novembre 2009
Soumis par Live Earth le 2 novembre, 2009 - 02:09
Every Monday we profile a Dow Live Earth Run for Water partner organization that works toward providing solutions to the nearly 1 billion people who lack access to clean, safe water. To donate to one of these projects, visit liveearth.org/give.
A Child's Right (ACR) is unique in the water field as its sole focus is bringing clean, safe, purified drinking water to vulnerable children in impoverished urban and peri-urban centers – specifically to sites burdened with unsafe water quality and high concentrations of at-risk children. In the last three years alone, they have provided safe drinking water to more than 250,000 children in orphanages, street shelters, rescue homes, schools, displacement camps and children's hospitals in cities around the world.
Soumis par jgeeslin le 17 novembre, 2009 - 12:00
The Dutch are well known for their everyday use of the bicycle, but now the government is trying to take that to a law abiding level. A new Dutch driving tax has just been proposed – one designed to seriously get people out of their cars. The plan would actually tax miles driven and would replace the existing Dutch road taxes and duties on new car purchases.
The plan proposes an average tax of $.07 per mile, with fees higher during rush hour and for commercial vehicles. It would use GPS systems installed in each car to track mileage and automatically bill drivers. The goal, the Dutch government says, is to cut traffic by 15% and reduce transport emissions by 10%.
Do you think this is a fair way to cut down on emissions?
Click here for more info.
Soumis par Geoff Livingston le 17 novembre, 2009 - 10:54
While in Europe, I had the opportunity to catch up with Brother Phap Thanh (Bernard), the monastic in charge of the Deer Park Monastery solar project, which attracted significant attention in the San Diego region. Deer Park Monastery is part of the Plum Village Tradition of Bhuddhism run by Nobel Peace Prize nominee Thich Nhat Hanh.
The Go Solar! project was an intentional effort to engage the problem of global warming. The photovoltaic solar panel system was permanently installed in 2008, and now the Monastery is completely run off of solar power.
Soumis par jgeeslin le 18 novembre, 2009 - 11:10
Dell is shipping some of its computers in packaging that includes bamboo components, with the exterior packaging being made from 25 % post-consumer recycled materials. Bamboo is so preferable because it grows fast, at up to 24 inches a day, and is strong enough to protect equipment during transit.
The Austin, Texas-based company is “introducing it with mobile products, as it’s proven a strong, sustainable and cost-effective solution for packaging those.”
Soumis par jgeeslin le 21 novembre, 2009 - 09:00
We should be much more aware that we may be using water at an extremely unsustainable pace. An astronomical amount of water is used for consumer products and food consumption known as your Water Footprint. This is the amount of water a person, company or nation uses to produce the commodities, goods and services consumed.
Water footprints can be hard to calculate, depending on how far up the chain of production you investigate, since everything you eat and buy used some water to produce. For example: to feed cows for beef, or to use in the factory that made your cell phone, or even the mass amount of water it took to make that plastic bottle of water - that you should have stopped using!
GOOD magazine has done a wonderful job of creating this sheet to help put things in perspective. Please check this out and really think about how your daily actions effect your water footprint.
Soumis par Andy Sternberg le 20 novembre, 2009 - 06:00
In recognition of Universal Children's Day, established by the United Nations General Assembly as a day to promote the protection, welfare and education of the children of the world, Global Water Challenge (GWC) today released "Clean Start: Focusing on School Water, Sanitation and Hygiene."
The report identifies the challenges and solutions associated with the global water crisis and its effect on children. It identifies access to clean drinking water as one of the leading health threats to children around the world today and the cause for millions of deaths and education loss each year.
Soumis par jgeeslin le 22 novembre, 2009 - 14:00
Sand dams are an ancient water-saving technique that is thousands of years old and could prove to save millions of lives from drought. They are constructed out of concrete barriers 1-5m high and filled with sand. When seasonal rains fall, water collects behind the dam. The sand acts like a sponge and filters the water and slows evaporation. Clean water can be drawn for up to several months after the rains have fallen through pipes underneath the dams or by digging a hole in the sand.
Soumis par Live Earth le 23 novembre, 2009 - 10:40
Every Monday we profile a Dow Live Earth Run for Water partner organization that works toward providing solutions to the nearly 1 billion people who lack access to clean, safe water. To donate to one of these projects, visit liveearth.org/give.
Wasrag (the Water & Sanitation Rotarian Action Group) is a group of Rotarians who are dedicated to one of the aspirations of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals: to halve, by 2015, the proportion of the population without sustainable access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation.
Soumis par jgeeslin le 24 novembre, 2009 - 10:13
If you are in charge of preparing food for Thanksgiving this year, you will undoubtedly be busy with your nutritious creations. But as you’re planning your shopping list, be sure to take a minute to think about where your food comes from.
