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

• Merriam-Webster adds new words to the dictionary every year. This year, “carbon footprint” made the list. It describes how much carbon dioxide something emits. So did “Green-collar”, any job working with the environment, and “Locavore”, people who eat locally grown food; via Fresh Greens.

• Dr. Fuhrman’s friend and veggie advocate, Heather Mills, has opened an organic vegan cafe in Hove Lagoon in West Sussex in the United Kingdom, called The Vbites Café. Heather is a big proponent of a meat-free life and may soon launch her own line of frozen vegan faux-meat foods; TreeHugger explains.

• Electric cars are already very popular in Europe, but experts speculate the sales of electric cars in the U.S. could jump 86%, by 2030. Now, the cost of battery charging systems may exceed $320 billion over the next few decades, but the healthy-savings due to less pollution could save us $210 billion; Reuters reports.

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• Besides making a mess after a good pillow fight, chicken feathers are pretty much useless and amazingly the poultry industry generates 2.7 billion kilograms of chicken feathers each year. But now, a new technology promises to turn carbonized chicken feathers into fuel tanks for hydrogen fuel-cell cars, hurricane-resistant roofing and lightweight car parts; via CleanTechnica.

• Computers have a come a long way from talking red lights in a science fiction movie. Nowadays, they can even be green. IBM is working on an energy efficient supercomputer that uses water to recycle its excess heat. It’s a revelation because normally cooling large computer systems requires hefty amounts of air-conditioning; Reuters reports.

• No doubt, the global recession is a drag. Everyone is tightening their belts, but as far as earth-saving goes, the recession has been good. People are driving less, in order to save money, so less oil was burned up. In 2008, experts say emissions actually dropped 3%; from The Associated Press.

• You’d think city dwellers would have a higher carbon footprint than people living in suburban areas. Apparently not, a new study claims urbanites emit 70% less carbon emissions in transit than suburbanites. One reason why is cities are more location efficient, meaning important destinations like work are closer to home; TreeHugger explains.

• Another way to make cities greener is to spruce up existing infrastructure. Chicago is preparing a $350 million energy efficient retrofit of the Sears Tower. The makeover will include the installation of wind turbines and solar panels on the roof. The hope is the skyscraper will be able to provide all the power it needs all by itself; The New York Times reports.

• Would you pay $175 a year to fight global warming? I think I would. That’s what experts say new climate change legislation will cost the average household each year. The $175 comes from the increased cost of doing business and higher sticker price for consumer products—like cars and refrigerators—but many households can expect rebates; via The Daily Green.

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It’s a pretty simple idea. Eating a lot of meat is unhealthy. Raising a lot of meat whacks the environment with carbon dioxide. So a new movement called Meat Free Monday is encouraging people to eat vegetarian one day a week. Sir Paul McCartney is a big fan:

If you’re reading this blog, you already have a bunch of meat free days, but convincing our beef loving world to give up meat—even for a day—is going to be hard. But some people have high hopes. Chicago’s Health Commissioner wants all Chicagoans to go vegetarian.

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• More fuel efficient cars are on their way. Last week, the U.S. General Services Administration ordered 17,205 greener cars, to come from General Motors with 2,933, Chrysler with 7,924 and Ford with 6,348—costing a grand total of $210 million; via GreenBiz.com.

• And to improve cars, a laboratory in Colorado is working to enhance the efficiency of car air-conditioning. Tooling up new air-conditioning could save the United States 7 billion gallons of gasoline each year and help reduce carbon emissions; Green Inc. reports.

• The International Air Transport Association (IATA) is looking to go carbon neutral by 2020. Estimates claim global air travel accounts for 2% of carbon dioxide emissions. Currently, the IATA is focusing on carbon trading and eco-friendly fuels; via SustainableBusiness.com.

• The petroleum industry, i.e. oil, is being blamed for 1.5 billion kilograms of pollutants released into the environment. According to a new report, 90% of the 5.5 billion kilograms of pollution comes from just 12 industries, such as oil, mining and chemicals; the AFP reports.

• Twenty years later, Exxon is getting nailed for the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill near Alaska. The supertanker poured 50,000 tons of oil into the ocean off Alaska’s south coast. So on Monday, a U.S. federal appeals court ordered Exxon to pay a $507.5 million penalty; the AFP explains.

• This is funny. In 1909, The Titusville Herald in Titusville, Pennsylvania ran a report by the United States Geological Survey saying all petroleum and iron would be exhausted by 1939, natural gas by 1934 and coal by the 21st century—guess that didn’t happen; via Paleo-Future.

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• Despite the confederacy of deniers, a new study in The Lancet suggests climate change poses the greatest challenge to health, claiming warmer temps worsen disease patterns—like malaria and dengue fever—compromise water and sanitation, and cause extreme weather. Experts say the problem has been neglected and now needs immediate attention; Med Page Today reports.

