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Environment

Celebrating National Parks 

The National Park Service turns 100 years old today. Google’s published a doodle, shown in the video below, to celebrate – One would prefer, beyond government, that there should be private initiatives and privately-encouraged study of national history and ecology. These are not, after all, matters of emotion, but of science and reason (however breathtaking…

Defending a River

At 85 years old, organic raisin farmer and lifelong river advocate Walt Shubin is not slowing down. He has dedicated the last 65 years of his life to restoring California’s once-mighty San Joaquin River to the wild glory he remembers as a young boy. Driven by his passion for the river, and despite worn out…

Waukesha’s Water

Post 71 in a series. Waukesha is a large suburban city, of about seventy-thousand, in a prosperous suburban county, of about four-hundred thousand.  By ordinary estimation, the residents of the city and county should have no difficulties with basic utilities and infrastructure. And yet, Waukesha has a water supply problem: Waukesha does not have an…

The State of Phosphorus Now

Post 70 in a series. Phosphorus may be used as a fertilizer, but that use comes at a price.  A community, especially a farming community, that uses phosphorus for fertilizer faces the problem of what to do with that element when large quantities spread through the environment.   Lee Bergquist of the Journal Sentinel, in a story…

The Water Problems in Wisconsin

Post 57 in a series. When Green Turns Brown is an examination of a small town’s digester-energy project, in which Whitewater, Wisconsin would import other cities’ waste, claiming that the result would be both profitable and green. I promised to begin reviewing by the particulars of a 12.15.15 discussion of waste importation. I’ll hold off to…

Making Wood Without Trees

Ecovative Design has made a mission of replacing synthetic plastic polymers with natural mushroom based polymers. After disrupting the packaging industry with a line of fully biodegradable mushroom packaging, they are now setting their sights on replacing manufactured wood products. (Video by Brandon Lisy, Justin Beach) (Music by Andy Clausen) Via Bloomberg Business.

Shark Haiku

Fading evening skies Gliding through indigo seas Wanting to bite you  Inspired by an animated film about an environmentally-conscious, talking shark.  (The environment’s a serious concern,  but there’s nothing serious about this Haiku.)