Can Mining Ever Be Environmentally Friendly?

There is no doubt that over the many years that mining has been carried out across the globe, the practice has caused untold damage in a myriad of ways. The non renewable nature of fossil fuels means that many beautiful landscapes throughout the world have been ravaged. In addition, large mining companies have been accused of abusing the human rights of those in their employ and polluting the local environment. However, in recent years, as worries about the damage we are doing to the world have increased, many people involved in mining have tried to find ways to lessen the impact of mining and make it more environmentally...

How Dirty is Your Da...

Dear EarthTalk: What is the environmental impact of so many people now using sites like Facebook and spending so much time online? –Bob Yearling, Paris, TX The environmental impact of so much online time really boils down to energy usage, which in turn affects the amount of greenhouse...

Driving Green Up the...

Dear EarthTalk: I’ve heard of green roofs, but what are “green walls?” – P. Spencer, Alcoa, TN Green walls (also known as biowalls, vertical gardens or vertical vegetated complex walls) are wall structures partly composed of or filled in with growing plant matter. More than just...

Form Meets Function ...

With new studies touting biking as a new fountain of youth and community involvement, 2012 might be the perfect year to take it back to two wheels. I made the jump in August, and I’ve been thrilled with it. Commutes that were once frustrating and boring are now a playful treat. It feels...

SALE SALE SALE for t...

PURE CTIZEN, a flash sale site with a heart, runs members-only flash sales for a limited time – representing the industries leading global eco-brands as well as independently run mom & pop shops. From women’s and men’s fashion to beauty and home care, Pure Citizen will...

The Story of Broke

As the end of the year rolls towards us, the American government recently narrowly avoided another shutdown. The economy is still shaky, and people are spooked. Prevailing wisdom is that we are too broke to dream big about the future of our nation. But is that the whole story? Annie Leonard...

Puma’s New Tac...

In the last 18 months or so, Puma has hit the ground running with a number of industry-leading (and, truthfully, world-leading) sustainability initiatives. From their groundbreaking environmental profit-and-loss statement to green packaging plans to a commitment to zero toxic pollution by...

A Fashionably Dresse...

Where is all the men’s eco-fashion? For some men, it matters. For others, it’s all about the newest game of warcraft. But to our sustainably minded male readers, you will be happy to see your next purchase can be eco. (And there is nothing like a socially minded man to make the ladies...

Bear, Interrupted

Every year hundreds of “problem” bears are killed in British Columbia, Canada as a result of poor human management of non-natural food sources. From 1992 to 1996, approximately 245 grizzlies and 4,246 black bears were shot in BC because of perceived and actual threats to human...

Sustainable Luxuries...

Over the summer, I read a thought-provoking piece in the Guardian. It was about the ways in which luxury and sustainability don’t necessarily need to be at odds. Target examples, of course, were upscale vendors such as Vivienne Westwood and PPR (owner of several luxury brands, among them...