Detractors call us global warming 'alarmists.' The implication being that 'alarmists,' people who are concerned that the unnatural amount of greenhouse gas emissions accumulating in our atmosphere is leading to a slew of very dire problems, are exaggerating the extent of climate change to scare others into supporting a liberal, environmentally friendly agenda. Or worse, they're just doing it for attention.
We regularly hear about the many developments in biodiesel, solar power, and hybrid vehicles that seem to be coming at a breakneck pace. But which of the top renewable energy technologies is showing the most immediate promise, and growing the fastest? The answer is—resoundingly—wind power.
Who knew the eco-disaster that cut flower arrangements could cause, but why? What make the stunning bouquet on your kitchen table such a burden to Mother Nature? Did you know that cut flowers are a $40 billion a year industry that's doing major ecological damage? Seventy-nine percent of cut flowers come from Ecuador or Columbia and are grown with 12 different pesticides. These pesticides are getting workers sick and polluting our ground water.
As people have become increasingly concerned with the quality and safety of the foods they eat, the "organic" label has become common in grocery stores and restaurants. But what does "organic" mean and is it always the best green choice?
Why are so many green activists also vegetarians? Did you know that according to the National Zogby Poll an estimated 4.8 million vegetarian adults are living in the United States? So what's causing this increase in vegetarians? Eco-minded diners are taking note of the statistics.
The dinner leftovers shoveled into the garbage underneath the sink. The bag of lawn clippings tossed in the trash can. The half-eaten sandwich left on the counter at the deli. These are all familiar images to Americans—at least they are to me. But are you aware just how much all that adds up—and how much perfectly compostable trash heads to the landfill every year
There are some places in the United States that pride themselves on being environmentally conscious: San Francisco, Boston, Seattle to name a few. Even New York and Los Angeles with their burgeoning and quick-turnover populations have maneuvered their communities towards greener goals. Which state is the biggest emitter of carbon?
To answer both questions, let's turn to a couple factoids. First, consider that according to the Audubon, 200 years ago, there were 215 million acres of wetlands in the USA. Now, there are less than 100 million.
In 1985, there were only nine California condors living in the wild. These majestic birds were at the very brink of extinction. Due to the efforts of zoologists and conservationists, these birds have managed a comeback. How many California condors were on the planet as of August '08?
Move over, Los Angeles, you’re not quite the dirtiest city in America any more.It seems like we need to find what has been working in the those cities and enact those measures in every city.
Easy one, right? Galapagos Islands = a spectacle of biodiversity, famed for strange birds like the blue-footed boobies and curious reptiles like the giant tortoise and the marine iguana. So much stunning life, that Darwin was inspired to create the most substantial theory of how it all fits together ever produced.
Notice anything different around the holiday season? And I'm not talking about the increased stress, all that extra time spent with the in-laws, the mad dashes through department stores, and the gridlocked traffic. I'm talking trash.
If you live in one of the snowier parts of the US—say the Midwest or the Northeast—you can probably attest to the importance of road salt. Without it, vehicles would have trouble gaining traction on the roads, and we'd see a lot more accidents. But do you have any idea just how much salt is used across the nation every year?
Smoking rightfully takes the spotlight as the most menacing cause of lung cancer—160,000 Americans die because of it every year. But there's another under-publicized threat that also tragically contributes to the lung cancer death toll. So what's the culprit?
Global warming is a big problem. Unless you've been living in a mountainous cave (one that hasn't been obliterated by mountaintop removal mining, anyways), you already know this. But do you know how much it will affect us right here in the United States? Do you know how bad it could get?
Drylands are classified as such due to their distinct lack of water: scrublands, grasslands, savannahs, deserts—these are all drylands. And they're unique because even the slightest reduction of water will throw off the equilibrium of their habitats, and lead to widespread degradation.
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