My Green Life

What would happen to the earth if humans were to be suddenly removed? Alan Weisman’s book, “The World Without Us” provides some insightful predictions about how the world would look in this scenario, and I am both heavy-hearted and uplifted at the predictions. Many objects we have created in this world will disappear quite rapidly if humans were to suddenly disappear altogether from the planet. Floods would quickly erode buildings while rain and wind disintegrates the roofs that used to keep us dry. New York would flood especially quickly without all the man-power required on a regular basis to constantly pump the water out of the city after heavy rains in order to prevent flooding. Without fires being fought, lightening would cause other man-made construction to quickly be returned to ash. The world would be fairly unrecognizable to us within a short period of time.

However, one item would remain for thousands of years. Plastic. It is everywhere. And it is not going anywhere. These polymers don’t just end up in landfills unexposed to the air or sunlight necessary to break them down. They primarily end up right in the middle of our oceans, huddled together like penguins trying to keep warm. The North Pacific gyre, or the Great Pacific Garbage Patch as it is affectionately nicknamed, alone is roughly the size of Africa and it contains 10 million square miles of collected debris from every continent. Since the creation of plastics during World War II, plastic has been thoughtlessly discarded. Everything from plastic bags (that are easily replaced with reusable bags) to ubiquitous plastic pellets known as nurdles to get this… plastic exfoliants in body washes! Those little pellets that help your skin feel soft and smooth are little tiny balls of noxious plastic. These plastic pieces are carried down the shower drain into the ocean for marine life to consume the seemingly harmless yet dangerous material.

The faint ray of hope gleaned from all this knowledge is the fact that nature is very smart when humans aren’t busy interfering. Microorganisms will most likely adapt over time to be able to break down plastic. Nature is resilient and has proven time after time that it will adapt to a changing environment in order to survive. In Africa, the magafauna has lasted much longer then the large mammalia on other continents due to the animals’ ability to evolve simultaneously with humans. On every other planet, humans have simply intruded and exploited the large fauna. Let’s look at New Zealand for a moment. The moa is a very large flightless bird that looks very much like an ostrich on steroids. There were thousands of them successfully living and breeding until humans came along unsuspectingly with little warning and even less time to adapt. That story as you might have guessed, ends with the rapid extermination of the moa. However, in Africa, humans were evolving AND the mega fauna were adapting as humans gained more knowledge and tools. The mega fauna had time to adjust and react to a growing human civilization, and they were intelligent enough to evolve essential adaptations in order to survive.

The animals and the world will adapt and it will heal itself. The large scar we inflicted upon the world that is also known as the Panama Canal is another example of the self-healing power the earth possesses. It took some 6,000 men seven years to create this canal, and it requires constant human care and attention to assure that the world does not heal this wound. Without human interference, the canal would not remain a canal for long.

So, it appears, at this moment in human history the world would recover from our large footprints left all over it in time. But, I do not suspect that the human population will vanish tomorrow, or that it will suddenly live in a sustainable manner. Therefore, this book serves as our “two-minute warning” that with all the expansion and human population growth taking place, we all must become better stewards of the land. The world is a great self-healer. It will heal itself, and all its beauty will endure. The only question that remains is whether we will be able to stick around and enjoy it.

When it comes time to cast my vote, I have generally found myself disagreeing with multiple aspects of politicians’ platforms. I have always figured there is no alternative, so I choose who I feel is the lesser of two evils. Although I still feel this way to some extent, James has opened my eyes to some promising options that exist outside the Democrat/Republican canopy. The Green Party has caught my interest lately and although their chances of winning the election are close to zero, their environmental stewardship sparked my interest. I’m sure the Green Party and their “hippie” nature has it’s fair share of opponents, but their Earth-loving, anti-war, pro-equality, pro-life platform resonated with me. (Click here to see a comprehensive breakdown of key issues where the Green Party strays from the mainstream parties).

The Green Party recognizes the need for citizens to take responsibility for the Earth. “Green parties are the first parties to recognize that our role in the world is stewardship of Earth’s natural resources rather than domination and unrestrained consumption of the goods of the Earth,” the party said in its proposed platform for the 2008 election. Obama has mentioned an eye opening fact many times that is worth repeating. The US provides 3% of the world’s oil, but accounts for 25% of the oil consumption. This is not ecologically wise or sustainable.  One of the Green Party’s ten key values is Ecological Wisdom.

