Green Daily

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.

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:

I came across a great post over at The Positivity Blog. The post was originally written for Blog Action Day and listed 20 Simple Ways to Help the Environment by Using Your Computer. I like this list for its simplicity and several ideas can actually make your life a lot easier.

One of the points has been mentioned on this site before like unplugging your computer when not in use. However, other tips like paying your bills and reading your daily paper online can cut down on a significant amount of paper clutter in your house. The post also gives a couple of sites that will donate money to a certain cause, like the rainforest, if you give click on their ads.

Here's yet another example of gamers using Blog Action Day to spread awareness about how their passion affects the environment.

PSP Fanboy, a site dedicated to all things PlayStation Portable, has a novel way to power your favorite gaming gadget -- solar power. Instead of charging your batteries from the wall socket, you can use the Solio Universal Solar Charger -- a device that will charge your battery just as well as a traditional power source, but with absolutely no impact on the environment. Score!

PS3 Fanboy, a site for those who like to play their PlayStation at home rather than on the go, has found some fantastic titles for the nature lover. Afrika and Aquivita, two games that take place in lush, exotic settings, both look like visual marvels. You can see Afrika in action at the bottom of the PS3 Fanboy post, and also check out a gallery with screen shots of the animals and landscapes here. To see an equally stunning gallery of screen shots from Aquivita, go here.

Just goes to show that, no matter what you're interested in, there's plenty of ways you can appreciate the planet.

As Patricia pointed out earlier, Aisledash, the wedding blog, has written some great posts for today's Blog Action Day. Here's one in particular that might be of interest to any bride-to-be: Your gown on the cheap: Six tips on how to be budget-wise AND environmentally-friendly.

Especially because seemingly everything associated with weddings is twice as expensive as it should be, this is a great resource for everyone who's looking to get hitched without breaking the bank. Plus, you can take comfort in the fact that your money-saving decisions are also reducing waste!

For instance, did you know that you can rent a gown? Had you considered borrowing one? What about purchasing your dress from a consignment or second hand shop? For the full list of clever, eco-conscious ideas, check out the post on Aisledash.

By far my favorite thing about today's Blog Action Day revelry is all the many different perspectives the world's blogs have brought to environmental issues. Take WoW Insider, for instance -- a site devoted to the goings on inside the online multi-player game World of Warcraft.

The game is set on a a planet called Azeroth, which is inhabited by a number of different species -- the Taurens being one of them. It turns out these people really know how to live without leaving a footprint:

"You get the idea when looking at the Tauren lands, that if they were to up and leave Mulgore, the evidence of their civilization would be gone in a matter of years. They certainly would have left a minimum of damage behind -- perhaps some slight deforestation."

So, maybe we can learn from this imaginary race, and emulate them to help heal our ailing planet. Maybe one day we'll all live in Earthships -- self-sufficient homes built entirely from recycled materials that require no outside utilities.

Or maybe not. But if you're curious to know how others feel about Earthships, Tauren homes, and this no-impact style of green living, check out the poll at the end of the WoW Insider post -- it's pretty hysterical.

Colleen Vanderlinden, of In The Garden Online, writes about the three lessons she learned about the environment from gardening organically, as part of Blog Action Day.

• Lesson #1: Once chemicals of any kind are dumped on a piece of land, it takes a very, very, very long time for the soil to recover.
• Lesson #2: Strawberries do not grow in Michigan in December. Or November, January, February, March and April.
• Lesson #3: "Normal" is pathetically abnormal.

Please read Vanderlinden's full story for more on these lessons, they are fascinating.

Ah, all the many splendid ways in which we can reduce our environmental impact. Apparently even sex can be more eco-friendly.

At least that's the word from That's Fit, who's written this story on having a greener sex life.

They suggest showering together to save water (and because it's fun), using natural lubes and lotions without weird colors or tastes, putting bamboo sheets on the bed (because they're slippery!) and, of course, natural aphrodisiacs like ginseng, ginko biloba, strawberries, oysters and chocolate.

