scout Report 11/10/00)

Ozone Action
http://www.ozone.org/

A "Washington, DC based non-profit public interest organization focused exclusively on two atmospheric threats: global climate change and stratospheric ozone depletion."  There are articles and press-releases, and an excellent section on corporate attempts to derail measures to stop global warming and ozone depletion.

Pesticide Residues in Conventional, IPM-grown and Organic Foods: Insights from Three U.S. Data Sets
http://www.consumersunion.org/food/organicsumm.htm

The above mentioned report by Brian P. Baker, Charles M. Benbrook, Edward Groth III, and Karen Lutz Benbrook was published in the May 2002 edition of Food Additives and Contaminants, Volume 19, No. 5. The Consumers Union (an independent nonprofit testing, educational, and information organization) has released a summary of this report for Internet viewers. According to the Consumer Union (CU), this report is the first detailed analysis of pesticide residue data in foods grown organically and conventionally. The report reveals that consumers who purchase organic fruits and vegetables are exposed to only one-third as many residues as in conventionally grown foods. The authors gathered and analyzed test data on pesticide residues in organic and non-organic foods from three independent sources: tests done on selected foods by CU in 1997; surveys of residues in foods in the US market conducted by the Pesticide Data Program of the US Department of Agriculture in 1994 through 1999; and surveys of residues in foods sold in California, tested by the California Department of Pesticide Regulation in 1989 through 1998. The combined residue data sets covered more than 94,000 food samples from more than 20 different crops of which 1,291 were organically grown. A complete copy of the paper may be purchased from the publishers of Food Additives and Contaminants.

Planet Ark
http://www.planetark.org/index.cfm

An excellent source for up-to-date environmental news with Reuters Daily World Environment News.  You can also listen to interviews with leading environmentalists and research the latest environmental issues or search through the archives for past reports.

Pilot Environmental Sustainability Index [.pdf, 1430k]
http://www.weforum.org/pdf/glt/glt_esi_2000.pdf

Created by the Global Leaders for the Tomorrow Environment Task Force of the World Economic Forum, the Pilot Environmental Sustainability Index ranks countries "based on their success in facilitating economic growth without crossing environmental sustainability barriers." Three main conclusions are presented in this 41-page pilot report. The task force found that it was possible to create an index capable of generating meaningful results in the measurement of environmental sustainability. These results can be used together with economic indexes to understand which economic and environmental issues are in conflict with each other. And finally, while the pilot project has been successful, there is much work to be done in order to refine the index in the future. The report also details how the index was constructed, as well as analyzing some of the primary data. (Scout Report for Business and Economics, 2/22/2000)

National Pure Water Association
http://www.npwa.freeserve.co.uk/H2O.html

The purpose of this page is to provide a range of information collected from Government, academic and other research sources to assist people who are interested in learning more about water and its impact on health and the environment - and to encourage further inquiry into this fascinating subject.

New Ideas in Pollution Regulation (NIPR)
www.NIPR.org

"NIPR, short for New Ideas in Pollution Regulation, is targeted at people and organizations interested in public policy issues relating to the cost-effective control of pollution. This site is maintained by the World Bank's Economics of Industrial Pollution Control research team a part of the World Bank's Research Program."   A good place to begin learning about measures that are being taken to monitor and regulate environmental pollution.

Pesticide Action Network
www.panna.org/panna/

The PAN has campaigned to replace pesticides with ecologically sound alternatives since 1982. At their site you can find information on the health and environmental risks of pesticides, and read the latest articles on the health and environmental dangers posed by their use.  

Population and the Environment
http://www.nwf.org/population/

How many people are added to the population each hour?  How many species become extinct each day from deforestation?  You can find out at this site maintained by the National Wildlife Federation. 

Rachel's Environment and Health Weekly
http://www.rachel.org/bulletin/

One of the best places on the Web to keep up with global environmental issues.  You will also find links to many studies and reports on global environmental problems.

