Environment | WPN World People News

WWF is calling for the immediate release of the 30 crew members of Greenpeace's ship the Arctic Sunrise, currently detained by Russian authorities after a peaceful protest against Gazprom’s risky Arctic offshore oil project Prirazlomnoye.

Greenpeace International has strongly rejected an allegation of piracy leveled at its ship Arctic Sunrise in the Russian Arctic, describing it as a desperate attempt to justify the illegal boarding of its ship in international waters.

Governments meeting in New York next week for the Opening of the United Nations General Assembly should seize the opportunity to accelerate efforts to combat illicit wildlife trafficking, WWF says.

US Scientists have announced that Arctic sea ice appears to have reached its sixth lowest extent in recorded history this year. The news comes as 30 Greenpeace activists remain in the custody of Russian security forces, who illegally boarded the group’s Arctic Sunrise icebreaker following a protest against Arctic oil drilling.

Nearly 100 people have died in Mexico from the onslaught of huge storms that hit the country on both coasts.

EU institutions and Member States must ensure that all residents have access to water and sanitation; water supply and the management of water resources must be shielded from liberalisation and not be subject to single market rules. This was the key message of the report on the European Citizens' Initiative on water and sanitation presented to the plenary session of the European Economic and Social Committee.

Sustainable water management brings economic, social and environmental benefits, say countries.

Sharks fins laid out on the streets to dry and for trimming and cleaning before selling. Sheung Wan, Hong Kong

At 4.30am Moscow time, five inflatable boats were launched from the Greenpeace International ship Arctic Sunrise and headed towards the Gazprom oil rig Prirazlomnaya, in the remote Pechora sea. One of the inflatables was confronted by the Russian Coast Guard, and two activists were arrested. Two other activists are now attached to the oil platform.

The death toll in Mexico has reached 47 after twin storms battered the west and east coasts at the same time.