Palm oil plantations in Sumatra have set massive fires that are making people sick.

BP has made a deal to be allowed to resume drilling in the Gulf of Mexico.

For EPA monitoring to make BP act safely, it will have to be very strict. I am not confident the US government will be strict with a Big Polluter.

Iraq is about to pass a law making women second-class citizens.

Americans may feel somewhat chastened to see this result of Dubya's invasion of Iraq.

Biogas made from anaerobic digestion of plant wastes is a great idea, but lack of proper regulation means that non-waste food is being diverted into biogas.

Chinese human rights activist Cao Shunli died in prison after being denied needed medical care.

The shameful thing, for Americans, is that US prisons also frequently deny prisoners needed medical care.

Torture of Tibetan prisoners is frequent; one Tibetan stabbed himself to death to avoid being imprisoned.

I wish the US did not torture prisoners.