Get ready to Dump the Pump!

Tomorrow is National Dump the Pump Day!

People are encouraged to leave their their cars at home and instead, discover the benefits of public transportation. As the slogan of this holiday states, SAVE THE MONEY, SAVE THE PLANET.

So why not take the bus or ride the train (in Florida- the Tri-Rail) ? You'll just have to sit back and relax while the bus or train safely takes you to your destination. You won't have to worry about wasting gas or polluting the environment.

Now that's what I call a great idea!

Need more reasons to dump the pump?

UPDATE: June 20, 2008
Below: As an incentive to get riders on public transportation, Tri-Rail joined with other agencies to celebrate "Dump The Pump Day" in Palm Beach County Thursday, June 19, 2008.

Photo and caption by Palm Beach Post photographer Chris Matula.

Study: Guys with "green" cars get all the babes

The results of recent study by the U.S. Department of Energy and General Motors are in: girls dig guys who drive ecologically-conscious cars.

Among the findings (as published on Yahoo.com):

-Nearly 9 in 10 women (88 percent) say they'd rather chat up someone who owns the latest fuel-efficient car versus the latest sports car.

-Eighty percent of American car buyers would find someone with the latest fuel-efficient car more interesting to talk to at a party than someone with the latest sports car.

-More than 4 out of 10 (45 percent) 18- to 43-year-olds say it's a fashion faux pas nowadays to have a car that's not green or environmentally friendly. (Of course, this doesn't mean that a man has run out and buy a hybrid right away. I mean if he can, great. But just as long as he drives a car that isn't a major offense against the environment and he makes the effort not to drive as much, or plan his trips accordingly, that's just as good.)

Recently a guy who drives a Hummer asked me out. I was coming out of the bank and there he was, standing in front of his H3, thinking he's all that, trying to make conversation. At some point, I asked him if he was aware of how much gas it wastes and how bad it is for the environment and he replied- "Well, it doesn't bother me. I can afford it, you know?" What a jerk! I wasn't interested anyway, but it's just perplexing how ignorant people are in regards of being kind to our planet.

Anyway, back to the study-it was part of a competition in which engineering students had to build vehicles utilizing innovative automotive technologies that would minimize the environmental impact of personal transportation and "illustrate pathways to a sustainable transportation future."

Personally, I totally agree with the study. To me, a man who's actually eco-conscious is incredibly attractive. (Other things taken into account as well, of course.)

I've never really cared about what kind of car a man drives. I had always thought that was superficial and irrelevant. But now things have changed. In these times when we really have to be aware of what kind of impact our actions have on our planet, I must say that I now do pay attention to things like that, not because I care how much money a guy makes or his "status," but because I care how much HE cares about the environment.

Now that's HOT!

French "Spiderman" climbs NYT building, draws attention to global warming

This week, Alain Robert, dubbed the "French Spiderman," scaled the walls of the New York Times building in Times Square, New York.

In a press release he said the stunt, which he performed Tuesday, June 5, was "a peaceful way to create support for far greater and urgent action from world leaders on global warming."

While climbing, he hung a large, yellow banner with a message about the urgency in taking greater action against global warming.

He was later arrested and charged in a Manhattan court Friday, but released on parole, court officilas said.

Still, his action was nothing short of admirable and ingenious (but kids, don't try this at home!). His stunt, and the message behind it, definitely drew the attention of not only New Yorkers, but people around the country and around the world.

Bravo, monsieur!

Climate Change Bill dies in the Senate

The Senate today brought the Climate Change Bill to an end, at least for this year, as it did not get the votes it needed to proceed.

The Senate begun debating the bill Monday. Democrats moved to end debate and move to a final vote, which required 60 votes to pass, but failed, with 48 in favor and 36 against. Take a look at how your state Senator voted here.

The bill would have required major reductions in greenhouse gases. Specifically, it would have required U.S. emissions of greenhouse gases to peak in 2012, then gradually decline by about 2 percent a year until 2050 - for a total reduction of about 66 percent from current levels.

For more details about the bill, read this posting from The San Francisco Chronicle.

