Climate change, ecology, nature, environment, eco-friendly politics, non-profit projects, human rights, preservation, wildlife... all that we care about.
Oceans cover over 70% of the Earth’s surface. They contain the greatest diversity and abundance of life on this planet and absorb 80% of climate change heat. So, it’s really a wonder to learn that less than 1% of that great blue ecosystem is protected.
Conservation International is doing something about that. This awesome group has [...]
Another offshore oil rig exploded in the Gulf of Mexico.
The rig is located west of the Deepwater Horizon oil rig explosion/spill site that started back in April and is approximately 80 miles south of Vermilion Bay, located along Louisiana’s central coast. The explosion was reported by a commercial helicopter company early this morning. Since [...]
Agriculture imposes a heavy and growing burden on Europe’s water resources, threatening water shortages and damage to ecosystems. To achieve sustainable water use, farmers must be given the right price incentives, advice and assistance.
Food is intrinsically bound to human well-being. Besides the importance of good food for good health and the pleasure we derive from [...]
In a UN-sponsored event designed to popularize electric vehicles, the Zero Race solar car rally began on Monday in Geneva, Switzerland.
Participating in the race are teams from South Korea, Australia, Switzerland and Germany. They will attempt to travel around the world in 80 days, through 16 countries.
Zero Race organizer Louis Palmer has already driven around [...]
Despite growing environmental awareness and energy efficiency measures, the developed world consumes more than ever. At the same time people in China and much of the developing world are adopting more energy intensive lifestyles.
So more cars and meat consumption in China, etc., combined a growing obsession for the latest consumable goods – like phones, cars [...]
We’ve all got to worry about our environment, even refugees. Actually, especially refugees: they often live in squalid conditions with poor sanitation and lack basic resources.
Environmental engineers at the University of Weimar in Germany are working on a solution to sewage problems at refugee camps by converting it into something else they need: fuel.
No shit? [...]
Slavoj Zizek has kind of been carrying the torch for intellectual Marxists in recent years. He is both a polemic and entertaining figure – a true academic ‘rock star’. He also lectures in clear, understandable language unlike many academic types, though some of his scholarly writings can be pretty bewildering.
In the following video Zizek discusses [...]
A massive 22.5m (73ft) tall, 130-ton tidal power generator was unveiled yesterday in the Scottish Highlands, ahead of testing at the European Marine Energy Centre off Scotland’s Orkney Islands.
The AK-1000, built by Atlantis Resources, looks like a tough, squat version of a wind turbine, but with two sets of blades so it can catch both [...]
Reusable bags can be found everywhere these days. You’ll find them mixed in with handbags, at the airport, or by the checkout line. In most cases, those available in grocery or department stores range between 99 cents and $2.99. Other places (such as the airport) will charge you $10 and up for one of theirs.
While [...]
Britain’s energy secretary Chris Huhne has lifted the ban on local authorities selling back surplus electricity into the national power grid.
The plan is to encourage local councils to generate their own renewable energy by installing solar panels and wind turbines on council owned property, including both homes and public buildings. Any extra electricity can be [...]
If the unusually hot weather in Europe this summer is an environmental ‘cloud’ of bad news – forest fires in Russia, algal blooms in the Baltic, etc. – then an increase in capacity for renewable energy in Germany is the ‘silver lining’.
A new report by Germany’s Fraunhofer Institute for Wind Energy and Energy Systems Technology [...]
As an alternative to cutting meat consumption in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is considering the promotion of insects as a food source.
The idea comes from a UN policy paper by a Belgian scientist at the University of Wageningen named Arnold Van Huis, who points out that [...]
On Friday London begins its well-publicized bicycle rental scheme, introduced by mayor Boris Johnson, run by London Transport and sponsored by Barclays plc.
Over the past few years London has become more cycle-friendly with more bike lanes and cycle paths, reducing stress on public and private transport – which have both become more costly, thereby encouraging [...]
For those of you who didn’t swoon when Edward Norton urged us to ban the plastic bag, here is another National Geographic video featuring Hollywood starlets Natalie Portman and Chloe Sevigny. I dare you to watch it without afterwards gleefully smashing your energy-sucking bulbs and rushing out for a bunch of those efficient twirly CFL [...]
By now many of you have probably heard of ‘greenwashing’, the practice by which businesses or organizations present an environmentally friendly image without backing it up with concrete green credentials. BP’s green flower logo and ‘Beyond Petroleum’ slogan are blatant examples of greenwashing. Perhaps even more bewildering and maddening is the fact that the production [...]
