I am Earth

Refreshing to see

2011-05-11T11:47:00.001-04:00

A friend of mine was out the other night and this was on his table. I'm not endorsing any place but only pointing out that education does work.

I really don't beleive they were not aware of the endangered list though. It would kind of be like GM mechanics not being aware of the latest recall.

If you want to see more on the endangered fish speicies, check out this little guide, http://www.edf.org/documents/1980_pocket_seafood_selector.pdf

Mexico's Green Stadium

2011-05-10T10:11:00.000-04:00

The city of Guadalajara has unveiled a volcano-like soccer stadium that is veritably exploding with green features. Created for the popular Chivas team by French architects Jean-Marie Massaud and Daniel Pouzet, the stadium features a volcano-evoking exterior that captures rainwater and processes it through wetlands for use in watering the pitch. See the article here, http://inhabitat.com/mexico-unveils-gigantic-green-roofed-volcano-soccer-stadium/

Earth Hour

2011-03-22T13:46:00.001-04:00

Well, it's that time of year again, Earth Hour. This year's Earth Hour is this Saturday, March 26, 2011 from 8:30 PM to 9:30PM.

Here in Toronto, the WWF-Canada is taking a "Grassroots" approach and the events are all comminity based.

Hope you can find an event near you or create one for yourself.
There's a million things to do in the dark.

http://earthhour.org/

The Air We Breath

2011-03-15T10:36:00.003-04:00

Today's, I Am Earth, post is by a guest blogger, Krista Peterson.
Krista is an Environmental Health and Safety Advocate and aspiring writer.
You can reach Krista by email, krista.peterson925@gmail.com

Thanks Krista!!

Perhaps due to the technological age we live in, or perhaps because of the nature of today’s indoor workforce, we as human beings are forgetting about our environment. Many spend little to no time reaping the health benefits that the outdoors has to offer. Unfortunately, not only are we losing touch with nature, we are manipulating it and polluting it. Through our own doing, the environment that was meant to provide stability and health is used for our selfish purposes, resulting in toxins that negatively affect our health.

Asbestos

Asbestos mine in Vermont

Mined and used in manufacturing for its fire-resistant qualities, asbestos is a natural mineral that’s perfectly harmless if left undisturbed. As early as the 1920’s, asbestos was used in drywall, insulation, tile adhesive, car parts, and Navy ships. Unfortunately, many manufacturers knew of the negative effects that asbestos can have on the health of those working with and living near it. When it’s disturbed, asbestos fibers are spread through the air and are inhaled or ingested. Theses invisible fibers collect in the lungs and the stomach, causing a rare but deadly cancer called mesothelioma. Though many cancers are easily diagnosed, mesothelioma symptoms are latent for 20-50 years, making diagnosis difficult. Decades after exposure, when symptoms manifest, the cancer has often already metastasized and mesothelioma life expectancy is thus incredibly low.

Particulate Matter

Smog caused by particulate matter

Compiled from nitrates, sulfates, and other complex and organic molecules, particulate matter is a form of pollution that spreads through the air we breathe as a result of waste from power plants and gas powered vehicles. The solid and liquid bits of particulate matter travel through the air and affect water and soil in nearby areas. Inhaling or consuming particulate matter results in heart disease, difficulty breathing, cancer, and bronchitis. Through the EPA and the efforts of the green movement, alternative sources of energy and fuel may lessen the expulsion of pollution like particulate matter into our environment and into our bodies.

Instead of using the knowledge of the environment and its capabilities to manufacture products that decrease our quality of life and that diminish the value and beauty of our planet, we should use what we know to make progress towards healthy lives and a healthier world. Instead of having to watch for symptoms of mesothelioma and negative effects of particulate matter and other pollutants and carcinogens, let’s put our efforts toward eliminating waste and toxins altogether. By working, living, and thinking green, we can regain a clean, healthy, beautiful Earth.

FARM:shop Interesting city farm

2011-02-22T12:18:00.000-05:00

You could call FARM:shop a legal grow-op: they are growing vegetables inside an abandoned house instead of dope. And some tilapia fish, not to mention basil and chickens on the roof.
FARM:shop is, literally, a farm growing in a shop in London. A small eco-design group, Something & Son, rented the empty house from the local authority and they are trying to show how sustainable farming can be carried on in the city. Check it out, http://www.treehugger.com/files/2011/02/farmshop-farm-building.php#ch02

Ziploc announces new recycling initiative

2011-02-11T12:21:00.000-05:00

Ziploc is one of the world’s most popular brands of plastic bags and other food storage supplies on the market. Even though reusable bags and containers are the best way to keep your lunch from generating excessive waste, millions of people still opt for the disposable versions instead. More here, http://www.getwithgreen.com/2011/02/10/ziploc-announces-new-recycling-initiative/

100 percent renewable energy possible by 2030

2011-02-09T09:39:00.000-05:00

A new study published in the journal Energy Policy says that we could achieve 100 percent renewable energy by 2030, and not just U.S., but the world. The study says that we have access to all the necessary technology, but strong political would have to exist for it to happen.

So, how can we get to 100 percent renewables by 2030? Read here, http://www.getwithgreen.com/2011/01/31/100-percent-renewable-energy-possible-by-2030/

Stop wasting energy: Tips for your TV

2011-02-09T09:30:00.000-05:00

When you yourself are running low on energy, you probably turn to your most interesting household friend for a little low-key entertainment. That’s right, I’m talking about your television. With no more effort than a flick of your clicker finger, you can easily sink into a Jersey Shore marathon-induced stupor for most of a Sunday. Not that I’d know anything about that. Read here, http://www.getwithgreen.com/2011/02/01/stop-wasting-energy-tips-for-your-tv/

How Big Is Your Clothing Footprint?

2011-02-08T08:36:00.000-05:00

Do you know what sort of "clothing footprint" you are leaving? Perhaps not. A clothing footprint is actually the effect of cloths we wear on our environment. The way we grow crops to make cloth, the process of manufacturing it, how it reaches us, how we clean our clothes in our daily life and finally, how they are disposed of all are taken into account. Each of these steps in a cloth’s life has a great impact on our environment. The bigger the effect, the bigger would be the clothing footprint left behind.

More here, http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/news-how-big-your-clothing-footprint

Is the world facing a chocolate ‘drought’ ?

2011-02-02T23:45:00.000-05:00

The world faces a chocolate ‘drought’ over the next few years, an expert warned yesterday.

Political unrest in the Ivory Coast, where 40 per cent of the world’s cocoa beans are grown, has ‘significantly’ depleted the number of certified fair trade cocoa farmers.

Many have fled the West African country, while fair trade training programmes have also come to a halt. Read more here, http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1351066/Will-chocolate-drought-World-s-supply-sustainable-cocoa-run-2014.html

Green Cookies?

