Seal The Deal: Sign the Petition

SIGN!!!

(Content from Seal The Deal)

The UN-led Seal the Deal Campaign aims to galvanize political will and public support for reaching a comprehensive global climate agreement in Copenhagen in December.

Climate change affects us all. Nine out of every ten disasters recorded are now climate related. Rising temperatures and more frequent floods, droughts and storms affect millions of people’s lives. This is set against a backdrop of financial and food insecurity.

On December 7, governments will gather in Copenhagen, Denmark to respond to one of the greatest challenges facing humanity. The main question will be how protect the planet and create a green economy that will lead to long-term prosperity
Reaching a deal by the time the meeting ends on December 18 will depend not only on complex political negotiations, but also on public pressure from around the globe.

The United Nations has launched “Seal the Deal” campaign that encourages users to sign an online, global petition which will be presented by civil society to governments of the world.

The petition will serve as a reminder that our leaders must negotiate a fair, balanced and effective agreement in Copenhagen, and that they must seal a deal to power green growth, protect our planet and build a more sustainable, prosperous global economy that will benefit all nations and people

THERE IS NO TIME TO WASTE: STAMP YOUR VOTE AND SEAL THE DEAL!

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Oxfam Serves it Up

Check out this funny but very to the point Oxfam commercial promoting an end to climate change:



or click HERE to go straight to YouTube and watch.

I just heard about a new documentary on the food industry and I couldn't be more excited to share this with you all.

The film is called Fresh and focuses on the growing chemicalization of our food, the factory farming industry and what is going on to change that trend. The way we can get back to fresh, natural and healthy food. The trailer promises an educational and inspirational film.

The film features Joel Salatin, who if you've read Omnivore's Dilemma you remember, he was the farmer who used the rotational system on his farm. Each animal had its purpose and he was truly inspirational.

Click here to read all about it and watch the trailer.

Oh I can't wait to see it!

McCain/Palin: Why a Vote For Them is a Vote AGAINST the Environment!

I am super busy but wanted to post these articles as I see them, I will provide a nice review soon! I am deep in "eco-friendly" wedding errands/last minute pick ups and things before my Sunday wedding!

Here's an article highlight Palin's horrid views:

Here's an excerpt:

She wants to start drilling. She wants to block US moves to list the polar bear as an endangered species. And she has allowed big game hunters to shoot Alaska's bears and wolves from low-flying planes.
The 44-year-old governor says a federal government decision to protect the polar bear will cripple energy development offshore. As a result, she is suing the Bush administration, which ruled the polar bear is endangered and needs protection.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/palin-the-real-scandal-920803.html

More to come!

P.S. If you read similar articles, please email me and I will happily post them!

Define: Carbon Footprint

We often hear the term 'Carbon Footprint' but do we all know exactly what that means?

Carbon Footprint= a tool of measurement that captures the impact human activities have on the environment. It is describing the amount of greenhouse gases produced which are measured in units of carbon dioxide. The concept of the carbon footprint is an offshoot of the original ecological footprint.

Check out the following links for great carbon calculators

http://www.climatecrisis.net/takeaction/carboncalculator/

Here's a great link (once there, click Act, then Live Green and you'll find a carbon calculator)

http://www.conservation.org/Pages/default.aspx

(Image:www.lakedistricttours.co.uk)

Green Time

I recently read the Time magazine cover story "How To Win The War On Global Warming". Pretty good article, and I wanted to share a quote I thought was interesting.

"The U.S. has enjoyed an awfully good run since the middle of the 20th century, a sudden ascendancy that no nation before or since has matched. We could give it up in the early years of the 21st, or we could recognize-as we have before-when a leader is needed and step into that breach ourselves. Going green: What could be redder, whiter and bluer than that?" -Bryan Walsh

Great statement, although I always cringe at the so often seen "leader mentality" that the United States has. It irks me considering many countries have been living much greener than us for years yet we still feel that we need to step up and be a driving force. It's like the United States is that child who needs to think they rule the roost in order to get anything done. Well, I've got to pick my battles.

Oh, and for an article debating the choice of cover image for this Time issue, click on to ecorazzi for more...

http://www.ecorazzi.com/2008/04/18/time-magazine-feeling-the-heat-over-global-warming-cover

(Image: ecorazzi.com)

Rethinking The Line: " Leave Only Footprints"

Want to know your ecological footprint? How about finding out how many Earth's would be needed if everyone living like you do! There's a great website that offers a "game" that helps you discover that very footprint.

This game measures things like gas and heating bills, square footage, transportation and trash you throw away to figure out your eco-footprint. I played and found out that it would take 2.2 Earth's to support how I live if everyone in the world lived like me! Granted I may have made some errors along the way judging my apartments square footage for example, but I think I was pretty accurate. After playing this game I have a renewed vigor to reduce that footprint even more.

Go play, and let me know how many Earth's you need to support your habits. I hope you do better than me!

Click here to play: http://sustainability.publicradio.org/consumerconsequences/

(Image: www.youthxchange.net/pictures)

Advance To Go: Monopoly Steps It Up

Here's yet another article I pulled from ecorazzi, one my favorite eco-blogs!

Monopoly is ditching the standby utility companies: Water Works & Electric company in favor of Solar and Wind energy! It seems that even Americas board games are picking up on the environmental state of mind. Check out the rest of this article for more.

http://www.ecorazzi.com/2008/04/24/monopoly-adds-solar-and-wind-utilities-to-new-world-edition/

Earth Day 22 #22: Why Yes It's You!

