peacefully green.

Going Green at Work: Top Tips

2011-05-12T08:43:00.000-07:00

A greener workplace can mean a lighter ecological footprint, a healthier and more productive place to work, and good news for the bottom line. Whether you're the boss or the employee, whether your office is green already or still waiting to see the light, some practical steps can lay the groundwork for a healthy, low-impact workspace. From how you get to work -- we recommend telecommuting -- to helping your company walk the walk through corporate financial investment in green, to getting a new green job that matches your career with your ideals, to starting your own green business, we break down your green workplace. Read on for all the details.

Going Green at Work: Top Tips

More Work, Less Energy For many people, a computer is the central tool at work. Optimizing the energy settings for computers and other devices can be more than a modest energy saver. Set computers to energy-saving settings and make sure to shut them down when you leave for the day ("standby" settings will continue to draw power even when not in use). By plugging hardware into a power strip with an on/off switch (or a smart power strip), the whole desktop setup can be turned off at once (make sure to power downinkjet printers before killing the power--they need to seal their cartridges). Printers, scanners, and other peripherals that are only used occasionally can be unplugged until they're needed. And of course, turn off lights in spaces that are unoccupied.
Digitize It does seem a bit strange that in the "digital age" we still consume enormous amounts of mashed up, bleached tree pulp, most of which gets used once or twice and then tossed or recycled ("downcycled," as McDonough and Braungart would call it). The greenest paper is no paper at all, so keep things digital and dematerialized whenever possible. The more you do online, the less you need paper. Keep files on computers instead of in file cabinets (this also makes it easier to make offsite backup copies or take them with you when you move to a new office). Review documents onscreen rather than printing them out. Send emails instead of paper letters. New software likeGreenprint helps eliminate blank pages from documents before printing and can also convert to PDF for paperless document sharing.
Don't Be a Paper Pusher When buying printer paper, look for recycled paper with a high percentage of post-consumer content and the minimum of chlorine bleaching. Even recycled paper gobbles up a great deal of energy, water, and chemical resources in its processing (toxic pulp slurry is the paper recycling industry's dirty secret). When using the real stuff, print on both sides of the page when appropriate and use misprints as notepaper. Try to choose printers and photocopiers that do double-sided printing. If your office ships packages, reuse boxes and use shredded waste paper as packing material.
Greening the Commute American workers spend an average of 47 hours per year commuting through rush hour traffic. This adds up to 3.7 billion hours and 23 billion gallons of gas wasted in traffic each year. We can ease some of this strain by carpooling, taking public transit, biking, walking, or a creative combination thereof. If there's no good way to phase out your car, consider getting a hybrid, electric vehicle, motorcycle, scooter, or using a car sharing service like Flexcar or Zipcar. See How to Green Your Car for more depth on the subject. Some employers are even giving a bonus to bike and carpool commuters and special perks to hybrid drivers. For those who think bike riding is for kids and tattooed couriers, consider a high-tech folding bike or an electrically assisted one (see below for more).
Green Sleeves You might be amazed how sharp work clothes from thrift stores can look. If you buy new, get clothes made with organic or recycled fibers. Avoid clothes that need to be dry cleaned, and if they so demand it, seek out your local "green" dry cleaner. See How to Go Green: Wardrobe for more tactics on greening those work duds.
Work From Home Instant messaging, video conferencing, and other innovative workflow tools make effective telecommuting a reality. If you can telecommute, hold phone conferences, take online classes, or otherwise work from home, give it a try. It'll save you the time you would have spent on the trip as well as sparing the air. As a bonus, you get to work in your pajamas. Telecommuting works for 44 million Americans (not to mention the TreeHugger staff). Also, consider the possibility of working four ten-hour days instead of five eight-hour days (a consolidated workweek), cutting the energy and time spent on commuting by 20% and giving you some lovely three-day weekends.
Use Green Materials Some paper use can't be avoided, so use recycled paper and envelopes that have been processed and colored using eco-friendly methods. Pens and pencils can also be made of recycled materials, and refillable pens and markers are preferable to disposable ones. Use biodegradable soaps and recycled paper or cloth towels in the bathroom and kitchen, and provide biodegradable cleaners for the custodial staff. Buy in bulk so that shipping and packaging waste are reduced, and reuse the shipping boxes. Recycling printer cartridges is often free, and recycled replacements are cheaper than new ones.
Redesign the Workspace Greening the space in which you work has almost limitless possibilities. Start with good furniture, good lighting, and good air. Furniture can be manufactured from recycled materials as well as recyclable. Herman-Miller and Steelcase are two groundbreaking companies that have adopted the Cradle-to-Cradle protocol for many of their office chairs. Incandescent bulbs can be replaced with compact fluorescents and there is an ever-growing selection of high-end LED desk lamps that use miniscule amounts of energy (see How to Green Your Lighting). Not only is natural daylight a free source of lighting for the office, it has been proven to improve worker productivity and satisfaction (as well as boost sales in retail settings). Workspace air quality is also crucial. Good ventilation and low-VOC paints and materials (such as furniture and carpet) will keep employees healthy (look for How to Green Your Furniture coming soon).
Lunch Time Bringing lunch to work in reusable containers is likely the greenest (and healthiest) way to eat at work. Getting delivery and takeout almost inevitably ends with a miniature mountain of packaging waste. But if you do order delivery, join coworkers in placing a large order (more efficient than many separate ones). Also, bring in a reusable plate, utensils, and napkins. If you do go out for lunch, try biking or walking instead of driving.
Get Others in on the Act Share these tips with your colleagues. Ask your boss to purchase carbon offsets for corporate travel by car and plane. Arrange an office carpool or group bike commute. Trade shifts and job duties so that you can work four long days instead of five short ones. Ask the office manager to get fair trade coffee for the break room and make sure everyone has a small recycling bin so that recycling is just as easy as throwing paper away. Ask everyone to bring in a mug or glass from home and keep some handy for visitors so that you reduce or eliminate use of paper cups.

Connecting Prisons With Nature

2011-05-10T08:45:00.000-07:00

Connecting Prisons with Nature from Benjamin Drummond / Sara Steele on Vimeo.

You've got to check this out. I'll let the video do most of the talking, but here's the brief background: The Sustainable Prisons Project, a collaboration between The Evergreen State College and the Washington State Department of Corrections, brings biology, beekeeping, agriculture, and connecting with nature to prisoners. Really, really cool.

Now connect that with other prison projects that attempt to do more than lock 'em up and throw away the key, such as The Prison Yoga Project and teaching meditation to inmates in LA County Men's Central jail. Then make the leap to studies showing howspending time among growing things can boost self-esteem, improve mental health, and make you feel more alive. Surely something, anything, that attempts to rehumanize, re-naturize those members of our society who haven't made positive choices is worth paying attention to.
As the video points out we've got 2.3 million people in prison in the United States. That's the greatest percentage of people in jail of any nation (23.4% of the entire number of people incarcerated in the world, with only 5% of the world's population). Just under 40% of those people are listed as non-Hispanic blacks, while this demographic category is just 12.6% of the US population.

Will and Kate's Royal Wedding: The Green Lowdown in 8 Juicy Details

2011-04-27T09:22:00.000-07:00

I know this post is late. However I hope everyone had a fantastic Earth Day last Friday!!. Unfortunately with the crazy weather going on here in Ohio I did not get to plant anything. But dont worry folks I will!! I want to share an interesting article I stumbled across since I have no updates

Will and Kate's Royal Wedding: The Green Lowdown in 8 Juicy Details

It's been 30 years since Charles and Diana's wedding, which means royal watchers all over the world have been working themselves into a tizzy over every last, secret detail of the Friday, April 29th nuptials between Prince William and Kate Middleton.
And while a royal wedding for 2,000 is hardly going to be a small, understated affair, some reports credit the couple with making eco-friendly choices. Of course, not alltheir decisions are taking the environment into account.

1. The Ring

William popped the question on a trip to Kenya with Kate and some friends in November 2010 -- and sealed the engagement with the same sapphire-and-diamond bauble that his father gave to his mother on their engagement.The 18-carat center stone would be worth about $300,000 today, say jewelry experts, but the choice of an heirloom ring means the couple skipped extra resources that would have gone into making new.

