Green Group discussion

Use this thread to share information and ask questions of the overall membership.

Just want to recommend this blog. I get it every day in my email, a picture with a one paragraph description. There's a huge archive to look at now. It's mostly from Vermont. Great for all you nature lovers out there:

http://naturallycuriouswithmaryhollan...

Where I live in the MIssissippi flood plain and a great corn, soybean and wheat growing area, farmers burn their fields after harvest and everyone in the small towns burn leaves dropped from trees. The smoke gets so thick sometimes it is hard to see when driving by. The smoke is mostly water and CO2. It seems obvious that this contributes to global warming.

The alternative to burning is plowing the chaff back into the ground and let it rot naturally. But the rotting process also releases greenhouse gasses, including CO2 and methane, though much more slowly.

I have been considering local activism against the burning, but want to get my facts right. Which is worse for global warming burning or rotting? I'm looking for more evidence before supporting the obvious answer.

How are you minimizing your use of gasoline and other fossil fuels? I live in a rural area so driving is necessary. I did replace my 4WD pickup with a hybrid Honda and went from 13 mpg to 38 mpg average. An electric car here does not make sense since all of our electricity comes from coal, which is worse than gasoline in terms of pollution.

We are trying to decrease electric use and have partial solar for heating and cooling and keeping temps lower in winter and higher in summer. We also built a 3/4's basement house. We have a ground source heat pump plus a wood burning furnace (we live in the woods). I don't really know if burning wood is better than using coal derived electricity for heat.

We compost, but have trouble recycling. The recycling centers are so far away the I'm not sure the gasoline used to get there is worth it in terms of energy balance. We do save cans for others who turn them in for $$.

What else can we do? What do you do?

Kernos - hopefully someone else can answer your first question, because I have no idea which is better. I would think the rotting process, and then do things to offset the release of greenhouse gases. (We can discuss some of those ideas as the weeks progress.)

And I have to drive a lot too - wish we had better public transportation, but it is too inefficient or too expensive. I miss the days of living in NYC when I didn't even have a car, but there are obvious other environmental problems with city living.

I don't know if burning wood is better than the coal used for power plants, but I did hear that for cars, even though hybrids use electricity that comes from coal, that is still a better option than using gas for your car.

My town is good on recycling so that is easy, and most people seem to do it.

As for me, I try to live as simply as possible to offset my carbon footprint in other areas. Buy less, eat local foods (even if they aren't organic), live in a smaller space, use a car with good gas mileage (and will buy a hybrid next time around), make the house energy efficient (although can't afford solar panels), keep the heat low in winter and try not to over air conditioning in the summer, recycle.

One thing that I'm looking into is the yard. Grass is very water intensive. It's better to have native plants. So this winter, I'm going to do research on the best native plants that don't need much water, and also how to landscape so it looks nice. And next year, I want to plant a garden. It's a pain because it is difficult to keep the squirrels and rabbits out, but I'm going to try again.

I forgot one thing.

It's hard sometimes to figure out what is the best. You think you are doing what is "right" for the environment, and then you find out that actually it is bad for the environment.

For example, I bought an e-reader so that trees weren't cut down when I bought books. Then I found out that no, it is better for the environment to buy actual books than use an e-reader.

Of course, people say use the library. Which I do. But, I teach, and I need books that I can keep more than a month or two months at a time.

there is a solar power company that puts their solar panels on peoples roof in exchange for low cost solar enery. and because its through a company you dont have to worry about maintaining it. if i didnt live in my parents house i would be using sunrun.
http://www.sunrunhome.com/sunrun-adva...

sorry the link isnt showing up that great on my nook. so im gonna retry.
http://www.sunrunhome.com/

Lynnm wrote: "I forgot one thing.

It's hard sometimes to figure out what is the best. You think you are doing what is "right" for the environment, and then you find out that actually it is bad for the environme..."

"For example, I bought an e-reader so that trees weren't cut down when I bought books. Then I found out that no, it is better for the environment to buy actual books than use an e-reader."

Also many paperbacks now use recycled paper. Nothing is as simple as it first appears. Ebooks aren't better, just easier.

I'm wondering if anyone else in this group lives in a Transition Town? Is anyone interested in instigating the idea locally? Transition Towns prepare for peak oil and climate change, adapting, and changing, town dynamics, in order to smooth the future transition.

Here's the wiki link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transiti...

It's growing, especially in the UK and Australia. My local town is one, and we are part of it (growers etc), our previous town on the mainland was too. Everything helps.

Thought I'd add GR links too:

This is Rob Hopkins, founder of the Transition Towns movement:
Rob Hopkins

And Transition Town books:
The Transition Handbook: From oil dependency to local resilience , The Transition Companion: Making Your Community More Resilient in Uncertain Times

Georgina wrote: "I'm wondering if anyone else in this group lives in a Transition Town? Is anyone interested in instigating the idea locally? Transition Towns prepare for peak oil and climate change, adapting, and ..."

