Dubai Gets A Synthetic Beach

Cool sand and gentle breezes will always be available in Dubai, but vacationers will have to pay extra. The renowned fashion house, Versace, is to create the world's first refrigerated beach in a plan that has environmentalists up in arms.

According to Times Online:

The beach will be next to the the new Palazzo Versace hotel which is being built in Dubai where summer temperatures average 40C and can reach 50C.

The beach will have a network of pipes beneath the sand containing a coolant that will absorb heat from the surface.

The swimming pool will be refrigerated and there are also proposals to install giant blowers to waft a gentle breeze over the beach.

The problem with the synthetic beach, however is that it's likely to draw on a lot of energy, which means a great deal of greenhouse gas emissions. Times Online quoted Rachel Noble of Tourism Concern, an organization catered to sustainable tourism:

"Dubai is like a bubble world where the things that are worrying the rest of the world, like climate change, are simply ignored so that people can continue their destructive lifestyles."

Dubai, which attracts roughly 800,000 British tourists a year, is competitive market place for businesses catering to the wealthy. Versace hopes its innovative beach will keep them on the cutting edge of luxury lifestyles, and believes it can even make it sustainable. While plans on how to do that, exactly, are vague, the company is hiring Hyder Consulting, a British construction consultancy, to oversee the engineering of the project.


Read More Articles at WeEarth.com

Want to shop with the Earth in mind? Check out our Earth-minded Marketplace!


Happy Holidays Everyone!

Melamine Detection Program Launched

In an effort to prevent contaminated milk products from China from harming American consumers, a new melamine detection program is being launched.

Melamine is toxic chemical used in plastics, and it is believed that it was deliberately placed in milk products to falsely increase protein levels. The tainted milk caused illness in over 50,000 infants, reaching the international marketplace and still may not be fully contained.

Humans and animals are unable to process melamine in their systems. It can lead to kidney stones, damage the reproductive system and cause cancer, and it also lead to the death of some infants in the recent contamination incident. Melamine has been found in eggs, chickens, produce and pet chow, in addition to the recent milk and formula products.

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. recently launched a program that assists governments and companies in the detection of melamine in food products imported from China. Through a form of biochemical analysis known as liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry or TSQ Quantum LC-MS/MS System for short, the company plans to aid countries in detecting melamine in incoming products from China. Similar technologies are already being used to detect melamine in China.

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. provides an array of scientific instruments and testing equipment to companies and governments in need of their services.

Read More Articles at WeEarth.com

Want to shop with the Earth in mind? Check out our Earth-minded Marketplace!

Indigenous Tribe in Chile is on its Last Legs

Since the introduction of disease by European settlers centuries ago, indigenous peoples in the Western world have begun facing extinction. Now, in southern Chile's Patagonia region, there are only an estimated 12-20 pure-blooded members of the nomadic Kawesqar tribe.

Francisco Arroyo, estimated to be around 66 years old by a state census, is one of the last survivors of the tribe. He remembers being a boy and wending the icy channels and fjords with his father, tending a fire lit on dried earth on the bottom of their canoe and diving naked for giant mussels to survive.

Now, Arroyo hawks sea lion skin souvenir canoes and other trinkets, earning about $10. He says "It ends with our generation. We are old now. We can't go out in the channels any more. I am not sad. Life is easier now.” The region where he lives sees very few tourists, as it is accessible only by boat or helicopter.

The youngest full-blooded tribe members are two brothers aged around 40.

Arroya lives a very different life from his ancestors’, who lived in their canoes, even sleeping and cooking in them, wearing nothing other than a piece of sea lion skin on their backs and smothering themselves in grease and fat when diving for food.

Eugenio Aspillaga, a bio-anthropologist at the University of Chile, seeks to preserve the culture and language of the Kawseqars, explains the decline of the tribe, and others like them. He says, “They are in decline because the historic causes (illnesses) have continued until relatively recently." "Another factor is restrictions on their movement," he added, referring to a program in the 1960s to settle survivors in Puerto Eden. "There is a lesson in survival and human adaptability that we are losing. It is a part of humanity we neither know nor understand. Their culture is becoming extinct, and their language is also in danger," said Aguilera, who has studied the tribe since 1975. "Once the few survivors in Puerto Eden disappear, the oldest ones, then the culture will be lost and the tongue will no longer be spoken," he added.

Many of the tribe have married outside and there are an estimated 200 people of Kawesqar descent living elsewhere in Chile.

To read more about the extinction of Chile’s indigenous peoples, read the original article here.


Read More Articles at WeEarth.com

Want to shop with the Earth in mind? Check out our Earth-minded Marketplace!

Global Warming Adaptation Plans Begin

Global warming is happening, and we better start preparing for it--so says new reports from the World Bank and Oxfam International. According to the World Bank study that was published in the journal Climatic Change, countries like Vietnam, Egypt, and the Bahamas are just some of the countries likely to face the most catastrophic results of rising sea levels.

The Bank says that a one-meter rise in seal level would flood more than 7% of Vietnam's agricultural land, and wreck nearly 30% of its wetlands--causing living and economic chaos. To make matters even more frightening, many climate experts think a one-meter rise by the year 2100 is a conservative estimate, and perhaps several more are to be expected at current levels of greenhouse gas emissions.

The study which also highlights how a one-meter rise could destroy more than a tenth of the Bahamas, as well as 13 percent of Egypt's Agricultural land, is part of a 50-page document published by the Bank last year. It's currently being used to support Oxfam International's request for at least $50 billion a year to be channeled from international carbon trading schemes into adaptation efforts.

The Guardian quoted Heather Coleman, a senior climate change policy adviser with Oxfam:

"Helping vulnerable people cope with the effects of climate change is desperately needed today because they already face increasingly severe and ever-worsening climate change impacts...

"With a global financial crisis unfolding, these mechanisms could raise enough money from polluters without governments having to dip into national treasuries," Coleman says. "Many negotiators agree that this is one of the more practical approaches. Billions of dollars can be raised and invested to prevent future climate change and to help poor people adapt to the negative impacts of global warming."

Oxfam suggests these countries could prepare themselves with upgraded national flood early-warning systems, plant mangrove "bio-shields," along coasts to diffuse storm waves, and grow drought-tolerant crops. The charity argues that there is little evidence that the international community has seriously considered the implications of sea level rise for population location and infrastructure planning in many developing countries. And since many of these countries cannot afford to fully help themselves, it should be a responsibility of rich countries to avoid catastrophic losses of life.


Read More Articles at WeEarth.com


Want to shop with the Earth in mind? Check out our Earth-minded Marketplace!

Gifts for Guns

Since 2005, Gifts for Guns has allowed residents of especially violent areas to trade in guns for gift cards, but this year, the most popular cards were for grocery stores, not retail stores, like in prior events.

Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department allows residents to anonymously relinquish firearms in return for $100 gift cards for Ralphs supermarkets, Target department stores or Best Buy electronics stores. Assault rifles double the amount

The event took place in a grocery store parking lot in the Compton neighborhood of Los Angeles, an area with a long and notorious history of violence and gang-related incidents. Although in the past, most guns were turned in for gift cards to Target and Best Buy, this year the cards of choice were to Ralphs. Sheriff's Sgt. Byron Woods explained, "People just don't have the money to buy the food these days.” "One guy said he had just got laid off from his job," Woods said. "He turned in five guns and said it would really help him to put food on the family's table."

About 1,000 weapons were expected to be collected and 590 guns and two hand grenades were handed in during the last weekend in November, more than the total collected in any year and eclipsing last year's 387 guns. The event also turns up antique weapons and one man brought in a Soviet-era semiautomatic carbine.

The drive was started after an increase in killings in 2005, which has since tapered off. After first checking to see if any weapons were used to commit crimes, the firearms were destroyed.

Similar events are held in New York and San Francisco.


Read More Articles at WeEarth.com

Want to shop with the Earth in mind? Check out our Earth-minded Marketpalce!

Look for a Green Gift at the Eco Gift Festival

The Eco Gift Festival is the largest environmentally conscious consumer gift show in the world. Sponsored by the Los Angeles Times, this year’s event, held at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, will bring together more than 15,000 consumers and 200 environmentally conscious vendors under one roof from Dec. 12th- 14th from 11 am - 8 pm.

