Junk Raft: Sailing The Seas Of Debris
By Jenn Breckenridge
Filed Under News & Reviews | 3 Comments
What do you get when you take 15,000 plastic bottles, the discarded wingless body of a Cessna 310 aircraft, and a sail? A seaworthy, solar powered ship dubbed the ‘Junk Raft‘ headed from Long Beach, CA to Hawaii, of course. Dr. Marcus Eriksen and Joel Paschal plan to sail a raft with recycled plastic bottles wrapped in discarded fishing net acting as pontoons and an old wingless Cessna cockpit as the cabin. This long, strange trip will be calling attention to the massively detrimental effect of plastic in our oceans. (Apparently 10,000 pounds of plastic are dumped into the ocean every day from Los Angeles alone.) Eriksen has sailed with the Algalita Marine Research Foundation, trolling the waters of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch and now he’s ready to risk life and limb for this cause. When asked why he and his partner were willing to put their lives on the line over some plastic in the ocean, Eriksen stated the folowing…
Yes, we are risking our lives, but the issue of petroleum-based plastic and our national dependence on petroleum, warrant urgent action. My quality of life, the future of our nation’s economy, environmental quality, and human health, are at stake. I remember 17 years ago, as a young Marine in the Gulf War, standing in Kuwait City covered with drops of oil from the burning wells, saying to myself, “Why have we done this?” James Baker, former Secretary of State, the man that sent me to war, said recently, “We had a written policy that we would go to war to defend secure access to the energy reserves of the Persian Gulf.” This is not why I chose to serve my country!
So Eriksen, along with co-pilot Paschal and Junk’s on-the-ground operations czar Anna Cummins, have all chosen to serve their country in a different way. Continue reading Junk Raft: Sailing The Seas Of Debris…
Posted on May 30, 2008 |
Top 5 Eco Cities
By Pippa Sorley
Filed Under The Big Picture | 18 Comments
Every year urban sprawl spreads upon farmland, forests, and shorelines. Rural areas are rapidly losing ground to their rival cities. Hundreds of thousands of people flock each year to their nearest city in search of sustainable employment. Farmers are losing their farms, ranchers are losing their pastures, and fishermen their livelihoods. Some say it is unavoidable-with population growth comes development. And with development, comes a loss of nature. So, in light of this inevitability, we face a predicament. If cities generate the greatest pollution across continents, which ones are taking the lead in their fight against climate change? eCo Times searched for the greenest cities, attempting to find one on each continent. We picked out our Top 5 and a couple of runners up which seemed to deserve it. Each of these cities have gone above and beyond standard operating practices to implement policies and incentives to create a truly sustainable urban environment.
CURITIBA, BRAZIL (SOUTH AMERICA)
With a population of 1.6 million, Curitiba represents a model sustainable city. Faced with a fast-rising population, worsening air pollution and imminent gridlock, this city turned its center into a pedestrian-only zone and transformed several key highways into roadways reserved solely for mass transit. By planting millions of trees, the city created “green moats” to buffer against the harmful effects of polluting industry. Perhaps Curitaba’s most famous greening story is that of its innovative recycling program. The Mayor created a social and environmental revolution by offering groceries and bus passes to the city’s poor in return for bags of recyclables. The result? Two-thirds of Curitiba’s garbage is recycled. Continue reading Top 5 Eco Cities…
Posted on May 29, 2008 |
Farewell My Subaru…It’s A Fine Life Without Petroleum
By Jenn Breckenridge
Filed Under Green Living, eCo TV | 3 Comments
Okay, this may be one of the coolest people I’ve come across in a minute. Have you seen Into The Wild? Liked it? Well, America, meet Doug Fine. Some of you may already be familiar with him, through his humorous NPR spots or his articles in the Washington Post, Wired, or Outside. He wrote a book back in 2004 called Not Really An Alaskan Mountain Man where he breaks down the hilarity of “broken down snowmachines, heavy dead whales, frozen pipes, angry moose and disorientation in a bear-packed wilderness.”
His most recent book is called Farewell, My Subaru where Doug recounts another set of hilarious misadventures in greener, locally-sourced living. Now, he’s surviving on a ranch in rural New Mexico with his pregnant wife where he attempts to live fossil fuel free, cultivate vegetables, and raise livestock. The funny part is mainly due to the fact that, previous to establishing the Funky Butte Ranch, Doug had no previous electrical, mechanical or farming skills. He’s making his own biodiesel, catching his own water, and producing plenty of electricity for his bumpin’ stereo system and his many modern appliances. Check this man out-he’s on fire!
Posted on May 28, 2008 |
FSC-Certified Rubber: Helping The Amazon To Bounce Back
By Pippa Sorley
Filed Under Conscious Commerce | Leave a Comment
Some of us have heard the term “FSC-certified” before, especially when shopping for furniture or paper products. The Forest Stewardship Council was established in 1992 to improve forest management worldwide and has been certifying wood-based products for more than 15 years. But there’s a new certification trend in town: eco-friendly rubber?
