April 1, 2010 by jameslucas.

By Chris Paige

Whether we mean to do damage or not, it is a fact that many of the things we do and the products we use affect the environment. But it’s not only possible, in fact it is quite easy to make simple small changes that will go a long way towards reducing the damage that is being done to the environment. Here are 10 going green tips you can use right now to help protect our environment.

1. Stop buying disposable cloths for cleaning. Instead get some soft cotton cloths. These can be easily washed and then re-used over and over again.
2. Refill plastic spray pump bottles as you run out instead of buying a new one. If you purchase cleaning products in bulk whenever possible, you can easily refill the smaller spray bottle.
3. Avoid products with excess packaging. Instead buy everything from spices to rice at bulk food stores.
4. You don’t have to use those aerosol sprays to keep your home odor free. You can make your own room deodorizer by combining lemon juice with water in a spray bottle. You can also put a container of baking soda in your kitchen garbage container and your refrigerator to cut down on odors.
5. Use products that are plant based instead of chemical based whenever possible to limit the impact on our environment.
6. Install a programmable thermostat and set it at a lower temperature during sleeping hours or whenever you are away from the house. You’ll save both money and energy.
7. And speaking of lower temperatures, there is another way to reduce energy usage while saving a few bucks. Try adding extra layers of clothing before you crank up the heat. Instead of t-shirts and bare feet in winter, opt for a cozy sweatshirt and socks.
8. Unplug your cell phone charger when you’re not actually charging your phone. As much as 95% of the energy used by cell phone chargers is wasted when it’s left plugged in.
9. Install a timer that will automatically turn lights off and on when you are not home. These can be used both indoors and outside. It saves energy and makes it look like someone is home even when you’re not.
10. Don’t put hot foods into a fridge. It uses a lot of energy bringing the food down to the right temperature. Instead, let food cool naturally to room temperature before putting it into your fridge.

These 10 going green tips can go a long way toward protecting our environment. And it won’t cost much to implement any of them. In fact you’ll end up saving far more than you spend.

Want to be more green? How about having a little more green to spend? Discover over 100 going green tips that will help protect our environment, and save you money to boot. Visit http://goinggreensavinggreen.com for details.

Article Source: Chris Paige

10 Going Green Tips to Protect Our Environment

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March 31, 2010 by jameslucas.

By Elysse Biaca

Biodegradable trash bags are a good way to do your part to keep massive amounts of garbage out of our landfills. The fact of the matter is that we all throw things out, and when you add up the amount of garbage per person, it adds up to a huge pile of garbage. Our landfills are filling up faster than we can find space to throw out our garbage, so it is important to help out by (a) throwing less out and (b) using bags that break down in our landfills.

Not many people are using biodegradable trash bags. Most are not even aware of their existence and this is because they are fairly new on the market. Once you are aware of their existence, though, there is no good reason not to use them. They are no more expensive than regular garbage bags and they break down in the landfill at a much faster rate than regular garbage bags.

There are three main types of biodegradable bags available:

1. Oxo: meaning the plastic will break down when exposed to oxygen;
2. Bio: meaning the plastic breaks down into CO2 and water when it is exposed to UV light, moisture, heat and microorganisms;
3. Degradable: means it can be broken down

The process behind the biodegradation is two fold. First the plastic is oxidized, then micro organisms consume the plastic leaving behind “refuse” which is a reusable biomass which is both environmentally friendly and does not contain harmful toxins. All products that biodegrade find their way into our waterways and our earth, so we need to take care with what we dispose of and how we dispose of it.

No one is certain how long it takes for a regular trash bag to break down, but estimates are over 1,000 years! We haven’t been using them long enough to know for sure. We certainly do not want to leave a legacy of massive piles of plastic bags behind for future generations, so it is good to think now of that possibility.

This is why using biodegradable trash bags is not only sensible but prudent. If you cannot locate these types of bags in your local supermarket, the next best choice is to order them from an online store. They are no more expensive than regular plastic bags and you can be certain that you are doing your part to be green whenever you throw away trash.

Elysse Biaca has been writing articles on a wide range of topics. Composting is important to reducing your carbon footprints, visit Elysse’s latest post on using the eco-friendly Biodegradable Trash Bags and compostable trash bags plus a great deal more.

