Have tickets to Live Earth? Use mass transit, the shuttle or carpool. For Live Earth New York at Giants Stadium, click here for more information. There are links for Tokyo and London as well. Check the website for carbon offsetting tips.

Man's best friend can also be the earth's best friend. Aside from using all natural pet care products, biodegradable poop bags and toys made from recycled materials, here are more suggestions.

I have some items at home that I have no idea how or where to dispose of properly. A quick online search brought me to The Green Community and the following tips: Call your city government to find out about hazardous waste collection or disposal sites, or the Environmental Defense Fund at 1800-CALL-EDF. The EPA website might also have be helpful.

Being summer and all, I am in a vacation state of mind. My favorite traveler Samantha Brown of the Travel Channel went on the hunt for ecofriendly vacation spots. One of the places she visited here in the U.S. was the Papoose Creek Lodge. The ecolodge made it to Conde Nast's Traveler Green List. It is near Yellowstone National Park. For more eco-traveling ideas, click here.

Someone left a comment on this blog--which I haven't yet published, owing to the fact that it's clearly a tactic to promote the commenter's religious website--saying that global warming is a scam. Given all the evidence pointing to global warming, one would hardly call it a scam, but let's play along and pretend that it is. So what's so wrong with wanting to take care of the environment? Even if we're not on high alert or anything, surely wanting to reduce waste, conserve the planet's resources, and protecting wildlife is a good thing. Definitely something God would approve of, wouldn't you say, person-who-left-a-comment? Certainly much better than damning people for their ideas. And, to maintain the religious tone, God would certainly thank people for taking care of the world He/She gave us, right?

I really don't see why people think caring for the environment is a political AND a religious issue. It just gets really frustrating sometimes.

From the July/August 2007 issue of AAA NY Car and Travel: In a study conducted by the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS), Honda, Toyota and Nissan are 1-2 and 3 in terms of reducing smog-forming pollutants and greenhouse gases. They are using environmental technology in all their vehicles while the losers are installing it piecemeal or not at all. The study analyzed 10 vehicle classes produced by 8 automakers. Daimler Chrysler came in last. Being a Honda owner, the study results are reassuring.

Did you know that half or even more than half of what we throw away is packaging? Now if only all of them are recyclable, we'd be helping reduce those mountains of trash.

Before you buy something, eyeball the amount of cardboard, plastic and/or other materials used for the item. Be conscious of overpackaged materials.

I read somewhere before (can't remember where) that's it's best to choose reusable and/or refillable over disposable. A good example would be shampoo and conditioner. You can buy it in bulk and transfer some in refillable containers.

Software companies heeded the call for smaller packaging. Hopefully, we can get warehouse clubs to reduce their packaging too.

Lastly, do you order items online and have them delivered at home? These items are usually overpackaged. Reuse the boxes! Remove the labels and reuse them as much as you can. Up until it can't take it anymore. Better yet, e-mail the customer service of the company you ordered from. Tell them nicely to send items safely without overdoing the packaging.

Labels: household

I was watching The Colbert Report last night and he mentioned this New York Times article about freegans. They aim to lessen their impact on the planet and buy nothing to minimize their support of corporations. Freegans pick through dumpsters and garbage bins to find food, clothing, books, etc. Speaking as a germophobe, this seems extreme to me. Everything uses up natural resources to manufacture and distribute. However, I understand their motivation and applaud their commitment. Scavenger hunt anyone?

I just spotted an article on Inquirer which talks about how earthworms can help ease up the urban waste problem.

Vermicomposting refers to the process of using earthworms to turn organic waste into vermicompost -- also known as vermicast, worm compost, worm castings, worm humus or worm manure -- a high quality natural fertilizer and soil conditioner.

I don't plan on setting up my own earthworm farm anytime soon, because no matter how many good qualities they possess, I still find them icky. But kudos to the groups who have discovered this great solution to the waste problem in the city.

Green news for asthma sufferers: The typical inhaler or "puffer" combines bronchodilating medication with propellant to deliver a specific dosage to your lungs. The propellants used were ozone-depleting chlorofluorocarbons. Xopenex doesn't contain CFCs, only environmentally-friendly hydrofluoroalkane. Ask your doctor if it is appropriate for you.