Rubber is used to manufacture thousands of our every day products. We use it to rub out our mistakes (pencil erasers), rub elbows on the tennis courts (tennis shoes), and even rub up against each other (condoms). Rubber is ubiquitous, but one rarely thinks of where it comes from…rubber as a product sourced from the Amazon Rainforest.
The rubber tree produces a sap that is extracted just like maple syrup. This sap is known as latex, and is typically harvested when the trees are 5-6 years old. Incisions are made just deep enough to tap the vessels without harming the tree’s growth, and the sap is collected in small buckets. This process is known as rubber tapping.
Though most rubber tree plantations are found in Indonesia, rubber trees are indigenous to the Amazon Rainforest. When Amazonian “rubber tappers” a.k.a. “seringuieros” are able to make a living wage from harvesting in the forest, it reduces greatly the likelihood that they may sell their land to timber companies for a quick, one-time payoff. This is a perfect example of when conscious commerce lends to both social and environmental sustainability at the same time, while also turning a profit a.k.a. serving the Triple Bottom Line.
Many companies in the US and Europe are starting to realize that they can participate in sustaining healthy economies and ecosystems abroad while sourcing the highest quality raw materials for their products. Anne O’Loughlin uses FSC-certified rubber to make the soles of her sneakers at her fair trade shoe company, Autonomie Project. According to Anne, “All natural rubber certified by the FSC is truly the most environmentally-friendly alternative possible for the soles of the shoes…The rubber earns its certification because it is completely natural with no added toxins or chemicals, and is tapped from a tree…in a sustainable manner.”
Interested in the Forest Stewardship Council? Take action!
- Look for the label and ask for FSC-certified products when buying lumber, paper, and rubber
- Source FSC-certified materials, if you manufacture items with rubber, paper, or wood
- Become a FSC member and vote on issues at the FSC General Assembly
Posted on May 27, 2008 |
Memorial Day: Understanding The True Costs Of War
By Jenn Breckenridge
Filed Under The Big Picture | 3 Comments
This Memorial Day weekend, Bush stated, “Kids will be out of school, Moms and Dads will be firing up the grill, and families across our country will mark the unofficial beginning of Summer,” Bush said. “But as we do, we should all remember the true purpose of this holiday – to honor the sacrifices that make our freedom possible.” This is a rare opportunity to follow the advice of our President. Let’s take a stark look at some of the human, environmental, and financial sacrifices of the US-led invasion of Iraq, also known as Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Ecosystems
Though the total toll on Iraq’s environment due to the war is yet unknown, many obvious aspects can be examined. Depleted uranium used as munitions by the US military in Iraq has caused cancer rates to soar in both children and adults. Both the ancient rivers of the Tigris and the Euphrates run through Iraq, providing drinking water to people as well as a diverse array of West Asian wildlife. Approximately 90% of the marshes on the lower Tigris and Euphrates rivers have dried up due to strategic dam building. This has caused the disappearance of water buffalo, foxes, birds, and boar.
Intentionally-set oil fires have released thousands of tons of greenhouse gasses into the air. These fires have also polluted the Sea of Oman with fallout from burning oil debris, which is laced with poisonous chemicals such as mercury, sulfur, and furans. This sea is home to 4 out of 5 species of endangered marine turtles, as well as many types of birds and fish. These species are now being poisoned. Poorly tended oil wells have spilled in surrounding ground water and soil, contaminating animal habitats and human water supplies. Potential farmland has been ruined by the scattered unexploded ordinances and craters caused by bombings. Overall, it is clear that the natural elements, as well as the cities and infrastructure will take countless years to recover. Continue reading Memorial Day: Understanding The True Costs Of War…
Posted on May 26, 2008 |
Food Fight: Organic Vs. Conventional
By Sara Yellich
Filed Under Green Living | 2 Comments
So there I am again, standing before my supermarket produce display wondering which one is better: the organic Pink Lady or the conventional Braeburn? What am I buying into when I choose either apple? How am I effecting air, water, soil, and local economies? I am part of a vast interdependent machine more influential than I can fathom with my consumption choice.
I realize my questions arise because I am considered an “ethical eater”. Having the financial ability, educational resources and time to deliberate between organic versus conventional produce is a privilege. And, after my focused deliberation, the difference between organic and conventional is still unclear.
Unfluenced by trailblazers such as of Chef Alice Waters of Chez Panisse (SF) and Gene Kahn of Cascadian Farm (OR), organic food rose to prominence in the 1970’s. By their standards, the definition of “organic” encompassed a broad spectrum of meaning: natural, fresh, healthy foods grown on small local farms. Now, the organic business is a $7.7 billion dollar industry, with a growth rate of 22% in 2007 alone; organics finally match conventional agribusiness in economies of scale. Sadly, the special nomenclature and labeling of organics results in organic Oat O’s being sold for $2 more than their conventional counterpart, because conventional farmers receive farm subsidies and organic farmers still do not. How are we, as consumers, to know what’s better for both us and the environment? Continue reading Food Fight: Organic Vs. Conventional…
Posted on May 23, 2008 |
Top 10 Reasons to Ride Your Bike…Everywhere
By Greg Berry
Filed Under Green Living | 4 Comments
First, I must preclude this Top 10 with a note about my cycling experience. I’ve been bike commuting for all of my professional life, and before that all during college, and before that I was an early convert to mountain biking. In short, I’ve spent my whole life on a bike and I think it’s the coolest thing going. Why, you ask? Well…
10. No Traffic
Well, this one kind of depends. I commute on bike paths almost the whole way. I bought my home with this in mind, but not everyone has that as a criteria. Either way, at least you’re not contributing to evil traffic, and hopefully you can avoid it altogether.