Article Source: Elysse Biaca
Why Use Biodegradable Trash Bags?

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March 30, 2010 by jameslucas.

By Stephanie Foster

Times continue to be tough for many families. It’s just hard to bring enough money in. You need to cut back on spending to get by.

Does that mean being green is out? No way!

Having less money is a wonderful reason to be eco-friendly. Simply put, many green and eco friendly products cost less in the long run, and sometimes that long run is a pretty short run too.

Resetting the Thermostat

How’s the weather in your area? Are you thinking about the cost of heating or cooling your home? Change the setting of your thermostat to save money on your bills. It doesn’t take much to make a difference. Just dress a little warmer in cool weather, and cooler in warm weather, plus allow your body to adapt to the temperatures of the season. Human bodies are hugely adaptable to weather, and if you rely less on heating and air conditioning to perfectly manage the temperature of your home, you will adapt to the season in time.

Eat Less Meat

Meat production has a huge environmental cost. It’s also kind of pricey at the store. Eat more vegan and vegetarian meals to save money. It will take time to figure out what you like if you haven’t eaten many vegetarian meals in the past. Don’t be afraid to experiment. I’ve developed a liking for beans, quinoa, couscous and other ingredients that make for great vegetarian entrees. Vegetables… well, I’ve always liked them.

If you can’t afford it, don’t go organic for most produce. You should not be bankrupting yourself over food.

But you can grow a garden for fairly little money if you behave yourself. Don’t get all fancy about it, buying planter boxes and so forth if money’s tight. Just make a basic garden and grow your family some vegetables and herbs. Don’t forget to compost to make some great, cheap fertilizer for your garden.

Use a Clothesline

Using a clothesline is particularly practical during the summer. The sun will dry your clothes for free! If you have homeowner’s association issues this can be challenging, as I well know. But you may be able to use a mobile clothes rack that you can take down after use, especially if it keeps everything below the top of your fence. It’s not a problem if no one else can see it!

You can also use a clothes rack indoors. Place it near a sunny, open window if you can. If you’re concerned about crunchy clothes and towels from line drying, simply take them off the line when they’re almost dry, and finish the drying process in the dryer. You will still have used far less energy.

Make Your Own Cleaning Products

Know that cabinet full of cleaning products? You really don’t have to buy them for the most part. Making cleaning products at home is pretty easy. The main ingredients you will need are baking soda and vinegar. You can buy these in larger packages to keep the overall cost down. The baking soda provides a bit of grit for scrubbing. Lemon juice can also help.

Keep a spray bottle of watered down vinegar ready for regular cleaning. You can use this for many cleaning jobs around the house. If you want a little extra action on a tough cleaning job, sprinkle the baking soda on the area first, then spray with vinegar. The two will react, just as they do in the old volcano science fair experiment. The reaction will help you to clean up many kinds of messes.

These may not be the big things you dream of doing for the environment, but they will make a difference. We can’t all go off grid and grow all our own food. Many of us just don’t have the money to even start that process. Do the eco friendly things that fit into your budget and lifestyle, and encourage others to do the same.

Stephanie Foster blogs at http://www.greensahm.com about raising an eco friendly family. Get more budget and eco friendly tips at her site.

Article Source: Stephanie Foster
Money’s Tight: What Better Reason to Go Green?

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October 29, 2008 by jameslucas.

Plastic Bag Bans: US Update
Reusable bags are becoming mainstream as more and more municipalities follow the San Francisco lead and ban plastic bags. Currently there are hundreds of towns considering bans or taxes in order to reduce or eliminate plastic bags. Plastic bags are considered politically incorrect because of environmental hazards such as pollution, wildlife endangerment and because they are unnecessary landfill hogs.

Plastic Bag vs Paper Bag Facts: What is Best?
Growing concern over the waste of plastic and paper bags has many people puzzled over what is the right thing to choose. Here are the facts.

Plastic Bag Bans Gain Momentum in the US
Across the country, hundreds of municipalities are considering banning or taxing free plastic bags. In 2007, San Francisco became the first major city to ban plastic bags. Even smaller towns, including 30 Alaskan rural villages have banned the bags. In September, Westport CT became the latest in the trend by overwhelmingly approving the ordinance.