Evan Almighty might as well be called Evan Green. The filmmakers worked with the Conservation Fund and calculated carbon emissions during the shoot. They then planted carbon dioxide-absorbing trees to "zero out" the emission. During production, they recycled building materials, used double-sided recycled paper, melted the steel from the ark's infrastructure and donated to Habitat for Humanity. The director Tom Shadyac bought bicycles for cast and crew, and they all drank bottled HtoO (Hope to Others). This is a charity he founded that donates 100% of profits after taxes to charities worldwide. (They recycled the plastic bottles, of course.) Now they are asking moviegoers to make a tax-deductible contribution of $5 on Get on Board Now to help plant trees in the Almighty Forest. So far over 25000 trees have been planted. They even had a green carpet for the premiere and a green after party with a recycled goody bag.

No, not real bug bites. I stumbled upon some Bug Bites by pure accident today. Edible Bug Bites from Endangered Species Chocolate. It's organic milk chocolate. Sweet.

Here's an interesting editorial that talks about how environmentalists really want to ruin our way of life and the economy. Old arguments that have long since been rebuffed, but still an interesting read, if you need something to get all riled up about.

I personally don't see why there are lots of people fighting the environmental movement. Since when did it become a bad thing to be concerned about one's surroundings? It shouldn't have anything to do with one's political leanings or whatever. People who also believe that the planet has an unlimited carrying capacity and great tolerance for waste probably need to take a good look around them as well.

I heard earlier that a Korean group will be setting up a spa near the crater of Taal Volcano. A frigging spa near the crater of an active volcano. Cute. Brilliant. Have any of them ever heard of environmental degradation? And of course, the danger of having your establishment blown to bits in the event of an eruption?

The mayor is an equally foolish person. He reasoned that the company already bought the land and that they have the permits already. Well, the people who also approved the project are just as dumb. Ah, money indeed makes the world run however you want it to.

Remember that Seinfeld episode where Newman says "The mail never stops"? Well you can say junk mail never stops. What to do? From EarthEasy: You can put "Return to Sender" and place it back in the mailbox. In the US, you can stop your name from being sold to mailing list companies by writing to Mail Preference Service, Direct Marketing Association, 6 East 43rd St., NY, NY. 10017. You may also contact the Stop Junk Mail Association at (800) 827-5549.
Instead of subscribing to magazines and newspapers, read their online versions instead. Sign up for e-delivery of statements. Save paper, save some dough, save the planet.

From the Non-Toxic Times Newsletter:

GoLoco is a new website that lets people share rides, thereby reducing pollution. You can post a trip you will be taking or a trip you'd like to take and need a ride for. You can create your own network of friends or co-workers, teammates or club-mates or share your posting throughout GoLoco. You can view potential riders' profiles and pictures. Your home address and other details are kept private. Once you accept the ride or riders, you can discuss details like locations/meeting places, expenses all online. Carpooling has come a long way.

On 7/7/07, artists like Madonna, The Police, Bon Jovi will be performing in Live Earth, 24 hour concerts in 7 continents to promote climate change awareness. During the concert, you can join other US PIRG activists in their Live Earth Phone Jam. They will be calling their governors asking them to support action to decrease global warming. To join, click here.

It's not impossible to travel green. It can be done, but it DOES require a lot of planning. Here are some tips that I personally try to do:

1. Select an eco-friendly destination. Visit parks - be it local, state or national parks. Better yet, go to the National Park Service website.

2. If you're flying, choose non-stop flights and get electronic tickets.

3. If you're going to cities, use public transportation. You cut costs on car rentals and gas emissions.

4. Stay in hotels that have green programs.

5. Don't use the toiletries in hotels if you brought yours.

6. Go on walking, biking or hiking tours. Better yet, try stargazing at night. It's free.

7. If renting a car is inevitable, choose a car with good mpg.

8. Pack light, smart and green.

9. Use a digital camera. If you're still toting around films in their little containers, reuse the little containers to hold coins, etc. Disposable cameras are worse.

10. Get the brochures and maps you'll need, nothing more. The excess usually ends up in the trash bin.

Have a safe and green summer!

