EPA sued over gene-altered crops WASHINGTON (AP) - A coalition of environmentalists and organic farmers filed a lawsuit against the Environmental Protection Agency Thursday to force the agency to end its approval of a type of genetically altered crop. The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court by Greenpeace International, the Center for Food Safety and the International Federation of Organic Agricultural Movements charges EPA with "wanton destruction" of Bt, which it calls the "world's most important biological pesticide." "These crops are an environmental disaster waiting to happen," said Kalee Kreider, a Greenpeace spokeswoman. See full story <http://www.infobeat.com/stories/cgi/story.cgi?id=2558501812-4b2> EPA to demand cleaner vehicles WASHINGTON (AP) - Hoping to dramatically cut air pollution in the next decade, the Environmental Protection Agency is set to propose tough new requirements for cleaner cars and gasoline, including a dramatic reduction in pollution from popular sport utility vehicles. The draft proposal could be sent to the White House for review as early as Friday, according to government sources. The proposed regulations, which would go into effect in 2004, have been the subject of intense lobbying by both the auto and oil industries and could shape the kind of cars Americans will drive over the next 20 years. For the first time, automakers would be required to make popular sport utility vehicles, which now account for nearly half of the market, as pollution free as passenger cars. See full story <http://www.infobeat.com/stories/cgi/story.cgi?id=2558501427-51a> Animal fans protest at Ag Dept. WASHINGTON (AP) - Six animal-rights protesters chained themselves inside the Agriculture Department for over an hour this morning to protest government subsidies for hog farmers. Chanting "jail not bail for pig farmers," the protesters from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals sat on the floor just under the office of Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman. The protesters, still chained together, eventually walked out after officers began lifting them to remove them. The government last month announced a $50 million aid package for pork farmers, who are receiving record low prices. See full story <http://www.infobeat.com/stories/cgi/story.cgi?id=2558502221-89c>
