Slay Your Energy Vampires!

It’s Halloween, the day all the monsters come out of the woodwork – but don’t forget, your house is already full of vampires. Energy-sucking vampire electronics, to be precise. Not only do they pack unnecessary dollars onto your electric bill every month, they also waste tons of energy, forcing those polluting factories to work overtime.

It’s time to hunt them down and kill them – with this guide by Delta Carbon Offsets.

Here’s what you can do.

Make it a family exercise. Have the kids look in every nook and cranny – in each room, in the basement, in the garage, and make a list of every vampire module. Then determine what to do with each of them.
Some need to stay plugged in.

In certain cases, such as perhaps an alarm clock or clock radio, the appliance needs the power all the time. The power module is supplying the juice to allow the clock to run, or to keep its memory.
Some only need to be plugged in when you’re using them.

A lot of appliances only draw power from the module when they’re doing their assigned task, like audio components, stereo systems and certain small lamps, etc. These vampires can be contained easily. You can simply unplug them when you’re finished with them, or better yet, plug them into an outlet strip with a power switch, like this one.

Read the rest at Delta Carbon Offsets. Happy Halloween!

Link [DeltaCarbon.org]

South Park Eviscerates ‘Whale Whores’

The Sea Shepherds organization works hard to protect whales from slaughter all over the world, as documented on Animal Planet’s ‘Whale Wars’– but nobody is safe from Trey Parker and Matt Stone, who made the group the focus of yet another hilarious episode of South Park entitled ‘Whale Whores’.

Not even the Miami Dolphins are safe from Japanese hunters (decked out in traditional dress) and the “badass” Sea Shepherd crew comes to the rescue with amazingly effective methods like stinky butter bombs. Here’s part 1:

Some animal rights activists might be offended by the harsh lampooning (or should we say harpooning?) of Paul Watson, but don’t get the wrong idea – this episode isn’t sending the message that whaling is okay. It’s asking people to think about the fact that we’re upset by the idea of whales being killed, but don’t extend the same empathy to the animals we slaughter for food.

Watch the whole episode at SouthParkStudios.com.

Link [Ecorazzi]

British Robot Raps About Recycling

Nothing makes kids want to recycle like a rapping robot with a British accent. At least, that seems to be the thinking behind this weird and funny video of an educational presentation by The Housing Education Initiative – made just a little bit stranger by the robot’s sign-spinning backup dancer.

Hey, whatever works! Back in the dark ages when I was in school, recycling education consisted of falling asleep during a lecture. Robots make pretty much everything cooler.

Link [YouTube]

Time to Eat the Dog? Weird Green Living Advice

Imagine carefully feeding your beloved and faithful dog a healthy diet that will help him grow fat and juicy, eyeing him one day and declaring, “Yep, it’s time to eat the dog.” That’s what two professors at Victoria University in New Zealand are proposing we consider – sort of – after finding that our choice in pets causes our carbon footprints to balloon out of control.

From the Dominion Post:

The couple have assessed the carbon emissions created bypopular pets, taking into account the ingredients of pet food and the land needed to create them.

“If you have a German shepherd or similar-sized dog, for example, its impact every year is exactly the same as driving a large car around,” Brenda Vale said.

“A lot of people worry about having SUVs but they don’t worry about having Alsatians and what we are saying is, well, maybe you should be because the environmental impact … is comparable.”

In a study published in New Scientist, they calculated a medium dog eats 164 kilograms of meat and 95kg of cereals every year. It takes 43.3 square metres of land to produce 1kg of chicken a year. This means it takes 0.84 hectares to feed Fido.

They compared this with the footprint of a Toyota Land Cruiser, driven 10,000km a year, which uses 55.1 gigajoules (the energy used to build and fuel it). One hectare of land can produce 135 gigajoules a year, which means the vehicle’s eco-footprint is 0.41ha – less than half of the dog’s.

Despite the title of their new book – Time to Eat the Dog: The real guide to sustainable living – Brenda and Robert Vale don’t really want you to serve Fido burgers at your next cookout. They are urging people to consider taking herbivorous food animals like goats as pets instead of dogs and cats.

The carbon footprint of our pets is probably something that most people haven’t really thought about, but while dogs and cats may not provide food or eat the most earth-friendly diets, they provide comfort and companionship that most people aren’t willing to give up. And, it’s highly unlikely that cities are going to begin allowing people to keep cows in suburban backyards or geese in their apartments.

