Who’s Who in Green: Chip Giller

Before Grist.org burst onto the scene in 1999, environmentalism online was all about doom and gloom. Chip Giller, Grist’s founder, had a feeling that all of the dour finger-pointing and long journalistic articles about sea turtles weren’t exactly drawing a jaded public to the cause.  So, Grist’s signature editorial voice was born – one that’s sometimes lighthearted, almost always humorous or satirical.  Grist, which began as a tiny online newsletter, is now one of the most influential environmental blogs, drawing in nearly a million daily readers.

Grist.org paved the way for blogs like the one you’re reading at this very moment. The idea that environmentalism can be fun has undoubtedly helped to catch the interest of millions of people who otherwise would have been turned off by the tone of the movement.

For this reason, Chip Giller was named among TIME Magazine’s Heroes of the Environment, an honor he shares with such illustrious company as Al Gore, Wangari Maathai, David Attenborough and the designers of the Toyota Prius.  He was also awarded the 2006 National Conservation Achievement Award by the National Wildlife Federation, and has been featured in Vanity Fair, Newsweek and on the Today Show.

Check out what Chip had to say on PBS Now:

When asked by Mother Jones recently what he thought it would take to get people to act on the environmental crisis, Chip said:

I think to get society to act as a whole, people need inspiration. I also think things like the Katrina tragedy are definitely a wake-up call. To be fully honest, I think it probably will take some more disasters to really get people to understand the urgency behind these issues. But the other really important ingredient is inspiration. It’s almost like leadership and inspiration from the top, and there needs to be individual initiative from the bottom up.

Grist.org is the ideal place for people on the cusp of interest in ‘going green’ to get their info and news, so be sure to forward it along to your friends and family! And be sure not to miss regular Grist features like From A to Green, Ask Umbra and The Grist List.

Chip Giller’s Green Score: 32,145

Eco Fashion Review: Elwood Clothing

When it comes to shopping for eco fashion, those of us who don’t have deep pockets often find ourselves with a selection of garments that are comfortable, stylish and affordable (choose any two). While the scratchy, unattractive hemp creations of yesteryear are fading in memory, a new crop of environmentally conscious fashion is getting attention, and one of the brands that epitomizes the casual cool side of the eco-movement is Elwood.

Elwood bills itself as a ‘lifestyle brand’ that encompasses music, art and environmentalism. Their line of clothing and accessories for men and women is made mostly of sustainable materials like bamboo, hemp, organic cotton and recycled yarn.  Elwood is part of 1% for the Planet, an alliance of businesses who pledge to donate at least one percent of their annual sales to creating a healthier planet.

My personal favorite among the women’s clothing is the Pinky dress (pictured middle above), a soft and cozy dress (which can also be worn as a tunic) made of bamboo and cotton.  It’s been a great addition to my fall wardrobe – warm, versatile and super cute with leggings and boots.

Check out the whole line at ElwoodClothing.com.

Link [Elwood Clothing]

Great Green Job of the Week: Nuclear Energy & Climate Change Project Manager

The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) is seeking a Nuclear Energy and Climate Change Project Manager to provide information to the public, policy-makers, and media on nuclear power in the context of climate change. Candidates must have a solid background in energy technologies and policies, and comfort with nuclear economics. UCS is a leading science-based nonprofit organization working for a healthy planet and a safer world, with a membership and activist base of more than 100,000, a staff of over 100, and offices in Cambridge (MA), Washington (DC), Berkeley (CA), and Chicago (IL).

Responsibilities: Under the direction of the Clean Energy Program Director, the Project Manager will:

Develop and manage an education campaign on nuclear power in the context of climate change. The campaign will highlight issues of comparative energy economics, public subsidies, and safety and security issues with current and advanced reactor designs.
Develop position papers, fact sheets, presentations, talking points, web copy and other products for use in communication, educational, advocacy and outreach activities.
Work with in-house analysts and manage consultants on energy economic analyses.
Serve as UCS staff spokesperson on nuclear power issues, working proactively with media staff to engage broadcast and print media.

