December, 2009

EcoFacts — No Comments
25
Dec 09

Green Christmas

For the final ecofact of the first decade of this millenium it is time for a bit of Christmas optimism. For there is reason for it to exist, even sitting amidst the mess we’ve made here on earth. Cleaning it up may well be possible. One great area of human invention, communication and information technology, has been steadily working against the ignorance and inaction that brought us to this point.

Here are just a few of the many activities that are on the increase at this time, giving us hope.

Small farms, organic farms, backyard gardens, farmers markets (in the U.S., 13% more than 2008.)

Trash diverted from the landfill/recycled, (the beverage container recycling rate in California was 85% in the first half of 2008.)

MPG ratings on new cars, use of public transportation (in the U.S.,increased 38% from 1995 to 2008.)

Household products that are healthy rather than dangerous (sales of baking soda are on the upswing, and clearly the ecofriendly products market is too.)

In developing countries, innovations for improving lives such as microfinancing and fair trade products and their sales in richer countries (Scotland is hoping to become a “fair trade nation” by 2012!)

Global awareness of environmental problems, the foundation that precedes action.

And more at http://www.grist.org/article/2009-12-21-the-top-green-stories-of-the-00s/P1

Many, many thanks for giving me the incredible opportunity to work on ecofacts and merry green christmas time to all!

^ ~ ^ ~ ^ ~ ^ ~ ^ ~ ^ ~ ^ ~ ^ ~ ^ ~ ^ ~ ^ ~
Barbara Hirsch, recording engineer, eco-person

“Unless someone like you cares a whole lot,
nothing is going to get better. It’s not.”

– The Lorax, Children’s book by Dr. Seuss

EcoFacts — No Comments
11
Dec 09

Trees for the forest

It’s December, time for Copenhagen climate talks and Christmas – an admittedly weak connection, but at least trees figure in both.

An intentional forest, though less valuable than a native one, is better than none at all. One of the issues being grappled with in Copenhagen is REDD – Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation. Richer countries will have to be assisting poorer ones in preventing the destruction of their forests, home to millions of species and whose loss accounts for nearly 20% of greenhouse gas emissions, more than that of the entire transportation sector.

As for our Christmas trees, nearly 30 million of them will be sold this month in the U.S.. Environmentally speaking, some say it is better to buy a plastic one. Over 10 million of those will be sold – GASP! The world needs more real trees, not pvc (polyvinyl chloride) ones! One true environmental negative about Christmas tree farms is the fossil fuels used to transport them. (The longer lasting plastic ones are shipped from China.) As most states grow them, if you can buy a relatively local one, that negative is cancelled out. Also you can buy a Certified Naturally Grown tree, which means no pesticides or chemical fertilizers were used. And, you could buy a live one, if you can then plant it.

More Christmas tree facts:
It takes from 8 to 12 years for a tree to grow to optimum Christmas tree height of 6 to 8 feet, depending on the type of tree.
While growing they absorb carbon, control erosion and provide habitat for wildlife.
In the new year, following their brief life of merry adornment and scenting of our air, they can be turned into mulch if recycled, and continue to be life promoting, which is more than one can say about the plastic ones.

http://unredd.wordpress.com/2009/12/09/redd-all-the-time/

http://urbanext.illinois.edu/trees/facts.cfm

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/04/garden/04garden.html

^ ~ ^ ~ ^ ~ ^ ~ ^ ~ ^ ~ ^ ~ ^ ~ ^ ~ ^ ~ ^ ~
Barbara Hirsch, recording engineer, eco-person

“Unless someone like you cares a whole lot,
nothing is going to get better. It’s not.”

– The Lorax, Children’s book by Dr. Seuss

EcoFacts — No Comments
4
Dec 09

Black Friday and more stuff

Unlike nature, where waste doesn’t exist, where everything becomes food for more life, human society creates things that may not change form for hundreds of years, and they certainly do not make good food for living creatures. But could they be feedstock, for more things?

Take umbrellas, for example, broken and unrepairable after one strong wind. They are made from nylon and other plastics and metals that come from nonrenewable resources. Take our electronics – cell phones, cheap dvd players. These rarely get repaired, as repairing them would cost more and take more trouble than buying new ones. (We know that their real cost is not reflected in their price.) They also, are made from valuable resources, and in the landfill can contaminate soil and groundwater.

In the book [Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things], authors McDonough and Braungart use the term upcycling, and refer to technical and biological nutrients. In a much healthier world, these manufactured and natural nutrients would be part of a closed loop system. Products would be designed to be deconstructed, their materials used again to make products of equal or even greater value. Fewer resources would be extracted and ecosystems less damaged. Less water and energy would be used in production, and fewer toxins too. Sounds great, doesn’t it?

Business and entrepreneurial folks are catching on. One can now find products made from discarded things such as doormats made from flip-flops, or strong, long lasting tote bags woven from disposable plastic bags*. Patagonia, a pioneer in this field, uses some fabrics for their clothing made of 100% recycled materials, including plastic bottles and used clothing. Another pioneer is the carpet company Interface, whose product can be continuously recycled into new carpet. They both offer take back programs to reuse their materials as feedstock for new ones. A company called Terracycle works with manufacturers and consumers to collect packaging that is then made into other goods. They are working with Scotch to recover plastic tape dispensers and cores to be used again. They make flower pots out of crushed computer housings. Now there’s a nice metaphor.

*Check out the Hungersite Store and search for “recycled” to find loads of examples of creative reuse and upcycling.

http://www.wordspy.com/words/upcycling.asp

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE58T3HX20090930

http://www.terracycle.net/

http://www.patagonia.com/web/us/patagonia.go?assetid=1956

http://www.interfaceglobal.com/Sustainability.aspx

^ ~ ^ ~ ^ ~ ^ ~ ^ ~ ^ ~ ^ ~ ^ ~ ^ ~ ^ ~ ^ ~
Barbara Hirsch, recording engineer, eco-person

“Unless someone like you cares a whole lot,
nothing is going to get better. It’s not.”

– The Lorax, Children’s book by Dr. Seuss