Editor’s note: This story is part of an ongoing series that tracks the city’s expenditures appearing on upcoming Santa Monica City Council consent agendas.
Dear EarthTalk Is it true that some countries have turned over public water supplies to private companies, effectively denying local communities much-needed access? J.
Dear EarthTalk When we talk about “endangered species” we usually think of animal species, but someone recently told me that there was a worldwide crisis pertaining to the extinction of plants.
Dear EarthTalk I’ve been hearing about the great gas mileage for Volkswagens that use diesel fuel. But is it better for the environment to use diesel or unleaded gasoline? K.
CITY HALL — With the fate of a proposed statewide plastic bag ban still uncertain, Santa Monica officials on Thursday declared their intention to move ahead with a local version of the law should Sacramento legislators fail to pass the ban by the end of the legislative session on Tuesday.
Dear EarthTalk: Should I fear radiation exposure associated with medical scans such as CT scans, mammograms and the like? — Shelly Johansen, Fairbanks, AK The short answer is…maybe.
CITY HALL — Calling the existing bridge that connects Ocean Avenue to the Santa Monica Pier “structurally deficient and functionally obsolete,” officials are making plans to replace the 61-year-old structure, a project they hope will be almost entirely funded with federal transportation grants.
Dear EarthTalk Is the dairy industry really trying to stop soy milk makers from calling their products “milk?” They must feel very threatened by the preponderance of soy milks now available in supermarkets.
Dear EarthTalk I always thought cotton was eco-friendly, but I recently heard otherwise. What’s so bad about cotton? And where can I find organic cotton clothing? Jamie Hunter Twin Falls, ID There’s a lot “bad” about |conventionally grown cotton — cotton grown with the aid of synthetic chemicals, th
NOMA — Instead of tossing leftovers into the garbage, a select group of residents living north of Montana Avenue can now place their scraps of filet mignon and lobster tails in their green, yard waste bins so the food can be turned into nutrient-rich compost for gardening under a city-sponsored recy
Dear EarthTalk I know that local food has health and environmental benefits, but my local grocer only carries a few items. Is there a push for bigger supermarkets to carry locally produced food? Maria Fine Somerville, MA By eating locally sourced foods, we strengthen the bond between local farmers a
CITY HALL — Smokers who enjoy an occasional drag out on their patios better light up while they still can. That’s because the City Council on Tuesday voted to strengthen Santa Monica’s already strict anti-smoking laws, adding a restriction that bars people from lighting up within 25-feet of a door o
