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This month the Charlotte metro area saw its first Code Red ozone alert of the year. On Code Red days, the simple act of breathing outside puts even healthy adults at risk of damaging their lungs. This red alert presents an opportunity to reflect on how our quality of life depends on decisions made by…

The Gaurdian The Earth is on the brink of “major biodiversity crisis” fuelled by the steady destruction of ecosystems, a group of the world’s most distinguished scientists and policy experts warn today. Nineteen leading specialists in the field of biodiversity, including Robert Watson, chief scientist at the World Bank, and Professor Georgina Mace, director of…

[Georgia] The Senate Agriculture Committee will hold a public hearing on a proposed new Farm Bill in Albany Friday. Forest landowners and conservationists are mounting their strength for this meeting, to protect Southern forests. Georgia contains the largest area of forest cover in the South, 67% of the state is covered by privately owned forested…

Im with my cousins in Florida. Its beautiful, but I miss the mountains. Here’s our newest recruit. If that doesnt scare the coal companies, I dont know what will! 🙂

The war in Lebanon is touching home. A West Virginia family had their tickets in hand and were ready to board their plane to return home from Lebanon Thursday when the airport in Beirut was bombed. A report just came out on the Sago mine disaster. The report says that if the shaft seals had…

The NewsObserver has had a pretty hardhitting series on drinking water quality in North Carolina. Hardhitting, great journalism by our major state and local newspapers is a beautiful thing to see! And, more often than not, it can lead to legislative action! Especially in an election year. As if on cue, the government hustled to…

Im in Orlando with my beautiful little cousins for a few days. Nothing like central Florida in late July to make you miss the mountains… 🙂 A few things… The Tennessee Senate race took a turn for the bizarre last week. I won’t change the headline – Bryant supporter in chicken suit run downs Corker…

Genetically engineered trees take root Timber and paper companies and their researchers are quietly, doggedly working to genetically engineer trees with traits that boost the bottom line: faster growth and stronger insect resistance, for instance. But they know that one of the biggest barriers to their biotech dreams may not be in the lab or…

Last night, in a unanimous vote, the Catawba County Board of Commissioners passed a resolution to support clean air in North Carolina, and to encourage our elected congressional representatives to do the same. Presenting the resolution was Appalachian Voices volunteer, Brenda Huggins (see photo). In voting for this resolution, Catawba County became the fourth county…