Greenwash Alert! Pepsi’s ‘Eco-Fina’ Bottle

We got an interesting press release in our inbox this week announcing a supposedly eco-friendly bottled water.  PepsiCo has launched its new ‘Eco-Fina’ bottle, which uses 50 percent less plastic than regular water bottles, making it the lightest half-liter bottle of any nationally distributed bottled water on the market – and they want anyone with environmentally conscious tendencies to know about it. But is it really green?

From the press release:

At a weight of 10.9 grams, the Eco-Fina Bottle is made with 50 percent less plastic, eliminating an estimated 75 million pounds of plastic annually.  Aquafina is also driving additional environmental benefits by producing the bottle at purification centers where filling occurs and by eliminating cardboard base pads from 24-packs, which will contribute to saving 20 million pounds of corrugate by 2010.

The new bottle features an eye-catching “rippled web” design that goes beyond aesthetics, ensuring its structural soundness and functionality.  The Eco-Fina Bottle will be available in 24-packs and begins shipping to retail outlets nationwide this April.

IT’S A PLASTIC WATER BOTTLE. It’s not green. No, not at all – and what’s especially annoying about this sort of thing is the fact that millions of gullible customers will feel better about their bottled water habits when they buy this crap – “Oh, look, it’s ‘ECO’. I can keep buying bottled water without guilt!”

Plastic is a problem – only a small fraction of bottles actually end up getting recycled, they’re made using petroleum and there are absolutely no benefits to drinking water shipped from halfway across the country (or even the world, in some cases) as opposed to filtered tap water.  But bottled water is a huge revenue source for companies like PepsiCo, and of course they’re going to try to hang on to your money with all their might – hence greenwashing efforts like this one.

Link [Eco-Fina]

Fish Oil Could Control Methane-Packed Cow Farts

When cows fart – which they do, a lot – one of the most potent greenhouse gases in existence is released in huge quantities. That, of course, contributes to global warming. But how do we get all the cows on the planet to stop passing gas? Scientists have tried trapping it in tanks strapped to the cows’ backs and other crazy measures, and the latest one is really fishy: using fish oil to reduce cow flatulence.

From Live Science:

Specifically, including 2 percent fish oil in the diet of cattle reduces flatulence, apparently due to the omega 3 fatty acids in the oil. The study was a small one, however. The technique cut methane output of three cows by 21 percent, said Lorraine Lillis of the University College Dublin.

“The fish oil affects the methane-producing bacteria in the rumen part of the cow’s gut, leading to reduced emissions,” Lillis said. “Understanding which microbial species are particularly influenced by changes in diet and relating them to methane production could bring about a more targeted approach to reducing methane emissions in animals.”

Asked about the overall potential benefits fish-oil, Lillis told LiveScience she didn’t know yet what effect it might have on a larger group of cattle. She also acknowledged a possible shortcoming of the scheme: “There may be some trade-off as fish oil is expensive and difficult to get,” she said. Also not considered yet, she said, is whether it would put undue pressure on fish populations.

It’s certainly an interesting approach, and nowhere near as silly as cows with pink fart balloons attached to them. Of course, the best approach would be for as many people as possible to reduce the amount of meat they eat or stop altogether, which would reduce demand for cows and cut the population. But that’s too much to ask, apparently, so here we are.

Link [Live Science]
Photo credit: Flickr user Flikr

Obama Seeks to Out-Do Clinton in Greening the White House

President Obama wants to green the White House, and though it’s been done before, he’s going to one-up former Presidents Carter, Clinton and Bush in every way he can. Carter installed solar panels, Clinton embarked on an ambitious effort that successfully improved the efficiency of lighting, heating, A/C, insulation and water use and even anti-environment Bush installed a few solar energy systems. But Obama is focused on reducing the White House’s behemoth carbon footprint, and that will take a lot more work.

From The Huffington Post:

Obama isn’t ready to give details of his broader go-green plans for the White House, but administration officials report that small steps are under way: The housekeeping staff is making the switch to greener cleaning supplies, and complex managers have asked engineers and groundskeepers to use greener products whenever possible. Efforts are afoot to improve and promote recycling.

