Come, fly with me ... let's fly away.

New Hampshire's most beloved raptor is at risk.



Recent studies of the falcon's unhatched eggs showed high levels of PBDEs ... flame retardants added to plastics, clothing, cars, armchairs ... just about anything Americans wear or use. PBDEs are still being created and used all over the world and little is being done to regulate their use.

Does anyone my age remember DDT? You know, the chemicals that were killing off our native Bald Eagle populations? We are surviving fine now that DDTs are subject to strict laws ... we should be doing the same for PBDEs. Sure, flame retardants save lives, but so does putting out your cigarette before you fall asleep ... Common sense is what really does the trick- but that's just my opinion.

So, how do we protect these falcons? Read our labels more carefully. Enact more severe legislation. Encourage clean-ups of our local water ways ... just be more proactive and way less passive. It's easy if we try!

Happy Tuesday!!!

Auld Lang Seign?

Do I even have that right?

2008 has been an interesting year for me, folks. It's been so busy the past few months I've been forced to put my bloggage on hold- not a good scenario if you ask me, but I'm working on changing my modus operandi for 2009.

Quite the year if you ask me and in my personal reflection I've decided to look back, not so much in the direction of all the bad things (shit-storm there certainly was), but more on my self discovery in favor of the planet. Here's a list of my top ten (in no particular order) things that I've done over the past year to better myself and/or the Earth.

1) Read ... in new ways.
All hail the local library. I still buy books for friends as gifts, but in my own right I've been frequenting the Concord Library pretty regularly. That's one less copy that has to be printed. A majority (I lied- all of these) texts were based on environmental stewardship. My best reads?? Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver ... The Great Warming (I forget the author right now) ... The Power to Change the World (a book about nuclear power and how we can use it responsibly) ... there are more, but these are the breed at the top of my thoughts.

2) THE GREEN LIVING GUIDE!
Published with the help of the Concord Monitor, Danielle Kronk (the brains behind the operation) along with me and several other writers, have established the second (and most permanent) edition of the Monitor insert, geared at tangible ways for people to live greener. Hooray!

3) I quit the gym.
I've always had a distaste for gyms ... the stink ... the rude people ... but mostly the energy waste. Besides the fact that I just couldn't afford it anymore, I'm sticking to outdoor activities from now on. Nordic skiing, here I come ... once the snow returns!

4) I greened Christmas more than previously ...
I reused all my gift wrap, recycled what I couldn't use, and stayed close to home. It was awesome.

5) I turned 25.
The day AFTER Christmas. This isn't green at all, but I felt like sharing ... with age comes wisdom? I'm hoping I'm closer to reaching my ultimate goals.

6) I ordered heirloom varietal catalogues.
Mark and I are growing heirloom vegetables this year and forever more. I'm so excited for the catalogues to come in!!! It'll be like Christmas all over again!

7) I converted a few non-believers.
And when I say converted, I mean badgered to death. There's nothing quite like persistence when you want results. Thank you to those who have finally hopped on the good foot.

8) I have suffered through the cold
Not that there's been that much of it the past week, but I've taken to keeping my heat at home to no higher than 55 degrees. We live in a mighty shit hole that leaks everything but gold coins. If our gas-fed forced-hot-air system in fact did spit out gold coins, they would slide through the cracks in the walls, windows and doors before I could get my hands on them. I will not submit to the chills. I will just put on an extra sweater.

9) I take the recycling from my office home for collection.
Elm Street in Manchester doesn't have curbside recycling. The rest of the city does. It's stupid. I will not throw out paper, plastic, glass or aluminum, so I take them all home ... with a smile.

10) I haven't quit-
Though I'm pretty sure some of you might have thought my green ramblings were on the outs ... not so! I promise! I will make a better showing. That's my New Year's resolution ... to make a better effort at everything. The least I can do is give 110% ... right? If I ever fall short, at least I was giving my all.

I love you guys, happy New Year!!!

Please, don't take your top off.

he election is tomorrow.

I know, we're all excited for the sh*t show to be over.

I'm just posting some photos today, to remind everyone of the cost of America's coal industry. Mountain Top Removal mining destroys our pristine landscapes and leaves wounds like these in it's wake. Please keep this issue in mind when contacting your elected officials involved in the new administration. It is important for our future.

Just look at the waste. This is how we harvest fossil fuels. It's time to stop.

Go vote, sucka's.






T

W ... T ... F ..?

Okay, get this ...

Heart of New Hampshire (a publisher and parent company of the Going Green Expos) are claiming bankruptcy. Oh my holy sh*t.

At the above link, the company sites lack of available credit and lack of sponsors as their main reasons for filing chapter 7.

I'm simply blown away. What kind of times are we living in? First people's homes, then their 401Ks, now their vested interests are getting flushed by our horrible economy.

What's next? Is my job next? My parent's? My sister's? My boyfriend's? It's finally hitting me, all of this bottoming-out-all-around-economic-failure.

It makes me scared. I'm afraid for all of us.

I'm a veggie, you're a veggie- who's a local-vore?

My dear, dear friends and readers, many of you know I'm not a fan of the meats. I do eat a fair amount of seafood, but I try to stick with the most sustainable options available (I've recently had to change my sushi eating habits!). I'm not one to ask people to change their lifestyles on my behalf- on behalf of the planet is one thing, but that has to come from within- but to ask my neighbors, friends and family to become more aware of how their food gets to them isn't that far out of line ... is it?

Let's start with the section of proteins I delve in the most: seafood. Too often, Americans are sold one fish and told it's another. The most common examples of this trend are Chilean Sea Bass (actually named a "Toothfish") and Orange Roughy ("Slimefish," I couldn't make that up). They're being fished into extinction- I remember eating "Roughy" when I was really young, being the fish was super popular in the early 90s. I have yet to see it in a supermarket since.

Another factor that should be paid attention to when selecting fish for your table is whether the fish was farmed or wild caught. Fish farms, more often than not, are horrible polluters. There are several that are heavily policed and remain neutral to the ocean environment. An other caution when it comes to sea life is heavy metals (not Slayer or Pantara, more like mercury). With so much to think about, it may seem impossible to find safe fish, right?

WRONG!
There are guides to help you swim(haha) through the tides(hahaha) of the changing face of the fishing industry. Look to the following online guides to reel in(hehe) the answers you've been fishing for(bahahahaha).
The Environmental Defense Fund: Check here for a comprehensive, no-doubt-about-it list of the good, the bad and the ugly when it comes to eating seafood.
The Monterey Bay Aquarium: The largest, most exquisite, most advanced aquarium in the world- this place touts an actual LIVING KELP FOREST and a seafood watch page, so we can all make healthy choices for more healthy oceans.

Now for the other meats. Have you ever driven behind a chicken truck? New Englanders: Do you have a neighbor that sports a chicken coop in the backyard? Chickens are gross animals when left to their own devices, but add humans to the mix and the poultry industry is one mess that would make you think twice about that chicken parm/chicken salad/chicken cutlet you're about to devour.

Even Oprah is fed up (not that it takes much for that to happen, she just has to have the facts smack her over the head).



