Green Daily

The holidays really do come flying at you this time year. I can't believe it's already America Recycles Day, "ARD", on November 15th. That's this weekend! My friend Erin over at Holidash had a giggle at the idea of an annual holiday celebrating recycling, and sure, I can totally laugh about it with her. Come on, it's about taking out trash. That's a chore, not a celebration!

On the other hand, having spent some time lately visiting my sister in North Carolina where they don't have curbside recycling (my San Francisco "we made composting the law" sensibilities continue reel!) I can definitely see the need to raise awareness in parts of our great country. People don't recycle, and they need Recycling 101!

This is the 12th year of ARD, a day dedicated to educating yourself about recycling, and making the choice of buying recycled products. You know you look at that empty orange juice carton every single time and think, "Wait, is this trash, or recycling, or maybe compost?" -- this is the day you actually sit down at your computer and find the answer!

Does Alicia Silverstone qualify as one of the world's leading thinkers in your book? How's Kate Walsh helping to get sea turtles off the hook? Why should you turn those ceiling fans on this winter? Today's Eco-Beat has the scoop on all the latest green news and tips.

Alicia Silverstone is a Keynote Speaker Founder Nicole Sherwin describes Green Lounge as "a platform for the thought leaders of the world" in the areas of environmentalism and wellness. Bet you never thought you'd hear anyone describe Alicia as a "thought leader." The event is set for next week in Santa Monica.

Kate Walsh Speaks for the Turtles The "Private Practice" star is set to appear in a series of PSAs for Oceana's new project: Getting Sea Turtles Off the Hook. The purpose is to bring awareness to the fact that 6 of the world's 7 sea turtle species swim in US waters and all 6 are listed as threatened or endangered.

Turn Your Fan Upside Down Did you know that flipping that little switch on the base of your fan in the winter can save you 10-15% on your heating costs? Switching your fan from a counter-clockwise to clockwise direction helps circulate that warm air back down to where you can enjoy it.

Which Low-Flow Toilets Git-r-Done When it's time to upgrade your home's porcelain thrones, how do you know if you're picking out the right replacement? Of course, not all low-flow loos are created equal, but according to Grist most major brands do their duty. You can also do some research online.

Wooden iPhone Skins Aid Reforestation All year long, I think of the best gifts ever. Then, when it comes time to shop, my mind goes blank. Here's a eco-friendly gimme: A Vers wooden iPhone case. For each tree used to make these cases, 100 more are planted through The Arbor Day Foundation.

Green in a Flash:

• A Japanese fishing trawler was sunk by giant jellyfish, nobody hurt.
• Check out this amazing vertical bed, for space-conscious living.
• A proposed wind farm may get scrapped because the site's too windy.

Alpha Green Al Gore has invited those of us who want clean energy technology (yes, personally -- get on the mailing list and he'll write to you, too) to participate in a new communication channel called The Wall.

It's a pretty amazing display of the passion behind the grassroots RePower America campaign. People post a comment, photo or even a video to The Wall, explaining why they believe clean energy is the way to save the environment and the economy. And the whole world can see and hear the public consensuse -- this is what we want, and we want it now!

One great thing about this collection of voices is that it uses the internet to amplify the message of people who have deep convictions, but perhaps prefer not to participate in a naked formation of the number 350 on the side of a mountain. Sure, those in-person, occasionally naked, demonstrations are fun and meaningful, but way too cold for some of us!

Who better to stand up to Al Gore's climate change agenda than the nation's most trusted conservative voice: Stephen Colbert? Do the Obamas know how to get PR for their veggie garden or what? Wanna try some of Liz Hurley's homegrown beef jerky? Today's Eco-Beat has the scoop on all the latest green news and tips.

Climate Debate: Gore v. Colbert Who will prevail in this no-holds barred, climate change edition of The Colbert Report's "Formidable Opponent?" Let's just say, it gets kinda ugly. Gore even resorts to water boarding to get his point across. Check out the video.

Iron Chef Heads to the White House Garden Ready to see what some of the nation's top chefs can do with the bounty of the White House's organic veggie garden? On January 3rd, you'll get a chance to see WH executive chef Cristeta Comerford team up with Bobby Flay to take on Emeril and Mario Batali.

Elizabeth Hurley Launches Healthy Snacks In case you haven't been following Liz's career arc, she's well on her way to becoming the UK's sexiest organic farmer. In addition to raising organic crops and livestock, she's launching a new lineup of natural, low-calorie snacks, including fruit bars, oat bars and beef jerky.

Cash for Clunkers in a Nutshell Throw out the news about the exorbitant cost of C4C for a minute. Did it at least do some good in terms of fuel economy? Yes, but very little. According to AP researchers, buyers were 17 times more likely to buy an F-150 than a Prius. A few buyers upgraded to an H2.

Thanksgiving Tip: Edible Dishware Why rinse, soak and scrub when you could just eat your dishes? Serve your dip in a bread bowl. Have you ever sipped cider from a festive apple cup? Or spooned soup from a deliciously prepared acorn squash? Just imagine the possibilities.

Green in a Flash:

• KLM has scheduled its first biofuel test flight with passengers.
• This awesome air purifier uses plants to filter your air.
• Woohoo! US water usage has decreased over the last 25yrs, even though the population's grown by 30%.

This year the Dread Swine Flu has even the most chemical-aversive of us displaying big pump-topped bottles of hand sanitizer on our desks and stashing mini bottles of it in our bags and pockets. I even have a new routine at the gym that involves swinging by the hand sanitizer dispenser multiple times during my workout. And again when I'm done!

This renewed love for water-free germ killers doesn't change the fear that many of us have about what the heck is actually in them? Are they dangerous to use on kids? Do they really contribute to the growth of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and viruses? And what about production processes? Good or bad for the environment?

Before you get into an H1N1 prevention-fueled tizzy (like I almost did), check out the Best Hand Sanitizer list from the Good Guide.

Sad but true: there are lots of endangered animals out there. Climate change, deforestation and habitat destruction are all powerful forces working against wild populations of, well, most wild animals.

So you know it has to be pretty bad when the World Wildlife Fund singles out a species for particular attention. This week the conservation organization called for urgent action to save the tigers. In addition to surviving the three challenges above, these regal striped beasts have been brought to their collective knees by poaching and "parts trafficking".

Yep. A whole species brought down by the Tiger Penis Trade.

Did the production footprint of "2012" help bring about a real life climate apocalypse? Is your mayor a low-carbon crime fighter? Are your baked beans trying to kill you? Today's Eco-Beat has the scoop on all the latest green news and tips.

Eco-Thriller "2012" Goes Green on the Set Though his blockbuster movies may terrorize the planet ("Independence Day," "The Day After Tomorrow," etc.) Roland Emmerich's a big green softie underneath. Generators on "2012" were biodiesel-powered and sets were recycled or donated to Habitat for Humanity.

London's Mayor Becomes "Knight on Shining Bicycle" Fanny Armstrong was walking home late one night when she was attacked by three hoodlums. She cried out to a passing cyclist for help and, lo and behold, it turned out to be London's biking mayor Boris Johnson -- aka the "knight on shining bicycle."

He Hates These Cans! You know I'm no alarmist (I plan to watch the apocalypse unfold on my porch with beer in hand). Still, I'm not one to take unnecessary risk with my thyroid or reproductive functions. Consumer Reports recently found BPA in the linings of many canned goods.

Low-Energy Laser Etched Fruit Labels Good news! Those annoying little labels on your lemons may soon be replaced with low energy laser etching. I'm not sure whether I'm more excited about the waste reduction or the fact that I'd no longer have to struggle with those maddening stickers.

Bob Barker Donates $1M To Animal Rights Studies In honor of his wife, Bob has awarded $1M to Drury University to establish an Animal Rights professorship. I know it doesn't seem like an Animal Rights degree would get you a good job in this economy, but PETA has sure been raking it in.

Green in a Flash:

• The age of lamps is over. Long live the LED sculpture!
• Bears at a German zoo are mysteriously going bald.
• Looking of a new, scratchable, eco-friendly cat bed?.

Yes, what I'm asking is if it's okay to eat a baby animal if it had a good, albeit short life?

Proponents of pasture-raised "rose veal" say that their veal is fundamentally different from the nightmarish image of animals kept in pens so small they are unable to move, and pumped full of antibiotics to stave off rampant infection, a.k.a. "white veal."

For years chefs have been complaining about the bland taste of pen-raised white veal, which are kept in crates so small they can't turn or lie down, and fed a diet of artificial milk. The main appeal, if you could get past the cruelty issue, was tenderness: you can cut it with the side of a fork. Rose veal has a more developed flavor because of a mixed diet of milk and grains, and the milk often actually comes from its mother. This kinder veal is growing in popularity with foodies, especially those who espouse whole animal, sustainable practices.

Many of our friends at PETA, and other animal-rights organizations, believe that we shouldn't be eating meat or drinking milk in the first place, but if you are, it's unspeakably cruel to take animals away from the mother at such a young age. Generally they make little or no distinction between pink and white veal.

Wanna ride to work like the pros? Need some help justifying your next big-ticket Gucci purchase? Are you a secret raw milk junkie who'll do anything for a sip of illegal, unpasteurized moo juice? Today's Eco-Beat has the scoop on all the latest green news and tips.

