- 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 September 23, 2007 - September 29, 2007
Total this week: 214
An Ultrathin, Anime-Inspired, Protein-Based Computer Memory Chip
by Jeremy Elton Jacquot, Los Angeles on 09.29.07
It may seem like an unlikely source of inspiration for a new computer memory technology, but "Detective Conan" (otherwise known as "Case Closed") - a popular anime and manga series about a young detective who uses high-tech gadgets to help him solve cases - could have provided the creative spark that led to the development of a protein-based ultrathin memory. Using ferritin, a protein commonly found in both eukaryotes and prokaryotes that facilitates iron storage, scientists from Japan's Nara Institute of Science and Technology came up with a way to build memory on thinner substrates, thus avoiding the need for energy-intensive, high-temperature processing (often in excess of 1,000°C).
In the past, thin materials such as glass and plastics had proved unsuitable for the production of computer memory since they had a low heat resistance. However, with the help of ferritin - which stores iron inside its hollow spherical structure - the researchers believe it will now be possible to use these thinner materials. The exact process involves the irradiation of ferritin-covered substrate with UV light, which destroys the protein and leaves behind metal deposits (which are contained in it). The end result was a memory chip measuring less than 1 micron in thickness. ...
Clinton Global Initiative Highlights: Energy & Climate Change
by Jasmin Malik Chua, Jersey City, USA on 09.29.07
Seeding is Believing in Vermont
by Jasmin Malik Chua, Jersey City, USA on 09.29.07
Toyota Fuel Cell Hybrid In The Lead (Apparently)
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 09.29.07
Media coverage we've seen is confusing as to whether the Toyota FCHV-6 is a pure play fuel cell or a hybrid fuel cell vehicle. We'll assume hybrid, as it would be logical to leverage their current front runner position in hybrid tech. Check out HydrogenCars blog for more details. "Toyota Motor Corp said on Friday its improved FCHV zero-emission fuel-cell car completed a road test from Osaka to Tokyo, covering 560 km (350 miles), on a single tank of hydrogen."
"The latest version of the FCHV features a high-pressure tank of 70Mpa that can store double the amount of hydrogen as its previous fuel tank, increasing its cruising range. Two cars were tested and both completed the trip, the automaker said."
Via:: Reuters Image credit:: Hydrogen Cars...
Wearing a Piece of the Titanic
by Jeremy Elton Jacquot, Los Angeles on 09.29.07
Not that you've probably ever given it any serious consideration, but how would you feel about owning a piece of the Titanic - to tell the time? Yes, taking the principles of reuse and recycling to new heights, a Switzerland-based watch company - Romain Jerome - is planning on using steel taken from the actual vessel to craft a set of 2,012 limited edition Titanic DNA Watches. Furthermore, the watches' dial faces will be coated with black lacquer paint - whose main ingredient consists of coal from the ship.
They will be made available on (conveniently enough) 2012 to coincide with the centenary anniversary of the Titanic's sinking on April 14, 1912. No pricing is as yet listed, but you can bet these watches won't come cheap. Talk about gimmicky... not to mention inefficient (just imagine the amount of energy it takes to extract the necessary components).
Via ::Groovy Green: Titanic Being Recycled, Turned Into Watches (blog)
See also: ::Dematerialized Designs: Make Your Own Watch, ::Fossil Kinetic Watches: Never Change a Battery Again
...
One Year Ago in TH: LEDs on the Go, Camouflage is the New Green + More
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 09.29.07
Because we don't know where we're going until we realize where we've been: one year ago in TreeHugger, we spied some LEDs on the go (above left), pondered whether or not camouflage was the new green with Britain's Department of Defence going green beyond just the color of their tanks, and eyed Recy, the Recyclable Roadster.
We also took note of KiteShip, which employs Very Large Free Flying Sails to help pull ships along, found some new sustainable goodies at 2KH and felt George Monbiot turn up the heat, took note of Safeway's efforts to reduce emissions with wind power and peeked inside North Carolina's first zero energy home. This date last year also marked the first time we saw Suissa Computers, who've been on our radar this year as well. Some things do come full circle; check out everything we were thinking about here....
Real Treehuggers Support Adding LNG Terminals
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 09.29.07
North American nations are considering a combined total of 64 liquefied natural gas import terminal proposals. These projects are somewhere between underway and identified. To view industry-supplied facts and perspectives on LNG, check out this site. If you are strongly opposed to LNG port additions, please don't just shoot us an angry comment before checking out the following reasoning.
We mentioned before that a major trade-off decision facing North America is coal vs conservation. Actually, that was something of an oversimplification.
Adding enough LNG import capacity in the next few years, combined with a sufficiently-low Federally imposed carbon cap in the US and Canada, could head hundreds of new coal and nuclear generators off at the climate pass*. And, the added LNG could play an important role in the sustainability of hybrid vehicle designs.
As long as gas supplies are adequate, gas fired generators are easier to permit, far cheaper to build, and vastly cleaner to operate than coal-fired generators* *. Some would argue that natural gas has a lower carbon footprint than nuclear power if an objective comparison is made over the full product life cycle. For the moment, however, let's hold off on the merits of adding nuclear plants. Taxpayers are going to be shocked once they find out what it would cost in public subsidies to build hundreds of new nuclear stations. That makes for a pretty uncertain debate. ...
