environment

The Green Science of Food

jchatraw — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 15:51:58 -0400

As the husband of a bright, intelligent woman who possesses her Ph.D. in nutrition, my habit of eating at greasy spoons died a quick, yet painful, death. Instead of telling you how many pats of butter the short order cook at the Waffle House will add to my hashbrowns, I can now read the nutrition information on a food package with astounding clarity and understanding about what each item is and what it means to my health.

Since my wife is a scientist, she's also interested in why certain flavors go better together and loves to experiment with our weekly evening dinners. I'm totally fine with a nice rotation of 15-20 meals in a month, but that's just way too boring for her. And our eco-friendly lifestyle also now includes ways to grow our own food and integrate more organic foods into our diet.

Harold McGee's book On Food and Cooking: The science and lore of the kitchen is a great book that not only addresses health issues in your cooking but also why going green matters in the kitchen and how it impacts you. Here's McGee explaining why there's been a recent return toward fruits and vegetables as a larger portion of our diets:

"Plant foods can provide us all the nourishment we need in order to live and thrive. Our primate ancestors started out eating little else, and many cultures still do. But meat and other animal foods became important to our species at its birth, when their concentrated energy and protein probably helped accelerate our evolution (p. 119). Meat continued to have a deep biological appeal for us, and in societies that could afford to feed livestock on staple grains and roots, it became the most prized of foods. In the industrialized world, meat’s prestige and availability pushed grains, vegetables, and fruits to the side of the plate and the end of the meal. And for decades, nutritional science affirmed their accessory status. Fruits and vegetables in particular were considered to be the source of a few nutrients that we need only in small amounts, and of mechanically useful roughage. In recent years, though, we’ve begun to realize just how many valuable substances plant foods have always held for us. And we’re still learning."

10 Products that Get a Tree Planted

HunterGreen — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 23:20:04 -0400

“Going Green” has turned into big business for many. With the world consciousness becoming more aware of our destructive direction as a society, more businesses are turning to eco-friendly solutions to not only help the world, but also to help their reputation.

This article at We Heart World talks about buying products from companies that plant trees when you make some sort of purchase. It is an excellent way for people to do just a little more for the environment by supporting these companies in their initiative.

It shouldn't always be about price and convenience. We have the power to show confidence and consideration to those companies who are trying to make a difference.

Here are links to the companies in the article that DO make a difference. If you have any interest in buying the types of products that they sell, please stop by and compare. All things being equal, it makes sense to do the secondary things that make a difference such as showing your support with your purchases.

Computers: Dell

Plant a Tree for Me

Connectivity: IOGEAR

Road to a Million Trees

Maternity T-Shirt: UnButtonedMaternity

Plant a Tree Mommy

Surfboards: Loose Fit Surf Shop

Surf and Trees Campaign

Boots: Blundstone

Plant yourself in Blundstones. Plant a tree in Canada

Soap: JustNeem

Neem Tree

Shaving Oil: Pacific Shaving

Plants a tree for every bottle of shaving oil sold

Strollers: Baby Rain Inc.

Planting a tree for every stroller purchase.

Handbags: Ecoist

Plants a tree for every handbag

Books: Eco-Libris

Buy a book from them, they’ll plant a tree

Read more about businesses that help the environment on my blog.

Offset Your Carbon Emissions While You Watch Green Videos

jplatt — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 09:38:01 -0400

YouTube isn't the only place to watch online videos. It also isn't the greenest. That honor probably goes to Go Green Tube, the newly launched video sharing site that focuses on environmental topics and puts its money where its microphone is.

With less than two months under its online belt, Go Green Tube already offers hundreds of videos in more than a dozen channels. Topics include how to be green, green computing, green music, organic foods, and solar power. Kids even get their own corner with material created just for them.

But even beyond the programming, Go Green Tube offers something different. For every video watched by registered users, Go Green Tube will offset one pound of carbon dioxide emissions through carbonfund.org. So far, this equals about 2,000 pounds of emissions -- not a huge amount, but one that's sure to grow quickly as people discover the site.

Give it a spin. You might like what you see.

Small Acts of Anonymous Mercy

jchatraw — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 00:30:00 -0400

I often get overwhelmed when a seemingly insurmountable problem looms over me. It’s not that I really think most problems are insurmountable, it’s just that I see them taking way longer to resolve than I want to work on them. Yes, I admit it—I am a product of our fast-food world.

But I would like to change that. I want to make a difference with my life instead of idly standing by and watching the world spin out of control. I may not be able to do much, but a lot of people doing a little can make a difference.

That’s what Thom Hartmann calls us to do in his book The Last Hours of Ancient Sunlight: The Fate of the World and What We Can Do Before It's Too Late. He realizes the environmental problems in the world right now seem overwhelming; however, while his call for personal responsibility may not be heeded by all, if enough people choose to make a difference then a difference could be made.

Here are some of his thoughts on the topic:

“So where do we begin?

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus pointed out that when we do “good works,” we should do them without other people knowing that we did them. This is a difficult task: you have to continually keep an eye out for such opportunities.

