by Blake Frino

Children’s books are always fun to read - when you were little or even now as an adult. However, when we think about the environment, it plays a big part in what the story entails, not just because the printing process includes using our natural resources, such as trees, but wecan learn about the environment and animals. Many authors now are touching on subjects that were taken lightly before the green movement started.

In recent years, specific green children’s books have been popping up in bookstores, with titles like Judy Moody Saves the World, by Megan McDonald, Gone Wild: An Endangered Animal by David McLimans, and Flush, by Carl Hiassen. All three take the reader on an adventurous journey called nature. (more…)

by Blake Frino

Wouldn’t it be great if we could say we live in the greenest city in the nation? Some of us may live within or on the outskirts of the top ten, but when it comes down to it, the real important factor is that each is taking green initiatives to make their city on the eco forefront.

According to Country Home magazine, Oregon ranks the highest with having some of the most green of green. For 2008, the top ten green cities/areas in America are as follows:

1. Corvallis, OR; 2. Portland-Vancouver-Beaverton, OR; 3. Bellingham, WA; 4. Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA; 5. Boulder, CO; 6. Eugene-Springfield, OR; 7. Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA; 8. Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN; 9. Bend, OR; 10. Santa Barbara-Santa Maria, CA. (more…)

by Blake Frino

The use of incandescent bulbs has slowly faded since fluorescent lighting took to the socket in recent years. Their energy-saving power and lasting use creates less of an impact on landfills as well as consumers, where there isn’t much need to replace them.

I was thrilled when I bought my compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL), which is Energy Star rated. I thought I was taking part in the green movement. And although they are a little pricier than incandescent bulbs, their longer lifespan and lower energy consumption allows you to reap the benefits. Unfortunately, they do contain mercury, which is not good for the environment when added to landfills.

However, as with anything, a better prelude to this has evolved in the last six years, and is gradually being brought to consumers’ attention. LEDs (light emitting diodes) are more energy-efficient and eco-friendly than the above. And so much of what we already use, for instance alarm clocks, encompasses this kind of lighting. (more…)

by Dr. Thaddeus Jacobs

Did you know that going vegetarian reduces your carbon footprint far more drastically than any other lifestyle choices? From production of feed crop fertilizers and the manufacture of veterinary medications to refrigeration and delivery of the end product, mass produced animal foods require tremendous petroleum input. Besides extensive, multi-level carbon inputs involved with animal agriculture, there is a far more important aspect of the carbon equation often overlooked.

Methane gas, 21 times more powerful a greenhouse gas than CO2, is a massive byproduct of animal agriculture. It may be the greatest human-caused contributor to the greenhouse effect and threat to our global environment. Many scientists and long-term supporters of the global warming theory fear too much attention is placed on CO2 emissions. Unlike CO2, which has risen in the atmosphere a few percentage points over naturally occurring CO2 levels, humans have fortified atmospheric methane drastically, approximately 150% above naturally occurring levels. (more…)

by Greg Hardwick

During the recent floods in England, bottled water was the first item to disappear from the supermarket shelves. Such is the importance of clean drinking water, the lack of access to it, is a major cause of death and illness worldwide. However, in developed nations bottled water has become fashionable and is seen as a better alternative to taking a drink from the tap. Water, whether it comes from an exotic spring, or even the local water supply, has now become a highly packaged, relabelled and marketed commodity.

When oxygen can be sold in specially designed ‘oxygen bars’ it comes as no surprise when water can be packaged to not look out of place next to the most expensive sparkling wines. Is bottled water environmentally irresponsible? Capitalism gone mad? Or, a healthy alternative to the plethora of sugar-based drinks?

According to the Earth Policy Institute: “The global consumption of bottled water reached 154 billion liters (41 billion gallons) in 2004, up 57 percent from the 98 billion liters consumed five years earlier.” (more…)