I was doing my usual internet surfing. I checked out Yahoo! Answers for the newest questions on the environment and guess what I found?! I found Matt Dillon asking “What are the most effective yet simple ways people can save energy?”

Looks like Yahoo! Answers is employing this strategy-celebrity question-to get people talking about a specific topic. It’s a good thing. Matt’s question, to date, has generated 2,734 answers (soon to be 2,735 after I answer it, haha). Note: Worldwatch Institute founder also gave out an answer. Well, for an advocate of energy efficiency, this is a laudable move. At least, Yahoo! is making something out of its popularity..

I’m sooo luvin’ Yahoo! now. Want to answer Matt Dillon’s question?

May 18, 2007 was declared as the Endangered Species Day in the United States. It was started last year with the aim to “encourage the people of the United States to become educated about, and aware of, threats to species, success stories in species recovery, and the opportunity to promote species conservation worldwide.”

The Endangered Species Act of the US is considered as the most successful conservation laws in the country.

=================================================
In the latest list released by WWF, the tiger landed as the most in-demand animal, meaning it is the most “bought, sold, smuggled, killed or captured for trade purposes.”

The most immediate threat to wild tigers is poaching for trade. Despite international and domestic bans, a thriving black market for tiger skins and bones threatens to wipe out wild tigers. China, with its booming economy, burgeoning human population and ancient traditions of using tiger parts as medicine and clothing, is the world’s leading consumer of tiger products. [wwf.worldwildlife.org]

Here are some advocacy videos geared towards saving tigers:

Other species cited by WWF as most endangered by international trade include red and pink coral, Asian rhinos, the European eel, African and Asian elephants, the figleaf mahogany found in central and South America, Asian elephants and great apes – including gorillas, chimpanzees and orangutans. [inthenews.co.uk]

Following the recent announcement of Halle Berry and boyfriend Gabriel Aubrey that they will become parents by the end of 2007, Berry was seen buying clothes for her little one (although as of press time it has not been confirmed whether they’d have a baby biologically or through adoption). Her shopping spree which reached $1000, included Pink organic foot pajamas and a kimono tee made from soybean fibers, at baby boutique Bel Bambini.

All the items she bought were intended for a baby girl. That got the people to conclude that the lovely couple would probably have a baby through adoption.

For other eco-stories of celebrities, visit ecorazzi.com.

In a survey made by the Asthma Insights and Reality in Asia-Pacific in 2005, it was found out that in eight major urban centers in the Asia-Pacific, the Philippines had the highest incidence of work absence due to asthma with a percentage of 46.6. If it affects adults in that severity, then it follows that the effects to children are even worse.

In a recent article entitled “Children with asthma have more emotional problems,” it was revealed that many children with asthma experience behavioral and developmental problems. The article was based on a study published in the Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics, which collected data from a national health survey in the United States.

The good news is that there are people doing something to intensify research on child asthma. Watch this video:

On May 5, Saturday, the Asthma and Respiratory Foundation of New Zealand will have an Asthma Balloon Day to raise funds for child asthma research. They will be having various activities across NZ all dedicated to widen the knowledge base on child asthma. To know more about this initiative, visit the Asthma and Respiratory Foundation Website.

NZ’s move is a laudable one. I hope that the Philippine society will have the same drive to make a difference for asthmatic children. Air maintains life and gives nourishment. If the air that children breathe is polluted, then what nourishment does it give them? I’d classify that as junk food.

I hope that we can make solid steps to combat the primary cause of asthma in children - air pollution - to create livable communities, and the larger picture is a generation of healthy and bright Filipino kids.