Green Sexy

Text to help Haiti

On January 12th, 2010, a 7.0 magnitude earthquake rocked the tiny island nation of Haiti.  In this age of 24-hour news we are constantly bombarded with horrific stories of man-made tragedies, and in tragedies of this nature, we have "bad guys" to point the finger at and direct our scorn towards.  But who do we blame when our Earth, in displays of unfathomable natural power and might, remind us of our tenuous position as mere tenants of this planet?  Who do we direct our anger towards?  With tragedies such as this one, we are all victims, and we are also reminded of our shared humanity and mortality.

One amazing development that has come to light in this dark time is the fact that we all have, in our pockets, the chance to make an instantaneous difference for the people of Haiti.  Charity has caught up with this internet age and has learned to utilize people's texting obsession to help garner funds for the needy.  Charities such as the American Red Cross or the Salvation Army have offered cell phone users the chance to send a text, which will transfer a specified amount of money to help the relief efforts in earthquake-ravaged Haiti.  American Red Cross spokeswoman Abi Weaver reported that so many Americans were texting their pledge to donate $10 from their upcoming cell phone bill that it amounted to $100,000 an hour, to the tune of $10 million total---in just 3 days!  “It has become the single largest mobile donation campaign ever,” said Hillary Clinton, who recently visited Haiti.  Jim Manis, head of the Mobile Giving Foundation, first tested out text donations after the 2004 Asian tsunami and managed to raise $150,000.  He is now heading up the current U.S. text-to-give campaign and says of this new philanthropic phenomenon: “These are emotional events and people want to reach out and help but sometimes they can’t -- they don’t have a credit card or they forget to write a check or go online to make a donation."  But cell phones, love them or hate them, are a part of our daily existence, and have now become a real tool for doing good.  Imagine that!

So, interested in making a difference via text message?  Try out these organizations:

• Text "HAITI" to 90999 to donate $10 to the American Red Cross.
• Text "Yele" to 501501 to donate $5 to "Yele Haiti, a group founded by former Fugees singer Wyclef Jean, who has Haitian roots, raised more than $2 million by Friday", reports Business World Online.  The text message can be resent up to six times.
• Text "HAITI" to 20222 to donate money to the Clinton Foundation.  
• Text  "HAITI" to 85944 to donate money to the International Medical Corps.
• Text "HAITI" to 25383 to donate money to the International Rescue Committee.
• Text "HAITI" to 52000 to donate money to the Salvation Army.

For a more comprehensive list, click on the following link to see more organizations that you can also text to donate money, such as Habitat for Humanity or UNICEF, to name a few:

Mobile Giving Foundation

How to Recycle Your Christmas Tree

According to Earth911.com, "Between 30 and 35 million real Christmas trees are sold in the U.S. each year. Luckily, about 93 percent of those trees are currently being recycled through more than 4,000 available recycling programs."  That's encouraging news!  One of the most common ways old trees are recycled is as mulch for playgrounds, trails, landscaping, etc.  There are many other novel ways that used Christmas trees are being recycled and reused, from providing habitat for animals, to helping to stop erosion. 

Each January, 400 old Christmas trees are strapped to a concrete block and dumped in Lake Havasu, which is a man-made desert lake located in Arizona and California.  These trees, which take a decade to decompose, form a reef for young bass, bluegills and other fish.  This provides protection and a habitat for the fish, and has considerably improved the fishing in Lake Havasu.

For the past 16 years donated Christmas trees have been used as a wetland preserver in southern Louisiana's coastal marshes.  The used trees are converted into four-foot-tall cribs that help to collect the sediment from the water as it rushes in.  Eventually, the sediment builds up behind the crib to form new land that helps to build up the eroded shore.

In Tomahawk, Wisconsin, the Packaging Corporation of America burns about 500 used trees a year as a source of power for their paper mills.  The resulting steam powers the mill for ten minutes.

On Baker Lake Island in Cook County, Illinois, volunteers prop used trees on foot-tall steel pipes to provide nests for herons and egrets.

To find the nearest Christmas tree recycling program near you, visit Earth911.com, or click on the previous link.

Set a Place for Mother Earth This Thanksgiving

My local newspaper, Rochester, New York's Democrat and Chronicle offers 10 environmentally-friendly tips for greening up your Thanksgiving:

1. Forgo disposable dishware. If you don't have enough plates, glasses and flatware to go around, borrow from guests or neighbors.

2. If you must do disposable, buy biodegradable and then compost it (otherwise, it just takes up space in the landfill, along with Styrofoam cups, paper plates and plastic forks).

3. Switch to cloth napkins. They feel better on the skin, absorb food mess better and don't take up much space in the washing machine and dryer. If this is a first-time investment, buy one set for special occasions, one set for everyday use. It won't be long until you wonder how you tolerated flimsy paper napkins for so long.

