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SEJ: A Conference Recap

2009-10-12T02:11:45Z

Here I am back in Bowling Green Ohio fresh off the plane from Madison and let me tell you what a great couple of days. Going to the Society of Environmental Journalist conference was a great opportunity. I learned more there then I learned anywhere in any classroom. ]]> The most important element of the conference was the speakers. They provided prospective and conversation about environmental issues that journalists never got the chance to hear or see before. They provided information to journalists about issues they never heard before or new information about topics they knew nothing about.
The SEJ conference opened my eyes to the importance of these environmental issues and the importance of journalists in reporting those issues.

SEJ: Sustainable Agriculture

2009-10-10T19:40:08Z

Madison, Wis. - Thursday, I was given the opportunity to view first hand the impact food has on a community - curious to find out more today I attend a panel discussion titled "A Capitol Idea, Squared: Madison's Local-food MOvement and Beyond." ]]> As I mentioned Thursday, community gardens, and organizations, like Walnut Way and Growing Power, have been popping up around the country. They are filling gapping holes in communities were access to healthy affordable food is little to none.
Children in these neighborhoods are being sent to school with twinkies and chips, instead of fruits and greens.
Well most of your "healthy" food at your area supermarket has been shipped crossed country loosing and nutritional value.
That is where local farmers and co-ops like Organic Valley Farms come in. They provide a way for local farmers to market their products, while at the same time focusing what matters to them - their crop, said Jeffrey McGeorge, director of cooperative affairs, Organic Valley Farms
Organic Valley Farms provides local organic farmers with ways to distribute and market their product in their communities and surrounding areas.
But, overall sustainable agriculture is changing the face of urban and rural life. The food choices we as Americans make now are unacceptable. But, for some of us in urban areas, we don't have any other choice. But with the installation of community farms and co-ops like Organic Valley Farms things are changing. Lets hope the fire catches on and we make a difference in the name of our food.

Log on tomorrow for my review of the conference and an in-depth look at the water crisis at the Green Gab Blog.

SEJ: Fired-up about Coal

2009-10-09T18:30:07Z

Madison Wis., - It is hard to come across easily affordable and reliable energy that is good for the environment in today's age. Instead we as a society rely on Coal, which is affordable and reliable but costly to the environment. Coal supplies almost 80% of the nations energy, yet it is the most dangerous to the environment and to people's health. So, a panel of Coal experts came together at the SEJ conference to talk about the issue of coal. ]]> There are 600 coal fired power plants in the United States with more in production every year. Across the world, more underdeveloped nations are relying on coal fired energy due to its cheapness and reliability. And it has become a hot topic in recent years with rising costs of CO2 emissions and the recent legislation passed by congress.
The world could never not have coal. We use it to produce way to much of the world's electricity and unless we want to travel back in time and start using candles instead of electricity then coal is here to stay. And we can't just completely get ride of coal due to the social-economic ramifications it would have on the thousands upon thousands of people who work for those plants. As for the rest of the world, their use of coal fired plants relate to their economic status.
Former WHOJeffrey Holmstead, addressed this issue at the SEJ conference. He said, "As you look at the future of coal you can't do justice without understand the energy challenges faced by those countries." In China alone coal provides 80% of their energy despite the fact China has more solar and wind energy then any other country. Not only that, there is a new coal fired power plant hooking up to China's grid every nine or 10 days. In India, although they are trying to have other sustainable energy needs, can't afford to implement other types of energy sources for fear of their citizens, who wouldn't be able to afford the increase in cost of energy.

They [India] have a moral and political imperative to provide a better life for their people," Holmstead said. "It is hard to voluntarily increase the costs for these people making it difficult to get out of poverty."

The reasons coal plants have survived Holmstead said, is because "there is a need for affordable power."

"Even if you were to go out and install a coal fire plant with the most advance technologies it is very close to being the cheapest way to produce that power," Holmstead said.

Holmstead added the reason he believes the US and nations across the world haven't changed their dependence on coal fired power plants is because we haven't "figured out a way to produce electricity as reliable and affordable as coal."

