The Environmentalist 12 Days of Christmas

On the twelfth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me
Twelve trees a-planted
Eleven CFL’s shining
Ten Fair-Trade chocolates
Nine PV panels lighting
Eight manatees a-swimming
Seven acres protecting
Six chimps a-swinging
Five No Conflict Diamonds Read the rest of this entry »

Makena Brown, grade 8, has a plan to help keep the planet healthy and make money, too. Makena collects all of her family’s recyclables and stores them in the back yard. About once a month, she and her family load up the car with the many bags of bottles and cans and take them to the local recycling center. Because it’s her project, Makena gets to keep the money paid by the recycling center for the aluminum, plastic and glass. "Makena is the chief of our recycling plant," says Mr. Brown proudly. "She’s the recycling queen."

"The money is the number one thing that’s in my mind," says Makena. "I’m like, that’s great! And in the back of my mind I know that this is helping the environment, [reducing] pollution, and helping the earth to get better step by step." With her recycling money, Makena is helping to pay her mom back for her new computer.

Ask a little more about Makena’s interest in protecting the environment, and you’ll find that she’s a fountain of knowledge. For example, she explains that more water is used to make plastic water bottles than can be contained by the bottles after they’re made. She’s also especially interested in renewable energy. Her eyes light up when she talks about San Francisco’s proposal to get electricity from tidal power generators.

It’s been about a year now that the Brown family has been saving their recyclables for Makena’s recycling project. Makena’s grandparents have also started to save their recyclables to contribute to the Brown family’s recycling program. "We end up with a big pile of bottles and cans on the side of the house," everyone chuckles. "We can’t walk past until we clean it up."

In addition to supporting Makena’s recycling project, her parents and her younger sister, Ashley, all have their own ways of helping the environment. These include choosing environmentally friendly cleaning products and using cloth shopping bags.

Ashley says, "we watched a show on Oprah and it was ‘Green Day’ and she gave organic cotton bags that help the environment to everybody in the audience."

"So when you go to the grocery store," she says cheerfully in unison with her mom, "and they ask ‘paper or plastic?’ you can say neither because you have your own bags."

It was Makena’s school that gave her the interest to pursue her recycling business. "It actually started last year when I learned about global warming," recalls Makena. "In 7th grade, we did a project on global warming. Each group was assigned to do something. There were groups for food, recycling, pesticides, and all these things about global warming. It was called the Green Fair. And I learned about recycling and how much litter is on the side of the roads. And I was like, that’s a great way to get money and help the environment."

Mr. Brown adds that he has taken Makena to see a wetland preservation project in which he is involved with the hope that it would interest his daughter in environmental protection.

What’s the family’s least favorite part of delivering their recyclables to the recycling center? "The smell," everyone says together, laughing. "It’s pretty bad."

Makena and Ashley explain, "When we go, we do not want to catch the germs and the stickiness on our hands so we wear latex gloves."

With her recycling business rolling along, I wondered if Makena would like it if companies stopped producing plastic bottles, even if having fewer bottles to recycle might put a hole in her profits. "I would," she said, "because then we’d be saving the water and it would be healthier for the planet. It would be another step to stop global warming." Spoken like a conscientious and environmentally responsible businessperson.

For people Makena’s age interested in starting an at-home recycling project, Makena has some advise. "The only thing," she says, "is just to keep your mind on it and help your family know and make rules. I told my family that if they’re done with a bottle or can, they could just put it on the counter. I put it in a bag and take it out to the yard. Keep your family informed. And the other thing is just try to get other people involved because you’re going to get money for it and you’re also helping the environment."

GO and ENN news articles have reported on Ecuador’s high-minded decision to leave its largest oil reserve untapped. The unexploited oil fields lie in Yasuni National Park, home to at least two indigenous tribes. Drilling them would add a pretty penny to the country’s purse. However, under the YasunÌ-ITT Initiative, President Rafael Correa has vowed to leave the oil in the ground. The initiative also sets the lofty goals of developing greater renewable energy, building greater mass transit, and stimulating eco-tourism.

How can the average person reading this article encourage Ecuador to do the right thing by the Earth and its indigenous people? Is it enough to say "good job, well done?" With the rest of the world fumbling to look busy over addressing climate change, it is our opportunity and perhaps our obligation to stand up and support Ecuador for its brave move.

Ecuador hopes to receive some compensation from other governments for the unexploited oil due to the benign effect on the global climate of leaving it in the ground. But for the average person in a country that exports 420,600 barrels of oil a day, President Correa’s decision may seem like a risky one. Ecuador’s official unemployment is 10.6% and an estimated 47% are underemployed, estimates the CIA World Factbook.