2. The Party

For most of us, wedding food is not the best or worst meal we'll ever eat -- but forPrince Charles, who's reportedly a fan of organic gardening on his own properties, the standards are different.
Ecorazzi reports that the future king hired Swiss chef Anton Mosimann, who's well-known for his use of organic meat and fish, to cater a three-course dinner for 300 at night after the ceremony.
And some sources have also said that the couple will choose in-season flowers for their decor: Business Green quoted an anonymous "source with knowledge of the plans" as saying, ""[Sustainability] is considered by both Clarence House and Buckingham Palace in terms of everything it does, so you wouldn't be wrong to assume that the food and flowers will be seasonal and sustainably sourced.

3. The Registry

What do you get a Prince and Princess who can have, literally, anything they want? Instead of registering for candlesticks, roasting pans, tablecloths, and new flatware, William and Kate instead set up a Charitable Gift Fund, which allows guests to donate to more than 26 different organizations -- including those that support armed forces members and their families, youth sports, education, and community foundations.

Also on the list: Conservation efforts from the Zoological Society of London to save black and greater one-horned rhinos, three species of tiger, African forest and Asian elephants, and Earthwatch's global volunteer work.

4. The Cake

Feeding 600 guests means the royal couple needs plenty of cake: They've decided to have two, reports The Telegraph.
One will be a traditional fruitcake made with "dried fruits like raisins and sultanas to walnuts, cherries, grated oranges, and lemon, French brandy and free range eggs and flour," and decorated with intricate scrollwork and icing flowers, including roses, lily of the valley, and ivy. The second cake -- a request of Prince William -- will be an English treat known as a McVities chocolate biscuit cake, which the paper says was a favorite childhood dessert.

5.The Dress

Of all the questions surrounding the details of the wedding, the biggest ones are about the dress: What does it look like, and who's designing it? The palace has been tight-lipped about the details of the frock, insisting that they don't want to spoil the Prince's first look at his bride, but last week The Huffington Post's royal correspondent, Yvonne Yorke, wrote a post claiming that the chosen designer is Sophie Cranston of Libélula -- but Cranston denied it. (Other suggestions have included Sarah Burton of Alexander McQueen, who designed the dress shown here, and Stella McCartney.)

The Daily Mail says that Kate designed the gown herself with "inspiration" from Renaissance fashions and "a nod to the iconic Emanual wedding dress worn by Lady Diana Spencer."

Though eco-friendly labels aren't the rumored frontrunners, speculation is that Kate will wear plenty of borrowed jewelry from her soon-to-be grandmother-in-law (and if your grandmother-in-law was the queen, wouldn't you?).

6. The Honeymoon

Add the royal honeymoon to the list of details that the palace hasn't released yet -- though plenty of watchers have their own ideas. It's been suggested that the couple would vacation in Mustique, in the Seychelles, in Jordan, in Kenya, and in countless other places -- so we can pretty much assume they won't be taking a staycation (although they could follow the example of William's parents and spend some time inScotland).

7. The Guests

Nearly 2,000 guests from all over the world were invited to the wedding ceremony -- including David and Victoria Beckham, friends of Middleton's parents from Mustique, the King of Jordan, Elton John, and royals from throughout Europe.

About 600 of those guests are invited to the reception afterward, and 300 to the dinner Charles will host that evening. It's way too much math for us, but if you calculate the flights, trains, cars, and other travel required to get those people there, the amount of food and drink, the paper that went into the invitations, and the rest of the supplies required to entertain that many people, you get a skyrocketing carbon footprint.

8. The Transportation

Though it's often traditional for brides to make their way to the church in a horse-drawn carriage, Willia and Kate opted for a more modern mode of transportation: A car.
Whether that's for safety reasons, in case of bad weather, or simply because that's what they wanted, the choice means that the couple won't be supporting the horse-and-carriage industry. And while cars aren't necessarily greener, the royal itinerary leaves a very precise nine minutes between the time Kate and her father depart their hotel and the moment the wedding ceremony begins, making this short car trip the least of the couple's green concerns. (But hey -- they could always choose a hybrid.)

Algae Biofuels Could Replace 17% of US Imported Oil

2011-04-14T12:44:00.000-07:00

Seemingly perpetually just over the commercially-viable horizon, algae biofuelsconsistently show good potential both in terms of yield and not competing with food production to the extent that other feedstocks can. But they are nevertheless water intensive--not an insignificant concern considering projections of decreased water availability across parts of the US and in many parts of the world.

So, without sucking up absolutely all the water from agriculture and all the other important things water is connected to (everything...), how much of current imported oil demand could be replaced with algae biofuels?

According to new research at the Department of Energy Pacific Northwest National Laboratory the answer to that question is 17% of 2008 levels. It would take an area of land the size of South Carolina to do so and 350 gallons of water per gallon of fuel. In total, that'd be one quarter of all the water the US currently uses for irrigated agriculture.

If water and land use was increased, just under half of current US oil imports could be met with domestically-produced algae biofuels, the report found. But if you concentrated production only in those places where it is both sunniest and most humid so as to minimize environmental impact, the lower figure results.

Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 04.14.11

In the Future, Everything Will Be Made of Algae

2011-04-12T07:08:00.000-07:00

Remember a few years ago when everyone decided that using algae as a biofuel feedstock would be the best thing ever? Well, progress on that front is moving so slowly that companies have realized that that might not be where the money is. But there is still all this algae lying around. So, instead, a handful of ambitious biofuel and algae production startups have decided to put their product into every segment imaginable--we're talking about putting algae in your makeup, your protein supplements, and even your medication. Now Aurora Algae has unveiled its mysterious-sounding A2 Product Portfolio--a series of algae-based oils and powders that will be used in the biofuel, food, aquaculture, neutraceutical, and pharmaceutical industries. What will happen when all the products you use have everyone's favorite sea vegetable added to them?

Heart-Healthy Supplements: As it stands, Omega-3 supplements (they help keep your heart in good shape) are usually made with fish oil, a major source of the fatty acids. It's also a major source of killing lots of fish. Aurora Algae's family of Omega-3 oils are made with--you guessed it--algae. That means vegetarians can pop Omega-3 pills without feeling guilty.

Medication: Algae can also be added to more traditional medications; its anti-inflammatory properties could one day help with conditions like arthritis. But really, the medical possibilities are endless: according to one recent study, protein from algae can even be used to treat SARS infections.

Protein Drinks: You may not notice the difference when your favorite protein drink contains algae--but the company behind the product certainly will. Algae is infinitely scalable (there's a reason we call it seaweed) and cheap, meaning it's one of the easiest places for food and beverage companies to grab the protein they need for their products.

Fish Food: This doesn't affect humans directly, but algae is important for the aquaculture industry, which is expected to double in size by 2030. The demand for cheap, renewable protein sources is high--and Aurora Algae is there to help. Plus, the company tells us that algae "has a taste palette that animals prefer." Seriously.

Moisturizer: Aurora Algae isn't working on cosmetics, but an algae biofuel company called Solazyme has already launched head-first into the market with its Algenistskincare line. The company's proprietary algae-based compound is supposedly more effective at triggering skin elastin production, inhibiting melanin production, and protecting against UV-triggered cell damage than other popular skin care products.

We'll have to wait awhile for most of these algae-infused products to start appearing; Aurora is still in talks with distributors for its algae oils and powders. But if you're really eager to get in on the wonders of algae, head to Sephora--the Algenist product line is already on sale.

Transocean Gives Execs Multi-Million Dollar Bonuses In The Same Year It Caused Biggest Oil Spill in US

2011-04-05T09:01:00.000-07:00

by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY

In case you haven't heard the most Orwellian bit of news in the first week of April:Transocean, the company which was operating the Deepwater Horizon oil rig when it exploded and caused the largest oil spill in US history, just gave its executives multi-million dollar bonuses for... wait for it... its "best year in safety performance."

Notwithstanding the tragic loss of life in the Gulf of Mexico, we achieved an exemplary statistical safety record. (Wall Street Journal)

Apparently safety performance accounts for one-quarter of execs bonuses and despite the Gulf Oil Spill received two-thirds of the maximum possible award for this section. You can read more about how Transocean managed to twist logic into a pretzel in this case at the WSJ link above.
In the righteous outcry over the wording of their proxy statement, Transocean lamely back peddled:

We acknowledge that some of the wording in our 2010 proxy statement may have been insensitive in light of the incident that claimed the lives of eleven exceptional men last year and we deeply regret any pain that it might have caused.

