Lesson One: The Essentials of Green Chemistry

• World Carbon Emission Trends
  It is sometimes difficult to comprehend large scale trends. View this Gapcast video to gain an interesting perspective on past and current carbon emissions worldwide. What do these trends tell us about the need to practice green chemistry? (You can also download a Quicktime version of this video to your computer at this site if you like.)
• Your Personal Carbon Footprint
  What is your own carbon footprint? On average people in the United States emit 20 tons of carbon per person, per year. Visit this site and calculate your personal carbon footprint.

• The Story of Stuff
  Everything that human civilization creates requires tapping the world's natural resources. How we use these resources moves us closer, or farther away, from a sustainable future. For an incisive and engaging summary of how we create the "stuff" we create, harvest the resources we use to make it, and the consequences of those actions, view the video The Story of Stuff.
• The Collapse of Civilizations
  The collapse of past civilizations has sometimes been attributed to the ill-considered use of natural resources, or poisons in their environments. Are we headed in that direction? Visit these sites to explore author and scientist Jared Diamond's theories on why civilizations -- both ancient and modern -- might go the way of the dinosaur. Keep this in mind is an example, only. Diamond's theories are not the only ones that scientists, historians and authors have developed to explain why societies crumble and fall.
  Jared Diamond discusses his book "Collapse"
  Jared Diamond's lecture at the 2008 TED Conference

• Bioneers: Solutions Through Science and Technology
  This video features scientists, inventors and engineers who illuminate some of the sustainability challenges that we face and how we might overcome them. Featuring Charlotte Brody, Paul Anastas, Jay Harman, Wallace Nichols, and Kenny Ausubel.
• Worldwatch Institute publications
  Why Poison Ourselves? A precautionary approach to synthetic chemicals (PDF)
  Male Reproductive Health Declines (Abstract)
  State of the World 2002 (PDF)

• Bisphenol-A and Its Effects on Humans
  This video is a segment from the PBS show "Bill Moyers Journal" reporting on bisphenol A in food containers, the controversy over the chemical's effect on human health, and whether it should be regulated.