Goldman Prize Honors Activists in Developing Nations
The San Francisco-based Goldman Environmental Foundation recently announced the six 2005 winners of its prestigious Goldman Environmental Prize.
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Auto Exposure
Researchers are uncovering a definite link between environmental pollutants and a growing number of autoimmune diseases. Disorders like lupus, multiple sclerosis (MS) and Type I diabetes are on the rise, says Glinda Cooper, an epidemiologist with the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS). "It’s very likely that environmental factors play a role in the development of these diseases," Cooper says.
Borrowing Power
Given that most of us spend as much as two-thirds of our time at home, our environmental footprints are largely determined by the efficiency of our residential heating and cooling systems and the resources we consume to keep our houses up and running. Now a movement is afoot among real estate lenders to offer special mortgage purchasing programs and incentives designed to reward energy efficiency and sustainable building and restoration.
Segway Safaris
One of the first distributors of Segway Human Transporters (HTs), Amelia’s Wheels at Amelia Island Plantation Resort in Florida has offered guided tours and rentals since 2004. The option to rent Segways is relatively new for the resort, but a tradition of environmental integrity is not. Development of the property was restricted in 1971. Now, the site has been transformed into a destination that has harmony with nature in mind.
Party on the Patio
With summer right around the corner, installing a new deck may be the first step in planning your outdoor events. Fortunately, there are environmentally friendly alternatives to unsustainable and rot-prone wood-based decks.
Earth Sounds
Making a good point about the environment is a heavy burden to put on a piece of music. The great folk singer Woody Guthrie said, "Music is in all of the sounds of nature and there never was a sound that was not music–the splash of an alligator, the rain dripping on dry leaves [or] a long and lonesome train whistling down." But if music is nature and vice versa, why is it so hard to bring them together? Only a few pop songs succeed at it.
Edible History
As commercial agribusiness tightens its control, maintaining the right to choose what’s on our plates has never been more important. Since the 1970s, a countercultural seed-saving movement has blossomed in an effort to maintain our biological heritage. Preserving heirloom vegetables, fruits, herbs and flowers keeps the world’s available genetic diversity alive.
Naturally Clean
Make your home radiantly clean with Fruits and Passion’s "Art Home" line. These household cleaners are made with a plant-based formula that is readily biodegradable.
Earth Day Turns 35
On April 22, more than a half billion people around the world will celebrate the 35th annual Earth Day, making it the planet’s largest secular holiday. This will be an opportune time to celebrate progress made and reflect on the many challenges and goals ahead.
Barbary Macaques: Wrongly Accused?
Threatened by erosion, desertification, overgrazing and global warming, cedar forests in the Moroccan Middle Atlas Mountains are going through a hard time. But what if Barbary macaques, which have inhabited the area for centuries and feed on the top of cedar trees, were also a threat?