Failing to Acknowledge That There's More To Life Than Human Life Is Painful
I'm not at all convinced Transocean understands the impact of their actions. As unfortunate as the loss of workers aboard the Deepwater Horizon was, that isn't the part that most people are (or ought to be) angry about. It's the resultant oil spill that befouled beaches and fisheries, killed countless amounts of animals, and indeed has polluted the entire Gulf of Mexico food chain that's the problem.
It's the utter lack of recognition of the interconnectedness of life in this situation that is appalling--and in some way, perhaps unconscious, that actually contributed to the situation in the first place. If all that matters to safety is human loss of life and loss of product, then you have valued the rest of life (indeed the majority of it) at nothing. It is utterly self-centered and destructive, both self and generally.
Oh, And Transocean Moved to Switzerland to Avoid US Taxes
If you're not too outraged to continue reading, consider this nugget of information, which really exemplifies a colossal portion of what is wrong with the United States at the moment: Climate Progress reminds us that in 2008 Transocean moved its official headquarters from Houston to Switzerland to avoid paying US taxes.

Go Daddy's Bob Parsons Brushes Off Criticism Over Elephant Killing

2011-04-01T08:08:00.000-07:00

Thanks to the below article I will never consider using GoDaddy as a hosting site. His excuses dont add up and are disgusting.

The outspoken entrepreneur and member of the AOL Small Business Board of Directors has been branded "Scummiest CEO of the Year" by PETA, over a hunt he says helped African villagers. He plans to hang the certificate in his office.

By ROD KURTZ

Posted 3/ 31 11 at 8:00 PM | News, Board of Directors, Technology, Advertising & Marketing, Leadership,International Business,

Go Daddy founder and CEO Bob Parsons is not one to back down from a little controversy. The outspoken entrepreneur helped make his company a household name -- and the largest Internet domain registrar in the world -- with edgy Super Bowl commercials that have become perennial water-cooler fodder. Now, he finds himself in the crosshairs of the equally outspoken PETA and other animal-rights advocates over agraphic video he posted online, which depicts him shooting and killing an elephant in Zimbabwe. The video has already been viewed more than 300,000 times.

Parsons, a member of the AOL Small Business Board of Directors, says he was working with tribal authorities to prevent "problem elephant" from decimating crops, legally, and that the slain elephant provided food for impoverished villagers. PETA is leading the charge against Parsons, branding him the "Scummiest CEO of the Year," canceling its Go Daddy account and encouraging others to do the same. "Instead of coming up with flimsy excuses for killing these highly intelligent and social animals, Parsons should use his wealth to fund humane solutions to human/elephant conflicts," PETA said on its website.

"Things couldn't be better," Parsons said in an interview with AOL Small Business, deflecting the criticism and noting that the hunt not only helped feed Zimbabwean villagers and protect their crops -- but that the ensuing controversy will inevitably help Go Daddy too.

It's an interesting question for entrepreneurs, who are often the public faces of their companies and run the risk of alienating customers with their personal behavior, political views and the like. Parsons, for his part, isn't too worried. His advice? Be yourself, and when controversy strikes, keep being yourself.

Well, Bob, you're always up to something. What happened here?

Here's the deal. I'll give you the whole genesis. This is the sixth year I've been to Africa. I'm a hunter. I went there to hunt buffalo. I gradually became aware of this situation with problem elephant and the need to control them. Since then, it's the only thing I do. I go over and spend two weeks volunteering to deal with problem elephant.

In Zimbabwe, elephant are not endangered. There's actually too many of them. The people there are very impoverished. The poverty is beyond our imagination. They have nothing. I'll give you an example. When I'm there, I drink bottled water so I don't get Montezuma's Revenge. One of the things the people absolutely treasure is a plastic bottle with a cap. They use it to take water to school or in the fields. That gives you an idea of how little these people have.

If they don't get a crop, they starve to death. That's the bottom line. So what I do, I'm invited by the tribal authorities there. I go there, I work with a friend of mine who lives there, we patrol the area in a truck. A farmer will get us, elephants will be tearing their crop up and our goal is to go in. The people there try to keep them away with fire, beating drums, screaming. The elephants have learned. So what it takes is for someone to go into the field while the elephants are there. The elephants storm out and they don't return. So what happens is you've got the rest of the crops saved. And you have protein for people who need it.

Why shoot and publish a video about it?

First of all, this is something that happens that I think ought to be recorded. Folks should be able to watch this years from now and say, "Look at this, this actually happened over there." In America, many of us are like ostriches -- we stick our heads in the sand and have this Pollyanna view of this. This is really the way it is. I put a warning on there that it was graphic and don't watch it if you don't have a stomach for it. I'll tell you, years from now, maybe my great grandchildren will see this and say, "This is what he did, this is how it was done." There's not that much footage of something like this.

Were you worried about any backlash?

No. Am I surprised that it amounted to what it is? When you're 60 years old, nothing really surprises you.

This is the third time I've posted a video like this, but this is the first time that this has happened. This is the first time I've gotten a letter from PETA. They told me they're sending me a certificate calling me the "Scummiest CEO of the Year." I'll tell you, if I get it, I'm framing it and putting in my office.

What disappoints me about this is that this is their best shot. I would think they would have something more intellectual or professional to say.

I'm not a member of PETA. I'm a proud carnivore, I love a good steak. But this video is still tough to watch. Some people are objecting to the fact that you played AC/DC's "Hell's Bells" and zoom in on one of the villagers wearing a Go Daddy hat during the video, like you're using this as a commercial. How do you respond?

The reason that they're wearing Go Daddy hats is that I grab whatever I have in swag and give to these guys, because they have nothing. People were saying, "Bob is promoting the company." Let me tell you, when I want to advertise, it won't be a guy with an elephant. It'll be a sexy girl dancing on a car.

I picked "Hell's Bells" because if you're in that situation with knives fighting for meat, that's about as close to Hell as you get. Am I apologetic? I'm going to do it next year.

Yeah, it is heart-wrenching. The people are sweet, they're the most wonderful people in the world. They're pretty special. So to see them in that situation, it's heart-wrenching. On the one hand, it's a great feeling to know you provided that, but on the other hand, it's sad that there's not more.

You're one of the most outspoken entrepreneurs around. That's why we like having you on our Board of Directors. Are you always comfortable just doing your thing, no apologies?

Yeah, I am. I never do what I do for the money. I never worry about quarterly earnings, I never worry about any of that. I do what I do to do a good job, to live my life the right way, to be an American. And when you do that, you're willing to stand up and speak your mind.

Do you wish more CEOs did that?

That's pretty much up to them.

Being a CEO comes with a lot of responsibility -- you're often the face of your company. And everyone's money is green. Ever worry that your personal behavior might alienate some customers and ultimately hurt the company?

Here's what I believe is going to happen. Most of the people PETA resonates with are not our customers. The second thing is that the average American realizes what is going on here. The average American has a pretty good soul. They realize people need to eat, the circle of life, they're realistic. They're not politically correct. And because of all this stuff, you're going to have more people aware of Go Daddy and our business is going to go up.

This is actually good for business?

I'll just say, lucky me. If people say it's wrong for me to benefit because our business goes up -- I didn't start it. I didn't send me a certificate.

You're somewhat of a marketing master, with your controversial Super Bowl ads and popular video blog. Is all publicity truly good publicity?

I would say, it is -- if there's a positive side to it. When I ran my first Super Bowl ad, I cannot tell you the negative comments I was swarmed with. I thought I was going to be tarred and feathered by every feminist. And our market share went from 16 percent to 25 percent. I was hearing from this small, vocal minority that moves like a tsunami. But most people see it and they step up with their wallets. So I think the deal is to not shrink from it. It takes a certain amount of backbone.

So when you're hit with a controversy...

Embrace it.

Cruelty of the Circus

2011-03-28T11:19:00.000-07:00

An animal minder has been secretly filmed in the U.K. repeatedly hitting a 57-year-old Asian elephant with a metal pitchfork and kicking the circus animal, prompting an investigation by police and an animal rights group.

Northamptonshire police and the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty of Animals are looking into covert footage taken by Animal Defenders International, The Guardian reports.