Though some people can get away with having goats, chickens and rabbits as pets, not all of us can or want to – and an important way to offset the impact of dog and cat ownership is to adopt unwanted animals at shelters instead of buying from breeders. (And be sure to spay and neuter!)

Link [The Dominion Post]
Photo credit: HahaStop.com

Eco Surgical Masks & More Bizarre Greenovations

The never-ending parade of amazingly strange “green” inventions continues even through the recession with bizarre inventions that will make you ask, “why?” Some are awesome – like reusable tote bags that turn into Mexican wrestling masks (WIN!) while others will have you scratching your head in confusion, like male floral fascinators.

Trendhunter has a great gallery of 30 weird eco innovations, some more earth-friendly than others. Here are some of our favorites:

We’ve all seen floral fascinators and hair accessories for women, but Nissa Quanstrom’s ‘Green Streets’ shoot turns the tables and lets men wear flowers on their faces as well.

By adding an image of a Mexican wrestler on the bag, the sack looks super-radical when filled. Now what happens when it is empty? The Eco Warrior Bag is the best reason to have a costume party! Put that bad boy on your head and you have a night of hilarity ahead of you.

Designed by Australian industrial designers Ben Landau and Brittany Veitch, each Bio-Accessory includes a living organism that is supposed to create a ‘mobile natural environment.’ The idea behind the Bio-Accessories is to have nature within an urban setting.

Japanese wood design company Sasaki Kogei has created stunning, eco-friendly wooden guns. The gun is a replica of a Smith and Wesson model 2 Army gun. The company also offers another eco-friendly wooden guns including the 357 Korutopaison.

Check out the other 26 weird inventions over at TrendHunter.

Link [TrendHunter]

World’s Stupidest, Most Wasteful Consumer Products

As if plastic banana guards, leaf blowers and mechanized egg crackers weren’t enough, the brilliant inventors of the world just keep on creating unbelievably stupid, wasteful products for the masses to enjoy. The Huffington Post is pretty great at sniffing them out – the Top 10 Most Useless Items of Crapola, the 9 Stupidest Products Of All Time (including the ‘Tiddy Bear’) and now, in honor of No Impact Week, the world’s most wasteful consumer products.

Here’s a preview:

Spinning Ice Cream Cone (pictured above)

In the mood for ice cream but too lazy to move your tongue to lick? We’re not kidding – there is actually a product that “solves” this “problem.”

The Noseaid

For 30 dollars, avoid a nosebleed mess by applying this clothespin to your child’s nose. Pinching things with our fingers is apparently out — or just using an actual clothespin and some cloth.

Because there’s simply not enough random, useless plastic crap in the world. We need it to keep on coming as fast as it can. How did humans ever get by without this stuff?

Check out the rest – including demonstration videos – at The Huffington Post.

Link [The Huffington Post]

Great Green Job of the Week: Development Associate, Friends of the Earth

Friends of the Earth is seeking a full-time Development Associate in San Francisco, California.

Friends of the Earth U.S. and our network of grassroots groups in 77 countries are fighting to create a more healthy, just world. We’re hard-hitting, progressive environmental advocates that pull no punches and speak sometimes uncomfortable truth to power. It’s an approach that has worked for four decades to produce important victories that have protected our planet and its people.

Our current campaigns focus on clean energy and solutions to global warming, protecting people from toxic and new, potentially harmful technologies, and promoting smarter, low-pollution transportation alternatives.

Position Overview:

We are looking for an energetic and experienced candidate to become an integral part of our development program, providing support for membership management and donor communications, assisting with special events, and handling member inquiries and acknowledgements. This position will assure the smooth functioning of day to day membership operations.

The job also provides an opportunity to work with a close-knit team of dedicated activists in our West and East Coast offices, to learn new skills, and to learn about Friends of the Earth campaigns in the U.S. and internationally.

Responsibilities:

Manage details of membership and development operations, including:

* Data entry of member information and other data-management tasks in our Raiser’s Edge database;
* Field telephone and electronic inquires from our members and the general public;
* Production of donor acknowledgements and dissemination of special information for our Global Stewardship Council and other major supporters;
* Assist with special tasks such as events coordination, volunteer management, and other tasks as needed;
* Assist with design of print materials such as fact sheets and event invitations;
* Assist with updating development web pages utilizing a content management system;
* Process incoming and outgoing e-mail, mail, faxes, and courier services;
* Monitor office general e-mail and voice mail accounts daily;
* Assist development staff with mailings and research projects as new needs arise;
* Produce and file Earth Share state and federal campaign materials in timely fashion;
* Coordinate a variety of weekly administrative tasks including invoice and timesheet approvals, commuter chex distribution, follow up invoice questions, and other occasional tasks such as coordinating staff celebrations;
* Manage the office equipment operation and acquire office and development supplies as needed;
* Gather information on campaign activities, achievements and breaking news and distribute it as needed;
* Other assignments as directed.

