There are a number of instances in the news recently where meat wasn't exactly what was expected. Infamous cases have recently revolved around horse meat being infused with (or being labeled entirely as) beef. The public has been in a state of outrage since these stories hit. However, this is merely the tip of the iceberg. There exists a similarly large problem in terms of meat misidentification. Illegal meats are being imported in large sums. Oftentimes under the guise of perfectly legal foodstuffs.
A recent criminal case highlights this issue. Sushi chefs in Santa Monica, California were indicted for importing illegal whale meat to their restaurant. They had sold the meat under different names and identifications. If convicted, the head chef can face nearly 70 years in prison.
There's an easy way to distinguish different kinds of meats in the importation process. In fact, it's the exact same technique that was used by organizations in determining the amount of equine meat in the "beef" scandals. Genetic testing.
Genetic testing makes it so that there is no question as to what is being imported. Each animal has its own unique genetic code; no two species are alike. This way, when someone claims its beef, it can be deemed to be beef instead of an illegal foodstuff. With enough usage, the process can completely eliminated all illegally imported meats.

The Appalachian Mountains are rich with coal seams, but coal mining practices have wreaked havoc on delicate Appalachian ecosystems. Coal mining companies don't mind. With sizable subsidies and tax incentives from state governments and little accountability for the environmental devastation they cause, coal companies are laughing all the way to the bank, right before they high tail it out of town and leave local communities to deal with the ecological fallout.
Today, coal is primarily used to produce electricity. By choosing to get your home electricity from power plants that use renewable resources, such as wind and solar power, you can help reduce the demand for coal and by extension, reduce the environmental devastation associated with coal mining. Before you throw up your hands in frustration and say, "I don't have a choice where my electricity comes from!" you may want to investigate whether you live in an area of the country with a deregulated energy market.
Deregulated energy markets give consumers the power to choose their energy provider. For instance, many areas of Texas have deregulated energy markets. (Click Here to learn more about choosing your energy provider in Texas.) Choosing your energy provider gives you a chance to save money when you choose a provider with lower rates than what you are currently paying. Choosing your energy provider also gives you a chance to save places like the Appalachian Mountains from egregious ecological harm by choosing a provider that gets its energy from renewable resources.
Score a double benefit of saving money and the environment when you shop around for the most responsible and affordable energy provider in a deregulated energy market. Changing your energy provider is quick and easy. You can switch and save with one simple phone call. Don't let coal mining companies needlessly destroy a beautiful place like the Appalachian Mountains! Choose a cleaner, greener energy provider today.

Rain forests are not a renewable resource. Our rain forests took decades and in many cases centuries to grow and clear cutting is the most damaging destruction that a rain forest will ever face. Not only will it destroy the dense forest, the ground won't be usable for farming or other uses for several years to come. The trees won't magically grow back in a few years nor will it be harvestable again in most of our lifetimes.

Let's focus instead on our renewable resources. Recycling is an important project for any thriving community. Glass, paper, plastic and even yard waste can be recycled into usable products without damaging our fragile forest ecosystems.You can find a quick rundown here

If your neighborhood doesn't recycle call your nearest recycling center and find out how you can get involved and bring this wonderful habit into your own local neighborhood. Meanwhile, start recycling yourself. All you need to get started is a container to place recyclables into. Make it a habit to recycle everything that is reusable and teach your children to do the same.

Making recycling a daily habit and planning a monthly trip to the recycling company will go far in saving the rain forests for future generations to enjoy.

The smallest room at home has the potential for being the biggest money and environment saving space. Going green in the laundry room starts by setting water temperature on the washer to cold and using dryer as little as possible. Indoor drying racks and clothes lines make air drying laundry the cheap, eco-friendly way to go.
Making your own laundry detergent is a green, cost effective option. With three ingredients, Fels Naptha soap, borax and washing soda (laundry detergent recipes abound online), a large container of laundry soap can be made that will only cost two cents per wash load to use.Check out this link here.
If making laundry detergent is not appealing, instead of buying chemical laundry additives use natural laundry cleaning boosters. A cup of white vinegar or baking soda added to wash load will boost detergent power and eliminate odors. Toothpaste (white, not gel) and an old toothbrush will remove almost any stain from fabric as well as commercial stain treatments.
Recycle laundry detergent jugs by thoroughly rinsing out all traces of detergent and use to discard hazardous medical supplies. Or buy pet food in bulk and use jugs to store (and easily pour) dry dog food. Fill a jug with kitty litter or ice melting salt and keep in car trunk during winter months.

Mosquitoes are no longer just an annoyance; they are carriers of deadly disease. The Centers for Disease Control is reporting an alarming rise in reports of West Nile Virus disease in the United States this summer; as of the third week in August, nearly 1,200 cases, including 41 deaths, have been confirmed. Why is this African disease spreading across North America?
Researchers in the U.S. and Canada have concluded that global warming may be responsible. Their findings, published in the online journal Environmental Health Perspectives, show increased temperatures and humidity levels have a corresponding increase in reported cases of West Nile Virus; hardest hit are the warm, humid regions of Texas and Louisiana.
The virus is not new to the United States, it was first reported in America in 1999, but the warming climate may be exacerbating the situation.
This has been a year of extreme weather events. An unusually warm winter made possible the early hatch of mosquito larvae; a damp, hot summer provided ideal breeding conditions for mosquitoes, and for the transmission of the West Nile Virus to humans.
As the temperatures in North America rise to become more like those of Africa, the incidents of insect-borne African diseases may rise as well.

Creating a green kitchen can be done by taking steps to reduce energy use and waste. You can follow a series of steps that will allow you to reach this goal.

Food Waste

Create a compost pile in your yard for food waste. This eliminates the need to put food in your garbage or sending it down a garbage disposal. You can use the compost for fertilizer in a garden or to use as an alternative to soil for potted plants.

Appliances

Consider replacing older appliances with new energy-efficient models. The biggest appliance used in a kitchen is the refrigerator. Replacing an older refrigerator with a newer model will reduce energy use in the kitchen.

Recycling

Paper and plastic items that are used in your kitchen can be recycled. Recycling will keep a lot of items out of landfills and helps keep your kitchen green.

Light Bulbs

Replace inefficient incandescent light bulbs with newer CFL bulbs. These bulbs do not burn as hot and have a much longer lifespan.

Water Use

Reduce the amount of water that is used by installing a low-flow aerator to your faucet. Find an aerator that is rated for 1 to 1.5 gallons per minute.

Hydraulic fracturing of shale rocks to obtain natural gas from deep underground, also known as fracking has become a popular form of gas production in the 21st century. The effect of fracking on the environment is a source of heated debate between the supporters of the mining technique and conservation groups.

To complete a fracking operation a well is drilled miles beneath the surface of the Earth using conventional drilling techniques. Once completed large amounts of water, sand and chemicals are injected at high pressure into the well to break up shale rock and access deposits of natural gas. In countries around the world fracking is seen as a way of reducing the amount of oil required for energy consumption; gas production is often highlighted as a way of reducing the release of greenhouse gases produced by oil.

Issues have been raised by the effect on the environment by the processes used in fracking. In the U.K., the nations first fracking operation was closed down following a series earthquakes on the north west coast of England that were linked to the newly opened gas well.

The issue of water contamination is one of the main problems raised about the use of fracking techniques. Water used as drinking supplies by humans and animals have been found to have high levels of contaminants, including methane, arsenic and ammonia in areas close to shale gas wells. Loss of the chemicals pumped into the well during production is of great concern to conservation groups opposed to fracking. Alongside health problems for human beings, animals producing meat and milk can be adversely affected by water contamination from fracking wells.