Dec 5th, 2012 at 9:00AM: I live in a very left-leaning community just outside of Chicago, a city that would sooner elect a Martian than a Republican to office. But even though I'm accustomed to mingling with people who listen to NPR's "Car Talk" in order to feel like honorary members of the proletariat and cast stink eyes at people who fail to bring their own bags to Whole Foods, traveling to California, the state that ...Click on a label to read posts from that part of the world.
environmentalism posts
Culture Shock In Green California, Where Even Homeless People Drink Craft Beer
Dec 5th, 2012 at 9:00AM: I live in a very left-leaning community just outside of Chicago, a city that would sooner elect a Martian than a Republican to office. But even though I'm accustomed to mingling with people who listen to NPR's "Car Talk" in order to feel like honorary members of the proletariat and cast stink eyes at people who fail to bring their own bags to Whole Foods, traveling to California, the state that ...World Tourism Day Promotes Energy Awareness With Photo Contest
Sep 23rd, 2012 at 11:00AM:
World Tourism Day is coming up on September 27 and the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) hopes to raise awareness about the role of tourism within the international community. Showing how tourism affects social, cultural, political and economic values worldwide, this year's theme puts a spotlight on the role of tourism in a brighter energy future.
If the United Nations has ...Video of the Day: Earth Hour 2012
Mar 6th, 2012 at 6:00PM:
The imagery is powerful: people from around the world, holding hands and candles in the dark, while iconic landmarks like the Eiffel Tower and Coliseum shut down their lights in recognition of Earth Hour 2012, one of the world's largest voluntary actions for the environment. The evocative Sigur Rós soundtrack doesn't hurt either.
Earth Hour calls upon individual citizens to switch ...
Can stem cell research save endangered species?
Sep 6th, 2011 at 1:00PM: New advances in stem cell research are giving hope in the fight to save endangered species.
Scientists have created stem cells for two endangered African species--the northern white rhino and the drill monkey. They "reprogrammed" skin cells to make them revert to stem cells, an early stage of cell development in which a cell can develop into different types of specialized cells.
It's hoped ...Tanzania Game Reserve at Risk
Aug 26th, 2011 at 11:00AM: First, a highway through the Serengeti, now, a uranium mine in Selous Game Reserve. Tanzania's plans are drawing the ire of environmentalists, conservationists, and zebra-and-wildebeest huggers around the world. The government is eying Tanzanian game and park lands for developments that are in direct conflict with migrating wildlife, potentially risking their only sustainable economic sector: ...Conservation victory: Serengeti highway plans cancelled
Jun 26th, 2011 at 9:00AM:
Plans to build a paved, two-lane highway through the Serengeti National Park have been canceled.
The road, which was supposed to bring better access to Lake Victoria, will possibly be rerouted further south to avoid having an impact on the Serengeti's rich wildlife.
There's already a gravel road across the park, but paving it would have attracted much more traffic and probably fencing. The ...United Kingdom government does U-turn on forest sell-off
Feb 18th, 2011 at 2:00PM: Back on January 27 we reported that the government of the United Kingdom was planning on selling all of England's publicly owned forests. Well, the English love their heritage (at least those English outside the government) and there was a huge public outcry. Half a million people signed a petition in opposition to the plan. Now the Guardian reports the government has backed down.
Environment ...Controversy over development near Victoria Falls
Nov 13th, 2010 at 9:00AM:
Environmentalists are complaining that the tour company Shearwater Adventures has violated national and international law by expanding their luxury resort into the rainforest near Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe.
Shearwater has constructed a new restaurant, bar, kitchen, and information center next to the public entrance to the World Heritage Site. A lawyer for Shearwater insists the development is ...Solar-powered plane flies at night
Jul 8th, 2010 at 12:30PM:
An airplane that relies entirely on solar energy has flown for 24 hours straight, cruising along happily through the darkness and emerging into the dawn with three hours left in its batteries. Once the sun rose, of course, the batteries immediately began to recharge.
The Solar Impulse is the product of the same great minds that brought you the cuckoo clock--the Swiss! The entire wingspan is ...Environmentalists protest BP art sponsorship
Jun 26th, 2010 at 1:00PM: If you're planning to see some art in the United Kingdom this summer, you might have to walk through a picket line.
Environmental groups are protesting BP's sponsorship of exhibitions and galleries across the UK, saying the oil giant is trying to clean up its image despite being responsible for the worst environmental disaster in U.S. history.
