The Green Life

A Message to the President

Nearly 60 million acres of forest won complete protection from human interference under the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation rule—no roads, no logging, and no industrial activity.  But due to a series of unfortunate events, the law was never fully implemented. President Obama said he would be “proud to support and defend” the rule during his campaign, and now conservation groups—including the Sierra Club—are launching an advertising campaign to remind him of his commitment.

“President Obama,” reads one ad designed to resemble a plaque, “In recognition of your commitment to protect National Forest Roadless Areas we hereby thank you…and now it’s time to finish the job.”

The administration has announced that for the next year Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack will personally review all proposed development in designated roadless areas. But this is far from the protection that the original 2001 rule afforded; the forest service has already approved several timber sales in Alaska's Tongass National Forest

, and several others are under active consideration.

 To sign a letter urging the president to uphold the roadless forests rule, click here.

--Sarah F. Kessler

Daily Roundup: July 9, 2009

Tap, Mate: Residents of Bundanoon, Australia, voted to ban the sale of bottled water. Huffington Post

Coal Countdown: The Sierra Club's Beyond Coal Campaign celebrated an important milestone--100 coal plants have been prevented or abandoned since 2001. Sierra Club and Daily Kos

Taking a Stand: Discount airlines in China and Ireland may be able to carry between 30 to 50 percent more passengers per plane by offering a standing-room option. Treehugger

Dead Zone, Hot Spot: A new study ranked the mouth of the Mississippi River top among the world's coastal "hotspots," where human activity on land threatens marine ecosystems. Science Daily

Fast Food Power: A New Jersey Burger King franchise plans to equip its drive-thru lane with a speed bump designed to capture kinetic energy. Green Tech

--Della Watson

Getting Kids Outside: Water Journey

Nature-deficit disorder is common among our young people. How can you ensure that your kids don’t end up with it? This week’s tips tell you how to get your kids away from the video games this summer, and out into nature instead.

Tip #4: Take Them to Water

Since water is such an integral (but often forgotten) part of environmental conservation, it’s important to expose children to liquid ecosystems. If you live near a coast, make frequent trips with your kids to where water meets land, and to see the adjacent wetlands. Encourage young ones to examine teeming tide pools (bring a magnifying glass), to take photos, and to go kayaking or snorkeling (check the water’s safety first). If you live in a landlocked state, head to the nearest river or lake instead.

Tell us: What are your kids’ favorite bodies of water?

Please note that the Sierra Club's offices will be closed tomorrow, July 3, in honor of Independence Day. We will be back and blogging again on July 6.

Daily Roundup: July 1, 2009

Your Save My Planet, I’ll Save Yours: After a series of serious compromises and concessions, the House of Representatives passed a landmark piece of climate-change legislation, marking the first time either house of Congress has passed a bill establishing a cap on the emissions blamed for global warming. The bill still waits action in the Senate. New York Times
 
Less Bush, More Tress: On Tuesday, a California federal judge nullified national forest-management rules established during the Bush era. As a result, The Forest Service will reintroduce regulations to protect wildlife and curtail logging. San Francisco Chronicle

Bright Idea: Obama spoke of future efforts to create and standardize energy efficient light bulbs, asserting that the more efficient bulbs would save consumers billions annually, conserve energy, reduce emissions, and lessen our dependence on coal-fired power plants. MSNBC

Seal the Deal: Francois Hugo of Seal Alert South Africa is collecting donations from around the globe to purchase a fur company that intends to buy the pelts of baby seals that live on the Namibian coast. The fur company plans to club 85,000 seal pups in Namibia to meet its business goals. Hugo is reaching out on YouTube and Facebook, imploring people to donate $15 each to reach the necessary $14.2 million to buy the fur company and stop the killing. Yahoo

Flying Solar: In a nation best known for chocolate and cheese, Switzerland unveiled a new claim to fame: its prototype for a new solar-powered airplane that will be able to fly during day and night without fuel. Test flights start late this year. CNET

--Julia Gelbaum

Book Roundup Wednesday: Finding Wisdom in the Wilderness

Every Wednesday, we review a selection of new and upcoming books addressing a specific aspect of environmentalism. This week’s books are memoirs about finding wisdom in the wilderness.

One Square Inch of Silence: One Man’s Search for Natural Silence in a Noisy World (by Gordon Hempton and John Grossman, $26, Free Press, Mar. 2009): In this book, Emmy-winning sound recordist Gordon Hempton travels across the country in search of wild places and wild sounds. The book is structured like a classic American adventure story, complete with a rickety old VW bus and breathtaking scenery. Hempton, a self-described "acoustic ecologist," uses his engaging story to address the need for conservation through the oft-forgotten element of natural sound. 