TreeHugger Discussion Forums
by Michael Graham Richard, Gatineau, Canada on 09.29.07
Just a reminder: The TreeHugger Discussion Forums are fully launched and linked from our header menu, as you can see from the screenshot above.
Feel free to drop by and join the discussion. It's easy and fast to register, and no rocket science is involved with using the forums: You click on discussion threads you want to read, if you want to reply, you hit "Post Reply". That's it!
Come check it out!...
Critical Mass Turns 15
by Sean Fisher, Cincinnati, Ohio on 09.29.07
Oh, adolescence. It was fifteen years ago this week that 40+ bicyclists got together for a group ride, showing that roads aren't just meant for cars. From this unceremonious "birth," Critical Mass has grown to become a part of the bicycle culture in many cities around the world. As is the case with many teenagers, the group has gone through quite a growth spurt:
What began with four dozen bicyclists riding together up Market Street on Sept. 25, 1992, has turned into a monthly happening that regularly draws thousands of participants pedaling along the streets of San Francisco, at times drawing both praise and scorn.We would send Critical Mass a birthday card, if only there was somewhere to send it. The "group" is not really a group at all. Rather, it is an event without central leadership - spreading through word of mouth. Maybe the best gift would be to just show up and ride, anyway. :: Via Planetizen and San Francisco Chronicle ...
TreeHugger Radio: Mexico High on Greenhouse Gasses, Bush’s Climate Plan, and the Art of the Superfund Site
by Team Treehugger, Worldwide on 09.29.07
This week, president Bush tries to convince the world he’s serious about the fate of the human race, while a new poll finds public satisfaction with climate leadership down in the dumps. With the construction of the world’s highest climate monitoring station, Mexico proudly enters the global warming tracking community, and TreeHugger’s Eliza Barclay is on the scene to speak with key players. Melding toxic waste with interactive art is a delicate science, but Superfund365 has done just that, and artist Brooke Singer discusses her creation. Listen to TreeHugger Radio on iTunes or listen/right click to download. ::TreeHugger Radio ...
Trinity Glass - A Merger for Beautiful Countertops
by Kristin Underwood, San Diego, CA on 09.29.07
At the West Coast Green conference last weekend, I had the opportunity to sit down with EcoTop/EcoClad creator Joel Klippert, and Squak Mountain Stone creator Amee Quiriconi to talk about the creation of green surfaces. The two recently joined creative forces to develop Trinity Glass – a unique countertop surface that is both refined and rustic. These two designers shared a little bit of their passion for the industry and the charge they get from designing with materials once though to be worthless....
Agrilandia: Italian Organic Farming in China
by Christine Lepisto, Berlin on 09.29.07
Beijing parents who belong to the urban migration in China have found an opportunity to bring their children back to the land. On 17 hectares east of Beijing Capital International Airport, the Agrilandia Italian Farm opens its doors to visitors who want to sprawl in the grass, eat an authentic Italian meal or self-pick around twenty varieties each of apricots, cherries, plums, peaches, apples, grapes and pears. Claudio Bonfatti, and his wife Lu Hongwei, started the farm as a family retreat and to grow vegetables and herbs for authentic Italian dishes at their Beijing restaurant, Peter Pan. Their empire has since grown to include a second restaurant in town and a restaurant at the farm. The farm sells cuttings from the imported fruit trees and proselytizes the virtues of organic farming.
However, expansion of the Beijing airport to accommodate the 2008 Olympic games will force Agrilandia off of the land which the Bonfattis currently lease at a pre-boom price of $633 per hectare per year. Negotiations are underway for a new location, but the move will force the small organic farm to grow or die. ...
Not Blanche: An "All-night Public-space Thing"
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 09.29.07
Last year's Nuit Blanche all-night contemporary art festival was such a hit (400,000 people showed up!) that it is being repeated in Toronto tonight, but is now ScotiaBank Nuit Blanche, and some people think that it has gone all mainstream and corporate. The Toronto Public Space Committee has organized not blanche, an alternative, non corporatized version that is less about art and more about public space and urban issues.
They have organized a poster harvesting/button making crew- "Harvest expired posters from around the neighbourhood, then come back and make your own unique wearable piece of public space!" an illegal sign safari "Go hunting for billboards behaving badly with our friends from illegalsigns.ca" a moonlight bulb plant- "Commit senseless acts of beautification by the light of the moon in our city's interstitial spaces."...
Clinton Global Initiative Highlights: Strategies to Improve Maternal, Newborn & Child Health
by Jasmin Malik Chua, Jersey City, USA on 09.29.07
Ontario Election 2007: Who is the Greenest, Part 2
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 09.29.07
We looked at this earlier, but now 13 environmental groups have released a comparison of the Conservative, Green, Liberal and NDP platforms.
Unlike in the United States, there is a remarkable consensus in Ontario; Peter Gorrie of the Star notes that all of the parties claim to be green, and are in fact tripping over each other to convince voters they're on the right side of what has become a motherhood issue.
The analysis rated each party as "Yes," "No," or "partial" on six major issues. As expected, the Greens got the most "Yes" marks and no "No's." They're far out on their own because, true to their origins, they view every policy – finance, health, education and the rest – as part of a sustainable whole. Results below the fold. ::Toronto Star
picture by Raffi Anderian/Toronto Star...
