Green Options » Take Action

Earth Hour: Take Action with the Flick of a Switch

Becky Striepe — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 07:00:18 +0000

Earth Hour 2009 is coming up at 8:30pm on Saturday, March 28th! What started as a call to action in Sydney, Australia two years ago has grown into a global event.

This year, over 64 countries and territories are participating. With a projected one billion participants in over 1000 cities this year, Earth Hour 2009 is sending a message that people are ready to pull together and fight global warming. According to their website, “Earth Hour aims to demonstrate unprecedented solidarity and provide a visual mandate for action on climate change.”

Check out their moving video promoting this year’s event:

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Last Chance to Stop EPA From Loosening Mining Regulations

Michael A. Weber — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 01:48:37 +0000

Claiming that it secured necessary protections, the Environmental Protection Agency has signed off on President Bush’s proposal to weaken mining regulations. The previous regulation, enacted in 1983, banned waste dumping within 100 feet of a stream or river whose water quality could be adversely affected.

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Don’t let ABC get away with it!

Jennifer Kaplan — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 01:50:14 +0000

The We Campaign, a project of The Alliance for Climate Protection — a nonprofit, nonpartisan effort founded by Al Gore, recently put together a 30-second TV ad called “Repower America.” It talks about the benefits of alternative energy. It says right upfront that we are “stuck with dirty and expensive energy” and asks how can it be so? In the end it points out that big oil and its lobbyists are the reason. It starts to make sense when you learn that in the first half of 2008 big oil spent $201.2 million on paid media and 45.6% of that was spent by the the seven top oil companies on TV ads (to the tune of $92.2 million). So, ABC refused to air the ad in an unjust and cowardly act. Why? Because big oil airs a lot of those ads on ABC.

Repower America Ad
This post contains additional media. Click here to view the full post.

So, its time to take action and ask ABC to reconsider their decision and air the Repower America ad. Send ABC an email via an easy to complete form at the We Campaign site. The pre-loaded email message is simple and to the point:

I am disappointed by ABC’s refusal to air the Alliance for Climate Protection’s Repower America ad. The ad has the simple message that massive spending on ads by oil and coal companies — ads which your network airs — is a key reason our nation hasn’t switched to clean, renewable sources for energy.

It only takes 30 seconds to tell ABC we’re mad as hell and not going to take it anymore! Go for it.

Support the Kid-Safe Chemicals Act–

Katy Farber — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 13:00:21 +0000

A few weeks ago I posted over at Non-Toxic Kids about the new Kid-Safe Chemical Act. This promising legislation would update a 30 year old law that has allowed thousands of chemicals to be used in countless everyday products from baby lotions, shampoos, cosmetics and toothpastes with no research or testing of their safety.

The Environmental Working Group listed these important provisions for the bill, all aimed at making products safer for our kids.

The Kid-Safe Chemicals Act:

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How You Can Help Burma Cyclone Victims

Gavin Hudson — Sat, 10 May 2008 12:59:14 +0000

New estimates place the death toll in Burma–also called Myanmar by the leaders of its strict military regime–at 100,000. In the initial wake of the cyclone, the brutal Burmese government made attempts to interfere with international aid agencies. In recent days, as reported on CNN, the Burmese government has changed its policies, saying “We are ready to speed up and strengthen our relief effort. We will accept aid from any corner.”

Here, you will find six organizations accepting charitable donations for relief work in Burma as well as five organizations possibly accepting volunteers for relief efforts.

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Bipartisan Environmental Policy…Really.

Timothy B. Hurst — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 10:29:01 +0000

[Update: H.R. 1016 has passed the House by a vote of 278-140. There is a similar version awaiting action in the Senate]

The House is scheduled today to vote on H.R. 2016, the National Landscape Conservation Act. And a broad bipartisan coalition ranging from such groups as the Wilderness Society to Republicans for Environmental Protection, is asking you to call your Representative and demand that they support the landmark wilderness conservation legislation.

