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| Headline |
Author |
Published |
Section |
Got Time?
On effective activism |
Umbra Fisk |
07 Feb 2005 |
Ask Umbra |
| Dear Umbra, If an environmentalist has about six hours per week to devote to activism, what should the person do to make the biggest, most positive impact? Some people (like myself) think that climate protection is a key leverage point -- but is it? If yes, why, and what is the best way activists can help protect the climate? (And what's a leverage point anyway?) Ann Graton, Calif. Dearest Ann, Such a good question, and so important that ... |
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| Topics: advice, Ask Umbra, climate, grassroots activism, green living, NRDC, placemaking (all these topics) |
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What Is This 'Print' You Speak of?
On environmental print magazines |
Umbra Fisk |
03 Feb 2005 |
Ask Umbra |
| What Is This "Print" You Speak of? On environmental print magazines By Umbra Fisk 03 Feb 2005 Dear Umbra, Can you recommend a paper magazine dedicated to environmental/social-justice issues that has the same kind of light touch and zany humor that Grist has? I've found that getting really good reading material into the house and just leaving it around is a sure way to hook my two children, who are both avid readers. They're both computer literate, but won't go to a website I recommend, ... |
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| Topics: advice, Ask Umbra, education, green living, magazines (all these topics) |
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Where Can a Guy Get a Drink Around Here?
On freshwater |
Umbra Fisk |
31 Jan 2005 |
Ask Umbra |
| Dear Umbra, What percentage of the Earth's water is drinkable? What are the remaining percents in categories, such as salt water, polluted water (polluted with what?), and frozen water? And where can I find these statistics? Scott Bozeman, Mont. Dearest Scott, About 70 percent of the Earth's surface is constantly wet. Of all that water, only 2.5 percent, or 8.4 million cubic miles, is not salty. Quite a bit of the ... |
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| Topics: advice, Ask Umbra, water pollution (all these topics) |
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Bag Lady
On reusable recycling bags |
Umbra Fisk |
27 Jan 2005 |
Ask Umbra |
| Dear Umbra, I am the cofounder and current president of the Recycling Club at R.L. Paschal High School in Fort Worth, Texas. We have started collecting cell phones and plan to donate them to Verizon, since they refurbish and recycle or sell them. With the money they make, they buy new ones with airtime for (in our town) ladies at the Women's Haven shelter. We plan to start recycling plastics too. I need a bag for all this paper. Anywa ... |
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| Topics: advice, Ask Umbra, education, green living, recycling (all these topics) |
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Lather, Rinse, Rethink
On making eco-friendly cleaning products |
Umbra Fisk |
24 Jan 2005 |
Ask Umbra |
| Dear Umbra, I'd like to start making my own environmentally friendly cleaning products for my home. Are there any books or websites you would recommend for cleaning "recipes"? Rachel P.S. -- Thanks ever so much for your mention of the Keeper in one of your columns. Quite possibly the most useful device ever invented. Why aren't more people talking about this? Dearest Rachel, Go, Keeper, go! You'll ... |
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| Topics: advice, Ask Umbra, green living, toxics (all these topics) |
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Unholy Cow
On leather upholstery |
Umbra Fisk |
20 Jan 2005 |
Ask Umbra |
| Dear Umbra, It seems everyone is getting leather upholstery in their cars and on their couches these days. Where is it coming from -- the same cows that are being slaughtered for hamburgers, or special cows that are raised for their hides? What is the environmental impact of all this luxurious leather? Sharon Collegeville, Penn. Dearest Sharon, Hides are a byproduct of food-related animal processing. Cattle are large, expensive animals, ... |
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| Topics: advice, Ask Umbra, food and agriculture, green living, water pollution (all these topics) |
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Pollut ... Oh, Never Mind
On the outcome of the last pollutocrat contest |
Umbra Fisk |
18 Jan 2005 |
Ask Umbra |
| Dear Umbra, So, what were the results of the "pollutocrat" contest? I recall seeing several web postings by editors to "watch out" for this term, as if the rest of a letter's content was somehow invalid if it was written as part of a contest. Sad. Did someone win or not? Kevin Parma, Ohio Dearest Kevin, I get hundreds of email letters every month, and can answer only eight (giv ... |
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| Topics: advice, Ask Umbra, green living (all these topics) |
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Sorry, Wrong Number
On which plastics to avoid |
Umbra Fisk |
13 Jan 2005 |
Ask Umbra |
| Dear Umbra, Since you only mention #1 plastics as being safe, I'm assuming I should throw out the #4 I just purchased? Sylvia Ann Arbor, Mich. Dearest Sylvia, I confused and frightened and annoyed many of you on the issues of food and plastic. I'm sorry -- #4 is OK, as are #2 and #5. Honestly, I can hardly keep the numbers straight myself. I thought about a rhyme ("four and two are fine for you"), but I can't com ... |
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| Topics: advice, Ask Umbra, green living, toxics (all these topics) |
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Nalgene Therapy
On plastic water bottles, again |
Umbra Fisk |
10 Jan 2005 |
Ask Umbra |
| Dear Umbra, After slurping away from a Nalgene bottle all summer, you struck me with the fear of petrochemicals. So I did some quick research on my own. My conclusion is that your Aug. 2 column is misleading, even though I'm very sympathetic to your argument regarding plastics. Upon inspection, I learned that most of my Nalgene water bottles are made of plastic #2, HDPE, which you suggest is relatively benign. Perhaps you ... |
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| Topics: advice, Ask Umbra, green living, toxics (all these topics) |
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Every Worm Is Sacred
On composting |
Umbra Fisk |
06 Jan 2005 |
Ask Umbra |
