 Global Warming Could Severely Disrupt U.S. Oil Refineries, Warns Government ReportBy David Gutierrez, April 16 2008
(NaturalNews) Weather changes caused by global warming could seriously disrupt the United States' ability to extract, refine and transport oil, according to a new government report. The study, conducted by climate change researchers at seven different Department of Energy labs, was the first to examine global warming's anticipated effects on the U.S. energy supply.
According to the report, global-warming-driven storms are likely to severely damage oil extracting, refining and producing infrastructure...
 Future of Humanity at Risk from Climate Change, Warns United NationsBy David Gutierrez, April 15 2008
(NaturalNews) The United Nations has issued a report warning that global climate change and other environmental destruction is rapidly pushing the planet's life support systems past the point of no return. The U.N. Environment Program referred to the fourth Global Environmental Outlook report as "the final wake-up call to the international community."
The report, prepared by a group of 338 experts, compared current levels of consumption and population with the resources available on the planet...
 Water Runs Dry in Orme, Tennessee as Drought WorsensBy David Gutierrez, April 13 2008
(NaturalNews) A small town in southeast Tennessee has actually run out of water, and must truck in water from a nearby town three days a week to sustain its already highly restricted water usage.
Orme is located 40 miles west of Chattanooga, 150 miles northwest of Atlanta, and a few miles north of the Alabama border. In the old days of this former mining town, a massive waterfall fed the town's water use and a creek ran through its center. Now the creek has gone totally dry and only a trickle...
 Australian Drought Leads to First "Water Rage" MurderBy David Gutierrez, April 7 2008
(NaturalNews) In Australia's first known case of murder due to "water rage," a dispute over a suburban man's water usage led to him being beaten to death in front of his home. According to police, 66-year-old Ken Proctor was watering the lawn in front of his home in Sydney on October 31 at approximately 5:30 p.m. when a passerby made a comment to him about wasting water. Proctor then turned his hose on the other man, who knocked him to the ground and began to punch and kick him. The attacker was...
 Atmospheric CO2 Levels Rising Much Faster than Predicted, Scientists WarnBy David Gutierrez, April 4 2008
(NaturalNews) Atmospheric levels of carbon dioxide have risen 35 percent faster since 2000 than scientists had predicted, according to a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The research was carried out by the Global Carbon Project, British Antarctic Survey and University of East Anglia, England.
According to lead researcher Pep Canadell, executive director of the Global Carbon Project, global economic growth combined with a less carbon-efficient economy accounted...
 Thirty-Six U.S. States to Face Water Shortages in the Next Five YearsBy David Gutierrez, March 31 2008
(NaturalNews) At least 36 states are expected to face water shortages within the next five years, according to U.S. government estimates. Available freshwater supplies are dwindling across the country due to rising temperatures and droughts, while increasing sprawl, population and inefficient resource usage are leading to rising demand.
"Is it a crisis? If we don't do some decent water planning, it could be," said Jack Hoffbuhr, executive director of the American Water Works Association. Rising...
 Supporting World Population at U.S. Consumption Rates Would Require Five EarthsBy David Gutierrez, March 26 2008
(NaturalNews) It would take more than five Earths to be able to sustain the world population if everyone consumed resources at the same rate as the United States, according to the New Economics Foundation (NEF).
NEF stated that the world reached "ecological overdraft" for 2007 on October 6 -- in other words, more resources were consumed between January 1 and October 6 than the planet can replenish in one year. NEF refers to this date as Ecological Debt Day.
Ecological Debt Day came on October...
 Fluorescent lights release toxic mercury directly into the environmentBy Mike Adams, February 11 2008
There is an international campaign to ban the incandescent bulb in favor of alternative sources of lighting, most notably fluorescents. Unfortunately, fluorescents contain noxious chemicals including argon and mercury that are contaminating the environment, specifically through their accumulation in landfill waste. IN an effort to fight the effects of global warming and save precious energy, federal and state governments are attempting to find the best way to dispose of or recycle fluorescent light...
 Excess Ozone Chokes Plants, Accelerates Global WarmingBy David Gutierrez, January 10 2008
(NaturalNews) The chemical known as ozone may be making a much more significant contribution to global warming than scientists had previously thought, according to a new study published in the journal Nature.
