Nalgene Goes BPA Free

A few months ago I had a minor freakout when I read about the alleged health threats of BPA - the plastic used in those clear, hard, Nalgene bottles. Like many college students, my nalgene comes with me to the gym, to lunch so I don't have to pay extra for a drink, to class so that I stay hydrated and therefore awake - pretty much everywhere. However, I consulted a few sources and the Nalgene website, and concluded that as long as I did not drink hot liquids out of the bottle, I would probably be alright. The Nalgene website in particular seemed virulently certain that the BPA-scare was only a scare, without scientific evidence. Thus, when the Nalgene Company announced on April 18th that they were going to stop producing BPA-related products in response to consumer demands, I was forced once again to consider parting with my beloved Wesleyan bottle. However, I consulted the Nalgene website today, and found that I can get a non-BPA, sports-oriented water bottle for only $8 - for less than Wesleyan charged me for my current design. Plus, it comes with a "mud-cap" so that if I should find myself covered with mud somewhere, I can still drink clean water.

Vanity Fair's Green Issue

I usually think of Vanity Fair as being a Mom-magazine that middle-aged women read on airplanes, or whatever. However, yesterday when I was standing in line at the supermarket waiting to have my Milkyway rung up, I saw that Vanity Fair had published a "green issue." I checked it out online today - and recommend that you all do as well. First of all, for some reason it shocked me - but the issue is written from an clear environmentalist perspective. The first article is about Russian exploration of warming Arctic areas. Apparently the Russians went all colonialist and planted a flag at the bottom of the ocean under the Arctic ice floes. Other countries which also border on the Arctic got a little upset - not because of emotional attachment to the area, but because of the vast amount of oil reserves thought to be buried under there. Hmmm, I admit myself to be a skeptic of some environmentalism, but it seems very dangerous to me that so much fuss is being raised over new oil reserves when a little thing called Climate Change is happening. Dropping oil prices do not strike me as being truly advantageous in the long run.

The second article I read made my blood run cold. It is about Monsanto - the HUGE agriculture company that sells Round-Up and genetically modified seeds which are immune to the herbicide. This is the dual product that has given Monsanto so many profits - they made Round-Up - a product which kills weeds, and concurrently created crop species which are genetically modified to be resistent to Round-Up. As Vanity Fair points out, they then forever changed the face of farming by not allowing farmers to re-use seeds from year to year. Farmers must buy the seeds each new year from Monsanto, and if they don't, Monstanto will viciously go after them for breaking patent laws. Apparently, it has gotten so bad in the MidWest that people refer to Monsanto as having secret police - Vanity Fair reports of people being threatened by the corporation, and being tricked into releasing private records. Incidentally, Monsanto used to be a chemical corporation which is responsible for some of the largest toxic dumps in the US. Ughhhh, it just gives me the chills.

Green Standby in UK

As some of my readers know, BBC's "The Green Room" is a column which serves to spark environmental debate on their website. It is frequently an interesting and informative read, and often touches on issues of climate change and energy use. This week's piece is about the Standby Power issue - meaning that power that is used when devices are not actually in use (your plugged in cell phone charger, the turned off flat screen television). Many environmentalists see these devices as an easy way to reduce energy use - simply unplug electronic devices when they are not in use. Sadly, for many of us, unplugging and replugging devices does not easily fit into an already hectic schedule.

However, Douglas Johnson has some useful reminders when it comes to this issue - although he uses examples from the UK, rather than US. He uses the example that in the past 20 years, standby power use by televisions has decreased from 30W (1995) to 1.8W and is still decreasing. Johnson is interested in proving that the utilities industry self-regulates when it comes to using energy more efficiently, and although I very much doubt that that is the case, it is interesting to remember the strides that have already been made on this issue. Finally, he issues a much needed reminder that energy USE is much more intensive than energy DISUSE. So perhaps, rather than unplugging your electrical appliances when not in use, try to buy Energy-Star rated electrical appliances, and stay away from that huge flat screen television (a true guzzler of energy, and fossil fuels).

How to Eat Meat

Today was a well-known holiday in the collegiate world, namely 4-20. In celebration of this event, and also for the upcoming Greek Easter, my house hosted a Lamb Roast, complete with greek pasta and baclava. In honor of the event, I am including a few photos (see below) of the roasting lamb, and also writing a little something about how the environmentally conscious can choose to indulge in meat.

As most of us know, there are a myriad of reasons not to eat meat, including the incredibly detrimental environmental effects, health reasons and the inhumane treatment of animals. For some of us, however, the desire to eat meat occasionally clouds our ethical vision. In my opinion, the best way to indulge the carnivorous side of ourselves is to buy local meat from a nearby butcher. For this event, we ordered a lamb from a Connecticut butcher, then began roasting it ourselves at 10am. It was ready for consumption at 5:30pm - 63 pounds of guilt-free deliciousness!

Fun and Functional

Many of my readers are probably looking for a summer job right now, and dreading having to spend their time indoors in front of a computer screen. However, you can have fun this summer and still have something that looks good on a resume. For example, The Conservancy of Southwest Florida (more details below) offers several fun and functional internships.