One element Holmstead said people need to understand is we, as a society, "can't legislate away the basic problems of human kind. There are lifestyle issues that very few people in developing countries are willing to give up."

One element of coal the panel also discussed in-depth was the health ramifications and the jobs coal-fired plants provide.

Michael Hendryx, a professor at West Virginia University and a specialist in the field of health and coal related issues, discussed the problems between coal and health.

"We have to look at the whole picture of the economy and the social environment," Hendryx said. "There are higher poverty rates and lower income levels in these communities. We need to start thinking about development for mining communities as a public health perspective."

Coal mining communities have a two-sided dilemma. The health ramifications in coal mining communities are grand. Most people in these areas have high rates of kidney disease, poor birth outcomes and higher rates of cancer. But if you take away these plants the people and communities living in these areas have no jobs.

"I am not going to give up my health for cheap coal," Hendryx said.

Hendryx said when looking at the cost of coal environmentalists, journalists and organizations don't take into account the human lives lost every year to the pollutants and waste admitted by these plants.

Coal is a sticky subject. and it is important to realize both sides of the debate. Coal is necessary to provide energy to our world, but we need to reduce our reliance on coal. REDUCE IT. But it will never completely disappear.

In our own state of Ohio, there is talk still of a coal power plant to be put in Meigs County, located on the Ohio, West Virginia boarder. This power plant will be one of four plants in the region. FOUR. This is a sad statistic and the people in this area face the same dilemmas as mentioned above - do they decide to fight the installation of another plant or do they welcome the jobs this plant will bring to an areal already in poverty?

This question was discussed by Hendryx who said when removing coal plants from these communities we also need to change the socio-economic conditions of the people affected by these plants.

So it is a conundrum with coal fired plants. But something needs to happen to reduce the environmental hazard while at the same time providing the area and community with options to raise their poverty levels.

SEJ: Call to Action

2009-10-09T16:18:51Z

Madison Wis., - We have heard it for months. An urge from environmental activists, journalists and American citizens. Now is the time to step towards environmental climate change and Al Gore exclaimed this in his speech this morning at the Society of Environmental Journalist Conference. ]]> This exclaim came moments after it was announced that President Barack Obama had just won the Nobel Piece Prize, which Gore felt Obama much deserved.
But the main points of Gore's speech revolved around the importance of Copenhagen and the significance the legislation passed in Copenhagen will have on the world.
Now the countdown to Copenhagen and the importance of the climate change conference hasn't gone unnoticed by journalists, environmental groups or politicians. We know its importance and the effect it will have on the world. But it is important that we don't have a son of the Kyoto Protocol. Although Gore didn't address this issue, we need to ensure another protocol isn't passed that isn't enforced.
Gore did address the significance of the CO2 legislation recently passed by Congress limiting the coal emissions released by coal fired power plants. This legislation helps to reverse the eight years of ignorance the Bush administration had towards the emissions of CO2. Although he said he would have written the legislation differently, Gore believes this legislations is one step towards reversing the affects of CO2 emissions in the United States.
The establishment of jobs and the linkage between the climate crisis and the economic crisis was another topic of Gore's speech. "I think that there has been a very power recognition that there is a linkage between the climate crisis and the economic crisis," he said.
Stating he believes that fixing the climate crisis will bring jobs and help the economy fix itself, Gore said "We are in an exciting time." Which I can't believe in more.
Listening to Al Gore speak sparked something in myself. I felt his speech was a call to action for me, but not just to me, to all college students. We have power to change the world.

Log onto the Green Gab later for a look at Coal and its impact on energy's future.

