In a (somewhat) surprising decision – based on some of their past decisions – the Supreme Court has ruled that human genes cannot be patented. Phew. Looks like I still own my genes.

The Los Angeles Times reports that the Justices reached a unanimous ruling that human genes are a “product of nature” and thus cannot be patented or profited from. Biotech company Myriad Genetics Inc. had previously filed for patent protection on two genes linked to breast and ovarian cancers, which this ruling now tosses out.

A professor of pathology and genetics at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York, Dr. Harry Ostrer had brought the initial complaint against Myriad to the court after the company tried to stop him from testing his patients for a genetic mutation. It said he could only use its test to do so, at a cost of over $3,000.

In his writing for the court, Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas stated that “Myriad did not create anything” and that “to be sure, it found an important and useful gene, but separating that gene from its surrounding genetic material is not an act of invention.”

Even better than the stoppage of gene-patenting attempts is the fact that this should lead to more genetic testing and research on human disease. “This will drive down the costs of genetic testing. It should open up the competition and improve the quality of testing,” said Ostrer.

Imagine if Monsanto all of a sudden announced they wanted to own your genetic makeup? Think it’s far off? I don’t. After all, their genetically-modified seeds are in almost all the food we eat, meaning that we are consuming their genetic material. Will Monsanto someday argue in court that because you consumed food made from their seeds that they have the right to patent your genes?

Thankfully the court’s decision landed on the intelligent side of this argument to protect us from companies profiting off of our genetic material. Now if only they could turn corporations back into corporations and not allow them to remain “people.”

The Good Human

Fracking is big business. Proponents say it will solve our energy problems while opponents say it will destroy our water supplies, our land, and our crops. I am an opponent, in case you didn’t already know, as I think it’s a terrible process frought with way too many negatives. Any pluses that could possibly come from fracking are far outweighed by all the dangers, in my opinion. If you’re interested, check out my piece over at the Virgin site What’s all the fuss about fracking? for a little more about it along with some terrifying facts.

While Rome burns, most places around the world are twiddling their thumbs when it comes to banning fracking. Oftentimes it’s because the oil and gas companies throw good great money at them to let them drill as they please; it’s hard to turn down millions in revenue, especially in struggling communities. (Watch the Matt Damon and John Krasinski movie Promised Land if you haven’t yet – you’ll see what I mean) But some places are coming to their senses and realizing that if they don’t put bans and moratoriums in place, their very existence could be threatened by this natural gas boom. Here’s a look at some the places where fracking has been banned or has been stopped under a moratorium put in place by lawmakers.

Marcellus-Shale Gas Drilling Well in Southwestern Pennsylvania

Bans in the U.S.

Mora County, New Mexico Mora was the first county in the U.S. to ban fracking.

Vermont – Signed into law last year by Governor Peter Shumlin, Vermont became the first state in the U.S. to ban fracking. Shumlin said “drinking water will be more valuable than oil or natural gas” and proved himself a hero of the environmental movement.

Maryland – Mountain Lake Park was the first community in Maryland to ban it, and Governor Martin O’Malley has issued an executive order for a three year moratorium.

California – Looks like there will be a statewide ban on the practice as of 2013.

Colorado – Moratoriums and bans have been put in place in Boulder, Fort Collins, and Longmont.

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania – In 2010, the City of Pittsburgh banned fracking within city limits.

Secaucus, New Jersey – The mayor and Town Council agreed to ban fracking in 2010, calling for all of New Jersey to do the same. In 2012, it banned fracking waste from being disposed of in the state. Sadly, that won’t stop companies from drilling if they get the chance.

Woodstock, New York – Did you expect anything else from Woodstock? As of July 22, 2012, the town enacted new zoning laws prohibiting fracking within the town. Other New York towns banning hydraulic fracturing include Buffalo, Niagara Falls, Red Hook, Syracuse, Springfield, and Rochester.

Bans Around the Globe

France – As of 2011, France no longer will allow drilling.

Ireland – While it has not enacted a legally-binding ban, Ireland has stated that fracking will not be allowed within its borders.

South Africa – SA has fracking on the backburner through a moratorium

Bulgaria – In 2012, Bulgaria outlawed it.

Romania – The country maintains a moratorium while environmental studies are conducted.

Québec, Canada – The country’s natural resources minister has said that it would no longer allow hydraulic fracturing in the province.

