Articles Index

Celebrate Earth Day: How One Person Can Change the World
Earth Day is a time when millions of people worldwide celebrate and renew their personal commitment to environmental stewardship. In the face of the huge global problems we are facing today, it is easy to feel overwhelmed and powerless, and to find ourselves asking, “What difference can one person make?” The answer is that one person can make all the difference in the world.

Earth Day: The History and Evolution of Earth Day
Offers a history of Earth Day--how Earth Day began and how Earth Day evolved--and profiles both the international Earth Day observance held each year on the vernal equinox and the annual Earth Day celebration on April 22, which is more common in the United States.

The First Day of Spring: Fun Facts About the Vernal Equinox
Every year we long for the first day of spring, or vernal equinox, when the days start to get longer and the weather starts getting warmer. But there is much more to know about the first day of spring.

Fun Facts About Mistletoe
Everyone knows about the power of mistletoe at Christmas, right? It makes holiday romance democratic by making everyone equally kissable. But there is more to mistletoe than kissing and holiday merriment.

Celebrate America Recycles Day on November 15
America Recycles Day takes place every year on November 15, proclaimed by the president and celebrated in communities nationwide with events that educate people about the benefits of recycling and of purchasing products made from recycled materials.

Hurricane Katrina: What are the Environmental Impacts of Hurricane Katrina?
Hurricane Katrina--learn the environmental impacts of Hurricane Katrine, including industrial waste, raw sewage and oil spills, and the lasting danger that Hurrican Katrina poses to public health.

What is Drought?
What is the true definition of "drought," how many different types of droughts are there, and what causes droughts to occur?

World Water Day: A Billion People Worldwide Lack Safe Drinking Water
World Water Day -- More than a billion people lack access to safe drinking water. Every day, 14,000 people die from diseases caused by this global water crisis, the majority of them children under 5 years old. World Water Day is an annual observance to raise public awareness about this critical global health issue and to inspire personal action. Read the interview with Gary White, executive director and co-founder of WaterPartners International, to learn how you can help.

Oscar Goes Green
At the 79th Academy Awards, Oscar turned green for the first time--and not with envy. Producers of the annual telecast worked with scientists and environmental groups to neutralize the show's environmental impact and to send a message about environmental stewardship to millions of viewers worldwide.

Top Environmental Stories of 2006
What were the top environmental stories of 2006? What made them important or significant? Check this list of the dozen top environmental stories, chosen by Larry West, About Environmental Issues, to see whether you agree or disagree.

What are the Effects of Drought?
Drought can have serious health, social, economic and political impacts with far-reaching consequences. Learn more about the possible effects of drought and how they are interrelated.

2005: A Year of Extremes
Weather went wild in 2005—in the United States and around the world—with a record downpour in the Nevada desert, glaciers melting in Greenland, an unprecedented series of major hurricanes and tropical storms in the Atlantic, and the worst drought in a century in the Amazon rainforest. The cost in property losses, environmental damage and human lives is still being calculated and may never be fully understood.

Hurricane Wilma: News Coverage
Updated news coverage about Hurricane Wilma, plus resources and information to help people prepare for the hurricane and cope with the damage.

EPA Offers Information on Potential Health Hazards for Hurricane Survivors
Hurricanes Katrina and Rita caused widespread damage to life and property throughout the Gulf Coast region, but for those people returning to rebuild affected communities the dangers continue. The EPA is providing informational flyers to help returning residents cope with a variety of potentially life-threatening environmental and health hazards created by the storm damage.