In a world (or actually just the United States) where meat producers use antibiotics for pretty much everything (from increasing animal growth to preventing the common cold in cows), it was only a matter of time before the term ‘antibiotic-resistant’ was used in the same sentence as ‘meat’ by none other than the Federal Government. Due to the growing concern that the constant use of antibiotics on livestock could lead to strains of bacteria that are, in fact, resistant to the drugs, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a ‘guidance statement’ on Monday asking meat producers to limit their use of antibiotics. Read more…
Photo Credit: SunSD
If you are currently enjoying some summertime heat, a great way to spend the afternoon is by lazing around or in the good old swimming pool. Even without the summer weather, taking a dip or swimming laps is an enjoyable past time. However, chlorine has negative side affects on a person’s health, mainly affecting the respiratory system by causing increased rates in asthma and wheezing (and it turns some peoples’ hair green!). Luckily, an eco-friendly, European solution has been recently gaining some popularity in the United States. Read more…
Photo Credit: Lain
Most of us have been warned about the levels of toxic metals that can be found in the fish we eat, like tuna for example. However, a recent research study performed over a 5-year period by American scientists on 1,000 sperm whales demonstrated a frightening reality. After studying evidence collected using tissue-sampling darts, shockingly high levels of toxic heavy metals (amongst them lead, titanium, and mercury) were found in the whales that pose a risk to ocean life, along with those of us who are seafood consumers. Read more…
Photo Credit: Rhett A. Butler
For many years, deforestation has been a major component of climate change and the overall health of the earth. Rainforests provide habitats, sequester carbon dioxide, and produce oxygen. There are many problems associated with the clearing of forests for agriculture and development, but for the first time a new study directly links deforestation with a decrease in human health. From 1997 to 2001, a group of researchers found that a 4.2% decrease in forest area contributed to a 48% increase in diagnosed malaria cases. Read more…
Photo Credit: James Jordan
Although it has been touted as a successful alternative to gasoline, some scientists and environmentalists are raising questions about the effectiveness of ethanol as a viable ‘clean’ energy option. Researchers are finding that producing and using the corn-based fuel alternative may not be as great as it sounds. Read more…
Itʻs time to talk about a 4 letter word that you may be a little squeamish discussing: poop. In places where the daily process surrounding the removal, disinfection, and processing of fecal matter is taken care of by miles of pipes, millions of gallons of water, and expensive treament plants, I suppose it makes sense that many ignore this unsightly activity. But in places where toilets are harder to find than cellphones, itʻs time to approach this “impolite” conversation to save millions of lives and turn tons of raw pollution into compost. Read more…
Photo credit: Infrogmation
A new nationwide New York Times/CBS poll reveals that there is a major disconnect between Americans’ expectations about finding alternative forms of energy to replace oil and an unwillingness to pay high gasoline prices. The poll was conducted by telephone from June 16 to 20 with 1,259 adults and examined the public’s reaction to the oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico. Read more…
Photo Credit: Austin Parker
Wagwan everybody, it’s Austin checking in from Jamaica. It’s been almost three months since I left home for Kingston, and my time here has been both incredible and difficult. So what I’m doing here in Jamaica, if you’re wondering, is the United States Peace Corps. So far the process has taken me from the struggles of being a trainee to being a full fledged volunteer in the southern Parish of Clarendon. I have been an official Peace Corps Volunteer for about a month now and I have been placed with an environmental NGO called the Caribbean Coastal Area Management Fund (CCAM). Read more…
The EPA has partnered with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development along with the U.S. Department of Transportation to develop a vision that is set to green the nations capital cities. The program will assist three to four cities a year with the first projects beginning in late 2010. Read more…
Photo Credit: Carlos Carvajal
Bogotá, Colombia’s capital city, and most populated city in the country, is being watched and mimicked by cities worldwide for it’s significant efforts to upgrade the city’s infrastructure. With a population of about 8 million, Bogotá’s rapid growth has placed a huge strain on its roads and highways. However, within the last decade, former Mayor Enrique Peñalosa has challenged the city’s congestion and lack for public space with his revolutionary ideas. Read more…
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