Top 10 Ideas On Living A Greener and Eco-friendly Life In 2011

Posted on December 30, 2010 by itees

My sister and niece came to visit Christmas weekend and we exchanged gifts like most families, and of course we each remembered to include donations. I gave my niece her first adopted turtle via the Sea Turtle Conservancy. The package sent for her included all sorts of information and a certificate about the turtle and she can track the turtle’s whereabouts online at the website. She is studying environmental science and this is one of her passions, so she loved it! When I opened a gift from her, she had donated honeybees in my name to help feed families via Heifer International.

This started me thinking of ways we can all live a greener and environmentally friendly life in 2011.

1- If you cannot adopt an animal from a rescue then at least make a donation to help them take care of the ones left behind.

2- With the economy finally loosening up a bit, remember all the organizations and charities that have suffered the past few years and give them a bit, even $5 really helps.

3- Make sure to conserve at home, it all starts with us individuals! Turn the water off while soaping the dishes, or brushing your teeth. Check for gaps on doors and windows to keep more heat inside.

4- Help your favorite charities by posting and tweeting about them. If you share with your friends what you care about, maybe they will also.

5- When the weather is bad, ask your neighbors if they need anything. They may be elderly or unable to get out because of snow.

6- Don’t throw trash on the sidewalk leaving a trail behind you, like there’s someone there to pick up after you. There isn’t! And PLEASE pick up after your dog! Between the snow, slush, trash and dog poop it’s a mess out there!

7- Be sure to eat healthy foods. Too much junk food, fattening foods or alcohol without any exercise is a bad thing.

8- Try to recycle as much as you can around the house. Reuse plastics and paper.

9- Unplug what isn’t in use, saving on electricity.

10 – Practice what you preach. (I’m going to do more of all of these!)

The Little Book of Shocking Global Facts – Green Books Campaign 2010

Posted on November 10, 2010 by itees

Barnbrook Design has compiled close to 200 pages of shocking global facts that cover these important issues: trade, environment, health, population, human rights, arms trade, war and illicit drugs. As I read through this book, one thing became quite clear. The world’s priorities are seriously screwed up and at this pace we’re potentially all doomed. Between runaway global spending on the wrong issues to the massive population explosion to deforestation and global warming, we need to make REAL CHANGE happen or our civilization is truly going to end as we know it. The facts were gathered from the world’s most authoritative sources and a glossary is contained in the back.

The book questions global politics and highlights the inequalities and iniquities of rampant globalization.

How is it that the developed world spends billions on weaponry, while the poor of the world have no access to education, medicines or clean water?

Here are just some of the facts from this alarming book:

Chapter One, Trade: The richest 2% own more than 1/2 of all global assets. The financial crisis that started in 2008, slowed trade and halted investment throughout the world. The poorest countries were hit the hardest with 50 million sent into extreme poverty.

Chapter Two, Environment: 25% of greenhouse gases are caused by deforestation. Why are we cutting down so many trees? So we can clear the way and raise more cattle for the growing need for meat and the population that’s out of control. Because of global warming, glaciers are melting which will threaten water supplies to millions. Between 40-60 million more people will be exposed to malaria in Africa alone.

Chapter Three, Health: Tobacco is the most preventable cause of death, but still kills more people than tuberculosis, malaria and HIV/AIDS combined. **Starred Fact**: The US pharmaceutical industry spends 24.4% on promotion and just 13.4% on research and development.

Chapter Four, Population: Our little blue planet has 6.8 billion people living on it and 5 billion have been added since 1900. 5.6 billion of them live in less developed regions. Tokyo is the most populous and Africa’s Kiberia has the largest slum and houses around 1 million.

Chapter Five, Human Rights: 8.75 million people are held in prisons throughout the world. Two-thirds of the world’s 785 million illiterate adults are women.

Chapter Six, Arms Trade: Between 1998 and 2007 military spending increased by 45%. There are between 50 & 70 million AK-47 assault rifles around the world and in parts of Africa, a rifle can be bought for as little as $30.

Chapter Seven, War: During WWI, civilian casualties were less than 5% and today that is 75%. It took just 100 days for an estimated 800,000 Rwandans to be killed during the 1994 Rwandan genocide. Between 1990 and 2007 negotiations led to the end of 59 conflicts around the world.

Chapter Eight, Illicit Drugs: **90% of the world’s opium is produced by Afghanistan, yet less than 2% of it is seized there.**

Barnbrook Design created an interesting, informative book, using original and innovative graphics, typography, and culturally relevant photography to help illustrate these serious issues. In paperback format on thick, glossy paper and having a cover with flaps, both the cover and interior were printed using mixed sources and the book is labeled FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified.

About Barnbrook Design: Barnbrook is one of the most well-known creative studios in Britain. Their team of designers specialize in producing innovative books, corporate identities, CD covers, custom fonts, websites and magazines. Their clients range from international museums to charitable organizations.

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Eco-Libris Green Books Campaign 2010

This review is part of the Green Books Campaign initiated by Eco-Libris. Today’s second annual event has 200 bloggers reviewing 200 great books at the same moment and printed in an environmentally friendly way. Their goal is to encourage publishers to get greener and readers to take the environment into consideration when purchasing books. This campaign organized by Eco-Libris, a green company working to green up the book industry by promoting the adoption of green practices, balancing out books by planting trees, and supporting green books. A full list of participating blogs anbd links to their reviews is available on the Eco-Libris website.

2010 - 200 Green Books Campaign Logo by Susan Newman

Teaching Parents Not To Litter So Kids Learn To Be Environmentally Friendly

Posted on September 30, 2010 by itees

Yesterday I was walking down Central Avenue in Jersey City Heights, and as I’m passing a Mom with two children, I see the Mom drop some trash on the sidewalk beside her. I stop, turn and ask her if she’s going to pick that up? She just stares at me blankly. I’m not sure if she didn’t understand English, or if she was just surprised at what I was asking. She just stares and I start walking away when another Mom pushing a baby carriage is coming toward me. Now she’s looking at me and wondering what’s going on. I tell her the woman threw trash down on the sidewalk and I wanted her to pick it up and use a trash can which is nearby. The new Mom starts yelling at me, “What right do I have to tell her or anyone what to do?”

What right she asks? I live in this neighborhood also, and what’s so hard about being respectful of others and responsible for your own crap?

Today people just walk along and drop there crap as they walk, like there’s someone right behind them ready to pick it up. From empty chip bags and paper plates from the pizza place, to soda cans and water bottles.

This is the exact problem with trash and urban neighborhoods. What bothers me the most is the example this parent is setting for her own kids watching her. They will grow up thinking the same thing.

There isn’t anybody behind them to pick it up, and the trash just accumulates. Our cities have less garbage collectors, less trash cans and it’s getting worse everyday.

So how do we target these parents and kids and get them to be more responsible? Ideas?

Meanwhile, I’m going to continue to ask people to stop and of course conceptualize posters or t shirts with the right messages.