• Some groups are already taking action. In New York City, 25 hospitals have pledged to cut their carbon footprint and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 30% over the next 10 years. Currently, New York’s hospitals contribute 1.5% of the city’s total carbon emissions; via Green Inc.

• If big giant hospital buildings emit greenhouse gas, what about big giant people? It’s widely believed that fat people are bad for the environment. They drive around more, run the air-conditioning more and have a higher carbon footprint, but some experts are skeptical of the claim, saying that current data is flawed and oversimplified; Red Green and Blue investigates.

• The infamous Kyoto treaty has been largely viewed as soft on greenhouse gas emissions, with countries like the United States and China resistant to making major changes to reduce their carbon output, but now, acknowledging the shift to a low-carbon global economy, China is working to develop a better climate deal; The U.K. Guardian reports.

• A smart move, because presented at the International Conference of the American Thoracic Society, researchers found exposure to pollution can alter people’s DNA. Blood taken from workers three days into their workweek showed significant changes to the genes that help suppress cancer tumors, compared to blood samples taken prior to work; National Geographic News explains.

• The United States is jumping on the global warming-prevention bandwagon too. President Obama is set to issue new national standards for automobiles. By 2016, cars must be 30% more fuel efficient and will be required to get 42 miles per gallon. Some climate change activists are calling it the biggest step America has ever taken to cut emissions; via TreeHugger.

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• Politicians do a lot of talking about greenhouse gas emissions and global warming, but despite the rhetoric , the president of the United States has a hefty carbon footprint, between Air Force 1, military cargo planes, White House electricity and natural gas use, and helicopter and automobile travel, it piles up to 41,000 tons; via Red Green and Blue.

• However, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton says the U.S. should lead the negotiations toward a global treaty on climate change. Meeting with other countries, accounting for 75% of emissions, Clinton insists there is no longer any questions that growing concentrations of atmospheric carbon dioxide are warming the planet, which can propose economic, health and security challenges; The New York Times reports.

• Speaking of public health, greenhouse gases contain harmful compounds like methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons and sulfur hexafluoride that threaten human health. Additionally, higher temperatures can cause droughts, floods, wildfires, rising sea level and disruptions of agriculture; from Fresh Greens.

• Now, believe it or not, pesky email spam hurts the environment too. When people spend time deleting junk and searching for legitimate email they burn more energy. In the United States, 2.4 million homes using electricity equates to the greenhouse gas emissions from 3.1 million passengers cars, sucking down 2 billion gallons of gas; Cnet News explains.

• Plastic shopping bags are another scourge. It seems like nowadays everyone shops with those reusable bags, but the plastic bag industry has a plan. Create plastic bags made with 40% recycled materials and do it by 2015. This will require manufacturers to invest $50 million to revamp operations and improve collection of discarded bags; via TreeHugger.

• Recycling plastics bags is one thing, but dirty diapers. My goodness! Cities like Oakland, California and Toronto, Canada currently compost garbage like animal poop, kitty litter, dirty diapers and sanitary products. Toronto officials insist the process is completely safe and all this icky stuff will be used on farmland and public parks; from Green Inc.

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• Drive around. You’ll see plenty of foreclosed homes and construction projects grinded to a halt. The reduction in homebuilding might be bad for the economy, but good for the trees, maybe. American loggers are chopping down fewer trees because the demand has dried up, but to cut costs, tree harvesters in other countries might start using cheaper, less sustainable and more environmentally harmful methods of logging; via Inhabitat.

• Again, the recession stinks, but it might help ease global warming. In 2007, the United States spewed 7.3 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide, but in 2008 that total dipped to 6.98 billion tons. The answer is pretty simple, as the economic muck worsens, there won’t be as many industries, homes and vehicles to release pollution; from Red Green and Blue.

• In 1993, former President Bill Clinton started greening up the White House, by improving lighting, heat, air conditioning, insulation, water sprinklers and other stuff. During George W. Bush’s term he installed solar panels and recycling bins. President Obama is looking to outdo them both. Calling for a greener nation, he wants to lead by example and the new White House garden is the first step of many to come; The Huffington Post reports.

• And President Obama has raised the fuel efficiency standards of automobiles, not a huge jump, but every little bit helps. By 2011 average MPG must be 27.3 and increase of 2 MPG from 2010’s standard. Despite greedily taken government handouts, two U.S. automakers are protesting the move, saying it will cost the industry $1.5 billion; via earth2tech.

• Speaking of cars and fuel, in 2014 California will have 46 retail hydrogen stations. As of now, only six states have hydrogen refueling stations, 26 in total, open to the public. Most are privately owned and only used for corporate fleets and vehicles. The project will cost $181.5 million and will be funding by government incentive programs; from CarTech Blog.

• If running you car on hydrogen is too much. Try ditching meat instead. The rearing and distribution of meat is a major emitting of greenhouse gases, i.e. cow farts and exhaust from transport vehicles. One expert contends livestock production contributes to 55% of erosion in the U.S. and is responsible for one-third of total nitrogen and phosphorous discharge to surface water; Green Inc. explains.

