Orange Goes GREEN

Two teams of Syracuse University students submitted videos they had created promoting sustainability as part of NBC Universal's Green Week (Nov. 16-23, 2008). The video was below, produced by Kelsey Higgs and Ryan Kelly, was chosen to run on the NBC Sports web site.


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Shop Without Guilt!


myEarth360.com is a nifty shopping site where all products offered are environmentally sustainable. Can you believe that the cute clutch pictured below is crafted from recycled truck innertubes?! You can also find accessories from Brazil made from food and candy wrappers, and many beautiful examples of Sea Glass Jewelry.The site also features reusable tote bags, a large assortment of BPA-free beverage bottles, green dog stuff and much more!

PLUS, a portion of the proceeds go to fund NEEF, the National Environmental Education Foundation. According to NEEF's site the organization supports a "network of health professionals, weathercasters, land managers and teachers. Our programs reach hundreds of thousands of households and translate into direct actions, saving millions of dollars as well as reducing energy use, protecting nature, and improving the health of thousands of children."

Don't forget to visit the myEarth360 blog! Why not show your loved ones that you how much care with an "eco-chic"sustainable gift from myEarth360?

Note: I am not being compensated in any way by myEarth360. I just want to spread the news about a web site that promotes sustainability.

Free E-Book on Global Warming Solutions

Retired Syracuse University professor Oliver Clubb has posted his most recent book online. "Global Warming Solutions: A Concerned Citizen's Guide to Climate Protection," is not only paperless, but it can be downloaded free!

If you are in the Central New York area, and are interested, a book release reception will be held at the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry on Thursday, Feb. 5, from 1-2 p.m in Room 110 of Moon Library; refreshments will be served. The Department of Environmental Studies is sponsoring the event. Details >>

Thank you very much, Dr. Clubb!

Calling All New Yorkers!
In 1982, the New York State Legislature passed the Returnable Contaner Act (RCA), better known as the bottle bill. Since that time the bill has resulted in reducing litter by 70%, and in the recycling of 90 million bottles. Non--carbonated beverages, such as water and sport drinks , however, are not covered under the bottle bill. A "Bigger Better Bottle Bill" has been introduced in both houses of the New York State legislature. If you live in New York State, and share my concern for the environment, please take a moment to contact your legislator and ask them to support this very important piece of legislation.

Find your New York State representatives here:

New York State Assembly Members List

New York State Senators List

E-mail List of New York State Senators


For more info:

Onondaga County Resource Recovery Agency

Container Recycling Institute

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation

Water Bottle Fact Sheet (PDF)

Wrong, Wrong, Wrong

While I try to avoid using my blog for political purposes, because I'm interested in environmental issues, I just can't let this one go. John McCain's choice of Alaskan Governor Sarah Palin is wrong on so many levels, but he's actually found a running-mate whose record on backing big oil over the environment is WORSE than President Bush's!!! The Governor actually argues that polar bears don't need protection!

Sierra Club Executive Director, Carl Pope says, "With the pick of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin for his running mate, John McCain's race towards the Bush administration's failed energy policy is now complete." Furthermore Palin over stepped her authority as governor to advocate against a clean water initiative.

I just don't understand how someone like Palin, who identifies so strongly with being a "mom" can justify selling out her homeland's future to big oil and mining interests.

What Can I Do Without?

This is the question that Juneau residents were forced to answer when their electricity supply was severly curtailed due to an avalanche last spring. The story recently broadcast on NPR sproves that people can react positively in the face of adversity. Unfortunately now with power restored, usage has begun to increase again. Perhaps rising energy costs may motivate the citizens of Juneau back to conserving again.

Take the Energy Quiz

How savvy are you when it comes to understanding America's energy usage? Take the quiz.

Solving Big Problems with Small Actions

I'm a bit upset over John McCain's belittling of Barack Obama's suggestion of keeping your automobile tires inflated to the proper air pressure as a means to save energy. This is not directly related to global warming, either. It speaks volumes about the two men running for President and their concepts concerning efforts to change our nation.

OK, keeping your automobile tires inflated won't do much to save energy, if you're the only one with properly inflated tires. But what happens when you keep your tires properly inflated, and so does everyone in your neighborhood, and everyone in your city, and everyone in your state? Can you start to see the big picture? I believe, and I think that Barack Obama does as well, that we can solve big problems with small actions-- IF WE ALL WORK TOGETHER. A quote from Barack Obama's web site reads,"I'm asking you to believe not just in my ability to bring about real change in Washington...I'm asking you to believe in yours." McCain on the other hand, doesn't seem to see the value in small sacrifices. No, he'd rather maindate a solution from a large oil company.

I continue to see the United States as a nation of individual citizens not mega-corporations, and if we're going to solve the massive problems ahead of us, then we'll need to take the responsibilty to solve these problems. We'll also require a leader who gets this idea, and has the force of personality to encourage each and everyone of us to get involved. It's still our country let's work together, and take it back!