Bill supporters drew attention to the gravity of the climate change crisis. Although absent, presidential candidate Barack Obama, said in a statement that "The future of our planet is at stake." Meanwhile, Senate majority leader Harry Reid called climate change "the most important issue facing the world today."

Democrats blamed the Republicans for the impasse. Carl Pope, executive director of the Sierra Club, issued this statement:

A reckless and cynical minority has denied the Senate—and the American
people—the meaningful and long overdo debate on global warming their
constituents have been clamoring for. While the Senate leadership and a
bi-partisan group of Senators sought to debate the solutions to our
ever-deepening environmental and economic crises, the Republican leadership
instead used theatrics to tie the Senate in knots for the sole purpose of
"making political points."

Even if the bill had pushed through the Senate, President Bush had threatened to veto the legislation. The bill may have a better chance next year with a new president who will hopefully understand the importance of doing something on a legislative level about the climate change crisis.

Happy Earth Day!

Today, the planet celebrates Earth Day!

According to the New York Times, nearly 20 million Americans participated in the first Earth Day celebration on April 22, 1970. In the decades since, Earth Day has spread across the globe with thousands of events in more than 180 countries.

From its beginning, the event influenced environmental politics, triggering such national legislation as the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act.

Organizers of the first celebration wrote in their manifesto:

"Earth Day is a commitment to make life better, not just bigger and faster.
It is a day to re-examine the ethic of individual progress at mankind's
expense."

Here, some agency pictures from today's Earth Day celebrations around the world:

Above, children paint pictures with soil to commemorate Earth Day in Panama City, Tuesday, April, 22, 2008.(AP Photo/Arnulfo Franco)

Above, environmental activists perform on the eve of Earth Day in Makassar, Indonesia's South Sulawesi province, April 21, 2008. The performance is a call to protect trees on Earth. REUTERS/Yusuf Ahmad (INDONESIA)

Above, on the eve of the internationally recognized 'Earth Day,' Taipei's city government writes 'Cool Below 2 Degrees' on the side of the Taipei 101 building to address global warming in Taipei, Taiwan, Monday, April 21, 2008.(AP Photo/Wally Santana)

Above, President George W. Bush, Mexico's President Felipe Calderon, (R), and Canada's Prime Minister Stephen Harper (L), shovel dirt before planting a tree in honor of Earth Day while in New Orleans, Louisiana, April 22, 2008.(Larry Downing/Reuters)

The most important thing to remember, though, is that Earth Day is not just today, it's everyday!

Pope says pollution is a sin

"Thou shall not pollute the Earth."

Pollution is one of the new seven deadly sins, according to a statement released by Pope Benedict XVI this week.

In regards to the list, Senior Vatican official Gianfranco Girotti, said an offense against God “is not only stealing or coveting another man’s wife, it is also destroying the environment.”

The list appeared in the Vatican's newspaper L'Osservatore Romano.

The list of new sins also includes genetic engineering, abortion and pedophilia.

According to a Los Angeles Times article, the Catholic Church is not the only one to take a stand for the environment. The Southern Baptist Convention, this month announced plans to fight global warming, the article reads, and the California diocese of the Episcopal Church recently appointed its first canon for environmental ministry.

Photo: Gregorio Borgia/Associated Press

Solar-powered flowers "dance" in exhibition

Recently, thousands of multi-colored, happy-faced flowers were on display at the entrance of the European Union council headquarters in Brussels .

This was the "Dang'cing Solar Flowers" exhibition, which featured a total of 10,000 solar flowers- flowers powered by solar energy. Its purpose was to raise public awareness on energy conservation issues.

The top picture shows a man as he places one of the solar flowers for the exhibition, which was organized by the Slovenian Presidency for the 50th Jubilee of the Treaty of Rome and the 20th Jubilee of "Sustainable Development."

Meanwhile, the picture on the bottom shows a man as he walks by the "field" of solar flowers late in the afternoon, when the flowers started lighting up by using the energy obtained from the sun during the day. As you can see, some of the flowers in the picture seem blurry, but that's only because they also shook around as if they were dancing using their stored solar power, creating an eye-catching display of light, color and movement.

Population and Environment

"Population growth is the primary source of environmental damage."
-Jacques Cousteau (1910-1997)French explorer, researcher and ecologist.