In the week that we are discussing Tiny Homes, if you are around, I hope you can talk about the Transition Town movement as well.

I'm not sure if many people are aware of the movement, and it would be a wonderful educational opportunity.

I know that I need to catch up on what is happening in the env. movement today. I feel a bit out of touch because I spent 3 years getting my Master's and the last few years starting my teaching career. And while I have read a number of env. books, they have mostly focused on food.

Will do, Lynnm. Very keen on the Tiny House idea too (I love our own tiny house). I think the food focus is paramount actually. Think globally, act locally, is spot on.

Looking forward to chatting with you more. :)

I'm not sure this is the right thread to share this, but I thought both as readers and as people pre-disposed to "act" that this might be an interesting discussion point.

At Salon.com:

Tyranny of the happy ending: Has our pep-talk-prone culture led readers to shun tragic literary classics?
BY LAURA MILLER

http://www.salon.com/2012/12/01/tyran...

And by the same token, if we as a culture *have* become addicted to "happy endings," is this having an impact on our slow response to climate change?

Just asking...

While Sandy was going on, I spoke quickly to my librarian about it. She said something like, "I just keep hoping God will reach a hand down from heaven and correct everything." Hard to fight against those types of comments.

Hugh wrote: "I'm not sure this is the right thread to share this, but I thought both as readers and as people pre-disposed to "act" that this might be an interesting discussion point.

At Salon.com:

Tyranny ..."

Thanks for the link. Wonderful article.

I remember when the Horse Whisperer was made into a movie. Same issue. The book has a tragic ending, which just wouldn't do for American audiences so they changed it.

I have to admit that I like happy endings, and love some of the authors mentioned in the article. And while I read the tragic novels, not with the same frequency as the happy endings.

As for climate change, I think that most people are in denial. Or they figure that technology will save them in the end or it will happen so far in the future, that it won't be their problem.

And we are as Mark Hertsgaard says, having a grand party. All our toys - technology and gadgets. Who wants to break up the party or leave early?

Ladies,

I found this while surfing the New York Times today.

Starre Vartan runs a blog called Eco-Chick that talks about environmental issues and women.

http://eco-chick.com/

I've only read a few of the posts, but so far, I like it! Definitely usable information.

A shout out from the Sierra club to help save Bryce Canyon National Park:

https://secure.sierraclub.org/site/Ad...

Great video from the Sierra Club on their 2012 actions.

Also, a chance to take the 2013 pledge. I did!

http://content.sierraclub.org/climate...

I pledged to:

- Change my light bulbs to CFL or LED (yes, I know, how sad that I haven't changed out all my light bulbs yet - that's because I was worried about the mercury in the new bulbs)

- Contact a representative about an important issue

- Go carless one day a month (the hardest one to do because I live in the 'burbs)

- Go on a hike (easiest one to do)

- When I take an action, share it

- Share the above video (doing that now!)

Hi all,

Our small press recently released a book, Small Business, Big Change: A Microentrepreneur’s Guide to Social Responsibility (Night Owls Press) by Susan Chambers. It's a guide for microentrepreneurs and small businesses who want to make a difference in the world through their business practices. Susan interviewed 21 businesses around the world that believe in "value" and "values," and respect the triple bottom line (people, planet, and profits), and lends her own perspectives on putting together a doable, easy "S-R" plan.

It's got a ton of great tips on becoming more green and socially responsible, and how to make these small changes a real strategy in one's bottom line.

There's a Goodreads Giveaway going on right now (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16...) if anyone is interested...

We'd also love to get feedback from interested readers and can send out review e-book copies to anyone. Just get in touch!

Cheers,
Genevieve

A fun "quiz" from the Sierra Club: What is your eco-personality?

http://sierraclub.typepad.com/greenli...

A true treehugger. :-) Great picture from the Center for Biological Diversity of a grizzly bear asleep on top of a fallen tree:

https://www.facebook.com/CenterforBio...

I think that climate change is disregarded because it won't occur in a suitably dramatic time frame. It will not be able to be defeated by heroes wearing stars and stripes, and sprouting glib catch lines. Climate change can't be stopped by missile strikes, or by armies and there is no ultimate goody or baddie.

The whole Rapture bit just makes things worse, when fundamental types are actively longing for the rest of us to get our due punishment, and the four horsemen to ravage all.

The thing is we don't need to go back to the dark ages to fix things. Mega green cities will be absolutely necessary, so too developments in technology. Suburbia will go down, but there is no way everybody wants to return to life on the land, and it would be detrimental if everyone did, and quite frankly mass movement to the country is my worst nightmare. (I'm a recluse.) We need the cities.

