30) Reflective Crops Could Cool Planet

Planting more reflective versions of crops could cool off the regional temperatures in summertime, reducing the impact of increasing global temperatures in these areas. Increasing the reflectivity of crop plants by 20 percent could decrease temperatures in a given area by about one degree Celsius. The idea is not to think about changing what crops you plant, but rather to look within the variety of crops you might plant. This might mean choosing a more reflective variety of wheat for example. About 11 percent of the global land surface is devoted to crops and planting all of the world's crops with more reflective varieties would not be enough to reduce climate change worldwide but it could take the edge off of the regional temperature increases as the climate warms. Several things change the reflectivity of a crop, including the amount and composition of the wax on the leaf surface and even how hairy the leaves are. Changing the wax can also change the plant's water retention which could change crop yields for the better in arid regions. Genetic engineering could be used to improve reflectivity but the team's intention is to start with conventional crop breeding to create more reflective crops. This is an interesting idea because if you think about it, in warm areas, that is one degree that we don't have to turn up the air conditioning which, in a large scale, greatly improves the amount of carbon emissions in the air. I'd be interested to see what the results from this study are and hopefully other areas will follow up on this.

Link to site: http://news.discovery.com/earth/reflective-crops-climate-change.html

29) Ocean Acidification Threatens Food Security

Acidification of the seas linked to climate change could threaten fisheries production and is already causing the fastest shift in ocean chemistry in 65 million years. Production of shellfish, such as mussels, shrimp or lobsters could be the most at risk since they will find it harder to build protective shells. It could also damage coral reefs vital as nurseries for many commercial fish stocks. About a billion people worldwide rely on fish as their main source of protein. Ocean acidification is yet another red flag being raised carrying planetary healthy warnings about the uncontrolled growth in greenhouse gas emissions. About 25% of the world's emissions of carbon dioxide are absorbed by the seas, where it is converted to carbonic acid. The pH value of the oceans, a scale from alkaline to acidic, has fallen 30 percent since the Industrial Revolution in a shift to acidity. There is constantly news about how the oceans are suffering due to global warming and pollution that goes in the water. A recent article in National Graphic indicated that we are slowly running out of seafood and this just shows how the pH is also being affected. Obviously if the water's pH is affected, the organisms can't survive in that acidic environment. We'll just have to wait and see what the consequences of the water's acidity are.

Link to site: http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6B16MD20101202

28) Key to Prevent Cancer is False

The likelihood of developing cancer is largely attributed to an individual's genetic inheritance, but can also be affected by lifestyle choices and what we eat. In 2009, an article by the American Cancer Society recommended eating at least five servings of fruits and vegetables per day to prevent cancer but now a recent study from the University of Oxford suggests that fruits and vegetables are unlikely to protect against cancer. Researchers concluded that the only diet-related factors to affect the risk of cancer were obesity and alcohol. Obesity can cause very difficult-to-treat forms of cancer in the bowel, pancreas, kidney, esophagus, and breast. Alcohol can cause cancer of the mouth, throat, breast, bowel, and liver. Researchers stress that the best way to prevent cancer is to keep a healthy diet, stop smoking, and limiting alcohol to one drink per day for women and two for men. Eating fruits and vegetables up to a certain level is essential for the body to obtain vital nutrients. This article largely shows that a lot of companies will create publicity around their products by advertising them as cancer-fighting or cancer-curing food so people will consume them more. While essential for a healthy diet, fruits and vegetables can't fight all the new cancers nowadays specially since more come up everyday that are becoming harder to fight with treatment or medicine.

Link to site: http://www.enn.com/lifestyle/article/42070

27) Contest Challenges Youth

Renowned wildlife artists Robert Bateman and Wyland are challenging American youth to get outdoors and "get to know" their wildlife neighbors of other species by entering the Get to Know Contest. Youth age 5-18 are invited to create art, writing, photography and video entries based on first-hand experiences with nature, which they can submit until November 30th, 2010. The contest organizers hope it will inspire youth to build meaningful connections with nature. Youth disconnection from nature stems from the trend of young Americans spending progressively more time indoors to the detriment of healthy outdoor activity. The theme for the 2010 Get to Know contest art, writing, photography categories is "Celebrating Biodiversity". Winners will receive wild prizes including a week-long Art & Nature Camp experience at a Canadian national park for those aged 12 and older. I agree when they say today's youth is disconnected from the environment thanks to all the new technology that mainly steams from computers and videogames that makes them want to be inside rather than outdoors. I believe getting to know the environment is important and its something I definitively would approve of because this contest sounds like a terrific idea.

Link to site: http://www.enn.com/wildlife/article/42005

26) New Risk Posed by Reusable Shopping Bags

The New York Times published an article called "Even Reusable Bags Carry Environmental Risk" which revealed that lead has been discovered in several types of re-usable bags, particularly those made in China. Stores like CVS and Wegman's have already recalled their bags, although NYC's big grocery stores don't seem to have a problem. The great concern seems to be that the lead could eventually reach groundwater after the bags have been thrown out. The simple answer is that we can't fix the world by using a re-usable bag but we can use the reusable bag as a stepping stone to a solution and we should use it because it really is better than plastic or paper. There is no perfect solution to being environmentally friendly even when it is a huge trend, there is always a chance it's not the best or safest idea. Of course there are risks with everything but if users are so concern about this then they should make their own bags. Regardless, it is an interesting piece of news because it comes to show that even when people advertise things as green and environmentally friendly, most of the time they aren't.

Link to site: http://blog.enn.com/?p=606

25) Over-Cleanliness Negatively Affects Immune System

A new study from researchers at the University of Michigan shows that chemicals such as Triclosan and Bisphenol commonly found in anti-bacterial soaps, toothpaste, food cans, etc may be detrimental to the immune system and cause allergies. Both chemicals are classified as endocrine-disrupting compounds and interfere with the body's natural synthesis, transport, and other processes of hormones. After a study researchers found that children with high levels of triclosan had a higher propensity for allergies and had fever. This 'hygiene hypothesis' maintains living in very clean and hygienic environments may impact our exposure to micro-organisms that are beneficial for development of the immune system. More research needs to be done to establish a definite causal relationship. Are people sicker from over-using hygienic products? Or do they use these products because they are sicker? Those are definitively interesting questions but I have always believed that killing all the bacteria in your hands, even the good bacteria is actually bad for you since its there to protect us from harm. Back in the day people didn't need to use soap they would just wash their hands with water and although yes, they would get sicker more often, they also had more protection I believe. After all, human race has made it this far and only in the last 100 years or so have people actually cared about being hygienic.

Link to site: http://www.enn.com/lifestyle/article/42054

24) Sustainable Design for Food Packaging

Designers are in the business of making stuff and when done well, this makes people consume more in order to help businesses grow. Until recently, design for sustainable living had often been synonymous with subtraction-having less, living smaller, limiting oneself. In truth, sustainable design is the rejection of less. The goal of any designer, no matter what they think about green design, is to create an enduring product. Continued relevance is a hallmark of brilliant and elegant design. At IDEO designs two interesting things happen. Whether a product is designed to last for a few days or for a couple of generations, the company doesn't overlook its end of life. Far from being limiting to great design, a sustainable mindset simply requires that they create each choice with an extra level of care and meaning. By designing the end with as much creativity and passion as they do the beginning and middle, designers are in fact staring a longer and ultimately deeper conversation with customers. Second; coloring outside the lines. At IDEO, most of the truly 'green' elements of a sustainable product will always be invisible to the primary consumer. This not only means designing beyond the product but also asking questions about the processes. In doing so, the company's view expands to consider ways to evolve manufacturing processes or re-imagine existing technologies. It is always very interesting to see green designs on products or items that we use everyday such as bottles and such but done in a way that doesn't affect the environment as much and it can be recycled.