Just don't forget to use your eco-friendly toothbrush and solar-powered shaver, so that when you do get all close and snuggly, it's even more eco-pleasurable -- if you know what I mean.

Now you can think about Mother Nature the next time you're getting busy.

DS Fanboy is yet another blog that's gone green in honor of Blog Action Day. As the name suggests, they're completely, 100%, totally devoted to Nintendo's DS -- quite possibly the world's most awesome portable gaming platform.

They've reviewed Eco Creatures: Save the Forest, which may very well be the cutest game in the history of everything. Essentially, your job is to lead a bunch of fuzzy little squirrels in their quest to stop deforestation. And before you balk, be assured that this isn't some lame educational game that you played at your middle school library. This is an honest-to-goodness strategy game that's supposed to be fun.

But beyond that, it's being billed as "the first eco-conscious game for the Nintendo DS," and as such, a percentage of the game's proceeds in Japan were donated to the World Wide Fund for Nature.

So, assuming the game-makers continue that policy when they release Eco Creatures in the US, you can save real trees and real squirrels while you have fun leading animated ones in a world of make-believe.

Added bonus: you can check out a DS Fanboy gallery of screenshots all the cutesy characters here.

Aisledash, our fabulous new wedding site, is celebrating Blog Action Day today with lots of green posts to help you plan a green wedding!

• Tips about how to plan a green wedding, including info on vintage gowns, party favors and synthetic gems here.

• Al Gore's plan to reduce the environmental impact of your wedding.

Thinking of cutting down on your environmental impact with an eco-conscious home? While there are countless small changes you can make to your home life, reducing your reliance on traditional energy will make a big difference. To do this, you might consider solar power.

In honor of Blog Action Day, DIY Life has created a easy-to-use guide to "solar-powered battery chargers, and other solar devices that you can buy or build yourself."

I'm particularly interested in the self-contained and do-it-yourself solar energy systems highlighted by blogger Gary E. Sattler. These are systems that, once installed, could theoretically power your house. While they're expensive, these systems will get you "off the grid," and -- at least according to some estimates -- will save you so much money on annual electricity bills that they'll be worth it (financially speaking) within three to five years.

Among the many blogs taking part in today's Blog Action Day is That's Fit. They posted an interesting story about Samuel Huber, a man who's making a difference, one jog at a time.

Samuel's a self-proclaimed "eco-runner" -- someone who picks up trash while running (or walking, or hiking, or skateboarding, or whatever floats your boat).

At first this sounds a little obvious, but think about all the trash you pass on the street that you don't pick up. I live in a relatively clean city, and I still see so much that, after awhile, I barely notice it's there. Hundreds, if not thousands of people walk past that same trash every day -- think how much of it could disappear if just a few of those people had a slightly different perspective.

Granted, it's not always practical to spend your time picking up bits of other people's garbage -- but if you're already running for fun, maybe you could bring along a trash bag, and devote the time you're spending enhancing your body to enhancing your neighborhood as well.

As Patricia noted last week, today is Blog Action Day, when over 15,000 blogs will be raising awareness by talking about the environment -- regardless of what they normally discuss.

We'll be keeping you updated throughout the day on all the cool posts we stumble upon, in addition to all our regularly scheduled green goodness. If you find a site you think deserves to be highlighted here, please don't hesitate to let us know. And, of course, if you're a blogger who's joining the movement, send us a link to your eco-themed post and we'll do our best to fit it in.

Don't forget to check out the movement's official website -- and have a happy Blog Action Day!

October 15th, this coming Monday, is Blog Action Day, when bloggers unite to get one issue out there and into the forefront of everyone's mind. For this first year, Blog Action Day will be taking on the issue of the environment.

What can you do? Well, if you have a blog, publish a post on a topic pertaining to the environment. The posts do not have to have a certain viewpoint or push any particular agenda, only encourage discussion. You can also just publish a post publicizing Blog Action Day.

If you would like to register your blog, see the Blog Action Day website here. No personal information will be published other than your blog's name and URL. So far, Blog Action Day has over 10,000 blogs registered to participate with an audience estimated to be over 7 million!