- Emily Pilloton Discusses the Hippo Roller and other Designs for Humanity (Part One)
- Janine Benyus on Biomimicry in Design (Part Two)
- Janine Benyus on Biomimicry in Design (Part One)
- Andy Revkin - Climate in the Obama Age
- Fred Pearce - Confessions of An Eco-Sinner (Part Two)
- Fred Pearce - Confessions of An Eco-Sinner (Part One)
- Chris Goodall - Ten Techs to Save Our Butts (Part Two)
- Chris Goodall - Ten Techs to Save Our Butts (Part One)
Entries for March 29, 2009 - April 4, 2009
Total this week: 215
Quote of the Day: Vivienne Westwood on Buying Nothing
by Jasmin Malik Chua, Jersey City, USA on 04. 4.09
Photo credit: Mattia Passeri
If you ask me what I think people should be getting next season. I'll tell you what I'd like them to buy—nothing. I'd like people to stop buying and buying and buying... There's this idea that somehow you've got to keep changing things, and as often as possible. Maybe if people just decided not to buy anything for a while, they'd get a chance to think about what they wanted; what they really liked.—Legendary fashion designer Vivienne Westwood in the Oct. 4, 2007 edition of The Telegraph ...
G-Oil, Made From Animal Fat, Becomes Official Oil for Le Mans Series
by Eric Leech, New York, NY on 04. 4.09
Photo via: Clemson
It is official folks. The environmentally friendly oil from Green Earth Technologies (GET) has become the official motor oil of the American Le Mans Series and International Motor Sports Association (IMSA). This is big news on the transportation front, as building public awareness and confidence in green products is most effective when the big players take an interest in the environment....
its-laS-tik Bags Head to the White House
by Jasmin Malik Chua, Jersey City, USA on 04. 4.09
Photo credit: its-laS-tik
As Earth Month celebrations kick into high gear, Sue Princiotto, the designer and CEO of What'S ur Bag, has sent complete sets of her ultrastretchy its-laS-tik bags and pouches to the White House, in the hopes that President Barack Obama will get his staff to do away with disposable plastic bags.
The reusable shoppers, which come in a wide range of trippy colors and patterns, including metallic silver and hot pink, are manufactured exclusively in New Orleans in a factory that was torn down by Hurricane Katrina and then rebuilt by survivors. ...
EPA Grants Millions for Green Wastewater Projects
by Daniel Kessler, San Francisco, California on 04. 4.09
Photo via Greenwood Metropolitan District
Wonder where your stimulus dollars are going? The Environmental Protection Agency has awarded $430 million of them to the State of New York for wastewater infrastructure projects. The grant is part of the $4 billion dollars that will be awarded to fund green wastewater infrastructure projects across the country funded under the stimulus bill passed in February.
...
The Barefoot Book of Earth Tales
by Jasmin Malik Chua, Jersey City, USA on 04. 4.09
Photo credit: Barefoot Books
Living mindfully isn't a new concept; our lives were once irrevocably interwoven with the natural landscape, as folk tales from traditional cultures will attest. These old yarns conjure up Sun Mothers and Great Spirits, talking animals and fairy babies, hidden gold and magic gardens that sprout overnight.
You'll find seven of these wondrous stories, gathered from all corners of the world—Australia, Nigeria, the American Southwest, Bali, Kazakhstan, India, and Wales—in The Barefoot Book of Earth Tales ($19.99), written by Dawn Casey and stunningly illustrated by Anne Wilson....
Must "Craftivism" (Craft + Activism) Have A Politically Liberal Bent?
by Kimberley D. Mok, Montreal, Canada on 04. 4.09
Photo: Gideon Tsang on FlickrWe know that the concept of the “buy and sell handmade” blog Etsy has revolutionary implications for consumer culture and what it means to be part of a creative community. But does politics have a place in crafting social change (and by crafting, we mean the act of making things – knitting, forging, sewing, sculpting, etc.)? Well, for the Etsy Craftivism Team (which recently underwent an upheaval due to an ideological disagreement of the definition of “craftivism”) - yes, it does. Etsy Teams are groups of sellers that come together for a common purpose, and for some other more apolitical members of the Craftivist team, the term evokes the idea of personal empowerment, rather than a USA-centric political principle. This division is interesting because not only is Etsy a wonderful experiment – creatively and socially – but it also points to an interesting paradox between art and activism - even as the handmade industry faces weird issues of legality and "safety". ...
Cooking Blue on Earth Day
by Sara Novak, Columbia, SC on 04. 4.09
photo: New England Aquarium
For the New England Aquarium, keeping it green means keeping it blue. The aquarium will be celebrating Earth Day’s 39th anniversary with a memorable all local seafood dinner highlighting the talents of some of the area’s most renowned chefs.
...
Rhubarb In The City: A Cultural Tradition Worth Bringing Back
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 04. 4.09
Rhubarb growing. Image credit:Wikipedia
Growing up in the rural US Midwest, I thought everybody had a rhubarb plant in their back yard. Ours was off in the corner by the sandbox. When I moved to Chicago, living in a rental flat in an old European-settled neighborhood, every other backyard had a patch growing by the alley. Long after the original families had moved on to the distant suburbs, their rhubarb lived on. (Though I bet many took a root cutting with them to the burbs.) What's it good for? I'll tell you....
One of a Kind Show: Fabricawakuwaku
by Kelly Rossiter, Toronto on 04. 4.09
Photo credit: Kelly Rossiter
I was checking out the Spring One of a Kind Show yesterday, and discovered that most of the green booths there have already been covered in the past by my colleague, Lloyd. But there was one fun looking booth with brightly coloured cloth stuffed animals that caught my eye. The mandate said that the toys were influenced by Dada, punk, minimalism and a surreal aesthetic. It's not often I come across a Dada influence in toys, so I had to know more....
Fish Farms Fought on Turkey's Coast
by Jennifer Hattam, Istanbul, Turkey on 04. 4.09
A fish farm in neighboring Greece. Photograph by Rod Heikell via Tell-Tales
Travelers exploring the Aegean and Mediterranean regions by boat in recent years have noticed a change in the sea's once-sparkling and peaceful bays and inlets--and not a change for the better. In some areas, the water would turn a cloudy green, and even emit an awful smell. The culprit, they learned, was fish farms....
Article Argues for Press Freedom to Stop Climate Change
by Daniel Kessler, San Francisco, California on 04. 4.09
Photo by Arkibong Bayan
As the world comes to terms with the reality of climate change, journalists who can navigate through both the science and the propaganda are at a premium. But as the role of environmental journalists gains importance, so do the costs of reporting in terms of dollars and lives. Newsrooms, of course, are shrinking due to lost advertising revenue, while at the same time corrupt governments and business interests, in some of the most remote but ecologically sensitive places on the globe, are threatening reporters' lives. A new article calls for new efforts between non traditional allies to save both journalism and the planet....
Video: Recharging Transportation - Alternative Energy Cars
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 04. 4.09
Port of Los Angeles to Install 1.16 Million Square Feet of Rooftop Solar Panels (10 MW) Over Next Five Years
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 04. 4.09
photo: Port of Los Angeles
Though it can't claim the prize for the world's largest rooftop solar power array, the announcement by the Port of Los Angeles that it will be installed solar panels over 71,500 square feet of its World Cruise Center roof by the end of the year is decidedly impressive; what's even more impressive are the expansion plans in the works:...
Intel Challenges Data Center Pros for Efficiency Ideas
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 04. 4.09
Intel is calling upon data center pros to post videos on Facebook about how they'll use available technology to green up data centers. They're challenging the people who can make the changes to actually make them - and try to one up each other in the process. ...
"US Department Of Dreaming" Projects Light-Duty Vehicle Sales To 2030
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 04. 4.09
US Department of Energy recently issued their annual report on energy (fits with the name, right?): Annual Energy Outlook 2009 with Projections to 2030. As you can see by this excerpted graphic from the Executive Summary of the report (pdf file), insignificant change is anticipated: i.e SUV's continue their prevalence. Note that the graphic is not about fleet composition by 2030; it's about about new-vehicle sales trends. Analysis below the fold....
Terralina Turns Grocery Bags Into Gift Boxes
by Jasmin Malik Chua, Jersey City, USA on 04. 3.09
Photo credit: Terralina
That old adage about one man's trash being another man's treasure? Truer words couldn't have been spoken about Terralina's new gift packaging. The skincare company—which pooh-poohs parabens, PEG compounds, ethoyxlates, silicones, and artificial fragrance—hooked up with Design & Source to create a green-and-purple gift box made of 100 percent post-consumer recycled plastic bags.
...
Animal Conservation Group Partners With Mount Sinai School of Medicine to Protect Jaguars
by Jasmin Malik Chua, Jersey City, USA on 04. 3.09
Photo credit: Getty Images
The link between human health and animal conservation isn't an obvious one, but one wildlife-conservation group wants to demonstrate that saving jaguars and other big cats can also improve the lives of people.
Panthera, an international organization that works to protect wild cats and their habitats, has teamed up with the Mount Sinai School of Medicine's Global Health and Emerging Pathogens Institute to train a new brand of "doctor conservationists" in Brazil's Pantanal region, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that boasts over 700 square kilometers of critical jaguar habitat. It also happens to be the largest cattle-ranching domain in the world and a hotbed of rancher-jaguar conflict....
Be Love: Apparel on a Mission of Peace
by Jasmin Malik Chua, Jersey City, USA on 04. 3.09
Photo credit: Be Love
Be Love isn't your typical apparel company. Its sweatshop-free and mostly organic line of men's, women's, and kids' shirts serves to promote peace, which isn't too much of a stretch when you consider that its founders are board members of Common Peace: The Center for the Advancement of Nonviolence, a non-profit that has provided adult nonviolence workshops for the residents of Los Angeles for the past 12 years.
...
Strip Washing Challenge: Can a Sinkful of Water Get You Clean?
by Kristin Underwood, Sacramento, CA on 04. 3.09
Image via: Natural Spa Supplies
The folks at Natural Spa Supplies say Yes and challenge you to their "Lowest Carbon Footprint Strip Washing Challenge." Basically all you get is a slab of Rhassoul clay and a small alum crystal (like those rock crystal deodorant sticks) and are told to go to town. While this will save you hundreds of gallons of water a year, will it really work?...
Interior Secretary, Too, Says We Need a Energy 'Moon Shot'
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 04. 3.09
photo: Steve Ryan via flickr, Creative Commons
Secretary of the Interior Salazar has certainly been enthusiastic about renewable energy lately, which is a very good thing indeed. In a recent statement he pumped up the huge potential of wind power off the shores of the United States, as well as large gaps in knowledge regarding fossil fuel resources also present there. The interesting thing in his latest statements, aren't about renewable energy potential, but how he has framed fossil fuels in relation to renewables:...
"Cash for Clunkers" Gains Momentum in Congress
by Brian Merchant, Brooklyn, New York on 04. 3.09
Photo via Search Auto Parts
Two new bills that would pay American consumers to get rid of their old gas guzzlers in exchange for new, more fuel efficient cars are picking up steam in Congress. The cash for clunkers bills have garnered wide bipartisan support and could reward new car buyers up to $5,000 for getting their pollutin' jalopies off the road. But would the plans work?
...
National Wildlife Federation Celebrates Chill Out: Campus Solutions to Global Warming
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 04. 3.09
Chill Out: Campus Solutions to Global Warming is a program that gets people on college and university campuses to act on solutions for global warming. The competition is part of National Wildlife Federation’s effort to encourage climate leadership and sustainability on campuses, and out into the broader communities. Check out how you can get involved and win some cool prizes....
River Monsters: A Closer Look at Fresh Water "Killer" Fish
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 04. 3.09
Learning About Nature Leads to Wanting to Protect It
A biologist that debunks myths about flesh-eating piranhas ("Did a school of piranha eat flesh down to the bone of a busload of passengers that crashed in an Amazonian river?") and other "monster" fish. That sounds like an interesting documentary series to me. Animal Planet (part of Discovery, TreeHugger's mothership) will debut River Monsters on April 5 (more details below). The host will be biologist Jeremy Wade, and he will travel around the world to "solve these freshwater mysteries, to debunk these myths and to track down these harrowing tales."...
U.S. Hybrid Car Sales in March... Not Good At All
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 04. 3.09
Image: Green Car Congress
Remember the Prius Waiting Lists?
Unless you've been living under a rock for the past few months, you know that car sales are down. Way down. The light duty vehicle sales stats for March 2009 show a 36.8% drop by volume compared to March 2008, and March 2008 probably didn't break any records in the first place... But hybrid cars are doing even worse than that: minus 44% in March 2009. There are two main things that can explain that, I think....
Steel Factory Reinvents Itself, Now Grows Lettuce
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 04. 3.09
In Japan, they don't just let factories rust away. Matt Frei of the BBC visits one where they used to make steel cable, but with demand down, they have converted much of it to grow hydroponic lettuce, with the former steelworkers tending the tender shoots. "The company expects the solution will save the business and help it survive the downturn."
