Earth currently faces a global extinction crisis that threatens the stability of all life on the planet. Through human impact and climate change, countless species of plants and animals alike are disappearing at rates 1000 times faster than occur naturally in the wild. Now, more than ever, it is essential that environmental educators promote public awareness of biodiversity and the roles played by the massive variety of life-forms on Earth. If we fail in this mission, all too many species will go the way of the dodo. This might sound alarming. But facing the harsh reality is essential to creating solutions… read more

A little bit ago, we ran a story about Hollywood films with an environmental message. However, we realize that you probably don’t have time to sit down and watch all of them in one sitting. These five short films below are brilliant, and beautifully executed. Several have won awards at film festivals, and have even earned their Director a ticket to Hollywood. Check them out! Going Green Logline: This short animated film is a message to achieve a greener planet by stopping pollution.” Among Giants Logline: Risking injury and incarceration, an environmental activist disrupts the clear-cutting of an ancient Redwood… read more

  Earlier this year pictures of the air pollution swathing the skies in China’s highly inhabited cities like Shanghai, Beijing, Xian and Guangzhou were released, and it is hard to imagine living and working in that environment. Overdue reports on the increasingly bad breathing quality disclosed that the air’s particle count had exploded to 755 in Beijing, the largest amount ever recorded there. The air was thick with PM2.5, which is a tiny element filled with numerous toxins like heavy metals, chemicals and microorganisms. It can enter the bloodstream when breathed in and can contribute to health issues like cancer, cardiovascular and… read more

Modern Meadow is a company co-founded by Gabor and Andras Forgacs, a father-son team, that produces meat and leather from bovine cells without killing livestock. Instead, meat is grown in a tech incubator in Columbia, Missouri, where Gabor Forgacs heads the biological physics lab at the University of Missouri, known also as Mizzou. Using a 3D printer, living cells are collected, fused together and printed into the desired shape. In this case, little patties and sheets of leather the size of a credit card. Bovine cells are biopsied without harm to the cow. For meat, this means taking cells from… read more

We already know that plantlife is good for the atmosphere. Filling your home with flowers is a necessary step towards creating a healthy environment. Roughly 20% of the earth’s oxygen is generated by the Amazon Rainforest, although that’s unfortunately in decay, as years of logging, poor farming practices, and corporate neglect have begun irrevocably destroying one of the largest sources of the stuff we breathe each day. So what’s our next bet for cleaning up the atmosphere? Well, it’s otherwise known as organic farming, and it might just be the solution. Although it’s not a sure shot by any stretch… read more

Researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health have recently released a report regarding one of their studies involving autism and expectant U. S. Women. Their findings indicate that those who were prenatally exposed to increased air pollutant levels are twice as likely to be diagnosed with autism. Researchers looked at various locations that had been outlined by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency exposure database for areas deemed as being contaminated with high concentrations of air pollutants. Correlating this geographical information with the numbers of women in these highly air polluted areas showed that those in more contaminated regions were… read more

For a healthy and quick meal, try these vegetarian torillas. With ingredients that most of us would find in the pantry, they can be whipped up in no time. Ingredients Olive oil 2 cans of red kidney beans, washed, drained 1 can of chopped tomatoes 1 medium sized onion, peeled, chopped 1 clove of garlic, minced 2 tbls cumin powder 2 tbls coriander powder 1 teaspoon chilli powder ½ red pepper (capsicum), thinly sliced Guacamole 1 large avocado ½ red onion thinly sliced, diced 1 lime, juiced Black pepper and sea salt Chilli sauce or ½ small chilli, sliced To… read more

Whether you live by the ocean or just want to bring the world of water indoors, a piece of nautical inspired décor will liven up a land based space. SerpentSea features recycled designs from Sophie Aschauer. Inspired after a sailing trip, her heavy duty, colorful mats are made from recovered marine ropes. Hand woven from the sturdy sailing rope, 4 different knot types are available, which are named after notorious 17th century pirates. She also crafts key rings from the recovered ropes. These functional pieces are named after mythological Greek sea nymphs who were said to have provided protection to… read more

Environmental awareness and protectionist measures are at an all time high. Many countries in the developing world have set up a framework for sound regulation of the use and reliance on the environment. However, bad economic times pose challenges that have caused tension between human and environment survival. In these hard and trying times, many unscrupulous corporations are taking advantage of the challenges faced by developing countries. The dire need for job creation and foreign investment has opened the unfortunate opportunity for governments to be open to negotiations on investments that were otherwise not open for negotiation. In Swaziland, the… read more

Whether home or abroad, it is helpful to visit protected sites as interest and revenue keep them alive. Conservation sites are not there to bar wildlife from everyone around it. They keep the wilderness in the area healthy so species within the site can thrive. In most cases this means protecting species from human threats, including hunters and industrial progression. Those with genuine curiosity and non-threatening intentions shouldn’t feel put off. Not only can you visit these breathtakingly unspoilt areas, there are times when you are encouraged to. Visiting conservation sites benefits them and you. In addition to the knowledge you gain, your visit helps keep the site… read more