Qualifications:

* Experience with Raiser’s Edge or other database software;
* Ability to follow instructions, prioritize duties and multitask;
* Exacting attention to detail and excellent memory for detail;
* Excellent telephone and personal communication skills;
* An eagerness to learn and the desire and ability to work as part of a team;
* Accountable and able to work well independently;
* Ability to write well and spell accurately;
* Commitment to Friends of the Earth’s mission and goals;
* Knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, and other software;
* Reliable, flexible, motivated and interested in learning;
* Interested in a career in nonprofit fundraising.

Compensation: This position offers a competitive salary, commensurate with experience. Friends of the Earth provides an excellent benefits package including medical, vision and dental insurance, a 403b plan, holiday, sick and vacation benefits, a flexible spending plan for pre-tax deductions, one full extra vacation week at the end of the year when the office is closed, and the incomparable benefit of knowing you are helping to save this planet.

To Apply:

Please e-mail cover letter, resume and short writing sample with the subject heading “Development Associate.” No mail applications or phone calls. Position will remain open until filled. Only those selected for an interview or telephone screening will be contacted.

Friends of the Earth is a equal opportunity employer.

Contact Information:
jobs@foe.org
http://www.foe.org/

Biofuels Could Make Global Warming Worse

What could be more environmentally harmful than fossil fuels? Try biofuels. That’s right, a new study claims that we’ll make global warming even worse if we rely too much on the new generation of biofuels, because rules governing their production encourage deforestation. And, as another recent report illuminated, our forests are our most important line of defense against climate change.

From Reuters:

In a study to be published Friday in the US journal Science, a group of 13 scientists called for the rules, which contain a loophole exempting carbon dioxide emitted by bioenergy regardless of its source, to be overturned.

“The error is serious, but readily fixable,” said lead researcher Timothy Searchinger of Princeton University.

The study called for the issue to be addressed in the climate treaty that nations around the world are hoping to sign at the Copenhagen summit in December to supercede the Kyoto Treaty.

Researchers said numerous analyses — including one released by the US Department of Energy — have found that this loophole “could lead to the loss of most of the world’s natural forests as carbon caps tighten.”

The loophole needs to be closed before oil companies, power plants and other energy industry firms – who stand to benefit the most from it – can exploit it.

But that’s not the only problem with biofuels. Another study published in Science Express on Thursday noted that there’s not enough oversight on land use when it comes to producing biofuels, meaning some unscrupulous companies could cut down forest lands and use them to grow fuel.

Burning biomass releases almost as much carbon dioxide as burning fossil fuels, but that CO2 is partially offset by the plants themselves, grown for biofuel, absorbing CO2 from the air. That’s a big benefit – but we can’t cut down forests to grow these plants. Talk about counterproductive.

Link [Reuters]
Photo credit: Dave Reede

Denny’s Promotes Vegan Morrissey’s Concert with Free Hamburgers

Talk about tone-deaf, ham-fisted marketing: somehow, Denny’s thought it would be a good idea to promote the very vegan Morrissey’s West Coast concert with free hamburgers. Cue Morrissey’s head spinning like the Exorcist in 3…2…1…

From Ecorazzi:

On recent ticket orders for Morrissey’s upcoming west coast gig,Ticketmaster has allowed Denny’s to run a cross promotion offering a free hamburger. Why isn’t this okay? Only because Morrissey is one of the most outspoken vegetarian celebs ever!

Earlier this year, Morrissey banned all food that “used to have a face” from his concert hall and even walked off stage once because he was annoyed with the meaty smell from the crowd.

No word yet on if Morrissey knows about this promotion, but we’re pretty sure he’s going to FLIP when he does.

Hellooooo, Denny’s/Ticketmaster: this is the man who wrote the song Meat is Murder!