Another idea for Detroit... Watch at BBC
...
Quote of the Day: Charles Lindbergh on Urban Living
by Jasmin Malik Chua, Jersey City, USA on 04. 3.09
Photo credit: Getty Images
How long can men thrive between walls of brick, walking on asphalt pavements, breathing the fumes of coal and oil, growing, working, dying, with hardly a thought of wind, and sky, and fields of grain, seeing only machine-made beauty, the mineral-like quality of life?—Charles A. Lindbergh, as quoted in The Book of Green Quotations...
Due to Demand, Mitsubishi Increases i MiEV Electric Car Production
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 04. 3.09
The i MiEV story seems to be mostly rainbows and puppies so far. The electric car by Mitsubishi was so well received that it decided to sell it 1 year ahead of schedule in Japan and make it a global electric car (to be sold as Citroën and Peugeot in Europe). Now we learn that due to strong demand - "orders for its first 2,000 cars were quickly filled, a spokesman said Friday" - Mitsubishi is increasing i MiEV target production numbers. Read on for more details....
GOP Willfully Distorts Research on Climate Legislation
by Brian Merchant, Brooklyn, New York on 04. 3.09
Photo via Cleveland
Believe it or not, it gives me no pleasure to indulge in what some will inevitably construe as partisan attacks. But when opponents of climate change legislation--Republicans or Democrats--are willfully distorting the facts to support their case, the matter needs to be addressed. Case in point: the GOP is publicly claiming that climate change legislation would cost each American family more than $3,100 a year, citing research done by MIT. Thing is, the very researcher who conducted the study personally contacted the GOP, alerting them to the fact that his findings clearly state that the cost to families would only be $340 a year. So what did the GOP do?
...
Raising Environmentally-Conscious Kids
by Earthwatch Institute on 04. 3.09
Kids in nature. Image credit:Nature Conservancy, Paul Barwick
Is creating the next generation of environmental stewards as easy as sending your kids outside to play? Research suggests the answer is yes. A study done several years ago by Louise Chawla tried to understand what factors went into the make-up of people who demonstrated significantly pro-environmental behavior. After doing a psychometric profile of these people Chawla found they all had one characteristic in common: they all spent a significant amount of time outdoors playing in the wild.
...
Is a Hydrogen Powered House Really Green?
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 04. 3.09
Ron Monahan is trying build an energy efficient subdivision in Aiken, South Carolina, and a few weeks ago announced that he was going to build between one and four Net Zero houses, (homes create as much energy as they use over the course of the year) in the development. However, when I looked at the site plan and the size of the houses with their two car snouts, I really wondered what was the point, given the amount of energy it was going to take just to get there.
So he has cranked up the volume to get a little more attention: He is going to power one of them with hydrogen.
...
Exploring Permaculture in the Big City
by Jennifer Hattam, Istanbul, Turkey on 04. 3.09
Participants in an urban-permaculture workshop in Istanbul surveyed a small plot of land while learning what food-growing techniques might work best there.
On a damp and dreary afternoon, about 15 people are gathered on a windswept hill overlooking the Bosphorus, standing in a tiny patch of green surrounded by Istanbul's endless urban sprawl. They intently examine a muddy mound of dirt, covered with cardboard and weeds--the inauspicious-looking start to what participants hope will be a gardening revolution in Turkey....
EcoZoic: Cycling Clothing Made From Bamboo Charcoal
by Kristin Underwood, Sacramento, CA on 04. 3.09
Images via: Zoic.com
San Diego based cycling clothing company Zoic just released their spring line, which now includes EcoZoic - an organic and bamboo charcoal blend of clothing that is both functional as well as eco-friendly. But while Zoic wants to get you properly outfitted, they also want to help you hid the road and the trails with the latest biking information for your locale....
9 Inspirational Environmental Icons: Walking the Green Path for 25 Years or More (Slideshow)
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 04. 3.09
photo: Brian via flickr
In the winding path of my commitment to environmentalism there are a group of people who I always return to for inspiration. Each occupying a slightly different part of the green sphere, their dedication, longevity and commitment (we're talking 25+ years for everyone in the slideshow you're about to view) reminds me that though we have a long way to go in creating a ecologically sustainable, humanly-satisfy, and just world, we have a foundation of great work to build upon. Some of these people's work you may know, others you may not, but I urge you to make liberal use of the links and find out more about each one. Also, take the time to list who in the environmental movement you find particularly inspiring.
...
Nokia's New Website Helps Globetrotters Travel Green
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 04. 3.09
Nokia has a great green travel resource that is up in beta mode called Green Explorer. It is geared specifically for people who want to travel in an eco-friendly fashion and provide their own travel tips, and the site has quite a few features that can make it a top resource when it comes out of beta. ...
Can Community Co-ops Revive Our Towns?
by Sami Grover, Carrboro, NC, USA on 04. 3.09
A volunteer helps clean up the disused grocery store. Image credit: Company Shops Market
Hometown Security through Local Co-ops
The current climate might not seem like the best time to open a grocery store. A group of residents in Burlington, NC - a town that has seen its fair share of unemployment and company closures over the years - would beg to disagree. They argue that this is exactly the time to support local, sustainable businesses that can breathe life back into America's towns and cities. That's the inspiration behind Company Shops Market - a locally owned co-operative that is setting out to refurbish an old grocery store built in 1949, offering local, sustainable food from the area's farmers. But can community co-ops offer a more sustainable solution to economic development?
...
Greater Outdoors Project Giving $50k to Best NonProfit (Video)
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 04. 3.09
There's a competition going on! The Greater Outdoors Project is rewarding nonprofit organizations that work towards preserving, protecting and providing access to America’s great outdoors. In conjunction with Planet Green, the project's creator, Redwood Creek is giving away a $50,000 grant to the best project. And, our very own Graham Hill is one of the judges. The finalists have already been chosen. Check them out!...
Tea Time: A Human Face on Where Your Cup of Tea Comes From
by Kelly Rossiter, Toronto on 04. 3.09
Photo credit: Kelly Rossiter
Waking up on our first morning in Kericho we were greeted with a spectacular sunrise and a slightly cool temperature. The journalists involved in the trip to the Lipton Tea Plantation in Kericho were scheduled to do a little tea plucking. When my housemates and I arrived at the designated spot to meet, we found that we were the source of much curiosity and even more amusement for the tea pluckers, as they knew what we were in for.
...
Wilderness Has Deep Value In Hard Economic Times
by Greg Haegele of Sierra Club on 04. 3.09
Amargosa River Natural Area, California; 2009 addition to National Landscape Conservation System. Image credit:BLM,Barstow Images
The roots of my organization are embedded in land preservation, and nowadays that puts our focus on finding a solution to climate change; if we don't fix that problem, there will be no land to preserve, and no future generations to preserve it for.
But something rather traditional happened on Monday that would make our founder, John Muir, very pleased indeed. That's the day President Obama signed the most extensive lands protection bill in 20 years, a bill that includes all of the Clinton/Babbitt-era national monuments, wilderness study areas, and other sites, totaling 26 million acres. ...
Valero Renewable Fuels to Run Newly Purchased Ethanol Plants at Full Capacity
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 04. 3.09
photo: mroach via flickr
If you follow the biofuel world at all you'll remember that the US' largest oil refiner, Valero Energy recently bought six of bankrupt VeraSun's ethanol plants. Jumping right into the swing of things, Valero has said that it will run these facilities at full capacity, despite the fact that margins are slimming on producing the fuel these days:...
Australia's Drought Featured as an Interactive Media Project
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 04. 3.09
A drama series called Scorched, premised on a future scenario not terribly far off from possibility, features Australia's drought. It's a media project of giant proportions intended to drive audiences not only to watch, but also to interact. ...
Is This Trip Really Necessary?
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 04. 3.09
Anne Applebaum at Slate wonders why they bothered spending $75 million to get together.
Nothing that will be discussed at the summit, and nothing that will be discussed at any of the follow-up summits, could not also have been discussed on the telephone. Or by e-mail. Or on a Skype conference call. Indeed, one British writer suggests that "the world's leaders should have followed their usual platitudes about looking to the future and engaging the young by holding the whole thing on Facebook."...
EPA Announces Week-Long Cell Phone Recycling Drive
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 04. 3.09
Photo via KB35
The month of April is usually a good month for recycling since Earth Day sparks some action around saving the planet. The EPA has caught the bug too, and has announced a big cell phone recycling drive in conjunction with major retailers, to last all of next week. ...
Leonardo DiCaprio's Timely Campaign, Paul McCartney's Green Family Affair, and More
by Terri MacLeod on 04. 3.09
Photo via Ecorazzi
Eco-hunk Leonardo DiCaprio is the new face of TAG Heuer Carrera watch. A gig formely held by fellow greenie, Brad Pitt. But, so long Brad and hello Leo! Ecorazzi posted the first shot of his soon to be released ad campaign. The green twist? All of the royalities made from the multi-million dollar deal will be donated to two enviromental charities: The Natural Resources Defense Council and Green Cross International. "Each and every day, these organizations are doing important work to ensure our planet's resources for future generations. Hopefully, our donations will help expand their reach and raise their profit," said Leo. ...
Graphic Of The Day: Gasoline Savings For Plug-In Hybrids (PHEVs)
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 04. 3.09
Image credit: Issues in Focus, USDOE, Annual Energy Outlook (pdf file download)
This well constructed graphic conveys valuable insights for consumers. It will be especially useful for evaluating the incremental cost of a new PHEV-model vehicle derived from a standard ICE platform. ...
Streetcode Proposes New Rules for the Road - Heaviest Vehicle Bears the Weight of Responsibility
by April Streeter, Gothenburg, Sweden on 04. 3.09
Photo Julia Fullerton-Batton via Foxtongue @ flickr.
There is a highway code - a set of expected rules, best practices, and behaviors when manipulating your vehicle on those long ribbons of public road. There isn't, as of yet, much of a corresponding city street code - a set of guidelines that help walkers, bikers, scooter, truck, and car drivers - maneuver the streets of a city in a safe and (as important) polite way. New mobility consultant and WorldStreets editor Eric Britton is proposing the street code start with a fairly simple rule.
...
Artist's Forest Disappears
by Bonnie Alter, London on 04. 3.09
Image by David Hockney
David Hockney, the famous British artist, has been painting landscapes of a small forest over the past year. Located near his home in Yorkshire, he found the two hundred year old copse at a crossing of two roads and set out to paint it in each of the four seasons. He depicted it in its full glory in the summer and then again in the autumn.
But when he turned up to begin work on a spring picture he discovered that it was gone. Describing it as "a massacre", all that remained was stumps and stacks of branches littered around the empty field....
NYC Electronic Recycling Events Earth Month 2009 Calendar
by George Spyros, New York City, USA on 04. 3.09
Tis spring and again time to recycle the e-waste. Lucky are we to have the Lower East Side Ecology Center on hand to take our toxic e-crap off our hands to be properly disposed of. Rundown after the jump and don't forget to put LESEC's EcoBizNYC Sustainable Business Workshops beginning next Tuesday on your calendar....
Kahina Giving Beauty Boasts Moroccan Beauty Secret
by Jasmin Malik Chua, Jersey City, USA on 04. 2.09
Photo credit: Kahina Giving Beauty
Hailed as one of the newest miracle ingredients in the beauty industry's arsenal—the New York Times dubbed it Morocco's "liquid gold"—argan oil is certainly no slouch when it comes to its purported healing and age-defying properties.
It's this oil, extracted from the kernels of the argan tree, that acts as the key constituent of Kahina Giving Beauty's skincare line, providing a powerful shot of vitamin E and essential fatty acids that is believed to cure whatever ails your skin, including dryness, eczema, acne, psoriasis, and wrinkles. ...
Mark Bittman On Why Food Matters
by Jeff Nield, Vancouver, British Columbia on 04. 2.09
Mark Bittman writes about food from a common sense point of view. We know we should eat more veggies and less meat, but in his latest book, Food Matters, Bittman tucks in to the reasons why a less carnivorous existence will result in a more harmonious existence between ourselves and our environment.
The first section of Food Matters dishes out sound reasoning and a variety of statistics to put our meat eating habits and industrial food system into perspective. (Although Bittman is not necessarily advocating a vegetarian diet, eating less meat and less junk food are the obvious, but important, points of his book.) Part two takes us into the kitchen to learn to "cook like food matters", including 70 or so recipes. Together the two sections combine to create "a guide to conscious eating". ...
New System Detects Stress on Wind Turbine Blades & Adjusts to Increase Life of Turbine
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 04. 2.09
As wind turbines get larger and larger—a 5 MW turbine has a blade about 180' long, which at its height is over 400' off the ground—the different types wind stress on the turbine can be of such a nature that components can wear out early, causing early breakdown of the turbine. Moog Japan Ltd has created a system that can detect the stress on each blade of the turbine and adjust them to reduce stress due to variations in wind strength:...
Is Your Shampoo Creating Superbugs?
by Jasmin Malik Chua, Jersey City, USA on 04. 2.09
Photo credit: oaii
The overuse of antibiotics isn't the only cause of drug-resistant bacteria. Pollution from compounds in myriad household products could also be fostering antibiotic resistance, according to new research by U.K. scientists at the universities of Birmingham and Warwick.
The study delved into the question of whether pollution from sewage sludge, animal disinfectants, and fabric softeners could be linked to the rise in drug resistance in bacteria. Another issue the scientists tabled was the effect that sewage sludge and animal slurry—tonnes of which farmers apply to their crops every year—has on humans once it enters the soil and water supply. ...
Green Apple Festival Concerts Coming to a City Near You
by Kristin Underwood, Sacramento, CA on 04. 2.09
Image via: Green Apple Network
For those of you getting out on Earth Day, with a shovel, a garbage bag or just a pair of gloves and your two hands, you are in for a treat. The Green Apple Network has announced free concerts in 10 cities with famous music acts and their "friends." Find one near you, or just find out how you can get involved hugging and planting trees this Earth Day....
The G-20 Summit: Green Progress or Missed Opportunity?
by Brian Merchant, Brooklyn, New York on 04. 2.09
Photo via the NY Times
The Group of 20 summit just concluded in London. World leaders gathered to discuss and implement economic strategies to combat the global recession. And while many had hopes that the environment would play a larger role in the agenda, green groups around the world are already calling the event a "missed opportunity" to meaningfully tackle climate change....
Videos of the Tesla Model S Electric Car in Action in Washington D.C.
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 04. 2.09
Worst Culprits From Nine States Contributing to Gulf of Mexico Dead Zone Mapped by USGS
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 04. 2.09
Though not the only source of pollution, there is concern that increased mandates for biofuels will increase corn production, and fertilizer runoff, thereby exacerbating the dead zone problem. Photo: Ricky via flickr
TreeHugger has covered the issue of ocean dead zones, in particular the annual 8,000 square mile one in the Gulf of Mexico, a number of times. Now, the US Geological Survey has released new maps which pinpoint the watersheds within the Mississippi River Basin which most contribute to the problem:...
The Un-Road Trip Begins! Exploring the US in Anything But a Car
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 04. 2.09
A Great Green American Adventure
Boaz Frankel, the man behind the Un-Road Trip, says: "In April of 2009, I'm setting out on an Un-Road Trip. For ten weeks, I'm going to explore the United States and zig-zag through as many states as I can using every mode of transportation- except for car. I'll document the entire journey online through twitter, photos, and short documentary videos as I travel by foot, bike, train, dog-powered tricycle, moped, horseback, amphibious canoe, and whatever else I can think of. I'll certainly achieve a greener trip by avoiding the favored mode of transportation, and hopefully discover some interesting alternative modes of transportation."...
Old Cell Phones Mean New Trees with Telenor
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 04. 2.09
Photo via alexindigo
Nordic cell provider Telenor is reconciling some disappointing statistics about unused cell phones by starting up a cool trade-in deal that promotes reforestation in Asia. ...
Tesla Motors has Taken 520 Reservations for the Model S Electric Sedan in a Week
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 04. 2.09
Photo: Tesla Motors
Pent Up Demand for Electric Cars, Even in This Economy...
In about a week, Tesla Motors has taken 520 reservations for the Model S electric car (photos here, more technical details here, video of first test-drive here). In this economy, and for a car that won't be available until 2011, that is pretty impressive. “Frankly the number of cars reserved in the first week has exceeded our optimistic internal projections,” said Tesla CEO, Chairman and Product Architect Elon Musk. “Enthusiasm surrounding the Model S is proof that there’s pent-up demand for more affordable, fuel-efficient vehicles – including those made in America.”...
17 Federal Policy Initiatives Could Save 50 Percent Of U.S. GHG emissions In 10 years
by Rocky Mountain Institute on 04. 2.09
With all the hype surrounding the recently unveiled American Clean Energy and Security Act, it seems appropriate to reflect upon the policy framework Amory Lovins and his colleagues at the Rocky Mountain Institute put together a few months ago.
Based on rigorous analysis and modeling, Rocky Mountain Institute found the following 17 policy aims, if adopted, could reduce U.S. oil use and greenhouse gas emissions each by 50 percent in 10 years, while creating over three million jobs in the next four years, and rapidly generating economic benefit for the nation. See the 17 recommendations below: ...
Rainforests: Lungs AND Heart of the Planet?
by Kristin Underwood, Sacramento, CA on 04. 2.09
Images via: Getty Images
New Scientists reports this month a possibly controversial finding that not only are rainforests giant carbon sinks of the planet (lungs), but they may also be responsible for moving (heart) many of the weather patterns we see all around the globe. This has impacts on the US, which may see more land turned to desert and see similar changes in Australia, which is already having a hard time with prolonged droughts....
What's EPA Doing For Earth Day?
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 04. 2.09
Image credit:EPA
USEPA was formed in 1970, the same year Earth Day was created. And, as EPA's Earth Day celebration website points out in an online history, it was "a time when rivers caught fire and cities were hidden under dense clouds of smoke."
It's also the year that yours truly was graduating from college. 'What a long strange trip it's been.' Since 1970, pollution globalized along with US supply chains. Now, it's rivers burning and smog churning in China. The Agency really has to think globally.
The list of online Earth Day offerings from EPA is great. Check below for descriptions with links....
Poor Nations Warn Against 'Protectionist' Carbon Tariffs at Bonn Climate Talks
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 04. 2.09
Chinese steel is cheap, but its production is also more carbon-intensive and has less pollution controls placed upon it than elsewhere. It would likely not be so cheap if all the environmental costs were internalized into its price. Photo: Erik Charlton via flickr
At the climate change talks in Bonn, Germany, in addition to calling for rich nations to increase commitments to greenhouse gas emission reductions, poorer nations raised concerns that talk of putting tariffs on products from nations which have lax pollution controls, carbon emission reduction strategies and poorer energy efficiency amounted to protectionism: ...
Stimulus in Action: Wind Farm in Illinois to Power 30,000 Homes
by Brian Merchant, Brooklyn, New York on 04. 2.09
Photo via Northwestern
Ah, it's good to see those stimulus dollars at work in such a productive, renewable energy generatin' way. Using those fresh funds for exactly the kind of green project Obama had in mind, Invenergy Wind LLC and GE have teamed up to expand the Grand Ridge Energy Center in Illinois with 74 wind turbines—increasing the total generation capacity by more than 110 megawatts....
Obama Girl Also Obsessed By Guys "Like Ed Begley"
by Alex Pasternack, New York, NY on 04. 2.09
China Wants to Become King of Electric Cars & Hybrids
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 04. 2.09
Photo: Michael Graham Richard
Will China Leapfrog Western Carmakers?
China's government has adopted a new plan that aims to make it king of the hill when it comes to electric cars and hybrids. The NYT writes: "To some extent, China is making a virtue of a liability. It is behind the United States, Japan and other countries when it comes to making gas-powered vehicles, but by skipping the current technology, China hopes to get a jump on the next." China wants to become a leader in that industry, but also to reduce air pollution in its crowded cities and reduce its dependence on middle-Eastern oil. But what does it plan to do to get there?...
Jay Coen Gilbert and the Search for the Beneficial Corporation (Part Two)
by Jacob Gordon, Nashville, TN on 04. 2.09
Jay Coen Gilbert must be doing something right; after all, you don’t get invited to the White House to advise on economic policy just because you smell good. Along with two of his brainy Stanford buddies, Gilbert has built a certifying system for business. A certified B Corporation is a new breed of company (the B stands for beneficial) that does right by its shareholders, community, and ecosystem. In the second part of our conversation, Jay shares what happened in Washington, what he’s doing on the back of GOOD magazine, and shares advise for the aspiring (beneficial) entrepreneur. Listen to the podcast of this interview via iTunes, or just click here to listen, right-click to download. Music comes from Amadou & Miriam. Listen (or read) part one here. Full text after the jump ...
How to Go Green: Earth Day
by Blythe Copeland, Great Neck, New York on 04. 2.09
Image credit: VisionsofAmerica/Joe Sohm
For nearly 40 years, Earth Day has been the one day when even the least eco-minded trade their apathy for (usually) a spade and a tree sapling. From its start as a counter-culture demonstration in 1970--which led to the formation of the EPA and to bills protecting the environment--to the worldwide celebration in 2000 that involved more than 200 hundred million supporters in 184 countries, April 22 means something different to everyone. Figure out which cause you want to support--and how--with the ideas and activities in Planet Green's How to Go Green: Earth Day guide.
...
Aveda Lights the Way, Walks For Water During Earth Month
by Jasmin Malik Chua, Jersey City, USA on 04. 2.09
Photo credit: Aveda
To mark the launch of the Aveda 2009 Earth Month campaign, the skincare and cosmetics company will be selling a limited-edition soy candle to raise funds and awareness for clean-water rights worldwide.
Packaged in 95 percent post-consumer recycled glass, as well as cartons printed with soy ink on 100 percent "make-readies," the French-inspired Light the Way candle ($10) features 100 percent EcoCert-certified organic ingredients such as lavender, lavandin, and clary sage harvested from the south of France. ...
Poorer Nations Tell the Rich: You Must Cut Emissions 40% Below 1990 Levels by 2020
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 04. 2.09
photo: Jeff Turner via flickr
At the 175-nation climate change talks taking place in Bonn, Germany a group of developing nations has urged that the greenhouse gas emission reductions proposed by wealthy nations should be increased to "at least 40 percent" below 1990 levels by 2020. These would be greater cuts than be proposed by most politicians in the wealthy world (though not below what some scientists say is required):...
7 Foods Banned in Europe Still Available in the U.S.
by Christine Lepisto, Berlin on 04. 2.09
Image credit: Getty Images
How many times do you hear people say: "Well, it must be safe because the government allows it?" But can you rely on that? Maybe a look at some of the foods and food practices that are permitted in the U.S. and banned in Europe could shed light on how governments judge safety in the food chain.
Genetically Modified Foods
Although the E.U. is continuously coming under attack for policies banning GM foods, the community is highly suspicious of genetically modified foods, and the agro-industrial pressures that drive their use. The problem with GM foods is that there is simply not sufficient research and understanding to inform good public policy. In spite of widespread GM use without apparent negative impacts in other countries, the recent public reaction to trans-fats are reason enough to support a precautionary principle for the food supply chain....Good News Department: 400 Green Jobs Coming To Wisconsin Rapids
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 04. 2.09
City of Wisconsin Rapids:- Ahdawagam Trails.
A city trail system combining dedicated, paved, off-street trails, and city streets where paint markings designate restricted bike lanes.
Image credit:VisitWisRapids.
When the economy is tough, and and especially while it's still too cold to get out on the bicycle and enjoy spring (as it is now in Wisconsin), people need good news. Wisconsin Rapids got some that many small cities would be envious of.
Energy Composites Corporation and the City are collaborating on plans to build a just-announced wind turbine blade factory that will employ up to 400 people. Details below the fold.
You see? Spring and better times are just around the corner. Better clean up those bikes....
Mora Bike: Foldable in 8 Seconds, Local and Recyclable
by Petz Scholtus, Barcelona, Spain on 04. 2.09
Josep Mora, a Spanish designer well-known for specialising in everything that has wheels, has developed a new urban bike that can be folded in 8 seconds (see video link below). In a market full of folding bicycles, we asked ourselves if the Mora Bike would find its place, and what is so special about it....
New Google Earth Layer Shows What US Lands Should Be Off-Limits to Renewable Energy Development
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 04. 2.09
As Senator Feinstein's recent talk about making 500,000 acres of the Mojave desert off-limits to renewable energy development, on the conservation grounds, goes to show, conflicts over siting large projects is no less likely just because the project is green. Now, with the release of a new Google Earth layer developed by the National Audubon Society and the Natural Resources Defense Council hopefully some of those conflicts can be avoided:...
Ecover To Show Water Film at London International Documentary Festival
by Leonora Oppenheim, London, UK on 04. 2.09
Photo credit: Marco Betti for WaterAid
Want to learn more about why conserving water is so important? If you're in London this weekend you can pop into the British Museum on Saturday for a free friends and family screening of a new film by Ecover. Following Ecover's recent trip to Ethiopia with WaterAid they have made a short documentary highlighting their community work and why they're involved with safe water and sanitation projects. If you can't make it to London then click through to find out how to order your free DVD copy......
Vinyl Flooring and Phthalates Linked to Autism in New Study
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 04. 2.09
TreeHugger has been reporting for years about the dangers of phthalates, the endocrine disruptor that is used to make vinyl flexible. We have noted previously that it might cause "phthalate syndrome"- smaller penises, and undescended or incompletely descended testicles- in humans.
Now a new study links it to autism. Scientific American says that the Swedish study was looking for something else, a relationship between phthalates and allergies, but found that "Infants or toddlers who lived in bedrooms with vinyl, or PVC, floors were twice as likely to have autism five years later, in 2005, than those with wood or linoleum flooring."
...
Solar Trackers Gaining Ground: May Boost Efficiencies by 40%
by Sami Grover, Carrboro, NC, USA on 04. 2.09
Image credit: Traxle
Strong Growth for Solar Tracking
As recently as 2005, solar systems that adjusted their position to follow the sun, like Johnson and Johnson's 505kw solar tracking array or the Sun Tracker, were seen as exceptions from the norm. But, encouraged by generous government policies and improved reliability, solar tracking arrays are capturing an increasing share of the large-scale market. If their proponents are to be believed, they could improve some solar arrays' efficiencies by as much as 40%. But not everyone is convinced. ...
My Brush with the Wildlife in Kenya (Slideshow)
by Kelly Rossiter, Toronto on 04. 2.09
Image credit: Kelly Rossiter
There is nothing as exhilarating as seeing animals in the wild. I was incredibly lucky to see a huge number of animals on my visit to Kenya. In both Nakuru National Park and Nairobi National Park I saw lions, baboons, tons of zebras, a leopard and a cheetah among others. Alas, giraffes eluded us on this trip, but there were plenty of other sights.
...
Why Is This Girl Smiling? Her Shower Just Ran Out of Water.
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 04. 2.09
The biggest downside of having a tankless water heater is that it never runs out of hot water, and my daughter's showers can run forever and often do. Trevor Murphy in Queensland had the same problem, and invented the Aqualim shower head to deal with it: the thing shuts off after a set amount of water flows through it. My daughter would be hitting me over the head with a shampoo bottle, not smiling....
Use Twitter as a Force of Good, Tweet Congress!
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 04. 2.09
Wondering which members of congress are on Twitter? Want to follow and tweet action items in their ears? A new Twitter tool helps you do that!...
AWEA Launches Into The Wind, New BBC Blog Bloom, The Lazy Environmentalist's Latest Book, and More
by Leonora Oppenheim, London, UK on 04. 2.09
AWEA Into The Wind: Denise Bode Reflects on Wind's International Role by Denis Bode "I just returned from some international wind meetings in Europe with a fresh perspective on how our industry is viewed overseas. Here are some insights I brought back: The Global Wind Energy Council, the Brussels-based organization that serves as a gathering point for the wind industry worldwide, plans a significant role in the global climate conference in Copenhagen in December."...
Clean Tech Investments Take a Tumble in 1st Quarter
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 04. 2.09
Image via luisme1985
The Clean Tech Group let loose news that investments in clean technology took a bit of a dive this quarter. Well, not a bit of a dive - a big fat swan dive. Investments are down 41% from last quarter, and down 48% from this time last year. ...
Do You Enjoy April Fools Day?
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 04. 2.09
A lot of people spend a lot of time on yesterday's April Fools Day. It's a bigger deal in the UK, where The Economist announced a theme park and the Guardian announced it was going all Twitter, but our fellow green sites went all out. We introduced Weehugger and painted China green. Do you enjoy it?
...
Revolution in a Bottle: How TerraCycle Redefines Green Business
by Tom Szaky of TerraCycle, Trenton NJ on 04. 2.09
My book, Revolution in a Bottle, hit the streets this week. It follows the story of TerraCycle from our beginnings in my dorm room, shoveling maggot filled organic waste, to creating products we sold to Wal-Mart and other major big box retailers, getting sued by Scotts and creating “sponsored waste” programs to upcycle branded waste. It also offers insights on how we approach media and pursue new opportunities. Read on to catch an excerpt from the book. ...
What Jamie Oliver Cooked for the Leaders of the World
by Bonnie Alter, London on 04. 2.09
Image from Guardian
Jamie Oliver, aka the Naked Chef, cooked dinner for the G-20 summit last night. And what did the leaders of the world eat? Since it's Jamie, we know that it was local, fresh, seasonal and sustainable. And yummy.
We also know that the leaders and their spouses ate separately! Yes, this is the 21st century, and there was a feminist movement, but Sarah Brown had a separate girls-only dinner party next door. It was attended by the likes of Naomi Campbell (last read about because of "anger management issues"), JK Rowling, of Harry Potter fame, and Martha Lane Fox (formerly lastminute.com), Kelly Holmes, Olympic gold medallist and of course Michelle Obama. ...
Denise Richards and Her 'Natural' Fake Bake Tan
by April Streeter, Gothenburg, Sweden on 04. 2.09
Tanned skin, once reserved for farmers and outdoor workers, then for the rich who wintered in warm places, is now available to us all through the wonder of self-tanning products. But self-tanners used to turn people a frightening shade of dirty orange. Then they got banned in Europe if they had nanoparticles and scared us with their harmful parabens. Technology has lent its wonders to self-tanners, however. We can Fake Bake with minimal orange and no parabens. That doesn't mean, of course, that we will resemble Denise Richards in any other way....
Natalie Chanin Upcycles T-Shirts For HBO
by Jasmin Malik Chua, Jersey City, USA on 04. 1.09
Photo credit: STC Craft
No reruns in the fashion industry? Natalie "Alabama" Chanin might beg to differ. The designer and author was recently commissioned by HBO to create a special collection of one-of-a-kind, limited-edition tees recycled using HBO-branded apparel from shows like The Sopranos, Entourage, and Sex and the City.
"Alabama Chanin for HBO," which includes men's and women's T-shirts that have been embellished with hand-stitching, embroidery, and appliqués, will be available at the HBO Shop in New York City starting April 8.
Click below the fold for more designs, plus details on how to win the T-shirt pictured above and an STC Craft book of your choice. ...
"Extinct" Bird Eaten by Mistake: Not an April Fools Joke
by George Spyros, New York City, USA on 04. 1.09
Save the Earth With Uranus Soy Undies
by Jasmin Malik Chua, Jersey City, USA on 04. 1.09
Photo credit: Uranus Apparel
With a tag line like "Help save planet Earth, starting with Uranus," our inner 10-year-old boy couldn't help but stifle giggles. Sophomoric humor aside, Uranus Apparel has enough eco-cred to back up its claim: The company's boy-short underwear for women are made from the protein byproducts of soy foods that would otherwise be thrown away.
The buttery soft "soy-shorts," which range in size from extra-small to large, come in sets of three ($19), in natural beige, black, and moss green. Bundled in biodegradable burlap drawstring sacks, the machine-washable and dryer-safe undies are warm and snug, yet they remain breathable enough for more sweltering temps. Oh the joy of soy—it's almost enough to make you want to flash the world Uranus.
...
Representative Submits Live Fish into Congressional Record, Makes History
by Brian Merchant, Brooklyn, New York on 04. 1.09
Photo via Jessica Doyle
In a bizarre turn of events, Representative Devin Nunes (R – Calif.) carved out a place for himself in the annals of political history—by being the first politician to submit live fish into the congressional records.
...
Quebec to Protect 4.5 Million Acres of Land, 8.12% of Province Now Protected
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 04. 1.09
Photo: Garth Lenz
"Just 5 years ago, the total protected areas in Quebec were less than 1% of the province"
The Premier of Quebec, Jean Charest, along with the minister of sustainable development, environment and parks (now that's a title!) Line Beauchamp, announced that the province would add 4.5 million acres (18,000 square kilometers) to list of protected areas. This brings the total to 135,326 square kilometers, "the size of new Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island combined." ...
Tar Sands Documentary Causes "Big Stink" in Alberta: Now Online
by Kimberley D. Mok, Montreal, Canada on 04. 1.09
2009 San Diego Custom Bicycle Show, April 3-5
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 04. 1.09
If You're in San Diego this Weekend...
You love bikes? You really love bikes and you're near San Diego? Well then, you've got to check out the 2009 San Diego Custom Bicycle Show! It takes place this weekend on April 3rd, 4th and 5th. Of course, best not to drive to the show. Here's the San Diego regional bike map, and if the weather's not nice, there's always mass transit....
Guide to the Democrats' Energy and Climate Bill: the Greenest in US History?
by Brian Merchant, Brooklyn, New York on 04. 1.09
Photo via the NY Times
What could be the greenest, most important climate and energy bill ever to hit Congress (sorry Lieberman-Warner) was unveiled yesterday—it's the Clean Energy and Security Act. The ambitious bill seeks to shape a new energy policy for the US, and it proposes a number of revolutionary green advances: a surprisingly aggressive plan to reduce national carbon emissions and a strong US renewable energy standard are both in the mix. The downside is, the thing is 600 pages long. Not to worry, I've sifted through it for the good stuff—here's everything you need to know about the Democrats' massive climate and energy plan.
...
Portland Raceway to Host Bike Races
by Daniel Kessler, San Francisco, California on 04. 1.09
Photo via Flickr
For those in the know, Portland is a bike lover's dream. With its myriad bike lanes, temperate weather, and world class bike builders like Vanilla, Portland has it all for those who like to move fast on two wheels. And for the 13th season, Portland International Raceway (PIR) will host a "Monday Night Race Series." Cyclists came come and let it rip on a 2-mile course. And the best part? No traffic!
...
Spotted: Green Apple Cleaners in Gossip Girl Second Life Sim (Video)
by George Spyros, New York City, USA on 04. 1.09
Click through for Green Gossip Girl video
When the producers of the Gossip Girl "machinima" videos needed to create a dry cleaners set in Second Life, I suggested that they green the virtual store. The television show and its sister Second Life sim are fantasy worlds yet are based on the Manhattan's physically extant Upper East Side, so the Green Apple Cleaners store located there instantly sprang to mind. ...
Monsanto "Seedless" Corn Sold To South African Farmers
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 04. 1.09
South Africa Corn Production. Image credit:Chicago Board of Trade.
Cash cropping farmers - those who grow grain to sell on the open market - are accustomed to dealing with reduced yields caused by an unsteady climate, for example; or from insect pests, or a mistake with the amount of added fertilizer. On the other hand, it's pretty hard for farmers not to be outraged when, at harvest season, and while the rest of the nation's farmers are doing pretty well (see graphic), grain yield is zero due to bum seeds. Digital Journal covers the responses of hundreds of South African farmers to their unexpected "seedless" corn in Monsanto GM-corn harvest fails massively in South Africa. Couple' a nice DJ quotes below....
Tesla Electric Roadster Shows Its Range at the Rallye Monte Carlo d'Énergies Alternatives
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 04. 1.09
Photo: Le Blog Auto
240 Miles on a Single Charge, With Some Juice Left...
Not so long ago, the British car show Top Gear aired a relatively negative segment about the Tesla Roadster (they much prefer the hydrogen-powered Honda FCX). One of their main complaints was the range of the car. What better way to test that than a real-world race? Le Rallye Monte Carlo d'Énergies Alternatives was the perfect occasion to test the Tesla in all kinds of conditions (highway, urban areas, twisty, hilly roads, etc)....
Fembot Helps Research Mating From Bird's Eye View
by Christine Lepisto, Berlin on 04. 1.09
Image: by Gail Patricelli in the Billings Gazette
Researcher Gail Patricelli took a clue from Austin Powers for her latest research. The professor of evolution and ecology at the University of California at Davis is conducting studies which may be important to saving the dwindling population of the sage grouse. "The sage grouse is the North American version of the peacock, because of their bizarre and elaborate traits," Patricelli is quoted as saying in the Billings Gazette.
Patricelli wanted close-up observations of male sage grouse mating behavior. So she invented her own "fembot". The video below shows the fembot in action. Can it explain how one male sage grouse gets to mate 43 times, while a few others mate 1 to 7 times, and the majority leave the dance empty-handed?...
China Reveals Plans for Green-Colored "Suburb City"
by Alex Pasternack, New York, NY on 04. 1.09
Rendering of the green suburb (Flickr: Telstar Logistics)
Happy April Fool's Day
The bustling streets of Wuyang, a small, 4 million person city in the Chinese province of Jiangxi, epitomize China's slowing economy. Fleets of small cars chug past construction sites that are slightly quieter than usual -- the city now counts only 560 cranes on the skyline -- while bicyclists swarm through clouds of white "fog" created by nearby power plants.
But in three years Wuyang could transform into a Chinese vision for the future. As part of a bid to boost struggling industries amidst an economic downturn, on April 1 Chinese officials signed a contract with a major US planning group to turn Wuyang's outlying areas into the country's first demonstration "green-colored suburb city." "For our sustainable vision to spread, green cities must spread out," said the city's mayor. "We are confident that this green city will be twice as green as any other green city in China."...
Plug In America Disagrees with Obama Auto Task Force on GM Volt
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 04. 1.09
Photo: GM
Suggests Cutting Warranty from 10 to 5 Years
Yesterday, we covered a report by the presidential Auto Task Force that mentioned, among other things, that the GM Volt might not be commercially viable in the short-term. This sparked an interesting discussion in the comments, and now Plug In America is saying that it disagrees with the Auto Task Force's conclusion and knows how to make the Volt more viable... ...
Duke Energy Announces New 42 MW Wind Farm for Cheyenne, Wyoming
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 04. 1.09
photo: Jacob Davies via flickr
Though the recession has certainly put a damper on new large renewable energy projects, as well as derailing some in development, new plans are being announced (just not on the scale which that had been nine months ago). Case in point, Duke Energy's latest wind farm in Cheyenne, Wyoming:...