So, chicken farms- the conventional ones anyway- are gross and the animals are treated like, well, food ... and not beings. This, believe it or not, is not necessarily why I perscribe to a vegetarian diet. Regardless, there are ways to get free-range chickens and free-range eggs, though sometimes they are expensive. BUT, I have investigated in my time at the grocery store. For all the people bitching and moaning about organic prices being too lofty: look at your generics ridden recepts. Everything is expensive. What this economy is really doing is creating a level playing field for all types of groceries, organic and conventional.

My favorite cage-free egg option comes from Nellie's Nest Cage-Free Eggs. At my local Hannaford supermarket, Nellie's eggs cost the same as generic large and extra large eggs. As for Hannaford as an organics producer, check out their very own Organic lines, aptly named "Nature's Place." Shaw's and Alberton's offer their "Wild Harvest" line. The options are everywhere and they encompass all manner of foods, from veggies, to meats to the things you can't eat- cleaning and personal care products, paper products, etc.

Look to this site, "Happy Meat," to really understand the delemma most humans are facing. To meat, or not to eat? That's a hefty question. Sustainability is possible and the best way to ensure it is to eat locally.




Visit the Northeast Organic Farming Association web site to find organic farms in your area. Get to know your farmer. Get to know where your meals are coming from. I bet you they'll be a lot easier to stomach once you do. I recommend the Twist of Fate Farm for all your local, organic meat needs. They're at just about every farmers' market in the area and their web site is great. Eating local isn't just about the environment, it's about your community, about the place you call home and preserving it for the future. It's common sense.

That's all for now, guys. I'm tuckered out ... and feeling kind of hungry to be honest. I'm thinking of hitting up one of my favorite local joints, The Bridge Cafe on Elm St. Their food is pretty awesome and with that chill in the air, I'm thinking a heaping portion of tomato bisque is just what I need! Be well, eat well, love often and in overwhelming portions.

Love,
Say

So ... is Bethlehem suffering from negligence- or a false alarm?

The Department of Environmental Services has their meeting with the citizens of Bethlehem last night, albeit at short notice, and said that there was no evidence that the largest landfill in the state is contributing to the large number of cancer cases in the town's small population. Here's a link to the story the Concord Monitor published on the subject today.

In the CM article, Rita Farrell is quoted relating this health investigation to that of the US's tobacco industry just a few decades ago. Farrell is convinced that something is afoot- especially considering the short time frame in which the investigation and subsequent community update was completed in.

Can you blame this community for being concerned? They're home to the largest landfill in New Hampshire and quite possibly the largest number of documented pancreatic and breast cancer cases per capita. I'm with Farrell on this one- there must be a correlation between the two and it is up to the appropriate state departments to investigate this matter in the amount of time it deserves. It all seems a bit hasty ... I wonder what kind of kick backs local and state government get from the people responsible for managing this big hole filled with waste? Whenever there's money involved, people get sneaky. That's a fact of life.

I'm still sure we haven't heard the last of this matter. More to come.

Best,
Say

Landfills = Cancer? Bethlehem wants to know.

North Country Environmental Services (I love the "environmental" in there, the irony is delicious) manages landfills in the north country, including in the town of Bethlehem. Today, October 7, from 6 to 10 p.m., NH's Department of Environmental Services will hold a community forum to inform the town of Bethlehem about findings from a recent investigation concerning health problems that may be a result of the NCES run landfill there.

Surprised that a landfill could cause cancer? That the possibility is so real that a whole town is having the matter investigated? Turns out, New Hampshir-ites have a greater chance of getting breast or prostate cancer due to the high amounts of radon the Granite State emits. Take that adverse effect and add to it landfill drainage and waste leaking into underground water systems, contaminating vegetation and air quality ... that's a recipe for a multitude of health problems- let alone cancer.

So, DES sent out their press release on this matter late yesterday. It gives no insight into what the findings actually are, but if I were to put any money on the situation, I would say they found plenty to alert the community.

This story certainly relates to something I've been thinking about for a long time now- really, actively thinking about. Landfills. There are plenty of them around our great state, already covered in grass with those big white candy cane shaped PVC pipes popping up sporadically. Hell, my old high school is built adjacent to Bow's old dumping grounds. I think my next major assignment, after I've finally finished the ones already in my lap, is to map out every single landfill in this state, show where it's projected to grow to and where new sites are proposed when the giant holes we have open are finally full to capacity.

It seems like a daunting task, but let's be honest- it's information we need now.

Keep your ear to the ground on this issue, guys. I think a lot is going to come out of it. I bet the papers have plenty to say about this meeting tomorrow morning.

Happy Tuesday.
Best,
Say

The House of Representatives passed a bill this week that lifts the ban on offshore drilling on both the Pacific and Atlantic Coasts.

My stomach dropped when I read this. It has some good points, don't get me wrong ... an extension on tax incentives for solar and wind power is a big deal ... but it seems to me that this bill won't make it farther than it's already gone.

George Bush Sr. instituted a ban on new drilling in 1990. Now his party wants to get rid of a policy that was established for a very good reason- namely oil spills washing up on beaches, killing off species of marine life, poisoning water and people and stifling tourism to coastal areas.

We don't see those problems right now because of the ban on drilling. Lift that ban and watch the beaches turn black again. No one cares now because it's not in their face. If I had a nickel for every ignorant person that forgot their obligation to hand down a clean and functioning planet to their children, I would never have to work again.

Alas, money won't rain down on me and our population won't get any smarter until today's youth finally inherit the Earth- and even then I question their ability to know better than their parents.

The population has decided to chant "drill, baby, drill" at political rallies and therefore both parties will do whatever they say, just so they can get votes on their behalf on November 4th. Both sides of the isle will pander to whatever is popular- even an under-qualified "sexy librarian."

May I just add that as a female voter, I am annoyed and insulted by whatever powers make assumptions about how I'll end up voting. As a registered independent who would love to see an educated, well qualified and seasoned female politician take hold of the white house, I am appalled at the assumption of the Republican party that just because they decided to choose Sarah Palin as McCain's running mate I'm going to slather on some more lipstick and vote at the polls by using a lip print next to her name.

Hell no.

She's anti-environment, anti-women's rights, she believes that creationism should be taught in schools and that sexual education should go no farther than abstinence. Two steps forward and three steps back. And as for the whole "lipstick" controversy, it's just the Republicans manipulating women once again. They're trying to get us all fired up by misinterpreting statements and assuming that we're all so stupid we don't watch the news or study the candidates before we vote. Like we're a bunch of doe-eyed, fragile beings chained to our kitchens hoping that one day an other vagina can pull us out of the dark ages.

Shame on all of them. Be you a stay at home mom, a working mother, a young female professional, whatever- you chose the life you're leading. You make conscious decisions every day about how you'll live your life. Don't let them make assumptions about the person you are. If you agree with the Republican policies, please vote for them, but not because they've got a woman on their side.

Alright, I'm done.

Happy Thursday.
Best,
Say

It's in the wind ... the air of change.

Behold! New Hampshire's first wind farm.

Lempster Mountain over looks this small town, which is no doubt about to get bigger and bit richer.



The Union Leader has an article about it that went to print on Monday ... Here it is.

The Concord Monitor had something to say about it, too.

The Lempster Company, based in PA., is creating a wind farm in Dixville Notch very soon. The buzz has already taken hold of the state. Cross your fingers.

