In some countries there are firm social taboos against eating the same animals that are commonly kept as pets, such as cats and dogs. But in dozens of other countries around the world, if you can catch it, you can eat it. Chris Tran goes for lunch in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, and learns that eating fried dog, green dragon and cobra heart supposedly do wonders for a man’s virility. Taste is another matter entirely.
2012/12/19
Climate changes threaten Iraqi wetlands
Published on Nov 28, 2012 by AlJazeeraEnglish
Marshes restored after they were drained under Saddam Hussein during the Iraq-Iran war in the 1980′s are now under the risk of being completely destroyed due to rising temperatures and drought. Al Jazeera’s Jane Arraf reports from Iraq’s southern marshes.
2012/12/09
Why the US Economy Needs Bees
Published on Nov 19, 2012 by linktv
Pollination is key to the US economy, but US bee keepers say that colony collapse disorder — massive bee death — is claiming up to 80 percent of us bee colonies each year. Pesticide Action Network’s Paul Towers states that “we rely on pollinators for one in every three bits of food that we eat.” Towers talks with Earth Focus about why US agriculture and economy are at stake.
2012/09/29
US university works to protect prairie
Published on Sep 15, 2012 by AlJazeeraEnglish
Since white settlers arrived in the American heartland of Nebraska in the 19th century, less than one per cent of the original tall grass prairie has survived an onslaught of plowing and grazing.
The prairie is home to some rare species endangered birds, flowers, and butterflies, that do not flourish anywhere else.
Nebraska’s Nine-Mile Prairie was preserved by the Cold War, its borders which were once nuclear weapon bunkers.
The prairie is now preserved by the University of Nebraska.
Al Jazeera’s John Hendren reports from Lincoln, Nebraska.
2012/03/14
Exhibit Traces Horse’s Impact on Tribal Life
Nov 25, 2011
The image of a Native American warrior racing across the Western plains on horseback is an iconic one. The animal’s long relationship with some native tribes is celebrated in a new exhibition at the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington. VOA’s Susan Logue reports.
2012/03/10
Community Farm Harvests Hope Among Disabled
Nov 4, 2011
Community supported agriculture (CSA) has gained popularity in the U.S. since it was first introduced about 25 years ago. People invest in CSA farms by buying shares, which entitle them to a percentage of the harvest. It’s a way to get healthful, local produce on a regular basis. One CSA farm near Washington, D.C. supports the community not only by growing vegetables, but by providing employment for the developmentally disabled.
2012/02/23
Kenya’s dairy industry switches from cows to camels | Global Ideas
The cow is the most important farm animal in parts of Africa. But climate change is threatening the existence of the animal. Recurring droughts and extreme heat are making cows unable to produce essential milk. In Kenya, a group of farmers has found an alternative in camel milk. Unlike cows, camels can withstand long periods of extreme drought and still produce milk all year round. Some 200 women have already made the switch from cow to camel milk, which is believed to be healthier. The move has improved living conditions for many, especially because they are able to sell milk from their camels at a competitive price.
Cashing in on camel milk in Kenya | Short Version | Global Ideas
2012/02/20
Rural Villages Go Green With Biogas in Viet Nam
Asian Development Bank (ADB) is supporting an initiative to introduce tens of thousands of biogas systems in rural communities throughout Viet Nam. By turning waste to fuel, families save on their energy bills and enjoy a cleaner environment.
2012/02/14
Obesity Epidemic Hits U.S. Pets
A new study indicates that over half of the adult dogs and cats kept as pets in America are overweight or obese, and that the problem has gotten worse over the past year. This is, according to the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention, partly due to the fact that owners are not aware that their pets are overweight.
2011/09/04
Cat Hoarder in Missouri
Dozens of cats seized from KC home
Animal control officers removed dozens of cats, alive and dead, from a home in the Northland Monday afternoon.
Why do people hoard?
A psychiatrist breaks down the psychology behind hoarding, specifically when it comes to animals.
2011/08/17
Otters ‘back from the brink’ in every county
Otters can now be seen in every English county just 30 years after they came close to extinction.
Pesticides nearly destroyed the otter, but new environmental regulations saved the day.
