The recent landslides in Gansu, which have racked up a death toll of killed 1117 people so far, has gotten the LA Times to ponder the issue of disposable chopsticks. Why? Because apparently, they contribute greatly to the ongoing deforestation and desertification of China, which has been blamed for causing worse floods every year. more ›

This week in Shanghai, try out some new things! Whether it be handball or informative sessions on microfinancing or charity auctions (that help everything from migrant children to saving Sichuan's Qiang people from losing their cultural heritage), the city has a lot to offer this week. Check out our picks for stuff you ought to attend below. more ›

Did you know today is the International Day for Natural Disaster Reduction? The UN designated it back in 1989 as a day to "promote a global culture of natural disaster reduction, including disaster prevention, mitigation and preparedness." In this vein, Element Fresh has partnered with environmental organization Roots & Shoots so that for every smoothie sold today, Element Fresh will to donate one tree to The Million Tree Project. Every one of these trees planted helps offset China's greenhouse emissions and combats the desertification of grasslands in northern China. more ›

Is water the new oil? Current TV takes us around China for a look at the reservoirs that have dried up, the arable land that's turned into large swathes of desert, rivers in urban spaces that have become dumps for human and chemical waste and the people's lives that have been affected. It also highlights the army of environmental NGO's that have sprung up only recently and their battle against time. more ›