Times Square New Year’s Eve Ball Gets Green Makeover

When the ball drops tonight in Times Square, New Year’s Eve revelers will get an up-close view of its energy-efficient makeover.  The 12-foot sphere will be double the size of previous balls yet use even less energy thanks to the 32,256 LED lights that will cover it. The new ball will become a year-round attraction above Times Square, in full public view January through December.

From Times Square NYC via Inhabitat:

PHILIPS LIGHTING provided the new solid state lighting technology for the Ball, resulting in an astounding increase in impact, energy efficiency, and color capabilities.  Capable of creating a palette of more than 16 million colors and billions of possible patterns, the 32,256 Philips Luxeon LEDs in this year’s Ball represent more than three times the number of LEDS used last year, to deliver a brighter and more beautiful New Year’s experience than ever before. And this year’s Ball is 10-20% more energy efficient than last year’s already energy-efficient Ball, consuming only the same amount of energy per hour as it would take to operate two traditional home ovens.

“At Philips Lighting, we are proud to be driving innovative and energy-efficient solutions for the world’s broad range of lighting applications – from celebrated landmarks to consumers’ homes — and we’re especially delighted to be the official Lighting Partner to the iconic New Year’s Eve Ball in Times Square,” said Philips Lighting Company Director of Corporate Communications Susan Bloom.  “Now bigger in size and incorporating even more powerful and energy-efficient Philips Luxeon LEDs than last year, this year’s Ball will deliver a New Year’s Eve experience that will be brighter, more beautiful, and more sustainable than ever before.”

Considering that LEDs are brighter and more vibrant than the incandescent bulbs that were previously used, it only makes sense. This year’s ball should be even more beautiful than ever, and hopefully as it drops it’ll usher in a green, sustainable 2009.

Link [Times Square NYC] via [Inhabitat]

DeSmogBlog Debunks the Global Warming ‘Skeptics Handbook’

Global warming skeptics love to make ill-informed, illogical claims borne from a total lack of understanding of actual scientific concepts. So, it’s no surprise that many of them are now waving around print-outs of “The Skeptics Handbook” by Joanne Nova [PDF] in an attempt to back up their point of view. DeSmogBlog debunked the main points in “The Skeptics Handbook” in a series of three posts, including the old “temperatures haven’t warmed over the last decade” argument.

From DeSmogBlog:

The real measure we should be keeping a close eye on is how much heat the oceans are absorbing. And, wouldn’t you know it, their heat content has steadily increased since 1999. That’s a problem because, as Real Climate’s Gavin Schmidt explains, ocean heat content trends reflect “the planetary radiative imbalance” – that the planet is absorbing more heat from the sun each year than it is losing.

Oceans exert a moderating influence on the climate by soaking up extra heat; therefore, if they take in a little more heat then usual, surface temperatures will tend to fall slightly (even though the planet’s overall heat content is going up). On the other hand, if the oceans absorb less (something that could happen more often if we keep the heat on), surface temperatures will increase.

But, wait, skeptics will say: All of that is beside the point because the Vostok ice cores have now clearly demonstrated that temperature leads CO2 – so rising CO2 emissions can’t be blamed for higher average temperatures. Not quite.

“The strongest evidence for the radiative effect for CO2 (and CH4, N2O, etc) is from laboratory experiments,” said Dr. Schmidt. “The strongest evidence for a significant climate sensitivity is from the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM), when ice sheets covered the planet (about 20,000 years ago), and that has not changed.”

The lead/lag issue that Nova is referring to is only evidence of a strongly coupled system – not evidence that CO2 has no effect, he explained.

DeSmogBlog also tackles the “CO2 in the atmosphere doesn’t cause global warming” argument and the greenhouse signature argument. The explanations are refreshingly scientific, considering that so much discourse on global warming is based on a few oft-repeated sound bites that reveal a lack of understanding of the topic at hand. Check out parts 1, 2 and 3 and be sure to click on the links to the RealClimate.org articles as well.

