IN THE NEWS…
Nation’s fail to reach agreement on plastic pollution
December 1, 2024
Talks on the world’s first treaty to tackle plastic pollution will continue in coming months, delegates said.
Source: The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/01/climate/united-nations-plastic-pollution.html?campaign_id=54&emc=edit_clim_20241203&instance_id=141198&nl=climate-forward®i_id=68979101&segment_id=184718&user_id=bc241d288b3bd2d661fd815915a28ec6
Inside the plastic industry’s battle to win over hearts and minds
November 27, 2024
Documents leaked from an industry group show how plastics companies are pushing back against a “tide of anti-plastic sentiment.”
Source: The New York Times, https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/27/climate/plastic-industry-internal-documents.html?campaign_id=54&emc=edit_clim_20241203&instance_id=141198&nl=climate-forward®i_id=68979101&segment_id=184718&user_id=bc241d288b3bd2d661fd815915a28ec6
Solving a 40-year mystery, scientists have identified a chemical found in millions of Americans’ tap water
November, 2024
For more than four decades, scientists have noticed a mysterious chemical in the treated drinking water of millions of people in the United States, but no one has been able to pinpoint exactly what it is, until now.
The authors of a new study believe the chemical—which they named chloronitramide anion—is a decomposition byproduct of chloramine, a chemical that many treatment plants use to make water safe to drink. About 113 million people drink tap water that exposes them to chloronitramide anion, the study says.
More research is needed to determine whether the byproduct could be harmful to human health, but the study authors say its properties are similar to those of other molecules that are toxic enough for the government to regulate them like nitrosamines, several of which the US Environmental Protection Agency classifies as probable human carcinogens.
The researchers suggest that in the meantime, if you’re concerned about your drinking water, a simple filter may help, like a Brita filter or other carbon-based filter. Regardless, a simple carbon-based filter makes a lot of sense to filter water coming out of the tap as there are many harmful chemicals that municipal water works aren’t required to remove.
Source: CNN Health: “Solving a 40-year mystery…”, by Jen Christenson, 11.21.24.
What you’re really swallowing when you drink bottled water
January 8, 2024
Do you drink bottled water? Listen up.
What you’re really swallowing when you drink bottled water is up to 1,000 times more plastic than scientists thought. A paper recently published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences by Columbia University scientists discovered 240,000 plastic particles per liter of bottled water, most of them in the form of ultra-small “nanoplastics.” Those nanoplastics—less than the width of a human hair—can infiltrate deeper into the human body than microplastics. Definitely NOT good for human health.
Not good for the environment, either. The world is drowning under the weight of plastic pollution, with more than 430 million tons of plastic produced annually and microplastics found in the world’s oceans, food, and drinking water, according to the United Nations Environment Program.
Be kind to your body. Do your part for the environment. Drink less bottled water. Better yet, don’t drink bottled water at all.
Source: The Washington Post, Breaking News, Environment Alert. Jan. 8, 2024.
Educate Yourself on the Dangers of PFAS
By Linda Mason Hunter
November, 2023
PFAS have been much in the news lately, mainly because they have been found in excessive levels in waterways throughout the country, coast to coast. Those around manufacturing or military facilities have exceptionally high levels, dangerous to human health.
PFAS are now found in the blood of 99% of people currently living on earth. It’s dangerous because this class of chemicals has been linked to an array of health issues, including an array of cancers, high cholesterol, liver disease, and decreased response to vaccines.
PFAS are called “forever chemicals” because they last for years in the environment. They don’t go away. You can’t kill it. You can only control it. What’s more, they not only stay in the human body, they bioaccumulate as exposure increases.
PFAS stands for polyfluoroalkyl substances, a class of “forever chemicals” found in a host of household products, including cooking oil, dental floss, tomato sauce, ketchup, parchment paper, yoga pants, sports bras, bamboo flooring, and toothpaste, to name a few. Teflon and Gore-Tex are two bad actors, but any product claiming to be water resistant or no-stick probably contains PFAS.
If you want to learn more about PFAS, check out two entertaining websites. The first is a YouTube video of comedian John Oliver riffing on the causes and concerns of PFAS from his “Last Week Tonight” television show. The second is ewg.org, website of the Environmental Working Group, where you’ll find an interactive map of locations around the country where PFAS is found in higher that acceptable levels in drinking water.
Chlormequat: A Problematic Pesticide
June 10, 2023
In a nutshell, here’s what you need to know about chlormequat:
· It can disrupt fetal growth and harm the reproductive system.
· The EPA is proposing to allow first-time uses of this toxic pesticide on U.S. crops.
· Chlormequat already shows up in food sold in the U.S.—we don’t need more.
The EPA could soon allow chlormequat on non-organic wheat and oats used to make hundreds of popular food products. It works by altering plant growth. When applied to oat and grain crops while they are growing, it stops the plants from bending over, which can make harvesting difficult.
