Disease Proof : Disease Proof : Health & Nutrition News & Commentary : Dr. Joel Fuhrman

• Solar power will save you money. But it has a huge upfront cost. So some companies are now leasing out solar systems. Leasing has a lower initial cost, but money-savings will vary based on time and future energy prices; Green Living Ideas explains.

• Scientists have created cyborgs! Cyborg leafs. When placed under light, extracted photosynthesizing plant cells, attached to thin sheets of gold, generate electrons that can be harvested as electrical current; NewScientist investigates.

• Here’s more sunny news. The mayor of Los Angeles will unveil a proposal to supply 10% of the city’s energy from solar power by 2020. Utilizing solar panels owned by the city, residents and private companies; via earth2tech.

• This is pretty incredible. Heavy winds and rain helped wind farms supply 43% of Spain’s total energy requirement on Monday. Wind turbines generated 9,253 megawatts of the total 21,264 megawatts demanded at 5AM; the AFP reports.

• The money in recycling comes from selling reprocessed raw materials. But dismal economic conditions have hurt the industry. Copper, aluminum and steel prices have dropped and recycled paper is basically worthless; from Green Living Tips.

• Harvard University urges rich nations to lead by example and cut greenhouse gases. However, their idea also allows developing countries to continue business-as-usual, but with a long term goal of reducing emissions too; Reuters reports.

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• You could buy an expensive filter to clean your air or you could buy a plant. House plants like peace lily and Chinese evergreen help remove benzene, formaldehyde, trichloroethylene and other toxins from the air; via Huddler.

• In order combat climate change and deforestation, due to mining and timber, one Indonesian city has proclaimed that everyone who wants to get married or apply for a birth certificate, i.e. have kids, must plant a tree; Reuters reports.

• In other tree news, San Francisco plans to offer citizens living Christmas trees. And after the holidays these, Charlie Brown-looking, trees will be planted in urban neighborhoods throughout the city. They cost $90; via inhabitat.

• Environmentalists hate President Bush’s environmental record. But in one last hurrah he plans to create the largest marine conservation area in the world. Meaning he’d be protect more of the earth’s surface than anyone else in history; NewScientist explains.

• Now, Brazil’s president, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, will soon take action to recover and preserve Brazil’s coastal rainforest, only 7% of the once 500,000 square miles still stands. The government hopes to restore 20% of that; the AFP reports.

• Spain is turning graveyards from ghoulish to green. In unique attempt to harness the power of the sun, a small town outside of Barcelona is outfitting mausoleums with 462 solar panels which could power 60 homes; via the Associated Press.

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• The Centre of International Climate and Environmental Research has determined automobiles are the biggest climate change offenders and big clunky trains are the least harmful; from NewScientist Environment.

• Here’s disturbing news about climate change. Officials claim global warming is causing recent outbreaks of deadly diseases, like gastroenteritis, cholera and typhoid fever, in the Philippines; the AFP reports.

• The Environmental Protection Agency is instituting a 60-day period for public comment over health concerns regarding nanotechnology pesticides and nano-silver products; via SustainableBusiness.

• Last Thursday the mayors of San Francisco, Oakland and San Jose announced ambitious plans to make California’s Bay Area the electric vehicle capital of the United States; CNet News investigates.

• Despite the ailing economy and national industry budget cuts, the demand for green buildings continues to thrive. Many companies are now realizing green facilities save money in the long run; from EarthFirst.

• As the world’s largest retailer, Wal-Mart usually draws heavy of scrutiny, but a recent plans to supply 360 Texas stores with 15% wind power deserves high praise; via TreeHugger.

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A new study in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine reveals city kids living in greener neighborhoods were thinner. Researchers found a relationship between “greenness” and slower increase in body mass index over time; HealthDay News reports.

Putting kids to bed helps too. Oh, and keep them away from cockroaches!
 

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• Hurricane Ike swept through Houston, leaving millions of dollars of destruction in its wake. So, in a green-effort, city officials are offering cash rewards for creative ways to recycle the debris; The Houston Chronicle reports.

• As the world heats up, climate change protests are escalating worldwide. Recent demonstrations involved protestors chaining themselves to coal conveyor belts, forming blockades and scaling smokestacks; from ENN.