Summer's here. I'm sure that I'm not the only one raring to hit the road and go somewhere. However...

It's not easy to pack lightly.

One tends to go crazy and pack every outfit for every temperature variance. Some people even pack so many pairs of shoes for a week-long trip, only to end up not using even half of what they brought.

Packing lightly is an art that is learned over the years. A case in point: when I got married, imagine my surprise when I saw my mom-in-law (together with my husband's siblings) use only one luggage for the four of them for a 3-day Florida trip. Their wedding outfits FITTED in one luggage. From then on, I tried to copy this smart practice.

Rule to remember: don't weigh yourself down.

Try to fit everything in one reasonably-sized carry-on luggage. By reasonably-sized, I mean reasonably-sized for you - consider how tall you are, how heavy you weigh and how much you can safely carry. You can also add a backpack to carry the odds and ends.

If you're traveling with family and even friends, assign who will bring toiletries - shampoo, hair conditioner, toothpaste, body wash - even insect repellent and sunblock.

Avoid buying travel-size items. Buy a container that you can use and reuse, filling it with different shampoo, conditioner and lotion every trip.

Think of how much clothes you'll need for the duration of your trip, then pack half of it.

In case you're wondering why, here's a reason from the Alliance to Save Energy website:

Pack lightly when traveling, and avoid carrying items on your vehicle’s roof. An extra 100 pounds in the trunk cuts a typical car’s fuel economy by up to 2 percent.

If you're flying, you can help airplanes lighten their gas emissions by lightening their load.

What's more, your stuff can't be delayed, lost or stolen. You always have it with you.

Save your energy for sightseeing and trying new things, not lugging around your heavy luggage.

Remember: pack light, smart and green!

Reading labels at the grocery store can be a confusing experience. Free range chickens? Made with organic ingredients or certified organic? You can go on Ecolabels, type in a label name and find out more about the products you are buying.

When I'm in the supermarket, I keep my eyes peeled for recycled and natural products. I tend to use paper towels (recycled and unbleached of course) more than I use sponges because I am afraid of cross-contamination. Today at Stop and Shop I finally found cleaning sponges made by Natural Value. Sponges have the advantage of being reusable and requiring only 20% of the production needed to manufacture recycled paper towels.

Baguio is a mountain city in the northern Philippines. Its relatively cool climate, pine forests, mountain views make it a popular tourist destination. However, environmental destruction, population growth and urbanization has been taking its toll. The city has been working on a zero waste management program. They have partnered with recycling companies to recycle plastic trash. They have been promoting reusable bags and a proposed paper bag ordinance will require all stores to replace plastic bags with paper or bayongs (woven buri bags). The city council hopes to make all groceries and supermarkets plastic-free in five years.

SM and Unilever Philippines have teamed up for the Green Bag Project! It's a very promising development, given that Unilever is big on corporate social responsibility and SM...well, I've always been very outspoken about the way they shamelessly take over each and every patch of land they can find, creating a consumerist culture, using resources, and compounding the pollution problem with the way people flock to any of their establishments.

The GreenBag is the first of its kind reusable shopping bag made from durable non-woven fabric that can last for approximately two years' trip of weekly trip to the grocery. This is in response to the country's solid waste issue, which the joint project hopes to address positively to change the Filipino's consumption practices.

I don't shop at SM supermarkets myself. The nearest SM mall is a quick 10- or 15-minute drive away--and a 30-minute walk, I've found--but it's hellish to battle the traffic jam going in there, and equally terrible finding parking space. Time to write to our favorite supermarket and tell them to take a leaf out of SM and Unilever's book.

I read that the paper industry is the third largest source of global warming pollutants. Aside from producing greenhouse gases and cutting down trees that absorb carbon dioxide, paper is often bleached with chlorine. Chlorine produces even more harmful chemicals such as cancer-causing dioxin. These substances can seep into soil and water. Save paper by using both sides and using scrap paper when possible. Use the bulletin board or email at work or school instead of sending individual notices. Print single space and use the back side. Buy recycled paper. The paper should be at least 30% post-consumer waste. Or buy paper without chlorine bleach. PCF (processed chlorine free) should be your first choice as this is used in recycled paper. If you're buying unrecycled paper, look for the TCF (totally chlorine free)label. Check your bank and other account statements online and print only what you have to. Collect paper that can be reused or better yet, set up recycling bins or folders.

California and 11 other states have adopted policies to reduce emissions from cars and SUVs. However, they need a Clean-Air Act waiver from the EPA, which has not made a decision in over a year. The auto industry understandably has been lobbying the EPA to deny these 12 states approval. The Supreme Court's ruling that carbon dioxide and other pollutants can be regulated by clean air standards has forced the administration to make a decision soon. The EPA is accepting public comments until June 15. Click on this link to post your comment.

I stayed at a Marriott hotel this past weekend. I was disappointed that they didn't have recycling there. They replaced the opened soap and changed all the towels even though we left them hanging. I found Bill Marriott's blog. Hopefully they will start implementing recycling at all their hotels.

USA is fast food nation. It's cheap and fast. It's for people in a hurry. At the same time, fast food packaging contributes to waste. My suggestion?

Pack your own lunch. You save money, plus you even eat healthy (unless you pack unhealthy stuff, of course). My husband and I pack our lunches. Just read this entry I found while surfing the internet.

If eating in a fast food joint is unavoidable, you can still do something.

1. Use condiments and paper napkins sparingly. Don't grab a whole bunch of little condiment packets and paper napkins, and then dump the excess in the trash. Instead, return the excess where you got them.

2. Limit straw use. Do you really need to use that straw at all?

3. Request for your food to fit in one paper bag. Within reason, of course. Ever went to a fast food place that was just wasteful with their paper bag use?

4. Avoid drive-throughs. Especially if there's a long line. Park your car and order inside instead. Sometimes it's actually faster.

5. Craving coffee? Bring your own coffee flask. Some coffee shops actually let you use your own flask. Take advantage of this. That way, you're not wasting paper and styrofoam cups.

If the fast food chain you go to has a good recycling program, leave a comment in their suggestion box to let them know it's a good idea. That way, they'll keep up the good work.

I saw a feature of The GEO Farm on TV just last night and it sounds like it's an interesting place to check out. They offer organic food, teach you about the benefits of such products, and you can stay there too. It's a bit far away, but perhaps I can make the trip sometime.

Contact information:
The GEO Farm
Brgy. Mangayao
Bayambang, Pangasinan
Philippines
Manila office tel. (02) 438 4243
Baguio Office (074) 445 6818
Mobile Nos.: +63917 507 0187 +63917506 8822

...if it's the kind that has to travel thousands of miles before it reaches your local store and your dinner table. A recent study shows that the food miles clocked in by organic produce and regular produce aren't much different.

Food miles are defined as the distance that food travels from the field to the grocery store. The study found that the environmental cost of greenhouse gas (CO2) emitted to transport 20 tonnes of organically grown produce was comparable to that of bringing the same amount of conventional fruit and vegetables to market.

That's why a lot of people living green just choose to have their own backyard vegetable gardens. It can be challenging to maintain, but it's a whole lot more eco-friendly than buying organic food that's been shipped from faraway places.

Being near 40 and having all these cassette tapes that testify to prior poor judgment or bad taste in music, I want to get rid of the evidence. Natch. But I read that they are made from tensilized polyester which doesn't fall into anyone of the recycling categories. Thrift shops might be able to take the recognizable ones. Schools and libraries might have a need for erased tapes.Sun Valley Worldwide, Ecodisk or Lacerta might be able to do it but probably only does large amounts from businesses. Perhaps I can gather up tapes from friends and relatives and have a big 80s send-off.

Okay, I'm seriously annoyed. I just found out that my car doesn't take too kindly to unleaded gasoline. In case you didn't know, leaded gasoline still isn't phased out in our country. But what's more annoying is that it's a car released in 2000, and despite that, its engine wasn't built for unleaded. Geez.

One thing I noticed here in the US is how easy it is for toys to accumulate. Toys are easy to give and easy to collect. However, kids do get tired of their toys, and outgrow them. It's easier to throw them out, but then what happens to these toys? They end up in landfills.

Even broken toys can be spruced up and fixed. Teach your kids to start or join a toy library. That way, they learn the value of sharing and giving, while at the same time, reducing environmental waste.