Ten Key Values: (#2) Ecological Wisdom

Human societies must maintain an ecological balance and live within the ecological and resource limits of our planet. We support a sustainable society that utilizes resources in such a way that future generations will benefit and not suffer from the practices of our generation. To this end we must have agricultural practices that replenish the soil; move to an energy efficient economy; and live in ways that respect the integrity of natural systems.

Several other notable issues the Green Party opposes is corporate agriculture, loose standards on the use of GMOs, nuclear energy production, and the privatization of the FED. Instead, the party endorses family-scale farms that promote sustainiblity and organic methods. They back extensive testing and strict regulation on GMOs (genetically modified organisms). And, without a safe way to dispose of nuclear waste, they conclude that nuclear energy is not a viable option at this time. They also want the Federal Reserve nationalized and designated as a Section or Department within the United States Treasury under the direction and supervision of the Secretary.

The Green Party has a lot to offer, especially for those voters that don’t fall neatly into the Democrat or Republican bin. Whether or not they get my vote this year, only November 4th will tell!

Visit http://www.gp.org/index.php for more information on the Green Party including candidate Cynthia McKinney and runningmate Rosa Clemente.

I, in no way, consider myself a political expert, but with the importance of the upcoming election, I feel it is necessary to take a stance. I have never associated myself with a political party, but always seemed to side with the Democrats due to their reputation for their environmental policies.  And with the upcoming election, I will continue to side with the Dems. An interesting and helpful head-to-head comparison was published by Environment Oregon (a citizen-based environmental advocacy organization) that clearly breaks down the candidates’ voting records on environmental issues. They found that Obama voted “correctly” 86% of the time, whereas McCain either missed the vote or voted “incorrectly” 27% of the time.  Obama voted “Yes” on eight clean energy bills to provide tax incentives for solar energy, to reduce tax breaks to oil and gas companies, and to not include fossil fuels in the list of renewable energy allowed in the Renewable Electricity Standard. What did McCain do? Nothing. Obama voted to raise the CAFE (Corporate Average Fuel Economy) standard for cars to 40 mpg by 2016. McCain voted against it. McCain also received a 0% score from the League of Conservation Voters. Why so dismally low? He just didn’t vote… at all… on any of the 15 important environmental pieces of legislature the League used to judge individuals. Obama scored a 67%.

Palin’s record is no better. She is pro-drilling and pro expansion into ANWR (Arctic National Wildlife Refuge). Palin serves as the Chair for the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission, which works to promote the expansion of oil and gas usage. She also opposes adding polar bears as a species threatened by global warming. Gov. Palin does not believe that global warming is human induced. Together, Palin and McCain are Big Oil left with little motivatoin to encourage progressive clean energy policies.

Now, a tangent…The above issues are only the tip of the iceberg for my political stance. As a woman, I feel very manipulated by McCain in choosing such an inexperienced VP. With the nomination it seemed that McCain actually believed that women would be so shallow as to vote for him simply because he had a woman by his side regardless of the policies they support. Maybe McCain thought he could get some mens’ votes simply because she is an attractive “hockey mom” who also likes to hunt. Whatever, the reason, I do not believe in any way that she was chosen because they honestly believe she is fit to run the nation. The Republicans are playing games with the public, doing whatever it takes to get into office. They are on a mission to get to the white house and will stop at nothing on the way. The publics’ best interest is no longer the central priority. McCain is not making decisions based on what is best for the common man, so what makes anyone think that he would shift his views to cater to the well-being of the nation once given the presidential nod?

Maybe the third party nominees are looking more and more promising after all…

Ever wondered whether it is more energy efficient to get your hands dirty scrubbing those dinner plates by hand or to take the easy way out and employ the dishwasher? Well, it turns out that in this case, the lazy way is also the most energy efficient method.  The dishwasher uses just 4 gallons of water each cycle saving 5,000 gallons a year compared to hand washing the dirt away. You not only save water and hours of your life, but the dishwasher saves you $40 a year in energy costs.  Save even more by only running full loads, skipping the pre-rinse (unnecesary for most washers), and utilizing the air dry method.

Ever get fed up trying to peel that sticker off the peach you are so anxiously waiting to devour? Well, those stickers actually are more beneficial than just informing the clerk about the price. They actual indicate how the produce was grown.  Conventionally grown fruits have a four number PLU code that begins with a 4. Organically grown fruits have a five number code that begins with a 9, and genetically modified foods begin with an 8. So, next time you are struggling to detach that fiesty sticker, try to appreciate its deeper value.