As for what more can be done, outside experts on green buildings report that the administration is seeking out information about what’s feasible. Given the priority Obama placed on renewable energy in his economic stimulus package and budget, environmentalists are chattering about what further steps he will take at the White House.

Prior to taking office, Obama promised to lead by example and show Americans that it’s really not that hard to go green. The small steps they’re currently taking may not seem all that impressive on the surface, but so far, each thing they’ve done – from the kitchen garden to the eco-friendly playground – can be easily imitated by most Americans. And, there’s undoubtedly much more to come.

Link [The Huffington Post]
Photo credit: WhiteHouseMuseum.org

Green Porno is Back, Now with More Sex!

Isabella Rossellini will be doing some very dirty things on your television screen again starting this week, but it’ll only turn you on if you’ve got some weird fetishes.  Last year, the beautiful Italian actress teamed up with the Sundance Channel to produce a series of short films entitled ‘Green Porno’, and the second season debuts Wednesday, April 1st.

It involves Rossellini wearing bizarre costumes (including weird nude bodysuits complete with fake nipples and pubic hair), moaning and rubbing her body up against fellow costumed creatures. This season, there will be even more sex, and it’s not just limited to insects- fish and crustaceans are getting in on the action, too.

Here’s a clip from last season:

And a teaser of episodes to come:

It’s bizarre, no doubt about it – but it’s also educational, and Rossellini is passionate (ahem) about animals, as we can all see. She’s not just the star, but also conceived, scripted and directed the films. Her goal is to make people laugh and get them more interested in animals – and hey, sex sells.

Via [The Huffington Post]

Green College Spotlight: George Mason University

George Mason University in Fairfax County, Virginia has committed itself to integrating sustainability to as many aspects of campus operations as possible, and they’ve come a long way in the past five years. While the university doesn’t have many formal sustainability policies in place, they’ve shown quite a bit of initiative, particularly in the area of student involvement.

President Merten signed the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment, committing George Mason University to working toward becoming carbon neutral. George Mason feels that, as one of the largest organizations in Northern Virginia, they have a responsibility to promote their own sustainable practices – not only for the benefit of their own university, but for surrounding communities, the region, the country and the world.

From President Merten’s statement on sustainability:

In pursuit of climate neutrality and organizational sustainability, Mason has appointed a Sustainability Coordinator who is responsible for assisting the university with defining and meeting its climate commitment and sustainability goals. Through a cross-functional Sustainability Council and Working Groups, we will work with all university constituents – students, faculty, and staff – and community members to promote and enable actions to reduce our impact on our local and global communities and ecosystems.

At Mason, we are committed to meeting the challenge of local and global stewardship. We see a sustainable and fruitful future for Mason as a climate-neutral and low-ecological-impact organization, but the entire community must commit.

The University is is saving more than $1 million every year in utility costs with the help of an energy-efficiency contract with Siemens Building Technologies initiated in 2004. A climate action plan is currently underway, and the campus community is deeply involved in identifying the ways in which George Mason can further reduce their emissions.

George Mason currently requires all new buildings to be designed and built to meet a minimum of LEED Silver standard, and all new office and industrial equipment purchased must be Energy Star rated, where available. Staff and faculty commuters receive commuter benefits for taking public transportation, all local bus service is free to Mason ID holders and a number of electronic courses are available so students can reduce fuel consumption and pollution.

By far, the most impressive aspect of George Mason’s sustainability efforts thus far is its student, faculty and staff participation in green efforts. Several hundred members of the George Mason community have volunteered to assist in university sustainability efforts by educating others about how they can reduce their own energy use and greenhouse gas emissions as part of the ‘Climate Champions’ program.

George Mason is also currently in the lead in the America’s Greenest Campus competition, having gathered nearly 800 participants and reduced their overall CO2 footprint by 2.77%. Other colleges and universities have a long way to go to catch up with them.

George Mason University may still be in the midst of making the kinds of changes other colleges and universities across the country have made in the name of the earth, but we’re willing to bet that they’ll soon be among the greenest of the green.