4. Use reusable food containers instead of wrapping leftovers in foil or plastic wrap or putting them in plastic bags. Want to send food home with your guests? Ask them to bring their own containers.

5. Yes, it's fun to have lots of food to serve and share. But don't overdo it to the point where you are throwing food out afterward. Plan, shop and cook carefully to avoid waste. Freeze whatever food you won't eat as soon as possible.

6. A 2006 study from the University of Washington found that driving several miles to the farmers market wiped out any savings in carbon emissions that might have been gained by purchasing locally grown food. Consolidate your trips to the farmers market and supermarket. Plan ahead to avoid last-minute runs to the store, and walk, bike, bus or carpool to shop whenever possible.

7. Decorate with what's on hand. Instead of flowers flown in from overseas, how about a lovely table centerpiece of locally grown gourds and squashes from the farmers market?

8. Buy local. Late fall is a great time of year to buy local: Potatoes, apples, winter squashes, greens, pears, onions and cabbages are abundant this time of year.

9. Buy a locally grown, organic and/or sustainably raised turkey. There are many area livestock farmers who now offer free-range, organic or sustainably raised birds. Supermarkets also offer organic turkey options, as do natural food stores. Be aware that in some cases, orders must be placed early, so if you can't eat organic this Thanksgiving, there's always next year.

10. From wine bottles to empty cans of broth, a holiday meal generates extra trash. Be sure all your recyclable waste goes to the recycling bin.

An additional tip, although probably too late for this Thanksgiving, is to look into purchasing a Heritage Turkey, which are turkeys that are genetically pure and whose ancestry can be traced back 100 years.  These turkeys take longer to raise than traditional, commercially-raised turkeys, but you won't be getting any antibiotics or hormones---just good 'ol 100% whole turkey goodness! 

However you celebrate this Thanksgiving, raise a glass in thanks to Mother Earth and all she has done for us!

Where the Candidates Stand On the Environment

It seems like all the talk lately has centered around our nation's ailing economy and not much else.  An issue like the environment has become a second-tier issue in the minds of many financially-struggling households.  In light of immediate financial concerns, it may be easy to lose sight of the bigger picture---all of the money in the world won't make a bit of difference if we don't have a planet to spend it in.  Also, all the money in the world can't cure all of the Earth's problems, but adequate funding, paired up with the proper legislation can truly make a difference with our environment. 

I've been combing through a zillion articles on the candidates' stances on the environment and energy policies, and I have struggled mightily with how to convey all of this information in a way that could be easily digested.  Finally, after much searching around, I finally found what I was looking for!  I found this handy-dandy chart on the wonderful site grist.org that really breaks down what the candidates' positions are on various environmental issues.  Not only is the information presented precisely and concisely, but also it highlights the oft-overlooked fact that there are other candidates out there besides just Barack Obama and John McCain---imagine that!  The chart details what the candidates have proposed for:  cap-and-trade programs for greenhouse-gas emissions, offshore drilling, fuel-economy standards for automobiles, renewable energy, biofuels, coal and nuclear energy.  You simply must check out this chart today! 

While I have previously expressed my views about John McCain's voting record on environmental issues and the Republican Party's seeming aversion to supporting environmental legislation, you must ultimately vote your conscience when you step into the polls on Tuesday.  Cast your vote for yourself, your family and for the mother of us all, the Earth.

Nature-Friendly Grilling

Despite the joys of grilling, you may still be wondering what effects your outdoor grilling may be having on the environment.  Just grilling occasionally on your own does not have a huge effect, but multiply your own grilling by the estimated 60 million barbecues on the Fourth of July, and you can see how all of these fired up grills can have an effect.  Using the Fourth of July example, Sierra Club has estimated that those 60 million barbecues "consume enough energy—in the form of charcoal, lighter fluid, gas, and electricity—to power 20,000 households for a year. That one day of fun, food, and celebration...burns the equivalent of 2,300 acres of forest and releases 225,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide."  Also, grilling with charcoal releases carbon monoxide, particulates and soot; and the use of lighter fluid "contribute more to ground-level ozone, which is produced when nitrogen oxides and volatile organic chemicals [VOCs] combine in hot weather conditions." 

So what can you do to green up your barbecue? Well, you may be a grilling purist, but you may want to consider trading out your charcoal grill for a cleaner-burning propane or electric grill.  You could also invest in a solar stove, which uses the sun's rays as a source of fuel, though it will take you much longer to cook your food, and it will not work on a cloudy day or at night.

