The Earth From Above: Now on Google Earth

Regular readers of my blog (yes, both of you!) may remember my post about the beautiful aerial photography of Frenchman Yann Arthus-Bertrand back in August. Well, if you're a Google Earth user, there's a new layer available that incorporates his photographs at various places all over the world. Arthus-Bertrand is also an ardent environmentalist, and the new layer includes information about sustainability and environmental challenges that our planet faces.

So check it out. Go to the Layers section in Google Earth, under 'Global Awareness.' The layer is called 'The Earth From Above with Good Planet.'

Arlington's green mojo on Kojo

Well, Arlington continues to take the lead in the DC area in terms of municipalities going green. Arlington County Chairman of the Board Paul Ferguson and Board member Jay Fissette were today's guests on the Kojo Nnamdi Show on NPR today. They discussed and took questions about the county's Fresh Aire initiative to curb Arlington's greenhouse gas emissions.

I also recently noticed that DC has been named the most walkable region in the country by the Brookings Institution, thanks also in large part due to Arlington.

Of course, as a proud City of Alexandria resident, I feel I must point out that our fair city has Old Town and Del Ray-- awfully walkable places too. What about the rest of the city? Did I hear someone say 'Route 1 corridor'? Uh, well--hey, they're working on it.

Oh, and I almost forgot: who was it who declared December America Recycling Month? Huh, huh? Ooh, face, Arlington!

Bali Hi!

Unless you've been living under a big pile of coal, the UN Climate Change conference is underway in Bali, Indonesia. I don't know. Doesn't it seem like one of these climate change conferences occur every other month, and nothing comes of it? Let's hope things go better this time around.

Anyhow, I came across this 'specialist briefing' on the BBC Editors' Blog. It addresses some common misconceptions about the Kyoto Protocol and other things related to the international climate change scene. Cool. I love the BBC. It's like the thinking-woman's CNN.

Deluxe Geography Edition

I just found this amazing 'map' at Strange Maps via Treehugger showing transit systems of the world in a fashion reminiscent of the famed London Tube map, and of course, our beloved DC Metro. The map is somewhat cartogram-my, where you can see a distortion in size of world areas, depending on the availability of mass transit systems. The map is part of a new book from Penguin that is fittingly devoted to transit maps of the world. Yes, really, there is such a book. And dammit it all to hell if I'm not buying it!

In other geographically inclined news, scientists have discovered a new island! Well, not 'new' new--it didn't just pop out of the ocean: what is now being called 'Warming Island' was previously thought to be part of Greenland, but with the recent unprecedented glacial ice melt of late, it turns out that it's actually a separate island.

Hmmmm,'Warming Island'? That's kind of a weak name, frankly. How about 'Climate Catastrophe Island'? Or maybe 'Inhofe Isle'?

Nice package!

I recently discovered an organic body care company called Pangea Organics. I've been using their Chilean Red Clover with Geranium and Grapefruit body lotion for several months and I love it. It smells absolutely amazing.

Well today I thought I'd try one of their bar soaps, which also smell great. The first thing I noticed was the little cardboard box the soap comes in. It turns out that there are seeds embedded in this box--you simply soak the box in water and plant it, and voila, you have a plant, in addition to a bar of soap! My box contains the seeds for an amaranth cockscomb plant. I have no idea what that is, but it sounds cool.

What an incredibly innovative idea! Actually creating a living thing out of product packaging.

Pangea Organics: you're awesome.

Probably not a problem in England....

There's a new research study out from the University of Alberta that evaluates the effects of Canadian beer fridges on the environment. Yeah, really! Researchers found that the large numbers of aging Canadian beer fridges (these are secondary refrigerators kept by people and are used specifically to keep alcoholic beverages cold) may significantly contribute to greenhouse gas emissions totals in the country.

You know what I find so interesting about this story? According to the study, it's estimated that 1 in 3 households in Canada has a beer fridge! Wow. That's a lot of beer fridges. Now as an American, I'm acutely aware of wasteful energy usage, but I still must ask: Does one really need a whole additional refrigerator to store beer? Because usually, I take it as a sign to stop buying beer once I can no longer fit it into my primary/only fridge. Although, I'm a single gal, so typically the only other stuff in my fridge is a half-empty jar of tahini and some olives.

Now the story of the beer fridge is multi-faceted. It also involves the class struggle. From the New Scientist:

Young also found that low-income families were less likely to retire their old refrigerators to the garage to store drinks after buying a new model. She says this is probably because these households find the cost of running an additional fridge (up to $150 per year) too high.

Plus, as global temperatures rise, even more energy will be needed to keep that beer cold! Hmm, let me check Treehugger. I'll bet someone's already working on a hybrid. Or maybe a beer cellar?

Get ready for America Recycles Month!!

As if spurred by my shocking ignorance concerning America Recycles Day several weeks ago, William Euille, the mayor of my great city of Alexandria, VA has boldly proclaimed December as America Recycles Month. Not to be outdone, DC mayor Adrian Fenty has proclaimed 2008 America Recycles Year.

Okay, that last part I made up.

I really do think this is a cool thing, but I find it a little comical that the City's proclaimed it America Recycles Month (as opposed to the less ambitious Alexandria Recycles Month), but hell, why not raise the bar, right?

I'll bet the City's PR office is going to have to work a shitload of overtime to get the word out to the rest of America though...

The New Grinch?

There's an interesting article in the New York Times today about reconciling eco-consciousness and the more materialistic customs of the holidays amongst families this time of year.

What can I say? I do enjoy giving my family and friends gifts, but this year I'm trying to incorporate more handmade and locally made things. I sure as hell ain't spending $900 on Christmas presents, though. Or even half that! That's the amount that the average American is expected to spend on Christmas presents this year though, according to the National Retail Federation--wow!

Deluxe shopping-free edition

Since this week officially starts the holiday shopping season in America, I like to make a few points about shopping. Or not shopping, actually.

First of all, I'd like to again note that the Humane Society of the U. S. is suing Amazon.com for continuing to sell magazines about cockfighting. The Humane Society has been trying for years to convince Amazon to stop selling these foul (yeah, pun!) publications, but the online retailing giant remains adamant in asserting their right to sell total trash to consumers, because it's their 1st Amendment right.

Listen, I'm all for protecting our Constitutional rights, but cockfighting is illegal in the U. S. (Puerto Rico and other territories not included.) Are they compelled to sell publications featuring other illegal activity? Like kiddie porn, for example? Of course not--that would be extremely vile. Just because you have a Constitutional right to sell something (and I'm not sure if you do if it promotes an illegal activity?), does that mean that you should sell it? Especially if your customers find it revolting (which I do, at least)? So, if you're with me on this, consider establishments other than Amazon.com for your holiday purchases.

That being said, I've learned that November 23rd (AKA Black Friday, or the day Americans feel compelled to buy, buy, buy) has also been deemed Buy Nothing Day, as a way to take a break from and make us a little more conscious of our tendencies towards consumer excess.

So consider doing something other than shopping this Friday. Like hanging out with your friends or family. Or sitting in front of the tv, surrounded by a cornucopia of beer and snack foods. That you bought the day before, of course...

Thanks to Teensy Green for the word on Buy Nothing Day.

But really, every day should be America Recycles Day

Gosh, did you know that America Recycles Day is November 15th? That was last Thursday. How did I not hear about that? Damn, if only I'd known: I wouldn't have dumped my stash of used batteries into the Potomac that day...

Anyhow, I found that tidbit of information out via the EPA's blog. Apparently, the EPA is big fan of The Office: check it out. Oh, that's right, NBC had that Green Week thing a few weeks back...it's all coming together for me now.