We love the Union of Concerned Scientists. The nonprofit group, which has been around since 1969, acts as watchdogs of the scientific community, and their Web site explains issues like genetically modified food and climate change in easily understandable language. Founded by faculty and students at MIT who were concerned about the misuse of science and technology in society, the organization is now an international alliance of more than 100,000 people. Through its Sound Science Initiative, thousands of scientists provide facts on environmental science to government and the media. They also symbiotically team up with like-minded enviro groups in order to pursue common causes. You can join USC’s Online Action Network to stay abreast of current topics and news, or just bookmark the site and peruse pages like “Fact Vs. Fiction on Climate Change” or play the “Great Green Web Game,” which tests your knowledge of how consumer decisions affect the environment. Continue on for your pop quiz...

Which causes the most environmental damge?
a) growing oranges
b) processing them into o.j.
c) transporting them to the store?

How many gallons of water can a household save per year by installing a low-flow shower head?
a) 500
b) 1,000
c) 10,000

How many chickens are sold in the U.S. each year?
a) 7 million
b) 1.7 billion
c) 7 billion.

::Union of Concerned Scientists [by MO]

answers: a, c, c

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