An Environmental-Education Camp Counselor (The Conservancy of Southwest Florida)

This position is looking for a senior or older who is a science major and has some experience working with younger children. Your duties would include teaching lessons in science and ecology on and off site, in the field, classroom and laboratory. You would also lead activities and field trips.

Sound fun? They are also offering a number of other opportunities to qualified applicants, such as conservation research and wildlife rehabilitation.

Check out this website to apply and get further details:
http://www.conservancy.org/NETCOMMUNITY/Page.aspx?pid=374&srcid=354#camp



PS. They also have a sea turtle conservation internship program (!!) see picture below, taken from their website.

Witches and Climate

I just read a very interested editorial for the New York Times written by Nicholas Kristof. As you all know, this past year the Nobel Peace Prize was jointly awarded to Al Gore and the IPCC. The Chairman of the Committee, the one who awarded the prize, explained that intra-national conflict, or civil war, is fast becoming one of the largest sources of violence on the planet. Furthermore, climate change is poised to exacerbate these conflicts by stressing water sources and causing climate disasters, which will be particularly devastating in poor, conflict ridden regions.

So, what do witches have to do with all this? Kristof quotes a lot of historians who have researched the correlations between bad weather and witch burnings. According to research, even the Salem witch trials in the US may have been partially caused by a very cold winter and resultant economic stress. If this research is right, than in years of bad weather, people often scapegoat the weakest among them, such as older women. Climate change is almost certain to negatively effect local weather patterns. Thus, unless we take measures to stop it, the weakest among us will suffer most.

To read to editorial, see http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/13/opinion/13kristof.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin

3 Items for the Green Professional

Pretty soon after I graduate, I am going to begin my real career as an environmental consultant in DC. Now, a lot of my friends have been giving me suspicious looks when I say I am going corporate. . .so I have been browsing around the internet for things I can do to keep my green heart pure.

1. Instead of buying a brief case made from leather or vinyl, there are a large variety of briefcases made out of hemp, organic cotton or other environmentally friendly materials. (See below, from http://www.artisangear.com/courier.html).



2. Bring my lunch to work every day in a reusable bag. Buy organic, and preferably local food as much as possible. I can also use reusable utensils and containers, as well as cloth napkins. The website whose products are featured below has adorable hemp and design lunch bags, complete with reusable containers. See http://www.laptoplunches.com/products.html



3. Avoid traveling by air as much as possible. When traveling, use hybrid cars (Avis and others have implemented new green traveling options. Also, elect to stay at environmentally conscious hotels.

We need green bloggers: Do you fit the bill?

We are looking for green bloggers to write about vital environmental issues!

Specifically, we're looking for college students and alumni to write about their own experiences with living green lifestyles and launching green careers. You'll write for an audience of other students and young professionals who are exploring opportunities and getting ready to launch careers of their own.

We want students and alumni who aspire to work toward environmentalism in some capacity, or at least have a desire to make a difference, to share their perspective and their passion for the benefit of other students and alumni around the country.

Your responsibilities will include posting at least once a week on topics and events relevant to readers interested in or aspiring to work on environmental issues. In addition, we'll ask you to take photos to illustrate your blog posts. To do that, you'll receive a new digital camera to record your discoveries and travels, a stipend per 12-week session, as well as valuable hands-on experience to add to your resume.

To apply, please submit a brief cover letter, a resume, and a sample blog post (250 words or less) on a green topic to contribute@experience.com

Is Non-Profit for You?

At Wesleyan, a lot of us decide to go into non-profit work directly out of college, or several years later. It seems like a pretty great decision, you help save the world without selling your own ideals short. But, as someone who eventually decided to enter the corporate world instead, what kinds of factors should you consider when deciding between the two?

Step 1: Is Non-Profit For You?

There are many perceived benefits of working for a non-profit, namely the increased flexibility in hours, the generally more relaxed atmosphere and the feeling that you are doing some good in the world. However, a recent article in the New York Times pointed out that many of these perceptions are only true when you are doing volunteer work, and sometimes not even then. In particular, non-profit work can be just as stressful as that faced in a corporate setting. The fact that non-profit jobs often receive pay which is between 5% and 25% lower than comparable salaries in the for-profit sector can be another source of stress.

All in all, it is important to choose a non-profit which will give you all the opportunities you need. Check and make sure that it is organized and well run, that the work is accomplishing something and that you will be treated as a serious employee. Not only the subject matter but also the very feel of the place should strike you positively.

Step 2: Applying for the Non-Profit Position

Most of my friends are applying for positions in non-profits by doing the same thing - namely sending in a resume and cover letter and hoping for a response. Unfortunately, non-profits often hire volunteer workers or people that are some how familiar with the organization already. In other words, it may be necessary in some cases to begin work as a volunteer who does not get paid and then apply for jobs within the organization as they open up.

Step 3: Switching between the Corporate World and the Non-Profit One

This is a topic about which I know very little, since I am only at the start of my career. However, I thought I would pass along a bit of advice which I received during an interview. The woman who was interviewing me had just switched from the corporate world into the non-profit one, and she advised that if I had any interest in the for-profit sector, I should begin my career there. In her opinion, it is considerably easier to move from a corporate into a non-profit than to do the reverse.