If you care about the quality of your locale and your water supply, you will join the fight in getting fracking banned in as many places as possible. Need help getting started? Check out STOP FRACKING NOW! or No Fracking! for tips on how to make your voice heard. Oil and gas companies have a lot of money and manpower to use in this battle; we have to try to stand up to them to protect our natural environment. It’s a life or death situation.

Marcellus-Shale Gas Drilling image from BigStock.

The Good Human

A few green news stories to wrap up the week…

First off, I wanted to let you guys know about a product line I recently tested. Earth Friendly Products sent me a few items for free to test out around the house and I have to say I was pretty pleased with them. I usually make my own from vinegar and essential oils, but they sent me a bottle of Parsley Plus Cleaner that I seriously cannot get enough of. Non-toxic and made from 100% natural, plant-based, biodegradable ingredients, never tested on animals, and packaged in recyclable containers? Sold. The parsley smell is enough for me to want to clean the entire house repeatedly and I imagine I will run out of my sample bottle quite soon. Guess there’s a reason it was named “Most Addictive Cleaner” by Real Simple Magazine recently. Check it out if you are looking for a new cleaning product to try, I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.

Anti-GMO rallies and petitions are nothing new and the outcry is seemingly getting a little bit louder. But would it surprise you that when asked about environmental issues, concern about GM crops ranks last amongst US citizens but much higher for people living in China and India?

Speaking of China, it seems that the United States is no longer the hotbed for the electric car business. China is taking charge of the industry, as they invest a fortune in the technology. Ford and GM are losing out.

Like him or not, NYC Mayor Bloomberg keeps moving along on his priorities. This time, he has laid out an ambitious plan to protect his city from the effects of climate change. While I think his large soda ban was ridiculous, he has my full support in doing whatever he needs to prevent climate change from destroying his city. It may be too late to stop most effects we will be facing, but we still need to try to protect ourselves.

Meanwhile, President Obama continues to do nothing about climate change and environmental issues. So much for being the “environmental President” as many called him. The White House is now blocking several Department of Energy regulations to require that appliances and buildings use less energy, bypassing a 1993 executive order requiring action within 90 days. White House review times are now the longest in 20 years.

And finally, some good news. In a weird, you have to really read into this ruling way, a federal appeals court has put it on record that Monsanto cannot sue farmers for accidentally growing small amounts of patented crops – something they have been doing for years. By telling farmers that they were “imagining a threat that doesn’t exist” when they tried to sue Monsanto to protect themselves, the court basically told Monsanto that if the farmers don’t have to sue to protect themselves, then Monsanto can’t sue these farmers either. Confusing, I know.

Have a great weekend everyone.

The Good Human

Hospitals require electrical power 24/7 because of all the medical equipment that runs on electricity. The electricity in Haiti is very unreliable – power often goes down for several hours a day. This means that hospitals that rely solely on grid power are incredible fragile for their patients.

This newly built 205,000 square feet hospital in Haiti runs entirely on electricity from solar power. 1,800 photovoltaic solar panels will make sure make sure that the hospital has access to electricity at all times. This makes Hôpital Universitaire de Mirebalais (University Hospital of Mirebalais) the largest solar-powered hospital to date.

Since it`s opening in March, the hospital has treated more than 4,000 patients.

It will provide care to over 185,000 people in nearby communities, but also expects to treat patients from all over Port-au-Prince (almost one million people in total)

Much as net metering in the U.S. and in the rest of the world, on days when the solar panels produce more electricity than what is needed by the hospital, the excess power is fed onto the national grid. This way, the energy can be put to use by nearby buildings and will not end up as waste.

“This is an incredibly simple system to maintain… All we need to do is rinse the panels quarterly with water.” Says Jim Ansara, which is the hospital`s director of design and construction.

The project has been made possible by a wide array of different supporters including American Red Cross, Bank of America and GE from America. The solar panels were brought to the hospital through a longstanding partnership with Solar Electric Light Fund (SELF).

Solar power can be incredible useful in countries that lack in infrastructure but are rich in sun. Read more about solar panels at Energy Informative.

The Good Human

Seems we still have a lot of work to do if we want to stop catastrophic climate change…

According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), CO2 emissions rose by 1.4 percent in 2012 to 31.6 billion tons, setting a new record along the way. China was the biggest polluter last year, putting out over 300 million tons of CO2, and the United States actually cut its emissions to 200 million tons. That’s about what it released in 1995.

