The TakePart Top 10 Weekly Roundup is a compilation of the week’s most notable stories from our entertainment-meets-social-action blogging network. Check out some of our most popular stories of the week, as well as a few TakePart blogger favorites!

Nicole Hughes:

U.S. Media Ignores Link Between Midwest Floods and Global Warming

Top 10 Houseplants for Removing Indoor Air Pollution

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Andy Kondrat:

Dubai to Build Rotating Positive Energy Tower

Bioethicist Peter Singer Tackles World Food Shortage

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Jon Popham:

Americacorps Workers Assist Flood Ravaged Town

Australians “Out-Fat” Americans

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Giulia Rozzi:

Progressive Book Club

Oprah Recommends “A New Earth”

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Gina Telaroli:

Human Rights Watch 2008 Film Festival Update

SilverDocs 2008 Update

Dubai, always reaching for the next architectural wonder, will build the world’s first rotating tower. What’s more interesting than that (though, let’s be honest - it is pretty amazing in its own right) is the fact that the tower also is built with wind turbines between every floor and solar panels on the roof, so that the building will power not only itself, but will return energy back to the grid. This makes the building a positive energy building. Pretty impressive.

Here’s a somewhat overwrought video from the architect/designer that gives some good information on how this crazy thing gets done:

I really should get myself some oil revenue. Seems like it’s a good way to be able to afford a lot of stuff.

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“Garbage Warrior” is a new film about controversial architect Michael Reynolds, who has been building radically sustainable architecture and off-the-grid energy communities for 35 years. Our trash is his muse ” everything from old tires to plastic bottles to beer cans ” all transformed into energy independent eco-homes he calls “earthships.”

The walls absorb heat from sunlight in the winter, and insulate against the heat of summer. Windows are strategically placed and adjustable modulate sunlight; solar panels and wind turbines generate electricity. Rainwater is captured; wastewater is filtered and reused. Greenhouse areas are used to grow food. The aim is to make the people who live in these houses self-sufficient.

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