The Third Industrial Revolution
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 09.29.07
In Germany, that is what they call the development of low-carbon or no-carbon technologies needed to wean economies off fossil fuels. In theory, the wealth and the jobs - entire industries perhaps - created by the technologies would help to offset the potentially horrendous costs of reducing carbon output.
Eric Reguly quotes a report that suggested the third industrial revolution is well under way in Germany. It said the new energy and ecology-related fields are becoming the country's top job creation engine. "By 2020, this sector will be employing more people than mechanical engineering or the automotive industry," said the writer of the report. Already, Germany has created about 250,000 jobs in areas ranging from fuel cells and electric cars to wind power and energy-efficient houses (the German Passivhaus dispenses with conventional furnaces for heating).
So why do North American politicians keep saying that the cost of Kyoto is too high? As the head of the United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP) said: "You can make money out of climate change, Capitalism can change with a changing market. Lehman Brothers has more environmental experts than the UNEP." ::Globe and Mail...
How to Detox Your House
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 09.29.07
So many chemicals in our houses, in our carpets, bedding, insulation, paints, glues and countless other household goods. Adriana Barton at the Globe and Mail finds that the potential health hazards of many everyday chemicals have only recently come under scrutiny. She writes:
Bisphenol A, found in plastic items such as drinking bottles, causes reproductive-system defects in animals; so do flame retardants and phthalates used in fragrances, lotions, vinyl and other products. The risks to human health aren't well documented, however - and even less is known about the compound effects of chemical cocktails in the body.
People have reason to be concerned about potential toxicants and allergens in their homes, according to Tim Takaro, a physician scientist and professor in health sciences at Simon Fraser University.
"When the science is in flux," he says, "oftentimes we need to adopt a precautionary approach."...
Quote of the Day: Gro Brundtland on Climate-Change Mitigation in Norway
by Jasmin Malik Chua, Jersey City, USA on 09.29.07
I'm a technology optimist and it's going to be an important part of the solutions, but yet on Monday, Alcoa represented industries speaking in the United Nations in the mitigation plenary, what did he say? He said, we need clear, enforced, global policies and we need fair, effective and binding international commitments. That was the message from industry on Monday because if they get that, the drive towards doing what is right will be there and they will be able to grow, they will be able to invest and they will be able to do the right thing towards clean energy, renewable energy, energy efficiency, everything that we are speaking about.
Now, when I had led the commission on environment and development back in the '80's, of course, I was focused on what can we do at home in Norway, an oil-producing country, so one important issue, which was politically difficult was we have to have a CO2 tax on the Norwegian continental shelf, on the oil industry itself. ...
Chemically, Deodorants Stink
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 09.29.07
Heidi Sopinka of the Globe and Mail looks at the chemical composition of deodorants, even from the health food store, and asks "Is it possible to obliterate body odour and be good to the planet?" and concludes that it is pretty tough. 50% of "natural" deodorants contain petroleum-based propylene glycol; others contain gender bender triclosan, parabens, and talc, which is illegally mined in India.
She concludes: Avoid antiperspirants entirely, and if after reading the label you find no mention of parabens, talc or propylene glycol, you're on the right track. You might have to arrange for emergency reapplications throughout the day, but it beats the environmental price of coming clean. ::Globe and Mail...
Ethical Weddings on Honeymoons by Rail
by Sami Grover, Carrboro, NC, USA on 09.29.07
The trains that operate between the UK and mainland Europe have fast become a regular subject on TreeHugger. We’ve covered the fact that they already produce 90% less emissions than flights on similar routes, and that the operator Eurostar is making efforts to reduce these emissions by a further 25% and offset the rest. Most recently the same company made our pages for its efforts to compete with airlines on both speed and price. But putting aside questions of emissions or travel times for a moment, what of the actual travel experience? If the experiences of Katie and Jamie, of Ethical Weddings, are anything to go by, opting for train travel instead of flying can be a beautiful, rewarding experience – even over distances much longer than the usual cross-channel hop. In their latest blog offering, Katie describes the couple’s 2 day train journey from Sussex to Spain:
...
Just For the Love of It: Walking from UK to India With Zero Money
by Sami Grover, Carrboro, NC, USA on 09.29.07
VIDEO S&WFF: How Cuba Survived Peak Oil (Last Day to Submit FIlms)
by George Spyros, New York City, USA on 09.29.07
Ride like the Sun: Electrobike - Solar Electric Bicycle
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 09.28.07
Yeh, we know, you’ve heard it all before. Like when we bought you news of the mythical E-V Sunny with solar panel wheels. But The Electrobike Pi looks different.
For starters we get to see a real live journalist from the LA Times ride about on it. And solar panels are not integrated into the bike itself, but come as an $1,800 optional extra (see pics after the fold). Although touted as cutting the Pi's carbon load by half the panels look awkward to deploy and require eight hours in the sun for a full recharge. You might be thinking "Geez, if that is the price for add-ons, what does the bike cost?" A cool $7,500 USD! But for that you get a street legal bicycle that can get up to 20 mph (32 kph) and travel about 25 miles (40 km) per 2.5 hour plug-in charge. The batteries, with a 400 charge lifespan are housed in the curving arc of the frame and can be topped up by regenerative braking (A Prius convertible/cabriolet, if you will!). ...