Solitude: Seeking Wisdom in Extremes (by Robert Kull, $24, New World Library, Sept. 2008): In this adventure story and memoir, the well-traveled author chooses to spend a year in “deep solitude” in the Patagonia wilderness, searching for answers to his spiritual questions. Journal entries make up the meat of the book, and are interspersed with observations about topics such as “journaling and storytelling,” “method, solitude, and meditation,” and “the urge to be alone.”

Getting Kids Outside: Green Tales

Nature-deficit disorder is common among our young people. How can you ensure that your kids don’t end up with it? This week’s tips tell you how to get your kids away from the video games this summer, and out into nature instead.

Tip #3: Read Them Nature Stories

You read to your child already, so let that time do double-duty by choosing children’s books with nature themes. Some time-tested favorites include The Giving Tree, Bridge to Terabithia, and Island of the Blue Dolphins, but there are thousands more to choose from.

You get extra credit if you find a favorite spot outdoors to read together. After the last page is turned, encourage them to write and illustrate their own "book" about nature.

Tell us: What are your favorite nature-themed books to read to your children?

L.A. River In Focus

Last week we blogged about Conan O'Brien's comedic adventures on the L.A. River. In response to our post, we were contatcted by Juan Devis, the Director of Production of New Media at KCET Local in Los Angeles. Devis tipped us off to an exciting project called Departures: L.A. River. An online documentary produced by KCET in collaboration with Friends of the Los Angeles River and with participation of students from Los Angeles Leadership Academy, Departures: L.A. River features interactive panoramas, video portraits of the river, inteviews, and a "Remix" section, which allows site visitors to make and share their own Departures-style panoramas. "This is one of the most comprehensive online documentaries about the L.A. river," Devis says. "The scope of the project included environmental lessons and hands-on multimedia training for students that empowered them to help us tell this amazing story from multiple perspectives." Check out the Juan Devis's blog entries to find out more about the project's production process.

--Della Watson

Image: KCET

Getting Kids Outside: Backyard Camping

Nature-deficit disorder is common among our young people. How can you ensure that your kids don’t end up with it? This week’s tips tell you how to get your kids away from the video games this summer, and out into nature instead.

Tip #2: Camp in the Backyard

The easiest place to get kids outside is literally in their own backyard. Help them set up a tent earlier in the day, pull out the sleeping bags and a flashlight at sunset, and encourage them to sleep in it for the night (stay with them if they’re too young to stay alone, or if they want you to). Comment on the brisk night air, the moonlight and stars, and nature’s after-dark sounds. Watch this video for more backyard-camping ideas.

If you don’t have a backyard, head to the nearest park where it’s legal to set up a tent for an overnight adventure.

Tell us: What are your tips for backyard camping?

Daily Roundup: June 29, 2009

The Future's So Bright: The U.S. Interior Department identified 670,000 acres of federal land with potential for solar energy production. The department will now evaluate the environmental impact of solar development in these zones. Reuters

No Coal: The U.S. Supreme Court rejected an appeal by EnviroPower to build a coal plant in Illinois. Illinois Sierra Club

The Power of Money: A new study suggests that states that spend more money to enforce environmental laws will have faster compliance results. Houston Chronicle

Don't Shoot: A legal loophole that allowed American trophy hunters the right to kill three species of endangered African animals was closed following a federal judge's ruling. The scimitar-horned oryx, the addax, and the dama gazelle are now protected from sport hunting. 60-Second Science

Copycats: Peer pressure may aid the environmental movement; a recent study found that subjects were more likely to join a green initiative if their neighbors were enrolled in the program. MSU News

--Della Watson

Getting Kids Outside: Take a Hike Together

Nature-deficit disorder is common among our young people. How can you ensure that your kids don’t end up with it? This week’s tips tell you how to get your kids away from the video games this summer, and out into nature instead.

Tip #1: Plan a Hike

Find a trail close to home and take the family for a stroll in the woods. If you like, you can bring a field guide or birding book along so that you can work with your child to identify what you see together. Remember to pack adequate amounts of water, snacks, and sunscreen.

Tip #2: Camp in the Backyard

Tip #3: Read Them Nature Stories

Tip #4: Take Them to Water

Tell us: How do you get your kids outdoors?