The Go Green Debate

In recent years, the declining population of the honey bee in the U.S. has caused a trickle-down effect into other agricultural endeavors. This trickle-down effect doesn’t start with the decline of the bees themselves though. It starts from something known as Colony Collapse Disorder, which is a phrase for the fact that something is causing the entire bee colony to die off but no one really knows exactly why.

Penn State scientists have been analyzing pollen, wax, adult bees and brood (larvae), which led to the discovery of the presence of dozens of environmental chemicals, including pesticides used by agricultural producers to protect crops.

“This raises several complicated questions. Some of these compounds could react with each other to cause toxic effects or could combine with viruses or poor nutrition to weaken immunity and cause colony collapse. With the sheer number of compounds we’re finding in hives, it’s hard to believe that pesticides aren’t contributing to the general decline in bee health.”
- Maryann Frazier, senior extension associate in entomology

As the Olympics near, China has embarked on several measures to improve air quality, such as limiting the use of cars and the closing of dozens of factories.

Apparently, these efforts have had little impact. The Air Pollution Index, or API, (the API measures particulate matter) in Beijing has hovered over 101, however the API must be below 101 for the athletes safety.

As a result, the Chinese are implementing an “Emergency Green Plan”, banning 90% of the 3.3M private cars from the roads, and temporarily closing even more factories.

Does the President hate the environment?

Well, in this news clip by The Real News, a non-profit news and documentary network focused on providing independent and uncompromising journalism, Bush calls for lifting a 27-year old ban on offshore drilling.

AS+GG, a local Chicago architect firm has proposed the Eco-Bridge as part of the city’s Green Initiative. The proposed Eco-Bridge is basically a 2 mile long breakwater that will offer residents and visitors great views from the bridge’s footpaths and futuristic observation tower, as well as a calm spot for boating.

AS+GG plans are intended to showcase the city’s dedication to sustainability and will include building the breakwater foundation on slag, a byproduct of steel-making, and the slag would be permeable, allowing fish to use it as a habitat. Plus the Bridge will house a wind farm to add to the sustainability theme.

The project is also intended to enhance Chicago’s bid to host the 2016 Olympic Games. The observation tower is a prominent and central place to house the Olympic flame and the breakwater provides ample space for rowing and sailing events in calm water, which could offer terrific viewer access for these events.

But is the Bridge really Eco? Or is this just part of Chicago’s PR spin to become the “Greenest City in America“?

What is Pangea Day?

Pangea Day is a four-hour film festival of “user-generated films and TED-style short talks from scientists, filmmakers, and global visionaries.” The event will air internationally May 10th, 2008 on television and online.

Below is a video featuring Cameron Diaz urging support for the day & why it is so important.

For more information on how to take part, check out Pangea Day’s official website.

What is Earth Day?

Earth Day, April 22, marks the anniversary of the modern environmental movement in 1970. It is an annual celebration of the environment and intended to inspire awareness of & appreciation for the Earth’s environment.

Earth Day was initiated in 1970 by Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson, who started a “teach-in” to protest the government’s environmental ignorance. This eventually led to legislation including the Environmental Policy Act (1969), the Clean Air Act (1970), the Clean Water Act (1977) and fuel efficiency standards for automobiles.

AP reports that officials of eighteen states are suing the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) in an attempt to force it to comply with a Supreme Court ruling last April that found the EPA has authority to regulate vehicle emission.

In the petition the plaintiffs said last April’s 5-4 ruling required the EPA to decide whether to regulate greenhouse gas emissions.

The EPA has done nothing.

The petition asks the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit to require the EPA to act within 60 days.

The plaintiffs in the latest court action include Coakley and attorneys general from Arizona, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington and the District of Columbia, plus representatives of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and the cities of New York and Baltimore, and several environmental organizations.

The debate continues with the bottled water verse tap water scandal. We all know that tap water is better for the environment, but is it safe? And what about the taste? Check out this 20/20 clip where they break it all down and finally answer all your questions about drinking water.

On Thursday, March 13 at the ECO:nomics conference in California, the president and CEO of Wal-Mart, Lee Scott Jr., clearly stated in an interview:

“We are not green.” - Lee Scott Jr.

However, Wal-Mart has very publicized efforts to reduce their carbon footprint, even dedicating a whole section of there website to this effort.

“Focusing on the environment is key to our mission to improve the quality of life for people around the world. Environmental leadership is critical to our future ability to grow and thrive as a company.” - Wal-Mart

But it is very clear that Wal-Marts focus is to save money, not please environmentalists.

“It really is about how you take cost out, which is waste.” - Lee Scott Jr.

“In order to solve the climate crisis, we have to solve the democracy crisis.” - Al Gore

At the closing session of the Technology, Entertainment and Design conference (TED) in Monterey, California on Saturday, March 1st, Al Gore delivered a speech insisting that the public become more active and insistent about the environmental problems we are facing in order to force politicians out of their complacency.

“As important as it is to change the light bulbs, it’s more important to change the laws.” - Al Gore