Ideas for a Thinking Planet.

I was greatly amused by the title of this article, which describes an Eco Farm Conference that folks from Chelsea Green Publishing attended.  Read it for some pointed discussion of issues in organic food and food safety.

Sulfur dioxide can cause difficulty breathing.  The EPA wants to strengthen regulations which limit its release into the atmosphere.  They need our support.

I was amused by this article about an office pod that looks like a coconut.

Would You Work in a “Coconut” Office?

These coconut-shaped offices are actually called pods. They are manufactured by the UK-based company, Archipod (pronounced ‘ark-ee-pod’, as in ‘architecture).

Well, these ergonomic offices of the future may make a lot of sense, if you telecommute or want to have your own home-office away from the everyday household din (noises).

I was impressed by this new interview which discusses “Youth in a Suspect Society.”  It poses the idea that the social contract is breaking down as society treats young people worse and prepares them less to take charge of the future, which adults create but youth inherit.  We can change that, if we choose to do so.  This piece also highlights how technology can dominate our lives, which can cause problems.

I object to one premise, however, that we have no control over the amount of technology in our lives.  We DO have control: it’s called an off switch.  Use it. I also highly recommend considering what impact a device will have before adopting it in your household.  That’s an Amish rule, and I’ve found it very useful, although I draw my line in a different place than they draw theirs.

One study suggests that American trees may be growing faster in response to climate change and CO2 levels.  If this is so, then it would make reforestation an easier and more effective method of combating climate change.  Keep an eye on this for more data to emerge.

Just as we have “urban sprawl” on land, we have “marine sprawl” under water, damaging fisheries and other habitat.  Here is an opportunity to discourage marine sprawl and protect aquatic environments.

It is possible for humans to make a habitat unable to sustain any life.  It is also possible for humans to undo that damage and restore a habitat to healthy condition.  Here is an example in the rivers of Wales.

Woohoo!  Wind power made prodigious gains last year.  If this keeps up, we’ll start putting a big dent in our fossil fuel dependence and our greenhouse emissions.

Today is National Seed Swap Day.  You can read more about this holiday, and browse some related posts, by visiting the Bloggers Unite event page.