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Saving Seeds for the Future

by Cat Lincoln (Subscribe to Cat Lincoln's posts)
Oct 19th 2009 @ 12:01PM

Getty Images/AFP Stringer

Some people put away money for a rainy day. Other people bank a different kind of green to save for the future. They collect seeds!

Seed banks are a way to preserve seeds and plants (despite the name, many seed banks collect plants and grow the seeds, too) in the event of a disaster, like a war or some kind of climate catastrophe. The idea is to protect biodiversity, as well as food sources, so that we don't accidentally completely wipe out a really useful plant by over-harvesting it, or destroying the habitat where it grows.

The Millennium Seed Bank, which is associated with 250-year-old Kew Gardens, announced last week that they have samples of 10 percent of the world's seeds in their vault. Their goal is to collect 25 percent of the world's seeds by 2020!

Continue reading Saving Seeds for the Future




Filed under: News, Plants and Wildlife

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Eco-Beat, 10/16

by Josh Loposer (Subscribe to Josh Loposer's posts)
Oct 16th 2009 @ 3:00PM

Which celebrities are preaching the green gospel to Copenhagen delegates? Are you unknowingly enjoying the heat of burning bunnies right now? Will your next car harness the power of pee? Today's Eco-Beat has the scoop on all the latest green news and tips.


Sting, credit: Ian Gavan, Getty ImagesTop 5 Celebrities Pushing for Change at Copenhagen
ICYDK, yesterday was Blog Action Day, where over 9,000 bloggers around the world rallied together to bring awareness to the climate change talks in Copenhagen. As glorious as it was, the efforts of these five green celebs may have outshone even the blogosphere.

white rabbit, credit: S.Das, FlickrBunnyheit 451
Stockholm's parks dept. culls thousands of bunnies each year that munch up the landscape and, well, multiply like rabbits. Controversially, the carcasses are then used as bioenergy to fuel a heating plant. Is this a clever way to recycle, or an egregious abuse of animal rights?

orange slices, credit: Darwin Bell, FlickrA Cleaning Product Safe Enough to Eat, But Don't
Wanna detoxify the space under your sink where all your cleaning supplies live? You might want to start with a cleaning solution that's made from ingredients you'd find at a local fruit stand. Green Terpene is made from the oil of domestically grown oranges.

kid raking leaves, credit: Frotzed2, FlickrGreen Tips For Getting Your House Ready for Fall
Need a green and easy ways to fix those drafty windows? What about that layer of freshly fallen leaves? Now's your last chance to get your house ready for winter before that butt-freezing cold weather actually gets here. Check out CasaSugar's Fall tips.

Mazda Cx-7, credit: green.autoblog.comSurprise, You're in a Urine-Powered Vehicle
Mazda is rolling out a new diesel CX-7 that uses a urine-infused liquid to cut down on tailpipe emissions. The blue liquid, called AdBlue, contains about 33% urea and somehow traps the sooty NOx emissions which diesels are infamous for. Will they bring it to the US?
Green in a Flash:


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Get Green For Snow!

by Cat Lincoln (Subscribe to Cat Lincoln's posts)
Oct 16th 2009 @ 12:03PM


No, no, I'm not talking about some crazy global warming version of yellow snow. I mean it's time to start thinking about eco-friendly ways to enjoy outdoor winter activities!

This is on my mind for a couple of reasons: a big freak storm in San Francisco this week reportedly dropped a foot of snow on the Sierras, which was thrilling for all of my shredding-starved friends. Then I got my favorite eco-newsletter, Smart 2 Be Green, which was all about green winter vacations and Eco-Snowboarding. Finally, someone named Jesse Huffman left very a detailed comment on my surfing post this week, telling us about Protect Our Winters, a non-profit group dedicated toward collective action by the "winter sports community" to reverse climate change.

It was like a sign from the pagan gods of snow and ice saying, "Do a post about Eco-friendly winter stuff!" Who am I to refuse a pagan god?

Continue reading Get Green For Snow!




Filed under: Activism, Climate Change, Fitness

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Eco-Beat, 10/15

by Josh Loposer (Subscribe to Josh Loposer's posts)
Oct 15th 2009 @ 3:00PM

Why is Brad Pitt flippin' his lids? Is there ever a justification for paying $300 for a fan? Is Michelle Obama launching a super secret sneak attack on Big Food? Today's Eco-Beat has the scoop on all the latest green news and tips.


