GLOBE: Green, Leading Others By Example

Gettin' hitched in a green stylee!

2009-08-26T10:29:00.000-07:00

There you have it- girl is engaged. Don't worry, it's a conflict free diamond (FI made sure of that)- I know, diamonds have an intense carbon footprint, but I didn't buy it. In fact, I'm pretty happy to have it.

SOOoooo, in order to keep up with the up-n-up, Mark and I are having a green wedding. I've been scouring the internet for all kinds of suggestions and helpful hints, but let me tell ya'- they are super few and far between. Big frown face. :-(

In the spirit of green, leading others by example, I'm going to blog about my green wedding. I hope it helps other brides that want to walk down that same path to marital bliss. Feel free to comment and let me know of your hints, tips or questions.

1) The almighty dress dilemma.

I just happen to LOVE this one in particular, that I found from Threadhead Creations- the same place my friend Katie got her lovely gown.

HOWEVER ... though the gowns are amazing, so pretty, timeless, and made with the planet in mind ... it's a little pricey (for my wallet anyway- I hear of women who can afford more than $1000 on their dress and God bless them!).

So, I'm contemplating scouring consignment places (with help from Mum) and getting something altered. I'm still unsure. More on this issue at a later juncture.

2) Reception, reception.

We've set a date (pretty much)- August 28, 2010. Where will we have it? Close to home (lowers travel, therefore CO2) at a nonprofit that is dedicated to conservation and environmental education.

The McLane Audubon Center on Silk Farm Road in Concord.

They have a great new building with reception hall that's LEED Gold. Our money will help them perpetuate their mission and give us a really unique location for our nuptials. More on the decor and things of that nature at a future date.

3) Let them ... just ... eat!

Mizuna ("Food Evolved") will be covering us on the food side of things. The owner, Tom, is super mindful about eating seasonally and plans on taking our concerns in mind. The key to finding a green foodie is being in the right place at the right time. We know Mizuna from when Mark used to live in Greenland. We seek out great places to eat that have a mindful method- so we were lucky on this end. Want to find folks in the know? Hit up your local farmers market. That's also the best place to find a florist! (More on that later, too.)

So you can see I've been working really hard on making sure we're as green as possible when we throw one of the biggest parties of our lives. This will probably be the leading topic on the blog for a while, besides the new home we're buying this week!!! EEEeeekkk! Very excited to share our green home improvements with you as time goes on.

In other news (wait, there's more?!), I'm starting my path to my Masters in Organization and Environmental Sustainability from Antioch University in Keene, NH! I've got a busy year ahead of me, huh? Wish me luck. If I plan it all correctly, there will still be time to blog.

Talk to you soon.
Smooches!
Say

The Green Guide is almost out

2009-07-21T13:10:00.000-07:00

Hey readers. Despite the drizzle, I'm pleased with the way this week is working out. Of course, I can say that because I was out yesterday, making it a short week at work for me (all good things).

I spent the weekend at Sebec Lake visiting Mark's grandparents with his brother and sister-in-law. What an incredible place- the amount of wildlife we see each time is astounding ... even with so many lake houses on the shores and motorboats in the water.

Mark and I were swimming off a paddle boat we maneuvered to deep water and when popping our heads out of the waves we noticed we were joined by a loon not more than a few feet from us. He gave a nice hollar, which I'm sure amounted to the same thing as, "Who the hell do you think you are? Get out of mah house!" and then he dove off. It was pretty thrilling to be so close and get a yell out of him. Really fantastic stuff.

So, after several weeks of writing in my spare time and taking countless photos and conducting multiple interviews, the Green Guide I participate in is on it's way to the presses. I get so anxious when my work goes to print. I think that's because I don't get to see the paper get put together. I'm one of the rogue freelancers that has to wait for gratification. No matter, in a few days it will be available for distribution- so I certainly hope everyone snags a copy. Don't worry, it's printed on recycled paper.

My pieces for this issue focused on the community gardens in Concord and one of my new favorite places on Earth: D Acres in Dorchester, NH. The text for both of these pieces wasn't used, but I guess the D Acres piece got turned into a photo spread, so that's pretty nice. More photo credits to add to my portfolio! The whole place was a veritable photo shoot. It was hard not to take a good picture- so with that said, I've set the bar of expectations pretty high! Ha!

In other news, it's official that I will be starting my Accounting 101 requirement this fall. That puts me one step closer to starting my Green MBA. Big thanks to Caily for the sweet mention on the Face Space. You're awesome, lady friend.

Alrighty, so much for all that business. Time to get on to other things. More posting soon!!! As for those photos I mentioned, I would totally post them, but I would hate to ruin the surprise in the paper. ;-)

You can see a pdf of all that jazz at Green Guide NH.

Love,
Say

No Impact? Wow.

2009-07-16T11:05:00.000-07:00

And how.

Click this link above and watch the movie trailer for "No Impact Man." The fella' has a blog, too- check it out. He makes me feel as if I fail even harder than I already do. Ouch.

What I think is funny about this documentary, really this gentleman's life in general, is that his wife is the antithesis of what he's trying to accomplish. But still, she goes along. Because she loves him? Because she really doesn't have a choice? Does she even believe in his plight? I admire her fortitude in going along for the ride- I feel as if both their personalities have been fighting inside my head for years.

How do you break wasteful habits? How do you make yourself better when all your life you've been taught to not worry about such things? It's a hard line to draw in the sand when half of your brain wants to follow and the other half is just not all that into it. I'd like to think that my "save the world" side is winning, but not nearly fast enough.

With that, I'm working my way toward earning my Green MBA from Antioch University. Hooray! Organization and Environmental Sustainability. Put that on a resume. I'd like to see people turn down my skills then! Ha! It's a two year program, one weekend a month. I'll be spending a lot of time in the Keene area as a result, something I'm very pleased about. I'll have to reinvest in a road-bike ...

Step after step after step. I say this every time, but I need to be more proactive about blogging as well. This is my soap-box. This is the place I can go to write entries like this ... To condemn my short-falls and pat myself on the back when I finally make a good go of things.

I'm trying to save the world. If I intend on really following through, I better light a fire under my own ass.

Have a great weekend everyone. I'm on my way to Maine for a long weekend. Thank goodness for the great outdoors!

Love,
Say

Wish for fish?

2009-06-03T08:33:00.000-07:00

I apologize for taking so long to post. This spring has been a hectic one, but good news is on the horizon. I'm sure of it. I'm working on some pieces for the new green guide that's coming out around the end of June. Be on the lookout for the Green Guide insert in the Concord Monitor, as well as it being available at various Concord locations- like Real Green Goods and the Audubon Center.

So, while at work I got this press release in the bulk mail box:

News from the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DATE: June 3, 2009

CONTACT: Tom Niejadlik, DES, Environmental Health Program 603-271-6865

Doug Grout, NH Fish and Game Department, Marine Division 603-868-1095

DES and NH Fish and Game Issue Advisory on

Striped Bass and Bluefish Consumption

New Hampshire is One of Seven East Coast States Issuing Limits

Concord - The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services, in coordination with the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department and six other east coast states, has issued a fish consumption advisory for large bluefish and striped bass caught in New Hampshire coastal and estuarine waters.

According to state health officials, large bluefish and striped bass (larger than 25 inches) contain polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) at levels of potential concern to the general public. This concern is especially true for pregnant women and young children. PCBs can affect the endocrine system and brain development, and have been shown to cause cancer in animal studies.

State health officials advised that striped bass and large bluefish caught in New Hampshire coastal and estuarine waters should not be eaten by pregnant women, women of childbearing age, nursing mothers and children under the age of six. The remainder of the general population should eat no more than one meal of such fish per month.

“Fortunately there are many other marine and freshwater species that consumers can eat more frequently and that have health benefits,” stated DES Commissioner Tom Burack. In New Hampshire, commonly eaten fish that are low in PCBs and other contaminants include winter flounder, Atlantic cod, haddock, and fluke.

DES’ advisory stems from a multi-state report finalized in 2008, which documented the PCB content of striped bass and bluefish from Maine to Georgia. The report also shows that these fish are not particularly good sources of beneficial fish oils. Compared to other fish, striped bass and bluefish have lower amounts of omega-3 fatty acids relative to the amount of PCBs they contain. For a copy of the report see http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/eohp/fish/PCBSTBhome.htm

Similar advice is being issued by six other east coast states today including Maine, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Jersey, Maryland, and Delaware. These states are all instructing pregnant women and young children to not eat striped bass and large bluefish, and are advising the general public to moderate consumption of these fish. These states will continue to monitor PCB levels in coastal marine species and will modify the consumption advisory as needed in the future.

For more information contact Tom Niejadlik at (603) 271-6865 or visit www.des.nh.gov and look on the A-Z list for Fish Consumption Guidelines.

# # #

For those new to this blog, I've mentioned polychlorinated biphenyls in previous post. This PR, however, begs that I readdress the issue. PCBS are, according to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry:

Polychlorinated biphenyls are mixtures of up to 209 individual chlorinated compounds (known as congeners). There are no known natural sources of PCBs. PCBs are either oily liquids or solids that are colorless to light yellow. Some PCBs can exist as a vapor in air. PCBs have no known smell or taste. Many commercial PCB mixtures are known in the U.S. by the trade name Aroclor.

PCBs have been used as coolants and lubricants in transformers, capacitors, and other electrical equipment because they don't burn easily and are good insulators. The manufacture of PCBs was stopped in the U.S. in 1977 because of evidence they build up in the environment and can cause harmful health effects. Products made before 1977 that may contain PCBs include old fluorescent lighting fixtures and electrical devices containing PCB capacitors, and old microscope and hydraulic oils.

Apparently, PCBs aren't made in the US anymore. So why are our fish (and bird populations, by the way) plagued by these chemicals.

We're a closed system, people. Whatever we manipulate/create/destroy sticks around. PCBs aren't going anywhere. I wish I knew what we could do to fix our problems with chemical contamination ... someday we may have answers. For now, just don't eat fish too often.