What do you all think? What kinds of factors should be important when choosing between for-profit or non-profit?

Growing Plants in a Dorm

I just got back from a farmer's market at Wesleyan, where I bought about a pound of goat cheese (yum) and a little basil plant for $3. It is now sitting on my window sill soaking up the cloudy Connecticut sky. Now, I know it is impossible for me to keep my own goats and make my own goat cheese, but the farmers market got me thinking about what kinds of plants I could grow in my room or out on the porch as the weather starts to turn a bit nicer.

It turns out that basil is one of the best plants to grow in these kind of limited conditions. It can be quite happy in a warm, sunny spot with moist soil and a little room to grow. The best way to harvest the basil leaves is to pinch them off from the base. However, remember not to pinch to much off at one time.



It turns out that growing a wide variety of herbs, even in the middle of winter, is definitely doable. The trick is to find a spot in your dorm that gets a lot of sunlight (at least 4 hours and preferably more) every day. You also need soil that has good drainage - and a pot that can drain as well. Most of the websites advised buying the soil from a nursery if you are a beginner (like me) - but most recommend a mix containing peat, sand, perlite, or vermiculite. Most of the websites I consulted advise trying rosemary, chives, mint and sage, although there are additional possibilities as well. For more information, check out:

http://ezinearticles.com/?10-Herbs-You-Can-Grow-in-Containers&id=389833

Merkel's Pet Issue

A week ago, the European Union announced that they may decide to levy trade sanctions against the US and China if those two nations continue to refuse international carbon restriction agreements. For example, the EU leaders agreed last year that they will attempt to cut CO2 emissions 20% by 2020. The trade sanctions threat is an interesting one. The EU argues that their corporations will be at a competitive disadvantage internationally, since US and Chinese goods will have been produced using cheaper carbon.(information from source below).

For example, Angela Merkel (see pic below) was quoted as saying, "Industry, faced with global competition could be exposed to a real disadvantage if no international climate accord is struck, but we in Europe have very strict rules." Angela Merkel has made climate change her pet issue and has done a lot of important and interesting work both in Germany (where she is chancellor) and abroad.(1)

France's own President Sarkozy also added, "Our main concern is to set up a mechanism that would allow us to strike against the imports of countries that don't play by the rules of the game on environmental protection."(1)



Unquestionably, the recent economic downturn, lead by the US, has caused worry among EU nations who have committed to decreasing carbon emissions. It is much easier to think about low-carbon production when the economy is strong than when it is in recession. This issue also highlights the problems that environmental efforts face when relying on such strong international cooperation. In my opinion, it might be almost impossible to expect countries to lower their carbon emissions by enough to make a difference - simply because of this interrelationship between carbon relations and market prices. The idea of tariffs is interesting, although the part of me that is strongly free-market balks a bit at the idea of purposefully hindering market functioning.

Do you all think it is moral/smart to use such economic punishments in order to induce international cooperation?


1. Much of the information quoted in this blog is from an article written by the Associated Press and published at:
http://www.boston.com/news/world/articles/2008/03/15/eu_warns_china_us_over_carbon_emissions/

Egg Hunting

Today is Easter, which means that I woke up this morning to my mom trying to sneak a basket full of candy into my room at some ungodly hour. We take our holidays very seriously at the Rowan household. Later in the afternoon, we celebrated the traditional Rowan Easter party complete with an Easter egg hunt for the kids. This took me back to years past, when my mom included lacy thongs and other raunchy items in the eggs. My sister and I were about 15, and mortified.

Anyways, I thought that today was an important time to write a little something about the relationship between Christianity and environmentalism.

There are a number of groups which encourage connections between spirituality and nature - some of these groups are politically active and others less so or not at all For example, REEP is a religious charity which "provides unusual and thought-provoking resources for teachers and learners promoting the links between religions and the environment." They work with religious groups of any denomination to raise awareness of environmental issues and are oriented around educational, rather than political issues.

Do you think that religion can play an important role in the environmental movement?

Environmentally Suave

Following companies as they "go green" is a perverse hobby of mine. I say perverse because even though I truly believe that the private enterprise is crucial to environmentalism in this country, I am usually quite cynical about voluntary attempts by corporations to be more environmentally correct (see previous blog post about Coke's new campaign). In a similar vein, Nordstrom's, an upscale department store, has recently declared that it will phase out its old shopping bags and replace them with 100% post-consumer material bags. Kim, a blogger at the Nordstrom's blog, "From the Floor", see: http://fromthefloor.nordstrom.com/my_weblog/2008/03/eco-chic.html)
writes, "Hi friend! You know how I feel about being environmentally suave. It's a priceless quality, and becoming almost as important as a sense of humor."

I love that, "environmentally suave." Of course, the real question is, what the **** does that mean? That it is important to be environmental, but only if the effort will also make you more chic, cool and fashionable? That environmentalism is a fad, as uncomplicated as buying vintage clothing or the latest cut in fabric? Am I alone in believe that a true commitment to environmentalism forces us to ask difficult questions and make important choices for the long term?