Apparently the company is promoting something it calls a ‘Better Burger’, which is suppossedly higher quality than the meat that it usually offers, and one of the choices is a Boca Burger. So, why not target that marketing a little better and push the Boca Burger? Vegetarians have drunken late-night cravings too.

Lame advertising + missed opportunity = FAIL.

Link [Ecorazzi]

GOP Rep Jokes About Murdering Treehugging Democrats

GOP Representative Gregg Harper is quite a charmer. When asked by Politico what the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus does, this Mississippi lawmaker pulled quite a gem of Republican hunting humor out of his butt.

From Treehugger:

While hunters, sportsmen, and trappers across the country are actually helping ‘liberal democrats’ to pass climate legislation, GOP Representative Gregg Harper is talking about murdering them. When Politico asked him what the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus does–Harper is a member–he replied, “We hunt liberal, tree-hugging Democrats, although it does seem like a waste of good ammunition.”

The remark was given during a routine interview with Politico, in which he not so subtly displayed his distaste for environmentalists and members of the opposite party.

And that’s a pretty grim joke if I’ve heard one. What politician–especially in the age of the omnipresent sound byte–thinks it’s a good idea to talk about killing their political opponents? The punchline of this joke isn’t ‘environmentalist Democrats are stupid’ or backwards, it’s literally that they deserve death. Um, ha?

Asked later about the comment, Harper was unrepentant, stating through his spokesperson that it was supposed to be fun.

The sad thing is, we’d be willing to bet that the majority of the Fox News audience that caught that comment thought it was hilarious. These are people who take Glenn Beck seriously and enjoy watching Larry the Cable Guy. Enough said.

Link [Treehugger]
Photo credit: Boing Boing

Shocking Photos: Bird Bodies Full of Plastic

Lighters, bottle caps, plastic bags and milk jugs. Fishing net, fishing line, zip ties, remnants of food containers. All of this and more floats in a massive vortex of trash in the Pacific Ocean – and in the stomachs of the birds who search for food amid the debris.

The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is twice the size of Texas, and many of the particles of plastic contained within it are so small they can’t be scooped out of the water. But other pieces – colorful pieces that look like they might be food – get swallowed by albatross and other birds.

Photographer Chris Jordan traveled to the Midway Islands, near the center of the garbage patch, to photograph the bodies of albatross chicks that have been inadvertently killed when their confused parents fed them plastic. Jordan didn’t move a single piece of plastic – he photographed the carcasses exactly as he found them.

The photos are a disturbing reminder of just how much of an effect our throwaway society is having upon our fellow inhabitants of this planet. Head over to Planet Green to view the whole set of 30 photographs.

Link [Planet Green]

Bike to Berlin Brothel, Get a Discount

What’s more annoying than driving down to your local brothel only to find that there’s no parking available? It’s enough to make you stay home – and that’s exactly why Berlin’s Maison d’Envie, or House of Desire, is now offering discounts to clients who arrive on bicycles.

Thomas Goetz, the brothel’s owner, hopes that the discounts will stimulate sales and help the environment at the same time. From New York Daily News:

The bordellos in the capital of Germany, where prostitution is legal, have seen business suffer with the global financial crisis. Patrons have become more frugal, and there are fewer potential customers coming to the city for business trips and conferences.

But Maison d’Envie has seen its business begin to return since it began offering the euro5 ($7.50) discount in July, Goetz said.

To qualify, customers must show the receptionist either a bicycle padlock key or proof they used public transit to get to the neighborhood. That knocks the price for 45 minutes in a room, for example, to euro65 from euro70.

Those who arrive on foot, however, are out of luck.

“We haven’t found a way for people to prove they have walked here,” Goetz explained.

It’s a win-win: get double the exercise, see Berlin up close and personal, and get a discount on a prostitute. Who can argue with that? Even Berlin locals who don’t frequent brothels are cool with it, since it cuts congestion and pollution in this busy urban capital.

But why stop at brothels? This concept could be used by practically any kind of business and it’s a trend that we’d like to see remain long after the economy has picked back up again.

Link [New York Daily News]
Photo credit: Flickr user jesse.millan

Hot Spots for Green Jobs in Solar, Biofuels & More

Amid all the hubbub over Van Jones’ resignation and Obama’s focus on other issues, talk of green collar jobs in America has slowed down somewhat – but that doesn’t mean that those jobs aren’t out there. The clean-tech sector remains a bright spot in a dull economy, and a report released by Clean Edge research on Thursday hints at where those jobs are.

