- Vijay Vaitheeswaran (part one)
- Vijay Vaitheeswaran (part two)
- Vinay Gupta
- Alyce Santoro
- Mathis Wackernagel
- Tom Price
- Martha Marks
- Paul Hawken
- David Suzuki
- Wal-Mart's Green Gurus
- Alisa Smith and James Mackinnon, authors of Plenty
- Bob Perkowitz of ecoAmerica
- Ed Begley Jr.
- The Weather Channel's Dr. Heidi Cullen
Entries for February 25, 2007 - March 3, 2007
Total this week: 158
RATE THIS VID!: Going In Circles
by Jessica Root - Brooklyn, NY on 03. 3.07
Looking to stop climate change? Watch and follow in the carbon-free footprints of TreeHugger and Seventh Generation’s contest entrants. Vote on this video and the others like it by March 16th. Remember to give higher ratings to the most practical and helpful videos. Need more solutions? Sign up for our daily or weekly newsletter....
RATE THIS VID!: DREAM Big
by Jessica Root - Brooklyn, NY on 03. 3.07
Looking for a good fight? No need for a drunken brawl! Watch how TreeHugger and Seventh Generation’s contest entrants tackle climate change. Who do you think deserves to win? Vote on this video and the others like it. Fortify your green and sign up for our daily or weekly newsletter....
RATE THIS VID!: Scotty P's Convenient Truths
by Jessica Root - Brooklyn, NY on 03. 3.07
Who needs Sundance? TreeHugger and Seventh Generation have brought you your own little private eco-film fest. Sit back, relax, and take in the green. Just don’t forget to hone that artsy eye of yours and vote on the others before March 16th! Hoping to bring home some swag? Consider signing up for our daily or weekly newsletter. ...
RATE THIS VID!: A Terrible Pickle
by Jessica Root - Brooklyn, NY on 03. 3.07
Seventh Generation and TreeHugger turned to you for solutions, and now we’re turning to you again for your trusty opinion on green. Vote today, and tell us whether this video solution to climate change and the others inspire you. While you’re at it, keep your inspiration at an all-time high by signing up for our daily or weekly newsletter....
RATE THIS VID!: Peace Corps Experience in Guatemala
by Jessica Root - Brooklyn, NY on 03. 3.07
RATE THIS VID!: The Man Who Planted Trees
by Jessica Root - Brooklyn, NY on 03. 3.07
The polls are open, folks, but only until March 16th. Kick back with some locally brewed beer or some organic pop corn and watch and rate this video and the smorgasbord of Convenient Truths entries on the contest site, truths.treehugger.com. These green videos are a just a taste. Continue to satiate your appetite for solutions to climate change by subscribing to our daily or weekly newsletter or checking out Seventh Generation’s Inspired Protagonist blog!...
domino & TreeHugger's Green List: Louisa Shafia
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 03. 3.07
The last installment of domino's Green List takes a peek at the green life of health foodie Louisa Shafia. She owns a New York catering business Lucid Food, specializing in natural fare, and stocked domino's pantry with sweet, savory and a recipe for a delightful olive tapenade. She's a big fan of raw sugar: "it has a rich molasses flavor, dark and spicy, with notes of clove and nutmeg"; sweet syrup: "the agave plant's nectar is a wonderful sugar substitute. Plus, it's absorbed into the bloodstream more slowly, so there's no sugar crash"; and fresh almonds: "I puree them with olive oil and a little salt to make almond butter and slather it on apple slices to satisfy a sugar craving." She also uses seaweed sheets for lots of non-sushi related things ("You can roll up almost anything in seaweed"), likes a dash of hemp ("Think of hemp seeds as nuts. They're superhigh in protein and give flavor and crunch to salads.") and the sweetness of wild honey ("Because it balances the acidity of vinegar, honey is wonderful for sweetening a salad dressing.") Her recipe for olive tapenade also sounds delicious; hit dominomag.com for more details and flip your magazine to page 64 for the full details. ::domino's Green List: Louisa Shafia's Green Life
That's the last of the list; see all the entries together at our Green List page, or click the "Domino Magazine" tag below to see all the entries separately....