The Eco Gift Festival includes an array of eco-conscious gift options as well as live entertainment, socially conscious speakers, an organic food court and on-site eco gift-wrapping and shipping.

Notable speakers at this year’s event include Arianna Huffington, Shallom Berkman of the Urth Caffe in Los Angeles, Seane Corn, the "National Yoga Ambassador" for YouthAIDS as well as a multitude of other experts on sustainable and socially-conscious living. Exhibitors at the event are all companies and businesses with green or organic practices and range from cosmetics companies to coffee to clothing to companies with a message or green interest.

The event strives to be a zero-emissions event and employs green event experts to continue to achieve their goal. A percentage of the profits received goes to various charities.

Although the event is currently only held in Los Angeles, there are hopes to expand it so that similar events are held internationally, as early as next year.

Tickets are $10 per day/$20 per weekend pass and free for children under 12 and seniors over 65. More information about the unique event can be found at www.ecogift.com.



Read More Articles at WeEarth.com


Want to shop with the Earth in mind? Check out our Earth-minded Marketplace!

Paralyzed Guitarist Gets Bionic Hand

When guitarist Dorian Cox lost the feeling of his right arm, one of his first thoughts turned out to be the most crushing: "I might not be able to play anymore." The UK musician suffered from a stroke this previous summer, and when his body became partially paralyzed, it forced his band, the Long Blondes, to break-up.

Cox is about to rise again, however with the help of a new glove that works and resembles something like a "bionic hand." Made by the PhysioFunction center in York, England, the SaeboFlex glove is entirely mechanical and uses springs and levers instead of electricity. It works out the weakened muscles in the wrist, hand, and fingers--spurring Cox to remark, "It's almost like a gym for my hand."

While the musician still lacks the strength to play guitar at the moment, the glove is helping him regain the ability to grasp and release objects again. "I know things might never be the same again and nobody can give me a definite answer about whether I'll play guitar again but I'm getting back on track," Cox told the Guardian.

The Long Blondes were an up-and-coming band from England, who built a loyal fan base over the course of two albums. Cox's stroke came entirely unexpectedly, causing a major upset amongst indie rock fans across the globe. But hopefully, not for much longer.


Read More Articles at WeEarth.com

Want to shop with the Earth in mind? Check out our Earth-minded Marketplace!

Hawaii Prepares For Electric Car Future

Hawaii--when we hear the state mentioned, we tend to think of luaus, clear blue oceans, tropical plants, and hay skirts. But the state also wants electric cars to become a part of it's global image. Governor Linda Lingle unveiled a plan for the island to create an entire electric car network by the year 2012, in effect battling global warming and ending the state's heavy reliance on foreign oil.

Daily Tech writes:

Electric car company Better Place will be the company responsible for building the electric car network that will cost an estimated $200 million to $250 million in construction. Better Place has not signed any investors for the project, but will intensify its search in the immediate future...

Consumers who purchase or lease electric cars will be able to visit Better Place supply recharging service locations to switch out their lithium ion car battery for a full-charged new one. Better Place will then recharge the new battery during off-peak electricity hours.

I can't help but think of Hawaii as the ultimate island paradise when the plan is in full effect. Noisy, exhaust-spilling engines would be replaced by the quiet hum of electric vehicles, allowing the ocean waves to be heard from almost anywhere in the state. Any smog in the air would clear up, and instead of getting out of the car to pump gas, an assistant would come over and install a new battery instead.

Better Place anticipates it will build somewhere around 50,000 to 100,000 charge spots across Hawaii by 2011, with Governor Lingle hoping to cut at least 70 percent of the state's fossil fuel use by 2030. With Hawaii stepping up to be the U.S. pioneers of the green revolution, we may expect other electric car networks to start trickling their away across the rest of the states.


Read More Articles at WeEarth.com

Want to shop with the Earth in mind? Check out our Earth-minded Marketpalce!

L.A.’s Ambitious Solar Plan

Los Angeles mayor Antonio Villaraigosa has just unveiled an ambitious plan to install solar panels on house rooftops that he says will "meet 10 percent of the city's energy needs" by 2020. According to utility officials, the energy plan will cost each L.A. resident 2 more dollars a month once complete. Details of the cost breakdown will be established within the next 90 days.

"Our solar initiative is the largest of any kind anywhere in the world. When it takes full effect, L.A. will have 1,280 megawatts more capacity -more than exists in the entire United States today," Villaraigosa said. Not only will it improve the polluted metropolis's skies but L.A.'s mayor claims that with "every 10 megawatts" of solar power, 200 to 400 new jobs could be created.

At the moment, not even 1 percent of L.A.'s energy supply comes from solar sources, while the ASH (American Safety and Health) Institute claims 76 percent of the city's energy is still generated from coal and natural gas.

The city is known for its ghastly smog and California lawmakers have recently founded the South Coast Air Quality Management District in order to get it under control. Some of its controls include monitoring clean construction and eco-friendly paint products, as well as "inventing methods of recovering the vapors released when petroleum products are burned." (Encycomedia.com)

380 megawatts of power will be generated from the solar panels through the SunShares Program, and another 500 megawatts will come from "utility-scale solar power projects that would feed into two transmission stations run by the city's Department of Water and Power." (ENN)

The project will cost between 1.5 to 3 billion dollars, which is meant to be completed by 2014. "The L.A. solar plan represents the generation of renewable energy in Los Angeles, by Los Angeles and for Los Angeles," said David Nahai, general manager of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power. Nahai also mentioned he has high hopes that more cities jump on the solar industry bandwagon since it will bring prices down, making the market both more competitive and affordable.

Read More Articles at WeEarth.com

Want to shop with the Earth in mind? Check out our Earth-minded Marketplace!

Invest in the World This Christmas

Looking for unique ideas on what to get loved ones and friends for Christmas this year who already have it all? Worried about the state of the world, and the flailing economy? Why not give a gift that would satisfy all of the above? Websites like Good Gifts, Oxfam and Solar Aid provide some excellent alternatives to gift giving that spread the wealth, help the economy and invest in people of the future.

Solar Aid reminds us that "there are nearly two billion people around the world with no access to power" so why not try to remedy that by spending £15 (25 dollars) on a solar lantern to go to a child in rural Africa so they can use it for their studies. The lamps will also allow families in Africa to cook indoors, which can prevent respiratory diseases caused by toxic smoke. It also creates jobs to the people in the region, as they make the lanterns from raw materials. To get more information on how to give a lantern as a gift, as well as ordering one, go to Solar-Aid.org.

Another good site that provides a plethora of goods, both expensive and inexpensive, is GoodGifts.org. Here you can purchase a variety of gifts that go directly to those in need or you can purchase things for yourself or family that go directly to charity. Products like 'peace oil' which combines Palestinian and West Bank oil, can be purchased for as little as £9. ($15)

Or if your funds are extremely limited, buy a stocking-filler for less than $10 such as a warm jumper, cooking pot, or a medical fund donation for street children. If you're looking to make a bigger contribution, and a way to support the world economy, you can set up a camel dairying business for under $500, or give the gift of sight by paying for a child's surgery for under $3,000 or start a village library for under $2,000. The website even offers a guarantee for your records.

Oxfam also has a great website where you can purchase animals, food, trees, school supplies, hygiene kits and even educational skills. (Teach a teacher for under $50)

These are a few websites out of many, so there are plenty of opportunities to give the gift of charity this Christmas. And in the meantime, you could be helping the economy and the environment both inland and overseas.


Read More Articles at WeEarth.com

Want to shop with the Earth in mind? Check out our Earth-minded Marketplace!

Indonesia To "Tag" AIDS Patients

Some are calling it the actions of a "Hitler wanna-be," but the government of Indonesia thinks it's a win-win solution: known HIV/AIDS patients in a specific region of the country will be tagged with radio frequency identification chips as an effort to combat the spreading disease.

Lawmakers in Indonesia's remote province of Papua are set to pass the controversial legislature that aims to track those with "sexually aggressive behavior." Authorities argue that the micro radio chips would put them in a better position to identify and track those who deliberately infect others, with punishment ranging from up to six months in jail or a $5,000 fine. The idea is to scare people into abstinence.