In 2018 the EPA started to permit chlormequat residue on imported oats, so it’s already showing up on our food crops. Research by the Environmental Working Group found the pesticide in all but one of 13 non-organic oat-based cereals, granolas, and other products. Of these, 11 had chlormequat levels higher than the amount considered safe for children’s health. Now the EPA is proposing to allow chlormequat on domestic wheat and oats and permit residues in our milk, meat, dairy, and eggs.
What can you do to stop this? Tell the EPA it shouldn’t allow chlormequat on the food we eat every day. Add your name to EWG’s petition (in the link, below) to stop allowing the use of chlormequat.
An Ant’s Sense of Smell is So Strong It Can Sniff Out Cancer
January 26, 2023
From The Washington Post
The ant oncologist will see you now. Some day that may be the case. It’s promising, but not imminent.
Ants live in a world of odor. Some species are completely blind. Others rely so heavily on scent that those who lose track of a pheromone trail march in a circle, until dying of exhaustion. Ants have such a refined sense of small, in fact, that researchers are now training them to detect the scent of human cancer cells.
A recent study published in the journal of the Royal Society of Biological Sciences highlights a keen ant sense and underscores how some day we may use sharp-nosed animals—or, in the case of ants, sharp-antennaed—to detect tumors quickly and cheaply. That’s important because the sooner that cancer is found, the better the chances of recovery.
The results are very promising, but scientists are far from using them as a daily way to detect cancer. Some day, perhaps
U.S. Ratifies Global Treaty Curbing Climate Superpollutants
Sept. 21, 2002
With broad bipartisan support, the Senate on Wednesday ratified by a 69-27 vote a global treaty that would sharply limit the emissions of super-pollutants that frequently leak from air conditioners and other types of refrigeration.
The treaty — known as the Kigali Amendment to the 1987 Montreal Protocol — compels countries to phase out the use of the potent hydrofluorocarbons, or HFCs, which are hundreds to thousands of times as powerful as carbon dioxide in speeding up climate change.
Canada banning single-use plastics
June 24, 2022
In a sweeping effort to fight pollution and climate change, Canada will ban the manufacture and importation of single-use plastics by the end of 2022, the government said. Most plastic grocery bags, cutlery and straws will come under the ban, with a few exceptions for medical needs. To provide businesses in Canada with enough time to transition and to deplete their existing stocks, sale of these items will be prohibited as of December 2023. It will also stop exporting such plastics by the end of 2025, to prevent international pollution.
“Over the next ten years this ban will result in the estimated elimination of over 1.3 million tons of plastic waste and more than 22,000 tons of plastic pollution,” according to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. “That’s equal to a million garbage bags full of litter.”
In Canada, up to 15 billion plastic grocery bags are used every year, and approximately 16 million straws are used daily, according to government figures, with such single-use plastics making up most of the plastic litter found across the countrys’ shorelines.
Global efforts continue on how to tackle the material that takes centuries to break down. Kenya, Chile, the United Kingdom, and the European Union have all put in place various bans on single-use plastic goods, while the United States ranks as the world’s leading contributor of plastic waste.
For the first time in over 30 years, the EPA adds to its list of hazardous air pollutants—by one
January 7, 2022
The move will allow the Environmental Protection Agency to curb the use of 1-bromopropane, a powerful dry-cleaning solvent linked to cancer
Ford’s 2022 F-150 Pickup Truck Elevates Green Energy to Mainstream
May 30, 2021
If politicians don’t get in the way, “green energy” is poised to become mainstream in 2022, thanks to groundbreaking innovation from the Ford Motor Co. and its iconic F-150 pickup truck, the best-selling truck on Planet Earth.
This month Ford unveiled an all-electric version of its F-150 pickup truck, called the F-150 Lightning. Based on specs released so far, it looks as good as or superior to its traditional combustion-engine cousin in almost every way.
Living up to its name, the F-150 Lightning can go from zero to 60 miles per hour in 4.4 seconds. It can tow up to 10,000 pounds. Its battery can be used as a backup power source, which could power a house for up to three days according to Ford, or charge power tools on a work site. Its standard-range battery is expected to travel 230 miles on a full charge, while the extended-range battery reaches an additional 300 miles. Not as far as the range on a gas-powered truck, of course, but still pretty good.
Then there’s the price. The base model starts at $40,000 —before factoring in tax incentives for electric vehicles. Including those incentives, such as a $7,500 federal tax credit, the Lightning is expected to be one of the least expensive full-size pickups on the market, gas or electric, when it hits the road in 2022.
If produced and purchased at scale, trucks such as this one could revolutionize car culture and eventually shrink the country’s carbon footprint. Tesla has already worked wonders in making electric vehicles cool and more widely available. It produced about 500,000 vehicles in total last year; but as a share of the auto market, Ford’s F-series is in a league of its own, with about 800,000 trucks sold last year.