Rollerblade Man's Entire Body Covered in Wheels: Kama Sutra Positions at 60 MPH (Video)
by George Spyros, New York City, USA on 04. 1.09
Constructal Theory: 5 Designs Shaping the Future of Sustainable Engineering
by Tim McGee, Western Massachusetts on 04. 1.09
photo@Flickr
What Is Constructal Design and Can It Save The World?
Take a look at a leaf, like the one above. Notice the elegant branching pattern of the veins. This is a constructal design. If you were to look at a river from an airplane, or the pathways in our lungs, these are also constructal designs. Scientists and engineers are beginning to realize that these forms can be explained and predicted by a universal theory of flow structures--constructal theory. Those who apply this understanding to design, are creating a new engineering and design science of constructal design.
We at TreeHugger made a go of exploring constructal theory and its application to sustainability several years ago. Since then, more people have picked up the concept, and there is growing excitement that constructal design may hold several keys to developing a more sustainable world. We count down the top five potential wins for constructal design and sustainability.
...
Spanish Island of El Hierro's Carbon Neutral Energy Plans Soon to be Completed
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 04. 1.09
photo: BBC News
A couple years ago TreeHugger highlighted the efforts of the island of El Hierro (one of the smaller of the Canary Islands, with a population of about 10,000) to make the switch over to generating all of its power from renewable energy sources. For an update on this interesting project, the BBC is running a short video clip which is worth checking out. Unfortunately the BBC terms of services regarding embedding preclude me doing so, but here's a summary:...
April Fools Day Around the Green Blogoverse
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 04. 1.09
It is wonderful to see that even in these trying times, the green bloggers out there still have the time and the sense of humor to put up some very clever posts. We round up a few and will add as we find more worth wasting bandwidth on.
Triple pundit knocks it out of the park with EIGHT sometimes clever posts including American Airlines Launches Zero Emissions Zeppelin Service, Monsanto Denounces GMO Crops, Launches Permaculture Design Service and the funniest of them all, T. Boone Pickens No Longer in it Just for the Money. More fun at Business, Better. Since 2005.
...
Solar Panel Theft: How Do You Prevent It?
by Kristin Underwood, Sacramento, CA on 04. 1.09
Image via: James Kao
Last week I spent the week in Nicaragua, with Power to the People, installing solar panels, painting libraries, taking a million pictures and eating my fill of rice, beans and plantains. While out there, one issue that came up repeatedly is the lack of a way to ensure that the panels stay put, once installed. Many of the areas we visited were so remote that they lacked electricity. Homes maybe have a few CFL lightbulbs and maybe a few outlets for tv, cell phone charger, and small appliance. In this case, one solar panel can power the entire house. For someone that can find one - it means a huge step up in quality of life - and if they can find several - Jackpot! With such a high value added to solar, how do you keep them on the roof? ...
100 Days Since the TVA Coal Ash Spill: Where Are We?
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 04. 1.09
Slide Show For Plan B 3.0: Mobilizing To Save Civilization
by Lester Brown, Washington, D.C on 04. 1.09
For those of you who would like to get Plan B 3.0: Mobilizing to Save Civilization in summary, my colleagues at Earth Policy Institute have put together a PowerPoint slide show.
It quickly reviews the book's key concepts using data, facts, and figures, including the Plan B blueprint for reducing net carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions 80 percent by 2020 to stabilize climate. ...
Good News! Irrawaddy Dolphins Less Rare Than Thought in Bangladesh
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 04. 1.09
photo: Wildlife Conservation Society
Every once in a while there's a bright light in the world of endangered species and animal conservation and this is one of those times. Though the fate of the world's dolphins and porpoises living in rivers and in brackish coastal waters is categorically dire—the baiji in the Yangtze River has been pushed to extinction by expanding human populations; the vaquita in the Gulf of California is critically endangered—the Irrawaddy dolphin in Bangladesh is doing much better than thought:...
10 Tasty Ways to Enjoy Fake Meat (Slideshow)
by Jessica Root - Brooklyn, NY on 04. 1.09
Not all mock meat needs to taste like shoe. Image by Jamil Nasir/iStock.
I once brought my meat-lovin’ grandma to famed New York City vegetarian restaurant Zen Palate. Since I knew the establishment well, she entrusted me to order something I thought she’d like. With steak being one of her faves, I ordered her some sort of crispy nut and mushroom based steak and barely heard a peep from her as she unknowingly enjoyed her meal. It was a victorious moment for someone who had dealt with grandma’s snarky remarks about my and my mom’s attempts at vegan/vegetarian recipes.
Though I definitely have to agree with Kelly on the less than healthy nature of some over-processed mock meats, there is something satisfying about tricking a hard-core meat eater into eating something flesh-free that they actually enjoy. This April Fool’s Day, pull out the pranks with these 10 Mock Meats.
...
Duck Death Toll Triples to 1,606 at Alberta Tar Sands Site
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 04. 1.09
photo: Ken Bosma via flickr
In an example of why tar sands companies' efforts to focus on ways to reduce the carbon intensity of their operations misses some of the equally bad, and more immediate, environmental problems with tar sands extraction, it has come out that the number of ducks killed last April at a Syncrude site in northern Alberta was triple what was initially reported. The final tally of ducks killed after they landed on a toxic waste pond now stands at 1,606. So why the discrepancy?:...
Hollywood's 7 Greenest and Darn Cute Celebrity Babies
by Terri MacLeod on 04. 1.09
Photo via Green Living
Some celebrity parents go gaga for silly names; others green baby gear. The crazy-name game is beyond our scope, but we do applaud Hollywood’s penchant for raising eco-conscious tots. Seems when the maternal instinct kicks in, even the most gold-minded star’s heart turns green. Yes, stars can afford to buy the best eco-everything--but let’s not be haters. Instead, it's refreshing to see celebs wanting to make a positive difference. So on the heels of the big news of our new site dedicated to everything for the TreeHugger tot, WeeHugger, here are seven celebrity babies who we hope will use their rich eco-beginnings to sustain a greener future....
No April Fool's Joke: Border Wall Anniversary
by Greg Haegele of Sierra Club on 04. 1.09
Deer at border wall. Image credit:Anonymous
It's unfortunate that I don't have more to joke about in my post today of all days - April 1st. Rather, I've been thinking about an important anniversary: It was one year ago today that former Department of Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff issued a particular waiver affecting the border area between Mexico and the U.S. In doing so, he perpetrated a terrible affront to environmental law. Don't remember this one? Believe me, it's been no April Fool's joke....
We Introduce WeeHugger
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 04. 1.09
We are so pleased to announce WeeHugger, a great new site full of ideas to keep children happy, busy and productive. In these tough times everyone has to pitch in and contribute and children have so much to offer. And they love to work at things, often spending hours on the same activity, no matter how repetitive and inane it seems to us. Just look at video games! Why not use our site to learn how put that incredible energy to work....
Tesco Urges Customers to Leave Packaging at the Store
by Sami Grover, Carrboro, NC, USA on 04. 1.09
Supermarket Encourages Shoppers to Leave Packaging Behind
Back in my early days of environmental awareness, it was a common form of protest to visit a grocery-store, pile your shopping cart high with goods, and then hold up the check-out lines as you unwrapped any item with excessive packaging - leaving the store to deal with the unwanted waste. Inconvenient? Yes. Irritating? Almost certainly. Effective? Who knows. But now UK supermarket giant Tesco, the same chain that is deploying electric vans, as well as solar roofs and carbon labelling, is actually asking shoppers to leave any excess packaging behind for recycling. It's all part of an aggressive push to reduce the company's environmental impact. The Guardian tells us more: ...
Joint EU-Turkey Effort Keeping Aegean Bay Beautiful
by Jennifer Hattam, Istanbul, Turkey on 04. 1.09
Gökova Bay in southwestern Turkey. Photo via Kaptan Haber
Enjoyed by holidaymakers since the time of the Roman Empire, Sedir Island off Turkey's southwest coast is home to one of Forbes magazine's most "breathtaking beaches." Its unusually fine sand, said to have been imported from Egypt by Mark Antony for Cleopatra's visits, takes so long to form that sunbathing was banned on the beach in 2007 to try and preserve it. The effort has been successful, and so, it seems, has the larger project to protect the island's surroundings....
AMEE and EQ2 Partner for Better Emissions Reporting Transparency
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 04. 1.09
In March, we talked about AMEE - the Avoiding Mass Extinction Engine - that aims to give everything on the planet an energy identity, and make that energy identity something useful. The organization feels that is the key to ensuring life as we enjoy it continues on. They've recently partnered up with another great organization, EQ2, which will help connect businesses and investors with the information AMEE is gathering, so that the information makes an impact. ...
Down:2:Earth is This Weekend, Catch TreeHugger There!
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 04. 1.09
The Down:2:Earth Green Living Expo is happening April 3-5 in Boston. TreeHugger's very own editor extraordinaire Meaghan O'Neill will be there working on a special project that we want YOU to be part of! ...
Kor One Water Bottles Support Water Causes
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 04. 1.09
For this Earth Day, you just might be resolving to ditch plastic bottles and instead use a quality reuseable water container. Kor One is hoping so anyway, and they're launching water bottles in specific colors, each of which helps out a specific water-related cause. ...
PVC Advertising Banners as Shower Curtains, Puffs, Cushions, by Reprint
by Paula Alvarado, Buenos Aires on 04. 1.09
Photos: Reprint.
It all began with Freitag, a Swiss brand that came up with the idea of using tarps from trucks to create messenger bags. After that, it was only a matter of time before more designers saw the potential in large PVC canvases from advertising to use the material in similar ways (check out Modulab and Baumm).
Even if the idea is not new, designers continue to come up with good ideas to re-use this material. Chilean brand Reprint has thought about a clever one: shower curtains. They also have cushions, puffs and sofa chairs; and offer refurbishing your furniture with prints. Check them out in the extended....
Lika Volkova Sets Us Straight: There's No Such Thing As An "Eco" Clothing Brand
by April Streeter, Gothenburg, Sweden on 04. 1.09
British Government Unveils Satellite Surveillance Program To Make Bicycles More Popular
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 04. 1.09
Under the proposals, vehicles will emit a constant "heartbeat" revealing their location, speed and direction of travel. The EU officials behind the plan believe it will significantly reduce road accidents, congestion and carbon emissions. A consortium of manufacturers has indicated that the router device could be installed in all new cars as early as 2013.Won't people be surprised when those car-seat weight scales send real-time uploads of Body Mass Index (BMI) information to their docs?...
Do You Need A Computer?
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 04. 1.09
This is a continuing debate in TreeHugger headquarters; questioning the boat anchor that is the modern webworker career. Many TreeHugger writers have not forgiven Graham for tying them down to computers at desks and in coffee shops when they used to take their pens and lined steno pads anywhere at any time. They yearn for the mobility and freedom that came from working at home, in the barn, in that garret in Paris, before they were tied into that insidious web. We have to ask, are computers a curse?
...
Airplane to be Recycled as Classroom
by Bonnie Alter, London on 04. 1.09
Image from Daily Mail
Fasten your seatbelts, an 82ft-long commercial airliner is to be used as the UK's (the world's?) first classroom for primary school pupils.The Short 360, originally a commuter plane, was decommissioned after thousands of hours of flying businessmen to Ireland and Spain.
It is now going to take its final landing and be recycled at a school in Stoke-on-Trent. The head teacher said " We wanted an outside classroom and talked to the children about the kind of space they wanted and they came up with the idea of a plane themselves so we thought we would see how we could go about buying one."...
Rash of Infiltrated Computer Systems Prods Question: How Safe is Smart Grid?
by Eric Leech, New York, NY on 03.31.09
Photo via: d70focus
Lately, we just keep hearing more and more bad news about technology falling hopelessly under attack by dastardly bad-doers, otherwise known as cyber-hackers. With so much bad news finding its way into headlines, it makes some experts wonder just how safe a Smart Grid can ever be...
...
Go Green Expo Returns to NYC April 17-19
by Jasmin Malik Chua, Jersey City, USA on 03.31.09
Photo credit: Go Green Expo
The Go Green Expo, which dubs itself "the nation's leading eco-focused, green-living showcase" returns to the Big Apple for an encore this April. Now open to the public, the event will introduce New Yorkers to the latest in energy-efficient and eco-friendly products and services in areas such as fashion and beauty, travel and transportation, business, and electronics.
Fresh from its debut in Los Angeles, the Go Green Expo will also feature an interactive Kids Zone, as well as talks and panel discussions on hot-button environmental issues. ...
Blumebox Sprouts My Monet Kids Kit For Little Artists
by Jasmin Malik Chua, Jersey City, USA on 03.31.09
Photo credit: Blumebox
Blumebox (which is both the name of the company and the product) has planted a new seed of an idea: A reusable, 100 percent recyclable flower vase that your pint-sized Michelangelos can decorate and then fill with cut blooms, whether as a rainy-day activity, a birthday present, or a gift for Mother's Day (hint, hint, Dads).