More soon.
Love,
Say

To paraphrase Colbert, "Nation, you're doing one helloffa job."

2009-04-29T13:03:00.000-07:00

... I like that Colbert refers to his viewing audience as "Nation." Stellar. That guy cracks me up ... Clever clever.

Regardless, I wanted to post this link ... From, hahaha, The Nation.

So, our administration is doing a bang-up job trying to get the country moving forward in the right direction. In the past 100 days, a whole lot has been done, but there is still so much more to forge ahead with.

For example ... green infrastructure ... job creation ... environmental legislation ... yeah, you're catching my drift. The article is done well and it helps me segue into this next link, brought to my attention by my good friend, Mr. Casey Rollins (how'dya' like that plug, budday??).

Just look at that grid, people!

God, bless NPR, would ya'? This is an incredible example of how to visualize American consumption ... and it's interactive!! What's not to like?? This goes along with the whole concept of revamping our infrastructure ... Oh, how long we've waited for the days when sustainable practice isn't just practice any longer! Those days will come, kiddos, but in the mean time the only way to change private industry is by making noise with your wallet. Let them know how you feel by how you spend!!!

That's all for now, I'm off for a run before I work overtime tonight. Wish me luck .. this girl is having trouble getting back into shape!

God speed, ya'll. Give a tree a smooch.

Love,
Say

It's Friday ... time for a PHOTO BLOG!

2009-04-24T05:49:00.001-07:00

So, I know it's been a while since I've been able to upload my own photos to this here bloggy-wog ... but I've come back with a vengeance!

That being said .... here are some photos of

1) planting Bok Choy in the early spring wetness.

... and 2) Some more photos of WILD NH DAY!

Mark and I will be farther north this weekend ... we're dog-sitting for a friend. We're lucky because they live on a small pond in the lakes region- my friend Katie tells me that their resident blue heron is sitting on eggs at the moment! Perhaps I can get just close enough to get some photos (but not so close that she knows I'm there). Thank goodness for zoom lenses! If anything, I'll get some beautiful spring shots during the fantastic weather we're supposed to have.

I hope all of you have a fantastic weekend!
Be good, be outside, be with nature, be wise, be happy.

Love,
Say

En Vogue

2009-04-22T06:02:00.001-07:00

This photo has been cruising blogs across the interwebs for a while. It depicts the satellites and debris that orbit the Earth (the view is facing the North Pole).

This photo makes me want to gag. We clutter so much that even our orbit looks like a trash heap. I sigh in frustration at the sight of it. But then again, I use a cell phone that requires a few of those satellites to be there ...

Now, I'm sure you all know that today is Earth Day- the international celebration of caring for the planet, our mother ship. I was walking through a department store last night and was amazed to see a jewelry set that included the recycling symbol, a small planet and a leaf. All three were enamel set in what looked like gold. This was in a department store that prefers selling "diamond-esk" jewelry at a killer price- all of it probably imported from a third-world country whose recycling and emissions standards are not taken as seriously as poverty, the spread of disease in slums, or a lack of education in poor communities.

Was the department store in question intent on spreading the message of stewardship? Probably not.

I popped into a popular clothing store after that ... this particular retail outlet is known for up-to-date fashions at very, very low prices. Most of their clothing is made in Indonesia. There were environmental references on graphic tees, dresses, jewelry, handbags ...

Don't get me wrong, I've been rocking recycling logos since I was a pre-pubescent ... but lately this surge of retail propaganda doesn't feel right ... How often do these large companies recycle? How much waste do they create? Are they making an effort to be better companies??

I went HERE to find out.

That's Gap Inc.'s Climate Counts Score Card. Climate Counts is mentioned here a fair amount- and they're based in New Hampshire! Who knew?! Not many people, and that's the problem ... Funded in part by Stonyfield Farms, Climate Counts is based in Manchester and rates companies across the country to let consumers know just how environmentally minded these companies are.

Nike, believe it or not, is their highest ranked apparel company.

So, with an overall score of 42 (out of a possible 100), they're working on getting better, but ultimately with conglomerates like Gap Inc. the bottom line is always the bottom line. Money drives the engine.

Since I started reading Gary Hirshberg's new book, the one I mentioned in my last post, I've realized why the man is so well off. Having a leader like him in our midst makes our communities all the better.

So, in honor of Earth Day, as you pick up litter, clear beaches, finally put recycling bins in your office- whatever you may be doing- let's let this concept sink in ...

If we really want to change the consumption rate of our society, we have to speak with our wallets.

I've been victim to choosing cheap over sustainable. It's hard not to most of the time; it's a tough economy and everyone is strapped for cash. Hence Walmart's never ceasing popularity. I've bought the cheap t-shirt. I've stocked up on discount accessories. It is a daunting task to shell out more cash in favor of the greater good ... the whole effort is hard as hell.

Recently, on GreenGuideNH, I read a tid-bit that said (and I'm paraphrasing): It's too difficult to try and change every bad habit you have all at once ... so pick one at a time and stick to your new ideal until it becomes a habit itself.

Baby steps. Avoiding frustration and exhaustion is the way to go. My habit is starting at the grocery store. I garden extensively, preserve the left-over produce and compost the waste. I've gotten into the habit of baking my own bread, a money saver for sure and when you get down to it, homemade bread is just the balls! It's delicious, all warm and new ... When I can't grow it or make it myself, I make an effort to find it locally. When Hannaford or Shaws is your only option, just read your labels. Support organic where you can, bring reusable bags and when in doubt- ask for help. There are resources all around you to help you find the most local produce at the best price. You needn't sell off your first born to eat well, join a CSA ... visit your local farmers' market for bulk staples (honey, butter, meats, veggies, breads, herbs, etc.).

I've pontificated enough ... Really, I wish you the best of luck, dear reader. I wish all of us the best of luck. I'm praying for an economic rebound, for a day when green will no longer describe a fad ... it'll just be a color in the rainbow. I'm praying for the day when sustainability is the norm and functioning outside of those parameters is financial suicide.

These days are coming ... and I'm hoping all the fad fashion trends are just a sign of the changing mind set and not another effort to green-wash a business into higher profit margins.

Happy Earth Day, everyone. Thank you for reading. I'll be back with more soon.

Hug a tree for me.
Love,
Say

Photos in my mind ...

2009-04-20T06:12:00.001-07:00

Literally, the photos I was supposed to post up here this morning are only in my head at the moment- forgot the lap-top at home in the early morning rush. I'll update when I get home late this evening (hoorah for workin' overtime ... lining my pockets the only way I know how).

But, despite the lack of visual stimulation (which I find makes blogs a whole lot easier to pay attention to), let me at least tell you about my Saturday.

Though overcast with temperatures limbo-ing between chilly and balmy, it seems like several hundred (if not up to a thousand over the course of the day) made it out to the Concord Cooperative Market for their "Earth Day" thang they do every year. We met some very in-touch folks, scored a hazelnut sapling, ate some yummy tofu, ice cream, chocolate soup (I couldn't make that up!!), and so much more.

Across the street, Real Green Goods had a huge sale going on, where Mark and I scored some very healthy, very pretty Bok Choy.

We put some in the garden the next day, splitting the plunder with my Mom's little patch in her back yard. After that we swung over to the Fish and Game's Wild New Hampshire Day. It's about the same every year, but it's still fun to go see the Falconers, wild animals, fly fishing lessons, the hatchery truck, Forever Locked ... There is so much to do for families this time of year and it's encouraging to see a majority of these options catering to environmental education. We popped down into the F&G's Discovery Room before taking off. What a cool space, very artistically done and really quite engaging. The pictures speak for themselves.

When we got home we did some re-con work on the sprouts we've got. The pepper plant's true leaves were showing, as were the Zinnias (our most successful effort thus far). We planted melons and pumpkins again, we've just seen the first few sprouts of our heirloom tomato plants and we're giving the eggplant an other go (the first ones never really did anything, we think it has something to do with the room temperature. Everything seems to be starting really well, but we're sure we're going to have to rig a shop light over the little buggers soon- we don't want them straining for light too much ... then they won't be as productive as we want them to be.

April 22 is Earth Day this year. That's a Wednesday. I have to work late that night, but should be back in Concord by 6ish. Normally I try to take a few hours every Earth Day to clean up my neighborhood- anyone can join a group who cleans up beaches (I wish I lived closer so I could) ... anyone can find a spot with a clean-up event sponsored by an organization, but if I did that, who would clean up the street I live on? It's not too shabby, don't get me wrong, but there's still trash everywhere since the snow left. Wouldn't my neighbors prefer a clean sidewalk? Another favorite Earth Day effort of mine is finding trash on the trails I frequent in town. For example, when I lived at my parent's house I had access to hundreds of miles of trails. The loop I ran on (about 4 miles) was used heavily by snowmobilers in the winter. So, on Earth Day I would take the dog for a walk on the trails with a garbage bag in hand. Sometimes I ran out of space in the bag before I was done my walk. It's so easy for people to toss beer cans and oil canisters into the trees and forget about them, but the wildlife that thrives there can't forget it's there ... it's gross and it ruins my good time. That 'aint cool.

I'm curious, readers ... what do you do for Earth Day ... any small effort you make on behalf of the planet? What suggestions do you have for other readers? Please comment and let's see what kind of fun stuff we can learn!

I'll be writing later today, to update you on my most current reading venture (courtesy of my good friend Josh Robinson), "Stirring It Up; How to make mone and save the world" by Gary Hirshberg. I want to get a good chunk of it read before I put my opinion of it on you, but so far so good. He has an interesting philosophy (I'll be it a realistic one) of how to change our society's behaviors in regards to consumption and waste. There's still so much to share! Keep checking back!

Happy Monday, ya'll. Looks like the sun is headed for an afternoon nap- here's hoping we get some sunny days this week!
Be green, my friends.
Best,
Say

I promised you sprouts!

2009-04-13T12:59:00.001-07:00

... and that's exactly what you'll get!

Look attem! They've grown so fast! Mark is worried they're stretching too much for light, so shop lights are on our to-do list.