Happy, Shiny Treehugging People
by Jasmin Malik Chua, Jersey City, USA on 09.28.07
While this beyond-pooped writer is in serious recovery from this long and eventful week—and catching up with what's going on with the Bushies (always a barrel of fun, even if it drives us to drink)—here's a painting by Matthew Heller, called "Happy Tree Huggers" to tide you over until we wrap up the Clinton Global Initiative and pick up a few dangling threads from the United Nations high-level event on climate change.
Says it all, doesn't it?
Thanks to Kristina Ramsay for sending this along....
The 100 Mile Café: More for the Locavore
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 09.28.07
It’s a little over two years since we first reported on Alisa Smith and James Mackinnon’s 100 Mile Diet. Yet in that time their experiment has cooked up a website and a book, as well as inspiring many locally focused eateries like the Local Burger in Kansas, and a British restaurant that sources 85% of its food from within the realm of London’s underground ‘Tube’ network (in turn seeding it’s own TV program, the Urban Chef.) Also in the UK is Carpé Diem a restaurant, where more than 50% of their menu comes from within 50 miles.
So it was about time the movement found its way down under. And it has, with the 100 Mile Café, which proclaims its intentions rather obviously. Opened a few months ago in the city centre of Melbourne, Victoria, it’s more restaurant than cafe (desserts are $14 USD), but strives to source the “best possible meat, seafood and produce” from within a hundred mile radius.
A review in The Age gave it a Recommended rating and found the combination Japanese inspired French provincial menu to be uniquely robust. The reviewer was also taken with how their bill came in a brown paper bag, printed with the ‘go local’ rationale and also sporting a complimentary packet of lettuce seeds. Menu and opening hours on their website at ::100 Mile Café.
...
Ask TreeHugger: Microwave Popcorn and The Kernel of Truth
by Helen Suh MacIntosh, Cambridge, MA, USA on 09.28.07
Question: For the past several years, I have been eating a bag of microwave popcorn almost every day. I just read that this can damage my lungs. Is this true? Should I be worried?
Answer: Microwave popcorn has been around for more than 50 years, since the invention of microwave ovens. Microwave popcorn is relatively easy to make at home using popcorn, a brown bag, some staples (yes, staples!) and other ingredients, such as salt and butter. More commonly, people make popcorn in their microwave using ready-made microwave popcorn packages, many of which contain additional chemical ingredients. The chemicals that are used to give microwave popcorn its buttery flavor are the reason why microwave popcorn has been in the news recently. ...
Economic Crisis Kept Cubans Healthier and Biking
by Eliza Barclay, Nomad on 09.28.07
Ask any Cuban who lived through the "special period" in the 1990s, and they will tell you that it was a terribly difficult time where everyone scrambled just to find enough to eat. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the country went into a severe economic crisis as Soviet subsidies dried up, generating severe food and fuel shortages. But there was a silver lining to the lack of supplies: people were forced to slash their calorie intake and to travel on foot or bicycle.
According to a study published last week in the American Journal of Epidemiology, between 1997 and 2002, deaths in Cuba caused by diabetes declined by 51%, coronary heart disease mortality dropped 35% and stroke mortality by 20%. Obesity in the southern coastal city of Cienfuegos fell from 14.3% in 1991 to 7.2% in 1995.
Another interesting tidbit: now that the economy has relatively recovered, obesity is rebounding. Around 30% of adult Cubans are now overweight and a quarter have a tendency toward obesity, according to a government study. :: Via The Guardian
...
Biorock: Stimulating Coral Growth With Electricity
by Kimberley D. Mok, Montreal, Canada on 09.28.07
Can electricity give declining coral reefs a new lease on life? It may seem counter-intuitive, but it apparently has been effective for the last decade, thanks to marine biologist Thomas Goreau and engineer/architect Wolf Hilbertz, who have been experimenting with regenerating coral reefs using electricity in a technology called Biorock....
Good For Green Business: Legit Survey Says Green is Not a Fad
by Olivia Zaleski, New York City, USA on 09.28.07
The 2007 ImagePower Green Brands 2.5 Survey debuted this morning at Sustainable Life Media's Sustainable Brands '07 Conference in New Orleans. According to the report, “consumers say they expect to double their spending on green products and services in the next year, totaling a staggering $500 billion annually, or $43 billion per month.”...
Reminder: 2007 Abbott Kinney Festival This Weekend
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 09.28.07
TreeHuggers in Los Angeles, listen up: the 2007 Abbott Kinney Festival is happening on Sunday, September 30 in Venice (we mentioned it before). This year, the arts, design and living conference is going green with solar-powered music stages, biodegradable plastic bags and cutlery and a "Green Design Block Party" hosted by epOxybOx. If that weren't enough, there'll be some fun festival activities, including a raffle for a Raleigh Beach Cruiser bike, a membership to Flexcar with some free hours and more, and a great lineup of speakers (full schedule after the jump) including "Greening Schools," "Water Conservation Issues" and a presentation of An Inconvenient Truth.
If you're in or around Los Angeles, we hope you'll hop on a bike, get on the bus or at least carpool to this cool event. Sunday 10 am - 6 pm, Abbot Kinney Blvd, Venice. ::2007 Abbott Kinney Festival...
