Environment worsened under Bush in many key areas, data show

[Barrett808]

Environment worsened under Bush in many key areas, data show
By Seth Borenstein
Knight Ridder Newspapers

WASHINGTON - In the second presidential debate, President Bush said: "I'm a good steward of the land. The quality of the air's cleaner since I've been the president. Fewer water complaints since I've been the president."

Sen. John Kerry responded this way: "The president, I don't think, is living in a world of reality with respect to the environment. We're going backwards." He vows to reverse many of Bush's policies.

...

Knight Ridder compiled 14 pollution-oriented indicators from government and university statistics. Nine of the 14 indicators showed a worsening trend, two showed improvements and three others zigzagged.

Statistics that have worsened:

-Superfund cleanups of toxic waste fell by 52 percent.

-Fish-consumption warnings for rivers doubled.

-Fish-consumption advisories for lakes increased 39 percent.

-The number of beach closings rose 26 percent.

-Civil citations issued to polluters fell 57 percent.

-Criminal pollution prosecutions dropped 17 percent.

-Asthma attacks increased by 6 percent.

-There were small increases in global temperatures and unhealthy air days.

(more)

http://www.realcities.com/mld/krwashington/9900486.htm

[The Traveler]

1. It is worse than that

Surges in global levels of CO2 suggest that a feedback loop may now be engaged. Another sign we are approaching a "tipping point". Which, if true, means things will get worse, fast.

[gottaB]

2. Time for a Clean Whitehouse initiative -n/t

[Richardson08]

3. Don't worry be happy...Freedom is on the march in Afghanistan and Iraq