Well, I am being a bit too harsh. In fact, post-consumer recycled material in shopping bags seems like a great idea. I know that in Europe, this same effort has met with considerable success. It makes sense that shopping bags (which are only briefly used and then thrown away) should be made out of recycled material. In addition, tote bags seem like a great idea. For inspiration, and a laugh, check out the shopping tote bag manufactured by Origins (an organic beauty store).

Five Ways to Travel Green

The Green Passport Campaign is a new effort to increase awareness of environmental issues, particularly climate change, in the tourism industry. It was borne out of the World Summit on Sustainable Development that occurred in Johannesburg in 2002 and is largely sponsored by the United Nations Environment Programme.

This is especially relevant since traveling is a significant source of carbon emissions and also because tourism can profoundly influence the host country's environment, for good or ill.

In the spirit of this campaign, and also recognizing that it is Spring Break season, I decided to write a Top Five List of things you can do during your vacation to limit your environmental impact.

1. Ecolodge. Generally, when I hear about EcoLodges I assume that they are both expensive and difficult to get to. However, it turns out that there are many hotels all over the world which are environmentally friendly and (somewhat) cheap. I didn't believe it either, but I am from the DC area - and there are about 10 certified "green" hotels nearby. Check out www.greenvacationhub.com to find even more lovely, environmental vacation options!


2. Rent a hybrid. . .I know I fantasize about driving a Prius around, so why not rent one during your vacation, saving a little money on gas as well? Budget offers Prius rentals - try, www.budget.com


3. Travel domestically, rather than internationally.

4. Use public transportation as often as possible, especially trains over longer distances.

5. Stay longer in several quality areas, rather than moving from spot to spot.


Oh yeah, and try to avoid using hotel mini bottles of shampoo and conditioner. I know they are tempting, but they are also a huge waste of plastic.

Any other ideas about how you can limit your environmental impact over vacation?

Biodegradable Plastic?

The other day, I was standing in line at Pi Cafe, Wesleyan's little shop that sells coffee, tea and sandwiches. I bought a delicious falafel, and as I was about to throw out the plastic container it came in, I noticed that the container was labeled as "biodegradable." The only other information it gave me was that this plastic, which looked like every other plastic I had ever seen, was in fact made from corn and would biodegrade over a relatively short period of time.

Now, having done a little research, I can tell you that this astounding event is true - there are a number of companies selling corn-based biodegradable plastic. For example, 2WPlastic has created a resin called NatureWorks PLA - and they use it to create disposable (compostable) plastic products that look exactly like normal ones. The only (small) catch is that these plastics only function up to 110F - which makes them less usable in industrial settings than other types of plastic. PLA stands for polylactide, and as the name suggests, this plastic is made from lactic acid formed during fermentation.

To read more about biodegradable plastic, click here:

or visit:
http://www.2wplastic.com/index.htm

Is McCain Faking It?

The election race is really starting to heat up - and the neatest part of it is that people our age are extremely engaged with the issues and candidates. This being a energy oriented blog, I am going to spend a little time on the environmental records of the candidates.

I'm at Wesleyan, a university renowned for its liberal edge, and so the environmental pros and cons of Obama and Clinton are frequently brought up in discussion. However, the GOP candidate, McCain is often excluded from student conversation here - and when someone brings him up, there is considerable skepticism over his record of environmentalism. He talks like he has a long environmental record, but we must ask, "is he faking it?"

McCain is an old school conservative when it comes to environmental issues. He loves the idea of national parks (although he has voted for increased road building in conserved areas), voted to end whaling, he supported a carbon cap and trade proposal in 2003 and opposed oil drilling in ANWR.



On the other hand, McCain recently got in a lot of trouble over a couple of endangered grizzly bears in Montana. A group of scientists requested money to study the genetic makeup of these bears, but McCain argued that the money was pork, a special interest and waste of time. He even advertised his rejection of the proposal in an ad series.

So, what do you think, is McCain for real?

Right Around the Corner

Spring Break means a lot of things, but it is definitely the time when those of us who haven't quite figured out our summer (and/or life) plans should take some time to do so. My break doesn't start for another week, but I figured I would give you all a head start by introducing you to some summer internship opportunities. Obviously, summer internships are a great opportunity for undergraduates, but the lesser known part is that they are also a great idea for recent graduates. If you are unsure what you are going to be doing next year, taking a summer internship can buy you time to plan and apply to jobs. It can also provide needed experience for your resume, or give you an "in" at a non-profit. (I say non-profit because often times NGOs hire based on grants and openings, and if you are interning there you will be in a better position to take advantage of these opportunities). Here are the results of my findings:

1. Palo Alto, California. Who wouldn't want to intern there??


Now, luckily, you all have the chance. The City of Palo Alto is hiring a number of interns to work on various municipal projects. These include library organization, economic development, public administration and city planning using GIS. However, there seems to be a lot of flexibility in the type of project you undertake. If you are interested in energy and utilities, there are a number of projects detailed on the website which would be great opportunities. They will also pay you between $12 and $20 dollars an hour. . .schweet.

Application details:
Please submit a cover letter describing internship preference, why the individual is applying, what he or she hopes to learn from an internship and the time commitment he or she can make. Additionally, submit a current resume with references.

