August 2011

The Yasuni National Park may be the most biologically diverse place on the planet. There are 593 species of birds, 80 species of bats, 150 species of amphibians, 120 species of reptiles, and more than 4,000 species of vascular plants. They have estimated that the insect population could be as high as 100,000 species.

This is a tale of two cities.  Two cities that have decided to turn their government fleets into biodiesel fleets. Biodiesel is created when you combine ethanol and waste vegetable oil to manufacture a chemical reaction that produces fuel for vehicles. This fuel can be used in any standard diesel engine and has paved the way to creating thousands of jobs on the local and national level.

The term “extreme weather” has become an all too familiar phrase in describing the environment. Just this past year, countless stories of floods, storms, droughts, and heat waves were featured in the news. Families from Minot, N.D. have only recently begun returning to their homes, which were damaged by the overflowing of the Souris River last month. The area is having a tough time coping with both emotional and economic losses.

“Teaching children about the environment and giving them a hands-on opportunity to experience nature makes them smarter and healthier,” said Democratic Senator Jack Reed of Rhode Island.[1]  On July 14, 2011 Reed, along with Senator Mark Kirk (R-IL) and Congressman John Sarbanes, (D-MD) re-introduced the No Child Left Inside Act (NCLI Act) into the House and Senate.