Work with UCS lobbyists to help educate members of Congress and the administration, governors, federal agency and regulatory leaders and their staffs about UCS positions, and help advance UCS’s legislative agenda.
Work with UCS Global Security Program analysts and advocates to advance goals of nuclear safety and security.
Participate in stakeholder dialogues and engagements.

Qualifications: Position requires broad knowledge of the energy sector and relevant technologies and policies, and working knowledge of nuclear economics. Ideal candidate will have in-depth knowledge of at least one key nuclear policy issue—nuclear economics, safety, security, or waste, generally acquired through completion of an advanced degree. Familiarity with climate change and national and international security policy is helpful. Must have demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with a wide range of audiences (including media, policymakers, scientists, engineers, and other experts) about complex scientific, technical and economic issues. Must have leadership skills and demonstrated ability to build consensus and agreement, and to manage complex collaborative projects.

Experience: Requires 5-7 years of progressively responsible experience in energy technology/economics and two or more years of experience in pubic policy. Additionally, 3-5 years experience in managing complex projects, including planning and successful implementation to achieve measurable results.

To get more information, including position details and how to apply, see the job posting over at Green Biz.

Link [Green Biz] + [Union of Concerned Scientists]

Thai Temple Made of 1 Million Recycled Glass Bottles

A temple in the Sisaket province of Thailand is built of more than a million recycled glass bottles in shades of green and brown.  The Wa Pa Maha Chedio Kaew temple is nicknamed ‘Wat Lan Kuad’ or ‘Temple of Million Bottles’, a fitting name for a structure that takes low-tech eco-friendly architecture to a whole new level. The crematorium, surrounding shelters and even the toilets are made of glass bottles.  The monks continue to gather recycled bottles so they can create more buildings with them.

From Inhabitat:

The bottle-collection-turned-building started in 1984, when the monks used them to decorate their shelters. The shiny building material attracted more people to donate more bottles, until eventually they had enough to build the temple standing today. Bottle caps are also integrated as decorative mosaic murals. Going beyond use of glass as a sustainable building material, the bottle bricks don’t fade, let natural light into the space and are surprisingly easy to maintain. So if you’re looking to find Nirvana in a bottle, you might want to consider making a stop at the Wat Pa Maha Kaew Temple.

Who would have thought that you could build such a beautiful temple from items deemed by most as trash? Instead of piling up in a landfill, these bottles have given the monks a place to worship and live. I can only imagine what it looks like illuminated by sunlight – it must be quite a sight! Check out the rest of the photos over at Inhabitat.

Link [Inhabitat]

Will Allen is officially a GENIUS

This year, urban farmer Will Allen was named a MacArthur Fellow. Informally known as the “genius award”, the Fellowship is a $500,000, no-strings-attached grant for individuals who have shown exceptional creativity in their work and promise to do more. As the CEO of Growing Power, Will Allen has been working  to support community food systems from the local to international level.

From their website:

Growing Power transforms communities by supporting people from diverse backgrounds and the environments in which they live through the development of Community Food Systems.  These systems provide high-quality, safe, healthy, affordable food for all residents in the community.

Keep up the great work Will!

Corey Feldman Releases ‘Green Song’ on Sustainable Album

Actor Corey Feldman is going where no former ‘80s child star has gone before: singing about the environment.  Who knew Corey Feldman was such a greenie? Feldman’s band, ‘Truth Movement’ will be releasing their album, entitled ‘Technology Analogy’, on November 25th.  The first single is called ‘Green is the Colour’, and is clearly Pink Floyd-inspired (in fact, that’s the name of a Pink Floyd song that appeared in the 1969 film ‘More’).

From Corey’s website, via Ecorazzi:

“Please don’t judge the album based soley on the listening pleasure you get from “Green is the Colour” because this song is just one piece of the bigger picture. A very exciting part of this song is that Zen and Corey’s niece Alexa are making their debut as recording artists. The two children narrate the introduction to the song and also sing the chorus at the end of the song. Remember, Green is not only the colour, but also a way of life! Go Green!!”

