Earth Talk | Butt, seriously

Roddy Scheer

Dear EarthTalk: Has anyone ever studied the environmental impact of discarded cigarettes? I’m constantly appalled at the number of drivers I see pitching their butts out their car windows? – Ned Jordan, via e-mail It’s true that littered cigarette butts are a public nuisance, and not just for aesthetic reasons. The filters on cigarettes—four fifths…

Peacebuilding alum talks practical app of nonviolence

AFP

Her name is Leymah Gbowee, a 2007 graduate of Eastern Mennonite University’s Center for Justice and Peacebuilding. Before coming to EMU, Gbowee emerged into the world spotlight when she and a brave group of ordinary women, mostly mothers, banded together to do the unimaginable – use nonviolent methods to confront Liberia’s despotic president Charles Taylor…

Kaine announces stimulus funds for bridges

Chris Graham

Gov. Timothy M. Kaine on Thursday announced that 119 bridges across the Commonwealth will be replaced or repaired using funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The Commonwealth Transportation Board has awarded seven construction contracts to replace 119 structurally deficient bridges across the state that would otherwise have gone unaddressed. The awarded contracts, totaling…

Mark Warner | Supporting Virginia’s small businesses

Chris Graham

We have seen some promising signs in recent weeks that our economy is on the path toward recovery, but I continue to hear from small business owners across Virginia about their difficulties in getting access to credit. While Congress took unprecedented action last fall to help stabilize Wall Street, we can do more to support…

Press Gaggle | Deputy Press Secretary Bill Burton

Chris Graham

Friday, Oct. 23 MR. BURTON: Good morning. Thank you for joining us on our trip to Massachusetts and Connecticut. I have a week ahead for you all. The President will spend this weekend in Washington, he has no scheduled public events. On Monday afternoon the President will travel to Jacksonville, Florida, to meet with U.S….

Earth Talk | How does geothermal work?

Roddy Scheer

Dear EarthTalk: How are heating, cooling and electricity produced by geothermal energy? I don’t understand how it works. – Delano Stewart, Wyandanch, N.Y. The term “geothermal” is derived from the Greek words for Earth (geo) and heat (therme). In essence geothermal energy is power harnessed from the Earth itself. Heat from the Earth’s core, which…