If it sounds like sacrilege to you to give up your charcoal grill, then there are many ways to make your charcoal grill more environmentally-friendly:

• Keep your grill clean by using hot water and soap.  That way, you'll produce less smoke and carcinogens.
• Use chemical-free charcoal or wood chips, such as natural lump charcoal or natural briquettes.  Paul McRandle, deputy editor of National Geographic Green Guide recommends "to use use wood chip products that have been certified by the Forest Stewardship Council, meaning the forests from which they are harvested are maintained in an environmentally sound way."
• Use an appropriate amount of charcoal---that is, if you're only going to cook one burger, don't light up a grill full of charcoal, stick with a much smaller amount. 
• Use a "charcoal chimney" or a "chimney starter" instead of lighter fluid.  This device is basically a canister that you fill with charcoal and then light a piece of newspaper beneath to warm up your charcoal faster than it would in your grill. 
• Buy a well-made grill that you'll have forever.  That way, you'll keep it out of a landfill that's probably littered with cheapo grills.  Some grills have good warranties, so make sure to look for that too when purchasing.
• Choose a grill without a chemical non-stick finish.  McRandle warns that these chemicals may be human carcinogens and that "They're not in the product when it arrives at your home, but they're used in the manufacturing process and wind up in waterways."
• Reduce your preheating time to five to ten minutes.  Ted Reader, author of Napoleon's Everyday Gourmet Grilling says that "When people preheat for 20 or 30 minutes, it wastes fuel.  And you're going to wear out your grill faster."
• Ash can be used as fertilizer, as long as you apply it properly and sparely. 

You may also want to consider that your food choices can have an environmental impact as well.  First of all, you will want to consider grilling local foods to help out local farmers and to reduce the wastefulness of transporting foods long distances by truck.  Another good grilling practice would be to make kebabs because it will reduce the amount of meat you would typically use for steaks, and it will make you eat more vegetables---anyways, I think they're also a lot of fun to make!

Well, happy grilling and don't call me late for dinner!

Pelosi Rethinks Coastal Oil Drilling: Politics As Usual

Some environmentalists may be distressed to hear that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House Democrats are considering opening portions of the Outer Continental Shelf to oil drilling.  Don't despair---it's simply a case of politics as usual.  You see, the new Democratic strategy is to counter the Republican's argument that the Democrats aren't doing enough to reduce gasoline prices and help Americans in this ailing economy.  WELL, the Democrats wouldn't dare give up any political ground in this ridiculous chess match, so now they say that potential oil exploration and drilling is on the table, but only if paired up with proposals that the Republicans have opposed, such as tapping the petroleum reserve and renewable energy initiatives. 

So, we'll have to wait and see where all this political posturing gets us---who's willing to give up more ground in this election year?  Geez, I feel like I'm commentating a sports event or something!

When Camping, Don't Bring Firewood From Home!

Here's an alert that I received from Reserve America:

Firewood Alert: Don't Move Firewood! (New Regulation as of June 2008)

Dear New York Park & Campground Visitor, A new regulation is now in effect that prohibits the import of firewood into New York unless it has been kiln-dried. The new regulation also limits the transportation of untreated firewood to less than 50 miles from its source. Bringing your firewood with you? Most people don't realize they move bugs along with their firewood. You could be spreading diseases from insect invaders that can quickly kill large numbers of trees. Our forests are at risk from the transport of firewood infested with tree killers. Help protect our campgrounds and STOP THE SPREAD of these pests. Leave firewood at home - do not transport it to campgrounds or parks. Use only firewood from local sources. If you bring firewood, burn ALL of it before leaving your campsite. For more information on the regulation go to: www.dec.ny.gov (search word: firewood). The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the Office of Parks Recreation and Historic Preservation manage state parks with island camping, tent and trailer camping, boat launches, hiking trails, beaches and day use areas with picnic tables and grills. So, when camping, buy your firewood from local merchants and private residents.  You can buy a decent bundle of campwood for about $5, which should get you through a good night's campfire.  Anyways, the wood you don't bring in your car is all the more room you'll have to pack your camping gear and accessories!

Travel Green This Summer!

You want to get away this summer, but you want to do so in the greenest way?  Bob Schildgen, an advice columnist for Sierra Magazine and author of Hey Mr. Green recommends that you "Don't drive a gas guzzler anywhere."  Instead, you could rent a smaller vehicle, perhaps even a hybrid car for your trip.  Renting a car may seem like an expensive option, but "You could come out ahead financially by saving all that money on gas even when you add in the cost of the rental car", says Schildgen.

Deron Lovaas of the Natural Resources Defense Council says that "Tuning (up) our car and inflating our tires are simple things people can do to save money and cut pollution."

Of the most common transportation options, which is the greenest?  According to the U.S. Department of Energy, trains are the most efficient, then cars and then planes. In addition to their efficiency, trains are a quaint throwback to an earlier era of travel.  When flying, fly nonstop because "Planes burn more fuel on takeoffs and landings than they do at cruising altitudes," according to energy experts. 

