A decade ago a study showed that 77 percent of Americans felt that physicians should address patients’ spiritual needs, but that only 11 percent of doctors participated in such discussions. Today attitudes have changed. Now 101 medical schools incorporate patient spirituality in their curricula, up from 17 in 1995 according to an article in the […]
Consumer, farmer, and environmental organizations across the globe are mobilizing to stop the legalization and commercialization of the controversial Terminator Gene Technology, whereby seeds are genetically engineered to commit suicide after one growing season. The biotech industry and seed companies support the Terminator Technology, because it prevents farmers from saving their seeds and forces them […]
Thirsty People
World Water Day March 22
The threat of water scarcity looms large in both developed and developing nations as people around the planet mark World Water Day on March 22. This year’s focus is sanitation, as recent UN reports estimate that 40 percent of the world’s population lack even basic facilities.
Nobel Peace laureate and […]
Going Green
U.S. Energy Bill Breakthrough
For anyone who hasn’t heard the cheer ringing coast to coast, President Bush finally signed into law a bill paving the way for a cleaner energy future just as America headed into election year 2008. According to the Care2.com citizen petition site, it marks the first increase in fuel economy standards […]
The fabled Iron Curtain that separated Western Europe from the communist countries of Eastern Europe was once one of the most dangerous places on earth. But in the post-Cold War era, a coalition of conservation and community-development groups has ambitious plans to transform it into a string of parks, nature preserves, and organic farms. Already […]
The World Wildlife Fund is calling on world governments to support the communities devastated by the tsunami by ensuring that rebuilding efforts are environmentally sustainable. Healthy ecosystems such as coral reefs, intact mangroves, marshes and forests can more easily take the brunt of tsunamis and mitigate damage to local oceanfront areas. “Poorly planned coastal development […]
TreeHugger.com wants to make saving the planet sexy. Or at least make it a high-design, savvy, chic, hip, and profitable endeavor. TreeHugger is a new online guide to the best eco-friendly gadgets, toys, food, fashion, furniture, and even travel. The self-described “modern yet green lifestyle filter” rounds up cool recycled and found objects, as well […]
Entrepreneur sees vast potential for organic flower industry Gerald Prolman is a man with an organic-flower plan. The California entrepreneur is not only after a significant chunk of the $20 billion-a-year cut-flower industry in the U.S.—he’s hopeful that cultivating demand for organic bouquets will transform grower practices in Latin America and Africa, where pesticide use […]
Coming Together Turning Point in World Interfaith Dialogue An historic letter this year from 138 mainstream Muslim leaders to leaders of the world’s Christian churches is calling for a new era of peace and understanding. It expresses an urgent desire to defuse tensions between two faiths that together account for more than half of the […]
Growing Idea
Volunteer for a Week on an Organic Farm
The nonprofit Organic Volunteers (www.GrowFood.org) hooks up volunteers ages 16 to 65 with an organic farm experience at 1,100 participating farms now dotting every U.S. state and Latin American country. The organization is the brainchild of Ethan Schaffer and Sarita Role of Washington State. The initiative grew […]
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