Our eggplant isn't cuttin' it so far. I wish I knew why. The three sprouts we got kicked the bucket while we were up north this weekend. Ahh, the great north woods. What a wonderful place to be. My parent's have a camp up there, 2 hours from Concord, and it's been a part of my life since my mom was still Prego with me. I think it's pretty fantastic. Having a space like that to grow up in is part of why the environment means so much to me. If you feel connected to it, you're more apt to want to save it for future generations. That's why I say, "Send your children into the woods! Send them to summer camp! Send them to environmental camp! Show them God's good work and they will grow to appreciate it!"

In other news ... there's a gentlemen who wrote this great book, "Hot, Flat and Crowded." His name is Thomas L. Friedman. There is also a great weekly news magazine out there called "Newsweek."

Ever heard of these two? They're great. Recently, they worked together.

And now we've got this: an article about Mr. Friedman and why we shouldn't be so proud of using the term "Green".

American's are on a green high ... (badum'ching) ... and though the goal right now is to create a level playing field for environmentally friendly products, food, etc., versus the generic, easy stuff we've been raised on, the ULTIMATE goal should be to never have to use the term green at all.

Friedman really is a brilliant voice and I recommend his work to all of you. Another great book to read, that I've mentioned several times in other postings, is "The World Without Us" by Alan Weisman. What an incredible insight into the world ... well, without us.

There are so many great minds working to end our Earthly suffering and so many of those minds are reaching out to us, begging us to change our ways. Sure, if you're reading this you're already of like mind and putting things like this in your psyche will either ...
a) give you a coronary from the sheer guilt induced stress or
b) make you feel like all is lost, since everyone around you isn't bothering to put the work in ...

Regardless of what reaction you get, these ideas are the ones that will save us.

Raise your hand if you've ever felt super overwhelmed about all of this ... like no matter what you do, it won't be worth it 'cause dammit ... no one else is trying!!! Welcome to the environmental movement. It's a hard road, but all of us have to stand together on this.

I badger the hell out of my friends and family just to get them to recycle! RECYCLE! I shouldn't have to, but such is life. It will seem like an up-hill battle, but it is a battle worth fighting. As we see Earth Day around the bend, let's put some muscle into it, shall we??

More soon. Hug them trees like yer life depends on it!
xoxo
Say

To feel green and support the efforts of local journalists!

2009-04-10T06:12:00.001-07:00

This is Mark with one of our Mammoth Sunflowers last fall.

This Friday ... just in time for my favorite holiday (one that I think should be a national day off to pick up after ourselves), Earth Day, the Concord Monitor and the wonderful folks involved with the Green Guide have launched ...

::drum roll please::

GREEN GUIDE NH!!! HOORAY!!!

Visit, visit, visit!!! Danielle Kronk (the lady in the know)0 gave me the heads up on this great addition to New Hampshire culture a little while ago and I have to give her and her staff HUGE props for doing such a tremendous job on it.

Well done, ya'll. Gaia is beaming, I can see her ear-to-ear grin now!

Ya' see ... it's folks like Danielle and crew that help to make this state and our communities a better place. Like my friend Suzan Ware Flower, another journalist who doesn't get enough recognition, when writers utilize these spaces- when they seek out platforms for educating their friends and neighbors- we're all a lot better off. They have important things to share and we should be listening.

In another sweet gesture by Danielle- you can reach my blog via the Green Guide web site.

Now, this is super exciting for me. I've been working on this little bloggy-thingy for over a year now. There have been lulls in my postings (specifically during the election and my transition from the Hippo to non-journalistic employment), but this is the best catalyst for me to get back on the band wagon.

To new readers: Let it be known ... sometimes I cuss. Sometimes I get politically charged. Sometimes I digress and get way off topic. Overall, I hope you feel a little more informed ... sometimes get a laugh ... and above all else, I hope you keep reading. ;-)

So, what are we talking about today, with this weather that is just making me itch to put my hands into the soil at the garden plot????

Let's talk GERMINATION.

Mark and I have several plants going ... here they are in order of planting over the past few weeks:

Black Eyed Susans
Catnip
Spearmint
Peppers (New Ace- best kind EVER.)
Eggplant
Broccoli
Zinnias
Azaleas
... and of what else we have, my brain log is weak. There are plenty more along the way, including pumpkins and melons, heirloom tomatoes, and most of the rest goes seed to soil ... summer squash, zucchini, mescaline and mustard greens, rainbow chard, radishes, sunflowers (Teddy Bears, a flower introduced to me by a farm at the Concord Farmer's Market), shelling peas, pole beans ...

::whew!::

We are going to be rolling in the veggies this summer. For those that were following my gardening ventures last summer, you know what a change this kind of variety is for us. For those unaware, Mark and I had much in the way of volume, but little in the way of veggie variety.

31 Tomato plants
20 New Ace peppers
12 Jalapeno plants
Not enough sweet peas
12 Summer Squash
A few gourds (really puny butternut squash)
Some gorgeous marigolds we got from the Fisherville Road prison greenhouse.

To all gardeners who know how vital marigolds are, get the Sunshine variety from the prison greenhouse. I have yet to see a marigold that rivals their vitality and the beauty of their blooms.

This is a shot of them in September, after several frosts ... and they're still kickin' it. Word.

That's about the only greenhouse plant we'll be buying this year, the rest is sitting on a fat kitchen table in my parent's livingroom in Bow. They have huge south facing windows that have allowed us to get some light to the germinating seeds with out running out and buying shop lights to hang over them. So far so good. I'll take pictures this weekend and post them here for all to see. It's quite a set-up ... a bit amateur hour, but we're not looking for awards ... we're just looking for a healthy, vibrant garden this year.

Now, Mark and I have a plot at the Concord Community Gardens. I'm fearful of putting their exact location here because our neighbors and ourselves have had several brushes with theft from our gardens. Yes ... people drive (or walk) to our plots with plastic bags and pick whatever they want from the gardens. One of our neighbors went on a long weekend vacation and came back to find half of his corn crop completely gone ... stolen by the worst thieves of all- the two legged kind. Mark and I spend at least 10 ours a week, almost always more, in our plot and to have our eggplant and herbs stolen was heartbreaking. We put good vibes out there, what kind of Karma would get our hard labor vandalized?? Hopefully this is an issue that will be addressed thanks to the survey sent out by NH DRED with our plot renewal forms. If you happen to bump into DRED at a local farm expo or farmers' market, take the survey and let them know your thoughts on the whole affair- that's how they can make these programs better for all of us.

Well, with all that said I have to be moving on for now. In the mean time, enjoy this gorgeous spring weather!!

Thanks for reading, go hug a tree.
Best,
Say

Watch TED, get your brain fed.

2009-04-06T14:20:00.000-07:00

A good friend of mine turned me on to www.TED.com.

And through it I found this talk about using kites to generate electricity through wind power.

I highly recommend adding this to your bookmarks ... something great to open your mind to when you've got some time to kill at the office (not that I kill time while I'm here!).

Hope all is well. It's dark and grey in the world today. I'm really aching for some sunshine and warm air. Even more so, I'm aching for some dinner.

Cheers!

There is a pulse.

2009-03-24T12:36:00.000-07:00

Hey ya'll. I know what you're thinking:

"Welcome back ... took ya' long enough! I even stopped reading for a while! Who do you think your readers are? You think we sit by the PC all day, refreshing our browser in hopes you'd come crawling back?"

Maybe you're not thinking that, but I'm certainly feeling it. I've been at my new job for over 7 months now. What a change from the writing gig. I've been overwhelmed with work, home and family life, lots of bits of life to juggle- but spring is around the bend and with that comes gardening (Mark's and my not-so-new, but certainly dear, love).

More details will come as the seedlings start to take off. We started several last weekend and this weekend calls for more. Eventually we'll have a staggered lot of motley looking greens, begging for full sun and the wind in there ...erm ... hair.

My friend Peter Noonan (incredible artist and fairly funny guy ;-)) thought of me recently and suggested I share this link with you:

How Much Water Do You Really Use???

And in this spirit of really knowing what the hell it is we're doing, I'd like to include this link as well:

Terrapass Shall Set You Free!

It's all about knowing our impact, isn't it? I'd like to think that the age of greed, consumerism, waste and haste is on it's way to remaining behind us (but then again, who knows?). I see a more conscientious human dynamic growing around me. Mark and I got to a fair amount of Farm and Forest Expos, NHOFA gatherings and pretty much everything with the mark of green creation on it. The numbers are increasing, people's interests are peaking.

Even the Obamas are on the bandwagon- God bless them.

And we can go even deeper than that. We can go beyond just planting a garden and we can cultivate endagered (sometimes even ancient) heirloom animals and vegetables. There is so much we can do and I'm so happy to be sharing my journey with you.

Love,
Say

Can you smell what Barack is cooking?

2009-01-20T12:38:00.000-08:00

We watched the inauguration ceremonies at the office today. Everyone sat still and took in his speech, which included mentions of environmental stewardship and responsible use of resources. On the eve of such a time of transformation, I thought I would share this hilarious caricature of the last administration, courtesy of Grist.org.

Bush as a Simpson Character.

The possibilities for our future seem endless right now- though conservatives (like my parents) are wringing their hands at the thought of a Democrat let loose on our poor (literally) society- and I'm pleased to see such a universal push for change on behalf of our planet.

I am dizzied by the potential.

Happy Inauguration Day, everyone!
Viva la revolucion!

Valentines, Mark and Mt. Washington

2009-01-15T06:31:00.000-08:00

February is always a month of many plans for me- Mark's birthday is just four days after Hallmark's favorite holiday, but this year there is a fun new surprise that will keep me waiting by the mailbox.

National Geographic spent the past two years researching and putting together a feature about Mt. Washington and they're releasing it in their February issue.

Don't believe me? Check this out.

Some time today (Jan. 15), the article should be available on the NG web site, though at 9:30 a.m. there was no Mt. Washington feature to be seen.