Brad Pitt, credit: Rafa Rivas, Getty ImagesBrad Pitt Launches Cap and Donate
Over the last year or so, Brad has become the hat industry's greatest non-bald ally (aside from Aretha). His collection of head gear has grown so large that he's decide to narrow it down a bit, sending a few of his old favorites to various charities to auction off.

Michael Pollan, credit: Stephen Lovekin, Getty ImagesEat Like Michael Pollan
Food expert Michael Pollan has put together a list of rules to live (and eat) by for the NY Times. One of them is: "Don't eat egg salad from a vending machine." What about egg salad from one of these vending machines, Michael?

Dyson bladeless fan, credit: Dyson.comDyson's Blade-less Air Multiplier
You may have seen Dyson's awesomely futuristic, technologically-advanced ... cooling fan. While it's hard to argue that a bladeless fan will stem climate change, it will certainly blow some minds (mine included). It could also save a ton of electricity.

Michelle Obama, credit: Eric Feferberg, Getty ImagesMichelle Obama Poised to Take on "Big Food?"
First, it was a harmless little veggie garden. Then, an thinly-veiled attempt to brainwash American children with gardening knowledge on Sesame Street. Now, there are whispers that the First Lady is holding "secret meetings" with her team and the USDA.

orange cooking pot, credit: Greencookingpots.comDesigner Green Cookware on the Cheap
Looking for some stylish, Le Creuset-style cookware for the new home but don't want to miss a mortgage payment for it? GreenCookingPots is offering up some fabulous Teflon-free, enamel-coated, cast iron sets that will inspire jealousy but won't break the bank.
Green in a Flash:


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Blog Action Day: What Condition Our Climate Change Condition is in

by Josh Loposer (Subscribe to Josh Loposer's posts)
Oct 15th 2009 @ 2:00PM

Icy Hot from Shopping.com

So, scientists (and politicians) have been studying climate change for decades now and what do we actually know about it, (other than the planet's ice caps seem to be doomed)? What is the current status of our planet's current status? And what can we expect in the near future?

Ask climate scientists what the effects of climate change will amount to in the next couple of decades and you'll likely get a variety of predictions ranging from a temporary cool down to the record smashing heat waves. So, what gives? Why does it feel like these predictions are about as reliable as your local TV weatherman's?

I'm no scientist -- that's for sure -- and that's exactly why I want short simple answers to the most basic questions at the root of climate change.

Continue reading Blog Action Day: What Condition Our Climate Change Condition is in




Filed under: Climate Change

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Blog Action Day: Climate Change

by Cat Lincoln (Subscribe to Cat Lincoln's posts)
Oct 15th 2009 @ 12:01PM

Today is "Blog Action Day", an annual event held every October 15th, where blogs around the world all talk about the same topic. This year the topic is Climate Change, and can I just say, I'm so excited to see everyone writing about this!

Sometimes I feel like I'm harping on this topic again and again and again, but hey, it's real, important and relevant to every single one of us. From the way the weather is changing around the world, to the causes of these changes, to the things you can do right now to reduce your carbon footprint and slow down the changes, all of us need to have a voice in the climate change discussion.

Since I've already written a lot of posts on the topic, today I'd like to go back and share my 10 favorite posts I've written on climate change:

Continue reading Blog Action Day: Climate Change




Filed under: News, Activism, Climate Change

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Eco-Beat, 10/14

by Josh Loposer (Subscribe to Josh Loposer's posts)
Oct 14th 2009 @ 3:00PM

Do Adrian Grenier, Mark Whalberg, and Ashton Kutcher really qualify as "ordinary" guys? Can Jessica Biel's and Pete Wentz's personal trainers get them in shape for a grueling 6km run/walk by April? Does PETA understand that vegetarians are susceptible to the swine flu? Today's Eco-Beat has the scoop on all the latest green news and tips.


Adrian Grenier, credit: Stephen Lovekin, Getty ImagesAdrian Grenier Supports the GQ Gentlemen's Fund
Contrary to what you might expect, the Gentlemen's Fund isn't designed to send beautiful women to bikini modeling school (it's GQ not Maxim). The GF is about "ordinary superstars men doing extraordinary things.: Adrian is leading the fund's ocean conservation efforts.