The Associated Press writes:

Indonesia is the world's fourth most populous country and has one of Asia's fastest growing HIV rates, with up to 290,000 infections out of 235 million people, fueled mainly by intravenous drug users and prostitution.

But Papua, the country's easternmost and poorest province with a population of about 2 million, has been hardest hit. Its case rate of almost 61 per 100,000 is 15 times the national average, according to internationally funded research, which blames lack of knowledge about sexually transmitted diseases.

According to Nancy Fee, the UNAIDS country coordinator, she was unaware of any other country in the world with initiatives to combat HIV/AIDS with microchips. Like many other health care workers and activists in Indonesia, she believes it will only push the problems further underground and off the radar.

Other activists have cited Indonesia as extremely poor when it comes to sexual education. Condom use is hardly promoted, birth control methods are barely available, and few resources exist providing education on STDs or even planned parenthood. Ritual "swinging," or group sex, also occurs fairly regularly amongst Papua tribes.

One columnist on the Gizmodo blog wonders if lawmaker's "Plan B" is to just put AIDS/HIV patients "in camps, or shoot them straight away."



Read More Articles at WeEarth.com

Want to shop with the Earth in mind? Check out the Earth-minded Marketplace!

Gas Prices Lowering; Bus Riding Still Rising

In dozens of cities across America, gas is lower than $2.00 per gallon, which is the lowest I've seen prices since I first started driving in 2000. A new study released this week shows Inter-city bus service jumped 9.8 percent between the fourth quarters of 2007 and 2008, the highest growth rate in more than 40 years. While it credits much of the spike to the higher gas prices felt earlier this year, it seems that the basic economic efficiencies of bus travel are still proving themselves more attractive, especially with younger generations that are finding more entertainment and job opportunities in reviving downtown districts.

Reuters writes:

The study, released by the Chaddick Institute for Metropolitan Development at DePaul University in Chicago, includes all arrivals and departures of all conventional intercity bus companies, such as Greyhound Lines and Continental Trailways, as well as curbside bus operators, but not commuter-bus operators.

Much of the growth was driven by two companies, Megabus and Boltbus, a joint venture of the Greyhound and Peter Pan bus companies, which started curbside pick-up service in northeastern states in spring 2007.

The two companies offer high-frequency service between major U.S. cities and wireless Internet service on board.

As somebody who rarely ever rides buses, I'm now turned on by the idea for free wi-fi access alone. But along with people's ability to check e-mail while they commute, it turns out the increased bus service has also made some headway in the battle against global warming. The study found that over the past year, reduced carbon dioxide emissions are estimated at about 36,000 tons . Air travel also dropped by about 8 percent in the same time period.

It seems more and more Americans are getting on the bus, both literally and metaphorically.

Read More Articles at WeEarth.com!

Want to shop with the Earth in mind? Check out our Earth-minded Marketplace!

Tips for a Green Thanksgiving

Holidays are always a time of waste and plenty with raging parties and overflowing trash cans. This Thanksgiving, cut down on your carbon footprint and give thanks for greener options.

If Thanksgiving is at your house this year, consider the following:

Reduce paper waste by sending e-vites. At the party, further reduce paper waste by using cloth napkins and “real” dishes and silverware in place of plastic and paper and save the world from global warming.

Minimize your lights by dining before the sun goes down and using dimmers and candles (made of natural waxes) for a festive atmosphere.

Use real leaves that you collect from outside instead of plastic, artificial versions. If you’re big on decorating, buy pieces that will last, rather than paper decorations that will need to be tossed as soon as someone spills gravy on them.

Make sure that you provide a recycling bin in addition to the trash bag (preferably made of biodegradable plastic).

As for the food, buy local and organic foodstuffs, from yams to turkey. Try a sustainable brand of turkey, like Heritage. Check out your local natural foods store for more turkey. Also, make your dishes vegetarian, by subbing in vegetable or mushroom broth instead of trimmings.

Make it easy on yourself and have a potluck, and spread the green around by having your guests bring a sustainable dish as well.

And in the spirit of giving, give a little something to your local foodbank so that less fortunate families can feast as well. Local charities often offer Thanksgiving dinners and you can donate food and time to serve up a hot meal for the start of the holiday season.

When the guests go home, use natural cleaning solutions like vinegar and lemon juice or a green store-bought cleansing product to make your home sparkle.

Read More Articles at WeEarth.com

Want to Shop with the Earth in mind? Check out our Earth-minded Marketplace!

Dr. Alan Bittner runs a liposculpture clinic in Beverly Hills that has recently been shut down due to his unorthodox practice of using his patients’ leftover fat as fuel for his car.

At the doctor’s site, http://lipodiesel.org/, you can read all about the Dr. Bittner’s interest in green activities as a long-time member of the Sierra Club. The site reports that starting last year, as part of his efforts to get off fossil fuels and use alternative energy, he began using some of the fat from his liposuction patients and turning into biodiesel for his SUV. He calls it LipoDiesel.

According to Dr. Bittner, "My patients universally love the idea of converting their unwanted fat into fuel. Not only do they get to lose their love handles or chubby belly, but they get to take part in saving the Earth. Patients really like the idea that the fat can be used for something helpful and good. The vast majority of my patients request that I use their fat for fuel - and I have more fat than I can use. In fact, some of my staff has begun to buy diesel vehicles so that they can use the fuel too."

Dr. Bittner estimates that he removes about 2000 gallons of fat from his patients every year, some of which he disposes of as medical waste and some of which he saves to process into fuel for his SUV. He reports that he gets 10 miles to the gallon.

He processes the fat in his own lab and tests it to make sure it works by testing it.

While lipodiesel may seem like a good idea on some levels, especially when you also take into consideration the nation’s rising rates of obesity, it also seems completely icky on other levels, like contamination.

It has been reported that Dr. Bittner’s Beverly Hills clinic has been shut down by the Medical Board. And as plastic surgeon Dr. John Di Saia, among others has pointed out, biodiesel likely violates laws about disposing of biological waste.

Although burning biowaste leaves a large carbon footprint, it seems that until laws are in place making fat into fuel will have to wait.

Read More Articles at WeEarth.com

Want to shop with the Earth in mind? Check out our Earth-minded Marketplace!

Charlize Theron Becomes Messenger of Peace

For actress Charlize Theron, art has begun to imitate life. After playing roles in films like North Country and Monster, (for which she won an Academy Award) films that both deal with the consequences of domestic violence and harassment, she has been named as a United Nations Messenger of Peace on Friday.

Theron will join the other 10 celebrities who have been named messengers of peace, from entertainment fields in film, music literature and sport. She will focus on ending violence against women through a media contract with the U.N. as well as public speeches and appearances. The 33 year old actress-turned activist played serial killer Aileen Wuornos, who was notoriously put to death after killing men who thought she was a prostitute. Wuornos came from an unfortunate background of violence and abuse and was executed in Florida back in 2002.

In 2005, the film North Country concentrated on a woman, Josey Aimes, who filed a sexual harassment charge while working in a male dominant mining field project, also based on a true story. She’s been involved in charitable causes in the past, such as “putting mobile health clinics in rural areas of her native South Africa where access to care is limited.” (Patrick Worsnip, Reuters)

Her eye witness experience of domestic violence has inspired her work. At the age of 15, she experienced the shooting of her alcoholic father by her mother’s hand when he threatened the family in “a drunken rage.” U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said, “You have used your voice, compassion and special relationship with the public to create a better world,” at the inauguration ceremony.

Other messengers of peace include actors George Clooney and Michael Douglas, musicians Daniel Barenboim, Midori Goto and cellist Yo-Yo Ma, author of The Alchemist Paul Coelho and equestrian Princess Haya Bint al-Hussein. As stated by the United Nations website, “The Messengers of Peace, through their public appearances, contacts with the international media and humanitarian work, help expand understanding of how the ideals and objectives of the Organization demand everyone’s attention.”

Read More Articles at WeEarth.com

Want to shop with the Earth in mind? Check out our Earth-minded Marketplace!

