Science & Technology

photo: Johnny Bahru via flickr.

Large marine reserves aren't working to protect fish or coral--and therefore fishermen's livelihoods in the long term--and we should collectively shift towards more small reserves with fishing allowed in between. That's the word from the UN University Institute for Water, Environment and Health's Peter Sale.

Business & Politics

Image via California High-Speed Rail Authority

In his Labor Day speech two days ago, the president announced plans for a $50 billion stimulus package that would take aim at updating the country's lagging transportation infrastructure. He called for Congress to approve an infusion of funds for highway, air traffic control, and, yes, high speed rail projects, that would lead to the "immediate" creation of jobs and give a boost to the economy. Obama said that the bill would be paid for by eliminating the tax subsidies currently given to profitable oil and gas companies. Will the plan point the country's transit sector in a more sustainable direction?

Science & Technology

photo: Ramanathan Kathiresa via flickr

Another study detailing the negative environmental effects of continued tar sands development in Canada, and how independent review finds much greater impact that either the industry or government cares to acknowledge: The latest issue of The Wilson Journal of Ornithology has published a report showing that annual bird mortality in the toxic tailing ponds around tar sands project is far in excess of officially accepted figures.

Business & Politics

photo: US Fish & Wildlife Service via flickr

While BP just concluded that a whole slew of missteps led to the Deepwater Horizon explosion and subsequent Gulf Gusher, so it seems a whole bunch of political squabbling seems to be holding up distribution of some $500 million in research money pledged to investigate the ecological effects of the spill. OnEarth goes into more detail, but this is the gist of it:

Business & Politics

BP has just released it's report on the events leading up to the explosion on the Deepwater Horizon and subsequent record-breaking oil spill. As was expected, BP attempts to spread blame across all the companies involved and says "a complex and interlinked series of mechanical failures, human judgements, engineering design, operation implementation and team interface" by "multiple companies and work teams" was responsible.

Travel & Nature

Photo via ICUN

According to a new report from The International Union for Conservation of Nature (ICUN), a 5-year study involving 200 scientists has found that the flora and fauna of Africa's freshwater ways are threatened with extinction thanks to four main factors: agriculture, water abstraction, dams and invasive species. In all, 21% of the freshwater species are at risk, a huge number that turns right around to threaten the culprits -- the livelihoods of millions of humans are put at risk with such a loss. Despite the dire news, the report is an important one. It is the most comprehensive assessment of its kind thus far, and can be put to use by decision-makers who need to make changes about how Africa's water is being used. Check out a slideshow of some of the threatened species after the jump.

Design & Architecture

Those designing for small spaces can learn a lot from boats and travel trailers, particularly from European designs. Caravanning is a high-end luxury activity in Europe and some of the models put luxury yachts to shame. This Bürstner Averso Plus is pretty luxe, and has is advertised as the first ever with a drop-down bed. The image above is set up for dining, with the bed pulled up to the ceiling and the "chic starry sky" of LEDs visible.

Food & Health

Image credit: SeedLiving

Most TreeHuggers will tell you that without access to decent, viable seed, and without a system for allowing that seed to develop and adapt, the long-term sustainability of our food system is nigh-on impossible. Yet while some corporations are busy filing patents over soybeans, there are activists, farmers and gardeners around the world who are busy perpetuating and evolving what might be the world's oldest open-source project—seed swapping. From potato day events to online seed exchanges, TreeHugger has featured plenty of venues for would-be seed swappers. Yet somehow we managed to miss one of the most potentially vibrant, versatile and engaging websites for buying, selling and swapping seeds that I, at least, have come across.