Sure, this kind of thing is really exciting- the world's most renowned anthropological and environmental magazine spent two years on our little state made of Granite- but I think the real point to be taken from all of this is that our environment is important to everyone ... not just hikers and leaf peepers. If we are to further alter our state of being ... refuse to change our ways that are slowly destroying our environment ... Mt. Washington would cease to exist in the way we know and love it. What a waste of 6,288 feet!

When you get a chance, read the full article (whenever it decides to show up online), and beam with pride over the looming monster we call neighbor.

Happy Thirsty Thursday, ya'll!!!
Best,
Say

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

2008-12-30T06:41:00.000-08:00

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?

2008-12-29T12:07:00.000-08:00

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.

2008-11-03T11:16:00.001-08:00

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 ..?

2008-10-28T09:00:00.000-07:00

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?

2008-10-20T08:44:00.000-07:00

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?

2008-10-08T06:43:00.000-07:00

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.

2008-10-07T07:14:00.000-07:00

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

2008-09-18T08:44:00.000-07:00

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.

2008-09-17T06:13:00.000-07:00

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.

2008-09-08T07:09:00.000-07:00

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.

2008-09-04T06:17:00.000-07:00

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.

2008-08-22T05:29:00.000-07:00

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?

2008-08-20T08:03:00.000-07:00

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.

2008-08-19T14:21:00.000-07:00

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.

2008-08-12T07:35:00.000-07:00

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.

2008-08-11T06:48:00.000-07:00

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 ...

2008-08-06T06:59:00.001-07:00

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 ...

2008-07-25T05:26:00.000-07:00

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

2008-07-22T06:48:00.000-07:00

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 ...

2008-07-02T08:15:00.000-07:00

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.

2008-06-27T07:42:00.000-07:00

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.

2008-06-24T06:38:00.000-07:00

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.]

2008-05-23T07:32:00.000-07:00

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.

2008-05-20T08:00:00.001-07:00

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!]

2008-05-14T06:07:00.000-07:00

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.

Love,
Say

Got gas? Ouch.

2008-05-06T12:57:00.000-07:00

Okay, we've all been hearing a lot about this proposed "Gas Tax Holiday" on the parts of presidential hopefuls Clinton and McCain. If this isn't a clear indicator that these two will do just about anything to get elected, I don't know what is.

Here's a great article from Grist about Obama's stand on the Gas Tax and why Earth Action has officially endorsed him as a result.

I wish I could write more, but I'll make an effort to babble a bit tomorrow, if not at some point this evening.

Green Love,
Say

Leave no trace.

2008-04-29T06:02:00.000-07:00

As Mark and I get closer to starting our hiking season, it's occurred to me that it's time for us to brush up on what it means to be a responsible hiker- specifically, leaving no trace in the woods. This is easier said than done, but I've come upon some great information in recent days that begs to be shared.

HikeSafe, it's your responsibility.

HikeSafe is a nonprofit, joint effort between the White Mountain National Forest and New Hampshire Fish and Game. It gives the best ways to be prepared for anything while subjecting yourself to nature's whims and reminds hikers of conduct on and off the trails. This is a must visit for anyone planning on hiking this year, even if you're planning on being gone for just a few hours.

Leave No Trace is an other great site with training opportunities and great reminders on how to maintain wild places while enjoying them. Humans have a huge impact on the world around them- even just walking into the woods has an impact.

For the folks who are looking to blend in, do some nature observation or even become one with the forest and life around you- read any and all Tom Brown novels you can get your hands on. I plan on attending his Tracker School at some point down the road. What a rush that would be!

That's all the time I have for now. It's about the time in the season for people to strap on their hiking boots or trail running shoes and get back to nature. Remember to be prepared: carry a first aid kit of sorts and let people know where you're going and when you'll be back. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Hike Safe everyone!
Best,
Say

The cooler colored end of the spectrum. Happy Earth Day, everyone!

2008-04-22T08:31:00.001-07:00

Okay, there's a lot of lead in to this particular post, so bear with me.

*My coworker, Peter, alerted me to this fantastic web site that we all should take the time to browse. There are at least 50 Ways to Help the Planet. Thanks for the link, buddy!

Here is a link to a Grist.org story about the newest term in greening your life: Blue.

This link was shown to me by my coworker, Brian. It's the International Earth Day web site.

This is a link to the article Adam Werbach wrote for the San Francisco Chronicle, pronouncing environmentalism dead and declaring the need for a new movement to better our planet and our communities.

Now that you have all of that information down your gullet, we can start talking about all of this.

Why BLUE, Werbach? Granted, you're the former president of the Sierra Club, but to what authority does that give you to declare environmentalism DEAD? I sincerely doubt that statement.

So, Blue is this new-fangled idea that, as Grist explained:
"People who are part of the BLUE movement aspire to make a difference through the people and products that touch their lives. It encompasses green issues like protecting our last wild places and reducing our output of CO2, but it also includes personal concerns like saving money, losing weight, and spending time with friends and family."

The last time I checked, that was our moral obligation as human beings.

Am I wrong?

Are we not required to be stewards of the Earth and our own beings? What Werbach is trying to do, I suppose, is hold all aspects of human existence at the same level of importance, which is great- I just think people are supposed to do this on their own. The folks that want to join have already made necessary changes in their lives- they're already forward thinking. He gives Switzerland as an example of a country that has been green for decades and considers their consciously-living citizens as blue.

I guess I want to know if you consider yourself blue or not? I would like to think of myself as falling into that criteria, I certainly try to stay healthy, eat right, spend conscientiously, encourage the same from my peers, but I know there are vices that keep me out of blue company. Who knows, maybe this will take off, maybe it won't.

Perhaps we should consider today, Earth Day, our new Resolution Day. Perhaps we can all make an effort to "green" or "blue" our bodies and thus change our economy, communities, even the world. Who knows. I'm still slightly skeptical of the whole "blue movement" idea, but it's definitely something worth pondering.

Other subjects worth pondering over:

How much do you REUSE instead of RECYCLE? This is a theme Gary Hershberg of Stonyfield Yogurt refers to often ... my friend Nathan and I just had a brief conversation about it, too. There's a lot of energy that goes in to recycling. If we make an effort to buy previously recycled materials or remove wasteful materials from our lives entirely, we'll save more energy, time and money than if we created new materials to recycle later. Think about it.

Also, how many hours a week do you spend outside? Now that the weather is nicer we're all getting out there and enjoying nature, but just how much time do you spend surrounded by trees? Our children are facing Nature Deficit Disorder ... now is the time to get ourselves out in the woods, at the beach, on a mountain, and allow our beings to be nurtured by nature.

So, if you feel even just an inkling to do so, please comment. Share with me the strides you're making to make this planet and your being a better place to dwell.
[Nathan: I know you're getting LEED certified- shout it from the rooftops!]

Happy Earth Day, everyone. Love your mother.
[Perhaps we should switch the title to Earth Mother's Day, hahaha.]

Best,
Say

Earth Day is on it's way- how to help with out going too far out of your way.

2008-04-21T07:33:00.001-07:00

Happy Earth Day everyone! Actually, with all the enthusiasm over this little known day of awareness (specifically in my town of Concord, NH)- it seems this year Earth Week is a more appropriate moniker. I am certainly not complaining. It's nice to see my neighbors and friends becoming more interested in this cause that directly effects all of us. Race, gender, financial wellbeing ... nothing separates us when it comes to the health of the planet. It effects all of us and we must band together to stop the effects of global warming before it's too late.

So, in honor of Earth "Day" I've decided to make a brief list of the ways you can make a difference this Tuesday (or which ever day you choose) instead of dedicating yourself to an organization or any other large group activity. Sometimes the things that need to be done are right in our back yards.

1) Beautify your city.

Local Parks and Recreation departments often have programs that coordinate volunteers in their communities to help in cleaning up local parks and other green spaces. If you live in an urban area and frequent a park, pond or just an open field, put on some grubbies, good shoes and gloves and head over to that spot on your own. Mark and I cleaned up a local beach we frequented last year. It blew people's minds that we just did it on our own, but it was a place we went to often and got sick of seeing so much trash everywhere. You can check in with your parks and rec department to let them know you'll be doing some work on their (and your) behalf. Normally, volunteers in city green spaces are the first line of defense for public maintenance workers when it comes to big projects. Are there any trees down? Any land/water/animal problems that need to be addressed? Take note while you're there and let your city know what needs to be done.

2) Walk these streets.

My neighborhood is grubby this time of year. I know my neighbors do what they can to keep their lawns clean, but we all share the same street. This year I'm taking matters into my own hands and picking up the litter we all see every day, but are often too busy to clean up. This is an especially nice effort to make if you live in a culdisac area or a suburban neighborhood. There's a lot of green space there and sometimes neighbors in those areas don't get out on the street to see the damage. If you live in a city like I do, clean up your immediate block- or, if you feel adventurous, clean the surrounding blocks in your neighborhood, too. Your neighbors will thank you.

3) Change one habit- change the world.

There are lots of indulgent practices we all participate in that lead to carbon emissions and other consequences hazardous to the planet. Do you leave a light on at night? Switch to a night-light with a sensor on it. Do you let your car idle in the morning? Try letting go of that habit and start the car only when you're ready to leave for work or school. Haven't changed the bulbs in your house yet? Switch to CFLs and watch your electric bill drop. There are plenty of little things we can do that can make a big difference once we implement them. What are some little things you can change that will eventually make a big difference? Now is the time to start.

4) Spend wisely.

I suggest everyone visit www.climatecounts.org, an organization that rates companies in the US on their sustainability. I've mentioned them in previous blog-posts, but check out their website and you'll see what I mean. Most of the companies listed on their score card are ones you might never associate with green practices. Who knew that Nike, Starbucks and Unilever are green leaders in their industries? There's lots to check out- learn where your dollars are best spent and help change our economy for the better.

That's all for now, everyone. Thanks for reading. If you have any tips on how to spend Earth Day or you want to share what your plans are for Tuesday (and hopefully the rest of the year), please leave comments. I would love to hear what everyone is planning!

Best,
Say

What did I tell ya??

2008-04-18T06:37:00.000-07:00

And so, they say, the world's "greatest power" failed once more.