Reusable Bags: Green Bag Tips for Choosing the Right Shopping Bag for You
As Americans become more eco-conscious and switch to reusable shopping and grocery bags, it can be overwhelming trying to select from among the dozens of options. How do you find the right bag to fit your lifestyle? Here are some questions to consider.

Plastic Bag Bans: World Update
In the last two years, there has been a striking momentum to reduce or eliminate plastic bags in the US as more Americans become aware of the environmental hazards of these bags. While the US movement is in its infancy, much of the world has already taken action.

Big Oil Fights Plastic Bag Bans
Across the country, from big cities like San Francisco to small towns like Westport CT, there is a movement to eliminate free plastic bags because of environmental issues. This movement is not sitting well with Big Oil, which is fighting all efforts which might hamper this $4 billion industry.

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July 5, 2007 by jameslucas.

Six Good Reasons for Going Organic
I will freely admit that I devour every article that I can lay my hands on which deals with anything related to gardening. Everyone has something, which they are passionate about in life, mine is my garden. My friends tell me that I am obsessed, and maybe I am. I think my partner is obsessed, in his case it’s golf, but as yet I haven’t heard any of his friends telling him that he is obsessed.

What are GE and GMO Crops?
Most have at least heard about GE and GMO crops. Ever wonder if they’re going to be approved and planted?

What Does Organic Food Certification Really Mean?
The term organic is being tossed around quite a bit lately, and you’ll soon be seeing a big jump in the number of organic choices when you visit your local Safeway or Wal-Mart store. That’s because the demand for organic produce, milk, and meat has been steadily increasing, to the point where the giant retail chains have begun to take the trend seriously. In turn, there will be a growing concern over the certification process as factory-style farms begin to muscle their way into the organic food market as a result of increased demand.

ECO BIZ: Blue Spruce, Cow Power
Methane fuel created from cows’ non-dairy output powers a farm and beyond. Eco Biz is presented by Citi Smith Barney.

ECO BIZ: Interface Carpet
One CEO changes the way he does business when he realizes the harm he’s doing to the environment.

ECO BIZ: Great Eastern Ecology
See how a building consultant that helps restore the natural habitat of cities makes this venture profitable.

ECO BIZ: Timberland
The Timberland CEO talks about how his company pioneered profitable green business practices.

ECO BIZ: Ben and Jerry’s
The Greenest Ice Cream around.

ECO BIZ: Cameron Cole
Environmental consultants help companies walk the green walk.

ECO BIZ: ABC Carpet and Home
Home decor can be beautiful and green.

ECO BIZ: E-Waste
What do you do with your old electronics?

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June 7, 2007 by jameslucas.

Animal Rights and Welfare
Before you get involved in an animal organization, make sure you understand everything they believe in.

The History of Respect for Animals
Today we see animal rights activists everywhere. From Green Peace attempting to hunt down a Japanese Whaling Vessel to eco-terrorists letting all the animals escape from a Country Animal Shelter and Pound and then vandalizing it. These of course are extreme and yet humans have quite a lot of empathy for animals and nature as well.

No Primate Is Illegal
Did you know that non-humans are supposed to have human rights? Talk about losing the language, but that is exactly what some are trying to establish. The test subject for redefining human is a 26-year old chimpanzee named Hiasl which certain animal rights activists are trying to get legally declared a person.

Preventing Animal Abuse and Neglect-An Introduction
Learn about the difference between animal abuse, intentional neglect and unintentional neglect. Tips on how to identify animal abuse and neglect are included along with information about how to report abuse and neglect.

Stop Prairie Dog Poisoning!
The U.S. Forest Service today released its draft plan that may drastically increase the poisoning of prairie dog colonies this fall throughout the Buffalo Gap and Fort Pierre National Grasslands in South Dakota and the Oglala National Grassland in Nebraska. Widespread poisoning could kill tens of thousands of prairie dogs, which would jeopardize the continued recovery of the critically imperiled black-footed ferret, the most endangered mammal in North America. The plan would also harm other wildlife that depend on prairie dogs for food or prairie dog burrows for shelter, including rare species such as swift foxes, burrowing owls and ferruginous hawks.

Sundance Channel presents THE GREEN
Hosts Majora Carter and Simran Sethi introduce Sundance Channel’s THE GREEN.