• And young people in the U.S. are taking to the streets too, over coal. More and more students are attending hearings and demonstrating like their parents did in the 1970s against nuclear plants; The Post and Courier reports.

• The last days of the Bush administration are drawing heavy fire. Swift action is being taken to open up land, a lot of it near national parks, for oil and gas companies. Activists are calling it a fire sale; via EarthFirst.

• General Motors is in the dumps, begging tax-payers to bail them out. But congress isn’t quick to do so. So in the meantime a German solar energy company has offered to pay $1.26 billion for one of GM’s subsidiaries; ENN explains.

• The wife of T. Boone Pickens, oil tycoon turned alternative energy advocate, will establish a refuge for wild horses. At 33,000, the number of horses exceeds what the Bureau of Land Management can control; The Associated Press reports.

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• Only 12% of the world’s land is protected, just 4% of coasts are designated Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and countries are still struggling to safeguard 10% of respective waters and oceans; via TreeHugger.

• This is scary. The vice-president of Colombia Francisco Santos Calderón implored British cocaine users to consider that 300,000 hectares of rainforest are destroyed each year by producers of the illegal drug; The Guardian reports.

• The Atlantic City Convention Center in Atlantic City, New Jersey is getting a new roof, outfitted with 13,321 solar panels, making if largest single-roof photovoltaic system in the United States; from ENN.

• WiFi is everywhere! And spreading! Now, Meraki, a wireless technology company, plans to roll out solar-powered WiFi towers that promise to make bring affordable Internet access to everyone; via CleanTechnia.

• Cellphones can chew up power. So, to make amends with the green world, the cellphone industry has created an energy rating system to help consumers choose the phones that use the least energy; Reuters reports.

• Searaser technology employs bouy-like devices and ocean waves to pump seawater uphill. This water can then be used to drive hydroelectric generators and provide clean, renewable energy; The Times Online explains.

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• Say I’m out of loop, but apparently Night Rider is coming back. And this new generation of KITT, the talking super car, is green, fuel efficient and equipped with solar panels; via Ecorazzi.

• Ethanol can’t be transported by pipeline. It’s too corrosive. It must be moved by truck or railways. And since it’s so flammable, experts are urging increased safety standards; from ENN.

• What consumes more resources, steel or paper production? Its paper! Between all the junk mail, printer paper, coffee cups and other stuff. The paper industry contributes about 10% of global carbon emissions; The Guardian reports.

• Pollution has plateaued, following 6 years of growth, says a new report by the United Nations report, but there’s a catch. Data for the previous 2 years has not be announced; via The New York Times.

• Shiny happy solar cells, not really! Researchers have determined in order for solar panels to work most effectively they have to be dull and not shimmering; NewScientist explains.

• New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg has proposed charging shoppers 6 cents for every plastic bag used at the cash register, differing slightly from Los Angeles and San Francisco’s outright ban on plastic bags; via inhabitat.

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I don’t eat meat. Mostly for health reasons, but nowadays, I think about the environment a lot. Livestock and meat production sap natural resources. And the all the methane gas, produced by farting cows, contributes mightily to global warming.

But experts predict eating less meat could help lower rising temperatures. Although some scientists have taken a different approach, they’re trying to engineer less flatulent bovine diets, like high-tech grass and food additives; via Plenty Magazine.

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• Times Square is getting the first eco-friendly billboard, above the Chase sign. It’s powered by the sun and wind. But here’s the kicker, if there’s no sun or wind, it goes dark. No back generator; The New York Times reports.

• Speaking of New York, even though Mayor Bloomberg’s attempt to require hybrid taxis was shot down, he hasn’t given up. Now he wants to offer financial incentives for taxi owners to buy hybrid; more from the New York Times.

• New Jersey is joining the green act too. During this month’s election voters decided to preserve more open space, farmland and water. This will help generate $191 million in conservation funding; via NBC New York.

• Switching coasts, California Governor Schwarzenegger has ordered preparations for rising sea levels due to global warming. Sea levels rose 7 inches during the 20th century. California plans to be proactive; Reuters reports.

• Composting isn’t just a summer thing. Good winter composting tips include saving fallen leaves, not turning the pile to preserve heat and getting a bigger bin for under your sink and emptying it bin more often; via Stream of Consciousness.