Source: Washington Post, May 20, 2021; https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/05/20/why-fords-f-150-lightning-could-elevate-green-energy-culture-wars/.
Cellphone Radiation Linked to Breast Cancer
January 18, 2021
This is alarming news. New peer-reviewed scientific research reveals that radiofrequency radiation from cellphones and computers can significantly increase the risk of breast cancer, especially in women over 50.
Cellphone radiation has already been linked to brain tumors, emotional and hyperactivity disorders in kids, and migraines. More research is needed, but it’s hard to ignore these troubling findings. Researchers from the Environmental Working Group are studying this issue closely and recommend keeping your wireless devices at a distance. When it comes to radiofrequency radiation, distance is your friend. Better yet, reduce WiFi use and favor hardwired alternatives whenever possible.
The Environmental Health Trust, along with the Children’s Defense Council, is suing the Federal Trade Commission (which has control over this kind of radiation) on the grounds that its wireless technology safety studies are outmoded. Recent scientific studies support that claim. If you want to do something about this alarming news, support the Environmental Health Trust with a donation to help fund their lawsuit. A verdict is expected towards the end of this year.
Source: https://www.ewg.org/release/landmark-federal-study-cell-phone-radiation-linked-brain-cancer
Single-Use Plastics, a Pandemic Problem
September 22, 2020
No doubt about it, this pandemic has brought unexpected environmental benefits. With airplanes and cars parked with nowhere to go, greenhouse gas emissions are down, the skies are clearing over China, Italy, and the U.S. At the same time, our dependency on single-use plastics has increased a hundredfold. We get our groceries in single-use plastic bags, our coffee-on-the-go in Styrofoam cups, and eat takeout from plastic clamshells. None of this is recyclable. This new habit heralds a problem potentially more pressing than the pandemic.
The entire lifecycle of plastic is dangerous—from extraction to manufacture to use and disposal. It’s imperative we not allow one crisis to turn into another. Now’s the time to do the proper research, to understand that materials matter. We can still be safe and healthy by bringing our own grocery bags, rather than accepting plastic offered by the store. Try taking your own container to the restaurant for takeout, your own bottle for beverages.
Practicing social distancing, cleaning our hands thoroughly, wearing a mask in public, and disinfecting anything that enters our homes should be our main priorities. Use this time as an opportunity for growth and progress, fighting back against any efforts to destroy the advances we’ve already made eliminating plastic from our lives.
Greenhouse Gas Emissions at Lowest Level in Three Decades
November 19, 2020
Greenhouse gases generated by the U.S. economy will slide 9.2% by the end of the year, tumbling to the lowest level in three decades, according to The Washington Post. Without the impact of the coronavirus, 2020 greenhouse gas emissions would have been only one percent lower than 2019.
Battered by the coronavirus pandemic, the stalled economy is projected to have generated 5.9 billion metric tons of emissions, about the same level as 1983. As a result, the United States has been inadvertently pushed back on track to meet the commitments the Obama administration made at the Paris climate agreement in December 2015, despite the fact the Trump administration pulled the country out of the pact, and despite the unusually extreme forest fires that swept the West Coast and Rocky Mountains earlier in the year, pumping carbon dioxide and other pollutants into the air. Before the pandemic, the U.S. had fallen badly behind its targets under the accord.
Source: “U.S. greenhouse gas emissions set to drop to lowest level in three decades,” by Steven Mufson, The Washington Post, November 19, 2020. https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2020/11/19/us-emissions-climate-bloombergnef/
Johnson & Johnson to discontinue making talc-based baby powder
May 25, 2020
The marketplace did what regulators could not.
Nature is Vanishing Before Our Eyes
May 8, 2019
Today, after an exhaustive three-year study, the UN’s foremost body on biodiversity released some incredibly grim news. Humans are destroying Earth’s natural ecosystems at an unprecedented pace. As many as one million plant and animal species are now threatened with extinction because of farming, hunting, pollution and, increasingly, climate change. Almost everywhere you look, nature is vanishing before our eyes.
The cost to ecosystems is immense, and the projected impact on billions of people is staggering. Natural ecosystems provide invaluable material services to people, from mangrove forests that protect millions from coastal flooding to wild insects that pollinate our crops. When we destroy nature we undermine our own quality of life. Instead of plundering the forests and seas for short-term profit we need to shift our system into one that respects planetary boundaries.
A lead author of the report said, “Life on Earth is an intricate fabric, and it’s not like we’re looking at it from the outside. We are threads in that fabric. If the fabric is getting holes and fraying, that affects us all.”
What can you do in your life to combat this dreadful scenario? As strangely specific as this sounds, one thing we can all do is watch our beef and palm oil consumption. Land being converted to agriculture was the top driver of negative impact. More than 247 acres of tropical forest were lost from 1980 to 2000, resulting mainly from cattle ranching in Latin America and plantations in Southeast Asia, of which 80% is for palm oil, used mostly in food, cosmetics, cleaning products and fuel.