41 year-old Maritza Salazar owns a stationary store in Guayaquil, Ecuador’s largest city. She is one of a long list of Ecuadoran entrepreneurs requesting a loan through the micro-financing organization, Kiva.org. For vendors like Mrs. Salazar, national oil revenues may be less important if she’s able to fund the growth of her non-oil-dependent business. By funding businesses like Mrs. Salazar’s, the average person from anywhere in the world can make substantive progress in alleviating Ecuador’s dependence on oil and encouraging its transition into one of the world’s leading environmentally friendly nations.

Another green option that may appeal to the lover of travel is to visit Ecuador and make use of its rich eco-tourism opportunities. Tourism is the Ecuador’s fourth most valuable source of revenue. Eco-tourism is a great way to get the memorable experiences that tourists often look for when traveling to Ecuador, including visiting indigenous tribes, experiencing local customs and tasting regional foods, horseback riding, animal-watching, and setting out on guided hikes through the unbelievably beautiful scenery of virgin rainforest. Take this opportune moment to visit the land that eco-tourism company, Global Exchange, calls "a bastion of cultural and biological diversity… home to one of the most successful and peaceful indigenous movements in the Americas." See the list of resources below for some ways to take advantage of Ecuador’s eco-tourism industry.

The decision not to drill in Ecuador’s Yasuni National Park will benefit the entire world, by protecting an ecological heritage and indigenous lands as well as effectively preventing 436 million tons of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere. Ecuador must know that its decision was a good one, and here’s where you and I have the opportunity to step in. As usual, if you have other ideas about how to encourage Ecuador’s exciting, ecologically minded move, please leave them here below in the comment and discussion area.

Resources:

Kiva.org

Ecuador | Iloveecotourism.com

Adventure Ecotourism in Ecuador | Piedra Blanca

Ecuador | Global Exchange

Department of Tourism | Ecuador National Website

Ecuador Adventures | OARS

Ecotourism and Ecuador | Ecuador Tierra Viva Travel Company

Rio Muchacho Organic Farm | Guacamayo Tours

Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands | Lonely Planet

References:

Ecuador to Leave Oil – And Revenue – In the Ground | GO

Gutsy Ecuador proposes to put a lid on oil | Environmental News Network (ENN)

Introduction to Ecuador’s Economy | Ecuador Ministry of Tourism

Ecuador | The United States Central Intelligence Agency World Factbook

Before reading this blog, go to lifegoggles.com and download their free 100 Ways to Save the Planet PDF. I’ll wait while you download it. *Whistles, looking away, twiddling thumbs* No really, you won’t get that same do-good feeling unless you can see some of the things we’re talking about on this list. When we’re all on the same page, let’s start looking at some of these 100 tips for lending a hand to Mother Earth.

As you’re scrolling down the list, you’ll notice that some suggestions involve a lifestyle change, like becoming a vegetarian (#13) or using cars less (#21). Others involve very little change, like making sure your fridge door closes properly (#96) or swapping outfits with your friends instead of buying new ones (#69). (Note: for this last suggestion, wardrobe changes with friends of the same gender are recommended, but hey, who are we to judge?) You’ll also see a number of items mentioned in the list that you encounter every day: flowers, milk (soy or cow), toothpaste, junk mail… it seems that nearly everything in our life has the chance to get a little greener. From turning your bathtub into a sofa to using the library more often, there are opportunities everywhere for good, clean, environmentally friendly fun.

“But wait,” you say, “I already do a lot of the things on this list. Recycling? Duh. Buying organic? Naturally.” Chances are, there are a number of things on the list that you do already. You may not even think twice about some of them, like buying your music online instead of on CD. As you spot more and more environmentally friendly practices that are already a part of your daily life, feel free to feel proud. Feel great about what you do that helps to make our society an environmentally sustainable one. Give yourself a pat on the back, a hug, and a chocolate cookie. You deserve it.

Flexing your green muscle is a little like stretching or practicing a sport. It takes dedication and discipline, but it gets easier as you go. Yesterday, it might have seemed like a huge hurdle to write your government representatives about environmental issues that matter to you. Tomorrow, you’ll be a mover and a shaker—effecting legislation, investing in green businesses, and taking on new projects every day. Always remember to appreciate how far you’ve come (no matter where you started) and give yourself credit for what you do. Maybe this list will offer some new ideas that you hadn’t considered before. Maybe you can think of others to add to it. Either way, it helps to acknowledge your everyday achievements.

You can also try using the list from lifegoggles as a game. What’s your score out of 100? If it’s 90 or more, consider yourself an eco-legend; if you get 80 and above, how great! Even if you get only 10 or 20, consider what items they were and congratulate yourself on having incorporated them into your lifestyle. This may seem like a “no environmentalist left behind” approach, but while we strive to improve our environment and our quality of life, it’s important to recognize our efforts and accomplishments along the way.