Watch Their Backs - Lobbyists Are At The Public Trough Again
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 03. 3.07
Via: Seattle Post Intelligencer: - Washington DC USA -- "Mayor Greg Nickels told a Senate committee Thursday that state and local governments are leading the fight against global warming, and he warned Congress against reining in local efforts that are under way across the nation..."We are not just signing a piece of paper," Nickels told the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. We are making tough choices. We are investing our taxpayers' money. We are transforming our cities into laboratories for climate protection. In short, we are making a difference, and laying the groundwork for strong federal policies and programs."" At the Federal level, there is reason for concern that local initiatives will be over-ridden by Federal mandate, driven by special interest lobbying. For example, via Christian Science Monitor, "The National Mining Association has ramped up Capitol Hill lobbying, creating a new coalition and website, futurecoalfuels.org. Many in Washington are warming to the idea. CTL [coal to liquid] bills in the House of Representatives and the Senate have received strong backing". Image credit: Mayor Nickels Sustainable Industries Journal...
The Denial Industry: How The Culture War over Climate Started
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 03. 3.07
Global warming is controversial in the States, but when I did my little post on George Bush's house in Texas, I had no idea that I would be dropped into the middle of a culture war. How did global warming become such a political battleground? I watched an episode of the Canadian Broadcasting Corp's Fifth Estate on the Denial Machine- how the American PR firms helped frame the debate for the big oil companies. It starts with Frank Luntz, consultant to the Republican party, who developed the strategy to say 'there is no sound science, so why spend the money?" or "American business and know-how will find a technical solution" It is forty minutes of riveting information overload on the business of being a climate skeptic. Remarkably, Luntz has had his own reconsideration of the issue and now says:
"If you really care about global warming, take it out of the political sphere. Take it out of trying to beat each other over the head and be honest. Do not yell, focus on solutions that will actually make a difference. Not everything in life is about politics." Watch ::The fifth estate (little red icon on the right after you link) ...
Survey: Do you Stand In Front of the Microwave?
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 03. 3.07
The tinfoil hat brigade was out in force after Helen Suh MacIntosh's answer to the question of whether standing near microwaves was safe. I personally use a cell phone and have a digital clock beside my bed, but always told the kids not to look through the window when nuking the gruel. There clearly are degrees, as we have seen in our discussions about Lakehead University and EHS.
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London Electric Car Company Collaborates with Top Designers
by Sami Grover, Carrboro, NC, USA on 03. 3.07
We Treehuggers like fashion and design, and we like electric cars, so we love it when the two come together. GoinGreen, the company that created the UK’s electric car market, and that we covered here and here, has teamed up with London design duo Eley Kishimoto to produce a limited edition G-Wiz electric car:
“The iconic G-Wiz has been wrapped with Eley Kishimoto’s signature ‘flash’ print and is available in three colourways; black/white, blue/white and red/white, with corresponding bumpers. Only 10 cars per colour will be available to order and each will be numbered and signed by Eley Kishimoto.”...
Migros: First Supermarket with 100% LED Lighting
by Christine Lepisto, Berlin on 03. 3.07
The Migros Supermarket in Eschenbach, Switzerland, sets an LED milestone by switching to 100% LED lighting throughout the entire store--in the refrigerated compartments, overhead, and accenting the selection of products on offer. This project demonstrates once again the ecological superiority of the LED technology. Migros expects to sink energy use 80%, including lower air conditioning costs due to the low waste heat generation of light emitting diodes. "How many Migros technicians does it take to change a light bulb?" None for the next 16 years! That's 50,000 hours of light, compared to 1,000 hours for an old-fashioned filament lightbulb. In addition to the waste reduction achieved by this long life-span, LEDs do not use harmful mercury nor lead. And there is one last, perhaps less obvious, advantage to LED lighting in a supermarket: LEDs emit no ultraviolet nor infrared light, minimizing spoilage of foodstuffs. According to the Osram case study: "Among light experts worldwide, the project is regarded as being unique, and blazes the trail into the LED future."...
RATE THIS VID!: The Power Of Straw
by Jessica Root - Brooklyn, NY on 03. 3.07
Looking to stop climate change? Watch and follow in the carbon-free footprints of TreeHugger and Seventh Generation’s contest entrants. Vote on this video and the others like it by March 16th. Remember to give higher ratings to the most practical and helpful videos. Need more solutions? Sign up for our daily or weekly newsletter....
RATE THIS VID!: Work Harder
by Jessica Root - Brooklyn, NY on 03. 2.07
Looking for a good fight? No need for a drunken brawl! Watch how TreeHugger and Seventh Generation’s contest entrants tackle climate change. Who do you think deserves to win? Vote on this video and the others like it. Fortify your green and sign up for our daily or weekly newsletter....
RATE THIS VID!: Worm Poop - The Other "Black Gold"
by Jessica Root - Brooklyn, NY on 03. 2.07
Who needs Sundance? TreeHugger and Seventh Generation have brought you your own little private eco-film fest. Sit back, relax, and take in the green. Just don’t forget to hone that artsy eye of yours and vote on the others before March 16th! Hoping to bring home some swag? Consider signing up for our daily or weekly newsletter. ...