Link [George Mason Sustainability]

Plant Tells You What it Needs via Twitter

Twitter, the social networking site that allows you to keep your friends updated on what’s going on in your life in 140 characters or less, is all the rage these days – and not just for actual humans. The Tweet-a-Watt blew the competition out of the water in the Greener Gadgets Competition, and now a new gadget allows your houseplants to communicate with you electronically, letting you know when they need attention.

Pothos the houseplant has over 2,300 followers on Twitter, who wait with bated breath for earth-shattering updates like “URGENT! Water me!”

From Discover Magazine, via The Huffington Post:

Granted, all it wants is water, but when plant owners are forgetful or just don’t have a green thumb, their green friends often go thirsty. The solution? Botanicalls, a device that sends wireless signals to Twitter. It’s made of soil moisture sensors that transmit information (too much moisture? too little?) through a circuit board to a microcontroller, just like a mini-computer.

The software has settings that allow you to program specifically for the type of plant and the unique qualities of the soil, and the language sent to Twitter can be customized—so the message can vary in tone from the polite “please” to the urgent “I’m desperately thirsty”—or, as Mr. Ikea Plant will tweet, “I’m wicked thirsty.”

Check out a sample of Pothos’ updates below:

So, now computers can allow our houseplants to talk to us. Kind of creepy, kind of amazing.

Link [Discover Magazine] via [The Huffington Post]

Enter the Instructables Energy Efficiency Competition & Win a Mac Book Pro

Want to help improve energy efficiency, and win yourself a brand new 15″ MacBook Pro from Apple? Create an energy-saving Instructable and explain why or how your project saves energy – whether it’s a whole new invention or an improvement upon an existing product. Instructables and EarthJustice are teaming up to sponsor creative thinking on energy efficiency. Instructables is a web-based documentation platform where passionate people share what they do and how they do it, and learn from and collaborate with others.

From Instructables:

Quick, what renewable-energy resource is cheap, perfectly clean, and available almost everywhere?
Energy efficiency.

Improving energy efficiency is the fastest, cheapest, and cleanest way to power our lives, so Instructables has teamed up with Earthjustice to help spread the news through their United States of Efficiency campaign. Even small changes in the efficiency standards for appliances, lights, and machines can create huge savings in electricity and natural gas – we can help fight global warming, create green jobs, and save scarce resources and money at the same time!

Five first prize winners will receive a Kill-a-Watt, and five runners-up will get an Instructables Robot t-shirt, patch and stickers. Check out the current submissions and communicate with your fellow inventors at the Instructables EarthJustice Contest page. You can also get more inspiration at the Instructables ‘Saving Energy’ page.

The contest started Thursday, March 26th and the entry deadline is May 6th, 2009. Be sure to read the official rules before getting started. Good luck!

Link [Instructables]

Is Your School America’s Greenest Campus?

Does your college or university have what it takes to be named America’s Greenest Campus? Non-profit organization SmartPower is challenging college students across the country to reduce the carbon footprints of their students, faculty and staff – and the winners will receive up to $20,000 to further green their campuses.

From Climate Culture:

Think your school is green? Well, now it’s time to walk the walk! You have until October 5 to get as many people affiliated with your school to reduce their carbon footprints as much as they can!

We’ll keep track of the number of people participating on your campus and how much they reduce in the leaderboard below. We’ll announce the two winners – the school with the most participants and the school with the most carbon reductions per participant – in October. Winning schools will be eligible for some awesome prizes!

* $5,000 to the school with the most participants (students, alumni, faculty, staff)
* $5,000 to the school with the largest percentage of carbon emissions reduced
* $10,000 to the winner of the SmartPower Energy Smart Ad Challenge

So far, George Mason University is in the lead, with the University of Maryland at College Park close behind – but you’ve still got plenty of time to catch up! Check out the America’s Greenest Campus website to sign up and get more details, and score footprint-reducing tips at ClimateCulture.com.

