When the global food system unravelled last year, the extreme volatility in food prices was blamed on such various factors as unstable oil, agricultural land seconded for biofuel production, extreme climate events, shortfalls in production, global turmoil in financial markets and world trade policies.
By Maggie Romuld

In most years, winter and spring rains refill Lake Lanier, the reservoir that supplies the city of Atlanta, Georgia with water. But from 2007 to 2009, water levels in the 38,000-acre reservoir reached a historic low, signaling that the region was facing one of the worst droughts of the century.
By Bandana Kaur Malik, Environmental and Energy Study Institute

When it comes to achieving better energy efficiency, it may be that the answer is closer than you think - right in your own home, in fact.

A recent study by the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) in the US has found that residential homes offer greater potential for reducing carbon dioxide emissions than stores or office buildings, by replacing fossil fuel-using machines with electric alternatives wherever it can be done.
By Melissa Reynolds

HOME ENVIROSENSE

CITY & COMMUNITY EFFORTS

Gardens are a lovely way to green-up your property. They give a natural appearance in what can be an unnatural urban area. Take a walk around any neighbourhood and you will see many beautiful gardens. You might even spot someone watering their lawn or garden, or washing their driveway or sidewalk.
By Ashley Bouman

Over the past three decades, urban sprawl has quickly swallowed up thousands of acres of open space and has left a landscape of bricks, mortar, concrete and asphalt in its wake. Some cities and suburban communities, however, have become creative in developing new green spaces when faced with demolishing old structures or beautifying current green areas.
By Karen Stephenson

GLOBAL FRONTIER

BACK TO NATURE

With water scarce in many parts of the world, even in parts of the United States where supplies in reservoirs and groundwater basins are below average in many parts of California and most major water systems have reduced supplies, a new "smart" water system created by a team at UCLA seems to have come along just in time.
By Melissa Reynolds

The most recent United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) figures indicate that 1.02 billion people are under-nourished worldwide. Conventional wisdom would suggest if that many people are hungry, we need to boost our efforts to modernize agriculture.
By Maggie Romuld

GREEN LEADER PROFILE

GS PRODUCT PICKS

It has been scientifically proven that factory farms and their inhumane manufacturing processes contribute not only to animal cruelty, but to severe environmental damage. The large number of cattle produced by factory farming has led to increased methane and waste that is often not properly disposed of - ultimately contaminating surrounding areas.
By Madelyn Lipszyc

Simon Lee Recycled Electric Guitars

Perhaps the world's only line of sustainable electric and bass guitars, hailing from London, England. Concerned with society's glamorization of endangered woods used on guitars, Simon Lee conceived the Cyclotron range. Made from recycled plastics, they are manufactured responsibly.
By Madelyn Lipszyc

TO YOUR HEALTH

ARTS/ENTERTAINMENT FOR CHANGE

Those who promote eating food grown from the soil now have further proof that these foods have the vitamins and minerals needed to help thwart many types of cancer.

In June 2009, the British Journal of Cancer published a report titled, "Cancer Incidence in British Vegetarians" which compiled the results of a two long-term studies. In total, 61,000 people were followed by several scientists over a 12-year period.
By Karen A. Stephenson

When Leanne Mai-Ly Hilgart went looking for a coat that was warm, stylish and, most importantly, vegan to match her lifestyle, she had a hard time finding what she was looking for. Instead of giving up, though, Hilgart decided to meet this need herself.

"I always wanted a cute, vegan coat," Hilgart laughs. "I just didn't realize that anyone else would want one."
By Melissa Reynolds

BOOKS FOR THOUGHT

ECO PHOTO & WORD OF THE MONTH

For visitors from developed nations, the Caribbean islands provide a tropical sanctuary from their native urban jungles that boast steel-and-concrete mountains instead of coconut and banana trees. As an alternative perspective, Beyond Sun and Sand brings to light the economic and environmental challenges that face the inhabitants of the Caribbean.
Reviews by Arlene Cortez

The nautilus shell illustrates the Golden Ratio.


smog advisory — A warning that is issued when there is a particularly high concentration of pollutants in the air.