"Ozone could be twice as important as we previously thought as a driver of climate change," said study co-author Peter Cox.
Ozone occurs naturally in the upper atmosphere, but is produced in the lower atmosphere when sunlight strikes industrial pollutants such as carbon dioxide, methane...
 The Sun Isn't the Cause of Earth's Sudden Climate Change, Conclude ScientistsBy David Gutierrez, December 26 2007
(NaturalNews) Changes in solar output cannot be the cause of recent global warming trends, according to a study published in Proceedings of the Royal Society, Series A.
The study was spurred in part by "The Great Global Warming Swindle," the TV documentary that featured a hypothesis that increased solar radiation may be causing global warming.
"All the graphs they showed stopped in 1980, and I knew why -- because things diverged after that," said researcher Mike Lockwood of the Rutherford-Appleton...
 Eating Beef More Destructive to Environment than Driving a CarBy David Gutierrez, December 18 2007
(NaturalNews) The environmental footprint of producing just over two pounds of beef is greater than that of driving a car for three hours, according to a Japanese study reported on "New Scientist."
A research team led by Akifumi Ogino of the National Institute of Livestock and Grassland Science in Tsukuba, Japan examined the energy used and greenhouse gases emitted at every step in the process of producing beef, including raising calves, managing animals and producing and transporting feed. The...
 Global Warming to Hammer U.S. Northeast with Radical Weather, Warn ScientistsBy David Gutierrez, December 15 2007
(NaturalNews) A recent report has enumerated the catastrophic changes that the northeastern United States can expect due to global warming, particularly if local and global greenhouse gas emissions are not curbed.
The report, "Confronting Climate Change in the U.S. Northeast," was a joint project of the Northeast Climate Impacts Assessment, the Union of Concerned Scientists and more than 50 scientists and economists. It looks at the likely outcomes of two different climate change scenarios, one...
 Polluted air from China now reaching Western U.S. statesBy David Gutierrez, December 10 2007
(NaturalNews) A massive cloud of pollution from Asia's fast-growing industrial economies is having wide-ranging effects on global climate and air quality. According to a study recently published in the Journal of Geophysical Research, tremendous plumes composed of dust, sulfates, smog, soot, nitrates and industrial gases are blowing off the coast of Asia and crossing the Pacific Ocean to the western United States.
"There are times when it covers the entire Pacific Ocean basin like a ribbon bent...
 Human activity drastically altering rainfall patternsBy David Gutierrez, December 9 2007
(NaturalNews) Global warming caused by industrial emissions has changed precipitation patterns worldwide, according to a new study published in the journal Nature. While many prior studies have demonstrated that emissions have led to rising global temperatures, this is the first major international study to examine the effects of human-related emissions on rainfall.
"It's the first time that we've detected in precipitation data a clear imprint of human influence on the climate system," said lead...
 8,000 Toxic Waste Sites Ignored by EPA; Massive Lead Contamination at Shooting RangesBy Mike Adams, December 6 2007
Firing ranges expose the environment and the ecosystem to lead pollution caused by the presence of lead in ammunition projectiles. This makes lead pollution a major concern for the public. When these bullets are fired, they emit lead particles that are then inhaled, absorbed into the skin or disposed of in community landfill facilities. Currently, very few cities are taking action to reduce the health threat and environmental burden of lead bullets.
Similar to mercury, lead is both a heavy metal...
 Safety concerns surface over switch to energy-efficient compact fluorescent lightsBy David Gutierrez, November 25 2007
(NaturalNews) Although compact fluorescent lightbulbs have become a favorite symbol of energy efficiency, and though several state and national governments have passed or are considering legislation to ban the older incandescent bulbs, compact fluorescents provide a hazard of their own.
Compact fluorescent lightbulbs are made with mercury, a naturally occurring metallic element that is highly toxic to the nervous system. According to an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) fact sheet about compact...
 Global warming battle goes local as city mayors launch green initiativesBy David Gutierrez, November 18 2007
(NaturalNews) Mayors from around the world presented plans to reduce their cities' greenhouse gas emissions at an international conference of mayors in New York City earlier this year. "Unfortunately, it has fallen to the mayors to do it because at the federal level in this country and other countries, they seem to be tied up," said Michael Bloomberg, mayor of New York.