TreeHugger Radio: Is this the Real Thing? Wal-Mart’s Roadmap to Sustainability
by Team Treehugger, Worldwide on 03. 2.07
Last week we heard from Wal-Mart’s perspective on the company’s green endeavors. Less packaging and fossil fuel, more organic food and green stores, and about a billion fluorescent light bulbs are all part of the giant’s plan. This week, Simran Sethi goes deeper with Andy Ruben, Wal-Mart’s vice president for corporate strategy and sustainability, to see how the mega-retailer views its role as a company with a mission. TreeHugger Radio can be heard on EcoTalk each Friday. To podcast TreeHugger Radio, pop this feed into your iTunes, or visit the iTunes podcast directory. (click here to listen or right-click to download) ::TreeHugger Radio ...
RATE THIS VID!: What Can Regular People Do About Global Warming?
by Jessica Root - Brooklyn, NY on 03. 2.07
Seventh Generation and TreeHugger turned to you for solutions, and now we’re turning to you again for your trusty opinion on green. Vote today, and tell us whether this video solution to climate change and the others inspire you. While you’re at it, keep your inspiration at an all-time high by signing up for our daily or weekly newsletter....
RATE THIS VID!: What Can I Do?
by Jessica Root - Brooklyn, NY on 03. 2.07
Books: What the TreeHugger Team is Reading!
by Michael Graham Richard, Gatineau, Canada on 03. 2.07
Last September we did a post about what we were reading (green-related or not) and we thought it was quite a fun exercise, so here is the second edition. Please let us know about the books that you are reading in the comments....
RATE THIS VID!: Team Denim At The 2006 Tour de Sol
by Jessica Root - Brooklyn, NY on 03. 2.07
The polls are open, folks, but only until March 16th. Kick back with some locally brewed beer or some organic pop corn and watch and rate this video and the smorgasbord of Convenient Truths entries on the contest site, truths.treehugger.com. These green videos are a just a taste. Continue to satiate your appetite for solutions to climate change by subscribing to our daily or weekly newsletter or checking out Seventh Generation’s Inspired Protagonist blog!...
Freshtopia Hiatus – Get well soon Oscar Grimm
by Leonora Oppenheim, London, UK on 03. 2.07
Long Trail Brewery, Bridgewater Corners, VT
by Kara DiCamillo, Newport, Rhode Island on 03. 2.07
I turned on my computer today with a thought in mind as to what I was going to write about. It just so happens that I’m in Vermont (where it is dumping snow!) and at Long Trail Brewery, the only place I can seem to pick up internet service. As I ordered my beer I noticed their fact sheet that adorns each table describing their “Commitment to Environmental Consciousness.” Well isn’t this perfect… ...
The TH Interview: Tom Arnold of TerraPass On The Future Of Carbon Offsets
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 03. 2.07
TreeHugger arranged this interview with TerraPass representative Tom Arnold during recent blog-roversies over the usefulness of carbon “offsetting:" a controversy that will likely continue, reflecting the difficulty, we think, of explaining the complexities in sound bytes and blog chunks. We completed our discussion with Tom following Al Gore’s 2007 Oscar Award; a period during which cable-TV talk show host Glen Beck also interviewed Tom Arnold live, as discussed here. TerraPass provided the carbon offsets for all Oscar ceremony participants, as explained here. With no further ado, here is Tom Arnold, Chief Environmental Officer, TerraPass....
TreeHugger Welcomes Writer Summer Bowen!
by Summer Bowen, Santa Monica, California on 03. 2.07
BASF Goes Platinum With "Near-Zero Energy Home"
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 03. 2.07
BASF unveiled this impressive "Near-Zero Energy Home" recently. The home has three systems (solar, air conditioning, building envelope) integrated together to make it 80% more efficient than a typical home. It was selected by the U.S. Green Building Council's (USGBC) pilot testing for the recently launched Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Homes (LEED-H) rating system. The BASF home earned a Platinum certification. It's located in Paterson, New Jersey, and it will serve as a template for a project to build over 3,000 affordable housing units in Paterson. :: BASF via Jetson Green...
TreeHugger Picks: Wonderful World of Wool
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 03. 2.07
Perhaps best known for making sweaters and socks, wool (and felted wool) is a wonderfully versatile material that can not only dress you from head to toe, but help light the room, store your stuff and provide a soft place to walk, and it's renewable and biodegradable to boot. Here are some of our picks that showcase some of the things available in the wonderful world of wool.
