Author: Jovana Ruzicic
Website: http://www.enviroblog.org/2009/02/house-holds-hearing-on-bro…

Special to Enviroblog by Sandra Schubert, EWG Director of Government Affairs

Yesterday’s hearing in the House of Representatives clearly showed the need for reform of TSCA. All ten witnesses - representatives from labor, the environmental and public health and environmental justice communities, government, medical care providers, and the chemical industry - agree that TSCA needs to be reformed. In addition, there was widespread agreement that we need to prioritize chemicals that we find in people, have more data on the adverse effects of these chemicals, focus on risk, have companies prove that chemicals are safe before they are put on the market, and protect babies and children - the most vulnerable members of our society.

EWG was happy to hear this as it is exactly what the Kid-Safe Chemicals Act will do. Based on their comments, we are hopeful that the chemical industry will join us in our strong support of the bill, due to be reintroduced in the coming weeks.

(Read the rest of this article at the following article source link for the full story)

For more information click the following article source link for the full story:
http://www.enviroblog.org/2009/02/house-holds-hearing-on-bro…

Author: admin
Website: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/easyecoblog/~3/D3E93nVr5KA/

Greener Choices has a good Eco-labels center that helps you decipher what green product claims really mean.  Some interesting facts.  This little marketing logos or bugs work to make products look more legit.
The “free-range” label doesn’t necessarily mean the animals went outdoors.
Meat labeled as “natural” can contain artificial ingredients, and Natural does mean anything unless [...]

For more information click the following article source link for the full story:
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/easyecoblog/~3/D3E93nVr5KA/

Author: admin
Website: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/easyecoblog/~3/bkNnpmOowkc/

photo credit: goldberg
Having Lice in your hair is not fun.  We recently encountered school kids with this problem.  Lice can easily spread in schools. To remove the lice, most people essentially use toxic pesticides in their kid’s hair which include Permethrin, Pyrethrum, and Lindane.  Hair lice has even become resistant to these chemicals.
We found [...]

For more information click the following article source link for the full story:
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/easyecoblog/~3/bkNnpmOowkc/

Author: TerraCurve
Website: http://www.terracurve.com/2009/02/26/touring-the-land-of-tan…

The open plains of Africa have enticed travellers to its shores for hundreds of years; its stunning scenery, fascinating cultures and a vast array of wildlife make the continent one of the most interesting travel destinations the world has to offer. While flocks of tourists head to the cosmopolitan cities of Mombasa and Cape Town, the new breed of voluntourists are looking for a travelling experience that’s a little more off the beat and track.

Despite being home to one of the most famous landmarks in the world and the highest point in Africa; Mount Kilimanjaro, there are still many areas of Tanzania that remain underexplored. The Bongoyo and Pemba Islands offer a unique chance to absorb a more traditional and chilled out side to African life, from snorkelling in the bays to fishing alongside the locals! Travellers looking for a more frenetic pace should head to the capital of Dar es Salaam, buzzing with life and culture, the National Museum is a great destination for art buffs…

(Read the rest of this article at the following article source link for the full story)

For more information click the following article source link for the full story:
http://www.terracurve.com/2009/02/26/touring-the-land-of-tan…

Author: TerraCurve
Website: http://www.terracurve.com/2009/02/26/guyanas-surama-eco-lodg…

Geographic Expeditions and Small Planet Consulting have just announced that Surama Eco-Lodge of Guyana was recognized and honored at the 2009 U.S. Educational Travel Conference (ETC); recognized at the Opening Plenary session as well as press and visibility in front of tour operators from museums, schools, alumni associations, and other US-based institutions with international travel programs.

The eco-lodge also received a monetary award and will be recognized and featured on the ETC website and in outreach programs throughout 2009, undoubtedly resulting in international recognition for Surama’s community tourism programs - boosting awareness of the ecological and cultural preservation efforts underway throughout Guyana.

The California-based Geographic Expeditions and North Vancouver-based Small Planet Consulting played leading roles in Surama’s success. Judy Karwacki, President of SPC, has been the Tourism Director of the Guyana Sustainable Tourism Initiative (GSTI) - a joint…

(Read the rest of this article at the following article source link for the full story)

For more information click the following article source link for the full story:
http://www.terracurve.com/2009/02/26/guyanas-surama-eco-lodg…

Author: Green Talk
Website: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/green-talk/jRYI/~3/6avcLGfOln…

Ford’s soy based seat.

Editor’s note: This interview is the transcript for the above podcast. It has been slightly edited to make it more readable.  The audio is 20 minutes long.  Consider signing up for my podcasts.  (Not to be confused with Odiogo, which is a computer generated audio podcast.)