"The idea that we can just keep growing forever on a finite planet is totally imbecilic.... Technology does nothing to solve problems of biodiversity or living space or arable cropland.... Fresh water and arable cropland are finite nonrenewable resources.... We are already far beyond what we can support sustainably.... The provincial view you get from someone living in some wealthy American East Coast city is wildly different from reality. Most of the world is tropical, hungry and poor. Visit the developing world and southern hemisphere and you get a very different view of reality."
-Paul R. Ehrlich, Professor of Population Studies in the department of Biological Sciences at Stanford University and author of The Population Bomb.

World's cheapest car means bad news for the environment

This week, India's Tata Motors unveiled the world's cheapest car- the Nano.

The bubble-like vehicle will only cost $2,500.

Some facts about what has been nicknamed the "People's car:"

* Length: 3.1 meters

* Height: 1.6 meters

* Width: 1.5 meters

* Engine: Rear-wheel drive, 2-cylinder, 623 cc, multi-point fuel-injection petrol engine. Engine is rear mounted. Tata said it was the first time a 2-cylinder gasoline engine was being used in a car with single balancer shaft.

But what about its fuel efficiency?

According to its manufacturer, it's 20km/ liter . Tata Motors assures that its emission performance exceeds current regulatory requirements, adding that it produces lower overall pollution level than two-wheelers made in India.

Initially, the idea of being able to buy what seems to be a fuel-efficient car for only $2,500 sounds like great news. For the people who, up until now, have had to rely on less practical forms of transportation because they could not afford a car, the possibility of buying a Nano means mobility.

But when you think about it, the fact that more people will be able to have a car means that there will be more cars on the road. It is scary to think that thousands, possibly millions of cars could be added to our already crowded highways, which would, in turn, create higher levels of exhaust emissions, all of which can only mean one thing: more pollution.

According to an IBN (India Broadcasting Network, a CNN partner) article, "there are already over one million cars being added on Indian roads every year and this is expected to triple by 2015. Tata's has made no bones about the fact that the Nano targets 1st time users, 2 wheeler owners, and people in rural areas, which accounts to almost 60 million users."

Sixty million users!= Sixty million cars!

All of which makes me wonder- if they're able to come up with such such a cheap and tiny car, why don't automobile manufacturers invest their technology and resources in meeting the demand for greener cars? What we need, what the planet needs, are good, economic, stylish cars that run on hydrogen or some other sort of environmentally-friendly fuel.

I'm glad to find out that others share this point of view.

In Indians hit the Road Among Elephants, an article that appeared in The New York Times, Rajendra K. Pachauri, economist, environmental scientist and chairman of the Nobel Peace Prize-winning Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, is said to have "sharply criticized the small car boom, questioning Tata Motors in particular for devoting itself to building cheap cars rather than efficient mass transportation."

Meanwhile, Rata Tata, president of the Tata Group, answers the following question in the company's own website:

"About the criticism that the car will add to India's pollution problems, why are the Tatas being singled out?"

To which he basically draws a parallel to Swatch watches.

I'm sorry, Mr. Tata, but cars aren't watches. Watches don't produce toxic fumes that pollute the environment, cars do.

Quote of the Day: John Muir and Nature

In every walk with nature one receives
far more than he seeks.

-John Muir (1838-1914), writer, conservationist and founder of the Sierra Club.

Boca Raton conservationist saves turtles in Costa Rica

Dr. Kirt Rusenko is something of a celebrity among marine life lovers, not only in Boca Raton but in South Florida. But now, his popularity, might extend all the way to Costa Rica, especially among sea turtles.

He's the leading marine conservationist and researcher at the Gumbo Limbo Nature Complex in Boca Raton, a marine life research center that also provides a home to many endangered sea turtles.

According to yesterday's Palm Beach Post article, Turtle wizard is guiding light in Costa Rica, Rusenko was recently invited to Playa Grande, Costa Rica, to address the country's sea turtle nesting decline. Playa Grande, a 3.5-mile white sand beach that lies on the country's North Pacific Coast, supports a major nesting colony of leatherback turtles, a species that is endangered worldwide.

