Friday Favorites: States Speak Up, Green Nuns, Less Landfill, Eco-Moms and More
Sister Donna Hart of the green order The Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Monroe, Detroit (photo: Steve Perez / The Detroit News)
Vermont and other states scored a victory on Wednesday in their battle to get automakers to comply with rules aimed at reducing global warming. State rules on greenhouse gas emissions don’t conflict with federal mileage standards and automakers should be able to develop the technology to meet them, a federal judge ruled…read more at CBS
New York Subpoenas 5 Energy Companies:
Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo of New York has opened an investigation of five large energy companies, questioning whether their plans to build coal-fired power plants pose undisclosed financial risks that their investors should know about…It is rare, if not unique, for a securities law to be used for an environmental purpose, in this case the fight against new coal-fired power plants. The plants’ main emission, carbon dioxide, has been linked by scientists to global warming…read more at NYT
DNA test hope over damages claims:
Scientists say a new DNA test may help prove if people have had their health damaged by exposure to chemicals. Experts say it could have huge implications on civil cases where workers seek compensation for illnesses caused by things such as asbestos...read more at BBC
Call to protect shark-filled sea:
Conservationists are urging the Australian government to protect the Coral Sea, one of its last tropical marine wildernesses. The sea was recently declared a “predator diversity hotspot” because of its abundant shark populations. Campaigners fear the region could be targeted by illegal shark fisherman as well as oil and gas prospectors…read more at BBC
Making The Landfill Less Full:
It’s a depressing reality that no matter how diligently you recycle, compost and repurpose, a huge amount of your trash still ends up baking in the sun in a landfill. The EPA estimates that U.S. residents and businesses produce more than 245 million pounds of MSW (that’s municipal solid waste, i.e. trash) per year — which works out to a whopping 4.5 pounds of waste per person per day…read more at Earth2Tech
What to Inspect When Your Expecting:
Talk about a double whammy. It’s challenging enough to be green when you’re solo, and then pregnancy comes along and gives you twice the eco-angst (not to mention more hormones than you know what to do with). The cause for alarm is real: pregnancy is the most critical time for establishing your baby’s well being. It’s also the time when you’re vulnerable to the alphabet stew of harmful chemicals in the world, which are increasingly making their way into women’s bodies, wombs, and breast milk. But there is good news: Simple measures like eating organic, nutrient-rich foods before and during pregnancy can help safeguard you and your child while being kinder to the planet. And today it’s easier than ever to find products that promote healthy pregnancies and peace of mind…read more at Grist
The Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary have educated tens of thousands of students in Metro Detroit, and it might seem easy to conclude that the aging nuns in the order have accomplished most of the work they believe God intended for them. But life is long and the nuns say they believe it is all sacred. So they have set a new path, emphasizing the environment and scientific discoveries as part of their spirituality…read more at Detroit News