FDA Weakens Public Process on GMO Animals

The FDA is currently taking steps to limit transparency and eliminate independent review of genetically engineered animals by disbanding its Veterinary Medicine Advisory Committee. The committee, composed of academics who peer review FDA?s risk analysis of GMO animals, met in 2010 when FDA began the approval process for the world?s first biotech food animal, GMO salmon. GMO salmon has yet to approved, probably because of how critical the committee was of the lack of sufficient science to demonstrate animal safety. FDA is now disbanding that entire review process, claiming it was too costly to maintain. Food & Water Watch filed a records request to find out just how costly the committee is. Turns out, it?s not. The agency spent $0 in 2013?maintaining the committee, including all?administrative and labor costs. It?s clear that the real cost is to FDA?s industry-friendly agenda and the agency?s efforts to fast-track GMO animals into our food supply. The loss of the advisory committee means that the FDA may soon start springing new regulatory approvals on the public with limited opportunity for public input or scrutiny. ?But you can help stand up to FDA?s secretive, pro-industry regulatory process by making your voice heard. Click here to take action.

Court Backs Rules for Coal Pollution

The? Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld the Environmental Protection Agency?s authority to regulate the smog-causing pollution from coal-fired power plants. The 6-to-2 ruling is part of a series of new Clean Air Act regulations aimed at cutting pollution from coal-fired power plants. The E.P.A. is expected to unveil in June a sweeping new climate change regulation, using the authority of the Clean Air Act to rein in carbon pollution from coal plants. In its arguments before the court, the E.P.A. said the rules were necessary to protect the health and the environment of downwind states. East Coast states in particular are vulnerable to pollution blown by the prevailing westerly winds of the United States. To comply with the regulations, electric utilities are expected to have to install costly pollution-control equipment on existing coal plants ? or just shut them down. Coal fired power plants are one of the biggest sources of CO2 emissions and climate change. This court ruling is a much needed step in the right direction and we hope to see increased investments in renewable energy sources as a result.

Thousands March with Cowboy and Indian Alliance at ?Reject and Protect? to Protest Keystone XL Pipeline

Last week, thousands of people joined the farmers, ranchers, and tribal leaders of the Cowboy and Indian Alliance for a ceremonial procession along the National Mall to protest the Keystone XL pipeline. The march was part of the five-day ?Reject and Protect? encampment. The goal of Reject and Protect has been to strengthen the opposition to Keystone XL amongst ranchers, farmers, and Native American tribes along the pipeline route and intensify efforts to convince President Obama to ?reject? the pipeline and ?protect? their families, land, water, treaty rights, and climate. Check out the video below for a glimpse of this extremely important protest.