2011-02-01T12:18:00.000-05:00

Bullfrog Power, Canada’s 100 per cent green electricity provider, today announced its agreement with Kraft Canada to pilot a new green natural gas solution. Through the agreement, Kraft Canada will bullfrogpower^® the energy required for Dad’s Cookies’ baking and packaging processes at its manufacturing facilities with 100 per cent green natural gas and 100 per cent green electricity. Read here, http://www.bullfrogpower.com/11releases/pilot.cfm

Guide to Green Mortgages

2011-01-19T11:40:00.000-05:00

I've added a new link for Green or Energy Efficient Mortgages. This is in the US only.
Please check out the link on the right side. Thanks,

Suzuki's Top 10 Sustainable Seafood Picks

2011-01-19T11:06:00.000-05:00

It's not uncommon to hear David Suzuki say, I am fish. What he means is that humans aren't much different from the living, breathing species that come from the sea. This is a good thing to remember when choosing your food. Enjoying seafood sustainably means acknowledging the animal's unique role in nature, understanding how it got from the water to your plate, and managing how much of it we consume.
Get the list here, http://www.davidsuzuki.org/what-you-can-do/eat-for-a-healthy-planet/suzukis-top-10-sustainable-seafood-picks/

Fat's Chance as a Renewable Diesel Fuel

2011-01-12T13:21:00.000-05:00

From algae and wood chips to grasses and solid waste, scientists are looking far and wide for the raw material that will yield a new generation of renewable fuel—a source that doesn't divert food into energy, and is abundant enough to make a significant dent in the oil market.
The world's largest meat company thinks the answer may have been congealing in its facilities all along: Animal fat. Read here, http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/news/energy/2010/12/101222/animal-fat-tyson-renewable-fuel/?source=link_tw20101230news-fat

10 ways to save energy this year

2011-01-05T10:54:00.000-05:00

January represents a fresh start, a new beginning, a whole new year ahead. It's a time when lots of people think about personal growth (education, adventure, creativity) or reduction (exercise and diet).

This year, try some impersonal reduction and create better energy habits. Saving energy may not build your character or change your clothing size, but it will save you some money and make a big difference for the environment.

Which video game console is most energy efficient?

2011-01-04T08:29:00.001-05:00

During the holidays, one of the most popular purchases is a video gaming console. Long gone are the days when simple systems allowed you to chase a dot around the screen. Today's video games are sophisticated, lifelike, and even good for your health.

Although the pricetag is a big issue when people try to decide between the most popular video game systems, it's important to remember that the cost of the system doesn't end at the cash register. These consoles demand a considerable amount of power to deliver top performance, and if you're not paying attention, they could end up costing you hundreds in excess energy usage.

http://www.getwithgreen.com/2010/12/21/which-video-game-console-is-most-energy-efficient/

The Story Of Bottled Water.

2010-12-22T09:07:00.000-05:00

From the Story Of Stuff folks, here's one called The Story Of Bottled Water.
Love these things.

http://storyofstuff.org/bottledwater/

Four reasons to grow heirloom plants

2010-12-20T12:04:00.001-05:00

Heirlooms can seem intimidating, but they absolutely should not be. According to Elana Havusha, an environmental educator and garden manager at Shemesh Organic Farm, an educational farm nestled in the hills of Malibu, CA, heirlooms have a mystique about them: "People are excited about the idea of purchasing heirlooms at farmers markets, for instance, but they sometimes hesitate to grow them themselves because they're not comfortable with the word. It sounds too fancy." And fancier means finicky, which means harder work. See tha list here, http://www.getwithgreen.com/2010/09/23/four-reasons-to-grow-heirloom-plants/

Starbucks saves millions on energy bills with LED lighting

2010-12-17T12:28:00.000-05:00

OK, I'm not a big fan of Starbucks but every bit helps.

On a light-by-light basis, changing from incandescent to LED only makes a tiny difference in energy consumption and cost, but when you're talking about retrofitting a large building like the Empire State Building or replacing bulbs in thousands of Starbucks stores, the energy savings can be huge.
http://www.getwithgreen.com/2010/12/13/starbucks-saves-millions-on-energy-bills-with-led-lighting/

Six reasons why you might buy a $50 light bulb

2010-12-13T10:17:00.000-05:00

Incandescent light bulbs will be phased out in 2014. Some will say bye-bye and good riddance, while others are still holding out for a mercury-less eco-alternative to CFLs. But there's a new kid on the block that might fulfill everyone's dreams. See the reasons here, http://www.getwithgreen.com/2010/12/10/six-reasons-why-you-might-buy-a-50-light-bulb/

Food Preserved In Morphing Gel Bio Robot Fridge

2010-12-10T11:28:00.000-05:00

The Bio Robot Refrigerator fridge by Yuriy Dmitriev of Russia, it’s a conceptual, futuristic design of a traditional home appliance. Instead of shelves, the fridge has a non sticky, odourless biopolymer gel that morphs around products to create a pod which suspends items for easy access.
Weird eh! http://www.woohome.com/technology/food-preserved-in-morphing-gel-bio-robot-fridge

Bioplastics not necessarily the greenest

2010-12-10T10:37:00.000-05:00

Bioplastics would seem to be a positive development in many ways. Rather than needing to have petroleum extracted and processed to supply the feedstock for making plastic, plant-based materials are used instead. However, a study by University of Pittsburgh researchers finds that plant-based plastics are not necessarily greener than petroleum-based ones. Read more from GetWithGreen.com. http://www.getwithgreen.com/2010/12/07/bioplastics-not-necessarily-the-greenest/

Rosalie Bay Resort Features Dominica’s First Wind Turbine

2010-12-09T10:58:00.000-05:00

Five years in the making, the 22-acre getaway was built on principles of conservation and preservation, surrounded by an undisturbed natural setting of mountains, lush forests, and gardens. In addition to solar panels, the resort also features a Norwin Turbine 225 kW — which provides some 70% of the power used by the 28 beautiful rooms in nine cottages. With these renewables in place, Rosalie is effectively self-sustaining; an epic achievement that’s yet still rare in today’s world of “green resorts”. Read here, http://www.getwithgreen.com/2010/12/08/rosalie-bay-resort-features-dominica%e2%80%99s-first-wind-turbine/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+GetWithGreencom+%28GetWithGreen.com%29 or check out the resort's site, http://www.rosaliebay.com/

Eco friendly Clothing

2010-12-09T10:46:00.000-05:00

Megan Kathryn Clothing- Megan Kathryn is an innovative woman’s clothing company. The clothing collections are primarily inspired, but not limited to, travel , music, and nature. At Megan Kathryn we use sustainable and socially responsible fabric. Check out her web site here, http://megankathryn.com/default.aspx

Online tool makes composting easier

2010-11-23T12:39:00.001-05:00

BioCycle magazine and the Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI) have launched a new, more-user-friendly version of FindAComposter.com, a free, publicly searchable directory of composting facilities in the United States and Canada.

