Better use of antibiotics will help reduce spread of drug-resistant 'superbugs,' state health official says

After reports that a dangerous drug-resistant bacterium, carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae, or CRKP, had spread to at least 356 patients in Southern California last year, Times staff writer Molly Hennessy-Fiske spoke with Dr. Kavita Trivedi, medical epidemiologist with the California Department of Public Health's Antimicrobial Stewardship Program Initiative, about what can be done to reduce the spread of such drug-resistant "superbugs."

Read more:  http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-infection-20110329,0,2329300.story

Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Times-Greenspace by Molly Hennessy-Fiske

 

Gas prices spur move to open offshore drilling in California, Alaska, East Coast

With high gas prices once again becoming a high-octane political issue, House Republicans on Tuesday launched a drive to open up more coastal areas to oil drilling, including a stretch off Southern California.

The pro-production legislation comes a day before President Obama is due to speak on energy security and amid heightened political anxiety among both parties over rising fuel prices.

One of three bills would require the Interior Department to offer leases, within the next five years, for drilling in areas off Southern California, the Eastern seaboard and Alaska containing ``the greatest known oil and natural gas reserves

Read more:   http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2011/03/high-gas-prices-spur-move-to-open-offshore-drilling-in-california-alaska-east-coast.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+GreenspaceEnvironmentBlog+%28Greenspace%29

Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Times- Greenspace by Richard Simon

 

Want to reduce BPA exposure? Cut canned foods from your diet, report says

Exposure to the chemical Bisphenol A, or BPA, through canned foods and other food packaging can be significantly reduced with simple dietary changes, according to a report released Wednesday by the nonprofit Breast Cancer Fund and the Silent Spring Institute, a breast cancer research group.

Read more   http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2011/03/bpa-canned-food.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+GreenspaceEnvironmentBlog+%28Greenspace%29

Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Times –Greenspace by Susan Carpenter

 

Central, Western Massachusetts could get 14 inches in April Fool's storm

If there is anything funny about the impending April Fool's Day storm, the joke appears to be on Central and Western Massachusetts.

A winter storm watch is in effect for those areas from late Thursday night through late Friday night. The National Weather Service forecasts 6 to 12 inches outside of Route 128, while Boston is expected to see mostly rain and very little snow accumulation.

Read more    http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2011/03/western_massach.html?p1=News_links

 

Article courtesy of The Boston Globe by Martin Finucane, Globe Staff, and Katherine Landergan, Globe Correspondent

 

Bicycle sharing program explored

Following Boston’s lead, officials in Brookline, Cambridge, and Somerville are kicking the tires on a regional bicycle-sharing program that, if approved, could launch within each of the communities in the next year and eventually expand to Arlington. Read more:  http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/green/articles/2011/03/24/brookline_cambridge_somerville_consider_joining_bostons_planned_bike_sharing_program/ArtiA

Article courtesy of The Boston Globe by Brock Parker

 

 

Boom Slowdown Gives Sunbelt Cities Opportunity to Plan Growth

The current pause in the Sunbelt’s boom could be a seminal moment for cities across California, Nevada, Arizona and Florida to plan for future growth, rather than unplanned sprawl. During this construction pause, cities have a chance to better plan for growth by designing for dense development and reducing parking requirements to encourage walking, public transportation and more green space, says Justin Hollander, urban planning professor at Tufts University and author of the recently published book titled Sunburnt Cities

Article courtesy of Smart Growth Online

 

 

World Water Day

Today is World Water Day and we urge you to take action to help the over 1.2 billion people who don't have access to enough clean water to meet their most basic needs. Every year, over 5 million people (many of them women and children) die of water-related diseases which are the world's leading cause of illness. It has been estimated that clean, safe water can be brought to the 1.2 billion people in need around the world for as little as $50 per person.

Like so many environmental programs, including our own parent organization, Green Cross International, World Water Day owes its origin to the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. The United Nations General Assembly designated 22 March of each year as the World Day for Water. Many of us recognize the potential for increased conflict over water resources, but we do not always realize how the mutual dependence and shared nature of a water resource can also be the basis for increased cooperation between peoples.

Article courtesy of Global Green USA