Link to site: http://www.theecologist.org/green_green_living/food_and_drink/616765/sustainable_design_shapes_the_future_of_food_packaging.html

23) Breeding Bees Resistant to the Varroa Mite

Beekeeper Rodger Dewhurst has taken it upon himself to save our honeybees from the clutches of the varroa mite by breeding varroa-tolerant native bees, Apis mellifera mellifera. Varroa mites are 2mm wide and feed off developing bees in brood cells and on adults by attaching themselves to their fleshy tissue. They weaken the bees' immune system and are vectors for other viruses and diseases such as Deformed Wing Virus. Within their hives, native bees are known to store two weeks' worth of pollen, the protein-rich food that is vital for their development. Thus, they can carry on replenishing the colony's population, especially important in the spring and summer when worker bees will only live up to six weeks. The behaviors Rodger has been implementing into his bees for 18 years are called 'grooming' 'biting' and 'hygienic cleaning' and have been developed by bees throughout their 10 million year history but are now being adapted to fight off varroa mites. These behaviors are not only passed down genetically but also learned from one bee to another. Rodger hopes to inspire other beekeepers to look for this amazing behavior within their colonies. As with the example of the dolphins' behavior, the behavior of the bees and how it can be explored even further with patience and time to its full extent and to help them defend themselves against mites is incredibly useful to them and to us.

Link to site: http://www.theecologist.org/how_to_make_a_difference/wildlife/649951/photo_gallery_breeding_bees_resistant_to_the_varroa_mite.html

22) Warning Over Contaminated Whale Meat

The Faroese government is being accused of ignoring scientific evidence over safety of whale meat as record number of pilot whales are slaughtered. Despite repeated scientific warnings over the foodstuff's high levels of contamination from mercury and other chemicals, the government is putting the health of consumers at risk by allowing the sale and consumption of the highly controversial whale meat. The hunt which is carried out annually is opposed by environmental and animal welfare campaigners who say the whale killing is cruel and unnecessary. The Faroese authorities maintain the hunt is sustainable and an important food source for the islands. Due to their position near the top of the marine food chain, pilot whales accumulate higher levels of mercury contaminants and organochlorines that are potentially harmful to human health. In 2008 the Faroe Island's chief medical officer recommended that pilot whale meat should no longer be used for human consumption because of the significant threat it poses. The Faroese government acknowledges that pilot whale meat and blubber can have high levels of contamination, but recommends consumers be guided by advice it issued in 1998 stating that one or two pilot whale meals per month are safe to consume. Part of me feels horrified by the slaughter of these whales but another part of me feels that we slaughter chickens and cows for our consumption and not as many people are writing articles on it or protesting how horrific the conditions they live in are, so I'd be a hypocrite if I say it disgusts me that people want to eat whale meat but I enjoy eating beef and chicken and don't care much how they are killed as long as I get to eat it. I guess it is a matter of taste and what kind of meat do people prefer to eat.

Link to site: http://www.theecologist.org/News/news_round_up/687202/warning_over_contaminated_whale_meat_as_faroe_islands_killing_continues.html

21) Deformed Toad Artist

New York artist, activist and ecological researcher Brandon Ballengee blends science with art by photographing deformities among amphibian populations known as the Malamp project. "The Case of the Deviant Toad" his first London solo exhibition, was the artistic result of his 'eco-actions' and study of UK toad populations. Ballengee worked for over two years to study possible causes of toads with deformities including parasites, predators or chemical pollution. "The Case of the Deviant Toad" represents the artistic leg of the project and it was a spotlight on amphibian deformity with its high-resolution scanner photos and preserved specimens of deformed toads. Ballengee developed a chemical process that stains the bones and cartilage with colours and leaves the skin transparent. The stained amphibians are then scanned at very high resolution and turned into large-scale watercolor prints scaled up to the size of a human toddler attempting to evoke empathy rather than fear. Resembling X-rays, the disturbing, yet beautiful images are unique, intended to recall the individuality of the life of every frog.

After browsing through the images of the frogs and reading about the artist's process, I think it is a great way to raise awareness of what is happening to these toads. I think art as a way of protesting the effects of global warming on the environment is a great way to reach the public and create reactions.