H.R. 2016 does not change management of the lands in question, nor does it require additional expenditures. In fact, the Congressional Budget Office scored the bill at $0, which means it does not violate House pay-go rules. Please consider calling, writing, or otherwise contacting your representative immediately and asking them to support this important bill that would safeguard millions of acres of wilderness, rivers, forests, mountains, and streams.

The Wilderness Society

(D)emocracy: Your Chance to Chime-in on Carbon Offset Projects

Timothy B. Hurst — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 20:34:45 +0000

Last month, the Federal Trade Commission conducted hearings and convened a workshop for scientists, economists, environmental activists and representatives of the leading American retailers of ‘carbon offsets’ and ‘renewable energy credits’ (RECs) to learn more about the rather opaque business models and practices of some companies.

Though the hearings were only exploratory in nature, the FTC was able to address some of the concerns and misgivings the public has about unregulated voluntary carbon markets. The FTC also raised their concern about the validity of some companies’ advertising claims (for an excellent analysis of the carbon-offset hearings, read the piece by Jeremy Elton Jacquot for TreeHugger). In short, people want to see what they get and get what they pay for - and in the world of renewable energy credits and carbon offsets, this can be a tricky prospect.

In response to these hearings, and in an effort to legitimize the fledgling offset and REC industries, carbon offset retailer TerraPass has decided to democratize. By opening up a comment period for seven particular carbon-offset projects, TerraPass has decided to build-in an added layer of transparency to make their enterprise a little less hazy. I applaud TerraPass for this move forward. And I am totally fine if it is purely profit driven.

As companies strive to stay in the black of their ‘triple bottom line’ I hope we will be seeing more of these democratic experiments in the private sector. You don’t have to be a ’stockholder’ to make a comment, just a stakeholder. And when we’re talking climate change, it seems that everyone is a stakeholder. According to the company:

“We welcome comments from our customers, from anyone familiar with the projects themselves, from policy experts, and from the general public.

If you have any feedback for us regarding these projects – their environmental records, the importance of TerraPass support to project success, or anything else, please provide it via email.”

Photo Credit: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency

(D)emocracy: Tell the Feds What You Think About Cape Wind

Timothy B. Hurst — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 23:59:07 +0000

(Author’s Note: As I write this, the current weather conditions in Nantucket Sound [Wed Feb 13 16:41 EDST] are ideal for wind power generation. With wind speeds of 38 knots and gusts of up to 45 knots at the location of the proposed offshore wind energy installation, Cape Wind would have produced 422 megawatts of clean, renewable energy local in the last hour).

1. Do you have an opinion about offshore wind energy development?

2. Are you an American citizen?

3. Do you give a s#!t about this planet?

If you answered yes to all of the above, then you might be interested to know that the comment period for the Cape Wind project, the proposed offshore windfarm near Cape Cod, MA, is open to the general public until March 20th. This project is proposed for development in Federal waters, so it is open to all American citizens. You can submit an e-comment via the Department of Interior’s Minerals Management Service Public Connect system. Since the release of the draft EIS last month, most seem to think the report is generally favorable on the Cape Wind proposal. But the process is far from over. The anti-Cape Wind effort is still well-funded and persistent. The public commenting period can have a significant impact on the final determination in an EIS, so go ahead and speak your mind.

Post E-Comment via MMS Public Connect

From the MMS Website:

The 60-day comment period for the Draft Environmental Impact Statement is about half way through, assesses the physical, biological and social/human impacts of the proposed project and all reasonable alternatives, including action not taken (i.e., the project is not built), in an objective fashion in order to determine if the proposal is environmentally sound. A final decision will be made, which will account for the regional, state and local benefits and impacts as well as for the overall public interest of the United States. A final approval will be granted only if, after consideration of both environmental and non-environmental issues, the MMS finds that the proposed action is in the public interest.