In today's warming world, composting our organic waste stream to recycle nutrients and build soil health is the preferred alternative to landfilling, which produces the unwanted greenhouse gas methane.
Recognizing that a major challenge to implementing these sound ecological practices has been a perceived lack of infrastructure, BioCycle originally launched FindAComposter.com in 2007.

Read here, http://www.getwithgreen.com/2010/11/19/online-tool-makes-composting-easier/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+GetWithGreencom+%28GetWithGreen.com%29

Air Travel vs Your Carbon Footprint. Things are getting better.

2010-11-23T12:35:00.001-05:00

From WWF-Canada,

One thing that’s been bothering me about climate change is the thought that I might someday need to give up air travel to help keep greenhouse gases in check. Who among us doesn’t look forward with anticipation to those fleeting occasions (especially during our long, cold, Canadian winters) when we can hop aboard a plane and within hours step out onto a warm, sunny beach?

Well, it turns out I may not need to give up my cherished air travel. Aircraft manufacturers and operators are on top of the problem of aircraft emissions and they’re making real progress towards keeping us all flying without fossil fuels. By next year, aviation experts predict, biofuels will be ready to use in blended form to power aircraft engines and by 2013 as a full replacement for jet fuel.

Reimagining Detroit as Grow Town

2010-11-18T12:49:00.000-05:00

I saw an article about this a while ago. Interesting.

Over the last six decades, the city of Detroit has lost half its population, shrinking from more than 1.85 million people in 1950 to just 912,000 in 2008.
The population plunge has left vacant vast tracts of land that some people in the city want to see used for growing food. Hundreds of community gardens have sprung up throughout the urban core, and several large-scale farms have been proposed within the city limits. Read here, http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/11/18/reimagining-detroit-as-grow-town/?hp

Freshwater is bottom line issue for business

2010-11-18T11:58:00.000-05:00

Around the world, freshwater supplies are under siege. Polluted, wasted and altered by climate change, the resource that supports life on Earth is in trouble. For WWF, protecting freshwater ecosystems is part of our mission to create harmony between people and nature. For businesses, dabbling in freshwater conservation has largely been a philanthropic endeavor. But that has changed in recent years, as companies have awakened to a simple fact: There is no business without water.

Read here, http://wwf.panda.org/?196956%2FFreshwater-is-bottom-line-issue-for-business

10 mistakes people make with heat

2010-11-17T09:35:00.000-05:00

Even with a constant flow of information about energy efficiency, homeowners make major heating mistakes that end in higher electric bills and larger environmental footprints. Here are 10 of those errors, with the cause and effect of each decision.

http://www.getwithgreen.com/2010/11/15/10-mistakes-people-make-with-heat/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+GetWithGreencom+%28GetWithGreen.com%29

14 tips for using less heat this season

2010-11-12T11:36:00.000-05:00

The temperature's dropping here in the northern hemisphere, and for a lot of us that means dialing up the thermostat to take that chill out of the air.

Whether you have electric or gas heat, warming your home isn't so hot for the environment or your wallet. The majority of our electricity here in the U.S. comes from dirty coal. Natural gas drilling often uses a dangerous method called hydraulic fracturing or "fracking," which contaminates water in the areas around drilling sites.

Get the list here, http://www.getwithgreen.com/2010/10/25/14-tips-for-using-less-heat-this-season/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+GetWithGreencom+%28GetWithGreen.com%29

75 things you didn’t know you could compost

2010-11-11T14:15:00.000-05:00

The basics of composting are simple. Most people know they can compost fruit and vegetable peels, leaves, and grass clippings. But what about that tea bag you used this morning? Or the fur that collects in the brush when you groom your cat?

More here from GetWithGreen.com, http://www.getwithgreen.com/2010/09/30/75-things-you-didnt-know-you-could-compost/

The story of electronics

2010-11-09T13:46:00.000-05:00

Here's a video to check out
http://storyofstuff.org/electronics/

Wildlife Adoptions for the Holiday Season

2010-11-09T11:27:00.000-05:00

This year is the year of the tiger but the illegal hunting continues.

The tiger, largest of all cats, is one of the most threatened species on Earth. It is estimated that only 3,200 remain in the wild, most in isolated pockets spread across increasingly fragmented forests stretching from India to southeastern China and from the Russian far east to Sumatra, Indonesia. Tigers in the wild exist in 45% less habitat than was thought a decade ago and now occupy only 7% of their historic range. (WWF http://wwf.panda.org/?196519%2FMore-than-1000-tigers-reduced-to-skin-and-bones-in-last-decade )

This year, consider giving a WWF Wildlife Adoption. You can choose from a selection of species both domestic and exotic. If you're not in Canada, check out the WWF page closest to you and look for the Unique Gift section. Of course, you can still order from WWF-Canada but they only ship to Canada and the United States.

A Symbolic Wildlife Adoption is a meaningful gift you can purchase for any occasion, to give to friends and family or even yourself. By purchasing a Wildlife Adoption, a Family Adoption, or an Adoption Collection, you are supporting the conservation efforts of WWF-Canada and helping to protect wildlife and their habitats.

Please visit the WWF and order an unique gift that that will bring joy to the recipreint and help preserve our planet's wildlife. https://wwfstore.donorportal.ca/default.aspx

How a 2-degree climate change would hit Canada

2010-10-06T14:38:00.000-04:00

Ongoing climate change means that summer Arctic sea ice could be halved, runoff in the South Saskatchewan River basin reduced and the cost of shipping through the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway could rise due to lower water levels, according to a compilation of research published Tuesday.

Billed as the first comprehensive illustration of expected climate impacts in Canada, the report is a joint project of the National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy (NRTEE) and the Royal Canadian Geographical Society (RCGS), which publishes Canadian Geographic and Géographica magazines.

More here, http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/cbc/101005/canada/technology_science_round_table_canadian_geographic_climate_change

October is Non-GMO month

2010-10-01T09:17:00.000-04:00

Celebrate Non-GMO Month!

October 2010 will be the first ever Non-GMO Month, with a special Non-GMO Day on 10.10.10. Close to 600 retailers nationwide are registered to participate!

Read more here, http://www.nongmoproject.org/

Seven things you didn’t know about light bulbs (but should)

2010-09-27T10:11:00.001-04:00

Lighting is a significant expense for many of us, and it also affects how we work, play, and feel. The good news is that new advances in technology are providing more comfort, flexibility and efficiency.

Read here, http://www.getwithgreen.com/2010/09/24/seven-things-you-didn%e2%80%99t-know-about-light-bulbs-but-should/

Cod has chance of recovery?