Link to site: http://www.theecologist.org/how_to_make_a_difference/wildlife/451908/deformed_toad_artist_hopes_to_win_public_sympathy_for_amphibians.html

20) Nonstick Pans can Affect our Hormones

A group of chemicals found in common household items may be having dangerous effects on our hormones, new research shows. A study on sheep and cells grown in the laboratory by Norwegian vets found that perfluorinated compounds found in water resistant clothes and non-stick frying pans can affect the body's steroid hormones including estrogen, testosterone and cortisol. These hormones are necessary for regulating a number of bodily functions in humans and animals, including our ability to reproduce. The research also discovered similar effects caused by polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), a group of chemicals that have been banned since the 1970s but continue to persist in the environment. To regulate he use of PFCs one could try to limit the use of clothes treated with water and grease repellent containing PFCs. It may also be wise to use cookware coated with non-stick "Teflon"-type coatings with care, especially when damaged. Alternatively, one may consider going back to the good old-fashioned cast iron frying pan. The DuPont corporation, which produces Teflon products disputed the findings saying that 'while some associations have been reported, no human effects are known to be caused byPFOA (the PFC chemical in Teflon products)'. Ever since my mom read about Teflo products being bad for your health she has changed to cast irons and stainless steel which do not release as many chemicals into the food as Teflon. However, like the article says, the incremental risks are small but regardless, a little bit at a time can add up to a lot so I rather follow my mom's advice and not use Teflon products to look after my health in the future.

Link to site: http://www.theecologist.org/News/news_round_up/570519/nonstick_pans_can_affect_our_hormones_new_research_suggests.html

19) Eco-clothes!

Eco360 Trust produces recycled shirts with 5 major benefits to the environment, society and to companies promoting their green practices. Eco360 Trust is a campaign of the non-profit Institute for Sustainable Communication which advises professionals on sustainability issues. Eco360 Trust raises funds for ISC's education program by producing customized performance apparel made from 100% recycled PET plastic bottles. All net proceeds pay for college scholarships for low income students.

The 5 benefits of the Eco360 shirts are:

1. The shirts are made out of 100% recycled PET
2. The e360s save fresh water. they are printed digitally so no fresh water is used to dye the fabric
3. The e360s create U.S. jobs
4. The e360s support education for low-income students
5. The e360s help companies improve their credibility by putting their sustainability commitment into practice

These shirts sound like an awesome deal plus the designs are very cool. I will be definitively getting one when they are more available in the market. After visiting the website I saw they currently have 6 designs available, each is $37.00 and they have six different names for six different causes they support or colors they represent in the environment: sky, cloud, meadow, water, soil and moss :)

Link to site: http://eco360.me/

18) One Scientist's Hobby: Recreating the Ice Age

This weekend on the news I stumbled upon an article that talked about Russian scientist, Sergey Zimov, trying to recreate the ice age by relocating animals such as wild horses, moose, reindeer, bison and deer, back to the place where they once roamed in millions to demonstrate that by filling the vast emptiness of Siberia with grass-eating animals will slow down global warming. This seems like an interesting theory and of course one I would be willing to support, after all, animals once roamed free and the Earth looked better than ever before we started destroying it. Herbivores keep wild grass short and healthy sending up fresh shoots through the summer and autumn. In the winter, the animals trample and flatten the snow that otherwise would insulate the ground from the cold air. That helps prevent the frozen ground, or permafrost, from thawing and releasing powerful greenhouse gases. Today, Zimov has 70 animals in the park and some like the wild horses come regularly to a cabin where a caretaker stays year-round. The cost of bringing more animals to Siberia seems to be the problem as 1,000 bison from North America would cost $1 million to bring, but this theory, if proven correct, would mean that scientists from other parts of the world could do the same thing to areas that have been affected by the lack of animals grazing around.

Link to site: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101127/ap_on_re_eu/eu_russia_ice_age_park

17) Earth as Art

Looking through National Geographic's website this week I came across the Earth as Art gallery in which pictures from the Earth-observing Landsat satellites, jointly managed by NASA and the USGS take pictures of the Earth that are so beautiful they can be described as art. The pictures range from congregations of greenish phytoplankton in Sweden's dark water, to an ancient and eroded meteor crater in the Algerian Sahara. These pictures were taken from 2002-to present. They show just another view of how beautiful our planet is, the wonderful things that go on in the environment and hopefully will raise awareness to better care for our Earth.