Several developed nations participating in yesterday's meeting on climate change in Paris, France. One major official, who asked to remain nameless, said of Bush's speech:

"This is disappointing. But Bush will be leaving office soon. What he says doesn't matter so much any more."

Woah. This is what the world thinks about him ... Here's an article from Grist.org, where I found that annonymous quote.

In this article, published by the Wallstreet Journal, you can get a brief overview of environmental capital as a result of the meeting held in Paris. It makes mention of French President Sarcosy flat out ignoring Bush's speech.

I wonder what it feels like to be the leader of the free world, but every room you walk in to will hold people that hate your guts. What does George Bush feel like when he wakes up in the morning? Does he have anxiety? Does he rise to greet the day with a huge Texan grin on his face? I would like to ask him that, should I meet him one day.

Since our federal government thinks liquid coal and nuclear power are the answers to all of our troubles (even the democrats feel this way, our politicians can't be trusted farther than we can throw their pork-barrel asses), it's up to the states to make big changes. New Hampshire has done a fantastic job in making environmental change tangible, even required by law.

As consumers, we have the power to let our money do the talking. I don't have much in the way of disposable income, but when I do make purchases (and I have to all the time, as I'm sure you do) I want to be sure my money is helping sustainable industry instead of the same old mass-production, genetically altering, pollution factories that have supplied us with our life-stuffs for the past several decades.

There is a group that can help all of us spend in the right direction. I've mentioned them before. They call themselves Climate Counts.

The beauty of this organization is their business scorecard. They have three criteria to label major companies on: Stuck (the company isn't doing much in the way of greening their practices), Starting (they're working on it, but they need some more time) and Striding (these are the companies you should support, they're working their booties off to become sustainable). I totally admire the project. They're based in Manchester, partially funded by Stonyfield Yogurt and they're working to connect with young consumers across the country to encourage conscious spending.

Hooray for Climate Counts!
Visit them, become an educated consumer and change the world.

Happy Fryday, everyone!
Party on-
Best,
Say

Economies Majorus ... Time is ticking.

2008-04-17T11:06:00.000-07:00

President Bush likes to fish.

He also likes to pass legislation.

Today, April 17, 2008, marks the third Major Economies meeting on Energy and Climate in Paris, France.

When this group first got together the outlook wasn't rosie. It still isn't, but European countries are spearheading the effort to slashing their carbon emissions as rapidly as possible. The European Union wants to cut emissions 20% by the year 2020.

I'm sure they can do it. To match that encouraging goal, President Bush had this to add to the mix on behalf of the American people:

"I have put our nation on a path to slow, stop, and eventually reverse the growth of our greenhouse gas emissions. In 2002, I announced our first step: to reduce America's greenhouse gas intensity by 18 percent through 2012. I'm pleased to say that we remain on track to meet this goal even as our economy has grown 17 percent.

As we take these steps here at home, we're also working internationally on a rational path to addressing global climate change. When I took office seven years ago, we faced a problem. A number of nations around the world were preparing to implement the flawed approach of Kyoto Protocol. In 1997, the United States Senate took a look at the Kyoto approach and passed a resolution opposing this approach by a 95 to nothing vote."

So, El Presidente wants to slow emissions, but by only 18% in the next four years? Quelle surprise he's passing the buck to the next administration. Wait, there's more.

"The Kyoto Protocol would have required the United States to drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The impact of this agreement, however, would have been to limit our economic growth and to shift American jobs to other countries -- while allowing major developing nations to increase their emissions. Countries like China and India are experiencing rapid economic growth -- and that's good for their people and it's good for the world. This also means that they are emitting increasingly large quantities of greenhouse gases -- which has consequences for the entire global climate."

Of course they're damning the planet. These countries are finally moving through their industrial revolutions. Americans did that decades ago- and we polluted the hell out of our environment in the process. I'm not sure how our historically poor behavior gets lost in the fray. Perhaps if we could learn from our mistakes, we could help guide developing nations on their path to success- at least provide examples of how to do a better job at growing than we ever did.

Then, he makes this statement that upon first glance looks like valid improvement:

"Today, I'm announcing a new national goal: to stop the growth of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions by 2025.

To reach this goal, we will pursue an economy-wide strategy that builds on the solid foundation that we have in place. As part of this strategy, we worked with Congress to pass energy legislation that specifies a new fuel economy standard of 35 miles per gallon by 2020, and requires fuel producers to supply at least 36 billion gallons of renewable fuel by 2022. This should provide an incentive for shifting to a new generation of fuels like cellulosic ethanol that will reduce concerns about food prices and the environment."

Okay ... he says "stop the growth of" our emissions. The United States' emissions levels have grown by 1% every year for the past decade or so. So, if we stop that growth in 2025, it will have grown by 1% every year up until then. That's a 17% increase. Compare that to the EU who will REDUCE their emissions by 3% more than that by 2020. They'll be ahead of us in a charge that should be ours to lead.

As for the ethanol he's so fond of: It's a bad crop. Corn isn't a miracle plant. It doesn't absorb CO2 like other crops, it damages soil, requires pesticides and fertilizers ... its popularity is encouraging farmers to switch their produce crops to ethanol corn, making food prices sky rocket. Ethanol is bad for the current engines our transportation units use. Putting money into ethanol production instead of advanced and alternative fuel technologies is like dieters drinking Diet Coke instead of water: Sure, there aren't any calories, but the artificial sweeteners and the other crud in the soda will give you cancer and rot your teeth. Ethanol may reduce emissions to a point, but it won't save us in the long run.

Here's the transcript of President Bush's speech on climate from yesterday.

This is a diagram from the New York Times, published in March of last year. Predictions are made, proposals to solve the problem are on the table. Go figure John McCain is behind one of the more effective proposals.

Why haven't we adopted any of these strategies in the past year? Where is the action we need to make a change?

Is anyone else frustrated by any of this?

The answers are there. There are things we can do. Now we have to just DO IT ALREADY.

This slow move to progress is so unlike everything we stand for in this country. I don't understand why we insist on dragging our feet.

Please comment, share your thoughts- I want to know how you guys feel about all of this.

Best,
Say

In the opinions of many ...

2008-04-15T08:03:00.000-07:00

I read a lot of scorn for environmentalists, specifically on popular blogs I bump in to, folks involved in social networking sites and things of that nature. It's rare that I ever rant beyond the confines of my own blog- I don't need to press my views upon other people, it just isn't necessary and can often create tension instead of active participation on behalf of casual observers. Global Warming is a topic of fierce debate in our society. For example ... I'm a frequenter of Myspace, that's a given, and as a result I'm privy to some great causes on the enviromental side of things as well as sites dedicated strictly to humor. One of the humor sites I really enjoy is the Myspace Awards Center [MYSAC], in conjunction with www.mikeink.com. The owner- Mike, go figure- created some posting tags in regards to the environment. They're a bit counter to the argument, if you will. Here's an example:

[Please note, HTML code did not transfer. To view examples, please see www.myspace.com/myspaceawardscenter.]

I'm not entirely sure that this example will be transferable to a blog, but I might be able to figure the html code myself later. Regardless, all of the comments are "anti" environmentalism. That and they're kind of funny. What good is life if you can't take advantage of laughing at yourself? I'm guilty of letting my passions get the better of me- such insistance on my part has spurred a lot of my peers into action and for that I'm glad. Beyond that, I run the risk of sounding preachy. No one likes a nag.

Well, I guess Mike got a few nasty comments from the environmentalists that frequent his page. I chuckled to myself, though I don't even know who I would post the comments to. Mike got fired up and then fired back and he made a valid point in regards to people being vicious when certain causes are concerned. Mike likes to see what it takes to get people fuming. He's fairly good at it.

The point of this particular blog is to speak to my fellow Earth Warriors:

Are we really that snarky? Are we a bunch of tight wads? Is an eco-marxist method the best way to work people into action? There's a fair amount of folks in the world that aren't the least bit interested in what we have to say- many of them work urgently to prove us wrong and make us out to look like fanatical planetory-jihadists, if you'll pardon the expression. When we get all fired up and angry, we fuel that fire.

Sometimes, I feel my face get hot. Sometimes I want to reach through my monitor and shake some sense into whatever ignorant pontificator declairs that Global Warming is a hoax. And then I tell myself, "Calm down, Say. It aint all that bad. There are folks doing the work to get the problem taken care of. The strong few will save the many with mob mentality."

So, to get back to my example, Mike got chewed out, he lettered a decent response, his loyal network of fans ran to his aid- they fired off plenty of anti-environmental sentiment and though I do believe that many of them understand the urgency facing our planet ... the ball got rolling and the conversation started to turn nasty.

I guess I really just want some feed back on this. Do we scream out in protest? Do we risk frightening those new to the cause? Do we risk alienating ourselves?

How can we best conduct ourselves to keep our sense of humor, charm and wit, thus undoubtedly influencing our peers to see that though we can poke fun at the problem, the main objective must still remain in sight.

Any and all comments are more than welcome. Are you slow to conversion, a person who still chuckles at your friends that refuse to throw away plastic, glass and aluminum? What do you say to your environmentalist friends when they harp on you? What should they say instead?

Understanding a proper method of persuasion is the best way to gain cooperation.

More flies with honey, Honey.

More soon.
Love,
Say

It's not as "pink" as it is "salmon."

2008-04-10T05:26:00.000-07:00

Heeeeeeere fishy fishy fishy!

That's what Pacific Salmon fishers are crying out these days.

The Chinook Salmon- the fish that serves the bulk of the California fishing industry- has taken a dive ... and no one seems to know why.

Here's a link to an article addressing the information leaked from the Pacific Fishery Management Council.See how they run?

There's one more species on its way out ... I really feel for California, ya'll. It seems they take the brunt of all the climate change consequences. Reduced water supplies, big floating masses of plastic waste off the coast of San Francisco, incredible smog counts- and now this. I have no doubt there's more on the way. Take it from the author of The Great Warming, Brian Fagan- He claims that California is one of the first states to take it on the chin as the world continues to face the threat of wide spread drought. Other states include Colorado, Arizona, Nevada and so on. Could warmer ocean waters be what's keeping the salmon from accomplishing their normal migratory routes? Could over-fishing be the main cause of heart ache? Since commercial fishers are having a hard time making any money off of the dwindling population, they're trying to put an over all ban on sport salmon fishing for the time being- from the Mexican to the Canadian coasts.

