EARTHTALK
The Complete Archive | |
Week of 6/28/09
Dear EarthTalk: Do insulating paints actually insulate and save energy? If they do, are they environmentally friendly to use?
Dear EarthTalk: As I understand it, “clean” coal really isn’t—yet the Bush Administration gushed strongly for it. What is Obama’s take on it?
Week of 6/21/09
Dear EarthTalk: Don’t some scientists point to sunspots and solar wind as having more impact on climate change than human industrial activity?
Dear EarthTalk: Are the United States’ vast oil shale resources a potential source of energy?
Week of 6/14/09
Dear EarthTalk: Has the recent violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo threatened the populations of lowland gorillas? How many are left?
Dear EarthTalk: I know of solar power systems that people can put on their roofs to generate electricity or heat water. Are there systems that serve whole neighborhoods?
Week of 6/7/09
Dear EarthTalk: How can I recycle my old mattress if the place I buy a new one from doesn’t take it? What do mattress companies do with old mattresses when they do take them? Do they recycle any of the material?
Dear EarthTalk: Is there any truth to the rumor about high levels of birth control chemicals being found in some cities’ drinking water? If so can these be filtered out?
Week of 5/31/09
Dear EarthTalk: With plug-in hybrid and electric cars due to hit the roads sometime soon, will there be places to plug them in besides at home? And if so, how much will it cost to re-charge?
Dear EarthTalk: Are plans to mine uranium near the Grand Canyon, as proposed by the Bush administration in 2008, still underway?
Week of 5/24/09
Dear EarthTalk: Is it true that military sonar exercises actually kill marine wildlife?
Dear EarthTalk: How does the microwave compare in energy use, say, to using a gas or electric stove burner to heat water for a cup of tea?
Week of 5/17/09
Dear EarthTalk: What is "nanotechnology?" I’ve heard that nanoparticles are already in consumer products, yet we haven't really studied their potential health impacts.
Dear EarthTalk: How is the fur industry doing these days? Has it been impacted by activism from PETA and similar groups?
Week of 5/10/09
Dear EarthTalk: Is it true that the loss of the world’s peatlands is a major factor in the build-up of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. If so, what can be done about it?
Dear EarthTalk: Has anyone been tracking whether climate change is causing more loss of human life as it gets more pronounced?
Week of 5/03/09
Dear EarthTalk: What were the environmental impacts of the huge coal ash spill in Tennessee this past December?
Dear EarthTalk: I run a sorting machine at the post office, and am worried about all the paper dust swirling around the building. I asked both management and our union if this was a health or safety problem and both said no, but I’m not sure they really know. Can you set the record straight?
Week of 4/26/09
Dear EarthTalk: What is the status of Hawaiian monk seals and how will the new national monument designation in the waters around the Hawaiian Islands affect them?
Dear EarthTalk: We will need to replace our house gutters soon. What are our best options from an environmental perspective?
Week of 4/19/09
Dear EarthTalk: I don’t understand why there are many European diesel cars with very high mileage ratings that are not available in the U.S. Can you enlighten?
Dear EarthTalk: What does "carbon neutral" really mean? And is it really possible to live in such a manner without just resorting to buying carbon credits?
Week of 4/12/2009
Dear EarthTalk: Is there really such a thing as “sun-protective clothing?” If so, does it mean I can dispense with oily sunscreens once and for all?
Dear EarthTalk: Aren't orangutans seriously threatened by the cutting down of forests?
Week of 4/5/2009
Dear EarthTalk: I keep meeting people who say that human-induced global warming is only theory, that just as many scientists doubt it as believe it. Can you settle the score?
Dear EarthTalk: Are elephant populations stable these days?
Week of 3/29/2009
Dear EarthTalk: I am looking at possibly buying a house that is very close to a gasoline station. Is it safe to live so close to a gas station? What concerns should I have? I have toddler and infant babies.
Dear EarthTalk: Do zoos have serious programs to save endangered species, besides putting a few captives on display for everyone to see?
Week of 3/22/2009
Dear EarthTalk: I want to start an organic vegetable garden in my yard and I would like to know how to combine crops to make better use of time and space.
Dear EarthTalk: Are there any flea and tick products out there that don’t contain toxic chemicals?
Week of 3/15/2009
Dear EarthTalk: Some say that polar bears are going to disappear in 50 years, but Alaskan officials insist their populations are recovering. What’s the real story?
Dear EarthTalk: There’s a lot of talk today about solar and wind power, but what about biomass? How big a role might this renewable energy source play in our future? Couldn’t everyday people burn their own lawn and leaf clippings to generate power?
