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It was oil vs. the Amazon in a landmark case tried this week.
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Welcome to the Planet 100 for March 4, 2010. Here's what we're covering today.
WATCH VIDEO: Oil Vs. the Amazon
Occidental Poisoning
Yesterday, a key hearing took place in a landmark environmental and health case, brought forward by the indigenous Peruvian Achuar community and the U.S.-based NGO Amazon Watch against oil giant Occidental Petroleum.
The suit alleges that since the 1970s OXY contaminated the rivers and the lands of the Achuar, causing death and illness. It also claims that OXY deliberately ignored industry standards, resulting in severe cadmium and lead poisoning among indigenous communities and that the company illegally dumped toxic wastewater, contaminating sensitive ecosystems.
Planet 100 has been told that Achuar indigenous leaders were denied visas from the U.S. Embassy, which could indicate years of protracted litigation.
Via: Amazon Watch
Cash for Caulkers
This week Obama unveiled "Cash for Caulkers," a $6 billion plan to create more green jobs and save energy. The plan gives rebates to consumers to buy efficient appliances and also gives homeowners money for energy improvements and audits.
Even thought the program is smaller in scope than some environmental advocates had hoped, Obama warned that it may be politically difficult to get larger scale programs passed by a dysfunctional congress.
Via: Huffington Post
TreeHugger App
There's a new way to access top sustainability website, TreeHugger.com—by iPhone. Launched yesterday, the TreeHugger iPhone app features green articles that are searchable via category or author, radio podcasts, stellar videos, including this one, and TreeHugger's Twitter feeds.
Photo Credits:
Amazon Image Courtesy of Amazon Watch
Caulk ©Comstock Images/Thinkstock
Obama ©Getty Images
Insulation ©iStockphoto/Thinkstock
Video: Amazon Watch