1) Conphorm bags saves space and resources with help from an ingenious design; Carabags are another good recycled wool choice for bags.
2) Mioculture's pendant light capsules make use of two felt shades and a fluorescent light bulb to create a gentle, subtle light.
3) Stuffbump, designed by Graham Hill and eco-designer extraordinaire (and TH contributor) Petz Scholtus, is a fun, felt storage system which, using a clever die cut pattern, allows a flat piece of material to be opened up and stuffed with small belongings, thus becoming a bump.
4) Sage, by Delano Collection features a coat created with a 100% organic wool shell and a lining made of bamboo fabric.
5) Emma Gardner has designed some beautiful wool rugs which were made under the labor guidelines of the RUGMARK Foundation, insuring no illegal child labor was used to make them....
The Giant Resource Grab
by Mark Ontkush, Boston, Massachusetts, USA on 03. 2.07
Remember that scene in Titanic where Cal tries to bribe Murdoch to get a seat on one of the lifeboats? Murdoch throws the cash back at him, telling Cal that "it can't save you, anymore than it can save me." The scene is indicative of market dynamics when resources run short. In these situations money no longer matters, it's only access to the resource that counts.
We are seeing all sorts of resource grabs throughout the world. Russia grabbed the gas, and is going after the nickel. China is going after Tibet's copper, lead, iron, and zinc. And Nigeria is open for business, inviting hordes of international speculators to develop their abundant minerals. Of course, the US seems to have an obsession with a black goo.
Information technology is a resource intensive industry. It requires loads of energy to run, and lots of raw materials, particularly metals, to make cellphones, computers, what have you. Some of these materials are running a little short. For example, columbite-tantalite, a metallic ore used to create capacitors for electronic equipment, is in pretty short supply. A lot of it came from the Congo, where it fuelled a bloody civil war that left 3 million dead. Egypt is now a supplier as well, but there is less and less to go around....
It Generates. It Internets. It Cools and Refreshes.
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 03. 2.07
This has something for everyone. For the prefab fans, it folds out of a shipping container. For the alt energy types, it has a thousand square feet of photovoltaics and can pump out 16 KW without the optional turbine. For the computer nerds, it has a communications control center with "full range of wireless VSAT, VOIP and wireless communications capable of handling thousands of phone calls and offering wireless connectivity for a range of up to 30 miles." When shipped for disaster relief, it uses the electricity to filter 30 gallons per minute of contaminated ground water to WHO standards for drinking.
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Greening Young Minds Through Earth Jams
by Kenny Luna, North Babylon, NY on 03. 2.07
One man, a guitar, and a plan… That best summarizes singer/songwriter and environmentalist Matt Loosigian. He’s come up with a plan to reach minds that might otherwise not be exposed to the whole green concept by reaching out to them through music. Essentially, Matt’s "Earth Jams" are a one-man musical show, based in Maine, and dedicated to teaching peace, compassion and environmental justice by creating and singing songs with kids. It works so well because music can be such a powerful teaching tool when tunes stick in their heads long after they've left the classroom. As Matt points out, “the kids have such a great time singing and clapping along, but when they go home they realize they’ve learned something valuable.” And valuable indeed through songs like “Energy Detective”, that helps kids understand that there are lots of ways to conserve energy, by doing things like taking a shorter shower that can make a huge difference. “Turn Off the Lights” is a bluesy song that reminds kids to flip the switch when they leave the room. With kids across the state of Maine learning to be green through music, it sounds like Matt is a great example of one man making a difference to change the world…...
The Un-Friendly IKEA in Israel
by Karin Kloosterman, Jerusalem, Israel on 03. 2.07
Finally. IKEA is charging customers for those gigantic plastic bags that no one really needs except for the moments when we wheel our stuff from the curb to the car and then haul it up the stairs. But not in Israel. Here the 5 cent charge doesn't and won't apply to IKEA Israel shoppers no matter how good are IKEA's intentions or PR campaigns. We reckon that the Israeli marketing advisors said no dice over charging for the bags. And that's exactly what we found when we read this Globes story. Shlomo Gabay, the GM for the company said, “The company’s policy in Israel is to provide the plastic bags as a customer service at no charge. IKEA does many things for the environment. Our contributions are not made at the customer’s expense, but through our insistence on using recyclable materials. We’re also careful to work with organizations that reflect a policy of protecting the environment, and when we want to give money, we know how to do it quietly.” Okay folks – Israelis plastic bag everything. Once the bags are used, they are tossed, sent to the landfill or blow into the sea. But if IKEA Israel believes they can be recycled, then more power to the company. Mr. Gabay – care to let concerned TreeHuggers everywhere know how this is possible when no nation-wide recycling program exists in Israel? ::Globes
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Reusable Scrubs - Polyester Funk in the Operating Room!