Another Species Nears Extinction, Courtesy of Pollution

According to an article on Treehugger, the bizarre, yet cute-looking Axolotl salamander, also known as the Mexican walking fish or Mexican water monster, is now considered endangered due to habitat destruction and water pollution.

The sea-living creature is remarkable not only for its smiling appearance, but also because of its ability to regenerate most body parts. Once an import part of Aztec legend and diet, the creature has managed to survive until recently in the polluted canals of Lake Xochimilco, part of Mexico City's urban sprawl.

In modern times, axolotls have been used extensively in laboratory studies on regeneration, embryology, fertilization and evolution.

"If the axolotl disappears, it would not only be a great loss to biodiversity but to Mexican culture, and would reflect the degeneration of a once-great lake system," says Luis Zambrano, a biologist at the Autonomous University of Mexico, or UNAM/

Scientists are trying to find ways to save the tiny creature, which some estimate may disappear in as few as five years. Some push for Axolotl sanctuaries in the canals, while others are pushing for breeding in captivity.

Once a population of millions, it was a regular part of the local diet. Now, the population has fallen from 1,500 per square mile in 1998 to a mere 25 per square mile this year, according to a survey by Zambrano's scientists using casting nets. Fishermen no longer find the creatures as often, so it is no longer eaten.

Without the presence of nonnative species, like carp, the water would clear, and plants the axolotl needs to breed could flourish again, said Bob Johnson, the curator of amphibians and reptiles at the Toronto Zoo.

"If you take the insults away, the lake has an amazing latent potential to heal itself," he said.

While there is yet no clear direction as to how to save the species, the race is on.

For pictures of the alien-looking animal, click here. To read the original article, click here.

Check out our E-zine, Voices, for more articles!

Want to shop with the Earth in mind? Check out our Earth-minded Marketplace!

Carmakers Facing Harsh Reality

Many of the world's leading CEOs in car manufacturing are learning a simple truth, perhaps for the first time: it ain't the 1950's anymore. While the automobile industry built a powerful empire in the post WWII economy, largely fueled by America's new obsession with personal mobility, today the only thing seeming to take a drive are profits--and they're heading southbound.

According to the Los Angeles Times, General Motors Corp., Chrysler, Ferrari, Rolls-Royce, Land Rover, and Suzuki Motor Corp are all withdrawing from the nation's premier auto show in Detroit, and several have pulled out of other leading shows in L.A., Chicago, and New York. The Times writes:

"'Clearly, we're affected,' said Andy Fuzesi, general manager and co-owner of the L.A. Auto Show, which has nearly 20% fewer exhibitors at this year's show compared with last year, when nearly 100 companies paid to show their wares to more than 1 million visitors at the Los Angeles Convention Center. 'Everybody is clearly reassessing where they spend their money.'"

Through October, US auto sales took an overall plummet of 15% compared with last year, with Subaru being the only manufacturer to actually sell more cars this year than last. Some manufacturers actually have some models to work up enthusiasm about, such as Chrysler with three new electric concept vehicles, but are instead unloading the price of running a display onto its network of local dealerships The Times also quoted Barry Toepke, a public relations executive at automotive firm RWB: "Corporate usually shoulders a big part of the expenses."

GM and Ford also lost a combined $30 billion in the first nine months of this year, spurring them and Chrysler to recently lobby for federal aid amidst the current bailout talks.

Obviously the auto industry is taking a hit like everyone else in the suffering global economy. It could be mostly temporary, but with greater enthusiasm for public transportation, and more awareness of global warming, it's difficult to say whether or not traditional, gas-fueld vehicles will ever return to the same profit status again. With GM recently announcing plans to lay off 55,000 employees, it's also difficult to say how the rest of us plan to deal with it.

Read More Articles at WeEarth.com

Want to Shop with the Earth in mind? Check out our Earth-minded Marketplace!

Great For The Country, Bad For Comedians

There could be a small minority of dedicated liberals in the US trembling at the election of Barack Obama--comedians. With a new national leader looking to be the intelligent, anti-war, eco-minded, class act an overwhelming majority of Americans wanted, others fear the next four years could be the worst times for satire.

Reuters writes:

Whether because he was the favorite of left-leaning comics, the historic nature of his election or that so far he has made few gaffes, comedians are finding little to joke about so far.

"Obama's election is great for our country but bad for comedy," said Michael Musto, a columnist for New York City's Village Voice. "He is an earnest, intelligent person trying to rescue a country in crisis and that's not all that hilarious."

"Comedy thrives when there are buffoonish targets," he said. "Traditionally shows like 'Saturday Night Live' have done best when dealing with people like President (Gerald) Ford, who couldn't stand upright all the time, or (Bush) who couldn't say nuclear, or Sarah Palin who didn't know Africa's a continent."

Left-leaning comic Bill Maher of HBO's Real Time and the recent film Religulous admitted that jokes about Obama could be hard to come by. "Seriously, here's a guy who's not fat, not cheating on his wife, not stupid, not angry and not a phony. Who needs an asshole like that around for the next four years?" he recently, in fact, joked on his show. But to his credit, he was able slip in another one, riffing off Obama's middle name, Hussein. "Americans were so sick of Bush that seven years after 9-11, they said, 'You know what sounds good? A black guy with a Muslim name."

Jay Leno of NBC's The Tonight Show also lamented, "I've got to admit, as a comedian, I'm going to miss President Bush because Barack Obama is not easy to do jokes about, he doesn't give you a lot to go on," he said the day after the November 4 election. "See this is why God gave us (Vice President-elect) Joe Biden."

There's no question about it--satire works best under oppressive circumstances. It's the relief and truth we turn to when our inner voices can't hear confirmation else where. But as Obama even admitted, "I was not born in a manger." With many tough issues bound to come up over the next four years, and with a set of many advisors guiding his decisions, mistakes are bound to happen. And I guarantee people like Jon Stewart, Tina Fey, Chris Rock, and David Letterman will be sweeping in whenever possible.

Still, it could be funny to see the first episode of the Daily Show after Obama's inauguration in January featuring the the writers and cast just waving goodbye to the camera.

Read More Articles at WeEarth.com

Want to shop with the Earth in mind? Check out our Earth-minded Marketplace!

Kidney Stones in Kids Becoming More Common

Kidney stones, an ailment commonly associated with middle age have been found to be increasing in children, according to the New York Times.

“The older doctors would say in the ’70s and ’80s, they’d see a kid with a stone once every few months,” said Dr. Caleb P. Nelson, a urology instructor at Harvard Medical School who is co-director of the new kidney stone center at Children’s Hospital Boston. “Now we see kids once a week or less.”

In China, kidney stones have been reported in children who consumed milk products contaminated with melanine, a toxic chemical. But in the United States, the increase in kidney stones in children has been associated with over consumption of salt.

Excess amounts of salt and lack of fluids are often the reason behind adult kidney stones, so it stands to reason that they would also affect children.

“What we’ve really seen is an increase in the salt load in children’s diet,” said Dr. Bruce L. Slaughenhoupt, co-director of pediatric urology and of the pediatric kidney stone clinic at the University of Wisconsin.

Although some experts have blamed an increase in childhood obesity for the poor eating habits that contribute to the increase of childhood kidney stones, Dr. Caleb P. Nelson, a urology instructor at Harvard Medical School who is co-director of the new kidney stone center at Children’s Hospital Boston says, Of the school-age and adolescent kids we’ve seen, most of them appear to be reasonably fit, active kids. We’re not seeing a parade of overweight Nintendo players.”

Other doctors and clinics however, have been seeing more overweight children with kidney stones, leading them to suspect that a poor diet is, in fact, a large factor in the onslaught of kidney stones.

And, fifty to 60 percent of children with kidney stones have a family history of the disease. “If you have a family history, it’s important to recognize your kids are at risk at some point in their life,” Dr. Nelson said. “That means instilling lifelong habits of good hydration, balanced diet, and avoiding processed high-salt, high-fat foods.”

Children with kidney stones experience pain in their side or stomach, while younger children may have a harder time expressing what they’re feeling, making the condition harder to diagnose.

Read More Articles at WeEarth.com

Want to shop with the Earth in mind? Check out our Earth-minded Marketplace!

