Buy a Beer For the Planet!

I'm always hesitant to believe energy companies when they tell me they are leading the charge on behalf of renewable energy. It gives me horrible visions of "clean coal" commercials (shiver).

However, I met such an impassioned young woman the other night who worked for Con Edison Solutions. Her job is to get people like me to switch to wind energy. And she does her job extremely well.

It is slightly embarrassing to write that I was not using wind energy before, but I, like many people, thought that my entire building had to go green. I had no idea single apartments could use renewable wind energy. She explained that when you switch to wind energy, you are in essence telling your energy company where they can buy their energy from.
She also informed me that 1/3 of Con Ed's non-renewable energy comes from coal extracted from mountaintop removal mining in West Virginia…and I believe you all know what that involves.

For those who are afraid of the cost increase, I have good news. It's less than 10%. This means if your current energy bill is $100, it will go up to $108. It's like buying a beer for the Earth!
If you are trying to raise a family of four off of $40,000 a year, then I understand that $8 can mean a lot, but for all of us who do indulge in the occasional (or frequent) alcoholic splurge, why not drink one less beer, or two less Starbucks lattes, and put that $8 to good use.

Inquire with your local energy company about green energy!

FLOW: For Love of Water

I just found out about another fantastic movie from the producer of Mountaintop Removal called FLOW: For Love of Water. It examines how we generally take this precious fluid for granted and takes a look at how bleak our future will be if we don't start to consume wisely (i.e. stop building golf courses in the middle of the desert).

It will be playing Sundance at BAM, May 11 - 21. I will be sure to post when an official screening date/time is announced. I will certainly be there, so look for my forthcoming review.

Even Better Than I Thought It Would Be

Last night I was lucky enough to catch a screening of Mountaintop Removal, fresh off of its win of the Reel Current award, selected and presented by Al Gore.

Affecting in many ways, the film’s greatest success was in giving a new face to the environmental movement. Environmentalism isn’t just for bourgy New Yorkers in their lofts so they can still have a summer home in the woods of Connecticut. Environmentalism isn’t just to save the exotic animals of Africa so the rich have a place to safari. Environmentalism is about preserving the quality of life for every creature on this planet and ensuring that everyone, everywhere has access to safe and clean water and living conditions.

The new face of environmentalism is the impoverished of the Appalachia region. The men and women whose families have lived in the area for numerous generations yet suddenly find what was once the cleanest drinking water in the country running black with soot and lead and metal. They are watching as hibernating black bears and their cubs are being bulldozed into extinction in what was once the most biologically diverse temperate forest in the world. As the movie points out, this is not, for them, a fight for the environment, but a fight for their lives.

The absolute highlight of the evening though was meeting Ed Wiley, who has founded Pennies of Promise to raise $5 million so his granddaughter's elementary school can be moved from it’s current location – which is barely 300 feet away from a coal treatment facility and downhill from a sludge pond. Per him, he was not satisfied with the response he got from Gov. Machin after sitting down on the Capital Steps in Charleston, WV so he decided to walk from WV to DC (455 miles) to bring awareness to the issue. He is taking donations for the school (to which I just donated), but we shouldn’t have to! This is a public school and the government should be taking care the children there. They won’t, because to admit they need a new school is to admit there is something bad in the sludge pond and that coal just might not be so good for people in that area after all. Another fact I learned last night, coal produces the highest amount of carbon dioxide per energy attained than other fossil fuel.

Ed has met with wind power representatives and is trying to figure out a way to produce as much energy in the region via wind. Ed is taking these meetings, not the Governor. If you think this is, as Ed says “a load of baloney”, call Governer Manchin at 888.438.2731 and then visit his site to report what the Governor’s off has to say to you.

As soon as I find info on the DVD release, I will let you know. In the meantime, check for screenings in your area on their MySpace page.

Reminder: Mountaintop Removal plays TONIGHT

Happy Earth Day everyone!

For my New York based EEs, If you're looking for a way to celebrate, come to a screening tonight at Lincoln Center of Mountaintop Removal.

Looking for a place to grab some yummy meat free dining? Try Candle 79, Red Bamboo, Zen Palate, Bliss Cafe, or the V Spot. All favorites of mine.

Looking for Vegetarian restaurants in other cities?

Everyone needs to find the brand of environmentalism that works for them, but I do want to point out that a recent study said going meat free could cut your carbon footprint by 1/4. There are other factors to take into consideration (i.e. only eating fruit from a tropical location? No good) but it certainly is a big step in reducing your impact on the planet. I became a vegetarian 15 years ago today and couldn't be happier with the lifestyle I live.

Why Bother?

The New York Times Magazine (a favorite subway read of mine) dedicated their entire issue this week to being green.  I know many other magazines do this for the month of August, but there was one article in the NYT Mag that really jumped out to me.

Michael Pollan writes a convincing and heartfelt argument as to why the individual matters so much in the where green lifestyles are concerned.  This article validates me, this blog, and everyday environmentalist everywhere who take the little steps they can to make the world a better place.

Tune In

Make sure you tune in this Sunday to "Human Footprint" on the National Geographic program. It's an examination of just how much we consume and how that consumption affects the planet.

Check out the website for interesting reads on what happens to your trash after it leaves your place. You can also calculate just how much you use common objects/eat common food (diapers, newspapers, sandwiches). It is truly fascinating.

Beer is going away...forever

Newsweek has a great cover story this week regarding the presidential candidates and their environmental policies and potential (I suggest everyone read it). Following that story is another with 10 fixes for the planet. I'm going to highlight a few in my blog and suggest you check out the whole story here. Seriously, you should all try a few of these, or beer prices will go up (or beer will go away in general). This is a serious fact and not an idle threat like kids at the playground used to make. You know, you better do my homework or Santa Claus will die. No? Maybe that was just my playground...