Link [DeSmogBlog]

Unusual Cluster of Earthquakes in Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone National Park has been experiencing an unusual string of earthquakes lasting three days in a row, from Saturday to Monday. Although such clusters of earthquakes are fairly common in the area due to Yellowstone’s 10,000 geysers and hot springs, scientists say the recent quakes are far more intense than usual.

From LiveScience:

The largest of the earthquakes was a magnitude 3.9 at 10:15 pm MST on Dec. 27, a day after the swarm began. The sequence has included nine events of magnitude 3 to 3.9 and approximately 24 of magnitude 2 to 3 at the time of this release. A total of more than 250 events large enough to be located have occurred in this swarm.

“Scientists cannot identify any causative fault or other feature without further analysis,” according to the statement.

Most of these temblors would not be felt by humans. Earthquakes generally have to exceed magnitude 4.0 to cause light damage.

Scientists wonder if the shaking might presage a larger event. This month’s swarm is the most intense in this area for some years, scientists said. It is centered on the east side of the Yellowstone caldera, a giant basin created in a colossal eruption some 620,000 years ago.

Researchers have been predicting for decades that the Yellowstone super volcano will eventually erupt once more, blanketing more than half the country with up to three feet of ash. Yellowstone remains very geologically active, and though it is being monitored, those same researchers say there isn’t any evidence that an eruption is imminent.

If it were to blow, humanity might not survive. Geologists say an eruption of the Yellowstone super volcano would dwarf those of Mount St. Helens, Krakatoa and others that have occurred during the last few dozen millenia. Due to the effects on global climate, agriculture would be devastated and many people would starve.

It’s just another uneasy reminder of how fragile our place in the world really is.

Link [LiveScience]
Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

Tennessee Coal Ash Disaster Dwarfs Exxon Spill

One of the worst environmental disasters in recent memory has unfolded over the last week in Kingston, Tennessee, where a massive coal waste spill has unleashed over a billion gallons of potentially toxic sludge into the Clinch River and surrounding land. Worst yet, the Tennessee Valley Authority – the nation’s largest government-owned utility, which owns the plant where the spill occurred – failed to properly warn residents in the area of the toxins the sludge contains.

The spill is nearly 50 times as big as the famous 1989 Exxon-Valdez spill in Alaska. It occurred around 1am on December 22nd when a wall holding back 80 acres of sludge from the TVA’s Fossil Plant gave way.  Eight days later, the TVA has yet to release sampling data from the ash pile, and they’re actually trying to claim that the fly ash is not toxic.

From CNN:

The sludge is a byproduct of the ash from coal combustion. A retention site at the Tennessee Valley Authority’s power plant in Kingston, about 40 miles west of Knoxville, contained the waste until a wall breached last Monday, sending the sludge downhill to damage 15 homes and cover at least 300 acres.

All the residents were evacuated, and three homes were deemed uninhabitable, according to the TVA.

The TVA’s initial estimate for the spill tripled from 1.8 million cubic yards, or more than 360 million gallons of sludge, to 5.4 million cubic yards, or more than 1 billion gallons.

Aerial footage of the spill, from the TVA website:

The cause of the dam break is still under investigation. TVA has vowed to clean up the mess but says it could take months or even years. Meanwhile, residents fear that toxic elements could end up in their drinking water. They’re also concerned that once the mire dries out, fly ash will become airborne. The EPA has found elevated levels of arsenic in surface water, and the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation said elevated contaminant levels were found in the immediate area of the spill.

Coal ash contains heavy metals including arsenic, mercury and lead. United Mountain Defense, a non-profit environmental organization based in Knoxville, Tennessee, has a fact sheet on the toxicity of coal ash based on 2007 EPA findings. The fact sheet details an EPA assessment that found extremely high risks to human health and the environment from the disposal of coal ash in waste ponds and landfills. The chart below illustrates the cancer risk of exposure to coal ash compared to that of smoking a pack of cigarettes a day.

