http://www.alternativechannel.tv/blog/en en michel.fortin@ipextv.tv Copyright 2010 2010-12-30T20:59:00-05:00 http://www.alternativechannel.tv/blog/en/site/new_york_city_bike_wars/ http://www.alternativechannel.tv/blog/en/site/new_york_city_bike_wars/#When:20:59:00Z New York City Bike Wars Bike culture is finally gaining ground in Manhattan and the boroughs. Bicycle commuting has more than doubled in New York City since 2000, largely due to new street designs that enhance safety. But not everyone sees this as a good thing. Interviewed for this piece: Caroline Samponaro director of Bicycle Advocacy at Transportation Alternatives Ben Fried editor of StreetsBlog New York Thomas Justice assistant manager at Canal Street Bicycles Directed by Daniel Lafleche Filmed and edited by Aki Pagratis Get more articles and videos on clean mobility and sustainable cities at: http://ecomobility.tv/ 2010-12-30T20:59:00-05:00 http://www.alternativechannel.tv/blog/en/site/story_of_stuff/ http://www.alternativechannel.tv/blog/en/site/story_of_stuff/#When:16:56:01Z The Story of Stuff From its extraction through sale, use and disposal, all the stuff in our lives affects communities at home and abroad, yet most of this is hidden from view. The Story of Stuff is a 20-minute, fast-paced, fact-filled look at the underside of our production and consumption patterns. The Story of Stuff exposes the connections between a huge number of environmental and social issues, and calls us together to create a more sustainable and just world. It'll teach you something, it'll make you laugh, and it just may change the way you look at all the stuff in your life forever. http://storyofstuff.org 2010-11-01T16:56:01-05:00 http://www.alternativechannel.tv/blog/en/site/sustainable_cities_urban_acupuncture/ http://www.alternativechannel.tv/blog/en/site/sustainable_cities_urban_acupuncture/#When:16:56:00Z Who says urban acupuncture can't be fun? In this humorous approach to a serious problem, Brazilian urban space designer, Jaime Lerner puts forth a compelling argument for reinventing our cities. "I always used to say that the car is like your mother-in-law. You have to have a good relationship with her, but she cannot command your life," he says, addressing a lively auditorium. "So when the only woman in your life is your mother-in-law, you have a problem." Given that over 50 percent of carbon emissions come from cars, it is time cities rely less on the automobile and more on smart contemporary urban design, he says. Lerner is a world-renowned urban designer who, by reinventing urban space in his native Curitiba, Brazil, he changed the way city planners around the world see the metropolitan landscape. Check out his complete presentation below. Get more articles and videos on clean mobility and sustainable cities at: http://ecomobility.tv/ 2010-11-01T16:56:00-05:00 http://www.alternativechannel.tv/blog/en/site/software_greenwashers_accountable2/ http://www.alternativechannel.tv/blog/en/site/software_greenwashers_accountable2/#When:16:56:00Z by Hunter Richards - Accounting Market Analyst, Software Advice hunter@softwareadvice.com Greenwash (verb, ˈgrēn-wȯsh) – to market a product or service by promoting a deceptive or misleading perception of environmental responsibility. It’s no secret that “going green” has become the next big thing in the corporate world. Riding the wave of consumers’ growing interest in environmental sustainability, companies are launching major ad campaigns to tout their green credentials. But many of their claims are misleading or downright false. The ads are compelling, but how are we to know who’s telling the truth? “Greenwashing” is eroding the credibility of well-intentioned green businesses and turning would-be green consumers into skeptics. It’s reminiscent of the challenge to hold corporations accountable for their financial reporting. While the recent financial crisis highlighted the shortcomings of our markets and reporting structures, the United States business community is still a leader in financial accounting, reporting and ethics. Our system is sophisticated, consisting of a combination of generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), fairly rigorous government oversight, a massive industry of accounting professionals and mature accounting software technologies that keep track of every last dollar. We must develop the same infrastructure for environmental accounting. The development of Enterprise Carbon Accounting (ECA) software is well underway, with roughly 60 vendors bringing solutions to market. ECA software enables companies to track their carbon footprint and the footprint of their suppliers as well as the impact of customer use of their products. It’s a promising innovation that can help us manage corporate