Two Pictures Say a Thousand Words ... Myanmar Under Siege
by Jasmin Malik Chua, Jersey City, USA on 09.28.07
The American Association for the Advancement of Science is documenting before-and-after satellite images documenting the human-rights abuses occurring in Myanmar. The above "before" image shows a settlement adjacent to rice paddies in 2000.
The below "after" image was taken in December 2006, showing the same area of land with all the structures removed. A similarly sized settlement also appeared 0.6 miles north. ::MSNBC...
TH Forums Highlights: Are We Screwed?, Greening Teens + More
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 09.28.07
The weekend is always nigh at TreeHugger Forums...
Round-ups of the best conversations in TreeHugger Forums appear several times a week here at TreeHugger; register for free and login to become part of the conversation for a greener future today....
 | 1) Forums user Tripholiada has sort of a grim outlook on the future of our planet: "my generation I believe is screwed." This according to new info from National Geographic that implies that we have to "stopping all deforestation, or doubling fuel efficancy, or making our wind power 50x what it currently is." Hmm...is it really to late? Let's hear from you! |
 | 2) User jduffy wants to find a way to better reach out to teens, to get them to go green. "Something I'd like to put up on a website. And since it's for teens, the less goofy, the better! Or, the more hip hop the better." This has been tried a few times before; anybody have some solid advice for greening the teen movement? |
 | 3) Forums user megsmind has a problem: "I have a horrible Coca-Cola habit that I'm trying to kick, because I can't stand the taste of water (okay, I'm a freak, but it tastes funny and makes me have bad breath) so I've been using Crystal Light to make myself drink the water... am I doing more harm then good?" Some fellow users have some good tips when it comes to avoiding plastic for better drinking water. |
Angelina Jolie's Plea for Refugees
by Jasmin Malik Chua, Jersey City, USA on 09.28.07
Do It All Knives: Multi-Tasking Your Way to an Uncluttered Kitchen
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 09.28.07
How's this for a brilliant multi-tasker: a set of knives that doubles up to perform duties as a vegetable peeler, citrus zester, garlic mincer and more. It's tough to get by in a kitchen without knives, but, at least with these guys, you can now do without several cluttering peripherals. Check out another pic after the jump. ::Caroline Noordijk (under construction) via ::Yanko Design...
Bruce Sterling on Downloadable Designs
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 09.28.07
Bruce Sterling has not only written the book on downloadable designs (called Shaping Things), He made the movie too!
According to Putting People First", The future will see a new kind of object — we have the primitive forms of them now in our pockets and briefcases: user-alterable, baroquely multi-featured, and programmable — that will be sustainable, enhanceable, and uniquely identifiable. Sterling coins the term “spime” for them, these future manufactured objects with informational support so extensive and rich that they are regarded as material instantiations of an immaterial system. Spimes are designed on screens, fabricated by digital means, and precisely tracked through space and time. They are made of substances that can be folded back into the production stream of future spimes, challenging all of us to become involved in their production.
Last night Sterling showed an amazing video in Italy; you can see it ::Here See also our site ::In An Absolut World Everything is Downloadable...
This is How Giant Sixixis's Giant Chair is!
by Leonora Oppenheim, London, UK on 09.28.07
Just in case any of you were wondering, this is just how huge the Sixixis Giant Chair is. Yes admittedly I am on the petite side, but I am not that tiny - this is still one mighty big seat! Even if you weren't wondering whether the title Giant Chair was meant literally or not, I was! When we posted our Sneak Peek on Sixixis before the London Design Festival started I was really looking forward to seeing their stand. Last year they wowed the crowds with their beautiful Rolling House, this year the showpiece was simpler in form, but more interactive. I saw plenty of people clambering up onto the chair to have their photo taken or just to hang out on there - it's super comfy. Once again the Sixixis crew managed to be center of attention amongst stiff competition. We love their sustainably sourced steam bent wooden creations. :: Sixixis...
The Best Kind of Chastity Belt: Education
by Jasmin Malik Chua, Jersey City, USA on 09.28.07
The only way we'll be able to put the brakes on our runaway population growth is to give every girl on the planet an education, said former president Bill Clinton at the opening plenary session of the Clinton Global Initiative meeting today.
"If we go in just 43 years from 6 billion to 9 billion, there is nothing that will stop [overpopulation] except putting all the girls in schools and giving girls jobs. Get them into the job market—they will delay marriage and have fewer children," he added.
Sure, blame the women. Boys will be boys....
The Exxon FIles: The Denial Continues
by Sami Grover, Carrboro, NC, USA on 09.28.07
A Weekend of Local Dining Events in Atlanta, Georgia
by Kara DiCamillo, Newport, Rhode Island on 09.28.07
If you’re in the Atlanta area this weekend and love food (and who doesn't?) you should check out Food & Wine Magazine’s culinary events happening throughout the city. The magazine has teamed with restaurateurs in Atlanta, Athens & Palmetto to raise money for their Grow for Good campaign, which is a national initiative dedicated to raising awareness of sustainable agriculture and educating about the importance of supporting local farms. The weekend kicks off this evening as numerous restaurants around the city open their chef’s table to offer a select tasting menu featuring Georgia-grown ingredients. But if you can’t make it tonight, not to worry, more events continue throughout the weekend. For example, Saturday’s festivities include a “Country Fair in the City,” featuring Georgia’s finest farmers, live music, farm fresh goods and beer. On Sunday, guests are invited to a “Summer Supper at Summerland Farm” to enjoy delicious food while savoring the beauty of a working farm. To purchase tickets and for a list of participating restaurants and chefs, visit Grow for Good’s event page. ::Grow for Good...