Oh yeah, one more thing: when you get to #86, give me a call. (I love honey!)

References, Resources, & Photo Source:

100 Ways to Save the Planet | LifeGoggles.com

Many people use bicycles for commuting and running errands. We love the fresh morning breeze, the easy parking, the health benefits, and the financial savings. Besides, what other commuting option has its own ’80s theme song? (Cue Queen’s "Bicycle Race"). Yep, while the sun is shining and the weather’s fine, you can’t beat bicycling for a great way to get around town.

But what happens when the going gets wet? With autumn and winter just around the corner, it’s easy to let the wet weather dampen the excitement of the ride. As the days contract and sunshine turns to rain, do we trade in our bazillion-mile-to-the-gallon peddling machine and our great summer biking legs for a piddly twenty-five miles to the gallon? Not a chance.

It turns out that year-round bikers have a second theme song: "Riders On The Storm." Feel free to hum along as we look at some fairly easy ways to bike safely and arrive dry, even in the rain.

1. Always use front and rear bike lights for early morning, evening, and wet weather rides. You may be able to see without a headlight, but drivers have a more difficult time seeing you. A flashing taillight makes you more visible from behind as well.

2. Reduce your speed for greater control of your vehicle. Most times, we have fewer than 10 miles to go on our daily rides, so going slower will only add a few minutes onto the time of our ride.

3. Give yourself more time to stop. Wet brakes need to burn off water before they can grip properly. This translates into a greater stopping distance.

4. Apply even pressure to both the front and rear (or left and right hand) breaks to avoid skidding.

5. Keep in mind that motorists have poorer visibility and less control over their vehicles as well in the rain. Bike defensively and make yourself visible with bright clothing (more on clothing to follow bellow).

6. Put rain guards or fenders over your tires. College campuses have an affectionate term for the line of muck and water that wet tires can spin up onto your back: they call it the "freshman stripe." By the second year of college, most people have learned to appreciate fenders on their bikes.

7. Keep a wide enough distance from parked cars that you won’t have to take evasive action if someone opens his or her car door in front of you.

8. Bike predictably. When you are biking next to parked cars, maintain your place on the road. Even if a crosswalk or some empty parking spaces give you the chance to bike further to the right, keep biking in a straight line. You’ll be more predictable to motorists and you won’t have to worry about merging back into the flow of traffic.

9. Follow the rules of the road. This is true all year long, but is especially important in wet weather.

10. On roads with no bike lane, make yourself clearly a part of traffic. Be confident and assertive about your position on the road. When you come to a stop sign or red light and there’s no bike lane, maintain your place in traffic by coming to a stop in the line of traffic and waiting your turn to cross the intersection.

11. Where possible, avoid biking over metal manholes, painted pavement, subway ventilation grates, and construction plates. These can all be slippery when wet.

12. Also avoid puddles and wet leaves. Puddles can hide potholes and wet leaves can be slippery. Also, there’s no telling how deep puddles are. A friend of mine shared the amusing story of biking under a walkway during a period of heavy rain and ending up in chest-deep water. No harm done, but certainly a situation worth avoiding.

13. When bicycling over slippery surfaces, keep your wheels perpendicular to the ground and balance your weight evenly. Avoid sharp turns or leaning in the direction of your turn.

14. As usual, cross railroad tracks at an angle, preferably a perpendicular angle. Never attempt to cross railroad tracks with your wheels parallel to the tracks.

15. When locking your bike, turn your lock so that water doesn’t run into the keyhole.

16. Save your morning shower for after your ride. If your office does not offer showers, find a gym neaby your workplace so that you can rinse and towel off when you get near work. This rearrangement of your schedule will allow you to arrive refreshed and dry to work.

17. Bring a change of clothes. Either keep dry clothes in a plastic covering that you take with you to work, or leave a change of clothes in your desk.

18. Bring a plastic bag or shower cap to put over our bike seat if you park your bike outside. This will keep your seat dry until you’re ready to bike home.

19. Dress for the drizzle. If there’s one place that knows about biking in the rain, it’s the University of Washington in Seattle. The weather-savvy folks at this university have compiled their own list of wet weather clothing for cyclists:

• A cycling rain shell. This is different from a rain "jacket" or a rain "coat." Generally it will not have a hood, and it will have underarm and side ventilation (zipper or mesh). The advantage is that you can put what ever cold weather insulation you need on underneath of it, using your hoodie or favorite sweater for warmth. Beware of cheap imitations! You want something made out of plastic, or heavily coated nylon. Get it a little big, so that you can wear layers underneath. The underarm ventilation works to keep it from turning into a little greenhouse as you ride.