2010-09-20T10:34:00.000-04:00

Struggling cod stocks on the East Coast could rebuild if Canada and other fishing nations reduce unintentional catches of the fish and develop a recovery plan, an international conservation group said Thursday.

http://www.dailybusinessbuzz.ca/2010/09/17/atlantic-region-cod-has-chance-of-recovery-says-conservation-group/

Car Free Day

2010-09-16T11:38:00.000-04:00

Toronto's biggest Car Free Day is at Queen's Park North this year. Car Free Days aim to be fun, free events encouraging people to get out of their cars and run, walk, cycle or take public transit. We are partnering with U of T for their Environment Week festivities and including space for community groups. Contact us to reserve a free tables for your non-profit group. Queen’s Park North, Wednesday, Sept. 22nd from 10am - 2pm
http://www.ontario.sierraclub.ca/en/car-free-day

Local as it Gets

2010-08-19T11:55:00.002-04:00

A family living in Mesa, Arizona, has decided to convert an old unused backyard swimming pool into a very productive DIY urban greenhouse, which they named Garden Pool. Within a small, mostly enclosed space, they grow all kinds of vegetables and herbs, as well as raise chickens and tilapia fish

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2010/08/garden-pool-family-of-four-grows-food-in-swimming-pool-arizona.php?campaign=th_rss

Use salt instead of harsh chemicials.

2010-08-11T08:40:00.000-04:00

How many ways can you use salt? According to the Salt Institute, about 14,000! I can't think of another more versatile mineral. The use of salt to preserve food was one of the early cornerstones of civilization (preservation lessened the dependence on seasonal food). Nowadays salt is the most common and readily available nonmetallic mineral in the world. In fact, the supply of salt is inexhaustible.

New Festival Celebrates Local, Sustainable Food & Drink

2010-08-09T14:24:00.001-04:00

New Festival Celebrates Local, Sustainable Food & Drink - CityNews

A new food festival set to take over Fort York this weekend caters to all those who like to think long and hard about a meal before eating.If you take pride in purchasing local produce, meats and other items, the first-ever Conscious Food Festival is likely to whet your appetite.The celebration of healthy, local and sustainable food starts at 11am Saturday and runs through to 7pm Sunday at the historic site at 100 Garrison Rd.The event will give urbanites the chance to meet the people who produced the food featured at the festival. There will also be live music, workshops and chefs will be on hand for cooking demonstrations.

My blog is carbon neutral

2010-04-17T12:37:00.001-04:00

This is a great idea. There is a company that will plant a tree for you, neutralising the carbon dioxide emissions of your blog. The trees will be planted in the spring of 2010 by the Arbor Day Foundation.

Conserve N.S. putting hybrid cabs to the test

2010-03-31T10:09:00.002-04:00

The provincial government is giving about $25,000 to a new pilot project to help taxi drivers in Halifax and Dartmouth cut fuel consumption.

The initiative, funded through Conserve Nova Scotia, will give $2,500 to up to six drivers to purchase a new fuel-efficient or hybrid vehicle.

It will also provide $1,200 to those drivers and three others cabbies using regular taxis to keep data on their fuel use, mileage, and maintenance and repair bills.

More here, http://thechronicleherald.ca/NovaScotia/1174851.html

Earth Hour 2010

2010-03-26T08:46:00.000-04:00

Just a reminder that Earth Hour is tomorrow, March 27, 8:30 pm - 9:30 pm, your local time. Visit http://www.earthhour.org for more info

Earth Day Guest Blogger

2010-03-25T09:29:00.000-04:00

Todays post is from a guest blogger, Dan Grifen, http://everythingleft.wordpress.com/

Thanks Dan.

3/24/2010

Green Infrastructure, Earth Day and Global Awareness

Spring 2010 is approaching and there’s a lot of buzz around topics like the economy, taxation, global poverty, restoration in Haiti/Chile, and lastly, green awareness. With spring, Earth Day also draws nearer (April 22nd); as individuals, we must remember and realize the importance of global warming and all of its implications. Subsequent topics discussed as of late include space travel/burning of fossil fuels, deforestation and green building. As nations like Haiti and Chile prepare for rebuilding and new construction, there are many things to consider when advancing. Moving towards cleaner, greener infrastructure is vital in ensuring a successful restoration campaign.

The U.S. Green Building Council is a 501(3)(c) non-profit community of leaders working to make green buildings available to everybody. It’s one of the many organizations playing its role in green progression. Heavy discussion lies on green topics, especially the more recent ones like space travel; others include deforestation, green crops, clothing, energy, and much more. It’s important that we as individuals/citizens stay up-to-date on important global topics like warming. As organizations like the CGI (Clinton Global Initiative), AFH (Architecture for Humanity), and the USGBC (U.S. Green Building Council) conducts sustainability campaigns and enforce strict green constraints, our world will continue to become a better, cleaner place. Machines behind the CGI, Doug Band and Former President Clinton have been pursuing an emission reduction plan in the San Francisco Bay area. Meanwhile, GEC (Globetrotters Engineering Corporation) is underway with green building projects in Chicago, IL. Despite these few national examples, green infrastructure, particularly in places like Haiti, has become an integral part of restoration and construction.

This aligns with the implications of "economic viability" and long term sustainability, posing the questions, "Can Haiti really make it through all the costs of repair and reconstruction?" Infrastructure can take a toll on any economy, especially if the funds aren't there. This goes hand in hand with meeting modern day LEED standards and approaching this in a "greener" sense. Organizations like Architecture for Humanity will make this possible. Architecture for Humanity (1999) is a nonprofit design services firm building "a more sustainable future through the power of professional design." It was formulated through a group of building professionals whose overwhelming passion for construction drove them to provide a way for underdeveloped, suffering countries to rebuild. Through their dedication and hard work, these people will be able to not only create new buildings and infrastructure, but make them bigger, better, and greener.

To touch on just some of the things that AFH covers:

• Alleviating poverty and providing access to water, sanitation, power and essential services
• Bringing safe shelter to communities prone to disaster and displaced populations
• Rebuilding community and creating neutral spaces for dialogue in post-conflict areas
• Mitigating the effects of rapid urbanization in unplanned settlements
• Creating spaces to meet the needs of those with disabilities and other at-risk populations
• Reducing the footprint of the built environment and addressing climate change

As polluters continue to buy their way out of Carbon Cuts globally, and large organizations continue to dump their waste into lakes, ponds and rivers, communities and must play their role in ensuring sustainability. Organizations like the CGI, AFH, and USGBC provide repercussion and policy change for acts such as. Most of the results from warming and climate change are miniscule and unnoticeable now, but our youth and earlier generations will experience firsthand the effects of pollutants and unsustainable efforts. Feel free to visit http://www.earthday.org/ to learn more about what you can do to support your world.

Food Connect

2010-03-24T08:53:00.002-04:00

Food Connect is an award winning social business that works in collaboration with brilliant local farmers around Brisbane to deliver the best food in the world efficiently, affordably and equitably. Our unique distribution system is flexible, convenient and most of all healthy for you and your community. We are passionate about changing the way food is grown and distributed in this and any country where exploitation of farmers and customers is rampant.

Check it out, http://www.foodconnect.com.au/

Where I'm At Now (Part 2)

2010-03-23T19:10:00.002-04:00

The next post in the series of some of the transitions we've made.

Anyone that knows me, knows I'm a big coffee drinker.