I say, go for it. However, there's a few sport fishermen out there that would disagree with me. I'm sure they make a very small dent in the overall population, but to that I say the less we interfere with a species, the better.

That's all I have time for this morning. It's crunch time for OXX and I'm way swamped.

Oh yeah, one more thing ... check out this site: www.climatecounts.org.

This national non-profit campaign is a great resource for finding environmentally progressive companies. Use their rating system to better apply your consumer dollars and change the world in the process. They're also on Myspace- don't hesitate to friend them.

Happy Thirsty Thursday, everyone! If you're having brews, keep them organic. I suggest the following:

Peak Organic
Wolaver's
Green Valley Brewing, from Anheuser-Busch

Cheers!
*Say

How bacteria can turn you on ...

2008-04-01T09:13:00.000-07:00

Microbes making electricity?

Believe it. I found this article, written by my friend Steve, through Renewable Energy Access Weekly. It's a great site, great newsletter. Very informative.

It's ironic that they included this article on this particular week. Just this past Saturday, I went to Keene State College to see my sister's Academic Excellence presentation. She's been working on it as part of her accelerated masters program and she looked at gender rolls in the classroom and academic success. Her project was so interesting, well informed and presented in an entertaining manner. I was really proud.

Regardless! She wasn't the only project there. There were lots of undergrad and grad students all exploring different areas of their expertise. One that stood out to me was a kid named Jeff who spend the past few months learning about microbiology and its link to sustainable energy sources. Let me explain what he told me...

When bacteria in river beds "eat"- meaning they ingest nutrients in the soil- they create electrons ... this goes into basic bio-process, like calcium channels and things like that, all very complicated. I'm somewhat science savvy, but not so much that I could break down all of this info for you.

Anyway, this bacteria creates a weak charge, but if that charge is harnessed, could be turned into batteries or large scale electricity sources. The perfect places to implement such ideas? Waste water treatment plants. They have some doo doo, lots of bacteria, all they need is the right materials to harvest the charges the bacteria give off.

That and the industry has to find the perfect kind of bacteria to make this idea really viable, able to contribute a large amount of electricity to the greater picture.

Jeff was using the sediment from the river that runs along the campus.

I stood there with this kid and picked his brain for a while, but we both started getting really excited by the conversation ... then it dawned on me.

I know I often say that I feel like we're not moving fast enough to solve the problems we're facing. But, if kids like Jeff, my friend Tom at the Meeting School, my friend Jessica at Indigo Cafe, keep pursuing their dreams of bringing our planet into the next few centuries, we might not be at that large of a loss. We might even be able to change the course of our future.

Here's an other study, featured on ScienceDaily, that explores bacteria-produced-electricity.

The photo at the top of this post looks a lot like the project Jeff was working on. Feel free to explore the topic more, but above all- I want your feed back!!!

Think it's a waste of time?
Excited by the prospects?
Do you know of more innovative ideas for producing energy???

Let me know! I love hearing from you.
More soon. Lots of love and givin' trees hugs!
*Say

The bats and the bees.

2008-03-26T08:31:00.000-07:00

A year ago this week, people started to notice something.

Bees were disappearing. At an alarming rate.

Earlier this month, a tractor-trailer was in an accident, releasing millions of bees onto an interstate highway.

Those bees were being trucked to California to help pollinate the almond harvest. What's really alarming is not the people running up and down the pavement sporting bee-suits and smoke cans, but the fact that California has to truck bees IN TO the state to keep up with a natural process.

Let's examine some other species that are giving us clear and present alarms to what climate change is doing to the tiniest worlds around us.

Pine beetles are multiplying exponentially, with out a good, cold freeze in the winter to kill the population off. The result, is large expanses much like this on the West Coast:

See all that brown? Those are afflicted pine trees- but they don't turn brown until at least a year or two after they've died. For all we know, a much larger general area is afflicted with pine beetle population booms and we won't know it until it's too late. That's what climate change is doing. Does anyone remember studying food webs in grade school? They're food chains that are linked together to represent the greater scheme of nature.
This is a great example.

So, if one population increases beyond what the food webs can keep up with, other populations die- if one population dies off, every other population is affected- even if they don't eat that particular species. Do you see where I'm going with this? Now, let's focus on bats.

Bats that live in the North East, yes- even New Hampshire, are dying from a mysterious disease.

Right now, they're calling it White Nose Syndrome, since the affected bats have a white fungus on their nostrils, and pretty much every where else. This fungus is understood as a secondary symptom- it might not the cause of death. No one knows what's happening, but what really matters is that if these bats die as fast as they say they are we're in for a horrible mosquito summer. That means greater chance for West Nile Virus, Sars and other horrible diseases that are passed on through mosquito bites.

It all comes back to us- all of it. I'm just hoping that the bats deaths are not human related, though I highly doubt that. Here's a photo of a dying bat from the NY Times.

No one really knows why the bees are leaving. No one knows why this bat is covered with fungus. No one knows where pine beetles are anymore. Do you see a pattern? I do. What has changed the most in the past decade as far as the planet is concerned. Maybe temperature? How about strange weather patterns? There is no way this stuff isn't our fault. Climate change could explain all of it. I guess only time will tell. Share your thoughts, please. If you know something I don't- whether it is in favor of or counter to my argument, let me know- let other people know. We're part of the food web, too.

Love the birds and bees,
Say

Bringing dreams to fruition.

2008-03-20T09:56:00.000-07:00

Okay ... you all know by now that I'm a journalist by trade. I work for one of the most read papers in the state of New Hampshire, The Hippo Press, as well as acting as the main contributor for their motorcycle magazine, OXX Cycle. Part of working for the Hippo is creating interesting content to keep our readership up to date about their community- we cover news and lifestyle issues pertinent to the Southern New Hampshire area. You can't be an active citizen in S. NH with out reading the Hippo at least once a week (it's out on Thursdays).

I'm getting to a point, I swear ...

Right now I'm working on a cover story pertaining to conservation in the area- often times the topic is left to private land owners and hush-hush town meetings. Lots of folks rarely know what's going on with the properties surrounding them. In order to keep the subject interesting, I'm devising a way for the information to be digestible, educational and sexy, all at the same time. This task is proving to be much harder than I had planned. At the moment, I'm proposing a look at the dichotomy that exists in the aftermath of putting easements on property. They lower a property owner's taxes and still allows them to harvest their land- so long as they don't develop. Normally, land owners who buy in to this option have a considerable amount of land. For example ... Manchester Water Works uses Lake Massabesic as a reservoir for the greater Manchester area. In an effort to protect the water quality there, Water Works put an easement on several hundred acres surrounding the Lake in the town of Auburn.

Because Water Works "owns" the property, they pay taxes on it. By removing the ability to develop that property, Water Works' taxes drop. To compensate for the loss of funds that ultimately aid the town of Auburn, Auburn residents have to pay higher property taxes. You can see where a line can be drawn.

This kind of face-off exists every time people are faced with paying more for anything, even if it is directly related to a town's quality of life through maintaining wild places.

At any rate, I'm developing the story as we speak. I'll be sure to keep all of you posted in regards to my progress and I'll eventually let you know about the print date.

Hooray for writing. I'm seriously having one of the best days ever.

Hugs for trees and smooches for the wild-things.
Love,
Say

Thanks again goes to Susan- who's always on top of things.

2008-03-19T05:56:00.000-07:00

A fellow word smith of mine, Susan Ware, was reading my blog yesterday and asked if I had seen an episode of Scientific American Frontiers with Alan Alda ...

Here's the link to a particular episode that is directly related to yesterday's post.

All of the major road blocks for introducing hydrogen power into our economy are addressed- and pretty much answered, but the real roadblock that faces every alternative energy is money.

Money owns us more than we own it. Encouraging major corporate entities to change over their current technologies is more difficult than pulling teeth. Ultimately, there has to be incentive. You think coal supplied power plants will change over their technology voluntarily? Keep dreaming. That costs a lot of money and the only way to convince them such action is a good idea requires tax cuts, carbon cap-and-trade policy and funding from state and federal levels of government.

The switch to environmentally friendly infrastructure is going to cost a lot. We all know that, but isn't it true that by creating new infrastructure we create new jobs at the same time? And by creating new jobs, we create new cash flow? And by creating new cash flow, we reverse the current recession, lower the national unemployment rate and become a leader in the global field of new technologies? Yeah, you have to spend some dough to get there- but you have to spend a little money to make even more money. That's capitalism.

Here's a link to a policy issue site, explaining market-based strategies to reduce green house gases.

So, when it comes down to it, should we be encouraging carbon taxes? Shouldn't we suggest that we reallocate spending to compensate for a lack of industry incentive to perpetuate environmental practices? This isn't just about "us"- my generation- having to deal with climate change and its repercussions. This is about raising our children in a world that is unhealthy, unfit even, for healthy human development. I mean, women who want to have healthy babies shouldn't eat fish because of mercury levels in our oceans. Who's fault is that? The climate cycles? No. It's our fault. We're poisoning ourselves because it isn't financially sound to save ourselves.

Think about it.

Please comment. Let me know what you think.

Love your Mother, Earth.
*Say

To every thing, turn, turn, turn.

2008-03-18T11:16:00.000-07:00

This is the molecular structure of water. If you passed 8th grade, you know water is made up of two hydrogens and one oxygen. Hydrogen and carbon make up most of the stuff on Earth, it's in endless supply.

I am hydrogen

Fantastic. Big thanks goes to Dan Brian for allerting me to this interesting development. Hydrogen cars, people- the way of the future. I'll be honest, I had no idea President Bush had invested in hydrogen fuel technology. My favorite part of this article reads as such:

"The federal government has spent $1.2 billion on hydrogen in the five years since President Bush announced an initiative to develop a national hydrogen infrastructure. We'll need a whole lot more than that if we're to meet the president's goal of replacing fossil fuels by 2040.