• Foot covers and wool socks. Nothing is quite as annoying as spending the rest of the day with wet feet. Not all of us have a locker or an office to keep a change in, so spend the extra few dollars on some Merino wool socks by SmartWool or Sock Guy. Wool will stay warm, even if wet. Combine wool socks with some kind of neoprene or other water resistant booties that go over your shoes, and you could have toasty warm toes all day! Booties also extend the life of your expensive bike shoes.

• Legs. Rain pants are a great option, but expensive and should be tried on before buying. Second Ascent (used!) in Ballard and REI are good places to go. Some folks swear by using mountaineering gators just on their calves, others prefer full leg rain pants and others think that having wool or polyester pants over Patagonia long underwear or cycling tights is the way to go. It kind of depends on your own sense of style.

• Visor and helmet cover or a cycling cap. It is important to keep something under/over your helmet to keep your head warm, and equally important to have a visor (especially if you wear glasses). Cycling caps are a cheap way to take care of that, but they are cotton and don’t dry well. Helmet covers are a good option, but tend to wear around where your helmet sticks out. It’s a personal decision, but it’s important to have something keeping your body heat in and the rain out.

• Gloves! Preferrably padded, and full finger or half finger with regular knit gloves underneath. They are very important to help keep your grip when it’s slippery.

20. Most winters only have a small number of truly pouring wet days. On these days, you can follow these tips to stay as dry as possible, but there’s no harm in jumping on the bus or the subway either.

Additional references and resources:

Riders on the Storm (bicycling video) | San Francisco Bicycle Coalition

Biking in the Rain Tips | The University of Washington

Cycling in the Rain | Suite 101

The Ultimate Resource Guide for Commuting by Bicycle | 21st Century Citizen

Better Living Through Biking | GO

How to Ride Your Bike to Work | GO 

Lighter Footstep: How to Buy a Great Used Bicycle | GO

Environmental Defense: Bicycling to Work Pays Off | GO

Photo Source:

A Bicycle in the Rain | Flickr

A report released Wednesday from the World Conservation Union (IUCN) predicts an 80% population decline of the most common type of gorilla, the Western Gorilla, from 1980 levels by 2046. The 2007 Red List of Threatened Species finds "commercial hunting and outbreaks of the Ebola virus have virtually extirpated gorillas from a great deal of otherwise intact forest" where they were previously thought to thrive.

"What’s immediately needed if we are to halt the decimation of the western gorilla is nothing short of a massive global response," said Richard Parnell, of the Wildlife Conservation Society. This author agrees. The following list is a response to the immediate need for action to prevent the extinction of gorillas and other threatened primate species—our closest relatives on Earth.

Here are seven unusual ways to prevent the extinction of gorillas. These approaches are also designed to introduce you to some of the complex causes and issues surrounding the threat that gorillas face from our species. This blog benefits from an exceptionally intelligent and motivated readership; if you have other ideas, please contribute them by posting comments below this article.

1. Don’t Buy Bushmeat!

If you know someone who lives in or travels to Africa, make sure he or she knows not to buy bushmeat. Bushmeat is a term for meat from any wild animal killed by hunters and sold as food. It’s popular in many African restaurants and markets. While not all bushmeat is illegally poached, buying bushmeat supports a demand for any and all forms of bushmeat. This drives poachers to shoot elephants, gorillas, chimpanzees and other primates, forest antelopes, and other animals in the hopes that they can sell the meat for commercial profit. As the IUCN’s report concludes, supporting the bushmeat trade makes a person directly responsible for the endangerment of Western Gorillas, among other primates.

Douglas Williamson, a wildlife expert at the U.N. further explains, "along with habitat loss, the commercial bushmeat trade is probably the biggest threat to wildlife in Africa."

2. Do Buy Other African Goods

The problem of poaching is enflamed by the desire of impoverished people to make money quickly. Let’s face it: entering a national park patrolled by armed guards to illegally poach and butcher endangered animals probably isn’t anybody’s ideal of making a living. Supporting businesses, local crafts, and economic development through commerce helps sustain local populations. This decreases the incentives to illegally hunt primates.

If you can find a good microinvesting organization that offers investment opportunities in African countries, please post it in the discussion below. Kiva.org is one valuable microinvesting organization, but selections for investment in Africa are slim to none. (Editor’s note: GO’s sister site Planetsave raises funds for Kiva.org.)

"We need money," says Democratic Republic of the Congo environment minister Henri Dojombo. "It is poverty in the first place that leads to poaching."

3. Have a ‘Save Gorillas’ Fundraiser Movie Night

Gather friends, family, neighbors, and community members in a park or at your home for a showing of your favorite gorilla movie. Watch Mountain Gorilla, Gorillas In The Mist, or even King Kong. Have everyone there donate $10+ (the price of going to the movies), and donate the pooled money to a conservation organization that works to protect gorillas. For example, you could adopt a gorilla with the World Wildlife Fund, the African Wildlife Fund, or the Diane Fossey Fund.