Some Cities Try To Be Bike-Friendly
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 09.28.07
Some cities are trying hard to be bike-friendly; New York City just got its first physically-separated bike path inside the urban core. According to the New York Times, The city is planning to remake seven blocks of Ninth Avenue in Chelsea into what officials are billing enthusiastically, perhaps a bit hyperbolically, as the street of the future. “I think it’s a sneak peek at the future streets of New York,” said Janette Sadik-Khan, the city’s transportation commissioner. “It represents the kinds of innovative ideas that we can explore to make the streets more livable.” ::New York Times and ::Planetizen
...
Recipe of the Week - Carrot and Lentil Soup
by Kelly Rossiter, Toronto on 09.28.07
The temperature in Toronto reached over 30 C again this week, so once more I have delayed the roasting of pumpkin and squash that I have been hankering after. From the sounds of it we will soon have weather more in keeping with the autumn and I will be able to start cooking heartier fare. The recipe that I tried this week is a bit of a compromise between the substantial orange foods of fall and a lighter texture to have on a hot day. As regular readers of this column will know, I am the queen of substitutions and I made a few here.
The recipe calls for butter but in the interests of my arteries I no longer use it in this kind of cooking. I used olive oil instead. I also didn't have any sun dried tomatoes on hand so I threw in a fresh tomato and that worked out alright. I expect the sun dried tomato would give the soup a bit more depth of flavour and also make it a bit saltier. It also asked for the carrots to be grated, but I was just too lazy so I chopped them. It meant that there were chunks of carrot rather than a smooth puree, but I like a little texture in my soup. Make sure you use red or yellow lentils because you want them to break down completely and green lentils are too sturdy for this recipe. I thought there was too much stock and used more like a litre than the 1.5 litres required This recipe says you need to boil the soup for 40 minutes, but I didn't cook it for anywhere near that amount.
Now that you know how I messed around with this recipe, feel free to mess around with it yourself. Add some crusty bread and a green salad and you've got a nice light dinner....
Rupert Murdoch at the Clinton Global Initiative
by Jasmin Malik Chua, Jersey City, USA on 09.28.07
It was like watching a kung-fu scene unfold, albeit a very, very lame kung-fu scene. At a plenary on building a global multiethnic community—held on the third (and final) day of the Clinton Global Initiative Annual Meeting and moderated by the former president of Ireland, Mary Robinson—News Corp chief, billionaire media magnate, and far-right curmudgeon Rupert Murdoch clumsily dodged Robinson's questions about whether political partisanship in media (especially, hint hint, giant media empires with extensive global reaches) played a role in promoting public divisiveness, especially through the use of politically charged language.
Completely avoiding anything remotely resembling a direct answer, Murdoch insisted that News Corp "didn't dominate anything anywhere," especially in today's digital age. "Everybody has the ultimate choice of what they watch and what they listen to," he said. "And to make up their own mind."
He added that the job of the media—in particular his media, natch—was to add to public debate. "That's all part of the education of an advanced society," he said. "There should be debate about big issues. Our job is to educate people." ...
Bike Charity Awarded a $100,000 Grant
by Matthew Sparkes, London, UK on 09.28.07
Outdoor equipment retailer, Recreational Equipment, has pledged a $100,000 grant to the Bikes Belong Foundation. The money will go towards supporting a series of grant awards to projects that aim to make US cities more friendly for cyclists.
...
Texans In Conservation Standoff
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 09.28.07
In Texas, the San Antonio Business Journal is reporting that:- "Environmentalists are arguing Texas could meet its growing electric power needs without building new power plants by relying more heavily on energy efficiency and renewable energy."
"Two reports commissioned by Environmental Defense also claim this could be done while creating an estimated 38,300 new jobs in the state over the next 15 years. Texas consumers could also save $37 billion on their electric bills over that same period. The reports were produced by the Washington-based American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy on behalf of Environmental Defense."
"The group argues that most of these savings can be achieved at the local level by municipalities either by adopting stricter building codes or encouraging homeowners to invest in energy-efficient structures."
If Texas is as conservative as they say, this should work. The full press release from ACEEE is here. Full report in pdf format is here.
Via:: San Antonio Business Journal, "Texas could cut electric bills by billions through energy efficiency, study shows." Image credit::Texas Politics...
Energyspace Sustainable Garden Buildings
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 09.28.07
So many small prefabs and sheds on TreeHugger and other sites, but how many are zero energy and carbon neutral? Energyspace builds "a state of the art workspace that makes a minimal or zero contribution to global climate change in every aspect of its design, construction, energy-use, and life cycle."
They are super-insulated (hemp-cotton batts are an option), sited for passive solar gain but assisted by wood fired stoves and photovoltaics. ...
