Category: ENVIRONMENT

Tapping into Traditional Conservation Techniques in Jordan

Overgrazing was threatening to convert much of Jordan’s countryside into deserts, but then the country revived a tradition that Bedouins used more than 1,400 years ago. The tradition is called himas, an Arabic word that translates as ”protected places.” By bridging tradition, culture, conservation and even religious faith, it sets aside lands for rotational grazing…

ENVIRONMENT

Microalgae Shows Promise as Sustainable Energy Source

Microalgae offer a promising path forward in our search for sustainable energy solutions. By harnessing these microscopic organisms, we can produce biofuels that serve as a genuine alternative to fossil fuels, potentially making significant strides in reducing CO2 emissions and addressing climate change. This approach represents a thoughtful and innovative way to meet our energy…

ENVIRONMENT

Private Space Trash, Public Problem

The number of satellites orbiting the earth is increasing at an alarming rate, and most of the increase is coming from private companies, especially StarLink, the satellite internet service operated by SpaceX and helmed by billionaire Elon Musk. Starlink has become such a problem, in fact, that a major nonprofit is urging the United States to pause them….

ENVIRONMENT

We Need a Crackdown on Landfill Gas Emissions

Landfills account for more than 17 percent of human-caused methane pollution, making them the third highest-emitting U.S. sector for the pollutant, trailing only agriculture and oil and gas. And yet, controlling emissions from landfills costs far less than it does to achieve similar reductions in other sectors. The EPA has taken notice of this, and…

ENVIRONMENT

High-Speed Passenger Rail to Connect Richmond-Raleigh

Ground has been broken for construction of a high-speed passenger rail line that will connect Raleigh, N.C., and Richmond, Va. A date has not been set for the service’s inauguration, but once in operation the trains will move at speeds of 110 miles an hour, thus saving more than an hour of travel time between…

CULTURE & LIFESTYLE

Did Your City Make the List of Best Cities for Biking?

Traffic accidents are killing bicyclists in ever-increasing numbers, but some big cities are working to improve matters. Here are some of the best U.S. cities for biking in 2024. The best U.S. cities for biking in 2024 https://www.smartcitiesdive.com/news/best-cities-to-bike-2024-peopleforbikes-minneapolis-seattle-san-francisco/719868/ Related Reading

CULTURE & LIFESTYLE

RESOURCE SPOTLIGHT: Where Plastic is Produced in the US

This new interactive map/report from PIRG serves as a wake-up call, highlighting the pressing need for change in how we produce, use, and dispose of plastic. It’s crucial to understand that the growth in plastic output is directly connected to the expansion of fossil fuel extraction and processing activities. And as we know, the environmental…

ACT NOW

How to Confront Climate Change Denial

Despite the overwhelming evidence that humans are causing climate changes that endanger us all, naysayers and gadflies insist it is either not happening or is wildly exaggerated. Here’s a guide to their most popular theories, and why they are so wrong. How to Refute Climate Change Deniers https://whowhatwhy.org/science/environment/how-to-refute-climate-change-deniers Related Reading

ENVIRONMENT

Will ‘Behavior Modification’ Strategy Work on Tourists?

Tourists in several European countries have been damaging the environment so badly that the countries have been striking back by slapping them with fees and various restrictions, but Copenhagen has another idea: rewarding visitors who act responsibly Copenhagen Tries Rewards for Good Tourist Behavior http://archive.today/7kz0W Related Reading

CULTURE & LIFESTYLE