Come up with other fun ways to raise money to adopt a gorilla. You can do it with your school classroom, as a gift for someone, or even on your own, or as a gift to yourself.

4. Volunteer in Africa

Yup, that’s right. Travelers in Africa rarely have anything but praise for the amazing people they meet and the incredible land they come to understand better. It’s literally the chance of a lifetime, and most people don’t realize how easy it is.

To volunteer in ways that will benefit Western Gorillas, you’ll want to be in Angola, Cameroon, The Central African Republic, The Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, or Nigeria.

Look for programs and opportunities online, including at the following websites:

• Volunteer Abroad
• The Peace Corps
• World Volunteer Web: Countries
• Universal Giving: International Volunteer Opportunities
• Volunteer for Prosperity: Africa

You can also try contacting other organizations, like the Cameroon Environmental Watch (to translate emails into or from French, a good online resource is Altavista’s Babelfish), to learn how you can help.

5. Donate to Heifer International

Send cows to help gorillas? More or less… the folks at Heifer International have programs in Cameroon, which is home to the Western Gorilla. Donations help the organization train local farmers in better, more sustainable farming methods. The domestic animals they provide empower local people with a source of income and food, like milk and eggs. For gorilla populations to be saved from the relentless assaults from illegal hunting, local human populations must be given a viable method of survival that allows them to live without depending on poaching as a source of income. Donating to Heifer International helps to accomplish this feat. You can read more on their website.

It’s true that encroaching farmland also threatens to gorilla populations through deforestation and habitat destruction. However, according to the Wildlife Conservation Society, "the most immediate threat to western gorillas is not habitat destruction as previously believed, but poaching and lack of law enforcement." This assertion is echoed in Wednesday’s IUCN report. Therefore, at least at the moment, helping local people with any form of industry which stems the perceived need to massacre gorillas for income is an important step in the race to prevent the extinction of gorillas.

6. Push Timber Companies to Follow the Law

The bushmeat trade is made possible in part by a lack of oversight and enforcement of the law in the timber industry. European and African loggers penetrate Central African forests, which are home to the remaining gorilla populations. The logging industry in Africa still lacks regulation from the companies who purchase the lumber. Loggers therefore are often tempted to make extra money by poaching adult gorillas and chimpanzees to sell on the commercial bushmeat market, and by capturing the young for sale as exotic pets.

European timber companies, like Belgian Decolvenaere, buy tropical lumber from African forests. Many African timber companies are members of the InterAfrican Forest Industries Association (IFIA), as well as the International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO). While both of these organizations recognize the severity of the bushmeat problem and its ties to logging, they need average citizens to contact them by the thousands to encourage greater regulation and monitoring of loggers. Always be polite and courteous when contacting companies and organizations with important issues such as these.

You can contact the Japan-based ITTO by email at itto@itto.or.jp, by phone at 81-45-223-1110, by fax at +81-45-223-1111, or by mail at

International Tropical Timber Organization
International Organizations Center, 5th Floor
Pacifico-Yokohama 1-1-1, Minato-Mirai,
Nishi-ku, Yokohama, 220-0012 Japan

You can contact the France-based IFIA by email at ifia@wanadoo.fr, by phone at 33 1 43 42 42 00, by fax at 33 1 43 42 55 22, or by mail at

InterAfrican Forest Industries Association (IFIA)
6, avenue de Saint Mandé
75012 Paris, France

You can contact Decolvenaere logging company through their web site’s contact form. According to Greenpeace, "despite several requests, the Belgian importer Decolvenaere has shown no interest at all to purchase FSC-certified timber." You can contact them and ask them to adhere to Forest Steward Council (FSC) guidelines on sustainable forestry. Also, ask that they better monitor logging operations to ensure that loggers do not poach, and that they not purchase lumber from third parties whose practices they cannot vouch for.

7. Spread the Word!

Make sure to tell a friend—or 500!—about the need to take immediate action to protect gorillas from impending extinction. Have them contribute ideas about ways to take action, raise funds together to donate to conservation organizations that work to protect gorillas, or simply spread information about gorillas, their lifestyles, their habitat, and their current plight for survival.