Re burning versus composting or burying, I've heard both arguments but I think burning is ultimately worse. Although smoke can temporarily cool the planet, the heat's still building. Same with aerosols.

The media and our shoddy governments have dragged their heels in reporting and enlightening the public. People are confused and have little direction. So many eco-minded people are snobs about it. Sorry, but I've been part of the whole thing since I was a teenager and there is a real 'I'm so *&%$ hot, because I care' attitude. It turns people off. We don't all want to be hair shirt wearing vegans.

The public needs information. Private industry needs to be innovative and to be rewarded for green ideas brought to fruition. People need to know what they can reasonably do to help. Boycotting certain corporations that are wantonly sucking the life from our planet, is far more productive than changing a lightbulb. Downing a government that fails to act, is even better.

Excuse my bitter slant. Australia is now reaching unprecedented temperatures. Lovely green Tasmania is brown. We have had 1 ml of rain in January. This is our future: heat and fire. You bet the Gina Rineharts and 'Lord' Moncktons of this world aren't going to suffer though. They are part of the blood sucking elite that will retreat to their fortified enclaves, there to dwell in air conditioned luxury while we sweat and burn.

Georgina wrote: "I think that climate change is disregarded because it won't occur in a suitably dramatic time frame. It will not be able to be defeated by heroes wearing stars and stripes, and sprouting glib catch..."

Well said, Georgina.

And agree that people are confused. We've said it here before; you try to do the right thing, and it turns out to be so-so or not good after all.

Government and media need to explain the issues more clearly and act more boldly.

And the people who do understand, also need to do the same.

Although as I have said before, people have to be willing to sacrifice for awhile. And that's a tough sell, at least here in the U.S.

Yes, a tough sell in Australia too. Everyone wants it to be someone else who pays, or cuts back, or has less children. It's so frustrating because it's on our doorstep now, we are locked into a massive temperature rise.

I found that several years ago even friends didn't want to hear, or read, anything about it. It takes the media to step in and broadcast the messages, before the general public allow themselves to believe. Here in Australia the journalists have been shockingly stubborn in persisting in their nay saying. The newspapers have been full of mocking articles, trivialising the issues and making fools of the people who speak out. But then those newspapers are owned by our media magnates, who often have other fingers in the fossil fuel pies...

Georgina wrote: "Yes, a tough sell in Australia too. Everyone wants it to be someone else who pays, or cuts back, or has less children. It's so frustrating because it's on our doorstep now, we are locked into a mas..."

Yesterday I was watching a political TV show called "Up with Chris Hayes," and they were discussing Aaron Swartz, the young internet activist who sadly took his own life recently.

During the show, his girlfriend said, this is a wake-up call. And all I could think was, we've had millions of wake-up calls on all sorts of issues, but it doesn't seem to be waking up anyone! Still fast asleep. Or fiddling while Rome burns.

Question for you all:

Again on "Up with Chris Hayes," they were talking about the Keystone Pipeline, and some of the guests said that Obama's decision on the pipeline will define what he plans to do on climate change.

Do you agree or disagree? If Obama says 'no,' that means that he is serious about tackling climate change. If Obama says 'yes,' that means that he isn't serious about tackling climate change, and his inaugural speech was just that...words, not action.

Anyone planning on going to the Climate Change rally this upcoming Sunday in Washington?

http://action.sierraclub.org/site/Pag...

I would love to go, but it is impossible on a Sunday. I need to be back at work on Monday morning, and no way to leave Washington by train after the rally and get back home at a reasonable hour.

They should have it on a Saturday. That way, people can have Friday afternoon/evening to travel to DC, and all day Sunday to travel home.

They would get a lot more college students that way as well, because most college students don't have Friday classes.

Speaking off - a few celebs getting arrested at one of the pre-protests of the Keystone pipeline:

http://www.businessweek.com/ap/2013-0...

If you can't go to the Forward on Climate Change rally in DC tomorrow, I'll post information regarding the live streaming which will start at noon.

Here's the general information on the rally:

http://act.350.org/signup/presidentsday/

Proud to see Sierra Club as part of this. My favorite environmental group.

Here is the live streaming link. Estimated 30,000-40,000 people there in DC.

http://act.350.org/letter/Obama_Forwa...

For those in the U.S. who missed the live streaming (I missed a lot of it because I couldn't find it for a long time), C-SPAN is going to re-show the speeches at 6:30 p.m. EST.

Feeling very psyched after watching the rally on C-Span just now.

Crystal Lameman of the Beaver Creek Cree Nation in Canada was an awesome speaker. She was the best.

Hopefully, either 350.org or the Sierra Club will put up videos of the speakers so everyone can hear them.

There was a 350.org strategy session on Sunday evening that has been uploaded and available on 350.org's web site. I listened to it live - good to hear what they are planning:

http://350.org/en/about/blogs/tonight...

For the Americans in the forum:

URGENT...

