Earth Talk

Untitled Document What are the pros and cons of marine aquaculture, of raising ocean fish instead of catching them in the wild? Marine aquaculture has grown in popularity in response to dwindling supplies of wild fish in the world’s oceans. According to the Pew Oceans Commission, a blue-ribbon panel of fisheries and marine-biology experts, high-tech […]

Untitled Document Are the animals used in classroom dissection taken from the wild? If so, wouldn’t this be endangering their populations? Are there other environmental issues associated with classroom dissection? According to the Humane Society of the United States, most animals used in dissection — including amphibians, birds, snakes, turtles, fish, and invertebrates — are […]

Untitled Document Where can I find fashionable clothing brands that use organic materials? Increased environmental concerns worldwide have not escaped the notice of the fashion industry, which has been fast incorporating organic materials into its designs. Materials such as hemp and bamboo are coming on strong, but organic cotton is by far the fabric of […]

Untitled Document I’m moving into a freshly painted apartment and am curious as to whether it makes any sense to repaint the walls with nontoxic paint in the hope of covering up the toxic stuff already there — or is it too late? Conventional indoor paints do indeed release potentially toxic chemicals during and shortly […]

A number of products, including paper and clothing — even food and beer —are made from hemp. What is it about hemp that makes it so versatile — and why is it illegal to grow in the United States? Is it also illegal in Canada? What did the first Gutenberg bible, Christopher Columbus’ ropes and […]

Where can one find green-friendly gifts for friends and family this holiday season? Reconciling one’s green values with the urge to shop has never been easy. Most environmental groups today decry Western consumer habits as wasteful and a major cause of ecological degradation in a shrinking world. And many people, environmental issues aside, believe that […]

What can one person do to help curb global warming? Most of our own direct contributions to global warming pertain to the modes of travel we choose. For starters, air travel burns more fossil fuels per person than any other form of transport, so if you can opt for other forms of long-distance travel you […]

What is the most environmentally friendly way to wash a car: doing it yourself or going to the local car wash? Few people realize that washing our cars in our driveways is one of the most environmentally unfriendly chores we can do around the house. Unlike household waste water that enters sewers or septic systems […]

Dear Earth Talk: What kinds of home improvements could I do that would make my house healthier and more environmentally friendly? Most homes are not lacking in ways they can be healthier for family and kinder to the environment. For one, indoor air quality is a serious problem affecting millions of homes. Studies show that […]

Dear Earth Talk: I heard that using a solar-powered water heater in my home would reduce my carbon dioxide emissions significantly. Is this true? What are the costs? — Anthony Gerst, Wapello, Iowa According to mechanical engineers at the University of Wisconsin’s Solar Energy Laboratory, an average four-person household with an electric water heater needs […]

Dear “Earth Talk”: Why do environmentalists advocate that people “eat locally?” I don’t understand the connection between patronizing local food producers and environmental quality. — Timothy Douglas, Burlington, Vt. In our modern age of food preservatives and additives, genetically altered crops and Escherichia coli outbreaks, such as the recent spinach debacle, people are increasingly concerned about […]