Take This Bag and Shove It
Plastic pollution is a growing environmental problem which kills countless animals every year and may be threatening human health. But the problems with plastic pollution are self-inflicted, and can be…
It’s Not About Sea Turtles
Plastic pollution doesn’t just threaten sea turtles and marine mammals – human health is at risk as well. That was the message Thursday evening from a panel of environmental activists…
Warning Lights Would Be Flashing
American politics over the next 18 months will help decide the fate of earth’s environment, said a panel of environmental experts today at Cleveland’s Huntington Convention Center. Christine Whitman, former…
Convenience at a Cost
Recently, Cuyahoga County passed an ordinance that will reduce the use of single-use plastic bags by retailers. This is an action that other communities have taken without causing any obvious…
Yellow Peril
America in the 21st century: We don’t vaccinate our kids, but we spend billions of dollars each year on neurotoxins and other suspected carcinogens to kill dandelions in our grass….
Birds in the City
Despite the enormous impact human development has had on the natural landscape of Ohio, many species of birds are thriving in urban areas, said Harvey Webster of the Cleveland Museum…
Away Means the Landfill
Recycling can help reduce the amount of materials that go to American landfills, but it won’t solve our solid waste problem. That was the message of Kathy Rocco of the…
Too Much in the Wrong Places
Since 1950, humans have produced 8.3 billion metric tons of plastic. Nearly all of it is still in the environment, said University of Colorado biogeochemist Michael SanClements yesterday, during a…
There is no ‘Away’
I recently completed a training program about recycling conducted by the county Solid Waste District. The purpose of the training is to prepare citizen volunteers to provide accurate information about…
Do as I say…
Our college-student daughter recently planted some trees with the university’s biodiversity group. I was quite impressed until I heard that the biodiversity group is composed entirely of humans. How biodiverse…
What, me worry?
From the news: “INCHEON, South Korea — A landmark report from the United Nations’ scientific panel on climate change paints a far more dire picture of the immediate consequences of…
“One word: Plastics”
The Great Lakes, which provide drinking water for 30 million people, are increasingly littered with plastic, and that plastic is being ingested by humans with unknown consequences says a researcher…
Time travelers
It’s no secret that dogs have a much keener sense of smell than humans. But while we can easily see that dogs rely on their sense of smell much more…
Mother’s Day 2018
In observance of Mother’s Day, we’d like to commend the female cardinal who is zealously guarding her nest right outside our kitchen window. Over the past few weeks we have…
Elephants
The Trump administration is considering elimination of a ban on importation of elephant “trophies.” Administration officials have offered a somewhat dubious rationale that the fees paid by hunters will support…