So, wind power is finally coming to the Granite State. This is a great thing, guys- especially for small northern towns that struggle to remain economically sound after the eventual fall out of the lumber/paper industry. If you ask me, Berlin, Gorham, Groveton and several cities in Maine should follow this lead. Sections of forest cleared by the logging industry can be used to establish farms in high altitude areas. There's no emissions, just clean power. If you want to get really crazy about it, you can camouflage the turbines the way lots of towns try to hide cell phone towers.

The Lempster project claims it will create enough power for 33,000 homes. Sweet, but that's not even cracking the numbers we should really be trying to hit. I know, baby steps. This is our first attempt. No, I take that back- way back in the day, when I was still a wee tyke, I heard stories of a fella up north, near Berlin, who erected a wind turbine on his property. It was ultimately vandalized and shunned by the surrounding community. This was what feels like ages ago for me, but then again I'm still young, but it perfectly illustrates the obstacles we'll have to overcome in order to make alternative energy a reality in a state known for being slow to change. Did you know that New Hampshire has the second oldest population in the country? We're right behind Florida ... the Shire's retirement home. Go figure. With that being said, I call upon you, young reader- will you do what you can when you finally own property? Will you be active in your community's decision making process? Will you vote to make alternative energy a tangible medium for you and your neighbors? Will you support your neighbors should they have the ability to make some of these possibilities a reality? Will you remain open minded and continue to educate yourself on these matters and others that impact our environment?

I hope so. We're the generation that's finally going to be able to make a difference. Let's stand up and reverse the problems created by the masses before us. Let's put an end to our use-and-toss culture. It's up to us.

ALSO!

Fun factoid for my female friends.

Do you use exfoliant? I would start reading the labels of anything you use to slough off dead skin. Turns out a lot of the companies that make these products use small pieces of plastic in the formula to act as those "scrubbers." When you rinse off, those small particulates escape into waste water and eventually make their way to the ocean. They're so small they often can't be removed in conventional waste water treatment plants and many are so small that once they get to the oceans they can be ingested by phyto-plankton, the base of our entire food web- the very same organisms that clean our air and water. When they eat those little granules of plastic they choke and die. After that, the animals biodegrade, but the plastic pieces won't which leaves them available to be eaten by something else. It's a cycle we can't stop, since the garbage is already in the sea and near impossible for us to remove ... but we can change our habits. Please read the labels of items you use on a regular basis. Do you see words that look strangely familiar to "Petrol," things you can't pronounce ... with three consonants in a row ... words that barely make any sense and may have a number incorporated into their name? Those are the substances to avoid.

Now, I understand that products sans these long and elaborate substances made of rigid and durable polymer chains are kind of expensive. Until the industry of organic beauty care is flooded with demand, the prices may not change, but look at it this way:

Would you rather pay a bit more right now for a biodegradable face wash than pay thousands of dollars in medical bills later in life when you're suffering from a skin disease that was most likely related to pollution??

Yeah ... think about it.

Happy hump day, everyone. More to come, so stick around.

Love,
Say

Loonacy.

I'm lucky that Mark and Kris make our local paper a part of their morning routine. Hanna and I had tried to maintain a weekend subscription to the Concord Monitor, but it didn't work out. Now that I'm moving to Downing St. I can share in the wealth of Mark and Kris' dedication to local news.

That said, I was reading the Concord Monitor this morning and stumbled upon an article written by Chelsea Conabo. Kudos, Chelsea, on such a thorough job. Turns out, there are record numbers of nesting pairs of Loons in the state of New Hampshire, 240 to be exact. That's a big deal, since the species' population dipped dramatically in past years. So, more loons should mean more eggs, which should mean more baby loons. Not so fast.

At this juncture, I'll quote Conabo's article:

"... The rate of reproduction was about 0.4 chicks per pair, too low to maintain a stable population. Even more worrying is that a total of seven chicks survived on the state's largest lakes: Umbagog, Winnipesaukee and Squam."

Ouch. Those three lakes should have more than enough room and untouched shoreline to sustain themselves. Several eggs were tested for contaminates, the most predominant of those found was Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (also known as PBDEs).

Does this sound familiar to anyone? Does anyone in my generation remember when DDT was threatening the fabric of Bald Eagle populations? For Europe and several US state's attempts at banning certain types of PBDEs, they're still being produced in other spaces. That means they're still getting into our water systems. Let's define exactly what PBDEs are:

Wikipedia describes PBDEs as: "Polybrominated diphenyl ethers or PBDE, are organic compounds that are used as a flame retardant. Like other brominated flame retardants, PBDEs have been used in a wide array of products, including building materials, electronics, furnishings, motor vehicles, plastics, polyurethane foams, and textiles. They are structurally akin to the PCB’s, consisting of two halogenated aromatic rings linked by an ether group. PBDEs are classified according to the average number of bromine atoms in the molecule. The health hazards of these chemicals have attracted increasing scrutiny."

The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry has a Public Health Statement in regards to these substances as well:


There are three commercial PBDE products (i.e., penta-, octa-, and decabromodiphenyl ethers). Deca- and octa-brominated types of PBDEs are also produced outside of the United States (in China and Israel). Decabromodiphenyl ether (decaBDE) makes up 82% of these products manufactured globally. Its main use is for electronic enclosures, such as television cabinets. Octabromodiphenyl ether (octaBDE) product is used in plastics for business equipment. Pentabromodiphenyl ether (pentaBDE) product is used in foam for cushioning in upholstery. PBDEs have not been associated with actual health-related effects. Concerns have increased, however, because some of these chemicals (particularly the pentaBDEs) have been found in the environment at varying concentrations. Environmental concentrations of lower brominated PBDEs, which may be leveling off in Europe, appear to be increasing in certain areas of Canada and the United States.

"PBDEs are a group of synthetic organic chemicals with no known natural sources in the environment, except for a few marine organisms that produce forms of PBDEs that contain higher levels of oxygen. Commercial decaBDE and octaBDE products are colorless to off-white solids, whereas commercial pentaBDE product is a thick liquid. PBDEs are not expected to evaporate into the air. PBDEs in the air are mostly found with dust rather than as a vapor. PBDEs enter the environment as mixtures containing a variety of individual brominated diphenyl ether (for PBDEs) components, known as congeners. Congeners are distinct members of a class of chemical substances. Some commercial mixtures of PBDEs may be known by their industrial trade names, (i.e., DE-60F Special, DE-61, DE-62, DE-71, DE-79, DE 83R, Saytex® 102E). PBDEs are still produced and widely used in the United States, although the sole manufacturer of penta- and octaPBDE commercial products in the United States is expected to quit making these chemicals by the end of 2004."

This article continues and explains what happens when these chemicals are introduced to the environment and what happens when people come into contact with PBDEs.

Now, I read all of this information with a heavy helping of cynicism. Sure, we may have stopped making several versions of the stuff, but it's still around. Loons aren't the only animals that will feel adverse effects from toxic chemicals like these. Try human fetuses. Our generation (I'm talking to you, dear 20 and 30-somethings) is the first generation to be raised in the tradition of "better life through chemistry." Our baby boomer parents love chemicals. They've only had the pleasure of living with them for half of their lives- we, however, will deal with them our entire lives.

