<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2lyKyl_0wLMrMVn00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2lyKyl_0wLMrMVn00" width="1600" height="1021" ><figcaption>Sister Larraine Lauter is demonstrating how a water filter creates safe drinking. Seated is Anne Sahingoz.</figcaption></figure>Community leaders from all walks of life celebrated natural resources earlier this week at the Kentucky Governor’s Conference on Energy and the Environment in Lexington, even as they convened on the latest in energy technology.“Kentucky’s environment is as rich and diverse as our people,” exclaimed Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman. “I believe we are called to be good stewards of this land.”Ted Smith Ph.D., director of the Center for Healthy Air, Water and Soil at the Environment Institute, presented a summary of groundbreaking research on the connection between greener environments and better health. He expounded on the urban tree planting and greening that took place over several years in Louisville communities, coupled with health studies to show a connection to heart health.“An increase in greenness can benefit both the environment and human health,” said Smith, and referring to being around more trees to improve cardiovascular health, “This is competitive with taking a pill.” You can read more here about the Green Heart Project at the University of Louisville.Research on the connection between safe, clean water access and good health is happening now at Northern Kentucky University. There, Anne Sahingoz, DNP, MSN.Ed has a paper submitted for publication, summarized here, examining how a distribution model used by Water by Women can help meet global needs for clean drinking water. Sahingoz sits on the board of directors for Water by Women, where Executive Lead Larraine Lauter, OSU, leads efforts to provide safe water for families in third world countries.“We give a woman a filter and a purpose and watch her change her world,” said Lauter. She has led efforts to distribute effective water filters to impoverished families in several countries around the world, and areas of the United States, as well, including recent hurricane-devastated areas. Water by Women has a simple donation process online that can provide these filters to families in need.Anne Brock is marketing coordinator for Solar Alliance, which designs and manages solar installation projects for manufacturers, small businesses and nonprofits. She can be reached at email or 865-221-8349.</div></body>

Mountain View, CA

NewsBreak

Life-giving water, woods and praise for natural resources

Community leaders from all walks of life celebrated natural resources earlier this week at the Kentucky Governor’s Conference on Energy and the Environment in Lexington, even as they convened on the latest in energy technology. “Kentucky’s environment is as rich and diverse as our people,” exclaimed Lt. Gov. Jacqueline...