How to Recycle a Hoverboard

Hoverboards captured the American imagination more than 40 years ago.

The reality hasn’t quite lived up to our expectations, however. Numerous stories of hoverboards catching fire have spread across the news. This has often been due to the overcharging of the boards’ lithium ion batteries.  Still, concerns for safety abound.

Help innovators save our oldest champion trees

The world has lost over 90 percent of its old growth forests. And we’ve lost 95 percent of our magnificent redwoods. Those that remain are threatened by logging and climate change-related insect epidemics.

While a number of organizations and NGOs are working on reforestation projects around the globe, one group has been striving to save the remaining “champion” ancient trees and their genetics for future generations to appreciate.

8 members of Congress honored for defending wildlife and the Endangered Species Act

Many Americans have bones to pick with our members of Congress over a variety of issues. But sometimes, some of them do get it right. This evening eight members of Congress were honored for their staunch defense of wildlife and of the Endangered Species Act.

The “Champions of the Endangered Species Act” reception in Washington, D.C. features former Secretary of the Interior Bruce Babbitt and honors Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Tom Udall (D-NM), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and House members Don Beyer (D-VA), Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ), Betty McCollum (D-MN), and Niki Tsongas (D-MA).

200 lions to be killed in Zimbabwe – yet they’re threatened or endangered elsewhere

One of Zimbabwe’s largest and most successful wildlife reserves, the Bubye Valley Conservancy, recently announced that its population of 500 lions is unsustainable, and their numbers must be reduced by at least 200.

Since the world outcry regarding the trophy hunting kill of Cecil the black-maned lion, trophy hunters have definitely scaled back, though they’re still “enjoying” their kills. But the number of lions in Bubye are vying for diminishing resources, much of this due to human proliferation, and this creates problems.

World’s largest wealth fund drops PepsiCo partner because of profits from unsustainable palm oil

Palm oil plantation and deforestation likely caused by Indiofood partner, photo by Wakx, flickr

Consumers are speaking up and corporations are paying attention. And, like us, they’re voting with their dollars.

Transgenic maize not allowed to be cultivated in Mexico

Mexico’s native maize is a little safer after winning an appeal to keep a ban on planting GE corn

Maize, a staple in the Mexican diet, has been cultivated there for hundreds of years. This important crop has been threatened by the introduction and cross-pollination of transgenic or genetically engineered corn.

But a group of scientists have succeeded in standing in Monsanto’s plan to expand the territory for its GE corn.

Sale of primeval forests puts Central American Cloud Forest in jeapordy

Out-of-control pests and unsustainable logging practices.are killing our world’s forests. The latest victim-in-progress are Guatemala’s Cloud Forests of Cerro El Amay. Home to thousands of acres of untouched primeval trees and thriving diverse ecosystems, the local Maya have begun selling off the ancient forests which they had held in commons.

Dr. Seralini to speak this weekend in San Diego

For those who will be in or around the San Diego, California area this weekend, there’s a very special event taking place you may want to get to. Dr. Gilles-Eric Seralini, the scientist who exposed the dangers of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in what turned out to be a hotly contested study, will headline the Environmental Health Solutions Public Forum in San Diego this Sunday, March 6, 2016, from 3:00 to 7:00 pm.

There’s light at the end of the D.A.R.K. tunnel – US Senators introduce mandatory GMO labeling bill

Consumers have said that they want the right to know what’s in their food. Poll after poll shows  that the large majority favor mandatory food labeling. Yet both houses of Congress think that listening to powerful lobbying instead of their constituents is the way to go.

But even though the U.S. House of Representatives passed their version of the D.A.R.K.  “Deny Americans the Right-to-Know”) Act and the Senate Agricultural Committee has moved their version of this forward, some Senators have actually listened and are taking steps to ensure that consumers can find GMO ingredient labeling on food packaging while ensuring that food producers aren’t subject to confusing or conflicting labeling requirements in different locations.

Fantastic “solution” from the Brits to America’s political squabbles

Got a super funny email this morning that I had to share. No clear idea of its author but the scope of it will definitely tickle your funnybone.

“To the citizens of the United States of America from Her Sovereign Majesty Queen Elizabeth II:

“In light of your failure in recent years to nominate competent candidates for President of the USA and thus to govern yourselves, we hereby give notice of the revocation of your independence, effective immediately. (You should look up ‘revocation’ in the Oxford English Dictionary.)

Her Sovereign Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will resume monarchical duties over all states, commonwealths, and territories (except North Dakota, which she does not fancy).