With the nuclear catastrophe at Fukushima and the rising challenge of climate change, 2011 might seem like a dark year for the environment. Yet this year also gave me a lot of hope. The growing power of grassroots activists has achieved some stunning victories and we are taking the planet back.
In rough chronological order, here are just a few things the YOU have achieved this year:
- Costco improves seafood policies in a stunning win for the oceans.
- Sinar Mas palm oil branch Golden Agri-Resources (GAR) unveiled a plan to no longer destroy forests and carbon-rich peatlands in Indonesia.
- We teamed up with Center for Commercial-Free Childhood, Rethinking Schools, and Friends of the Earth in asking Scholastic to reconsider a contract with the American Coal Foundation (ACF) leading to a victory for coal-free education.
- The Tongass wildlands in Alaska recieved a big win in court.
- The state senate voted overwhelmingly (26-4) to close Vermont Yankee nuclear plant as scheduled in March 2012.
- Adidas Nike and Puma go toxic-free.
- The International Whaling Commission’s (IWC) changed their rules of procedure to address the rampant corruption of their process caused by Japan’s vote buying. The IWC will no longer allow a country to pay their dues using cash, credit cards or other non transparent means.
- Lego took action to tackle deforestation.
- The Potomac River Generating Sation, Miami Fort Station, and Beckjord coal plants we’re scheduled to shut down in stunning victories for the climate and community health.
- President Obama imposed diplomatic sanctions on Iceland over their commercial Fin whale hunting.
- Mattel and Barbie dropped deforestation!
- Hasbro joins Mattel with a policy of avoiding buying paper that comes from endangered forest destruction.
- ASMFC votes to save a small but important fish, the menhaden.
- Facebook Friends Renewable Energy!
- Limits set on mercury from coal power!
- After 20 year battle, Green Refrigerants finally legal in the U.S.
Thanks for a wonderful 2011. See you in 2012.