- California is considering a bill that would tax gas-guzzling vehicles and use that tax to provide rebates for those who drive clean cars.
- Slate has a really great article about using treated wastewater for potable water, and why we should all be doing it. I’ve been making this argument for years!
- Farmers in Southern California may actually start selling their water to LA rather than use it for irrigation, since they are likely to make more money that way.
- Demand for meat has significantly increased around the world in recent years, primarily due to increased wealth and rising number of factory farms. Factory farms consume large amounts of energy, pollute water supplies, and contribute greenhouse gases. About two to five times more grain is required to produce the same amount of calories through livestock as through direct grain consumption.
- Conservation organizations are concerned that their efforts to preserve wildlife and their habitats are not sufficient when facing global warming.
- Solar power is being perceived as a viable alternative energy source, primarily in California, where most of the companies developing photovoltaic cells in the United States are located.
- The CIA is the latest organization to go green – their new facilities have buildings that have received LEED silver and gold ratings.
- Bejing is trying desperately to clean its skies before the Olympics in August. They’ll need help from the whole region to achieve it though.
- Ireland has done the impossible – persuaded the public to stop using plastic bags and use their own cloth bags instead. 5 years after the government imposed a tax on plastic bags, the use of plastic bags decreased by 94%. Can we do something similar in the US? Unlike Ireland, we have plastic bag manufacturers in the States to contend with.
- How can we expect people to care about melting glaciers when people still litter like crazy on their trips to see the glaciers? Do they not realize the irony?
Photo of Antarctic glaciers from my brother Elan, recently returned from his own trip to Patagonia
