Environment

Cicadas Aren't The Only Creatures With Bizarre Life Cycles

Virginia Prescott — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 15:32:01 +0000

You’ve likely heard about the seventeen-year cicada, last seen when the Macarena was popular. Long before the insects began to poke out of the ground along the east coast, the species was making headlines for its wacky life cycle. Nature has plenty of examples of biological oddities… science journalist Brandon Keim compiled a list of nature’s strangest life-cycles for Wired magazine.

New Zealand Cat Wars

Virginia Prescott — Wed, 29 May 2013 13:12:12 +0000

New Zealand cat owners are reacting with outrage against a plan to drastically reduce the number of free-roaming cats proposed by renowned environmental activist Gareth Morgan.

The movement is rooted in a long-standing national concern about the dwindling native bird populations, including the kiwi, that are struggling against New Zealand’s cat population, which is the largest per-capita in the world. Here to discuss Kiwi’s cat war is ecologist Dr. James Russell, a senior lecturer at the University of Auckland.

Senate Sends Lower RGGI Cap To Governor

Sam Evans-Brown — Thu, 23 May 2013 22:36:48 +0000

New Hampshire’s Senate has joined the House of Representatives and voted to ratchet down the cap on carbon dioxide restrictions under the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, or RGGI. Because of the historic rise of cleaner burning natural gas, it’s been easy for carbon dioxide RGGI’s existing caps. So earlier this year, the RGGI board asked the member states to lower those caps by 45 percent.

Birdwatching In New Hampshire

Virginia Prescott — Tue, 21 May 2013 14:14:02 +0000

Eric Masterson is a blogger and the author of Birdwatching in New Hampshire, and joins us for a hyper-local guide to spotting species around the state.

Tom Burack: NH's Commissioner Of Environmental Services

Laura Knoy — Thu, 02 May 2013 13:00:00 +0000

We sit down with New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services Commissioner Thomas Burack. The state’s environment has seen some hopeful trends recently, particularly when it comes to air quality. The story changes, however, when it comes to our lakes and coastal waters. We’ll get an update on what’s been working in addressing these issues, and what still needs to be done.

Guest

Tom Burack - New Hampshire Commissioner for Environmental Services

'Greenwashing'

Sun, 21 Apr 2013 04:00:00 +0000

EarthTalk®
E - The Environmental Magazine

Dear EarthTalk: I hear the term “greenwashing” a lot these days but am still not sure exactly what it means. Can you enlighten?-- Ruth Markell, Indianapolis, IN

Hawaii's Threatened Coral Reefs

Sun, 21 Apr 2013 04:00:00 +0000

EarthTalk®
E - The Environmental Magazine

Dear EarthTalk: What’s the prognosis for Hawaii’s coral reefs in the face of global warming, invasive algae and other environmental threats?-- Bill Weston, San Francisco, CA

Biological Stowaways: Deadly Ballast Water

Virginia Prescott — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 13:26:16 +0000

Thirty years ago, a North American ship dumped ballast water containing comb jellyfish into the black sea and triggered a catastrophic decline in marine life. A decade later, discharged ballast containing a strain of cholera contaminated shellfish of the coast of Peru, killing more than 12,000 Latin Americans. These cases of biological stowaways are being targeted by the United Nations for regulation – but the treaty that would prevent future catastrophes has yet to be ratified. Fred Pearce is the environment consultant for New Scientist discusses the stowaway problem and potential solutions with us.

Getting Kids Outside To Appreciate Nature

Sun, 14 Apr 2013 04:00:00 +0000

EarthTalk®
E - The Environmental Magazine

Dear EarthTalk: My kids just want to play videos games and watch TV all day. Do you have any tips for getting them outside to appreciate nature more?-- Sue Levinson, Bowie, MD

African Elephants Declining Rapidly

Sun, 14 Apr 2013 04:00:00 +0000

EarthTalk®
E - The Environmental Magazine

Dear EarthTalk: How are populations of African elephants faring these days? What conservation efforts are underway and are they working?-- Libby Broullette, Salem, MA

Nature Schools

Melanie Plenda — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 17:11:58 +0000

President Obama’s newly unveiled budget is making political waves…he’s pushing for publicly funded “preschool for all,” paid for with a new tax on cigarettes. Here in New Hampshire, there’s been a different kind of preschool push…toward teaching kids outside. So-called nature preschools and forest kindergartens may sound like more fun than foundational, but this approach to early learning is gaining popularity for teaching the basics, while getting kids away from screens into the wilderness.

Cloud Cult: Musicians On A Mission

Virginia Prescott — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 15:16:02 +0000

You may know the band cloud cult from an animated commercial that aired during the Super Bowl a few years ago. In exchange for the work, e-Surance helped fund some of the band's costs for greening the recording of album. The fact that Cloud Cult chooses deals like that--writes heart-warming songs, and travels across the country to perform for good causes--may have you wondering if they are for real. But doing good and staying positive are deeply embedded in the DNA of Cloud Cult. This evening the band will perform a live acoustic set during a yoga class at the At Om Yoga studio in Concord. It’s a benefit for a local child with pediatric cancer. I talked with Craig Minowa, singer, guitarist, and leader of Cloud Cult before they headed to New Hampshire and can say that the whole kind-hearted thing is not just PR. In fact, I told him that they are just about the least cynical indie band I can think of.

Avoiding Environmental Cancer Triggers

Sun, 07 Apr 2013 04:00:00 +0000

EarthTalk®
E - The Environmental Magazine

Dear EarthTalk: I know that some of us are genetically predisposed to get cancer, but what are some ways we can avoid known environmental triggers for it?-- B. Northrup, Westport, MA

Global Warming Solutions

Sun, 07 Apr 2013 04:00:00 +0000

EarthTalk®
E - The Environmental Magazine

Earth Day 2013: April 22

Sun, 31 Mar 2013 04:00:00 +0000

EarthTalk®
E - The Environmental Magazine

Dear EarthTalk: What is the theme of this year’s Earth Day festivities? -- J. Worden, Austin, TX