Week of 3/8/2009
Dear EarthTalk: If you have an electric or plug-in hybrid car, you’re paying for electricity rather than gasoline all or most of the time. How does that cost compare to a gas-powered car’s cost-per-mile? And since the electricity may be generated from some other polluting source, does it really work out to be better for the environment?
Dear EarthTalk: What is aerial wolf gunning and why does Alaska governor Sarah Palin endorse the practice?
Week of 3/1/2009
Dear EarthTalk: I don’t eat meat, for a variety of ethical and environmental reasons, and I’d rather not feed it to my cat, either. Do cats have to be carnivores?
Dear EarthTalk: What is the “green cities” movement?
Week of 2/22/2009
Dear EarthTalk: I’m a musician and am curious about what the guitar industry is doing to ensure that the wood it uses is not destroying forests.
Dear EarthTalk: What are some of the leading proposed technological fixes for staving off global warming, and how feasible are they?
Week of 2/15/2009
Dear EarthTalk: What’s happening with wild populations of cheetahs, the fastest land animals on Earth?
Dear EarthTalk: Don’t all these huge snow and ice storms across the country mean that the globe isn’t really warming? I've never seen such a winter!
Week of 2/08/2009
Dear EarthTalk: What is “microfinance” and how does it help poor countries and preserve the environment?
Dear EarthTalk: What is the so-called “smart grid” I've been hearing about, and how can it save energy and money?
Week of 2/01/2009
Dear EarthTalk: I’ve heard that most of the big car rental companies have gone “green” lately. What’s the story?
Dear EarthTalk: Are any major brands of disposable tissues, paper towels, napkins and toilet paper yet using recycled content and chlorine-free bleaching?
Week of 1/25/2009
Dear EarthTalk: Could it really be true that a single large volcanic eruption launches more greenhouse gases into the atmosphere than the amount generated by all of humanity over history?
Dear EarthTalk: It seems like more products are being packaged in #5 rather than #2 plastic today, and my local recycling agency won’t take #5. I’ve also heard that #5 plastics are more toxic, which concerns me more than the recyclability issue. Which plastic is the better choice?
Week of 1/18/2009
Dear EarthTalk: A friend of mine in Connecticut raves about the “Green Drinks” events she attends there every month to meet up with other eco-interested locals. How can I find out if there are any such gatherings in my area?
Dear EarthTalk: Which parts of the United States are or will be hardest hit by global warming?
Week of 1/11/2009
Dear EarthTalk: This winter is shaping up to be one of the coldest in recent memory where I live. What can I do to reduce my home heating bill now and in the future?
Dear EarthTalk: My husband and I are expecting a child and we’re concerned about the environmental impacts of disposable diapers. I remember the old cloth diapers with pins that my mom used. Are there any new developments in the cloth diapering field?
Week of 1/4/2009
Dear EarthTalk: With all the talk of rising seas, what could happen to the rivers that flow into the oceans? Will they reverse flow? Will rising seas back up into fresh water lakes? And what happens to our groundwater should saltwater flow backwards into it?
Dear EarthTalk: Is it better to drive an older, well-maintained car that gets about 25 miles per gallon, or to buy a new car that gets about 35 miles per gallon?
Week of 12/28/2008
Dear EarthTalk: Is it true that some baby bottles contain chemicals that can cause health problems for babies? If so, how can I find alternatives that are safer?
Dear EarthTalk: How much “old growth” forest is left in the United States and is it all protected from logging at this point?
Week of 12/21/2008
Dear EarthTalk: I want to convince my high school to go green. What would it cost for a school to switch to all recycled paper products and all energy efficient lighting?
Dear EarthTalk: With all the talk of desalinization of ocean water for drinking, what do we know about the impacts this might have on climate, ocean salinity and other natural processes?
Week of 12/14/2008
Dear EarthTalk: I’ve noticed that bamboo is very trendy right now, apparently—in part—for environmental reasons. Can you enlighten?
Dear EarthTalk: It is starting to get colder and I’m eager to try out the fireplace in our new home, but we don't want to create health or environmental problems. Are there materials that would be more eco-friendly to burn in a fireplace than regular firewood?
Week of 12/07/2008
Dear EarthTalk: Is it true that palm oil, common in snack foods and health & beauty products, is destroying rainforests? If so, what can consumers do about it?
Dear EarthTalk: Which is better for our environment: to use dryer sheets in the dryer or liquid fabric softener in the wash? It seems they both have properties that are not very green.
Next 30 | FREE TRIAL ISSUE! | | | | FEATURED ADVERTISERS | |
|
| 