Snakes at a Spa

It seems the quest for beauty gets wackier every day, with spas serving up their elite clientele fabulous facials made with bird droppings and pedicures with tiny fish to munch away dead skin. Now, a spa in Israel promises to top all the wacky beauty treatments by offering spa-goers snake massages, according to an article in TIME.

In the tranquil orange groves of Northern Israel, is Ada Barak’s Carniverous Plant Farm. Barak makes a living showing off her assortment of plants that eat animals, everything from insects to schnitzel. She hit upon the idea for the snake massage when she passed around a snake to be held by audience members before it met its demise by plant.

Barak tells TIME, "Some people said that holding the snakes made them feel better, relaxed. One old lady said it was soothing, like a cold compress."

After some experimentation, she found the perfect assortment of snakes for the ultimate soothing experience: big snakes, king and corn for a deep massage along with little ones that produce a “fluttering sensation.” Like the size of the snakes, reactions to the massage are at both ends of the spectrum, “People either like it a lot or they hate it," says Barak.

For $80, the six snakes are placed on customers to wriggle and ease migraine pain and sooth muscle soreness, according to some fans.

Although more traditional spas can be found in the same area, there is only one snake massage available thus far.




Read More Articles at WeEarth.com

Want to Shop with the Earth in mind? Check out our Earth-minded Marketplace!

Lights Out for Otto the Octopus

Otto the Octopus has been a known troublemaker in his home at the Sea Star Aquarium in Coburg, Germany, for some time. But when the lights began shorting out, the staff decided to investigate.

When the lights and electricity began to mysteriously go out, endangering life in the aquarium, the staff began to take turns sleeping on the aquarium floor to find out the cause.

It turns out that cause was Otto, who at 2 feet 7 inches, found he was big enough to climb onto the rim of his tank and turn out the bright light above him by spraying water at the offending bulb.

A spokesman said: "It was a serious matter because it shorted the electricity supply to the whole aquarium that threatened the lives of the other animals when water pumps ceased to work.

"We knew that he was bored as the aquarium is closed for winter, and at two feet, seven inches Otto had discovered he was big enough to swing onto the edge of his tank and shoot out the 2000 Watt spot light above him with a carefully directed jet of water."

Otto has put his multi-handedness to use before, juggling the hermit crabs that he co-habitats with and throwing rocks at the glass.

To prevent Otto from inadvertently harming his fellow aquarium dwellers, the light in question has been placed out of his range.

Director Elfriede Kummer who witnessed the act said: "We've put the light a bit higher now so he shouldn't be able to reach it. But Otto is constantly craving for attention and always comes up with new stunts so we have realised we will have to keep more careful eye on him - and also perhaps give him a few more toys to play with.

"Once we saw him juggling the hermit crabs in his tank, another time he threw stones against the glass damaging it. And from time to time he completely re-arranges his tank to make it suit his own taste better - much to the distress of his fellow tank inhabitants."

Read More Articles at WeEarth.com

Want to shop with the Earth in mind? Check out our Earth-minded Marketplace!

Rooftop Wind

As the cost of everything, from food to fuel rises, consider cutting down on your electricity by harnessing the power of the wind.

Wind turbines are often pictured as large, unwieldy, unsightly and noisy. But the Swift company has come up with a wind turbine that sits on the rooftop and is quiet.

Whether you are interested in installing a wind turbine on the rooftop of your private home place of business, Swift can help you decide if a wind turbine would be a good fit for your needs.

At the product’s website, www.swiftwindturbine.com, you can find more information about how wind can be channeled into usable energy, how wind turbines work, how the rooftop model differs from other models, how much they cost to install and how much energy they can generate (generally about 20% of a household’s energy use). They even offer advice about random fears, like birds getting caught in the blades (unlikely to happen).

To keep things quiet for neighborhoods, the Swift turbine uses a dual tail system to ensure that it constantly faces into the wind, reducing noise and vibration.

To find out whether or not the turbine is appropriate for your needs, you fill out an online form that then places your area in a wind class. In windy areas, the turbine pays for itself faster, whereas in areas with very little wind, it may not be as cost-effective.

The Swift wind turbine is one of the latest models of wind turbines that are popping up for smaller use.

To find out more about generating your own wind energy, EcoGeek has an article that explores and explains various models here

To find out more about the Swift model, click here.

Artificial Heart Uses Plane Technology

French scientists have enlisted the same technology used in airplanes and satellites to build a better artificial heart than those currently available. So far, the heart has only been tested on animals, but scientists hope that it can one day be used in place of human heart transplants.

The heart maker is a subsidiary of the parent company of Airbus, the European Aeronautic Defense and Space Co., or EADS. The heart functions in a similar manner to airplanes, able to anticipate the need of it’s patient and adjust to react accordingly. Although scientists in other countries, including South Korea and the United States, have been working on artificial hearts, the French company’s version is the first one able to adjust to different conditions. America-based company Abiomed already has an artificial heart on the market, which has been FDA approved.

"It's the same principle in the airplane as in the body," said Patrick Coulombier, chief operating officer of Carmat, the manufacturer. He explains that the same technology that measures altitude and pressure detect the heart's pumping speed and the pressure on its walls.

The Abiomed heart sells for up to $250,000 and has extended the lives of heart patients up to 5 months. The French heart is expected to sell for $192,140.

It is the first heart with two valves, like a natural heart, and the first that adjusts its pumping speed. Previous artificial hearts have been temporary measures designed for use before a transplant.

With the new version, there are hopes that it can be used longer-term. The heart is made of natural materials including polymer and pig tissue, which have already been used in heart valves implanted into people and have not had rejection problems.

"Virtually all devices that have been implanted in humans, no matter how well designed, have been associated with unforeseen complications," said Dr. Tim Gardner, president of the American Heart Association.

Read More Articles at WeEarth.com

Want to Shop with the Earth in Mind? Check out our Earth-Minded Marketplace!

Nikita Ovsyanikov, a researcher from Wrangel Island natural park in Chukotka, a remote Artic region, has spent the past 18 years studying polar bears and says that more polar bears are dying as a result of melting ice and increased killings by humans.

Ovsyanikov says, "If this tendency continues, the population will disappear very quickly.”

According to Ovsyanikov , the rapidly melting ice sheet forces polar bears to live on land in the summer, where they have trouble finding food. The bears are then forced to scavenge in local villages, where they are likely to be shot.

He also says, "We need to create new protected areas in the Arctic.”

The International Fund for Animal Welfare, for which Ovsyanikov has done studies, estimates that around 100 polar bears are killed illegally in Russia every year, as polar fur has gained popularity in the country, although it against the law to shoot them, except as self-defense.

Read More Articles at WeEarth.com

Want to Shop With the Earth in Mind? Check our our Earth-minded Marketplace!

Eco-friendly Fur

Japanese designer Chie Imai showed her 2008-2009 Royal Chie Collection of eco-friendly fur designs.

Imai has been designing fur since 1982, but it’s the first time she’s made them eco-friendly. The coats are a conglomeration of international materials: high-grade chinchilla fur from Finland with a recycled fabric made from used polyester by Japanese chemical company Teijin Limited.

The Japanese factory partnered with Pagagonia to create a recycled fabric out of used polyester, but it is the first time the fabric has been used in a luxury product.

"I had heard about this advanced technology, and I wanted to see it for myself," said Imai. "Then I saw that it was something that was very interesting and new."

Imai was inspired by her customers who wanted to participate in the green movement, but wanted it to be luxurious, innovative and practical too. Notable audience members at her recent New York show included Spike Lee and Tonya Lee Lewis, Ivanka Trump and her brother Donald Trump.

As Imai points out, fur coats are investment pieces, worn and passed down through generations, getting plenty of use and with the waterproof polyester thrown into the mix, the color creations are sure to last.

Read More Articles at WeEarth.com

Want to shop with the Earth in mind? Check out our Earth-mimded Marketplace!

More Wonders Added to List

8 Natural Wonders have been added to the list of natural wonders, called the World Heritage List, as designated by UNESCO.

“Natural World Heritage sites represent the best of what nature has to offer,” says native Australian David Sheppard, Head of the Protected Areas Program for the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the organization which recommended the sites.