Post E-Comment via MMS Public Connect

Photo: dpicker via flickr

Massive Oil Spill Threatens Wetlands, National Park in South Korea

Gavin Hudson — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 16:35:46 +0000

Taean Peninsula, South Korea – On Friday, 10 million liters (2.7m gallons) of crude oil gushed from three holes in the side of the Hebei Spirit oil tanker, spilling into the Yellow Sea offshore Taeanhaean National Park. Already the worst spill in the country’s history, its timing and location add more reason for concern. Migrating birds make their winter home in and around the national park. Residents also fear that the fishing and tourist industries that sustain the region will collapse, devastating the local economy.

Mallipo beach, on the Taean peninsula, is considered one of South Korea’s most beautiful beaches. It’s 3 km of white sands call to beach-goers and eco-tourists alike. Today, however, Mallipo’s white sands are buried under a 10-cm thick blanket of black crude that stretches over 50 km of coastline.

The Taean Peninsula itself is listed as one of the top “22 Priority Sites for Conservation” in the Yellow Sea, according to the South Korean-Chinese Government Yellow Sea Large Marine Ecosystem Program. Taeanhaean National Park boasts 250 species of flora, and in the winter the area serves as an important stopover for many species of migrating birds. The area is home to a number of unique species such as the Finless Porpoise and the Bar-tailed Godwit, which makes the longest non-stop migration flight of any bird.

Some of the most delicate wetland ecosystems in Korea are also located on the same peninsula, south of the spill. To date, oil from the spill remains concentrated in the north, around Mallipo beach. However, Nial Moores of Birds Korea, a national birding and conservation organization, warns that it is likely that currents will carry the oil south to the Geum Estuary and the Cheonsu Bay wetlands. There is no current estimate of the consequences this would have for the area’s migrating birds.

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Rid Yourself of Unwanted Catalogues

Jennifer Lance — Sat, 27 Oct 2007 02:55:00 +0000

A new website is offering consumers an easy way to get rid of unwanted catalogues. With the holiday season approaching, my mailbox has become inundated with catalogues for every product under the sun. Previously, I have sent individual letters to each company, as well as signed up for services that were supposed to stop the catalogues from coming; however, the effects of all these efforts has worn off, and new ones are arriving daily. Now, Catalog Choice offers a convenient way to decline catalogues from your computer.

Catalog Choice is a free service sponsored by the Ecology Center. Their mission “is to reduce the number of repeat and unsolicited catalog mailings, and to promote the adoption of sustainable industry best practices.” The site is simple to use. After creating an account, simply search for catalogue names, enter your customer identification number from the back of the catalogue (if available), then click decline. If the catalogue you wish to decline is not in the database, you can request Catalog Choice to add it, and they will notify you when it is available. I have already declined ten catalogues in a few days; however, it can take up to ten weeks before you stop receiving the declined catalogues. Catalog Choice also offers a “My Choices” page, which allows you to change your mind and start receiving the catalogues again, as well as follow up on catalogues that you are still receiving despite your requests.

Here are some staggering environmental facts from Catalog Choice:

Over eight million tons of trees are consumed each year in the production of paper catalogs.

Nearly half of the planet’s original forest cover is gone today. Forests have effectively disappeared in 25 countries, and another 29 have lost more than 90% of their forest cover.

Deforestation contributes between 20% and 25% of all carbon pollution, causing global climate change.

More than one billion people living in extreme poverty around the world depend on forests for their livelihoods.

There are other significant environmental impacts from the catalog cycle. The production and disposal of direct mail alone consumes more energy than three million cars.

The manufacturing, distribution, collection and disposal of catalogs generates global warming gases as well as air and water pollution. Reducing the number of unwanted catalogs that are mailed will help the environment.

Catalog Choice is simple to use, and the impact is far-reaching. I would much rather not receive so many catalogues, then haul them to the recycling center each week. Visit Catalog Choice today, and see how easy it is to make a small change to help the environment.