Pete Wentz and Jessica Biel, credit: Emmanuel Dunand, Getty ImagesJessica Biel and Pete Wentz Run For Clean Water
LiveEarth, yes, that Live Earth, is sponsoring The Run For Water, a 6km run/walk (roughly the distance that women and children walk to access water in the developing world) that will be going on in cities across the planet on April 18th. Jessica Biel and Pete Wentz are in.

banned peta advertisment, credit: screenshotPETA's Confused About What Causes Swine Flu
A broad consensus of the scientific community has accepted the idea that the H1N1 "swine flu" is spread through microscopic pathogens called viruses. PETA, on the other hand, apparently thinks that it's spread by eating meat. At least, that's what their ad suggested.

carbon offset kiosk, credit: Justin Sullivan, Getty ImagesAre Carbon Offsets Counterproductive?
Is the act of buying "offsets" simply an expensive way to feel better about our eco-sins, while not making any real positive impact? In a word: No. Not unless you consider the fact that you're funding new renewable energy projects and rainforest conservation counter-productive.

biker in Copenhagen, credit: Daviddennisphotos.com, FlickrCan Cyclists and Drivers Coexist?
As journalist Gary Mason studies Copenhagen's bike-friendly transportation system, he's discovered the secret: Make life easier for cyclists, even at the expense of drivers. They actually take space away from drivers and give it to cyclists. Could this ever happen in the US?
Green in a Flash:


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Surfing Big Green Waves

by Cat Lincoln (Subscribe to Cat Lincoln's posts)
Oct 14th 2009 @ 12:10PM

C. Lincon/Lucky Cat Photography

Surfers are one of the greenest and most environmentally-active groups of athletes. It probably has something to do with all of the time they spend hanging out in the water, on their self-propelled boards, waiting for waves and contemplating the environment around them. Looking out for sharks really sharpens your awareness of your surroundings!

Surfrider Foundation is the best known of the surfing environmental groups. Their strategic initiatives (yes, these surfers have strategic initiatives, so much for stereotypes) includes clean water, beach access, beach preservation and protecting special places. They celebrated their 25th anniversary this year with several events, including a beach clean-up followed by a concert, sponsored by Barefoot wines.

A lot of people still think of surfing as male sport, but Smart Girls Who Surf would like to remind us that women are awesome on the board, too. They are a small natural skincare company in California that make environmentally friendly sun protection, soaps, lotions and conditioners. They also sponsor an inspiring team of young women surfers, including world-traveler Liz Clark.

Continue reading Surfing Big Green Waves




Filed under: Travel and Vacation, Activism, Fitness

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Eco-Beat, 10/13

by Josh Loposer (Subscribe to Josh Loposer's posts)
Oct 13th 2009 @ 3:00PM

Why is Matt Damon on parade? Wanna share your green tips with Alicia Silverstone? What if vending machines offered farm-fresh produce instead of Skittles and Hot Fries? Today's Eco-Beat has the scoop on all the latest green news and tips.


Matt Damon, credit: Jason Merritt, Getty ImagesMatt Damon Parades for Clean Water
OK, he didn't actually go on a literal parade, but I'm sure he would if he thought it would bring clean water to Africa. Matt did, however, write this article for "Parade" to raise awareness for clean water efforts. Says Damon, "$25 will give someone clean water for life."

Alicia Silverstone, credit: Bryan Bedder, Getty ImagesWanna Network with Alicia Silverstone?
Alicia's new website will not only offer up her "groovy finds" in the way of fashion, skincare and general greenness -- you'll actually get to share some of your expert advice with Alicia on TheKindLife.com's social networking "interactive extension."

acai berries, credit: Breno Peck, FilckrAre Superfoods Really All They're Cooked Up to Be?
So you've heard about the amazing properties of so-called "superfoods" like açai and goji, but what are the true costs of shipping these miracle foods thousands of miles from remote forests to your kitchen? Check out Treehugger's assessment.

vending machine, credit: Salim Fadhley, FlickrFarm-Fresh Vending Machines
Get ready to take everything you know about vending machines and toss it out the window. A German company has teamed up with farmers to offer locally produced eggs, cheese, butter, sausage, etc. in vending machines. Prices stay low by cutting out the middleman. Awesome.

Warner Bros tower, credit: Jainaj, FlickrWarner Bros Studios Go Green
If you've ever toyed around with the idea of making a movie, you can begin to imagine the mind-numbing logistics that go into even a "low-budget" flick. Warner Bros is enlisting everyone at the studio to attack its footprint, from the producers to the actors.
Green in a Flash:


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Karina Smirnoff Goes Naked for PETA

by Cat Lincoln (Subscribe to Cat Lincoln's posts)
Oct 13th 2009 @ 12:41PM

Karina Smirnoff's Ad for PETA/PETA.com

I have to admit that I'm a huge "Dancing With the Stars" fan, especially of professional dancer Karina Smirnoff, with her fiery temper and sassy/skimpy costumes. She's an amazing dancer, and she doesn't put up with any nonsense. Karina is no chump.