America’s environmental footprint, but it’s still at the early stages of adoption. We need a number of things to happen for the ECA market to mature and develop environmental accounting to the same level as financial accounting. So what will it take to develop the ECA software market and have the infrastructure necessary to hold greenwashers accountable? We think there are five key requirements to get us there: • Clear government action on regulations; • Adoption of carbon accounting principles; • Expansion of “Scope 3” emissions accounting; • Better business incentives to go green; and • Demanding, informed consumers. . Clear Government Action on Regulations If corporations are to be held accountable for green claims, we need orders from the top. But the U.S. has been relatively slow to pass laws with lasting environmental impacts. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Congress are at a stalemate in agreeing upon carbon emission regulations. Legislation often gets caught up in political gridlock – such as the American Clean Energy and Security Act, which would introduce an emissions trading plan not unlike Britain’s CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme. The bill passed the House in 2009 but has yet to be addressed by the Senate. However, steps are being taken in the right direction – like the EPA’s Mandatory Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule, which requires companies that emit 25,000 metric tons or more of greenhouse gases annually to disclose emissions information to the EPA. There’s also progress at the state level. California’s Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 aims to reduce the state’s carbon emissions to 1990 levels by 2020. The increasing role of government-imposed transparency requirements over the coming years will be a major obstacle to greenwashing. Adoption of Carbon Accounting Principles We have GAAP and the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) as standards for financial reporting; we need similar principles for environmental accounting. These principles make sure that each corporation is reporting apples-to-apples numbers. The current most widely used set of international carbon accounting standards, the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol, is still maturing. When a business is required to disclose its carbon footprint according to broadly accepted standards, regulators, investors and consumers will all be able to see who’s truly green and who’s just greenwashing. Companies like Dell, Apple, IBM, and Wal-Mart have already begun to adopt nascent carbon accounting principles. As ECA and similar innovations arise, carbon accounting will become more widespread and lessen the potential for greenwashing. As more companies face requirements to track and disclose emissions, others will voluntarily do so as the process becomes more standardized and manageable. Once carbon accounting has been adopted by most businesses, disclosure of the company’s carbon footprint will be a prerequisite for businesses to make any sort of claims of environmental friendliness. Expansion of “Scope 3” Emissions Accounting Scope 3 emissions are indirect emissions resulting from a company’s actions, the sources of which are not owned by the company. An example is the carbon emitted by a company’s suppliers. Requiring Scope 3 in every carbon accounting report would prevent companies from cutting corners to artificially report a smaller carbon footprint. Take Dell’s report of its carbon “neutrality” for example. In 2008 Dell claimed to have become “carbon neutral,” but estimates had neglected to account for Scope 3 emissions. Intentional or not, Dell was grossly under-reporting its carbon footprint and claiming false credit for distorted reports – a form of greenwashing. With a rigid set of carbon accounting standards, including Scope 3 disclosure, this never would have occurred. In the GHG Protocol, tracking Scope 3 emissions is currently optional. As more companies voluntarily track Scope 3, though, it’s only a matter of time before it’s required and fully incorporated into ECA software – making it nearly impossible to “pull a Dell.” Scope 3 disclosure requirements will also force wider adoption of comprehensive carbon accounting among related businesses. A viral effect will spread adoption, killing the potential for greenwashing throughout the supply chain. To disclose its Scope 3 emissions, a company often must ask suppliers to track their emissions. With Scope 3 requirements, these suppliers will have to request the same of their own suppliers – and so on. With carbon accounting requirements and a standardized Scope 3-inclusive reporting scheme, the number of businesses with full emissions records will explode – dealing a