SEJ: Countdown to Copenhangen

2009-10-09T13:42:50Z

Madison Wis. - Day three of an exciting conference is beginning. Hundreds of SEJ members grab their morning coffee and pack themselves into the Madison/Wisconsin Ballroom on the 2nd floor of our hotel. Waiting in anticipation for Al Gore who will be addressing the conference with guest speakers Jane Lubchenco, undersecretary of commerce for Oceans and Atmophere, James Rogers, chairman, president and CEO of Duke Energy Corporation, Nancy Sutley, chair White House Council on Environmental Quality and Changhua Wu, greater China Director, The Climate Group.
8:57 a.m. Moderator Andre Revkin begins the session by talking and discussing Generation E, the next generation to inherit climate change. He then introduces the speaker of the morning Al Gore.
9:00 a.m. Wow, would have never thought I would get the chance to be in the same room as Al Gore. What an honor for me - he receives a standing ovation upon entering the room.
9:01 a.m. Gore feels there is something underway at Copenhagen, were the next big discussion about global warming will take place. He feels optimistic about the conference.
9:16 a.m. - Gore discuss the challenge of the climate crisis and how it is so complex it requires decisions to be made in every nation, but he wants everyone to understand the progress that has been made in our nation and across the world. He thanks President Obama, and congratulates him on his nobel peace prize nomination, for introducing a stimulus plan in the first six months of his presidency that carries a large amount of renewable electricity. He believes the construction of this super grid will bring in new devices, technologies connecting and saving energy throughout the country. "We are going to see an economic boost from the introduction of new energy and electrical energy savings," he said.

]]> 9:22 a.m. - Gore believes, as I do, that the results in Copenhagen will be less then what many environmentalists want.
9:29 a.m. - "A lot of the changes that will be put in place in order to accomplish the steeps production to reduce emissions...changes in entire systems and processes," Gore said. "I think that there has been a very powerful recognition that there is a linkage between the climate crisis and the economic crisis."
9:31 a.m. The answer is a shift from bases on carbon based fuels to other energy sources. The world is going to change and Gore feels Copenhagen is a step in the right direction
9:33 a.m. - "We are in an exciting time," he said. "It is the most difficult crisis we are facing, but it brings more jobs...and will solve other problems as we get our arms around the solution of the climate crisis."
9:35 a.m. - Gore calls to action to all in understanding how can you be part of the solution. "Making a personal decisions that this is up to us," he said.
Adding, "Never has a single generation been asked to make such difficult and consequential decisions that will have implications for all succeeding generation. I believe we have all the tools we need to solve four climate crisis. But we only have to solve one."

Look soon for my response and analysis of Al Gore's speech and coverage of the Q&A session later on the Green Gab blog.

SEJ: Feeding cities with Urban Gardens.

2009-10-08T22:54:49Z

Madison Wis. - Everything has an environmental impact. Your morning showers, washing the dishes, leaving on the lights, driving to the grocery store. They all impact the environment, but sometimes it is hard to make the connection between what you use in your home to their environmental impact. But, today, on a trip to Milwaukee Wis., I learned about the impact of food. ]]> But today, my eyes were opened to the importance of food. A group of 30 SEJ members traveled by bus to Milwaukee Wis., to a place that has been helping their community by growing greenhouse upon greenhouse of food.
Those greenhouses belong to Growing Power a "national nonprofit organization and land trust supporting people from diverse backgrounds, and the environments in which they live, by helping to provide equal access to healthy, high-quality, safe and affordable food for people in all communities" (www.growingpower.com).
Growing Power is an organization striving to make change in their community and are doing so with food. There are many places within this city that are called food deserts where there is no access to good food, either from super markets or stores, within miles. For many people there only access to food is fast food often dubbed fast food lanes. In the neighborhood where Growing Powers is based there is no access to food for four miles in a n area were the poverty level is below the national average.
But in an effort to combat this and bring good food to their community, Growing Power fuels their community by providing homegrown food to the area. The best part about the whole process is Growing Power keeps everything in the community. Jobs, money, the food. It all benefits their area. There is no transportation of the food across the country -- everything is local and everything stays local. But not only is Growing Power helping their community by producing sustainable energy they are also helping to battle the growing obesity rate in their area.
After eating a meal of delicious homegrown foods at Growing Power our tour continued to Walnut Way, a community garden located in the heart of downtown Milwaukee. Walnut Way started after Sherry Allen returned to her community to find it in disarray. And knowing she needed to do something she started her own community garden and since then her community has changed. Crime has decreased, the area has begun to rise and poverty has decreased. A simple community garden changed the face of 30 blocks of this downtown area. Not only that, it has spurred other residents in the community to plant their own gardens to help sustain the community.
In going on this tour and listing to the various speakers, I learned the simple things a person in an urban area can do to reduce their carbon footprint. But the most important element to what I learned today was that it doesn't just have environmental implications, what these organizations, workers and volunteers do is community outreach. They are changing their community every day by simply growing food and through this food they are able to have educational programs for children, community outreach projects and volunteer opportunities for the area's youth. A simple concept of growing food with unbelievable ramifications.
But in going on this tour I also learned the time and effort these organizations put into growing sustainable food. A lot of time, but despite this, community gardens have been sprouting throughout the country.
In fact, in our own city we have two community gardens providing locally grown produce. And another city in our state is trying to incorporate the idea of sustainable gardens - Youngstown. It is important to realize the significance of these gardens. They provide elements for urban communities that they don't and can't get any other way. They offer a way to slowly change the lifestyle of urban America from fast food to healthy out of your garden produce.
So I urge all to read up on sustainable agriculture and community gardens and see if you can start or get involved in a community garden in you neighborhood. Or start a small garden of your own in your backyard, balcony or even a windowsill. Think about it.