AH: Hi everybody. Welcome to today’s Green Talk Podcast on a snowy January day. It’s frigid cold in New Jersey. My guest today is Deborah Mielewski. She is the Polymer Technical Leader of Research and Advanced Engineering at Ford Motor Company, and she’s here to speak today about Ford Motors Green Initiatives. Welcome Deborah.

DM: Thank you very much for talking with us, Anna.

AH: Give us a little background. I mean that’s a mouthful, you know the Technical Leader, Polymer Research Advanced Engineering. What does this all mean?

DM: I’m not sure I understand my title myself. [Laugh.] I have a Bachelor’s [degree], Master’s and PhD in Chemical Engineering, and I am more of a Research…

(Read the rest of this article at the following article source link for the full story)

For more information click the following article source link for the full story:
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/green-talk/jRYI/~3/6avcLGfOln…

Author: Jovana Ruzicic
Website: http://www.enviroblog.org/2009/02/fda-science-board-talks-bp…

Yesterday, for the I-don’t-even-know-what-time-anymore, the Science Board of the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) held another meeting to discuss the dangers of BPA. Sure, it’s important to discuss chemicals and their toxicity for humans. But there comes a time for action. Like right now.

BPA is a toxic hormone disruptor that contaminates canned infant formula, canned foods foods and beverages packaged in hard polycarbonate plastic. Laboratory tests link it to a growing list of serious health problems. Recent studies have found that BPA exposure during early life permanently changes the developing brain and reproductive systems.

EWG senior scientist Dr. Anila Jacob testified during the public comment period, as did Dr. Urvashi Rangan from Consumer Reports and Steve Hentges a.k.a. “the only guy in the world that will look you in your eye and tell you to give BPA to your kids.” Steve is, as you can guess, from American Chemistry Council, the industry group…

(Read the rest of this article at the following article source link for the full story)

For more information click the following article source link for the full story:
http://www.enviroblog.org/2009/02/fda-science-board-talks-bp…

Author: admin
Website: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/easyecoblog/~3/Z4GJiPX79FI/

WSJ had an article on Eco-Savvy TVs  with many vendors producing new products that save energy, some exceeding Energy Star standards.  It is great that the industry is moving in the right direction. TVs use a lot of energy, the #3 energy user in home.  My set uses 350W when running full bore.
As always there [...]

For more information click the following article source link for the full story:
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/easyecoblog/~3/Z4GJiPX79FI/

Author: TerraCurve
Website: http://www.terracurve.com/2009/02/25/cambean-earth-miami-bou…

Cambean Hospitality, a Miami Beach-based hospitality group that owns and manages four boutique hotel properties in the historic South Beach area, has entered into a partnership with the Everglades Foundation. The partnership was formed to support Cambean Hospitality’s Cambean Earth environmental initiative, which was recently created to help promote sustainability in the hospitality industry worldwide.

The Everglades Foundation’s mission is to protect and restore America’s Everglades, one of the world’s unique natural ecosystems that provides economic, recreational and life-sustaining benefits to the millions of people who depend on its future health. Recently, the Everglades Foundation played a significant role in supporting the State of Florida’s decision to purchase more than 180,000 acres of agricultural south of Lake Okeechobee from U.S. Sugar Corporation to advance Everglades restoration.

“It’s an honor to partner with the Everglades Foundation to help them…

(Read the rest of this article at the following article source link for the full story)

For more information click the following article source link for the full story:
http://www.terracurve.com/2009/02/25/cambean-earth-miami-bou…

Author: TerraCurve
Website: http://www.terracurve.com/2009/02/25/solar-training-boot-cam…

The solar Energy industry is exploding with opportunity, with an expected 400,000 job openings in 2009 alone. But while the prospects for a stable and progressive career in the solar energy industry are phenomenal, the launch of a formal training institute will help many fulfill their goals of joining the booming industry.

A recent statement by the Department of Labor Statistics confirms that solar installers are in the biggest demand, with a 9% projected growth rate. Thanks to places like California, Oregon and Texas -states dedicated to green building and the USGBC (U.S. Green Building Council) standards — there is a large possibility of this projection to rise above expected values.

Unfortunately, the solar industry is ill prepared for a large jump in solar production demand. When sustainable energy was little more than a budding idea, several individuals were trained as an extension of related positions, such as electricians and roofers. Now many of those individuals have…

(Read the rest of this article at the following article source link for the full story)

For more information click the following article source link for the full story:
http://www.terracurve.com/2009/02/25/solar-training-boot-cam…