by Jenna Watson, Barcelona on 03. 2.07
Industrial laundering of surgical gowns has proven its environmental value according to a study carried out for the European Textile Services Association. The independent organization, dk-Teknik Energy & Environment, in Denmark carried out an LCA of 5 types of surgical gowns – 3 reusable gowns and 2 disposable options. The 100% polyester (microfibre) even with its fluorocarbon finish came out on top, outranking all other options including the 50/50 cotton/polyester mix. Reusable gowns clearly showed lower impacts than their disposable counterparts even when they compared the “best case” for disposables and the “worst case” for reusables. A summary of the study is apparently available in English but the link doesn’t work and the full LCA is only available in Swedish. So we’ll have to trust the short summary available here. The LCA follows ISO standards and examined energy consumption, global warming, acidification (of water and soil), eutrophication (nutrient discharges to water) and post-consumer waste. So for all of those surgeons reading TH (we hope you are many) – make sure your employer is keeping those hospital greens greener. ...
The End of More and Better: Mother Jones, March-April
by Jeff McIntire-Strasburg, St. Louis, MO on 03. 2.07
While the bright yellow cover art and the title "The Iraq Handbook for Dummies" will have readers of the latest issue of Mother Jones turning pages towards the article that promises "Everything you need to know about Iraq but are afraid to ask," Treehuggers are bound to get distracted along the way by Bill McKibben's feature article, "Reversal of Fortune." Drawing from his forthcoming book Deep Economy, McKibben challenges one of the fundamental tenets of modern economics: growth is necessary and good. We'd expect a healthy dose of environmental evidence from McKibben on this topic, and the article doesn't disappoint in this regard. Ecological issues are only one part of a larger look at contemporary "civilized" existence, though, that struggles with the question "If we're so rich, how come we're so damn miserable?"
Other features this time around include a profile of teenage video blogger and activist Ava Lowery, a look inside Ave Maria University, a new, ultra-orthodox Catholic college started by Domino's Pizza founder Tom Monaghan, and a revelation of the biggest challenge facing the newspaper industry (and, no, it's not the Internet). Regular departments consider e-waste and built-in obsolescence, and pay a visit to a "born-again" abortion clinic. As always, Mojo is fresh, eclectic, and thorough. Pick up a copy, or part with a mere $10 for a subscription. ::Mother Jones, March-April 2007...
IDS07: Up to You
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 03. 2.07
We were surprised to find a retailer with a booth at the Interior Design Show but Up to You is no ordinary retailer. It is in a second floor apartment in an old building- "Upon entrance this concept shop appears to be the living quarters of a young professional making their way in the world. Immediately you are taken into a voyeuristic paradise where incense fills the air and an unlikely mashing of Shakespearean theater and popular music delights the ears." And this young professional appears to be a TreeHugger type, (or at least a fan of Charles Jencks and Adhocism) having things like this fruit bowl that you essentially make yourself from the netting wrapping bag that the fruit comes in- a zero-waste solution! "the structure of the fruit bowl is provided for you and all you have to do is fill in the rest."...
domino & TreeHugger's Green List: Food
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 03. 2.07
As TreeHugger has noted time and again, it would be far preferable if we could all saunter out our front doors, head down the street and pick up delicious, fresh, local organic food from a farmer's market or local co-op each day or each week; unfortunately, we all can't do that, an idea not lost on domino's Green List selections for food. We worked to find flavorful solutions for going organic that everyone (or nearly everyone) can choose; sources like organic produce from Diamond Organics, meat from Niman Ranch and Horizon's butter. To drink, we focused on beverages you can get just about anywhere, like Stonyfield milk, Peace Coffee's java, Mighty Leaf tea, Square One organic vodka and vino from the Organic Wine Company. Bread, especially the organic variety, is best enjoyed when its fresh from the oven, so we came up with a list of local bakeries that are favorites in their cities (and recommend you do the same). We know the best thing to do is shop from your local farmers market or other local foodshed supply; when you can't do that, we think these are pretty good options. There's more at dominomag.com and pages 62-63 of the print mag. Only one more day to go; tomorrow, a look at a New York caterer keeping things green. ::domino's Green List: Food...
Come Up to My Room
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 03. 2.07
We attended the alternative design event 'Come Up to My Room" at the Gladstone Hotel (and showed Castor's lighting display earlier) but had to wait until Mocoloco's Harry Wakefield posted it because he really takes a fine photograph.