The UNESCO designation is meant to protect natural wonders from the encroachment of humanity, but the sites inevitably draw more attention when they are added to the list, from well-meaning tourists.

Sanqingshan National Park in China was designated by UNESCO for its"scenic quality, marked by the concentration of fantastically shaped pillars and peaks: 48 granite peaks and 89 granite pillars, many of which resemble human or animal silhouettes."

Lagoons of New Caledonia in the South Pacific are a highly diverse coral reef ecosystem, which some scientists believe have a high marine life population than Australia’s Great Barrier Reef.

Joggins Fossil Cliffs in the Bay of Fundy, Nova Scotia is a series of rocks and cliffs in Eastern Canada contains fossils of reptiles and preserved upright fossil trees from the Coal Age 300 million years ago.

Surtsey is one of the Westman Islands found off the coast of Iceland. A nature preserve, Surtsey is currently closed to visitors, although interested travelers can investigate the nearby island of Heimaey, where archaeologists are digging up a town buried in 1973 by a volcanic eruption.

The Swiss Tectonic Area of Sardona is a treasure trove of jagged rock formations.

Saryarka is composed of two clusters of wetlands: Korgalzhyn Nature Reserve and Naurzum Nature Reserve, both in northern Kazakhstan and can only be reached with a special permit.

Socotra Archipelago is an island in the Indian Ocean sometimes known as the "Galapagos of the Indian Ocean." and largely untouched by tourism, although the industry is growing.

The Monarch Butterfly Reserve is only one hour north of Mexico City and is site dedicated to the preservation of the monarch butterfly by the World Wildlife Fund and ecotourism.

Read More Articles at WeEarth.com

Got the urge to shop with the Earth in mind? Check out our Earth-minded Marketplace!

Caffeine-Crazed Consumers

Consumers have craved caffeine for centuries. Almost everyone is an addict or knows someone who can’t wake up without a morning cup of coffee. But now, marketers and scientists are cashing in on the caffeine craze and introducing it in everything from sunflower seeds to body lotions, according to an article on Time.com.

The caffeine trend began with the introduction of highly caffeinated energy drinks in the last part of the last century. But now, the caffeine craze is in full bloom, according to the market research giant Mintel. In the past five years, firms have launched at least 126 caffeinated food products for sale in the U.S., with twenty-nine such products introduced this year alone.

Although caffeine is considered a relatively safe drug, a 1998 study in the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence, found that 7% of caffeine users have experienced what is called caffeine intoxication. Caffeine intoxication is characterized by nervousness, insomnia, tachycardia and psychomotor agitation and has even led to death in rare instances. The symptoms abate when users stop consuming caffeine, but with the new prevalence of caffeinated products, consumers may no longer be aware of their limits and thus more likely to overuse.

Many of the new products don’t say how much caffeine is in their product on the label. Companies are even getting kids in on the craze, with products like Jelly Belly's Extreme Sport Beans, which the company calls "Energizing Jelly Beans." Sumseeds, a brand of caffeinated sunflower seeds, contain 120 mg of caffeine per packet, 16% more than in a typical 6-oz. serving of coffee. Shower Shock soap is designed to deliver a crackling 200 mg of caffeine when lathered into the skin, twice the amount in that same cup of coffee.

The FDA has not yet responded to petitions started by a Johns Hopkins neuroscience professor named Roland Griffiths, that ask that caffeinated products be labeled.

Although there is no definitive finding as of late that the new stream of caffeine has affected public health, it is definitely affecting the youth of the nation.

Doctors recommend that children not have any caffeine, caffeine is being put into traditional childhood junk food favorites, including candy, chips, gum and other snacks. It was reported that 4 middle school boys were sent to the emergency room after school officials thought they were suffering symptoms of a heart attack, including profuse sweating. It turns out that the boys had simply consumed energy drinks.

Because there is no official action on caffeine products, consumers should read labels carefully and factor in any additional caffeine consumption, beyond their coffee and tea, into their daily total.

Read More Articles at WeEarth.com

Make October 31 a Green Halloween

Holidays can be amongst the most wasteful days of the year. With Halloween coming up at the end of the month, here are some tips to ensure that you celebrate a Green Halloween, from candy to costume.

When it comes to candy, China’s tainted milk problem has become a global affair, with tainted milk products being found in Asian candy sold in Britain and the US as well as Australia, choosing organic sweets are best. Look for candy that is labeled organic or natural and fair-trade. Products with these labels undergo a great deal of supervision during production and are thus less likely to be contaminated.

For trick or treating sized confections, check out Endangered Species Chocolate and Equal Exchange Chocolate Minis, which are organic and use ethically traded ingredients. For the rest of the year and especially the end of the year holiday season, also be sure to buy organic and fair-trade treats for yourself and others.

When it comes to the all-important Halloween costume, don’t rush out to buy the cheap, mass-produced at your local drugstore. Instead of being a naughty nurse or sending your kid out as the latest superhero, get creative and you might be surprised at the environmentally-friendly choices you can make.

Go to a thrift store. They can be chock full of old Halloween costumes just right for recycling. Power Ranger anyone?

Search the web for ideas on how to make your own costume, especially if you are handy with a needle and thread. Use stuff from around the house to create your own capes, swords crowns and other miscellaneous needed to make your costume come to life.

If you have a new, unused Halloween costume, donate it. Until October 26, participating Starwood hotels are ensuring that all children get a treat this year. Click here to find participating hotels that are collecting Halloween costumes for local kids in need.

Make this year’s Halloween Green, whether you are tricking or treating.

Read More Articles At WeEarth.com

Want to shop with the Earth in mind? Take a look at our Earth Minded Store.

Toyota Builds First 'Green' Dealership In Western USA

It might seem like an oxymoron, but Toyota is at least trying to off-set some of its carbon footprint. The car manufacturer will be opening its first eco-conscious dealership to the public today in Salt Lake City, Utah. The new Mark Miller Toyota facility was built from the ground up with green initiatives in mind and expects to earn a Gold LEED Certification in the coming weeks.

While not using any major technological innovations such as hydrogen fuel cells or solar panels for power, the dealership was designed to conserve energy and water. It was also built with recycled materials, using much of the original building site in it's 're-construction.' Some of the environmentally friendly features include sun-tracking skylights to optimize natural daylight (to cut down on interior light use), low-flow faucets and toilets and waterless urinals, a cistern system to collect and store rainwater and air conditioning condensation for irrigation and for washing cars, and cool-roof system to lower the overall heat that comes off large buildings.

The facility can serve as an example of many of the small ways we can make an impact on global warming--something as simple as leaving light bulbs off for most of the hours of the day can go a long way in carbon savings.

Mark Miller, the dealer principal, said, "It wasn't a cheap proposition, but we think what we've done will have a payback both monetarily and in a reduced impact on the environment. In fact, we expect the facility's design to pay for itself within a decade. As buildings are the number one user of energy in the economy, our design will help reduce our energy use by about a third. We are pleased to help lead the way in Salt Lake City with an energy-efficient and environmental facility."

The dealership has applied and expects to win a Gold LEED certification in coming weeks. LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, a voluntary program designed to promote and validate environmental leadership in the building industry. It is awarded by the U.S. Green Building Council, and is coveted by business owners.

Read More Articles at WeEarth.com

Want to Shop with the Earth in Mind? Check out our Store!

New Way to Create Stem Cells

Researchers have found a new way to transform "ordinary stem cells into powerful stem cells" by sprinkling a chemical onto the cells. This chemical allows a team of scientists at the Harvard Stem Cell Institute in Massachusetts to use a mixture of 2 genes to transform skin cells into "powerful induced pluripotent stem cells or 1PS cells." (Maggie Fox, Reuters)

Though these cells may prove difficult to make, however as they require the use of embryo or cloning technology and certain groups object to these practices in places like the US, making funding limited. In order to place these genes into the cells, the scientists have to place a retrovirus in order to get their material into the cells they infect. But this can prove dangerous and can cause tumors, among other things.

However, results of recent tests have proven promising, as doctors like Danwei Huangfu say the other 2 genes may not even be needed. The way the physical chromosomes are structured, scientist may be able to alter their DNA more easily. "These results support the possibility of reprogramming through purely chemical means, which would make therapeutic use of reprogrammed cells safer and more practical," Huangfu wrote in the group's report.