To check out this internship, go to:

http://www.cityofpaloalto.org/depts/hrd/news/details.asp?NewsID=316&TargetID=137,138

2. Research Support Intern at RightFish, a subsidiary of Careerbuilder.com
This looks like a primarily marketing related internship, but also includes elements of data analysis and market research. You get paid competitively, and would get a great experience in internet marketing. The application is due on April 1st. To see more, check out:

http://www.careerbuilder.com/JobSeeker/ApplyOnline/ApplyStart.aspx?ipath=
EXEXP&siteid=exp01&Job_DID=J7X1BZ5YK6JMXRWJG3Q&cbRecursionCnt=1&cbsid=fedb1dad3686418a9d191
afe1b60cd02-257795992-WV-2

or use the search function at experience.com!

3. Finally, my personal favorite. The Chicago Botanic Garden is hiring summer interns at $9/hour. They are also hiring 2 research assistants, for those of you with a background in plant research. Check out all the details at:

www.chicagobotanic.org/internship

You've got choices

The big news on the green corporate front this week has been Coca-Cola's decision to "go green", or in their own words, to actively promote "sustainable well-being." Coke has always supported certain global sustainability projects, but recent concern from consumers suggested to the company that they needed to ramp up their efforts. Additionally, they have launched a new ad blitz ($10 million dollar price tag) which highlights their efforts to promote "sustainable well-being."

Based on current programs, "sustainable well-being" includes things like the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation and Coke-sponsored sports programs. However, the corporation has also promised to recycle 100% of its aluminum cans sold in the US (no specific date mentioned) and has invested in a huge bottle-to-bottle recycling plant in South Carolina (according to environmentalleader.com, the total cost of the plant is $45 million). I wonder if Coke will invest as much in the plant as they have in their recent advertising campaign.

The question is, of course, is Coke merely trying to "green-wash"its consumers or is it actually interested in and committed to sustainability? (green washing = the attempt by corporations to mislead consumers by pretending to have environmental and sustainable practices, usually through huge ad campaigns).

So far, in my opinion, it looks as through Coke is going to follow many other corporations and simply settle for appearing to be sustainable. I am basing this off of their ad campaign (see pic below), which emphasizes human-health issues over environmental ones.



Its not that I don't think health issues are important ones but, over all, they are not a direct part of "sustainability." There are ways that we can (and do) answer human health questions in unsustainable ways. Secondly, I applaud Coke's attempt, but in my mind, soda is not going to be the vehicle for improved human health. The most ridiculous is the vitamin-enriched coke. Well, you are getting vitamins in a delicious, high-fructose corn syrupy, beverage with caffeine (which, incidentally, dehydrates you). Some of those vitamins are bio-available, some may not be. But, regardless, it would be better to get those vitamins from the place they below, namely real food.

I chose the title of this blog from the Coke ad pictured above, which states proudly, "You've Got Choices." Do we? Is excessive, pseudo-environmental consumerism really a choice? Or are they just trying to point us away from the possibility that consumerism is inherently un-sustainable. You tell me.

Travel the World for Free

I have found a truly awesome opportunity which I recommend all current students (undergrad or grad) apply to. STA travel hosts a student to travel the world every summer. The basis of the program is that you will take video footage and blog about your experiences. Your main responsibility is to act as a "student perspective" - actively interviewing tour guides and videoing your entire journey. In return for the advertising, various travel companies will pay for your trip.



The itinerary for 2008:

You begin the summer by learning the basics of shooting travel videos from people at the Travel Channel.

You then fly to Madrid, courtesy of "Contiki Holidays"

To Greece, Albania, and Crotia, courtesy of "Topdeck"

and to China and Vietnam, thanks to "Intrepid".

Requirements:

Excellent creative, written and verbal skills
outgoing personality
video camera/photography skills
basic computer skills
enjoy being active and able to hike, bike, kayak
must be between the ages of 18-26.

The application deadline is really soon - March 1st. So check out this website and apply!

This is the website with the description of the project:
http://www.statravel.com/cps/rde/xchg/us_division_web_live/hs.xsl/About-World-Traveler-Internship.htm


This is the website with the actual application information:
http://statravelers.com/internship

Buying Bread Hurts My Head

Whole-wheat, White bread, wheat bread (with wheatberry), mixed grain bread, French bread, Pita bread, Italian bread, rye bread, reduced calorie wheat bread, cracked-wheat bread, pumpernickle bread, reduced calorie white bread, Nature's own honey wheat bread, egg bread, health nut bread, light wheat 99% fat free bread, Country Hearth sour dough bread, Country hearth life 100% stone ground whole wheat, pepperidge farm , 100% whole wheat whole grain bread, Aunt Millie's whole wheat bread, reduced-calorie rye bread, white bread, low sodium bread, natural oven's bakery multi grain bread, 12 whole grain bread, Mrs Baird's Honey wheat, Oatmeal bread, . . .

This is merely a selection of the different types of bread offered by the CT grocery - Stop and Shop. Its like I stop to shop, and then I never leave because I am seized with indecision.

Can you believe how many different kinds of bread there are??
The worst is the grain issue. I know that I want to buy some healthy, grainy bread. Whole wheat is not enough, no siree, I plan on delving further on into the realm of the 'whole grain.' And then I must face the question, how many grains are enough? Do I want "multi-grain" "5 grain" "7 grain" "12 grain" or should I settle for naming a specific type of grain, like "oatmeal." What IS a grain? Is it better to have fewer calories, or more grains?

I feel like I need a phD in nutritional science to buy my own bread.

However, never fear. In a quest to become the educated consumer, I have scoured the internet and found a few bread health facts that will make your healthy purchasing much more simple.

1. Look for the words, "whole grain." If the grain is not whole, you are not getting many healthy benefits, such as high fiber content and anti-oxidents.

2. A grain is considered whole when it contains the bran, the germ and the endosperm. Wide rice, brown rice, whole wheat, oatmeal, whole oats, barley, whole rye, bulgar and popcorn are all types of whole grains.



3. "Multi-grain" "stone-ground" "100% wheat" "seven-grain" or "bran" MAY NOT BE whole grain bread products. Instead, quickly check the ingredient list to make sure the whole "whole" appears.

4. Color is not a good indicator of bread quality, as "caramel" coloring is often added to make bread look brown.

Conservation Concessions

How much would you pay for 830,000 hectares of tropical rain-forest in Cameroon? Included are the beautiful and undisturbed wildlife conditions, forest elephants (see below) and gorillas.



$1.6 million dollars per year sound reasonable?

Hard to tell. Part of me wants to say that any amount of money is worth it to protect still undeveloped areas. Plus, it sounds like a paltry amount when compared to the US military budget. However, I would guess that there are few environmental organizations able to afford that kind of money every year.

But, $1.6mil is the price that Joseph Matta, the forestry minister of Cameroon is offering to any conservation group willing (and able) to lease the forest land known as Ngoyla-Mintom. He says that he prefers to lease the land to a conservation group rather than a logging company, but that the profit would have to be comparable. He has actually increased his rates recently, due to his estimation that the conservation organization would have to compensate the country for the loss of logging-related jobs and business(1).

The question is, can any conservation group afford to spend $1.6 million each year on this project? Additionally, even if the group is able to afford paying to lease the land, will they actually be able to protect it from poachers and other types of illegal development?





(1) Information from "The unkindest cut" The Economist. Feb. 14, 2008.

Eco-friendly? Or just lame.

Hey, I appreciate the newest main-stream environmentalist wave. I'm down for wearing organic cotton, buying local (!!!!), and drooling over new hybrid car models. But why is it that when things really percolate through main stream culture, they tend to get a bit screwy? Like today, I was reading about the newest suburban-mom fad - being an "EcoMom." Apparently groups of these mothers get together to discuss environmental politics, and the best ways to "green" their home. The suburban mom is a force to be reckoned with, and it warms my heart to hear people discussing how we can decrease the negative environmental impacts of our every day actions.

(See the NY Times article at:
"For EcoMoms Saving the Earth Begins at Home")

However, because I can't help making fun of some aspects of the green-extreme, I will show you all a website I found while following up on the green mom article. It is called the "alternative gift registry" and it is an organization devoted to "greening" the wedding gift tradition. Here are some of their sample wedding gift ideas:

1. Recipe cards:"John and I want to know your favorite recipes. We're especially looking for quick or crock-pot dinners, since we'll both be working full time and will be hungry and out of energy when it's time to cook, but we're also really eager for holiday and dessert recipes that are worth a little extra effort.'

2. Cleaning 911: "We're hopeless at cleaning, and are looking for two or three experts who could give us their best tips then wouldn't mind if we called or emailed during our first year for those little emergencies (like when I spill red wine all over our brand new tablecloth)."



(To visit this site, see http://www.alternativegiftregistry.org/)


Hmmmm...lets not kid ourselves, fellow lovers of the environment. These are not wedding gifts. In fact, they sound suspiciously like things friends do for eachother all the time, no wedding required. If I was going to get a green wedding gift, how about a mini-composter for the kitchen, tons of organic chocolate or how about edible flowers (see below). Don't worry, there are non-lame green wedding options out there, so check out www.portovert.com to get some hip ideas.

Yogurt, food of the gods.

What do the following items have in common. . .?

1. Skim chai lattes
2. Fat free, organic frozen yogurt (stonyfield farm)
3. Fat free Greek Yogurt
4. Honest tea
5. Pre-made pesto
6. freeze-dried fruit, especially mangoes


This is my running list of things that I consume in high quantities at Wesleyan, but will not be able to eat/drink if I am unemployed when I graduate. They are the expensive, yuppy snicky-snacks that inhabit my life. However, this all changed today.

Today, an event occurred which I was pretty sure was never going to happen. Namely, someone offered me employment, a real job. One that I will have to dress up for. And I accepted, happily. This environmental consulting firm has agreed to hire me to research adaptation to climate change strategies - plus I get to work out of a hip downtown office. ARE YOU HEARING THIS??? It is pretty much a dream come true for me. Minus the whole dressing up for work thing. Today I noticed a girl staring at me in one of my classes and I suspect it was because I had been wearing the same shirt for three days in a row. Anyways, I plan to spend the rest of the day celebrating by eating my favorite yuppy snacks.

PS. I think non-fat frozen yogurt is the food of the gods. This entire pint, which I may or may not have just finished. Only has 400 calories in it. In the entire thing!!!