The Examiner reports that two United Mountain Defense activists trying to take photos of the spill were arrested and detained on Saturday. It’s not clear why TVA police detained the two men, since they were on public land.

David Cooper and Matt Landon who were detained by the TVA police planned to take water samples but were just taking photographs of the spill at the time of their arrest. TVA has not responded to requests for more information on the incident.

David Cooper commented, “…the dust and airborne contaminants from the coal ash are dangerous.  Workers on the clean up site should be wearing respiratory protection.  This could cause breathing problems for the workers like we saw at the World Trade Center.”  He also went on to say he was sorry that he and his fellow activist had caused problems for TVA, and that their “concern is for the safety of nearby residents and their families.”

David Cooper gave The Huffington Post a first-hand account of how UMD has been coordinating a citizen response to the disaster, handling the media, and testing the water. Of his detainment, he says:

When we tried to take pictures of the sign, we were quickly accosted by an agitated TVA official wearing agreen vest, who demanded we leave immediately. We drove on to the next checkpoint, where we were detained for almost an hour. The TVA official called TVA police and demanded that we be arrested. Fortunately the local ABC News affiliate (Channel 6) was there to capture the whole scene of our detention, and we were eventually allowed to leave.

Clean coal, my ass. This is just another heartbreaking example of how toxic coal really is. The citizens of Kingston and surrounding areas will be dealing with the effects of this spill for years into the future, and the way TVA is downplaying the effects is reprehensible.

If you want to help, the United Mountain Defense has details on their blog, TVA Coal is Killing Tennessee.

Link [CNN] + [The Examiner] + [The Huffington Post] + [UMD]
Photo credit: UMD

Honeybees Susceptible to Cocaine Addiction

Despite the fact that cocaine repels most insects, researchers have found that honeybees can become addicted to the substance and even suffer withdrawal symptoms. Bees on cocaine behave the same way humans do, throwing themselves into highly energetic dance routines and talking incessantly to their nest mates.

From The Guardian:

The research, carried out at Macquarie University in Sydney, examined the behaviour of the bees after returning from a trip looking for food.

“When foraging honeybees discover a particularly good source of pollen or nectar, they fly back to the hive and perform a symbolic dance for their nest mates,” said Dr Andrew Barron. “This is a specialised form of communication to tell their nest mates about the rewards they have found.”

But after dabbing low doses of cocaine on the bees’ backs before they went out, the researchers observed that when they returned they were more likely to dance for their nest mates, and performed particularly vigorous routines explaining where the food was located.

The dance language gave Barron and his colleagues an indication of what was going on in the bees’ brains. Rather like a cokehead in a crowded nightclub, cocaine made the bees much more enthusiastic communicators. This was not simply because they were generally more energetic: the extra enthusiasm was in order to communicate with nest mates.

When the researchers forced the bees to go ‘cold turkey’ by removing the cocaine, the bees displayed withdrawal symptoms. Given a learning test to see how they were doing, the bees’ performance crashed.

The researchers said that the bees’ dance moves weren’t wild and out of control, but actually rigidly structured. And, they didn’t begin their frenzied dancing during inappropriate times or in inappropriate places. No word on whether they’ve begun pacing and fidgeting or frantically organizing their kitchens at 3am.

Link [The Guardian]
Photo credit: Flickr user david.nikonvscanon

Greenpeace Awards BP with ‘Emerald Paintbrush’ for Worst Greenwashing of 2008

‘Beyond Petroleum’. That was the slogan for BP’s ad campaign that sought to convince us that they’re a green company, investing in renewables and turning toward a clean energy future. Of course, they weren’t fooling anyone who knew better – BP was dropping mere pennies into renewable energy while continuing to make billions of dollars in profits off fossil fuels.

That’s how they managed to earn Greenpeace’s ‘Emerald Paintbrush’, awarded in a humorous ceremony at BP’s headquarters in London.

From Treehugger:

Greenpeace evidently chose BP as their first award recipients due to their expansive 2008 ad campaign which emphasized the company’s commitment to developing and investing in alternative energy sources. According to Greenpeace’s sources, BP instead devoted 93 percent of its investment fund for 2008 for development and extraction of fossil fuels.