References on Bushmeat:

Bushmeat Crisis Task Force | bushmeat.org

The Bushmeat Project | bushmeat.net

Bushmeat–A Resource at Risk | Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

Bushmeat | The Humane Society of the United States

The Growing Problem of Bushmeat Consumption | Jeffry M. Burnam, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Environment; Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs

‘Save Our Apes’ DRC Funding Plea | Africa from Allbusiness.com

References on African Logging:

Homepage | International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO)

English Homepage | InterAfrican Forest Industries Association (IFIA)

Africa Resources | Greenpeace

Company Homepage | Decolvenaere

What is Certification? | The Forest Stewardship Council (FSA)

References on Gorillas:

Homepage | The World Conservation Union (IUCN)

2007 Redlist of Threatened Species | IUCN

Gorillas Now ‘Critically Endangered’ | Discovery Channel News

Want to Save Gorillas? Enforce Laws | Wildlife Conservation Society

Resources on Volunteering and Donating:

Home | Volunteer Abroad

Home | Peace Corps

Country List | World Volunteer Web

Find A Vounteer Opportunity | International Volunteer Opportunities

Global Map, Africa | Volunteers For Prosperity

Home | Heifer International

Home | Kiva.org

Gorillas | World Wildlife Fund

Adopt A Gorilla | African Wildlife Society

Adopt A Gorilla… Save A Species | The Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International

Photo Source:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/arro08/131759180/

Pepsi or Coke? Levi’s or Gap? Mac or PC?

Our consumer choices make a difference for the climate. Choosing a Big Mac over a Whopper, or picking a Dell over an Apple may help to slow climate change, suggests a new consumer guide. That’s because McDonald’s and Dell made the “good list” (though not the “great list”) of companies that are taking actions to address climate change. Burger King and Apple received failing scores and are at the bottom of their industries.

Want to know which corporations are greening up and which are just greenwashing? Climate Counts has devised a way to tell. They’ve compiled a free pocket guide listing 56 major corporations according to how serious they are about solving climate change.

If you want to stop climate change and still get those hot new jeans and sleek new laptop, you can, simply by choosing the better of two products. The free pocket guide from Climate Counts can help. Carry it with you and use it as a quick go-to list for everyday shopping decisions. Every dollar we spend is a vote for or against our environmental values and the companies that support them.

How Much of a Difference Can I Make As a Consumer?

“Anyone who thinks they are too small to make a difference has never been in bed with a mosquito.” –Climate Counts

Consider ozone holes. As consumers, once we decided that ozone holes were an important issue to address, we started to make shopping decisions based on this environmental value. It didn’t take long for industry to react by eliminating ozone-depleting CFC’s from their products. An issue as threatening and global as the formation ozone holes in our atmosphere is on its way to being resolved, and we have small changes in our shopping habits to thank! (That and the environmentalists who sparked the change.)

What is the Climate Counts Pocket Guide Based On?

Working in partnership with Green Order, Climate Counts assembled a test that gives companies scores ranging from 0 to 100. To get these scores, the guide uses 22 criteria to measure four important benchmarks. First, they assess how accurate a company is in reporting its climate footprint. Next, they test how much the company has done to reduce its global warming pollution. Third, does the company support legislation that aims at addressing climate change, or does it try to block this legislation? Finally, the criteria reflect how clearly and openly companies share their climate protection efforts with the public.

What Do You Mean Apple’s Bad? I Just Bought an i-Phone!!

If a company receives a poor or failing score, it simply means that they have a lot of work to do in taking responsibility for their impact on the climate. For these companies there is hope, but they need consumers to give them a little guidance.

In my case, I bought a MacBook last year, so it was a big disappointment to learn that Apple’s not doing much of anything to take responsibility for its impact on the climate. I like my Mac, but in light of this report, PC’s are looking a whole lot sleeker. I’ll write to Apple to let them know my views.

If you already made a big purchase from a company that you want to see improve, write or call and (politely) let them know that you like their product, but that you would like to see them take steps to measure and reduce their climate footprint. Remember to be kind to the service representative who assists you: they might also be able to tell you what positive environmental steps the company is taking. If they don’t know about climate footprints or ways that the company could improve its environmental responsibility, consider suggesting a few of your ideas.

You can also tailor your investments to reflect your environmental values. Investing in companies that are taking action to become environmentally sustainable is another excellent and effective way to make real change in the world.

Photo Source: Climate Counts (www.climatecounts.org)

What’s the connection between dinner parties and polar bears? No, we’re not suggesting that you serve bear. Cooking one large meal with a small group of friends is more energy efficient than cooking several individual meals in different houses. This reduces the greenhouse gasses responsible for Global Warming, a threat to arctic ecosystems.

Interested? Great, let’s get cooking! First, choose your menu options: something delicious that’s easy to make, like spaghetti and (vegan?) meatballs, fajitas and tacos, a salad, or even some simple sushi rolls. Call a couple of friends, preferably ones who can walk, bike, bus, or carpool to your house easily. The fewer fossil fuels they use to get to your house, the greener your party will be.

If you’ve also been looking for a chance to get to know your neighbors better, or maybe you’re searching for the right occasion to talk to that cutie down the street, don’t be shy; invite them over. Ask each guest to bring one or two of the ingredients you’ll need for the meal and give brownie points for any locally grown, organic, or fair-trade ingredients. When you’re shopping for ingredients, consider organic wine, locally grown fruit, or fair trade chocolate. Don’t forget to use non-disposable dishware.