1. Shop Green
Keep three things in mind when shopping for your ingredients: organic, local and nutritious. These will guarantee a fresher, more nutritious meal.
Soumis par Live Earth le 25 novembre, 2009 - 07:00
David Kuria wants to transform the way Kenyans think about toilets. His company, Ecotact, is building bright, beautiful structures in dense urban centers and slums, where Kenyans can pay a small fee to use a hygienic toilet. A seemingly simple intervention but with potential for enormous impact in urban areas where defecating into a plastic bag is a common practice (e.g., the infamous "flying toilets" in the Kibera slum).
Soumis par jgeeslin le 26 novembre, 2009 - 07:35
Alexandra Cousteau, the founder of Blue Legacy, a nonprofit dedicated to our beautiful water-based planet, and Live Earth Run for Water spokesperson, recently sat down with the folks at EcoStiletto to chat. Cousteau spent her days growing up on grand oceanic expeditions with her famous grandfather Jacques-Yves and father Philippe, and learned to scuba dive at the tender age of seven.
Soumis par jgeeslin le 29 novembre, 2009 - 07:57
The National Resources Defense Council, have evaluated the quality of drinking water in nineteen major cities across the country and ranked them based on quality and compliance, availability of information, and source water protection. Surprisingly it found everything from rocket fuel, pesticides, lead, arsenic, etc in many samples!
Soumis par Geoff Livingston le 27 novembre, 2009 - 08:00
The Environmental Defense Fund launched its 10,000 Reasons Facebook Campaign to combat climate change. As the world's attention turns to the Copenhagen Climate Change Conference this December 7-18, EDF is collecting 10,000 or more reasons to support strong climate action from U.S. and world leaders. The reasons will be sent to key members of Congress and the White House.
This is an easy way for anyone to add their voice and make a difference in global movement to cut global warming pollution and unleash our clean energy future. People simply need to share their reason on the Discussion board of the EDF fan page.
Soumis par Andy Sternberg le 25 novembre, 2009 - 16:28
After months of speculation, the White House announced today that President Obama will travel to Copenhagen on Dec. 9 to participate in the United Nations Climate Change Conference.
During his brief time there, Obama will announce a U.S. emissions reduction goal "in the range of 17% below 2005 levels in 2020 and ultimately in line with final U.S. energy and climate legislation." This range is consistent with the targets being debated in the U.S. Congress and is the first step toward 80% reductions with a pledge to reduce emissions to 30% of 2005 levels by 2025.
Soumis par Andy Sternberg le 16 novembre, 2009 - 11:36
Live Earth Run for Water partner Pump Aid just sent in a great video detailing their efforts to establish sustainable and safe water solutions in communities in Malawi, Zimbabwe and Liberia.
The long-term effects of this work will ensure improved health and increased agricultural production in these areas. You can support Pump Aid's current projects using the widget below the video.
Soumis par Andy Sternberg le 16 novembre, 2009 - 10:42
Corporations making up the UK's benchmark FTSE stock index reported the highest levels of greenhouse gas emissions this year, according to a report from the Climate Disclosure Project.
Soumis par jgeeslin le 14 novembre, 2009 - 12:36
Check out this new brick design! It looks like an ordinary brick, but is much more than that. Turn it over and and you can see one very different eco-friendly design change, one that will change the way bricks are made.
Soumis par jgeeslin le 3 novembre, 2009 - 14:01
Repower America has just launched their new major call to action with The Wall. A place where thousands of people have committed to a revolutionary new energy future for our nation, and coming together to express their hopes, share their resolve, and step up to a leadership role in building a grassroots movement for change.
In a letter from Al Gore, Repower America is asking all people to "stand up and be a part of the generation that makes future generations proud -- join the movement and share your voice on The Repower America Wall today."
Soumis par jgeeslin le 4 novembre, 2009 - 15:02
Al Gore's new book "Our Choice: A Plan to Solve the Climate Crisis" is now on sale! Following up on his wildly successful 2006 book "An Inconvenient Truth," "Our Choice" goes into more detail about the solutions we can pursue to prevent the irreversible damage to our planet, as opposed to just making us aware of the problem.
Soumis par Geoff Livingston le 4 novembre, 2009 - 06:45
It's one of the remotest places on Earth. Yet even Tibet and its mountain resources cannot escape the wrath of climate change wrought by industrialization (Midui Glacier photo by reurinkjan).
In one of the most far reaching consequences of China's rapid economic acceleration and its somewhat related occupation of Tibet, the world's largest non-polar glacier reserve is endangered. Dubbed the Third Pole or the Roof of the World, this beautiful and remote resource is greatly endangered.
