AlternativesMagazine

The Dangers of Fracking:  Fracking uses a toxic chemical cocktail known as fracking fluid. Companies using fracking fluid have resisted disclosing the contents of fracking fluid, claiming the information is  proprietary. However, samples from well sites indicate that the fluid contains: formaldehyde, acetic acids, citric  acids, and boric acids, among hundreds of other contaminants. It has recently come to light that, despite the illegality of the action, companies have been caught using diesel  fuel in the fracking fluid. Fracking removes millions of gallons of precious freshwater from the water cycle. Each well uses between two and five million gallons of locally-sourced freshwater which will be permanently  contaminated by ground contaminants and toxic chemicals contained in the fracking fluid. The “Fracking by the Numbers” report measured key indicators of fracking threats across the country • 280 billion gallons of toxic wastewater generated in 2012, • 450,000 tons

  "Pulitzer price winning author Russell Baker once said "The American dream is to turn goods into trash as fast as possible."  Nowhere is this better illustrated than in Bill Kirkos' film Trashed. “Trashed” is a provocative investigation of one of the fastest growing industries in North America. The garbage business.  The film examines a fundamental element of modern American culture…the disposal of what our society defines as “waste.”  It is an issue influenced by every American, most of whom never consider the consequences. Nor, it seems, the implications to our biosphere. At times humorous, but deeply poignant, “Trashed” examines the American waste stream fast approaching a half billion tons annually. What are the effects all this waste will have on already strained natural resources? Why is so much of it produced? While every American creates almost 5 pounds of it every day, who is affected most? And who wants America to make more? T

"Going Green" is the latest marketing buzzword. Airlines, car companies, retailers, restaurants, bars — even churches and stadiums are incorporating environmental responsibility to their marketing programs. More often than not, that’s a good thing. But what does it really mean?  There's another term associated with going green. It's called greenwashing. It’s when a business or organization claims to be “green” through advertising and marketing, but aren't -- it’s just making green claims to sell more stuff. Smart businesses are finding out that doing right by the environment actually does increase profitability in many cases. With so many easy ways for businesses to reduce their environmental impact or improve their products and processes, it’s a real head-scratcher when they don’t. It’s even worse when they don’t make changes and claim to be a green company just to push their agenda.  Consumers are Starting to Get it . . . . Accord

by Dr. Mercola Crimes committed by some of the top pharmaceutical companies include fabricated studies and hiding damaging research. A number of recent articles and books have delved into the practices of the drug industry, concluding it operates like an organized crime ring. Corruption of science is one of the most dangerous forms of corruption. Doctors rely on published studies to make treatment  recommendations, and large numbers of patients can be harmed when false findings are published. A recent study concluded that a majority of American drug commercials—60 percent of prescription drug ads, and 80 percent of ads for over-the-counter (OTC) drugs—are either misleading or outright false Warnings of adverse side effects in drug ads can backfire. While initially making viewers cautious, over the course of time people tend to ignore the warnings; some even see them as indications of honesty and trustworthiness. How To Avoid Becoming a Disease Statistic Ultimately, the take-h