Earthtalk
EarthTalk: Environmental justice
What is meant by “environmental justice” and how is it under assault in the new Trump administration? Environmental justice is defined by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as “the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin or income, with respect to the development, implementation and enforcement of […]
EarthTalk: Myth of Climate Change 97%
What exactly is the “Myth of the Climate Change 97%” mentioned by Senator Inhofe during recent confirmation hearings Trump’s cabinet post nominations? The so-called “Myth of the Climate Change 97%” refers to the argument made by climate skeptics who dispute the notion that 97% of climate scientists have achieved consensus that global warming is occurring […]
EarthTalk: Environmentalists on social media
What are some ways environmentalists are using social media to further their causes? Environmental advocates and organizations have embraced the revolution in online networking in no small way to raise awareness about climate change and the need for conservation of wild lands and animals—and to generate support for specific campaigns and the green movement in […]
EarthTalk: Self-driving autonomous cars
Are self-driving cars good for the environment? You know the future is here when you see that the car beside you at a red light has nobody at the helm. That’s already happening in California where a few companies (Uber, Google, Apple, Tesla) have begun testing autonomous vehicles on the open road—albeit with human drivers […]
EarthTalk: Donald Trump’s environmental policies
What kinds of changes to federal environmental policies can we expect to see from Donald Trump when he assumes the presidency? Like many Americans, environmental advocates are alarmed at the results of the 2016 election. What worries them most is Trump’s call for reneging on the landmark Paris climate accord which secured commitments from the […]
EarthTalk: Has wildlife been affected by the Chernobyl nuclear meltdown?
How has wildlife been affected around the site of the Chernobyl nuclear meltdown in Russia three decades ago? The Chernobyl disaster confirmed everyone’s worst nightmares about the awesome power of nuclear reactions. When the Ukrainian reactor collapsed, the radioactive fallout profoundly contaminated the surrounding environment, affecting any living beings located within the so-called “Exclusion Zone” […]
EarthTalk: Green Halloween
Any tips for how to green up my Halloween this year? Halloween may be fun, but…this most ghoulish of holidays is also cause for lots of waste, given the preponderance of one-time use costumes that end up in a box or in the trash come November 1. And sustainability proponents also decry Halloween for promoting […]
EarthTalk: Contaminants in baby food
This week the Clean Label Project (CLP), a recently formed non-profit, released results from its data analysis of potentially harmful contaminants found in baby food. The first ‘CLP Magnified List, Baby Food’, found at www.cleanlabelproject.org, highlights the products that meet or exceed standards established by CLP’s Medical Advisory Board. Nineteen percent of the tested products met these standards and […]
EarthTalk: Trekking for Change: Vietnam’s Hill Tribes Benefit from Ecotourism
High on a mountain in northern Vietnam, the fertile wealth of forests and paddies belies the poverty of the people who live among them. Most houses are thin screens of wood with mud floors and no doors. Chickens and pigs wander in and out of the kitchens, and outhouses—when they exist—are often positioned directly over […]
EarthTalk: Environmentally conscious festivals
Dear EarthTalk: Which current artists, bands and music festivals are leading lights when it comes to reducing their environmental footprints and spreading awareness about sustainability? ANSWER: The music industry has indeed come under fire in recent years for the huge amount of plastic waste it generates at outdoor concerts and festivals each summer. The 2015 […]