Link [Climate Culture] + [America’s Greenest Campus]

Turn Off the Lights Tonight for Earth Hour 2009

Tonight, March 28th at 8:30pm, you’ll have the opportunity to ‘Vote Earth’ with the flick of a switch. Earth Hour 2009 is a global call to action for every individual, every business and every community to pledge their support for the earth by turning off the lights for one hour. 2,848 cities, towns and municipalities in 84 countries have already committed to Vote Earth – will you be joining us?

It’s all part of an effort to raise awareness about the need for action on global warming. This year, by becoming a part of Earth Hour, you’ll be participating in the world’s first global election between global warming and the earth. The results will be presented at the Global Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen. The goal is one billion votes for Earth, to send the message to world leaders that we, citizens of planet Earth, demand action against global warming.

Spread the word to your friends, family and everyone you run into today to make sure they know about Earth Hour.  In addition to telling people in person, here are a few more ways you can help:

TWITTER

Say as much as you can about VOTE EARTH in 140 characters. In the countdown to Earth Hour, you can let others know about what you’re up to every step of the way. Make sure you include ‘#VOTEEARTH’ in all tweets so others can follow your messages.

WRITE A BLOG

Start a conversation about VOTE EARTH. The results of the election will be presented at the Global Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen 2009, so we need you to help get the world talking! Tag your blog so others can join in, with tags like ‘VOTE EARTH’, ‘Earth Hour’, ‘Copenhagen’, and ‘global warming’.

EMAIL A FRIEND

Let your friends know about VOTE EARTH. If you tell your friends, they’ll tell their friends, then they’ll tell their friends, and you’ll be responsible for getting a lot of votes for Earth. You can also set up email reminders for Earth Hour, and let your friends know about registering at earthhour.org/voteearth.

SIGN UP

Target Goes Eco with MIO Designs

Eco-friendly versus affordable: do you always have to choose? Not at all – and soon, getting eco-friendly goods will be as simple as heading to your neighborhood Target. Philadelphia-based green design firm MIO has debuted a new line of cool green outdoor stuff now available at Target stores across the country.

Inhabitat has the scoop:

MIO is the newest name to be added to the mega-retailer’s enviable list of designers that already includes heavyweights like Michael Graves, Orla Kiely, and Isaac Mizrahi.  Their philosophy, which champions design that should be both responsible and desirable, is clearly visible in the new line of bright, functional and fun products that will surely instill some “Green Desire” among shoppers who still need to buy stuff, and might as well buy green.

The product assortment includes eight outdoor items made from recycled and renewable materials including a watering can, trowel, cultivator, weeder, mini herb garden, solar lights, hammock and composter ranging from $7.99 – $99.99.  The assortment will be available on April 12 for a limited time at Target stores with select items available online.

Are hardcore greenies gonna flock to Target to buy these things? Maybe not, but it does put ‘green’ at the fingertips of a huge number of mainstream consumers, and that’s big. And, hey, we’ve all gotta run to Target sometimes. Beautiful, sustainable and affordable – what’s not to love?

Link [Inhabitat]

Umbra Explains Where to Recycle Batteries

Battery waste is a big problem – there are tons of them in landfills, and that number increases by 18,000 more tons every year. Those batteries then leak heavy metals into the soil and water. So, a good greenie never tosses batteries into the trash – but what do you do with them once you’ve accumulated a bunch?

Grist’s green guru Umbra gives us the details:

Check out more video tips from Umbra at Grist.org!

Link [Grist]

Eco Police Officers Bust Environmental Offenders

Looking at these police officers, you might think they’re from the Parks Department or some tiny town in Texas. Brooklyn business owners look at their olive green uniforms and Stetson hats and know immediately that they’re not city brass. But these aren’t visiting officers from another state – they’re an environmental police force whose job is find and prosecute environmental offenders, and they’re very serious about what they do.

From The New York Times:

As a member of a small force of police officers whose sole focus is enforcing environmental laws, Officer Stevens carries a gun and handcuffs and can haul a suspect off to jail. These environmental conservation officers number barely 20 in New York City, out of about 300 around the state, but issue about 2,000 summonses for violations and criminal charges annually.

Created in 1880, when they were known as “game protectors” and watched over game and fish, these eco-police officers are now part of the State Department of Environmental Conservation and have become more prominent in recent years as public consciousness about the role of pollution in global warming has grown. They now answer complaints and respond to dispatchers’ calls in addition to carrying out spot inspections and longer investigations.

Over two shifts this month, Officer Stevens responded to incidents ranging from fuel spilled from a tanker truck involved in a traffic accident in the Bronx to a store’s refusal to redeem the deposit on cans and bottles.

Other offenses that Officer Stevens has dealt with include leaking antifreeze and oil at a mechanic, clouds of blue smoke coming from a flatbed truck and Chinatown fish markets selling undersize fish, which is illegal because it undermines efforts to keep fish populations stable.

The EPA has its own environmental police force, but in recent years, its numbers have declined steadily. Some communities have volunteers that essentially do the same work, while in others, city workers with little authority are the only people keeping track of environmental offenses.

It seems like having uniformed officers that look “official” would be more effective. It would be nice to see more cities use this method of controlling pollution and other problems, but with state budgets dwindling across the board, it may not happen for a while. Still, it’s nice to know these guys are out there.

Link [The New York Times]
Photo credit: Freaking News

Who’s Who in Green: Sara Snow

You probably already know Sara Snow’s face from her Discovery Health television show, Get Fresh with Sara Snow. But Snow is far from just a television host – she’s a green living expert and passionate advocate for sustainable food and she has made it her life goal to share her knowledge about healthy and natural living.

Snow grew up in a progressive household in the country outside of Ann Arbor, Michigan, with parents who immersed her and her siblings into the world of food and natural living early on.  Her father, Tim Redmond, is co-founder of Eden Foods. Snow spent many of her days communing with nature, helping her parents cook healthy meals and taking part in local theatrical productions. Snow went on to get her degrees in theater performance and telecommunications, and worked briefly as a television producer and later as a reporter.

In 2005, Snow came up with the idea for a lifestyle television series that focuses on the things she learned growing up – composting, recycling, gardening, natural cleaning and eating organically. Soon after, she struck a deal with Discovery Communications and began work on “Living Fresh”, her first show, which is credited as being the first series about natural living on the air. In 2006, Snow got her second show, “Get Fresh with Sara Snow”, in which she travels the country in search of companies that offer green, natural products and services and helps people find ways to go green in their own lives.

Snow visited her fellow ‘Who’s Who in Green’ honorees, the Dervaes Family, at the Path to Freedom Urban Homestead on an episode of Get Fresh with Sara Snow.

Sara Snow is also an advisory board member at Planet Green and is on the board of directors for the Organic Center, a non-profit organization that advocates for organic products. Snow appears regularly on CNN in a segment called “Living Green with Sara Snow” and has a column at Treehugger entitled “Green Eyes On…”. Snow released a DVD with Gaiam called “Growing Green Babies” and her first book, Fresh Living: The Essential Room-by-Room Guide to a Greener, Healthier Family and Home was released just last week.

In a 2008 article at Treehugger, Snow discussed her pleasure at gaining a reputation as an ‘eco warrior’ and what it means to her to be honored with an award by the Natural Products Leadership Gathering:

These men and women have been working day and night since their awakening (some describe it as a smack to the head, though the yogis of the bunch call it their third-eye opening) to improve our planet and our food supply for future generations. And it’s because of the things that they chose to do that I have something to do!

So it was with emotion beyond my imagination that I accepted an award from this very group at the Leadership Gathering, which honors four individuals or companies each year. Most times, the awards go to people who have been fighting the fight with decided dedication and focus for years. One award goes to someone from the so-called second generation, and this year, it was me. I was honored as the Rising Star of the current generation, working diligently to crescendo the message of green and natural living.

Check out Eco Chick’s write-up of Sara Snow’s new book and grab yourself a copy at Amazon.com.

Great Green Job of the Week: Project Leaders & Restoration Crews

Conservation Begins Here.

SCA, America’s #1 conservation service organization seeks qualified individuals to lead volunteers in trail building and habitat restoration projects. Opportunities in the southern California area will be available, so apply today.

