Thursday, May 28, 2009
From seatbelts to ecofabulous bags!
Sometimes the greatest ideas just come when you least expect it. Husband and wife, Dana and Melanie Harvey are the best example to prove it.
In March 1997, while installing seatbelts into their 1950 Buick, the couple had the fun idea of making Melanie a matching handbag. Everyone loved hers so much that they decided to make more...and there was born Harvey handbag store.
I think they are doing a marvelous job at recovering old car items, who would have thought they’d make such nice handbags?
Here is one of my favorite piece of their collection a seatbelt wallet in grey tones.
To see the entire collection visit
Seatbeltbags.com
Get Outside
It’s so simple, but sometimes we just need a reminder that “being green” also means getting outside and connecting with nature.
Those of us who make an effort to participate in outdoor activities have a greater environmental appreciation and are generally happier and more productive. How so? A little fresh air and Vitamin D can help you deal with stress and anxiety and make you appreciate a peaceful way of life. Or, depending on your energy level, promote vitality and sporty activities!
Here are some outdoor activities that help you appreciate your natural world:
* Take lessons in a new outdoor activity like dragon boat racing, kayaking or gardening (I play beach volleyball weekly on Lake Ontario);
* Enjoy a picnic! Go to a nearby park, beach or your backyard;
* Go for regular walks, hikes, bike rides or paddle boat rides in natural settings;
To read full article visit:
www.simplegreenaction.ca
Canada: petro-state or prosperous nation?
Canada: petro-state or prosperous nation?
By David Suzuki with Faisal Moola
Imagine a Canada with an abundance of nature and wildlife, clean air and water, healthy citizens, and a prosperous economy. Sounds close to what we have, doesn’t it? But it may not be for long if we keep heading down the road we’re on.
Author Andrew Nikiforuk has argued that Canada is becoming a petro-state. “Without long-term planning and policies, Canada and Alberta will fail to secure reliable energy supplies for Canadians, to develop alternative energy sources for the country, or to create valuable resource funds for the future,” he writes in his best-selling book Tar Sands: Dirty Oil and the Future of a Continent. Because of the response of Alberta to Pierre Trudeau's National Energy Plan, Canada doesn't even have a national energy plan.
The reality is that our government is putting all its eggs in one basket, relying on the tar sands to fuel the economy. And although the government has at least come around to acknowledging that global warming is a problem, it hasn’t acted as if it’s a problem worthy of much attention. Its energy and environmental policies show that it is willing to let the economics of the fossil fuel industry trump concern for our common future.
That was made clear with the release of an audit report by the federal environment and sustainable development commissioner on May 12. Scott Vaughan’s report found that the government has overstated expected reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, is unable to monitor actual reductions, lacks transparent plans, and is failing to meet its international obligations under the Kyoto Protocol Implementation Act.
The audit also found that the government is failing to adequately protect fish habitat. Vaughan charged the government with not knowing much about fish habitat in Canada, failing to implement some parts of the 23-year-old policy, and failing to even identify what it must do to stop harmful pollutants from being discharged into waters where the fish live.
This ongoing failure on the part of those elected to serve our interests is bad from both an environmental and an economic standpoint. A briefing note prepared for Natural Resources Minister Lisa Raitt last fall and recently obtained by Canadian Press warns that a lack of clarity and certainty regarding the government’s climate change policies is jeopardizing investment in Canada’s energy sector. The government promised new regulations more than two years ago but now says it is “reworking” its plan.
The briefing note says the government should have policies that facilitate investment in green equipment, buildings, and infrastructure.
But it appears that the government is really only interested in facilitating the ability of the fossil fuel industry to squeeze every drop of oil out of the ground until we are left with depleted energy supplies, devastated landscapes and polluted waters, and an economy that can’t compete with those of nations that have invested in renewable energy.
Read full article at
www.davidsuzuki.org.
New York City + free transport = liberty!
There’s no better way to visit a city than to explore it by bike. Many North American cities are implementing new ways to make it easier for residents and visitors alike to stroll around their favorite city at their own pace.