Solar power development allegedly received just 1.39 percent, and total renewable energy investments were under 7 percent.

The Greenpeace spokesman who presented the award said, “You wouldn’t know it from their adverts, but BP bosses are pumping billions into their oil and gas business and investing peanuts in renewables. They’ve won the 2008 Emerald Paintbrush award because their slogans suggest that they are serious about clean energy, while their actions show they’re still hell-bent on oil extraction.”

According to Greenpeace, BP is responsible for the same amount of emissions as the entire nation of Portugal (64.96 metric tons).

BP definitely deserves the criticism. The Huffington Post called them out a couple weeks ago on having put $3 billion into the tar sands industry while simultaneously bragging about their so-called environmental responsibility. BP obviously thinks we’re an incredibly gullible bunch, so they deserve the little show Greenpeace put on in their lobby – and much, much worse.

Link [Treehugger] + [The Huffington Post] + [Greenpeace UK]

Amateurs Experimenting with Genetic Engineering at Home

Hobbyists are playing around with genetic engineering in their garages, tinkering with DNA to produce things like glow-in-the-dark yogurt. They’re making their own lab equipment and turning to the internet for how-to guides and supplies.  Many of them don’t even have a background in science.

Some have the best of intentions, believing that they might just innovate the cure for cancer or save millions of people from hunger.  From The Huffington Post:

In her San Francisco dining room lab, for example, 31-year-old computer programmer Meredith L. Patterson is trying to develop genetically altered yogurt bacteria that will glow green to signal the presence of melamine, the chemical that turned Chinese-made baby formula and pet food deadly.

“People can really work on projects for the good of humanity while learning about something they want to learn about in the process,” she said.

Some so-called ‘biohackers’ see the ability to experiment with genetic engineering at home or in community laboratories as opportunity for creativity to run wild, possibly producing some important discoveries.

It’s understandable that people want to make some major contribution to the world – or just have fun conducting science experiments in their basements. But, genetic engineering is not something to play around with. Imagine the sort of unintended consequences that such experiments could have. They’d be bigger and more potentially damaging than anything we’ve ever seen before.

Biology is complex, and it would be far too easy to accidentally create an organism that wreaks havoc on the earth. Imagine wannabe scientists in every American neighborhood creating their very own Frankenstein’s Monsters. It would get out of hand far, far too quickly.

Have we not learned anything from the countless comic books, horror movies and sci-fi novels that are based entirely on the consequences of humans playing God? How naïve to believe that this is harmless – that nothing but good could come of it.

If you want to work with biotechnology, do us all a favor and go to college and learn the right way to do it – in controlled environments with stringent safety protocol.

Link [The Huffington Post]

Salay Handmade Paper Puts Weeds to Good Use

Weeds are an annoyance for gardeners, but they do occasionally come in handy. The inhabitants of Mindanao in the Philippines came up with an ingenious – and beautiful – way to use the weeds that were popping up among the crafts in their fields.  They collect cogon grass and turn it into cards, albums, picture frames and other paper items.

From EcoSalon:

Before this non-governmental organization was formed, the inhabitants of Mindanao had endured dire financial difficulties throughout years of political unrest. In response to this crisis, entrepreneur Loreta Rafisura founded the People’s Economic Council, consisting of only ten supporters at the time, to provide these disadvantaged people with steady employment. After discovering the surplus of cogon grass, PEC experimented with methods to make use of this pesky weed, and the rest is history.

When you hear about things like this, it’s difficult to understand why we’re still cutting down trees just to make paper that will most likely be used once and then thrown away. It seems so incredibly wasteful.

Check out the collection of Salay handmade paper products over at fair trade retailer Ten Thousand Villages.

Link [EcoSalon] + [Ten Thousand Villages]

Green College Spotlight: University of Michigan

The University of Michigan is well known as a research institution, and it’s also gaining a reputation as a leader in sustainability, so it’s no surprise that U-M is home to a wide variety of collaborative projects, research centers, initiatives and individual studies that focus on environmental sustainability.

