At this time of year, vineyards are buzzing with activity. The grapes
hang heavy on the vine as workers rush to pick them before they
spoil. Some wineries produce tens of thousands of gallons of wine.
But a growing number of small organic vineyards are making their
presence felt, as well. The Great Lakes Radio Consortium’s Karen Kelly
visited an organic wine maker whose small operation is bucking the
trend:
Month: October 1999
Flying Cars Take Off
The World Aviation Congress met this month (October) in San Francisco.
Along with sessions about aerodynamic design, air traffic safety and
aircraft icing, the conference offered something a little more…well,
unusual… Not one – but two – sessions about flying automobiles. As
the Great Lakes Radio Consortium’s Wendy Nelson reports, flying cars may
be on the horizon sooner than you think:
Locals Oppose Massive Wind Farm
The wind is touted as a clean energy alternative. But a project that
would be the most powerful wind farm east of the Mississippi river is
spinning its wheels, because of local concerns. The Great Lakes Radio
Consortium’s Chuck Quirmbach has more:
Salmonella Linked to Pet Treats
In the pet industry they’re called "natural treats" – things like pig
ears, cow hooves, and beef lung puffs. Dogs love them…but as the Great
Lakes Radio Consortium’s Wendy Nelson reports, the Food and Drug
Administration is urging pet owners to be careful:
Commentary – Baby Teeth Project Revisited
During the Cold War, concern about the health effects of above ground
nuclear testing lead to the Baby Teeth Project. Strontium-90 levels were
measured in the baby teeth of thousands of children born after 1949. The
study found dangerous levels of Strontium-90 that could be linked to
leukemia and bone cancer. As Great Lakes Radio Consortium commentator
Suzanne Elston has discovered, more than 40 years later, a new study
shows that history is repeating itself:
Legislation to Restrict Local Authority
In Michigan, the state legislature is considering a "Right to Farm"
proposal that would prevent local governments from regulating
agriculture. Supporters say it will help the struggling farming
industry by freeing farmers from too many restrictions. But some
farmers say local governments need MORE control when it comes
to large livestock farms. The Great Lakes Radio Consortium’s Gretchen
Millich reports:
&Quot;Natural Capitalism” Hits Bookshelves
Amory Lovins, Hunter Lovins, and Paul Hawken are three of thiscountry’s leading voices on sustainability. They’ve spent their careerstrying to figure out how to make human progress less damaging to theenvironment. In their new book “Natural Capitalism,” they say if wetake the right steps, we can have a healthier environment and a strongereconomy. The Great Lakes Radio Consortium’s James Rea has more:
Atrazine Becomes Airborne
It’s been known some time that air borne pollutants sometimes end up in
the Great Lakes. Now government experts are finding some agricultural
pesticides end up in the atmosphere and can be deposited hundreds of
miles from where they were applied. The Great Lakes Radio Consortium’s
Lester Graham reports:
Forest Service Sued for Religious Reasons
A Minnesota logging group is suing the U-S Forest Service for violating
the separation of church and state. The group says the Forest Service
is caving in to environmental groups that push "deep ecology." Deep
ecology is the belief that plants, animals, and humans are of equal
value. The Great Lakes Radio Consortium’s Stephanie Hemphill reports:
Do Candles Pose Lead Dangers?
Lead is sometimes used to make candle wicks – just a thin thread helps
the wick remain upright as the wax melts. But new research from the
University of Michigan found some candles emit potentially dangerous
levels of lead when they’re burned. As the Great Lakes Radio
Consortium’s Wendy Nelson reports, it’s a case of de-ja-vu for American
candle makers: