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Choose organic, heirloom or pastured turkeys for Thanksgiving 2009

Ashley Phillips — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 22:02:23 +0000

By Ashley Phillips Green Right Now When we think about Thanksgiving, we think about Plymouth, Pilgrims, and of course turkey. What would Thanksgiving be without a turkey? For the longest time when it comes to food, we’ve gone by the notion that bigger is better. The bigger the turkey, the better it will taste. Unfortunately this process of thinking led to the inhumane treatment of animals and use of growth hormones, in order to turn a quick profit and satisfy customers. Lately, though, people have become significantly more conscious about what chemicals animals are exposed to, because it directly relates to them when they are putting it in their body. And that has led to some options when it comes to picking your bird from among the 270 million or so turkeys raised in the United States. ( In 2008, 273 million turkeys were raised in the United States, according to the National Turkey Federation.)

LG Electronics will bring recycling program to hotels

Tom Kessler — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 17:37:01 +0000

From Green Right Now Reports LG Electronics USA, a leading provider of flat-panel HDTVs to the lodging industry, said it will partner with Waste Management Inc. on the first recycling program for hotel operators to responsibly dispose of outdated television sets and computer monitors. In 2010 alone, hundreds of hotels are expected to upgrade thousands of rooms with [...]

ENERGY STAR celebrates 1 million homes; Houston is top-ranked market

BKessler — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 17:17:13 +0000

Green Right Now Reports Where there's a need, there's a way. Turns out that the biggest proportion of ENERGY STAR homes are being built in steamy Sunbelt locations where keeping the AC under control is an urgent need. The top market, with the most ENERGY STAR-qualified homes built since the program begin in 1995, is Houston, with 144,000 homes. The next top cities with the most homes built to these guidelines include Dallas, Las Vegas, Phoenix and Los Angeles

Sleep-out protest in third week in Boston; Dr. Hansen testifies

BKessler — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 21:00:12 +0000

Green Right Now Reports Rallying for a clean energy bill in Massachussetts, noted climatologist Dr. James Hansen told students this weekend that they must take the future in their hands. [caption id="attachment_6456" align="alignleft" width="221" caption="Massachusetts Sleep Out (Photo: Ian McClellan)"][/caption] "Our universe is incredibly unjust and inequitable for young people and future generations. " Dr. Hansen said. "Unless someone can change the direction, young people are really in trouble. Our governments are not taking actions or planning actions that will achieve this."

Bay Area spots where you can still see wild salmon spawning

Tom Kessler — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:01:59 +0000

From Green Right Now Reports Amazingly, there are still places in the Bay Area and Central Valley where keen-eyed observers can witness one of nature's miracles: wild salmon spawning. The Bay Institute has just published an updated map and calendar of top local viewing spots and information on the best seasons to see salmon in the wild. These free brochures are available at Aquarium of the Bay, where a new poster exhibit highlights the life cycle of these extraordinary fish. "Bay Area and Central Valley residents are fortunate to live within close driving distance of waterways where they can witness these magnificent but endangered creatures in their natural habitat," Tina Swanson, executive director of The Bay Institute, said in a statement. "In addition to visiting these areas, we urge individuals to consider how their actions affect our salmon and the rivers they depend on, make smart decisions in their own lives about water and chemical use, and vote in favor of the environment. It will take all of us working together to protect and restore these species and the valuable fishery that, until recently, they supported."