Shawn Moore and Julie Nicholson are MADE, a new store in Toronto that highlights their own work and those of other artists. They take that common building block of every pre-IKEA student apartment, the milk crate, and upcycle it into an entire line of furniture, including this chandelier, footstools and desks. Milk crates are "a mass-produced item whose ubiquitous design offers many variations in colour and patterning" Incomprehensible Flash website of the day at ::Made...
Second Green Drinks Buenos Aires!
by Paula Alvarado, Buenos Aires on 03. 2.07
The 2nd edition of the Argentinean Green Drinks is set for next Wednesday, March 7th from 8 to 9.30pm. We’re defining the place, but we assume it will be in an Irish pub located in Retiro, the center of the city. Our first gathering was last February 2nd, and we got to 18 people from Argentina, Brazil, Portugal, and the USA, among others. To those who aren’t familiar with the concept, Green Drinks is an informal meeting to get in touch with people interested in or related to environmental issues. If you want to know more or want to attend, please e-mail us at paula at treehugger dot com. See you next Wednesday!
(Picture: Floralis Generica, Recoleta, Buenos Aires)...
Chuck Trash Talks Ronald, Gets in Trouble
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 03. 2.07
Prince Charles was talking to a nutritionist in a diabetes treatment centre in Abu Dhabi discussing childhood obesity and said "“Have you got anywhere with McDonald’s? Have you tried getting it banned? That is the key.”
Whenever HRH says anything the British press responds with humour and grace- The Mirror told him to "Burger off" and the Times pointed out that his own "Duchy Originals organic Cornish pasty has 264 calories per 100g, and a Big Mac only 229 calories; a Duchy Originals pasty has 5.5g of saturated fat, a Big Mac just 4.17g." and "There aren’t many people who can manage to be a loudmouth, a danger to the constitution and a buffoon all at the same time."
However perhaps the Manchester Evening News got it right: " The only way we'll start to crack the horror of lives stunted by the ill health caused by poor nutrition is with a cultural mindchange to stop considering a lard-laden snack as a treat or a reward. Coming on the same day as a study discovered that children believe cows lay eggs, surely McDs, KFC and all the rest have a role to play in that. "
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Love Your Bike
by Bonnie Alter, London on 03. 2.07
Love Your Bike is a campaign set up by Manchester City Council and Friends of the Earth to encourage bicycle riding. Its inter-active website serves as a comprehensive directory to every aspect of bicycle riding in Manchester, England. The colourful site includes information on where to ride, where to buy, health tips, surveys and videos. The Council has arranged a discount on the purchase of new bicycles and they are selling those green fluorescent jackets with the campaign logo on the back—very fetching. There is a fascinating inter-active map that shows good routes, bad routes and even potholes to avoid. An excellent diagram shows the names of all the parts of the bike—always useful when trying to describe that missing part. Some fascinating facts about the benefits of cycling: Cycling at least 20 miles a week reduces the risk of heart disease to less than half that for non-cyclists who take no other exercise. A 15-minute bike ride to and from work five times a week burns off the equivalent of 11 pounds of fat in a year. The average UK resident spends approximately 9 days every year in a car. Regular cyclists enjoy a fitness level equal to that of a person 10 years younger. :: Love Your Bike...
Theodore Roosevelt IV to Head Lehman Brothers’ 'Global Council on Climate Change'
by Eric Kane, New York, NY on 03. 2.07
During the last week, we reported on efforts to address climate change in the electric utility and film industries. On Wednesday, the financial sector entered the fray with an announcement by Lehman Brothers. The investment bank appointed Theodore Roosevelt IV to head a new effort to address the challenges of global warming. The great-grandson of the US president will be chairman of Lehman Brothers’ Global Council on Climate Change. Roosevelt enters the position with significant experience in the environmental arena. He is chairman of the Pew Center for Global Climate Change and co-chair of the Alliance for Climate Protection. Lehman Brothers is certainly not the first investment bank to address climate change, but this decision does signify the growing momentum towards climate protection. The only question that remains is: why haven’t other firms followed suit?...
Greenline Paper: "America's Green Office Supply"
by Sami Grover, Carrboro, NC, USA on 03. 2.07
It seems hard to believe that we have somehow not covered Greenline Paper before here on Treehugger, but a search of the site would appear to confirm this oversight. Based in York, PA, Greenline markets itself as “America’s Green Office Supply”. Not only do these guys provide more sustainable options for office paper, note pads, and filing supplies, but they also supply office essentials such as tissues and towels, and organic and fair trade coffee and tea. They even stock biodegradable tableware. So, apologies to Greenline that we didn’t get to you sooner, but better late than never....
