Report points to widespread killings of environmental activists. The report from Global Witness, a human rights group, said at least 106 people were killed worldwide in environmental disputes in 2011, nearly double the total from two years earlier. Many of the killings came in resource-rich countries such as Brazil, Indonesia and Peru. Often the victims were people who spoke out about deals negotiated secretly to exploit natural resources. “Killings took a variety of forms – including clashes between communities and state security forces, disappearances followed by confirmed deaths, deaths in custody, or one-off or multiple targeted assassinations,” the report said. Reuters, Guardian
California governor pushes reduction in the use of toxic flame retardants. Gov. Jerry Brown ordered state officials to revise a nearly 40-year-old regulation that has prompted furniture makers to apply flame retardants on products sold in California and across the country. The endocrine-disrupting chemicals have been linked to a range of health problems and are found at high levels in children and pregnant women. In the last few years, industry lobbying thwarted several state bills seeking to change the standard. A recent Chicago Tribune series documenting the chemical and tobacco industries’ deceptive practices to promote the flame retardants brought the issue to national attention. San Francisco Chronicle, Los Angeles Times
Industry lobbying derails bid to impose stricter controls on abused prescription drugs. The proposed controls, sought by law enforcement officials and approved last month by the Senate in a Food and Drug Administration bill, would apply to products like hydrocodone that are used to treat moderate to severe pain. The House version of the FDA bill didn’t include the controls, and they were excluded from a bipartisan House-Senate agreement on the measure announced Monday. Members of Congress said the controls were thwarted by lobbying by pharmacists and drugstores. A recent federal report said overdoses involving prescription painkillers now kill more Americans than heroin and cocaine combined. The New York Times
Railroad operator faces $802,169 in penalties for retaliatory firings of three workers who reported injuries. The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration called for the penalties against a subsidiary of Virginia-based Norfolk Southern Corp., which said it would appeal. OSHA said the railroad company also must clear the workers’ disciplinary records and offer training on whistleblower rights. The agency said its investigators “have found that the company continues to retaliate against employees for reporting work-related injuries and has effectively created a chilling effect in the railroad industry.” Two of the employees reported suffering falls, and a third said he was hit by a company truck. The Virginian-Pilot
Death at Massachusetts food company leads to proposed fines of $702,300. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is seeking the penalties against Taunton, Mass.,-based Tribe Mediterranean Foods. A 28-year-old worker last December who was cleaning a hummus machine became caught and was crushed to death at the company’s Taunton plant. OSHA charged the company with 18 safety offenses, including nine willful violations, the agency’s most serious charge. An agency official accused the company of knowingly disregarding “an obvious and deadly hazard,” saying it failed to train workers on procedures to prevent a machine from starting up during maintenance. Taunton Daily Gazette, OSHA
Recalls: Samsonite Tokyo Chic suitcases, Thomas Lighting ceiling light fixtures, Bel Air Lighting outdoor wall mount lanterns, Hannaford Mini Frosted Cookies, Nidek Medical Products oxygen concentrators
Compiled by Stuart Silverstein and Bridget Huber