The My Monet Kids Kit ($5.99) comes with a 6-inch blumebox and four non-toxic crayons for adorning the uncoated surface with. You supply the petal power, although you can also fill the vase with candy in lieu of flowers.
...
"Stop Doing Dumb Things!" Ted Turner on GM, CNN, at Columbia Climate Center Launch
by Alex Pasternack, New York, NY on 03.31.09
In a lively discussion at New York's Columbia University today, media titan Ted Turner lamented the US auto industry's slow approach to green, promised to talk with Rupert Murdoch about the Wall Street Journal's skeptical take on climate change, and criticized environmental coverage by CNN, the network he founded.
The "Mouth of the South" made his characteristically spirited remarks at the launch of the Climate Center at Columbia University, a new multi-disciplinary research base on climate change. The event also featured Jeffrey Sachs, Robert Orr, Lee Bolinger and a bevy of climate scientists. ...
Akeena Solar and Morgan Stanley Create More Green Jobs
by Kristin Underwood, Sacramento, CA on 03.31.09
Image via: Author's photo album
Today Akeena Solar and Morgan Stanley Solar Solutions Group announced their partnership, aimed at creating more jobs in the green-energy field, as well as improve the lives of low-income homeowners. But, Akeena Solar AC integrated solar panels also make it easier for first time installers to learn the system and get a job. Find out how. ...
Solo EV: New Electric Bus by Optare
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 03.31.09
Photo: Optare
Electric Buses Are Coming Slowly But Surely
Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) is great, but most of those buses are still running on plain old diesel. Diesel-electric hybrid buses are starting to become more popular and they're an improvement, but 100% electric buses would be even better. The Solo EV by UK's Optare is a (small) step in that direction. Read on for more details....
Yet Another Salmonella Scare: 1 Million Pounds of Pistachios Recalled
by Brian Merchant, Brooklyn, New York on 03.31.09
Photo via Gothamist
Not again. How many months since the peanut butter salmonella catastrophe? Two months? Well, it's time to get on your guard again—"several types" of salmonella were discovered by Kraft Foods during routine inspection of pistachios bought from California company Setton Pistachio. The company decided to recall its entire 2008 crop—over one million pounds of pistachios....
Obama Favors Clunkers for Cash
by Daniel Kessler, San Francisco, California on 03.31.09
Photo via Mopar Muscle Magazine
Yesterday President Obama told Chrysler and GM that it is time to shape up or ship out. He also said he supports a program that would pay people to trade in older cars for newer, more fuel efficient vehicles. Europe has successfully tried this, but could it work here and would it be good for the planet?...
Curitiba’s Bus Rapid Transit: 2.3 Million Passengers a Day
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 03.31.09
Bus stop in Curitiba, Brazil. Photo: Flickr, CC
75% of Population Commutes to Work Via Bus
Curitiba, in Brazil, has about the same population as Phoenix in the US. In Phoenix, about 1% of people take the bus to get to work, which that number if 75% in Curitiba. If you want to find out why their public transit system is so good - and all that without having an underground subway system! - check out the excellent video below by our friends at StreetFilms....
Lions Poisoned by Pesticides in East-Africa
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 03.31.09
Photo: Flickr, CC
"If the poisonings don't stop, the fate of the African lion may be sealed."
Lions in East-Africa are being poisoned by a pesticide that is banned in the European Union and will probably soon be banned in the US for all food crops. It's called Carbofuran and it's used to "control insects and other pests on crops such as corn, rice and sorghum". Unfortunately, it's also used to poison lions......
More Schools Join the Pay-You-to-Bike Bandwagon
by Kristin Underwood, Sacramento, CA on 03.31.09
Image via: LA Citystreets
Clark U, Rice University, U Minnesota are all launching bike-sharing programs, along with the City of Minneapolis. Towson University has launched several green transportation programs - sadly no bike sharing, yet. Many of the schools include financial incentives to get out there and try biking for a change....
McDonalds Agrees To Pesticide Hazard Reduction Program: Working With Potato Growers, Worldwide
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 03.31.09
A HUGE field of potato plants... Image credit:Flickr, Acksaw, excerpted.
Investor Environmental Health Network reports that "Responding to shareholder concerns, McDonald’s Corporation has agreed to formally survey and promote best practices in pesticide use reduction within its American potato supply chain." What makes this agreement unique is that the sharehold resolution that drove it forward was filed by Bard College Endowment, Newground Social Investment, and the AFL-CIO Reserve Fund. ...
Guns? In Naples, the Mafia Kills With Toxic Waste
by Alex Pasternack, New York, NY on 03.31.09
Obama's Auto Task Force Questions GM Volt's Commercial Potential
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 03.31.09
Photo: GM
Will We Ever See Chevy Volts For Sale?
The White House has posted summaries of the Presidential Auto Task Force’s assessment of the business plans of GM and Chrysler. One interesting part of the document about GM is the doubts concerning the potential commercial viability (at least in the short-term) of the Chevy Volt plug-in hybrid. ...
Department of Energy Releases $6 Billion in Funding for Environmental Cleanup
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 03.31.09
photo: Gene via flickr
The DOE is all about doling out the money lately (and good thing too): Today Energy Secretary Chu announced that $6 billion in funding allocated in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act has been released for acceleration of environmental cleanup work: Soil and groundwater restoration, transportation, waste disposal, clean-up and demolition of former weapons complexes:...
Competition for Best Energy-Saving Instructable
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 03.31.09
We know that the best way to go green is to just use less, and that goes for electricity. We also know that lots of small actions lead up to big results. With that in mind, do you have an energy-saving idea or hack that you're itching to share? Instructables' competition could be your outlet. ...
Democrats Introduce Huge Cap and Trade, Renewable Energy Bill to House
by Brian Merchant, Brooklyn, New York on 03.31.09
Photo via Marines
During a conference call earlier today, Speaker Nancy Pelosi revealed a timeline for the bold energy and climate bill just introduced to the House of Representatives. The 600 page bill is getting introduced as a discussion draft, and it marks a massive step forward in US energy policy—it includes an aggressive cap and trade system, a nationwide standard for renewable energy, and federal low carbon fuel standard. All of which would be firsts for the US. Sounds ambitious—especially considering that Pelosi wants the bill passed by July. ...
Will We Simply Conclude Through Inaction That Madagascar's Natural Heritage is Disposable?
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 03.31.09
photo: Jeff DelViscio via flickr
Just last week it came out that the civil unrest in Madagascar was having some spill over into the green sphere, with illegal loggers and poachers filling the void. Now, Dot Earth is highlighting the situation by printing a letter from a number of conservation groups highlight the situation in Madagascar. It's worth repeating in full:...
New Developments for Really Tiny and Really Big Batteries
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 03.31.09
Photo via Moria
Batteries of two extremes have hit the news in the last week. One promises to be thinner than a piece of paper, perfect for cell phones and other hand held devices. The other promises to be huge and liquid, ideal for storing green energy like wind and solar. ...
A Cute + Sexy way to Demonstrate: Pants to Poverty's Peace + Love Underwear
by Leonora Oppenheim, London, UK on 03.31.09
Image via: Pants to Poverty
The tension is building on the eve of the G20 summit in London with the ongoing threats of violent disruption to the proceedings. 35000 people enjoyed a peaceful demonstration at the G20 rally in Hyde Park on Saturday, so for those who want to smash city windows in this week we recommend putting on a pair of Pants to Poverty's Peace + Love pants and thinking about how to get your message across in a proactive, not destructive way. Click through for more cute designs...
...
Crystalyn Kae Bags Have Low Impact, High Style
by Jasmin Malik Chua, Jersey City, USA on 03.31.09
Photo credit: Christina Domingues
That squeaking sound you hear? That's me trying to scrounge together enough pennies for one of Crystalyn Kae's luscious climate-forward bags. Handmade in Seattle from start to finish, most of the designer's distinctive totes and clutches are crafted from a waterproof faux leather made by coating upholstery-grade fabric with a colored glaze, then embossing it with a patterned roller just before it's cured.
The polished gloss stands in contrast to the patterned vintage textiles—atomic-era barkcloth, florals, and prints from the 1940s to 1970s—that bashfully peek out from between the folds of her Soireé Messenger Bags and pleated clutches. ...
World Malaria Risk Map Updated - With Surprising Conclusion
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 03.31.09
Methane Extraction from 'Ice' + Carbon Sequestration = Green Fossil Fuel?
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 03.31.09
Could this actually be a carbon-neutral fossil fuel source? New Scientist is reporting on research presented at the national meeting of the American Chemical Society which examines whether methane could be extracted from what looks like regular ice, and at the same time sequester carbon dioxide.
The regular looking ice they are talking about is actually clathrate hydrate, a crystalline water-based solid which taps individual molecules of methane inside 'cages' of hydrogen bonded water molecules:...
Greenpeace's Latest Green Gadget Guide Knocks Down HP, Lenovo, Dell
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 03.31.09
Lots of changes in the rankings has occured with the latest report from Greenpeace on greener gadgets. Three big companies get dinged for not following through on toxic phase-out promises, and another company jumps high up on the rankings for rapid progress towards green. Check out the results. ...
EarthTweet Turns Twitterers into Earth Day Advocates
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 03.31.09
Alright Twitterers, it's time to add a new hashtag to your tweets and show off how you're making a difference for Earth Day. And you might even win something cool for being, well, cool. ...
Haägen-Dazs Gives Us Five...Ingredients, That Is
by Jasmin Malik Chua, Jersey City, USA on 03.31.09
Photo credit: Häagen-Dazs
Do we really need more artificial-preservative-laden junk in our trunk? Häagen-Dazs pares it down to the basics with "Five," a new line of all-natural ice-cream that contains a surprisingly svelte list of ingredients—five to be exact.
...
Including Forest Protection in Carbon Markets Will Harm Emission Reduction Efforts, Greenpeace Report Warns
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 03.31.09
photo: Isabel Esterman via flickr
It might seem counterintuitive, but a new report from Greenpeace warns that, though prevention of deforestation is crucial for mitigating climate change, preventing further loss of biodiversity, etc., if we include forest protection measures into international carbon markets it will depress the price of carbon by up to 75%, effectively halting the very thing international carbon markets are intended to do: Help drive investment into more environmentally friendly technologies and mitigate global climate change. Here's why:...
A Picture Is Worth: FSC vs SFI Forests
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 03.31.09
Image via Heart of Green
I love wood buildings, and think wood is one of the greenest building materials around, but only if the forests are managed sustainably. The Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) is doing a major ad campaign to convince everyone that "The New Environmentalist" proudly stands in is pyjamas in front of his SFI-built Mcmansion reading his SFI-pulp newspaper. But you just need to look at the picture above to see that SFI does not promote sustainable forest management or control clear-cutting. And that is just the start of it.
...
A View of Kenya by Air and By Car
by Kelly Rossiter, Toronto on 03.31.09
Join me for a mini tour of Kenya, with photos taken on a flight from Nairobi to Kericho and then covering the trip by car returning three days later. It turns out that the images that interested me were reflective of some of the pressing issues that are facing Kenya today.
...
Can We Have Too Much Technology?
by Mark Ontkush, Boston, Massachusetts, USA on 03.31.09
Kevin Kelly over at the Technium continues to throw out the raw meat, asking the question Is there a reason to diminish technology? Like many, Kelly is a obviously a dyed-wool technologist - lots, more, and often is his perspective but he fairly probes for the counterarguments. He found four, can you find more?...
Green Cross Founder Mikhail Gorbachev Tells Oilmen Solar Power Investment Means Economic Recovery
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 03.31.09
photo: Green Cross USA
In a move which seems a bit like talking to cattle ranchers about the need to cut down on beef consumption, Mikhail Gorbachev, founder of Green Cross International (among other things...), addressed the 33rd NRPA International Petrochemical Conference by urging world leaders and the private sector that the way out of the current economic morass and the way to combat climate change was to make big investments in solar power, and make them quickly:...
Barbara Butler: Treehouses FOR KIDS!
by Sami Grover, Carrboro, NC, USA on 03.31.09
Image credit: Barbara Butler
Beautiful, Durable Play Structures for Kids
I used to think that treehouses were just for kids. But then I started writing for TreeHugger and was exposed to beautiful, elegant, grown-up versions like the New Zealand Yellow Pages' Treehouse Restaurant, or this more controversial 'invisible' mirrored treehouse in Sweden. So it's kind of nice to see that some people are still building treehouses for kids. Barbara Butler has been building treehouses since 1987 - offering custom built treehouses and play structures that allow kids to get out and experience nature. Click below the fold for more details, and some great pics. ...
How Many Kids Is Enough?