Survey: Should Incandescent Bulbs be Banned?
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 03. 2.07
Cities, states and entire nations are talking about banning incandescent lamps to save energy. Others, to paraphrase Pierre Trudeau, say that the government has no place in the light sockets of the nation. Others note that if every bulb in America was changed, enough energy would be saved to power three cities the size of New York. It is a controversial subject- read the comments here and here to our earlier posts on this. We did a poll on whether you should have them before; Where do you stand on banning them?
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RATE THIS VID!: Save Energy, Need Less
by Jessica Root - Brooklyn, NY on 03. 1.07
Looking to stop climate change? Watch and follow in the carbon-free footprints of TreeHugger and Seventh Generation’s contest entrants. Vote on this video and the others like it by March 16th. Remember to give higher ratings to the most practical and helpful videos. Need more solutions? Sign up for our daily or weekly newsletter....
RATE THIS VID!: Recycle America, Close The Loop
by Jessica Root - Brooklyn, NY on 03. 1.07
Looking for a good fight? No need for a drunken brawl! Watch how TreeHugger and Seventh Generation’s contest entrants tackle climate change. Who do you think deserves to win? Vote on this video and the others like it. Fortify your green and sign up for our daily or weekly newsletter....
RATE THIS VID!: A Kid, A Car, And An Idea
by Jessica Root - Brooklyn, NY on 03. 1.07
Who needs Sundance? TreeHugger and Seventh Generation have brought you your own little private eco-film fest. Sit back, relax, and take in the green. Just don’t forget to hone that artsy eye of yours and vote on the others before March 16th! Hoping to bring home some swag? Consider signing up for our daily or weekly newsletter. ...
RATE THIS VID!: Gwoble Wawming Solooshons
by Jessica Root - Brooklyn, NY on 03. 1.07
Seventh Generation and TreeHugger turned to you for solutions, and now we’re turning to you again for your trusty opinion on green. Vote today, and tell us whether this video solution to climate change and the others inspire you. While you’re at it, keep your inspiration at an all-time high by signing up for our daily or weekly newsletter....
RATE THIS VID!: Future Mechanics
by Jessica Root - Brooklyn, NY on 03. 1.07
RATE THIS VID!: Secondary Footprints: Reducing The Impact
by Jessica Root - Brooklyn, NY on 03. 1.07
The polls are open, folks, but only until March 16th. Kick back with some locally brewed beer or some organic pop corn and watch and rate this video and the smorgasbord of Convenient Truths entries on the contest site, truths.treehugger.com. These green videos are a just a taste. Continue to satiate your appetite for solutions to climate change by subscribing to our daily or weekly newsletter or checking out Seventh Generation’s Inspired Protagonist blog!...
Who Wants to Save the Aye-Aye?
by Jasmin Malik Chua, Jersey City, USA on 03. 1.07
One of my zoology professors used to refer to it as "The Bambi Syndrome"—us hairless bipeds tend to gravitate towards cuddly megafauna like the panda; we're ready to empty our pockets to pull them from the precipice of certain doom. But can you get people rallying for an obscure species of clam? Does anyone really get pumped about saving the tuna? What about the almost grotesque-looking aye-aye, which, according to Slate got hit so bad with the ugly stick that conservationists are going to pieces trying to figure out how to persuade people that its unique genetic heritage is worth giving a damn?
Everyone loves a cute face. For humans, something about large heads, languid eyes, and flat faces appeal to something visceral inside us, not coincidentally, much like a baby's face does....
Al Gore Re-Frames The Climate Risk Communication Problem
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 03. 1.07
What did Al Gore do after the Oscars Award ceremony? According to the Tennesean.com "Back in Tennessee on Tuesday, Gore told a crowd of about 50 people at the U.S. Media Ethics Summit II that the presentation's single most provocative slide was one that contrasts results of two long-term studies. A 10-year University of California study found that essentially zero percent of peer-reviewed scientific journal articles disagreed that global warming exists, whereas, another study found that 53 percent of mainstream newspaper articles disagreed the global warming premise". Here's the money quote from the Tennesean:- "I think if it is important to look at the pressures that made it more likely than not that mainstream journalists in the United States would convey a wholly inaccurate conclusion about the most important moral, ethical, spiritual and political issue humankind has ever faced." The good news is that the facts are now getting enough mainstream media attention. We noticed that talk show host Glen Beck (pictured) recently calculated his carbon footprint (see Feb. 26 transcript here) and expressed surprise at the magnitude. If you're puzzled about how your lifestyle matters to the climate future, try calculating your own carbon footprint. For your driving footprint link here. For your air trips link here. And for your home, link here. See how "average" your lifestyle is. Image credit: Glenn Beck site, "about"...
