Readers ask: Should I personally give up air travel, and should companies be pushed to reduce air travel by employees? If we cut our air travel by half, what impact would that have on the climate? - Diane, California How does long-distance travel affect climate change? (I.e., if I take Amtrak from D.C. to NYC instead of flying, how is that better given that the plane will still get there without me on it?) - Kya, Washington I want to take a trip to Florida to help out some ailing elderly relatives. For lowest emissions, should my wife and I fly round trip from the Washington, D.C., area or make the trip in a Tesla Model 3 at 133 mpg? - Glenn, Maryland Here is the stark and sad truth: There is almost no way to explore the planet without harming it. Since 2017, the transportation sector has been the U.S. economy's biggest source of greenhouse gases. Each year, people in the United States generate the equivalent of 1.9 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide to move ourselves and our stuff … [Read more...] about What’s the greenest way to travel?
Long distance movers
Citizenship law based on religion sparks fear across India
As India's Parliament moved swiftly to amend its laws to prevent undocumented Muslims migrants from neighboring countries from becoming citizens, S.M. Hadi was busy making sure he could find documents going back generations to prove that his family was Indian. "We have been sorting through all our old junk to find some proof that my father, grandfather, great grandfather all lived here," said Hadi, a professor emeritus at Aligarh Muslim University. "There's such panic it's ridiculous." The new Citizenship Amendment Bill that was approved on Wednesday changed the rules governing the granting of citizenship to undocumented migrants to include religion as a criteria. It bars undocumented Muslims from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan from seeking citizenship, but allows Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians who illegally migrated to India from these regions to do so. Adding to the fear and anxiety is that Narendra Modi's Hindu nationalist government has also vowed to … [Read more...] about Citizenship law based on religion sparks fear across India
Many in Rural US Find Fewer Maternity Care Options
AMES, IOWA - For decades, Americans have migrated toward urban areas seeking opportunities, emptying out large swaths of countryside. In their wake, they have left shrinking communities that struggle to support multiple businesses, schools and hospitals.This is a common theme in the Midwestern state of Iowa, whose population has grown by less than a million people in the past century. As family farms have consolidated into megafarms run by large corporations, rural residents have moved to cities like Des Moines, the state capital, or left the state altogether.?Shrinking rural AmericaThe northwest region of Iowa has been hit especially hard, forcing those who remain to drive farther and farther for things like groceries, education and health care.At its peak, the town of Mallard hosted several grocery stores and restaurants, four churches, a cinema and two schools, one of them private. Today, its population of about 265 supports little more than a gas station and a couple of bars. The … [Read more...] about Many in Rural US Find Fewer Maternity Care Options
Why the Guineas, Oaks, Derby and St. Leger are known as the Classics
(CNN)They form the bedrock of the British Flat racing season and are the benchmark on which careers and legends are based. The Classics identity the stars of their generation and provide the yearly narrative around which racing revolves. The 2,000 Guineas, the 1,000 Guineas, The Oaks, The Derby and the St. Leger are the races that really matter, like majors in golf or grand slams in tennis. And they have serious history. The St. Leger began in 1776. They became collectively known as the Classics in 1815, and ever since have crowned the best three-year-olds in training. Read More With the Guineas taking place at Newmarket this weekend, CNN Sport takes a closer look at the Classics. Visit CNN.com/Sport for more news, features and videos 2,000 Guineas The great Frankel -- unbeaten in 14 races -- won the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket in 2011. The 2019 Classic season kicks off Saturday with the 2,000 Guineas over the turf of the Rowley Mile racecourse in Newmarket, … [Read more...] about Why the Guineas, Oaks, Derby and St. Leger are known as the Classics
‘Satellite catcher’ will use magnets to clean up space junk
Story highlights Japanese scientists are developing a system to capture and remove space debris They plan to use magnets to catch and force debris down to burn up in Earth's atmosphere This feature is part of Vision Japan, a series about the visionaries who are changing Japan, and the places that inspire this innovation. See more here. (CNN)Japan's Space Sweepers are taking it upon themselves to do a little spring cleaning in space. One hundred and seventy million pieces of space debris currently orbit the Earth, according to estimates from the European Space Agency (ESA). Defunct satellites and other man-made objects rocket around the atmosphere at eight kilometers per second -- 10 times faster than a bullet. Some chunks are as big as a truck, others smaller than a dime. But even the tiniest piece of cosmic junk poses an enormous threat to other satellites and spacecraft. A collision with a one centimeter speck of space debris at orbital velocity, for example, has the … [Read more...] about ‘Satellite catcher’ will use magnets to clean up space junk