Robert Redford presents The Green
Robert Redford and Sundance Channel present The Green.

Robert Redford on THE GREEN
Robert Redford discusses THE GREEN

The Green Online with Simran Sethi: Create
Simran talks forest and furniture.

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May 30, 2007 by jameslucas.

Look at These Vegetarian Numbers, The Enormous Amount of Resources
Non-vegetarians and vegetarians are starting to ask the question of, -is it really doing any good being a vegetarian? If you are thinking about becoming a vegetarian for the ethical reasons, but you are having a hard time making up your mind, then here are some numbers for you to take in.

Importance of Being Vegetarian
Our earth is bursting with people and stress has been put on food resources. It is getting really difficult to maintain the quality of food in this fast changing world. Hence, more and more people are becoming vegetarians as a solution for their health problems.

Vegetarians at the BBQ
Once viewed as an eccentric oddity, vegetarians have moved from the fringe to the mainstream. However, the truth is, all too often the meatless menu option isn’t vegetarian at all…it’s just a menu item, minus the meat. Unfortunately, a white hoagie bun topped with iceberg lettuce, pickles, onions, mayonnaise, and mustard is about as unappealing to the vegetarian as it is to the carnivore counterpart.

Go Vegetarian
Some reasons on why vegetarianism is better.

30 Reasons to Go VEG
Every year, billions of animals (including fish) are killed for food in the United States alone. PETA’s video Chew on This sheds light on animal suffering and highlights many of the other reasons to choose a compassionate, plant-based diet. Vegetarianism not only spares billions of animals from horrific suffering, it also spares your waistline.

THE GREEN Online with Simran Sethi: Fuel
Simran encapsulates the over consumption of oil with clips from the documentary A CRUDE AWAKENING - THE OIL CRASH.

THE GREEN Online with Simran Sethi: Build
Simran Sethi previews upcoming topics that will air on Sundance Channel’s THE GREEN.

THE GREEN Online with Simran Sethi: Cities
Take a fresh look at your waste and how we can make better use of it.

The Green Online with Simran Sethi: Eat
Eating local, how many miles does your food travel from farm to fork?

THE GREEN Online with Simran Sethi: Wear
Eco wear is a beautiful kind of activism.

The Green Online with Simran Sethi: Eco-terrorism
Eco-terrorism? Real threat or red herring?

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May 15, 2007 by jameslucas.

Green and Environmental Awareness Campaigns Online
Learn how to best leverage the power of the Internet of your environmental organization’s cause. A website can not only get information out, but bring information in and help organize your efforts, all while letting like-minded people know about your cause.

Bring Out the Tree Hugger in You by Becoming Environmentally Responsible
If you’ve ever heard the phrase tree hugger used to describe someone, you may think it is a negative term. Used negatively, the term can be used to describe someone who seems to be too concerned with the environment. Hippies can also be called tree huggers and many people are not starting to associate tree huggers and tree hugging with negative meanings. The opposite is true; tree hugger is actually a positive term for someone who is interested in or participates in environmentalism and conservation. These people are known for doing all they can to protect the environment and encouraging people not to waste our natural resources. If you want to get in touch with your inner tree hugger, take the steps below to improve your own environment and get involved in your community.

Environmentalism
Many of you know that I think that whenever zealously is involved any argument or position is jeopardized, regardless of the kernels of truth on which the initial position was built. The Great Global Warming Scandal is a perfect example of the swing of the proverbial pendulum from the Earth-is-going-to-hell-in-a-handbasket Environmentalist perspective to the more Bush-ian hey-how-could-humans-effect-anything-on-such-a-global-scale.

Sundance Channel GREENIMATION: Going Green, or Else
This short asks - do you really need to drive 20 blocks to get a pint of ice cream? Vanilla at that. Some people would say no…as well a few others…Going green maybe be not only smarter but forced upon you if you’re not careful.

Sundance Channel GREENIMATION: How Much Can a Polar Bear?
In this short, due to global warming the polar icecaps are melting, placing pressure on polar bear families in the arctic circle. Here we see how their changing environment impacts directly in the home.

Sundance Channel GREENIMATION: Wasted
In this short, Milbert experiences a surplus environmental disasters resulting in a lesson that can only be learned cartoon characters.