"We are appalled and shocked by the scenes contained in the video and will be investigating what is shown," the society said on its website.

ADI said it filmed Annie the elephant being hit with the pitchfork and kicked in the face and body 48 times while leg chains kept her from fleeing from the beatings in the winter quarters of the Bobby Roberts Super Circus.

The group said it used a remote camera showing the inside of a barn. It said it filmed 516 hours, including periods at night when nothing can be seen, between Jan. 21 and Feb. 15.

ADI said the video, released over the weekend, shows Annie is suffering.

"It is clear from the speed and ferocity of the swings that the blows are intended to cause pain and intimidation, and you can tell from Anne's posture and behavior that she is feeling the pain, and tries to avoid it," the group said on its website. "She is clearly stressed and suffering. Unfortunately she cannot move away, as she is chained to the spot, which makes this situation all the more barbaric. "

The circus said in a statement to The Guardian that the case "appears to be isolated" and happened when circus owner Bobby Roberts was not there.

Roberts' wife, Moira, said the man responsible was a Romanian groom who has since left the circus, the paper said.

"We wish we had been given the opportunity to prosecute him and hand him over to the police," she told the paper, adding that the couple felt "shock and horror" when they saw the video.

ADI's chief executive, Jan Creamer, asked the circus to let the group care for Annie.

"We have a terrific network of sanctuary contacts throughout the world and are very experienced at animal rescue, re-homing and relocation, so we now appeal to Mr. Roberts to do the decent thing and hand Annie over to us,"he said on the group's website.

"Let us now give Annie the proper retirement that she now so richly deserves, where she will have space to be free and act like an elephant, as nature intended," he said.

Getting Selfish

2011-03-24T09:07:00.000-07:00

Now don't get me wrong, I am a very caring person or so I like to think, but its time for me to get selfish. I want to be selfish with my own life, passions and desires. I tend to have this thing where I put my "things" on the back burner. Why I do this I don't know. I suppose in some small way I am scared of failure or what people will think or even just change. What inspired me to write about this today my little calendar quote desk thing.

" In nature there are neither rewards nor punishments-there are consequences" - R.G. Ingersoll

When thinking about it it made perfect sense. I need to just take risks, jump.Whats the worst that could happen? I don't succeed but like anything in life I am not stuck in that situation. Change is a good thing.

So upon evaluating my life and circumstance there are numerous parts that need a revamping and dusted off.

Health: Now I know that I am a vegetarian which is a great start on my healthy living journey. The instant I cut meats out of my diet I felt instantly lighter, healthier and happier. But I am no saint I love junk foods and sweets and the instant I start eating I know Ill regret it later. That regret is something I really need to speak with a doctor about, because many foods make me very sick. Ive known this for a long time but put it off. No longer will I put off DR.s and dentist appointments! As for fitness I workout and try, with spring in the air it will make more outdoor activities available which I am greatly looking forward to.

Career: Although I love the people I work with, my current position is not suiting for a longterm role in my life. I want a job that I enjoy going to. I know not everyday I will want to, but I need a position that I can grow and develop in and something that provides me with the tools to continue developing my skills. I want a position that lets me have a life, my life believe it or not is more important than just any other job.

Living: Currently I live out of my car, or at least thats how I feel especially with a 50 minute commute. I mainly live at my wonderful boyfriends but I also live with my parents. I cannot express how stressful it is having your belongings between 2 houses and storage. It really makes things rough when your trying to find the right pair of shoes. This also explains why my car has sooo much crap in it.

Love: As there are few things wrong in my love life, I am ready for the next big step. I love my friends and family and tend to neglect them because "I am to tired" or "I don't have time" and that isn't fair to myself or them.

Life: I have this immense passion for life, I want to do everything and go everywhere. Working with a limited budget makes that very difficult, but I need to find that balance. My biggest fear is waking up one morning all old and wrinkly on the verge of passing on and thinking, what did I do with my life?. When that moment comes and it will I want my life to flash before me like some great film or novel. I want to think how fortunate I was to experience all of those things and to know all those amazing people. I want to look at my family and think I created this, I want to look back on my life with no regrets, but with awe. Of all the things I want to change about my current situation this is my main priority, I don't want to be the old lady alone and sad because I did nothing with my life.

With all that being said today I start making changes.Changes for the better. I don't want to live a boring life any longer

Chickens Have Feelings Too!

2011-03-16T11:46:00.000-07:00

Leading animal behavior scientists from around the globe know that chickens are inquisitive and interesting animals whose cognitive abilities are in some cases more advanced than those of cats, dogs, and even some primates. So next time you call someone "bird brained" you might be giving them a compliment.

Like all animals, chickens love their families and value their own lives. The social nature of chickens means that they are always looking out for their families and for other chickens in their group. People who have spent time with chickens know that they have complex social structures, adept communication skills, and distinct personalities, just as we do.

They can complete complex mental tasks, learn from watching each other, demonstrate self-control, worry about the future, and even have cultural knowledge that is passed from generation to generation.

Chickens comprehend cause-and-effect relationships and understand that objects still exist even after they are hidden from view. In this respect, they are more cognitively advanced than small human children.

A recent British study on mother hens showed that they were able to feel anxiety when their chicks were in distress. If chickens are able to relate to another animal’s feelings, they are capable of feeling empathy.

According to the Daily Mail, empathy was once thought to be a uniquely human trait. Researchers at Bristol University in southern

England

chose to conduct the study on chickens because they believed that empathy had evolved in animals to help them look after their young.

“It’s very fascinating to find out about the emotional lives of animals, but also it’s highly relevant for animal welfare,” said Joanne Edgar, a Ph.D. student at Bristol who led the study. “The extent to which animals are affected by the distress of others is of high relevance to the welfare of farm and laboratory animals,” she said.

The study involved separating the mother hens from their chicks so that the mothers could see and hear the chicks, but not touch them. They then tested the mother hens’ reactions when their chicks’ feathers were ruffled by a puff of air. When the chicks were exposed to air puffs, they showed signs of distress that were mirrored by their mothers, said MSNBC. The mother hens’ heart rate increased and their external temperature went up. The mother hens even emitted a “maternal vocalization” call which they used to try to call their young back to them.

Edgar said she is now conducting research to see if the same results could occur amongst adult chickens.

If these results hone true this would mean that chicken you eat for dinner did suffer and watched its friends die. Animals are living, breathing beings and deserve as much nurturing and respect as humans.

I hope this information helps bring to light in you and in the meat industry that animals feel pain and love. Would you want to grow up in a tiny cage and murdered for someone meal?

~Becky

Inspirations and Blessings

2011-03-09T11:29:00.000-08:00

In my life I have had the opportunity to be blessed with and inspired by a great deal of people. Today has been one of those days where I have been touched by others opinions and views on life. Of the things I take away from this day can be summed up in a quote by Golda Meir " Don't be humble; You're not that great." I have decided to stop living in the future and worrying so much about things I cannot control. I will live in the moment, control my destiny and enjoy every precious moment my life will give me.

With all that being said a particular individual whom I am proud to say is a member of my widely diverse family has inspired me in numerous ways through out my (some would say) "short" lifetime and today. She is an artist with words and is very passionate about life and the potential for joy it holds. Today she sent me a copy of a poem she has written, that strikes home for many Americans and in my opinion portrays a world where caring and love is what people hold for each other. To many people go through their life living selfishly and thinking only whats best for themselves rather than for the greater good. Here is her poem, read it, think about the words, and embrace it!

Call Me What?

Call me a socialist if you must

If you like

I’m no rap artist

I have no mike

I don’t care for labels

For they fit to tight

I just want to rhyme a little

To the left and to the right

I want to pick up the poor

And comfort the middle class

Pick up the ceiling and the broken glass

Ask the wealthy to please give back

Ask corporate America to stay home grown

Cradle the sick and their empty-pockets and moans

I believe in accountability

But it can’t exist

Without equal opportunity

Imagine

Education for all

Pick up the entire country

I YELL FOR A PATRIOTIC CALL!