• Saving water is important too. Try checking for leaking faucets, insulating pipes, installing low-flow water systems, only doing full loads of laundry and sticking a bag of gravel in your toilet tank; from Green Living Ideas.

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• Waste paper is piling up. No one wants it. China used to buy it and recycle it. But they’ve stopped. Now, at great cost, it’s being stored. It could also end up in landfills; via TreeHugger.

• Climate chief is not in Al Gore’s plans. President-elect Barack Obama may create a Whitehouse “Climate Czar” and planned to offer it to Al Gore, but he said no; The Washington Times reports.

• Environmentalists use the Clear Air Act and the Endangered Species Act to force government restriction of carbon dioxide emissions and now they’ll use the Clean Water Act; via Dot Earth.

• More water news. An Israel company has inked a 25-year deal with an African country to build wave-energy projects that could generate 100 megawatts of power; from CleanTech.

• Now, to New Zealand, Aquaflow Bionomic, innovator of algae power, is seeking to raise $16.6 million from a new public offering, help commercialization of its technology; via earth2tech.

• Denver landfills are turning, normally burned off methane gas, into power. Gathering this gas and using it power engines can generate electricity that can be fed into the grid; from CleanTechnica.

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• I’m not a car guy. If the thing runs, I’m cool! But some people obsess over cars. And at the 2008 SEMA car show someone whipped up that teeny-tiny eco-friendly Batmobile; from Green Stumbler.

• That thing must save on gas! But you won’t find many Nashvillians driving them to work. The number of Nashville, Tennessee residents working from home jumped 54% in a year; via EarthFirst.
  

• Apparently experts believe another, bigger, ice age is on the way, but increased carbon emissions and global warming may postpone it indefinitely; National Geographic News reports.

• An organic farmer and anti-pollution advocate in India was shot to death because he went to the media about a sugarcane factory dumping untreated waste on his property; via Plantsave.

• A new report claims Southern California’s air pollution kills more people than car accidents! And experts believe improving air quality would also save billions of dollars; the Associated Press reports.

• The E.U. has announced plans to expand its energy grid and reduce dependence on Russian gas by developing wind and solar infrastructure in the Baltic and Mediterranean; via the BBC.

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• Yup, he’s cute. That’s a muskrat. And his real power is in his poop! Scientists claim muskrat crap contains a chemical that kills Salmonella, staph infections and other bacteria; via DiscoBlog.

• A web-hosting company will convert an old German nuclear waste facility into a 100,000 server, 10,000 square-meter datacenter, powered entirely by renewable energy; from CleanTechnica.

• Japan’s greenhouse gas emissions have hit record highs, they’re now the 5th largest carbon dioxide producer in world, meaning they’ve failed to achieve their Kyoto target; ENN reports.

• California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger will host an international summit on climate change. Arnold has vowed to make the environment a key issue in his second term; from the AFP.

• Iceland's Geir H. Haarde, Germany's Angela Merkel, Australia's Kevin Rudd, South Korea's Lee Myung-bak and U.S. President-elect Barack Obama are the new green leaders; via TreeHugger.

• Speaking of our president-to-be, alternative energy companies, like solar and wind, are thrilled with Obama’s energy plans, but oil companies are worried; The San Francisco Chronicle reports.

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• That’s garbage. Junk, trash, useless crap! But apparently it can be turned into energy. Just blast it with a stream of superheated plasma. It vaporizes into pressurized gas and can be used to spin a turbine and generate power; via CleanTechnia.

• Al Gore’s political aspirations might be over, but the dude’s WAY into the environment. And he’s got some cool ideas for going 100% clean power, like implementing national green retrofit programs and solar panel initiatives; from earth2tech.

• Global investors, holding more than $6 trillion in assets, want to stop climate change. Calling for an agreement to cut greenhouse gas emissions, promote green technology and expand the global carbon market; Reuters reports.

• Bad news for shark week! Researchers claim more than 1 quarter of sharks, rays and chimaeras in the northeast Atlantic Ocean face extinction. Overfishing is being blamed, in particular Asia’s increased demand for shark fin soup; from the AFP.