Coffee is actually one of my exception items on my 100-Mile Diet (Details in future post)

A lot of coffee is produced in countries that are politically unstable. What this means in very brief terms, is that the coffee is controlled by large coffee cartels. The cartels market the coffee and make the profit passing very little along to the farmers.

The farmers are then forced to enlist their families, since they have no money to pay workers, and are denied proper meals, education and medical treatment.

Fair Trade Coffee is usually grown in farmer owned cartels or co-ops where the farmers make more of the profits allowing them to live better lives. Most Fair Trade Coffee growers also grow the coffee organically and are excellent stewards of the earth.

One of the companies I've found is Just Us! Coffee Roasters Co-operative Limited , http://www.justuscoffee.com/Default.aspx

I'm not trying to promote this company, I'm just using it as an example. Their site has a lot of info about Fair Trade.

Just Us! also has tea, chocolate and sugar, all from the Fair Trade variety.

For me, it's only Fair Trade Organic coffee at home and I look for it in coffee shops too.

Are pet flea treatments safe?

2010-03-20T09:56:00.001-04:00

This may be worth a read if you are a pet owner.

http://www.getwithgreen.com/2010/03/18/are-frontline-and-other-spot-on-flea-and-tick-treatments-safe-for-dogs-and-cats/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+GetWithGreencom+%28GetWithGreen.com%29

Where I'm at now

2010-03-20T00:01:00.002-04:00

My wife and I started our commitment to a lower carbon footprint in September 2007. Just over 2 1/2 years and we've changed just about everything in our life.

The next series of posts will be about some of the transitions we've made.

Switching to CFL's

These may cost a bit more but they last a lot longer. We've only had to replace 2 in the past few years. We changed 18 or so on the first blitz. When we compared our electric bill the following season, the change was a shocker.

Blue - Winter Green - Summer

The chart shows the drop in energy use from January 08 to January 09. Really, this was only due to the switch to CFL's with a little bit of diligence in turning out lights that were not being used. It took a year to compare since we had to wait for the proper season. You can't compare January with August since your utility uses are very different.

This kind of proved our effort wasn't in vain. This was one of the first things we changed. Now, a year and a half into our lifestyle adjustment, it was the third bit of proof we were on to something. Sometimes it takes time to see results.

Annihilation of a Fish

2010-03-19T17:56:00.001-04:00

There is a series of photographs called "The Chase" taken off Nomans Land Island, near Martha's Vineyard, in 1986. The photographs show a giant bluefin tuna, weighing over 900 pounds, leaping, missing, leaping again, and capturing an Atlantic bluefish about two feet long.¹ The giant bluefin has all the design characteristics of a fighter jet: supremely tapered shape, short fins like abbreviated wings, extreme speed.

Read here, http://www.huffingtonpost.com/matt-rigney/annihilation-of-a-fish_b_505712.html

TD’s Global Business Operations Are Now Carbon Neutral

2010-03-16T12:42:00.002-04:00

TD Bank Financial Group, today announced that its operations in Canada, the US, and international locations - its entire footprint - are now carbon neutral.

"This is a significant milestone but we know there is still a lot to do," said Karen Clarke-Whistler, Chief Environment Officer, TD. "Thanks to the terrific effort of our employees as well as the helpful input we've received from environmental and community groups, TD is the first North American-based bank - and one of only a few banks in the world - to reach a carbon neutral goal. We look forward to engaging with key stakeholders as we continue to work on environmental issues."

Read here, http://www.zerofootprint.net/press/single/zerofootprint-helps-td-make-its-global-business-operations-carbon-neutral/#continuedReading

Ways to Go Green

2010-03-16T12:12:00.002-04:00

A new analysis has an encouraging conclusion about individuals who "go green": If we all took a few simple steps, collectively we could reduce U.S. carbon dioxide emissions 15%. Each of these steps is cheap (or free) and won't cramp anyone's lifestyle.

Read here, http://www.getwithgreen.com/2010/03/15/the-two-chicken-global-warming-solution/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+GetWithGreencom+%28GetWithGreen.com%29

2010-03-10T09:08:00.002-05:00

Hi all,
Earth Hour will be held March 27, 2010 8:30PM - 9:30PM
Hope you can make it.

http://earthhour.org

Detroit looks at downsizing to save city

2010-03-09T14:16:00.002-05:00

Detroit, the very symbol of American industrial might for most of the 20th century, is drawing up a radical renewal plan that calls for turning large swaths of this now-blighted, rusted-out city back into the fields and farmland that existed before the automobile.

Read here, http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/mar/09/detroit-looks-at-downsizing-to-save-city/

How to make your electronics batteries last longer

2010-03-03T10:50:00.002-05:00

Taking good care of your electronics batteries can pay off. The financial rewards of longer lasting batteries are obvious: You won't be forced to render a perfectly good gadget obsolete before its time or have to shell out money for a replacement battery.

Read more here,
http://www.getwithgreen.com/2010/03/02/how-to-make-your-electronics-batteries-last-longer/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+GetWithGreencom+%28GetWithGreen.com%29

Energy vampires: Is it worth it to unplug your electronics?

2010-03-03T09:35:00.002-05:00

It's common knowledge that appliances continue to draw a small amount of power when they're switched off but still plugged in. One solution is to unplug electronics and chargers when you aren't using them. Or you can plug cords into a power strip and switch it off whenever you want to cut off all power to ppliances.

Read the article here,
http://www.getwithgreen.com/2010/02/08/energy-vampires-is-it-worth-it-to-unplug-your-electronics/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+GetWithGreencom+%28GetWithGreen.com%29

7 Companies You Can Trust to Use BPA-Free Cans

2010-03-02T10:49:00.002-05:00

Here's a startling, almost amazing fact. Eden Organic has been canning beans since 1999 in BPA (bisphenol-A) free cans. For a decade. Concerns about BPA keep mounting - in January the FDA reversed its 2008 stance to say it was "concerned" about BPA and recommended limited exposure. So why all food manufacturers follow Eden's lead?

Read more and see the list here,
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2010/03/7-bpa-free-canned-foods.php?campaign=th_rss&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+treehuggersite+%28Treehugger%29&utm_content=FaceBook

Device mimics leeches, ejects plug when gadget is done charging

2010-03-02T08:59:00.002-05:00

Leeches drink blood until they're full and then fall off of their host, but our plugged-in gadgets keep drinking electricity even once they're fully charged.
The Outlet Regulator changes this by ejecting the plug from the electricity source once the gadget is done charging, turning vampire electronics into leeches.

Check it out here, http://conorklein.com/index.php?/ongoing/outlet-regulator/

Freight Transportation’s Hidden Cost to Health and the Planet

2010-03-01T16:35:00.002-05:00

Freight—nearly everything we buy, eat, manufacture, or build with is carried to us by a complex system of shipping routes, rail lines, highways, ports, and rail yards.
West Coast ports are expected to see a 138% increase in container traffic by 2035. Source: Port of Los Angeles.
Unfortunately, pollution from moving all this freight is significant and growing. Truck, locomotive, and ship engines spew greenhouse gases, toxic diesel soot, and other dangerous pollutants. These emissions contribute to global warming and are responsible for serious health problems. This is the first in a series of posts about how to address the huge environmental and public health costs of moving goods around the country.