Many people, looking at the enormity of all the problems facing the world, feel depressed, overwhelmed, and apathetic. They often give up.

But there is great spiritual and cultural power in performing small acts of mercy. They echo farther than most people realize, and begin a “morphic resonance” process of putting out into the air—in a way that becomes culturally contagious—the millions of small steps that must be taken worldwide to save our planet and our species.

On some level, we are all connected. When you save the life of another living being—even a worm or a weed—you are putting into the air the saving of lives. Small acts of mercy are among the most transformational spiritual activities a person can engage in, which is probably why Jesus and those teachers and prophets before him repeatedly put such emphasis on them.”

Can green algae help save the world?

RenewableMinute — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 13:22:47 -0400

Corn and sugar cane, move over. Several US companies are harvesting an algae that can be converted to oil and refined into biodiesel. Amazingly, the algae can grow in waste water, where it feeds on carbon dioxide. This means the algae offers a double benefit: it eats up excess CO2 while it matures into a non-polluting fuel source.

Algae may one day be the preferred feedstock for biofuels. Because it's not grown in soil and isn't edible, algae doesn't compete with food. One of the great biofuel scams going on right now is the use of corn, soy, and sugar to produce ethanol, which are being blamed in part for higher food prices and deforestation around the world. The AP just reported that:

Corn prices have shot up nearly 30 percent this year amid dwindling stockpiles and surging demand for the grain used to feed livestock and make alternative fuels including ethanol. Prices are poised to go even higher after the U.S. government this week predicted that American farmers -- the world's biggest corn producers -- will plant sharply less of the crop in 2008 compared to last year.

Algae has a high energy density and can produce 15 times more oil per hectare than other biofuel crops currently being harvested (rape, palm soya, and jatropha plants). The algae matures in 24 hours, converting 50 percent of their weight into usable fuel! Growing ponds can be built and operated on a massive commercial scale, creating the opportunity to produce a cost effective alternative to traditional oil supplies.

Where are we at with biofuel algae? The Florida-based company PetroAlgae plans to have an operational initial production facility this year and hopes to test a commercial system as early as next year. Fuels giant Royal Dutch Shell and HR Biopetroleum recently announced the creation of a joint venture called Cellana to make biodiesel from algae in Hawaii.

For more renewable energy news, visit The Renewable Minute.

How to Recycle Your Old CFL Light Bulbs

jplatt — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 12:00:00 -0400

Yes, CFLs are the greatest thing since sliced bread. They use less electricity, last longer, and look cool in your shopping cart. But as their critics are quick to point out, they do contain a small amount of mercury. That means they need to be properly recycled, unlike your old incandescent bulbs, which could just be thrown in the trash.

Unfortunately, a recent news report suggests that most people and businesses don't know how to recycle their used-up CFLs. In fact, surveys indicate that 90% of CFL bulbs are ending up in the garbage!

Kind of defeats the purpose, don't you think?

So, if you're still unsure of how to get rid of your CFLs, here are a few tips:

1. Check with the store where you buy them. My local hardware store collects old CFL bulbs. I just bring them in and hand them over. Easy as pie.

2. Search Earth 911 for local recycling options. Simply type in your zip code and this great site will come up with a list of local recycling and re-use centers.

3. Ask the EPA. They have a complete list of state-sponsored recycling programs on their web site.

4. Recycle in bulk. Businesses, which may end up using dozens or hundreds of CFLs in a building, can order an EasyPak CFL recycling container which holds up to 90 bulbs. The price of the $74.95 container includes shipping to return it when it's full. (This is also a good option for neighborhood who might want to recycle together.)

CFL recycling can seem like a pain, especially for individuals who might only have to get rid of one at a time, but as the bulbs get further established in our both our homes and our businesses, it's extremely important to understand our recycling options and to have good systems in place for when bulbs need to be replaced.

By the way, the next generation of CFLs will contain a lot less mercury -- and LED bulbs, when available, will be even greener -- so let's do our part now until something better comes along.

Save Your Child from Nature Deficit Disorder

jchatraw — Fri, 23 May 2008 03:00:00 -0400

Each spring growing up in the south, my brother and I raced to build another insurmountable fort to keep the girls out. While many kids I knew built forts, ours was not a treehouse built by dad; it was a mix of sturdy unused firewood and fanciful imagination.

Sure, our sister could just walk right in if she so wished, but lurking in our imaginary moat was a dragon that would eat her. Fortunately, she played along too and stayed away ... until she demanded to be let in and realized that if we could invent an imaginary dragon, she could also slay it with her imaginary sword.

These are the memories I cherish about my childhood, not how many times I KO'd Mr. Sandman in Mike Tyson's Punch-Out! on Nintendo. And that is the aim of Richard Louv's instant classic Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder (just released in paperback). Getting outdoors is a way to combat the runaway epidemic of attention-deficit disorder in children, according to some schools of thought. In this day and age when we're consumed with our digital world, we need some voices encouraging us to look up and take in the beauty around us. Louv does just that.

