On James Lee and the Events at Discovery Communications Headquarters Thu, 02 Sep 2010 20:27:00 -0500
photo: Michael Graham Richard
As most readers have probably heard or read by now, yesterday was a dramatic day at the Silver Spring, Maryland headquarters of TreeHugger's parent company, Discovery Communications. Early in the afternoon a lone man, later identified to be James J. Lee, entered the building, brandishing a pistol and carrying explosives, and began taking hostages. The situation ended four hours later with the hostages unharmed and Lee losing his...Read the full story on TreeHugger
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Déjà Vu All Over Again: Offshore Oil Platform Explodes in Gulf of Mexico [Update] Thu, 02 Sep 2010 18:20:24 -0500
Image: Google Maps
Thankfully, No Deaths This Time
An offshore oil platform exploded and caught fire today in the Gulf of Mexico. It is located about 80 miles off the Louisiana coast, west of the site of BP's massive oil spill. All 13 people who were on the rig were evacuated and only one was injured, reports the U.S. Coast Guard....Read the full story on TreeHugger
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Taiji Opens Season on Dolphins Today Thu, 02 Sep 2010 18:05:00 -0500
Photo via Animal Planet
Each year in early September, Japan opens season on dolphins, and today marks the start of the season in Taiji, a now notorious place for slaughtering cetaceans thanks to the Oscar-winning documentary The Cove. And of course, activist Ric O'Barry is on the move. He delivered a petition to the US Embassy in Tokyo signed by 1.7 million people from 155 countries demanding an end to ...Read the full story on TreeHugger
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Obama's Oval Office Is Beige And Could Have Been Green Thu, 02 Sep 2010 16:54:14 -0500
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HP Competition Winner Has Rooftop Farms, Plugin Units Thu, 02 Sep 2010 15:14:01 -0500
images from Bustler
The HP Skyline 2020 competition "outlined fresh visual imaginations for the skyline discarding preconceived notions" and "allowed students and professionals to partner and elucidate their visions and designs that would change the skyline thereby transforming the city itself." ...Read the full story on TreeHugger
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Today on Planet 100: Golf Course is an Environmental Hole in One (Video) Thu, 02 Sep 2010 14:45:22 -0500
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Universal Cell Phone Charger Coming Soon...At Some Point...In the Maybe-Not-Distant Future... Thu, 02 Sep 2010 14:12:00 -0500
Photo via kalleboo
A common complaint about cell phones is that there is no universal charger -- if you don't have the one that works specifically for your phone, well, you're just out of luck when your battery dies. It's not only a hassle for cell phone owners, but it's a huge problem for e-waste as the chargers become useless when the corresponding cell phones are tossed aside for newer models. But progress toward a more environmentally responsible (and plain common sense) solution for a universal charger that works will all phon...Read the full story on TreeHugger
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California Bombs on Plastic Bag Ban Thu, 02 Sep 2010 13:25:00 -0500
Photo by Taberandrew
Despite San Francisco leading the way on banning plastic bags back in 2007, California senators rejected a proposed plan to ban plastic bags statewide. The measure to remove carryout plastic bags from supermarkets, drug stores and convenience shops would have taken effect by July 2012 in larger stores, and 2013 in smaller stores, and it would have made California the first state to institute a ban like this. It was Read the full story on TreeHugger
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Alexandra Cousteau, the Ocean Ambassador (Podcast) Thu, 02 Sep 2010 13:14:00 -0500
"We all live downstream from one another," says Alexandra Cousteau. In other words, what we do to the water, we do to ourselves. A third-generation Cousteau explorer, Alexandra is an ambassador of the sea. She's the host of Planet Green's Blue August, is currently traveling the world as a documentarian with her organization Blue Legacy, and, when she has a spare moment, does things like c...Read the full story on TreeHugger
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New York City Inks Contract for Up to 475 Compressed Natural Gas Buses Thu, 02 Sep 2010 13:01:36 -0500
Photo: New Flyer
What's the Difference Between CNG and Diesel?