At the conference, Bloomberg spoke about his 127-point plan to reduce New York's greenhouse gas emissions by 30 percent by 2030...
 Honeybee colony collapse disorder: Alternative causes still being exploredBy Mike Adams, November 15 2007
During the final three months of 2006, a distressing number of honeybee colonies began to diminish from the United States., and beekeepers from all over the country reported unprecedented losses. With localized outbreaks recorded as far back as 1896, this is highly regarded as the first national epidemic in U.S. history. Scientists, entomologists and citizens alike continue to speculate as to the cause of this disorder, with the newest conclusions directed toward cell phone use.
Although the...
 The greenwashing of toxic consumer productsBy Mike Adams, November 12 2007
Have you noticed over the last year how virtually every large corporation is trying to make consumers believe their products are "Earth friendly?" Everything from toxic cosmetics to smog-producing cars are now being positioned as "green" products, and just recently I actually saw a package of mercury-containing compact fluorescent lights with a marketing logo that claimed the product was, "Helping protect the planet!" I have yet to understand the logic of how buying and throwing away mercury-contaminated...
 Diesel pollution clogs arteries, raises risk of heart diseaseBy David Gutierrez, November 5 2007
(NaturalNews) Diesel fumes interact with fatty acids found in LDL ("bad") cholesterol to raise the risk of heart disease, according to a study published in the online journal "Genome Biology."
On their own, both diesel fumes and certain fatty acids contained in LDL cholesterol create free radicals in the body. These free radicals damage cells and tissue, leading to the inflammation that can cause cardiovascular disease.
In the new study, researchers at the University of California-Los Angeles...
 Why light bulbs are accelerating global warming and mercury contaminationBy Mike Adams, October 26 2007
The incandescent light bulb was downright amazing when it was invented in 1809 by Humphry Davy. Nope, it wasn't invented by Thomas Edison -- that's just another American history lie, much like the stories about Christopher Columbus "discovering" America and being some sort of upstanding hero. In truth, he and his men were butchers who committed numerous atrocities against the Native Americans (see The People's History of the United States by Howard Zinn). U.S. history is largely a collection of politically...
 Iceberg ecosystems may help ease global warmingBy David Gutierrez, October 23 2007
(NaturalNews) Antarctic icebergs create miniature marine ecosystems that allow more life than normally exists in an otherwise nutrient-poor region, according to a study published in the journal Science.
Researchers used underwater cameras to observe the undersides of two gigantic icebergs in the Wendell Sea. The icebergs were nearly 12.5 miles long and more than 130 feet tall, with one of them extending almost 1,000 feet beneath the water. The researchers found that the icebergs attracted huge...
 Boeing's new 787 Dreamliner jet uses 27 percent less fuel per passengerBy David Gutierrez, October 17 2007
(NaturalNews) The new 787 Dreamliner jet from The Boeing Company has become the fastest selling airliner in history, largely due to the company pushing it as a more environmentally sustainable jet.
The 787, Boeing's first new jet in more than 10 years, is constructed from lightweight, carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic to allow greater fuel efficiency. According to the company, the Dreamliner uses 20 percent less fuel than other similarly sized aircraft.
In addition, the jet features raised cabin...
 Coca-cola to build plastics recycling plant in effort to appear more greenBy David Gutierrez, October 10 2007
(NaturalNews) The Coca-Cola Company has announced plans for a $60-million initiative to give itself a "greener" image, including the construction of a $44-million plastic-bottle recycling plant.
The 30-acre plant, to be built in Spartanburg, S.C., will recycle old plastic beverage bottles into new bottles. It is expected to open in 2008, and when fully operational should recycle approximately 100 million pounds of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic per year, the equivalent of approximately...
 Al Gore criticized for eating meat diet that contributes to global warmingBy David Gutierrez, October 8 2007
(NaturalNews) People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) and other animal rights groups have criticized former Vice President Al Gore for ignoring the effects of industrial meat production in his Academy Award-winning 2006 documentary "An Inconvenient Truth."