And Ye Shall Live In Booths
by Karin Kloosterman, Jerusalem, Israel on 09.28.07
For the Jewish nation, there is probably no better time to reflect on one’s place in nature and the health of the environment than during Sukkoth, the Festival of Booths or the Jewish harvest festival. Looking outside our window in Jerusalem, we see small make-shift huts (sukkahs) erected everywhere – each one has at least three walls made from wooden clapboard or cloth with a simple roof made from plant cuttings (skakh)....
Wayback Machine:"Sunshine Sandwiches" From MIT, 1940
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 09.28.07
Popular Science, Feb 1940: "HEATING homes in January with the warmth of last summer’s sunshine —that is the exciting goal of research now under way at Cambridge, Mass. Not far from the Charles River, scientists of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology recently completed a white frame building, its sloping roof edged with a glistening battery of solar-heat traps.
These cells are formed of “sandwiches” of glass sheets, air spaces, and metal plates. The rays of the sun penetrate through the sheets of glass and strike a black metal plate at the bottom of each cell. ...
Fresno California Testing Feasibility of Using Municipal Effluent To Cool Nuclear Generators
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 09.28.07
The Fresno California City Council has, by a 4-2 vote, approved the testing of Fresno wastewater effluent for the purpose of cooling nuclear power plant process water.
"Supporters said the vote wasn't an endorsement for building a nuclear power plant in Fresno. The testing will simply determine whether a plant can be cooled with effluent from the city's waste-water treatment plant in southwest Fresno, they said. The council voted 4-2 to allow the testing, which will give the nuclear plant's backers access to the waste-water treatment plant to conduct tests. The tests are expected to take four years and will cost up to $4 million, said John Hutson, who heads Fresno Nuclear Energy Group LLC, the project's backers." "Palo Verde, a nuclear generation plant near Phoenix, uses waste water from nearby cities as a cooling agent. As a result, it's the only nuclear power plant in the country that doesn't sit on a large body of water, according to its operator."...
The Cutting Edge: Bicycle Lawnmowing
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 09.28.07
There we were, ruminating on just what gizmos creative minds will dream up to win fame and glory (plus cash and bike) in the Specialized Innovate or Die competition, and in a totally unrelated web search, happened upon the 'B.O.B. Mower,' which looks like a customised Sunlawn mower, attached to B.O.B. bike trailer linkage.
All the fossil-fuel-free goodness of a push (reel) lawnmower with the superior strength of legs over arms in a bicycle. Genius! Whether it works or not we don’t know. But just the idea makes us feel better. And, of course, all good design is just evolutionary so it stands to reason the idea has been developed before.
And boy, has it ever. Take a peek, after the fold, at the plethora of bicycle-lawn mower combos we've dug up. Image above from ::Planet Natural, though it seems the originals are from Lawnmower Bob....
New Mexico's Green Filmmaking Program
by Erin Courtenay - Madison, WI on 09.28.07
New Mexico, the state already known for its green chile is now getting kudos for its green filmmaking. The new Green Filmmaking Program was developed this year to encourage film crews to help reduce the environmental footprint of the resource-intensive filmmaking enterprise. The voluntary program provides education, resources and incentives to encourage crews to seek eco-certification.
Paul Haggis, the writer/producer/director known for movies such as Letters from Iwo Jima, Million Dollar Baby, and Crash, participated in the program during filming of his latest project, In the Valley of Elah. During production Haggis said the producers “refused to rent, or reimburse anybody for, rental cars that didn't get at least 22 miles per gallon," used eco-friendly materials to build sets, and arranged for recycling and recyclables disposal at every filming location.
To assist filmmakers in greening their set, the New Mexico Film office provides everything from vendor contact information to bringing in a fleet of hybrid vehicles for production rentals. Via:: Hollywood Reporter
photo from ABQStyle Musings...
Reflections on consumption and minimalism. . . in Business Week?
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 09.28.07
I had to crib that headline from Core77, it is such an odd article to see in Business Week. Akiko Busch instructs:Make less, buy less, use less, throw away less.Russell Davies, a branding expert, writes:
"Once upon a time, packaging wasn't disposable, it was useful. We didn't think about recycling biscuit tins, because we kept them, they were useful. And now they're even more valuable than they were. So I'm wondering if there's a way of thinking about packaging sustainability that makes it more valuable, not more recyclable. Does that make sense?"Busch notes that minimalist design costs a lot:
In a wasteful age, faux simplicity masks our overindulgence.Wow. ::Business Week ...
One Million Green Fingers
by Kenny Luna, North Babylon, NY on 09.28.07
That’s right folks, Saturday Kitchen’s celebrity chef James Martin is swapping his spatula for a spade, recently launching a new initiative with Yorkshire Water in Britain which aims to set the standard for outdoor learning in Primary Schools.
The One Million Green Fingers initiative aims to utilize the company’s thousands of volunteers to create over 350 sustainable school gardens and one million green fingers by 2010, and in the process encourage chefs to help children learn about cooking.
...
Please Welcome Business Roundtable To TreeHugger
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 09.28.07
TreeHugger presents Business Roundtable, an association of chief executive officers of leading U.S. companies with $4.5 trillion in annual revenues and more than 10 million employees, committed to developing innovative technologies and promoting practices that protect the environment. This is Business Roundtable's introductory guest post. Their coming posts will focus on climate change, green buildings, energy efficiency and their S.E.E. Change and Climate RESOLVE initiatives, which are explained below.