You know, I can’t say I’m a fan – though I was at that boy-crazy age at the height of Corey’s fame in the late ‘80s, I was more interested in guys like Axl Rose – but it’s a nice idea. And he is the less douchey of the Coreys.  The song actually made me laugh, and I don’t think that’s what they were going for. But, hey, the album was made with 100% biodegradable materials including recyclable paper, soy ink and a corn plastic tray, which is awesome.

Go listen for yourself at Corey Feldman’s official website.

Link [Ecorazzi] + [Corey Feldman]

California’s Proposition 2: Money vs. Animal Rights

Proposition 8 isn’t the only battle raging in California this election season, with the lives of millions hanging in the balance. Farm animals raised for food will either get a big break next Tuesday, seeing better treatment than they’ve ever received in America, or they’ll continue to be treated cruelly, confined to tiny cages so they can’t even stand up or turn around.

From Grist, via The Huffington Post:

It’s not just another one of those far-out Left Coast things. The Prop. 2 campaign is playing on a mainstream, national stage. Oprah Winfrey devoted a show to the issue of food-animal care and Prop. 2 last week, and the New York Times editorial page voiced support for the proposition.

The changes called for in Prop. 2 are small but significant. The ballot wording says simply that Prop. 2 “requires that calves raised for veal, egg-laying hens, and pregnant pigs be confined only in ways that allow these animals to lie down, stand up, fully extend their limbs and turn around freely.” It would take effect Jan. 1, 2015.

There’s a lot at stake here, not just for the animals who live such heartbreakingly sad, painful lives before ending up on our plates or producing the eggs we eat, but for the quality of our food in the future. The nation’s big factory farmers will be watching the results of Prop 2 carefully, because if it passes, it’ll be sending them a strong message from voters: that we do care where our food comes from and how it’s raised.

If you’re a California resident, please vote yes on Proposition 2. Learn more about it at the California Voter Guide.

Link [Grist] + [Huffington Post] + [Voter Guide]
Photo credit: LA Times

Awesomely Green Westfalia Verdier Solar Power VW Van

If you’ve ever looked at VW vans in longing for that seemingly carefree life, but cringe at the thought of how much you’d spend on gas, you’re really going to covet this. Eco Chick called our attention to the sweet new Westfalia Verdier Solar Power VW Van, which is way more hip and well-appointed than those Westfalias from the ‘60s. The sleek new design of this hybrid camper features solar panels that provide electricity for the on-board accessories while the vehicle is stationary, an on-board computer and a GPS system that calculates the best position for the solar panels.

From Eco Chick:

Some other improvements from the 1960’s version include, a pneumatic suspension, which lowers the vehicle and sets its structure on the tires for improved comfort and a better stabilization in the stationary position. The sliding half-door on the passenger side has an integrated folding staircase which makes the second stage area accessible from outside the vehicle. The passenger seat is transformed mechanically into stairs so that the second stage area (top level) can be easily reached from inside. A swivel cooking range makes it possible to cook outside as well as inside.  And of course, there’s a multi-media computer with a wireless Internet connection.

Official EarthFirst Drooltime Hour. That thing is amazing. Oh, how I’d love to hop in this thing and take a driving tour of some of my favorite parts of the country, like New England and the Pacific Northwest. All those windows! Solar power! Of course, if you’re solidly in the middle class like me, buying this thing would mean permanently moving into it – it costs a cool $129,000. It’ll be available next year, and reservations are being taken now.

Check out this YouTube clip to see all the features:

Link [Eco Chick] + [YouTube]

The Upside to a Total Breakdown in Society, Or Why Utter Chaos Might Not Be So Bad (For the Earth)

Gas stops flowing and the roads are all but desolate, as only a few vehicles are still able to run. Container ships from China stop pulling into port, grocery store trucks can’t deliver supplies and emergency services can’t answer desperate pleas for help. Governments fall apart as they fail to control an angry, hungry, rioting population which, after a long period of total anarchy, finally begins breaking into pockets. Civil wars arise over resources like clean water. Civilization in general returns to a simpler time when everyone was left to fend for themselves, depending on the land for survival.