Link to online gallery: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2010/11/photogalleries/101119-satellite-pictures-earth-as-art-australia-glaciers-mountains-clouds/#/earth-art-van-gogh-gotland-sweden-island-phytoplankton-bloom_29158_600x450.jpg

16) Why Wild Turkeys Are Rarely Served for Thanksgiving Dinner

There's a the traditional way to look at turkeys: As holiday food although it wasn't part of the Thanksgiving menu until the 1860s and didn't dominate the holiday meal until after WWII. There's the modern traditional way of looking at turkeys: Food from a factory farm where nowadays the average U.S. residents eat 17 pounds of turkey a year. There's the alternative traditional way to look at turkeys: organic, locally grown, free range and heritage breed turkeys, which let you enjoy a traditional holiday meal without consuming the inhumanely raised, antibiotic-injected, pesticide-laden-feed-eating turkeys. Finally there's the traditional traditional way to look at turkeys: wild turkeys.

However, here are 7 surprising facts about turkeys:

1. The Broad Breasted White Turkey is the bird sold virtually in every supermarket.
2. Many of the approximately 25,000 heritage breed turkeys raised each year are consumed around Thanksgiving
3. Turkey does have L-trytophan but not enough to make you sleepy
4. Wild turkeys were nearly wiped out from the U.S. by overzealous hunters
5. A Broad Breasted White turkey will grow to a weight of 35 pounds in just 19 weeks
6. Turkeys recognize each other by their unique voices and 20 distinct vocalizations
7. Turkey hunting is the second most popular hunting sport behind deer hunting, but few people eat wild turkeys on Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving!

Link to site: http://www.thedailygreen.com/environmental-news/latest/turkey-facts

15) Investigation finds panic led to Cambodia stampede that killed 456

Last week on the news I read about a human stampede in Cambodia that had killed over 400 people. The other only times I've heard about human stampedes is when dealing with sports events and concerts, so I was curious to follow up on the story and see what was the cause of this stampede. Authorities have now confirmed that the swaying of a suspension bridge lead to fears it would collapse and resulted in a stampede that killed 456 people at a Cambodia festival. Police fired water canons to get people to continue moving across the footbridge which lead to an island in the center of a river and that caused panic. The government said it will help to transport the bodies of those who died and pay 5 million riel to the family of each of the deceased. The three-day Water Festival in the city of Phnom Penh is held each November near the palace to honor a victory by Cambodian naval forces during the 12th century reign of King Jayavarman VII. During the festival, which includes boat races, participants pray for a good rice harvest and enough rain, and celebrate the full moon. More than 4 million people were attending the Water Festival when the stampede occurred, a number lost consciousness and fell into the water.

Link to site: http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/11/24/cambodia.festival.deaths/index.html

14) Wonder Food Spreads to Middle East

A nutritious blue-green algae known as spirulina has been added to school meals in Jordan to combat chronic malnutrition and anaemia among children. The Intergovernmental Institution for the use of Micro-algae Spirulina against Malnutrition which has observer status with the UN Economic and Social Council says spirulina is rich in protein and vitamin B, as well as containing beta-carotene that can overcome eye problems caused by vitamin A deficiency. A tablespoon a day can eliminate iron anaemia, the most common mineral deficiency. Almost 1 in 10 children in Jordania suffer from chronic malnutrition, or long-term protein or energy deficiency while a third are anaemic. It is interesting to see all the benefits of spirulina and how it has been added to school means in Jordan. Hopefully the U.S. follows this example soon as it continues to battle the meals served in schools and the high rates of obesity and diabetes in children these days due to malnutrition and poor meal choices. It is not that people don't know there are other foods out there that are better for them, we all make conscious choices about what we eat but children should not be given the responsibility of choosing what they eat when they are that young because the obvious choice would be junk which would affect their development.

