There have been several studies showing that vegetarians are 40% less likely to develop cancer than meat-eaters. On GoVeg.com, it specifically states that the prime carcinogen in meat AND dairy is the animal protein...However, I am not so sure that this is the case. In The Safe Shopper's Bible, Dr. Samuel Epstein points to pesticides, synthetic growth hormones (rBST and rBGH), antibiotics, and other chemicals as the primary carcinogens in meat and dairy. So who's right and who's wrong???

FAO says "global food output will have to increase by 70 percent to feed a projected population of 9.1 billion in 2050. To achieve that, poor countries will need $44 billion in annual agricultural aid, compared with the current $7.9 billion, to increase access to irrigation systems, modern machinery, seeds and fertilizer as well as build roads and train farmers." It's seems quite clear to me that far less food will be grown in 2050 than now. Machinery, fertilizers, foreign seeds and irrigation systems defeat the purpose of learning to farm the most productive way, that is, with time tested methods and seeds appropriate for individual localities.

According to Indyalive's managing director, only 19 percent of rural areas in India have electricity. The rest use foul-smelling kerosene lamps to light their huts, which pollute, provide little light and are major fire hazards...As in any non-electrified society, life is defined by the sun; little is accomplished once it sets. With children helping out with chores during daytime, it leaves little chance for them to study from reading lamps.

It's time for a career change for me, and after much consideration we decided to take my beekeeping to a commercial level and start a commercial, migratory pollination beekeeping business. Yeah, I know, I said I'd never use bees to make money, and now I'm going back on that word, but let me explain a bit of my reasoning. Yes I know that hauling bees for hundreds of miles to pollinate various crops is not the greenest thing in the world, but neither is what I do now (work for a large private defense contractor)...I also have both the know-how and desire to do this in a more natural and eco-friendly manner than is currently the norm.

Clean Coal has realized their "Clean Coal" campaign wasn't fooling anyone so now they are going for the same self-promoted PR by presenting Bush voter-types speaking about a new coal power plant in Arkansas. They are using subtle psychological warfare tactics and trying to show themselves as the realistic ordinary middle...The subtle psychological message here, without saying it directly, is that normal people see realistic solutions and others are unrealistic environmentalists...These corporations just seem to have an inherent ethics and honesty problem. They are inherently evil. Business to them is planned corruption...Others eating the outcome and casually expected to pay for it.

Has anyone received a replacement bottle through SIGG's bottle replacement program? I sent my old bottle in weeks ago and have received nothing from SIGG by email.

This week's New York Times Science section included an article on the great Pacific garbage patch. I can't decide what I think about the article just being published now- most people aware of the state of our environment know all about the garbage patch, right? Or am I wrong? Is the NYT making a great contribution to general knowledge by bringing this issue to light? Or is it too far behind the movement to really help?

Just looking to see how others are doing and if there are resources out there that I haven't found yet. Sometimes being a small business owner gets a little lonely and lately I'm feeling like it would be nice to communicate with others about their own experiences, but all the communities I've found are just for profit and trying to get small biz people to buy ads. I'm more interested in real people connecting in a real way, not just networking type stuff...Anyone have this type of resource (on or offline)?

I've been trying to ease my way into a 100 mile challenge. As I live in Orange County CA I am discovering how dependent we are on trucked in food. I have been searching high and low for locally raised beef or chicken and guess what - it doesn't exist...Virtually the only thing we have are local organic produce and even that is scarce...I'm almost frustrated to the point where I am despising the county due to how environmentally-challenged it is.

I'm the editor in chief of our high school newspaper, and I feel like an absolute hypocrite whenever we try to sell the 500 copies of newspaper that we print each month...I know the most environmentally friendly idea is to go online, but that's a hard transition in such a short time...Are there any ideas? Every printing company I search online does not do newspapers, only newsletters. What are my options to make the newspaper more eco-friendly?

Would anyone be willing to share their cost for spray foam insulation or any estimates they have gotten. Cost per square foot. I have looked high and low and have had little luck. All the contractors I have contacted won't give an estimate over the phone without a visit. We are planning on building a home, there is nothing to see. We are currently in a 40's traditional that is a nightmare to heat/cool. Can't do much without spending more than I will gain in equity. The housing market is junk down here. The price you pay when you live in a small town of 800 convenient to nothing.

I just looked at my bill from the last two months (los angles dept. of water power does a two month billing cycle) and I was floored to see that my average usage was 7 kwH per day...This has me interested in getting a power meter like never before. This is way more than I would have predicted. (Think about 7 150 watt solar panels). I'm just curious to see what other treehuggers' average kwH per day electric usage rates like... and if anyone has a particular wattage meter they would recommend or not recommend.

Does anybody know where I can find recycled Christmas cards? I don't want to order online, I would like to get them local. Any big retailer will do. Target had a few but they were kind of old fashioned. Any other stores? I don't really have time to make my own...

Considering getting one of these but I have a few questions: 1) Would they cause less pollution to heat a room compared to heating with electricity (coal fired power plant). 2) I heard these require electricity to work. About how many Watts, or kWh per hour? 3) Is pellet supply really a big concern? I'm in Florida, if that makes a difference. 4) Can the exhaust go right up an existing chimney? Any other things I should know or keep in mind?

Funny that they just did a study on black bear break-ins at Yosemite. One car was 4x more likely to get broken into based on its relative makeup of cars in the park. What do you guess...? And why? The answer's here.

This MSNBC article reports that international negotiators in Barcelona are working on a global climate change treaty. However, it seems they've settled on a political agreement rather than a legally binding treaty, meaning that no one will have to follow the agreement if they don't want to. Aren't we at the point where we need concrete goals, and penalties for harming the environment? Enough of the carrot, break out the stick!

I have solar panels...Lately (past week or 2) at least one of the panels are shaded every hour of the day except between 2-4pm. I can see 2, possibly 3 trees that are the culprits for the high degree of shading. The question I have is...is it better environmentally to let these trees stand, or cut them down?