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 03.31.09
Michael Braungart of MBDC is interviewed by Nelda Roger in the latest issue of Azure and points out that it isn't our population that is a problem, it is how we live:
As I like to point out, the biomass of ants is four times that of humans. And because they work so much harder than we do, they equal about 30 billion people in their calorie consumption. But they are absolutely not a problem for the environment. In fact, the rainforest is completely dependent on them.That gives me some comfort, given that a new Christian movement called Quiverfull is telling families to have as many kids as possible. According to National Public Radio they are listening, averaging 8.5 kids per family. ...
EPA Announces New Energy Star Requirements for Monitors, Photo Frames
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 03.31.09
Photo via irok
The EPA has announced that computer monitors, digital photo frames and similar display devices will have to be more efficient to earn an Energy Star label - 20% more than conventional options. ...
A Lifecycle Reminder: The Seed (Video)
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 03.31.09
This beautiful video requires us to take just a moment to appreciate some fantastic animation, and the lifecycle of a seed. ...
Architecture for 99¢ a Minute
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 03.31.09
All images via Power house Project
I first heard of Gina Reichert & Mitch Cope from the New York Times article on The Move to Detroit for the $100 House. I heard from them when they commented on Architecture 5¢ Becomes A Movement and a Lightning Rod; they think it is a good idea. In fact, they do their own version, a little more high end- 99¢ a minute!
...
Cutest Outdoor Backpack + All Sorts of Bags from Recovered Fabrics, by Carro
by Paula Alvarado, Buenos Aires on 03.31.09
Photos: Carro.
We've seen fabrics reuse before, that's for sure, but these bags made by Argentine design brand Carro are almost too cute too handle. Can you believe the large outdoor backpack on the picture above?
Find out more about the firm and see tons of pictures from the different models in the extended....
Are You Using the Library More?
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 03.31.09
Library use is way up, at least in North America. It is a cyclical thing, because after all, It Has Computers, Gives Advice and Is Free. Other kinds of libraries, from tools to clothing, are springing up all over.
...
Waste Needs a Basket - So Chuck It
by April Streeter, Gothenburg, Sweden on 03.31.09
Photo via Chuck4Life.
About a decade ago I received a Muji waste basket as a birthday gift from a shall-be-unnamed family relative. My first thought was, "So-and-so is giving me a trashcan as a gift? AND it's unassembled?" In typical Muji fashion, the waste basket was just three pieces - a large rectangle of corrugated cardboard, a recycled-plastic bottom, and a plastic ring, all in an IKEA-like flat pack. After I awkwardly assembled the wastecan, I put it under my desk, sure that it would last only a few weeks. Well....
Winners of the Brit Insurance Design Awards Include Obama Poster, Sustainable Designs
by Bonnie Alter, London on 03.31.09
Image via Design Museum
The now-legendary Shepard Fairey-designed President Barack Obama poster has won the Design of the Year Award at the Brit Insurance Designs, 2009. TreeHugger highlighted several of the most interesting items on the short-list and now the winners in each category have been announced, among them a few notable green designs, including the unusual-but-cool public transit system in Medellin, Colombia above. Click through for more images of the winners....
Black Market Cardboard Recyclers (Video)
by George Spyros, New York City, USA on 03.30.09
Fairmont Hotel Joins WWF's Climate Savers Program
by Daniel Kessler, San Francisco, California on 03.30.09
Photo via Fairmont
WWF announced today that Fairmont Hotels & Resorts is committing to its Climate Savers Program. Fairmont said they will reduce operational CO2 emissions from its existing hotels by 20 percent below 2006 levels by 2013, while also working on reducing their CO2 emissions through the brand's new Energy and Carbon Management program. Is this a greenwash or truly something significant?
...
Historic Day For Protection: President Obama Signs Wild and Scenic Rivers Act Expansion
by Rebecca Wodder, American Rivers on 03.30.09
Signing ceremony for Wild & Scenic Rivers Act expansion, March 30, 2009. Image credit:Rebecca Wodder
Today, President Obama signed into law the second largest Wild and Scenic Rivers package in history. Today’s law expands the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System by more than 50 percent, bringing the total number of Wild and Scenic Rivers to 252....
Teamwork Creates Recycled Sail and Tire Bags
by Kristin Underwood, Sacramento, CA on 03.30.09
Image via: Teamwork Bags
Co-owners of Teamwork Bags, Nick Stygstra, Justin Mast and Nick Stockton, are just three local boys from the Great Lakes region with a passion for business and the environment. The result: Teamwork Bags, made from recycled sails and bike tires - all local items that would otherwise end up in a local landfill. ...
Does Earth Hour Actually Mean Generators Produce Less Electricity?
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 03.30.09
In my post Dear Deniers and Cranks: Earth Hour Made a Difference, I said "Gas and coal fired plants dial up and down all the time to adjust for peak load, so an event like Earth Hour is actually turning down the dirtiest fossil fuel burners, taking it right off the top."
Many commenters disagreed, saying "Usage may have gone down but generation did not change. Generators have schedules and don't react to a small change such as this." and "Come on, man-up and own your mistake. The plants did not reduce output due to this, you know that."
Are they right or am I?...
Obama to Automakers: Make Greener American Cars or Go Under
by Brian Merchant, Brooklyn, New York on 03.30.09
Photo via Motor Trend
Yesterday, big news broke that Obama denied Chrysler and GM further bailout funds. Both had submitted plans detailing how they'd use the funding to get their companies back on track. Both were deemed 'not viable'. How did they fail to make the grade? One reason was neither planned on going green enough--after rejecting both plans, the Obama administration laid out a "Path to Viability" for both companies. Common to both? Putting more effort and resources towards developing and selling fuel efficient vehicles. Yes, Obama's bailout refusal should lead to greener American cars....
Know Your Mushrooms Movie: End Fungi-Phobia Now
by Kimberley D. Mok, Montreal, Canada on 03.30.09
UC Berkeley Hydrates Its Students Twice as Fast
by Kristin Underwood, Sacramento, CA on 03.30.09
Image via: UC Berkeley News/Peg Skorpinski
Ban the Bottle! Skip the Styrofoam! Pack Your Polycarbonate (Nalgene)! These are more than just empty slogans around UC Berkeley, which has just taken additional steps to encourage students to frequent local water fountains on campus instead of purchasing plastic, disposable water bottles. The I Heart Tap Water Campaign is promoting reusable water bottles and is making it easier to use them. What's more, the university wants to make filling up even easier (faster) for students on the go and has installed two special "Hydration Stations" on campus....
Video: Test Drive of Tesla Model S Electric Car
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 03.30.09
Elon Musk Shows Tesla Model S to Steve Jurvetson
Last week the Tesla Model S electric car was unveiled (but only after some photos were leaked by Kevin Rose), but what was missing from all Model S coverage was a test-drive video......
GE Digital Energy Building Wireless "Smart Meter" Network For 2.4 Million Power Customers
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 03.30.09
Here comes that "smart metering" thing again. With politicians and TreeHugger publicly praising "smart meters;" and, with GE networking a huge number of them in Houston Texas, it's clear the day will soon come for retiring our 'dumb meters'.
Ready. Set. GE Digital Energy reports it is under contract with Houston Texas electric power utility CenterPoint Energy, Inc. to supply wireless communications for an Advanced Metering System (AMS) serving millions. ...
Frogs: The Thin Green Line
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 03.30.09
Photo: PBS
Documentary About Frogs Premieres Sunday, April 5 at 8pm ET on PBS
"Frogs have been living on this planet for more than 360 million years, and over the centuries, evolved into some of the most wondrous and diverse creatures on earth. Today, however, all their remarkable adaptations and survival tactics are failing them." Indeed, it is a sad state of affairs for frogs. We've probably already lost a third of amphibians, and many more are severely threatened....
Emory U Students Pledge to Do 3 Green Things
by Kristin Underwood, Sacramento, CA on 03.30.09
Image via: FastWeb
As part of their larger Campus Sustainability Initiative, Emory University (GA) students are being asked to commit to each doing three green things in their personal life and on campus. While the program is voluntary, the university has taken a commitment to sustainability and recognizes that this will only be achieved with the help and participation of the entire campus community....
Scientists Discover 'Significantly Large' Population of Orangutans in Borneo
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 03.30.09
Photo: Nardiyono/TNC
Good News For A Change
It's easy to find bad news when it comes to conservation (just last week we had Exxon Valdez Remembrance Day), but thankfully there are also successes. For example, a new "significantly large" population of orangutans was recently discovered in the Indonesian part of Borneo. Read on for more details....
Throw Out 50 Things by Gail Blanke
by Kristin Underwood, Sacramento, CA on 03.30.09
Image via: Flickr.com
Okay so I saw the title too (Throw Out 50 Things) and thought, wrong! But don't worry, there is a lot of good that can be taken from this book and author Gail Blanke isn't exactly saying throw it all in the garbage, but more like "remove it" from where it's doing more harm than good. ...
Amateur Climate Change Deniers Still Rampant in Congressional Hearings
by Brian Merchant, Brooklyn, New York on 03.30.09
Image via Old Picture
It's a well worn occurrence at this point: in an attempt to be "fair," many institutions feel the need to lend equal credence to the views of both amateur climate change deniers and true climate scientists. Television talk shows do it, newspapers do it, even some schools do it. Perhaps most disturbingly, Congress does it—just last week, amateur global warming deniers (read: not scientists) were testifying alongside respected climate scientists at congressional hearings on climate change. And both groups get taken equally as seriously....
We Can Solve America’s Sustainability Challenges Together: President Obama’s Remarks To Business Roundtable
by Marian Hopkins, Business Roundtable on 03.30.09
On March 12, President Obama spoke with Business Roundtable's members - dozens of chief executives of America’s top companies – at their quarterly meeting in Washington. The President outlined his administration’s top priorities for the coming year, touching on the budget, regulatory reform, international tax fairness, workforce training and other issues. ...
Texas Board of Ed Neuters Science Textbooks' Global Warming Language
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 03.30.09
photo: Alexander Steffler via flickr
Much of the discussion around the Texas Board of Education's textbook requirements has focused on the teaching of evolution, creationism, intelligent design, et cetera. But one thing which the Environmental Defense Fund is pointing out and which has fallen though the cracks is the revised wording on how textbooks are going to present global climate change:...
Obama Paves the Way for International Climate Treaty
by Brian Merchant, Brooklyn, New York on 03.30.09
Image via LT Scotland
Obama isn't wasting any time in convincing the world he's serious about the US joining the global fight against climate change. That might not seem like too daunting a task—simply not being sent by Bush and acknowledging global warming earned Obama's climate team applause when it debuted at UN climate talks (Bush's negotiators were literally booed at the last meeting). And now, Obama has announced a series of meetings with 16 world powers that could very well pave the way for a new international climate treaty. ...
Green Porno 2 with Isabella Rossellini: Underwater Sex!
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 03.30.09
Update: Isabella Rossellini's Green Porno was Renewed for a 3rd Season and a Book
Get Ready: Green Porno 2 Begins April 1st
It all started with Isabella Rossellini's original Green Porno TV series ("8 highly surreal short-films about the sex lives of insects"), which was picked up by the Sundance Channel. This was so popular and well-received that Rossellini and Sundance announced round 2 last year: A new Green Porno series of short films about the sex lives of marine animals. And now the time has finally come... Green Porno 2 is premiering April 1st! More details below....
Architecture 5¢ Becomes A Movement and a Lightning Rod
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 03.30.09
I loved John Morefield's wonderful idea of setting up a booth like Lucy in Peanuts, engaging with people to tell them what an architect does, and building a career for himself. He should be a role model for these hard times, another light at the end of the tunnel.
He has even turned it into a movement, licencing the idea across the country, trying to“Bring architecture to the people, get Architects off unemployment, and out on their streets engaging their communities.”
There was an interview of him in Architectural Record which is worth reading, but I was shocked to see him vilified, almost crucified, by other architects in the comments.
...
Good News For Sharks: Appetite For Shark Fin Soup Down With Greater Awareness & Recession
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 03.30.09
photo: Y-Not? via flickr
TreeHugger has covered the plight of sharks being hunted to extinction just for their fins on a number of occasions. Most of the time the news is grim, but a new piece by Reuters is, for once, encouraging. There's a good summary of the state of the shark fin trade in the original article, but here's the payoff regarding diminished demand for shark fin soup:...
Are We in a Library Renaissance?
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 03.30.09
New York Library via PSFK
The New York Times writes about the logic of libraries: It Has Computers, Gives Advice and Is Free. they note that library use is booming because of the economy and the growing numbers of unemployed people using it as a resource. This isn't a new phenomenon;
“We’ve been in the job-search business for decades,” said Paul LeClerc, the president of the New York Public Library, noting that President Obama has said that a librarian helped him find his first job as a community organizer. “This is a continuation.”
...
Venice to Get Half of Its Electricity From Algae
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 03.30.09
photo: Lee Coursey via flickr
Most talk of algae and renewable energy on TreeHugger involves liquid biofuels, but a new plan being put forth in Venice hopes to use algae to generate electricity and allow the city take one large step towards being entirely off fossil fuels:
...