It’s pretty much the worst-case scenario, whether it were to come about due to a terrorist strike on the oil market, a shutdown of the economy, war or some other extremely disruptive event. And, though it may seem like it comes straight from the mind of a tinfoil-hat-wearing conspiracy theorist, it’s entirely possible that society will experience a major breakdown sometime in the next couple of generations. We don’t like to think about it, and that’s part of the problem – we’re totally unprepared.

EarthFirst has already delved into what would happen if there were an extreme, widespread, prolonged gas shortage –basically, utter chaos. There would be numerous repercussions. Many would die. Our lives would change drastically. Few people would feel safe and stable. We’d be thrown straight back to the Pre-Industrial Revolution era, with a strange mix of 21st-century ideas and technology thrown in. But, could there be an upside to the dissolution of our modern world?

Barring nuclear war, the biggest beneficiaries of a total breakdown in society would be the earth and all of the non-human creatures that live on it. Like it or not, the major decrease in the human population that would come part and parcel with a total breakdown in society would be the single biggest environmental benefit this world could possibly experience. None of us want to imagine our communities, our families, ourselves dying off in war, hunger, disease and lawlessness – it’s a nightmare. It would be hell on earth, for a while. But the remaining population would pick up the pieces and find a new way, and the earth would be better off for it.

Imagine: a dystopian, practically technology-free society where factories no longer pump pollution into the air, cars no longer idle in freeway traffic jams, and people are forced to re-use everything they can. No more endless processions of plastic junk down the assembly line, no more hormone- and antibiotic-packed Frankenmeat being raised in inhumane, environmentally damaging conditions.

As life became almost completely local, we’d be forced to take over growing our own food, effectively stopping the environmental damage done by factory farms. Since production would stop on synthetic fertilizer, farmers would go back to using organic solutions instead. That means no more constant streams of poison going from the cornfields of middle America to the Gulf of Mexico via the Mississippi River, expanding the ever-growing dead zone that threatens sea life. We’d no longer be shipping tons of food from one end of the country to another, or importing it from overseas. We’d be eating fresh, healthy, seasonal food and we’d make damn sure not to waste any of it.

We’d get incredibly creative with re-using items. People would pore through landfills looking for things once tossed away without a thought, but which would now be seen as still serving a valuable purpose. Since disposable items would be a thing of the past, every item would be used until it literally fell apart. With factory production at a standstill, we’d see a resurgence of nearly-lost arts like hand sewing, blacksmithing, woodworking and food preservation.

Walking onto a suburban homestead in this practically post-apocalyptic world, you’d see a strange melange of simple old-fashioned tools, whatever 21st century technology still works and plenty of green tech like improvised wind turbines and greywater systems. It’d be like Mad Max, without all the mullets and pleather.

With construction at a standstill, forests would remain intact and animals would get a chance to build their populations back up. In many areas we’d likely see wildlife taking over abandoned industrial sites, like something out of a disaster movie. Since humans would no longer be expanding into untouched areas like a plague, ecosystems would have some time to rebalance themselves. Perhaps some endangered species could even rebound from the brink of extinction.p

Let’s break down a few of the benefits, just in the U.S.:

• Over 300 million cars off the road in the U.S. alone. (238,697,097 vehicles were in use in 2005, the last year for which we have a concrete figure). The EPA calculates that each passenger vehicle in America emits about 5.5 metric tons of greenhouse gases annually, so in a year we’d save at least 16.5 million metric tons from entering the atmosphere.
• Power plants no longer pumping CO2 into the air. The consumption of electricity in America accounted for more than 2.3 billion tons of CO2 in 2006, with coal-fired power plants responsible for 1.9 billion tons. That number is undoubtedly higher today.
• Over 300 million cans of beverages per day no longer consumed. Americans use approximately 212,000 aluminum cans every 30 seconds, and only a small fraction of those cans are recycled. The rest end up in the landfill. If we stopped drinking soda, we’d stop mountains of trash from accumulating – and soda cans are just one small example of the disposable products that would stop piling up.

Sure, there would still be plenty of opportunity for harm to the environment. Governments, struggling to regroup, would hardly be concerned with policing environmental offenses like dumping trash in the ocean, or the maintenance of toxic waste sites. We’ve already done too much damage to be able to simply turn back the clock to a time when most of the world’s population lived far more eco-friendly lifestyles simply by virtue of living closer to the land. But in all honesty, the earth would still be a hell of a lot better off than it is right now.

It’s unfortunate that it could possibly take a catastrophic event to force us to live in a way that’s healthier for the entire planet – including our own species – so that we could extend our time on this earth and ensure that it remains a pleasant place to live. But, let’s face it. Without us, this planet would grow up around our ruins and return to the lush, diverse, amazing collection of life that it was before we began messing it up.

Photo credit: I Am Legend, Children of Men, Mad Max

Help Hayden Panettiere Get 1 Million Signatures for Anti-Whaling Petition

‘Heroes’ actress Hayden Panettiere got lots of attention last year when she joined anti-whaling activists off the coast of Japan, paddling surfboards into a cove in an attempt to interfere with a dolphin hunt that was taking place. Since then, she’s continued to work on behalf of the whales, and this weekend she traveled to Washington D.C. to form a giant whale with hundreds of other supporters outside the U.S. Capitol Building.

Earlier this week, Hayden announced a new campaign that she’s working on with social networking site SocialVibe to gather one million signatures for the Whaleman Foundation petition, which seeks to stop all commercial whaling and lethal scientific research whaling in Japan, Norway and Iceland and to enforce the current global whaling moratorium.

Head on over to SocialVibe to add your signature, and pass this info on to your friends!

Link [Ecorazzi] + [SocialVibe]

Lexus Reprimanded for Greenwashing

Lexus was recently forced to pull an ad claiming that its premium hybrid SUV was “perfect for today’s environment” and “perfect for today’s economic climate”.  Though the automaker claimed they were only trying to compare their hybrid comparably to non-hybrid SUVs, England’s Advertising Standards Authority disagreed, concluding that the ad misled people into thinking the SUV is more environmentally friendly than it really is.

Greenwashing is definitely running rampant right now, with manufacturers all too eager to cash in on what they see as a trend among buyers. MTV recently released a public service announcement warning us about just this – ironic, given their recent trashing of a pristine Costa Rican island for a reality show.

The fact is, even brands that you generally consider ‘safe’ will occasionally release a product that doesn’t quite meet green standards in their industry – but they won’t tell you that.  Always check out the specs – whether it’s a car, a food product, cosmetics, clothing or home furnishings.

Link [Matter Network] + [YouTube]

Will Oprah’s Endorsement Help Kindle E-Reader?

Traditionally, anything Oprah touches turns to gold. Get your product into her ‘favorite things’, or even mentioned in passing on her show, and you’re in for a tsunami of sales.  So, the makers of electronic reading device Kindle are undoubtedly salivating with the sales prospects after she recommended their product last week and offered a special $50 discount with the promotional code “OPRAHWINFREY”.

From Eco Geek:

But can Oprah do for the Kindle what she’s done for her book club selections?  Even with the promotional discount, the gadget costs more than $300 and the e-reader has had a tough time catching on.  The environmental benefits are obvious, but it’s hard to justify the purchase when checking out books from the library is also an eco-friendly choice.  And that’s free.  Plus there’s the fact that most people are holding their dollars pretty close right now.  All this could equal a moderate increase in sales, but not an overwhelming response.

That does seem awfully expensive, but as Hank Green mentions in his overview of the Kindle, it’s a virtual pocket library. For a bibliophile like myself, the idea of having literally hundreds of books at your fingertips at any given moment is incredibly attractive. The EV-DO wireless broadband lets you download books anywhere, too – so you’re never without reading material. Ultimately, I’m too much of a romantic to give up buying actual books – especially since I collect old, used ones. But it seems like a cool idea nonetheless.

