For a fourth consecutive day, thousands of Albanians protested in Tirana against a coastal tourism complex allegedly linked to Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump. Demonstrators claim the $1.2 billion project, slated for the protected Vjosa-Narta area and former military base Sazan, will damage the environment and expressed anger over changes to conservation laws. Protests intensified after footage of construction work and an alleged assault near the protected zone, with calls for the Prime Minister’s resignation and the repeal of the Strategic Investor Act. The special prosecutor’s office has opened an investigation into the project.
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The Trump administration is proposing to undo or delay drinking water limits on several “forever chemicals” known as PFAS. This plan, announced by EPA administrator Lee Zeldin and US health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., aims to rescind existing limits on four PFAS compounds and delay implementation for two others, despite scientific evidence linking them to serious health problems. Public health advocates have strongly condemned the move, labeling it a dangerous rollback of protections that would put millions of Americans at risk from contaminated drinking water. The EPA claims the new rules are part of a “clean water mandate” and will avoid future litigation by re-evaluating the process for setting limits.
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A South Dakota mining company has withdrawn its graphite drilling project in the Black Hills following significant opposition. This decision comes after Native American tribes and local groups raised concerns, citing the project’s proximity to Pe’Sla, a sacred site where ceremonies are held and buffalo graze. Legal challenges were also initiated, arguing that the Forest Service improperly granted permits without adequate environmental reviews. This cancellation is being viewed as a victory for land defense efforts in the region.
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The Trump administration has issued an order to swiftly dismantle several hunting regulations on federal lands, a move that has ignited considerable debate and concern. This directive, effective immediately, applies to a significant number of federal sites where hunting is permitted but previously included rules designed to safeguard both wildlife habitats and public safety.
Specifically, the order revokes restrictions that were in place at various locations. For instance, at Curecanti National Recreation Area in Colorado, the prohibition against discharging firearms from, towards, or across trails has been eliminated. Similarly, at Lake Meredith National Recreation Area in Texas, hunters are no longer barred from cleaning and processing game animals within park restrooms.… Continue reading
It’s a concerning development that oil and gas drillers in the Gulf of Mexico have been exempted from protecting endangered species. This decision, made by a federal panel convened for the first time in over three decades, allows companies operating in the Gulf to bypass a law specifically designed to safeguard vulnerable wildlife, including whales, birds, and sea turtles. This move by the Trump administration, using the power of the Endangered Species Committee, often referred to as the “God Squad,” has drawn significant criticism, highlighting a perceived disregard for environmental protection in favor of industry interests.
The decision effectively rolls back protections that have been in place to ensure the survival of numerous species.… Continue reading
Environmental groups are fighting an administration move to exempt expanded oil and gas drilling in the Gulf of Mexico from the Endangered Species Act, citing national security as justification. This action alarms conservationists who fear it sets a dangerous precedent, potentially endangering species like the critically low Rice’s whale and opening the door for fossil fuel projects without adequate environmental review. Legal challenges are underway to block a meeting of the Endangered Species Committee, nicknamed the “God Squad,” arguing procedural requirements have not been met. The administration contends national security provisions negate the act’s usual requirements, while experts question the necessity and effectiveness of such an exemption.
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The recent landing of US Navy helicopters in a protected nature reserve in Sicily has ignited a firestorm of anger, drawing parallels to satirical critiques of American foreign policy and sparking widespread frustration. The incident, which came to light when the US Navy itself posted a photograph of one of its helicopters in the reserve on its Instagram account, has been widely perceived as a blatant act of disrespect for local laws and environmental protections. It’s almost as if a scene from “Team America: World Police” has leaped into real life, with the US military seemingly acting with a carefree disregard that leaves much of the world shaking its head.… Continue reading
The scientific community is celebrating the cancellation of the proposed $10bn INNA green hydrogen and ammonia facility, which had threatened the exceptionally clear skies of Chile’s Atacama Desert, a prime location for ground-based astronomy. Astronomers had warned the project’s proximity to major observatories like Paranal would cause irreparable damage to observations through light pollution, vibrations, dust, and atmospheric turbulence. While this cancellation averts a direct threat, it underscores the urgent need for enhanced protection measures for professional astronomical sites in Chile, as the work to safeguard these skies is far from over.
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Congressional Republicans have advanced a resolution to end a 20-year moratorium on mining near Minnesota’s Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, moving the measure to the Senate. Environmentalists warn that opening the area to mining, particularly for a Chilean company seeking to extract copper, could contaminate the cherished wilderness. Supporters argue that lifting the ban is crucial for national security and economic competition, while opponents contend that it poses an existential threat to the fragile ecosystem and its recreational value.
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Despite a long-standing waste deposit program, the issue of garbage on Mount Everest has persisted. Since 2014, climbers were required to carry a minimum amount of trash down the mountain or forfeit a deposit, but this initiative has been deemed ineffective and administratively burdensome. Officials found that the program did not adequately address waste at higher altitudes, leading to the contamination of water sources and the introduction of biohazards. Moving forward, a non-refundable cleanup fee will be implemented to fund a permanent conservation and waste management fund, including enhanced monitoring and trash collection facilities.
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John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood