News & commentary on sustainability, activism, urban planning, politics, and our world.
Zimbabwe, which currently faces seemingly intractable social, political and economic problems, has some of the worst environmental indicators in the world with ecosystems either in decline or under severe threat. Suffice to state, the country did institute some good environmental protection programmes in the decade following the attainment of independence from British rule in 1980, [...]
Several weeks ago, Venezuela President Hugo Chávez provided free energy-saving light bulbs to some low-income residents of Houston, Texas. This magnanimous act probably gained him a few American fans. In late March of this year, he also announced his plan to fund “an energy revolution” in Venezuela. The revolution has an emphasis on using Venezuelan [...]
Scientists in South Africa are testing a genetically engineered tobacco plant which detects the presence of nitrogen-dioxide, a marker for landmines, to turn red, in the hope that it may eventually be used to clear mine fields in post-conflict zones around the globe. The team is part of a joint initiative of University of Stellenbosch [...]
(This is another installment in this week’s “Walk This Way” series on walkable neighborhoods in the U.S.) Here’s a shocker (not really): living in a walkable neighborhood reduces your chances of being overweight. It should seem obvious, but a new study from the University of Utah has tracked the connection between walkable neighborhoods and weight [...]
The city of Agra in the North Indian state of Uttar Pradesh has a rich heritage and culture. It is the next big city on the banks of river Yamuna after the capital Delhi. The city also has a series of forts, monuments and structures of historical importance that invite travelers and tourists from all over the world. [...]