I find nothing more calming than looking at trees, particularly lying down and gazing at them from below. I love how they are reaching up to the sky with endless possibilities. Those inspirations are what move people to make changes in their lives, changes that will help save the earth.

I've been thinking about today's Earth Day post since I began the Earth Day 22 countdown. What is important enough to be my # 1? What makes enough of a difference and enough of animpact to stand out amongst the rest. I finally found my answer:

YOU! You are the most important way to make a difference in this world. I can't stress enough the importance and sheer reality of the single change making all the difference. While nature is by no means a silent observer (this can be seen with the growing number of storms, hurricanes and life threatening disasters) it is the human voice that will ring the bell causing a ripple effect of change that will be felt around the world.

Listen carefully, nature is speaking to you. Can you hear it? Can you heart the wind howling, the birds singing, the rain falling around you, the ocean crashing against the shore, can you hear the voices speaking to you, asking for your attention?

Nature will outlive us, it will take back the earth we have destroyed. Selflessly though it is speaking out asking for the human race to stick around longer, to enjoy it's beauty and bath in it's sunlight.

Each day do your part, you owe it to yourself and the world around you.

As we are heading toward an election that may be the most important direction our country will take after a very long painful 8 years of policy making and governing, please listen how the candidates respond to questions revolving around the environment. Really look at how the future looks in their eyes. It is more important than every before.

Here's a beautiful line from Blessed Unrest by Paul Hawken that struck me as I read it this morning on the train to work,

No culture has ever honored its environment but disgraced its people, and conversely, no government can say it cares for its citizens while allowing the environment to be trashed.

As we celebrate this earth day today, I realize that our environment IS in fact, trashed. What does that say about the government? What does that say about how strongly our vote matters, and how important it is to push forward an agenda that supports the environment and it's people.

Take a moment today to think about this. That's all I could hope for. Happy Earth Day.

(Image: ronforseth.com/images)

Earth Day 22 #19 Go Ahead, Turn Me On!

This should be an easy switch for everyone! CFL's or Compact Fluorescent light bulbs should be the only light bulbs sold at all in my opinion! They consume 75% less energy and last up to 10 times longer than regular light bulbs! The reason: regular light bulbs run on 350 degrees while CFL's run on 90 degrees. That being said, finish the bulbs you've got before switching, I am a strong believer in using what you have when you have it. Kevin and I have finally after about a year switched all of our bulbs, no turning back...

You can find CFL bulbs everywhere nowadays from your local hardware store to Target and Home Depot. There's no excuse!

(Image: www.servicelighting.com)

I Heart Al

Does Al Gore ever stop impressing me?
Al Gore is launching (launching this week) a $300 million ad campaign targeted to the presidential candidates. The campaign intends to “inject the topic of climate change into the presidential contest” immediately. Ad subjects include so-called ‘clean coal’.
To help fund this initiative by The Alliance for Climate Protection, Al Gore is putting him not only his personal funds but proceeds from his book An Inconvenient Truth as well as the money received from his Nobel Peace Prize. That’s pretty amazing. Be on the lookout for the ads, I can’t wait to see them and see the presidential candidates finally speak about climate change passionately

(Image:lh3.google.com)

Earth Hour: Turn The Lights Down Low

Wondering what free and easy step you can take to make this world a better place? Turn off your lights is one way to start. You’re saving energy and money simultaneously. This weekend marks the second 60 Earth Hour. Earth Hour was created by The World Wild Life Fund and started in Sydney Australia last in 2007 where over 2,000 corporations and countless households shut their lights for an hour. You may have seen this on the news, the bright beautiful skyline was shut down to say to the world, hey, it’s time to wake up and make a difference. This was all over the news and captured the interest of people worldwide. This year, Earth Hour has taken the world’s stage and is happening in cities all over the world, 370 cities are taking part this year, 35 in America alone. The event in 2007 was equivalent to 48,000 cars being taken off the road, imagine what this year will do. Pull out that bag of tea lights, light those beautiful scented candles that adorn your shelves and get romantic this Saturday night at 8pm. Take part in something amazing. Make a difference, it’s as easy as turning off the lights. You can sign up for information and cool news at www.earthhour.org you can also check out their video on YouTube and watch last years event unfold.
1. Go to www.Youtube.com
2. Search for Earth Hour 2008
3. Watch and be inspired
I can’t wait to hear about all of your experiences, so come back and tell me what you did Saturday at 8pm!

(Image: www.miscmum.com)

Raise your hand if you have a question!

After many, many debates I am waiting for the republican and democratic candidates to be asked questions revolving around environmental issues, and apparently I am not alone. Al Gore in a recent conference slams the media for the lack of questions posed to candidates. Honestly I have been saying all along, I need a candidate to talk details, not a skimming of clean energy etc. I am so happy that Al Gore has stepped out and made a statement, I just hope he is heard and maybe it’s not too late to make the environment a key issue (more than just in words and promises) Copy this link in your browswer to read article.

http://www.ecorazzi.com/2008/03/03/al-gore-slams-media-for-lack-of-green-questions-in-
presidential-debates/

News Brief: Village Vs.Global Warming Culprits

An Eskimo village in Alaska is sueing 12 oil, power and coal companies over global warming. They are claiming that the companies are contributing to global warming and thus their village's demise. Their village is literally eroding itself into the Artic Ocean as we speak. For more on this, copy this link into your web browser (or just go to CNN and search for 'Eskimo Village Sues Over Global Warming")

http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/americas/02/26/us.warming.ap/index.html