Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Monday, October 20, 2008
Being Green Will Cost Us Some Green: Another Lie
Being Green Will Cost Us Some Green Views TheRoot.com Check out this disturbing post from a representative of a group called Project 21, a group of black conservatives. I wonder how much the author was paid by the coal industry to write this. Unbelievable. The comments that follow are interesting as well. Does anyone know anything about this group?
Eco-Friendly Decor Website
Looking for green interior design and home improvement ideas? Check out this website created by African American interior designer, Alicia Valair.
How to green your Halloween | Grist | From A to Green | 14 Oct 2008
How to green your Halloween Grist From A to Green 14 Oct 2008 I don't celebrate Halloween (though I do miss some elements), but this article provides some great tips to "green your ween". Included are ideas on decorations, costumes, makeup and treats.
B-W: Sustainability Symposium, October 20-21, 2008
B-W: Sustainability Symposium, October 20-21, 2008 This is where I am off to tonight. Tell you about it later.
Western Diet Boosts Global Heart Attack Risk 30% - Yahoo! News
Western Diet Boosts Global Heart Attack Risk 30% - Yahoo! News One more reason to eat your fruit and veggies. Raising cattle and other animals for meat and dairy production also contribute significantly to global warming and requires a significant amount of water resources. In many countries, meat is used to season meals or sparingly on the side. In western countries too often the veggies are used almost as a colorful garnish. Ideally your meal should consist of fiber rich grains and/or beans, two servings of veggies, a small portion of meat (if you just can't give it up) and fruit as a dessert. This is also a pretty cheap way to eat, especially if you eat in season produce.
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Low Maintenance Landscape: Trees, Shrubs and Grasses
I have admired the graceful, simplicity of this garden for years. The landscape features neatly groomed trees and shrubs, punctuated with grasses and low maintenance plants. A garden like this requires minimal chemicals and time. Fortunately for me, I get to drive past it five days a week on the drive to my son's school.
Go Bucks!
Portable Autumn
These are photos from my fall neighborhood walk last week that I didn't get to post. Enjoy!
Blackenterprise.com - Dr. 'Green' House
blackenterprise.com - Dr. 'Green' House Planning a move to North Carolina, the new "mecca" for black professionals? Consider purchasing a home from former neurochemist turned green real estate developer, Mr. Freeman Ledbetter of Durham, NC. Mr. Ledbetter's homes are friendly to the health of its owners as well as the planet. His business has been insulated from the current housing downturn in large part to this unique niche in green housing that is growing exponentially. Mr. Ledbetter has been approached by FEMA for his unique flood resistant designs and has plans for a senior housing development. He expects to generate $2 to $3 million in revenues in 2009. Not sure if given the current state of this economy, that is still realistic, but anyone selling any homes in this environment is likely to continue to succeed in the future. Let's wish him all the best.
Looking for information on green homes? Click here to get contact information for a Green Building Coalition in your area.
Organic farm blossoms in Kenya's largest slum | World news | The Guardian
Organic farm blossoms in Kenya's largest slum World news The Guardian This is the kind of initiative that our friend and environmental justice activist, Van Jones heralds in his best-selling new book, "The Green Collar Economy - How One Solution Can Fix Our Two Biggest Problems". If gardening is your thing and you want to serve your community, learn how you can do both with the information provided on the American Community Garden Association website. For my friends in the United Kingdom, go to this website of the Federation of City Farms and Community Gardens. I'm going to work on a community garden next spring of the Hitchcock Center for Women in Cleveland, Ohio.
Let's all get our hands dirty like our family in Kenya and clean up our planet!
Silas Kpanan'Ayoung Siakor - Heroes of the Environment 2008 - TIME
Silas Kpanan'Ayoung Siakor - Heroes of the Environment 2008 - TIME Check out this African brother who is taking the lead on enviromental issues that impact his country of Liberia. Silas Kpanan'Ayoung Siakor evaluates environmental issues from the perspective of human impact. Many complaints have been lodged against environmentalists for forcing sustainability initiatives down the throats of citizens with no effort to balance with the practical realities of survival. This is known as "eco-colonialism". The most sustainable solutions benefit both people and the planet. Mr. Siakor's two year old organization, Sustainable Institute of Liberia, seeks this balance.
You go Mr. Siakor!