Bike Commuting Tips from the Pros Ever wished you could ride your bike to work, but can't stomach the spandex? Do those bike shorts really help get you to work on time? You can get answers to these questions and more at the Sierra Club's Climate Crossroads Bicycle Group.

Ready to Party FOR the Turkeys? If you're looking for some outstanding vegan tofurkey and you're going to be in the NYC area on November 22nd, you can still snag a seat at Farm Sanctuary's "Celebration FOR the Turkeys." The guest of honor will be Jonathan Safran Foer.

Gucci Ditches Rainforest Paper Good news for designer label junkies, The Gucci Group (which includes Yves Saint Laurent, Alexander McQueen, Stella McCartney, and Balenciaga) is now pledging to help save Asia's rapidly shrinking forests by shunning all paper harvested from Indonesian rainforests.

Meet, Greet, or Heckle Captain Paul Watson in NYC You've seen him get harpooned in the head on South Park, now meet him live in person. Sea Shepherd Captain Paul Watson will be at Manhattan's Moo Shoes for a Sea Shepherd Conservation Society fundraiser on November 11th.

The Raw Milk Underground Did you know that it's illegal for an independent farmer to sell farm-fresh raw milk? There are people who do, of course. These evil "milk pushers" operate in dark alley ways and rural crossroads in the middle of the night, where wolves howl eerily in the background. I'm kidding.

Green in a Flash:

• Europe has launched satellites that can predict droughts/floods.
• Check out this map of potential green energy per US state.
• Next year's CES in Las Vegas will have 40% more space dedicated to green gadgetry.

Have you always dreamed of costarring in a film or video with an animated partner, like Paula Abdul and that dancing cat in "Opposites Attract"? And do you have a message for the world about saving the rainforest? If so, The Prince's Rainforest can help you achieve both of these dreams.

HRH Charles, the Prince of Wales, created The Prince's Rainforest Project to simply raise awareness of the connection between deforestation and climate change. The campaign has a frog mascot who appeared in a video with Prince Charles, as well as Princes William and Harry, Daniel Craig, Pele, Harrison Ford, and perhaps inevitably, Robin Williams.

One of the coolest things about the campaign is that you can make your own video, with the frog, urging world leaders to take bold action to address climate change at Copenhagen. It's hard to imagine that world leaders haven't heard this message yet, with all of the activism going on practically every day, but if anything will catch the attention of the last few resisters, I'm betting the frog is it.

Why did Alicia Silverstone so unkindly cancel her "Kind Diet" book tour? Wanna see what a fat, unshaven Captain Planet looks like? Has Dancing Butterflies produced the worst eco-song of the modern era? Today's Eco-Beat has the scoop on all the latest green news and tips.

Alicia Silverstone Cancels Stops on Tour The final three stops on Alicia's book tour have been abruptly scrapped, and thus far no explanation has been given. Fans hoping to meet the "Kind Diet" author in St. Louis, Detroit and Atlanta are out of luck. Hope you caught her on Craig Ferguson during the blackout.

Captain Planet Is Disgruntled The greenest superhero of them all has been unemployed for over a decade and it's not doing favors for his attitude, personal hygiene, or his formerly rock-hard abs. Still, he's fighting the good fight with world leaders in Copenhagen; check out the video.

"Let's Save Our Environment" Worst Green Jam Ever? When it comes to enviro-rock, there are mountains of epic failures and only a few truly listenable earth-conscious songs. "Let's Save Our Environment" is not one of them. The video, however, is so bad it's good and with any luck it'll go viral.

Can I Recycle My Stack of Holiday Receipts? As you shop your way through the holiday season, you're almost certainly going to amass a hefty pile of ridiculously long receipts -- but don't recycle them. Not only might you want to make a return, the vast majority of receipts are printed on non-recyclable thermal paper.

Gold is Green at Vancouver Olympics Silver and bronze are too. Each of the medals at the 2010 Olympic games in Vancouver are made from recycled materials harvested from old electronics and are etched with West Coast Native American designs by artist Corinne Hunt. Awesome.

Green in a Flash:

• Recycled bowling lanes make the best retro-chic tables.
• Would you drive a pro-ped: The propane powered moped?
• Al Gore may one day become the first carbon billionaire.

University of Kentucky Uses Innovative Recycled Plastic Decking at the Solar Decathlon from Plastics Make it Possible on Vimeo.

Last month students from around the world gathered on the National Mall in Washington D.C. to compete in the Solar Decathlon, hosted by the U.S. Department of Energy.

Twenty teams designed, built and operated solar-powered homes, which were then opened to the public, both to get votes, and to educate people about the latest uses of energy-efficient building practices and materials.