We’re definitely in an economic downturn where people are less likely to run out and spend money on frivolous things, but I think that with Oprah’s endorsement, the Amazon Kindle could still get a huge bump in holiday sales.

Link [Eco Geek] + [Amazon]

San Francisco Scrambling to Prevent Victory Garden from Becoming One Big Toilet

The victory garden currently growing in San Francisco’s Civic Center Plaza was meant as a celebration of local food, planted over the summer as part of the privately sponsored “Slow Food Nation” festival. The garden, which is home to a variety of herbs and veggies, is prized enough by Mayor Gavin Newsom that he decided to pay thousands of dollars a week for security to keep vagrants and drunks from using it as a toilet. Unfortunately, that’s not working out too well.

From SF Gate:

Once the food fest ended in late August, however, the mayor decided to keep the garden going. His office contracted with Jeff Gutierrez Security, a local outfit, to keep an eye on the pea patch from 4:30 p.m. to 8:30 a.m.

“If they don’t have security, it will become a toilet,” said one city gardener who was planting a fresh bed of marigolds in the plaza the other day.

Newsom initially planned to keep the garden as part of his drive to turn the Civic Center into a model of green sustainability. But Ballard said it soon became apparent that it “was imprudent to sustain security at that level.”

Now, the garden is set to come out in December. And three weeks ago – after trimming back the level of protection – the security price dropped to about $2,200 a week.

Who wants some tomatoes that smell and taste vaguely of human waste? Yum, yum. It’s a shame that they can’t keep this going, because we’d really love to see more examples of victory gardens in cities across the nation. Call me crazy, but it sounds like some public restrooms are in order. Although I suppose that still wouldn’t stop the dude who just drank seven Jack & Cokes from deciding to unload his burden in the basil.

Link [SF Gate]
Photo credit: Ads of the World

Bush Administration Rushing to Ease Endangered Species Laws

In the final months of Bush’s rule as President of the United States, his administration is feverishly working to push through government-approved building projects that can only be carried out if endangered species laws are eased.  In fact, Interior Department officials are so eager to loosen the laws that protect these animals, they’re poring over 200,000 public comments in just 32 hours.

From Yahoo News:

The Fish and Wildlife Service has called a team of 15 people to Washington this week to pore through letters and online comments about a proposal to exclude greenhouse gases and the advice of federal biologists from decisions about whether dams, power plants and other federal projects could harm species. That would be the biggest change in endangered species rules since 1986.

House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Nick Rahall, D-W.Va., whose own letter opposing the changes is among the thousands that will be processed, called the 32-hour deadline a “last-ditch attempt to undermine the long-standing integrity of the Endangered Species program.”

At that rate, according to a committee aide’s calculation, 6,250 comments would have to be reviewed every hour. That means that each member of the team would be reviewing at least seven comments each minute.

It usually takes months to review public comments on a proposed rule, and by law the government must respond before a rule becomes final.

It’s the Republicans taking the side of business over anything and everything else, as usual. Lobbyists are paying big money to push these projects though, and if the Bush administration does manage to make the regulation final before they leave office, it could take months or even years for the next president to undo. Obama has already said he would reverse the proposal, and McCain’s campaign has not commented.

Perhaps this is Bush’s way of saying, “Hey, look at me! I’m still a crappy President!” After all, we’ve practically forgotten that Bush is still in office in our excitement about seeing someone else taking his place. If you thought he was done screwing things up, think again.

Link [Yahoo News]

Building Houses Out of Straw

Did you know that safe and warm houses can be built out of straw? As the weather gets colder, many families on Indian reservations across America struggle to keep themselves warm. That’s why Red Feather Development Group is working to provide straw bale housing for some of the poorest citizens in our country.

From their website:

Why Straw Bale Construction?
At the foundation of the American Indian Sustainable Housing Initiative is a belief that affordability and sustainability do not have to exist independently. Thus, we chose straw-bale construction as a logical fit for several reasons.