Read here, http://blogs.edf.org/transportation/2010/03/01/we-gotta-clean-up-freight-transportation%e2%80%99s-hidden-cost-to-health-and-the-planet/

Norway Reveals Stunning Plan to Cut CO2 Emissions 30% in 10 Years

2010-02-22T15:51:00.003-05:00

The Scandinavian nation announced some of the boldest goals for curbing carbon emissions during the run-up to Copenhagen. And today, it released its plans outlining exactly how it will cut 30% of its emissions by 2020--some of the deepest emissions cuts of any nation ever. And that plan includes infrastructure for electric cars, using more biofuels, creating more bike paths, carbon capture, and more. The cost of this massive, far-reaching, forward-looking plan? Norway predicts its clean economy of 2010 would be a teensy 0.25% smaller than its projected oil dependent economy at the same time.

More here, http://www.treehugger.com/files/2010/02/norway-reveals-plan-cut-emissions-30-10-years.php

Is There an Ecological Unconscious?

2010-02-02T12:46:00.001-05:00

About eight years ago, Glenn Albrecht began receiving frantic calls from residents of the Upper Hunter Valley, a 6,000-square-mile region in southeastern Australia. For generations the Upper Hunter was known as the "Tuscany of the South" — an oasis of alfalfa fields, dairy farms and lush English-style shires on a notoriously hot, parched continent. "The calls were like desperate pleas," Albrecht, a philosopher and professor of sustainability at Murdoch University in Perth, recalled in June. "They said: 'Can you help us? We've tried everyone else. Is there anything you can do about this?' "

Read the Times Magazine article here, http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/31/magazine/31ecopsych-t.html

Lien Aid: Solutions for Safe Water and Accessible Sanitation in Asia

2010-02-01T08:24:00.001-05:00

Lien Aid is an international development NGO headquartered in Singapore. Its core mission is to build a firm foundation for human development by making safe water and sanitation accessible and affordable to poor communities in Asia. Founded in 2006 by the Lien Foundation and the Nanyang Technological University, Lien Aid's strength lies in delivering solutions using appropriate technology backed by knowledge transfer. Since its inception, Lien Aid has impacted over 200,000 lives in Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam through various water treatment, sanitation and community development initiatives.

TakeOutWithOut Says No to Paper and Plastic

2010-01-28T22:40:00.002-05:00

Americans toss out enough paper and plastic cups, forks and spoons every year to circle the equator an astonishing 300 times, and the folks at TakeOutWithOut are trying to do something about it! The group formed to convince restaurants to encourage and accommodate people who bring their own containers.

More here, http://liveearth.org/en/liveearthblog/takeoutwithout

Colorado Wind Project Gets $2.5 Million In Stimulus Grants

2010-01-27T14:11:00.001-05:00

DENVER — A community wind-power project on Colorado's northeastern plains will receive $2.5 million in federal stimulus funds.

Phillips County wants to build a community-owned 30-megawatt project with the ultimate goal of building a 650-megawatt wind farm within Sedgwick, Phillips and Logan counties.

Read here, http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/01/22/colorado-wind-project-get_n_432951.html

Disappearing Greater Mekong tigers underscore global threats

2010-01-26T13:00:00.001-05:00

Tigers on the Brink: Facing up to the Challenge in the Greater Mekong, states that tiger populations in the Greater Mekong – an area that includes Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam – have plummeted from an estimated 1,200 during the last Year of the Tiger in 1998 to about 350 today.

Read more here, http://www.panda.org/?187021

The 15 most toxic places to live

2010-01-26T11:55:00.001-05:00

Here's a little photo tour of the worlds most toxic places to live.

http://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/wilderness-resources/photos/the-15-most-toxic-places-to-live/

Small School Eco-sanitation Complex

2010-01-22T18:25:00.001-05:00

Wherever the Need (WTN) has become an expert in the construction,
maintenance and training in the use of ecosan toilets. Ecosans toilets
are sanitation systems that separate the liquids from the solids for
future use in agriculture. Having already built over 700 ecosan
toilets in India for individual families, schools, women-only and
complete communities, WTN is particularly keen to construct further
systems in primary schools.

Read here, http://liveearth.org/en/liveearthblog/small-school-eco-sanitation-complex-wherever-the-need

Monsanto's GMO Corn Linked To Organ Failure, Study Reveals

2010-01-13T14:57:00.001-05:00

In a study released by the International Journal of Biological
Sciences, analyzing the effects of genetically modified foods on
mammalian health, researchers found that agricultural giant Monsanto's
GM corn is linked to organ damage in rats.

According to the study, which was summarized by Adam Shake at Twilight
Earth, "Three varieties of Monsanto's GM corn - Mon 863,
insecticide-producing Mon 810, and Roundup® herbicide-absorbing NK 603
- were approved for consumption by US, European and several other
national food safety authorities."

Read here, http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/01/12/monsantos-gmo-corn-linked_n_420365.html

Global Warming Effects: 10 Startling Facts from 2009

2010-01-13T14:41:00.001-05:00

New evidence has emerged that underscores the global climate threat and the need for an effective climate bill. These are just the 10 most startling global warming facts we learned in 2009.

See the list here, http://www.edf.org/article.cfm?contentID=10717

Glowing walls could kill off the light bulb

2010-01-12T12:29:00.002-05:00

Light-emitting wallpaper may begin to replace light bulbs from 2012, according to a government body that supports low-carbon technology.

A chemical coating on the walls will illuminate all parts of the room with an even glow, which mimics sunlight and avoids the shadows and glare of conventional bulbs.

More here, http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/science/article6970927.ece

Missing Megawatts

2010-01-12T12:23:00.002-05:00

There has been a lot of attention paid to how Ontario's Green Energy Act will boost investment in renewable energy, and justifiably so because it is a landmark piece of legislation. But more significant, in terms of environmental benefit and savings to consumers' pocketbooks, has been the quiet recognition by the energy planners and government that energy efficiency works

This isn't just in the realm of rhetoric. Over the last five years, 8,000 megawatts disappeared from Ontario's projected energy needs, which means we're no longer planning to build multi-billion dollar plants.

Continue reading here, http://blog.wwf.ca/blog/2010/01/08/solving-the-mystery-of-the-missing-megawatts-conservation-killed-them/

Ontario solar plant to create 500 jobs

2009-12-03T12:05:00.002-05:00

Solar module maker Canadian Solar Inc. is preparing to establish a manufacturing facility in Ontario that will create 500 direct jobs to take advantage of a provincial green-energy program that mandates local content.

http://www.thestar.com/business/article/733995--ontario-solar-plant-to-create-500-jobs?bn=1

Bullfrog Power launches in the Maritimes

2009-12-01T18:46:00.003-05:00

Bullfrog Power is now available in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island.
Now 6 provinces can have clean, renewable energy.

