News to scare the pants off of you. BOO!
The Deadliness Below. The Army secretly dumped 64 million pounds of nerve and mustard agents into the sea, along with 400,000 chemical-filled bombs, land mines and rockets and more than 500 tons of radioactive waste. Hampton Roads Daily Press,
Nano could be a huge future health crisis. The ultra-fine particles created for cosmetic, industrial and high-technology uses could prove to be as deadly in the future as asbestos is today, according to groups calling for a moratorium on "nanotechnology". Melbourne Age, Australia.
The Wal-Mart Economy: Poor people are no basis for an economy. It may be dawning on the people who run the nation's largest employer that their prized business model contains the seeds of its own destruction. Salt Lake Tribune,
China's Next Big Boom Could Be the Foul Air. One statistic offered last week by a top Chinese environmental official should stimulate genuine alarm inside and outside China.
New York Times.
Colorado River may be overestimated again. Some Colorado River experts worry a new federal process aimed at figuring out how to operate Lake Mead and Lake Powell in times of drought is being overly generous in its assumptions of how much water is available. Grand Junction Daily Sentinel,
Mystic river. With its source in a Tibetan glacier, the Yangtze River used to be called the Blue River, but now it picks up enough sewage and toxic sludge to dye it the colour of a Starbucks latte. Toronto Globe and Mail,
Mighty Amazon close to running out of water. More than 1000 towns and hamlets that rely on the river for transport have been cut off as water levels fall, making the river unnavigable. Sydney Morning Herald
Hidden dangers for apartment hunters. The newest tenants at 1606 Tracy St. were still cleaning and unpacking last week when they learned something about the apartment that their landlord hadn't mentioned: It is in the middle of a hazardous waste site. Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin,
Study finds pesticide effect in local creeks. A group of insecticides that now dominate the home-and-garden market is poisoning urban creeks in California. Sacramento Bee,
The Eco-Cowboys: Big land buys signal greens are moving into ranching. It may mark the biggest splash for free-market environmentalism, a put-your-money where-your-mouth-is approach to conservation that is gaining converts. Salt Lake Tribune,
Higher ocean acidity seen as threat to food chain. In 50 to 100 years, rising ocean acidity levels might reach a point where the shells of some marine organisms could dissolve or fail to grow altogether. Cape Cod Times,
Developers join climate of change. A grassroots planning revolution that began in south London, requiring that developments generate at least 10% of their energy from renewable sources, is fast spreading across Britain. London Observer,
It Doesn't Mix With Oil, and the Market Is Drinking It Up. A growing number of rural and suburban water systems are owned by a handful of publicly traded companies, like Aqua America. New York Times.
At Many Elementary Schools, the Party's Over. Schools, where many children eat two of their day's meals, are being pushed to the front lines of the battle against kiddie bulge. A federal law requires schools to create wellness policies that encourage students to be more active and eat more healthfully. Washington Post.
Hurricane Bends Landfill Rules. New Orleans is building a mountain, a heap of broken concrete and soiled mattresses and shredded curtains plopped out on the edge of a swampy road that routinely draws comparisons to a hellish scene from Dante's "Inferno." Washington Post.
U.S. Priorities Set Back Its Healthcare Goals in Iraq. Experts question the priorities of Washington's $1-billion rebuilding plan, which has focused on construction instead of basic needs such as better training for doctors and public healthcare campaigns. Los Angeles Times,
Fireplaces could spoil air. The forecast for higher-priced heating bills has many tossing another log on the fire. Trouble is, more wood burning might make a clean-air milestone literally go up in smoke. Fresno Bee,
N.C. farming has a labor crisis. Every year, these men from Mexico legally come to work the fields in North Carolina through a temporary visa program. They come to plant, tend and harvest tobacco and other crops -- labor that many Americans do not want to do -- for $8.24 per hour. Greensboro News & Record,
Big quake could hammer Kentucky. An earthquake as powerful as the one in South Asia that has claimed an estimated 80,000 lives could strike along the New Madrid Fault, experts say, causing severe damage in Western Kentucky but much more limited damage in Louisville. Louisville Courier-Journal,
Toxic waste sting in San Rafael. Four hazardous waste haulers are facing charges in Marin County of carrying toxic materials without the right permits, enough insurance or -- in all but one of the cases -- driver's licenses. Associated Press.
The green scene: Even if you start small, organic gardening can yield big results Not only can you grow a decent-tasting tomato- seemingly impossible to buy in stores- you can also help save the world by doing so. Inland Valley Daily Bulletin,
Speaking of Organic...
Seeds of Change - Organic Seeds
Appalachian Seeds - Heirloom tomato seeds and seedlings
The Chef's Garden
Organic Consumers Association