Soumis par jgeeslin le 5 novembre, 2009 - 07:06
Make your friends the star of a music video and declare energy independence! Check out Crush Global Warming - the world's first personalized music video.
Crush Global Warming supports the Declaration of Independence from Fossil Fuels, written by 15-year-old ACE youth leader Alec Loorz to tell leaders that youth want action on climate change now. Climate change will affect young people the most, and it's essential that we do something about it. ACE :: Alliance for Climate Education will deliver signatures to key leaders working on the climate crisis and make sure youth voices are heard.
Try it now, share it with your friends and declare your energy independence!
Soumis par jgeeslin le 6 novembre, 2009 - 12:00
We are proud to begin highlighting the wonderful Run for Water events being planned around the world for April 18, 2010. The 2010 Run for Water Race in Santo Domingo will be a high-level event, helping the Dominican community to acknowledge the importance of prevention regarding the world water situation and reaching the top of mind of the public by helping the fund raising to support water projects. They are expecting over 1,000 participants for the event so far!
This event will include a 6K Race/Walk at an ocean view location, located in Santo Domingo City, the Capital of the Dominican Republic, as well as a post run concert with a local artist.
Soumis par jgeeslin le 6 novembre, 2009 - 11:20
If you’re in Southern California area, then join stylish EcoStiletto.com at Environment Furniture, located at 8126 Beverly Blvd for the Green Blogger Convention today – November 6th! More than an opportunity to discuss the past, present and future of green blogging, there will also be some wonderful green products to sample.
Soumis par Paul Faeth le 9 novembre, 2009 - 10:51
Every Monday we profile a Dow Live Earth Run for Water partner organization that works toward providing solutions to the nearly 1 billion people who lack access to clean, safe water. To donate to one of these projects, visit liveearth.org/give.
In the spring of this year, I traveled to L’Esperance Orphanage in Rwanda where I found a wellspring of hope amidst the surrounding village’s poverty and water woes. It's fitting after all – "l'esperance" for all of the non-French speakers means "hope."
The homes in the village surrounding the orphanage had no clean water. This meant that local children had to make a daily trek 11 stories downhill to a pumping station and carry back-breaking jugs of water back up the hill.
Soumis par Live Earth le 10 novembre, 2009 - 01:39
If you don't have a tap, washing your hands in a hygienic way isn't easy. You could place a bowl of water on a table, but then you would be washing your hands in the dirty water other people left behind. You could walk to the hand pump and ask somebody else to pump while you wash your hands. But that needs two people and wastes a lot of water. Can we do better?
A Tippy Tap used in Uganda.
Enter the Tippy Tap.
Soumis par Andy Sternberg le 10 novembre, 2009 - 11:30
We're thrilled to announce that Atlanta has been added to the list of cities hosting the Dow Live Earth Run for Water!
Atlanta's Dow Live Earth Run for Water event will take place in downtown Atlanta with the start/finish at the Water Village area located at Pemberton Place, adjacent to the World of Coca-Cola and the Georgia Aquarium. The 6k course will take participants through nearby neighborhoods.
Soumis par Andy Sternberg le 10 novembre, 2009 - 12:30
This August, nearly 10,000 people gathered on the beach in Belgium to dance in a show of solidarity for climate action. Oostende Beach was filled with members of the Belgian Climate Coalition and Friends of the Earth to participate in a choreographed, Bollywood-style dance filmed by producer Nic Balthazar for the second Big Ask.
Soumis par Andy Sternberg le 11 novembre, 2009 - 11:51
A month before world leaders meet in Copenhagen to strike a climate deal, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) released The Ocean and Climate Change -- Tools and Guidelines for Action, to help decision-makers understand the importance of the ocean in the global climate debate – and the cost of not taking action.
Soumis par jgeeslin le 12 novembre, 2009 - 11:16
Coal Country reveals the truth about modern coal mining. The story is told by the people directly involved, both working miners and activists who are battling the coal companies in Appalachia.
Soumis par Andy Sternberg le 13 novembre, 2009 - 12:30
Alexandra Cousteau, water advocate and founder of Blue Legacy, is a lead spokesperson for the Dow Live Earth Run for Water.
She was interviewed by Treehugger TV at the Run for Water announcement event last month in New York.
Watch parts one and two of the interview below.
Soumis par Live Earth le 30 novembre, 2009 - 12:36
Say you are a poor farmer in a rural area in a developing country. Then your best bet out of poverty is to make more money. From where? From the field. You need to grow stuff. And because growing things need water, you need access to water. Water is money.
One options is to wait for the rain. It is a stressful option, because the rain might come too late, it might not come at all, or it might come all at once, all of which are bad. The other options is to take control over the water you need. That means getting a pump. What kind of pump? One that is affordable, available, and repairable. Ergonomic, and easy to operate.
