Earth Day Network Blog Updates

We've become accustomed to seeing people light their tap water on fire thanks to hydrofracking, but what if your drinking water also contained something far more sinister like radioactive waste? The nuclear waste that is leaked into drinking water can cause cancer and genetic defects, says a new report by U.S. PIRG and Environment America. 

There's some exciting news in the world of sustainability education! Today, the U.S. Department of Energy announced the new site and schools for the 2013 Solar Decathlon. The Solar Decathlon is one of the premier educational and energy events in the world. Colleges and universities are tasked with creating the most aesthetically pleasing, affordable and energy efficient house, which they then have to ship and construct at the competition site.

Congresswoman Gabrielle “Gabby” Giffords is a woman of extraordinary courage and character. She has served her constituents with unwavering devotion. For over a decade, she has been an elected official representing the state of Arizona at both the state and federal level as a primary advocate for green energy. She firmly believes that global warming is induced by human actions and that it is necessary for us to take action to mitigate the situation in order to prevent further deterioration of the environment.

NASA just releaed the latest "Blue Marble" image of the Earth. The high definition image, a composite of numerous pictures of the Earth, was taken by the Suomi NPP satellite on January 4th 2012. The NPP satellite was renamed 'Suomi NPP' on January 24, 2012 to honor the late Verner E. Suomi of the University of Wisconsin.

That’s right. We’re starting off 2012 right with increased nutrition standards in our nation’s schools!!! On Wednesday, January 25, First Lady Michelle Obama along with the Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack will announce new nutrition standards for America’s school meals. We couldn’t be more thrilled about this win for healthy schools!!

In recent years, local governments across the nation have stepped up to the plate, making solid progress in tackling environmental issues ranging from green education and transportation to energy efficiency and sustainability.

If you are a regular reader of our blog, you will surely know all about The DC Healthy Schools Act. For you newbies out there, the DC healthy Schools Act was a landmark piece of legislation –passed unanimously in May of 2010 - that cemented the District as a national leader in raising health and wellness standards in public schools.

I have to keep this report brief because we’re getting really busy with racing now, but I need to share one more great thing I saw:

This past Saturday, I spent the day at the luge and bobsled tracks with all the athletes training (70 athletes from 21 countries between the ages of 17 and 18).  I took the opportunity to chat with Peter Knaudseder, Track Chief for the Bobsled and Luge venue.

On January 9, 2012 Pope Benedict XVI addressed the recent natural and ecological disasters and the importance of cooperation on the issue of environmental quality in the 2012 message to the Vatican’s diplomatic corps.