Inadvertent Weather Modification

Wesleyan's science library generally includes good coverage for the 1960s, 70s and 80s. However, to the chagrin of many students here, it tends to drop off after that point - apparently already resigned to internet supremacy. Anyways, I am writing a thesis on general circulation models used in climate research, and a few days ago I stumbled into a bunch of books entitled "weather modification" - dusty and unloved in the sci li stacks.

One of the interesting things about the so-called global warming debate in this country is that the discussion takes place as a single debate that progresses over well-worn tracks, instead of as a series of different debates over the huge issue of human interference in the climate.

For my thesis, I am devoting a small amount of space to historically contextualizing the current climate debate. Actually, before I started, I was under the impression that this debate had begun in the 1980s. In fact, the history of our awareness of climate change is long and heterogeneous (For example, Thomas Jefferson had some opinions on the subject).

There is no time to go into whole history (plus, I am not sure if you guys would find it as interesting as I do) - but I thought that I would blog a bit about weather modification - a topic of much interest in the 1950s-early 70s.

When people first began to develop more sophisticated numerical weather prediction models in the 1950s, one of the primary applications they had in mind was controlling the weather. This was during the Cold War, when worries over Soviet expansion ran high. In fact, the Soviets were running cloud seeding experiments (using silver iodide to coax cloud formation). They were also interested in opening the Bering Straight by somehow melting the ice and diverting rivers into Russian wheat fields (Schneider, Nature, Jan 2001).


The debate during the Cold War was over when our climate models would allow scientists to run experiments predicting the reaction of the climate system to certain well-planned interventions. Idealists from the period envisioned more rain and fewer storms.



"To counteract global warming, John Latham of the National Center for Atmospheric Research has proposed a system of enormous eggbeater-like turbines that would stir up seawater, thickening the cloud cover to reflect more of the sun's energy back into space. (Photo / Stephen Salter)." Picture and credit from The Boston Globe article, "Don't Like the Weather, Change It" which can be found at:
http://www.boston.com/news/globe/ideas/articles/2005/07/03/dont_like_the_weather_change_it/


Anyways, as you can see from the above picture. The science of weather modification continues - and members of this small field tend to refer to climate change as "inadvertent weather modification." There are actually numerous schemes found on the fringes of modern day climate science which creatively attempt to solve parts of global warming with geo-engineering projects. For example, these scientists argue that increasing the net reflectance (albedo) properties of the earth might help stave off temperature rise.

Recycled handbags

In my family, if you even mention Christmas before Thanksgiving, you are personally offending Santa and all that is good in the world. So I was very confused as a kid when stores would bring out the holiday decorations soon after Halloween - plus, I went to a very liberal-minded school, so I was always looking around for the Kwanzaa and Hanukkah decorations. Anyways, this year it seemed like they brought out the decorations even earlier - For example, Santa Claus visited our own Meriden Mall in early November (my mom would have had a thing or two to say to him). But, the frantic buying spirit is infectious - so when I found this green shopping website (www.evo.com) I would I would pass along the good news to you hippie-purchasers out there. The best item on the site, hands down, was the wickedly expensive solar backpack (see below).



WIth this backpack, you can use solar energy to charge your ipod, cell phone, ect. I am sure that this is exactly what a special someone out there desperately needs.

There are a number of other bags on the site which are green in a completely different way - by using recycled materials (candy wrappers, tire materials, old sails). They look pretty cool - check it out:




I particularly like the one that says, "Save the North Pole." Cute.

Vertical Wind Power, fluke or future?

Perhaps its just my bitterness at loosing Chevron's willyoujoinus.com's Energyville game. . .but I stand by the fact that they disregarded the current value of renewable energy too much. It seems to me that wind, at the very least, will soon be competitive and perhaps more than competitive with traditional fuel sources. Backing up my claim, ENN (the Environmental News Network) sent me a little piece this morning (and by morning I mean noon) about a new wind turbine, called the Maglev turbine which may increase wind power efficiency, decrease operating costs and revolutionize traditional turbine design.

The Maglev turbine is different from most other designs because its turbines are vertically oriented and are nearly freefloating. The turbines rely on magnetic power in order to stay in position, and this magnetism also decreases the (usually) inevitable loss of power due to friction. It is also able to tap relatively gentle winds, a current stumbling block for the technology. Pretty nifty. The company claims that Maglev turbine could power 175,000 homes while only taking up one acre of space. This is in comparison to the 100 traditional turbines which would generate an equivalent amount of power, taking up far more space.

However, you know me, always the cynic. So, I will just mention that while there are a number of blogs covering this story, its representation in more legitimate channels is limited. For example, you need a username and password to access the actual website of the Maglev corporation - maybe because they are still trying to keep the technology under wraps?

So far, only the Chinese have taken Maglev up on its offer and begun construction of the turbine. This may be because although the company claims that the operating costs of the machinery are low, the initial investment of building the turbine is really, really high. Which brings up another point - the magnets used to suspend the turbines are rare and also used in computers, a competing market. In fact, the magnets themselves are not a renewable resource.



Just to note - Magnetic levitation systems have been used in the past, largely to power trains. Currently, there are functioning Maglev trains in Shanghai and Japan. However, the technology has never much caught on past that point due to high initial capital costs and the difficulty of building an entirely new infrastructure for the trains.