Link to site: http://www.enn.com/agriculture/article/42040

13) Tigers Could Be Extinct in 12 Years

Tigers will become extinct in 12 years if countries where they still roam fail to take quick action to protect their habitats and step up the fight against poaching. The WWF and other experts say only about 3.200 tigers remain in the wild which is a dramatic plunge from an estimated 100,000 a century ago. Ever since our last presentation when a classmate talked about the extinction of tigers it became more real to me that this species really is in danger. You always hear that animals are in danger of becoming extinct but when you are presented with dates and numbers you don't realize how big of a threat we really are to them. This is very sad news, specially how they are being hunted down in China for traditional medicine amongst other parts of the world. Thankfully, the countries that still have tiger populations are: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand, Vietnam, and Russia. "Wild tigers are not only a symbol of all that is splendid, mystical and powerful about nature" the Global Tiger Initiative said. "The loss of tigers and degradation of their ecosystems would inevitably result in a historic, cultural, spiritual, and environmental catastrophe for the tiger range countries". Hopefully things are going to start changing and people realize they need to invest time and money to protect these tigers.

Link to site: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/eu_russia_saving_tigers

12) Modern Insecticides' Devastating Effects

A new class of insecticides known as neoncotinoids is believed to be causing drastic population declines in bird species. Due to its effectiveness in killing insects, it has deprived birds of their basic food. Neonicotinoids, are essentially glued to plant seeds and infiltrate the entire plant. Any bug that eats the plant is immediately infected. The toxin attacks the central nervous system and causes a quick death. However, it is much less toxic to other animals. Henk Tennekes has linked the decline in bird populations in his recent book by stating that evidence shows the bird species suffering massive declines since the 1990s rely on insects for their diet. Neoicotinoids are used in a level far lower than DDT was used back in its time but since it is so efficient at killing insects, it is having the same effect. More research is needed to conclusively link neonicotinoids to avian declines. This is another clear example of how every organism is interconnected. You can't try to eliminate a problem without wondering how that will affect other organisms who might depend on that "problem" to feed themselves. However, I believe pesticides are necessary nowadays due to the number of bugs and plagues in crops being more and more resistant everyday and we have yet to see an eco friendly pesticide that does not affect other organisms at all.

Link to site: http://www.enn.com/wildlife/article/42009

11) Green Thanksgiving!

As Thanksgiving approaches, I thought it was interesting how this article talked about planning an eco-friendly feast! The first step is deciding wether or not you want a 100% vegan menu which would be the most eco-friendly meal but most people don't want tofu shaped like a turkey so the article's advice is to choose a turkey that the USDA has certified organic and free-range. Of course free-range doesn't mean free from confinement but it is better than caged..or so it might make a person feel :) If turkey is not what you like to eat, there is a link with plenty of meat-less options as well as vegetarian gravy. Visit the local farmer's market for the freshest ingredients to make your mashed potatoes! And if you can't find a local farmer's market in your area, try to purchase as many organic, in-season ingredients at the grocery store as you can. Another helpful tip is to ask people to RSVP that way you can monitor unnecessary food waste, and ask your guests to bring a reusable dish to share leftovers. Enjoy!

Link to site: http://www.sierraclubgreenhome.com/featured/white-christmas-how-about-a-green-thanksgiving/

10) Harry Potter fans threaten India's owls

Die-hard fans are threatening India's owl population as demands for them continues to increase. Demands for owl parts in ancient rituals are also blamed and much of these owls are wanted as pets.The report's author, Abrar Ahmed started his research into the illegal trade of owls when a friend asked him to procure an owl for her son's Harry Potter themed birthday party. Traditional practitioners in India known locally as tantriks, also demand owl bones, feathers, claws and organs as well as the bird's blood and tears for ceremonial rituals. It is sad that there is an illegal trade going on and people don't realize that owls are not pets to be kept in a cage, as it happens in the movie, and that they need room to fly and hunt for food. I hope the government and local wildlife protection groups take action and educate people.