• When I was in college, the only thing my dorm was certified in was drunks, dirty laundry and the token nerd, me, but Harvard University plans to build a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified dorm; via GreenDaily.

• Kudos to the Aussies! Their plan to provide Southern Australia with 20% renewable energy is 10 years ahead of schedule. The 47 wind-power turbines will generate 98 megawatts of juice and power 70,000 households; from TreeHugger.

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• Tyson Foods likes lying to customers! The world’s largest meat processor injects unborn chickens with antibiotics, but is suing the United States Department of Agriculture to let them keep their Antibiotic-Free label; via TreeHugger.

• Do you have a root cellar? Arguably, my entire apartment is a cellar. But root cellars are making a comeback! Cool dark rooms are excellent for storing and extending the life of fresh fruits and vegetables; from The New York Times.

• You know the planet is in trouble when even conservationist are overestimating wildlife habitat. South Korean researchers have determined there is LESS land available for conservation than we think; NewScientist reports.

• Boeing is giving biofeul a try. They’ll be studying the prospects of using renewable synthetic kerosene as jet fuel. Working with Rolls Royce they hope to develop a commercially viable product with the next few years; via GreenDaily.

• You can make yourself MENTAL trying to go green. I know, I’ve tried! So, for the equally frustrated, try these, buy in bulk, ride a bike or walk more, turn off unused appliances and ditch incandescent bulbs; from ENN.

• Scientists believe Oman rock, common to Papua New Guinea and California, could help offset greenhouse gas emissions. When carbon dioxide hits peridotite rock it is absorbed and turned into solid minerals; Reuters reports.

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• The U.S. Department of Energy claims medium-sized commercial buildings, like supermarkets and retail stores, can save 50% on energy, even without using renewable power systems; SustainableBusiness explains.

• Don’t flush leftover medication down the toilet! Eventually it all winds up in rivers, streams and lakes. Instead, find pharmacies that accept and dispose of unwanted pharmaceuticals; from The Conscious Consumer.

• Power Buoy sounds like the name of a rock band, but it’s actually a floating technology that converts ocean waves into renewable energy. The U.S. Navy just invested $3 million in developing it; CleanTechnia reports.

• Canada can’t wait to start working with U.S. president-elect Barack Obama. They’ve just outlined an aggressive climate-change pact to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions in North America; the AFP reports.

• Even bolder, China believes “richer nations” should divert as much as 1% of their gross domestic product to help developing countries combat climate change, but some leaders are skeptical; NewScientist explains.

• The United Kingdom is choked with e-waste. Over the past 5 years, 12.5 million computers have been dumped in landfills. With only 25% of people recycling their old PCs. British officials are concerned; via TreeHugger.

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• That’s an axolotl. It’s a salamander! Part of Aztec legend and diet, water monsters are now in danger. Invasive species, like African tilapia, and Mexico’s polluted canals THREATEN their survival; the Associated Press reports.

• Norwegian lemmings are also at risk. As temperatures heat up, snow is not stable enough to provide them adequate shelter during the winter. Less lemmings mean predators, like foxes and owls, are in trouble too; BBC explains.

• Lots of amphibians are turning up deformed, with extra limbs and the inability to reproduce. Scientists are worried. Animals like frogs and salamanders are indicator species for the health of the environment; via LiveScience.

• Japanese scientists have cloned a mouse. Here’s the kicker. They used a cell that had been DEAD for 16 years! And mice are only the beginning. Scientists are eyeing a bigger prize, resurrecting the mammoth; the AFP reports.

• Speaking of bringing things back, steam power is making a return. The British have issued a steam car challenge. Design a viable automobile that runs on steam and set a new land speed record; from TreeHugger.

• Good idea! Especially since methane gas emissions are making a comeback, researchers reveal methane gas levels SHOT up in 2007, this after a steady period, about a decade, where atmospheric gases held stable; via ENN.

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• President-elect Barack Obama will have his hands full! He’s not even in office yet and already the UN climate chief is IMPLORING him to attend an upcoming climate change conference in Poland; the AFP reports.

• But president Obama won’t be able to tackle eco-problems willy-nilly. He’ll need support. And other countries will ONLY gain confidence in him if they detect “some indication” that congress has his back; ENN explains.