The Senate vote on the Keystone Pipeline may come in the next few hours.

Please call your Senators, and tell them to REJECT the Keystone Pipeline.

If you don't know who your Senator is or what their phone number is in Washington, you can use this link from 350.org:

http://act.350.org/call/kxl-2013-fall...

They have a sample script. But from years of calling, I found it is best to make it very simple: I am calling to urge Senator _________ to reject the Keystone Pipeline in the upcoming Senate vote.

Then, they will just ask your name and zip code.

The bad news: Senate voted 'yes' on Keystone, 62 votes for.

The good news: It is a non-binding vote.

http://350.org/en/about/blogs/bills-r...

There is going to be a climate change conference at Yale University this evening (Wednesday, March 27) at 6:00 p.m.

If you can't make the conference in person (as will be the case for most of us), it will be streamed live via youtube.

Here is the link for the event, and it also has a link for the streaming when the conference begins:

https://environment.yale.edu/events/d...

Those of you who live in the CT/MA/NYC area, here is information on the 2013 Environmental Film Festival at Yale:

http://environment.yale.edu/film/films

If you live in Australia...

The 350.org "Do the Maths" tour might be coming near you.

http://maths.350.org/panel1/tickets-a...

350.org is also coming out with a "Do the Math" documentary.

Going to see if I can get the library in town to host a screening or find another screening.

Here's a link to the trailer:

http://350.org/math

The 350.org documentary is premiering tomorrow, Sunday, April 21:

http://350.org/math

It is hard to tell from the FAQs link but it seems as if they will be posting a link to the film tomorrow that will be available via youtube. Don't know if it will be for everyone or just people who registered to host a party. Also, don't know if the link is only good for the U.S. or if it is for people across the globe.

They are asking that the film be viewed at 7:00 p.m. U.S. EST.

There definitely will be an open chat (via streaming) at 8:00 p.m. U.S. EST.

Once I find out about the link, I will post here.

I find it so sad that the first Earth Day had so many people involved (1 in every 10 Americans on April 22, 1970) and today almost nothing.

Just sayin'...

We have people from all over the world in the Green Group forum - what is happening in your countries for Earth Day?

I am going to post this link in a couple of threads.

Do the Math - The Movie (350.org):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IsIfo...

Just watched it - very very good. If you have been an environmentalist for awhile and read a lot of information/watched a lot of documentaries, you know most of the information. It is more motivational than anything. Trying to get people - both present environmentalists and future environmentalists - involved in getting out the word on climate change and its link to fossil fuels.

HAPPY EARTH DAY, GREEN GROUP!

As the author of the environmental thriller novel, “Green Power”, I am happy to recognize Earth Day and my commitment to alternate sources of energy. There is still hope!

I thought I'd give a shout out to a new group that's forming on Goodreads: Insight Environmnetalists. Books and conversation there will focus on spiritual ecology--an exploration of the workings of our hearts and minds at the root of environmental degradation. If you find yourself in a symbiotic relationship with animate nature, or if you want to examine or reassess underlying attitudes and beliefs about the earth and humankind's spiritual responsibilities, then you may want to check it out :-)

Dear Lynn, I've got my summary of fracking facts and alternative positions up on my blog, now. It's at http://www.marshlanders.blogspot.com and also on the Green Sanctuary Page of BUCMI.ORG
We are encouraged to stand up and do something on earth's behalf now matter how deep our despair over our survival on this planet. I'll be posting a second blog on Pipelines, soon, though in talking and reading on these issues I find that working for clean (solar, wind, e.g.)energy rather than protesting gas and oil and coal, which are going to run out soon anyway, is a better idea.

Dear Lynn, I've got my summary of fracking facts and alternative positions up on my blog, now. It's at http://www.marshlanders.blogspot.com and also on the Green Sanctuary Page of BUCMI.ORG
We are encouraged to stand up and do something on earth's behalf now matter how deep our despair over our survival on this planet. I'll be posting a second blog on Pipelines, soon, though in talking and reading on these issues I find that working for clean (solar, wind, e.g.)energy rather than protesting gas and oil and coal, which are going to run out soon anyway, is a better idea.

Lynnm wrote: "I am going to post this link in a couple of threads.

Do the Math - The Movie (350.org):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IsIfo...

Just watched it - very very good. If you have been an environm..."

Wow - this was excellent. It inspired me to join 350.org and add "The End of Nature" to my Goodreads Want-to-Read list. One other book along these lines that I wanted to share from my personal bookshelf. Back in the 90's, two of my favorite SF writers, Isaac Asimov and Frederik Pohl, published "Our Angry Earth: A Ticking Ecological Bomb" ( https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1... ). These guys are not just brilliant science fiction writers but are both accomplished scientists as well. I remember what a dramatic impression this non-fiction book had on me at the time. I'd highly recommend it!