Some travel websites give customers the option to donate some money to a green organization to help offset the environmental impact of flying.  

Take this Sierra Club survey entitled "How Green Is My Getaway?" to find out which travel option is the greenest.

However you choose to travel this summer, do so within your means, have fun, and do what you can to be green!

Exxon Must Be A Bakery 'Cause It's Making Lots of Dough!

It's thrilling to watch an athlete beat his or her personal best---not so exciting to watch Exxon beat its previous quarterly earnings by earning $11.68 billion, up from $11.66 billion at the end of 2007.  Yippee.  Despite these staggering figures, investors were "disappointed".   How can one be disappointed with record figures such as this?  Well, it turns out that there was a "10 percent drop in oil production and a 3 percent decline in natural gas production from the second quarter of 2007."  You see, when oil was only $20 a barrel, oil producing countries such as Russia, Venezuela, Iran and Nigeria signed agreements to let oil companies come in and work their oil fields, but now that the price of oil has skyrocketed, these same countries are in the position to demand more of the profits.  Heck, some countries are telling American and British oil companies to get out!  This, in addition to the rising cost of simply doing business---especially with demands on the marketplace from countries like China and India----makes the future for oil companies look much bleaker than the present picture.

In response to the inevitability of the oil industry's fall from grace, many oil companies are allocating large portions of their profits towards renewable and alternative energy sources.  BP, for instance, is making a big push into solar and wind power to help offset the difficulties of being a mega-oil corporation.  Exxon, however, has expressed little to no interest in going down the green brick road.  As revealed in Sierra Club's Exxpose Exxon campaign: "Exxon CEO Rex Tillerson dismisses renewable energy as 'uneconomic.' In a 2006 speech on Capitol Hill, Mr. Tillerson argued that developers of energy alternatives should be left alone to compete with the oil and gas industry. Without reference to the billions of dollars handed out to the oil and gas industry, he deplored renewable energy incentive programs. 'Interventions only distort the market,' he said." 

If the executives at Exxon don't change their tunes in the near future, they'll find themselves in a very dark oily pit of their own making. For my part, I'm going to do what I can to avoid Exxon Mobil from now on.  Let's see how much of a dent I can put in that $11+ billion figure...not much, eh?  Join me then, and bring your friends.   

Despite Global Warming, A Glacier Is GROWING?

In a USA Today article, Lonnie Thompson, a glacier expert at Ohio State University said that "Climate change is causing roughly 90% of the world's mountain glaciers to shrink."  Thanks to global warming, glaciers in the Sierra Nevada, the Rocky Mountains, the ice fields of Patagonia in Argentina and Chile, and ice masses elsewhere in the world are shrinking at an alarming rate.  In fact, "Warmer temperatures have cut the number of glaciers at Montana's Glacier National Park from 150 to 26 since 1850, and some scientists project there will be none left within 25 to 30 years."  Guess they'll have to rename that park, eh?   According to the U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the Earth's frozen ground in the Northern Hemisphere has decreased by about 7% since 1900.  For those who like to poo-poo all the talk about global warming as...poo poo, well, they fail to consider that the more ice that melts, the more the sea levels will rise, which will have detrimental effects on coastlines and waterways worldwide (ie.- Waterworld with Kevin Costner).

So, what's this about a glacier that is growing despite the rise in global temperatures?  Mount Shasta, a peak 14,000 feet above sea level that is 270 miles north of San Francisco, has seven glaciers that "are the only historical glaciers in the continental U.S. known to be growing."  How can this be?  It seems that these glaciers are actually benefiting from global warming in that it now receives more moisture from a warming Pacific Ocean, which falls in the form of snow, thus adding to the size of the glaciers.  In fact, Mount Shasta's glaciers have been growing since the early 20th Century.  This is not an isolated phenomenon.  According to the U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, glaciers in southern Norway and Sweden, the New Zealand Alps and northern Pakistan have also (until recently) benefited from this change in global temperatures.  Unfortunately, Mount Shasta's glaciers' growth won't forever be able to stay ahead of the rising temperatures.  It is estimated that all of Mount Shasta's glaciers will be gone by 2100 because its current rate of snowfall can't keep up with the estimated 11.2% increase in global temperatures by the end of the century.

It is sad to think that one day all of the beautiful glaciers we enjoy today will be gone, and even more sad to think that that day is not far off.  Naturalist John Muir once said of Mount Shasta: "When I first caught sight of it over the braided folds of the Sacramento Valley, I was fifty miles away and afoot, alone and weary. Yet all my blood turned to wine, and I have not been weary since."