Blog Action Day for the Environment is Fast Approaching

Jennifer Lance — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 14:33:00 +0000

Do you know about the upcoming Blog Action Day?

On October 15th, bloggers around the web will unite to put a single important issue on everyone’s mind - the environment. Every blogger will post about the environment in their own way and relating to their own topic. Our aim is to get everyone talking towards a better future.

Thus far, 6,545 blogs have signed up, including Eco Child’s Play, and I hope if you have a blog, you will participate. You can:

Post about the environment

The best way to participate is to post on your blog something that relates to the environment. Your post can be about anything to do with the environment. So you could write a post which is offtopic for your blog OR relate the environment back to your topic in some way.

Donate your day’s earning’s to charity

A single day’s earnings often don’t amount to much, but pooled together will make a difference. Why not donate your day’s earnings to a charity to show your support. You can find a list of “official” Blog Action Day charities on the site, or choose your own. Blog Action Day itself does not accept money, so you will need to deal directly with the charities.

Publicize Blog Action Day

You can register your blog here.

Bratz Dolls: Too Sexy and Sweatshop Labor

Jennifer Lance — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 13:57:00 +0000

Thankfully, my daughter has not entered the world of Bratz (with the exception of a toothbrush). Recently, Mothering.com asked readers to take action on this over sexy product. According to Mothering.com, “The Bratz—whose wardrobes include miniskirts, fishnet stockings, and bikinis—were recently singled out the by American Psychological Association for contributing to the sexualization of young girls.” Bratz is marketed in schools through Scholastic via their book fairs and book clubs. If you feel this is inappropriate, please click here to tell Richard Robinson, President and CEO of Scholastic Inc., that commercially- driven, sexualized stereotypes do not belong in our schools.

Furthermore, Bratz dolls are produced in a sweatshop in China. Women are forced to work seven days a week, 94.5 hours a week for $4.13 a day. Furthermore, according to the National Labor Committee, “The factory wants to fire all the workers and then bring them back as temporary workers with contracts of just one to eight months, which would strip them of any legal rights they might have. As it is, the workers are denied sick days as well as work injury and health insurance.” These workers are paid about 17 cents per doll they assemble, bringing the total cost of production to $3.01 per doll. In this country, the dolls are marked up 428 percent for retail sale. More bad news about Bratz from the National Labor Committee:
* Workers denied work injury and health insurance, in direct violation of China’s law.
* Taking a sick day results in loss of three days’ wages.
* Workers failing to meet their production goals must remain working—unpaid—until the target is met.
* Ten workers share a small dorm room, sleeping on metal bunk beds. There is no shower or TV.
* If a worker breaks a doll, she is docked five hours’ wages.

Tell Congress to Include Organic Farmers in This Year’s Farm Bill

Jennifer Lance — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 14:18:00 +0000

The Environmental Working Group has released a petition to Congress in support of organic farming. Only shopping in coops and natural food stores, I forget that organic produce is still not abundantly available throughout the country. According to EWG, only 3% of fruit, 2% of vegetables, and 0.02% of corn available in grocery stores is organic.

The EWG petition asks Congress to increase funding for organic farms as it rewrites the farm bill:
*Give organic farmers their fair share of my tax dollars for research on how to grow organic food.
* Help more farmers make the transition to organic farming.
* Level the playing field for the organic industry by devoting a fair share of resources to organic pest control and crop nourishment.
Please sign this petition to give organic farmers a fair chance in the US food market.

Since we are talking about food, the Telegraph reported yesterday that “Global Food Abundance No Longer Guaranteed“. Corn inventories in this country have fallen to the lowest levels ever, and we are not alone as global shortages and price increases are occurring.