Sundance Channel GREENIMATION: Breakfast
Meet Greg, Christian and their favorite crappy diner; then find out why it’s not easy to convince your friends to go to environmental pep-rallies.

Sundance Channel GREENIMATION: Yung Yeti
In this short, Yung Yeti and his friend Mr. Buck, the raccoon live in the forest and go about their lives being conscious of their environment.

Sundance Channel GREENIMATION: Meet the Banes
In the not-so-distant past, a man named Sterling married a woman named Daphne and conceived an offspring named Carson. Together, they are the most repulsive, insufferable, downright detestable family on Earth. If they are not stopped soon, they will surely destroy our fragile planet. Meet the Banes.

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April 4, 2007 by jameslucas.

From Finning to Shark Fin Soup
In Eastern Asia, there is a culinary delicacy that is known to be popular, especially at weddings and important business dinners; it is the shark fin soup. The problems related to sharks are related to a cruel fishing technique called finning. Is such a pricey soup worth the carnage?

Here are Some Types of Sharks that are Virtually Harmless to People
Thanks to the movie Jaws, sharks ended up with a bad reputation as man-eaters, which could not be further from the truth. Let’s study some of these virtually harmless types of sharks.

Are Sharks Predators or Preys of Humans? Maybe It Has Something to Do With the Shark Anatomy!
According to Hollywood, humans are preys to sharks. Reality says that for each person victim of a shark attack, huge numbers of sharks die because of humans. Who is the real predator? Who is the prey?

Shame on You: Shark Finning
Video created by OceaNEnvironment about the senseless killing of sharks for their fins. Special message for Alibab.com - who serves as a e-commerce platform for the trade of shark fins.

Sharks: Stewards of the Reef
Sharks: Stewards of the Reef, examines escalating threats to shark population including habitat destruction of reef ecosystems and over fishing that are causing Pacific reef shark populations to plummet. This film examines the most brutal assault threatening shark abundance: that of finning sharks for shark fin soup. Compelling interviews with leading marine biologists and conservationists reveal these driving forces behind the drastic reduction of many shark populations.

Shark Finning on the Frontier
In late 2006, I was invited with photographer Justin Ebert to what may one of the last truly wild places on the planet: Raja Ampat, Indonesia. Located off off the western tip of Papua New Guinea, Raja Ampat covers an area of roughly 7,000 square kilometers and is loaded with forested limestone islands, mangrove ringed lagoons, bays and reefs. It is the reefs in particular that make this place so special. Raja Ampat is believed to have the richest marine biodiversity of any place on the planet.

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March 28, 2007 by jameslucas.

You are Contributing to Global Warming and Miserable Doing It
Are you trudging along with the polluting mainstream? Seek a healthier and happier lifestyle instead and improve your environment as well. Do you want road rage or a new age?

There’s No Doubt About It: Humans are the Cause of Global Warming
What do YOU think is the major cause of global warming? Or should I say - WHO? Global warming is affecting our world and the people and creatures who live on it in unimaginable ways. What should we, as humans who are able to think and reason, do in order to stop global warming from doing its worst?

Will Bushanol Help Global Warming?
Will Bush’s emphasis on ethanol really help or is this just another way to help the oil companies?

Christian Right and Global Warming Debate
Many of the top Christian TV Evangelists has joined the Global Warming Fear Motif. Some have asked what do the Christian Right TV Evangelists have to gain by doing this? Well some say they will have more access to the major media news outlets. Previously they could only get on TV with pro-Conservative news shows. By joining the environmental, Al Gore Global Warming debate they can have it all.

The Great Global Warming Swindle
This short program, produced and shown in England, destroys the arguments put forward by Al Gore and the human caused Global Warming activists.

Global Warming: Point of No Return?
James Lovelock says Global Warming is now at point of no return. Other top climate scientists are more hopeful but say we only have less than 10 years before it’s irreversible and time is running out. Bush Administrations been accused of asking top climate scientists at NASA to STOP speaking out about the climate crisis and of altering scientific journals reporting on the phenomenon. We all need to speak up NOW or the Human Race will join the MILLIONS of other Species that will be extinct by 2050 from Global Warming.

Lou Dobbs: Global Warming
Lou Dobbs discusses Global Warming with 3 guests. Lou wants to get going with solutions to fix this problem, and stop the false debate.

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