Here are some of our best stories:
Source-NOAA and Woods Hole Sea Grant. Graphics by Oliver Lude
Marine Debris: What Trash Does to Our Oceans. WASHINGTON, March 11, 2014—A significant amount of the world’s waste ends up in our oceans. Each year, Americans alone produce 200 million tons of garbage, enough to fill a football stadium from top to bottom twice a day. Much of it ends up in waterways and coastal areas, posing a threat to wildlife, ecosystems and coastal communities.
Angela Corey
Marissa Alexander, FL Stand Your Ground: Better Shoot to Kill? WASHINGTON, March 5, 2014—Given that both George Zimmerman and Michael Dunn were acquitted of killing unarmed teenagers by using Florida’s controversial Stand Your Ground Law, it would be reasonable to think that a battered woman–shooting a warning shot at her abuser during an altercation where nobody was ultimately injured by the shot–would be able to use the law to avoid culpability as well.
Malinda Rathnayake, Flickr Creative Commons
Monsanto Herbicide Linked to Deadly Kidney Disease, Study Finds. WASHINGTON, March3, 2014—Glyphosate, the active ingredient in Monsanto’s Roundup and several other herbicides, may be linked to an epidemic of fatal kidney disease in Sri Lanka, Central America and India, according to a new studypublished in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.
Estelle Shaw
Tips For Busy Women and Moms To Build Healthy, Soul Indulging Daily Habits. Too busy and frazzled to be excited for spring or summer? Are you juggling kids, career, errands and everything else that makes your calendar look like an endless list of to-do’s? Most moms can relate right? That’s why it’s important to pamper your inner goddess (remember her?!) on a daily basis, otherwise, you run the risk of feeling depleted and stressed! It’s difficult to schedule ‘me-time’ when so much of our lives revolve around the well-being of others. But did you know that making self-care a daily habit not only alleviates stress, but it also contributes to longevity? We all know that excise, a healthy diet and plenty of sleep are the building blocks of wellness, but there are other little things you can do every day to pamper yourself. Think of it as fuel for your inner goddess!
Caracas, Feb. 12, 2014, durdaneta, Wikimedia Commons
Crisis in Venezuela. WASHINGTON, February 21, 2014—Violent clashes between the government and protestors in Venezuela continued Friday for yet another day. As the crisis escalates, the prospect of a peaceful resolution seems less possible.Demonstrations in Venezuela began at the beginning of February in the city of San Cristóbal, sparked by the attempted rape of a student. Students took to the streets, demanding President Nicolás Maduro’s government address the general lack of security and widespread violence, as Venezuela grapples with one of the highest murder rates in the world. Authorities allegedly detained and beat protestors, sparking student demonstrations throughout the country.
Barry Peters, Wikimedia Commons
Shark Conservation: Colombia Announces Continuing Commitment.WASHINGTON, February 27, 2014—Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos expressed his country’s intent to expand existing legal protection of sharks and plans to halt the import and export of sharks and shark parts. The remarks were part of a video presented at The Economist’s World Ocean Summit, a three-day event beginning February 24 in San Francisco.We are looking for a handful of contributors with strong writing skills.
