Green Sexy

Moving Windmills: The William Kamkwamba story

2009-10-11T22:59:23-04:00

I have been wanting to share this for a while. This is an amazing story of ingenuity, reuse, harnessing a sustainable energy source and tenacity. Given the lack of resources William Kamkwamba is a true inspiration, imagine what we can do if we lived by his example. This is a true story of necessity breeding invention.

A "Green Porno"?

2009-04-12T04:12:54-04:00

It seems like everything else has gone green these days---why not porno? Now, does this mean that we have porno stars using biodegradable condoms and eco-friendly lube? Well, not exactly. You see, Isabella Rossellini, former Lancome model and star of the ultra-sexually-charged movie Blue Velvet, has changed her focus from human desire and sexuality to that of the insect and animal world. She has created a series of internet shorts on animal sexuality entitled Green Porno that can be viewed on Sundance Channel's website. Season one focused on the sexuality of insects, while her new season two focuses on sea creatures and their sexual exploits. The costumes and props she uses on the show are purposely amateurish and child-like, as the aim of the show is to amuse and inform, rather than to arouse.

So, if you're looking for a good laugh and have a super short attention span, then get turned on to Rossellini's Green Porno, and you'll never see "green" the same way again! Now, that's Green-Sexy!

Schools that "Go Green" save "Green"

2009-03-10T08:53:36-04:00

Schools all over the nation are doing little things that are saving their districts a lot of money.

15 schools in District 91, Idaho Falls, Idaho received the Energy Star Label for increasing their energy-efficency by changing their habits. How'd they do it? Not by making any sweeping changes that required a lot of time and money---rather, they made simple changes in their behavior by being more mindful of their energy use. For example, the district has saved more than $40,000 dollars a month by making sure that lights were switched off in rooms that were unoccupied. Think of all the empty rooms with lights on in a typical school that you pass while walking down the hall---how many light fixtures are there in a typical classroom? How many bulbs are in each fixture? How old are those light fixtures? How much energy per kilowatt-hour (kWh) are these bulbs burning? How much is the school being charged per kWh by their electric-provider during these peak-hours when school is in session and the grid is most taxed? How much money could be saved if teachers simply hit the off switch when they left the lavatory or their classrooms?

Another conscious effort made in these schools was to shut down computers when they were not in use. The district saved over a million dollars in energy costs! The U.S. Department of Energy recommends that you should consider turning off your computer's monitor if you don't plan to use it for more than 20 minutes and to consider turning off your computer altogether if you're not going to use your PC for more than 2 hours. In the warmer months, shutting down computers helps to save on cooling costs because of the extra heat that computers produce. Thankfully, most district's computers are set to power down to a "sleep mode", in which a computer consumes "15 Watts or less power, which is around 70% less electricity than a computer without power management features." This feature saves much money in energy costs, but the computer is still on, and it still is consuming energy, so if nobody is using it, then why is it on at all?

So, in this time of economic hardship, isn't it amazing how making a simple conscious change in our daily habits can help save money for our schools, and potentially even help save enough money to save someone's job? If you have any green-energy tips, please feel free to pass them along. Hey, every little bit can add up to a whole lot!

The Short, Tragic Lives of Farm Animals

2008-12-30T06:00:00-05:00

I found this ultra-disturbing video on ChooseVeg.com about the ill-treatment of commercially-raised animals, from when they're born until they're led to slaughter. In one portion of this ten-minute video, a cow is castrated, has its horns snipped off, and is repeatedly branded---all without any anesthesia. In another part of the video, chickens are "debeaked" so that they won't peck at each other in their disturbingly-cramped cages.

My wife and I eat vegetarian meals as often as we can, but more and more we find it difficult to reconcile our meat-eating ways. We have taken measures in the past, such as buying meat from a farmer who specialized in organically-raised cows, and have looked into buying eggs from families who keep chickens in their backyards and sell the eggs from these free range chickens, but our guilt sometimes is hard to reconcile.

This video may push us closer to vegetarianism---watch it and let me know what you think.