"An Inconvenient Truth," which won the award for "Best Documentary" from 18 different film groups, outlines the potentially catastrophic consequences of global warming and examines many of the industries that contribute to the problem...
 NY Mayor unveils plan for 100 percent hybrid vehicle taxi fleetBy David Gutierrez, October 5 2007
(NaturalNews) New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg has announced that the city will immediately begin replacing all of its signature yellow taxicabs with hybrid gasoline-electric vehicles.
"The benefits of this policy are going to be felt by generations of New Yorkers," Bloomberg said. "Implementing tougher standards for the more than 13,000 taxis in this city will provide the same clean air benefits as removing 32,000 privately owned cars from our streets."
Effective immediately, every taxi...
 Some home builders shifting towards more energy efficient homesBy David Gutierrez, October 3 2007
(NaturalNews) Demand for homes built with an eco-friendly design is steadily growing, according to architect Michelle Kaufmann, founder of home design company Michelle Kaufmann Designs (MKD).
MKD, founded in 2002, has previously designed and built homes for families on an individual basis. But the company now has plans to build 45 town houses in a San Leandro, Calif. Development, as well as 40 in Las Vegas and 42 in Denver. Kaufmann views this as a sign that "green" homes are moving from being...
 Home Depot rolling out "Eco Options" labels for eco-friendly productsBy David Gutierrez, September 22 2007
(NaturalNews) The world's largest home improvement retail chain has announced the launch of an "Eco Options" labeling program in the United States, to clearly identify for consumers those products that have a lesser impact on the environment. The program began in Canada in 2004.
To qualify for the Eco Options label, a product must either be considered inherently eco-friendly by the company -- such as solar-powered lights -- or must be certified as such by an independent company. So far, there are...
 U.S. Southwest could become next Dust Bowl, warn climatologistsBy David Gutierrez, September 19 2007
(NaturalNews) Changes in storm and moisture patterns due to global warming may cause rainfall in the U.S. Southwest to diminish at levels comparable to that of the 1930s Dust Bowl in the Midwest, according to a study published in the journal Science.
Researchers examined the same climate models that were used to prepare the reports of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, with data ranging back to 1860. All 19 models were in agreement that the climate of the southwestern United States...
 House bill would require electric companies to gradually shift toward clean, renewable energy sourcesBy David Gutierrez, September 11 2007
A bill introduced into the House of Representatives this year would require utility companies to generate 20 percent of their electricity from renewable sources -- such as biofuel, geothermal, solar and wind -- by the year 2020, according to a press release by the Union of Concerned Scientists.
What you need to know• The bill is a type of law known as a renewable portfolio standard, because it sets a minimum standard for renewable energy output with which all power companies must comply....
 Chlorine gas shipped to municipal water treatment facilities could be terrorist targetBy David Gutierrez, September 3 2007
(NaturalNews) A report by the nonprofit research group Center for American Progress (CAP) has identified the chlorine used by water treatment plants as a major national security vulnerability. In a report released on the same day as the Department of Homeland Security's new chemical security rules -- rules that exempt water treatment plants -- CAP noted that a single leak on a railcar transporting chlorine in the Dallas-Fort Worth area could place the health of nearly 10 million people at risk.
...
 Boom in corn planting as farmers enjoy price spike due to ethanol demandBy David Gutierrez, August 15 2007
(NaturalNews) Spurred by an explosion in the market for ethanol and the concurrent spike in corn prices, U.S. farmers are planting corn over the largest area since 1944, according to a survey conducted by the Department of Agriculture.
Based on the survey of 86,000 farmers, the department projected the planting of 90.45 million acres of corn this spring, which could yield 12.5 million bushels given normal weather conditions. This would be 700 million bushels larger than the prior record harvest...
 Compact fluorescent light bulbs contaminate the environment with 30,000 pounds of mercury each yearBy Mike Adams, June 20 2007
A compact fluorescent light is a type of energy-saving bulb that fits into a standard light bulb socket or plugs into a small lighting fixture, and right now, compact fluorescents seem to be gaining in popularity. But did you know they can also be toxic to your home and the environment?
Fluorescent lights are filled with a gas containing low-pressure mercury vapor and argon, or sometimes even krypton. The inner surface of the bulb is coated with a fluorescent coating made of varying blends of...
