Don’t leave climate change to oil companies

Eat the Suburbs: Gardening for the End of the Oil Age

EAT THE SUBURBS takes the oil debate from the bowser to the backyard and follows Melbourne’s “permablitzers” as they prepare for the end of the oil age… one garden at a time.

A film by Tanya Curnow.

See:
www.richardheinberg.com
www.permablitz.net

The Secret Life of Paper – A Project of INFORM, Inc.

PLEASE SHARE, RATE and COMMENT! To ACT go to secret-life.org Where does paper go when you recycle it? Why should you change your paper habits? What alternate types of sources are used for papermaking? What can you do to reduce your paper footprint? How do I recycle paper? This work is licensed under Creative Commons: Attribution-No Derivative Works 3.0 Unported License.

Greening the Desert

Sylvia Earle: Here’s how to protect the blue heart of the planet (TED Prize winner!)

more about “Sylvia Earle: Here’s how to protect t…“, posted with vodpod

About this talk

Legendary ocean researcher Sylvia Earle shares astonishing images of the ocean — and shocking stats about its rapid decline — as she makes her TED Prize wish: that we will join her in protecting the vital blue heart of the planet.

Why you should listen to her:

Sylvia Earle, called “Her Deepness” by the New Yorker and the New York Times, “Living Legend” by the Library of Congress and “Hero for the Planet” by Time, is an oceanographer, explorer, author and lecturer with a deep commitment to research through personal exploration.Earle’s work has been at the frontier of deep ocean exploration for four decades. Earle has led more than 50 expeditions worldwide involving more than 6,000 hours underwater. As captain of the first all-female team to live underwater, she and her fellow scientists received a ticker-tape parade and White House reception upon their return to the surface. In 1979, Sylvia Earle walked untethered on the sea floor at a lower depth than any other woman before or since. In the 1980s she started the companies Deep Ocean Engineering and Deep Ocean Technologies with engineer Graham Hawkes to design and build undersea vehicles that allow scientists to work at previously inaccessible depths. In the early 1990s, Dr. Earle served as Chief Scientist of the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration. At present she is explorer-in-residence at the National Geographic Society.Sylvia Earle is a dedicated advocate for the world’s oceans and the creatures that live in them. Her voice speaks with wonder and amazement at the glory of the oceans and with urgency to awaken the public from its ignorance about the role the oceans plays in all of our lives and the importance of maintaining their health.”We’ve got to somehow stabilize our connection to nature so that in 50 years from now, 500 years, 5,000 years from now there will still be a wild system and respect for what it takes to sustain us.”Sylvia Earle

Welcome President Obama: Climate Leaders Don’t Buy Tar Sands

Too Close for Comfort

Iceland’s Gorgeous Passive Solar Hof House

by Alexandra Kain

Deep in the northern chill of Iceland, just outside the arctic circle, the Hof House sits snugly within its landscape. Built on an existing estate, Studio Granada Architects salvaged whatever materials possible from the site to be incorporated into the new residence, converting telegraph poles into a sun screen and basalt pillars into stepping stones. Even the grass on the green roof came from local site leftovers after clearing way for its foundation. Designed for the extreme weather conditions of the Skagafjörður Fjord, the Hof House relies on passive solar design, geothermal heating, and some pretty hefty concrete walls.

The Hof House’s exterior cedar walls hug the massive concrete structural walls and will age gracefully with the passing seasons. The hexagonal shape formed by slices of the salvaged basalt pillars are repeated inside, bringing a continuity of design from the outside in. Geothermal heating comes up from the ground, warming the stone floors and providing heat and electricity throughout the house. The remaining energy needs are sufficed by hydroelectric power. The windows are oriented to not only capture the Southern sun, but also to create a frame for the magnificent surroundings of the cliff islands of Drangey and Málmey and the hills of Þórðarhöfði.

Studio Granada’s Hof House has been nominated for and awarded myriad prizes for its design, including the European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture: the Mies van der Rohe Award for 2009.

+ Studio Granada Architects

Via Noticias Arquitectura

Nuclear or renewables? Jack Gibbons from Clean Air Alliance

The Ontario’s government intends to sign a contract for 2 new nuclear reactors. But this is the costliest option to keep the lights on. Renewables could meet all our electricity needs faster, cheaper and with less risk.

TAKE ACTION:

Sign the petition:
http://www.ontariosgreenfuture.ca/
Order pamphlets to distribute:
http://www.ontariosgreenfuture.ca/support.php#order

PLEASE Ask Your Florist / Supermarket for VeriFlora Certified Sustainably Grown Flowers!

Hello Everyone, Here is something very interesting for all of our communities to consider when making purchases of flowers for people we love. It is hard to fathom that such a consequence could result from an industry such as this. We are very interested to see who is or will be the first flower retailer to sell Eco Certified Flowers in our area. If you find out, in your area, please let us know. In the meantime, please sign the letter (attached) & drop it off to all florists and supermarkets in your neighbourhood. Hopefully something positive can happen before Valentines Day, 2009 of course. Perhaps anyone who is planning to purchase flowers can order eco-certified flowers ahead of time (as a special order) to encourage retailers to carry them year round. Thank you for your time & please distribute widely – Council of Canadians London Chapter. [CBC audio link at bottom]

Ask Your Florist / Supermarket for VeriFlora Certified

Sustainably Grown Flowers! (letter attached)

Globalization has brought about a greater awareness and concern for partners in trading relationships with North America, and around the world. Environmental policies, like the Kyoto accord, are trying to bring accountability to companies who harm the environment. Consumers are becoming more and more concerned with where their products are coming from and under what social and environmental conditions they are produced. Reports of human rights abuses and harmful environmental practices have affected the sales of everything from running shoes and clothing to coffee and fresh produce.

Demand your florist / supermarket to support ethical flower trading by stocking VeriFlora Certified flowers. We know about organic, fair trade coffees and organic, fair trade teas, and we have heard about organic, fair trade flowers, but we don’t yet see them in our supermarket flower section or at our favourite independent flower shops.

VeriFlora is a sustainability certification program for fresh cut flowers and potted plants. The “VeriFlora™ Certified Sustainably Grown” label is your guarantee that flowers and potted plants have been produced in an environmentally and socially responsible manner and meet the highest standards for freshness and quality. Learn more about the VeriFlora Certification here: http://www.scscertified.com/csrpurchasing/veriflora/index.html. At present – this is the most advanced certification for flowers that exists in North America.

Ask your florist to become a certified client today: http://www.scscertified.com/csrpurchasing/veriflora/purchasingcertifiedclients.html

For an in depth look at the complex life of a Sierra Eco rose – watch this excellent video – http://www.sierraeco.com/pr/agrocoex1_hs.wmv

VeriFlora Certified flowers are found at environmentally conscious retailers who care about people. Though the market for organic flowers is still small (sales totaled $8 million in 2003, a fraction of the $19.4 billion consumers spent on all flowers nationally) – it’s growing fast. Consumers are increasingly willing to pay more for products made without chemicals harmful to workers and the environment. Organic flower sales are expected to grow 13 percent annually through 2008, according to the Organic Trade Association.

Eco Certified flowers assure us that the producers at the beginning of the supply chain are receiving a fair price for their labor. Also, unlike many conventional flower plantations, where international standards for pesticide-use are disregarded, eco certified flower farmers adhere to all international pesticide legislation, with the most dangerous pesticides not used at all. Eco Certified means a fair deal for farmers, and a healthier environment for all of us. http://www.scscertified.com/csrpurchasing/veriflora/summary.html

Lake Naivasha was once considered one of the world’s top ten sites for birds and a paradise of clear water, with beautiful papyrus and water lily fringes. A haven for African wildlife and a major source of water for the lakeside’s quickly growing population. Now – Lake Naivasha, Kenya’s second largest lake, has shrunk to half its original size and its water level has dropped three metres. Vital wetlands, are degraded beyond recognition. Nowhere in the world is water from one lake basin used to supply drinking water to two basins, electricity to a whole country’s grid and flowers & vegetables to a whole continent. The rotting tissues of the hippo carcasses reveal the secret to perfect bouquets – DDT and, 40 times more toxic, Dieldrin – pesticides banned in countries whose markets have made Kenya the world’s number on exporter. This is happening not only in Africa, but in developing countries all over the world.

Floriculture in South America – Although floriculture has brought many opportunities to these flower growing regions and surrounding communities, there have been devastating social and environmental costs. For more information: http://www.sierraeco.com/program_culture.asp

Florists who sell Sierra Eco Certified Flowers: http://www.sierraeco.com/florists.asp?PV=ON

We know that it is vital to take a leadership position – by way of demanding responsibly grown flowers. The next time you go to your local flower shop, ask if they carry eco certified flowers. We know that real change will happen when consumers insist that the only kind of flowers they want to buy are sustainably grown, ethical flowers….certified Eco flowers!

Sign & deliver our letter to major supermarket chains asking for more eco certified flowers, and take action to start working with a supermarket in your community.

Ontario Florists: Hatcher Florist: 1-416-221-5557 Karen’s Flower Shop: 1-416-221-5557 Tivoli Florist: 1-613-729-6911 McKnight’s Fine Flowers and Gifts: 1-705-749-1530 Kent Florist: 1-705-749-1530
Rambling Rose Flowers: 1-705-742-8847 The Village Florist: 1-705-738-44022 Earth Angel Designs: 1-705-632-0909 More Flowers: 1-613-241-4681

Canadian Florists: http://www.sierraeco.com/florists.asp

CBC Interview: http://www.sierraeco.com/pr/CBC_Radio_ONE_03092007.wma