(All photos taken from the Growing Power Web site at www.growingpower.com. Sorry my camera isn't working :(. But hopefully tomorrow I will have some photos!)

Society of Environmental Journalists

2009-10-08T22:46:50Z

So, about two months ago, I was asked by a professor in the journalism department if I would fly out to Madison Wisconsin with her for the 19th Annual Society of Environmental Journalism conference. Taking place Oct. 8-11, I immediately said yes to the opportunity. ]]>

NovoThink's new Solar Surge

2009-09-14T19:49:29Z

For those of you who are not only technically savvy, but like to dabble in environmental incentives then the new Solar Surge invented by NovoThink might just be the new gadget for you.

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As someone who owns an IPhone (although it creates a serious dent in the bank account), I have tried to reduce my environmental output with charging my IPhone, by only plugging it in when it truly needs to be charged or using my computer to charge it while doing work.

But the new Solar Surge plans to fix that. A Solar Surge has an integrated solar cell capable of charging the Iphone with 100% solar power. 100% solar power - now that is a cool device. But once you look past the idea of solar powered cell phone chargers there comes another slight problem with NovoThink's newest toy.

NovoThink claims with two hours of direct solar exposure to the solor surge it will provide 30 minutes of talk time on a 3G network and 60 minutes of talk time on a 2G network. I am a talker. I am on my phone at least one to two hours a day and that doesn't include the energy used when I text message (which is frequent). The concept of direct solar exposure also has me weary. I mean - how many days a week is the sky completely clear of clouds? Yes, it can still charge, but you will have to double that charge time of two hours. So, if it were up to me, I am going to wait because I feel NovoThink is on the verge of staring a new wave of solar powered devices we can all use to reduce even the smallest environmental impact.

NOTE: The Solar Surge hasn't hit stores yet, it is expected out at the end of the month.

Wasteful Generation Y?

2009-08-26T17:42:39Z

According to a recent independent study commissioned by IBM in Great Britain revealed the Generation Y, 18-24 year olds, are guilty of being the most energy and water wasteful demographic in the United Kingdom. The reason?

]]> Well according to the study these trendy young people know about the problems of climate change, but they aren't willing or have no idea the steps to ensure and help climate change. In the study it was found that Generation Y showed a "clear concern for environmental issues. The not-so-good news is that far too few are taking even simple, small steps to control their own wasteful use of resources." Many of the people surveyed in this demographic had no idea how much energy or water certain household tasks and appliances use. In fact, this demographic was the worst water wasters of the survey.