• Straw—an agricultural waste product of wheat production—is an environmentally sustainable and readily available option for Southwest and Northern Plains reservations where wheat grows on thousands of acres.

• Straw bale construction is builder-friendly: Indian families, volunteers and community members can quickly become skilled participants in the construction of their own homes.

• Our approach results in a relative cost savings of up to 60% in light of volunteer labor and donated materials as compared with a traditionally contracted starter home.

• Structures built with straw have an extremely high insulation value, which, when coupled with lower energy consumption, results in savings that can then strengthen the tribal economic base.

Learn more about straw bale construction here and check out volunteer opportunities here. Also, if you don’t have time to volunteer but you would like to help these communities, consider donating to help poor families in South Dakota heat their homes this winter. Even if you can only give 10 or 20 dollars, every 100 dollars raised helps a family heat their home for a month.

China: Economic Miracle, Environmental Disaster

China’s economy has been on the upswing for decades now, and it’s expected to continue growing at an extremely rapid pace for many more decades into the future. As more of the country’s population has begun to enjoy better standards of living and China’s esteem has raised in the eyes of the world, however, there was a price to pay. China’s economic miracle has come at the expense of the environment, and it’s only going to get worse going forward.

From CNN:

At home, the Chinese people watch as environmental degradation and pollution transform their landscape, and in the process endanger their health and future livelihoods.

No one is exempt from the environmental consequences of China’s brand of unfettered economic development, but as Stephen Voss’ pictures so heartbreakingly illuminate, China’s poorest are particularly vulnerable.

In China’s cities, merely walking out the front door results in an immediate assault on the senses. The Chinese people complain most often about noise pollution. A cacophony of construction booms and car horns is a permanent fixture of life. The sky is often blanketed in a thick gray haze of pollutants.

The culprits are the ever-present coal-fired power plants and giant heavy-industry complexes that fuel the country’s growth, and more and more the noxious emissions of automobiles.

The environmental toll is enormous. China has five of the world’s 10 most polluted cities, and on an average day in China’s major cities, 75 percent of the residents are breathing unclean air. The end result: 750,000 Chinese die prematurely every year from air pollution-related respiratory diseases.

China is following the example of the West, where we have enjoyed such luxuries as private cars, air conditioning and carbon-intensive leisure activities.  China’s people certainly deserve a better way of life than what they’ve been given, but all of these advances are putting a huge strain not only on the earth, but on their own health as well.

Chinese officials have yet to tackle even the most basic of needs, like clean water. Among over 660 cities in China, only one small city – Lianyuan – can claim to provide clean drinking water straight from the tap.

Although the middle class in China is growing, the poor people have it worse than ever, dealing with poisoned water and air, sick children and ruined crops. A slideshow of photos by photographer Stephen Voss gives a heartbreaking look into what these people really have to deal with.

As China’s economy continues to improve, it’s doubtful that there will be any real incentive to protect the environment. We can only hope that clean, renewable energy gets implemented as quickly as possible so we don’t see the rest of the world’s efforts erased by the dirty deeds of the Chinese government.

Link [CNN]
Photo credit: Stephen Voss/CNN

Green College Spotlight: New York University

New York University is one of many schools in the country going green in big ways that extend far beyond simple recycling and CFLs. This esteemed university held on to the title of number one campus purchaser of green energy for over a year, and the renewable energy credits it buys account for 100% of its energy use.  That’s especially impressive when you consider the fact that NYU has a large urban campus.  But when it comes to NYU’s sustainability initiatives, this achievement is just the tip of the iceberg.

Located in New York City with nearly 40,000 students, the NYU campus has been home to environmental activism since the 1980’s, when the Earth Matters environmental club was founded.  The 1990s saw the beginnings of NYU’s recycling program, which was one of the first formal institutional recycling programs in New York City. Since then, New York University’s efforts have rapidly multiplied, and today you can find a wide assortment of sustainability initiatives in place and in the works.