critical blow to greenwashing potential in the process. Better Business Incentives to Go Green Sustainable business practices are more often than not motivated by revenue generation or inherent cost savings. As these incentives increase, truly beneficial green actions will take hold and the need for greenwashing will fade. For example, nearly one-third of small businesses face energy costs as their largest expense. They have an economic incentive to trim these costs, reducing their waste and carbon footprint. When it becomes easier to identify cost-saving opportunities, as with the use of a mature ECA software system, carbon footprints will shrink naturally. Government incentives are also cost-saving opportunities for businesses with environmental responsibility. Tax incentives are awarded for using hybrid or green diesel for transportation, for example. A global survey this year by workspace solutions provider Regus concluded that 63% of U.S. companies need more tax breaks to accelerate green investments. The government will likely expand financial incentives for green businesses as environmental stewardship becomes more of a national priority. Similar to compliance capabilities in other software systems, ECA software could develop to alert users to new opportunities to take advantage of government incentives. When a cap-and-trade scheme or similar system is finally implemented, the economic incentives will skyrocket, further spreading carbon accounting practices and edging out potential greenwashers. Demanding, Informed Consumers As green buyers become more savvy, greenwashers will no longer be able to conceal fraudulent claims. This year’s third annual environmental consumer behavior survey by the National Geographic Society and GlobeScan polled consumers in seventeen countries, determining that they perceived greenwashing as the biggest obstacle to environmental improvement. Consumers are demanding product sustainability information before believing the green hype. Wal-Mart plans to use supplier-provided carbon accounting information to start a system of product labels for customer reference. As detailed sustainability information develops into the new norm, claims of green marketing will fizzle without hard evidence. Greenwashers will obtain ECA software to comply and the resulting transparency will effectively destroy false marketing potential. What are your thoughts? Are we missing a critical new weapon against greenwashing? Let us know in the comments. Read more: http://www.softwareadvice.com/articles/accounting/software-to-hold-greenwashers-accountable-1102510/#ixzz142yncCSv 2010-11-01T16:56:00-05:00 http://www.alternativechannel.tv/blog/en/site/is_coal_a_must_for_global_development/ http://www.alternativechannel.tv/blog/en/site/is_coal_a_must_for_global_development/#When:02:04:00Z Untitled Document From Energy2point0.com Greg Boyce and the Concept of 'Energy Poverty' As environmentalists, we know coal as one of the most vilified fuel sources around, mostly in terms of its CO2 emissions. Many of us are skeptical about claims of 'clean coal' as well, and are waiting to see the numbers. But yet another argument is being put forth by the coal industry: When large numbers of the world's poor are still burning wood for energy, is coal a cheap and ready source to be considered? Peabody Energy CEO Greg Boyce believes that coal is an essential energy source for developing economies. Basing his arguments on the facts that a significant percentage of the world's population is still experiencing "Energy Poverty", Boyce claims that coal is the only cheap and readily accessible way to bring electricity to developing countries. For this reason, he believes that coal will remain a strong element of the world's energy mix for the next 50 years, though efforts will have to be made to burn it cleaner and capture carbon emissions. Your Opinion: What do you have to say about this? We invite you to join the online debate on the issue of Coal and Energy Poverty here on www.energy2point0.com where you can log in and leave comments below the video using your existing Facebook, LinkedIn, Google or Yahoo accounts. Energy2point0 is the world’s first multi-stakeholder platform for exchanges on the world’s energy needs today and tomorrow… This site is designed to serve as the principal social media hub for exchange among energy sector leaders and stakeholders. It serves as a launching pad for informed debate both on the platform and wherever the discussions will be re-broadcast on the social web. 2010-10-25T02:04:00-05:00 http://www.alternativechannel.tv/blog/en/site/designing_eco_friendly_nursery/ http://www.alternativechannel.tv/blog/en/site/designing_eco_friendly_nursery/#When:21:48:00Z by Jessica Ackerman Parents want the very best for their new baby and one way to get started is with an eco-friendly nursery. Incorporating products that are good for baby and good for the environment in the same room ensure a safe and healthy environment. Use the eco-friendly ideas below to guide you when designing and decorating your child's nursery. Decorating the Walls Before moving in furniture or hanging baby theme curtains, you will need to decide how the nursery walls will be decorated. There are special, low-odor paints that are gaining in popularity if painting the walls is what you decide to do. Choose environmentally friendly paints to help eliminate allergic reactions and the mother-to-be's exposure to harmful chemical odors. Another option for eco-friendly wall coverings is wallpaper made from linens and natural grasses. These serve not only as wall coverings, but as wall art as well, due to their natural texture and designs. Although you may find it difficult to locate a childish wallpaper design in these materials, a simple solid color will work just as well in the nursery. Linens and Bedding Organic is the way to go when designing an eco-friendly nursery. Everything from dust ruffles to crib sheets to crib bumpers can be found made from organic cottons. These natural materials are soft on baby's skin while being good for the environment. Organic cottons are also good if there is a family history of allergies or skin sensitivities, as the material is known to have a low-irritation rate. This natural material also breathes better than other cottons and is usually free of dye or dyed with vegetable based colorants. Organic cotton is a great way to protect your baby's sensitive skin while eliminating the need for synthetic dyes and pesticides. Accessories and Furniture Parents have a lot of choices when it comes to nursery accessories and furniture. Now, more than ever, there are products for everything a child could possibly want or need to do in a nursery. The most important thing to remember is that less is more. Less energy consumption can begin with an energy-efficient bulb in a nightstand lamp and insulated curtains on the windows. Natural fibers, fabrics and ingredients should be used as much as possible. Choose a wooden crib that can convert to a larger bed as the child grows to cut down on waste. A changing table that doubles as a dresser is also a more eco-friendly choice than two separate pieces of furniture. When thinking about accessories, choose those that are made of natural materials, such as, wood. If plastic is the only option, be sure that it does not contain harmful chemicals, especially if it may wind up in baby's mouth. Although there are many options for accessories and furniture, the selection of items that are truly eco-friendly is limited. Select items that go with the room's decor, but that also are beneficial for baby. Designing an eco-friendly nursery is good for baby and the environment. Make smart choices that reflect your desire to preserve the earth's natural resources and create a sustainable environment for generations to come. The merits of green living can be taught through example at even the earliest of ages. Jessica Ackerman writes for WallDecorandHomeAccents.com where she provides detailed instructions for decorating with outdoor garden wall clocks and tree of life metal wall art. 2010-08-13T21:48:00-05:00 http://www.alternativechannel.tv/blog/en/site/energy_themed_social_media_portal_launch_early_september/ http://www.alternativechannel.tv/blog/en/site/energy_themed_social_media_portal_launch_early_september/#When:15:35:00Z On September 10, 2010, Parta Dialogue, the company that produces Alternative Channel, is launching their highly anticipated energy themed social media portal—Energy2point0.com. Energy 2.0 will become the principle social media hub for exchange among energy sector leaders and stakeholders. It will serve as a launching pad for informed debate both on the platform and wherever the discussion will be re-broadcast on the social web. To join and contribute to the portal, contact Parta Dialogue’s North American Director, Tom Liacas. Tom.Liacas@partadialogue.com http://www.slideshare.net/tomliacas/energy-20-full-portal-presentation Energy 2.0 Full Portal PresentationView more presentations from Tom Liacas. 