Monterey Bay, California: Beach Sand Mining from a National Marine Sanctuary; By Gary Griggs

The 30-mile long, continuous sandy shoreline around Monterey Bay is the most visited stretch of shoreline on the central coast. Yet, it holds the dubious distinction of being the only active beach sand mining operation along the entire United States shoreline. To make matters even worse, it all takes place along the shoreline of a protected National Marine Sanctuary. Something is seriously wrong with this picture.

Demand for Sand Takes Off Because Off Fracking

Frackers are expected to use nearly 95 billion pounds of sand this year, up nearly 30% from 2013. There are growing restraints on sand supplies and oil companies’ insatiable appetite has generated renewed interest in second-tier deposits of lower-quality brown sand in places like Texas.

“El Expolio De La Arena”

In this original version, investigative journalist Cristina Sáez, writing for leading spanish newspaper La Vanguardia, exposes how extensive, detrimental, silenced yet utterly pervasive “The pillaging of beach sand” has become.

9 Houses That Prove Your Dream Home Is Also A Green Home

“Green building” is an effort to curb the environmental toll of inefficient homes, and it’s taking hold in the construction sector. Nine architects talk about their stunning projects that are not only sustainable, but beautiful too…

The Deadly Occupation Attracting Kenya’s Youth

Sand is becoming a necessary component in fuelling the construction boom that is driving the rapid pace of urbanisation and rapid economic growth patterns in Kenya. Many of Kenya’s poor youth are turning to sand mining as a quick way of earning money, despite the deadly risks due to poor sand harvesting methods.

Caofeidian, The Chinese Eco-City That Became a Ghost Town – In Pictures

“As precious as gold … That was how then-president Hu Jintao described Caofeidian during his visit in 2006. It was pledged to be ‘the world’s first fully realised eco-city’ – yet 10 years and almost $100bn later, only a few thousand inhabitants have moved to this land reclaimed from the sea …”