CounterSpill

Off the coast of Scotland, a gas platform operated by French energy company Total has been spilling millions of cubic feet of methane per day for over two weeks.

The Elgin platform, which is located in the North Sea, has been releasing about 7 million cu. ft. of methane gas every day since the leak's detection on Mar. 25 -- creating a disaster that has been likened to 2010's Deepwater Horizon disaster.

A new leak in the same offshore oil field in Brazil that spilled about 3,000 barrels (or 110,000 gallons) last November has caused Chevron to shut down operations.

Reuters reports Rafael Jaen Williamson, Chevron's director of corporate affairs in Brazil, said the oil giant halted production to conduct a study on its "reservoir management plans" in response to the "small new seep" of unknown size found in the Frade field. 

A year on from the Fukushima disaster, Japan is still struggling to recover. From cleaning up areas still contaminated with radioactivity to rebuilding trust in its people, Japan has seen improvement, but there is still much to be done. 

The details of the damage are still largely unknown, especially when it comes to radiation and debris. Even so, one certainty is clear -- life as they knew it has not yet returned. 

Radiation concerns

Two high-polluting coal plants in Chicago will be closed down years earlier than previously expected due to pressure by environmental groups and city officials. 

Midwest Generation made agreements with Mayor Rahm Emanuel and organizations within the Chicago Clean Power Coalition Wednesday to shut the two plants down rather than invest in costly upgrades. 

A public relations move by British Petroleum backfired as its latest commercial features a group of anti-oil protesters. 

The ad itself features Iris Cross of BP's Community Outreach team touting the oil giant's claims of safety in the areas affected by last year's oil spill. 

"I'm glad to report all beaches and waters are open for everyone to enjoy," she states in the video. 

Philippe Cousteau Jr. may come from a long line of environmentalists, but he doesn’t rest on his family’s laurels.