Responsibilities:

To safely supervise/manage a team of 6 members in a backcountry setting; which includes completing work to Forest Service and SCA standards, managing the use of vehicles and other equipment, establishing and maintaining a safe environment for a diverse group to live, ability to communicate with a diverse group of individuals as well as agency personnel, conducting environmental education, community living and conflict resolution when necessary.

Maintain a budget, complete reports and evaluations of agency, work, and members in a timely manner. Working knowledge of GPS/GIS, ability to drive off highway while pulling a trailer.

Qualifications:

• Minimum 21 years of age
• Experience in resource management and/or Biology, Bachelors degree preferred
• Valid driver’s license and MVR that meets SCA standards required
• Ability to meet SCA’s criminal background check standards
• Wilderness First Responder and CPR certification needed
• Ability to manage groups in a residential setting
• Backcountry living and supervisory experience preferred
• Working knowledge of GIS, GPS

Training and Program Dates: Training to start Mid July 2009, program to start immediately following

Compensation: $575 per week (dependent on experience)

To Apply:

Send cover letter and resume via email or mail to the attention of Field Leader.

SCA
PO Box 550
Charlestown, NH 03603

OR

Apply online at https://rm.thesca.org/candidate/default.cfm Select Crew/Project Leader when prompted

Link [Green Dream Jobs] + [Student Conservation Association]

An Inconvenient Proposal: A Love Song for Laurie David

Laurie David, if you’re out there, Josh Rachlis has a message for you: hybrid cars make him misty, he eats tofu, likes reusable cups, and his light bulbs are twisty. He’s even a neurotic bald Jew, which seems to be just your type. So, what are you waiting for? Watch his ‘inconvenient proposal’, a music video dedicated to your green goddess awesomeness. And if you want to get in touch with him, just let us know.

By the way, for all of you EarthFirsters reading: If you live under a rock and don’t know who Laurie David is, check out our Who’s Who in Green profile of this super-green activist and producer of An Inconvenient Truth.

Link [YouTube]

EPA Halts Mountaintop Removal Mining Projects

The Environmental Protection Agency has put hundreds of mountaintop removal mining projects on hold while they evaluate the impact on streams and wetlands, officials announced on Tuesday. Mountaintop removal mining is an extremely environmentally damaging process, which allows coal mining companies to dump waste from mountaintop mining into certain waterways.

From The Huffington Post:

The EPA said in a statement that it would be actively involved in the review of the long list of permits awaiting approval by the Corps, a signal that the agency under the Obama administration will exercise its oversight.

The EPA has the authority to review and veto any permit issued by the Corps under the Clean Water Act, but under the Bush administration it did that rarely.

“If the EPA didn’t step in and do something now, all those permits would go forward,” said Joe Lovett, executive director for the Appalachian Center for the Economy and the Environment. “There are permits that will bury 200 miles of streams pending before the Corps.”

The EPA action stunned the coal industry, which had been breathing easily since the mid-February ruling by the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals.

Last month, an appeals panel in Richmond, Virginia overturned a lower court’s ruling that would have required the Army Corps of Engineers to conduct more extensive reviews, hence the coal industry’s surprise. A spokesman for the National Mining Association called the hold on the permits “troubling”.

Does this mean mountaintop removal is on its way out? We can only hope that it’s a signal of a new beginning, but it will undoubtedly take a while before the process is stopped completely, if that ever even happens. But, this is a very encouraging sign. The campaigns to draw attention to the issue seem to be working.

It’s just amazing that we’re not writing negative posts about how the EPA is screwing the environment and human health anymore!

Link [The Huffington Post]
Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

China Uses Birth Control, Abortion Pill to Cut Gerbil Population

The gerbil population is exploding in northwestern China, and authorities felt they had no choice but to put the frisky little buggers on the pill. The ‘plague’ of gerbils is threatening to overrun the local desert ecosystem, so forestry officials in the city of Changji in the Xinjiang region began distributing contraceptive-laced pellets last May.

From Yahoo News:

The gerbils’ large burrow systems in the Gurbantunggut Desert had begun to damage the root systems of the few plants that can survive in the area, while also damaging local agriculture, it said.