Green Eyes On: Start a Compost Pile With Your Gutter Cleanings
by Sara Snow on 03.30.09
Photo via Flickr
It’s spring and, like it or not, that means spring cleaning for you and millions of other like-minded home dwellers out there. It’s time to cleanse the windowsills, banish the dust bunnies, purge the closet and…well, whatever else it is you do this time of year.
For me, it’s a time to PURGE! Purge closets, leftover plants in pots and beds, and gutters in preparation of spring time showers....
Recycling Prison Mattresses into Fence Panels?
by Sami Grover, Carrboro, NC, USA on 03.30.09
Image credit: From the classic BBC prison sitcom Porridge
Government Recycling Gives Prison Mattresses New Life
We've seen London Underground fabric being recycled into shoes, and prison blankets becoming sneakers - but now here's another example of well worn materials of, errm, less than salubrious provenance being put to good use. And for once, you won't even have to wear the stuff!...
EcoJoe's Hosts Carnival of the Green
by Kara DiCamillo, Newport, Rhode Island on 03.30.09
This week is Carnival of the Green #173 and it's being hosted by EcoJoe's, a blog that incorporates environmental news and eco-friendly tips and experiments, that are all targeted towards the "Average Joe."
So head on over to this week's Carnival to find a round up of green news and events from the past week, submitted by other bloggers and green sites. And while you're there, read the true story of how EcoJoe's got started which is really kinda cool.
We are now accepting host requests for 2010! Read on to find out how to host....
Congress Members to DOE: We Want $250 Million for Wave Power Research
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 03.30.09
photo: Joe Flood via flickr
For sheer diversity of approach, you've got to admire all the different ways people are trying to generate power from the waves, tides and oceans in general. Now members of both the House and Senate are urging the Department of Energy to cough up $250 million from the $2.5 billion pledged in the stimulus bill for renewable energy research and development, and put it towards researching wave power:...
"Americans Are Moving Up To Smaller, Smarter Homes" Says USA Today
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 03.30.09
Time to update the drawing
That's the title of an article by Wendy Koch in USA Today, where she talks to three architects seen a lot on TreeHugger: Sarah Susanka, Michelle Kaufmann and Marianne Cusato. Koch notes that according to census data, last year, for the first time in at least 10 years, the average square footage of single-family homes under construction fell dramatically, from 2,629 in the second quarter to 2,343 in the fourth quarter.
The new motto: living well with less. She gets some good quotes: ...
Extraordinary Loads on Ordinary Bikes (Slideshow)
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 03.30.09
Photo by meckleychina
Bikes have been a beast of burden for a long time. They're a great, low-cost way of getting items from one place to another. But sometimes, their loads are pretty extraordinary. Check out some of the amazing loads spotted on bikes around the world.
...
South Dakota Ethanol Plant Now Powered by Landfill Gas
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 03.30.09
7 Concept Gadgets We Want to See Brought to Market
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 03.30.09
We talk about concept gadgets quite a bit on TreeHugger, from energy-saving ideas to renewable energy generators, to sustainably-made gadgets. We scoured through the concepts out there today, and chose seven that we would love to see brought to market. Check out some of the ideas we think hold a lot of potential. ...
Cyclists and Pedestrians Were Jerks In 1908 Too
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 03.30.09
Carbonfund.org Reforestation Project Takes Major Step in Reducing Global Warming Emissions
by Eric Leech, New York, NY on 03.30.09
Photo via: Brion V.
Carbonfund.org’s Tensas National Wildlife Refuge Reforestation Project has just became the first reforestation carbon offset project in North America to achieve dual validation by the Rainforest Alliance to the Voluntary Carbon Standard (VCS) as well as the Climate, Community & Biodiversity (CCB) Standards with Gold Distinction....
Is Earth Hour Past Its Sell-By Date?
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 03.30.09
OK, the world has just been through its third Earth Hour. The first was a fun Australian event, the second a viral phenomenon, and the third perhaps a bit oversold. Is it past its sell-by date?
...
Bishop Refuses To Bless New Incinerator In Naples Italy
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 03.30.09
Via Carbonara, Naples. Image credit:Now Public,Flickr, redmiotens
According the report published in TerraDaily,it is traditional in Italy for a Bishop to bless a new building as part of the commissioning ceremony. Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi had recently opened a waste incinerator near the southern city of Naples, without the Bishop's blessing.
...
Should I Worry About Deadly Mercury In My CFLs?
by Pablo Paster, San Francisco on 03.30.09
Image via Wikipedia.com Dear Pablo: I know that compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) are much more efficient, but I have also heard that they contain mercury. What is a TreeHugger to do?...
A Guide to Climate Change Groups Protesting at the G-20 Summit
by Bonnie Alter, London on 03.30.09
Image from Guardian
The political leaders of the world are coming to London this week for an economic summit and climate change is high on the list of topics to be discussed. Protest groups have been organising and preparing a huge show of strength to make politicians understand the importance of the cause.
All this week there were will be demonstrations by a range of groups, from the church and unions to anarchists in an armed tank. On Saturday the Put People First coalition held a massive protest with 35,000 people. It's an alliance of more than 160 unions, development, faith and environmental groups.
...
Earth Hour 2009 Global Round-Up (Videos)
by George Spyros, New York City, USA on 03.29.09
Battle of the 2010 Camaro, Mustang, and Challenger: Which is the Most Green?
by Eric Leech, New York, NY on 03.29.09
Photo via: Dodge Challenger1
We talk a lot about electric cars and hybrids here on Treehugger and Planet Green, but there are those of us who still crave the rumble and nostalgia of the good old American Muscle Car. While they may not be as clean as a Toyota Prius, the new production muscle car has come a long way since their hay-days of the 60's and 70's.
We've still got several years until zero emissions sports cars such as the Tesla Roadster become affordable enough for the average consumer, so until then, if you want to go fast, your options are limited. While there are a lot of great examples of gasoline sports cars out there, today we are interested in the great American rivalry of the Chevrolet Camaro, Ford Mustang, and the Dodge Challenger......
Green Baby Bargains Scores Deals Daily
by Jasmin Malik Chua, Jersey City, USA on 03.29.09
Photo credit: Green Baby Bargains
If you're an eco-minded parent who loves a good deal—and who doesn't?—mouse on over to Green Baby Bargains, a Web site that serves up one green baby-related steal at 12p.m. (ET) from Monday to Friday.
You'll find products, which have been vetted to meet criteria such as chemical-free ingredients, eco-friendly packaging, fair trade practices, and sustainable materials, at a minimum of 50 percent off retail price. Plus, on weekends, you'll get the opportunity to snag any leftover bargains. ...
Humane Society Honors DeGeneres and de Rossi
by Roberta Cruger, Los Angeles on 03.29.09
Ellen adds a Human Society award to her Emmy trophy. Photo via: Flickr/Alan Light
With the endless and growing list of animal loving good deeds that Ellen DeGeneres and her wife Portia de Rossi have accomplished, the Humane Society of the U.S. honored the couple last night in Beverly Hills at its 23rd annual Genesis Awards, its tribute to showbiz efforts on behalf of animals....
Amour Sans Anguish: Recycled Couture Gets Fairy-Tale Ending
by Jasmin Malik Chua, Jersey City, USA on 03.29.09
Photo credit: Armour Sans Anguish
Tawny Holt, the visionary designer behind Armour Sans Anguish, has been creating her whimsical, quixotic garments from salvaged and recycled textiles since 2004. Described by Holt as "shamelessly romantic" yet "wearably modern," her one-of-a-kind tops, skirts, and dresses appear pulled together from an antique dress-up chest: a piece of 1920s beaded applique here, a swathe of vintage chiffon there.
One design Holt finds herself returning to is the made-to-order Doily Dress (see below photo), which she assembles out of cream, white, and off-white found doilies, resulting in a dreamy ensemble that is anything but fusty. ...
Inside Abu Dhabi's Carbon Capture & Storage Project (An Interview)
by Jesse Fox, Tel Aviv, Israel on 03.29.09
Image via The Economist.
True, carbon capture and storage (CSS) technology is perceived by many environmentalists as a chimera - at best, too expensive to be widely utilized and at worst, an empty PR tool for "clean coal." However, in some countries the governments are taking CCS very seriously.
One state that is already experimenting with carbon capture is Abu Dhabi, a top carbon emitter which aims to capture and store a full third of its emissions by 2020. And with their own oil reserves (like coal deposits in the US) not projected to run out any time soon, Abu Dhabi is hoping to make the most of its oil wealth, while avoiding the consequences of being one of the world's more serious polluters. Below: an interview Bader Al Lamki, the man charged with making Abu Dhabi's CCS project a reality. ...
Coffee Sack Baskets Break New Grounds With Old Materials
by Jasmin Malik Chua, Jersey City, USA on 03.29.09
Photo credit: Three Potato Four
We love it when old objects tell new stories, which is what happened when Maya of Maya*made took discarded burlap coffee sacks and reimagined them into buckets for corralling all manner of household and desktop knick knacks.
Available at Three Potato Four in small, medium, and large sizes—as well as with square or rounded bottoms—the one-of-a-kind containers are lined with unbleached cotton for extra sturdiness and come with handles for portability. ...
Ground Zero For CO2's First "Big Sink" Located In Obama's Homeland
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 03.29.09
Drilling rig used for Phase III of Illinois Basin–Decatur Project Image credit:Midwest Geological Sequestration Consortium
CO2 for the first "Big Sink" project in the USA apparently comes from one of ADM's grain-to-ethanol facilities, located on the outskirts of Decatur Illinois. The mile+ CO2 injection well also will be ADM property. CO2 injection begins early next year, closely followed by 3 years of environmental monitoring. The newspaper story covering this prototype project can be seen in full at the Illinois State Journal Register: Experiment on CO2 storage about to begin at Decatur's ADM. See below for excerpts from the State-Journal Register and from the Illinois Basin Project website, respectively.
...
Humpback Stranded in Hong Kong Waters
by Josh Peterson, Los Angeles, California on 03.29.09
Photo: El Cap'n via Flickr
A humpback whale, approximately ten meters in length, has been stranded in Hong Kong waters since March 18. Humpbacks are not native to the area. In fact, this is the first recorded instance of a humpback whale near Hong Kong. Scientists believe that the aquatic mammal is an inexperienced and confused juvenile who became lost during migration. ...
McEvoy Ranch Introduces 80 Acres Body Care Line
by Sara Novak, Columbia, SC on 03.29.09
photo: McEvoy Ranch
Olive oil has long been known to be a natural moisturizer, so it's no stretch of the imagination that it would be a welcomed addition to a body care line. Recently McEvoy Ranch, an organic producer of some truly yummy artisan olive oil, did just that. McEvoy calls the line 80 Acres Body Care after the land on which the ranch grew its first Tuscan olive trees nearly 20 years ago. ...
What Did You Do For Earth Hour?
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 03.29.09
Earth Hour Dinner Party
What did you do for Earth Hour? I personally missed it, being stuck on a train. However my wife attended a dinner party where the lights stayed out until midnight. Let us know in comments what you did, or if you have pictures, upload them to Flickr and tag them Treehugger earth hour 2009; if we get enough of them we will do a slideshow.
Please be sure to change the copyright from "all rights reserved" to "creative commons." ...
March Eco-Tidbits from Turkey
by Jennifer Hattam, Istanbul, Turkey on 03.29.09
Istanbul expanded its bus rapid transit system, while climate change drove the red-breasted merganser out of Turkey. Photos via OrtaSepha.com (left) and by teddy llovet via Flickr
The 5th World Water Forum held two weeks ago in Istanbul dominated the city's news this month, but other environmentally related events were afoot in March too. Once again, we wrap up some of the month's news from Turkey, developments that prompted reactions of both "süper" (yep, just like in English, but with an umlaut) and "maalesef" (unfortunately):...
Iron Fertilization Experiment Proves Geo-engineering Unpredictable
by Christine Lepisto, Berlin on 03.29.09
Image: Marina Montresor, SZN / AWI
The theory is simple: throwing some iron into the ocean causes phytoplankton growth to boom, then phytoplankton die, taking large quantities of CO2 to the bottom of the seabed. But that is not what happened in a recent highly controversial iron fertilization test conducted by the research ship Polarstern. According to the Alfred Wegener Institute press release, the iron fertilization experiment "has dampened hopes on the potential of the Southern Ocean to sequester significant amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2) and thus mitigate global warming." What happened? And is this the end of the road for iron fertilization, or is it one more set of data to plug into models for successful CO2 control?...
Dear Deniers and Cranks: Earth Hour Made a Difference
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 03.29.09
BlogTO
To all those deniers, cranks, wingnuts and spoilsports who said they were going to turn on their lights, that the generators have to keep running anyways, and that Earth Hour will make no difference, suck on this:
1) Gas and coal fired plants dial up and down all the time to adjust for peak load, so an event like Earth Hour is actually turning down the dirtiest fossil fuel burners, taking it right off the top.
2) In the City of Toronto where I live, to paraphrase a local site, power consumption looked like the Dow Jones Industrial Index, dropping 15%.
Save the comments about the CO2 from candles, we know. ...