Ever gone to the gym and thought there should be a way to harness all that energy you exert? Well, In Portland, OR, one of the finest cities on this earth, a man named Adam Boesel has brought this idea to fruition. Green Microgym is the first of its kind in the U.S., but follows Hong Kong’s California Fitness gym where fitness buffs power the lights. The treadmills at Green Microgym are 30% powered by the people sweating on them. Stationary bikes hooked up to a generator will produce 200 to 600 watts of energy an hour that can fulfill other energy needs throughout the gym.  There is also a yoga room with cork floors, solar panel awnings, and no showers to save on heating costs. Green Microgym hopes to reach the goal of creating 100% of its energy, but for now it produces about 25-40% of the energy required for daily operations. Want to know more? Click here to see a concise list of 15 other ways the gym is practicing green initiatives.

A small, but noteworthy event took place yesterday which showed me that my dad may have been right all along. My dad and I have very different driving styles. Dad prefers to go five under the speed limit. I, on the other hand, like to think of the speed limit as the minimum and five over is perfectly acceptable. However, with rumors spreading about how driving at slower speeds will save you on gas, I skeptically decided to give it a shot. I do mainly highway driving, so I made a conscious effort to go no more than 60 mph at any given time (a 5-7 mph speed reduction). Well, the results amazed me! Normally, I get about 310 miles before that little orange gas light stares me down. But, with my new reduced speed driving style, I was able to travel 345 miles AND the angry gas light didn’t even become illuminated. That extra 35 miles equals about a gallon of gas or $4.15 in Portland’s fine city. Little changes are simple, and they make a noticeable difference immediately. So dad, almost 24 years later, I am finally sold on your driving habits.

I recently ran across on article discussing a new Platinum (the highest grade) certified LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) building that is currently being constructed in San Fransisco. LEED designation is the highest honor in green building design, and there are only 70 other buildings worldwide that boast this award. “Living Museum” will contain an aquarium fed by saltwater from the Pacific Ocean, planetarium, rain forest with free-flying birds, and a coral reef inhabited by over 4,000 fish. The green rooftop will contain soil seven inches deep that will act as a natural insulator as well as absorbing 2 million gallons rainwater that would otherwise be stormwater. Of course solar paneling is being installed along with skylights and large floor to ceiling windows for natural, efficient lighting. However, the detail that piqued my interest, was the fact that the California Academy of Sciences will be using recycled denim jeans for insulation instead of fiberglass or foam based insulation! Denim insulation has a number of unique benefits.

This material provides an organic alternative to formaldehyde-laden insulation materials. Recycled denim insulation holds more heat and absorbs sound better than spun fiberglass insulation. It is also safer to handle. Even when denim insulation is treated with fire retardants and fungicides to prevent mildew, it is still easier to work with and doesn’t require installers to wear protective clothing or respirators.

What a great idea to use common, everyday items in a revolutionary way that removes items from the landfills in order to create a marketable, safe necessity. I believe it will take this kind of out-of-the-box thinking to curb our impact on the environment. Missouri University of Science and Technology is doing their part and working to produce disposable bags that will biodegrade in just four months. The bags will be made from a corn starch base that breaks down into water and carbon dioxide. Yet another example of innovative ideas that will help take materials out of landfills. Why not investigate more uncommon uses for common goods? Companies have already found ways to make fleece jackets out of plastic proving the possibilities are endless, and unfortunately, so are the landfills.

What’s the purpose of earth day? When did it even start? Well, the first Earth Day was celebrated in the spring of 1970, and it was initiated by Senator Gaylord Nelson. After waiting over seven years for the ripening of an idea, it was announced in 1969 that the following spring would be the first celebration of the Earth. This ground-breaking event spread quickly through the media and gained popularity especially among students. This day was started with the intent of raising awareness about how individuals can make a difference preserving the earth.  Today, it is still going strong with a list of activities occurring nationwide. This is a great way to get involved in the environmental community and meet some people too!

To think that one Senator could have such a profound influence who had the insight to set aside one day a year to focus on preserving the Earth. Although it may not seem like a huge step, if each one of our congresspeople and senators were willing to take a stand for the environment, we would not be facing some of the water and air issues we are today. We need more senators like Crapo (Rep.) in Nevada introducing legislation designating over 500,000 acres as wilderness. The Owyhee Initiative hearing is set for… ironically enough… April 22. The bill will then be marked up with possible changes made, but it took grassroot organizers eight years to even get this far. This land will potentially be protected from all future development for future generations to enjoy.

