Changes are Coming!

For those of you who read my blog posts, I thank you. We writers LOVE our readers – you’re why we do what we do.
BUT …  be prepared for changes.
Envirothink is moving.  Yes, I’ll still be posting on a regular basis. But from now on, Envirothink will be found at www.envirothink.greenpress.com.
GreenPress is a growing collection of [...]

Shell settles Nigerian death case out of court

After 13 long years, Royal Dutch Shell has agreed a $15.5m (£9.7m) out-of-court settlement in a case of complicity stemming from the death of 9 anti-oil activists, including author, television producer, and environmentalist Ken Saro-Wiwa, who were hanged in 1995 by Nigeria’s then military rulers.
Members of the Ogoni ethnic group from the Niger Delta, Ken Saro-Wiwa and [...]

EPA backs off recommendation on shredded tires

For years, the EPA has recommended using shredded tires for recreational areas like childrens playgrounds. Now they’re not so sure about the safety of doing so.

Where we are right now is, we just don´t have a recommendation,” EPA spokesman Dale Kemery said. “I wish we did.”
On June 4th, advocacy group Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility [...]

Use the Internet and Help the Environment

A US Senator’s brainchild has become a grassroots movement since the first Earth Day on April 22,1970. People and countries across the globe have begun addressing a growing list of environmental issues.
Also since then, a growing number of innovations and creative programs have sprung up to further the original Earth Day idea that one person [...]

Use Earth Day to Make A Global Difference

Earth Day – now 40 years old – has always been a celebration of possibilities, a recognition that we humans must make some changes in how we treat the planet and, by extension, each other.
Of the many choices we’re faced with, perhaps the greatest is an opportunity to make a difference in the life of someone [...]

Germany Bans GMO Maize Despite EU Assurance of Safety

In a bold move, Germany’s Agriculture and Consumer Protection Minister Ilse Aigner announced that German farmers would no longer be allowed to plant Monsanto’s genetically modified (GMO) maize. This is in spite of the EU’s ruling that the hi-tech grain is safe.
GMO maize, or Monsanto’s MON 810, will no longer be available for planting or sale [...]

Payless Shoes Brings Sustainability to Kids Shoes

With costs of consumer goods rising everywhere, Payless Shoes has announced a new “green” line as part of their Spring 2009 line.
The new Zoe and Zack line of shoes, jewelry and handbags, is Payless ShoeSource’s first foray into sustainability. They’ve brought in fashion and beauty adviser (and author) Summer Rayne Oakes as their eco-consultant.
Payless views the Zoe [...]

HP Close to Reaching Recycling Goals

Hewlett Packard, the behemoth Palo Alto, California based electronics company, is on track to reaching its ”3 R” goals: to recover and recycle 2 billion pounds of its products and to reuse 450 million pounds by 2010.
Last year, HP recycled 265 million pounds, collecting around 3.5 million units that weighed 75 million pounds slated for global reuse. [...]

Nation’s Largest Utility Reduces Greenhouse Gas Emissions 35%

Exelon Corp., the largest electric and gas utility company, has achieved a 35 percent drop in GHG emissions since 2001.
This nearly 6 million cubic ton reduction was verified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Stantec, an independent consulting firm, said Exelon chairman and CEO John W. Rowe.
During a speech at the Energy Information Administration [...]

Toxic Chemical Reactions Could Hit Swimming Pools

Cleaning your swimming pool with chlorine could wind up unwittingly causing the growth of chemical toxins.
The process of disinfecting pools with chlorine, chloramines and other disinfectants can create compounds called disinfection by-products.
Michael, Plewa, the University of Illinois geneticist who lead the team that conducted this study, said “The disinfectant reacts with the organic material in the water and [...]