Plus she was engaged to super hottie DWTS pro Maks Chmerkovskiy -- but I'm getting off topic. We're here to talk about Karina being naked. For PETA.

Lots of stars have done naked PETA ads, with varying degrees of smolder vs. chastity. Karina's ad, as you would expect, is smoking hot. And the accompanying video? It's so hot and sexy that they had to digitally blur out "certain areas" because she's obviously not wearing any flesh-colored leotard. That's all Karina's skin up there, and she has no problem showing it. She's so cool.

Continue reading Karina Smirnoff Goes Naked for PETA



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Eco-Beat, 10/12

by Josh Loposer (Subscribe to Josh Loposer's posts)
Oct 12th 2009 @ 3:00PM

Are you hardcore enough to drive the Cupcake Car? Do you know your celebrity vegetarians? Should you do your business traveling on a scooter? Today's Eco-Beat has the scoop on all the latest green news and tips.


cupcake car, credit: neimanmarcus.comNice Driving, Cupcake!
Usually, when the word "cupcake" is used on a roadway, it's followed by a rude hand gesture. With the new all-electric Cupcake Car -- available in the Neiman Marcus Christmas catalog for a recession-friendly $25k -- the meaning of the word could be forever changed.

greenpeace protester, credit: Oli Scarff, Getty ImagesGreenpeace Activists Camp Out on Parliament
Protesters spent a chilly night in their sleeping bags on the roof of the Palace of Westminster yesterday, pushing for more aggressive climate legislation. If nothing else, they might have convinced politicos to beef up security. The protesters scaled parliament in about 10 minutes.

Paul McCartney, credit: Gareth Cattermole, Getty ImagesThe Who's Who of Celebrity Vegetarians
Seeing as October is National Vegetarian month, YumSugar has put together this awesome little quiz to help you waste time at work. It'll also put your knowledge of celebrity eating habits to the test, if you're into that type of thing.

business travel, credit: JoF, FlickrHow to Offset Business Trips?
So, your job requires more than a little bit of travel; you can't change that, and it's not like jobs are just growing on trees these days. What's the best way to offset your work-print? Is it better to buy offsets? Or should you spend that money on some green lifestyle upgrades?

Pamela Anderson, credit: Kristian Dowling, Getty ImagesPamela Anderson's Eco-Clothing Benefits PETA
Pam's new clothing line may have been panned by critics as Borat-inspired, but at least she's found a way to use the launch to benefit our favorite naked animal rights protesters. Pamela's hosting pricey charity fashion shows in Miami and Toronto to benefit PETA.
Green in a Flash:


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Make Sweat-Energy at a Green Gym

by Cat Lincoln (Subscribe to Cat Lincoln's posts)
Oct 12th 2009 @ 12:20PM



For some of us, treadmills, elliptical machines and stationary bikes are a necessary energy consuming evil. In San Francisco, damp frigid fog and raging winds make an after-work run outside daunting. The only way to make myself put in the time and run a few miles is to go to the gym, where I'm safe from the elements.

Of course, then I spend 45 minutes indulging in green guilt, mentally calculating the carbon output of the electricity that powers the treadmill and AC/heating systems. Not to mention biting my tongue so I don't berate all the people drinking water out of plastic bottles instead of BPA-free, reusable bottles. It's exhausting, and it doesn't even burn any extra calories!

I recently saw a story in the Smart 2 be Green newsletter that might hold the key to my workout serenity: the Green Gym!

Continue reading Make Sweat-Energy at a Green Gym



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Eco-Beat, 10/9

by Josh Loposer (Subscribe to Josh Loposer's posts)
Oct 9th 2009 @ 3:00PM

Will "No Impact Man" convince Stephen Colbert to change his carbon spewing ways for just one week? Could wearing fur actually help the environment? Is it creepy to recycle the heat from crematoriums? Today's Eco-Beat has the scoop on all the latest green news and tips.


No Impact Man Challenges Colbert
Could America's funniest fake conservative talk show host join forces with crazy zero-waste guru Colin Beaven to go "no impact" for one week? In his own words: "No way in hell. In fact, while I'm sitting here, I may just burn a stack of tires."

nutria purse, credit: LaFete d'Ecologie Wear Fur, Save the Wetlands?
It's definitely not a PETA slogan. Righteous Fur, founded by Planet Green contributor Cree McCree, is promoting guilt-free fur products made from the pelts of the invasive and damaging nutria (big dirty rodents). The pelts from trapped nutria would otherwise go to waste.