• Barack Obama is proposing a $150 BILLION "Apollo project" that’ll bring energy security and 5 million new green jobs to the United States. In fact both candidates promised “millions” of green jobs; from The Independent.

• Being a new president is HARD! Prior to Senator John McCain’s defeat in Tuesday’s election, vice presidential hopeful Sarah Palin criticized Obama’s stance on coal. Claiming he’ll “bankrupt” the industry; via Washington Wire.

• California has voted AGAINST proposed green power initiatives. Opponents of the legislation called it well-meaning but ill-conceived. Saying it would constrict renewable power rather than expand it; NewScientist explains.

• Current Vice President Dick Cheney and first lady Laura Bush are at ODDS over ocean regulations. Bush wants to preserve waters, while Cheney warns new fishing restrictions will hurt regional economies; via Countdown to Crawford.

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• Bad news for Canada! Experts claim Canada’s environmental record ranks among the WORST in the industrialized world. Poor efforts to fight global warming are to blame; Reuters reports.

• The Global Wind Energy Council and Greenpeace International believe China will become the world’s BIGGEST manufacturer of wind-power equipment by 2009; via CleanTech.

• But China faces a heart-breaking eco-problem. The effects of climate change could WEAKEN bamboo crops and put the giant panda, a national symbol, in further peril; ENN reports.

• More and more people are getting hip to electric cars and hybrids, but these vehicles require lithium batteries and researchers feel this could STRAIN lithium supplies; GreenTech explains.

• With lithium gone, we could always switch to FUNGAL fuel! Scientists claim a fungus from leaves of the ulmo tree could convert plant waste into usable biodiesel; the NewScientist reports.

• California has until 2011 to develop a system for identifying and evaluating harmful chemicals. And it should feature a searchable online database for consumers; via ENN.

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• You could go green that way or, for those of you NOT interested in living a mud hut, you could just lower your thermostat, unplug battery chargers, better insulate and use light-timers. They’re all great ways to green your home; via Huddler.

• Oddly enough, some researchers contend, global warming actually HELPS short-lived creatures with wide thermal windows and large gene pools. This means climate change will not affect all animals equally; NewScientist Environment explains.

• We’ve all driven clunker cars with poor gas mileage. But imagine driving a car that runs on AIR and just a little salad dressing. Zero Pollution Motors is selling a micro car, that clocks in around 35 mph, for $20,000; Kiplinger reports.

• Now, if a putt-putt car isn’t your thing. Consider BMW’s GREEN super car! It’s only in the idea phase, but it’d be a 2-seat vehicle that adheres to emission and fuel standards, while still looking sleek and cool; via forecast earth.

• New York has 450 wind turbines, with 900 more planned. But before they get too carried away, state officials are setting up measures to ensure companies play by the rules, calling for CLEAN government; Reuters reports.

• Speaking of jobs, America’s rust belt is finding more and more green jobs. Maytag may have moved out of states like Iowa, but wind-turbine makers have moved in, employing hundreds of displaced workers; The New York Times reports.

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• Many people in the United Kingdom are going green, even in death! As funeral space becomes scarce, more and more Britons are looking for GREEN burial plots, like natural farmland and woodland areas; the AFP reports.

• California plans to CUT water deliveries. The state will only distribute 15% of the water requested by local water agencies throughout California. Farmers fear they won’t have enough water; the Associated Press explains.

• Bolthouse Farms, I like their juices, plans to go 80% SOLAR power at their Palmdale, California location. A 1.9MW solar array will stop the farm from emitting 2,200 tonnes of carbon dioxide each year; via TreeHugger.

• New York City mayor Michael R. Bloomberg wanted to REQUIRE owners and operators of taxicabs to switch to hybrid vehicles, but a judge has blocked the legislation, much to the delight of cab companies; via City Room.

• Philadelphia will soon have a $420 million GREEN Waldorf-Astoria hotel. It’ll feature a green roof, specialized HVAC system and a high degree of automation, as well as state-of-the-art amenities; from TheGreenMeeting.

• The Bush administration continues to force legislation that will weaken government rules protecting consumers and the environment, putting drinking water and emissions standards at risk; The Washington Post reports.
   

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