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Giant Ocean-Trash Vortex Attracts Explorers

"The Eastern Pacific Garbage Patch, situated in remote waters between California and Hawaii, is created by ocean currents that pick up millions of tons of the world's discarded plastic.  As much as 10 percent of the 260 million tons of plastic produced annually ends up in the oceans, much of it in trash vortices like the Pacific garbage patch. This summer, two separate expeditions will set sail for the patch to document the scope of the problem and call global attention to disastrous ocean pollution." [National Geographic]

Related:

• US Scientists Study Huge Plastic Patch in Pacific [Reuters]

Beijing's Smog Back Year After Olympics

"One year after staging a mostly pollution-free Olympics, Beijing has seen its skies shrouded in haze again, highlighting what observers call a mixed Olympic legacy on the environment. Amid fears the city's chronic smog could damage athlete's health, Beijing took drastic steps to prevent that last August, moving or cleaning up polluting factories, curbing traffic, and ordering a halt to all construction work." [AFP - Yahoo]

Save the Planet: Have Fewer Kids

"For people who are looking for ways to reduce their "carbon footprint," here's one radical idea that could have a big long-term impact, some scientists say: Have fewer kids. A study by statisticians at Oregon State University concluded that in the United States, the carbon legacy and greenhouse gas impact of an extra child is almost 20 times more important than some of the other environment-friendly practices people might employ during their entire lives - things like driving a high mileage car, recycling, or using energy-efficient appliances and light bulbs." [LiveScience - Yahoo]

Refrigerator Recycling Programs Take Off

"Programs that allow homeowners to trade in their old refrigerators and scoop up a rebate — a sort of “cash for clunkers” system for the fridge — are spreading quickly across the country." [Green, Inc. - New York Times]

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Critics Say 'Clunkers' Program Isn't Very Green

"The "cash for clunkers" program was designed to move new cars off the lots, and so far it's working. But it was also supposed to help the environment by replacing gas guzzlers with more fuel-efficient vehicles. Whether that's working is another story." [All Things Considered - NPR]