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• First, singer Alanis Morissette drops 20 pounds on Eat to Live and now she’s saving the environment! This Saturday, March 28th is Earth Hour. Sponsored by the World Wildlife Fund, the event encourages people worldwide to unplug their appliances and turn off the lights for one hour, to give our planet a break. In this toenail-snipping video, Alanis implores you to join the big turn off; via Green Daily.

• Or you can join the 40% of Americans who believe global warming is exaggerated, i.e. nut jobs. The results, obtained by Gallup poll which surveyed 1,012 adults over four days, also showed Americans rank global warming last out of the eight environmental issues they were asked about, others included water pollution and animal extinction; the AFP reports.

• Rising political star and Republican National Committee Chairman, Michael Steele, doesn’t think the planet is warming. Instead, he claims its cooling. His rational is based on some jibber-jabber about Greenland now being covered with ice and Iceland, which is now green. Mind you, despite being an intelligent and very likable guy, he’s also the originator of the “drill baby drill” slogan; from Green Inc.

• Fortunately, in stark contrast to Michael Steele and the recent Gallup poll, new research by Yale and George Mason Universities reveals 90% of Americans feel the United States should act to stop global warming, with two-thirds of Americans saying the U.S. should cut its emissions of greenhouse gases; SustainableBusiness News reports.

• Experts blame the release of aerosols, such as soot, dust and sulfur dioxide, from burning fossil fuels and other sources for the decreased visibility on clear days. Using satellite imagery, scientists confirm since the 1970s visibility has declined due to aerosol concentrations in the air resulting in global dimming, especially over Asia, South America, Australia and Africa; ENN explains.

• Now, you’d think city-dwellers would be grime-covered, exhaust-breathing environment slayers, but an examination of 12 major cities in Asia, North America, South America and Europe, revealed urbanites actually produce less carbon dioxide than people living in suburban areas, the use of public transportation is one explanation why; via Fresh Greens.

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• Cow farts, pig farts and human farts are all sources of greenhouse gas, but snails, yes itty-bitty snails, may be worse. Freshwater snails break down soil, releasing nitrous oxide, i.e. laughing gas, which is 310 times better at trapping heat than carbon dioxide; DiscoBlog explains.

• Ocean acidification due to climate change is thinning the shells of tiny sea organisms, jeopardizing their long term survival. Despite their miniature size these animals absorb tremendous amounts of carbon from the atmosphere. They’re shells are made of carbon and when they die the shell sinks to the bottom of the ocean and so does all the carbon; the AFP investigates.

• Secretary of State Hillary Clinton believes the United States has been negligent in living up to our responsibilities on global warming. We’re lagging behind Europe and the U.S. needs better policies with China, which recently overtook us as the world’s leading emitter of carbon dioxide; Reuters reports.

• India, despite its own problems, has offered to help the United States with climate change. Since signing a nuclear energy deal with former U.S. president George Bush, Indian Ambassador Ronen Sen insists the United States and India have shared concerns on climate policy, more than any other two countries; via the AFP.

• Climate scientists evaluate the dangers of climate change with very specific criteria, including damage to ecosystems, extreme weather events, and health and economic risks, and after considering all these, experts claim earth may be entering a climate danger zone; NewScientist investigates.

• Prince Charles is beating his own eco-drum, during a visit to Chile he’ll be making a speech calling for action against climate change, arguing we only have “100 months left” to save the planet. Then later in the week he’ll visit the world's biggest rainforest and to meet with local tribes; the AFP reports.

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• Clean coal. Do you believe it? I have my doubts. How can releasing carbon dioxide into the air, along with other pollutants, be clean? That’s why Academy Award-winning directors Joel and Ethan Coen cooked up this commercial bashing clean coal; via Gaiam Life.

• A clean technology fund developed by the Bush administration to promote coal operations in the developing world is being criticized for supplying cash to coal power stations with meager emission standards. Activists want the money put to better use; from NewScientist.

• NASA’s satellite designed to map Earth's carbon dioxide levels never hit orbit, shortly after launch it crashed into the ocean. The glitch occurred just after takeoff. Losing the $280 million satellite is a major setback for global climate research; Space.com reports.

• Some crackpot affiliated with an institute that was given hundreds of thousands of dollars by ExxonMobil, says rising carbon dioxide levels are not a problem, we shouldn’t worry and that millions of years ago the planet was just fine with a lot of carbon; via Earth First.

• One researcher insists Switzerland’s abnormally cold winter and record snow depths are no reason to doubt climate change, saying weather patterns are largely influenced by natural atmospheric pressure, but humans do influence weather events; SwissInfo.ch investigates.

• The European Union is still confident president Obama will set ambitious mid-term goals for reducing greenhouse gases. The United States has pledged to cut emissions by 80% by 2050, but hasn’t set intermediate goals, worrying some E.U. leaders; from the AFP.

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