| Dear Umbra, Can you tell me what is the best and most effective composter for a small urban backyard? Joe Baltimore, Md. Dearest Joe, Sort of. It's ultimately a very personal choice, and one that depends on what you will try to compost and the amount of time you are willing to spend helping the compost along. You may be familiar with the concepts of "aerobic" and "anaerobic" decomposition. Aerobic is better, and co ... |
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| Topics: advice, Ask Umbra, food and agriculture, gardening (all these topics) |
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All We Are Is Farms in the Wind
On wind farms |
Umbra Fisk |
03 Jan 2005 |
Ask Umbra |
| Dear Umbra, I have been reading lots in the media lately about wind farms. As a supporter of green energy, I would obviously like to see a lot more of them and have long believed that people who oppose them are just another example of the "not in my backyard" mentality: they want a constant electricity supply, but not if it spoils the lovely sea view they paid so much for. Permission was given recently by the Briti ... |
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| Topics: advice, Ask Umbra, climate, energy, renewable energy, wind power (all these topics) |
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Fruit Scootin' Boogie
On odd fruit |
Umbra Fisk |
16 Dec 2004 |
Ask Umbra |
| Dear Umbra, Yesterday in the grocery store I saw a "golden kiwi." Is there really such a thing? It was over twice the size of a regular kiwi and the familiar fuzz was not there. It was almost as smooth as a nectarine. When I inquired of the produce representative, she told me that it was a "natural" unaltered fruit and that I could taste it if I wanted to. Naturally, I declined. I am very leery of this strange new f ... |
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| Topics: advice, Ask Umbra, food and agriculture, GMOs (all these topics) |
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O, Say, Can You Tree?
On Christmas trees |
Umbra Fisk |
08 Dec 2004 |
Ask Umbra |
| Dear Umbra, Please settle our office dispute. Which is better for the environment: real or fake Christmas trees? Some believe that cutting down juvenile trees, displaying them for two weeks, then throwing them in the garbage is destructive, wasteful, and highly unfriendly to the environment. Others say that the Christmas-tree business keeps land that would otherwise be developed in trees, if only for a short while. Besides, fake ... |
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| Topics: advice, Ask Umbra, green living, religion and spirituality (all these topics) |
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Urine Trouble
On cat-pee stains and dry cleaning |
Umbra Fisk |
02 Dec 2004 |
Ask Umbra |
| Dear Umbra, I am aware of how polluting regular dry cleaners can be and therefore make a point to wash clothes at home. Recently, however, my charming cat peed on my comforter. I was wondering if you knew of any environmentally friendly ways to clean "dry clean only" clothes or, in this case, comforters. Heidi Falls Church, Va. Dearest Heidi, I've seen feather comforters with both dry-cleaning and home-washer o ... |
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| Topics: advice, Ask Umbra, green living, toxics (all these topics) |
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Doo-lemma
On doggie-doo bags |
Umbra Fisk |
29 Nov 2004 |
Ask Umbra |
| Dear Umbra, For years, I faithfully brought my canvas bags to the grocery store, leaving plastic bags for the environmentally uninformed. A few months ago, though, I adopted a dog, and I now find myself with a dilemma. I need to pick up all of his solid excrement, and having no compost or any other area for it to go (I live in the city), I need to use plastic bags to take care of it. I hope you have another suggestion for something I can use ... |
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| Topics: advice, Ask Umbra, green living, solid waste treatment and disposal, waste (all these topics) |
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Another Brick in the Wal-Mart
On Wal-Mart |
Umbra Fisk |
22 Nov 2004 |
Ask Umbra |
| Dear Umbra, Why is Wal-Mart evil? This is really a request for more information. I have often heard that the company has a weak environmental track record, treats its employees poorly, and generally is Satan incarnate. However, when challenged on this position, I have no data. My opponents argue that shopping in bulk reduces packaging. I also have to admit that a case of Pellegrino for $10 pulls me closer to the dark side. I am ... |
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| Topics: advice, Ask Umbra, business, globalization, placemaking, Wal-Mart (all these topics) |
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Soy Story
On the environmental impacts of soy |
Umbra Fisk |
18 Nov 2004 |
Ask Umbra |
| Dear Umbra, I'm interested in learning more about the treatment and genetic modification of soy and how prevalent this is. I think a lot of folks choose products such as soy milk because they think they are making a better choice for the earth, as well as themselves. I think this is an overlapping issue and qualifies for your help. Perhaps a slant toward educating us on the state of soy farming and production would be an acc ... |
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| Topics: advice, Ask Umbra, food and agriculture, GMOs, toxics (all these topics) |
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A Mandate for All Seasons
On the health/environment dividing line |
Umbra Fisk |
15 Nov 2004 |
Ask Umbra |
| Yowza. A few weeks back, in response to a question from a reader named Cassandra about the relative merits of soy milk, I asked your opinion on the dividing line between health and environmental concerns. Cassandra wanted to know if she could continue eating soy, which she considered an environmentally sound choice, without increasing her risk of breast cancer. The health/environment line is always ... |
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| Topics: advice, Ask Umbra, green living, health (all these topics) |
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Flarey Bird
On birds bursting into flames |
Umbra Fisk |
11 Nov 2004 |
Ask Umbra |
| Dear Umbra, I saw the following on the CNN website. Can this possibly be true? I see birds hit, land on, peck at, and poop on power lines all the time, but I've never seen one burst into flames. LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Weather forecasters predicted little relief Monday for firefighters battling wildfires that have scorched thousands of acres and forced hundreds of people to leave their homes in California. Firefighte ... |
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| Topics: advice, Ask Umbra, wildlife (all these topics) |
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What the Deck?
