EXPLOSIVE: The Navy is planning war games right in the middle of two important calving areas for blue whales and other marine mammals off the warm waters of Hawaii and Southern California. http://ejus.tc/1zfRrBC

The war games will last unt...il 2018, and experts already predict that dozens of whales, dolphins, and seals will die from the use of explosives and powerful underwater sonar, with tens of thousands more animals potentially suffering permanent injuries. While our attorneys certainly understand the importance of military preparedness, they are suing to force government agencies to consider less harmful alternatives given the potential for so many injured animals.

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EYE-OPENING: This simple map shows where the Navy is planning its war games - right in the middle of two important calving areas in Hawaii and Southern California for blue whales and other marine mammals. http://ejus.tc/1zfRrBC

Experts alr...eady predict that dozens of whales, dolphins, and seals will die from the use of explosives and powerful underwater sonar, with tens of thousands more animals potentially suffering permanent injuries. While our attorneys certainly understand the importance of military preparedness, they are suing to force government agencies to consider less harmful alternatives given the potential for so many injured animals.

Click SHARE or LIKE if you agree that the Navy should take its environmental impact into consideration when planning war games. Share your thoughts below. See More

BREAKING NEWS: In a huge boost to international efforts to fight climate change, the U.S. and China have struck an ambitious deal to cut carbon emissions in both countries, which account for nearly 45% of the world's greenhouse gases. http:...//ejus.tc/1qDsYkg

The unprecedented move will mean drastic challenges and opportunities for both countries. To meet its new obligations, China will have to add 800 to 1,000 gigawatts of clean energy by 2030 - more energy than all the coal-fired power plants that exist in China today and close to the entire generating capacity of the U.S. The United States will also have a lofty goal - it will need to emit at least 26% less carbon in 2025 than it did in 2005, doubling the pledge it formerly made.

This breakthrough by the U.S. and China are a powerful reminder that governments and leaders are supposed to make hard decisions that will lead to progress, not to more political squabbling. There is still much more that countries around the world can do to tackle climate change, but this is a solid first step.

Click SHARE or LIKE to spread this breaking news! TELL US >> Are you surprised by this unexpected announcement by the U.S and China? See More

SICKENING: The giant hog farms of North Carolina are nightmarish neighbors under the best scenario. The state's more than 2,000 tightly-packed farms store pig feces and urine in foul, open-air ponds, only to then spray the waste onto nearby... fields. As result, nearby residents suffer from groundwater contamination and year-round putrid smells. http://ejus.tc/1tmGhWh

What makes this a civil rights issue though is that recent studies show nearby residents are more likely to be poorer communities and communities of color who lack the political clout and money to fight for stronger environmental standards. That's why Earthjustice lawyers have filed a complaint with North Carolina's Dept. of Environment and Natural Resources. The agency is now reviewing the complaint and we are waiting for their response.

Click SHARE or LIKE and TELL US >> Do you live near an industrial animal farm? Should states like North Carolina better regulate this industry? See More

DISTURBING IMAGE: The Arctic Ocean has been warming so rapidly that walruses are increasingly forced into dangerously, crowded conditions due to the lack of sea ice. A few weeks ago, more than 35,000 of the animals were found packed on an A...laskan beach, forced ashore with no sea ice to rest on. http://ejus.tc/1tUuNNp

That's why Earthjustice and our allies filed a lawsuit against Fish & Wildlife Service for permitting oil companies like Shell to harm walrus during Arctic offshore drilling. The animals are already struggling to cope with the impacts of climate change. Oil operations have the potential to chase walruses away from food-rich foraging areas, trigger stampedes, and harm the animals with deafeningly loud seismic blasts. If a major oil spill occurs (which the federal government has already acknowledged is VERY likely) walruses would be in even greater danger.

Click SHARE or LIKE if you agree arctic wildlife need to be protected in the face of climate change! Share your thoughts below. See More

MIND-BLOWING: What may look like a solid green square next to a static-filled square is actually a shocking aerial photo of a portion of the Amazon rainforest in 1975 vs. the same area in 2008 after being virtually destroyed by logging. It'...s a terrifying example of the human impact on the earth, thanks to satellite photos from Google Earth. http://ejus.tc/1uIdkKN

The photos are part of “Mind the Earth,” an upcoming photo exhibition at the Danish Architecture Centre in Copenhagen. You can see shocking before and after photos of the rapidly shrinking Aral Sea, the mind-blowing sprawl of the world's largest slum in Mexico City, and a host of other altered landscapes - all abstractly beautiful from a distance but terrifying to behold up close.

Click SHARE or LIKE and TELL US >> What one word would you use to describe this before and after photo of the Amazon? See More

SWEET: When we first got the letter from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Fraud & Cyber Crimes Bureau, we were nervous. But it turns out the hardworking folks there just wanted to thank us for protecting the American bison and let us know t...hat they had picked the bison as their new mascot! http://ejus.tc/1skRc3e

“In Native American folklore, the American Bison is traditionally associated with endurance and protection. These are character traits to which all of us aspire," said the county sheriff letter. They also listed several other wonderful reasons for picking the bison (you can read their letter here: http://ejus.tc/1skRc3e) and offered Earthjustice help in protecting the bison if there was ever anything they can do.

We were so incredibly touched we just had to share this letter with everyone! The hardworking women and men at LA's Fraud & Cyber Crimes Bureau tackle serious crimes every day, but they haven't forgotten what they're ultimately working to protect: our country and everything it stands for, including its rich natural heritage.

Click SHARE or LIKE and leave a comment for the Fraud and Cyber Crimes Bureau below! See More

FRACKING VICTORIES: In a ray of hope for the environment, communities in California and Texas passed fracking bans in the recent election, continuing a nationwide trend of cities and towns taking a stand against unsafe oil and gas drilling.... http://ejus.tc/1prqgn0

The movement to implement local fracking bans started when communities in New York State, lead by the small town of Dryden, took action to protect their air and water. Their success in the courts have now inspired Denton, Texas, and San Benito County, California to join the growing ranks of cities and towns that have banned or put a moratorium on fracking. It's a hopeful sign that people are starting to wake up and not blindly follow what the oil & gas industry and their allies in government are telling them to do.

Click SHARE or LIKE if you are inspired by local communities taking a stand! Share your thoughts below. See More

ELECTIONS MATTER: Here’s the last of our series today on the changes to Senate leadership, and it's an important one!

The powerful Appropriations Committee controls the purse strings of government agencies, including those responsible for ...protecting the environment, such as the EPA, Forest Service, Fish & Wildlife, and the National Park Service. The chair goes from Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) who has a good environmental voting record to Richard Shelby (R-AL) who is generally hostile to pro-environment bills.

We hope this example shows that elections DO matter and have serious repercussions for issues like the environment. Click SHARE or LIKE and TELL US >> Are the senators from your home state generally favorable to the environment? See More

ELECTIONS MATTER: As part of our series today on the changes to Senate leadership, we look at the current and future Senate chair of the Environment & Public Works Committee, which oversees issues such as clean air, water, endangered specie...s, and pollution.

The chairmanship switches from Barbara Boxer (D-CA), one of the strongest champions of the environment to none other than James Inhofe (R-OK), who famously wrote the book “The Greatest Hoax: How the Global Warming Conspiracy Threatens Your Future” and once compared the EPA to Nazis.

It’s a stark reminder for people who don’t vote that elections have serious repercussions for issues such as the environment. Click SHARE or LIKE and share your thoughts below! See More

ELECTIONS MATTER: A lot of people skipped this election because they didn't feel their votes mattered. But the huge difference between the environmental voting records of the new Republican Senate leadership vs. their Democratic predecessor...s is stark.

Today, we'll be profiling several of the most important changes in Senate leadership to the environment, starting with the Senate Majority Leader, who is the No. 1 ranking member and sets the agenda and business for the Senate. That position goes from Harry Reid (D-NV), who is an important clean air ally to Mitch McConnell (R-KY), one of the biggest proponents of dirty coal.

Click SHARE or LIKE and check out the other important changes to Senate leadership later today! Share your thoughts below. See More

ROUGH TIMES AHEAD: With both the Senate and House now under Republican control, the environment will take a heavy beating from polluting industries and their newfound power in Congress. http://ejus.tc/1E5SZyM

We've seen environmentally hos...tile Congresses before but this new GOP-led Congress will test every ounce of our resolve. Key leadership roles in the Senate will switch from pro-environment Senators to those with some of the worst environmental voting records. If there was ever a time when the courts stand as our last line of defense against attacks on the environment, this is it. That's why Earthjustice stands ready to fight - we've beaten them before and with your support we'll beat them again!