New York City isn’t behind on the trend, and the
Downtown Alliance
is currently hosting its second annual
“Bike Around Downtown”
where between now and September 30, 2009 you can rent a bike for free.
If you want to score your free set of wheels you’ll need to sign up. The 30 free bikes will be available seven days a week, during three daily sessions. There’s no limit to how many times you can sign up, but reservations are made on a first come, first served basis.
Let’s hope the program will be so popular that they’ll add more bicycles next year!
Learn more about
Bike Around Downtown.
[Photo: edmundv, Flickr.com]
Today’s Green Tip from the Sierra Club
Today's Green Tip from the
Sierra Club !
Raise your glasses: We'd like to propose a toast (or three) to the green life. This week we'll give you green tips about ecofriendly drinks.
Thursday tip: Mix Organic
The next time you're playing bartender, start with sustainable spirits.
Batiste and
Flor de Cana are two rum brands with eco-cred.
For vodka, try
Square One or Prairie Organic. Tequila drinkers can opt for
Casa Noble or 4 Copas.
Find more organic booze suggestions at
Cocktail Organico. Mix liquor with organic juice and fruit. Check out what's seasonal in your region, and
adjust drink recipes to make the most of local ingredients.
Share your tips: What is your favorite local or sustainable liquor?
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Today’s Green Tip from the Sierra Club
Today's Green Tip from the
Sierra Club !
Raise your glasses: We'd like to propose a toast (or three) to the green life. This week we'll give you green tips about ecofriendly drinks.
Tip #1: Tap That Keg
The next time you're craving a brew, ask what's on tap. Beer from
a keg has a lighter impact than beer in bottles or cans. When choosing a brand, look for local and organic varieties.
Sierra Nevada and New Belgium breweries have good reputations for sustainable practices. Check out Sierra magazine's beer taste test to read about
our top picks for tasty, ecofriendly ales.
Share your tips: What's your favorite green beer?
Photo by teliko82 on flickr.com
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Today’s Green Tip from the Sierra Club
Today's Green Tip from the
Sierra Club !
Let's talk trash: Americans generate around
250 million tons of it annually. This week, we'll provide tips for reducing, reusing, and recycling your garbage.
Give Old Things New Life
Dumpsters divers can attest that a lot of
perfectly usable stuff gets thrown away. Sometimes a simple fix-up job is in order: A fresh coat of
low-VOC paint can make tired furniture look new;
creative stitching can give clothes a fashion fix. But when your possessions truly wear out their welcome, consider donating or trading them. Find new homes for castoffs on
Freecycle, organize a clothing swap with friends, or give to your local Goodwill and Salvation Army stores.
Share your tips: What are your favorite resources for trading in or donating household items?
Photo credit: zieak on Flickr.com
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Today’s Green Tip from the Sierra Club
Today's Green Tip from the
Sierra Club !
Let's talk trash: Americans generate around
250 million tons of it annually. This week, we'll provide tips for reducing, reusing, and recycling your garbage.
Tip #2: Reduce Food Waste
When it comes to portion size, Americans tend to overdo it. More than
25 percent of the food we prepare ends up in the trash .
When food decomposes in landfills under anaerobic conditions, it contributes to global warming by producing methane.
Order smaller portions at restaurants or split one entree between two people. The next time your eyes are bigger than your stomach, take home leftovers in a
reusable container .
If you've got the basics down, you can rev up your waste-reduction efforts by
food gleaning or
advocating for irregularly shaped produce , which is often rejected by grocery stores and left to rot in fields.
Share your tips: How do you keep food waste out of the landfill?
Thursday, May 14, 2009
K-os “Karma” donations Canadian Tour !
Toronto-based hip hop artist K-os, is playing free shows across Canada this spring!
The artist will be in Montreal tonight, at the Olympia for this "groundbreaking tour of Canada designed around the concept of karma."as promoters say.
Each show on the tour is free to enter, with fans given opportunities to make “karma” donations inside the venue in exchange for the live show. In addition, people who donate will receive the K-os “fan-mixed” album, “Yes! It’s Yours.”