Last month, there was a Solar Decathlon in Europe.
It all started in 2007, when the US Government and the Government of Spain’s Ministry of Housing signed an agreement to organize a sustainable solar architecture competition in Europe. The US actually started having Solar Decathlon competitions in 2002. This year’s Europe competition included 19 top universities [...]
This week, I am covering the final segment of Green Home Improvements You Can Do for Free. So far, I have told you ways you can go green in the bathroom, kitchen, home office, lawn and garden, while doing cleaning or laundry, and other general household improvements. There’s only a small bit left to [...]
Two rather informative articles from Mother Jones go over the environmental benefits/drawbacks of a vegetarian diet vs. one that includes lots of meat.
Kiera Butler’s ‘Steak or Veggie Burger: Which is Greener?’ – aka ‘Get Behind Me Seitan’ – may tread some familiar ground for those well versed on the relationship between diet and the environment, [...]
A new study from the UK’s Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) reports that the state of British seas has improved since the last report in 2005.
Coastal waters are getting cleaner, fish stocks are improving and species diversity in estuaries is increasing, according to the most authoritative examination ever carried out of UK [...]
Certain Internet giants were recently criticized by a Greenpeace report because they source their power from coal-fired stations. Facebook and Apple were named as guilty parties, while Google and Yahoo came out looking a bit more eco-friendly than the competition.
But cloud computing – or web-based computer use – can also generate heat and electricity. It’s [...]
The rise of inexpensive non-European wines and convenience-obsessed consumer culture are threatening the ancient and sustainable cork industry. But besides the potential loss of long-established ‘green jobs’ and the fact that plastic stoppers and screw caps are bad for the environment, the cork industry also sustains large areas of industry-managed forests, which are hotspots for [...]
Last week, I gave you a list of green home improvements you can do around your home for free. Many news articles will lead you to believe that you need to spend thousands of dollars on renewable energy devices, renovations, and new appliances that you may not really need (or can afford). So, I gave [...]
A recent piece for The Ecologist, entitled ‘Biomass Britain: do fields of energy crops spell an end to grazing livestock’, explores the possibility of a revolution in the UK’s land use.
70-80% of land in the UK is used by the British livestock industry. The possibility of a near-complete shift from livestock farming to the growing [...]
When it comes to making your home more green or sustainable, most articles will make the same suggestions. They’ll tell you to install solar panels, to re-do a room with sustainable materials, to upgrade to a programmable thermostat, or to change your doors, windows, and water heaters to something more energy efficient. Most of these [...]
Yesterday was named ‘fish dependence day’ by the New Economics Foundation (NEF); marking July 9, 2010 as the date that Europe ate its fish quota for the year in terms of sustainability.
A new analysis by the NEF entitled ‘Fish Dependence: The Increasing Reliance of the EU on Fish From Elsewhere’, highlights the unsustainable nature of [...]
Germany’s Federal Environment Agency claims that the European nation could get all its power from renewables by 2050.
At the moment Germany derives 16% of its electricity from renewable sources such as solar and wind – a threefold increase from 1995. Some 300,000 jobs in the renewable energy field have been created since 2000 and Germany [...]
The European Energy online community www.european-energy.org – a platform for future generations – went on online during June 2010.
This Facebook application connects people, who want to act to make the planet a cleaner place.
By 4th July 2010 nearly 2,500 members had joined.
The members of the community turn off all [...]
Lanzarote is the easternmost of Spain’s Canary Islands and a highly popular travel destination, especially amongst British tourists. The island is known for its many volcanoes, beaches and spectacular views.
Lanzarote has eschewed the touristy high-rise hotels, apartments and go-for-broke party atmosphere of some of the other Canary Islands in favor of an eco-tourism approach, which [...]
The UK-based 10:10 global campaign was founded in September of 2009 by the director of the environmental documentary film The Age of Stupid, Franny Armstrong.
The idea of 10:10 is simple – to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 10% in 2010. This means everyone, on both individual and organizational levels – businesses, schools, religious organizations, sports [...]
Consumerism is the new religion of the developed world. Feeling blue? Go buy something, they tell us, you’ll feel better. Already happy? Great, go celebrate by buying something else. Advertisers sell shopping as a hobby, a pastime, like playing tennis. And when your garage gets full, and there’s no place to park the car, no [...]