There is a seemingly endless list of centers, institutes, research programs and initiatives that offer opportunities for innovation, from the renowned Erb Institute for Global Sustainable Enterprise to the Ecosystem Management Initiative. It isn’t hard to see just how dedicated U-M really is to solving the many environmental, economic and social challenges that we face while also minimizing our impact on the planet’s natural resources.

U-M is educating the green leaders of the future, offering a wide range of sustainability courses across nearly all disciplines. The schools and colleges at U-M that focus on sustainability challenges include the College of Engineering, the Ford School of Public Policy, the Ross School of Business, the School of Public Health and many more.

Of course, in addition to learning about how they can incorporate sustainability into their chosen careers, students are also incorporating green values into their everyday lives on campus. Students can get involved in environmental organizations that tackle sustainability issues from specialized angles – there are clubs available for fraternity & sorority members, car enthusiasts, politics junkies and sports lovers. Students are also encouraged to be as green as possible through residential contests like the ‘Ecolympics’.

The University of Michigan has implemented a broad range of sustainable initiatives on campus, from serving fresh organic meals in their dining facilities and composting waste to purchasing green products and organizing efforts to donate or recycle students’ unwanted stuff at the end of each term. Campus vehicles run on ethanol, employees have been vanpooling since 1970 and students can get around on free buses, bicycles or through the ‘GreenRide’ carpooling program.

U-M will soon be home to a new Children’s and Women’s Hospital, set to be the largest LEED-certified health care institution in the nation. Its School of Natural Resources and Environment (SNRE) building is certified LEED gold after a five-year renovation that involved teaching and demonstrating sustainable principles and design.

The University of Michigan received a B+ rating on the College Sustainability Report Card for 2009, and with as many efforts as they’re working on right now, they seem to be on the fast track to becoming one of the nation’s greenest institutions within the next couple years.

Link [University of Michigan Sustainability]

9 Examples of Incredible Tornado Photography

When it comes to storm photography, there’s not much that can beat tornadoes. They’re dramatic, frightening and somehow incredibly beautiful. The first three photos shown here were taken by ‘storm chasers’ Mike Hollingshead and Eric Nguyen, who head out the door any time a tornado warning is issued in order to experience the storms up close and capture amazing images. You can see more of Nguyen’s images at his website, or in his book, Adventures in Tornado Alley: The Storm Chasers.

Storm chasers aren’t always photographers or journalists – some are research scientists, while others are just adrenaline junkies seeking the rush of being so close to danger.

Below are photographs taken by ‘The Stormgasm Team’, a group of meteorologists and meteorology students who call themselves “the most hardcore storm chasers in the world”. Jim Bishop, Tom Santillo, Simon Brewer and Reed Timmer have captured some amazing images of the storms they’ve chased all over the United States. See more of their work at Stormgasm.com.

Link [The Daily Mail]

Treehugger’s Top Green Hangover Remedies

In case you didn’t catch this over at Treehugger and are recovering from some Yuletide celebrations (or preparing for New Year’s parties), we’re giving you another chance to learn about some natural, green hangover remedies that will help you peel yourself off the floor and go at it again tonight.

Yoga

Athletic activity might sound a)exhausting and b)nauseating, but yoga is actually one of the quickest way to rid the toxins from your body. Try a routine of a couple of sun salutations followed by a series or moderate twists – literally “wring” the remaining alcohol from your body. Check out tips from Planet Green on how to make your yoga greener.

Wheatgrass

While a thick green juice might seem less than appetizing, take a shot of this curing beverage to balance all the not-so-curing ones you downed last night. Found at your local natural foods shop, wheatgrass’ chlorophyll content and detoxifying effects are a surefire cure.

Rescue Remedy

This product (which is made 100% naturally from spring water infused with wild flowers), which celebrities use for its calming effects (red carpet=nerve overload) is also known to help soothe a hungover system. A couple of drops in your water before bed and a pastille in the morning is the natural technique some swear by.