LED LIGHT BLUBS - these lights really do reduce energy consumption and are WAY less depressing than fluorescents.

PLASTIC SOLAR CELLS - Plastic doesn't have to be our enemy forever. Using plastic for solar cells is reducing the cost so that one day (very soon) solar cells will be a practical purpose for the everyday home owner/renter. Go to any technology site/blog and search solar and you can see just how popular this idea is becoming. Perhaps recycled plastic solar cells are in the works!

COLD WATER WASHING - I wash all my clothes in cold water already, but I just read in the article that if everyone changed from washing laundry in hot to cold water that alone would be meet 8 percent of the United States' Kyoto targets. You know, because they're so high.

Be the change you wish to see in the world

I like Al Gore for a variety of reasons. One, highlighted in the video below, is that he reminds us about things we sometimes like to forget. It is easier to throw your hands in the air and say, "Oh well, nothing I can do about it anyway," than it is to act. It's easier to point and judge others than it is to set an example for them to follow.

Orange is underrated

April 10 is ASCPA day and you can celebrate ASCPAs many victories on behalf on animal rights in your community by wearing orange. Why orange? Because I promise you, if you wear orange, someone will ask you why. (Unless you live in Cincinnati, go Bengals!)

The main event will be held in Union Square in NYC, but there are a number of events happening across the country.

If you do live in NY, come down to Union Square and check out all of the adoptable pets, snack on treats, and meet the animal police from Animal Planet's "Animal Precinct" - a personal favorite of mine.

Yes, Oprah made me cry

I don’t normally watch Oprah (not a judgment, just a fact). I made a point to catch today’s episode though because it was on a subject I feel very passionate about: the horrors of puppy mills. I found, in speaking to friends over the last few days, that many people are not familiar with puppy mills, so I am glad Oprah dedicated an episode to educating her viewers on these awful places.

99% of puppies sold at pet stores are from puppy mills, where mothers live in cramped boxes their entire lives. They are never bathed and never receive veterinary care. They produce puppies every heat cycle, which means some dogs have up to 200 puppies. Since a reoccurring theme on this blog is the reduction of consumption, I want readers to think about just how much those 200 puppies consume! Moral of this story: Don’t EVER buy a puppy at a pet store or from a breeder whose facilities you can’t visit.

If you want to adopt, please go through a shelter or rescue organization – even if you want a specific breed, 33% of dogs in shelters are purebreds. If you must go through a breeder, make sure they are an American Kennel Association registered breeder and ask to visit their site.

On this episode, Oprah actually showed a dog at a shelter being put down and I became SO angry. That dog was put down because someone wanted a perfect little puppy. However, that perfect puppy they bought at the pet store has a very high chance of being inbreed and therefore is more likely to die of numerous diseases much earlier in life than mixed breed dogs.

I rescued an amazing dog two years ago who has become a huge part of my life. Yes, my dog is a little crazy, but my roommate and I have the time, energy, and desire to dedicate to rehilbilatating him. There were plenty of regular, well adjusted dogs, and the rescue organization was very upfront about Derby’s, um, let’s call them quirks (he was beat, extremely underweight, and found tied to a pole in the middle of January in Brooklyn). Have no fear about working with a rescue organization, they will help find a dog that best suites your situation.

There are hundreds of organizations you can go through, some specific to breeds. We found Derby through Waggy Tails and I can’t praise them enough. They specialize in small dogs. Lisa is ready to be adopted right now. She’s cute and sweet. She’s 10 and looking for a good home for her golden years, but won’t it be great to share them with her? My dog Mitzi lived to be 16 so this gal has still got some good time left. Contact Waggy Tails to adopt her!

Vroom Vroom

Good news for those waiting on the return of the electric car.

It's one step closer to becoming a reality.

More please

I recently read a great piece on the culture of toddler couture, and although it didn't directly relate the trend to environmentalism (or lack thereof), I see a huge connection.

A common thread of all layers and degrees of environmentalism is the reduction of... well…EVERYTHING. We have too much stuff, and use too much energy making and powering all this stuff. And even with all we have, we want more. We want to stand on our piles of stuff and play King of the Mountain – and also show how much bigger our mountain is than yours. We consume like maniacs and hoard like a society overwrought with OCD. We are all guilty of it. We have too many cars, articles of clothing, junk we do not need, babies, you name it, we want more of it.

Speaking of babies, stop buying stuff for your child! She’s 6 months old. She doesn’t know that you bought her an $800 stroller and the coolest kiddy shirt you could find on the Upper East Side. Please, please, PLEASE…I beg you, stop using your child’s chest as a bulletin board to reclaim your youth. It’s really creepy.

Speaking of strollers, stop with the SUV baby strollers. I hate strollers in general. No, I’m not a mom so I shouldn’t judge, but I do take public transportation and strollers take up SO much room. Honestly though, that’s not even my biggest beef. Besides the fact that I don’t even want to think about how much plastic is in the buggy or how many toxins it was exposed to when it was assembled in a third-world country by children barely out of the stroller age for pennies a day, my biggest complaint is when mothers use them like weapons, children and all. They shove them into people, in front of people, into closing doors, and then look at you with a “Do you mind?” expression when their stroller hits your shin. I am, however, a huge fan of the baby slings. They keep the child close to the mother, are as inexpensive as $40, and are normally made out of natural and renewable fibers. And hey, you don’t have to give up your youth entirely, they even have hipster baby sling (without lewd comments).