Although this is only a small sample of young people across the globe it is important to find out if our generation here in the United States is the same way. Just looking around campus here at the University students can find concerned young people left and right. But do these people truly know what is best when it comes to the environment. Yes, they may know the issues, but are they taking the steps in their personal lives to ensure water isn't wasted and the best home appliances are being used? I hope our an independent group decides to also do a survey here in the United States, but I do hope they find very different results then the United Kingdom because if they don't we could be in a whole heap of trouble.

Lose the false ads. Stop PETA.

2009-08-26T17:29:57Z

When it comes to going vegetarian/vegan PETA is the organization who strives to change the minds of thousands of people. Their tactics, although unconventional, strive to convince people they need to change their eating habits to benefit animals.

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So without fail, it is not unexpected that their newest advertisement has stirred up controversy, however, it is the people who are mad that make it controversial.

Feminist and progressive health groups are the ones most outraged by PETA's newest ad. The ad launched in Jacksonville depicts an overweight woman wearing a bikini with the slogan "Save the Whales. Lose the Blubber. Go Vegetarian." This ad is offensive no matter how you look at it - no doubt PETA's way of gaining attention. However, referring to any woman, as a whale is extremely offensive, no matter who you ask. PETA's Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman defended the ad saying "Trying to hid your thunder thighs and balloon belly is no day at the beach. PETA has a free Vegetarian Started Kit for people who want to lose pounds while eating as much as they like."

But what is the most frustrating is the fact that PETA is advertising the extreme health benefits of going vegetarian. There are multiple benefits with forgoing meat, including lower risk of cancer and heart disease, but to advertise that an obese woman can loose all her weight is false advertising.

Groups opposing the ads include the leading feminist Web sites, feministing.com and deceiver.com. Deciever.com recently put out a statement in response to the ads stating, "This is exactly what you would expect [from PETA]"

As a bigger women, who about sixteen months ago decided to give up meat for environmental and health reasons (animals did have a say, but to me the environmental ramifications of eating meat was too grand), I can say forgoing meat doesn't mean you will drop all your weight overnight. I can admit, going vegetarian does shrink your belt, as I found out about a month after my vegetarian transition. However, it is not going to make you a "Skinny B****," as the authors of the New York Bestseller states. Loosing weight, especially if you are obese, is a struggle and going vegetarian is not the solution, but an avenue towards person goals. Yes, being a vegetarian does help a person, man or woman, loose weight, but it does not fix the problem for you. You still need to watch what you eat even more so when you give up meat --tracking your protein and other vitamins. So, don't believe what you read on PETA's newest advertisement -- going vegetarian doesn't loose all the weight.

Celebrate Earth Month, Earth Day

2009-04-15T15:02:04Z

Last year, I was granted the opportunity to attend World Earth Day in Washington D.C. The rain poured as thousands of volunteers and concerned environmentalists packed the national mall to listen to speakers, musicians and activists. It was a day to remember for myself as I witness thousands of people celebrate Earth Day and not only that I was in the front row while environmentalist and vegan Edward Norton gave his speech. Now, a year later, Earth Day is fast approaching and volunteers and concern citizens are needed to make a difference on this important day to celebrate our home -- Earth.

]]> Since 1970, Earth Day has become a national tradition. From grade school projects about the environment to college activism, Earth Day has expanded into a world wide event. With this years launch of the Green Generation, a two-year initiative that will be launched on this year's Earth Day and will end on the 40th anniversary of Earth Day in 2010, a new wave of environmental awareness is upon us. The weekend of April 17-19 is the weekend college students, children, parents and senior citizens can volunteer to help the environment through the Earth Day Network.

The Green Apple Festival along with the Earth Day Network are asking for volunteers to "Make Earth Day a time of meaningful change, sign up to restore and give back to the community." With a volunteer sign-up sheet available, Green Apple Festival is asking for volunteers to participate in green cities across the U.S. New York, Boston, Washington, Atlanta, Chicago, Denver, Austin, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Seattle are the 10 participating cities asking for volunteers to help with everything from cleaning up beaches to planting trees to forest restoration. Throughout the weekend of April 17 - 19, all participating cities will be hosting various events for volunteers to help "green" up the Earth.