LEDs can light your way to a greener Christmas

bill — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:58:21 +0000

By Bill Sullivan Green Right Now In Omaha, Neb., Travis Freeman is a bit of a local Christmas legend. Not only does he own and operate Brite Ideas Decorating – which specializes in both commercial and residential seasonal lighting – but he also is known for his efforts in putting together the Salvation Army’s Tree of Lights, a big part of the local holiday landscape. [caption id="attachment_6443" align="alignleft" width="214" caption="Omaha's Tree of Lights uses LEDs (Photo: Brite Ideas Decorating)"][/caption]

Climate change explained with science and faith

Harriet Blake — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:09:30 +0000

By Harriet Blake What do you get when a scientist and a minister collaborate? When the subject is climate change, you get a book, A Climate for Change, co-authored by scientist Katharine Hayhoe and her husband, pastor Andrew Farley. [caption id="attachment_6441" align="alignleft" width="120" caption="A Climate for Change"][/caption] The premise of the couple's book, published Oct. 29, is that before anything can be done about climate change, people need to be convinced that there is a need to do so. Their book, as the subtitle suggests – “Global warming facts for faith-based decisions” – attempts to address questions that Hayhoe and Farley have received in their respective lines of work.

Boycotting, sitting in, sleeping out – the quickening politics of climate change

BKessler — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 20:41:39 +0000

By Barbara Kessler Green Right Now One thing you can say about the politics of climate change -- people are getting hotter about it. As we approach the Copenhagen world conference (Dec. 6 - 18), those close to the negotiating progress are becoming more frustrated with the plodding pace of official change. This week in Barcelona, where negotiators met for pre-talks, activists and leaders of African nations demonstrated to try to win more concessions from industrial nations. Student activists staged a sit-in at the doors to the conference to press for greater reductions in greenhouse gas targets, beyond even the 30 percent reduction by 2020 proposed by the European Union. What this portends for the US, which hasn't yet put numbers on the table, is anyone's guess.

Stores find a cool path to sustainability with GreenChill program

Tom Kessler — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 20:25:58 +0000

From Green Right Now Reports Star Market at Chestnut Hill in Newton, Mass., recently became the first grocery store in the nation to receive US Environmental Protection Agency's GreenChill Partnership platinum store award. The advanced refrigeration technology in the new store, which is part of the Shaw’s line of supermarkets, significantly reduces its impact on climate change and the stratospheric ozone layer by cutting the use of refrigerants by 85 percent compared with the typical supermarket. Gina McCarthy, assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Air and Radiation, called the store's efforts "wicked cool."

Air pollution changes lakes, creates ‘junk food’ for aquatic life

BKessler — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 19:32:27 +0000

By Barbara Kessler Green Right Now As debates about climate change -- does it exist and how serious is it? - rage on, many scientists continue to uncover more and more evidence that atmospheric pollution is having negative effects on Earth, right here and now, climate change or not. Scientists studying the chemistry of lakes reported in a study published this week that atmospheric nitrogen released from the burning of fossil fuels and the widespread use of fertilizers in agriculture is altering the makeup of even remote bodies of water. [caption id="attachment_6418" align="alignright" width="199" caption="Green Lake 5 in Colorado (Photo: James Elser/ASU) "][/caption]

‘No Drugs Down the Drain’ week in LA fights pharmaceutical pollution

Tom Kessler — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 18:43:08 +0000

From Green Right Now Reports California American Water has designated the week of Nov. 9 as "No Drugs Down the Drain" Week in its Los Angeles service area as part of a national campaign to reduce pharmaceutical pollution in water supplies. Items such as aspirin, prescription drugs and other medications should never be thrown down the drain or toilet, where they can seep into the ground and find their way back into the public water supply. Los Angeles County residents will be encouraged to contact the County of Los Angeles' Department of Public Works at 888-253-2652 or visit www.888cleanla.com to find out where they can drop off expired or unwanted pharmaceuticals and other household items free of charge. California American Water also will sponsor the "No Drugs Down the Drain" outreach campaign in San Diego and Ventura.

Wildly meaningful gifts from World Wildlife Fund

BKessler — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:14:47 +0000

Green Right Now Reports As we were prowling for practical green gifts to feature in our coming 2009 Green Gifts Lists, this simple T-shirt caught our eye. It's green, unisex and made with organic cotton. And you've got that iconic Panda there on the side. What more could a greenie want? [caption id="attachment_6396" align="alignleft" width="173" caption="Organic cotton T from World Wildlife Fund"][/caption]