Link to site: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40002937/ns/world_news-world_environment/

9) Italian city buried in trash

2,400 tons of trash have piled up in the streets of Naples, Italy. City trash hasn't been collected due to public outrage of a proposed city dump. Residents are protesting not only the building of a new landfill, but the conditions of an existing landfill, which they say poses an environmental and health hazard. Last week Italian Prime Minister, Berlusconi, promised that within 10 days the situation should be brought back to normality. He also mentioned that the current landfill poses no risk to the residents. I can only imagine the smell and all the diseases that are carried by trash. Hopefully, the government will move into quick action otherwise, like I said, diseases might start spreading and it will be harder to control.

Link to site: http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_newsroom/20101025/wl_yblog_newsroom/in-photos-an-italian-city-buried-in-trash

8) Artic of old is gone

Ok so its not new that the Artic is melting because of global warming but seeing a before and after picture just somehow makes it that much more real. Yes, the Artic keeps warming up and highly unlikely to return to earlier conditions according to an annual report card issued Thursday by top scientists. The report card tells a story of widespread continued and even dramatic effects of a warming Artic. In 2009 there was a slowdown in Artic warming but the first half of 2010 shows a near record pace with monthly anomalies of over 4 degrees Centigrade in northern Canada. Beyond affecting the humans and wildlife that call the area home, the Artic's warmer temperatures and decreases in permafrost, snow cover, glaciers and sea ice also have wide ranging consequences for the physical and biological systems in other parts of the world.

Link to site: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/39779522/ns/us_news-environment/

7) Russia Fires and Pakistan Floods linked?

Two deadly natural disasters this year, the Russian wildfires and the Pakistan floods, may be connected by the Asian monsoon, one of the most powerful atmospheric forces on the planet. The reason why is because the monsoon brings rain and floods to Pakistan and much of the rest of Asia in summer. The air pumped into the upper atmosphere by monsoon winds has to come down somewhere and much of that air seems to be settling over Russia where it's creating high-pressure conditions, which favor heat waves. Circulation patterns such as the one described above are usually normal but they're also being enhanced by rising sea temperatures due mostly to global warming. This doesn't come as a surprise to me as, the more environmental news I read, the more I make a connection between everything and how global warming is really taking its toll on our Earth. Pakistan has had its worst flood in 80 years, which has affected nearly 14 million people and Russia has had the worst heat wave ever. The link between the Russian fires and the Pakistan floods "is a great example that things that happen in the atmosphere don't occur in isolation"

Link to site: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2010/08/100812-russian-wildfires-pakistan-floods-global-warming-science-environment/

6) 20 year old woman becomes top cop in violent Mexican municipality

This week I was surprised to hear about 20-year old Marisol Valles Garcia who became the police chief in a town near drug cartel capital Juarez, Mexico. Nobody else applied for the job as everyone is afraid of the recent killings of police officers, including the former mayor of Guadalupe. It is admirable that Marisol, despire being afraid as everyone else is of the drug cartels, would take on this job motivated by the desire to make her community a safer living place.

More than 28,000 people have died in Mexico due to the country's drug violence since President Felipe Calderon declared war on the cartel's in 2006.

Link to site: http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_upshot/20101020/wl_yblog_upshot/college-student-named-police-chief-in-violence-plagued-mexican-town-after-no-one-else-would-apply

5) Plastic Bag bans!

It is very exciting to see more and more cities join the national effort to ban plastic bags from supermarkets by proposing taxes on them! Back home in Mexico over the summer we were informed through the newspapers that major shopping centers like Wal-Mart would no longer give away free plastic bags so the options were to pay for them or bring your own from home. I'm not sure if this rule was enforced or if it still is but it was great to see people becoming aware of the fact that plastic bags are terrible for the environment due to the long time they take to decompose. California didn't pass a statewide tax on plastic bags but states such as Texas, Alaska, and Hawaii now have a 20% tax on plastic bags and in Washington D.C. plastic bag use dropped from 22 million to 3 million in a month thanks to taxes!! I think this is a great initiative and it would be great if every state passed a similar law then the US could really reduce the amount of plastic bags used nationwide in no time :)