The Board of the New York Metropolitan Transit Authority (the "MTA") has awarded New Flyer of America a contract for up to 475 buses. The contract is for 135 40-foot compressed natural gas ("CNG") heavy-duty transit buses with options for up to an additional 340 CNG buses. We know that buses are a pretty green way to move lots of people around in urban area, but how much better are CNG buses compared to regular diesel buses? The U.S. Department of Energy has some numbers to allow us to compare....Read the full story on TreeHugger
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David Suzuki: Our Obsession With Private Automobiles is Unsustainable Thu, 02 Sep 2010 12:48:45 -0500
Technological developments [such as electric cars etc.] are welcome, but maybe it's time we started rethinking our car culture as whole. The average car in North America carries 1.5 people, which means that most cars on the road only have a driver in them. Is it really efficient to use more than 1,000 kilograms of metal to transport 100 kilograms of huma...Read the full story on TreeHugger
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If Octopuses Are Self-Aware, Are You Less Likely To Eat Them? Thu, 02 Sep 2010 11:37:00 -0500
Photo via Brian Gratwicke
Does the intelligence of an animal factor in on your decision whether or not to eat them? Many people consider pigs to be incredibly intelligent, but they're still mostly factory farmed in often abhorrent conditions. Scientists are pushing for dolphins and other cetaceans to have non-human person status, complete with inalienable rights. But they're still hunted every year as a fish stock, as the documentary The Cove has highlighted. And what about cephalopods, a.k.a. octopuses and squid, which are known to be highly intelligent -- so...Read the full story on TreeHugger
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House Built From Hemp Is Full Of Green Surprises Thu, 02 Sep 2010 10:49:26 -0500
Image credit: Brondell Simple FlushDual-flush toilets have always been popular here on TreeHugger. After all, it seems insane to use the same amount of drinking water to flush your number ones as your number twos. (It actually seems insane to use drinking water at all, but that's another story.) But rather than just advocating ripping out your old fixture—we've always been keen on adapting your old throne. From the Read the full story on TreeHugger
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Curious Whales Check Out Photographers with Stunning Results (Slideshow) Thu, 02 Sep 2010 09:27:38 -0500
Photo via The Daily Mail
The ocean's whales are some of the Earth's most massive and majestic animals, reaching sizes of up to 80 feet long and 150 tons. As the targets of centuries of whaling, they have a violent history -- and are still recovering from an industry that depleted their numbers substantially.
But while whales can be aggressive at times, they are more often gentle, curious creatures -- and likely to check out foreign objects in the water, including boats and photographers.
Read the full story on TreeHugger
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When Bike Sharing Falters (and Why We Can't Let It) Thu, 02 Sep 2010 07:11:43 -0500
Photo credit by batega via flickr.
In its early days, Barcelona's Bicing seemed like an unparalleled success. With 400 stations and 3,000 of the squat, burly red-and-white bikes stationed around the city, Bicing quickly became part of Barcelona's big city atmosphere and was enthusiastically received by inhabitants.
But after five years, something scary started to happen, in addition to the vandalism and Read the full story on TreeHugger
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PACT's Playful Organic Undies Support Artists with Disabilities (Photos) Thu, 02 Sep 2010 06:03:33 -0500
Image courtesy of PACT.
I love PACT underwear. Not only do they have a philanthropic twist -- past collections have supported non-profits like Oceana and Global Green USA -- but their design is playful and fun -- the way panties should be. Today, Pact unveiled their latest organic underwear collaboration with Creative Growth, an art program for persons with disabilities; ten percent of proceeds will be donated to support the a...Read the full story on TreeHugger
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Local Flower Bouquets are Seasonal and Eco-Friendly Thu, 02 Sep 2010 05:12:10 -0500
Image from my luscious backyard
Fancy exotic bouquets are losing their bloom. Flying in flowers from around the world is expensive in terms of money and the environmental impact. Some florists this summer are starting to use local flowers for their bouquets: as in picked from neighbourhood gardens.
Now florists are turning gardens into mini-flower farms for their small businesses; renting or trading space in neighbouring gardens for flower beds. Part of the success comes from a change in...Read the full story on TreeHugger
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Cork Furniture and Cardboard Bars by Marina68 (Photos) Thu, 02 Sep 2010 03:11:35 -0500
At TreeHugger we like cork, that warm material that can be harvested without chopping down trees, is fully renewable and biodegradable and can be shaped into many funky objects apart from stoppers to keep the wine in the bottles. The designers at studio Marina68 in Barcelona have worked with this local material and created a series of furniture, that embrace craftsmanship and eco-friendly materials. Have a look below for some of our favourites....Read the full story on TreeHugger
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McKibben On Tour, Stops By New York to Inspire Letterman (Video) Thu, 02 Sep 2010 02:40:04 -0500
photo via 350.org
Big props to David Letterman for bringing on Bill McKibben earlier this week to talk to Letterman's 4 million nightly viewers about global climate change and Bill's 350.org project. 350.org has a savvy campaign to get the White House to put solar panels back on the roof after Ronald Reagen had them taken off in the 80s. Dave asked some sharp questions about nuclear power and political inaction, and Bill, as always, was ready with sharper answers that added some hope to the fight for an energy revolution. ...Read the full story on TreeHugger
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7 Green Ferry Trips Around the World Wed, 01 Sep 2010 13:44:21 -0500
Photo via JWGA Inc
Sometimes the waterway is both greener and faster than the highway. Though ferries are bigger than cars and usually use more fuel, they can carry hundreds of people and cars at one time. Plus, they are also often the shortest route from point A to point B -- meaning a fraction of the mileage that would be spent in a car. In cities that offer commuter ferries to keep rush hour under control, ferries are also a solution to traffic jams -- meaning less stress as well as fuel consumption.
From New York and California to Italy and Australia, add thes...Read the full story on TreeHugger
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Greenpeace Argentina Makes Procter & Gamble Take Charge For Tons Of Used Batteries Wed, 01 Sep 2010 13:40:40 -0500
Photo: Courtesy of Greenpeace Argentina.
Some may argue that Greenpeace has its twisted ways, but sometimes they just nail it. In Argentina, last year there was a huge controversy over a used batteries recycling program by the Buenos Aires government: essentially they were collecting them without a clear plan on what to do with this highly toxic waste, and when a province from the interior of the country said they were not taking them into their landfills, well, they were left with tons ...Read the full story on TreeHugger
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Ahead of its upcoming report Fossil Foolishness: Utah's Pursuit of Tar Sands and Oil ShaleWestern Resource Advocates has produced the above short video detailing, as you might imagine from the title, why even though it may be ...Read the full story on TreeHugger
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Can You Really Boycott Fuel Produced From Canadian Tar Sands? Wed, 01 Sep 2010 12:44:00 -0500
photo: Jonathan McIntosh via flickr
With all the increased attention Canada's tar sands projects have been getting--both in terms of environmental impact and distributing them through pipeline into the United States--it's not surprising that many people are calling for a boycott on oil and fuel produced from tar sands. But is that really possible in a meaningful sense? ...Read the full story on TreeHugger
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California To Extend Carpool-Lane Access To 40,000 Plug-In Hybrids Wed, 01 Sep 2010 12:30:22 -0500
Photo: Flickr, CC
Should Access for Regular Hybrids be Phased Out?
In California, vehicles that meet certain fuel economy and tailpipe emission criteria are granted special access to the high occupancy vehicle lanes (HOV, aka the carpool lane). In car-centric places like Los Angeles, it's a huge advantage. California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a bill (SB 535) into law that extends HOV-lane access to 40,000 qualifying plug-in hybrid ...Read the full story on TreeHugger
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Is the UK's First Green Cell Phone Rating System Bending the Rules? Wed, 01 Sep 2010 11:45:00 -0500
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Kwantlen Xthum: First Nations Meeting Place at University Scoops Design Awards Wed, 01 Sep 2010 11:38:30 -0500
Designing a space to serve multiple functions can be a challenge. British Columbia design studio Public had to learn about a whole new range of uses for Xthum, at Kwantlen Polytechnic University, where the Kwantlen, Semiahmoo, Tsawwassen and Katzie Nations needed a space for celebrating, feasting, storytelling, counselling, advising, studying, and relaxing. How do you fit that all in?...Read the full story on TreeHugger
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Amazon Deforestation Down 16% Over Past Year, New Data Shows Wed, 01 Sep 2010 11:23:00 -0500
photo: Leo Freitas via flickr
According to preliminary data from Brazilian NGO Imazon, deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon is down 16% over the past twelve months, with 1,488 square kilometers (574 square miles) of forest cleared. All that tree felling resulted in 95.6 million metric tons of CO2 released into the atmosphere, Read the full story on TreeHugger
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Mark Ronson Brings Bikes to Life and Chases Babes (Video) Wed, 01 Sep 2010 11:04:11 -0500
Image: MSN.com I'm admitting it: I have a great big dude crush on Mark Ronson. The British musician/producer has put together some of the best pop music the world's heard in a while, and I can't DJ a party without spinning his recut of Britney Spears' Toxic (with Tiggers, ODB, and the Daptones horn section). Ronson's upcoming release, Record Collection, includes a track called Bike Song, and the video is a beautiful thing. Ronson, Spank Rock, and Kyle Falconer bring the city's bikes t...Read the full story on TreeHugger
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New Bee Species Discovered During Downtown Toronto Commute Wed, 01 Sep 2010 10:55:00 -0500
Example of a sweat bee -- Metallic colored sweat bee species are diverse, and difficult to identify to which species a specimen belongs; photo via zackzen
Researchers Jason Gibbs who was working on a study of sweat bees discovered a new species while commuting from downtown Toronto to York University. It is one of 19 new species he found while examining 84 species of sweat bees in Canada -- so named because they are attracted to perspiration -- which are common in North America. His study goes a long way in cataloging a variety of bee that has proven a "nightmare" to study.