Protests have already taken place at the ...Good Beach Guide names best British beaches
May 30th, 2010 at 10:00AM: The United Kingdom generally isn't the first place people think of when they decide to go to the beach. Indeed, the beaches of Spain, France, and Cyprus are filled with lobster-red Brits, so it appears the locals agree, but the Good Beach Guide, published by the Marine Conservation Society, says the UK's beaches are improving, at least in terms of water quality.
The latest report reveals that ...Nominees for Planeta.com's Ecotourism Spotlight Award announced
Aug 23rd, 2009 at 1:00PM:
Planeta.com, a website dedicated to ecotourism and encouraging environmental conservation through tourism, has announced the nominees for its Ecotourism Spotlight Award. The Award honors the tourism boards that promote ecotourism through their websites, both by highlighting their own efforts and by helping travelers connect to independent tour providers who operate using sustainable practices. ...Seven trends that will change business travel
Aug 10th, 2009 at 8:00AM:
tweetmeme_url = 'http://www.gadling.com/2009/08/10/seven-trends-that-will-change-business-travel/'; tweetmeme_source = 'Gadling';
Obviously, the recession is changing the travel business. You've heard it all before – and if you've flow or stayed in a hotel lately, you've undoubtedly seen it. Sometimes, the big issue of the day can mask others that will be important down the road. Travel ...Finnish trash cans talk back
Jul 10th, 2009 at 3:00PM: digg_url = 'http://digg.com/odd_stuff/Finnish_Trash_Cans_Thank_You_in_6_Languages_For_Using_Them'; This summer, the garbage cans of Helsinki will have something to say ... to you ... in six languages. The strange people who brought you wife-carrying contests and team berry-picking (you just can't make this stuff up) are happy to present the talking trash receptacle – which comes with a ...Ecoventura vows to eliminate fossil fuels
Jun 8th, 2009 at 2:00PM: Environmental tour company Ecoventura has promised to stop using fossil fuels on its vessels by 2015. Ecoventura runs environmentally conscious boat tours to the Galapagos Islands, a unique ecosystem that is under threat by climate change and tourism. "The Galapagos Islands rank right up there with the Amazon and the Serengeti as one of the richest and best known, yet fragile and threatened, ...The hard truth of green luxury travel
Jun 3rd, 2009 at 3:00PM: "Green" has become yet another upscale offer for hotels and resorts around the world. The concept allows a premium to be charged – and justifiably so, given the increased expenses that come with minimizing environmental impact. Guests get to feel good when they indulge, and the hotel makes a few extra bucks. Everyone wins, right?
Well, it isn't that simple. Any environmentally friendly ...Champagne and rub-down in Jackson Hole
May 19th, 2009 at 7:30AM: Before you skip this as "just another travel deal" – as I almost did – consider the combination of mountain air, spa treatments and the taste of champagne. The "Ultimate Chill" package from Hotel Terra Jackson Hole includes all this within a LEED-certified eco-boutique, so you don't need to feel guilty while enjoying this touch of pleasure.
Get your weary arms, legs and back rubbed ...Give a little to get a little at RockResorts
May 16th, 2009 at 2:00PM: Is it really goodwill if you're getting something in return? Well, maybe we'll call it a fair trade, then. This summer, RockResorts is offering a "Give & Getaway" package across all nine of its resorts. In exchange for an incredibly low room rate, you just have to chip in some time to help the environment. Projects include trail restoration, working with sustainable local farmers, and ...Virgin America helps the green movement
Apr 21st, 2009 at 8:30AM: Fresh spring food selections isn't all that Virgin America is up to these days. Virgin America is also interested in lessening its impact on the environment. To prove it, the California-based airlines has joined The Climate Registry, the non--profit organization dedicated to keeping track of greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) to aid in better regulation so that efforts to be more environmentally ...Jalousie Plantation resort brings solar golf carts to St Lucia
Mar 28th, 2009 at 10:00AM: Okay, it's not exactly a cure for cancer, but any initiative that does cut down on fossil fuel reliance still resonates with me. So, I was pretty excited to see that the Jalousie Plantation has adopted a hybrid solar-powered golf cart to move guests around on its 192-acre property ... with no carbon emissions! This is among the first of these environmentally-friendly golf carts in the Caribbean, ...
