Business & Politics

There's a rift among some of the environmental groups almost as wide as the cracks in melting Arctic sea ice caused by climate change. Some groups, in the name of progress, are advocating compromises with some of the world's worst polluters and for policies they know to be deeply flawed. Others stick to the science and their core values when campaigning to stop the worst effects of climate change. Or so goes the argument in an explosive new article in The Nation magazine that should be required reading for anyone concerned about the battle over what to do about climate change.

Food & Health

Photo via: Wonderlane/Flickr

Current events lead us to believe Obama's needed health care reform will finally come to pass. Being that both sides of the issue are interested in cutting costs, there's an independent, alternative and affordable health care company which provides a good model for progressive, preventative protection to residents of the state of Oregon. It's called the Natural Health Plan.

According to the insurance company, Clear One Health Plans, Inc., "The Natural Plan is ideal for individuals who have the desire to treat the whole person (mind, body, spirit), are focused on health and fitness, yoga and other fitness products, green living, personal development, and those who follow Lifestyle of Health and Sustainability (LOHAS)."

Interact

Image Credit: stevendepolo via Flickr

jocffman wants your opinion:

With disposable you are obviously using resources. Most of the disposable tissues are very likely virgin pulp based, and of course used once and disposed of....With cloth handkerchiefs, you use a lot less resources as the items can be used more than once, and are washable. However... to properly sanitize these items they should be washed seperately in hot water in order to kill the germs and bacteria that are abundant in them after use.

Which do you prefer? Join the conversation.

In case we can sway you, here's the case for handkerchiefs.

Travel & Nature

Credit: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

So it wasn't long ago that TreeHugger featured a slideshow called "10 Creatures That Conveniently Grow Back Body Parts." One of those creatures, the Tiger Salamander, has since been granted protection under California law. Coincidence? Perhaps. Evidence of the power of green media? Sure. But the Center for Biological Diversity also had been fighting for six years to help the salamander, a species that just happens to hold keys to the regeneration of body parts that scientists continue to study. In other words, these creatures need to stick around.

Business & Politics

Commuter park and ride lot. Image credit:Virginia DOT.

Post about a transformational technology here and comments are sure to contain one-off criticisms. Many of these critiques become memes that return any time a certain phrase is mentioned. 'Wind power is unreliable.' 'Hydrogen cars will never work because...' 'Green jobs programs are socialist.' No matter that the success of transformational technologies must hang on many factors.

For example, setting aside design for a moment, a bright future for electric vehicles depends on many factors coming into play. For EV's to rapidly become a well-loved and commonplace part of American culture, several inter-related things will have to happen over a few years. Government incentives can only be a momentary trigger. See if you think I've missed any key factors in the list that follows.

Travel & Nature

A dugong in an aquarium in Sydney, Australia. Photo by jo3hug via Flickr.

It must have required many lonely months out to sea to mistake this face only a mother could love for that of a fair maiden, but encounters with dugongs are indeed said to have been the inspiration for the myth of the mermaid. While the fictional fish-human hybrids were believed to have "called sailors to their death by encouraging them to jump overboard from their ships," Green Prophet reports that it's humans who are threatening their real-life counterparts with extinction.

Fashion & Beauty

UltraTouch Jean fiber insulation. Credit: UltraTouch

Today through March 14, bring your worn down denims to Gap stores across the United States and they will be recycled into UltraTouch Natural Cotton Fiber Insulation. The retail chain has teamed up with Cotton Incorporated for their COTTON. FROM BLUE TO GREEN.® denim drive; once jeans are converted into insulation they will be donated to communities in need. Click through for discounts and more on the process: