These are hilarious, I rolled laughing at this series. There are 7 of them on YouTube, these two are very funny. Really the funniest one, in my opinion, I just can't post here. It's dirty, but brilliant, if they clean it up more I'll post it then. If you're curious and looked a bit, it wouldn't be hard to find, but my sense of humor might be off, so please don't blame me...
Saturday, September 29, 2007
Do Something
Do Something is a fantastic organization challenging young people to change their world for the better. For the month of October, Do Something is holding the Environmental Sustainability Competition, open to all schools in Boston, Queens, Brooklyn and Staten Island. There is a $1,000 prize for the winners. I knew of them before I had heard about this competition and have always thought it was a good organization, so I am very happy to help spread the word. They really believe in our younger generation, and run a great campaign letting them know that. If you, or someone you know, are in the participating areas please find out more and get involved.
"Each school or club must initiate a project in the month of October to taking action to save energy, reduce waste and getting as many people as involved as you can to make reduce the environmental impact of your school and school population. Each school will report through an online submission form at the end of October the actions they took during the month to save energy, reduce waste and an estimate of how much energy they saved, waste reduced, people involved/impacted." - from Do Something
Even if you do not live in the competition area, it would be worth your time to visit their site. There is quite a bit of information to browse through, as well as a great search feature with a huge range of volunteer opportunities in your area.
"Each school or club must initiate a project in the month of October to taking action to save energy, reduce waste and getting as many people as involved as you can to make reduce the environmental impact of your school and school population. Each school will report through an online submission form at the end of October the actions they took during the month to save energy, reduce waste and an estimate of how much energy they saved, waste reduced, people involved/impacted." - from Do Something
Even if you do not live in the competition area, it would be worth your time to visit their site. There is quite a bit of information to browse through, as well as a great search feature with a huge range of volunteer opportunities in your area.
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Food Chain
Our world economy is generally made up by you personally feeding small to medium businesses, who in turn feed big business, who in turn feed bigger corporations, who in turn feed colossal corporations. Whew. The environmental movements work in the same way, only not always with money do you belong in the chain here. In some instances your time is just as, if not more, valuable. I would like to occasionally spotlight a few of the small to medium organizations, since most are already familiar with the bigger orgs. Edit - I just want to clarify, your monetary contributions are vital to some of these operations. When they are trying to offset the harm those billion dollar colossal corporations are causing, you will be a lifeline. I do not want to diminish the value of financial support. The orgs I will be spotlighting will be a mixture in need.
Eco-Libris
"About 20 million trees are being cut down EVERY YEAR to produce the books sold in the U.S. alone." "Let’s start with the bottom line: we believe in providing people with easy and affordable ways to take responsibility for their actions and go green. We don’t believe in preaching doom and gloom. It’s not our style. We do believe in taking action and in the power of small changes to make a big impact." - from the Eco-Libris website
According to the site, their three planting partners are all non-profit organizations working in developing countries for the benefit of both the environment and local communities in these countries. Sustainable Harvest International; RIPPLE Africa; The Alliance for International Reforestation
I went to all the sites mentioned here, they were all ecologically sensible and worth going to for me. All are working towards making a positive difference in our lives.
Eco-Libris
"About 20 million trees are being cut down EVERY YEAR to produce the books sold in the U.S. alone." "Let’s start with the bottom line: we believe in providing people with easy and affordable ways to take responsibility for their actions and go green. We don’t believe in preaching doom and gloom. It’s not our style. We do believe in taking action and in the power of small changes to make a big impact." - from the Eco-Libris website
According to the site, their three planting partners are all non-profit organizations working in developing countries for the benefit of both the environment and local communities in these countries. Sustainable Harvest International; RIPPLE Africa; The Alliance for International Reforestation
I went to all the sites mentioned here, they were all ecologically sensible and worth going to for me. All are working towards making a positive difference in our lives.
A Global Warning...
Excellent video, one of my favorite on Global Warming so far. If you watch it all the way through, it has a great ending too.
STOP TALKING ABOUT TALKING
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The world's biggest greenhouse gas polluters -- including the United States and China -- sent envoys to the U.S. State Department on Thursday for discussions on climate change and what to do about it.
... The Washington talks are not formal climate negotiations, but rather an airing of views on greenhouse gases, energy security, technology development and commercialization, financing -- and a daylong closed-door session on "process and principles for setting a long-term goal" to cut the human-caused emissions that spur climate change.