From CNET:

Based on the number of job postings and placements, and public and private investment, the report found the solar industry to be the leading clean-tech sector, followed by biofuels and biomaterials, conservation and efficiency, smart grids, and wind power.

For those willing to move for a job, the report lists the 15 areas in the U.S. where people are likely to find the most clean-tech job activity, as well as a separate list for global clean-tech hotspots.

Here’s the breakdown:

1. San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose
2. Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County
3. New York-northern New Jersey-Long Island (N.Y.-N.J.-Conn.-Pa.)
4. Boston-Worcester-Lawrence-Lowell-Brockton (Mass., N.H.)
5. Washington, D.C.-Baltimore (Md., Va., W.V.)

See the rest of the list – which includes Denver, Seattle, Houston and Detroit – over at CNET.

The report, “Clean Tech Job Trends 2009” (PDF) also includes tons of other info for clean-tech job hunters including schools that offer green career training, websites where you can find green job listings and a list of the best green-tech blogs, so it’s definitely worth a read.

Link [CNET]
Photo credit: Oregon DOT

Skunk Whisperer Frees Skunk from Peanut Butter Jar

Peanut butter is irresistible to skunks, says ‘Skunk Whisperer’ (yes – really) Ned Bruha, who was called on the scene after a newspaper delivery woman spotted a skunk with his head stuck in a jar of the tasty goo.

There is officially a ‘whisperer’ for everything.

Your life simply wouldn’t have been complete without seeing a skunk with a peanut butter jar on its head. You’re welcome.

Link [Buzzfeed]

Actress Sienna Miller Unveils Documentary on Congo Women

Last spring, British actress Sienna Miller traveled to the Democratic Republic of the Congo to document the lives of the women who are embroiled in the inescapable political conflict of the region. The documentary, titled ‘8 Minutes’, is named after a horrifying statistic: a woman is raped in the Congo every 8 minutes. The journey changed Miller’s life, and the story she tells is undeniably poignant.

From her travelogues on Take Part:

I met a mother who was running away from a group of militia three days earlier with her baby strapped to her back. They both got shot, but survived and thankfully made it into the facility in time. Her boy is so little and the huge bandages on his arms break my heart. Everything about this place breaks my heart.

These people all have stories which they share with me and there is just simply too much to try to grasp. Everyone has lost something, everyone has lost someone. I meet malnourished babies, mothers, fathers, widows and widowers, malaria sufferers, their eyes glazed, victims of rape and pillaging.

They are all here in massive numbers, and their stories are agonizing. I meet a group of about a hundred who have selected an old man to read out on behalf of them all, their list of grievances. They have no homes and no possessions and they need others to recognize they are in crisis.

Read the rest over at Take Part – and watch the documentary in its entirety at Ecorazzi.

Link [Take Part] + [Ecorazzi]
Photo credit: Take Part

Bad Bunnies Burned as Biofuel in Sweden

When you look at adorable, fuzzy bunnies, do you think, “Gee, these suckers would make the perfect biofuel to keep me warm this winter!”? If so, you might want to go in for a psychiatric evaluation – or move to Sweden, where they’re actually doing just that.

Apparently, bunnies are such a huge nuisance in Stockholm parks, officials not only kill them by the thousands every year, but ship their bodies off to a biofuel facility so they can keep Swedes warm and cozy all winter long.

From Scientific American:

Converting the rabbits to fuel is the company Konvex, a subsidiary of the Danish company Daka Biodiesel, which makes automotive and heating fuels from vegetable and animal oils and fats. The Swedes have a variety of similar efforts, including turning slaughterhouse trimmings into biogas, a methane fuel that runs taxicabs in Linkoping in southern Sweden.

Bunnies, despite a felicity for breeding, are not quite abundant enough to be a reliable fuel so Stockholm also ships dead cats, cows, deer and horses to the plant for processing, Tuvunger told Der Spiegel. No word on whether the remains of man’s best friend are also keeping Swedes warm this winter.

Hey, don’t get us wrong. Using a waste material for fuel = WIN. However, there’s something messed up about killing cute, innocent little creatures by the thousands and then burning their bodies for warmth. It’s not like these are the killer rabbits of Monty Python.

And, perhaps these bunnies should not be a waste material in the first place – because there are better ways of dealing with an overpopulation problem than mass murder.

Link [Scientific American]

Vote for Dorothee to be the Next Green ‘It’ Girl!