Included with the new Yes! album, the bonus CD Yes! It's Yours was mixed entirely by his fans through Indaba Music, a social network for musicians.
The free shows will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis. “Karma” donations can be made inside the venue at three locations, including options to donate to the
David Suzuki Foundation.
K-os has won multiple Juno Awards (2003, 2005), Much Music Video Awards (2004), Canadian Urban Music Awards (2003, 2004), a Source Award for Best International Hip Hop Artist (2003), and a Grammy nomination in 2005 for his collaboration with the Chemical Brothers on “Get Yourself High”.
Catch K-os on tour in Canada
Next shows location you don't want to miss:
16 May 2009 20:00 Cunard Centre Halifax
20 Jun 2009 20:00 Edgefest 09 - Downsview Park Toronto
27 Jun 2009 20:30 Saskatoon Jazz Fest Saskatoon
7 Aug 2009 20:00 Regina Folk Festival - Victoria Park
Source: The Vancouver Sun
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Bike to Work Day
This week Californian commuters are encouraged to leave their cars at home and bike to work.
This special week is organized by the California Bicycle Coalition -a non profit organization that advocates increased bicycle use, access, safety, and education, by promoting the bicycle as an everyday means of transportation and recreation.
Various special activities have been organized locally by ride share agencies, cities, counties, employers, bicycle advocacy groups, bike shops and others who support bicycle transportation in California's communities.
For more information visit
California bike commute's website.
Tomorrow, on May 14th, there will be pit stops throughout Los Angeles- sponsored by local organizations (such as the
Los Angeles County Bicycle Coaltion)- to encourage workers to get a little fresh air and take their bike to go to work on that specific day. It will be a good chance for everyone to meet fellow bicyclists, break for refreshments, and win prizes and giveaways. Click
here to know the exact locations of those pit stops.
Plus L.A. County transit bus operators are offering free rides for bicyclists on this day only as well. Participating lines include Metro LA, Beach Cities Transit, Culver City Bus, Pasadena ARTS bus, Santa Clarita Transit, Norwalk Transit, and others.
Source
www.yourdailythread.com
Newsletter: Some of our favorite Brands are making a step forward to sustainability
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Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Today’s Green Tip from the Sierra Club
Today's Green Tip from the
Sierra Club !
For many, home is the most important place on Earth. It's within our houses that we establish the bulk of our worldviews, so it's important that the structures themselves represent those values. This week we're providing tips for those of you in the process of building or remodeling about how to make your home harmonious with the rest of the planet.
Tip #2: Choose Eco-Friendly Appliances
Our homes wouldn't function as they do without appliances -- but our world pays the price when we don't choose those designed to protect the environment from deleterious waste. Planet-positive appliances and installations include low-flow (or water-free) toilets, water-saving faucets and showerheads, anything with an
Energy Star label , efficient refrigerators, and solar water heaters. Buying secondhand, or getting 'em via freecycling, is, of course, always preferable.
Share your tips: What kind of eco-friendly home appliances do you have or are you planning to install?
Monday, May 11, 2009
Today’s Green Tip from the Sierra Club
Today's Green Tip from the
Sierra Club !
For many, home is the most important place on Earth. It's within our houses that we establish the bulk of our worldviews, so it's important that the structures themselves represent those values. This week we're providing tips for those of you in the process of building or remodeling about how to make your home harmonious with the rest of the planet.
Tip #1: Do Your Homework
If you're thinking of remodeling or building your home, it'll pay off to do some advance thinking about how you want it to comply with the natural world. When
interviewing contractors ask what they do to be green, whether they have experience in energy-efficient, resource-saving building methods, and whether they have reputable certifications. For DIY upgrades, don't overbuy materials, sweep away instead of hosing off debris, and find new uses for objects or materials that you might have otherwise thrown away. Keep in mind that bigger isn't better, and that having a
smaller, higher-quality home benefits the natural world more than a larger, shoddily built one.
Share your tips: What will you incorporate into your plans to green your house?