Click Here For The Whole Article
This administration has consistently put on a smoke and mirrors act with environmental issues, especially with our responsibility to reduce emissions. Although I understand there was more to the decision, the main public reasoning for not participating in the Kyoto Protocol was foolish, I can almost see the stomping of feet while whining; China's not included, why are weeeeee?? And what about Indiiiiaaa? It's not fair!
I really want to send them to their rooms to think about the way they're acting. And don't come out until you can apologize and respect others. It is very frustrating.
... The Washington talks are not formal climate negotiations, but rather an airing of views on greenhouse gases, energy security, technology development and commercialization, financing -- and a daylong closed-door session on "process and principles for setting a long-term goal" to cut the human-caused emissions that spur climate change.
Click Here For The Whole Article
This administration has consistently put on a smoke and mirrors act with environmental issues, especially with our responsibility to reduce emissions. Although I understand there was more to the decision, the main public reasoning for not participating in the Kyoto Protocol was foolish, I can almost see the stomping of feet while whining; China's not included, why are weeeeee?? And what about Indiiiiaaa? It's not fair!
I really want to send them to their rooms to think about the way they're acting. And don't come out until you can apologize and respect others. It is very frustrating.
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
National Public Lands Day
National Public Lands Day - September 29th, 2007.
National Public Lands Day is the nation’s largest hands-on volunteer effort to improve and enhance the public lands Americans enjoy. In 2006, 100,000 volunteers built trails and bridges, planted trees and plants, and removed trash and invasive plants.
Contact your local state park to participate, almost every park should have something planned. In Southwest Florida there is a general theme of removing invasive species such as Brazilian pepper and Carrotwood plants from our public parks. Your local parks will address problems specific to the area. This is definitely a worthy way to spend a day!
Follow this link - National Public Lands Day - for more information. If you scroll to the bottom, on the right hand side you will find a link to locate your specific area.
Bumping this to the top, it is this upcoming Saturday.
National Public Lands Day is the nation’s largest hands-on volunteer effort to improve and enhance the public lands Americans enjoy. In 2006, 100,000 volunteers built trails and bridges, planted trees and plants, and removed trash and invasive plants.
Contact your local state park to participate, almost every park should have something planned. In Southwest Florida there is a general theme of removing invasive species such as Brazilian pepper and Carrotwood plants from our public parks. Your local parks will address problems specific to the area. This is definitely a worthy way to spend a day!
Follow this link - National Public Lands Day - for more information. If you scroll to the bottom, on the right hand side you will find a link to locate your specific area.
Bumping this to the top, it is this upcoming Saturday.
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
What happens to the rain then?
My 13 year old son has a question, What happens to the rain then? If global warming is causing droughts, but the total water on our earth remains the same, what is happening to the rain? He wants to know where it is going, how is evaporation and precipitation changing? Anyone willing to help give him an answer?
Clarification - I homeschool my 11 and 13 year old sons. I do this partly because I feel our institutionalized world has led to a general disconnection from the "real" world. Society is heavily media driven, even in our schools, media rules with misinformation given as truth. I believe we can recondition our youth into finding truth for themselves, and help foster a reconnection for all of us to our natural world. We realize that we, too, can be the media. You are the media. Person of the year, even.
Today one of my sons chose global warming as his thesis topic. I think it would be great to use this blog and your voices as a resource in his quest for answers. If you are willing to help, it should be a neat experience for all of us.
Clarification - I homeschool my 11 and 13 year old sons. I do this partly because I feel our institutionalized world has led to a general disconnection from the "real" world. Society is heavily media driven, even in our schools, media rules with misinformation given as truth. I believe we can recondition our youth into finding truth for themselves, and help foster a reconnection for all of us to our natural world. We realize that we, too, can be the media. You are the media. Person of the year, even.
Today one of my sons chose global warming as his thesis topic. I think it would be great to use this blog and your voices as a resource in his quest for answers. If you are willing to help, it should be a neat experience for all of us.
Old Oil Company Ad
This was a recent Jay Leno bit, I thought it was hilarious.
Someone recently sent me an oil company ad from 1974. It shows a giant glacier dominating a little ship the size of a dime. The ad says, “We produce enough energy in one day to melt this glacier in 11 seconds.” Can you imagine that ad running today? That just killed me. “We can melt this glacier in 11 seconds”—and they’re bragging about it! Now they’re going, “Oh, no, we’re not going near any of the glaciers, no.” - Jay Leno
I looked all over the net for that ad, but I don't think it's going to be found. I would love to see that though, we could blow that baby up and billboard the world, what fun would that be... if anybody does find it, please link!
Someone recently sent me an oil company ad from 1974. It shows a giant glacier dominating a little ship the size of a dime. The ad says, “We produce enough energy in one day to melt this glacier in 11 seconds.” Can you imagine that ad running today? That just killed me. “We can melt this glacier in 11 seconds”—and they’re bragging about it! Now they’re going, “Oh, no, we’re not going near any of the glaciers, no.” - Jay Leno
I looked all over the net for that ad, but I don't think it's going to be found. I would love to see that though, we could blow that baby up and billboard the world, what fun would that be... if anybody does find it, please link!
Monday, September 24, 2007
Sunday, September 23, 2007
Global Dimming
Someone left me this url - click: Global Dimming - in a comment, I thought it was incredibly interesting and wanted to pass it on. It's curious, I knew that aerosols were damaging and understood the phenomena in a more vague way, but never had I heard this term before. The article basically explains what Global Dimming is and states that its effects had masked Global Warming for years. Kind of a funny at the end of the wiki entry; some scientists suggest reintroducing heavy aerosols into the atmosphere to stave off Global Warming effects... then we're all going to put a bullet in our head to get rid of headaches. I want to post more on this later, after I research it fully. If anyone has any other links to news articles, etc. on this, I would be interested in seeing them.
EDIT - Inel was kind enough to compile a great synopsis on this issue, please read comments for more.
EDIT - Inel was kind enough to compile a great synopsis on this issue, please read comments for more.
Saturday, September 22, 2007
Defining beautiful
Above - Great Blue Heron
Above - Rosette Spoonbill - Threatened Species
Below - Great Egret
Just wanted to share a little bit of my definition of beauty.
Friday, September 21, 2007
Deal reached on cutting ozone-damaging emissions
OTTAWA (Reuters) - Delegates from almost 200 countries agreed late on Friday to eliminate ozone-depleting substances faster than originally planned, the United Nations said.
The agreement was reached at a conference in Montreal to mark the 20th anniversary of the Montreal protocol, which was designed to cut chemicals found to harm the ozone layer. The layer protects the Earth from ultraviolet radiation.
The United States -- backed by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) -- had urged delegates to move the deadline for phasing out production and use of hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFC) for developed countries to 2020 from 2030 and to 2030 from 2040 for developing nations.
"A deal which UNEP believes is historic has been reached on the accelerated freezing and phase-out of HCFCs," said UNEP spokesman Nick Nuttall.
He said details of the deal would be unveiled at a news conference in Montreal at 10 a.m. (1400 GMT) on Saturday.
HCFCs are used in air conditioners and refrigerators. Holes in the ozone layer are blamed for increased risk of cancer and cataracts in humans.
Nuttall said the deal still had to be approved by a plenary session of the conference, adding that he did not expect there to be any problems or delays.
Washington says the faster phase-out of HCFCs would be twice as effective as the Kyoto protocol in fighting climate change.
The agreement was reached at a conference in Montreal to mark the 20th anniversary of the Montreal protocol, which was designed to cut chemicals found to harm the ozone layer. The layer protects the Earth from ultraviolet radiation.
The United States -- backed by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) -- had urged delegates to move the deadline for phasing out production and use of hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFC) for developed countries to 2020 from 2030 and to 2030 from 2040 for developing nations.
"A deal which UNEP believes is historic has been reached on the accelerated freezing and phase-out of HCFCs," said UNEP spokesman Nick Nuttall.
He said details of the deal would be unveiled at a news conference in Montreal at 10 a.m. (1400 GMT) on Saturday.
HCFCs are used in air conditioners and refrigerators. Holes in the ozone layer are blamed for increased risk of cancer and cataracts in humans.
Nuttall said the deal still had to be approved by a plenary session of the conference, adding that he did not expect there to be any problems or delays.
Washington says the faster phase-out of HCFCs would be twice as effective as the Kyoto protocol in fighting climate change.
Saturday, September 15, 2007
Arctic Ice Melt Opens Northwest Passage
Click here: Associated Press - for full story.
Click here: European Space Agency - for satellite imagery.
