Exxon Mobil Oil Spill Hits Niger Delta
The oil giant Exxon Mobil has acknowledged a new oil spill off the coast of southern Nigeria. Residents of Akwa Ibom state have reported seeing oil deposits massing along the coastline. Exxon says the size of the leak remains unclear. Akwa Ibom is a part of the Niger Delta region, which a U.N. report one year ago said will already need 30 years and around $1 billion to at least partially recover from environmental damage caused by major oil companies.
Harvard President Faust Says Fossil Fuel Companies Are Not Blocking Clean Energy
Harvard University President Drew Faust offering a less-than-convincing defense of her decision not to divest the University of fossil fuel investments. The oil, gas, and coal industries have spent over $2 billion lobbying Congress since 1999. In 2009 alone, the oil and gas industry “unleashed a fury of lobbying expenditures” against climate legislation, “spending $175 million — easily an industry record — and outpacing the pro-environmental groups by nearly eight-fold, according to a Center for Responsive Politics analysis.” [She loves fossil fuels.]
Israeli Civil Rights Leader, Former Politician Shulamit Aloni Dies at 85
The Israeli civil rights leader and longtime politician Shulamit Aloni has died at the age of 85. Aloni was a longtime champion of Palestinian and women’s rights in Israel. She served as a member of the Israeli Knesset for nearly three decades, holding a number of Cabinet posts. In 1991, Aloni helped found Israel’s Meretz Party after splitting with the Labor Party. Appearing on Democracy Now! in 2002, Aloni called on the U.S. government to end its support of the Israeli occupation of Palestinian land.
Record 10.7 Billion Trips Taken On U.S. Public Transportation In 2013
In 2013 Americans took 10.7 billion trips on public transportation, which is the highest annual public transit ridership number in 57 years, according to a report released today by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA). This was the eighth year in a row that more than 10 billion trips were taken on public transportation systems nationwide. While vehicle miles traveled on roads (VMT) went up 0.3 percent, public transportation use in 2013 increased by 1.1 percent. Since 1995 public transit ridership is up 37.2 percent, outpacing population growth, which is up 20.3 percent, and vehicle miles traveled (VMT), which is up 22.7 percent.