 Scientists issue urgent warning over global mercury contamination of fishBy David Gutierrez, May 23 2007
An international group of scientists has released the Madison Declaration on Mercury Pollution, warning that mercury exposure is now a public health problem in almost every part of the world and that the problem of mercury pollution is only getting more severe.
Jump directly to: conventional view | alternative view | bottom line
What you need to know - Conventional View• Mercury is a chemical element that acts as a toxin to the central nervous system, endocrine...
 Air pollution of cities more dangerous to health than living near Chernobyl radiation zoneBy David Gutierrez, May 23 2007
(NaturalNews) Living with a smoker or in a major city places a person at greater risk of early death than living in the radioactive exclusion zone around Chernobyl, according to a study conducted by scientists at the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology in Great Britain and published in the journal "BMC Public Health."
Researcher Jim Smith calculated the increased mortality risk of emergency workers who responded to the 1986 explosions at the Chernobyl nuclear reactor in Ukraine, as well as the people...
 Winter of 2007 was warmest in history, conclude NOAA scientistsBy David Gutierrez, April 23 2007
This past winter was the warmest ever recorded, scientists from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) have announced. From December 2006 to February 2007 -- the Northern Hemisphere winter as defined by meteorologists --combined global land and ocean surface temperatures were at their highest since record keeping began in 1880.
Jump directly to: conventional view | bottom line
What you need to know - Conventional View• Combined global land and...
 Big business leans green in an environmentally aware consumer marketplaceBy Christian Evans, March 27 2007
Several major American corporations are teaching customers about energy conservation, recycling, producing less waste and reducing heat-trapping carbon emissions as a way of showing they care about the planet. In the world of big business, weather disasters and a push for fuel alternatives have sparked controversy and a growing concern about the threat of global warming.
Jump directly to: conventional view | alternative view | bottom line
What you need to know - Conventional...
 Asian pollution levels impact severity of Pacific stormsBy David Gutierrez, March 23 2007
Spiking air pollution in Asia, driven by rapid industrialization and urbanization, has changed the atmosphere over the North Pacific enough to cause stronger-than-usual thunderstorms in the winter and may even have wider effects on the global climate, according to a study published in the "Proceedings of the National Academy Of Sciences."
Jump directly to: conventional view | bottom line
What you need to know - Conventional
View• Researchers from NASA's Jet Propulsion...
 Air purifiers using ozone can make air quality worse when combined with air freshener chemicalsBy M. T. Whitney, March 21 2007
Scientists at the University of California in Irvine have made a surprising discovery -- using an air purifier with commercial air fresheners can actually make your indoor air quality worse in most cases.
Jump directly to: conventional view | alternative view | bottom line
What you need to know - Conventional View• Air purifiers give off ozone, and that reacts badly with volatile organic compounds like limonene - the chemical used to make the artificial smell...
 Global warming will directly impact childrens' health with increase in fevers, emergency visitsBy M. T. Whitney, March 19 2007
A new report suggests global warming causes an increase in fevers among kids during the hottest days of the year. Researchers from the University of Sydney have monitored the first study that directly correlates global warming to the health of children.
Jump directly to: conventional view | alternative view | bottom line
What you need to know - Conventional View• The study showed that rising temperatures cause an increase in emergency hospital visits for preschoolers...
 Earth changes, nature's backlash and lessons yet to be learned by humans (opinion)By Mike Adams, March 12 2007
With modern humans engaged in highly destructive behaviors towards nature (pollution, toxic chemicals production, CO2 emissions, abuse of animals, use of Roundup herbicides, etc.), did you ever wonder what nature would do to humans if it had the chance? In a recent CounterThink cartoon called "Human RoundUp,", the trees march on human cities, spraying "Human RoundUp" as workers flee the campus of Monsanto, the company that manufactures RoundUp.
It brings to mind images from the Lord of the Rings...
 Using solar panels helps prevent global warmingBy M. T. Whitney, March 6 2007
(NaturalNews) By powering your house with solar panels instead of using nonrenewable sources, you could help fight global warming. That's what Ohio State University physicist Robert Davis hopes to see in the near future, as the university just received $18.6 million to build a solar cell development center.
