How to Live on Earth: Experts Suggest User’s Guide

When it comes to living in harmony with nature, we humans have repeatedly screwed up, big time. But there’s no instruction manual that explains exactly how we should do things so we don’t harm the earth – yet. 28 scientists have suggested nine key areas including freshwater use and chemical pollutants where governments could define limits to ensure a “safe operating space for humanity”.

From Reuters:

“Today we are clearly driving development in the world blindfolded,” Johan Rockstrom, leader of the study and director of the Stockholm Resilience Center at Stockholm University, told Reuters of a lack of international guidelines.

“We are not considering the risks that there are deep holes we can drive into,” he told Reuters. The call, for setting “planetary boundaries,” was published in Thursday’s edition of the journal Nature.

Rockstrom said there were signs human activities had already pushed the world into the danger zone because of global warming, a high rate of extinctions of animals and plants and pollution caused by nitrogen, mainly used in fertilizers.

Among limits, they suggested capping the percentage of global land area converted to cropland at 15 percent. At the moment, the percentage is 11.7 percent, they said.

Though conservatives are probably shrieking in terror at the idea of global guidelines for a range of human activities, such a ‘user’s guide’ would be extremely helpful in uniting people around the world with a common goal of keeping this planet a safe and healthy place to live. Imagine if world leaders had concocted such a guide back at the beginning of the Industrial Revolution – the world would probably be a much cleaner, healthier place today.

It would definitely have to be a group effort, however, without giving any one person or organization too much say in how the guidelines were developed. Otherwise, we could end up with another Bible on our hands (and Great Flying Spaghetti Monster, we sure as hell don’t need that.)

Link [Reuters]
Photo credit: Alan Dean/Woodley Wonderworks

Angry Green Girl Uses Boobs and Sarcasm to Push Better Habits

If a hot chick wearing next-to-nothing scoffs at you for environmentally unfriendly habits, would you be enticed to change? Angry Green Girl is counting on it. This network of “hot, green and shameless” women, led by Sophia – resident bitch and official ‘Angry Green Girl’ – is dedicated to “exploiting everything they got to save the world”.

Does it work? It seems like a lot of people could be turned off by the “mean girl” shtick, especially when it comes off so holier-than-thou – and this tact is bound to offend.

But, of course, sex sells, and if Sophia “Angry Green Girl” and her crew keep goading guys into being greener with hybrid-only bikini car washes and things like that, they might have some success.

Or, they might end up with guys tuning in to watch their videos – on mute.

Link [Treehugger]

Who’s Who in Green: Julia Louis-Dreyfus

Long before Julia Louis-Dreyfus became internationally famous for her role as Elaine Benes on Seinfeld, the actress made a commitment to sustainability along with her husband and fellow SNL alum Brad Hall. Louis-Dreyfus lives in a green home and is actively involved a long list of environmental organizations including Heal the Bay, Trust for Public Land, the Environmental Media Association and the Natural Resources Defense Council.

While her husband grew up in hippiefied 1970s Santa Barbara, where an oil spill spurred community-wide environmental activism, Louis-Dreyfus told Grist that she never had any one defining experience that turned her on to being green.

I grew up spending a lot of time in Wyoming, hiking and so forth, so I certainly had an early appreciation for the natural world. I also spent years as a kid traveling in the developing worlds. We lived in Sri Lanka for a year, Colombia, Tunisia, where my stepfather was working as a doctor with Project Hope. I was made aware of the idea of being a part of something bigger than you, something bigger than our lives. That impulse is definitely what now drives my environmental work. It’s certainly part of what compelled me to want to live efficiently and build this house — to support solutions to problems that reach well beyond my lifetime.

The expansion of her family was another big motivation. Louis-Dreyfus wanted to make sure that her sons would inherit a healthy world, and in fact, it was the inability to take her firstborn swimming due to toxic waste in the bay near her home that led to her activism with Santa Monica organization Heal the Bay. She’s now a board member.

She also spoke to Grist about the greening of her home, and why she believes that the little things we do to green up our daily lives are so important:

This is a really scary time right now. The war and terrorism in the Middle East, the crisis of leadership in many of these oil-supply countries in the developing world, the crisis of global warming — all these are very clearly tied to energy. I mean, what the hell is going on? Why isn’t our leadership connecting the dots? What’s so frightening about these issues is feeling like you don’t have any control over them. So for me, these lifestyle decisions are a way of having control and feeling less guilty. I walk around feeling a sort of existential guilt all the time; for me this house is a way of feeling less guilty about the universe.

Louis-Dreyfus offered her earnest tips for greener living during an appearance on The Tonight Show in 2008:

The actress has even managed to squeeze some eco-values into her current starring vehicle, The New Adventures of Old Christine. Her character drives a Prius and if you look carefully, you can make out all-natural cleaning products perched on the countertop of the set’s kitchen. They’re small things, but Louis-Dreyfus and her husband believe that making such things everyday sights on television can help Americans accept the concept of sustainability into their own lives.

Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ Green Score: 22,600

Photo credit: Heal the Bay

Timberland CEO Struggles with Company Ban on Bottled Water

Timberland CEO Jeffrey Swartz announced a new ban on bottled water at his company headquarters around the world two weeks ago, thinking it would be fairly easy to implement. After all, what’s so tough about using filtered tap water or other alternatives and passing on expensive deliveries of bottled water? As it turns out, according to Swartz – plenty.

He was psyched about implementing the new ban, until he started running into some obstacles:

First there’s a supply issue to contend with – our facilities team reports a 4-week supply of bottled water already in house and we don’t want to be wasteful, so can we continue to offer it until the supply runs out?  Sure, okay … makes sense.  Then the vending machine folks chime in, what about the plastic soda bottles in the vending machines?  Are we getting rid of those, too?  Wow.  Okay, sure.  No more plastic bottles in the vending machines.  But hold on, says the guy in charge of our dining services – we don’t have nearly enough glasses and cups to accommodate the increased demand from people who would otherwise be drinking bottled water.  We’re gonna have to add more dishwashers, or buy more glasses … yikes.  All I wanted to do was get rid of the bottled water, now I’m buying new dishwashers?  How come it’s never as easy as you think it will be to get something done?

Apparently Swartz also received feedback from readers of the Earthkeepers blog about whether banning bottled water was even necessary in the first place, with people arguing that bottled water has its place and that getting rid of it wasn’t going to negate Timberland’s carbon footprint.

Swartz understands that – but, as he says on Earthkeepers, “I hold on to the notion that in the corporate world, where tap water is clean and reuseable containers are (soon to be) plentiful, we can do better than bottled water.”

That’s a great attitude to have, and we applaud Swartz and Timberland for going through the trouble to address these kinds of issues in the workplace. Their next step? Getting rid of paper products.

Link [Earthkeepers] via [GreenBiz.com]

Book Review: The Lazy Environmentalist on a Budget

Whether you’re a newbie to the whole green scene or a dedicated veteran, you’ve undoubtedly noticed that green products can sometimes be discouragingly expensive. Oh, sure, most of these products are worth the money because they’re better for the earth and in many cases, they last longer than conventional goods, too. But the truth is, in many cases you can get by without them, and still be green.

If you’re wondering exactly how one goes about doing that, we’ve got just the book you need to read. The Lazy Environmentalist on a Budget is a follow-up to Josh Dorfman’s 2007 book, The Lazy Environmentalist, named after his popular radio show.  The new book takes Dorfman’s guide to “easy, stylish green living” and applies it to a big segment of the population – those of us without a lot of money to spare.

So, how does one shop green on a tight budget? There are so many things to consider, from the smallest household items to big purchases like vehicles and real estate – and it’s all in the book. Dorfman’s tips help readers navigate the often-confusing world of sustainable and ethical shopping – and the best thing about it is, every suggestion adheres to the author’s “easy, stylish green living” standards. No settling for low-quality junk.

And you can still splurge on those pricey green products every now and then – sometimes, it’s worth it. That’s another thing Dorman covers in his latest book: breaking down the long-term cost benefits of buying green vs. buying conventional goods. Once you understand how much you can save in the long term, taking extra time to save up for something seems like no big deal.

Every chapter of The Lazy Environmentalist on a Budget includes a list of additional sources of info plus recommended products and affordable brands that you might not have otherwise heard about.

The book’s not perfect – hardcore environmentalists will question whether there are hidden costs to some of the cheaper green recommendations, and roll their eyes at the suggestion to shop at Wal-Mart – but it’s definitely packed with useful information, and it’s a great testament to the fact that you don’t have to be an uptight, rich snob with a lot of time on your hands in order to live in harmony with the earth.

Be sure to catch Josh Dorfman’s new television show, The Lazy Environmentalist, on the Sundance Channel Tuesdays at 9pm EST.

Link [The Lazy Environmentalist on a Budget]

The Trailer for No Impact Man: The Documentary is Here

For everyone who has gotten sucked into Colin Beavan’s journey of living as green as possible in New York City via his blog No Impact Man, we’ve got a special treat: the trailer for the documentary of the same name.

Beavan is a writer who has set out to have as little impact on the earth as possible for one year. That means no trash, no carbon emissions, no toxins in the water, no elevators, no subway, no products in packaging, no plastics, no air conditioning, no TV, no toilets…

From No Impact Man:

The way I see it, waiting for the senators and the CEOs to change the way we treat the world is taking too long. Polar bears are already drowning because the polar ice is melting. In fact, research shows it’s worse: they are so hungry, they are actually starting to eat each other.

I can’t stand my so-called liberal self sitting around not doing anything about it anymore. The question is: what would it be like if I took the situation (or at least my tiny part of it) into my own hands? I’m finding out.