Pressure from real/estate developers to build oceanview condominiums may jeopardize the survival of the leatherback turtle in that area. According to the article, as it is, the beach is already seeing fewer turtle nests. There were 13,000 female leatherbacks nesting on Playa Grande in 1989. In 2006, there were only 56., the article states.

Because of this, the Costa Rican government invited Dr. Rusenko to evaluate the present situation and develop ideas for the implementation of more protection laws to preserve this turtle species.

Dr. Rusenko is also working on improvements to the Gumbo Limbo Center to accomodate even more sea turtles. To read more about it, read the article by Palm Beach Post reporter Gretel Sarmiento here.

New Year welcomed by Times Square's "green" ball drop

Once again, more than a billion people from all over the world ushered in the new year as they watched Times Square's ball drop.

Following tradition, the 1,415-pound crystal ball slid down the flagpole high atop the New York City building.

Breaking with tradition, the brightly illuminated ball's 672 crystals were lit, for the first time ever, by more than 9,500 energy-efficient light-emitting diodes (LED's).

According to The Times Square Alliance, the not-for-profit organization in charge of Times Square's development, when the Times Square new year's ball tradition began a century ago, the ball weighed 700 pounds, was made of wood and iron, and was lit with 100 25-watt incandescent bulbs.

For its 100th birthday, the Times Square New Year’s Eve Ball was more than twice as bright as the 2000-2007 ball (which used crystal light bulbs and strobe lights), with enhanced color capabilities and state-of-the-art LED lighting effects. This lighting technology substantially increased the brightness and color capabilities of the Ball.

The exclusive use of LEDs also improved the Ball's energy eficiency. Event officials explained to CNN that the Ball used only about the same amount of electricity as 10 toasters.

CNN also mentioned that over the past week, visitors from across the country wrote their messages on a Times Square "Wishing Wall."

"I want to turn the world green and the water clean," one person wrote.

Definitely a great resolution to work on this year.

Here's to a better, greener, healthier planet...

Happy 2008!

Don't miss CNN's "Planet in Peril"

Planet in Peril, CNN's special report on climate change, airs this week.

The four-hour, two-part series features CNN correspondent Anderson Cooper, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, and Animal Planet wildlife biologist Jeff Corwin, who traveled all around the world to report on the environmental issues that are affecting our planet.

The documentary, the first high definition production by CNN, will explore four key issues of the global environmental crisis: climate change, vanishing natural habitats, disappearing species and human overpopulation.

In an interview by the Associated Press, executive producer Charlie Moore described that what will distinguish this series from others is that it will be a "look at all of the world's environmental problems in one big swipe," avoiding "the clinical, classroom approach by going to the front lines of the stories."

The worldwide investigation took place in faraway places such as Brazil, Thailand, Madagascar and Cambodia.

One segment will show Cooper and Corwin in Bangkok as they uncover illegal shop that traffic with threatened wildlife, including rare tortoises from Madagascar.

But the documentary will also bring the issue closer to home. According to the Associated Press, in another segment, Cooper comes back to New York and takes a blood test that analyzes his exposure to 246 synthetic chemicals. The result? Find out by watching this special presentation.

The program will air tomorrow (Tuesday, October 23) and Wednesday, October 24th at 9 p.m. E.T. in the U.S.

If you live outside the United States, you can tune in at 13:00 or 19:00 GMT to watch this important documentary on CNN International.

For more information, visit CNN's "Planet in Peril" page.

Al Gore Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech

For all of those who didn't have a chance to see it, here's the moment in which former Vice President and 2007 Nobel Peace Prize winner Al Gore gave his acceptance speech before the United Nations committee.

Al Gore's win of Nobel Peace Prize a triumph for the planet

Al Gore, former US Vice President, won the Nobel Peace Prize yesterday along with the U.N. climate change panel "for their efforts in raising awareness of man-made climate change.

Gore, 59, has been fighting for the protection of the environment for over 20 years.

In his acceptance speech, Gore emphasized the importance of the "planetary emergency" we currently face:

"It (the fight against climate change) is the most dangerous challenge we have ever faced, but it is also the greatest opportunity we have ever had to make change."

Other ecologists and personalities from across the globe congratulated Mr. Gore for his achievement.

