Sundance promotes eco-friendliness February 4, 2008
Posted by raffiki07 in Energy, Lifestyle, Pollution.Tags: Fields of Fuel, Flow-For Love of Water, Sundance
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Reduce, Reuse, and Renew- this was the mantra Sundance promoted at this years film festival. Sundance, the spot Al Gore chose to premiere his movie “An Inconvenient Truth,” has been dedicated to promoting energy conservation for decades, and did not slow down this year. Celebs received goody bags loaded with trendy eco-friendly fashion, such as shoes made out of tires, earrings made from bottle tops, and a skateboard made from bamboo. Also, Sundance premiered several eco-conscious movies this year, such as “Flow-For Love of Water,” and “Fields of Fuel.” Looks like I’ll be hittin’ up blockbuster for some eco-friendly films!
Point of No Return February 1, 2008
Posted by raffiki07 in Energy, Lifestyle.add a comment
In October of last year, the UN sent out a warning to the people. There are limited resources on earth: a finite amount of trees, animals, and soil for food. Yet the population continues to grow… and grow… and grow–up 34% to 6.7 billion in the past 20 years alone. A study showed that each human requires 3 times more land than the earth can supply. What’s going to happen when we run out of resources? This is a question we don’t want to answer, because there aren’t too many options, except to move to the moon (yea, right). Isn’t it easier just to reduce energy consumption? You’re right, the moon thing is waaaay more practical…
Less Julia Roberts and More Bilbo Baggins January 24, 2008
Posted by shomriel in Ecosystems, Lifestyle.Tags: Bilbo Baggins, compost toilet, J.R.R. Tolkien, Julia Roberts, Lord of the Rings, low-impact home, solar paneling, The Hobbit, Wales
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Not so much a $20 million Malibu mansion as a lovely hillside home in the Shire. But the concept’s the same… roughly. Ok, I’ll admit I’m stretching the association a bit. This house in Wales is slightly less, shall we say, ostentatious than a multi-million-dollar mansion. For about $6000, if my pound-to-dollar conversion skills are at all accurate–not even a 30,000th of Miss Roberts’ cost–this “low impact home” built into the side of a hill uses straw bales throughout for insulation purposes, as well as a woodburner for extra heat. Underground air is used to cool the fridge. Solar panels provide the light, and there’s even a compost toilet, and so much more. And you get to feel like you live in a fantasy novel, at no extra cost.
But Think About the Trees, Angels, the Trees! January 21, 2008
Posted by shomriel in Ecosystems, Lifestyle.Tags: Canada's Boreal Forest, Forest Ethics, Gisele Bundchen, Ipanema, Victoria's Secret
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I don’t know why it never occurred to me when I was perusing the shiny Vicky’s Secret catalogs that get delivered to our apartment on a weekly basis. Probably because I was too busy wiping up my liquid envy from Gisele’s legs (All of me reaches up to her knees). But hot damn! A lot of paper goes into these catalogs. And if my household alone can fill up our entire recycling bin just with the ones we get every month, then how many forests are getting chopped down for the 395 million catalogs that get sent out every year? Initially, none of the paper used for their catalogs was recycled and Canada’s sadly unprotected Boreal Forest was providing this paper. Once protests were staged, VS did start to come around. Good thing. In the age of Internet, there is absolutely no need for ecosystems to be destroyed in order for us to flip through glossy pages.
When I Am Laid in Earth… January 21, 2008
Posted by shomriel in Lifestyle, Pollution.Tags: alternative coffins, Ane Brun, burials, cremation, Laid in Earth, mercury emissions
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(which, by the way, is a fabulous song by Ane Brun)… do not cremate me. Cremation, in a nutshell, requires the same amount of energy for a 75-minute burning stint as one person tends to use in their home in a month, a staggering amount of both gas and electricity. In addition, mercury emissions and dioxins are released, further polluting the atmosphere. For my crossing-over, a cardboard box will do just fine, preferably with a tree planted atop my remains (yes, I’m doing my coffin-shopping now, while y’all are rocking your skinny jeans!). Cardboard or solid wood, such as bamboo or pine, which can decompose and then allow my body to decompose into the earth, is a better bet than the expensive coffins most commonly used in burials. These tend to be nothing more than a thin layer of wood on top of chipboard, which contains formaldehyde–good for preservation of dead people, bad for preservation of the earth.