Click the image below to view the trailer. An accompanying book will be available September 1st.

Link [No Impact Man]

Do Everything Right, but Do it for the Wrong Reasons

Green Thing has a really positive message – maybe too positive, if you ask Rob. He’s not too keen on miserable green gits, so he decided to give some advice on how you can be green, selfish and WIN. Rob’s unique take on Green Thing’s ‘Seven Things You Can Do to Lead a Greener Life’ involves peeing on cars, eating cats and shouting at his friends “you are a sad bastard who will never get laid!”

Just watch:

“Do everything right, but do it for the wrong reasons! Do the Green Thing!”

Link [Do the Green Thing]

Scott Baio Thinks We’re All Kooks

Scott Baio is still best known as Charles in Charge despite his recent foray into the world of reality TV, but he and wife Renee founded a charity organization called the Bailey Baio Angel Foundation to raise awareness and funds for children and families affected by OA’s, GA1 and ENBS. Given this philanthropic streak, The Green Girls thought he might be open to helping the environment.

Yeah, not so much. In an interview with The Green Girls, Baio called those of us who make even minor green lifestyle changes ‘kooks’, ‘crazy’ and ‘those people’.

The relevant bit starts at 2:05:

Green Girls: I know everyone else out there is doing their part to help the environment, save money as you mentioned… have you guys made any lifestyle changes in your personal life to go green?

Baio: In terms of what?

Green Girls: Do you guys recycle more now, did you stop using plastic bottles?

Baio: We are all for the environment but we’re not kooks. We don’t go overboard. We do what we can, and uh… yeah. We’re not those people. We’re good decent human beings, but we’re not crazy.

Scott Baio is 47… and sort of an ass.

Link [The Green Girls]

Obama Seeks to Out-Do Clinton in Greening the White House

President Obama wants to green the White House, and though it’s been done before, he’s going to one-up former Presidents Carter, Clinton and Bush in every way he can. Carter installed solar panels, Clinton embarked on an ambitious effort that successfully improved the efficiency of lighting, heating, A/C, insulation and water use and even anti-environment Bush installed a few solar energy systems. But Obama is focused on reducing the White House’s behemoth carbon footprint, and that will take a lot more work.

From The Huffington Post:

Obama isn’t ready to give details of his broader go-green plans for the White House, but administration officials report that small steps are under way: The housekeeping staff is making the switch to greener cleaning supplies, and complex managers have asked engineers and groundskeepers to use greener products whenever possible. Efforts are afoot to improve and promote recycling.

As for what more can be done, outside experts on green buildings report that the administration is seeking out information about what’s feasible. Given the priority Obama placed on renewable energy in his economic stimulus package and budget, environmentalists are chattering about what further steps he will take at the White House.

Prior to taking office, Obama promised to lead by example and show Americans that it’s really not that hard to go green. The small steps they’re currently taking may not seem all that impressive on the surface, but so far, each thing they’ve done – from the kitchen garden to the eco-friendly playground – can be easily imitated by most Americans. And, there’s undoubtedly much more to come.

Link [The Huffington Post]
Photo credit: WhiteHouseMuseum.org

U.S. Army Bases Going Green to Save Money

While American military bases may be implementing green strategies into their operations – like calculating their carbon footprints – they’re not necessarily going to be on the front-line in the fight against global warming. They’re only interested in environmental measures that will save them money and stay in line with their main strategic war-fighting goals. But, their efforts will be a big help anyway, as they cut back on emissions and turn to renewable energy sources.

Plenty Mag has the scoop on what the military is doing to go green:

Many military bases now use renewable energy: California’s China Lake naval facility is powered by a geothermal plant, while Nevada’s Nellis Air Force Base gets juice from a massive solar array.

At North Carolina’s Fort Bragg, troops train in mock villages built from recycled shipping containers. The container construction cuts waste and energy use, while reducing the price tag from $400,000 per village to just $25,000.

At forward operating bases in Iraq and Afghanistan, 85 percent of energy goes to power AC units that keep troops and equipment cool. Spraying foam insulation directly onto tents has cut energy losses by 45 percent, reducing the amount of diesel trucked to the front line and decreasing convoys’ exposure to attacks.

Of course, Plenty Mag points out that the military is also committing plenty of eco-sins and that isn’t likely to change any time soon. Among the offenses are heavy reliance on coal, whale-harming sonar from Navy ships, use of depleted uranium munitions, hogging funds that could be used for environmental projects and, perhaps worst of all, aiming to sidestep rules governing Superfund sites and air pollution, skipping costly clean-ups on 129 heavily-polluted sites and redefining “hazardous materials” to exclude unexploded munitions.

Naturally, we’d love to see the military find ways of operating that don’t put the environment and human health at risk. Hopefully more changes will occur over the next 8 years of Barack Obama’s leadership – we can dream!

Link [Plenty Mag]
Photo credit: Nellis Air Force Base