How to Recycle Your Christmas Tree

2008-12-29T11:50:20-05:00

According to Earth911.com, "Between 30 and 35 million real Christmas trees are sold in the U.S. each year. Luckily, about 93 percent of those trees are currently being recycled through more than 4,000 available recycling programs." That's encouraging news! One of the most common ways old trees are recycled is as mulch for playgrounds, trails, landscaping, etc. There are many other novel ways that used Christmas trees are being recycled and reused, from providing habitat for animals, to helping to stop erosion.

Each January, 400 old Christmas trees are strapped to a concrete block and dumped in Lake Havasu, which is a man-made desert lake located in Arizona and California. These trees, which take a decade to decompose, form a reef for young bass, bluegills and other fish. This provides protection and a habitat for the fish, and has considerably improved the fishing in Lake Havasu.

For the past 16 years donated Christmas trees have been used as a wetland preserver in southern Louisiana's coastal marshes. The used trees are converted into four-foot-tall cribs that help to collect the sediment from the water as it rushes in. Eventually, the sediment builds up behind the crib to form new land that helps to build up the eroded shore.

In Tomahawk, Wisconsin, the Packaging Corporation of America burns about 500 used trees a year as a source of power for their paper mills. The resulting steam powers the mill for ten minutes.

On Baker Lake Island in Cook County, Illinois, volunteers prop used trees on foot-tall steel pipes to provide nests for herons and egrets.

To find the nearest Christmas tree recycling program near you, visit Earth911.com, or click on the previous link.

Packaging Gifts the Green Way

2008-12-24T21:36:19-05:00

Whether you meticulously peel off the tape or voraciously tear into your presents, piles of wrapping paper often times adorn people's living rooms during this holiday season. If you've been making a habit of buying up rolls upon rolls of cute wrapping paper every year, just think of all the resources that go into making that wrapping paper---from trees to dyes, to electricity, fuel used in shipping, etc.---you could be doing the Earth harm while trying to bring happiness.

So what can you do? For one, reuse wrapping paper or gift bags that you had from the previous holiday season. Heck, it seems like my family has been using the same wrapping paper and gift bags for years now, and no one seems to mind, since it's what's inside that is truly memorable. The Guardian suggests that you use nice festively-colored shopping bags that you've gotten from stores as wrapping paper, or even cutting up old gift bags and using those to wrap with. Another idea they put forth is using interesting magazine pictures or maps as wrapping paper. The way some teens plaster their walls with pictures of their idols, this could be a fun way for a kid to wrap up a gift. You could try wrapping your presents in sections of the paper that speak to the personality of the person who is receiving the gift---the sports section for the jock, the comics for the joker, the editorial section for the opinionated one, etc. They also suggest using left over fabric, gift scarves, or clothing items from a thrift store to wrap your presents in. A final innovative idea is to wrap your presents in aluminum foil, which will add a real shine and glimmer to your display and can be washed and reused to wrap holiday treats or leftovers in!

If using recycled materials as a means of packaging your gifts doesn't tickle your fancy, then there are some eco-friendly products that you can purchase to help decorate your gifts. National Geographic's The Green Guide suggests Paporganics' hemp-blend wrap that is made from 90 percent post-consumer fiber with 10 percent hemp. Paper Mojo makes gift wraps made from jute, lokta or banana fiber---that could impress as much as the gift itself! For gift bags, you could go with Global Exchange's Native Leaf Gift Bags made in the Philippines using certified less-toxic dyes. Not only is Global Exchange a fair-trade organization, but they will also wrap any of its products in a 100 percent recycled box, tied with a raffia ribbon and accompany it with a recycled rice-paper greeting card for $3.95. Recycled-fabric gift bags can be purchased from Patagonia. To fill your gift bags, you could purchase white tissue paper made from 90 percent recycled paper and colored tissue made from 75 percent recycled fibers through Nashville Wraps.

Well, hope you have a great holiday, and if you're anything like me, you'll have a nice, neatly-folded pile of used wrapping paper next to you, ready to be stored and reused next year!