Most Huggable: Aspen’s Melting Slopes, Antarctica as a Concert Venue, Congress’s New Portfolio
by Jacob Gordon, Nashville, TN on 03. 1.07
Aspen’s delicate and lucrative ski slopes are under some serious threats… It’s easy to build a solar-powered hydrogen storage system for your back yard in just five simple steps! Congress is looking likely to pass a federal renewable energy portfolio standard… In the UK, a 500 MW offshore wind farm is approved. The clean power it makes will be the equivalent of taking 350,000 cars off the road … Al Gore’s global rock concert to awaken global awareness will touch all seven continents, including the chilly South Pole…...
Just What We Needed Dept: A Pee Powered Battery
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 03. 1.07
Just what you need when you are out in the woods: Scientists in (we believe) Singapore "soaked a piece of paper in a solution of copper chloride and sandwiched it between strips of magnesium and copper. This sandwich was then laminated between two sheets of transparent plastic. When a drop of urine is added to the paper through a slit in the plastic, a chemical reaction takes place that produces electricity. The prototype battery produced about 1.5 volts, the same as a standard AA battery, and runs for about 90 minutes. Researchers said the power, voltage, and lifetime of the battery can be improved by adjusting the geometry and materials used. Urine contains many ions (electrically charged atoms), which allows the electricity-producing chemical reaction to take place in the urine battery."
Evidently it works with other precious bodily fluids as well. We await the video. ::Myninjaplease...
Stars and Stinkers Game
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 03. 1.07
So do you know where the celebrities rate on being green? DeSmogBlog thinks they do and have created a little game. You match the picture of your favourite celeb to where you think they should be on the scale from black hat to white hat- your value judgement against theirs and EcoRazzi, where they did their research. Silly but a moment's diversion. Too wide for us to embed so link to ::DeSmogBlog...
Say Goodbye To The Golden Eggs: How Topping Off The Tank With Ethanol May Bottom Out The Climate & The Pheasants That Lay Them
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 03. 1.07
We recently wrote about duck hunters and tree huggers having a common, if unexpected, interest in mitigating climate change. It turns out that by conserving prairie pothole wetlands for the purpose of supporting duck breeding, that carbon sequestration by these wetland areas occurs at much higher per-hectare level than from cropping or tree planting. And, we also wrote about how the US Department of Agriculture was contemplating closing out contracts for the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), basically to satisfy our increased vehicular cravings for ‘corn liquor.’ Many times the grassy swales currently in conservation reserve are contiguous to potholes. As a result, the policy push from the top to produce more corn-based ethanol could well end up a net climate negative. It’s not just ducks and tree hugger types who are going to be unhappy about closing out CRP contracts. Pheasants, like the golden in our picture or his more common ring-necked cousin, are popular quarry in the upper Midwest, having become abundant after two decades of CRP successes. Via the Argus Leader we’ve learned that plowing under the reserves won’t sit too well with hunters....
EcoCity, the Trade Show with Environmental Solutions for Cities
by Petz Scholtus, Barcelona, Spain on 03. 1.07
We visited EcoCity (what used to be EcoMed) today, the trade fair for new environmental solutions for cities and industry, held in Barcelona. During the four days of the show, from February 27th until March 2nd, EcoCity is measuring the CO2 emissions to then compensate for them after the event. Transportation as well as the electricity consumption of the fair ground is all taken into account. Together with the Spanish company CeroCO2, an enquiry is being made to measure the transport used by exhibitors and visitors. It’s a pilot project but EcoCity is hoping to get other events to take action by publishing their awareness raising commitment.
At the fair, a vast variety of new recycling containers in all kinds of different shapes, materials and colours are exhibited as well as the latest technologies in cleaning machines for urban areas. Quite new were the companies offering re-usable products (wipes, soft barriers, etc.) with absorbing qualities made from (partly recycled) polyurethane to clean up industrial liquid spills. A relatively small amount of solar equipment was to be seen for such a sunny country as Spain. What we enjoyed most was the stand of XCR by the Waste Agency of Catalonia who have put together a network of companies dealing with recycled products. Lasentiu, the Compostadores, Eco-Reciclat (who had the brand new Spanish edition of 'An Inconvenient Truth', printed on FSC paper, in their stand. It's available from TODAY!) as well as