2008 October | Planetsave

From the monthly archives: October 2008

Ozone Hole Larger in 2008 than in 2007, not in 2006

By Joshua S Hill On October 7, 2008

Living in Australia brings with it a wonderful set of environmental circumstances to live with. Not only do we have two weather patterns – El Nino/La Nina and the Indian Ocean Dipole – that are combining to lengthen our drought, but we’re one of the countries that suffer from the ever fluctuating ozone [...]

Hundreds of Lost Penguins Get a Lift Back Home in a Brazilian Air Force Jet

By Meg Hamill On October 7, 2008

Hundreds of penguins have been jet-lifted to their native home in the Southern Atlantic Ocean, after washing up lost and tired on the beaches of Northern Brazil.

At least 1,000 penguins this year to date, have washed up on Brazilian beaches. Though it is normal for penguins to travel [...]

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New Cities Join The Urban Chicken Movement

By Meg Hamill On October 6, 2008

Across the country, cities are passing new laws to allow backyard chickens.

Cities across the country have shown new leniency in the urban chicken arena. Ann Arbor, Michigan, South Portland, Maine and Fort Collins Colorado, have all voted in the past year to allow backyard chickens. They join the growing number [...]

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One in Four Mammals at Risk of Extinction

By Meg Hamill On October 6, 2008

A comprehensive, international survey released today, showed that half of all 5,487 mammal populations are declining. Just today, data from a global survey was revealed at a meeting of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in Barcelona, Spain. 1,700 researchers took part in the survey and named habitat loss and [...]

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Arctic Sea Ice Annual Freeze-up Underway: thank heavens!

By Joshua S Hill On October 5, 2008

With the beginning of spring in the Northern Hemisphere these days, comes the inexorable wait to see when the Arctic sea ice starts melting, and then waiting to see how far it’ll melt. If nothing else, it’s great for journalists looking for a story. For my money though, I’m a much bigger [...]

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New California Law Protects Farms Against Genetic Engineering Threats

By Meg Hamill On October 2, 2008

This is a guest post by Meg Hamill, a freelance writer who also works at LandPaths in partnership with the Open Space District of Sonoma County, California.

California passes its first law protecting farmers who have not been able to prevent GE contamination of their non GE crops.

We’ve all heard the horror [...]

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Take Action: Help Dig Up the Details on the Candidates’ Energy and Environmental Records

By Jeff McIntire-Strasburg On October 2, 2008

So, what do you know about Barack Obama’s and John McCain’s energy and environmental policy proposals?

Probably the basics: Obama supports spending $150 billion over ten years to kick-start the “green economy.” Both support cap-and-trade systems to address climate change. McCain’s become a strong proponent of opening up more offshore areas to oil and [...]

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Radical Simplicity: Living Car-Free and Off The Grid at the Possibility Alliance

By ziggy On October 1, 2008

In the small town of La Plata, Missouri, something of a revolution is beginning. A brand new intentional community has recently formed, and its aims and message are radical, inspiring, and daring: the Possibility Alliance is a completely car-free, petroleum-free, and electricity-free community striving to raise a new level of awareness regarding [...]

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