...Read the full story on TreeHugger
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Live On From Beyond The Groove: Have Your Ashes Pressed Into Vinyl Wed, 01 Sep 2010 10:45:43 -0500
TreeHugger has reviewed many different, greener things to do with our bodies after we have shuffled off the mortal coil, from freeze-drying to composting . Now an English company offers a new option: Have your ashes pressed into vinyl record albums.
...Read the full story on TreeHugger
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Exclusive Look at California's Secret Titan Redwood Trees (Slideshow) Wed, 01 Sep 2010 10:27:49 -0500
Image credit: M. D. Vaden of Oregon
Deep in the forests of northern California is a grove of trees unlike any other in the world. Within only a few acres lies an incredible density of old-growth redwood trees—including many of the world's largest trees.
It's called the Grove of Titans and its location is a secret.
Read the full story on TreeHugger
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Cotton Cloth Coated in Nanotubes Electrifies Bacteria to Purify Water Wed, 01 Sep 2010 10:22:00 -0500
Image via Stanford University
Fresh, clean, drinkable water is an increasingly rare thing on this planet, especially in places that are suffering through catastrophes like floods or must deal with high levels of pollution without the resources to set up water treatment facilities. But a project from Stanford University researchers could see cheap, simple filtration devices distributed through developing nations. How simple? Well, it's just a piece of cotton cloth coated in nanotubes that filter out nearly all bacteria at a rat...Read the full story on TreeHugger
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photo: Michael Graham Richard
As most readers have probably heard or read by now, yesterday was a dramatic day at the Silver Spring, Maryland headquarters of TreeHugger's parent company, Discovery Communications. Early in the afternoon a lone man, later identified to be 
Image: Google Maps
Thankfully, No Deaths This Time
An offshore oil platform exploded and caught fire today in the Gulf of Mexico. It is located about 80 miles off the Louisiana coast, west of the site of BP's massive oil spill. All 13 people who were on the rig were evacuated and only one was injured, reports the U.S. Coast Guard....
Photo via 
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Photo by 
Photo: New Flyer
What's the Difference Between CNG and Diesel?
The Board of the New York Metropolitan Transit Authority (the "MTA") has awarded New Flyer of America a contract for up to 475 buses. The contract is for 135 40-foot compressed natural gas ("CNG") heavy-duty transit buses with options for up to an additional 340 CNG buses. We know that buses are a pretty green way to move lots of people around in urban area, but how much better are CNG buses compared to regular diesel buses? The U.S. Department of Energy has some numbers to allow us to compare....
Photo via 
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Image courtesy of PACT.
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At TreeHugger we like cork, that warm material that can be harvested without chopping down trees, is fully renewable and biodegradable and can be shaped into many funky objects apart from stoppers to keep the wine in the bottles. The designers at studio 
photo via 350.org
Big props to David Letterman for bringing on Bill McKibben earlier this week to talk to Letterman's 4 million nightly viewers about global climate change and Bill's 
Photo via 
Photo: Courtesy of Greenpeace Argentina.
Some may argue that 
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Designing a space to serve multiple functions can be a challenge. British Columbia design studio 
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Image: MSN.com
Example of a sweat bee -- Metallic colored sweat bee species are diverse, and difficult to identify to which species a specimen belongs; photo via 
TreeHugger has reviewed many different, greener things to do with our bodies after we have shuffled off the mortal coil, from
Image credit: 
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