2010-08-13T15:35:00-05:00 http://www.alternativechannel.tv/blog/en/site/vogue_italias_gulf_oil_crisis_photo_shoot_stirring_controversy/ http://www.alternativechannel.tv/blog/en/site/vogue_italias_gulf_oil_crisis_photo_shoot_stirring_controversy/#When:18:18:00Z by Aki Pagratis Vogue Italia’s new stirring 24-page spread titled, "Water & Oil," has caused quite a fuss in recent days. As you can see from the pictures attached to this article, famed fashion photographer, Steven Meisel, managed to create an powerful artistic message that shines a new light on the gulf oil disaster. The session was shot in Los Angeles and depicts model Kristen McMenamy dressed in a tar drenched black dress, sprawled over a rocky shore like a dying crow. But many readers are now wondering, is this valid expression by artistic genius, or a shallow publicity stunt by elite fashionistas? "The message is to be careful about nature," Vogue Italia’s Editor-in-Chief, Franca Sozzani, told the Associated Press. "Just to take care more about nature. ... I understand that it could be shocking to see and to look in this way these images." Was that the intended message? Many critics are skeptical. “I see nothing at all ironic about highlighting the destruction of working-class people’s livelihoods with obscenely expensive clothes designed primarily to enhance the status of elite fashion designers and the rich people who can wear them,” notes Sociological Images blogger Lisa Wade. She argues that although the BP well may have ceased leaking oil into the Gulf, pain is still being felt by those in the area who have lost their jobs, uprooted their families, and witnessed the destruction of marine wildlife. Taylor Combs agrees. “Creating beauty and glamour out of tragedy seems quite fucked up to us, not to mention wasteful and hypocritical, seeing as thousands of dollars of luxury clothing was flown in, and then subsequently ruined for the shoot,” he writes in an article published in refinery29.com. “Glamorizing this recent ecological and social disaster for the sake of ‘fashion’ reduces the tragic event to nothing more than attention-grabbing newsstand fodder.” Kathleen Nowak Tucci, the eco-designer who made the seaweed-style necklace worn by McMenamy on the cover (and several other shots) told New York Magazine she did not find the spread offensive. "I thought it was disturbing and thought-provoking and utterly fascinating in its interpretation of the struggle for survival," she said via email. "It is controversial and interpretative, which is indicative of great artistic expression." Sozzani said the shoot reflects the magazine's effort to "find an idea that comes from real life.There is nothing political. There is nothing social. It's only visually. We gave a message but in a visual way." What do you think? Was this spread needlessly and selfishly highlighting the destruction of working-class people’s livelihoods? Was it wasteful and hypocritical? Or, was it, as Tucci says, fascinating in its interpretation of the struggle for survival? See the whole spread here : http://www.vogue.it/en/magazine/cover-story/2010/08/water--oil 2010-08-12T18:18:00-05:00 http://www.alternativechannel.tv/blog/en/site/honda_unveils_new_u3_x_personal_mobility_device/ http://www.alternativechannel.tv/blog/en/site/honda_unveils_new_u3_x_personal_mobility_device/#When:20:36:00Z by Alexis Bonari One of the most popular additions to the sustainable mobility arsenal has been the personal mobility device. These small, personal vehicles are usually powered by electricity alone and are designed for use on short trips to work or to the store. While the Segway was the first to enter into the public eye, various car manufacturers have been working on their own concepts The U3-X Last year, Honda announced it’s new concept personal mobility device, the U3-X. Unlike the Segway that requires the user to stand on a rolling platform, the U3-X is designed as a high-tech unicycle. The Vision Honda engineers worked with the idea of producing a product "in harmony with people". To this end, the movement of the U3-X is designed to mimic the directional movements common to humans. The rider balances on the unicycle, and controls the direction taken and the speed travelled by shifting their body weight. HOT Drive System (Honda Omni Directional Drive System) technology is responsible for this breakthrough. Multiple small wheels adjust the larger wheel in response to commands from the computer interface. One of the most practical attributes of the U3-X is its portability. It is designed to be lightweight, and has a handle for portability. Foot rests fold up and it can be charged from a home outlet. A U3-X owner living in an urban environment could potentially use the device to commute to work. The battery charge lasts for 12 miles. Practical Ramifications Integrating the use of personal mobility devices into our daily lives would require a fundamental restructuring of our society and our culture. Currently, too many people live more than six miles from their place of work, creating a challenge for anyone attempting to create a battery-powered commuter vehicle. Perhaps embracing new, cleaner technology will also require embracing a new way of life. Bio: Alexis Bonari is a freelance writer and blog junkie. She is currently a resident blogger at onlinedegrees.org, researching areas of online colleges. In her spare time, she enjoys square-foot gardening, swimming, and avoiding her laptop. 