After last week’s fierce battle between GO bloggers, I think we all are ready for more environmentally friendly combat. In round 2, the holiday season is definitely on our writer’s minds with visions of sugar plums dancing in their heads. In this edition of the Battle of the Blogs, all bets are off.

Think you have what it takes to enter the competition and propser in battle? Have great green inspired news and views? You, too, can enter Battle of the Blogs by starting your own GO Journal. Winning posts will be featured on the GO front page for all to read and reckon with. Let the games begin!

5 ways to have an eco-friendly, sexy and tree-loving Christmas - by Ecowriter

A green and sexy Christmas is my kind of holiday and Ecowriter gives you the low-down on a tree-loving Christmas. Check out how to impress your brother-in-law and your tire burning in-laws with your eco-friendly ways.

Truth is, outside of our delightful treehugger entourage, some of our loved ones still nod, smile and think sustainability (and tree-loving) equals sacrifice. Not this year, we say. This time, we pledge to have our less green counterparts join us in an eco-friendly, sexy and tree-loving Christmas. It’s all begins with gifts you can’t unwrap…

The 12 Green Days of Christmas - by Gavin Hudson

Sick of a partridge in a pear tree? Apparently, so is Gavin. 12 Green Days of Christmas for the Environmentalist, the Non-Consumer and the Eco-Investor. Sing - everyone!

The Environmentalist 12 Days of Christmas

On the twelfth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me
Twelve trees a-planted
Eleven CFL’s shining
Ten Fair-Trade chocolates
Nine PV panels lighting
Eight manatees a-swimming
Seven acres protecting
Six chimps a-swinging
Five No Conflict Diamonds
Four carbon creditsThree organic fruits
Two bicycles
And a donation to my favorite charity!

ChicoBag reusable shopping bags -by Zippy

Truthfully, I have a slew of reusable shopping bags and they do little to help the planet but take up space in my car. I constantly forget them and then hate myself in the check-out aisle. Finally, I’ve found the perfect gift this Christmas. An oh-so-chic stocking stuffer, courtesy of Zippy’s blog, that I’ll never forget: the Chicobag.

These are one of my favorite green discoveries. ChicoBags (www.chicobag.com) come in a rainbow of colors, are lightweight and incredibly clever. They compress into their own teensy self-contained pouch and have a carabineer clip so you can snap them right onto your key ring. No more forgetting them at home or in the car! They pop into a pocket or purse, clip to a belt loop or backpack strap, or simply fit in the palm of your hand.

Local Anti-idling Effort - by Organicpicks

As the temperatures drops, car-idling is more prevelan. My neighbor turns his car on to warm up a whole 15 minutes before he actually drives it. Wear more layers! Organicpicks, takes a look at what all this idling really costs.

A while ago, I read up on some disturbing impacts of car idling on the environment and decided to join a neighborhood effort to curb unnecessary idling. Our first target was the local school, where parents often idle during pick-up or drop-off time. Sometime, the parents idle up to 10 minutes, emitting car exhaust while other waiting children directly inhale the pollutant.

Straw Poll: How much do you pay for your electricity? - Tim Hurst

Tim wants to know how much you pay for electricity. Give him a hand and take the poll, it only takes a few seconds. Check out the results next week.

In light of my most recent post about the externalities of coal-fired power, I thought I would let the heavy weight of that one sink in a little and, in the mean time, find out what people pay for their electricity, or if they even know. It’ll only take two seconds to click on over to ecopolitology and answer one simple question in the right-hand column:

How much do you pay for your electricity?

If you don’t know, take a look at your most recent electric bill. If you can’t find one, find your utility’s rates online. If your electricity is included in your rent, it is pretty easy to find out how much your local provider charges per kwh.

Well done, bloggers, well done — I look forward to next week’s grueling match! Start your own GO Journal - join the battle now!