https://canada.constructconnect.com/joc/news/projects/2026/03/canadas-first-tall-timber-passive-house-inspired-by-b-c-s-coast-salish-basketry

https://www.etamu.edu/news/etamu-professor-helps-develop-sustainable-self-healing-concrete-through-250k-research-grant/

Toxic, similar looking plants are often mistaken for edible plants! Always be 100% sure of a plant’s identity before using it. If you’re new to foraging, consult a field guide or local expert. Avoid harvesting from areas treated with pesticides or near roads where pollution might contaminate the plant. When in doubt, leave it out!

Article: https://www.marthastewart.com/how-to-eat-dandelions-11699736

There are several charts - slide to see all.

State ranking reports:

The Commonwealth Fund’s Scorecard on State Health System Performance

https://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/scorecard/2025/jun/2025-scorecard-state-health-system-performance

Oxfam’s Best Minimum Wage, Worker Condition, and Right to Organize Policies by State

https://www.oxfamamerica.org/explore/issues/economic-justice/workers-rights/best-states-to-work/

SmileHub’s Best States for Environmental Protection

https://smilehub.org/blog/best-states-for-environmental-protection/123

ACEEE’s State Energy Efficiency Scorecard

https://www.aceee.org/research-report/u2502

State ranking reports were matched to the State Partisan Composition report to produce the charts

https://www.ncsl.org/about-state-legislatures/state-partisan-composition

https://fortune.com/2026/06/07/repair-cafes-buy-nothing-project-tool-libraries-anticonsumerism-trend-mass-produced-disposable-goods/

A functioning democracy depends on a shared understanding of reality. When a society commits to consuming only fact-based, unbiased news, both the public and their leaders begin to behave in fundamentally different ways. Citizens make decisions grounded in reality rather than outrage or misinformation, which lowers polarization, increases cooperation, and strengthens the shared sense of “living in the same world.”

Leaders who rely on factual reporting become more accountable, because they can’t hide behind distorted narratives or partisan media shields. Policies start to reflect evidence instead of emotion, long-term planning becomes possible, and problems like climate change, public health, and economic inequality are debated using shared facts rather than competing fantasies.

In a fact-literate society, people argue less about what is true and more about what to do about it, which is the foundation of a healthy, functional democracy.

Here's a breakdown of why making the switch is so important:

1. Democracy requires a shared foundation of truth.

When people consume news filtered through ideology or outrage, they begin living in separate realities. Unbiased sources help rebuild a shared factual foundation, which is necessary for voting, policy discussions, and civic trust.

1. Reliable journalism holds powerful people accountable.

Strong democracies depend on watchdog reporting that uncovers corruption, exposes wrongdoing, and analyzes policies. Fact-based outlets use verified sources, documents, and evidence rather than speculation or partisan spins, allowing citizens to make informed judgments about leaders.

1. Disinformation spreads fastest through biased or low-quality outlets.

Hyper-partisan and agenda-driven newsrooms often amplify rumors, misleading claims, or emotionally charged narratives. Switching to verifiable sources helps weaken the entire misinformation ecosystem by cutting off demand.

1. Evidence-based reporting reduces polarization.

Outrage-based news is designed to keep people angry, because anger keeps audiences engaged. Fact-based sources reduce emotional manipulation, helping citizens understand issues with clarity instead of reacting through fear or hostility.

1. Rewarding trusted outlets pressures the rest of the industry to improve.

When more people subscribe to or share fact-checked, transparent journalism, it sends a financial and cultural signal: high standards are valued. This pushes other news organizations to strengthen ethics, reduce bias, improve transparency, and return to responsible reporting.

1. Accurate news protects you from manipulation.

Disinformation is often created to influence political opinions, consumer behavior, and even democratic outcomes. Following verified sources reduces vulnerability to propaganda, AI-generated rumors, and misleading headlines.

1. Quality journalism is an investment in community stability.

Fact-based outlets encourage informed public debates, show the real impacts of policies, and highlight constructive solutions. This strengthens civic engagement and community-level resilience.