Jump directly to: conventional view | bottom line
What you need to know - Conventional View
• Davis says that the biggest issue right now with solar technology...
 Global warming could cause severe municipal water shortages, says Nobel Prize winnerBy M. T. Whitney, March 4 2007
(NaturalNews) The rise of global warming could cause cities run out of water, says Steven Chu, who shared the Nobel Prize in Physics a decade ago. Decreases in snow and glacier melt - major sources for water - have some wondering about global warming's impact and has spurred an increase in pushing for ocean desalinization technology.
Jump directly to: conventional view | bottom line
What you need to know - Conventional View
• The effects of global warming already...
 American Enterprise Institute allegedly offers bribes to scientists for disputing UN climate change reportBy Ben Kage, February 15 2007
(NaturalNews) According to the Guardian, the ExxonMobil-funded think tank known as the American Enterprise Institute sent letters to scientists and economists offering them $10,000 to undermine a major climate change report from the United Nations.
The fourth UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report was released Feb. 2, and experts say it is the most complete report on climate change so far. However, before the report was released, the AEI sent letters to scientists in the United States...
 Arctic seed vault to ensure safety of not losing seeds for food crops in case of global catastropheBy M. T. Whitney, February 14 2007
(NaturalNews) A new seed vault to be constructed in an Arctic archipelago aims to prevent the loss of important crop species, locking away seed samples in case of world catastrophe.
The genebank, run by the Global Crop Diversity Trust, will operate differently than other genebanks: it will only allow seeds to be taken out if the original seed sources have been exhausted or destroyed. It will contain more than a million different seed varieties, stored away for safety.
The seed vault will be...
 EPA tightens tailpipe emissions of cancer-causing chemicalsBy David Gutierrez, February 14 2007
(NaturalNews) The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released new regulations on February 9 intended to reduce emissions of the toxic chemical benzene from a variety of gasoline sources.
The new standards do not take full effect until 2030, at which point they are expected to cut annual benzene emissions by 61,000 tons and overall toxic emissions by 330,000 tons.
Starting in 2009, the regulations require that fuel cans be tightened to reduce the escape of toxic fumes. The EPA said that it...
 Livestock ranching a leading contributor to CO2 emissions, global warmingBy David Gutierrez, February 13 2007
(NaturalNews) According to a United Nations report published last month, raising animals for food is one of the single biggest causes of global warming, in addition to land degradation and pollution of air and water.
"The livestock sector emerges as one of the top two or three most significant contributors to the most serious environmental problems, at every scale," said "Livestock’s Long Shadow," the report by the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization.
According to the report, nearly one-fifth...
 Virgin Group CEO offers $25 million prize to solve global warming challengeBy M.T. Whitney, February 12 2007
(NaturalNews) British billionaire Richard Branson revealed on Friday that he is offering $25 million to anyone who can create a technology that will clean out greenhouse gasses from the atmosphere.
The news conference had Branson flanked by former U.S. Vice President Al Gore and British ex-diplomat Crispin Tickell. The goal of the prize is to tackle one of man's greatest issues – global warming – by spurring development of new technology.
"Man created the problem and therefore man should solve...
 Wire clothes hangers now have eco-friendly, recyclable alternative: Eco-HangerBy David Gutierrez, February 9 2007
(NaturalNews) The New York-based company HangerNetwork is taking its product — a disposable, biodegradable clothes hanger made from recycled paper — national. HangerNetwork has announced that its hangers will soon begin appearing in dry cleaners in San Francisco and other major cities, with the goal of expanding nationwide.
HangerNetwork's "Eco-Hanger" is made entirely out of thick recycled paper, which is folded into a clothes hanger shape then glued and laminated. The company bills the hangers...
 Air pollution increases risk of heart disease and stroke, study saysBy David Gutierrez, February 8 2007
(NaturalNews) A new study published in the New England Journal of Medicine has discovered a significant correlation between the air pollution around a woman's home and her risk of heart disease.
While only women were studied, researchers believe that air pollution has the same effects on men. However, women are at greater risk for heart disease in general, because their arteries are narrower and thus more easily blocked.
Researchers in the Women's Health Initiative Observational Study studied...
Next page ->
|
About the authorBruce Wiseman
|
