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

Chicken Boy Spotted in Yosemite

This fall, it seemed like the whole country was excited about America's national parks. Much of that had to do with Ken Burns’s new documentary, and (we’d like to think) some cool Sierra Club projects too.

We're happy to see that the excitement continues. Kevin Roderick, in one of the most popular West Coast blogs, LA Observed, highlights a recent visit to Yosemite by Chicken Boy, a Los Angeles institution.

With the holidays coming up and last-minute work to be done, Roderick's post provided a chuckle when we really needed one.

--Kyle Boelte / photo by Judy Graeme

Daily Roundup: November 20, 2009

The Replacements: The St. Louis Zoo installed electronic polar bears as stand-ins for deceased bears. The zoo's last living polar bear suffered from cancer and was euthanized this spring. Inhabitots and Huffington Post

Literary Offsets: A San Francisco bookstore is donating 100 percent of the sales proceeds from Sarah Palin's book Going Rogue: An American Life to the Alaska Wildlife Federation. Ecorazzi

Portrait of the Artist: Jeanne-Claude, collaborator with husband Christo, died in New York City. The art duo produced large-scale environmental installations including The Gates in Central Park. Treehugger and Philadelphia Inquirer

Whodunit? Researchers studying ancient lake deposits have ruled out habitat loss due to climate change and asteroid impact as the cause for the extinction of woolly mammoths. The possibility that humans hunted the large animals into oblivion is still under consideration. Los Angeles Times and New York Times

Chatter: Thousands of emails and documents from the Climate Research Unit at the University of East Anglia were stolen by a hacker and posted online. The content of the emails has stirred controversy, and global warming skeptics claim that the correspondence shows collusion and data manipulation. Wired and Examiner

--Della Watson

Book Roundup Wednesday: Books About Kids and Nature

Every Wednesday, we review a selection of new and upcoming books addressing a specific aspect of environmentalism. Since the last time we recommended nature books for kids, a new crop of books has found its way to us, so here's another roundup of children's books about adventures in nature.

The Looking Book (by P.K.. Hallinan, $17, Ideals Children’s Books, Oct. 2009): Kenny's and Mikey’s mom is tired of watching her kids watching cartoons all day so she gives them “lookers” and tells them to go outside. The special glasses help Kenny and Mikey see all the wonderful things in their backyard. They explore the sights and smells of nature and discover that going outside is way more fun than staying inside. The beautifully illustrated book and thoughtful story reminds children how important it is to discover nature and reminds parents to be creative when encouraging their kids to go outside.

I Know the River Loves Me (by Maya Christina Gonzalez, $17, Children’s Book Press, Sept. 2009): Fine artist and author Maya Christina Gonzalez shares her love of rivers, describing her favorite river and explaining why it loves her. This is a simple story that any young child can appreciate, and the illustrations are colorful and imaginative. The book can be read in English and Spanish.

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?

Bright Lights, Big City, and an Empty Night Sky

Early tomorrow morning (between 2 and 4 a.m. on Nov. 17) will be the best time in North America to see the Leonids meteor shower. Unfortunately, instead of gazing up into a dark sky cluttered with twinkling stars, many people will only see a dull-orange or murky-gray haze when they tilt their heads skyward.

Light pollution, the glare from artificial lights, is blotting out the stars. It’s a problem in cities, but also in suburbs and even rural areas. The damage isn’t just aesthetic; over-lighting can be a costly waste of electricity. Also, animals’ natural rhythms can be disrupted when the night is no longer dark.

But fortunately, there are ways to reduce light pollution, such as using outdoor-lighting fixtures that keep light focused downward on the ground, or turning off those lights that aren't needed for safety. The International Dark Sky Association provides a helpful guide for homeowners about choosing outdoor-lighting fixtures. If you're concerned about light pollution in your hometown, contact your city council, especially when new residential and commercial developments are being planned. 

-- Année Tousseau

Daily Roundup: November 13, 2009

New Moon: NASA scientists found 25 gallons of water in the form of ice and vapor on the moon's surface. The discovery challenges previous assumptions about the moon's potential for supporting life. Los Angeles Times and Associated Press

Carbon Cutting: Brazil pledged to cut its projected 2020 greenhouse gas emissions by between 36.1 percent and 38.9 percent. Reuters

Cold Comfort: A new study suggests that trees planted at higher latitudes may provide the biggest benefit to the planet. New Scientist

Street Cleaning: More than 50,000 clunkers have been retired through Canada's Retire Your Ride program. Incentives offered in exchange for the polluting vehicles include free bus passes, bike rebates, or $300. AFP

Lookin' Good: The brown pelican has been removed from the endangered species list. The Interior Department estimates the bird's population at 650,000. Los Angeles Times

--Della Watson

The Newest Nature Reserve: Your Backyard

Environmental problems can be frustrating because sometimes it feels like we have no control over them. But take heart: In a world where much is beyond our individual control, our backyards are still our own. You have the power to transform your little patch of earth (or even your apartment balcony) into a wildlife sanctuary. Considering the habitat loss many species face, that's no small thing.

The National Wildlife Federation offers step-by-step instructions to create a backyard nature reserve. The necessities include native plants for food, a water supply, and shelter where creatures can hide. Building a bat house, bird-nesting boxes or a frog hotel are also great ideas. Veggie gardens and animal habitat can coexist.

Daily Roundup: November 12, 2009

Better Builders: Al Gore and Sheryl Crow were featured celebrities at the United States Green Building Council's 8th annual Greenbuild conference in Phoenix. Examiner

Water Wars: Earthjustice, Environmental Integrity Project, and the Sierra Club appealed a permit that would allow a Tennessee Valley Authority power plant to dump pollutants into the Clinch River. Wall Street Journal

A Walk on the Wild Side: The percentage of traffic fatalities involving pedestrians in San Francisco is more than four times the national average. Treehugger

Still Number One: A new report shows that Texas, the leader in greenhouse gas emissions, cut pollution by 2 percent between 2004 and 2007. Houston Chronicle

Party Planners: Denmark will invite 191 world leaders to the U.N. climate summit in Copenhagen and will push for a deal during the final days of the conference. Reuters

--Della Watson