If the EC includes aviation in pollution control regulations, Washington may put up a legal fight against what it calls trade rules violation The EU is set to put itself on a collision course with the US later this month when it announces long-expected plans to include the aviation sector in its pollution-reducing scheme.

Washington is waiting to see if the European Commission includes the controversial idea of imposing the scheme on all flights using European airports, including American carriers, rather than just limiting the scheme to European domestic flights.

http://www.businessweek.com/globalbiz/
content/dec2006/gb20061205_157068.htm
?chan=globalbiz_europe_more+of+today

Wed. Dec. 13, 2006, 9 am and noon
94 North Road in Chilmark
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Nantucket is suffering through its second bad scallop season in a row.

The islands, including Martha's Vineyard, are generally considered the lone bright spots in the state bay scallop fishery, whose landings have plummeted from 1.8 million pounds in 1969 to a bit more than 200,000 pounds by 2003 and 50,000 pounds in 2005.

Some point to increased numbers of predators such as green crabs and whelks, overfishing of juvenile scallops, or bad spawning seasons. But most agree that one critical component, what Nantucket town biologist Keith Conant calls the ''binding factor'' in the scallop equation, is in trouble.

http://www.capecodonline.com/cctimes/
shellingout4.htm

Both supporters and opponents of the proposed Nantucket Sound wind farm are hailing the findings of recent research on the environmental impact of Danish offshore wind turbines.

http://www.capecodonline.com/cctimes/
windfarm6.htm

"Think Globally, Act Locally," a phrase originated in 1972 by Rene Dubos as an advisor to the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment, refers to the argument that global environmental problems are best addressed by acting within the ecological, economic, and cultural contexts of our local surroundings. This simple truth has served as my guiding philosophy over the past 30 years at the MV Shellfish Group.

Go to the Sustainability section for the rest of the letter.

With all the information that floods us every day, it can be hard to focus on important stories affecting our environment, and to keep track of Island events connected with the natural world. But for the last five years, the Vineyard Conservation Society has offered a free electronic bulletin that finds, sifts, explores, and bundles relevant news, ideas, links, and listings into one convenient user-friendly package. It’s called the Conservation Almanac, and it’ll be in your in-box every week, free of charge, as soon as you subscribe.

Go to the Environmental Education section for the rest of the article.