Tundra and Mountains wallpaper
What’s in that bottle? Congress says water unclear
Bottled water makers make millions off people who believe their products are purer than tap water, but consumers do not realize that they are less regulated than plain old tap water, according to a U.S. Congressional report released on Wednesday.
A GAO report stated that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s authority does not include standards for bottled water. So if someone should test some water and find potentially harmful impurities, the FDA’s ability to take action is limited. Startling statistics from the same article: it takes 2,000 times more energy to transport and produce bottled water then tap water and bottled water is 1,900 times more expensive. Since there seems to be a constant stream of TV ads for bottled water – TV spots can run as high as a hundred thousand dollars plus for a minute in prime time – much of the costs is convincing people to buy it.
Survey Shows Gap Between Scientists and the Public
On the whole, scientists believe American research leads the world. But only 17 percent of the public agrees, and the proportion who name scientific advances as among the United States’ most important achievements has fallen to 27 percent from nearly 50 percent in 1999, the survey found.
….According to the survey, about a third of Americans think there is lively scientific debate on both topics; in fact, there is no credible scientific challenge to the theory of evolution and there is little doubt that human activity is altering the chemistry of the atmosphere in ways that threaten global climate.
Disappointing, but not shocking. The general public has been behind the curve on science since Nicolaus Copernicus and his finding that the earth was not the center of the universe. In this 2007 article on scientific literacy, Scientific Literacy: How Do Americans Stack Up?, it notes
Why is it important to have a population wise in the ways of science? Miller listed several reasons, including the need for a more sophisticated work force; a need for more scientifically literate consumers, especially when it comes to purchasing electronics; and, equally as important, a scientifically literate electorate who can help shape public policy.
“Over recent decades, the number of public policy controversies that require some scientific or technical knowledge for effective participation has been increasing,” he said. “Any number of issues, including the siting of nuclear power plants, nuclear waste disposal facilities, and the use of embryonic stem cells in biomedical research point to the need for an informed citizenry in the formulation of public policy.”
To be classified as “scientifically literate,” Miller said one must be able to understand approximately 20 of 31 scientific concepts and terms similar to those that would be found in articles that appear in the New York Times weekly science section and in an episode of the PBS program “NOVA.”
The same article also says that Americans are doing better then some other countries at general science knowledge, with 28 percent of American adults rated as scientifically literate. On the other hand 28% is still an F.
Affordable green housing easily achievable
In Seattle this summer, Vulcan Real Estate proved that dense urban living can be both sustainable and affordable.
The Borealis Apartments project
It lists some of the particulars like Energy Star appliances and water saving fixtures, but does not say anything about energy features such as solar water heating. I got to this link through a news wire report that did not have a picture and feared the building was so dreary looking they didn’t want to show it, but as you can see from the small screen cap its has a nice clean modern look. The main site is here with a bigger photo.