Set a Place for Mother Earth This Thanksgiving

2008-11-26T21:22:12-05:00

My local newspaper, Rochester, New York's Democrat and Chronicle offers 10 environmentally-friendly tips for greening up your Thanksgiving:

1. Forgo disposable dishware. If you don't have enough plates, glasses and flatware to go around, borrow from guests or neighbors.

2. If you must do disposable, buy biodegradable and then compost it (otherwise, it just takes up space in the landfill, along with Styrofoam cups, paper plates and plastic forks).

3. Switch to cloth napkins. They feel better on the skin, absorb food mess better and don't take up much space in the washing machine and dryer. If this is a first-time investment, buy one set for special occasions, one set for everyday use. It won't be long until you wonder how you tolerated flimsy paper napkins for so long.

4. Use reusable food containers instead of wrapping leftovers in foil or plastic wrap or putting them in plastic bags. Want to send food home with your guests? Ask them to bring their own containers.

5. Yes, it's fun to have lots of food to serve and share. But don't overdo it to the point where you are throwing food out afterward. Plan, shop and cook carefully to avoid waste. Freeze whatever food you won't eat as soon as possible.

6. A 2006 study from the University of Washington found that driving several miles to the farmers market wiped out any savings in carbon emissions that might have been gained by purchasing locally grown food. Consolidate your trips to the farmers market and supermarket. Plan ahead to avoid last-minute runs to the store, and walk, bike, bus or carpool to shop whenever possible.

7. Decorate with what's on hand. Instead of flowers flown in from overseas, how about a lovely table centerpiece of locally grown gourds and squashes from the farmers market?

8. Buy local. Late fall is a great time of year to buy local: Potatoes, apples, winter squashes, greens, pears, onions and cabbages are abundant this time of year.

9. Buy a locally grown, organic and/or sustainably raised turkey. There are many area livestock farmers who now offer free-range, organic or sustainably raised birds. Supermarkets also offer organic turkey options, as do natural food stores. Be aware that in some cases, orders must be placed early, so if you can't eat organic this Thanksgiving, there's always next year.

10. From wine bottles to empty cans of broth, a holiday meal generates extra trash. Be sure all your recyclable waste goes to the recycling bin.

An additional tip, although probably too late for this Thanksgiving, is to look into purchasing a Heritage Turkey, which are turkeys that are genetically pure and whose ancestry can be traced back 100 years. These turkeys take longer to raise than traditional, commercially-raised turkeys, but you won't be getting any antibiotics or hormones---just good 'ol 100% whole turkey goodness!

However you celebrate this Thanksgiving, raise a glass in thanks to Mother Earth and all she has done for us!

Eat a Natural "Heritage Turkey" This Thanksgiving

2008-11-16T04:41:08-05:00

Freezerfuls of turkeys show up in your local supermarket come November, many of which are disturbingly large, like they've been chowing down on potato chips and beer in front of the boob tube for the previous 11 months. Well, we all know that the life of a commercially-raised turkey isn't so relaxing---it's actually quite disturbing and tragic. According to an Encyclopedia Britannica Advocacy for Animals article entitled "Consider the Turkey", commercially-raised turkeys are often times subjected to overcrowding, genetic manipulation (for faster growth), and two disturbing practices called "debeaking" and "detoeing", in which the beaks and claws of turkeys are "clipped" to prevent injuries that overcrowded and overstressed turkeys inflict on one another. Can't have the merchandise damaging the merchandise, can you?

Unfortunately, even "free-range" turkeys often times don't fare much better than turkeys raised in traditional mass-production farms. In fact, there are no legal requirements for how much, if any access to the outdoors a free-range turkey gets. The USDA does not regulate the size of free-range animal flocks, so overcrowding often occurs. According to Farm Sanctuary, a farm-animal rescue and advocacy organization, “Thanksgiving shoppers buying an ‘organic’ or ‘free-range’ turkey have no way of knowing just how natural a life that turkey actually led. Compassionate consumers must remember that even on so-called ‘free-range’ farms, animals are subjected to inhumane treatment, and ultimately their lives are ended prematurely.”