Friday, September 14, 2007
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Disposable Work Sites
I need to rant. And cry. And rail against The Oil Man! I was having a conversation with a friend recently in which it took an interesting turn and I want to (need to, argh!) share the story. We were talking about his job, he works in "acquisitions" for one of the biggest oil companies in the world. He travels extensively in his profession and is getting ready to go on another business trip soon, but his trip was delayed due to unsafe conditions in the destination country. As we were talking about the canceled trip and the temporary relief therein, the conversation turned from the personal fear and questionable morality of the job to the environmental destruction and immorality of the big oil companies.
I was introduced to the term "disposable work sites" for the first time. I'll get back to that in a moment. Before he started talking in depth as to facts, he said he had seen things in his career that had made him want to cry, and things that made him feel completely demoralized. I do not believe he said this lightly, I wanted to cry listening to him. And take a shower. I am going to keep him out of the rest of this and just repeat what I was told. He signed a lifetime confidentiality agreement and has not the slightest doubt as to whether they enforce policy. His words were "I'd be a dead man". I am not trying to sensationalize this, honestly it is already sensational enough, I need no embellishments. Some of you will not believe any of this at any rate. Hopefully I do his story justice and do not mangle the intentions.
Back to the disposable work sites. As I understand it, a company would bring its equipment to the arctic work sites and set up after the hard freeze. They need to be out before spring break-up in order to safely, even feasibly, tear down the work site and transport it all back out. It is costly to bring the equipment in and set up, and costly to reverse the process. So sometimes they just leave it. If it is more expensive to tear the job down than the equipment is, the job might run long and make it impossible to get out due to thaw. What are they to do? The government has protocol in place for this "just in case". They must drain all toxins out of the various machinery and a few other measures are in place (I do not know them all), and then they can leave it. The earth will swallow it all down as full spring break-up commences. For this reason, much of the equipment remains unregistered. The government does not want to set a strict leave date because no one can predict the thaw to the day and every day lost is a dollar lost for them. This is tundra, where things take years to grow and everything existing is vital. The impact of ecologically reckless actions is incomprehensible.
There was more to the talk; the big oil reasoning that if the government fines $20,000 to dump here, and it costs $30,000 to properly dispose of toxins... we can guess (and at times see) which they choose. The destruction to the Inuit tribes by oil companies laying waste to their lands. The known probability that the indigenous people, too, can be bought off. I believed that buyout to be rooted in fear that they and their desolate lands will be completely forgotten by the rest of the world.
I can not cite sources, give names or exact dates, nor can I give exact geographical instances. That does not make any of this less true, or less significant. We hear about mass consumption of natural resources so frequently now that there is a tendency to tune out the under current of urgency racing through environmental societies. We need to re-sensitize ourselves, we need to feel the pure outrage the aforementioned harmful actions should incite. Environmental havoc is happening daily, how much longer will people of power and our lawmakers disregard it?
They sacrifice our land, our very future is for sale by men in the present. I read something recently, "nature has no rights today, it exists merely as property"- it resonated in me, something has to change. People rightfully cry out for child rights, for the meek voice to be heard and abuse to be prosecuted. Who will speak for nature, give it a collective voice and prosecute tormentors, simply give rights back to the very thing that gives us life? Us. We are our future. Our Earth can not give voice any louder than it already is, we must listen and articulate in words and action what is already being expressed in the declining health of our every - think of how big a word every truly is- ecosystem. We do have a voice, and in that we have power.
I was introduced to the term "disposable work sites" for the first time. I'll get back to that in a moment. Before he started talking in depth as to facts, he said he had seen things in his career that had made him want to cry, and things that made him feel completely demoralized. I do not believe he said this lightly, I wanted to cry listening to him. And take a shower. I am going to keep him out of the rest of this and just repeat what I was told. He signed a lifetime confidentiality agreement and has not the slightest doubt as to whether they enforce policy. His words were "I'd be a dead man". I am not trying to sensationalize this, honestly it is already sensational enough, I need no embellishments. Some of you will not believe any of this at any rate. Hopefully I do his story justice and do not mangle the intentions.
Back to the disposable work sites. As I understand it, a company would bring its equipment to the arctic work sites and set up after the hard freeze. They need to be out before spring break-up in order to safely, even feasibly, tear down the work site and transport it all back out. It is costly to bring the equipment in and set up, and costly to reverse the process. So sometimes they just leave it. If it is more expensive to tear the job down than the equipment is, the job might run long and make it impossible to get out due to thaw. What are they to do? The government has protocol in place for this "just in case". They must drain all toxins out of the various machinery and a few other measures are in place (I do not know them all), and then they can leave it. The earth will swallow it all down as full spring break-up commences. For this reason, much of the equipment remains unregistered. The government does not want to set a strict leave date because no one can predict the thaw to the day and every day lost is a dollar lost for them. This is tundra, where things take years to grow and everything existing is vital. The impact of ecologically reckless actions is incomprehensible.