Sure, there's no way to really know just how much of an effect chemicals will have on our genetic make-up and our life expectancy, but I think it's safe to say that SOME effects will show up. Our generation is the world's guinea pig. When we're finally hitting our 80s (if we live that long) science can finally say when kind of mess we've put ourselves in.

The Loons are our first real indicators. Their lives are much shorter than ours, but they're compromised by every chemical that makes its way into their systems. Lead, PBDEs, DDT, the stuff that makes up the "Chemical Soup" Conabo refers to. We've got that in our bodies, too. As go the Loons, so goes society. Remember that.

I'm sure after reading all of this you might be wondering, "What does she expect me to do about all of this?" In all honest, there's isn't much that CAN be done. I can't climb into a row boat and filter all the PBDE out of my favorite lake. What we can do is try to be informed citizens. Buying some new gadgets for your house? Making a large electronics or other technological purchase? Research the companies you're buying from. If you're making the effort to shop around for the best price, why not shop around for the most sustainable company at the same time? There's a great organization based in Manchester, funded by the Stonyfield company (of organic yogurt fame), that rates various companies on their sustainability. Climate Counts has easy to comprehend score cards that rate some nationally recognized companies- a few are Nike, Sony and General Mills. Use the research they've done to save you some time. Being an informed consumer does more than just complaining about the problems we're facing. Money talks, party people ... money talks.

I've been pretty long winded on this post, but the moral of this report is the unshakable reality that despite man's best efforts to protect the species that surround him, nothing can stop the effects of the damage we've already done. That's a scary thought, isn't it?

Save the Loons, save ourselves.

'Cause it's gone, gone, gone ... woh wo-oh.

Manhattan is a large borough. It's about the same size as the Markham Ice Shelf. The very same ice shelf that broke off of Ellesmere Island at the beginning of August. It's now adrift in the Arctic Ocean where it will eventually melt itself out of existence. The Associated Press is always on top of their environmental coverage and I commend them on keeping an eye on the melting glacial ice shelves. Raise your hand if you're worried.

Some of you didn't raise your hands. That's fine. There are lots of people out there who have bigger problems than worrying about rising ocean levels, the dilution of ocean salt content and the tremendous algae blooms that are creating massive "ocean deserts."

The ocean may reflect the blue of the sky, but it also reflects our species as a whole. It's choked with carbon dioxide, huge sections are going barren, it's overall temperature is increasing by the day and swaths of it are going barren.

We are sterilizing our largest air filter. If the ocean is the womb of the world, we are scarring her beyond repair.

To read the article full article from the Associated Press, visit this link.

Unfortunately, that's all the time I have right now. Thanks for reading guys. Don't forget to love your mother. Let her know you care.

Okay, I'm back in it, I swear.

Sorry about that brief pause, folks. This week has been killer- there's only two of us in the office and that keeps me moving all day. I believe I promised an assessment of Carol Shea-Porter the next time I wrote. Alright, guys- here it is:

http://shea-porter.house.gov/



Porter's "Online Office" is just a poster child for her tenure so far. There is little about her stand on anything, just mentions of the various boards she participates in and some legislation she's helped pass. Here's some of the environmental legislation she's currently sponsoring:

H.R. 3101:To amend the Biomass Research and Development Act of 2000 to include heating fuel produced from biomass in the definition of biobased fuel.

Well, that's all I found. Just the one. I know for a fact that she opposes new drilling options, which I'm totally okay with. A lot of her Republican counterparts are trying to use this against her.

So, here's my thing ... off shore oil drilling will ultimately come down to a state decision, right? I mean, shouldn't it? Let the people of the state in question decide if they want their beaches covered in tar for the next few decades. If they're cool with it, fine. It's their public health (though ultimately it reflects on the rest of us anyway).

ALSO! I strongly oppose drilling in national parks and refuge areas. Why? Because if our government can reverse the legislation that made those spaces sacred in the first place, what's to stop them from altering those restrictions later on? For other reasons? If the government we elected (remember that, we put them there, guys) burns a giant loop-hole into the system, you can bet your sweet, voting ass that nothing else will stop them from tainting these lands later. Mark my words, dear reader ... As far as our government is concerned: when it rains, it pours ... and FEMA dropped the ball on repairing their levees.
[That was a horrible metaphor, but it makes a point.]

I wish you all the best when it comes to New Hampshire's Primary Day on September 9th. Vote wisely, these people are elected to represent our state and maintain our government's balance of power (what's left of it anyway). We're all members of the Shire (seriously, the Shire is in all of us, even out-of-staters) and we should remember that the decisions we make affect our neighbors just as much as ourselves. Let's remember to put political labels aside and that our true objective is to protect our children and their future. That cannot happen with out a healthy planet. Let's elect some folks who will remember that along side us.

Happy Friday everyone!!!

Please drink responsibly- make it organic and don't drink and drive!
Have a great weekend.

Best,
Say

Now, where was I?

Oh, that's right. Political candidates. I believe we left off with Mr. Tom Alciere, a republican running for Senate.


I couldn't find anything on Alciere's Senate page that remotely suggests any environmental policy to begin with, let alone any stance on the topic. Just visit his web site, www.tomalciere.us, and you'll see what I mean.

Now it's time to see what those potential congressmen have to say. There are more than a few of them, lemme' tell ya'. Specifically on the Republican end of things. For that reason, I'll start with the elephants.

Jeb Bradley

Jeb believes in increased oil exploration as well as persuing alternative energy options. It's a pretty even handed approach, but it's that drilling aspect that still gets me every time. Bradley is insistent that Congress return from their vacation and hop on the band-wagon that preaches for drilling in just about every place we think oil may be hiding. There isn't much said about all of this on his web site, www.jebforcongress.com, as far as I could tell, but you might be able to find it better than I can. Good luck.

Geoff Michael



Michael is an interesting candidate. He's the first Republican I've seen to mention Climate Change, the Polar Ice Caps and changing snowfall in New Hampshire in the first few paragraphs of his web site's environmental page. Impressive, considering his affiliation. You can read his whole explanation at http://geoffmichael.com.


John Stephen



Stephen focuses on "energy," instead of the environment. His web site is comprised of several video clips where Stephen explains his policy to viewers, original among his peers. However, he uses buzz words. A LOT. Just watch his energy policy clip. Stephen rattles off all of the key words every politician has been using with little in the way of explaining how he would plan on helping us get there. We need more answers, Mr. Stephen!


"Dave" Jarvis



Jarvis's web site is confusing, but only because of its arrangement. Like Stephen, he provides video clips of himself explaining his policies. Also, like Stephen, he stresses "energy costs" instead of environmental policy. He likes the idea of oil exploration, as do the rest of his peers. I do like his mention of the issue being "bipartisan," he knows energy costs are affecting all of us and he believes politics is the last thing that should get in the way of policy. However, the world doesn't work that way. Could Jarvis be the person in Congress to get all those talking heads to actually talk? Visit his web site at www.jarvisforcongress.org.


Alright guys, that's all for today. I'll give you the details on Carol Shea-Porter tomorrow. She's been sittin' pretty in the halls of Congress for the past term- it's hard to believe that we're hitting another political cycle. Porter is uncontested in her party, but the Republicans are giving her a run for her money. I'll go into detail tomorrow, not just about Porter's plans for the future, but also what she's done since she's been in office. This should be good.

Have a great Wednesday, everyone!

