China Spends $1Billion on River Clean Up
China will invest around 1.2 billion USD over the next five years to curb the pollution of the Songhua River, funding more than 200 projects, half of which will address industrial pollution, 70 will focus on sewage processing. (Read All Good Bites)
Ivory Cross-Border Trading Banned by eBay
eBay announced this week a ban on international trading of elephant ivory from all its sites worldwide after an animal welfare group found that 94 percent of the ivory up for auction there was potentially illegal.
Amazon Deforestation Reduced Dramatically
Deforestation rates in the Brazilian Amazon have dropped by 25 percent each of the past three years, according to Brazil’s environment ministry. From July 31, 2004, through 2007, an average of 4,000 more square kilometers of forest each year have been spared from clear-cutting over the previous period (1,544 sq. miles). — WWF (Read All Good Bites)
Decrease of American Women Smoking
For the first time in 40 years, less than 20 percent of women smoke (one third of women smoked in 1965). Wanna quit? Free help line (800) 784-8669.
Number of Gray Whales Seen Migrating South Doubles From Year Ago
The number of gray whales spotted migrating south off the Southern California coast in December was double what it was compared with the same period last year, reflecting a possible population boom for the once endangered species. (LA Times)
Nepal Achieves Zero Poaching Year for Rhinos
Nepal's efforts to cut wildlife crime has led to a zero-poaching year for rhinos in 2011, largely attributed to the addition of 44 new range posts across several protected areas. - World Wildlife Fund
Coral Reef Discovered
A new coral reef was discovered off the Thai coast, which is home to over 30 types of hard corals and at least 112 species of fish, including a parrot fish never seen in Thailand until now — and as a rare species of sweet lips. It's an area of 1.4 square miles, 270 hectares, and scientists call it "spectacular."
AIDS Deaths Down in 2007
The number of AIDS deaths worldwide dropped 10 percent in 2007, as did the number of new infections in children, because of increasing access to treatment, the United Nations reported. Prevention efforts like condom use and education tripled in some countries. (2008/07/29)
EU’s Greenhouse Gas Emissions Sink to Lowest Since 1990
Greenhouse gases fell by 3.3 % in the European Union in 2011 to the lowest reported level of emissions since 1990 -- even while the economy gained 1.6 % in GDP. The total EU emissions that year were 18.4 % below 1990 levels, according to data compiled by the European Environment Agency.
Connecticut to Use Only Safe Cleaning Products
All state agencies in Connecticut will now use only environmentally safe cleaning products in their facilities. Green products maintain sanitary conditions while minimizing harmful side effects and improving indoor air quality.
(Read All Good Bites)
Singapore Opens “Green” Airport Terminal
"Singapore opened a new "green" airport terminal on Wednesday, boasting 919 energy-saving skylights, a butterfly garden and over 200 species of foliage spread over enough floor space to cover 50 soccer fields." (Reuters)
Fewer Pirate Attacks on World Seas in 2011
With more international boats patrolling the high seas, piracy in 2011 dropped for the first time in five years. Pirate attacks in the South China Sea were cut by almost two thirds and Bangladesh incidents plunged by more than half. -Associated Press
Suicide Rate Drops in Young Men
"The suicide rate among young men in England and Wales is at the lowest level for 30 years," reports the BBC. For males aged 15 to 24, the overall suicide rate dropped from 16.6 per 100,000 people in 1990 to 8.5 per 100,000 in 2005. Amongst men aged 25 to 34, overall suicide rates declined almost seven percent. (Read All Good Bites)
Golden Monkeys Surprising Comeback
China's golden monkeys, a species more endangered than giant pandas (and almost as adorable), have made a surprising comeback with populations quadrupling in the past two decades from 200 in the early 1980s to around 800.
U.S. Forests Expanding
Since 2000, U.S. forests have expanded by an area larger than Delaware. — Jan. 2006, Smithsonian magazine
(Read All Good Bites)
With a Shrimp on the Barbie: Australia Named Happiest Nation – Again!
For the third year in a row Australia has been named the happiest place to live among developed nations, according to the latest ranking issued by the Organization for Economic Cooperation. The US placed 6th, after Sweden (2nd), Canada (3rd), Norway (4th) and Switzerland.
HP Recycles Plastic Bottles Into Printer Cartridges
Hewlett-Packard has manufactured some 200 million printer ink cartridges using a new process that utilizes 100% post-consumer content, like recycled plastic water bottles.
Hybrid Car Sales Surge
Hybrid car sales during the year 2000 numbered fewer than 10,000. Last year sales climbed to 330,000 vehicles. In May 2008, auto sales for every US manufacturer was down by up to 28%. Only Honda sales were up (by 16%) led by their popular hybrid.
Salmon Rebound on Columbia River Results in Record Fall Run
The 2013 chinook salmon run on the Columbia River is the largest ever, and could hit 1 million fish, following years of court-ordered actions to make the 14 dams in the Columbia Basin less lethal to fish. -AP
Polio Vaccines in Somalia
The World Health Organization has launched a five-day polio immunization campaign in Somalia to vaccinate nearly one and a half million children under age five against the crippling disease, which is on the decline there.