There was more to the talk; the big oil reasoning that if the government fines $20,000 to dump here, and it costs $30,000 to properly dispose of toxins... we can guess (and at times see) which they choose. The destruction to the Inuit tribes by oil companies laying waste to their lands. The known probability that the indigenous people, too, can be bought off. I believed that buyout to be rooted in fear that they and their desolate lands will be completely forgotten by the rest of the world.
I can not cite sources, give names or exact dates, nor can I give exact geographical instances. That does not make any of this less true, or less significant. We hear about mass consumption of natural resources so frequently now that there is a tendency to tune out the under current of urgency racing through environmental societies. We need to re-sensitize ourselves, we need to feel the pure outrage the aforementioned harmful actions should incite. Environmental havoc is happening daily, how much longer will people of power and our lawmakers disregard it?
They sacrifice our land, our very future is for sale by men in the present. I read something recently, "nature has no rights today, it exists merely as property"- it resonated in me, something has to change. People rightfully cry out for child rights, for the meek voice to be heard and abuse to be prosecuted. Who will speak for nature, give it a collective voice and prosecute tormentors, simply give rights back to the very thing that gives us life? Us. We are our future. Our Earth can not give voice any louder than it already is, we must listen and articulate in words and action what is already being expressed in the declining health of our every - think of how big a word every truly is- ecosystem. We do have a voice, and in that we have power.
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Grist Article
Sunday, September 9, 2007
Monday, September 3, 2007
Welcome!
Welcome to my blog!
I believe educating ourselves and others to be the most important thing we can do to help our environment. If we can learn to be good environmental stewards we can positively change the face of our planet and its outlook. This is a work in progress, my ideas still evolving and my end direction yet to be determined. Please join me for my journey, and feel free to let me know what roads you would like me to explore on the way. My only solid truths right now are that there are many obstacles we face to a healthy environment, and that we must tackle our way of life. Not just one thing but a subtle difference in all things will make a dramatic change.
From the way we consume water (turn it off while you brush your teeth, and did you know water is NOT food for your lawn, drowning it will not make a healthy lawn) to walking our pets (pick up after them, do you really want to swim in that feces after it gets washed into your watershed) to being a responsible oil consumer (plan your trips out) we can make a positive difference with a few responsible changes in our life!
Thank you for being here with me right now, I hope you take something from this site that you can use. Also, if you have something to teach me, please do so!
Your Watershed
How Does Your Community Fit In The Big Picture?
Why is your watershed important?
We all live in a watershed. Watersheds are the places we call home, where we work and where we play. Everyone relies on water and other natural resources to exist. What you and others do on the land impacts the quality and quantity of water and our other natural resources.
Healthy watersheds are vital for a healthy environment and economy. Our watersheds provide water for drinking, irrigation and industry. Many people enjoy our streams, lakes, rivers and coasts for their beauty and for boating, fishing and swimming. Wildlife also need healthy watersheds for food and shelter.
Because we all belong to a watershed, our actions affect the health of our watershed. Common activities like walking the dog, taking care of the lawn and driving the car leave behind pollutants. As rain water moves through the watershed, it picks up bacteria and chemicals, and carries them to our streams, rivers, lakes and coasts. Improper disposal of motor oil, pet waste and overfertilization of a lawn all contribute to this pollution. Because of its many random sources, we all share responsibility for this pollution, it is called nonpoint-source pollution. My watershed is Little Sarasota Bay, find out your own watershed and learn what unique problems you may be facing.
What Can I Do To Help?
Use fertilizers and pesticides sparingly
Extra nutrients in the water supply disrupts the natural harmony between animals and plants of an ecosystem.
Conserve water
Overwatering can damage lawns and plants and places extra stress on our water supply.
Never dump anything down a stormdrain
Stormdrains are channels for rain water to help reduce flooding. Dumped chemicals can find their way deep underground, polluting the aquifer and other water supplies we all rely on.
Pick up after your pets
Bacteria from pet waste can be carried into nearby water bodies and are harmful to fish. Plus, when you go swimming, do you really want to swim in pet feces??
These are just a few of the many things you can do to decrease your burden on our environment. There are numerous other ways you can make a difference, there are so many wonderful organizations out there that want to help you; they are waiting to hear from you!
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