It was last year, that I volunteered through the Earth Day Network. I was in Washington D.C. and while there I spent the weekend with a group of students picking up trash throughout the city. Then on Sunday, there was a concert on the National Mall, where despite the rain, thousands gathered to listen to bands like Modest Mouse and OAR and hear activists like Edward Norton and Chevy Chase. Although rained poured, thousands withstood the cold to show their support for the green initiatives. The event was eventually cancelled due to the lightening storm and I wish I could venture back to Washington D.C. this year for the big weekend. But it is a little to far of a drive on a college budget.

With Chicago being the closest participating city to Bowling Green, and being college students who are reaching the end of the semester, making the four hour trek to the windy city may not be the most logical choice to celebrate Earth Day. However, there are plenty of things to do here in Bowling Green.

On campus, events will be held Monday, Tuesday and a Wednesday and will include a Swap-a-palooza, Thrift Store Fashion Show and an Econ Fair from 9 a.m. till 3 p.m. on Wednesday April 22 in the Union Oval. Various on and off campus organizations and groups will be campaigning and informing students about local and national environmental issues including AMP Ohio coal plant, "Save the Woods" campaign and various other community involvements. Then at 3:45 Progress BG will be holding a Earth Day Rally and March. But if for some reason you can't venture to the oval for the fair, try doing something small -- like forgoing your bottled water for the day, taking a shorter shower or step it up and plant a tree.

Get Out. Get Involved. Make an Impact.

Reduce, Reuse, Re-fashion

2009-04-14T00:09:12Z

There's a world you can live in where everything from the products you shower with, the makeup you put on your face and the clothing you wear will have no impact on deepening your carbon foot print. That world is here. Lush.

Lush, which opened in 1994 in the United Kingdom strives to use fresh ingredients made by hand to protect the planet, all while using no animal testing. They sell products including shampoo, conditioner, perfume, bath gels, cleansers, toners and lip balm.

All of the Lush products list their ingredients, which include fruits and vegetables and other plant products. Also, they are all vegetarian, and only 25% use animal products at all, products that include beeswax, honey and free range eggs.

Lush tries to make everything in their store as organic as possible, including recyclable paper ribbon to compostable cellophane, which they wrap their products in. However Lush isn't the only company of its kind.

Other companies like Saffron Rouge and Lavera offer many similar products to help you go organic when it comes to your daily cleansing routines. Your organic regimen does not have to stop here. There are also many other ways to lessen your impact on the environment--fashionably.

There are many companies that now offer organic clothing options. With organic clothing the manufacture of chemicals is not required, which lowers the amount of chemicals in the environment, as well as not allowing humans and animals to be exposed to them. Also, when the fabric is finished with, chemicals are not returned to the earth, nor do they enter the recycling process.

The latest Loomstate jeans featured at Barney's New York.

According to the Organic Trade Association, the organic cotton industry has grown over 50% per year since 2007 and is now being grown in over 24 countries. This organic cotton is now being used in companies such as My Organic Tees, which features many different organic t-shirt options, Loomstate, which is a high end clothing line featured in many New York City shops, and even American Apparel, which now has an Organic line.

The world has many options to lessen that footprint, and you can start doing that with style.

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The Great Pacific Garbage Patch

