Dear EarthTalk: I’m tired of binge-watching dramas on Netflix. What are some of the best environmental documentaries that have come out recently? — Scott Andersen, Joplin, MO While potent in its day as the film that put climate change on the public radar, An Inconvenient Truth, now a decade old, is hardly the last word […]
Dear EarthTalk: What has been the environmental impact of the Volkswagen emissions cheating scandal? — Emily Warden, Philadelphia, PA An analysis by The Guardian last September 2015 revealed that affected VWs in the U.S. are likely emitting between 10,392 and 41,571 tons of toxic nitrogen oxides (NOx) into the air every year, based […]
Dear EarthTalk: How can I tell if the green certifications and labels on all kinds of products these days are legitimate or just ‘greenwashing’? –Paul Bass, New York, NY As sustainability becomes more mainstream, more and more products today advertise their green credentials—with many displaying third-party certifications on their labels. But how can consumers […]
Permits are now available to cut a Christmas tree from the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. All fourth-grade students are eligible for a free Christmas tree permit as part of the Every Kid in a Park Initiative. Permits are available at the following locations: Cowlitz Valley Ranger District in Randle (weekdays only) Blanton’s Market in Packwood […]
Dear EarthTalk: Why are there stretches of thousands of miles of interstate systems in this country with barren medians? What are the obstacles to planting trees or other vegetation in those areas? –James Logan Cockerham, Middletown, OH The idea of beautifying highway medians with plantings goes back five decades when Lady Bird Johnson […]
Dear EarthTalk: Do scientists think there is a big environmental component to the huge rise in peanut allergies in recent years? — Jay Williams, Fresno, CA Peanut allergies among children in the United States has more than tripled, from 0.4 percent in 1997 to 1.4 percent in 2010, according to a study by food […]
If you have been getting a little brown around the edges, consider spending Sat., Nov. 12 from 9:30 a.m. – 6 p.m. at the 2016 Eugene-Springfield Holistic & Green Living Expo at the Willamalene Sports Center in Springfield, Oregon. Organizers promise participants will discover, “The latest innovations in Holistic and Green Living come together with […]
Dear EarthTalk: What is being done to save elephants around the world? I understand that these magnificent creatures are teetering on the brink of extinction. – Millie Vicente, San Jose, CA In just one decade between 1979 and 1989, half of all Africa’s elephants were lost to the ivory trade. Public outrage over the loss […]
Dear Earthtalk: My neighbor uses Roundup in her yard routinely and tells me it’s harmless to people and pets, but I’ve heard that it is carcinogenic. Can you set the record straight? — Maise Alexander, New Hope, PA Monsanto’s Roundup herbicides contain three key components: the active ingredient glyphosate, water, and a soap-like surfactant blend. […]
Dear EarthTalk: Why is the Arctic such a crucial area to focus on in efforts to stem global warming? — Joseph Constabile, Dedham, MA The image of a polar bear standing on a shrinking iceberg has become one of the most iconic symbols of global warming, yet few of us realize just how important the […]