The first, and hardest, part of the competition actually happens before they get to D.C., when the teams design their structures, raise money to build them, and supervise contractors to actually raise them. Then they take them apart -- very carefully! -- and transport them to the National Mall, where they are reassembled on site. The final phase includes the judging, where they are evaluated on 10 different areas:

Do you consider Mother Earth in your family planning? Should gift baskets become an un-environmentally-conscious thing of the past? Is the new "Avatar" trailer making you concerned about the environmental plight of planets we haven't even discovered yet? Today's Eco-Beat has the scoop on all the latest green news and tips.

Evangeline Lilly Talks Babies and Overpopulation As an environmentally-conscious individual, do you feel compelled to adopt, rather than have a child of your own? Evangeline Lilly thinks she can allow herself one biological child, then she says her eco-conscience would dictate that she adopt.

How to Green That Corporate Gift Basket Ah, corporate gift baskets ... that obligatory cornucopia of stuff that nobody really wants. According to Grist, 83% of adults report getting gifts that they don't want. Is it better to give gift certificates? You could always pull a Costanza and make a donation in somebody's name.

Avatar Trailer Hits the Web The trailer for James Cameron's heavily anticipated sci-fi adventure flick dropped yesterday, and surprise -- it's awash in eco-themes. "Avatar" takes place on a distant planet where the Marines have been called to relocate an indigenous culture to extract a very valuable mineral.

The Best Little Chinese Wind Farm in Texas? Here's a curve ball for you: Is a wind farm still green if the turbines are manufactured in China and shipped to Texas? It gets better; the Chinese developers are applying for US stimulus money. I guess green energy is green energy ... right?

How-to Recycle Your Gadgets Need to make room for some new techno-gadgets this holiday season? Recycling your old phones, laptops, etc. has never been easier ... especially now that Engadget has a breakdown of how-to recycle your old devices, listed by manufacturer.

Green in a Flash:

• Beijing's unusually early snowfall yesterday was man-made.
• Check out these bus shelters made from salvaged buses.
• The Prius won Japan's "Car of the Year." Now, the Insight has won Japan's "Automotive Hall of Fame Car of the Year." Huh?

I'm sure a few of you will agree with me that the Eco/Green Movement can be a bit lacking in the sense of humor department. But two men -- two Yes Men -- have made it their mission to remedy both corporate wrong doings, and the dearth of laughs in the discussion.

Mike Bonnano and Andy Bichlbaum are the Yes Men -- or at least, those are their stage names. The two activists/performers/pranksters/identity thieves -- although they call it "identity correction" -- star in the new documentary "The Yes Men Fix the World," which showcases some of the big "Borat"-style hoaxes they've played on corporate world, all in the name of drawing attention to the way things should be.

The film opens with Andy Bichlbaum preparing to appear on the BBC as "Jude Finisterra", a representative of Dow Chemical. He is endearingly, and understandably, nervous, because he's about to tell a whopper of lie to the entire world: that Dow accepts all responsibility for the Bhopal chemical accident and ragedy, and plan to sell off subsidiary Union Carbide to finance $12 billion in reparations.

Did Captain Watson mind being harpooned in the head on South Park? Still looking for last-minute DIY costume ideas? Are you headed out to wreak some low-carbon havoc on Mischief Night? Today's Eco-Beat has the scoop on all the latest green news and tips.

Captain Watson Responds to South Park As usual, South Park's "Whale Whores" episode was an equal opportunity offender, lampooning both the Japanese whalers, animal rights activists and especially Paul Watson. He was a good sport about it though, saying that he's just glad to get some publicity.

Reduce Your Family's Halloween-Print Halloween is finally upon us, and of course I'm going to load this EB up with as much green trick or treating tips as I possibly can. To check out a smorgasbord of green Halloween tips -- including healthy treats, non-treats, and DIY costume ideas -- check out Inhabitat.

Greener Mischief Making Watching Rainn Wilson's guide to Mischief Night, I realized something: vandalism can be mighty wasteful. For a greener Mischief Night, skip the TP and try some eco-friendly tricks, like: ding dong ditching or jumping out of the bushes to scare people. Any other ideas?

Eat Your Pumpkin! The majority of the orange pumpkins we associate with Halloween are bred purely for ornamental purposes, thus, they're far from ideal for cooking. Bummer. Buy a food-grade pumpkin or butternut squash that allows you to have your jack-o-lantern and eat it too.

Natalie Portman's Controversial Veggie Comment In honor of "Vegetarian Month," Natalie decided to throw in her two cents on ethical eating. Unfortunately, she managed to offend non-veggies by equating meat-eating and table manners with rape ... somehow. I'm a big fan of table manners, thank you very much.

Green in a Flash:

• LG is the first electronics company to get certified by UL Environment.
• Michael Pollan retracts statements about the vegan H2 driver.
• According to scientists, exaggerated reports about climate change can undermine the goal of reducing emissions.