"This study demonstrates there's a possibility that instead of using genes and viruses to reprogram cells, one can use chemicals," said Dr. Doug Melton, who directed the study published in the journal Nature Biotechnology. Huangfu, a postdoctoral researcher in his lab, confirmed that this was the first time lab scientists feel they can actually make stem cells by inducing this chemical.

Stem cells are the body's main cells, which give rise to tissues, organs and blood. Embryonic stem cells are thought to be the most powerful kinds of stem cells, since they alone have the power to "give rise to any type of tissue." Doctors hope this find will be used to transform the way they use medicine.

Doctor Melton, for example wants to find a way to reuse the pancreatic cells destroyed in type 1 diabetes to hopefully cure the disease. "We may need two types of chemicals, 1 to loosen the chromatin structure, and one to reprogram. We are looking for that reprogramming chemical and it should be possible to find it eventually," Huangfu said.

Read More Articles at WeEarth.com

Scientists Develop "Synthetic Telepathy"

Pretty soon it seems like time travel will be the only subject science fiction writers have left, and at the rate science is progressing, perhaps that will be outdated soon as well. Currently the army is financing technology that allows e-mail or voice mail to be sent by thought alone.

Known as "synthetic telepathy," the technology reads electrical activity in the brain using an electroencephalograph, or EEG. For what, the exact purpose other than 'convert operations' is still unknown according to MSNBC, but the researchers working on the project expect it to trickle down to consumer use eventually--perhaps for the video games of the future.

"I think that this will eventually become just another way of communicating," said Mike D'Zmura, from the University of California, Irvine and the lead scientist of the project. "It will take a lot of research, and a lot of time, but there are also a lot of commercial applications, not just military applications," he said.

Similar forms of the technology appeared in the 1960s to send morse code through brain waves, but sending complete thoughts is completely unprecedented. Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Maryland are also working on the project, and hope individuals will be able to use it to send thoughts to a radio or to a printable e-mail.

"The eventual application I see is for students sitting in the back of the lecture hall not paying attention because they are texting," added D'Zmura. "Instead, students could be back there, just thinking to each other."

The team is also hopeful the technology will be used in medical practice, such as with patients with Lou Gehrig's disease, or who are deaf or dumb.

One hopes that however the technology for synthetic telepathy works--it comes with an off switch too.

Read More Articles at WeEarth.com

Venus Flytraps Threatened in Own Habitat

The delicate yet deadly flower, most popularly known as the venus flytrap which sits atop a long stem is now in danger in a green swamp reserve in North Carolina. Laura Gadd, a nature preserve specialist, marks them as she walks by, finding them hidden beneath wisps of wire grass. She finds a half a dozen a day, which is enough to “warrant a spray of glue and inconspicuous powder used to identify the plants and track down poachers who pluck them.” (Mike Baker, Associated Press)

One of nature’s most popular obscure plants, the venus flytrap’s ability to snatch living prey makes it a favourite of school children and plant enthusiasts alike. The flytrap’s natural habitat exists only within a few hundred miles of South Carolina’s coast, where larger more dominating plants have taken over the area. Building development and commercial growth along the North and South Carolina coast has threatened the few “sensitive and thin populations of venus flytraps that still exist in the wild.”

An AP review of state botany records found that nearly 80 percent of the 117 identified wild populations of flytraps in North Carolina have little to no chance of surviving and have either been scarce or wiped out. Most of the large clusters are in nature preserves, but most experts think the dwindling has to do with “encroaching humans.” Wildfires and logging along the Savannah are also responsible for their demise as well as poaching, since flytraps have been popular for various medical procedures around the world. Repeated poachers face misdemeanour charges and are usually only fined less than 200 dollars. Rarely do they face jail time, so it happens more than it should. The traps were once found in as many as 4 counties in South Carolina, and have now narrowed down to only one.

"When you go out looking for these populations that have been recorded, you find you're either in a golf course or a subdivision, or a road or a shopping center," James Luken, a professor at Coastal Carolina University in Conway, S.C., who studies wetland ecology, said. "It's a biological hotspot, but it's a development hotspot. These areas are being transformed as fast as the bulldozers can roll."

Due to the dwindling supply of flytraps they still aren’t actually considered endangered, since there are so many other plants ahead of them “on the waiting list.” Representative Carolyn Justice, a Republican who represents the Wilmington area, has pushed to begin regulating flytraps in the same fashion as ginseng in the past, a plant used for a variety of herbal needs in Eastern medicines. But legislation has stalled to take action for now. "Our population down here is exploding," Justice said. "And as we encroach on these forests, we encroach on (the flytrap). We just need to be real careful monitoring how these are harvested and sold."

Read More Aticles at WeEarth.com

Global Warming Already Producing Refugees

In Bangladesh, climate change is creating climate refugees as increasing numbers of people are moving inland, away from rising sea levels that are already submerging coastlines. Despite the fact that the country’s major rivers, the Ganges and the Brahmaputra, carry enough sediment to create new sand bars and extend the coastline by a rate of about 8 square miles per year, the number of climate change refugees continues to climb.

According to The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change says there will be 20 million people internally displaced people within Bangladesh by 2050 as a result of climate change, while James Hansen of the NASA Goddard Institute predicts that the country's entire population of 144 million are at risk of becoming environmental refugees by the end of the century.

However, some don’t believe that climate change is eroding the land because of visible new land. The Dhaka-based Centre for Environment and Geographic Information Services (CEGIS) has studied 32 years of satellite images and says the country's landmass has increased by 20 square kilometers (eight square miles) annually. In the past 30 years, CEGIS says that 1,000 square kilometers of land have risen from the sea.

But according to one of Bangladesh’s leading climate change experts, Atiq Rahman, the number of refugees is still increasing, despite evidence of new land. He says, "Yes, the new land is forming, but because sea levels are rising so fast that millions of people will still be climate refugees.”

Bangladesh diplomats plan to plea for international support to help fight the consequences of climate change.

Read More Articles at WeEarth.com

Google Introduces Mail Goggles

Just as friends don’t let friends date through beer goggles, Google doesn’t want you emailing through them either. To further this end, Google is introducing Mail Goggles, to prevent drunken emailers from regretting what they write in the morning.

Jon Perlow, Gmail engineer writes on the official Gmail Blog about his introduction of Mail Goggles to prevent you sending a message you might later regret.

Perlow’s inspiration for the helpful feature comes from personal experience: telling a girl he had a crush on her via text message and telling an ex-girlfriend that they should get back together.

Mail Goggles requires the sender to solve some simple math problems as a sobriety test to see whether or not you are sober enough to click send. By default, the feature is active late on weekend evenings, the time most are most likely to need the service. You can reset the settings to help them accommodate your needs.

To set up Mail Goggles, go to the Gmail Settings Menu and select “Labs.”

Mail Goggles won’t prevent you from drunk dialing; but it might save you some embarrassment from an especially debauchery-filled night. Seems like it might be an especially good feature for the college crowd.

Read More Articles at WeEarth.com

Study Shows Cell Phones Shaping Romantic Relationships

AT&T recently conducted a survey to see how text messaging is affecting the modern dating realm, and the results are complex. At least forty percent of texters between the ages of 18-55 who are dating or in relationships believe that text messaging plays a significant or very significant role in their relationships, and not all of it necessarily positive.

"People have discovered that there are moments when just the right text, sent at just the right time, can go a long way to keeping romance alive," said Alecia Bridgwater, director of Messaging for AT&T Wireless. "We wanted to understand more deeply how our customers were using text messaging in this way, and our study turned up some interesting insights."

While AT&T conducted the study for marketing purposes, they acknowledge the results aren't entirely in their favor. It found that in some ways text messaging provides an easier approach to making--and keeping--a love connection. One 26-year-old who participated said, "I spend a ton of time texting every day. I think it's much easier to flirt via text message than in person because you have a moment to think of a cute, flirty, creative response without being embarrassed about what the other person will think."