Who’s the next green ‘it’ girl? Project Green Search is looking for the woman who wants to be an advocate for the environment, animal welfare, fair trade, and human rights. The next green ‘it’ girl is a model, spokesperson, host, brand ambassador and all around green model citizen, for progressive, sustainable, ethical companies, from fashion & beauty to cars & computers.

We know just the girl… our own Dorothee Royal-Hedinger, sustainable food advocate and co-founder of OrganicNation.tv! Dorothee is more than just a (ridiculously) pretty face – she’s got brains and passion for sustainability in spades, just the qualities that a well-rounded green ‘it’ girl should have.

Please vote for Dorothee so she can continue her work in spreading the message of sustainability.

“The more I learn about sustainability and organic food, the more I realize that being eco-conscious can’t stop at the dinner table. For our health and for the health of the planet, we all need to make eco-friendly choices when purchasing things like beauty products and clothing.

I’ve realized that fashion has the power to make a difference because of the joy and interest it brings people who might not normally be exposed to environmental issues. It’s been such a pleasure working with leaders in eco-fashion that I have to admit, I’m hooked! I would be proud to continue fostering environmental awareness in young consumers through something as fun as fashion.

As a “green” model, I would aim to show that being green means being hip, confident and conscious about what we consume, but most of all I would enjoy celebrating healthy food, healthy clothing and healthy bodies!”

-Dorothee

Voting is really easy, and every single vote counts… just click this link & select 5 stars under her photo, and leave a note at the bottom of the page if you like. Hurry – voting ends tomorrow!

Link [Project Green Search]

Amazonian Tribe Massacred by Loggers Dwindles to 5 Members

Deforestation has many prices – not the least of which is the loss of an entire Amazonian tribe, which will inevitably die out now that there are only five members left. The once-vibrant, ancient Akuntsu tribe of Brazil lost almost all of their numbers to a massacre by loggers intent on stealing their land in the 1990s.

From The Independent:

Much of the Akuntsus’ story is – for obvious reasons – undocumented. For millennia, they lived in obscurity, deep in the rainforest of Rondonia state, a remote region of western Brazil near the Bolivian border. They hunted wild pig, agoutis and tapir, and had small gardens in their villages, where they would grow manioc (or cassava) and corn.

Then, in the 1980s, their death warrant was effectively signed: farmers and loggers were invited to begin exploring the region, cutting roads deep into the forest, and turning the once verdant wilderness into lucrative soya fields and cattle ranches.

Fiercely industrious, the new migrant workers knew that one thing might prevent them from creating profitable homesteads from the rainforest: the discovery of uncontacted tribes, whose land is protected from development under the Brazilian constitution.

As a result, frontiersmen who first came across the Akuntsu in the mid-1980s made a simple calculation. The only way to prevent the government finding out about this indigenous community was to wipe them off the map.

The seven members of the tribe who escaped the massacre retreated deep into the wilderness to survive, and were not formally “contacted” until 1995. They include Konibú, the tribe’s elderly chief and shaman, Pugapía, his wife, their two daughers Nãnoi and Enotéi and a cousin, Pupak. Konibú’s sister Ururú, the sixth last member pictured at front left, recently passed away. Tribal custom does not allow outsiders to marry in.

A documentary of their struggle called ‘Corumbiara: they shoot Indians, don’t they?’ which was filmed over a period of twenty years, is now showing in Brazil. Campaigners hope that the story of the Akuntsu tribe will persuade the Brazilian public to strengthen government protections for indigenous people.

The Akuntsu represent yet another reason why we must make protecting the rainforests of the Amazon, and elsewhere in the world, a top priority. Not only are these forests five times more effective than carbon capture at combating catastrophic climate change, they also harbor so many wonders of the human, animal, insect and plant worlds.

Link [The Independent]

Weirdest Green Cars of the Future

In the future, will we all be traveling in green flying saucers? Probably not, but that doesn’t stop extra-creative sci-fi enthusiasts from dreaming up bizarro vehicles that could have been props in Plan 9 from Outer Space.

According to this strange video (which is apparently narrated by a British robot), all of the craziest concepts from the past half-century are “the green cars of the future”, including the Ford Nucleon – designed in the ‘50s. It’s hardly a round up of green transportation that will actually be produced any time soon, but it’s a funny look at some of the wilder ideas that have been proposed.

Why the hell is the underwater car a convertible? “Hold your breath, honey, we’re going under!”

Link [Treehugger]

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