Best,
Say

You can't do this by yourself, Mr. President.

So many media outlets focus on the environmental standings of presidential candidates.

Need I remind everyone that New Hampshire is having ANOTHER primary this year? On Tuesday, September 9, candidates running for Congress, Senate, Governor, State Representative and a whole myriad of other government positions will be vying to pass through the first round of voting before November (the big ticket) rolls around.

So, shouldn't us Granite Staters be concerned about what our "lesser" politicians are saying on our behalf? Checks and balances, people! That's how the system is supposed to work anyway. As your guide to the greener side, I'm taking the liberty of analyzing your prospects for Senate and Congress (really, the list of all candidates is waaaaay to long to get to in the kind of time I have).

To begin, we'll go with the folks running for Senate:

Democrats-

Jeanne Shaheen


This lady is all about green infrastructure. We're talking green jobs and a skilled work force. She wants to end our dependence on foreign oil (but so does everyone), ending tax breaks for oil companies and has high hopes of New Hampshire becoming a beacon for the alternative energy industry. Shaheen has seen the green collar and knows the revenue behind it. Amen, sista'. You can see Shaheen's full environmental plan at www.jeanneshaheen.org.

Raymond Stebbins


New Hampshire is the only state that has a vice presidential primary. Stebbins got over 50,000 votes in his favor in the primary- quite a feat in a state where most people didn't even know we HAVE a vice presidential spot on our ballots. Go fig. As for his environmental policy, Stebbins isn't in it to save a species- it even says so on his web page- as he believes in environmental policy with reasonable terms. That's about as detailed as it gets, folks. He believes we should monitor air and water quality as well as deforestation and continue researching the effects of global warming. See it all at www.electraystebbinsvp.com.

Now, those Republicans-

John Sununu


I'll quote Sununu on this topic, since his web page displays his views so efficiently.
"John continues his fight to reduce high gasoline prices and implement a long-term energy policy for the nation by co-sponsoring the “Gasoline Price Reduction Act of 2008.” This bill encourages development of plug-in electric cars and trucks, strengthens oversight of the energy futures market, and allows additional deep-sea energy exploration and oil shale production."
Fair enough, Sununu- most Republicans are banking on oil exploration to fix our oil price crisis. Sununu's saving graces lie in the legislation he's helped pass while in office. He's big on maintaining New Hampshire's wild places and puts down his partisanship if he knows his decision will benefit the Shire. You can read his VERY long environmental policy explanations at http://sununu.senate.gov/environment.html.

That's all the time I have today- tomorrow I'll touch on Tom Alciere's policy and then delve into the long list of Congressional candidates.

Goodnight and God bless!

P.S.N.H. needs to scrub up.

How many of you commute South on I93 for work every morning? I do that, too. Every morning as I drive past the vacinity of Exit 11 I can't help but notice the sickening yellow cloud that permiates the horizon, belted out by the tall smoke stacks of PSNH in Bow. I'm all too familiar with the local power plant. They pay for a bulk of Bow's property taxes and they're half the reason Bow High School could be built ... there's a lot of revenue that can come from a power facility in a small town.

Portions of PSNH's power comes from a coal burning unit, which is where that yellow discharge in the sky comes from. Burning coal for fuel can dump mercury, sulfur dioxides and other dangerous toxins with in a 40+ mile radius from the burning site. Last year an emissions regulator (also known as a "scrubber") was proposed for the site. The cost of that scrubber has more than doubled in the past year, what with the economy the way it is and all. PSNH highly recommends going ahead with buying the scrubber anyway, since it will remove a majority of the noxious chemicals dumped into our atmosphere, drinking water and soil.

And yet, some people still have a problem with the whole thing.

I have trouble with beurocracy. It may stand for a reason, but the process of debate involved takes up too much time. Lots of folks want to be sure that the move is as economical as possible, so more debate needs to take place ... more waiting, more arguing, all while the coal plant continues to function as usual, dumping mercury into our ground water and putting pregnant mothers, children and the elderly at risk. Why is this situation not being seen as urgent by the surrounding communities? Shouldn't people be concerned?

This is a link to a WMUR post about the proposed scrubber.

Now, the numbers listed are huge and the price has definitely gone up a considerable amount. I definitely think the matter should be reviewed, but in a timely manner. This is a matter of public health and safety, not just a matter of dollars and cents.

Here's a much better report on the issue from the Union Leader.

This isn't the last we've heard of this issue. I'm sure it will rear it's ugly head again in no time. Hopefully by then the public will be notified of the urgency of this issue and some action will have taken place.

But then again, we may be at the same stand-still. Cross your fingers, everyone.

Land-full and satiated.

The University of New Hampshire announced on Thursday, August 14 (just a year ago this week) that the school will utilize "enriched and purified gas from Waste Management’s landfill in Rochester to the Durham campus."

WOW.

I applaud the University in further aiding New Hampshire's head start into the world of sustainability. Plymouth State University has had its fair share of leading the green way in recent history, specifically with their gold LEED certified dormitories.

This is a link to the press release that was issued by UNH on Thursday.

This won't be the last we hear of Waste Management using refined gases to provide energy to local homes. I think this move is shear genius, not only for the environmental and energy benefits we all gain from the move, but also the amount of money Waste Management stands to make as a result. I bet no one thought they would ever see the day when our trash people would turn around and become our power plant! WM has plants to create 60 more gas refining locations that will ultimately provide enough power for 700,000 homes.

And this is just the tip of the ice burg, guys. I've been curious about NH's landfills ever since I read something in the Concord Monitor about some looking to expand sooner than expected. Our consumption is at an all time high when our health and the future of our planet depends on us doing just the opposite. There are plenty of resources allowing residents to see the projected scope of their local land fill as well as ways to be involved in the legislation required to keep local landfills under control. If more of us got involved and understood just how much garbage we create, we might not have landfill expansion problems in the first place.

Cheers, UNH. You've done all of the Granite State a service. Keep leading the charge.

I hope you all have a great Monday, regardless of the weather.
Love,
Say

Your trash is like a ship on the ocean ...

I'd like to take this time to refer back to a previous post of mine involving the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. I wrote about this phenomena several months ago and it seemed the post went relatively unnoticed. In fact, for several years people have been ignoring this glaring and obvious problem off our coast. Thank goodness for Good Morning America- this morning the ABC news magazine featured the great swell of garbage and the incredible increase in plastic trash over the past five years. Scientists in charge of researching the cause and clean up of the garbage patch say that little can be done to fix the problem, except for a change in human behavior and years of clean up efforts by volunteers and skilled divers.

Here's a link to a web site dedicated to the Great Garbage Patch.

Does it baffle anyone else that we have such a huge mass of human waste in the ocean that it now has a name?

This photo is a great example of the currents that pick-up, then drag refuse into the belly of our largest ocean.




I found the photo doing a google search of the Garbage Patch, it comes from a blog titled "I Feel It, Too" and they give a wonderful explanation of the heap twice the size of the state of Texas.

Can I finally get some outrage on this topic, guys? Is anyone else thoroughly disgusted by all of this? I shed a tear watching boating nets snare catches of fish with bellies full of plastic bits. It's so easy to ignore the problem when it's collecting thousands of miles off the coast of California and Japan, but it's there and now it's in our food chain.