According to the survey, roughly sixty-eight percent of texters admitted to sending a "love note" or "flirty" message. Twenty-eight percent indicated that they text at least three times a day with a significant other. Both of which suggest a great deal of people send out "sweet nothings" on their cell phones just about whenever the mood strikes.

Also found was that twenty-six percent agreed that someone would be more likely to accept a first date with them if they have exchanged text messages first. Thirty-four percent agreed they would feel more comfortable if they received a text from a romantic interest shortly prior to the first date.

The inverse of these findings, however, show that texting can create a great deal of uncertainty and frustration. Eighty-four percent agreed that text messages can sometimes be misunderstood by a date or suitor. Twenty-four percent said the biggest turnoff when texting with a date is a slow response; however, eighty-two percent said they answer a text message immediately or as quickly as possible. As common as the cell phone may seem as a "tool of love," about a third of texters who are dating or in relationships said they would get upset if their romantic interest would respond to a wireless call while on a date, although fourty-four percent admitted to answering their cell phones while on a date.

Age played a huge role in the findings as well. Thirty-seven percent of respondents who are 18-35 years old said they text at least three times a day with their significant other compared with twenty-two percent of those who are 36-55. Seventy-four percent of those surveyed who are 18-35 have

flirted via text messaging compared with sixty percent of those who are 36-55.

Text messaging is still a recent phenomena in human evolution. While it is certainly changing how relationships and dating function today, at this point texting still hasn't replaced the basic human need to communicate directly as much as possible. Eighty-four percent of cell phone users agree that text messages can be misunderstood, and just under the majority (forty percent) say text messages play a role in their relationships. Where these numbers will be in ten years from now will be very fascinating to see.

Read More Articles at WeEarth.com!

Google Unveils Massive National Energy Plan

As part of Google's philanthropic arm, Google.org, the company recently unveiled a 4.4-trillion-dollar national energy plan that it said would largely wean the country of fossil fuels by 2030.

Called "Clean Energy 2030," the plan predicts it could reap a net savings of 1 trillion dollars over the idea's 22-year term. It relies on halting the generation of electricity from coal and oil by 2030 and instead relying on power from wind, nuclear, and geothermal sources. It also entails cutting oil use for cars by 40%.

Jeffrey Greenblatt, Google.org's climate and energy technology manager says it works by tapping geothermal energy as key technologies mature during the next few years. It also calls for heavy investments in transmission capacity for wind and solar power in the Great Plains and southwest to help cut 88% of fossil fuel use and 95% of carbon-dioxide emissions by 2030.

Google essentially laid down the work lawmakers have not done yet. At this point it sits as a proposal for consideration, and the company hopes more will listen and plan on adopting it once they see how 1 trillion dollars can be saved in energy profits.

"With a new administration and Congress--and multiple energy-related imperatives--this is an opportune, perhaps unprecedented, moment to move from plan to action," Greenblatt said. "We see a huge opportunity for the nation to confront our energy challenges. In the process we will stimulate investment, create jobs, empower consumers and, by the way, help address climate change."

More details on the plan can be read on the Google.org Blog.

Read More Articles at WeEarth.com

Phoenix Lander Gathers Useful Information About Mars

NASA has decided to extend its Phoenix mission on Mars due to the snowfall on the red planet Monday. The space programs claims it will operate the lander there “until it dies in the cold and dark of the Martian winter.” (Maggie Fox, Reuters)

The explorer found evidence that the dust on the surface of Mars apparently resembles seawater in its chemical makeup, adding to previous studies that support the theory that liquid water may have once flowed on the planet’s surface. The Phoenix lander has lasted far longer than anticipated when it began its mission on Mars back in May and its controllers are intending to “squeeze every drop of life they could” of the solar-powered machine. The machine has already lasted over 40 days past what was expected by its makers at NASA.

“We are literally trying to may hay as the sun shines,” Barry Goldstein, the Phoenix project manager in Pasadena, California said to reporters concerning the lander; however, the lander has already begun to lose power since the sun has slowly begun to dip below the horizon. Mars weatherman Jim Whiteway, based in Toronto, Canada at York University, confirmed that the lander has experienced “snow, frost and clouds forming as the atmosphere cools,” though the snow will vaporize before it reaches the ground.

Scientists knew it had snowed on Mars, but the lander was able to construct unique measurements that showed it happening in real time. The lander has also managed to gather information about the planet’s water supply at one point. It also detected red Martian dust, not unlike seawater, taken through its “atomic force microscope.” Latest analysis of Mars also shows limestone exists on its surface. This information supports the idea further that there’s a high possibility that life exists, or could have existed, on the red planet.

Mars apparently wobbles more than Earth does as it spins, according to Peter Smith, a Phoenix principal investigator at the University of Arizona. This means the poles are sometimes pointed directly at the sun, which would make them warmer. “If you were to sweep away this thin soil layer on what looks like this flat plain you would find it is more like a skating rink,” Smith says. He and his team plan to record the lander’s descent with a live microphone recording, which will be the first time anyone’s been able to actually listen to Mars.

Read More Articles at WeEarth.com

Bill Gates Helps Combat Malaria

There are fewer positive news stories than when rich men do good things. Billionare and active philanthropist Bill Gates recently announced he and his wife's foundation will donate $168.7 million to develop vaccines for malaria.

Worldwide the disease targets 300-500 million people a year, with over one million cases resulting in death--primarily among African children. Malaria is transmitted through the bites of parasites like mosquitos, who breed in less than sanitary waters.

A slew of other multi-million dollar companies recently donated funds to prevention efforts, but Gates' contribution is largely going to a specific vaccine, known as RTS,S. According to studies it shows to be the most promising combatant to malaria, as attacking the root of the problem by ridding the world of unsanitary conditions proves to be a next to impossible dream.

Originally developed in 1987, RTS,S induces the production of antibodies and white blood cells that are believed to diminish the capacity of malaria parasite to infect, survive, and develop in the human liver. In it's current state it only provides partial protection against malaria, but it also stimulates a protective immune response to hepatitis B.

"I'm very hopeful that the malaria vaccine currently in advanced testing will be proven effective, but that will just be the first step," said Gates at a press conference. "Now it's time to develop a new generation of vaccines that are even more effective, and could someday help eradicate malaria altogether."

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation grant will go to the Malaria Vaccine Initiative towards projects raning from early-stage laboratory research to advanced clinical testing.

Read More Articles At WeEarth.com

Bill Clinton Quits Washington to Help Save the World

The end of George Bush’s reign as two-term American president will soon be coming to a close, but what do presidents do when they’re out of a job? Most of them try to use their name for the greater good. Like former president Bill Clinton; however, he has gone beyond what most presidents before him have done once they’ve retired from the highest political job in the land. He’s left politics.

Bill Clinton has not only started his own foundation, which funds AIDS projects in 25 different countries, funds health care projects, sells medicine in 69 countries, and funds a childhood obesity project in America, he has also gotten the global warming bug from Vice President and friend Al Gore and has begun to fund climate change initiatives as well. And, whereas he got involved with his wife’s campaign and toured with her around America, for the past 8 years he’s been heavily involved outside of Washington.

His Global Initiative is a project that brings together a community of global leaders, university students, and private citizens to identify and implement innovative solutions to the world’s “most pressing challenges.” (William J. Clinton Foundation) Talks between leaders include subjects such as poverty control, global health and education.

His Climate Change Initiative works with 40 of the world’s largest cities to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. CCI assists in “making energy-savings improvements to buildings, transit systems, lighting and waste management.” Along with these his foundation also has an HIV/AIDS Initiative, which works with governments and communities to increase awareness, lower the cost of medicines needed and find treatment for those not receiving it.

Clinton has also started economic initiatives and opportunities by helping families and individuals keep more of the money they make “by supporting state and city efforts to promote access to basic financial services.” The program also matches inner-city entrepreneurs to business leaders in order to help them achieve their goals. His Hunter Development helps people in Rwanda and Malawi launch projects that generate agricultural productivity and help to alleviate poverty.

In fact President Clinton may be making even more of a global difference than he did when he was in office. The job allowed him the clout, however, to pull something like this off. And I have tremendous admiration for someone who uses his powers and resources to bring people together for the greater good. And let’s face it; the greater good doesn’t often involve politics.

Read More Articles At WeEarth.com