Click SHARE or LIKE to show your resolve to keep fighting for our planet and the right of all people to a healthy environment! TELL US >> What is your reaction to the election results? See More

"Nobody will ever deprive the American people of the right to vote except the American people themselves and the only way they could do this is by not voting." - Franklin D. Roosevelt

It's easy to forget that people all over the world - in...cluding the United States - have fought and died for what we take for granted: the simple right to vote. That's why on this election day, we ask everyone to go out and vote! If you care about the environment, go out to vote. If you care about social justice, go out and vote. EVERY VOTE MATTERS.

Click SHARE or LIKE if you will or have already voted! Here's where you can find your polling place >> http://ejus.tc/1rHwwkN See More

REMEMBER TO VOTE! Tomorrow is Election day and many Americans may feel like their vote doesn't matter. Make no mistake about it - IT DOES. Here's where you can find your polling place >> http://ejus.tc/1rHwwkN

Why should you care? Because ...what happens tomorrow could affect laws in our country for generations to come. And without strong laws protecting our environment and public health, our attorneys will not have legal footing to stand on.

So please take a moment tomorrow to cast our ballot and stand up for what you believe in!

Click SHARE or LIKE. And if you need help finding your polling place, click here >> http://ejus.tc/1rHwwkN See More

"F" FOR FAILING - Los Angeles' notoriously dirty air is no secret, but health and environmental groups are running out of patience with the EPA's rubberstamping of LA's faulty clean-up plans and now they are suing. http://ejus.tc/1u1BKig

T...hree million people in the Greater LA area are living with asthma, diabetes, and other smog-related diseases. In fact, the region's asthma rate is double the national average. But EPA seems to be content with just kicking the can down the road in its latest approval of LA's loophole-filled plan. That's why Earthjustice and our partners are taking them to court.

Click SHARE or LIKE and TELL US >> Do you live in or have you visited LA? What was your experience with its air quality? See More

SOBERING: There's a 75% chance that a big oil spill could wallop the Arctic Ocean if Shell and other oil companies are allowed to develop offshore oil drilling. That's the latest finding from the Dept. of Interior's own assessment of the ri...sks of Arctic drilling. http://ejus.tc/10G69GL

This frightening statistic should dispel any myth that offshore drilling can be done "safely" in a daunting environment like the Arctic. If BP couldn't clean up more than 25% of the oil in temperate waters mere miles from major ports, there is simply no way Shell can clean up a major spill in treacherous, icy waters a thousand miles away from the nearest Coast Guard station. The Arctic is already facing huge threats from climate change - the last thing it needs is a devastating oil spill.

Click SHARE or LIKE to spread the news and TELL US >> Should the Dept. of Interior forbid offshore oil drilling in the Arctic? See More

WAIT & SEE: Coal ash - one of the most poorly regulated toxic wastes in the US - may soon face stricter rules if the White House can resist pressure from the coal industry to water down regulations. ejus.tc/1sFmLUz

A toxic byproduct of co...al-fired power plants, coal ash is filled with poisonous substances such as arsenic, lead, and mercury. Thanks to lobbying from the coal industry, regular household garbage is better regulated than toxic coal ash. Earthjustice sued EPA and finally forced it to take action. Now EPA's first-ever rule on coal ash is being reviewed by the White House and we hope it can stand strong against heavy pressure from the coal industry.

Click SHARE or LIKE and share your thoughts below.

Picture: This photo shows homes devastated by the disastrous Kingston Dam coal ash spill in 2008 in Tennessee. See More

YIKES... Imagine walking through the dark jungles of Madagascar at night. You hear an eerie tap-tap-tap on a tree trunk and look up to see two bulging yellow eyes staring back at you. You've just been spotted by the creepy-looking aye-aye. ...http://ejus.tc/1xGnhG2

The world's largest nocturnal lemur, the aye-aye is surprisingly gentle and harmless to humans. It uses its long, bony third finger to tap tree trunks, looking for juicy grubs to fish out. Sadly, because of deforestation and local superstitions (Malagasy legend says if it points its witch-like fingers at you, you are marked for death...), aye-ayes are often killed on sight and strung up, becoming endangered throughout much of their homeland.

Click SHARE or LIKE to honor the aye-aye and the other wonderfully scary-looking creatures that share our planet this Halloween! TELL US >> What animal do you find the most creepy? See More