Captain Paul Watson, credit: Frederick M. Brown, Getty ImagesAustralia Holds Up Cap'n Watson's Visa
The infamous Sea Shepherd captain and his controversial whale hunter hunting mission are facing unforeseen setbacks, and it's not even whale season yet. Bowing to the pressure from Japan, Australian officials have reportedly placed a hold on Watson's work Visa.

Leilani Munter, credit: Jason Merritt, Getty ImagesLeilani Munter's Green Eating Advice
How does race car driver Leilani Munter compensate for her race car's emissions? Simple, she's a vegetarian. Says Leilani: "Cut back on your meat intake. Grazing animals produce methane which is 21 times more heat trapping than CO2."

air conditioning sign, credit: Puck90, FlickrCrematorium's Exhaust Powers A/C Unit
A crematorium in Taipei has built an elaborate system to use the heat from its ovens to generate electricity, which then powers the air-conditioning in the waiting room. Apart from the creepiness factor, it's undeniably green ... in a Soylent Green kinda way.
Green in a Flash:


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Will Nuclear Power Thaw the Icy Climate Bill Deadlock?

by Josh Loposer (Subscribe to Josh Loposer's posts)
Oct 9th 2009 @ 12:00PM


Photo by Alex Wong, Getty Images
Will the inclusion of nuclear energy in the climate bill score it enough votes to actually pass?

In the debate over the current "cap and trade" legislation (or 'Cap'n Trade' as Jon Stewart calls it) that's currently getting kicked around in the Senate chambers, one particular compromise just keeps rearing its controversial little head: Nuclear Energy.

In fact, reports are coming in that Republicans like Lindsay Graham are angling to add language to the climate bill that puts nuclear energy on par with wind or solar power. So, the question now becomes: Are lobbyists, lawmakers and their constituents really ready to play "Let's Make a Deal?"

Up until this point in the debate, it's been easy to avoid that critical nuclear gut check. Now, environmentally aware readers, is the time to decide whether Cap and Trade legislation is worth the compromises it might require to pass.

Continue reading Will Nuclear Power Thaw the Icy Climate Bill Deadlock?




Filed under: Alternative Energy

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Eco-Beat, 10/8

by Josh Loposer (Subscribe to Josh Loposer's posts)
Oct 8th 2009 @ 3:00PM

Will the Obama administration tackle light pollution? Will Yoko be the first one on the waiting list for a Bentley hybrid? Wanna watch Jon Stewart explain the difference between "cap and trade," "cap'n trade," and our favorite "crap and trade?" Today's Eco-Beat has the scoop on all the latest green news and tips.


President Obama on the telescope, credit: Tim Sloan, Getty ImagesThe President Hosts Star Gazing Party
Last night, the White House was the scene of an off the hook star party. There were Jello shots everywhere and Journey's greatest hits playing on the loudspeaker. I'm kidding. There were 20 telescopes and a herd of amateur astronomers. Light pollution, anyone?

Yoko Ono, credit: Chris Jackson, Getty ImagesYoko's Hybrid Dreams Come True
Thanks in part (maybe) to Yoko's request that automakers "make hybrid cars as comfortable as a Bentley," now they will. Starting as early as 2011, there will be a hybrid on the market that's not just as comfortable as a Bentley -- it will be a Bentley.

Jon Stewart, credit: Jason Merritt, Getty ImagesJon Stewart Discusses "Crap and Trade"
You've no doubt heard about the Kerry-Boxer "cap and trade" legislation that's stumbling its way through the Senate, but what do you know actually know about it? Well, once you're done watching Jon Stewart's take, you probably won't learn anything ... but you will laugh.

solar roof, credit: Coolstock, FlickrDow Unveils Solar Roofing Shingles
In the future, solar shingles will become standard equipment on your house, like central air and heat. At least, that's what Dow Chemical is hoping. They've created new solar shingles that are compatible with conventional asphalt shingle roofs. Awesome!

the EcoATM, credit: EcoATMEcoATM Gives You Cash for Your Gadgets
Most gadget geeks have the same guilty pleasure: Jumping from device to device and leaving a glut of perfectly good unused gizmos in their wake. Now, there's a ATM-ish machine that makes it easy to convert those gadget into cash ... or at least recycle them.
Green in a Flash:


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