But giving up burgers isn’t going to fix the environment without a lot of work coming from the top. The most important thing we can do is vote for leaders who will work towards, rather than against, remedying climate change with all of its dire problems.
Sources: “Talking about biodiversity loss,” by Brad Plumer. The New York Times, May 8, 2019. “Massive New Report Proves that Humans are the Worst Species,” by Melissa Breyer. Treehugger, May 6, 2019.
bayer stock crashes after cancer verdict upheld
Feb. 13, 2019
Court Rejects $4.5B TransMountain Pipeline
Indigenous Activists Win "David vs. Goliath" Victory
Dateline: Vancouver, BC
Democracy Now, Sept. 4, 2018.
Radiation Risk from Cell Phones Confirmed
March, 2018
Data from the largest-ever animal study of cellphone radiation effects, released last month by the federal National Toxicology Program, confirms earlier evidence from human studies that cellphone radiation increases the risk of cancer. The developing brains of children and teenagers are especially at risk because their brains can absorb twice as much cellphone radiation as those of adults.
What’s the concerned consumer to do? Follow these tips from the Environmental Working Group:
1. USE A HEADSET OR SPEAKER
Headsets emit much less radiation than phones. Choose either wired or wireless. Using your phone in speaker mode also reduces radiation to the head.
2. HOLD PHONE AWAY FROM YOUR BODY
The amount of radiation absorbed by your body decreases dramatically with even a small distance.
3. TEXT MORE, TALK LESS
Texting keeps radiation away from your head.
4. CALL WHEN THE SIGNAL IS STRONG
Radiation exposure increases dramatically when cellphone signals are weak.
5. LIMIT CHILDREN'S PHONE USE
Health agencies in at least six countries are recommending limits for children’s phone use, such as for emergencies only.
6. SKIP THE RADIATION SHIELD
Radiation shields such as antenna caps and keypad covers reduce the connection quality and force the phone to transmit with greater energy, generating more radiation.
More information about the federal study can be found here: https://www.ewg.org/release/federal-research-confirms-cancer-risks-cell-phone-radiation?utm_campaign=Social+Traffic&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter&utm_content=1517597339#.WnTAc2aZP-a
Source: Environmental Working Group. https://www.ewg.org/research/cellphoneradiation/5-Safety-Tips?utm_campaign=Social+Traffic&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&utm_content=1507906599#.WnTAE2aZP-Y
Dunkin’ Donuts to have all paper coffee cups by 2020
March, 2018
Eliminating polystyrene foam cups starting this year, the company will eventually be saving 1 billion plastic coffee cups from the waste stream annually.
From a press release for the new cups, the chain says:
As part of its commitment to serve both people and the planet responsibly, Dunkin’ Donuts, a leading retailer of hot, brewed coffee, today announced plans to eliminate all polystyrene foam cups in its global supply chain beginning in spring 2018, with a targeted completion date of 2020. In U.S. restaurants, Dunkin’ Donuts will replace the foam cup with a new, double-walled paper cup. The majority of Dunkin’ Donuts’ international markets are currently using paper cups, and the brand will work with its franchisees to eliminate foam cups from the remaining international markets by the 2020 goal.
The new cup is made with paperboard certified to the Sustainable Forestry Initiative Standard. The cups will be introduced at all Dunkin’ Donuts restaurants in New York City and California in spring 2018, and will be phased in across the U.S. as supplier manufacturing capabilities ramp up.
RFK, Jr’s views on fluoride aren’t as crazy as you might think.
November, 2024
According to Sanjay Gupta, American neurosurgeon and medical reporter, Robert Kennedy, Junior (President Trump’s pick to head the Department of Health and Human Services) is wrong about many public health issues, but questioning fluoridation in our water supply isn’t one of them.
Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral that has long been known to prevent tooth decay. But, as the practice of adding fluoride to America’s water supply comes under increased scrutiny, experts are questioning whether fluoride is needed in America’s water now that most people get the mineral in toothpaste.
Nearly three-quarters of the U.S. population—about 209 million people—are served by drinking water systems containing fluoride, according to CDC data. Research from before 1975 showed large benefits for preventing tooth decay in children. But those findings don’t apply to current populations that have broader access to other sources of fluoride, particularly in toothpaste.
Some have raised concerns that water fluoridation may pose a risk of neurodevelopmental problems, particularly for pregnant women and young children. Both sides have legitimate points. If Kennedy succeeds in recommending against fluoridation, he would actually be aligning the United States with many of our peer countries in Europe. That could result in a slight increase in tooth decay, but it could also benefit Americans by reducing prenatal exposure.
Sources: “The Results are In, by Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN, 11.8.24.
“Fluoride in water prevents some cavities but concern about health risks raises questions about the tradeoffs”: by Deidre McPhillips, CNN, 10.324.
“RFK, Jr.’s views on Fluoride aren’t as crazy as you might think,” by Leana S. Wen, The Washington Post, 11.12.24.
