Locations across Alaska record cold for the month (Credit: NOAA) Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–February 7, 2012.  During January, warmer-than-average conditions enveloped most of the contiguous United States, with widespread below-average precipitation. The overall weather pattern for the month was reflected in the lack of snow for much of the Northern Plains, Midwest,[Read More…]

Everglades Headwaters National Wildlife Refuge marks an early win in Audubon’s strategy for protecting Important Bird Areas     Tallahassee, FL –(ENEWSPF)–February 7, 2012.  An early win in Audubon’s strategy for protecting Important Bird Areas as part of a new Atlantic Flyways strategy came about in the Greater Everglades this month.[Read More…]

MAINE–(ENEWSPF)–February 7, 2012.  With several states and additional Canadian municipalities considering bans on synthetic pesticides used to maintain landscapes, we’re often asked to summarize all the reasons why we advocate for legislation that makes certain products illegal. Here’s the primer: LAWNS AND SAFETY The industry that manufactures and applies synthetic[Read More…]

Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–February 7, 2012.  The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Organic Program (NOP) is accepting public comments until April 6, 2012 on a National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) proposal to begin phasing out the use of the synthetic methionine, with a reduction in the current allowable level. Methionine is[Read More…]

Language promotes Chicago’s leadership in setting environmental standards WASHINGTON, D.C.–(ENEWSPF)–February 6, 2012. A provision, authored by U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), that would help the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) create a standardized, voluntary set of best practices to help airports operate and build sustainable facilities was included in the FAA[Read More…]

Watch for Snowy Owls and early migrants on the move  Phtot by: Ian Davies   New York, NY–(ENEWSPF)–February 6, 2012.  Warmer temperatures and lack of snow in parts of North America are setting the stage for what could be a most intriguing 15th annual Great Backyard Bird Count, coming up[Read More…]

Washington, D.C.–(ENEWSPF)–February 6, 2012.  Sixteen states and numerous power companies that oppose new pollution-reduction rules must file their petitions today with the U.S. Court of Appeals in D.C, and the Center for American Progress released “Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap: States Sue to Block Smog-Pollution Rules to Help Home State[Read More…]

Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–February 6, 2012.  The Clif Bar Family Foundation announced that it has awarded the first fellowships in organic plant breeding ever granted in the United States. Funded through its organic seed initiative, known as Seed Matters, the foundation provided $375,000 to fund three Ph.D. fellowship students for five years[Read More…]

Ancient northern ocean on Mars EU–(ENEWSPF)–6 February 2012  ESA’s Mars Express has returned strong evidence for an ocean once covering part of Mars. Using radar, it has detected sediments reminiscent of an ocean floor within the boundaries of previously identified, ancient shorelines on Mars.  The MARSIS radar was deployed in[Read More…]

Make it a Point to Visit Maryland Museum in 2012 MARYLAND–(ENEWSPF)–February 5, 2012.  At the core of transformative learning theory, according to Wikipedia, is the process of “perspective transformation” with three dimensions: psychological, convictional and behavioral. True transformation in this world, according to many sources, is rare. It has taken[Read More…]