In an effort to drum up attention and support for their algae-based biofuel, Sapphire Energy has announced they will conduct a coast-to-coast journey in their “Algaeus” plug-in hybrid. Part electric hybrid, part biofuel vehicle, Sapphire claimes the Algaeus will get 150 miles per gallon from its hybrid/biofuel drivetrain.

The Algaeus will visit 10 cities, starting in San Francisco on September 8th and ending in New York City on the 18th.

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For years and years parents have taken their children to zoos to see exotic animals, animals that they don’t get to see everyday. They want to see lions and tigers and bears. Oh my! High on the the list of animals to be seen are elephants, nature’s gentle giants. These cute, (hardly) cuddly animals are the largest of the land mammals. But all of that could change. Elephants could be removed from zoos forever if In Defense of Animals (IDA) and a handful of scientists and activists get their way.

June 20 highlighted the International Day of Action for Elephants in Zoos.  In Defense of Animals (IDA) and activists in over 30 cities worldwide (including L.A., Washington D.C., and more) participated in a day of demonstration to inform the public about the travesty of keeping Dumbo locked up - even Salt Lake City had one demonstrator brave the torrential rain in order to bring justice to our big grey friends.

Elliot M. Katz, DVM, President of IDA said that ”Zoos can no longer ignore the mounting scientific evidence of the devastating effects of captivity on elephants.” Infanticide, Herpes and tuberculosis are just a few of the ailments prevalent in captive elephants, and zoo populations are not self sustaining, unlike populations in natural environments.

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Salt Lake City, UT - There is nothing earth-shattering about what is going on at the Attorney General’s office in Salt Lake City, Utah. It’s quite the opposite. The Utah AG’s office is taking a small step in the right direction to save, not shatter, our planet.

The Utah Attorney General’s office in Salt Lake City has recently revamped its recycling program. Prior to April of this year, the AG’s office recycled through a private company, Columbus Secure Shredding (CSS), which also disposed of confidential documents. This allowed for the recycling of white paper, and number 1 and 2 plastics.

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A resident of Salt Lake City since 2006, Apa, 49, has now climbed Everest a record 19 times since 1990 — including twice in 1992. His most recent ascent was part of a WWF Nepal campaign to raise awareness of how climate change is impacting the Himalayas.

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That’s the pitch Westminster College in Salt Lake City is making to its students: sign a pledge to use alternative transportation four or more times a month, and we’ll give you a free pass to use the Utah Transit Authority (UTA) as much as you like.

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“We live in a desert,” the editorial reads. “Precipitation is sparse. And still we try to make Utah yards look like lawns in Ohio … Ultimately, our attempt to paint the desert green is unsustainable.”

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The Tin Angel Cafe is right across from Pioneer Park at 365 West 400 South. (Addresses in Salt Lake City and in much of the rest of Utah, after some initial confusion, are incredibly helpful — an address actually provides directions to the location.) The funky ambiance manages to avoid both kitsch and preciousness, not a mean feat. The outdoor patio is a fun space overlooking the park across the street, but temperatures were in the 90s at 8:30 on a mid-June evening, and we opted to sit inside.

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Here’s a shocker (not really): living in a walkable neighborhood reduces your chances of being overweight.

It should seem obvious, but a new study from the University of Utah has tracked the connection between walkable neighborhoods and weight statistically. The researchers found that the average guy living in a walkable neighborhood weighed 10 pounds less than his more car-dependent counterpart, while the average woman weighed six pounds less.

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We feel that protecting your child, while also supporting America’s economy, are of utmost importance.We know that toys made in America are constructed with safe materials and built by fair labor practices.

One of our family’s favorite toys from Down to Earth Toys is the Lunastix Enchanted Juggling Sticks. If you have ever been to an outdoor concert, you have probably seen someone playing with Lunastix. The kid size version of the juggling sticks is fun for children to play with and master, and they are great for hand-eye coordination. Children’s (and parents’) dexterity, balance, focus, and perseverance improve as they learn to do tricks with the sticks. Let me tell you, it is not as easy as it appears.

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Let's pretend for a moment that Global Warming is truly a natural act that we have no control over. If the consensus gelled with the science, would we still not act on the pollution choking our lungs? Would we ignore the damaging waste fed into our rivers, the mercury ingested by our children, or the garbage clogging our landfills? These very issues harbor just as much danger as global warming. Climate change is simply something we can all rally behind with the solutions to stopping it also playing a role in curing some of our other ailments. To dismiss it would be turning our backs on dangers we can truly see, feel, touch, and die from.

One perfect example of an issue we can all relate to is smog. Emissions from cars, factories, even fireplaces can all contribute to this toxic 'soup' that reduces visibility, leads to lung damage, and can contribute to asthma or other respiratory diseases. In Salt Lake City, Utah, this year's smog has become a major issue. With the city and surrounding counties sitting in a "bowl-like" geographic feature stuck between mountains and valleys, smog rarely has anywhere to go. As a result, the pollution can stretch almost 120 miles from north to south! And it's getting worse.

During the winter of 2006, Salt Lake City has 3 red alerts: warnings where motorists are encouraged to get off the roads, children are taken inside, and fires are discouraged. This year, the city has had 25 red alerts, with one jogger commenting that he hasn't spent a day of January outside due to the pollution!

Similar to stars disappearing from light pollution, those that travel to Utah looking for beautiful scenery have been squinting to pick out anything through the yellow haze. The area is awaiting a storm to push the smog away and let others benefit from the "soup".

And so, while climate change will slowly start to impact us over the next several decades, we've already created a veritable nightmare scenario. Instead of checking for rain or snow, some parts of the country must daily check air-quality ratings. How can we call ourselves an advanced society when we're poisoning ourselves willingly? Global warming may or may not be the end of the world, but go for a run in Salt Lake City, and I'm sure you'll agree that what we're doing now is a pretty good preview.

Source: Utah Mountains, Valleys Under a 'Soup'