Carbon-free in 10 years!

Former Vice-President Al Gore announced yesterday his challenge to the U.S. "to produce all of its electricity from renewable and carbon-free sources in 10 years." According to Gore, "The survival of the United States of America as we know it is at risk."

An ambitious goal, maybe, but aren't we suposed to be the greatest country on earth? If so shouldn't we be the leading the effort to reducing greenhouse gases and control global warming? Ten years from now, my niece, Gabriella, will be a junior in college. It wouldn't it be great if she and her friends could start out their lives in a healthier environment and not have dependency on foreign energy sources hanging over their heads?

Fortunately both Presidential candidates seem to take the issue of global warming more seriously than Mr. Bush does. If we truly desire to unite our country, perhaps with strong and couragous leadership this could be the issue that brings us all together.

Use Your Fridge to Save the Planet!

The fight against global warming may seem daunting at times, but if everyone did something small everyday it could add up to a big difference. Did you know thart you can help save the planet by just changing a few small things in the way you use your refrigerator? These tips come courtesy of the dailygreen.com.

Keep a Pitcher of Water in Your Fridge
A pitcher full of water will help your refrigerator keep your food cool more efficiently

Fill the Fridge
Keeping your refrigerator full, but not to the point of overstuffing, will allow it to run at max capacity.

Check the Temperature in Your Fridge and Freezer
The EPA recommends keeping refrigerators at 37 degrees F and freezers at 3 degrees,

Buy an Energy Star Refrigerator
New Energy Star models use 40% less electricity than typical units sold in 2001. That means you could easily save over $50 a year by upgrading to an Energy Star fridge.

Remember: Refrigerators and freezers account for about a sixth of all electricity use in a typical American home, and they use more electricity than any other single household appliance.

(Photo credit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Refrigerator)

50 by 2050

The Group of Eight, or as we called them in my our telecom policy course, "The Rich Countries Club" have agreed to meet again and further discuss the possibility of reducing the output of greenhouse gases by half. Gee, how nice of them! Of course, not many of us will even be around by 2050 to see how successful this so called initiative may turn out.

Read Andrew C. Revkin's article.

The Green Prince

Prince Charles is now joining forces in the war against global warming. He would like to go down in history for his efforts to save the environment. His efforts to reduce his carbon footprint include using vehicles that run on biodiesel, including a classic Aston Martin that runs on wine! (Whoa, that's still a bit too rich for me, but the way gas prices are rising perhaps soon it could be cheaper to fuel your car with wine.) Charles is also cutting back on travel and asking his staff to consider commuting by bicycle.

However, not all of Prince Charles' "green" activites are being applauded. Controversy exists concerning use of his luxury yacht, which Charles claims is less harmful to the environment that an airliner. Whether or not his actions are truly contributing to reducing global warming, the fact that Charles has chosen to make this "his issue" will contribute greatly to getting the message out to an international audience, and I admire him for that.

Global Warming = Security Risk

Yesterday intelligence officials reported to a congressional committee regarding the links between global warming and potential increased political unrest and terrorism. It makes sense to me. We only have one planet, and we need to share it with everyone else living here.

You can download Dr. Thomas Fingar's report here:

http://media.npr.org/documents/2008/jun/warming_intelligence.pdf

Related news stories:
New York Times

National Public Radio

Another interesting article:
Reports: Energy Thirst Still Topping Climate Risks

No More Bottled Water!!!

Did you know:

• Production of bottled water in the U.S. requires roughly more than 17 million barrels of oil!


• More energy is then needed to trasport those bottles from the bottling plant to warehouses and stores.


• Municipal water takes only the energy needed to pump the water to our homes.

No, I didn't make this up; these facts are according to the Pacific Institute. And a very easy way to reduce your carbon footrprint is to just say "No" to bottled water.

• Is the quality of your tap water not very good? Install a water filter on your tap with the money you'll save from not buying bottled water.


• Do you need to take water with you on the go? Drink from reusable metal or glass containers when travelling.


• Urge your favorite restaurants to stop offering bottled water.

For more info visit the Sierra Club's Website.

Get the Sierra Club Bottled Water brochure.

Visit the Pacific Institute's Website.

For more info on the world's water situation go to worldwater.org.

Who Says Great Minds Don't Think Alike?

Token Asian recently posted this article on her site.

Watch This Movie NOW

I'm really ashamed to say that it took me this long to finally see "An Inconvenient Truth." But I did seeit, and I'm urging you to see it, if you haven't already -- especially if you have children. Put this DVD at the top of your Netflix list or better yet, buy it.

It's important. We can't wait around to save the planet.

Also please visit these sites:

http://www.climatecrisis.net/

http://www.stopglobalwarming.org/