Common Herbicides Dangerous To Humans
September, 2024
Over the last ten years studies on Roundup, which uses the herbicide glyphosate, has increasingly pointed to the fact that it is very harmful to human health.
Glyphosate, the most heavily used herbicide in the U.S., is a systemic, broad-spectrum herbicide that kills things not genetically modified to resist it. The World Health Organization says that glyphosate is probably carcinogenic to humans. California’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment has added it to its list of chemicals known to cause cancer.
Here’s a brief summary of what consumers should know before using Roundup on gardens or crops.
https://www.consumernotice.org/environmental/pesticides/roundup/
https://www.consumernotice.org/environmental/pesticides/roundup/glyphosate/
Another herbicide, Dachtel, banned in 2024, has been linked to serious birth defects and other health risks, especially in children exposed during pregnancy. Many people may be unaware of Dacthal exposure because it can remain at dangerously high levels on crops, golf courses and sports fields for nearly a month after application.
https://www.consumernotice.org/environmental/dacthal-pesticide/
Mandatory Composting Comes to NYC
August 23, 2023
It may feel hopeless, like that nothing is getting done to curb the devastating effects of climate change. But that’s not true. Quite a lot is being done at the local level in cities and towns throughout the world to turn the trajectory of degradation around.
The latest good news comes from New York City, the largest city in the U.S., which is in the process of instituting universal curbside composting. The program requires residents to separate food scraps and yard waste from their trash. Garbage trucks pick up the compost weekly, along with regular trash. Compost can be stored in a freezer at home in between pick ups.
Composting is crucial in fighting climate change for two reasons: (1) When food waste goes into landfills, it produces methane, the worst of the greenhouse gases, and (2) Composting makes soil healthier, which improves food growing capabilities and captures more carbon dioxide.
Source: The New York Times, “Mandatory Composting Is Coming to New York City: What You Need to Know,” by Hilary Howard, August 23, 2023.
Be Like Canada
By Linda Mason Hunter
June 10, 2023
I’ve spent a lot of time in Canada and really love the country, for many reasons, not the least of which is its ecological awareness. Now, just this month, the right to a healthy environment is protected in Canadian law. It took a tireless effort by many throughout the country, thanks to the Blue Dot Movement, a campaign launched by the David Suzuki Foundation in 2014 with the goal of enshrining the right to clean air and water in Canadian law.
The Foundation kicked things off with a momentum-building, awareness-raising, cross-country tour featuring David Suzuki and a variety of other prominent Canadian thought leaders and artists. The inspirational tour mobilized communities and volunteers to take action coast to coast.
Now, nearly a decade later, recognition of that right in Canadian law is a reality ensuring that everyone—even vulnerable communities--have access to clean air, fresh water, and a healthy environment.
Kudos to Canada. Let’s take the Blue Dot movement as a model and do the same here in the U.S. It’s our turn.
The World Is On the Brink of Climate Calamity
March 20, 2023
The world is likely to pass a dangerous temperature threshold by 2030, pushing the planet past the point of catastrophic warming—unless nations drastically transform their economies and immediately transition away from fossil fuels.
A report issued in March by the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) found that the world is likely to miss its 2030 target of limiting warming to 2.7 degrees Fahrenheit above preindustrial temperatures. Beyond that threshold, scientists have found, climate disaster will become so extreme people cannot adapt. Heat waves, famines, and infectious diseases will claim millions of additional lives by the end of the century. Basic components of the Earth system will be irrevocably altered.
The IPCC report shows humanity has reached a moment of reckoning. The world has all the knowledge, tools, and financial resources needed to achieve its climate goals, but after decades of disregarding scientific warnings and delaying climate efforts, the window for action is rapidly closing.
This not a problem for the future. We must act NOW to secure a livable climate. We will likely pass 2.7 degrees Fahrenheit of warming in this decade—the threshold widely recognized as the tipping point for climate chaos.
Leading scientists warned that more aggressive actions must be taken to avert catastrophic warming. Both the U.N. chief and the IPCC called on the world to phase out coal, oil, and gas, which are responsible for more than three-quarters of global greenhouse gas emissions. Developed countries like the U.S. must eliminate carbon emissions by 2040—a decade earlier than the rest of the world.
We have the knowledge. We just need the will. The cost of solar energy and lithium-ion batteries has fallen 85% since 2010. Owning an electric vehicle is now cheaper than driving a traditional car if you factor in the lifetime costs of maintenance and fuel. But addressing climate change is not simply about replacing coal power with solar panels or exchanging an internal combustion engine for an electric vehicle. It entails coordinated, comprehensive societal transformation. We know what to do. We know how to do it. Now it’s up to us to take action.
What can YOU do about it? Make a commitment to decrease your use of fossil fuels, to pressure big banks to stop lending money to fossil fuel companies. And VOTE for concerned politicians in favor of proven, cost-effective, and widely available climate solutions, like wind, solar, clean electricity, and nature protection.
