Dear EarthTalk: With all the talk of rising seas, what could happen to the rivers that flow into the oceans? Will they reverse flow? Will rising seas back up into fresh water lakes? And what happens to our groundwater should saltwater flow backwards into it?

Dear EarthTalk: Is it better to drive an older, well-maintained car that gets about 25 miles per gallon, or to buy a new car that gets about 35 miles per gallon?

Environmental Ethics, Anti-Environmental Propaganda, and Greenwashing Language

In George Orwell's amazing (and scary) novel 1984, people used "newspeak" and "doublethink." It was soon after that the term "doublespeak" started being used to describe the words of politicians who were trying to sound like they were saying something without really having said anything tangible they could be pinned down on. More recently, doublespeak has been increasingly used as a clever way to cover up lies.

In this decade, a new brand of this twisty-turny language emerged: Environmental Doublespeak. Here are a few of the dubious phrases:

• "using common sense"
• "modernizing regulations" or "updating laws"
• "simplifying and streamlining regulations" or "eliminating red tape"
• "clarifying regulatory language"
• "improving the way we protect the environment"

On the surface, these concepts are hard to argue with. Who wouldn't be in favor of reforming laws that are so outdated that they have become useless? What right-minded environmentalist wouldn't want to improve the way we protect the environment?

Dear EarthTalk: Is it true that some baby bottles contain chemicals that can cause health problems for babies? If so, how can I find alternatives that are safer?

Dear EarthTalk: How much “old growth” forest is left in the United States and is it all protected from logging at this point?

Gardening might be a trendy, new hobby for eco-conscious hipsters, but its purpose, to provide food for a family; still holds promise for many Americans. On the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, located in Slim Buttes, S.D., community gardens give families the only fresh fruits and vegetables they eat.

Doctors and health advocates frequently tell Americans to eat more fruits and vegetables. But many impoverished communities lack access to grocery stores, not to mention the income required to feed a family all-organic meals.

On Pine Ridge, many homes are without running water, sewers or electricity. For them, community gardens provide not only entertainment, but also exercise, fresh food and the pride that comes with working to provide for loved ones. The activity from gardening and the fresh food produced help fight obesity and diabetes, problems that afflict American Indians at rates nearly 10 percent above national averages, according to most statistics.

A new Web tool is available to enlist the public and other law enforcement agencies in tracking down fugitives accused of violating environmental laws and evading arrest.

“Putting this information on the EPA’s Web site will increase the number of ‘eyes’ looking for environmental fugitives,” said Granta Y. Nakayama, assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. “Two EPA fugitives were captured this year, and this Web site could help us find more fugitives in the future.”

The Web site includes photos of the accused, summaries of their alleged environmental violations, and information on each fugitive’s last known whereabouts. The alleged violations include smuggling of ozone-depleting substances, illegally disposing of hazardous waste, discharging pollutants into the air and water, laundering money and making criminally false statements.

The key component for America's automotive rebirth isn't even made here.

As Big 3 CEO's, the head of the UAW, and various invited economic experts appeared before Congress this week, one key witness was missing, which is ironic, because the success or failure of a revitalized American auto industry pivots around its presence.

That missing witness is an American advanced automotive battery manufacturing industry.

With all the talk on Capitol Hill this week about Big 3's plans to introduce advanced, plug-in electric cars, with the CEO's dramatically arriving to testify in conventional hybrids and advanced prototype plug-in models, little if any attention was paid to the fact that America has next to no advanced automotive lithium ion battery production capacity. With the exception of a currently shrinking handful of US-based firms, virtually all advanced nickel metal hydride (NiMH) and lithium ion (Li-ion) production is done overseas, mainly in China, Japan and Korea.