Some of the sustainability projects at NYU include a Sustainability Task Force, green grants, environmental assessment, a comprehensive energy saving strategy, a bookstore green initiative and organic meals at the Hayden Dining Hall.

The Sustainability Task Force is at the helm of NYU’s future green projects, and they carry out their ideas through assessments of current practices, recommending a prioritized ‘Green Action Plan’ to improve NYU’s environmental footprint, getting students, faculty and administrators involved in green efforts and finally, awarding funds for green projects. The Sustainability Task Force has a long list of successful projects including wind power purchases, native landscaping, tracking water consumption, conservation contests in the residence halls and composting biodegradable waste in the dining hall.

“Green Grants” are awarded each year to fund the best project ideas that improve sustainability on campus, engage the community and advance applied research and educational goals. Some of the projects that were funded this year include a year-end residence hall recycling drive, a residential energy challenge, a veggie-powered vehicle project and a lighting efficiency project.

One of the most notable green projects to get funding from NYU’s green grants is the Bike to School project, which was featured in The New York Times when it debuted in 2007. Not only does this project provide bicycles for students to get around campus, it saves old bicycles from heading to the landfill.   Volunteer mechanics at a nearby environmental organization called Times Up! rejuvenate abandoned bikes using new parts purchased with the grant money.  NYU also recently announced funding for a bike-sharing initiative.

Other important commitments that NYU has made to sustainability focus on lowering the university’s eco footprint.  President Sexton signed the Presidents Climate Commitment, and NYU is also a member of New York City’s PlaNYC, which commits them to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 30 percent over the next ten years – although, NYU expects to meet that goal much sooner than that.  All new construction at New York University will meet LEED silver standards, joining the university’s first LEED certified building, Gallatin Hall.

Check out the NYU Sustainability website for all the details!

Link [NYU]
Photo credit: James Estrin/The New York Times

Cow Burps Responsible for More Greenhouse Gases than Cars

A herd of cows produces more greenhouse gases than a family car just by burping, a researcher at the University of Portsmouth said this week.  Dr. Andy Thorpe explained that 200 cows belch out enough methane each year to equal the emissions produced by a car being driven 111,850 miles.

From The Independent:

He added that while CO2 emissions have increased by 31 per cent during the past 250 years, methane, which has a higher warming potential and a longer lifetime in the atmosphere, has increased by 149 per cent during the same period.

Dr Thorpe added that methane in the atmosphere was believed to be responsible for one-fifth of global warming experienced since 1750.

The main animal producers are domestic animals, particularly cows, sheep, goats and camels which have an additional stomach, he said.

I’ve got an easy solution: sell the family car and starting riding around on cows. It’ll be way more fun, if slower. Seriously though, cutting back on the amount of meat and dairy we consume would be a huge help. The reason there are so many cows on this earth at any given time is that huge numbers are raised for meat and dairy.

A single dairy cow can produce as much as 176 pounds of methane per year. If there wasn’t as much demand, factory farms wouldn’t breed so many cows. It wouldn’t just cut back on greenhouse gas emissions, it would also reduce the amount of grain needed for cattle feed (and the land, fertilizer, pesticides and water used to grow it). It’s simple. If you’re not willing to go vegetarian, at least cut back.  Having fewer meat-centered meals per week isn’t that big a sacrifice when you consider what we’re up against.

Link [The Independent]
Photo credit: Flickr user foxypar4

Climate Activist or Terrorist?

Josh Tulkin,  Field Director of the Energy Action Coalition and Power Vote recently found out that he was listed as a suspected terrorist by the Maryland State Police along with two other climate change activists.

From the NYT article:

For a 13-month stretch starting in March 2005, three environmentalists working for the Chesapeake Climate Action Network were listed in a Maryland State Police data base as being “suspected of involvement in terrorism.” The description went on to note that the police had “no evidence whatsoever of any involvement in violent crime,” and the listing, and possible tracking, did not continue. But the activists — not surprisingly — were not happy to hear about this when they received letters from the state police earlier this month informing them of the situation.

How did this make him feel? Here is Josh’s response to the letter:

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