Now enjoy the company of friends over a delicious, home-cooked meal. If everyone has a good time, why not take turns hosting weekly dinner parties and inviting new friends? You’ll build community, save money on groceries, and enjoy tasty leftovers. And, whether it’s your culinary prowess or the way you suavely compost the kitchen scraps, you might just make a splash with your neighbors as well.

So, if you love the good life, consider throwing dinner parties as a way to build community, reduce waste, supporting organic foods, and even fight Global Warming.

Bon appétit!

Want More? Try Workplace Activism: Bringing Slow Foods to a Fast Paced World

You can bring green dining to the workplace. Choose one day a week when two or three coworkers can team up from home to bring in a homemade lunch for the rest of the office. Ask them to keep track of what they spend on ingredients and have everybody who would like to join in the lunch contribute several dollars to cover the cost. Then rotate through the office to give others a chance to be designated as chef for a day. You can suggest that everyone use organic, locally grown, fair trade ingredients, or you can showcase these ingredients when it is your day to bring lunch.

What’s the payoff? When choosing where to eat lunch during the workweek, we run the risk of eating unhealthy fast foods and using wasteful to-go packaging and we often end up paying more than we would for food cooked at home. Shared lunches are healthier, use less packaging, and they add an important touch of fun and common ground to the workplace while saving you and your coworkers money.

Photo Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jkonig/114636130/

Remember that big bully back in the fifth grade? Sure, we all wished he’d just go away. His early growth spurt meant wedgie sandwiches all around for the little guys. But what if, whenever he did something right, he was congratulated instead of being frowned at or ignored?  Today, the big kids of Corporate America are starting to do things right and it’s important to give them a pat on the back to let them know that they are going in the right direction.

It wasn’t long ago that all we saw was Wal-Mart wedgie-ing mom and pop, McDonalds flunking Health 101, and General Electric hanging out with the Military Industrial Complex kids. When these mega corporations start greening their grades and brushing up on their social responsibility manners, we all grumble suspiciously that they’re just doing it for attention. But with so much positive change happening in the business world, it may be time that we start to show the big guys a little love.

If a company does something that impresses you, then write or call to tell them so. And remember to play nice; being polite and respectful to the person you speak or write to is absolutely key in encouraging the company’s green growth. By sharing how excited you are about the company’s green business practices, you encourage further green development while making the customer service representative you speak with or write to feel good about his or her job and perhaps excited as well about helping to green the company. You’ll stand out in their minds and you could even completely make their day. After all, chances are that he or she is already an advocate for positive change. So make the most of your communications.

Just how green, you ask, is big business becoming? Take a look for yourself. You can visit the websites of your most (or least) favorite corporation and see what they’re doing to make good. When you find something you like, find the “contact” link on the website and shoot them a quick note: “psssst! Thanks for your commitment to or involvement in…!” You might be happily surprised by what you learn.

Did you know, for instance, that Starbucks is the biggest U.S. importer of Fair Trade certified coffee or that it pays its corporate employees to bicycle to work? How about that General Electric is positioning to take the lead in renewable energy? McDonald’s buys beef from ranches inspected by animal behaviorist, Temple Grandin, and plans to convert all of its U.K. delivery trucks to run on biodiesel made from its own cooking oil. Waste Management Inc., the tycoons of trash, are converting waste to energy—enough to power 600,000 homes a day—in addition to their recycling services. Already, thanks to utility companies, many of us can buy clean energy from our existing energy suppliers. Even Wal-Mart is taking steps toward solar and already funds the conservation of one acre of wildlife habitat for every acre occupied by a store. Also, get a look at the Chevy Volt hybrid plug-in or the Lotus Zap-X Crossover electric vehicle.

We’re not saying that you have to become bosom buddies with Mr. Big from Corporate America. Certainly, there are an overwhelming number of improvements we all need to make before our global society is a sustainable one. Just kind of put your arm around him and let him know you think he’s cool when he makes environmentally and socially responsible decisions.

For a roll call of who’s doing good, take a look at a list of the world’s top 100 most sustainable corporations at Global100.org. To sort these companies by business values, see this page from Business Week. And, for a shortlist of the exceptionally green, visit EnvironmentalLeader.com. Those with an interest in Socially Responsible Investment (SRI) can also look for greener pastures at sites like AltEnergyStocks.com or InsideGreenTech.com, or by searching the portfolio holdings of SRI funds.

But it’s not just the big guys who are making a difference in the world today. Keep your eyes peeled as well for just what smaller businesses are doing to make positive change. For example, check out Strauss Family Creamery, a local dairy that provides organic milk in glass bottles, which it cleans and reuses. They even run their farm with 100% renewable energy that they generate with their own cow power: no, not cows on a treadmill, but methane gas from the cow pies that they store and turn into electricity. And you might be interested to know about Earth Tones, a cell phone co-op company that donates 100% of its profits to environmental non-profits.