Very cool. Check out more, www.bullfrogpower.com/09releases/maritimeslaunch.cfm

It’s a grolar

2009-11-23T21:24:00.001-05:00

It’s a grolar, the climate-change polar bear - Times Online

What will you do?

2009-10-15T20:21:00.004-04:00

For the past 2 1/2 years, I've been pushing news, events and my personal options on the globing warming trend.

I originally began by describing the changes I've been making to reduce the impact that our household makes. Changing light bulbs, reducing waste, recycling, choosing environmentally responsible energy options, eating locally produced food and spreading the word to anyone that wants to know. In the end, this blog was created.

Of course, there are only so many things we can do. I quickly ran out of things to post about. The blog became a board to post other news, information and events from around the world. This relied on finding relevant articles either from my sources or those referred to me.

This year, I began trying to post more personal items but I've been having a hard time. My support of other networks takes a lot of my time but I believe they have a far greater reach.

There are a lot of things I still need to do but my current budget will not allow. I'd love to put in a solar hot water and electrical system. I'd love to produce as much electricity during the day that I use at night. But, these will have to wait a bit longer.

I've been hoping for more comments and emails from readers but, I'm not sure I have many. A few of you have contacted me in some way, so I know I have a couple of followers.

Well, today is Blog Action Day and this is my contribution.
What I want to know is, What are you going to do?

Visit www.blogactionday.org

Turkey wars

2009-10-10T18:55:00.003-04:00

If you're eating organic turkey this weekend, savour it, because by next Thanksgiving it may be easier to buy crack cocaine in Ontario than a drug-free bird.
Here's why: While the turkey industry marketing board tells growers to confine their turkeys indoors to reduce the chance of transmission of viruses from wild birds, new organics standards administered by the Canadian Food and Inspection Agency mandate raising organic birds outdoors.
Read here, http://www.thestar.com/news/ontario/article/708416--turkey-wars

Dow Unveils Solar Shingles

2009-10-08T19:02:00.002-04:00

Dow Chemical has unveiled a residential roof shingle in the form of a solar panel designed to be integrated into asphalt-tiled roofs.
Jane Palmieri, managing director of Dow’s Solar Solutions unit, said the Powerhouse thin-film shingle slashes installation costs because it can be installed by a roofer who is already building or retrofitting a roof.
“As a roofer is nailing asphalt shingle on roof, wherever the array needs to be installed he just switches to solar shingle,” said Ms. Palmieri, who said the solar singles are similarly attached to the roof with nails.
“You don’t have to have a solar installation crew do the work or have an electrician on site,” she added. “The solar shingle can be handled like any other shingle – it can be palletized, dropped from a roof, walked on.”
Read more, http://greeninc.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/10/07/dow-unveils-solar-shingles/

Town’s LED street lights national first

2009-10-01T20:06:00.001-04:00

Annapolis Royal may be the first town in Canada to replace all of its street lights with energy-efficient LED fixtures.
The Federation of Canadian Municipalities "is coming to do a feature on us," Mayor Phil Roberts said Wednesday.
"I didn’t realize we were the first in the country."
He said Nova Scotia Power started installing the LED lights about three weeks ago.
Read here, http://thechronicleherald.ca/NovaScotia/1145301.html

Pay It Backward Day

2009-10-01T19:38:00.005-04:00

September 30th was Pay It Backward Day. This is from the PIB site,

"Pay It Backward Day is a unique, refreshing initiative that allows socially conscious individuals across Ontario to unite in the spirit of changing the world through small, daily acts of kindness. On September 30th, we invite you to come out to any of Ontario's participating Second Cup locations and offer to "pay it backward" by buying coffee for the person behind you in line. With each simple act of "coffee kindness", we* will donate $5.00 to SickKids Foundation. Alongside our generous sponsors, Second Cup and Silk Soy Beverage, we hope to inspire 2,000 acts of kindness on September 30th in order to reach our goal of raising $10,000 for SickKids Foundation in a single day! So, if helping out SickKids Foundation in a big way through small acts of kindness sounds like your cup of tea, coffee or soy drink … then JOIN THE MOVEMENT today and agree to pay it backward on September 30th!"
That's pretty awesome but to make it even better, I won a Coffee Hero Card for putting a PIB button here on my site. I was able to buy a "round" for everyone in the store. This wasn't really about me; it was about the intent of the day. I go to the same Second Cup every day so the staff knows me. I just gave them the card and explained what to do with it. If anyone asked, they told them it was me but most people were only told about the PIB movement and that somebody paid for their coffee. If you didn't know about it before now, please keep it in mind for next year.
Visit http://www.dailychallenge.org/events/payitbackward/ for more info on PIB or better yet, join The Daily Challenge and do something good every day. http://www.dailychallenge.org/

Four degrees of warming 'likely'

2009-10-01T19:22:00.003-04:00

In a dramatic acceleration of forecasts for global warming, UK scientists say the global average temperature could rise by 4C (7.2F) as early as 2060.
More here, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8279654.stm

Recession barely dents 'eco-debt'

2009-09-25T08:56:00.002-04:00

The recession has had little impact on humanity's over-consumption of resources, says a report.
The New Economics Foundation (Nef) calculates the day each year when the world goes into "ecological debt."
This is the date by which humanity has used the quantity of natural resources that ought to last an entire year if used at a sustainable rate.

Read here, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8273791.stm

Don't be fooled by a cool summer.

2009-08-21T18:29:00.002-04:00

Steve Kramer spent an hour and a half swimming in the ocean Sunday - in Maine. The water temperature was 72 degrees - more like Ocean City, Md., this time of year. And Ocean City's water temp hit 88 degrees this week, toasty even by Miami Beach standards.
Kramer, 26, who lives in the seaside town of Scarborough, said it was the first time he's ever swam so long in Maine's coastal waters. "Usually, you're in five minutes and you're out," he said.

http://www.sanluisobispo.com/living/health/story/822072.html

Getting Real About the High Price of Cheap Food

2009-08-21T18:13:00.005-04:00

Somewhere in Iowa, a pig is being raised in a confined pen, packed in so tightly with other swine that their curly tails have been chopped off so they won't bite one another. To prevent him from getting sick in such close quarters, he is dosed with antibiotics. The waste produced by the pig and his thousands of pen mates on the factory farm where they live goes into manure lagoons that blanket neighboring communities with air pollution and a stomach-churning stench. He's fed on American corn that was grown with the help of government subsidies and millions of tons of chemical fertilizer.
Continue reading here, http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1917458,00.html

