POLITICS-U.S.: Realism Sprouts More Buds

Two weeks after compromising with its traditional allies on the wording of a key U.N. Security Council resolution on Iraq, U.S. foreign policy under George W. Bush appears to be moving further toward the more-realist policies of his father in other areas as well.

TRADE: Company Challenges U.S. for Safeguarding Environment

A Canadian company will be nearly one billion dollars richer if it becomes the first firm to win a trade challenge against Washington under the investment section of North America's free trade deal, but experts say a victory would deal a serious blow to any government's ability to pass laws to protect health and the environment.

TRADE: North American Leaders ‘Micro-Managing’ Environment Deal

The North American environment would be better off if governments agreed to set aside a section of the continent's free trade deal that lets them pursue one another for not enforcing their laws, says a review of the deal's "green" accord.

DISARMAMENT: U.S. Nuclear Policy Bombarded by Environmentalists

The George W. Bush administration is under fire from a number of U.S. lawmakers and environmental groups for pursuing efforts to produce another generation of nuclear weapons while government fails to take responsibility for cleaning up existing radioactive waste.

POLITICS/RIGHTS-CANADA: Tight Election Closes Window on Torture Inquiry

One week from now, seven days before voters take part in one of the closest elections in recent Canadian history, a window will open onto a crime that appalled and captivated people throughout this country and worldwide.

ENVIRONMENT-US: Farm Deal Smells of Bush Approach to Industry

An imminent amnesty deal between the factory farm industry and federal regulators epitomises the laissez-faire approach toward enforcing pollution laws of the administration of U.S. President George W Bush, critics are charging.

POLITICS-U.S.: Citizens Revolt Against Paperless Voting

Carroll County officials in the U.S. state of Ohio opted this week not to buy an electronic voting machine in time for November's presidential election, and Dan Kozminski says his group should get some of the credit for that decision.

POLITICS: G8 Set to Snub Development, Poverty Issues – Groups

The Middle East, security, Iraq, nuclear proliferation, oil and the world economy will likely squeeze aside other pressing issues like HIV/AIDS, development, poverty and debt at the coming meeting of the leaders of the world's richest countries, activists here say.

ENVIRONMENT DAY: Climate Change Film Has Potential to Change Minds

It is easy to dismiss Hollywood's big movie on climate change, 'The Day After Tomorrow', as fantasy, but small low-lying island states like Tuvalu take it seriously. It is already the day after tomorrow there, with rising seas forcing residents of the South Pacific nation to emigrate to New Zealand.

POLITICS: 9/11 Sceptics Hold Inquiry

Washington's official version: that suicidal Islamic terrorists steered hijacked airliners into the World Trade Centre and Pentagon on Sep. 11, 2001 to the complete surprise of the U.S. military, whose members could not even have imagined the event, has come under considerable scrutiny from a variety of sources.

CANADA: Groups Back Off Pollution Complaint, Turn to Government

In a rare move, environmental activists are backing a decision to refrain from pushing Canada to get tougher on pollution from coal-fired power plants, saying that a new government in one province seems intent on meeting its promise to abolish the operations within three years.

ENVIRONMENT-U.S.: Oil Spills in the Middle of New York

There are good days and bad days at Newtown Creek, a 2.4-km waterway dividing the boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens in New York City that also carries the dubious distinction of being the most polluted in the country.

POLITICS-U.S.: More Florida Voting Fiascos Possible, Groups Warn

Some five-dozen residents of the U.S. state of Florida appeared in a hearing before Governor Jeb Bush in March to explain why they should be allowed to regain certain civil rights, including the right to vote.

FINANCE: Groups’ Input Ignored in IMF/Bank Poverty Policy – Report

Attempts by civil society groups to influence policies at the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) under a controversial consultation programme have been mostly fruitless, a new study says.

REFUGEES: Millions ‘Warehoused’ Without Rights for 10 Years or More

More than seven million of the world's nearly 12 million refugees have been "warehoused" in dangerous border areas or urban slums without regard to their basic human rights for 10 or more years, according to the 2004 'World Refugee Survey' released Monday by the U.S. Committee for Refugees (USCR).

AGRICULTURE: Canada’s Top Court Backs Monsanto Against Farmer

Canada's top court ruled against farmer Percy Schmeiser on Friday, upholding agri-business giant Monsanto's patent on genetically modified (GM) canola, a decision observers say will have implications for agriculture worldwide.

RIGHTS-US: Same Sex Couples Ponder Risks, Rewards of Marriage Law

While many gay couples are dashing to east coast Massachusetts - the first U.S. state to give an official blessing to same sex marriage - to tie the knot, others say they are waiting for the dust to settle before dragging family and friends across the state line.

POLITICS-U.S.: Greenpeace Beats Controversial Prosecution

In a rebuke to the U.S. Justice Department, a federal judge in Miami has thrown out a criminal case against environmental group Greenpeace, a prosecution that was watched closely by other progressive organisations that say they are under threat from the Bush administration..

POLITICS: Bush Official Defends IMF, World Bank Reform

The Bush administration came out strongly in defence of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Wednesday, two institutions accused of being slow to reform.

DEVELOPMENT: World Bank Oil Loans Boost Business, Not Poor – Report

The World Bank, the world's largest public lender whose mandate is to reduce poverty, may be reluctant to stop funding oil projects because its traditional borrowers - western corporations - stand to lose lucrative contracts, a watchdog group charges in a new report.

HEALTH: Anti-Pesticide Campaigns Get Boost from Worrisome New Studies

New data proving that an array of pesticides have reached alarming levels in the general population are galvanising calls for a ban on the most harmful chemicals and greater investment in sustainable farming strategies.