Earlier this year, Andy wrote about the connection between climate change and kidney stones.  The NYTimes reported last week that doctors have seen a significant increase in the number of kids with kidney stones.  I agree (as do the experts) that kids are not the traditional kidney-stone demographic. The first group that pops into my mind when I think of kidney stones is middle aged men.

So why the rise in kids? One culprit seems to be salt which has found its way in increased levels in their diets through packaged foods such as chips, fries, soups, sandwich meats and sports drinks. Some experts also think this rise in kids kidney stones is partly a spill-over from the obesity epidemic. There are a lot of easy, healthy solutions to address this problem. First, start with the simple step of kids drinking more water. Yes, yummy, delicious plain water is really important, especially since kids don’t drink enough of it. And, reduce the amount of processed salty foods kids eat. takepart for some useful healthy eating tips and recipes for kids:

While much attention has been paid to our planets limited oil reserves, experts are warning that water may soon eclipse black gold as earth’s most precious commodity.  There is a growing concern that fresh water supplies are falling short, which could lead to disastrous consequences.  A thorough report from the UK Guardian explains:

Global population, economic development and a growing appetite for meat, dairy and fish protein have raised human water demand sixfold in 50 years. Meanwhile, supplies have been diminished in several ways:

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To live green and to save greens people are increasingly choosing tap water over bottled water and sodas, according to PepsiCo and industry analysts.   This comes as excellent news for the environment, which suffers from the production and waste of bottled beverages, but is unfortunate news for the 3,300 people who will lose their jobs when Pepsico shutters 6 plants to cover their losses to the tap.   While I feel for those workers, I have trouble finding sympathy for the soda manufactures of the world who continue to pump us full of High Fructose Corn Syrup and charge us for water that should be free and accessible for all, while barrels of petroleum pile behind them and landfills overflow ahead of us.

Check out this magical video to learn some not-so-fun facts about bottled water:

Since this “illusionist” can’t make the bottles disappear, and the bottled water industry isn’t quite on the verge of collapsing, we’re going to have to take matters into our own hands.

takepart and join Food And Water Watch in taking back the tap!

Related:

Food And Water Watch

Google Earth Outreach announced today a new tool that enables you to explore protected marine landscapes and learn about conservation efforts through videos, photos, and articles. This incredible resource, part of Google Earth Outreach’s efforts to empower non-profits and public benefit organizations, allows environmental groups to educate the public about marine stewardship and conservation efforts.   If you haven’t checked out Google Earth yet, I highly recommend it, it’s blowing my mind.   I’ve just started exploring the Marine Protected Areas layer, which has let me zoom around the planet learning about amazing places, such as Taiwan’s first marine national park, the 2nd largest barrier reef in the world, and the most important fishery and bird sanctuary on Africa’s west coast.

Learning about our oceans and waterways, and efforts to protect them, is of significant importance now that threats like aquatic hypoxia and ocean acidification are becoming increasingly prevalent.

takepart and learn what you can do to Protect Planet Ocean and check out Google Earth’s Outreach for Marine Protected Areas.

Photo: Hawksbill turtle, Rachel Graham, World Conservation Society

Rick Smolan and Jennifer Erwitt’s gorgeous book, Blue Planet Run is available a free download on Amazon. (I don’t know how long it will be there so download yours ASAP)

Blue Planet Run is an extraordinary look at the water crisis as it follows 20 athletes over the span of 95 days who run 15,000-mile relay race the longest relay race in human history. This run around the globe was used to spread awareness of the global water problem.

Download your free copy.

takepart by supporting Charity : Water

(hat tip to PJK for telling me about the download)

Here are our 10 tips for eating a healthier and more sustainable diet. Help us grow this list by adding your tip below!

Hungry for Change?

10 Tips inspired by Food, Inc

1. Buy organic or sustainable food.

2. Go without meat one day a week.

3. READ LABELS- know where your food comes from and what’s in it.

4. Drink more water, fewer sugary beverages.

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NASA’s Phoenix spacecraft has confirmed (for the first time ever) the presence of water on Mars.

The Phoenix found the water in the form of ice at the Martian north pole.

I wonder if we can use any of it to replace the Texas-sized ice sheets melting away from Earth’s polar ice caps every 30 seconds or so?

takepart by joining the fight against global warming so we won’t have to go hat in hand to Marvin the Martian…

Many people in the Middle East and North Africa are finding themselves in the unenviable predicament of having to choose between feeding an ever expanding population and preserving an ever dwindling water supply. The population of the region as quadrupled since 1950, and is expected to reach 600 million in the next 40 years. Previously, it has been far more practical to import food rather than produce it given the high cost of food production in the dry, desert climate. But now with 90% mark-ups of some food staples, many countries are rethinking their strategy.

The countries of the region are caught between the hammer of rising food prices and the anvil of steadily declining water availability per capita, Alan R. Richards, a professor of economics and environmental studies at the University of California, Santa Cruz, said via e-mail. There is no simple solution.

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I’ve always been interested in the impact of our vanishing water resources, an environmental issue that seems to get left behind a lot. A point Elizabeth de la Vega echoes in a piece she recently wrote for TomDispatch entitled “Our National Water Policy - Oh Wait, We Don’t Have One“. The piece opens with as American of a quote as you can get, one from Homer Simpson:

“Lisa, the whole reason we have elected officials is so we don’t have to think all the time. Just like that rainforest scare a few years back. Our officials saw there was a problem and they fixed it, didn’t they?” — Homer Simpson

Simpson’s aside, De la Vega explores the much needed state of water policy here in the US as a time when we have floods in the Midwest and wildfires on the West Coast, here’s a taste of the confusion and lack of definition she explores:

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It’s Canada Day!! YAY!!! As a proud Montrealer, I am wearing red and white, listening to the Bare Naked Ladies and even changed my IM image to a little Canadian flag. (Except it is supposed to be animated but it isn’t working…insert joke here.)

In honor of this holiday, grab a may west, Tim Hortons coffee, some maple syrup, say zed instead of zee, use your garburator, and watch one of these extraordinary Canadian films (yes, we make movies.)

1) Barbarian Invasions

2) C.R.A.Z.Y

3) Water

4) The Corporation

5) My Left Breast

6) Ryan

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