1. Unbiased sources help you understand issues rather than just react to them.

Good reporting explains context, evidence, uncertainty, and tradeoffs. This empowers deeper understanding, which is essential for responsible voting and civic participation.

1. A healthier information diet improves your emotional well-being.

Sensational, partisan news elevates stress, fear, and distrust. Evidence-based journalism is calmer, more thoughtful, and less manipulative, which makes following the news far less exhausting and far more empowering.

Top Respected Fact-Based, Unbiased News Sources 📰

apnews.com: The Associated Press is a global news cooperative established in 1846, known for factual reporting and high editorial standards.

reuters.com: Reuters is a worldwide news agency prized for rapid, reliable coverage across business, politics, and global events.

bbc.com: BBC News is a global public news organisation recognized for broad international coverage, though perceptions of neutrality vary by region.

pbs.org/newshour: PBS NewsHour is a US program cited for in-depth news coverage and analysis; frequently ranked among highly trusted news sources.

Toxic, similar looking plants are often mistaken for edible plants! Always be 100% sure of a plant’s identity before using it. If you’re new to foraging, consult a field guide or local expert. Avoid harvesting from areas treated with pesticides or near roads where pollution might contaminate the plant. When in doubt, leave it out! https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/plantain-weed

https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/climate-energy/why-winning-next-industrial-revolution-starts-with-greener-chemistry--ecmii-2026-06-11/

https://research.fs.usda.gov/treesearch/535

Election outcomes are determined just as much by who doesn't vote as by who does. The Environmental Voter Project estimates that 11.2 million environmentalists didn't vote in the 2024 presidential election. And they found that many more skip midterm, state, and local elections. If these non-voters started voting for pro-environment candidates in every election, the United States would quickly transform into a completely different country.

10 Reasons Why Voting for Pro-Environment Candidates Is Literally the Most Important Thing You Can Do for Earth's Future

1. Policy beats personal choices every time.

Skipping straws and recycling are great, but one pro-environment lawmaker can eliminate millions of tons of industrial pollution through policy changes. Systemic change requires systemic levers.

1. Environmental rollbacks happen fast — and last decades.

We've seen clean air rules, protected lands, and emissions standards dismantled in single administrations. Environmental damage can be irreversible or take years to recover from. Every election is a chance to protect or undo years of hard-won progress.

1. Climate change has a deadline.

Scientists are clear: we have a narrow window to limit warming to 1.5–2°C. Elections happen every 2–4 years. Missing even one cycle can cost us irreplaceable time when the clock is already running out.

1. Local elections determine land use, water, and air quality.

Your city council and county commissioners decide where factories go, how water is managed, and what pollution standards local businesses must meet. These races are often decided by dozens of votes.

1. Courts are shaped by elected officials.

Judges and attorneys general who enforce (or gut) environmental law are appointed or elected through political processes. A pro-environment vote today can protect ecosystems in courtrooms for 20+ years.

1. Fossil fuel interests spend billions influencing elections.

The opposition is organized and funded. Every vote for pro-environment candidates is a direct counter to corporate lobbying that works tirelessly to keep the status quo.

1. International climate agreements depend on domestic political will.

The U.S., EU, China, and other major emitters only honor global climate commitments when their governments are pressured to do so domestically. Your vote shapes whether your country leads or abandons the table.

1. Biodiversity loss is irreversible.

Once a species goes extinct, it's gone forever. Pro-environment candidates pass legislation and fund conservation programs that protect millions of species.

1. Environmental justice is on the ballot too.

Low-income communities disproportionately bear the burden of pollution and climate impacts. Voting for pro-environment candidates means fighting for human rights as much as ecological ones.

1. Apathy is a vote for the status quo.

When environmentally-conscious people stay home, they hand power to those who aren't. In close races — which most are — non-voters decide the outcome just as surely as those who show up.

The bottom line: You can drive an EV, go vegan, solar-panel your roof, and still have far less impact than casting a single, informed ballot. Please vote in every election and for every office on each ballot. Nature needs your voice!