Revisiting Carrying Capacity: Area-Based Indicators of Sustainability
http://dieoff.com/page110.htm

In Global Problems and the Culture of Capitalism we discuss the kinds of reductions in energy use people in core countries would have to make to truly make a difference in preserving the environment (see p. 209ff).  In this article, William E. Rees outlines the problems; for him the "fundamental question for ecological economics is whether remaining stocks of natural capital are adequate to sustain the anticipated load of the human economy into the next century."

Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition
http://www.svtc.org/

Most people are unaware that the computer they are using is a potential environmental nightmare; it contains mercury, lead, arsenic, and a host of potentially health-threatening materials.  And there are some 20 million computers sitting in peoples basements, attics, and elsewhere and no place to dispose of them.   At this site you can find out about the environmental dangers posed by our throw-away electronics, and industry efforts to block legislation that would force them to take some responsibility for what they produce.  You can go directly to an excellent background piece on the problem, Just Say No to E-Waste.

State of the World’s Forests
http://www.fao.org/forestry/fo/sofo/sofo-e.stm

The latest edition of this biannual publication from the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)  offers one of the most comprehensive and up-to-date reviews of new developments in forestry and the condition of forests worldwide. SOFO reports on a number of significant events and developments of   including "the latest figures on global forest cover; current efforts to assess forest resources.  Aimed at policy-makers, academics, and the informed public, the report is offered in .pdf format, broken down into numerous sections. While this presentation strategy speeds initial download, it can slow navigation within the document.

Superfund: 20 Years of Protecting Human Health and the Environment [.pdf]
http://www.epa.gov/superfund/action/20years/index.htm

Recently posted by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), this report explores the events leading to the creation of the Superfund program and its evolution since 1980. These are covered in five chapters, with a preface, timeline, and a list of federal partners to the Superfund program. The report may be read by chapter in HTML or .pdf format. (Scout Report, 12/27/00)

Toxics Release Inventory Program
http://www.epa.gov/tri/

Established by the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act of 1986, the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) Program was expanded by the Pollution Prevention Act of 1990. Operating under the aegis of the Environmental Protection Agency, the TRI Program allows United States residents access to information on the types of chemicals held within their communities, and equally importantly, what types of chemical are released in close proximity to their communities annually. Using the TRI Explorer search engine available online at the site, individuals can search by entering a zipcode, or by state or county as well. Additionally, individuals can search by chemical type; industry type; and year of data, which currently extends back to 1988. Also, individuals can access waste transfer and waste quantity reports, which are also searchable by region and waste type. Visitors to the site can also examine an entire list of chemicals covered by the TRI program, as well as find out about state TRI programs.

Trade and Environment Database
http://gurukul.ucc.american.edu/ted/TED.HTM

The TED contains information and case studies regarding the relationship between trade and environmental damage.  For example, you can learn about the illegal dumping of toxic waste by U.S. corporations in Bangledesh, the relationship between opium and environmental destruction in Burma, or between rum and environmental damage.  There are over 300 such case studies. 

Turning Up the Heat: How Global Warming Threatens Life in the Sea
WWF [Word 6.0, .pdf, 47p.]
http://www.worldwildlife.org/climate/

This new report from the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and the Marine Conservation Biology Institute argues that rising temperatures have impacted the world’s oceans to a far greater extent than previously acknowledged. Addressing topics such as sea-level rise, ocean circulation, coral reefs, sea birds and invertebrates, as well as the increasing threats to Salmon, the report predicts a dangerous chain reaction in marine ecosystems if global warming continues unabated. On the positive side, it also argues that decisive actions now to reduce pollution can slow the warming and preserve the world’s oceans. Accessible from the WWF Climate Change page, the full text of the report is available in .pdf, Word 6.0, and HTML versions. A summary is also provided. [MD] (Scout Report. 6/18/99)

Two on the Chemical Industry
Chemical Industry Archives -- EWG [.pdf]
http://www.chemicalindustryarchives.org/
Trade Secrets [.pdf, RealPlayer]
http://www.pbs.org/tradesecrets/

[In April 200]1 PBS aired a disturbing two-hour special hosted by Bill Moyers that explores the history of the chemical revolution of the past 50 years and how companies have long sought to withhold information from the public and their employees about the safety of many substances. The program draws on a large collection of previously secret industry documents unearthed during a ten-year lawsuit by the family of a man who died from a rare brain cancer after working at a vinyl-chloride plant. The family's lawyer eventually charged all vinyl-chloride-producing companies with conspiracy, and the discovery process brought to light hundreds of thousands of pages of documents which reveal a closely planned and well-executed campaign to limit regulation of toxic chemicals and the liability of manufacturers and to withhold important health information from all parties. A large selection of these internal documents, over 37,000 pages, is now available for the first time at the Chemical Industry Archives, created by the Environmental Working Group. The site offers several essays on the archive and the industry, including a selection of some egregious examples of companies hiding or denying known health risks of their products. The archive itself may be searched by keyword with several modifiers. The documents are presented in .pdf format. This site is sure to become an extremely important resource for health activists, journalists, and the concerned public. The companion site to the PBS program offers an overview of the film, interview transcripts, selected documents in HTML and .pdf formats, chemical worker profiles and videos, and a section on the 84 chemicals detected in Bill Moyers's blood and urine. Visitors will also find features on industry secrecy, regulation, money, and politics, as well as right-to-know efforts and what people can do to help protect themselves. These are enhanced by interactive features, documents, and links to related resources. If you only have time to visit two sites this week, they must be the Chemical Industry Archives and Trade Secrets. (Scout Report for Social Science and Humanities, 4/2/01)

United Nations Environmental Program
http://www.unep.org/

An excellent site to find out about environmental conditions in various countries.    For eample, check on the environmental conditions in China with one-fifth of the world's population.  What are some of the driving forces behind the state of China's environment?

Using Market-Based Instruments in the Developing World: The Case of Pollution Charges in Colombia—NIPR [RealPlayer]
http://www.worldbank.org/nipr/lacsem/columpres/

A New Ideas in Pollution Regulation (NIPR) publication (reviewed in the January 24, 1997 Scout Report), Using Market-Based Instruments in the Developing World: The Case of Pollution Charges in Colombia is a slide presentation that summarizes efforts by Colombia’s environmental authorities to reduce pollution at a low cost. The presentation covers Colombia’s economic and environmental status as well as viewpoints from major industry and community stakeholders, and users may listen to narration and view images in free streaming video format with RealPlayer. (Scout Report for Business and Economics, 5/6/1999)

World Atlas of Biodiversity
http://stort.unep-wcmc.org/imaps/gb2002/book/viewer.htm

A project of the UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre, the site provides maps detailing global diversity.

World Conservation Monitoring Centre: Conservation Databases
www.wcmc.org.uk/cis/index.html

A comprehensive database on conservation issues.  You can find information on rainforest preservation and destruction, species destruction, as well as other information.  Check out, for example, the status of various biological classes and orders (be sure to refer to the meanings of each the categores.)

World Resources Institute
http://www.wri.org/

Based in Washington, the World Resources Institute site has extensive links sorted by country and region, an excellent section on basic facts and environmental trends, and some excellent slide shows. 

WorldWatch Institute
http://www.worldwatch.org/index.html

One of the major public policy organizations active in alterting people to what they see as the dangers of population growth, corporate expansion and their link to environmental devastation.  Their Alerts feature is worth checking regularly.

World Wide Fund for Nature
http://www.panda.org/

"The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) publishes the Living Planet Report. Their site contains information on Climate Change, Endangered Seas, Forests for Life, Living Waters, Species and Toxics along with the latest in environmental news.

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