9. Enjoy The Outdoors
As a culture, we have gotten so completely disconnected from our natural environment, it’s frightening. On your bike you can hear the birds, breathe the outdoor air. See the clouds and decide for yourself whether or not it’s going to rain. Beyond reconnecting with the outside world, cycling is completely emissions-free!
8. Critical Mass
Calling all rebels and rabblerousers…Biking is political protest. If you didn’t know about Critical Mass before, you do now. It’s happening monthly in cities all over the country. Come join us, it’s a blast.
7. Community
Once you start bike commuting regularly, you’ll notice that you see the same people out there. You’ll meet someone from your neighborhood you didn’t know before. And you’ll develop camaraderie that doesn’t come from watching the same TV show.
6. Relax
We all spend too much time rushing around. There’s reason for me to believe that humans weren’t meant to go so fast all the time, hence jet lag. When you’re only moving as fast as your body can make you go, there’s a better sense of groundedness. Continue reading Top 10 Reasons to Ride Your Bike…Everywhere…
Posted on May 22, 2008 |
Conscious Living TV: Electrifying Cars
By Jenn Breckenridge
Filed Under eCo TV | 1 Comment
Bianca and Michael Alexander of Conscious Living TV go shopping for a new car and bring you the latest on plug-in hybrids, as well as the super-sporty Tesla roadster.
Posted on May 21, 2008 |
Fair Trade Joins Google Earth!
By Anne O'Loughlin
Filed Under Conscious Commerce | Leave a Comment
After brewing a cup of my favorite organic Fair Trade coffee from Equal Exchange the other morning, I was awakened by some exciting news. We can now find our favorite Fair Trade coffee producers on Google Earth! For those of you who have been living under a rock for the past few years, Google Earth lets you virtually swoop around the world viewing satellite images on your computer of literally any and every corner of the globe.
Loved by school children, superman wannabe’s, architects, and voyeurs alike, the latest version of Google Earth features a close-up street view with 3D buildings, detailed descriptions of landmarks, and even a “sun” feature that lets you play God and control the sunrise and sunset of any location you wish…great for checking out the passive solar potential of your future real estate acquisition.
Proudly, the team at Google Earth has always had a social conscience and uses its technological savvy to raise awareness about international affairs and human rights issues. In the recent past, they’ve focused their mapping efforts on highlighting the New Orleans post-Katrina floods and the conflict crisis in Darfur.
Their newest feat is bringing you close-ups and stories about Third World producers participating in the international movement of Fair Trade. Fair Trade is an alternative, more sustainable, and all around better way of doing business. Rather than using sweatshops and importing massive amounts of goods from China, Fair Traders work closely with small, independent owners and cooperatives located for the most part in rural parts of the developing world. Fair Trade producers are paid a fair price for their work; do not use child labor; are not held to abusive overtime pressure; have safe and healthy work environments; and are usually recipients of other well-being initiatives and community programs, such as health clinics and micro-credit programs. Continue reading Fair Trade Joins Google Earth!…
Posted on May 20, 2008 |
Go Green, Slow Down, Save Money
By Pippa Sorley
Filed Under Green Living | 5 Comments
I admit it. As an adrenaline junkie I like to do things fast. I like to ski fast, bike fast, I even prefer running trails over hiking them. Lo and behold- I like to drive fast. That is, until I learned about all the crazy costs that come with putting my pedal to the metal.
With peak oil, the ever-rising price of gas (which is perhaps a blessing in disguise), and climate change swiftly sweeping across the planet, it’s time for all of us to pay heed to the collective effects of our driving habits. With the US consuming over 400 million gallons of petroleum per day, we in turn produce about 7.8 billion pounds of carbon dioxide emissions…every day. Perhaps it’s come time for us to just slow down.
According to fueleconomy.gov, most engines don’t run efficiently past 60 miles per hour. For every 5 miles per hour you drive over 60, you are most likely wasting 20 cents’ worth of gasoline per gallon. And, this of course doesn’t take into account the environmental cost of driving too fast. Who knows how many CO2 emissions can be saved by chilling out a bit while driving? Continue reading Go Green, Slow Down, Save Money…
Posted on May 19, 2008 |
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eCo Times reports the latest on sustainable lifestyle choices and the new green economy. This online magazine brings you the best in cutting edge green media, organic and Fair Trade product reviews, and insights into viable planetary solutions.
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