We decide what the next chapter holds by pushing governments and companies to act, and by getting off fossil fuels ourselves. If humankind is to survive on this planet, we must dramatically reconcile our relationships with the planet and with each other, and we know it’s totally possible; the choice is ours. Our attitudes will decide our choices. And that gives me hope.
According to an article in the Washington Post, at the end of last year the share of the U.S. population “alarmed” about climate change stood at 26%, compared to 12% in 2012. “What’s interesting about 26% is it’s the possible tipping point for large-scale social change. University of Pennsylvania researchers found that, when placing about 200 people in randomized groups, a minority committed to changing views could abruptly shift the majority’s opinion when they reached 25% of the population. In one trial, a single person accounted for the difference between success and failure.”
One more reason to act. Get out there and make a difference. Please.
Sources: https://s2.washingtonpost.com/camp-rw/?trackId=&s=641c698ef19a510b041fae26&linknum=5&linktot=50. https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2023/03/20/climate-change-ipcc-report-15/
Doomsday Clock Update: It’s Now 90 Seconds to Midnight
From The Washington Post
January 24, 2023
The world is 90 seconds away from “midnight,” according to the Doomsday Clock, the closest it has ever been to the symbolic hour of apocalypse.
The people who run the clock say that’s largely a reflection of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine — including of the potential use of nuclear weapons and because the conflict is encouraging continued dependence on fossil fuels in Europe. For the first time, the announcement of the clock’s movement toward catastrophe was released in Russian and Ukrainian as well as English, something Rachel Bronson, CEO of the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists, said the organization hopes brings the dire forecast “the attention it deserves.”
The world had been 100 seconds away from midnight since 2020. The Bulletin of Atomic Scientists has been using the clock for more than seven decades to convey the level of risk from existential threats, from nuclear weapons to climate change. This year’s is the first update of the clock since Russia’s war in Ukraine revived fears of a nuclear disaster in a year of fires and floods around the world.
Solar roofs on big box stores could produce enough electricity for 8 million American homes
June 23, 2022
Expansive, flat and abundant, the rooftops of big-box stores in the United States could produce enough solar energy to meet half their electricity needs, according to a report released in January, 2022. Walmart leads the way in rooftop solar potential, followed by Target and Home Depot.
“There’s massive potential across the entire country for big-box stores to produce solar,” said Wade Wilson, an author of the report from the nonprofit Environment America Research and Policy Center and the nonpartisan research organization Frontier Group. “These are big rooftops that need to be taken advantage of, and we need to start using them.”
Using data from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Wilson and his colleagues calculated that there are roughly 7.2 billion square feet of roof space on superstores in the continental United States, about two-thirds of them are suitable for solar.
Fully building out that potential could produce 84.4 terawatt-hours of electricity each year and avoid more than 52 million metric tons of planet-warming carbon dioxide emissions annually, Wilson’s group reported. That’s roughly half of the electricity that the authors estimated big-box stores use in a year and, they say, the equivalent of powering 8 million American homes, or taking about 11.3 million passenger cars off the road for a year.
These homes are off-grid and climate resilient. They’re also built out of trash.
January 4, 2022
Earthships have long been an offbeat curiosity for travelers, but through the lens of climate change, they suddenly look like a housing haven.
Source: Washington Post, January 4, 2021. https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-solutions/2022/01/04/earthship-houses-climate-change/
Despite pandemic, level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere hits historic levels
"If we want to avoid catastrophic climate change, the highest priority must be to reduce CO2 pollution to zero at the earliest possible date,” one top scientist says.
June 7, 2021
Economies worldwide nearly ground to a halt over the 15 months of the coronavirus pandemic, leading to a startling drop in global greenhouse gas emissions. But that did little to slow the steady accumulation of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, which reached the highest levels since accurate measurements began 63 years ago, scientists said June 7th.
“Fossil fuel burning is really at the heart of this. If we don’t tackle fossil fuel burning, the problem is not going to go away,” Ralph Keeling, a geochemist at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, said in an interview with The Washington Post, adding that the world ultimately will have to make emissions cuts that are “much larger and sustained” than anything that happened during the pandemic.
Scientists from Scripps and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said that levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide peaked in May, reaching a monthly average of nearly 419 parts per million. That represents an increase from the May 2020 mean of 417 parts per million, and it marks the highest level since measurements began 63 years ago at the NOAA observatory in Mauna Loa, Hawaii. Twice in 2021, daily levels recorded at the observatory have exceeded 420 parts per million, researchers said.
It's not significant in the sense that we are surprised. It was fully expected,” Pieter Tans, a senior scientist with NOAA’s Global Monitoring Laboratory, said in an interview. “It’s significant in that it shows are are still fully on the wrong track.” Tans noted that humans continue to add about 40 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide pollution to the atmosphere each year, and that avoiding catastrophic changes to the climate will require reducing that number to zero as quickly as possible.
