The Water Planet

Viewed from space, the most striking feature of our planet is the water. In both liquid and frozen form, it covers 75% of the Earth’s surface. It fills the sky with clouds. Water is practically everywhere on Earth, from inside the planet's rocky crust to inside the cells of the human body.

This detailed, photo-like view of Earth is based largely on observations from MODIS, the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer, on NASA's Terra satellite. It is one of many images of our watery world featured in a new story examining water in all of its forms and functions.

Image Credit: NASA

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Last Chance to Get 2011 Army Earth Day Posters!

Because of some email glitches (outside of our control), some orders submitted on our Web site were never received and processed. If you are still waiting to receive your poster order, it is likely the order was never received. You may call 210-221-0882 or email cathy.kropp@us.army.mil to submit your order (if you are with a military organization). If you include a FEDEX address, phone number and email (as well as how many posters you need), we will get your order to you as soon as we can (normally in two days). We apologize for the inconvenience. Orders received after Wednesday, April 20, will not arrive by Earth Day. If we run out of posters before we get to your order, we will let you know. You may still download the poster and print it yourself if you'd like http://aec.army.mil/usaec/newsroom/earthday02a.html.

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Navy Exchange Celebrates 65 with Eco-Friendly Bags

By Kristine M. Sturkie, Navy Exchange Service Command Public Affairs

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va (NNS) -- Navy Exchange (NEX) stores world wide are selling eco-friendly reusable bags as part of NEX's 65th anniversary and Earth Day, April 21.

The NEX 4RPLANETBAG, which will sell for 65 cents, is made of 100 percent recyclable fabrics and is 100 percent carbon neutral.

"Statistics show that consumers worldwide use 500 billion to one trillion plastic bags annually, of which only five percent are recycled," said Denise Pearson, Navy Exchange Service Command (NEXCOM) corporate service buyer. "The NEX reusable bags are a great alternative to plastic and paper bags. They are inexpensive and stylish to carry."

As part of NEX's ongoing commitment to the environment, NEXs gives a credit of five cents for each eco-friendly reusable bag used to bag a customer's purchase.

NEXs worldwide have sold more than 500,000 eco-friendly reusable bags since 2007. With this initiative, along with the refund and a re-emphasis on cashier techniques for bagging, the NEX Command hopes to dramatically reduce the amount of plastic bags used in its stores.

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