Hydrogen advocates like the National Hydrogen Association say we could put 70 percent of all Americans within 2 miles of a hydrogen fueling station for $10 to $15 billion. They like to point out that's half the cost of the Trans Alaska Pipeline System (in today's dollars) and about what we're spending each month in Iraq."

Well whattayaknow?! Fantastic- now all we need is to come up with the dollars and enough interest for the economy to proceed in that direction. Hydrogen is everywhere, isn't it?

What I really like about most environmental blogs is that reader comments are welcomed and are more often than not posted by rather intelligent people. Scrolling down to the comments on this article, you'll notice a common theme: It takes electricity to make the hydrogen these cars would need. Also: Spending money on hydrogen is a bad idea.

Let me propose this then: Are all ideas that take us away from oil dependency worth the investment? Even if the technology doesn't get off the ground, all of that planning develops into something that ultimately works.

For example ...

CFL Light Bulbs had to come from somewhere. Edison wasn't the only person working on an incandescent light bulb.

It takes a lot of money, man-power, creativity and passion to make one good idea work. In order to get to the correct answer, all routes need to be taken on the way to solving the problem you're trying to fix. Some inventions are realized by accident on the way to something entirely different.

Any route we take away from our dependence on oil is the correct one for now. If we could only stop spending money in the Middle East, we would have plenty of money to invest and an economy stable enough to support those investments whole-heartedly.

What do you think? Please share your thoughts with me.

That's all I have time for, for now. More later. Thanks for reading.

*Say

L'onion.

2008-03-11T10:27:00.000-07:00

How To Make Iraq War More Eco-Friendly

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God bless the Onion, everyone's favorite fake news magazine. The rhetoric here is extremely sarcastic and hilarious, but the message is still maintained. The Onion will never let us down.

This is all I have time to blog right now, the Hippo and OXX have me by the jugular this week. There is much to do and it's all due by Thursday and Friday.

I've already said too much. I'll be back up to par soon enough. I promise!

Best,
Say

Doing it with the lights out and the engine off. Ooh Yeah!

2008-03-07T05:48:00.000-08:00

Good Friday everyone! It's foggy in Manch Vegas this morning, but the weather has been consistently bearable- which is giving me the Spring itch. I can't remember the last time I was excited for mud season ... I better sport some galoshes this year and save myself a lot of heart ache.

So, back to what I was talking about yesterday and a mention to a movement that I'm really quite enamored with.

On to those idling engines.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency has a great explanation of the repercussions of idling your engine before you go to work in the morning, while waiting at stop lights, sitting in a parking lot- you get the gist.

I've been a victim of needing to warm up the car in the morning, but I've decided to put an end to the waste that ultimately causes. Need to defrost? Buy a window scraper and brush. Cold hands on the steering wheel? Wear gloves. Finishing a great song in your car before going inside? Keep the battery on, shut off the engine. This is one simple effort that can make a huge difference in the amount of gas we consume and the pollution we ultimately put into our atmosphere. I'm willing to try- are you? Please comment and we'll see what kind of conversation we can get going on this topic.

Now, for one of the more innovative and interesting movements I've ever been involved with:

Earth Hour will rock your soul.

*This graphic might be too large for this post, but check out the Earth Hour website for a better look at it.

I've made mention of this global partnership in past Myspace blogs, but since I got an e-mail reminder from the group this morning, I figured I would attempt to put it in readers heads once again.

Earth Hour will take place on March 28, between 8 and 9 p.m., all over the world. Participants agree to turn off all their lights, appliances, anything that sucks up electricity for one hour.

I know what you're thinking: "So what?"

Imagine if, for that one hour, all of New Hampshire turned out the lights. Imagine what that would do to, say, PSNH? What if all of Dublin (one of the flagship cities for Earth Hour) turned off all of their power between 8 and 9? What kind of impact would that have on the European Union and their energy sources?

The point is, we use a lot of energy as humans. If we could make the effort to use less of it- if we could make a conscious effort to unplug appliances when not in use and turn of lights when we're leaving a room, imagine the impact we could make in a whole day instead of one hour. It could be amazing.

So, please visit that above link and pledge your hour for March 28. We can make a difference, we can send a message to others. Plus, your electric bill will drop, even if it is just a few cents. Pennies add up, guys.

Well, that's it for now. I hope everyone has a great Friday and a wonderful weekend. Mark and I are going snowshoeing this Saturday at his cousin's house in Raymond- they live on some conservation land that we're all really excited to explore. I'll see if I can't fix my camera and take some pictures along the way.

One hug to a tree per day will keep your woes at bay.

Love,
Say
[That salutation was a bit much, huh? Sorry.]

Idle hands make the devils work.

2008-03-06T13:14:00.000-08:00

I apologize for my lack of posting the past day or two- this job keeps me busy, that's for sure. I had the opportunity to sit down with the vice president of the Forest Society, Jack Savage, today- what an interesting guy, such a pleasure to speak with. I admire his passion for forest preservation. We had a great interaction today and I hope we can meet to chat again soon.

In other news: my green decor section of the Hippo got printed yesterday! Hooray!

You can see the feature piece at www.hippopress.com. I haven't gone into checking it myself (to see if my section is available) and I probably should have, but you guys can tell me if it's there or not, right?

What I really wanted to talk about today- and no longer have time to do so until tomorrow morning- is something like this.

I see it happening all the time and I hear the arguments that people make in defense. I totally understand, but in the long run, would you rather drive with cold hands for a few minutes or a lung full of smog in a few years? I would take the former, but that's just me.

Tomorrow- I will get into this subject a bit more. For now, happy Thirsty Thursday ya'll! Remember- drink draught! Hehehe.

Hugs, trees, birds and bees,
*Say

Cheers to NH Liquor Stores

2008-03-04T05:38:00.000-08:00

I'm sure it seems like I'm writing about booze a fair amount, but this particular news item was sent to me by my friend and co-worker, Heidi. This was an AP story yesterday ... Here's the link:

Absolut Green Initiative.

It's happened with out Mark and I having to go door to door to restaurants, begging they start recycling more. The NH Liquor Commission, along with the Restaurant Association, has partnered with Absolut Vodka to begin the transition to running all NH Liquor Stores as green as possible!

Oh my goodness! What a wonderful development! New Hampshire is the first of 18 states to get this underway- primarily because NH distributes liquor through the government, not private enterprise. So, it's easier to get all of NH's Liquor stores on the same page rather than try to get a couple in Massachusetts to consider participating. We're going to be a shining beacon for the rest of the country and I couldn't be happier. Soon, restaurants will be converting wasteful practices and I won't have to give up bottles of Sierra Nevada when I go out with friends.

Leave it to that big gold dome in Concord for making this all possible. I'm so pleased with where the Capitol City is headed recently. I mean, check this out:

Green Concord? This can only get huge, I know it.

Now the city is supposedly putting recycling bins next to the trash recepticles on Main Street, too. Holy Moly. I think I should write about that for the Hippo.

Yeah ... that's a good idea.

Psyched!

Alright, time to get some work done. I have a few interviews today, so I should be traveling a fair amount. Wish me luck, guys!

Love,
Say

A decent argument was raised- I have to make mention of it.

2008-03-03T07:19:00.000-08:00

Okay, Casey- I see your waste water and energy consumption and raise you distribution and glass bottle production.

Waste water can be treated. Energy can come from renewable resources. I guess what I'm trying to drive home is how much SPACE we can save in landfills.

However, you're right about putting hazardous cleaning chemicals into ground water and using energy to sanitize glasses- which many bars do continuously every night to keep up with the crowds.

So, are we damned if we do- damned if we don't? Anyone else have any input? Some insight that can save us from ourselves?

I look forward to seeing some comments.
Best,
Say

I only drink draught.

2008-03-03T06:29:00.000-08:00

On Friday night, Mark and I and some friends went to the Legion down the street. The pitchers there are a mere $4.50 and the 5 to 6 of us shared several in a few hours. While we were sitting at the bar I noticed the bartender continually throwing away glass bottles and a thought occurred to me: How many bottles were we saving by choosing pitchers instead of bottled beer?

I'm going to fudge some numbers right now, so bear with me ...

There were five of us, and we drank an average of five beers a piece. That's 25 beers- 25 fewer bottles thrown away. Now, if there were a guestimated 50 people in the room, who each drank an average of 5 beers as well- and they chose tap over bottles- that's 250 fewer bottles thrown away.

There are an average of 7 to 8 bars in town. Let's stick with 8, for formula purposes. If each bar holds an average of 50 people (I don't know why I'm sticking with this number, it just works math wise), than there is an average of 400 people drinking each night. If they all chose to drink 5 beers off tap instead of bottled, that would save 2,000 glass bottles. Woah. Now imagine if my numbers were more accurate. I can guarantee the numbers would be much bigger.

But, you see my point, don't you? Doesn't it make sense to use a glass that gets washed instead of ending up directly into a landfill- sitting idly while waiting the hundreds of years it takes to break down. Asking restaurants to recycle is probably a tough sell- though Mark and I have been formulating ways to present the idea in a way that is cost beneficial to restaurant and bar owners. If people make the choice to drink draught in the mean time, think of the difference it could make.

I'm asking you folks to consider doing this the next time you're out having beers with your friends. Coors light bottles might be on special, but those bottles will be polluting the planet after you're done being out for the night. A pint glass can always be washed and reused.

Thanks for reading, more tomorrow.
Drink safe- stay satisfied.
Best,
Say

Pay homage to the atom and denounce nuclear power.

2008-02-29T05:46:00.000-08:00

This woman has a lot of good things to say.

Mark took me to see Ani last night at the Capitol Center in Concord. We were supposed to see her on January 21, but a bout of laryngitis was all it took to cancel the show and a good chunk of her tour. This was the make up show.