We send our young to war

Yes the middle class and the poor

We call it

The ultimate sacrifice

Is that much greed that much of a vice

It’s like a hoarding disease

Like compulsive survival needs

Like money talks, walks, breathes and bleeds

I want to pick up the poor

And comfort the middle class

Pick up the ceiling and the broken glass

Ask the wealthy to please give back

Ask corporate America to stay home grown

Cradle the sick and their empty-pockets and moans

Freedom

For only a few

All for me

None for you

An incidental déjà vu

At what cost

Reputation lost

Quality of a product

Corporate misconduct

Fair wages

Benefits

For the working class

I think we are seeing the backlash

Our economies driving horse

Yet we outsource

America’s ugly divorce

This is what I know

This what I perceive

What I believe

What I grieve

A tear running down my cheek

I want to help the weak

If I can save another life

Tax my wallet

It is a freedom

I’m willing to sacrifice

I only ask that it be fair

We need the wealthy to step up

With their share

In togetherness

We rise

In togetherness

We will never fail

It is in our diversity

That we will bind

Adaptability we will find

For I decry

This poem to thy

Fight! Fight! Fight!

To compassionately unite

Look through the creative light

And what you feel

In your heart is right

Counteract the selfish plight

To conquer and divide

To eliminate the middle class

And make the poor work off their weary ass

This is what we must do

To survive

God damn

Wake up

Are we blind

Open your mind

For the whole to exist

All parts must thrive!

I want to pick up the poor

And comfort the middle class

Pick up the ceiling and the broken glass

Ask the wealthy to please give back

Ask corporate America to stay home grown

Cradle the sick and their empty-pockets and moans

America we must first help our own!

Written by,

Shellie Blevins

Hope you enjoyed!

Becky

Factory Farming Gone Wrong... 10 Horrifying Stories of the Poultry Industry

2011-02-08T09:36:00.000-08:00

Do you really know what your factory-farmed meat went through before it ended up on your plate?

(Warning: Many of the images and stories in this slideshow are beyond disturbing.)

The fact is, this journey is not for the faint of heart, and these stories -- from the 400,000 baby chicks killed when a farm went bankrupt, to the 150,000 male chicks ground up alive each day. But they might also help you truly understand the impact of your diet.
While these stories might not convince the avid meat eater to go completely vegetarian -- many will find themselves considering other options, such as trimming down on meat consumption with a plan like Weekday Vegetarian or seeking out small, local farms that can guarantee a free-range, grass fed, and cruelty free life.

400,000 Baby Chicks Killed by Bankrupt Poultry Farm

While death at a factory farm is part of everyday life, the bankruptcy of Russia's Krasnaya Polyana chicken farm in December left the owners with 3 million birds -- and nowhere to place them.About 600,000 of the birds died from malnutrition, and 400,000 newborn chicks were killed, either by being drowned or dumped into outdoor trashcans where they froze to death, while "adult birds were thrown into a pit and buried alive with a tractor."The female workers who were responsible for disposing the chicks compared it to a mother killing herchildren, and reportedly cried while dumping the chicks.

Photo: Dmitry Noskoff

12,000 Baby Chicks Die in Factory Farm Fire

While the managers of International Poultry Breeders' farms in Georgiamust have thought they were on the right track when they left heaters on to warm baby chicks during a winter of record low temperatures, the plan backfired when the chicken housecaught fire, killing more than 12,000 chicks.The same farm lost nearly twice that many chicks in 2006 when a tornadotouched down, killing 20,000 chicks. And while all farms are susceptible to weather and fire, the sheer number of animals crowded into the spaces on farms like these make the casualties that much greater.

150,000 Male Chicks Killed Every Day

Mercy for Animals went undercover with a hidden camera to catch this disturbing video footage of life at a hatchery, where 150,000 male chicks are killed each day in an especially gruesome manner: They're put on aconveyor belt and ground up while still alive.

Since the males won't be able to produce more eggs and don't grow quickly enough to be used for meat, they're useless to the business. But as one writer points out, "Death by being ground alive is merciful in contrast: Chicks that get caught in the machinery, slip through, or accidentally end up in the wrong place at the wrong time suffer terribly before dying."

Organic Eggs Don't Always Come from Happy Hens

Buying organic meat and dairy is often better for your health and the health of the animals that provided it, but don't assume that just because a brand is organic, the animals spent their lives in a happy farmyard, clucking and oinking with plenty of space.

Farming campaign group The Cornucopia Institute spent two years visiting egg suppliers all over the United States, and found that evenorganically-raised animals were shuttered into pens and cages without any access to the outdoors -- making this a problem with factory farms that goes beyond what the animals are fed.As expected, the best practices were found at smaller producers instead of industrial farms.

Salmonella in Eggs Leads to Major Recall

Though the correlation between tainted foods and factory farms isn't 100 percent, the most recent big recall -- of salmonella-filled eggs last summer -- comprised 550 million eggs, all from one industrial farm.

Animals on factory farms are often pumped with antibiotics to help them resist catching diseases that spring up from their living conditions. But some bacteria, including salmonella, have developed such a strong resistance to the antibiotics that they thrive on the farms.
In the case of the egg recall, the size of the farm led to the salmonella spreading to 17 states.

Antibiotics on Farm Animals Mean Resistant Urinary Tract Infections

It's not just animals viruses that become more resistant to bacteria because of factory farming, either.Last spring, scientists in Hong Kong pointed out a relationship between the overuse of antibiotics on farm animals and an increase in human urinary tract infections that resisted drug treatments.
The resistance is specifically linked with a form of E. coli and is passed to humans via contaminated water or food.
Though the study focused on subjects in Hong Kong, the researchers noted that the global food movement could cause the resistance to spread throughout the world in a relatively short time.

Genetic Alterations

Broiler chickens are genetically altered to grow a lot faster and produce more meat. These genetic alterations causes serious health problems for the animals. Their legs have trouble supporting their heavy bodies and their underdeveloped heart and lungs frequently result in congestive heart failure.

The Slaughterhouse

"Broiler" chickens are usually slaughtered when they are just 6 weeks old. Thousands of chickens are killed each hour at slaughterhouses.

At the slaughterhouse, fully conscious chickens are hung by their feet from shackles on a moving rail. Poultry is excluded from the Humane Slaughter Act, so stunning the chickens is not mandatory. Chickens are still stunned by running them through electrified water, but these stunning procedures are not monitored. Slaughterhouses commonly use lower currents than necessary to stun the chickens. Which mean that they are still able to feel pain when their throats are slashed. And if their throats aren't properly slashed, they are still conscious when they are submerged in a scalding tank.

It is very common for chickens to still be alive when they reach the scalding tank. The industry even has a name for them: "redskins".

Breeder Chickens

The breeding animals who give birth to the 8 billion broiler chickens killed in the U.S. each year have been referred to as Gallus neglectedus, or "neglected chicken," by Dr. Joy Mench, a poultry scientist at the University of California, because their welfare is completely ignored.

Like the broiler chickens to whom they give birth, breeder chickens are confined to filthy sheds without access to sunlight, fresh air, or anything else that they would enjoy in nature.

When these birds are very young—usually just 1 to 10 days old—hot blades are used to cut large chunks off their sensitive beaks so that they won't peck each other out of frustration caused by the intense confinement. Sometimes their toes, spurs, and combs are also cut off. The birds are not given any painkillers to ease the agony of this mutilation, and many debeaked chickens starve to death because they are in too much pain to eat.

Breeder chickens are forced to live on factory farms for more than a year. Because they live so much longer, they face an even higher risk of organ failure and death as they grow larger and larger because of their manipulated genetics. In an attempt to fix this problem, the industry drastically limits the feed given to breeding birds, keeping the animals in a constant state of hunger and frustration.

When the birds drink more water to try to relieve their hunger, factory farm operators often reduce the available drinking water so that they won't have to clean up wet manure.

Some farmers shove thin plastic rods through the delicate nasal cavities of male breeding birds. The rods stick out of both sides of their faces, preventing them from reaching through the wire barrier to eat the females' food.

After more than a year of deprivation and confinement, the bodies of these breeding birds are too worn out to produce enough chicks for the farmer to sell. Frail and exhausted, they are loaded onto trucks and sent to slaughter.

Factory Farms are Huge Polluters

Still not convinced? Here's one more reason to avoid factory-farmed meat: The size of farms grew by 20 percentbetween 2002 and 2007. Even though the number of farms fell, the acreage (and number of animals) devoted to them is still growing. (Check out the maps to see how they're distributed).The growth of these farms means thepollution, animal cruelty, and diseaseassociated with them are also growing exponentially.

