Environment
Since Katrina, the Environment Is Front-Page News
Ever since the end of August, when Hurricane Katrina devastated the major American city of New Orleans and the coastlines of Louisiana, Mississippi, and parts of Alabama, the consequences of environmental degradation have been front-page news. Politicians and ordinary citizens are openly discussing what scientists have believed for years: that the widespread destruction of wetlands along the Gulf coast eliminated a natural buffer zone which in the past had served to slow down powerful hurricanes before they hit dense population areas...So, Donald… An Open Letter to Donald Trump
Soaring oil and gas prices and the devastation of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita have finally brought an issue into sharp focus for the public: When it comes to energy, we're in trouble! We import far more crude oil than we produce in the United States; fully 70 percent of our oil comes from five countries in the Middle East, arguably the most volatile and politically unstable region in the world...Retailers Spread the Word with Environmentally Friendly Products.
Supermarkets and other retailers are jumping on board the environmental consciousness train, promoting more and more of their products as environmentally friendly; meanwhile, mainstream food manufacturers are opting in to the organic food trend...Alternative Fuels: A Look at Wood, Wood and Corn Pellets, and Waste Oil
With gas and oil prices rising, consumers, particularly in cold winter climates, are looking at a variety of alternative fuels for home heating. Wood, a traditional fuel, is regaining popularity while more modern alternatives, such as wood and corn pellets and waste oil, are more routinely used...Buy the Right Car, Save a Polar Bear
A recent series of news stories suggests that polar ice caps are melting "faster than expected," and that this phenomenon may result in the extinction of one of humanity's favorite animals, the polar bear...Upscale Goes Green: Homeowners Focus Increasingly on Sustainable Energy, Renewable Building Materials
A quiet revolution is going on in the real estate sector. Many successful professionals are putting considerable money into building their own dream homes, and many of those professionals are choosing to build according to green principles...Sustainable Forestry Practices Adopted by Many Lumber Companies in the U.S.
There's arguably nothing more visually pleasing than the smooth, natural beauty of a piece of finely crafted furniture, or the simple elegance of a beautifully finished hardwood floor. But for many years, concerns have been raised about harvesting old-growth hardwood forests for use in the furniture and building industries...Local Energy Production Makes Sense
With the crisis in oil and natural gas prices, the continued violence in the Middle East, and the environmental concerns brought front and center by hurricanes Katrina and Rita, alternative fuels have managed to become a topic of conversation in the mainstream media. ...Wood Pellets: A Renewable Fuel with Low Emissions Offers Hope for the Environment
Long before oil and propane became the standard for heating residential and commercial buildings, wood provided heat for both cooking and heating. Fireplaces and then wood stoves provided warmth in cold winter climates for centuries, until central heating replaced them. ...Post-Katrina Wetlands Restoration May Slow Down Powerful Storms
Since Hurricane Katrina hit Louisiana, Mississippi, and part of Alabama at the end of August of 2005, global warming and the destruction of wetlands have shared in the blame for the devastation of the Gulf Coast. An increase in the temperature of the waters of the Gulf of Mexico is believed to have fueled the storm, substantially increasing its intensity, while the disappearance of wetlands - one U.S. Congresswoman estimated that fully 95 percent of U.S. coastal wetlands have been destroyed by development - has eliminated swamplands which have traditionally acted as a buffer for hurricanes...Choosing the Right Materials for Green Building
Green building principles are being adopted by an increasing number of architects and contractors, fueled by the demands of more environmentally conscious consumers. One primary focus of green building principles is the choice of the raw materials used in the construction of new houses. Timber harvested by selective cutting from sustainable forests, the use of woods salvaged during the demolition of old homes and outbuildings, and other materials from easily renewable resources are hallmarks of an ecologically sound building...Completing the Cycle: Goods Made from Recycled Materials
The environmental movement has succeeded in a big way over the past three decades, making recycling an almost universal practice in the United States. Even so, consumer purchase of goods manufactured from recycled materials, while growing, has lagged behind...Organic Cotton: An Environmentally Sound Choice for Many Reasons
Organic cotton products are becoming increasingly popular among environmentally conscious consumers. Goods ranging from clothing to bed linens to backpacks, totes, and other accessories are popping up in greater frequency as people become more aware of their existence...Ethanol: The Road to Energy Independence?
After Hurricanes Katrina and Rita impacted the Gulf Coast, gas and heating fuel prices spiked and caused a big stir, but things quieted down a bit when prices began to drop...Eco-friendly Coffee Cup Offers a Small Change with a Big Impact
Imagine if someone could make a small design change to an everyday item-say a paper coffee cup-that promises to make a huge impact on the world....Material Donations Make a Big Impact on Habitat Homebuilding
Habitat for Humanity, an international organization that constructs affordable homes for people with low or moderate incomes, depends largely on its corps of dedicated volunteers to donate their time.Looking for an Alternative Building Material? How Do Danielle Steel Novels Sound?
Straw bale housing, subterranean homes, houses made of flying concrete-prospective homeowners and contractors are coming up an increasing variety of alternative building materials that are environmentally friendly and sustainable.....Recent Events
"Mr. Miyagi" Dies at 73
Pat Noriyuki Morita, the character actor who made famous the character of Mr. Miyagi in the "Karate Kid" movies, has died at his home in Las Vegas at the age of 73...Michael Moore Accepts Paul Wellstone Award
On Saturday, November 19, Michael Moore received the First Annual Paul Wellstone Award at a meeting of the Progressive Democrats of Genesee County in Flint, Michigan...Volunteers the Only Helpful Presence in Parts of Post-Katrina Louisiana
Fifteen months after Hurricane Katrina devastated stretches of the Louisiana coastline, there is little evidence of governmental action. While residents give FEMA credit for removal of substantial amounts of debris, in terms of new housing in the area, most of it has been built by the residents themselves and volunteers ...Current Issues
Arthritis Pain May Involve an Allergic Reaction to Food
In at least some rheumatoid arthritis sufferers, the pain they feel may be an allergic reaction to a common group of food plants known as nightshades. Potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, zucchini, and eggplants are members of the same group of plants that has been implicated in arthritis pain...Banding Together for the Fallen Heroes Fund
Both Fox News pundit Bill O'Reilly and his nemesis, MS-NBC's Keith Olbermann, both pro-war Republicans and 2004 anti-war Democratic primary presidential candidate, U.S. congressman Dennis Kucinich of Ohio, have in common one thing: They all think the proposed Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund is a great idea...Teenagers Volunteer in Droves for Katrina Relief
Teenagers from around the United States are among the many volunteers who have offered their time and energy for post-Katrina relief efforts in the Gulf Coast states...The Rebuilding of the Gulf Coast Needs to Be a Top Priority
A year after Hurricane Katrina devastated large parts of Louisiana and Mississippi, over a quarter of a million people have found it impossible to return home, thousands of destroyed residences remain in piles of rubble on properties that don't have running water, sewage, or electricity, and homeowners...Retail Politics Alive and Well in New Hampshire
In response to attempts to create multi-state presidential primaries that would knock New Hampshire out of its traditional first-in-the-nation role, the small state's House and Senate passed a bill in 2006, signed into law by Governor John Lynch, which ensures the state's unique place in national politics...