Across the world, countless trees, shrubs, and algae perform photosynthesis, where sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water are turned into organic matter by a series of complex chemical reactions. Perhaps you had to memorize some of the steps for a high school biology class. As a process that takes CO2 out of the air and can …
Tag Archives: Environment
Sembrando Vida: Mexico’s Agroforestry Incentive Program
Agroforestry is the practice of planting trees or shrubs along with crops in a single field. This practice reduces soil erosion and can provide shade for crops. Furthermore, agroforestry can preserve the fertility of soil by mimicking a natural ecosystem instead of a monocrop field. The need for pesticides and fertilizers is likewise reduced on …
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Growing Popularity of Grass Alternatives
What is America’s biggest irrigated crop? Is it wheat, soybeans, or possibly corn? In fact, it is grass. Turfgass lawns are present in neighborhoods, suburbia, and golf clubs across the US. Although corn is more widespread than lawns in the US (80 million acres versus 40 million acres, respectively), corn is rarely irrigated, whereas grass …
Yosemite National Park to Require Reservations in 2024
For years, visitors to Yosemite National Park have experienced severe traffic jams when driving into the park. Those wishing to see this treasure of the US can often expect to wait for multiple hours to get to a parking spot. According to the National Park Service, Yosemite receives over 4 million visitors a year, and …
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What Does the US Fish and Wildlife Service Do?
Many Americans are familiar with the activities of the National Park Service, but there are several other major agencies in the US that oversee various aspects of the environment. One such agency is the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). The USFWS can trace its roots back to the late 1800s. In 1871, Congress created …
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Train Derails in Yellowstone River
On 24 June, a train ferrying hazardous materials derailed into the Yellowstone River in Montana after the bridge it was traveling over collapsed. A number of cars carrying molten sulfur and asphalt were damaged and leaked their contents into the river. According to initial reports, the molten sulfur and asphalt solidified on contact with the …
Environmental Injustice: A History of Uranium Mining on the Navajo Reservation
The Navajo Nation is a Native American reservation that lies on a tract of land that is spread throughout Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico. In total, the nation takes up 71,000 square kilometers (27,413 sq mi) and has a population of around 174,000 based on 2010 census data. The area also contains something toxic: 500 …
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Brief History of the United States Forest Service
In the US, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the National Park Service (NPS) are widely known as the government agencies that (mis)manage our nation’s natural resources. However, there are many more agencies that are in charge of certain ecosystems, or whose actions have an undue influence on the country’s natural habitat. The United States …
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Aftermath of Ohio Chemical Spill Continues: 7 CDC Workers Fall Ill
More than 2 months ago, on 3 February, the town of East Palestine Ohio experienced a serious train derailment. Fifty cars derailed in this town, some of which contained the carcinogen vinyl chloride. A large area around the derailment was evacuated, and the toxic chemicals were burned off by railroad safety crews. Throughout the ordeal, …
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Disgraceful Situation in East Palestine, Ohio Continues
Last week, I mentioned that Norfolk Southern, the railway that operated the train that derailed and contaminated an Ohio town with vinyl chloride, had set up a $1 million fund for the victims of this disaster. That amount is a pittance compared to the amount the company has spent on stock buybacks and CEO pensions. …
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Green Humanist 