We are on track for an average temperature increase of between 3.6 and 5.3 degrees Celsius this century, says the IEA, which is way above the figure needed to prevent climate change from pretty much wiping us out.

We would need to keep temperature increases to less than 2 degrees Celsius in order to save ourselves.

“Global energy-related greenhouse gas emissions in 2020 are projected to be nearly 4 billion tons higher than a level consistent with attaining the 2 degree target, highlighting the scale of the challenge still to be tackled just in this decade,” the agency said, according to Reuters.

If we are to make a difference, we are going to need to make dramatic changes in our energy sources, energy use, emissions laws, and consumer habits. Whether or not our governments will force those changes remains to be seen, but so far they most definitely are not doing enough. That’s why it’s up to you to make change.

The United Nations is currently holding negotiations aimed at cutting emissions, but we all know how those turn out. All those COP conventions rarely result in anything other than creating more CO2 pollution because of the sheer number of people flying around the world to “solve” the climate crisis.

That’s like trying to lose weight while only eating ice cream, pizza, and cheese; it will never work.

Global Warming Factory Emissions Pollution image from BigStock.

The Good Human

Q: I’m concerned about toxic ingredients in my cleaning supplies, especially now that I have young children. Where can I find safer alternatives to toxic cleaning products?

It is true that many household cleaners contain potentially toxic substances, so parents especially should make an effort to keep them out of the reach of children or, better yet, replace them with safer alternatives.

“We use a wide array of scents, soaps, detergents, bleaching agents, softeners, scourers, polishes and specialized cleaners for bathrooms, glass, drains and ovens to keep our homes sparkling and sweet-smelling,” reports the Organic Consumers Association. “But [many] contribute to indoor air pollution, are poisonous if ingested and can be harmful if inhaled or touched.” The group adds that household cleaning products are responsible for almost 10 percent of all toxic exposures reported to U.S. poison control centers, with more than half of cases involving kids under six years old.

According to the Washington Toxics Coalition, leading offenders include corrosive drain cleaners, oven cleaners and toilet bowl cleaners. Contact with these chemicals can cause severe burns on the eyes and skin and can damage the throat and esophagus if ingested. The chlorine and ammonia contained in some can each cause similar problems, and the hazardous gases unleashed when they combine can be lethal. Other ingredients to avoid for many reasons include diethanolamine (DEA), triethanolamine (TEA), 1,4-dioxane, ethoxylated alcohols, butyl cellosolve (aka ethylene glycol monobutyl ether), and p-nonylphenol.

Meanwhile, the fragrances added to many cleaning products can cause respiratory irritation, headaches and other symptoms in those with chemical sensitivities, allergies or asthma. And since fragrance formulas are considered trade secrets, manufacturers aren’t required to disclose constituent ingredients, leaving even educated consumers in the dark regarding what kind of nasty chemicals they may be spreading around their homes just to, ironically, make their cleaning products smell less chemically.

Fortunately there are plenty of safer alternatives available today, but deciding which ones are truly healthier or just designed to look that way isn’t so easy. That’s where the Environmental Working Group (EWG) comes in. The group’s “Guide to Healthy Cleaning” rates and reviews over 2,100 household cleaning products on the basis of health and environmental safety. EWG lists top products in each cleaning category—from dishwashing and laundry detergents to kitchen and bath cleaning to floor and furniture care—and also offers a “label decoder” that helps consumers learn how to spot trouble on product labels and ingredient lists. Some of the brands that garner high marks from EWG in more than one category include Ecover, Earth Friendly Products, Seventh Generation and Green Shield. Look for these online as well as at Whole Foods or other markets with big selections of healthy or natural products.

EWG also maintains a Hall of Shame where it lists cleaning products that either “greenwash” consumers with misleading label information or contain hazardous ingredients (or are banned abroad but still available in the U.S.). EWG makes all of this information free on its website, but a $5 donation will get you a wallet card packed with tips on how to read home cleaning product labels and shop smarter.

CONTACTS: Organic Consumers Association; Washington Toxics Coalition; EWG’s Guide to Healthy Cleaning.