Atlas reveals how you are likely to die | Society | The Observer
Atlas reveals how you are likely to die Society The Observer I know this is a pretty morbid concept, but I thought that having this information could actually produce a positive outcome, simply by raising awareness and spur residents to take action. I wonder if such a map exists in the states?
Mexico pollution solution: Go green | ajc.com
Mexico pollution solution: Go green ajc.com. Could this work in our urban communities in the states?
Government Bailout: Key Energy Credits Extended
I know that the government bailout package, officially known as the "Emergency Economic and Stabilization Act of 2008" has been thought of as a welfare hand out to Wall Street, but to my surprise, some benefits for alternative energy have been tossed into the mix. Many of the "green pork" initiatives are going to directly benefit big business and start-up energy businesses, but there are a few wins for the little guy (or gal). Check them out:
- Credit for residential solar, wind and geothermal energy investments
- Tax credit for plug-in electric drive vehicles ($2500-$7500)
- Support for employers that support bike to work efforts of employees
- Tax credit for energy efficient improvements to home and commercial property
- Accelerated depreciation for recycling equipment
- Accelerated depreciation for smart electric meters and smart electric grid equipment
Want to see the full summary of the bailout? Click here. Check out this Gristmill post for more specific information about the pros and cons of the energy portions of the bill.
Please talk to a tax advisor to get more information about how these changes could impact your green efforts.
Climate Change Exhibit: California Academy of Sciences
If you are a resident of the west coast or planning a visit to San Fransisco, a must see is the largest public green building in the world. The new California Academy of Sciences recently opened its 10 year, $500 million LEED Platinum building. Some of the green features of the building:
- Solar panels that reduce energy use
- 90% office lit using natural light
- 197,000 square foot green roof
- Recycled denim insulation
- Built with recycled materials
- Radiant floor heating
The California Academy of Sciences features a natural history museum, planetarium, aquarium, rain forest, African Hall and a naturalist center. Interested? Click here for hours and exhibit information.
Climate Change | American Museum of Natural History
Climate Change American Museum of Natural History
Looking for an enviromentally friendly stay-cation? Check out the climate change exhibit that opened this Saturday in New York City at the American Museum of Natural History. Has anyone visited this exhibit?
Cancer in a Glass: That Relaxing Drink After Work
BBC NEWS Health Women 'unaware of alcohol threat'. Alcohol raises your cancer risk, not just liver cancer, but breast cancer ladies and gentlemen (men get breast cancer too). This article points to a myth that I believed until my diagnosis - breast cancer is a genetic illness that doesn't generally affect black women. Well that is far from the case. No one in my immediate family including parents, grandparents, great grandparent, cousins and second cousins had breast cancer. Cancer was the last disease on my mind. It turns out that it does impact black women, at younger ages and often in a more aggressive manner. In my research over the last year, I found that there are so many factors within your control that can reduce your risk of cancers in general. Check them out below:
1. Eat a plant based diet - at least two servings of fruit and three servings of vegetables a day
2. Consume at least 30 grams of fiber - fiber helps flush excess toxins and hormones from your body
3. Exercise daily - at least 30 minutes a day, ideally 6 hours a week. Reduces fat and stress
4. Eat a low fat diet - fat breeds excess estrogen and testosterone, which can lead to cancer
5. Don't drink alcohol - if you can't do this, consume only for special occasions. Alcohol fuels estrogen
6. Use chemical free products - many common products contain carcinogens or hormonal disruptors
7. Avoid plastics - especially anything with recycling no. 7, may contain bpa, linked to cancer/diabetes
8. Avoid lined canned products - many canned products, especially tomatoes contain bpa
9. Use a headpiece or speaker with cell phone - claims of cancer causing radiation are not going away
10. Be positive person - maintain a positive attitude and a healthy social life, laugh and have fun
There is still so much research that needs to be conducted on this disease, there are so many unanswered questions (believe me I've asked), one being the role environmental pollutants and chemicals. Having grown up in Los Angeles, Cleveland and Detroit in the toxic smog, lead and asbestos laden seventies, on the cusp environmental regulation, I often question the role of these toxins on my diagnosis. Anyway, if you love a good glass of wine after work to chill, try yoga or a good run/walk instead, chased with a cold glass of red grape juice. You will be doing your body good and look great too!
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Monday, October 13, 2008
Rock Covers Paper
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Rosehips
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Sumac in its Orange Uniform
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Autumn Hydrandgea
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