Electric Bikes Take Off in China

Shark fin soup is the hot ticket in Asia

(NEWSER) - Here’s a story sure to rain on your Shark Week parade: A Brazilian environmental advocacy group is suing a Brazilian seafood exporter, alleging that it has been capturing sharks, cutting off their fins, and throwing the severely wounded creatures back into the water. Removing a shark’s fin is illegal in Brazil, but the demand for shark fin soup is so strong in Asia, and particularly China, that trade in the fin is booming, the BBC explains. More»

Search engine goes green for Ma Nature

(NEWSER) - The Google doodlers are at it again, this time with a vividly green Avatar-like image of a magical woodland to celebrate Earth Day. Clicking on the image on the Google search page calls up everything connected to Earth Day. The doodle marking the green day, founded in 1970 by a Wisconsin senator to "inspire awareness and appreciation" for the environment, is one of a series of colorful Google squiggles that have also honored the Burning Man Festival, Google's own anniversary and the birthdays of Orson Wells, Andy Warhol, and Leonardo da Vinci. More»

Bundchen more than just a supermodel, has long campaigned for environmental issues

(NEWSER) - Gisele Bundchen will have more than a baby with hubby Tom Brady to keep her busy—yesterday she was named a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Environment Programme, the Boston Herald reports. “Mother Earth is our fundamental life-support system, and by becoming aware and responsible now, we can assist in preserving the planet,” says the supermodel, who has a Web-based environmental cartoon and has worked on reforestation in her native Brazil. More»

Diners willing to sacrifice for planet's sake

(NEWSER) - College students may feel they’ve added juggling to their courseloads as the trayless cafeteria trend picks up steam, the Los Angeles Times reports. The increasingly popular measure, meant to save water and electricity, often meets with a sort of grudging acquiescence. “It's definitely difficult and a little bit inconvenient,” says one student in a precarious situation. “But I like the intentions. The intentions are good.” More»

(NEWSER) - Some cars’ gas mileage is good enough to make them ineligible for the cash-for-clunkers program—but that’s not the only reason David Holahan doesn’t want to turn in his old rides. “I’m all for stimulating the economy, cleaning air, and improving fuel economy,” he writes in the Christian Science Monitor. “But there are better ways to achieve all that than throwing away perfectly serviceable vehicles as though they were disposable razors.” More»