If we are what we eat, we're trash.

More to come later.
Love,
Say

Hi, my Neem is ...

My Mark and I were in the Concord Pharmacy yesterday picking up a prescription and while Mark was waiting for the pharmacist, I took some time to wander around the place and take in their selection of herbal supplements and holistic remedies. I found some neat flower extracts by a company named "Bush" I think, that were fairly intriguing. At $16 a pop I changed my mind on taking the Olive or Rose Hip extracts home with me. So as we're headed out the door I notice on some nearby shelving this sign:



I did a double take because Mark and I have been using a Neem extract in our garden all summer long as a pest repellent. Neem has more uses? We get to the cashier and there, in a small cardboard display ... Neem chapstick. I couldn't make this up if I wanted to. Now my curiosity level is really peaked. So I did some Internet research.

This site is a blog titled "Desertification," and the author looks at the expansion of deserts as well as poverty and drought in the world's dry lands. Go figure, the author has an entry dedicated to what they refer to as "Nature's Drugstore." Neem is "The perfect family herb," native to the middle east and countries like Pakistan, India and Myanmar.

This is the Web site this blog used as their resource.

According to this Online Herbal Encyclopedia, Neem loves drought conditions, has been used for over 4,000 years, can live to be 200 years old and produces fruit when it ages 3 to 5 years.

As I was doing research, I stumbled across the book that the sign in the pharmacy was referring to:

Neem, The Ultimate Herb by John Conrick.

Long story short- I bought the damn book. I got it on www.half.ebay.com for just $6.99, brand new. How could I not? A plant that's been revered for over 4,000 years and is commonly known as "The Village Pharmacy?" The incredible results we've seen with our own Neem use is enough to get my attention and hold it. As I continue to read more about this tree I am realizing its basic applications that can directly benefit me. Now, the only problem is how to get one for myself! Due to our cold winters and high water table, Neem can't survive in a majority of the United States. It can be kept as a house plant, but the Neem tree grows at incredible rates and would eventually become too much of a hassle to keep indoors. I won't venture to try raising one myself. It would break my heart to have to destroy it one day when it became unruly. Regardless, I'm curious to learn more about this plant and hopefully put it to use in my life. I have a good feeling about this stuff. Anything to promote a crop that could bring prosperity to impoverished parts of the world, right? Neem is relatively unknown in the West, but if demand increased enough it might create a viable economy for countries in the middle east. Not too shabby a deal if you ask me.

Have a great weekend everyone! Be safe!!

No Slim Pickens

T. Boone Pickens has seen the light.

Or, maybe he's seen the green. The former oilman's words are all over the news these days. I even had the pleasure of seeing one of his commercials this past week.

The link above is for his newly launched Web site: "Pickens Plan."

To sum it up, Pickens has made a FORTUNE [repeat: fortune] on oil. That alone should stress to people the fact that the man is good with money and his life has been ruled by it. He recognizes what he calls the "strangle-hold" on our country imposed by our dependence on foreign oil, 70% of which fuels American oil consumption.

Pickens sees this 70%, which adds up to $700 billion, as money he's losing. He doesn't say that, but it's safe to assume. How can he invest in better, faster, closer to home energy?

Wind, baby!

Pickens predicts that in 10 years, with the right collective mindset, America can replace the natural gas used to create electricity in our country with the same amount of wind power. It would only take 20% wind power to eliminate our natural gas use ON ELECTRICITY.

Natural gas is a clean and abundant natural resource in the US. Instead of spending that resource on electricity production, we can put it into automobile consumptions. Pickens sites that there are multiple vehicles that are running on natural gas as we speak. By taking the natural gas that makes up 22% of our electricity production and putting into our transportation economy, we look to reduce our dependence on foreign oil by 38%. That means spending $300 billion dollars less on oil every year.

Pretty smart, huh? I thought so.

And this is where the ideology of incentive comes in. Pickens sees where his incentive lies. He's been investing in energy for decades. Now he's making a grand shift to be sure that his investments keep making him money over time. He sees the future in wind power and I trust him on that. He has more money and more experience than I do.

You gonna' argue with that?

Here's a link to the Jutia Group, they keep an eye on investments, that briefly explains the launch of "Pickens Plan."

The real hope is that Pickens can make some headway on this issue, especially with our current presidential candidates. If history has taught us anything, it's that money talks. Pickens has plenty of it and he knows how to save us from spending even more. Who wouldn't listen to an argument like that?

Happy Tuesday, everyone.
Be well!
*Say

Another one bites the dust ...

There's a change-a-comin'. New Hampshire's endangered species list is facing some shuffling. Good news: lots of predatory birds, like Perigrine Falcons and Bald Eagles, are off the list or brought up to threatened status instead of being endangered.

The bad news: Grey wolves are back to being endangered and the common Night Hawk is on the brink of extinction as are Atlantic Salmon and Brook Lamprey.

But there's something worse ... we've eliminated a species altogether.



If you've never seen a Golden Trout before, you never will. They're all gone. We've over fished them, forced them to compete with introduced species and simply neglected them as a vital part of our ecosystem. Now they're gone forever.

I'm reading this book titled The World Without Us by Alan Weisman in which he describes what would happen to the planet if people just simply disappeared. In it, Weisman not only examines what the future would be like, he also addresses the effect the human race has had on the planet so far that has entirely altered Earth's existence. Did you know that at one point in time North America had more megafauna (very large animals) than Africa does today? Want to know why we don't see them today? Humans killed them all. Giant sloths, wild horses, American elephants and mammoths ... human beings- homo sapiens- killed every last one. Some scientists refer to this as the Blitzkrieg Theory. I believe it. An despite the overwhelming evidence that proves that as we extinguish species we are faster approaching our own impending doom, animals like the Golden Trout are being lost with little to no concern on the part of society.

It makes me really very sad to know that there's nothing that can be done to change this. A majority of people would respond, "It's just a fish. We have plenty of trout in New Hampshire."

And there-in lies the problem. All animals (and humans, don't worry I'm not damning us) are here for a reason. We are all part of a delicate balance. We need to learn to coexist with the rest of nature. We need to do it now.

For more information on New Hampshire's threatened, endangered and extinct species, visit www.wildnh.com.

Lighter fare, in light of heavy topics.

Okay, I've been pretty gloom and doom lately when it comes to oil companies, drilling in our wild places and pointing fingers at administrations and inept politicians.

Enough is enough on my end. It's Friday, people. Friday calls for celebrations. Beers, cheers and grins from ear to ears. So, for today's post I'm going to chat a bit about one of my favorite pastimes: gardening.





This is the most recent shot I've taken of our garden. That's my Mark in the background. From this angle, you can't see our three final rows of veggies: carrots, peas (with a sweet fence) and some California bell peppers. Regardless- things have been growing really well lately and we've taken an entirely organic regimen when it comes to fertilizing, weeds and worst of all: pests.

Of pests, we have several:

For instance, the Colorado Potato Beetle ...


The Striped Cucumber Beetle ...


These guys are a fraction of the size of the potato beetles, which are close to the size of a dime.

And one of the more recent and pesky critters: White Flies ... Eww.


All of these bugs are difficult to remove with out the aid of harsh chemicals. Potato Beetles are particularly tricky, as they develop resistance to pesticides very easily. There's really nothing that can stop them permanently- which is why they've become a universal pain in the ass.