The pellets contain a specially developed contraceptive and an abortion drug, the report quoted Du Yuefei, head of the epidemic prevention section of the city’s forestry bureau, as saying.

“Besides pregnancy prevention, the drug can induce abortions and thus largely reduce their breeding rate,” Du said.

“It’s a good way to tackle the desert rodent plague.”

The drug has “little effect” on other animals, the report said.

“Little effect”? Hmm. And, how many conservative Americans’ ears just perked up at the words ‘abortion drug’?  They’re getting their pitchforks out already – didn’t even hear the word ‘gerbil’.

Gerbils aren’t an invasive species – they’re native to this area of China. But, they somehow got out of control, and considering that females can have a new litter every 3 months and China’s ecosystems aren’t exactly the picture of health, that’s not too surprising. Officials had previously tried to battle what they call ‘desert rats’ by releasing eagles and owls nearby, but that didn’t work. So far, there’s only been a slight drop in the gerbil population as a result of the birth control and abortion pellets, but who knows how it’s affecting other species in the area.

Link [Yahoo News]

Platypus Genome ‘Missing Link’ to Understanding Human Evolution

When the platypus was first discovered, scientists thought it was a hoax. It was just too hard to believe that a duck-billed, egg-laying, otter-footed, beaver-tailed, venomous mammal could really exist. But, it does – and it turns out, the genetic makeup of this strange animal may just clue us in to how humans and other mammals first evolved.

A study of platypus DNA released last May is being examined to see if it can provide insight into our origins.

From Finding Dulcinea:

Jenny Graves, head of the Comparative Genomics Group at the Australian National University, said that sequencing the platypus genome will shed light on human evolution: “Comparing us with the platypus means that we can say something about our common ancestor, which was one of the earliest mammals, so that means that we can ask questions about what happened to make us mammals.”

According to Mark Batzer of Louisiana State University, knowledge of the platypus genome may aid disease prevention research. “This is a huge genetic step. We’re learning a lot about mammalian gene regulation and immune systems. … We hope to, in time, identify the underlying causes and methods of disease prevention in humans.”

It’s a weird twist to the story of a weird animal. Who would have thought that the platypus could prove to be so important to understanding human evolution, and could even be the key to preventing disease? This further confirms my theory that platypi are totally awesome. I mean, really. Look at them. They’re fascinating.

Link [Finding Dulcinea]
Photo credit: State of the Environment Tasmania

It’s Official: Urbanites Produce Less CO2 than Rural Residents

You’ve got a small home in the country surrounded by organic farmland or gardens, producing much of your own food and even supplementing your electricity with renewable power. You’ve gone green in as many ways as you can – so why is your carbon footprint still bigger than that of your city-dwelling cousin? Much of it comes down to land use and transportation.

A new report by the International Institute for Environment and Development has confirmed that urbanites generate significantly lower greenhouse gas emissions than those who live in rural and suburban areas.

From Yale 360:

While the high concentration of population and businesses found in cities are often seen as a pollution “problem,” researchers found that “high densities and large population concentrations can also bring a variety of advantages for … environmental management.” For instance, while New York City emitted 58.3 million tons of carbon dioxide in 2005, the per capita average of 7.1 tons was about a third of the national average of 23.92 tons per capita in 2004, according to the study. The density of buildings and high use of public transportation in New York contributes to the lower individualemissions, according to the report. Likewise, the 2006 per capita emissions average in London was about 6.18 tons – about 55 percent of the UK’s 2004 average of 11.19 tons.

It makes sense. After all, people who live in suburban and rural areas have to drive pretty much everywhere, and that has a huge impact on carbon footprint. While rural residents who need to run to the market for a forgotten dinner ingredient will have to get in their car and travel for miles, urbanites can simply walk down the street in many cases. Plus, urban dwellings tend to be vertical, taking up less land.

We’ll always have people living in rural areas, and that’s okay – but urban living is more eco-friendly in so many ways. The green cities of the future will revolve around public transportation, walkability and vertical housing and as more people move from the suburbs to the cities, it’s quite  likely that we’ll see a big decrease in overall carbon emissions.

Link [Yale 360]

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