Norway’s Supreme Court Hears Rights Challenge to Arctic Oil Drilling
Environmental groups argue that exploratory drilling licenses violate a constitutional right to a healthy environment. It’s a test case taking on an industry that is key to the country’s economy.
By Henrik Pryser Libell and Isabella Kwai
Nov. 5, 2020
Updated 3:21 a.m. ET

OSLO, Norway — The Norwegian Constitution declares that all citizens have the right to a healthy environment. But Norway’s economy is built around an oil and gas industry that accounts for more than half of national exports.

Now the country’s Supreme Court is being asked to confront this apparent paradox, as it hears a challenge by environmental groups seeking to invalidate licenses for new oil exploration in the Arctic on constitutional grounds.

The case, which began on Wednesday before a bench of 15 voting Supreme Court judges — a procedure reserved for the most significant issues — is the first climate-change litigation to be brought under the Constitution’s environmental provisions, which were passed in 2014, and experts said it was unclear how the judges would rule.

Read more @ https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/05/world/europe/norway-supreme-court-climate-change.html

New Jersey signs strongest plastic and paper bag ban in US
Gov. Phil Murphy has banned single-use plastic and paper food items at stores and restaurants.By Alexandra Kelley | Nov. 04, 2020

On Nov. 4, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D) signed the strongest single-use bag ban in the nation, effectively prohibiting the use of single-use plastic and paper bags in all stores and food service establishments across the state.

The bill, S864, was introduced into the New Jersey state Senate with five primary sponsors, including Sens. Bib Smith, Linda Greenstein, and Nancy Pinkin, all Democrats. It traveled through several committees before being passed on Sept. 24.

Some of the containers affected by the ban include plastic carryout bags, single-use paper carryout bags, polystyrene foam food service products (commonly known as Styrofoam), as well as the limited usage of plastic drinking straws.

Read more @ https://thehill.com/changing-america/sustainability/environment/524531-new-jersey-signs-strongest-plastic-and-paper-bag

No matter who wins the US election, the world's 'fake news' problem is here to stay
Analysis by Eliza Mackintosh, CNN
Updated 12:16 AM EDT, Sun October 25, 2020

(CNN)US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin were in high spirits, smirking and jovial, when they appeared in front of the press corps at the annual G20 summit in Osaka, Japan, in 2019.

It was their first meeting since then-special counsel Robert Mueller wrapped his investigation into alleged Russian interference in the 2016 US presidential election, and Trump was quick to make light of the situation, wagging his finger at Putin while instructing him not to meddle in the 2020 race.

As journalists assembled for a photo op, setting up cameras, Trump quipped: "Get rid of them. Fake news is a great term, isn't it? You don't have this problem in Russia, but we do."

Read more @ https://www.cnn.com/2020/10/25/world/trump-fake-news-legacy-intl/index.html

I met Donald while walking around in San Diego. Donald has been homeless ever since he got out of prison two years ago. Interesting that Donald says he was also homeless before he went into prison.
Read more@ https://invisiblepeople.tv/videos/donald-homeless-senior-san-diego/

A Venezuelan vessel carrying 1.3 million barrels of oil is tilting — and it could lead to a catastrophic oil spill
BY SOPHIE LEWIS
OCTOBER 22, 2020 / 7:24 AM / CBS NEWS
A Venezuelan oil tanker has been parked for nearly two years in the Gulf of Paria, carrying approximately 80 million gallons of oil. New photos of the vessel show it appearing to tilt heavily on its side — leading to growing concerns of a potential environmental disaster that threatens one of the richest areas of biodiversity in the world.

According to local politicians and activist groups, the Nabarima is carrying about 1.3 million barrels of crude oil — about five times the amount the Exxon Valdez famously spilled in 1989. The vessel is part of a joint venture between Petróleos de Venezuela (PDVSA) and Italy's Eni SpA
Read more at [link:https://www.cbsnews.com/news/venezuela-oil-tanker-nabarima-tilting-spill-feared/