Our biggest asset, besides the organic chicken waste we acquire at Agway, has been the extract of the Neem plant.




Neem is a plant native to India that is naturally pest resistant. Bugs won't go near it, for whatever reason. Before diving head first into do-it-yourself Neem territory, Mark and I decided to try a few certified organic products that utilize this miracle ingredient.

First up, and used in its entirety, was this product:



The Bon Neem worked to a point, though we still found potato bug larva on several plants after its use. We did not, however, see the beetles themselves. The eggs could have been there before we applied the pesticide. About the only thing that gets rid of the beetles themselves is hand-picking them off of your plants.

We were both really pleased with how our plants reacted to the Bon Neem and the reduction in leaf deterioration as a result of those cucumber beetles- those we squish in our fingers when we find them as they're pretty tiny.

Since we're all for trying new things, we went with a cheaper anti-bug product this week. I can't find the company online, but I believe it's called something close to "Clean Earth" or something like that. We've only just used it a few days ago and I'll give the plants a good misting before Mark and I leave for Maine for a long weekend. We're most excited to return home to see what a difference four days will make. We're in the garden every day and being so hands on makes it difficult to see a lot of change take place. I'll take pictures and post them when we get back.

We're really proud of what we've accomplished garden wise. We utilize a community plot within walking distance of both our houses. Our plot hadn't been used for years before we got to it and we've been working diligently to maintain the soil for next year's efforts. We should be doing this for a long time to come. Which brings me to my next point ...

Read this and you'll know what I'm talking about.

I simply adore Grist- they're really quite on point. I digress- the real reason I'm posting this is the stress put on the realization that we can't depend on other people to grow our food for us, at least for now. Flooded crops in the mid west are a lost cause these days, making produce prices even higher than they would be based on transport costs alone. It's time to "take the bull by the horns" and revert to a simpler, self reliant time. Our great grandparents never relied on anyone else to sustain them. The Great Depression generation learned to feed themselves and we must do the same- a recession is just a scaled down version of those horrible times.

So, before stuff gets worse, let's all take personal responsibility for our planet and our personal health. If you can't have a garden (for space or time reasons), go for containers. They're easy and portable- fantastic. If you can't swing that, utilize a CSA [Community Supported Agriculture], a farm that has community members buy in for the harvesting season. There are CSAs all over the place these days, especially in New Hampshire, so do a bit of searching- there are several that advertise in the paper I write for. Just check your local news publications and you're sure to find something.

That's all for now, ya'll. Happy gardening, drinking, dining, enjoying life. I'm off to the Maine wilderness: Sebec Lake in Dover Foxcroft to be exact. It's going to be a long and wonderful weekend.

Smooches for all that greenery,
Say

"Gotta' get that OIL!" Why we're in way over our heads when it comes to America's dependence on oil, both foreign and domestic.

Hey guys. It's been quite a mess in the United States since I last updated.

Flood waters in the mid west are sweeping over corn, soybean and other produce fields, gathering fertilizers and pesticides and undoubtedly adding to water pollution and the dead zone off the coast of the southern states. It's a sad state of things and I feel terribly for the people who are loosing their livelihood in the wake of rising river levels. Perhaps this is a lesson to all of us: development in flood plain areas is not a wise investment. If we could learn to work with these floods and use them to our advantage (flooding brings a lot of silt when not contaminated by humans), we would welcome events like this.

I am not writing today to give you some dissertation on flooding farm land. No, I'm hear to discuss our oil situation ... again.

I'm sure all of you have heard something about this in the past week. Capital Hill is passing the buck again on why oil prices are rising. Just about every blog or news agency I've visited sites the Wall Street Journal's coverage of the finger pointing at oil speculators. It's now "come to light" that if it weren't for the trading of paper barrels of oil, we wouldn't be in such a payment pickle at the pumps.

Now, the conspiracy theorist in me thinks this is a dramatic effort on the part of Washington to promote off-shore drilling in the United States (a matter that I am enraged at, in part by the fact that John McCain has turned his back on the legislation he worked so hard to institute ... McCain is finally in favor of raising the moratorium on off-shore drilling and that makes him a giant hypocrite). What will off-shore drilling and drilling in our National Parks do for our society? Our economy? Our future? I'd be happy to explain a bit.

Did anyone forget that George W. Bush made his millions in the oil industry?

That doesn't sit right with me. With this short-sighted vote of 51 to 49 in favor of reinstating oil drilling in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge shows just how backwards thinking our government really is. The projected amount of oil located in the proposed sights won't do as much good as the uneducated masses is praying it will. If anything, what we pull out of the ground will attribute to under 1% of the global oil market, roughly. In all honesty- we can't predict how much is there. It could be an expensive and fruitless venture. When oil is drilled, it flows into the GLOBAL oil market- not the American oil market. Americans will not directly benefit from anything we drill. There simply isn't enough to make a dent. As for actually getting to the point of drilling- our bureaucracy is muddled and confusing. Documentation and licensing procedures to get the rights to drill in Alaska will take anywhere from seven to 14 years before any drill hits top-soil.

Here is a map, courtesy of the Sierra Club, that shows the proposed area of oil exploration:



This is prime Polar Bear, caribou, and migratory bird territory. What happens when we threaten this area? All of these animals face extinction. It's a fact of life. Do we really want to scar the face of a place that looks like this?



Do we want to push the envelope on oil spills, raped landscapes and the possibility that our children will eventually be paying for the efforts that go into all the drilling? We're asking for more than we can handle. We are biting off more than we can chew. It is easy to lie to the American public and let them assume that this is the bandaid that will heal the compound fracture that is our dependence on oil for energy. There has to be an other way.



Honda has already developed a zero emissions vehicle of commuter car size.

Why can't we invest in efforts like this instead of continually giving subsidies to oil companies? Yes, that would make fuel super expensive, but the technology can't get off the ground in proper time if we, as a society, don't support it. Our tax dollars are being abused by the current administration and we're doing nothing to stop it. The only way to make change happen is to vote for it ... to make a conscious effort to make lifestyle changes (and they can be so easy) ... to vow to be the change we want to see in the world.

Who's with me? Let's not hand our children a planet that riddled with holes and oil streaked beaches. Let's hand them a planet worth being proud of.

Lots of love, guys. Happy Tuesday.

... Going D o o o w w w n n n ... [Not for love in an elevator.]

I subscribe to National Geographic and thumb to their Environment section automatically every month. June's issue is fantastic (featuring Stonehenge as the cover story). Their environment coverage is always interesting and relevant, but there was one particular article that reminded me of something we should be discussing right now.

Peak Oil is eminent.
[That photo is courtesy of National Geographic- you'll see it when you pull up the above link.]

What is Peak Oil, you ask? For those unaware, oil is a natural resource. Like all natural resources- there is no endless supply. Humans have been probing for the crude garbage for decades and at one point in our history it seemed as if the stuff would never run out.

Newsflash: It's running out. Fast.

There's no real way to predict exactly when Peak Oil will hit, but if my gut tells me anything, it should be soon.



I found the above video on the Myspace page of a fellow tree-hugger. I think it really speaks to what's going to happen to us in no uncertain terms.

