Archives
The Unseen Trigger Behind Human Tragedies
Read the full article online at http://www.takepart.com “Syria’s civil war and mass exodus has become, to many global citizens, another source of compassion fatigue. But before it was a war zone, it was the cradle of civilization, with marvelous ruins at Palmyra, Bosra, and Krak de Chevaliers bearing the marks of myriad cultures; Damascus and Aleppo […]
The Coming Public Health Disaster
Read the full article online at http://www.usnews.com “NASA scientists recently confirmed that August was the hottest month in recorded history. It tied this past July for that dubious honor. Meteorologists are linking this heat to the recent spate of extreme flooding worldwide – everywhere from Louisiana to China. However, global warming isn’t just an environmental […]
Pollution particles ‘get into brain’
Read the full article online at http://www.bbc.com “Tiny particles of pollution have been discovered inside samples of brain tissue, according to new research. Suspected of toxicity, the particles of iron oxide could conceivably contribute to diseases like Alzheimer’s – though evidence for this is lacking. The finding – described as “dreadfully shocking” by the researchers – raises […]
WATCH:THE IDIOT CYCLE
The award-winning documentary The Idiot Cycle (2009) about the companies involved in producing toxic chemicals, cancer treatments and genetically modified crops. Directed by Emmanuelle Schick Garcia and produced by Laila Tahhar and JPS Films.
U.S. preterm births tied to air pollution cost $4 billion a year
U.S. premature births linked to air pollution cost more than $4 billion a year in medical care and lost economic opportunity, a new analysis estimates.
S. Florida Republicans Tackle Climate Change
Republican Rep. Carlos Curbelo and Democratic Rep. Ted Deutch, whose South Florida districts are already enduring increased flooding, salt water intrusion and other effects of rising sea levels, are leading the first truly bipartisan congressional effort to tackle climate change.
100% Edible Six-Pack Ring
Drinking beer to save ocean life? Cheers to that. Saltwater Brewery in Florida has partnered with the New York-based ad agency We Believers to create a plastic-free six-pack ring that feeds marine life, rather than choking or ensnarling them. The Edible Six Pack Ring is made from byproducts of the brewing process such as wheat and barley, making it the first 100 percent biodegradable, compostable and edible packaging implemented in the beer industry.
Climate Change Affects Your Brain Too
We have a pretty good idea of what climate change will do to the landscape: melt it, flood it, tear it up in freak superstorms, turn it into desert. But what will climate change do to us—to our bodies and minds?
Florida’s Coasts and Their Ecosystems are in Danger
“Central Florida’s Indian River Lagoon, North Florida’s Apalachicola Bay and a trio of coastal estuaries in South Florida are in the throes of ecosystem collapses that threaten sea grass, fisheries, recreation and local economies.
What’s to blame? A historic toll of chronic pollution and crippled drainage has been compounded by drought in recent years and El Niño downpours this winter. The troubled environments are far apart, but their stories are similar and even intertwined.”
Bacterium That Eats Our Plastic Waste
“Hundreds of millions of tons of PET (polyethylene terephthalate) plastic are produced each year to package everything from sodas to shampoo. That only a fraction of this is recycled leaves much of it to rest in landfills and the ocean. But efforts to deal with this monumental mess may soon receive a much-needed boost, with scientists in Japan discovering a new bacterium with the ability to completely break down PET plastics in a relatively short space of time.”