Green in ‘08…and Beyond! January 16, 2008
Posted by shomriel in Climate, Lifestyle, Pollution.Tags: Ceres principles, energy-efficient buildings, GM, microcredit, renewable energy, sustainable economies, The Good Earth, Worldwatch Institute
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Good news, folks. Worldwatch Institute’s “State of the World 2008″ report has encouraging findings. Governments and businesses around the world are finally realizing the necessity/profitability of green projects (energy-efficient buildings, renewable energy) and sustainable economies–ones that employ renewable energy, practice effective recycling with almost no waste, have air that is as clean as possible, and, especially, that provide for the lowest-income members of the population. Even GM is adhering to a code of environmental principles, such as careful disposal of chemical and industrial waste. Most likely, resistance to a globally beneficial way of living will continue from certain sectors, due to ignorance, laziness, and greed; however, there’s a constant increase in the number and variety of people jumping on the greenwagon. This good earth isn’t finished yet.
These “real” housewives are more likely to recycle! January 11, 2008
Posted by beanstockd in Lifestyle.Tags: Housewives, Recycling
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What moves someone to recycle? Is it education, social awareness, or passion to conserve energy? Or a desire to fit in?
A recent study on 525 students and 154 housewives showed that housewives are more likely to recycle than students! How can it be that our generation, taught in school about global warming and the greenhouse effect, is less likely to separate glass from garbage than those who got us in this mess in the first place with their gas-guzzling cars and hairspray?!?! The study showed that environmental awareness does not always result in ecologically responsible behavior. One thing we can say for the real O.C. housewives–whatever your age, recycling is hot.
Beckham’s Feet Stink! January 9, 2008
Posted by shomriel in Energy, Lifestyle, Pollution.Tags: carbon footprint, Carbon Trust, cars, David Beckham, Radiohead, soccer
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David Beckham uses his feet for good, or, at least, for the world’s entertainment. His footprint, however, is another matter. Carbon Trust has calculated that, for the second year in a row, due to his 15 gas-guzzling cars and near-constant time spent in the air to and from soccer matches and other glorious celeb commitments (over 250,000 miles just last year!), Becks has the biggest carbon footprint in the world. Perhaps he would do well to learn from Radiohead and start using his own head a bit more.
Beware the Bottle January 7, 2008
Posted by shomriel in Lifestyle, Pollution.Tags: bottled water, BPA, Nalgene, plastic, tap water
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So the debate about bottled water, (which, among other problems, requires millions of barrels of oil and energy for transportation) has a new angle– plastic bottles are potentially harmful to your health. Washing and reusing those intended for single-use causes them to degrade and leach out chemicals that interfere with male sexuality–so totally not worth it! As if there aren’t enough problems with that already… But I digress. Even our revered Nalgene bottles pose a threat. Nalgene is a number 7 plastic, which can leach bisphenol A, a chemical that adversely affects growth, hormones, and the neurological system. Give me an M! Give me an E! Give me a T! Give me an A! Give me an L! Go-o-o-o-o metal bottles and tap water!
Radiohead: True Givers December 28, 2007
Posted by shomriel in Energy, Lifestyle, Pollution.Tags: Best Foot Forward, car-pooling, carbon footprints, In Rainbows, Radiohead, Thom Yorke
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In addition to giving their latest album, “In Rainbows,” away for however much the individual sees fit to pay, the members of Radiohead are trying to be conscientious in other ways. They paired with a sustainability consultancy known as Best Foot Forward to find out how much of a negative impact their concerts have on the environment and how to cut down on their carbon output. They suggest that their devoted fans carpool, fly less, and take buses when possible. For their part, they’re going to try to fly less themselves, sea-freight their gear, and play shows in centralized locations where fans can avail themselves of public transportation. Good looking out, guys!