2009-04-06T04:00:05Z

Imagine your home covered in garbage. Every morning you wake and instead of swimming through crystal clear water, you are subjected to tons of plastic, garbage and junk. In the middle of the Pacific Ocean lies just that -- the largest landfill in the world containing 3.5 million tons of trash.
]]> North Pacific Subtropical Gyre, a slow moving, clockwise spiral of currents by a high-pressure system of air currents. Known as the oceanic desert due to the fact it is full of phytoplankton but contain few big fish or mammals, fisherman and sailors rarely visit or travel through the gyre. However, over the years, the gyre has become something much more then just a high-pressure system of air currents, instead, it is referred to as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, which contains tons of plastic carried on the high-pressure system of air currents.
    The largest landfill in the world, which scientists estimate is two times bigger than Texas, floats at this Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Also called the Western and Eastern Pacific Garbage Patches, the Great Pacific Garbage Patch floats between Hawaii and California [Eastern Patch] and from the east of Japan and west of Hawaii [Western Patch]. Floating in this beautiful blue water is tons and tons of junk -- more specifically plastic.
    Most of the waste today is comprised of plastic that does not biodegrade. This waste accumulates over time and eventually is carried out to sea in a wave of debris, where the plastic-to-sea-life ratio is six to one. This plastic is causing birds and mammals to die of starvation and dehydration with bellies full of plastic and fish are ingesting toxins at such a rate that soon they will no longer be safe to eat. In fact, plastic comprises 90 percent of all the trash floating in the world's ocean. 90 PERCENT! In 2006, it was estimated that every square mile of ocean hosts 46,000 pieces of floating plastic, according to the UN Environmental Program. Two hundred billion pounds of plastic is produced each year and 10 percent of this plastic ends up in the ocean where 70 percent eventually sinks, damaging life on the ocean floor. The rest floats, much of it floating in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.
    The worse part about this Patch is there is no effort to clean up this mess. Tons of trash -- shoes, toys, bags, pacifiers, wrappers, toothbrushes, bottles and more wind up in this landfill in the middle of the ocean. People, business and government continue to do nothing to reverse the damage they have caused to the marine wildlife forced to swim through this garbage. We have caused this problem and we need to fix it; now is the time to reduce the amount of plastic you use in your daily lives. Ensure your trash goes to an actual landfill and does not float into our oceans and damage the marine wildlife. Sign petitions, support bills like House 2416 and get involved. What is going on here is horrible and it needs to be fixed. We have been polluting our oceans far too long and it is time to step up and realize what we have done. Log on to www.greatgarbagepatch.org to find out what you can do to help reverse the damage we have caused. It is a universal problem and we can fix it together.

The New Fad: Environmentalism

2009-03-27T17:16:33Z

Being green is the new thing. Students, professors, the University and community members go out of their way to support their green efforts - green bags, recycling, waterbottles. But are you one of those green supporters who really aren't very green?

]]> Going green isn't just taking your bags to the store when shopping or using a waterbottle instead of buying bottled water. Yes, this is a great way to start, but there is much more you can do to help the environment and our world. Going green is about understanding the issues facing our city, our state and our country. Being educated on green issues like the energy plans President Obama hopes to instill or the climate bill he has promised to "get it done. And I will sign it." Being a green "person" is about knowing which companies support green incentives like Loomstate, Preserve, Whole Foods, Renewable Choice Energy and many more companies who strive to go green. It is about supporting these companies and helping to continue and promoting the green effort.

Saying you support the enviromental initiative just isn't enough these days. Mother Nature doesn't care that you support her, what our Earth cares about is the steps you take to preserve the environment. And carrying around bags from Target or Wal-Mart saying "Go Recycle" isn't enough. Yes being green is the new cool thing, but if you really want to be cool then take the steps to make an impact.

As a student, educator or community member, I encourage you to become educated on the issues. To know what can truly affect change on the environment and what you can do to help facilitate a new age of environmental products. Reading blogs like this one isn't enough. Get out, get educated if you really care about this new fad called the Green Movement.

Below is a list of sites like this one dedicated to environmental news and topics. Go read, go listen and get educated.

1. treehugger.com

2. Costing the Earth from BBC Radio

3. NPR Environmental Podcast

4. ENN: Environmental News Network

5. National Geographic Environmental News

6. The Environmental Magazine

And there are many more. Find your site and visit often.

WELCOME

2009-03-26T04:35:01Z

Welcome to The BG News Green Gab Blog, an in-depth look at the environmental issues affecting our community, our state, our country and our world. Throughout the week you can find various posts on topics ranging from climate change to renewable resources to how you can go green.