To tighten the belt on childhood obesity, a British government agency recently proposed that all ads for junk food be banned from television before 9 p.m. But according to Dr. Elizabeth Whelan of the American Council on Science and Health, there are some weighty problems to such heavy-handed government intervention. For starters, how does one distinguish between junk foods and healthy foods, since fruit juices, for example, are high in sugar, while avocados, butter, and cheese are high in fat. Since she also points out that in a well-balanced diet, there is room for moderate intake of fun foods [...]

Fifty years ago, the chief architect of our interstate highway system said his roads would take Americans "from anywhere to everywhere." Well, Americans do enjoy their interstate mobility, but in America's major cities, traffic congestion now causes some 3.7 billion hours of delay, and wastes over 2 billion gallons of fuel per year. That's why, according to Ted Balaker of the Reason Foundation, there's mounting support for public-private partnerships that are using new toll roads and variably priced toll lanes to ease the congestion. Indeed, with Texas now embarking on a privately financed, $7 billion road from San Antonio [...]

Those fearful of catastrophic climate change often point to Europe as model to follow in limiting carbon dioxide emissions. But as pointed out in a startling study by the group Open Europe, it appears the EU's emissions trading system is anything but stellar. Comments study author Hugo Robinson: "The EU's emissions trading system is costing a lot, but it isn't working. Emissions have actually increased, and member states have opted to buy in vast numbers of carbon offsets from developing countries rather than make real reductions in emissions. These offsets are often not reducing emissions but subsidizing polluters. The [...]

Everyone knows that organic farming is good for the environment, right? Well, many think so because organics don’t use chemical pesticides, but it appears some are beginning to take a second look at organic farming because of its contribution to – you guessed it, global warming! Organic farming, you see, requires more ploughing to control weeds than modern high-tech farming, and this tillage of the land increases CO2 emissions significantly. When you also consider that expanding organic farming means there will be a need for a lot more animal manure as fertilizer, and animal manure of course comes from [...]

Proponents of catastrophic global warming often say there is unanimity among experts that the issue is settled with respect to the science. But in a much heralded report by the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Minority Committee, there are a large number of scientists who disagree with this assertion. Comments study author, Marc Morano: “Our report features the skeptical voices of over 650 prominent international scientists, including U.N. scientists, who have now turned against the U.N.’s assessment on the science surrounding global warming. The over 650 dissenting scientists are more than 12 times the number of scientists who [...]

People who like to sit around all day eating snacks and watching television may not mind the term, "couch potato." But don't tell that to actual potato farmers in England who have petitioned the Oxford English Dictionary to have the term removed. According to the Guardian newspaper, a spokeswoman for the British Potato Council explained that the group is trying to get rid of the image that potatoes are bad for you, and thus, recently organized demonstrations in London outside the offices of the Oxford University Press, as well as in Parliament Square. And what term might the farmers [...]

How much disease and death around the world could be prevented through healthier environments? Well the answer is quite a lot, according to an important new global study by the World Health Organization. The study found that approximately 1/4 of all premature deaths around the world, and more than 1/3 of those among children, were attributable to various environmental factors. Most significant among these were diarrhea caused by unsafe drinking water and sanitation, and lower respiratory infections caused by the indoor burning of solid fuels like wood and dung. But in some respects, this report also offers encouragement, since [...]

You’ve probably heard about carbon taxes on automobiles and power plants, but how about on cows and pigs? Well believe it or not, if the EPA has its way, farmers who own more than 25 dairy cows, 50 beef cattle, or 200 hogs may be taxed between $20 and $175 for each animal because of their alleged contribution to global warming. Yes, you heard it right, in an effort to lower methane emissions, which is a greenhouse gas, the EPA has proposed taxing farmers for their carbon output, which could cost the owner of a modest-sized ranch somewhere around [...]

You might have heard of biodiesel produced from corn, sugar cane or even algae – but how about fungus? Well according to the Environmental News Network, researchers have uncovered a peculiar strain of fungus, found in the Patagonian rainforest, that could one day be used to fuel our cars. The fungus is reported to be a superior source for creating biofuel because it produces myco-diesel directly from cellulose, which means both a reduction in costs and carbon release. And since it can be grown in factories instead of harvested from farmland, scientists say it also shouldn’t threaten food supplies [...]

While much attention has been spent on the greenhouse emissions of the U.S. and China, little has been said about Russia. But that may soon change. This, according to Planet Ark, which reports that the world’s number three greenhouse gas emitter may soon take center stage because of its reluctance to sign onto any new global warming treaty which might harm its economy. Indeed, Alexander Pankin, Russia’s chief climate negotiator, recently said “if the conditions for the international agreement are not favorable, Russia may not join such an agreement.” With the prospects for a new treaty even more stringent [...]

Are the economic benefits of allowing development in off-shore drilling, ANWR and the shale-rich deposits of the Rockies worthwhile? Well the answer is “Yes,” according to Robert Gordon of the Heritage Foundation, who has this to say: “A recent study found that development of resources in places that are currently off-limits could lift U.S. crude oil production by as much as 2 million barrels per day by 2030, offsetting nearly a fifth of the nation's imports. It also found that natural gas production could be offset by 61 percent by 2030, and that expanding domestic energy production could generate [...]

Once the subject of folklore among Native Americans, the Ovis canadensis – or Bighorn sheep – used to flourish in millions throughout America’s Rocky Mountains. But by the early 1900's, hunting and disease had reduced that number to only a few thousand. Today conservation efforts to bring back the Bighorn are underway, though not without controversy. Many sheep ranchers are understandably concerned that reintroduction efforts will limit feeding grounds for their flocks, while environmentalists insist large buffer zones are needed protect the sheep from potentially disease-carrying domestic sheep. Conservation officials will no doubt have their hands full with these [...]

In the summer of 2003, 10 million people in the Northeast suffered through an electricity blackout due to a system-wide failure. What can prevent even more such problems as demand for electricity continues to outpace the grid’s ability to handle the flow? Well according to a recent article by energy analyst William Yeatman, one answer may be to simply lessen government control over electricity, and allow for real competition to bring needed reform. Giving incentives for more off-peak power usage, having independent producers team up to build new underground networks, and promoting new micro-turbines that could bypass the grid [...]

If you own an electric motorcycle or hybrid car, you probably know about rechargeable lithium-ion batteries that help power you along the way. But what if you heard about a new Super Charge Ion battery that could charge up to 90% capacity in just 5 minutes, and last for more than ten years, even if it is recharged many times. Well according to the Environmental News Network, one Japanese company is developing just such a battery, which could be available in the coming year. The key factor is that instead of using a carbon-based negative electrode, these batteries use [...]

A recent report by the California Air Resources Board claims that the state’s plan to reduce global warming emissions will save consumers $14 billion in fuel costs, thanks to increased fuel efficiency. But according to an article in the Orange County Register by policy analyst William Yeatman, the costs have been underestimated, while the benefits are overblown. For starters, the California board used the highest possible estimate for future gas prices, even through increased fuel-efficiency would lower the price of fuel. In addition, since lower fuel costs are an incentive for more driving, this plan would likely increase air [...]