Coconut Water

Gatorade or other electrolyte-enhanced beverages are a common antidote. But since you’ve already been taxing the liver, why continue with the artificial colors and flavorings found in these sugary drinks? Young coconut water boasts electrolytes and more potassium than a banana, and is usually not packaged in polluting plastic.

Play in the Snow

A cold shower is a time honored remedy. But why waste the water? Lay your sad little head in the snow for the same effects. And make the snow look pretty while you are at it, with a nice imprint of your misbehaved body! If you must shower, read TH’s tips on saving water.

Hair of the dog

If all else fails, have another cocktail. My favorite? A nice Dubonnet aperitif, which has just enough alcohol (but not too much) to take the edge off. I like to mix a little in a glass with organic orange juice, home squeezed from the farmer’s market for a little vitamin C.

Link [Treehugger]
Photo credit: Flickr user Faster Panda Kill Kill

Liquid Wood: A Green Alternative to Plastic?

There are a lot of problems with plastic. It’s made from petroleum, it’s non-biodegradable and it contains all kinds of harmful substances like bisphenol-A and phthalates. But, we rely on it heavily, and there hasn’t been an alternative that’s quite as versatile – until now. At least, that’s what the creators of a new bio-plastic called Arboform are saying. Arboform is liquid wood derived from wood pulp-based lignin.

And, Arboform is no waste of trees. This liquid wood is actually created from waste byproducts of the papermaking industry. From MSNBC:

In paper mills, wood is typically separated into its three main components: lignin, cellulose and hemicellulose.

Lignin, which tends to give paper a brownish hue, can be used for lower-quality newsprint but is most often separated out with a sulfite- or sulfate-based pulping process prior to the production of high-quality paper.

By mixing that discarded lignin with fibers and wax, Tecnaro, a spin-off German company, has refined a technique for producing plastic-like pellets. Under high-pressure conditions, Eisenreich said, the composite material behaves like melted plastic, allowing it to be injected through a nozzle into a mold and made into a wide range of forms.

Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Chemical Technology in Pfinztal, Germany have created toys, figurines, ballpoint pens, golf tees, loudspeaker boxes and even car parts from the material. Norbert Eisenreich, a senior researcher with the institute, says Arboform can be broken into pieces and recycled as filler or burned like wood.

Some environmental scientists warn that the material must be tested to ensure safety, especially if it’s going to be used for toys, but it sounds promising. It definitely seems as if it would be a huge improvement over plastic.

Link [MSNBC]

Toast the Earth with Exxon Mobile

Remember this classic video? Watch as ExxonMobil funds junk science, wrecks the Arctic Refuge, and spills oil on endangered wildlife.

“The globe is slowly warming, real scientists all know. But Exxon Mobile’s here to say it really isn’t so…”

Aside from a little less global warming denial, has much changed since 2006?

Frozen Water: Stunning Natural Ice Formations

(Images via Haikiba,  Lady Molly, James Carter, unc.edu, Getaway, Birch and Pixdaus)

If you can’t experience the mind-boggling, incredibly beautiful wonders of nature firsthand, the next best thing is definitely beautiful photographs that almost make you feel as if you’re there. When it’s this cold outside, it’s easy to imagine being face-to-face with the incredible ice formations featured on WebEcoist in the series, ’15 Epic Water and Ice Formations and Phenomena’.

(Image via pbase)

WebEcoist has compiled photos of some of the most breathtaking natural ice formations on both a small and large scale, from tiny delicate ice crystals to the majestic – and rapidly disappearing – icebergs of the Arctic.

(Images via Madhouse Thought, Weather Savvy, das.uwyo.edu, SPRI, Seaway and hickerphoto)

If you aren’t already reading WebEcoist regularly, add it to your RSS feeder or subscribe via email now. Check out my review of the online magazine over on Eco Chick – it really is a gem, and unique among the many sites in the green blogosphere.