So, whether it’s the big kid who’s trying to make good or the little guy with a heart of gold, write to or call the companies you see doing the right thing and let them know they are doing a good job. You will brighten someone’s day and help encourage the world to become a little bit greener.

Photo Sources: http://www.flickr.com/photos/clintmclean/158995528/, http://www.flickr.com/photos/cjbj/76107112/.

Community activism—getting involved in your community to make positive change—is both thrilling and rewarding. But fighting against the current to do it can be hard work. To be effective at making change in your community, it’s a good idea to first learn what the community itself sees as its major issues. By learning about and responding to your community’s needs, you can generate popular support for your actions and more easily find financing for your goals and projects. 

What is most needed in your area may not be exactly what you had envisioned doing. For instance, you may want to protect snow leopards and there are certainly many ways to do so; however, you may have an even greater opportunity to help large cat species by working in your community to resolve conflict between local residents and mountain lions or to prevent game hunting of these magnificent animals. By learning about and addressing the real needs of your community or ecosystem you are guaranteed to make a real and positive impact.

And remember to approach the issue with respect for the needs and concerns of the people involved. In the above example, you may find that conflict between cougars and people arises because of fear of these powerful animals. On the West Coast, the same conflict is present between people and sea lions, especially when these large predators visit local beaches and frighten families or eat fish caught by local fishermen. In these cases, effective activism may involve education, animal rehabilitation, or working in hand with the farmers or fishermen to offset or prevent their loss of profit while protecting the species they view as a threat.

If your interest is improving the environment, it helps to learn about the native ecology of your area. Think about how the environment where you live has changed in the last 200 years. Maybe the land was converted to a city or turned into farmland. What strains does this place on the local ecosystem? For example, if you live in the Great Plains States or the Prairie Provinces, perhaps you see farmlands that use more water than the natural aquifers can support. This is a major concern to farmers and environmentalists alike. Then why not get involved by encouraging more efficient drip irrigation on farms, promoting less thirsty native plants in the front yards of nearby urban areas, and educating others about the importance of water conservation?

One famous example of someone who learned to address change by meeting the needs of local communities is Jane Goodall, who set out with an interest in chimpanzees and a desire to protect their declining populations. Along the way, she learned about some of the important issues for villagers in the local communities that depend on the same land and resources as the chimpanzee populations. She realized that to be successful in her conservation efforts, she would have to also address the needs of the community. Today, the Jane Goodall Institute (and other organizations, like the Wildlife Conservation Society) are helping local Tanzanian communities to meet their needs and solve their most pressing issues in ways that don’t harm chimpanzee populations.

Even far-reaching goals like the protection of an entire species must start by addressing the needs of the communities where they are to be implemented. This creates a situation where everyone wins.
What if your interests are different from the community’s needs? Rather than abandoning your interests, be creative. Try drawing a Venn diagram where one circle lists actions that will respond to your community’s needs and another lists solutions to an issue about which you have an interest. The overlapping area of the diagram will give you creative ways to approach the needs of the community while pursuing your interests.

Even issues that at first seem distant can often be approached from the same angle. For instance, if you care about global warming, but your community is more concerned with the rising cost of health care, it might be most effective to approach the issue of health care first and find out from that perspective how you can include solutions to global warming as well. In this case, it may be that you end up working with the American Lung Association to prevent childhood asthma by decreasing air pollution and greenhouse gases. Or, you may contribute to public education about human influences on the climate with the support of insurance companies that have begun to raise their fees in areas that are most vulnerable to health and property damage due to climate change. In any case, you will succeed at generating support and accomplishing your goals best by working for and not against others in the community.

But wait, there’s more! So that you can have the funds to make your community activism dreams a reality, The Case Foundation is offering the Make It Your Own Awards for "inspired individuals and passionate teams who are connecting people to discuss what matters, find smart solutions, and take action.” They are offering an impressive $35,000 grant to fund deserving community activism programs. But you don’t have to come in first to win their support. All in all, the Case foundation is “giving $100 to the top 100, $10,000 to the top 20, and an extra $25,000 to the final four.” If you enjoy community activism and want to do more, then don’t miss your chance to apply by August 8.

Additional References and Resources:
The Center for Ecoliteracy: www.ecoliteracy.org

Local Ecology of San Francisco, "Nature in the City:" http://natureinthecity.org

Rock the Vote in partnership with the Make It Your Own Awards: www.rockthevote.com/makeityourown
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he Jane Goodall Institute’s Roots & Shoots Program, engaged in positive community activism: www.rootsandshoots.org
Photo source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/benevolink/82714178/