"Things are happening very, very fast... It's scary." -- Corinne Le Quere of the British Antarctic Survey, commenting on news that global warming emissions are worse than predicted.

Wolves Saved By Strong ESAThe northern gray wolf is at least temporarily safe from hunting and back on the endangered species list, thanks to Earthjustice and a federal judge who described one state's wolf management plan as a "wolf killing plan." But, as the New York Times pointed out, this victory could not have happened without a potent Endangered Species Act -- which the Bush administration is trying to gut.

Congress Infected By Drilling FeverThe "drill, baby, drill" mentality has gripped Washington, DC, says Earthjustice President Trip Van Noppen. Congress is allowing offshore drilling and development of oil shale in the West, but hasn't renewed tax incentives for renewable energy.

Twice As Much Tom's TurnStarting immediately, Tom Turner will be writing his Tom's Turn twice a week in unEarthed. Today, he muses about the many ways Earthjustice has been attacked by its detractors.

Yellowstone Gains From Snowmobile BanA federal judge has refused to let hundreds of snowmobiles add to the survival burden faced each winter by wildlife in Yellowstone National Park. Agreeing with a legal challenge brought by Earthjustice, the judge tossed out a Bush administration plan allowing 540 snowmobile to operate daily in the national park. National Park Service higher-ups overrode staff recommendations in granting snowmobile use. The judge noted that federal law elevates conservation of park resources over things like snowmobiles and the Bush administration got things exactly backwards. Park animals already have a hard time finding enough to eat during the deep winter snows and lose precious energy trying to dodge snowmobiles.

Developers Must Account for Air PollutionEarthjustice helped fend off an attempt by the National Association of Home Builders to kill an air pollution rule in California. The rule requires developers to include public transit, bike lanes, local shops or other measures to reduce air pollution. "No special interest should have a free ride in a region where schools warn parents to keep children indoors on bad air days," said Earthjustice attorney Paul Cort, who defended the rule in court.

Phosphates Imperil Idaho, FloridaToxic threats from expanded phosphate mining in Idaho and Florida are being challenged by Earthjustice. In Idaho, the organization is suing to stop expansion of an open-pit phosphate mine into roadless areas of the Caribou-Targhee National Forest. Already listed as a federal Superfund site, the mine's expansion would add additional pollution to southeast Idaho springs and streams. The Florida lawsuit aims to protect the Peace River from mining runoff that already has despoiled much of the river's watershed.

Safeguarding Sierra SpeciesWildlife in 10 Sierra Nevada national forests are threatened by weak management plans, Earthjustice is charging in a lawsuit aimed at restoring safeguards for a variety of Sierra animals and plants. The Bush administration removed specific monitoring requirements for indicator species, plants and animals that must be studied before the U.S. Forest Service can approve logging, road building and other forest-related projects that could destroy sensitive habitat for threatened or endangered species.

Back to Court on Mountaintop RemovalThis month at the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals, Earthjustice defended a previous victory challenging five mountaintop removal mining permits in West Virginia. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Big Coal appealed a lower court decision despite never having proven their arguments that blowing up mountains and completely burying entire streams doesn't destroy water quality.

Irreplaceable Comes to San FranciscoHundreds of people have already supported Earthjustice's new campaign, Irreplaceable: Wildlife in A Warming World. Featuring world class photography and unforgettable stories, Irreplaceable brings you face to face with plants and animals as they struggle to survive in the face of global warming. The traveling photo exhibit is in San Francisco until the end of December. Check our events page for more information.

No-nonsense Judge Vs. EPAAfter the Environmental Protection Agency failed to impose strict air quality standards in the Washington, DC area, Earthjustice attorney David Baron sued to force a showdown between the EPA and a no-nonsense judge. Here's his story of what happened.