Link [WebEcoist]

Figs and Ginger, Whimsical Eco-Friendly Jewelry

Eco-friendly jewelry makers Figs and Ginger, a husband-and-wife team based in Asheville, North Carolina, produce some of the cutest earrings, necklaces, rings and brooches you’ve ever seen. Creativity clearly comes easily to Rhonda and Elijah Wyman, who create Figs and Ginger jewelry from a minimum of 50% recycled/reclaimed silver and gold in their backyard studio.

Inspired by nature, Figs and Ginger designs feature silhouettes of birds, fawns, deer, bunnies and trees with a striking simplicity that has proven very popular – all necklace designs are sold out on their website at the moment. But, you may still be able to find some locally – check out their Where to Buy page to find a shop near you.

Link [Figs & Ginger]

Green DIY Crafts: Turn a Shopping Bag into a Shipping Envelope

Admit it – you sometimes forget your reusable bag and come home with paper or plastic ones. But, that’s okay – if you’ve got a few disposable bags sitting in your recycling bin, you can give them one more good use before they’re ready for a new life by turning them into shipping envelopes. Team Eco Etsy has a great tutorial that shows us how, and they come out looking very professional – perfect for sending off those last-minute gifts.

From Team Eco Etsy:

So I start with a brown paper bag from Whole Foods (who have forsaken plastic altogether) and a light-weight plastic bag from Stop & Shop (they still offer plastic).

The plastic bag is used simply as a moisture barrier and is not always needed, but in variable weather I like to play it safe. So the first thing to do is neatly wrap your product in the plastic bag – no need for tape – it’ll stay neatly wrapped in your finished envelope (and by not taping it, your customer can re-use the plastic bag yet again).

Cut the paper bag on its seam and lay it flat, then place your product on top and start folding. Make the envelope big enough for a little wiggle room plus about a half inch on each side for stitching. Cut away the excess paper (you know – the bits that don’t look like an envelope) and fold the left and right sides closed. Run a line of machine stitching down each side. If you want to get creative, use a nice embroidery stitch – I used a straight stitch for this example.

Get the rest of the instructions over at Team Eco Etsy.

If you don’t have a sewing machine or don’t know how to sew, you can still use this idea – just glue the seams down. This ‘Amazing Eco Glue’ has less than 1% VOCs, no hazardous air pollutants, no animal derivatives, is water resistant and comes in recycled packaging.

Link [Team Eco Etsy]

Start 2009 Off Right with a Green New Year’s Eve Party

If you’re planning on throwing a New Year’s Eve bash, The Daily Green has the guide you’ve been looking for that explains just how to pull off green, cheap and chic. Sent out cute e-vites, decorate creatively with recycled and re-purposed materials, set the table in style and make some delicious organic hors d’oeuvres.

Check out the first two here and then head on over to The Daily Green for the other 6!

Setting the Table

The easiest and cheapest way to get enough seating for your guests is to borrow from your neighbors (this might mean you’ll need to invite them to your party, so be prepared). If you still need more supplies, try renting them from a party supply store. You can get glasses, china and tablecloths as well. If you’re going the disposable route, try some eco-disposable options. BiodegradableStore.com has a plate made from sugarcane, an annually renewable resource. At $6.95 for a pack of 50, the price is pretty sweet too. Green Party Goods has great options for festive napkins, or take a look at Plum Party’s eco-supply section.

Invites

Keep it simple and free with an e-vite or e-card. Find “cards” at Evite or MyPunchbowl. Try Someecards if you want to get hilarious responses.

Link [The Daily Green]
Photo credit: someecards

Agribusiness Threatens World’s Tropical Forests

The Rainforest Action Network is challenging one of the fastest growing threats to the world’s tropical forests: the rapid expansion of industrial agriculture. Fueled in part by the growing demand for biofuels, U.S. agribusiness giants ADM, Bunge and Cargill are establishing soy and palm oil operations in some of the planet’s most biodiverse forests.