More on Factory Farming
Are Factory Farms to Blame for Swine Flu?
7 Reasons Not to Eat Factory-Farmed Food
So What Does the Inside of a Factory Farm Look Like Anyway?

Distress In Egypt..Violence begets Violence

2011-02-04T08:24:00.000-08:00

I am only going to say a little bit about how I feel about this whole Egypt situation, because I do not know and I am not in the position to pass my judgement, but I do know that I do not agree with the way Egyptians are handling the situation.

I understand that the people of Egypt want their voice heard. It is sad to see and hear the amount of violence and unrest going on in one of the world most historic and beautiful countries. Have people not learned lessons on violence. Did Ghandi and Martin Luther King Jr's messages have no meaning?

A small body of determined spirits fired by an unquenchable faith in their mission can alter the course of history.
Mohandas Gandhi

No two people will ever agree on everything 100%.It is very discerning to see how people turn on one another over opinions. Anti Mubarak supporters that turn to violence are not sending the right messages to the world and to younger generations. Threatening journalists with violence and threats is disrespectful to the world. When Cairo and Egypt turns to the world for aid can they honestly expect any after attacking foreigners?

No matter who you support numbers are stronger and speak louder with peace than through stone throwing, beating, killing and violence. Peace can cause change. When you let rage overwhelm you, you cannot escape that hatred and anger and it forever leaves a mark on your soul. Violent protests will only lead to death and more anger and more violence.

Only peace can bring true change.

~BB

Akron woman jailed over over kids' school address

2011-01-27T13:33:00.000-08:00

Its sad that so many people are not understanding about this topic. This story has torn me up. Why should a person trying to better her children be sent to jail? It is unjust!

Akron woman jailed over over kids' school address

Published: Thursday, January 27, 2011

AKRON (AP) — An Ohio woman convicted of improperly enrolling her children in a neighboring school district has left jail after serving nine days.

The Rev. Al Sharpton's National Action Network is trying to raise money online so Kelley Williams-Bolar can appeal her case. She indicated to the Akron-Beacon Journal following her release Wednesday that she was overwhelmed by support and attention.

A jury this month convicted the Akron woman of felony records tampering. Prosecutors said she registered her two daughters for school using her father's address in the suburban Copley-Fairlawn district.

The Beacon-Journal reports Williams-Bolar was sentenced to 10 days in jail but the judge gave her credit for one day of time served when she was arrested in November 2009.

http://morningjournal.com/articles/2011/01/27/news/doc4d41650fa9f7a164743633.txt

Green Trends in 2011

2011-01-25T07:07:00.001-08:00

Green Trends in 2011

Fit for Work

2011-01-05T11:26:00.000-08:00

With the New Year, New me attitude I formulated a list of exercises fit for the office.I plan on doing these 1-2 times a day on top of my regular workout regimen. Even if your stuck at a desk 5 days a week you can still be fit, active and healthy!! Hope these help any of you out there trying to get fit and healthy in 2011!!

Stretches:

1. Stretch both arms over your head and reach for the sky. After 10 seconds, extend the right hand higher, then the left. Repeat 5-10 times

2. Let your head loll over so that your right ear nearly touches your right shoulder. Using your hand, press your head a little lower (gently, now). Hold for 10 seconds. Relax, and then repeat on the other side. Fallow with neck rolls from right to left and vice versa

3. Sit facing forward, then turn your head to the left and your torso to the right, and hold a few seconds. Repeat 15 times, alternating sides.

4. Sitting up straight, try to touch your shoulder blades together. Hold, and then relax. 15x

5. Shoulder raises. Raise your shoulder to your ear, hold and then relax. Repeat, alternating shoulders. 15 x

6. Wrist stretch. Stretch your arm out in front of you with the palm up. With your other hand, grab your fingers and lightly pull them down to stretch your forearm. 5x

7. Hand stretches. Tense and relax the muscles in your hands. Make fists, spread your fingers and bend your fingers. Do throughout day

8. Flapping wings. Stretch both of your arms up and back, as far as you can. Bring them forward until they meet and stretch your arms out in front of you. Repeat 15x

9. Roll your ankles regularly

Upper Body:

10. While seated, pump both arms over your head for 30 seconds

11. To work your chest and shoulders, place both hands on your chair arms and slowly lift your bottom off the chair. Lower yourself back down but stop short of the seat, hold for a few seconds. 15x

12. Place your hands on the desk and hang on. Slowly push your chair back until your head is between your arms and you're looking at the floor. Then slowly pull yourself back in.15x

13. Curls. Cross your arms over your chest and sit up straight. Tense your abdominal muscles and curl your shoulders towards your hips. Hold for a few seconds. 20x

14. Take a few deep breaths. To work your abdominal muscles, hold your stomach for a few seconds when breathing in, then release when breathing out.

Legs:

15. Squats and one-legged squats 15x

16. Sitting in your chair, lift one leg off the seat, extend it out straight, hold for 2 seconds; then lower your foot (stop short of the floor) and hold for several seconds. Switch; Do each leg 15 times.

17. Stand with one leg straight and try to kick your buttocks with the other. 15x

18. Push your chair away from your desk and put your right heel up on the desk. Sit up straight, and bend forward just until you feel a gentle stretch in the back of your leg. Hold for 10 seconds. Repeat on the other side.

19. Toe raises. Lift your toes while keeping your heels firmly on the ground. Do throughout day.

20. Women can do kegels -- tightening and holding, then loosening, their pelvic floor muscles (the muscles that control the flow of urine when you go to the bathroom). This will prevent leakage and other problems down the line.

21. Butt clenches are also helpful in today's booty-conscious society. Tighten your buttocks, hold, hold, hold, and then relax. 15x

22. Ab squeezes -- just tighten your tummy muscles hold, hold, hold, and then relax. 15x

23. Hip flexions. While sitting in your chair, lift your right foot a few inches off of the floor. Keep your knee bent at a 90 degree angle and hold the position as long as you are comfortable. 15x

24. Minute's worth of jumping jacks

25. walk-lunges

Being a Vegetarian IS Easy

2010-12-10T11:49:00.000-08:00

When many people think about being a vegetarian they think of how hard it is to not eat meat. In all reality it is much easier being a vegetarian today than it was back in the day. There is an enormous amount of meat substitute options out there that taste and look just like real meat. The hardest thing about being a vegetarian is other people. Many people find it weird or dont understand why you would choose not to eat meat. My reasons are many and in my past posts I have discussed that.

I find it difficult to go to restaurants. Many restaurants do not have vegetarian options, besides salads or appetizers. My suggestion is to customize your order, the waiter and cook will be annoyed but tough. Your paying the bill. Through testing I have also found many restaurants that have various vegetarin options, so go out and see whats available to you.

Here are some foods that I make on a regular basis with the meat substitutes.

Vegetarian Alternatives for Ground Meat Recipes Made with Morning Star Crumblers:

Tacos:
Meat crumbles from Morining Star. Make like regular tacos with taco seasoning. Brown crumbles before adding season packet then enjoy. This is the easiest meal and its quicker than regular meat because its already cooked.

Lasagna:
Brown crumbles and bake like any lasagna recipe. I like using a crock pot with the oven ready noodles.

MeatBalls:
Brown crumblers before hand, 1 egg, Parmesan, tomato sauce, breadcrumbs, salt, pepper. Roll meatballs, brown on stove then bake for 15-20 min.

Burgers:
Brown crumblers before hand, use egg and breadcrumbs and form into pattie, cook in pan on stove.

Vegetarian Alternatives for Poultry dishes:

Chicken Fajitas:
Morning Star chicken strips, cook like normal fajitas and add whatever you like

Chicken Stir Fry:
Morning Star Chicken Strips, cook like normal stir fry

Grilled Chicken Sandwiches:
Morning Star Chicken Grillers, cook on stove and season how you like. I use onion and garlic powder.

Holiday Turkey:
Tofurkey, It is the greatest thing any vegetarian could have. I bake mine in the Crockpot with vegetables, chicken broth, and onion soup mix. Soo good. I found it at a local organic store.

