Environment

November 20, 2013 - 5:32pm
Students all over the country are pressuring their administrations to remove their investments from fossil fuels. But as time passes and the campaign gets little reaction, questions arise as to whether this approach is actually beneficial.

In October 2012, Bill McKibben, renowned climate change activist and founder of 350.org (and a personal hero of mine) kicked off the “Go Fossil Free” campaign, encouraging students to encourage their institutions to divest their massive endowment funds from fossil-fuel based companies. Roaming the country on his “Do The Math” tour, McKibben put it simply: fossil fuels are causing climate change, and unless we “rise up to stop them,” fossil fuel companies will keep doing what they do – making money by destroying our planet.

August 27, 2013 - 9:28pm
A Jersey girl finds herself surrounded by a giant swarm of gnats after a long second day of class. Hilarity ensues.

I had a long day. Don’t get me wrong – it was a fulfilling “day two” of learning and getting back into the swing of things, but it was also an early-to-leave, late-to-return kind of Tuesday for me.

I was walking from Newhouse 3 towards the bus stop, tired, hungry and catching up on some text replies, only glancing up every now and then to admire the beautifully sunbathed buildings that lay atop our wonderful hill.

April 17, 2013 - 11:56am
Cleanups aren't the only way to show your love for the planet on April 22. Check out some of these other local events, and you can celebrate Earth Day all week long.

Earth Day is Monday, April 22, but Central New York has started the party for our planet a week early.

Nearly 5,000 volunteers picked up trash last Friday and Saturday in Onondaga County as part of the Onondaga County Resource Recovery Agency’s Earth Day cleanup. In those two days, they collected over 8,400 pounds of garbage. Cleanups are planned through this week and into the weekend around the county, if you’re looking to help out.

March 19, 2013 - 11:53pm
Renowned photographer Jim Richardson used examples from nature to explain how too much light affects all kinds of life.

Jim Richardson has been all over the world.  He’s published photos for over 25 stories in National Geographic and he's taken pictures from Kansas to Scotland.  But Richardson doesn’t flaunt his travels.  Rather, he started off his lecture at Hendrick’s Chapel on Tuesday night by showing us a place we all share, but so often forget — our place among the stars. 

"We live here,” Richardson said, pointing to a photo of a starry night.  “We live in the galaxy up there, the Great Milky Way." 

February 13, 2013 - 7:26pm
Have an eco-friendly V-Day in Syracuse with our overview of sustainable and organic treats for your sweetheart — or for your sweet self.

Happy Valentine's Day from TheNewsHouse.com Roses are red, violets are blue, and your Valentine’s Day can be green this year with a few smart gift picks.

December 23, 2012 - 5:22pm
Artificial Christmas trees may last longer, but experts say that real trees are ultimately more sustainable and Earth-friendly.

With Christmas around the corner, people are flooding into stores for presents and thinking about how to decorate their homes for the holiday. One of the biggest decisions is about the centerpiece decoration, the Christmas tree. If you're environmentally conscious, you may be wondering which is better: the real tree, or the artificial tree?

November 28, 2012 - 10:49pm
Bird-lovers can keep their feathered friends healthy and happy by regularly cleaning feeders. Here's how.

Many of us avian lovers long for this time of year. We hang up, suction cup or stake in the ground our feeders, fill them to the brim with seed, sneak back into the house and wait.

Before you know it, there are cardinals, chickadees, juncos, sparrows, doves and blue jays. They eat and bicker, waddle around, hop, flit away, come back, nibble, dip and dive until the seed is gone. But before you put out some more, take a closer look at your feeder and the surrounding area.

October 25, 2012 - 2:53pm
Try these fall dessert recipes that are better for the Earth — and for your health — than conventional candies.

Trick or treat, give me something good and full of artificial sweeteners and trans-fats to eat?

Halloween candy is tempting and only in season once a year. Plus, it comes in “fun” sizes, so you can eat more and without feeling guilty. Well, without feeling guilty until you look at the ingredient list, or until you eat 15 candy bars and your stomach revolts on you — whichever comes first.