Link to site: http://www.grist.org/article/2010-10-08-plastic-bag-bans-sweep-cities-across-nation/

4) New County Park at Creekwood

There is a new 25-acre county park being built near Creekwood area. The park will include a play lot, dog park, playing field, picnic tables, pavillion, parking lot and restrooms. I think it is great that they are building this park and that the director of Manatee County Parks and Recreations mentioned the plans to build this park go back more than a decade ago, as well as considering that the people living near the area have been requesting a dog park. It is expected to be completed within the next 9-12 months. The neighbors are more than excited to have a play lot for their children and overall I think parks are great for communities, people can enjoy being out and kids can learn to have more fun outside than indoors. Good Job Manatee County!!

3) 10/10/10 at Ringling

So this whole week we celebrated Wellness Week at Ringling concluding with Sunday's 10/10/10 celebration yet, where are the students? I was lucky to be able to attend a couple of the events planned this week such as the Organic cooking demo, Harvest Fest, and the Sunrise Yoga, but not a lot of people seemed interested in attending or making the time or effort to attend this events. Judging by the way the campus looks over the weekends, students don't seem to care about the environment they live in and study in. There is always trash around the CJ area, people don't respect the designated smoking areas, etc. It is sad to see that people have not been educated or brought up to care for the environment. This week it was even more disappointing to know that students were not as interested in the events the school had planned for the week. I am thankful for the different events we had, the time and money that went to bringing speakers to campus and organizing trips, but I hope people will be more interested in their environment, starting by taking care of their own school and themselves.

2) China's one child policy

Today while at work I was busy looking through the news when I stumbled upon an article that mentioned China's one child policy. This year marks 30 years since the policy was first implemented and according to officials, the policy will not be dropped. Looking back on the history of this policy, Mao Zedong proclaimed in 1949 that "Of all the things in the world, people are the most precious" and thus the communist government condemned birth control and banned imports of contraceptives. This lead to a rapid population growth. However, China's population dropped by half from 1970-1976 due tot he Cultural Revolution and a massive famine. In 1979 the policy was finally established where couples are required to have only one child.

What I gather from this article is that countries around the world and even within within China are worried that the population is now aging very quickly. This law has prevented around 400 million births since 1979 but what were the measures taken to make sure people would obey this law? There have been reports of forced abortions or sterilizations, and couples found with more than one child, without a government permit, are fined thousands of dollars.

It is very sad to learn that boys are culturally preferred and this has led to female infanticide. As a result of this there is a gender imbalance going on. There aren't enough young people working in factories, which is a problem that can only get worse.

Link to site:http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/09/27/china.one.child.policy/index.html?hpt=T2

1) And on the CNN top news...

I am a huge fan of reading the news on CNN.com daily thats why it always angers me when stupid news like.."Lindsay Lohan gets her probation revoked and Paris Hilton admits the cocaine found inside her purse last month was indeed hers" make it to the top most watched news. Why is it that people are so interested in others lives? Particularly celebrities..it seems the ever-growing reality tv shows can't end our hunger for more gossip, more stories, more drama, and we become less and less interested in what goes on in our environment. For example I found the following news extremely interesting mostly because of the captivating image it had, which makes it seem almost fake..like it was all set up?

Thousands of belly-up fish were discovered in the Bayou Chaland area of Louisiana. I don't know much about fish except they need oxygen to survive and apparently there is a time of the year in particular were the oxygen is low called "dead-zone" that forms off the Gulf. The Gulf oil spill expanded this dead zone when oil-eating bacteria gobbled up more oxygen than usual. Speaking of which...I don't think ANYONE has a right to point their finger to BP. I've never blamed them for what happened because it was an accident it could have happened to anyone. People are so greedy and can never have enough oil, look at the society we live in...our needs make us dig deeper and deeper everytime, but when something like this happens its easy to blame the company. I honestly feel bad for them and I believe they are doing everything they can, it is us to blame for the oil spill, not them...they are just trying to satisfy this society's endless needs.

Link to site: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2010/09/100916-fish-kill-louisiana-gulf-oil-spill-dead-zone-science-environment/