wish i could be there in nyc to experience this rainforest foundation performance. feist, sting, billy joel, and james taylor are just a few of the singing sensations performing to save the rainforest--being rainforest month and all. there's still time for you nyc locals to buy tickets. someone go and report back!
be sure to check out the empire state building tomorrow night too during the event. it will be lit up in green in honour of this month. cool huh?
ranked first in the short-term particle pollution category on the american lung association's annual state of the air report, pittsburgh dethroned reigning champion los angeles. the american lung association qualifies short-term particle pollution as a "deadly cocktail of ash, soot, diesel exhaust, chemicals, metals and aerosols... the body's natural defenses, coughing and sneezing, fail to keep these microscopic particles from burrowing deep within the lungs."
pittsburgh kept a close second against the champion los angeles in the most year-round particle pollution game.
these rankings may look bad for los angeles but the truth is they've made strides in improving their air quality, both year-round air pollution and smog.
still, there is much much much to be done nationwide. but there's clearly hope by the example of los angeles. they showed us that if you're really determined to change you can!
see how your city and state ranked.
even if your city isn't listed as a contender in poor air quality, please understand that smog is very very dangerous. it can creep into your system and stick around for periods of time and lead to heart attacks, asthma, difficulty in breathing, strokes, lung cancer and even early death. imagine, lung cancer without ever picking up a cigarette.
so you see, air quality and smog impact more than just our ozone layer.
read the horror story about donora, pennsylvania and their smog attack on halloween night in 1948. maybe it'll help you consider more ways you can improve the air around you. remember, doing your part helps more than you know. (the picture above is from that dreadful night.) from the lessons learned at donora the 1955 clean air act passed.
summer is fast approaching which means many of us will be heading toward a coastline. while we all know we need to lather up in sunscreen to protect ourselves, we must not forget about protecting our oceans. with so much coastline traffic
expected every summer, the oceans and beaches will be turned over with our debris and junk--abandoned sandcastle pails and shovels, food scraps, soda cans and beer bottles, etc--not to mention the pollution added to the air with all the minivans and suvs and other vehicles driving and waiting in lines of traffic.
learn more ways you can help preserve our oceans from both your home and when you're outside basking in the sun on one of the world's beaches. strap on your snorkeling mask and dive in with ariel on an educational ocean adventure to learn how.
the site, keep oceans clean, is embellished with ariel from walt disney's the little mermaid leading you through games, tips for parents and teachers, ideas for how you can help protect our oceans, and tv and radio ads for you to watch and listen to. it's fun. take a few minutes to check it out. if you have little ones, they can view it with you. they'll love the games and the tv spots.
do your part. educate yourself.