On protecting decks |
Umbra Fisk |
25 Oct 2004 |
Ask Umbra |
| Dear Chip, You may remember me; we met most recently at Jenny's parents' house for dinner when you all were here in New Jersey. Anyway, the reason I'm writing you is because I'm looking for some advice. Do you have any recommendations on environmentally conscious ways to protect household decks? Lori and I just bought a house and we need to finish the deck, but we are hesitant to use a bunch of chemicals that will just seep into the gr ... |
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| Topics: advice, Ask Umbra, green living, toxics (all these topics) |
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Mind the Tap
On lead pipes and drinking water |
Umbra Fisk |
18 Oct 2004 |
Ask Umbra |
| Dear Umbra, I live in New York City, which is reputed to have some of the best drinking water in the U.S. But I also happen to live in an old building that probably has lead pipes, so I buy Poland Spring water in five-gallon jugs each month. I'd prefer to drink tap water, but I don't know how to find out whether my building's water is polluted or not. How do I go about this? If it does have lead (etc.), what are the most aff ... |
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| Topics: advice, Ask Umbra, toxics, water pollution (all these topics) |
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A Bit of the Old Ultraviolet
On UV ratings |
Umbra Fisk |
14 Oct 2004 |
Ask Umbra |
| Dear Umbra, Our radio station provides daily information regarding ultraviolet ratings. I am curious about what these ratings actually represent, and why they change so dramatically. For example, for the past few years, most ratings have been between three and seven. Now we are getting ratings of 10. I doubt the ratings are directly related to Dobson units, which measure the amount of atmospheric ozone present, because they ... |
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| Topics: advice, Ask Umbra, climate, climate science, education, ozone (all these topics) |
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PLU Perfect
On the mysteries of produce code numbers |
Umbra Fisk |
11 Oct 2004 |
Ask Umbra |
| Dear Umbra, I recently learned that the UPC numbers on produce indicate whether the item is conventionally grown (beginning with a 4), organically grown (beginning with a 9), or genetically modified (beginning with an 8). I like to buy organic, locally grown produce at my local health food store whenever possible, but recently at a large grocery story I noticed some tomatoes with a UPC number that began with a 3. What ... |
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| Topics: advice, Ask Umbra, food, food and agriculture, GMOs, green living, organic food (all these topics) |
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Soy Meets Girl
On the eco-relevance of health concerns |
Umbra Fisk |
07 Oct 2004 |
Ask Umbra |
| Dear Umbra, As a practicing vegan for quite some time now, I take pride in my knowledge of nutrition and my ability to enrich my body through a varied diet with all the essentials. For the past five years or so, I have heavily relied on soy products for protein and other nutrients. Recently, however, I have heard that soy products increase estrogen levels, which in turn increase the risk of cancer (specifically brea ... |
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| Topics: advice, Ask Umbra, food and agriculture, health (all these topics) |
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Everybody Must Get Hemp
On hemp fabric |
Umbra Fisk |
04 Oct 2004 |
Ask Umbra |
| Dear Umbra, You didn't mention hemp as a fabric alternative. Jordan Marquette, Mich. Dearest Jordan, No, I didn't. Thank you for writing such a concise letter; it stood out among the 4 million other hemp letters and cut straight to the point. I apologize for the omission. Hemp is currently a narrowly available fabric with a prohibitively high cost and a limited fashion palette. That said, it holds a lot of promise as a high-yield ... |
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| Topics: advice, Ask Umbra, fashion, food and agriculture, green living (all these topics) |
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