It seems like turkeys, like everything else in America, have become "Supersized" of late. In fact, the average weight of a commercially-raised turkey has increased 20 percent between 1991 and 2000. This is due to genetic manipulation, which causes all manner of health issues for the turkey, from heart disease, hip problems and bowed legs. These turkeys can't even enjoy a roll in the hay because their massive and unnatural body size has caused fertility problems, so farmers "hand milk" males and artificially inseminate the females. Romantic, isn't it?

That's why you should consider eating a "Heritage Turkey", which are the ancestors of the turkeys raised and sold on a mass level in stores today. In an NPR interview, Heritage Foods, USA co-founder Patrick Martins says that these turkeys are genetically pure and their ancestry can be traced back 100 years. These turkeys were identified in the American Poultry Association's turkey Standard of Perfection of 1874 and are prized for their flavor and biological diversity. According to the Heritage Turkey Foundation, "Raising Heritage Breeds is more costly and time consuming than raising White Breasted Toms. While supermarket turkeys grow to an average of 32 pounds over 18 weeks, Heritage birds take anywhere from 24-30 to reach their market weight." That means that farmers allow Heritage Turkeys to grow to their full size naturally, without hormones or steroids, in a natural frame of time. In fact, the Pennsylvania farming magazine Lancaster Farming says that “If a seven pound [human] baby grew at the same rate that today’s turkey grows, when the baby reaches 18 weeks of age, it would weigh 1,500 pounds.” Whoa, baby!

You can purchase a Heritage Turkey from Local Harvest, Mary's Turkeys, or Heritage Foods, USA, though the word is that supplies will be scarce this year, as these farms raise a much smaller number of turkeys, and those that were market-ready have been largely snatched up by eager buyers. Also understand that a typical Heritage Turkey can cost you up to $200, but that accounts for the true cost of raising a turkey for 2 years, or about $5-$8 per pound, as opposed to the unnatural 69 cents per pound for a commercially-mass-produced turkey.

If you don't have any luck, and have been turned off altogether from eating a turkey this year, then PETA recommends carving up a good 'ol Tofurky this Thanksgiving. Yum.

Should the FDA Regulate Energy Drinks?

2008-11-09T17:21:56-05:00

Used to be when you wanted a pick-me-up in the morning, you put a pot of coffee on ~~in the morning~~. Now it seems that energy drinks are quickly becoming the preferred caffeine-delivery unit for many Americans---especially for adolescents and young adults. It all started with the introduction of Red Bull Energy Drink in Europe in 1987. Red Bull was later released in the United States in 1997, which soon after spawned an estimated $5.4 billion dollar market in the U.S. in 2006, according to Packaged Facts. In fact, Americans' demand for energy drinks is so high that the market for these products is growing at an annual rate of 55% per year! These energy drinks are commonly marketed toward young people, who comprise the majority of their market.

According to an October 22, 2008 USA Today article, one hundred scientists and physicians have petitioned the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to regulate energy drinks because of the potential for predominately young drinkers to experience the negative effects of caffeine intoxication and higher rates of alcohol-related injuries. This action was taken in direct response to a recent press release by Johns Hopkins University scientists who are concerned about the negative health effects these new high caffeine drinks could have on America's youth. Roland Griffiths, a neuroscientist at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore called for the FDA to "require the caffeine content be listed on the can, to set a limit on the amount of stimulant allowed in the drinks and to require warning labels."

What is "caffeine intoxication"? Basically, it is a list of symptoms that one may experience after consuming caffeine, such as restlessness, anxiety, irritability, muscle tremors, sleeplessness, ~~tremors,~~ headaches, nausea, diarrhea or other gastrointestinal problems, and even abnormal heart rhythms! Ah, yes, exactly the types of symptoms you'd like your already hormonally-maladjusted teenager to exhibit.

