Ecuador has started drilling for oil at the edge of the pristine Yasuni forest.

Decommissioning Europe's nuclear power plants will cost almost half a trillion dollars.

But that's a lot less than what it would cost to run them until they fall apart and spew fallout.

New York State has joined California in programming a $15 minimum wage, though it won't take effect for several years.

However, as more and more workers become piecework contractors, we need to cover them too.

Right-wing austerity and mass unemployment, over some years, can destroy permanently the social ties that show young people a path to strive for a successful life.

The danger of plutonium fallout, and a few ideas that might help reduce the danger.

At present, nearly all the plutonium we have generated is highly localized, so most people are not in any real danger from it. But substances tend to mix. In 10,000 years, will the plutonium have spread around enough that all humans get lung cancer eventually? If technology advances, we will presumably have no trouble treating those cancers — but if it collapses due to global heating, that could wipe out humanity (and other sufficiently long-lived species).

Cancelling the UK's planned new nuclear power plant at Hinkley Point would save 60 billion dollars.