Source: The Washington Post, June 7, 2021
5G Has Many Problems
By Linda Mason Hunter
March 11, 2021
The joyful, colorful television ads promoting 5G don’t give the whole story. This new generation of cellular technology has many problems. In addition to adverse biological effects, the 5G signal is short and cannot go through trees and other objects. The United States does not have a federally funded agency to assess safety limits as other countries do, leaving it up to the wolf to guard the henhouse.
On top of that, researchers warn that the energy consumption of 5G is unsustainable. In a nutshell, the environmental footprint of the digital ecosystem is an energy hog. Behind each byte we have mining and metal processing, oil extraction and petrochemicals, manufacturing and intermediate transports, public works to bury the cables, and power generation with coal and gas.
A 700% increase in mobile data traffic globally is already projected between 2017 and 2022. The industry consensus is that 5G will double to triple energy consumption for mobile operators once networks are up to scale. In the end, the detrimental effects to climate change far outweigh the benefits in efficiency.
I don’t understand why we always need more and more. I, for one, am content with what I have now, without 4G LTE and 5G. When are going to stay STOP? Enough already!
Lawyers for the Environmental Health Trust argue that the adverse health issues associated with wireless technology can be easily solved with hard-wired fiber optic cabling, which will also give access to broadband as a public utility in rural areas. Dr. Devra Davis, epidemiologist and founder of the Trust, agrees that 5G has a place in medical and military situations as long as it’s wired in. She contends that 5G should not be in public places and it definitely should not be in neighborhoods.
The Environmental Health Trust website contains lots of useful information on how to set up safe technology at home. It’s simple once you know the steps. The site has guides to:
* How to set up a computer work station
* How to reduce cell phone and wireless radiation
* Healthy home checklist for low EMF
* Deep Dive into a low EMF computer station
Please share this information with your friends and family.
Sources: ehtrust.org/climate-change-and-5g; ehtrust.org; https://ehtrust.org/safe-technology/
PFAs Can Decrease Vaccine Effectiveness
December 11, 2020
In this era of COVID-19 it’s important to boost your immune system and be as healthy as you can be. Eat right. Get exercise. Sleep 7-8 hours a night. Lower stress, and avoid synthetic chemicals.
One family of synthetic chemicals that is particularly worrisome is a group of fluorinated “forever chemicals” called PFAs. They’re used to make water-, grease- and stain-repellent coatings and are found in a wide variety of consumer and industrial products, including coatings on carpet, clothing, and nonstick cookware. They’re even found in microwave popcorn, fast food wrappings, and Oral B Glide dental floss. These chemicals are notoriously persistent in the environment and in the human body, and have been linked to serious health effects.
Recent studies now show these chemicals suppress human immune function and lower the effectiveness and duration of vaccines. The Centers for Disease Control has acknowledged that PFA exposure may put certain populations at greater risk of contracting covid-19 and greater risk of increased severity of infection.
Check out the Environmental Working Group’s website—https://www.ewg.org/pfaschemicals/ for more information on where to find PFAs and how to avoid them. For more information about PFAs’ effect on vaccines, see https://www.ewg.org/release/cdc-investigates-potential-link-between-forever-chemicals-and-decreased-effectiveness-covid.
Good News in Sustainable Design
November 20, 2020
Biophila design in Amsterdam
An interesting small building in Amsterdam, designed by Giacomo Garziano of GG-loop, is centered around principles of biophilic design, "a new approach to the built environment based on our instinctual passion for wild places."
biophilia can improve our lives
Source: https://www.treehugger.com/biophilia-can-improve-lives-4850116
The Tilos Project: A Renewable Island in Greece
June 10, 2022
This is cool, a glimpse of the future. Beautiful and sensitively conjured.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JShL7EDlBQM
My friend Dan Spencer, professor of environmental studies at the University of Montana, is currently visiting the island of Tilos. Here’s what he wrote today:
Pat and I first came to Tilos for a month in October 2018 as part of a sabbatical leave from the University of Montana. We chose Tilos specifically because of its innovative approach to becoming the first carbon-neutral island in the Mediterranean for generating its electricity with a wind turbine and solar field, for which it has won several international awards (https://greekreporter.com/.../greece-tilos-island-eu-award/).
So we were very excited when we returned last week that Tilos has made the commitment to become a Zero Waste Island, using a circular economy model to eliminate virtually all solid waste. Called "Just Go Green," the program was inaugurated just a month ago, and already has achieved very promising results: https://www.justgozero.com/tilos/. Tilos has now been proclaimed as the world's Greatest Recycler, with over 86% recyling rate: https://www.tornosnews.gr/.../greek-island-of-tilos-is.../
Pat and I were especially excited to see the new "3K" Recycling plant, which has transformed the old Chyta landfill -- full of nonrecycled plastics especially -- into a green center for Recycling. Although it is over a mountain ridge from Livadia, we decided to hike the 4 miles up over 1000 foot climb to see it for ourselves. We are so impressed and so encouraged! So encouraging to see this amazing progress in such a short amount of time -- a model for the world!