Chevron's version of the SIMS

I don't know if you guys remember the SIMS before it became an excuse to watch digital people use the bathroom and have sex (kinda gives me the creeps even though a discrete digital cloud covers the vital areas of interest). Anyways, back in the day, the game was all about building a city from scratch and watching as things went to hell. As I remember, there were never enough firemen and the energy options were a bit limited. Anyways, Chevron has since partnered with The Economist to come up with a SIMS-like energy game entitled "Energyville." The game can be found on Chevron's green-propaganda page, www.willyoujoinus.com.


I recommend that people try it out and see what they think. In the game, you get two rounds (now, and 2015) to decide upon an energy portfolio and then you get ranked depending on how you succeed. I didn't do very well, possibly because I put too much wind, solar and biomass into my energy portfolio without very much petroleum or natural gas. I also pursued an aggressive energy efficiency policy while sacrificing GDP. It is hard to take the results seriously when Chevron is the one behind the game - making me suspect that they wanted a higher percentage of petroleum earlier, and more renewable options later. For example, they seem to assume that solar power will not become viable until 2030 based on their own research.

I do like the idea of having a game like this to spur debate and open-minded thinking. I assume that it is in this hopeful spirit that The Economist lent their name to the project. However, for such a game to be successful, it has be both vastly more complex and also more transparent.

Chevron actually makes their own E-cards now, a regular Hallmark. They were published in the New Yorker - check out this one below. . .

A More Expensive Turkey

A smattering of energy related Thanksgiving tidbits for you all to enjoy along with your leftover turkey.

Everyone paid a bit more for their Thanksgiving feast this year, due to higher turkey costs. According to the American Farm Bureau Federation the traditional holiday meal cost 11 percent more. Most of this cost increase came from the price of turkey itself. Less birds were kept in cold storage, meaning that the cost of each turkey was higher and fewer people bought them. Additionally, fuel is more expensive, meaning that delivering food items is more expensive than before. To see the source of the article, check out:
http://www.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idUSN1532573220071115?rpc=24

Additionally, the EPA gave a bunch of tips for saving energy during the Thanksgiving meal. Check out these tips, which can also be used at any time of year.

Skip preheating the oven and limit the number of times you open the oven door.
Make the most of your hot oven by cooking several things at once.
Make sure stove top burners and reflectors are clean before you start cooking.
Use pots and pans that match the size of your burners.
Use your microwave when possible because it uses only half the energy of a conventional oven.

Gorgeous Three Gorges

Happy almost-Thanksgiving! I am at school enjoying the delightful situation of having only 2 days in the week --> we get off on Wednesday for Thanksgiving break. Somehow, when I know that there are only two days in the week, it makes it that much easier to relax Sunday night. Too bad I have to somehow write fifteen pages by Tuesday for my thesis. Any thoughts on adaptation to climate change, anyone...anyone?

Anyways, there are a number of interesting things to read in the New York Times from the past few days which I wanted to draw your attention to. First of all, definitely check out the article on the Three Gorges Dam in China entitled, "Chinese Dam Projects Criticized for Their Human Costs." The article does a decent job at delving into some of the complications between balancing a growing economy and its need for new power and energy supplies with environmental and social concerns. It also explains that dam building has become a huge business in China - which I didn't realize. Apparently, although there have already been many problems with the dams (including mass dislocation, social unrest, and growing environmental issues) China is still planning to greatly increase their hydropower capacity with large scale dam building. One thing to know about the Three Gorges Dam is that when it was built, ancient buildings and historical sites went under water, and hundreds of thousands of people were dislocated. Additionally, there are worries about the buildup of sediment in the reservoir and a gradual decrease in the dam's power capacity. See pic of Three Gorges Dam below...





Anyways, you should also look over the article on the "Sleep-Industrial Complex" and the debate over sending in a swab of your DNA and being able to analyze your SNPs. More later!

Concerned Scientists

I am up in the beautiful, and freezing cold, state of Maine celebrating my Dad's birthday. In fact, at this morning I am at a little bookstore with free wireless (whatever happened to this concept in Maryland (my home state) - now you have to pay for wireless at the Barnes and Nobles there). Anyways, do not fear, I have found a little internship opportunity for you all with the Union of Concerned Scientists. In their own words. . .

"The Union of Concerned Scientists is a nonprofit partnership of scientists and citizens combining rigorous scientific analysis, innovative policy development, and effective citizen advocacy to achieve practical environmental solutions.

Established in 1969, we seek to ensure that all people have clean air, energy, and transportation, as well as food that is produced in a safe and sustainable manner. We strive for a future that is free from the threats of global warming and nuclear war, and a planet that supports a rich diversity of life. Sound science guides our efforts to secure changes in government policy, corporate practices, and consumer choices that will protect and improve the health of our environment globally, nationally, and in communities throughout the United States. In short, UCS seeks a great change in humanity's stewardship of the earth."

Sounds like something you might be interested in? I couldn't find any information on compensation, a key concern. However, check out the website below for internship and job opportunities.
http://www.ucsusa.org/ucs/about/mission.html