Now, why are scientists worried about increased rates of alcohol-related injuries? Well, a lot of people hold the erroneous belief that they can "wake up" when drunk if they consume caffeine. Roland Griffiths relates how "Alcohol adds another level of danger because caffeine in high doses can give users a false sense of alertness that provides incentive to drive a car or in other ways put themselves in danger."

Working in a high school/middle school, I see a plethora of kids walking around with a can of some energy drink in their hands. The most popular kinds seem to be Amp, Monster, Full Throttle, or Rock Star. The sad thing is that kids are becoming addicted to the stimulant caffeine at an early age, while also developing a taste for these drinks' high sugar content. In fact, such high-caffeine drinks are viewed as a "gateway product" that could lead to the use of more potent illicit stimulants. A can of Coca-Cola has 35 mg of caffeine, whereas Amp has 75 mg, Full Throttle has 144 mg, and both Monster and Rock Star have 160 mg of caffeine! Now I can attest to the lethargy that I see in my students; especially by the end of the school day. While there could be many factors for this lack of energy, a lot of the effects of caffeine can be attributed to their zombification. There's this vicious circle of perpetual caffeine consumption that we've probably all experienced at some point in our lives. Basically, you consume caffeine to infuse more chemical energy, thus depriving yourself of sleep, which results in the consumption of more caffeine the next day to make up for the deficit, and so on and so forth. In fact, the Mayo Clinic recommends that you not consume caffeine eight hours prior to sleeping.

You can consume 200-300 mg of caffeine a day (about 2-3 cups of coffee) without any negative effects, but if you consume 500 mg or more a day, you will experience caffeine intoxication, and will also experience withdrawl symptoms, such as headaches, fatigue, or irritability if you cease your consumption of caffeine. Just like everything in life, moderation is the key. There are a vast variety of beverages available for consumption, including WATER. In fact, water can have the caffeine-like effect of stimulating your body when you consume it right after waking.

Drinking water to help wake you up and reduce one's dependence on caffeine? BRILLIANT!

QUICK CAFFEINE RUNDOWN

Top-selling energy drinks	Caffeine (mg)	Can size (oz)

Amp	75	8.4

Full Throttle	144	16

Monster	160	16

No Fear	174	16

Red Bull	80	8.3

Rockstar	160	16

SoBe Adrenaline Rush	79	8.3

Tab Energy	95	10.5

High-caffeine energy drinks

BooKoo Energy	360	24

Fixx	500	20

Wired X505	505	24

Other beverages

Brewed coffee	77-150	6

Coca-Cola Classic	34.5	12

Dr Pepper	41	12

Mountain Dew	54	12

Pepsi-Cola	38	12

Source: Packaged Facts, Roland Griffiths

Where the Candidates Stand On the Environment

2008-11-04T01:31:16-05:00

It seems like all the talk lately has centered around our nation's ailing economy and not much else. An issue like the environment has become a second-tier issue in the minds of many financially-struggling households. In light of immediate financial concerns, it may be easy to lose sight of the bigger picture---all of the money in the world won't make a bit of difference if we don't have a planet to spend it in. Also, all the money in the world can't cure all of the Earth's problems, but adequate funding, paired up with the proper legislation can truly make a difference with our environment.

I've been combing through a zillion articles on the candidates' stances on the environment and energy policies, and I have struggled mightily with how to convey all of this information in a way that could be easily digested. Finally, after much searching around, I finally found what I was looking for! I found this handy-dandy chart on the wonderful site grist.org that really breaks down what the candidates' positions are on various environmental issues. Not only is the information presented precisely and concisely, but also it highlights the oft-overlooked fact that there are other candidates out there besides just Barack Obama and John McCain---imagine that! The chart details what the candidates have proposed for: cap-and-trade programs for greenhouse-gas emissions, offshore drilling, fuel-economy standards for automobiles, renewable energy, biofuels, coal and nuclear energy. You simply must check out this chart today!

While I have previously expressed my views about John McCain's voting record on environmental issues and the Republican Party's seeming aversion to supporting environmental legislation, you must ultimately vote your conscience when you step into the polls on Tuesday. Cast your vote for yourself, your family and for the mother of us all, the Earth.