TILOS: ISLAND OF GREECE ATTRACTS TOURISTS FOR ECO-FRIENDLY HOLIDAY
Arsenic Found in Bottled Water
August, 2019
Bottled water is now the nation’s best-selling bottled beverage. But a Consumer Reportsinvestigation has found that, in some cases, bottled water sold in U.S. stores contain potentially harmful levels of arsenic, sometimes more than would be allowed for tap water.
The federal threshold for arsenic in bottled water is 10 parts per billion. Growing research suggests that long-term arsenic exposure at levels well below this limit can pose health risks. Scientists believe the federal limit should be revised lower, to 3 parts per billion.
Several widely sold brands of bottled water self-report levels above 3 parts per billion. They include Whole Foods owned Starkey spring water, Dr. Pepper-owned Penafiel, and Crystal Geyser Alpine Spring. Leading brands with barely detectable levels of arsenic, or none at all, include Aquafina, Arrowhead, Dasani, Evian, Fiji, Niagara, and Poland Spring.
Source:“What’s in Your Bottled Water?” by Ryan Felton. CR Consumer Reports, July 2019; pgs. 19-21.
For more info: https://www.consumerreports.org/water-quality/arsenic-in-some-bottled-water-brands-at-unsafe-levels/
A Troubling Discovery in the Depths of the Ocean
March 3, 2019
In the Mariana Trench, the lowest point in any ocean, every tiny animal tested had plastic pollution hiding in its gut.
Disposable America
A history of modern capitalism from the perspective of the straw. Seriously.
June, 2018
https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2018/06/disposable-america/563204/
Costa Rica Bans Fossil Fuels
May 13, 2018
”We have the titanic and beautiful task of abolishing the use of fossil fuels.”
Costa Rica’s new president Carlos Alvarado announced a ban on fossil fuels Wednesday, establishing the small country as a major trailblazer in the global fight against climate change, according to Telesur TV.
More than 2,000 people crowded the Plaza de la Democracy in the capital San Jose to witness the historic announcement. Alvarado, who officially took office Tuesday, underlined his commitment by arriving in a hydrogen-powered bus.
"Decarbonization is the great task of our generation and Costa Rica must be one of the first countries in the world to accomplish it, if not the first," Alvarado said during the event.
"We have the titanic and beautiful task of abolishing the use of fossil fuels in our economy to make way for the use of clean and renewable energies,” he added.
Read More: https://www.globalcitizen.org/en/content/costa-ricas-new-president-banned-fossil-fuels/
Patagonia Launches Worn Wear
March. 2018
The clothing brand Patagonia has long been at the forefront of environmental commitment. For years, they’ve been hosting pop-up events where customers can bring used clothing items for repair or exchange. These events have been so successful, the brand has now launched a permanent website, called Worn Wear, where you can trade, sell, and buy second-hand Patagonia goods--the brand's own thrift store.
Worn Wear works like this. You buy clothing, either used or new, from Patagonia and wear it till you're done, then trade it in at a local Patagonia store. Staff will tell you how much it's worth, and do the washing, too. There are standard trade-in values listed at wornwear.patagonia.com. Patagonia says they will pay up to 50% of the price they will sell the item for. You'll get credit toward more Patagonia gear, either used or new.
As a logical extension of their environmental commitment, Patagonia encourages you to buy only what you need. Clothing can have a much longer life than what we sometimes think.
Of course, the best option is to wear your own clothing items for as long as you can, to the point where resale isn't an option because it's so worn out.
Source: “Patagonia launches Worn Wear, an online store for used gear,” by Katherine Maritinko. https://wornwear.patagonia.com.
NYC Divests from Fossil Fuels
February, 2018
One of the planet’s central cities has gone fully on the attack against the fossil fuel industry, which means the tide is finally turning in the climate fight, according to Bill McKibbon at 350.org. On January 10th, New York Mayor Bill de Blasio made two major announcements: New York's pension funds will divest from the big oil and gas companies, and the city is suing the biggest of these corporations for the climate damage they've caused.
This is a huge moment in the fight to stop climate change. A city as iconic as New York could trigger a wave of action against the fossil fuel industry from other powerful cities and states around the U.S. and globally. As one of the financial centers of the world, New York sends a powerful message about the fiscal folly of fossil fuels.
Not only is New York City divesting, it is also taking those most responsible to court. Fossil fuel companies – and their lobbyists – are to blame for the climate crisis we're in and it's high time they're held to account.
It also shows us what is possible when we step up and fight back. New Yorkers, still reeling from Superstorm Sandy, fought long and hard for this win. Now we need more people to take up this fight in their communities. There’s no excuse for any city or state, any province or region, any pension fund or portfolio, to be in business with this industry.