Check out this green nugget from Louv's book regarding the "loose-parts" theory and why outdoor play stirs the creative juices:

A "loose-parts" toy, as Nicholson defined it, is open-ended; children may use it in many ways and combine it with other loose parts through imagination and creativity. A typical list of loose parts for natural play area might include water, trees, bushes, flowers, and long grasses; a pond and the creatures within it, along with other living things; sand (best if it can be mixed with water); places to sit in, on, under; structures that offer privacy and views. Go beyond that play area, to woods, fields, and streams, and the parts become looser and even more potent to the imagination.

One might argue that a computer, with its near-infinite coding possibilities, is history's deepest box of loose parts. But binary code, made of two parts—1 and 0—has its limits. Nature, which excites all the senses, remains the richest source of loose parts.

The loose-parts theory is supported by studies of play that compare green, natural play areas with blacktop playgrounds. Sweedish schools found that children on asphalt playgrounds had play that was much more interrupted; they played in short segments. But in more natural playgrounds, children invented whole sagas that they carried from day to day to day—making and collecting meaning.

What's in a Name?

jchatraw — Tue, 20 May 2008 01:40:16 -0400

I don't remember the Love Canal fiasco that occurred in Niagara Falls, N.Y., in 1978, but the horror of this eco-disaster is just as gripping 30 years later to me as it surely was for the people who lived through it. I couldn't imagine discovering my house or apartment was built just above a toxic chemical waste dump site.

In Elizabeth D. Blum's new book, Love Canal Revisited: Race, Class, and Gender in Environmental Activism, she looks at the far-reaching implications of this historic case study that galvanized a neighborhood across every barrier humans try to construct. If you're an activist, this book is must-read simply for its historical context. But if you seek to understand what motivates people to get involved in environmental causes, this book is also helpful.

Here's a green nugget discussing the historical implications of the role of gender in this ecological travesty:

"Gendered language was fluid at Love Canal, although certain patterns emerged among the different groups. The most prominent language among the women at Love Canal was certainly maternalism. Concern for the health and safety of their families, especially their children, crossed both racial and class lines. Men involved at Love Canal emphasized economic concerns most visibly, but this economic response varied somewhat with the men's class and status. The elite men who dominated LCARA focused almost exclusively on the adverse effects on tourism and tax dollars. The working-class men in the neighborhood used economic concerns as a basis for their activism, pressing for a freeze on mortgage payments or taxes.

"Yet this dichotomy was hardly set in stone. Economic worries motivated several women in the neighborhood, especially businesswomen and single mothers responsible for the financial well-being of their families. Conversely, the male resident representatives of LCARA focused on health issues. In addition, groups enlarged the frame of the debate by introducing and emphasizing different aspects. Working-class whites cited citizenship rights as a basis for activism. The African American renters believed that race and class bias perpetuated their situation, and their activism explicitly emphasized a more inclusive solution at Love Canal. The ETF saw its activism as part of the broader environmental movement and incorporated language stressing the widespread nature of the problem and the idea of stewardship as a way to work toward change and prevent future problems."

We Love Us Some Ed Begley, Jr.

kbutler — Fri, 09 May 2008 01:00:00 -0400

Before there was Sundance, before there was green swag… Before there was a Vanity Fair cover featuring Julia Roberts dressed as a tree nymph, there was one celebrity who stood above the rest. There was Ed Begley, Jr.

From turning up at Hollywood events on a bike, to living in a self-sufficient home, to befriending RFK Jr. way before Clooney had him on speed dial, Ed deserves a shout-out for a lifetime of green achievement. Not only is he an award-winning conservationist, Ed also promotes his own line of all-natural household cleaners called Begley’s Best.

We tip our hemp hat to you, Ed Begley Jr. And don’t sweat not getting the Vanity Fair cover. After all, not everyone can pull off a leaf garland.

World Class Wrestler Goes to Sea to Fight for Eco-Causes

Julia — Wed, 07 May 2008 00:00:00 -0400

El Hijo del Santo, 25, or Jorge Guzman, is a world-renowned Mexican wrestler, but that's not all he fights for. His latest and most important endeavor is saving the environment.

El Hijo del Santo is the new spokesman for Wildcoast, a California- and Mexico-based conservation organization. He is working hard to teach the Mexican people the importance of conservation and preserving the environment.

His main focus in on the preservation of endagered sea turtles. He says that oftentimes, turtle meat ends up in various soups, and in tacos; the turtle eggs get sold on the black market. Turtle eggs are popular because many people believe that they are an an aphrodisiac.

A Wildcoast study also found that, due to coastal contamination, hree-fourths of the people who regularly swim in the ocean near the border cities of Tijuana or San Diego have suffered some kind of health problem, including intestinal and skin diseases.

It's not a good situation, by any means, but there is hope!

El Hijo del Santo is one of the most famous stars of Lucha Libre, a specific type of professional wrestling, popular in Mexico and Latin America. A lot of people look up to him, and he knows that kind of impact his actions can have on the rest of the country.

It is because of high-profile individuals, like El Hijo del Santo, and activists like you, that the environment is getting more attention than it ever has before, and that is imperative!