I'm not bringing all this up to pine over Ms. Difranco- I'm bringing this up because she had one song in particular that had me choking back a tear or two. She mentioned it was new and I had yet to hear it myself. The basis was the reverence of the most basic element of human life, the atom. The song went through this great poetry about the simplicity of this divine science and how we all depend on it. The latter half of the song touched on nuclear power and nuclear weapons- how both are blasphemous in the name of the holy atom. I nearly wept where I sat.

I know, I know ... it must seem a bit silly for some girl to be brought to tears by an alt-folk rock song about the trees and atoms and people killing each other for no good reason. But, if any of you readers really know me and my passion for the natural world- this isn't that surprising.

So, before this wonderful song, Ani mentioned a bit of her political standing with the current race. Keep in mind, I'm paraphrasing here.

"I don't care which Democrat is in office ... They both say they want to listen to us ... So they might help us get some things done. This is a song that I would sing to both of them in a fireside setting ... They both approve nuclear power as a sufficient form of energy." She went on to say more, but that last part is what really sparked the idea for this blog post.

I'll explain.

I make mention of the web site Grist.Org fairly often. They're a fantastic, Slate-like, electronic news magazine based around environmental news and humor- right up my ally.

So, the fine folks at Grist have this wonderful resource describing where each political candidate stands on global warming and renewable energy. Let's examine the top three, shall we?

Here's a link to the Grist Political Chart which outlines the candidate's positions on the environment, based on their conversations with Grist reporters and the information that can be found on their own web sites.

I've used this information in previous posts, but I really think this is important to stress. John Edwards had the best environmental policy by far, but he's out- so it's time to move on.

Let's start with Senator Obama.

And by starting with Senator Obama, we also have to bring in Senator Clinton.

Why, you ask? Because their positions on the environment are practically identical. This is a good AND a bad thing. At least some apposing viewpoints would point the Democratic party in the right direction. Debate could create an open playing field for environmental policy to develop. Here's what we know about their campaigns that is similar:

1) They both support a cap-and-trade agreement. It's a good start, but it's common sense.

2) They want to raise emissions standards. Clinton wants to get us up to 55 mpg by 2050 (a bit slow on the upkeep if you ask me) and Obama wants to get us to 40 mpg by 2020. This is really nice, guys, but how about investments in clean technologies? Ones that don't depend on a fuel source that comes from oil or ethanol. They're all bad, no matter how "little" of them we use.

3) They want 25% of US energy to come from renewable sources by 2025. Fair enough, but do you think we could shoot higher?

4) They both support "Clean Coal." Did someone forget to tell them that coal isn't clean, whether it's in a liquid form or not? Me'thinks this position is fueled by the coal companies themselves. Candidates, are those other people's hands in your pockets, or are you just happy to see me?

5) They "demand" 60 billion gallons of home grown (that's in the US) biofuels EACH YEAR, by the year 2030. Wh a a a a? And ruin the produce we eat to survive? Ethanol corn isn't as great as everyone thinks it is, but I'll talk about that later.

6) Now, on to nuclear power. When I first glanced at this chart months ago, they were both overwhelmingly in favor of nuclear power. Since then, Clinton and Obama have become "agnostic" and skeptical respectively. I'll be sure to keep you up to date on their positions as time goes on.

So, that's the Democrats. Now, on to the G.O.P.

Senator John McCain has done great things for environmental legislation in the past few years. He's a believer in conservation and preserving our environment for the generations to come, or so he says. If you look at his stand on renewables, well- he has no stand. He claims that the environment is part of his platform, but the only clear points he's made is refusing subsidies for ethanol producers and he's a firm believer that nuclear power will help us gain energy independence.

Did he not see the film The Hills Have Eyes? Granted, that slasher movie is a far cry from the actual effects of nuclear waste (as far as we know) but still, the radiation and mutations that can result from nuclear waste are no solution to global warming.

Why can't we invest more in these beautiful structures?

Gosh, they just take my breath away.

I've been long winded enough for now. I'll be sure to update over the course of this weekend, since I plan on having some down time with a computer in my lap.

Wishing you all the best, guys.
Thanks for reading.
Hug your leafy neighbors.
Love,
Say

It's all about the details when it comes to selling your home.

2008-02-28T09:45:00.001-08:00

My job just keeps getting better these days! Amy, my editor, has been noticing my enthusiasm for environmental topics and just assigned me a portion of a cover story regarding green home decor. I'm exploring wall paints and plasters, cork and mud flooring and organic/recycled textiles and upholstry. I'm having so much fun researching- I'm so enamoured with a lot of this stuff. Here are my favorite finds:

Mud (or Adobe) Floors can look as nice as this and last just as long as traditional hardwood, with correct care:

Cork flooring is some amazing stuff; fully sustainable and more functional than it's other wooden counterparts. This is definitely worth the research.

And last, but not least: American Clay Earth Plasters. I can't wait to own my own property and put this stuff to work!

I'll be sure to update when this cover story hits shelves. For my next great environmental endeavor with the Hippo, I'm writing a cover story about local conservation efforts! So far, I'm speaking with the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests and the Russell Piscataquog River Watershed Foundation. I'll keep you all posted!

Love,
Say

The spray of the sea is tainted with the musk of our garbage.

2008-02-28T09:41:00.000-08:00

In the midst of studying all the wonderful things you can do for your home to make it greener, I've stumbled upon some amazing updates in my "bookmarked" arsonal. I'm always guilty of needing a quick distraction when I'm working on a really long story. I'll stare at it glaringly for an hour, then I need a break- or my eyes will swell in my head and force my brain out my ears.

In my random searching I've found many amazing things, primarily websites that help make the green transition seem effortless, however expensive sometimes. One of these days I'll make a list of some sweet places you can go to browse neat ideas, learn something new and maybe aid in changing some behavior patterns. For now, we need to discuss this:

Pacific coast, we have a problem. I found this photo in conjunction with an article that explains, well ... there's the first paragraph of the damn thing:

"The so-called Great Pacific Garbage Patch, a stewy body of plastic and marine debris that floats an estimated 1,000 miles west of San Francisco, is a shape-shifting mass far too large, delicate and remote to ever be cleaned up, according to a researcher who recently returned from the area."

Disturbing, disheartening, not surprising. I mean, Casey showed me a link to an article on the Alberta Oil Sands yesterday- if disgraceful things like that are still going on, why wouldn't there be a massive, floating, mobile garbage dump trapped 1000 miles off the coast of San Francisco? It's only logical that something like this would happen. Now, the government is considering trying to clean this mess up. At least they said they're considering it. Saying and doing are two different things.

So, all you west-coasters out there reading this bit of information: WTF? I know you feel the same way I do- it's gross to think that's what humans automatically do to their surroundings and it's sad that something like this is happening just miles off your shoreline. Perhaps some lobbying is in order? Writing to your senators? Congressmen?

Every bit of outrage helps.

You can read the full story here: Plastic Trash in the Ocean as Far as the Eye Can See.

Love,
Say

How my industry is killing your environment.

2008-02-28T09:39:00.000-08:00

I stumbled into this article while browsing Slate.com today ... low and behold, the employment that is my bread and butter is also one of the worst offenders of my heart's passion.

Here's the link, please read and then I'll feel free to ramble.

It was this quote that made my heart jump into my stomach:

" ... overall, the Department of Energy estimates that the paper manufacturing industry is the nation's fourth-largest emitter of carbon dioxide, trailing only the chemical, petroleum and coal, and primary metals industries."

Oh GOD. What have we done? What are we continuing to do? Does the fact that I'm a journalist whose work is continually printed in a weekly and monthly format also make me a hypocrite?

So, I asked. My editor wasn't sure on our recycled content, so I asked our distribution manager.

We use the same printing source as the Concord Monitor. The Monitor gathers paper stock from various companies at any given time to supply their very large need for tabloid sized newsprint. Because the sources change so often, so does their recycled content. Our paper [The Hippo, not OXX Cycle] is printed on anywhere from 10 to 99% recycled content.

The bad thing about recycled newsprint is, the higher the recycled content, the worse ink does on it. Plus, you can't keep recycled paper sitting around in some warehouse awaiting its final destination. The sooner you can use that paper, the better- otherwise it starts to break down.

Regardless of this development, I wanted to run the equation used in the Slate article to apply to the Hippo. My numbers are rough, so just work with me on this one.

The Hippo is a tabloid, not a broadsheet newspaper. As a result, we use less paper than, say, the Union Leader based solely on page size alone. We're about half the size of that, so based on broadsheet terms, we have to cut the equation in half.

The Hippo has an average of 56 pages per issue. That means 28 full tabloid pages. We have a distribution of 200,000 readers. So, once a week, we print 5,600,000 tabloid pages. Times that by 52 weeks in a year and we print on a total of 291,200,000 tabloid pages a year.

Wow.

Okay, so, if one ton of newsprint is equal to 280,000 broadsheet pages, than that's equal to 560,000 tabloid pages (roughly). One ton of newsprint requires the content of 12 mature trees. Take our 291,200,000, divide that by 560,000, and you have 520 tons of newsprint used by us every year. That's equal to 6,240 trees per year to supply our paper- the second most read news publication in New Hampshire. This is not including the recycled content of our pages, nor does it take into account the two other publications we produce. If, on average, we use 50% recycled materials, that drops our tree usage to 3,120 trees per year. Better, but still not good.

You can see why my brow furrows at all of this. We recycle our returns and we use recycled sources, but is that really enough of an effort? Shouldn't we invest in our website a bit more? Sure, that takes electricity to run, but we can always get that from a renewable source [I'll-be-it in the distant future at the rate we catch up].

So, yeah ... that's the the deal for now. More coming soon!

Be green, hug trees!
Love,
Say

Transfer from previous web-server for convenience.

2008-02-28T09:36:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone! Welcome to the new home of my environmental blog, which- until recently- was housed on my private Myspace page. For overall convenience I've decided to restart my blogger account and bring my writing to a wider audience. To keep everyone caught up, I'll be posting my previous two weeks worth of postings, pictures included.

Please feel free to contact me regarding the posts here at: sayitmorethanonce@gmail.com.

I hope to hear from you!

Please, read, discuss, comment, enjoy!

Best,
Say