Other Fake Meat Yummieness:

Morning Star Hot and Spicy Sausage
Vegetarian Chili with sausage Morning Star crumblers
Sausage Pizza with Morning Star Sausage crumblers
Vegan Lunch meats
Morning Star Chicken Nuggets
Buffalo Chicken Salad with Morning Star Grillers
Morning Star Riblets
Beef Strips/ Tips... I found vegan ones at our organic store

With all the fake meat options out there the possibilities are endless. You really can have anything you want or crave. Ive been a vegetarian for nearly 2 years now and I feel like I still eat meat. Have fun with it. Just because you do not eat meat doesn't mean you have to miss out on all the foods you love.

How to Stay Green in the Winter

2010-12-03T09:02:00.000-08:00

Going green can be a year-round practice, including during the winter months. Even though you can't grow your own organic fruits and vegtables outside, you can still be eco-friendly in your house along with having an indoor garden. Winter can sometimes make it hard to think of global warming, but the earth will thank you for your green choices. .

Tips:

Seal It up....
Save energy by making sure that your doors and windows have good seals on them. Leaky windows and doors can be like having an open window in your home, letting cold air in and warm air escape. By getting better seals, you'll also save on your winter heating bills. Most stores supply shrinkwrap that you can winterize your windows with. Another idea is make or purchase door snugs made with sand and push them up agianst doors to keep out the cold air.

Bike..
Winterize your bike for commutes and errands. Although biking can be a bit trickier in snow, you can often still bike when the weather gets cold. Use wide tires, wear layers and protect your hands and feet. Take care to identify roads that will give you enough room to ride with snow on the sides and know when the weather may be too bad to ride safely.

Bundle Up....
Wear more layers inside to keep the heat down. Turning the heat down just a few degrees can make a big difference in your energy consumption. Make use of sweaters, slippers and throw blankets to stay warm.

De-Icing..
Use non-toxic de-icers on your driveway and other areas. "Rock salt" contains cyanide. Chemical de-icers can also be harmful to pets and wild animals. Instead, throw plain sand down on your driveway for the traction that you need.

Get Active..
Try green activities for the family like snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and sledding. You'll get a great workout and you won't have to use electricity or fuel to have fun

Light Efficiency..
Replace your old light bulbs with fluorescent ones. Winter means fewer hours of sunlight and more time indoors, so use light bulbs that last longer and are more energy efficient.

Indoor Garden
You can grow nearly anything indoors during the winter especially fresh herbs. Purchase lamps/ lightbulds that will provide the proper nutrients to your plant and soil and pots and your ready to go.

Gardening Indoors with Soil & Hydroponics

http://www.treehugger.com/gogreen.php
http://consciouslivingtv.com/Blog/Easy+Ways+to+Stay+Green+This+Winter+
http://www.wholeliving.com/article/eco-friendly-winter-health-tips
http://www.filterforgood.com/tips/?gclid=CNTV4ric4KUCFULNKgod6Won4Q

Happy Tofurkey Day!

2010-11-23T12:17:00.000-08:00

Ahh I love the Holidays and the 10lbs I will gain..not! But I do love the holidays.

This year for thanksgiving I have decided to make a tofurkey. After finding these soy based roasts at the Mustardseed our local organic and health food store I have been looking forward to cooking one of these up all year!

Back in my meat eating days, turkey wasn't that good. It was dry and I didn't particularly car for it. I cant lie I desperately miss the flavor of my moms holiday ham. Hopefully a company comes out with a vegetarian something or other that tastes similar. So I have read many posts about cooking the Tofurkey in the oven and it becoming dry and over cooked .

Anyways I will be cooking my Tofurkey in a Crockpot......

For any of you attempting this for the first time also I am putting the recipe up that I will be using to hopefully make this taste better than real Turkey.

Tofurkey Crockpot Recipe

Ingedients:
1 Tofurkey
1 16 oz container of vegtable broth
1 Sweet Onion
2 Potatoes
1 small bag of carrots
mushrooms
1 Apple
1 package of onion soup mix
Basil
Sage
Pepper
Salt
Butter

Let Tofurkey thaw over night. When Ready to prep remove plastic encasing. Place Tofurkey in crockpot, make a spice rub with a couple tablespoons of butter and spices, season to you liking. Rub Tofurkey with spice rub.

Dice potatoes, halve mushrooms, and cut onion into large chuncks. Add as much vegetables as you want place vegtables around Tofurkey. In bowl combine onion soup mix with vegetable broth, add to crockpot.

Cook for 2 1/2 to 3 hours

This is just how I am going to make mine there are tons of recipes online, hopefully it will turn out well! I am also making a vegetable medley with broccoli and cauliflower instead of the same old green bean casserole.

Hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving and thanks for reading!

UPDATE:
Tofukey was Amazing!! Tasted better than normal dried up turkey. I wish there were more leftovers still because it was sooooo good. I will most definitely be heading to the store and picking up more. This will most likely become a regular meal. It took like 5 minutes to prep and sat in the roaster for 3 hrs. I want some now :( I highly recommend it to anyone even if you eat meat. I was shocked at how it tasted like legit turkey and the texture was exactly like meat. You could fool anyone if you didn't tell them it was real meat.

May all that have life be delivered from suffering...Reasons To NOT eat meat.

2010-11-12T12:38:00.000-08:00

Why should you go meatless?

Hunger

20 MILLION People will die from malnutrition this year alone. The number of people who could be adequately fed using land freed if Americans reduced their meat intake by 10%: 100 MILLION. 10 percent that’s equivalent to eating 2 meals a week without meat…… Solution to World hunger? You be the judge.

*80 percent of corn and 95 percent of the oats grown in the U.S. are eaten by livestock while a child dies every 2.3 seconds form malnutrition.

Need more facts?

-40, 000 pounds of potatoes can be grown on a single acre. 250 pounds of beef can be grown on a single acre.

-56% of U.S. Farmland is devoted to beef production

-It takes 7 pounds of grain to grow 1 pound of meat. If everyone gave up eating meat, we could feed 7 times the population that we currently do without needing any additional farm land.

Do the math raising animals for meat is an inefficient use of the earth. Even reducing your intake of meat can have rippling effects and could have helped save that child that just died while you read this sentence.

The Environment

A 2006 United Nations report found that raising animals for food generates more greenhouse gases than all the cars and trucks in the world combined. Animal farming creates massive amounts of manure and urine run-off which pollutes water supplies and local land. *Think about your glass of water while you read this. In the United States, grazing has contributed to the demise of 26% of the federal threatened and endangered species list. It’s also estimated that for each hamburger made from rain forest beef, approximately 20 to 30 different plant species, 100 different insect species, and dozens of bird, mammals, and reptile species are destroyed. Don’t forget about the oceans, fish are being over-harvested and according to the Food & Agriculture Organization, 11 of the 15 world’s major fishing grounds are almost depleted.

Need more facts?

- 85% of U.S. topsoil diminished due to the raising of livestock

- It takes 2640 gallons of water to produce one pound of edible beef. The water used to raise animals for food is more than half the water used in the

United States

- Calories of fossil fuel needed to produce 1 calorie of protein in beef: 28.
Calories of fossil fuel needed to produce 1 calorie of protein in soybeans: 2

- Number of acres of U.S. forest cleared for cropland to produce meat-centered

diet: 260 million.

-Area of tropical rainforest consumed in every quarter-pound of rainforest beef:

55 sq. feet.

-Current rate of species extinction due to destruction of tropical rainforests for

meat grazing and other uses: 1,000 per year.

Health

Ingesting meat causes a number of health related problems.

1. Cancer. According to the Physicians committee for Responsible Medicine vegetarians are less likely to get cancer by 25 to 50 percent. Additionally a British study tracked 6,000 vegetarians and 5,000 meat eaters for 12 years and found that meat eaters were 40% more likely to die from cancer and 20% more likely to die from other diseases.

2. Heart Disease. . A vegetarian diet reduces cholesterol and has been proven to be the only diet that can reverse heart disease.

3. Osteoporosis. Too much protein in our diet causes loss of bone calcium. Meat eaters generally get far more protein than they need or can use.

4. Kidney and Gallstones. Animal protein has a high acidity content that causes the body to draw calcium from the bones to neutralize it; this calcium can end up forming painful kidney and gallstones.