Soy has become a major contributor to deforestation in the Amazon Rainforest and its surrounding wooded savanna, the Cerrado, while palm oil plantations are expanding at a rate of 2.5 million acres per year into the tropical forests of Indonesia, Malaysia and Papua New Guinea.

RAN is calling on agribusinesses to protect these vital ecosystems by stopping industrial agriculture in these areas.

How can you help the world’s tropical forests? Join RAN’s Protect-an-Acre Program.

Great Green Job of the Week: Coastal Louisiana Organizer for the National Wildlife Federation

The National Wildlife Federation (NWF) seeks an effective, dynamic individual to work with NWF’s Coastal Louisiana Restoration Project to help lead a grassroots outreach campaign in support of NWF’s issue agenda on Coastal Louisiana Restoration (including combating climate change), in New Orleans, and St. Bernard and Plaquemines Parishes, including MRGO, the Central Wetlands, and Violet Diversion.

The successful candidate will have strong communication, leadership, team building, and project management skills. This person will work under the Coastal Louisiana Senior Program Manager and Gulf States Regional Executive Director, as well as other local and regional staff. This person is part of a highly engaged team of NWF staff and other NGO partners working in campaign mode to push the envelope on rapid deployment of large-scale coastal restoration projects and a strong, environmentally sound plan for hurricane protection in coastal Louisiana.

This person will be responsible to:

• Work with outreach, program, and field staff to implement a strategic advocacy campaign focused on coastal restoration and hurricane protection in the New Orleans area including St. Bernard and Plaquemines Parish.
• Engage and collaborate with NWF partners and other organizations to influence public policy and decision makers.
• Work with NWF’s key constituencies with emphasis placed on hunters and anglers and other nontraditional constituencies.
• Develop, track and mentor volunteer leadership for involvement in NWF-related affiliate programs and NWF programs.
• Work with all types of grassroots tactics including: grassroots and grasstops engagement, earned and paid media, coalition building, local and national lobbying, and on the ground and online communication tools.
• Engage with agencies, scientists, and businesses, and other stakeholders
• Conduct trainings and workshops, and speak at events and conferences.
• Assist in securing funding from foundations, individual donors and coalition partners.
• Function as part of a larger team that includes NWF local, regional, and national staff, and staff from other NGO partners.

Position Type: Full-Time

Department: Conservation Programs

Salary Range: Based on Qualifications

Education: College degree required.

Required Skills:

• Minimum three years of successful job experience in political campaigns or nonprofit advocacy organizations required. Experience with / knowledge of Louisiana’s coastal restoration program and history a plus. Long term local residency preferred.
• Ability to organize volunteers and groups around a specific advocacy campaign.
• Ability to work strategically and as a team player; to be able to develop trusting relationships with hunters and anglers.
• Attention to detail and ability to multitask required
• Strong written and oral communication skills required
• Facility with all aspects of Microsoft Office required.
• Experience working with volunteer leadership preferred
• Experience with environmental advocacy and environmental issues preferred
• Excellent judgment to make quick decisions and rapidly respond to any question posed by members in the field.
• Experience working with diverse constituencies
• Ability to work effectively from home or an office location remote from other NWF staff.

Additional Skills:

Exceptional interpersonal skills are necessary to build and maintain the kind of relationships needed to succeed at this job. The Organizer must have the ability to organize volunteers and groups around a specific advocacy campaign. He or she must demonstrate the ability to work strategically and as a team player and be able to develop trusting relationships with a wide range of constituents. The person must possess strong writing and public speaking skills and exhibit knowledge and confidence without arrogance. The person must be able to use good judgment to make quick decisions and to respond rapidly to any questions posed by members in the field. Finally, preference will be given to those with strong computer skills, including experience with the world wide web, e-mail, list serves, Microsoft Word, and Excel.

Benefits: NWF offers an excellent benefits package. NWF is an equal opportunity employer committed to workplace diversity. Cover Letter and Resume are required.

Apply Now

To begin the application process, please log-in at the Treehugger Jobs Board to send your cover letter and resume.

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