EPA cancels planned pesticide study involving children News
EPA cancels planned pesticide study involving children

[JURIST] In a turnaround from its position just a day earlier, the Environmental Protection Agency [official website] canceled a controversial study Friday involving the effects of pesticides on children. The EPA had planned to seek the advice of outside scientific experts before making a final determination on the suspended CHEERS [EPA study website] study, but mounting pressure from Democrats willing to block the confimation of the agency's new head Stephen Johnson [EPA profile] helped to end the study before it began. Johnson, nominated last month [JURIST report], is the first person with a science background to be picked to lead the agency. The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee [Official website] announced Friday it would meet again next week to consider his nomination. JURIST's Paper Chase has background here. The CHEERS website now carries a cancellation notice from Johnson. AP has more details on the cancellation.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Laws of Burgos put into effect

The Spanish Crown put the Laws of Burgos into effect on December 27, 1512. These laws governed the relationship of Spanish settlers with the indigenous peoples of the Caribbean. The laws established the encomienda system of labor, promoted conversion to Catholicism, and safeguarded the indigenous peoples from physical abuse.  However, historians argue that the laws were ineffective at protecting the rights of the indigenous population. Learn more from the Library of Congress.

Prohibitionist Carrie Nation carried out her first public bar smashing

On December 27, 1900, militant Prohibitionist Carrie Nation carried out her first public smashing of a bar, at the Carey Hotel in Wichita, Kansas. Nation argued that destroying bars was an acceptable means of battling the liquor trade since the Kansas Constitution prohibited alcohol. Learn more about Carrie Nation.

World Bank created

On December 27, 1944, the World Bank was created during the United Nations Monetary and Financial Conference in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire, USA. Learn more about the history of the World Bank.