We're screwed guys, it's time to wean or face an economic disaster. I'm working on finding a job closer to where I live, though the task seems even more daunting all the time. The recession isn't helping things, that's for sure.

So the big question is: How? How do we, and I say we in all general terms, how do we- as a society- lead the way in reversing our dependence on foreign oil and potentially put an end to drilling in our own country?

The answer is complicated and best left to professional environmentalists, scientists politicians and special interest groups.

On an individual level, I'm sure there's SOMETHING we can do, right? Like I mentioned before- living close to work helps a great deal. Since that's an impossibility for me right now, Mark and I have decided to do this instead:






These are the first photos of our community garden plot. Our spot hadn't been used in two years (as you can see from the first shot) and rototilling it was like going to war with a golf course rough. Thank goodness our generous garden neighbor Phil and his brother Ed did us a solid and used their tractor on our sad 50' x 25' rectangle.

Gardening and peak oil? What could they possibly have in common?

A lot.

1) Everyone should be a good steward of the Earth in one form or another.

2) We'll spend less gas going to the grocery store to buy food all the time. My garden is so close I can run or ride my bike to it with ease.

3) Since we won't be using the produce at the supermarket, we'll decrease the demand for produce grown in far away places. Therefore, we won't be adding to the fuel consumption of food transport.

4) Did you know that traditional, non-organic fertilizers require mining and petrol additives to maintain the final product? Oh yeah, there's crazy shit in there and it's best to leave it the hell alone. Organic fertilizers from local producers (we use a pellet formula from a local farm) reduce all of the mining, petrol and trucking required for the other stuff that commercial farms use.

Speaking of commercial farming and fertilizers, take a look at this!





See that contrast in water quality? That's created by nitrogen run-off, the result of mass produced fertilizers, draining into the Mississippi River and eventually into the Gulf of Mexico. When these fertilizers dump into the Gulf, they create giant algae plumes. The algae grows so thick that it blocks sunlight from the ocean floor. Marine life that can swim away does so quickly. Animals that can't, like micro organisms and most invertebrates as well as aquatic plants, eventually die off. When the algae plumes die, the sink to the ocean floor where bacteria eats away at it. This decomposition requires oxygen, the supply of which is used up so quickly that any remaining life in the water is killed off completely. In the end, you get something that looks like this:



That red section is the dead zone of the Gulf of Mexico, stretching from the Mississippi Delta, as of 2001. It's much larger today and it continues to grow every year. This phenomenon is often referred to as Hypoxia [the literal definition of hypoxia is oxygen starvation to the body].

If the Mid-West can do this much damage to such a large body of water, imagine what our run-off does to our local water supplies.

All you Bostonians know what I'm talking about when you see those drain covers in the city that say, "No dumping, drains directly into the Charles River." There's a reason they don't want you pouring God-knows-what in there.

This has been quite a rant- maybe because it's Friday, maybe because I've found a lull in my work obligations. Regardless, this is all stuff I needed to get off my chest.

Please share your thoughts. I would love to hear from you.
Happy Fryday, ya'll- in honor of being green, try ordering an organic beer this weekend. Woolavers and Peak Organic are both a great choice.


Love,
Say

Tune in, Tokyo.

If you have a Yahoo! e-mail account or at least use their search engine, you probably saw this headline:

Least Eco-Minded City

Apparently, folks living in Tokyo, Japan- at least a large percentage of them- are not willing to make sacrifices to help in the fight against global warming. The populations of eight cities were surveyed. Paris and Milan boasted the highest environmentally conscious populations.

Interesting.

This doesn't really surprise me. The location does, but the amount of people who polled such an opinion does not. Lots of people think going green means eating cardboard and using Oak leaves for toilet paper. Tokyo may be a world leader in newer and cleaner technologies, but there's a lot of people living on that tiny island called Japan. I think that no matter where you go, many people are not willing to change their lifestyle to better the planet. With the misconception of green living being uncomfortable- a martyr's post, if you will- who can blame them.

Being greener can be virtually effortless. I'm struggling with the very office I work in- my boss thinks turning off computers overnight wears down their parts and makes them break easier. [I know, I know ... whaaaa?] Turning off all of our computers at the end of the work day makes our computers not only faster, but more energy efficient. Changing the light bulbs in you home or office helps, too.

Does anyone else find this effort to be an uphill battle? Why do so many people choose not to listen?

At any rate: bullocks to the nay-sayers. Leave a comment and tell me about your latest effort in protecting the planet.

Thanks for reading.
Love,
Say

Bears! [You're putting the whole station at risk!]

I have a bone to pick with the Bush administration ... yet again.

This is an article from the Natural Resources Defense Council describing the necessity of listing the Polar Bear as an endangered species.

This article was written in 2005 and since then the Bush administration has agreed to at least list Polar Bears as "Threatened." What's the difference? Threatened species do not garner the same protections as Endangered ones. Now, in 2008, this issue is being revisited. There are arguments from both sides.

Leave it to the Canadians to know what's really going on.

So, as the above article proclaims, the Polar Bear has become "champion" for all ice dwelling animals. Who can blame conservationists for picking the big, white man eaters? They're large, in your face and draw huge crowds at zoos all over the world. New examination of this legislation will ask that Polar Bears become listed as endangered not because people should leave them be, but because endangered species require habitat protections. We would have to stop making the greenhouse gases that are melting the bear's habitat. Genius, if you ask me.

However, there are always nay-sayers ... Ugh. Here, the Heritage Foundation explains why listing the Polar Bear as an endangered species is just plain bad voodoo for our economy.

Their only argument? Energy. In order to avoid Polar Bear habitat, we would have to circumvent oil drilling in Alaska. That would result in the continued escalation of oil prices in the United States.

This is where I rant.

Good. Keep gas expensive.

If I've learned anything about the American population in my 24 years, it's that people only move for change when it's in their favor. We have a "What's in it for me?" mentality. Want people to lower emissions from large factories? Create a cap-and-trade system that is functional and profitable for SOMEONE, anyone. Want people to invest in clean fuel technologies? Make their current fuel too expensive. Tada! Problem on it's way to being solved. High gas prices are just what this country needs to convince the greater population that it's time to stop relying on Middle Eastern oil. It's about the only thing that makes voters move ... money money money. I've said it once and I'll say it again: We need to start leading the charge in environmentally responsible technology. We should have done that a long time ago. If it takes a Polar Bear to get the job done- so be it.

So what, Heritage Foundation? I'm not immune to the high cost of fuel. I guarantee I make less money than any other writer on that web site and I bet they don't have to pay for their travel expenses. I do. I travel all over New Hampshire for my job and don't see a cent back for it. Is that fair? No. Do I have to deal with it? Yes. So those ready to point the finger and say I don't understand how much fuel actually costs- point that finger somewhere else. I'm coming from a place of experience. I have empty pockets, but I care more about a healthy planet for my children than spending a few extra dollars at the pump. Call me liberal.

Anyway ... back to task.

Here's some information on Polar Bears, provided by the World Wildlife Federation.

Sure, the whole thing reads like a back-door global warming policy, but c'mon ... What else can we do? Action needs to be taken on all fronts. I support listing Polar Bears as endangered, even if it means I can't drive to Canada on a tank of gas anymore. Such is life ... and quality of life is much better when you don't have to wear a hazmat suit to play outside.

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