More Bad News: Your Child’s Car Seat May Be Toxic

Jennifer Lance — Sat, 19 May 2007 15:11:00 +0000

We place our children in car seats to keep them safe, yet these very car seats may be full of toxic chemicals that could make our children sick. A new report from the Ecology Center was released on Wednesday. “Car seats save lives. It’s absolutely essential that parents put their children in them while driving,” said Jeff Gearhart, the Ecology Center’s Clean Car Campaign Director. “However, some car seats are safer than others when it comes to chemical composition. Healthycar.org makes it easy for parents to choose the least toxic car seat for their child.” Chemicals tested for include: bromine (associated with brominated flame retardants); chlorine (indicating the presence of polyvinyl chloride, or PVC and plasticizers); lead; and heavy metal allergens. Such chemicals have been linked to major health problems such as liver, thyroid and developmental problems in children. Children have the highest exposure and are the most vulnerable population in terms of exposure to chemical-laden dust and inhaling toxic fumes, since their systems are still developing. The Ecology Center tested 62 brand new car seats, some of which tested very low for toxic content, while others were saturated. “The study found that the best seats had no brominated flame retardants, no PVC and low levels of other chemicals tested. Over 40% of seat cushions tested contained no brominated flame retardants and 77% of the seats were free of PVC-plastic. However, over 1/3 of all seats tested had one or more components which contained higher levels of toxic chemicals. A complete ranking of all of the car seats that were tested can be found at www.healthycar.org.” Parents are advised to always leave a window cracked open in the car, to not use the car seat outside of the car to minimize exposure, and to avoid leaving the car seats in the sun.

Of my children’s two car seats, both received the worse overall scores! We will be buying the Britax Parkway Booster Car Seat for my son and the Evenflo Big Kid Booster Car Seatfor my daughter. The Britax seat has more neck and head support, which I like for my three year old, but I don’t think my five year old daughter would be comfortable in this seat, as she is not use to such support. This is an extra expense I had not anticipated, but my children’s health is at stake. I am so tired and angry over the recent reports of toxic substances in children’s products, that I have been moved to start a petition to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). Please sign the petition asking the CPSC to protect our children from toxins in car seats. Thank you Jeremiah of Z Recommends for alerting us to this issue!

For more information:
healthycar.org press release
2006/2007 Guide to Child Car Seats
Chemicals used on car seats ‘toxic’ to children, study warns
Is Your Child’s Car Seat Poisonous?

5/22 Update: I am returning our new car seats. The fumes from them are horrible, and I feel our older car seats are better, as hopefully they are done outgassing.

The Klamath River Needs Your Help!

Jennifer Lance — Fri, 04 May 2007 13:38:00 +0000

Every child should have a river in their backyard to frolic in, and we are fortunate to have a tributary of the Klamath River below our house. The Klamath River is a sick river, like many rivers in our country, and four dams contribute greatly to the problem. Toxic algae blooms make it unsafe for swimming in late summer, as well as warm river temperatures caused by the dams and water diversion have caused massive fish kills. Up to 90% of Klamath tributary water flows has been diverted in some years to farmers growing subsidized potatoes and beets, but new regulations are changing this somewhat. The dams are the problem, and Pacific Corp, a Warren Buffet company that owns the dams, is currently in their 50 relicensing phase on the dams. The courts have ruled that the fish must be protected by fish ladders or dam removal. Dam removal is the cheapest and most ethical option; however, Pacific Corp has suggested the fish be trapped and trucked around the dams. In addition, the native people are suffering greatly from the loss of this crucial part of their diet. I understand the plight of the farmers; however, couldn’t our government subsidize them not to grow? The fisherman didn’t receive any subsidies for the closed salmon season last year, but they were offered low interest loans if they would use their boats as collateral.

The river is a big part of our life. We constantly watch its levels rise in winter and enjoy its cool water in the hot, summer months. Both of my blessing ways were held on the black sandy shore, as well as every birthday party for my children. Our family is also financially supported by sustainable ocean fishing, of which didn’t exist last year due to low numbers in the Klamath River.

You can help save the Klamath! It is time to make some noise! You can take action at American Rivers!
For more information:
San Francisco Chronicle
Times-Standard