EarthTalk is written and edited by Roddy Scheer and Doug Moss and is a registered trademark of E The Environmental Magazine (www.emagazine.com). Send questions to: earthtalk@emagazine.com. Subscribe: www.emagazine.com/subscribe; Free Trial Issue: www.emagazine.com/trial. Fully protected in yellow uniform image from BigStock.

The Good Human

First, some good green news. On Monday, Connecticut became the first state in the U.S. to pass a bill that would require labels on foods containing genetically modified ingredients. The bill isn’t perfect nor all-encompassing, but it sure is a nice start.

And the winner of most depressing headline of the year is… Is the US About to Become One Big Factory Farm for China? The Chinese corporation Shuanghui International has just bought US giant Smithfield, the globe’s largest hog producer and pork packer, for $4.7 billion in cash.

Los Angeles may still be the traffic capital of the country, but strict emissions standards have made a difference. Air quality has improved and ozone concentrations have seen significant reductions. Now if they could just make it so it doesn’t take hours to get to the airport… which was 20 miles away from my house.

The U.S. food supply, from meat to vegetables, is under assault. If we don’t clean up our act it won’t be long before choice disappears from our dinner plates.

Don’t mess with Texas. A Canadian company is repairing a bunch of defects in the Keystone XL oil pipeline in Texas…and residents are not happy. This pipeline is going to be incredibly destructive when it’s finally operational. So glad Obama decided not to stop it. Environmental President? I think not.

And finally, another piece of good news. A frog long thought extinct actually isn’t. The Hula painted frog was the first amphibian to officially be declared extinct back in 1996 but was recently found in Israel by a park ranger.

Have a great weekend, everyone.

The Good Human

You want to see change in the world? Get involved. It’s up to you.

Think Walmart actually cares about the environment enough to start putting a few solar panels on the roof of their buildings?

Nope.

They do it because some of their customers demand it and it makes for good PR in the news. And recently, Proctor and Gamble got some press for making their workplace “zero waste” while the newspaper completely disregarded the fact that the company’s main product – plastic, single-use disposable razors – is anything but zero waste.

Corporations are not willingly going to change their behavior for the benefit of the planet. They only change for shareholders, loss of profits, and good PR. Anything else is a wasted effort. And that’s why it’s vital that we use our voices and actions to make a difference.

Sitting at home yelling at the computer won’t do anything. Action will.

There’s a reason why The Nature Conservancy continues to take millions of dollars from Monsanto while claiming to protect the environment – because they can. No one asks them to stop. No one cancels their membership because of it. The press won’t pick it up and many environmentalists don’t want to rock the boat. But how can giving money to an environmental group help protect the environment when your money is directly competing with the likes of Monsanto?

The recent collapse of a garment factory in Bangladesh got me thinking about all of this. How many human lives will it cost before we are willing to spend more than $4 on a t-shirt or $20 on a pair of jeans? How many lives are worth saving a few pennies or dollars? That incident killed 1,127 men, women, and teenagers who were toiling many, many hours a day to make clothing for the American market. They were paid around $.18 per hour so we could buy cheap clothes. Does that seem right to you?

$.18 per hour.

If we were willing to pay just a few pennies more per shirt, it would more than double the pay of those workers. That wouldn’t affect anyone’s bottom line here in America, regardless of whether the shopper were rich or poor. But it would sure make a difference for those workers. However, the only way that is going to happen is if we speak out to those brands not willing to up their prices and pay their workers more money; they aren’t going to do it willingly. And if they aren’t willing to do it, take your shopping dollars elsewhere.

There are plenty of brands out there making quality products paying fair wages.

Big changes come from small places, and good thing – it’s not going to come from the top. It’s going to come from the end user. That’s you and me. Companies will change tactics and behaviors if confronted with customers not too keen on continuing to support them if they don’t.

Nothing will change on its own.

You want change? Make it happen.

Don’t wait for Walmart, the government, or Al Gore to save the world. Force change. Act. Get involved. It’s up to you.

Action Changes Things Acronym image from BigStock.

The Good Human

The Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy have jointly created a tool to make it easier to judge the viability of contaminated land for use in solar and wind energy projects.

Designed for energy developers, the “decision trees” (solar_decision_tree.pdf) enable state and local governments, landowners, and clean-up project managers to evaluate the 11,000 potentially contaminated properties (nearly 15 million acres) in the U.S. which could be used for renewable energy projects. Combined, the sites are estimated to be able to provide over one million megawatts (MW) of renewable energy generation potential, enough to power 2 to 3 million homes annually.

