Bhutan (pictured here and below) was the first country in the world to appoint a minister of happiness and to measure gross domestic happiness. That’s kind of heart-warming, isn’t it? (more…)
Here’s a popular video that provides the steps for turning Mars into “Earth 2.0.” Though there’s nothing theoretically impossible about it, it’s obviously not going to happen anytime soon if it happens at all. Perhaps the most interesting thing about it is the philosophical question it raises: Is it morally right to extend this hell-hole we call a civilization into space? Does the universe really need another planet:
• Run by people like Trump and Putin? (more…)
Unless I’m mistaken, Arlene Allen was the first commenter on this blog when it opened in the summer of 2009. In response to my recent piece on consumerism, she writes: Because of all things being finite, including the entire planet, unending growth does have to end, and usually in a pretty toxic fashion. It might be why a number of us intuit that humankind must leave the planet – the knowledge that there is no good end to this. (more…)
As suggested in the graphic below, there sure is a conspicuous absence of scientists in Trump’s government, but the community of climate scientists is not willing to sit around and silently watch the U.S. turn the planet into a cesspool. (more…)
It appears that the Trump administration will not let up on its war against the environment until the very last attempt to protect our natural ecosystems is repealed. On the chopping block this week is Energy Star program, established in 1992 to help consumers identify appliances that will cut their utility bills and reduce their environmental footprint.
The basic statistics associated with the Energy Star program: (more…)
It’s becoming increasingly clear that criminal charges are going to be brought against ExxonMobil for its cover-up of what it knew about the relationship between fossil fuel consumption and climate change. Each passing month brings us a new-found wealth of proof that Exxon knew for decades that their business model was ruining Earth’s environment, but conspired to conceal this from the public, investing millions of dollars to fund disinformation campaigns in an effort to convince the world that climate change is a hoax. (more…)
Here’s an article that explains why it’s in the U.S.’s best interest to embrace the Paris Agreement on climate change and lead the world in the development of clean energy. There’s no rocket science here: it’s about the jobs that are being created daily, and our ability to ensure that they land here, versus, for instance, China, which is already investing heavily in renewable energy. (more…)
You try hard but you may not be recycling everything that can be recycled. Have you looked into the options lately? From dental scrap to dirty diapers, enterprising recycling companies can handle more than you might have thought. While you might not quite be up to the idea of recycling the family pet into rendered glycerin for use in cosmetics, there’s plenty of other junk you could be recycling instead of throwing away. (more…)
In today’s world, our daily habits are often those that lead to us losing touch with nature. Due to our many obligations, we neglect the call of the wild and stay confined to indoor-centric zones. It’s important however, to take some time to appreciate our environment, and not get caught up in the everyday rut of waking up, sitting at a computer all day, eating and going to bed. (more…)
There has been destruction in your community, and there is a definite need for volunteers from the neighborhood to assist with the clean-up. Whether it was high winds, a tropical storm, flooding, or a tornado, the destruction left in the wake can be monumental. All hands are needed on deck, and you are considering getting your children involved in this huge task. There are many distinct advantages to this, and they include the benefits that the project will. (more…)