Monsanto

2009-08-21T17:27:00.004-04:00

Percy Schmeiser is a farmer from Saskatchewan Canada, whose Canola fields were contaminated with Monsanto's genetically engineered Round-Up Ready Canola by pollen from a nearby farm. Monsanto says it doesn't matter how the contamination took place, and is therefore demanding Schmeiser pay their Technology Fee (the fee farmers must pay to grow Monsanto's genetically engineered products). According to Schmeiser, "I never had anything to do with Monsanto, outside of buying chemicals. I never signed a contract. http://www.organicconsumers.org/monlink.cfm

NASA Satellites Unlock Secret to Northern India's Vanishing Water

2009-08-13T14:41:00.003-04:00

Beneath northern India’s irrigated fields of wheat, rice, and barley ... beneath its densely populated cities of Jaiphur and New Delhi, the groundwater has been disappearing. Halfway around the world, hydrologists, including Matt Rodell of NASA, have been hunting for it.More here, http://www.nasa.gov/topics/earth/features/india_water.html

Millions of missing fish signal crisis on the Fraser River

2009-08-13T12:27:00.003-04:00

The Fraser River is experiencing one of the biggest salmon disasters in recent history with more than nine million sockeye vanishing.
Aboriginal fish racks are empty, commercial boats worth millions of dollars are tied to the docks and sport anglers are being told to release any sockeye they catch while fishing for still healthy runs of Chinook.
Between 10.6 million and 13 million sockeye were expected to return to the Fraser this summer. But the official count is now just 1.7 million, according to the Department of Fisheries and Oceans.
Read here, http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/british-columbia/millions-of-missing-fish-signal-crisis-onthefraserriver/article1249976/

More than 350 species, including world's smallest deer, discovered in Himalayas in past decade

2009-08-12T12:55:00.002-04:00

KATMANDU, Nepal - The world's smallest deer, a flying frog and catfish that stick to rocks -

as well as more than 350 other species - have been discovered over the past decade in the Himalayas, making it one of the world's most biologically rich regions, an environmental group said Monday.

Sea change in store for supermarkets?

2009-08-10T22:40:00.002-04:00

Environmental groups that have been sounding urgent alarms about dramatic declines in fish and seafood stocks are taking Canadian supermarkets to task for the role they play in the emptying of the oceans.
A global study entitled History of Marine Animal Populations, presented in May at the Oceans Past conference in Vancouver, has intensified concern about the looming crisis. Marine researchers combing through historical records covering the past 2,000 years have determined there are 85 to 90 per cent fewer fish and marine mammals today than there once were. Read more here, http://www.cbc.ca/consumer/story/2009/08/07/f-seafood.html

Great Slave Lake fish may be new species

2009-07-29T09:46:00.002-04:00

A fish biologist in the Northwest Territories says he may have found an entirely new species of cisco in Great Slave Lake. Read here, http://technology.sympatico.msn.cbc.ca/News/ContentPosting?newsitemid=nwt-cisco&feedname=CBC-TECH-SCIENCE-V3&show=False&number=0&showbyline=True&subtitle=&detect=&abc=abc&date=True

Are biodegradable plastics really green?

2009-07-29T09:14:00.003-04:00

Plastics have been getting their fair share of bad press lately, especially those ubiquitous grocery bags. Critics argue they’re made with fossil fuels, take anywhere between 100 to 1,000 years to break down and create a massive litter problem worldwide. Read here, http://green.sympatico.msn.ca/green-living-online-article.aspx?cp-documentid=932634

Buy-local push prompts Ontario grocers to go independent

2009-07-15T21:16:00.001-04:00

Dale Kropf calls it Independence Day: On July 3, his five grocery stores in southwestern Ontario ceased to be Sobeys franchises.
Corporate policies prevented him from buying local products, he says, so he joined forces with four other former Sobeys franchisees and formed the independent Hometown Grocers Co-Op.
"We feel that local food, local presence is huge in our market and we wanted to take advantage of that," Kropf says.
Read more here, http://www.cbc.ca/canada/toronto/story/2009/07/14/f-grocery-stores-independent-buy-local-meat-produce.html?ref=rss

Colorado company offers banana coffins

2009-07-06T08:44:00.001-04:00

BAMBOO Coffins and BANANA Caskets:As the focal point for the funeral ceremony, the choice of coffin is of great importance. With this in mind, Ecoffins have been designed as attractive, comforting, and environmentally friendly options. Check it out here, http://www.ecoffinsusa.com/

FoodCycles

2009-06-29T15:05:00.000-04:00

This is related to my previous post.
I should point out that there is a local program here in Toronto as well that one of our members is a part of.
Check out FoodCycles, http://foodcycles.org/

Urban farming movement 'like a revolution'

2009-06-29T14:57:00.002-04:00

ATLANTA, Georgia (CNN) -- On a plot of soil, nestled against the backdrop of skyscrapers in downtown Atlanta, Georgia, a group of residents are turning a lack of access to fresh produce into a revival of old traditions and self-empowerment. More here, http://www.cnn.com/2009/LIVING/06/29/bia.urban.farming/index.html

Auto-ban: German town goes car-free

2009-06-29T14:47:00.003-04:00

Vauban hopes to forge a model community without that great staple of modern life – the car. Now the sound of birdsong has replaced the roar of traffic and children can play in the street.. More here, http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/autoban-german-town-goes-carfree-1720021.html

Prototype Nokia phone recharges without wires

2009-06-17T09:50:00.003-04:00

Pardon the cliche, but it's one of the holiest of Holy Grails of technology: Wireless power. And while early lab experiments have been able to "beam" electricity a few feet to power a light bulb, the day when our laptops and cell phones can charge without having to plug them in to a wall socket still seems decades in the future. Read here, http://tech.yahoo.com/blogs/null/143945

Out of sight shouldn't mean out of mind.

2009-06-08T13:53:00.002-04:00

It’s easy to ignore the things we can’t see. But it doesn’t take a lot of thought to realize how much we depend on the complex world that exists beneath those ocean waves. For jobs. For food. For recreation. Even for the oxygen in the air we breathe. And of course, all kinds of creatures — from seabirds to sponges to giant blue whales — depend on a healthy environment around them in order to survive.
Read more from the WWF, http://www.wwf.ca/conservation/atlantic/oceansactions.cfm

Clean Air Day

2009-06-03T13:22:00.004-04:00

Clean Air Day is a celebration of environmentally-friendly activities that promote clean air and good health across Canada. It is a great opportunity to make environmentally-friendly lifestyle choices, for you, your family and your community.

http://www.cleanairday.com/

City of Toronto - 5 cents per plastic bag

2009-06-02T08:44:00.004-04:00

Now in effect. It will cost you $0.05 for a plastic bag. About time. http://www.toronto.ca/garbage/packaging_reduction/5centbag_bylaw.htm

World Environment Day

2009-06-01T09:04:00.002-04:00

World Environment Day, commemorated each year on 5 June, is one of the principal vehicles through which the United Nations stimulates worldwide awareness of the environment and enhances political attention and action.

http://www.unep.org/wed/2009/english/