The Green Life

Daily Roundup: November 25, 2009

Goin' to Copenhagen: The White House announced that President Obama will attend the December climate summit in Copenhagen and the U.S. will commit to reducing emissions 17 percent below 2005 levels by 2020. Los Angeles Times, New York Times, and Sierra Club

Pedal Problems: Toyota will repair accelerator pedals on 2004 to 2008 model Prius hybrids as part of the automaker's largest-ever recall. Bloomberg

Good Gobble: President Obama pardoned the White House turkey, continuing a presidential tradition that began in 1989. CNN

Birds on the Brain: Martha Stewart discussed the horrors of the meat industry with vegetarian author Jonathan Safran Foer on her show's Thanksgiving episode. Ecorazzi and Green Daily

Home Grown: The first official state dinner for the Obama administration featured a menu inspired by the White House garden. The meal's arugula was harvested from the White House grounds. Treehugger

--Della Watson

From Turkey Day to Gentle Thanksgiving

With Thanksgiving just a day away, eaters everywhere are getting ready for the biggest food day of the year. Food is so important to Thanksgiving that the holiday has come to be known to many simply as Turkey Day. But with more people choosing to abstain from meat, other options are on the rise.

A movement called Gentle Thanksgiving is encouraging families, friends, and communities to celebrate the holiday with meat-free alternatives such as homemade seasonal dishes for those who love to cook and store-bought fare for the less culinary inclined. There are also related events taking place around the country.

We know for sure that one turkey is breathing easier this Thanksgiving, as President Obama pardons it, as is White House tradition. Not satisfied with the symbolism, though, some people are urging the Obamas to pardon all turkeys bound for the dinner table.

--Kyle Boelte

Green Your Holiday Meals: All Those Leftovers

Working up a menu for Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, or any of the other upcoming winter holidays? This week’s tips will help you be environmentally responsible while planning that feast.

Tip #3: Do Right With What’s Left

If there’s one thing synonymous with American holidays, it’s lots and lots of leftovers. So what to do with yours? If there’s a food bank or homeless shelter in your region that takes prepared foods, you can bring ‘em there. If not, you can turn your leftovers into other meals, including soup or sandwiches; mashed potatoes can become a breakfast hash.

Whatever becomes of your grub, you can also deal with those licked-clean dishes in responsible ways: A full load in the dishwasher is greener than washing them by hand, especially if you skip the drying cycle.

Tell us: How do you deal with leftovers and dirty dishes after a big holiday meal?

PLEASE NOTE: In observance of Thanksgiving, the Sierra Club’s offices will be closed for the rest of the week. We'll be back with new posts on Nov. 30. In the meantime, you can peruse our archives for a wealth of green-living tips.

Fish is Delicious, But What's the Catch?

Isn't it frustrating when your best efforts to do the right thing are thwarted?

That's what may be happening to customers at some sushi restaurants that are serving endangered bluefin tuna without telling their clientele. Researchers at the Sackler Institute for Comparative Genomics tested the fish at 31 sushi restaurants in New York and Denver; they found that where bluefin tuna was served, it was correctly labeled “bluefin” only 36% of the time. Several times it was mislabeled as another tuna species, or just identified as "tuna." 

It's a tough time to be a pescetarian. According to a Monterey Bay Aquarium report, overfishing is pervasive. Most (63%) of stocks are in need of recovery. Destructive fishing practices like trawling harm the ocean floor. This BBC article from 2006 predicts that if current fishing practices continue, wild fish will be a thing of the past by 2050. Yikes!

Green Your Holiday Meals: Decorate Smart

Working up a menu for Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, or any of the other upcoming winter holidays? This week’s tips will help you be environmentally responsible while planning that feast.

Tip #2: Think Through the Decor

If you’re shopping for table settings for the big meal, look for organic, reusable linens and cloth napkins. As for the centerpiece, try to go with one that’s nondisposable or edible – such as a cornucopia filled with seasonal fruit and vegetables – instead of flowers. Did you know that around 80 percent of flowers sold in the U.S. are imported from Colombia and Ecuador and contain 50 percent more pesticides than is legal to have on edibles? Just some food for thought.

Tell us: How do you green your holiday decor?

Green Your Holiday Meals: Go Organic

Working up a menu for Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, or another winter event? This week’s tips will help you be environmentally responsible while planning that feast.

Tip #1: Opt For Organic

We know that organic foods are better for our bodies, but did you know that they’re significantly better for the planet too? Since organic farmers don't use toxins on their crops, they prevent chemicals from contaminating our soil and water, and from harming wildlife. It doesn’t just need to be just the turkey or ham that’s organic; it can be the wine, too, or the vegetables in the side dishes. An added plus: organic foods taste better!

Tip #2: Think Through the Decor

Tip #3: All Those Leftovers!

Tell us: What organic products do you buy?

Green Your Thanksgiving: Want Not, Waste Not

It's almost time for Americans to visit with loved ones, express gratitude, and eat a really, really big meal. This year, we're providing tips to help you celebrate Thanksgiving with less impact.

Tip #4: Streamline Your Meal

Most people expect to be well-fed on Thanksgiving, but you can reduce waste by considering portion size and guests' personal tastes. If no one actually likes mincemeat pie, don't make it just to satisfy tradition. Fill the bigger platters with local vegetables and serve more carbon-intensive food in a small dish with a small spoon to encourage dainty portions. Keep waste out of the landfill by sending leftovers home with guests and composting food scraps.

Share your tips: How do you reduce food waste during Thanksgiving?

Hungry for Change: Climate Change Fast!

With the most important climate-change negotiations in history fast approaching, an international group of activists are taking an extreme measure: a hunger strike. The members of Climate Justice Fast! are frustrated by the phlegmatic pace of the world's nations in response to the impending climate crisis.

Why fasting? The strikers say traditional activist methods just haven't worked. So this new approach takes a page from social movements led by Martin Luther King, Jr. and Mahatma Gandhi. The hope is that their refraining from eating will raise awareness about the need for action to slow climate change. The group plans to continue its fast through the end of the U.N. Climate Summit in Copenhagen next month.

You can follow the fast on Twitter @cjftweets. 

-- Mario Aguilar

Green Your Thanksgiving: Gratitude

It's almost time for Americans to visit with loved ones, express gratitude, and eat a really, really big meal. This year, we're providing tips to help you celebrate Thanksgiving with less impact.

Tip #3: Appreciate the Natural World

Thanksgiving traditions vary, but most celebrations include some form of appreciation for the year's blessings. When expressing gratitude, take note of nature's gifts. You may feel thankful for a beautiful sunrise, a bountiful harvest, clean water, or colorful autumn leaves. By nurturing your connection with the planet, you will energize your environmental activism.

Share your tips: What do you appreciate about the natural world?

Green Your Thanksgiving: Rethink the Turkey

It's almost time for Americans to visit with loved ones, express gratitude, and eat a really, really big meal. This year, we're providing tips to help you celebrate Thanksgiving with less impact.

Tip #2: Buy a Heritage Bird or Go Meatless

Want to celebrate "Turkey Day" without supporting environmentally destructive factory farms? You can help preserve species diversity by purchasing a free-range heritage turkey from a local farm. If meat isn't a must-have, consider skipping the bird altogether and building a hearty meal around vegetarian dishes such as autumn tempeh salad or butternut squash enchiladas.

Share your tips: What is your favorite turkey substitute?