5. Factory Farmed Animals Carry Disease. According to the Center for Science in the Public Interest, 25 percent of all chicken sold in the United States carries salmonella bacteria and the CDC estimates that 70 to 90 percent of chickens contain the bacteria campy-lobacter (some strains of which are antibiotic-resistant). Approximately 5 %of cows carry the lethal strain of E. coli O157:H7 (which causes virulent diseases and death), and 30 %of pigs slaughtered each year for food are infected with toxoplasmosis (caused by parasites).

6. Factory-farmed animals contain toxic chemicals. Meat contains accumulations of pesticides and other chemicals up to 14 times more concentrated than those in plant foods. Half of all antibiotics used in the U.S. are used in farm animals and 90% of those are not used to treat infections but are instead used as growth promoters.

7. Pathogenic Microorganisms. There are a host of bacteria and viruses, some quite dangerous, that are common to animals. When you eat meat, You eat the organisms in the meat. The number of Micro-organisms present in plant foods are by no means comparable to that of those in meat.

8. Meat Eating Women Have More Menopause Problems – Plant food sources contain a compound called phytoestrogens that helps to balance your hormones. Thanks to a meat-free diet, vegetarian women have much fewer problems related to menopause. They sleep better, have less hot flashes, have more energy, less weight gain, fewer mood swings, and maintain a higher sex drive.

9. Meat Eaters Risk More Back Problems – Meat eaters tend to consume more bad fats that often leads to arterial blockages which, according to Neil Barnard, M.D, can cause back problems.

10. Shortened Life Span –Vegetarians tend to live about 7 years longer than meat eaters and vegans tend to live about 15 years longer than meat eaters.

11. Higher Body Weight – Meat eaters tend to consume more fat which often results in increased body fat levels.

12. Higher Blood Pressure – The fats in meat clogs up your arteries which causes higher blood pressure.

Ethics & Animal Rights

660,000 animals are killed an hour in the

U.S.

for meat. Slaughter houses have the highest rate of injury and the highest turnover rates in the U.S.. Factory farmed meat and animal products are extremely cruel to animals .The majority of these animals never see daylight, they’re confined to tiny pens that do not allow them to move or turn around. They live in their own waste, forced to constantly breathe in ammonia and other waste products. Many of these animals get infections or kill each other in order to not get beat or zapped by the farmers. They are pumped full of antibiotics because of their polluted living conditions. They are fed foods that they are not designed to digest because “it’s cheaper and more efficient”. They’re pumped full of chemicals to make them grow bigger and produce more. These growth hormones and chemicals cause numerous health problems for the animals including broken legs. Those chemicals and antibiotics are then passed to you as you eat their flesh. They are often mutilated without the use of painkillers. The slaughter house isn’t the only place where these animals feel pain. They suffer their whole existence in fear, pain, and confusion just so you can have a Friday night steak. Meat animals often live their lives with severe injuries that often get infected. And finally many times they are slaughtered while fully conscious, they scream and cry and try to escape. In short, they live a life of living hell.

Meet your Meat Part 1

Meet your Meat Part 2

How is it decent to consume an animal that screams out for its life before it dies? If they are “just animals” then how do they know they are dying? Why do they cry?

Animals feel pain and sadness just like humans, if they could speak what would they say to us?

I can’t live with that on my conscious.

Spiritual Consciousness

Food is the source of the body's chemistry, and what we ingest affects our consciousness, emotions and experiential pattern. You are what you eat. If we want to live in higher consciousness, in peace and happiness and love for all creatures, then we should consider not eating meat, fish, shellfish, or fowel. Major religions around the world such as Buddhism or Hinduism teach that all of our actions including our choice of food have karmic consequences. By involving oneself in the cycle of inflicting injury, pain and death, even indirectly by eating other creatures, one must in the future experience in equal measure the suffering caused. You can not be a meat eater and believe in Non-Violence....slaughter is violence.

"Protecting the Temple". "Whatever affects the body has a corresponding effect on the mind and soul" (E.G. White)

Eating meat isn’t a necessity of survival. Not eating meat is healthier for your mind, body and soul. Going meatless will fight against global warming, heart disease, world hunger, animal cruelty and can change the world….change is a good thing.

May all that have life be delivered from suffering. -- Buddha.

Thou shall not kill. ? First of Ten Commandments (Christian) and First of Five Precepts (Buddhist).

Compassion is the foundation of everything positive, everything good. If you carry the power of compassion to the marketplace and the dinner table, you can make your life really count. -- Rue McClanahan.

Whenever we cause suffering or death to any other being, we cause suffering to the Great Life Force. -- Shik Po Chih.

Falling into Winter

2010-10-29T12:50:00.000-07:00

For the majority of us "northerners" (especially here in Ohio) fall is rolling to an end and the blistery gusts from the great lakes are descending upon us. Making for a not so fun commute in the morning as well as hibernation to set in. I personally do not mind winter....maybe that stems from living six years without knowing snow but I think its beautiful. I will miss my walks in the parks and outdoor adventures, in some sick and twisted way it makes me appreciate spring even more. Winter does bring about a doom and gloom to the area, especially when the snow becomes dirty sludge creating a not so pretty view from any window. Just because winter is setting in does not mean we can all become slobs and forget about the most advanced piece of technology around, Mother Nature. With that being said fall provides many opportunities to not only enjoy but help the environment.

Leaf me alone....

Not only is raking leaves almost as bad as mowing the lawn but....

Raking leaves may kill Fish

The Ohio Environmental Protection Society, asked local residents to not rake their leaves due to the leaves being washed away and carried into storm drains and waterways. This ultimately causes an over abundance of algae, which suffocates fish by greatly reducing oxygen levels in the water. Alternatively if you prefer a preened yard put leaves into a biodegradable bag like this one.

Nature will take care of them for you

If you only have a few trees in your yard leaves will not suffocate your lawn. Most lawns go into a dormitory state by the time leaves begin falling. So no, it will not kill your grass. Leaves are biodegradable and will decompose by springtime. To ensure they break down run them over with the lawn mower to finely chop them up, in fact this method will increase the health of your lawn by providing a great nutrient source to your grass.

Towpath Cuyahoga Valley

Don't forget you can always compost those leaves for your garden in the spring!!

Learn how to compost Here.

Landfill Schmandfill...

When your filling up your trash can with all the eggshells, flower, burnt mystery things and leftovers from the holidays remember all of those things can still be composted. Just because its winter does not mean forget about recycling.

Silence of the Pumpkins

Toss your pumpkin back into the garden. This may be a little Dr. Lector ish but by spring it will have decomposed, leave your seeds in it or plant new and by fall next year you'll have some fabulous plump pumpkins grown from the nutrients from the previous years pumpkins

* many birds, squirrels and other small animals love pumpkin as well. If your lucky they'll gobble that pumpkin up and leave you some fresh fertilizer!

Wardrobe Swap!!

STOP!! Don't throw away last seasons clothes. Every year I dig out totes of winter clothes toss the grungy ones and the ones that last x-mas dinner do not make look nice out. But in all reality we shouldn't be throwing away clothes. One mans trash is another's treasure right? well there are millions of organizations around the world like the Good Will or Salvation Army that can help people in need put clothes on there backs. Additionally researching some local charities would be a fantastic idea. Many smaller local charities offer clothing for free to homeless or low income families.

Don't wanna get rid of all those college t-shirts? make a t-shirt quilt out of them. Other things you can utilize old clothing for is making purses from old jeans, Halloween costumes, and what I like to do use them for cleaning cloths. Use your imagination and anything can have another use!

Beat the Heat.....

We all know that cars emit some hundreds of gas emissions while there running, so why do we start the car then sit in the house for 10-15 min so it can heat up and melt the snow? Well I can answer that one.. who wants to freeze the first half of there drive to work, and its a lot of work de-icing and scraping snow of my car. We as humans are naturally lazy. Think about it there is always something that will make our lives that much easier. Anywhoo by not "heating" up your car you can greatly reduce your carbon footprint. A study in the UK found that 2,150 tons of CO2 are emitted from heating up cars a year. Can you imagine the amount for the US? Not only are you producing CO2 when you heat up your car but you are wasting precious and expensive gasoline. All in all by not warming up your car you can...

Reduce you carbon footprint
Reduce your gas usage
Burn calories scraping snow off of your car by yourself

So in conclusion Fall doesn't mean forget about living green , its more of living green with lots of orange and brown around you.

Thanks for reading and check back for more being green today information!

As Always,

Peace, Love, and Green