A New Year!

We're starting off the new 2012-2013 school year with new leaders since the great Abigayel Phillips and Sharon Lin graduated this past year and are heading off to college! Jackie Goodwin, Sara & Katie Beland, and Ella Halpine are the new co-presidents of Amity Environmental Club! We hope to be active in our community and encourage others to do so as well! We're willing to volunteer as much as we can, as well as create projects to better our environment! Stay tuned for a brand new year for the club! Cheers!

Sponge Absorbs 180 Times Its Own Weight in Toxic Sludge

Chinese researchers have used adapted nanotechnology into carbon nano tubules which yield promising possibilities in the environmental sector. Designed as 99% porous, . these tubules are also hydrophobic; they will absorb anything but water. According to professor Anyuan Cao at Peking University, one of China's largest institutions, the nanotubules can also be used

"as filters, membranes, or absorbents to remove bacteria or contaminants from liquid or gas. They could also be used as noise-absorption layers in houses, and soldiers might benefit by using these sponges in impact energy absorbing components while adding little weight. Thermally insulated clothing is also possible."

Read the full story here or here

Africa's Western Black Rhino declared extinct

According to the world's conservation records, Africa's Western Black Rhino has been declared extinct. Other animals in Africa, such as gazelles, cheetahs, and African elephants are also endangered and on the verge of extinction. Check out wwf.org to see what you can do to help these innocent creatures.

Read more about the extinction of the Western Black Rhino HERE or HERE

Air Pollution: Bad For Health, But Good For Planet? (NPR)

LISTEN to the whole story here

Emerging studies on a very pressing issue today: global warming. As NPR reports,

"Cleaning up the air, while good for our lungs, could make global warming worse. That conclusion is underscored by a new study, which looks at the pollutants that go up smokestacks along with carbon dioxide."

There are new studies which show that reducing pollutants may actually hurt efforts in reducing global warming. Specifically, aerosols, which although make humans sick, also add nutrients to the environment and cool the atmosphere by increasing the CO2 absorbed by Earth.

Listen to the full story HERE

Dont' be bought by frauds: Greenwashing

Hello, here is an interesting radio program by Canada's CBC (like our NPR.) In a part of their series "The Age of Persuasion," it gives an overview over the use of false 'green' advertising to sell products. e.g. GREENWASHING

http://www.cbc.ca/video/news/audioplayer.html?clipid=1705775233