President Obama and his family are in Hawaii for the holidays, and so are dozens of White House staff and journalists. In the United States, the Environmental Protection Agency will put in place new rules to regulate greenhouse gases. For undernourished people who live in remote areas, a new approach called biofortification may bring healthier diets. Some of the wealthiest people in America are pledging to give away most of their fortunes to charity. And finally, explore a photo gallery of art created by prison inmates.
The Obamas in Hawaii
(mobile version)
The Obamas are vacationing in Hawaii this week, and they’re not alone. Dozens of White House staff and journalists who cover the president have also traveled to the island state. A president is never truly on vacation. There are always reports to read, public appearances to be made, and unexpected issues to address. At right, President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama travel by motorcade on Marine Corps Base Hawaii.
New Emissions Rules
(mobile version)
The U.S. government continues to use federal regulatory powers to rein in greenhouse gas emissions, most recently focusing on power plants and oil refineries, which produce nearly 40 percent of emissions in the United States. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will put in place new permit requirements for all heavily polluting industry, followed by specific greenhouse gas standards for power plants and oil refineries.
A New Breed of Crops
(mobile version)
Crop breeders are developing new varieties of seven staple food crops, each with high levels of essential micronutrients and each with potential for rewarding farmers who grow them with higher yields. This approach is called biofortification, and the goal is to bring healthier diets to people who rely on food staples for most of the calories they consume.
A Billionaires’ Pledge
(mobile version)
The two richest men in the United States, Bill Gates and Warren Buffett, launched The Giving Pledge in June 2010, encouraging other billionaires, in the United States and abroad, to give away the bulk of their fortunes to philanthropic causes. As of December 2010, 57 billionaires have joined their campaign.
Photo Gallery: Art Behind Bars
(mobile version)
The Prison Creative Arts Project, founded in 1990 by University of Michigan professor William “Buzz” Alexander, helps prison inmates develop their creativity. The program encourages them to examine and even transform their lives. Explore a photo gallery of their work. At left, James Wilt’s self-portrait Yet Free, which identifies him by inmate number. The small cross in the upper left-hand corner is a symbol of his Christian faith.