Wild Sky is another great success story that recently was passed through the House floor. Wild Sky is the first land designated as Wilderness in Washington state in 23 years. Rep. Rick Larsen (D-Wash) sponsored this bill and waited tirelessly for five years for the unanimous approval of the bill. Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash) will next take it to the Senate floor.

Unfortunately, not all stories end with such a happy ending. That is why this Earth Day, I encourage you all to learn more about what is going on in your neighborhood and write the Senator or Representative from your district encouraging him or her to introduce new legislation. After doing that, get outside and enjoy nice (hopefully) weather. There are a lot of organized hikes and clean-ups going on in various cities. So, at a minimum, I encourage everyone to get involved in their local community. I will be attending Dance of the Dinosaur! (don’t know why it’s called that) to learn more about local environmental initiatives. Also, over 150 sustainable businesses and organizations will be there so maybe I’ll scope out job opportunities too, while I’m at it!

It might be one small step for man, but at least it’s a step. Flipping the switch to shut off lights for just one hour out of the year probably won’t end the threat of global warming or the impending oil crisis, but isn’t it important to take some action? After all, it’s focusing on the little things that make a relationship successful, so shouldn’t it be the same with our planet?

There are plenty of skeptics out there that openly share their opinions about the drawbacks and failures of Earth Hour, an event started in Sydney, Australia last year to encourage people to turn off their lights for just one hour. The Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge flicked the switch with 2.2 million residents and 2,100 other businesses. Critics argue about the impact of this event, but does it really matter whether electricity consumption during that hour was 10.2% or 2.10% lower than the average usage? Nevertheless, the result was equivalent of taking 48,613 cars off the road for one hour, and even though that only represents taking six cars off the street per year, it’s six cars that won’t be there tomorrow.

The point of Earth Hour is to raise the awareness by demonstrating that the little things do add up. The mile that I now walk to work instead of driving my car, is not going to solve global warming or fix all the problems in the world, but that mile represents my commitment to doing the little things. These steps may seem insignificant at the time, but you never know the profound effect it could have in the long run. So, I will be turning my lights off tomorrow in support of Earth Hour. At the moment (with 1 day, 10 hours, 50 minutes to go) 264,822 other people and 19,208 businesses have signed up to participate in turning off their lights. So tomorrow, March 29th at 8 pm, the lights in at least one Portland residence will be dark. To add your name to the list, go to www.earthhour.org/

UPDATE: 3/29 12:12 PM

Even Google is participating in Earth Hour by dimming their home screen. It does not save any energy BUT it works to demonstrate their support and raise awareness among the millions that visit the site daily.  Props to Google! Check it out here

Is blading your car more fuel efficient than a hybrid? Probably not, but any action to curb greenhouse gas emissions and save money is worth a shot. The newly discovered blade can be placed on the car’s tailpipe, and it is proven to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 33%, reduce air pollution by 57%, and save the driver hundreds of dollars on gas. How does it do this? Well, I am by no means a car aficionado, but the blade mitigates heat loss through the tailpipe and so allows the catalytic converter to heat quicker, requiring less gas for the process. The catalytic converter can only oxidize emissions when it reaches temperatures over 400 degrees Celsius. So, by reducing the amount of time required to heat up the converter, the amount of emissions that escape untreated is significantly less. This product is shown to increase fuel efficiency by up to 2.7 MPG in the city, and 5 MPG on the highway. Gas mileage improved up to:

34% on 4-cylinder cars, e.g. Honda Civics, Toyota Corollas, Ford Focuses, etc.
21% on light duty trucks and SUV’s, e.g. GMC 2500s, Chevy Avalanches, Range Rovers, etc.
16% on duel exhaust 8-cylinder sedans, e.g. Lincoln Town Cars, Crown Victorias, etc.
24% on 10 cylinder Box-style trucks, e.g. U-Haul moving trucks.

What a great product, and it was discovered on accident! For more info check out their website at www.bladeyourride.com

Voter apathy is not just a trend among twenty-somethings anymore. It appears that even presidential candidates and senators suffer from the same problem. The League of Conservation Voters (LCV) is dedicated to moving America toward a clean energy future focused on sustainability. They hope to turn environmental values into public policy, and to do so, they track the members of Congress and their voting history. One interesting finding was that Sen. John McCain, Republican from Arizona and 2008 presidential candidate, scored 0 percent. McCain missed all 15 votes scored including the key on repealing tax giveaways to big oil- a measure that failed by just one vote. Clinton’s score in 2007 was 73 percent (87 percent lifetime) and Obama’s score was 67 percent (86 percent lifetime). To see how the representatives in your state scored check out the LCV website.