Cc license Jano De Cesare on Flickr.com
Thursday, May 07, 2009
It’s no great sacrifice to protect the environment
By David Suzuki with Faisal Moola
I recently read an article about a woman in Spokane, Washington, who doesn’t like phosphate-free dishwashing detergents. Phosphate-containing detergents are banned in Spokane County because of their negative impact on the environment, so the woman drives 45 minutes to Idaho where phosphate detergents are still sold. The article also notes that the woman has a five-year-old daughter. I’m astounded.
People often argue that protecting the environment will require too many sacrifices. Is this what they mean? That they would risk their children’
s futures because they can’t be bothered to rinse their dishes before putting them into the dishwasher?
Phosphates are added to cleaning products because they help cut grease and get rid of food particles on dishes. But they also have enormous negative impacts on rivers, streams, and lakes. By fertilizing the waters, phosphates can cause massive algae blooms that starve the water of oxygen and choke aquatic ecosystems, killing fish, amphibians, insects, and plants. Phosphates have been banned from laundry detergents in most places for a number of years now, but consumers have resisted moves to ban them from dishwashing detergents.
The article notes that the Spokane River is one of the most endangered in the U.S. and that phosphate pollution from the county’s main wastewater treatment plant has been reduced by 14 per cent since the dishwasher-detergent law was passed in July. But apparently this woman doesn’t care if the river is devoid of life when her daughter grows up – as long as her dishes are spot-free!
The woman claims to be “environmentally conscious”. I guess she means that she cares about the environment only when it is convenient for her.
This is a good example of the kind of challenges faced by people who really do care about the environment and the future. Part of the problem may be that some people can’t really relate their own behaviour to the consequences. Think of parents with asthmatic children who continue to smoke in the house or drive SUVs. Others are simply not willing to make even the smallest sacrifices when it comes to protecting the environment. Yet, for the most part, no real sacrifices are required.
At the David Suzuki Foundation, we hear almost daily from people who thought it would be difficult to get up a bit earlier and expend a bit more energy to cycle to work instead of drive, for example. But they soon found that the benefits of cycling – from getting in better shape to enjoying the outside world – far outweighed any of the negative consequences.
It’s more about changing the way we think than about giving something up. If we take a broader, more long-range view of things, we see that we usually gain more than we lose when we make changes in our lives to protect our surroundings.
We see the same kind of resistance to things like a carbon tax. Never mind that market forces play a far greater role in fuel-price increases than a carbon tax ever will! People see that they might have to pay a few pennies more at the gas pump or for home-heating bills and they immediately cry that they will have to give up their cars and freeze in their homes during winter.
But we see immediate and long-term benefits from putting a price on carbon. People find ways to conserve energy, companies invest in technologies that use renewable energy, and we end up with less pollution and fewer emissions that contribute to global warming.
We live in consumer societies, especially here in North America. We’ve become convinced that we have to keep replacing our goods with newer and “better”, often over-packaged, products. We dispose of things even before they have broken down. And the world suffers for it. People sometimes accuse me and other environmentalists of wanting to send us back to living in caves and scrounging for roots and berries. Nothing could be further from the truth.
We can lead lives that are even more fulfilling on a cleaner planet where more people have access to clean air, water, and food. All it takes is some imagination and some forward thinking. If we really cared about our world and about our children and grandchildren, we would be willing to make some sacrifices to make the world a better, healthier place. But in most cases, the sacrifices are as illusory as some of the benefits we think we are deriving from our rampant consumerism.
Take David Suzuki’s Nature Challenge and learn more at
Davidsuzuki.org.
Read the newspaper article featuring this story
www.latimes.com (also appeared in Vancouver Sun).
Cc license by mastermaq on Flickr.com
Today’s Green Tip from the Sierra Club
Today's Green Tip from the
Sierra Club !
Thursday's tip: Volunteer to Get Kids Outdoors
Today's children will grow up to be tomorrow's environmental stewards only if we
teach them about the value of the natural world.
Each year, the Sierra Club introduces around 12,000 young people from urban communities to the outdoors through its
Inner City Outings program..
Become a volunteer leader for the program or contact your local school to find out how you can
nurture budding environmentalists.
Share your tips: Have you found any great youth programs where you live?
Cc license by Belzie on Flickr.com