2010-07-15T20:36:00-05:00 http://www.alternativechannel.tv/blog/en/site/beluga_can_teach_us_about_ourselves/ http://www.alternativechannel.tv/blog/en/site/beluga_can_teach_us_about_ourselves/#When:15:16:00Z by David Suzuki with Faisal Moola Many people were rightly outraged at recent reports that coins thrown into a whale pool may have contributed to the death of a baby beluga at the Vancouver Aquarium. Regardless of the cause of one-year-old Nala’s death – or of what one thinks of whales in captivity – it was heartening to see that so many people cared. But it would be nice to see that much attention paid to the stuff we humans throw into the belugas’ natural Arctic habitat. We’re killing more than just one baby beluga with our irresponsible actions. Of the seven beluga populations in Canada, the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) has listed three as endangered, one as threatened, and one as being of special concern. The other two are not at risk. Along with hunting, the whales are threatened by “habitat loss from shore development, build-up of toxic contaminants and disturbance by commercial shipping, ice breaking and whale watching activities.” Oil exploration and drilling in the Arctic could increase the risk. Belugas aren’t the only ones we’re harming with the way we treat our oceans. We’re hurting ourselves and our children and grandchildren as much as we’re hurting the fish, whales, corals, and other life in the seas. And just as we can refrain from tossing coins into an aquarium whale pool, we can stop throwing our garbage into the oceans and we can curtail some of the other activities that put marine life and our own lives at risk. Just consider the giant garbage patches swirling in the Pacific and other oceans. All that plastic and debris doesn’t get there by itself. Some of it comes from nets and garbage dumped from ships, but much of it comes from things discarded on land that get washed or blown into the oceans. These plastics and toxins end up in the stomachs of many marine animals, causing great harm including death. Some of the toxins can also work their way into humans, as we eat the fish and other sea creatures. In fact, all of us carry a mixture of human-manufactured contaminants that have entered our bodies through the food we eat, the water we drink, the air we breathe, and the products and elements we come in contact with every day. Right now we’re also pouring millions of litres of oil into the ocean, in the Gulf of Mexico. This illustrates how everything is interconnected – even our problems. The disaster in the gulf is a direct consequence of our overconsumption and reliance on diminishing fossil fuels for energy. And that in turn is creating problems beyond pollution in the ocean. Our use of fossil fuels is also causing air pollution and is contributing to the greatest threat facing humanity, climate change. What this should teach us is that all of us can and must do our part to turn it around. We need to drive less, consume less, use fewer plastic products, throw away less, recycle and compost more, and make sure the products we use are as environmentally sustainable as possible. These individual actions can make a powerful difference, especially because, as more people do their part, this becomes the socially “normal” way to live. Just look at some of the changes we’ve adopted in relatively short time periods: decreased rates of smoking where regulations and information have made the habit socially unacceptable, more people and stores shunning plastic grocery bags, more cities bringing in recycling and composting programs, more people cycling… The list goes on. Of course, it will take more than just making changes in our own lives. Action is needed in political and corporate realms as well. But remember that individual people wield the power in those institutions, and they must also respond to societal pressure. That’s especially true of the politicians who are elected to represent the interests of all citizens. We must take democracy more seriously, being politically active to make environmental action a major part of the criteria we vote for. We need regulation and taxation to discourage what we don't want and to encourage what we want. What we do in our lives affects our entire world – its soils, its rivers, lakes and oceans, its atmosphere, and all the living things that share our planet. We must understand that when we do something that harms the beluga, or the grizzly, or the spotted owl, we are also harming ourselves. Learn more at www.davidsuzuki.org. 2010-07-02T15:16:00-05:00