Scientific academies call for controlling population and consumption to save the global environment. The plea came in a report today from a worldwide coalition of 105 scientific institutions and was directed at the Rio+20 Earth summit, which will bring together international leaders in Brazil next week. The report calls on leaders participating in the international gathering, a United Nations summit on sustainable development, to take decisive action on population and consumption, even though those issues are extremely politically sensitive. The authors point out that while the summit aims to reduce poverty and environmental degradation, its agenda barely mentions population and consumption. The Guardian
Two nuclear reactors in western Japan may restart as soon as this weekend. The resumption of operations at two reactors at the Ohi power station, approved by the local mayor, marks the return of nuclear power to Japan. After last year’s Fukushima Daiichi meltdowns, the nation began taking all of its 50 reactors offline and conducted safety tests. Local authorities blocked efforts to bring them back online, but resistance is easing — largely because the government forecasts severe summer energy shortages for some regions if the country remains nuclear-free, as it has been for the past six weeks. The move is a victory for Japan’s prime minister, who said “Japanese society cannot survive” if its reactors remain idle. The Washington Post, The Guardian
Scientist worry that debris from Japan’s tsunami last year will carry biological threat to U.S. shores. Although the scope of the threat isn’t clear, biologists have expressed concerns about debris that bring invasive species. They say that foreign species — including crabs, barnacles, starfish, snails and plants — could establish a foothold and crowd out native creatures and plants. Experts note precedents such as the European green crab, which wrecked the soft-shell clam industry in New England and Nova Scotia in the 1950s. Likewise, shipworms, small-shelled clams that burrow into wood, established themselves in San Francisco Bay and cause $200 million in yearly damage. USA Today
New York’s governor seeking to limit fracking to economically struggling areas. Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo’s administration is pursuing a plan to restrict the controversial drilling method to portions of several struggling New York counties along the border with Pennsylvania, and to permit it only in communities that express support for the technology. Sources said the plan, which hinges on final approval of fracking by state regulators, would limit drilling to the deepest areas of the Marcellus Shale rock formation to reduce groundwater contamination risks. In the state, more than 100 communities have imposed fracking moratoriums or bans, while a few dozen have passed resolutions in favor of the process. The New York Times
Human Rights Watch criticizes pervasive “lawlessness” in India’s mining industry. In a 70-page report, the group faults the Indian government for lax oversight of mining operations, leading to human rights and environmental abuses. The report, which examined conditions in the mineral-rich states of Goa and Karnataka, said irresponsible mining has damaged the health of thousands of people, interfered with their livelihoods and poisoned the water. The nation’s mining industry has been tainted by repeated episodes of corruption. Last year the chief minister of Karnataka stepped down after being implicated in an illegal mining scandal. India is the world’s third-largest producer of iron ore. BBC, The Associated Press
Texas aircraft parts manufacturer faces up to $58,000 in workplace safety fines. A Progressive Inc. plant in Arlington, Texas was cited for 15 safety violations by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration. The charges included improperly mounted fire extinguishers, improperly stored compressed gas cylinders and improperly installed guards on machines. Progressive’s chief executive said 14 of the 15 problems cited by OSHA already have been corrected, and the remaining issue will be fixed this month. Progressive is a division of the Canadian company Heroux-Devtek. (Fort Worth) Star-Telegram, OSHA
Compiled by Stuart Silverstein and Bridget Huber