The decision trees use a three step process to evaluate Superfund sites, nuclear waste sites, old coal mines, landfills, parking lots, and other hazardous waste sites for solar potential and other alternative energy projects. Taking into account location, land-use restrictions, distance from transmission lines, community support, and other considerations, the trees act as a pre-screen of potential sites before money is spent and detailed site assessments are done. If a site doesn’t pass the inexpensive pre-screening, energy planners can move on to consider another parcel or location prior to making large investments of time and money.

Because cities and towns are often against allowing prime real estate to be covered with solar arrays or wind turbines, finding alternatives on local contaminated land could serve to turn previously unusable land into something positive for the community. New solar, wind, and geothermal projects on these lands will result in site remediation, clean energy sources, and a reduction of harmful emissions, along with an increase in property values, additional tax revenue and more local jobs.

Richmond, Calif. is the pilot community for the decision tree program. For more information, visit the Siting Renewable Energy on Potentially Contaminated Land and Mine Sites page over the EPA site.

Photo from EPA

The Good Human

Many Americans are heeding the call to go green, but for those still resisting the main reason is often the exorbitant cost. While trading in that gas-guzzler for a Tesla and installing solar panels on your roof are still idealistic luxuries, there are several affordable changes you can make to your lifestyle today to reap the benefits of going green – and one great place to start is with your diet. Work the following tips into yours and you can reduce your carbon footprint and save money at the same time.

1. Buy Locally Grown Ingredients
Purchase your fruits and vegetables from a local farm or farmers market in your area. You can eat fresher ingredients and significantly reduce carbon emissions caused by the transportation of groceries. Farmers markets offer a wider variety of produce, competitive pricing, and quality equal to, if not better than, your local grocer. Plus, everyone benefits from a little support of their neighborhood mom-and-pop stands.

2. Eat In More
Dining out costs money. Even if you just factor in the cost of buying lunch on workdays at $10 per day, that adds up to more than $2,000 a year. Brown-bagging lunches and carefully planning out breakfasts and dinners can make for serious savings on your grocery bill – and, even more importantly, you control what goes into your body. The energy restaurants expend running industrial dishwashers, lights, and air conditioning are significant. Plus, you can help lower carbon emissions by driving less frequently to your local dining establishment.

3. Eat Less Meat
Livestock accounts for almost 20% of the world’s greenhouse gases – more than carbon-emitting vehicles. If Americans reduce their red-meat consumption by just one hamburger per week, it would equate to taking a car off the road for some 320 miles. Red meat generally costs more than chicken or pork, plus it’s high in cholesterol and arguably makes you more vulnerable to food poisoning, according to a study published in Nature. There are plenty of tasty and frugal recipes without red meat, so don’t be afraid to explore new territory.

4. Start a Garden
By planting a backyard home garden you can eat 100% freshly grown, pesticide-free, super-cheap organic foods. Give your body great exercise working outside and reduce your carbon footprint by relying less on trips to grocery stores. And don’t fret if you live in a small space – window box gardens are easy and fun to maintain, too. Studies have shown that kids who help grow things are more likely to try new foods, so if you do want to give them that experience and really don’t have the facilities, investigate whether your town has a community garden – then sign on.

5. Drink Tap Water
Countless empty water bottles find their way into landfills every day. They take years and years to break down, and when they finally do, they release toxic chemicals into the environment. The price markup on bottled water is massive, benefiting no one but the manufacturers. And if you think bottled water is always healthier than what comes out of the spigot, you’re mistaken. In fact, many U.S. cities have begun to ban bottled water. H2O straight from the tap can be safe and healthy and save you as much as $1,000 per year. If you insist on drinking filtered, however, consider distilling your own.

Final Thoughts
Incremental, cost-effective lifestyle changes that benefit both your family’s health and the health of the environment are a no-brainer – and there are plenty of them out there. By doing your part as a global citizen you can help heal the planet and leave it in a better state for your children’s children. So don’t wait, and get started greening your diet today.

What other ways can you think of to green your diet and save money?

David Bakke is a contributor for Money Crashers and writes about important topics such as going green, saving money (and the environment), and giving back to the community at large. Photo by alice_henneman

The Good Human