The Roundtable is dedicated to advocating public policies that ensure vigorous economic growth, a dynamic global economy, a well-trained and productive U.S. workforce and a sustainable environment.
Citing the potentially serious and far-reaching consequences of global warming for society and ecosystems, Business Roundtable CEOs called for action in a recent climate change statement to help address this global issue....
Fast Company: The Design Issue
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 09.28.07
The October issue of Fast Company is all about design, with a seriously green tint. Yves Béhar, designer of the Leaf Lamp and the $100 laptop, explains his philosophy: "Design is in the bright lights today," he says, "but that also comes with a responsibility. Where we can make a difference, as a profession, we should simply go." (more below the fold) ::All About Yves
Anya Kamenetz raises questions about "serious cracks in the world's biggest green-building brand name--Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED--as well as a very human tendency to reach for easy solutions to difficult problems."- read ::The Green Standard?
David Roberts of Grist writes "As big businesses get eco-religion, don't try to change the players, change the rules." in ::Ruthless Rules for Enviros
...
Survey: Do You Power Down?
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 09.28.07
So many peripherals. This writer has two power bars with nine scanners, chargers, printers and sound systems plugged in. Most draw phantom loads but the strips are hidden under the desk, out of reach. We showed the USB ecostrip that turns everything off when the computer is turned off, but that may not be the answer for everyone.
...
Producing Hydrogen Fuel One Eggshell at a Time
by Jeremy Elton Jacquot, Los Angeles on 09.28.07
Never underestimate the power of eggs: a team of engineers from Ohio State University has developed an innovative process for sopping up carbon dioxide in a reaction that generates hydrogen fuel - using discarded eggshells. As an added bonus, the reaction results in the removal of collagen from the inside of the shells - a valuable protein with commercial applications (in food, drugs and medical treatments).
"The key to making pure hydrogen is separating out the carbon dioxide. In order to do it very economically, we needed a new way of thinking, a new process scheme," said L.S. Fan, a professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering at the university who helped devise the new technique. Eggshells, which mainly consist of calcium carbonate, can be turned into calcium oxide through a heat processing reaction. Calcium oxide is extremely effective at absorbing acidic gases like carbon dioxide....
Quote of the Day: Yang Jiechi on Sustainable Economic Growth
by Jasmin Malik Chua, Jersey City, USA on 09.28.07
A review of history shows that climate change occurs in the course of development. It is both an environment issue and a development issue. But ultimately, it is a development issue.
As pointed out in the United Nations framework convention on climate change, most of historical and current global emissions of greenhouse gases originated in developed countries, while per capita emissions in developing countries are still relatively low.
The share of global emissions originating in developing countries will grow as they work to meet their social and development needs. To prevent climate change from endangering human survival and development, while maintaining economic development and meeting the legitimate demand of the people, this is an issue that concerns the well-being and the future of all mankind....
Nanowires Twist and Turn to Generate Electricity
by Jeremy Elton Jacquot, Los Angeles on 09.28.07
Piezoelectric technologies are all the rage these days: just over the past year, we've reported on people-powered staircases, acoustic heat-engine devices and electricity-generating ticket gates. Now combine that with nanotechnology, another hot field du jour, and you've got yourself the brainchild of Min-Feng Yu: a nanowire capable of generating a voltage upon mechanical deformation.
Yu, a professor of mechanical science and engineering at the University of Illinois, and his graduate students used a single crystal of barium titanate, an oxide of barium and titanium commonly found in transducers and microphones, measuring 280 nanometers in diameter and 15 microns in length. The researchers fastened the wire to two platforms - one of which was movable - and induced mechanical vibrations that resulted in the production of a very slight voltage (less than one quintillionth of a joule). Though they didn't experiment with them, Yu and his students believe that other vibrations, such as sound waves, could produce the same result....
The New World, Design From 5 Continents
by Bonnie Alter, London on 09.28.07
The best part of the London Design Festival is the surprise of discovering something new and wonderful. This show, The New World, Design from Five Continents, is sponsored by the British Council, an agency promoting international design links. And international it is--Heath Nash from South Africa, Paula Dib from Brazil and Padmaja Krishnan from India, plus Slovenian and Mexican designers. Both Nash and Dib have been written about in treehugger and it is thrilling to see their work in the flesh. Nash is a South African who works in recycled plastic, creating chandeliers, "carpets", coat hangers, chairs and baskets out of metal and plastic (pictured). The bowl is made out of layers of galvanized steel wire and the light is made of plastic containers fused together. Other pieces are wall hangings (one says " it's beautiful here") and carpets made of bottle caps held together with metal.
Ana Vaz, from Brazil, makes handmade jewellery and bags. Her necklaces are made of rows of coloured beads,strung on string and steel, fishing line and straw. Some of them are multi-coloured, others are white with white string and are quite striking. The clutch bags are sewn out of bits of old ribbon. ...
VIDEO S&WFF: The Fallz
by George Spyros, New York City, USA on 09.28.07
Biomimicry: Learning From Beetles Inspires New Technology
by Tim McGee, Helena, MT, USA on 09.28.07
Don't put a bombardier beetle in your mouth, or like Charles Darwin, you may find out the hard way how they got the name 'bombardier'. The bombardier beetle can rapidly spray a noxious 100