One of them, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, congratulated him by saying the former U.S. vice president's efforts "reflect how individuals and groups can change and crystalize awareness of global warming."

Meanwhile, German Chancellor Angela Merkel rightfullly declared that "Gore has contributed like no one else to the awakening of the world's conscience in respect to the fight against climate change."

A day in the life

When watching this, all I can think how amazing is our planet is, how many gifts we receive from it everyday and sometimes we don't even notice them. These beautiful flowers are a simple, yet striking example- how they grow, how they subsist- quietly, yet marvelously. Our planet is indeed, a majestic wonder...

Farewell to Anita Roddick

This week, the world lost a dedicated activist and great fighter of the environment, human rights and other social causes: Anita Roddick.

Roddick, founder of The Body Shop, an international chain of cosmetics stores known for its vegetable-based products, died suddenly on Monday at the age of 64.

Roddick used her business to promote causes like ending animal testing and supporting the environment.

"Against Animal Testing," "Support Community Trade," "Activate Self-Esteem," "Defend Human Rights," and "Protect Our Planet," are the company's current slogans.

In an article published in The International Herald Tribune, England's Prime Minister Gordon Brown calls Roddick a "true pioneer."

Not only was she instrumental in banning animal testing in the production of cosmetic products, but she also was one of the first entrepeneurs to create an environmentally-conscious business.

"She campaigned for green issues for many years before it became fashionable to do so, and inspired millions to the cause by bringing sustainable products to a mass market," Brown said.

Roddick's philosophy translated into her company's products. In June of last year, The Body Shop became 100% vegetarian, offering products with all-natural ingredients, including Strawberry Body Butter, Tea Tree Facial Wash, Coconut Milk Body Lotion and Camomile Eye Make-Up Remover.

Making a green statement in a fashionable way

Today I was pleasantly surprised when I found these cute T-shirts at Target. Of course they're fashionable, but what's great about them is the fact that by wearing them, you can share with others the importance of being kind to the environment without even saying a word.

In the first picture, for instance, you find a really cute tee with the message "Recycle Today for Tomorrow." It reminds us of how crucial it is to recycle everything we can so we can help our planet by reusing and disposing properly of materials that are harmful to the environment. The shirt makes it clear that we must do this NOW if we truly want to be able to enjoy our planet in the future, and conserve it so that future generations get to enjoy it as well.

In the second picture, you can also see another cute T-shirt, this one with a great phrase that reads "Green is Good."

On the other hand, the bottom picture shows two other T-shirts that also contain inspiring phrases and/or images. By wearing them, you can share with others the importance of recycling by wearing, for instance, the T-shirt on the right, which features the international recycling symbol. On the left, you can also see the one where Kermit the Frog asks that you to "Stay Green". (In case you can't find this last one, look in the Lingerie department since there is also a sleepshirt with the same design).

By the way, all these shirts are made of 100% cotton and only cost $9.99!

Check them out and wear these or any other shirts with eco-friendly messages so you can spread the green message and "pass on the green."

P.S. Sorry guys, but I have not found shirts with similar messages for men. But don't worry, as soon as I do, I'll post them as well. Keep checking back!

Photo shows illegal hunting of gorillas continues

Just yesterday, I posted what could be described as a lovely picture of thriving gorillas who are cared for by a successful conservation program.

In contrast, the picture you see above, also from Reuters, is not a pretty one. It shows four dead mountain gorillas that were illegally killed in the Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo during the week of July 26. The photo was released just yesterday, August 8, by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).

I know the photo is perhaps too graphic, but it depicts reality and I thought it was important to put context in the situation that is affecting gorillas today. Yes, there are things being done to protect the species but the reality is that gorillas continue facing an uphill battle in order to survive.

The gorilla is one of the most endangered species in the world. According to the WWF, this is due to the fact that gorillas are confronted by the devastating consequences of increased habitat loss, poaching for the bushmeat trade and the spread of dangerous diseases like Ebola. And although the capture or killing of gorillas is illegal, it continues to take place, as the picture demonstrates.

Mother gorilla and baby in Prague zoo proof of successful conservation efforts

In this photo from Reuters, Gorilla Kijivu holds nine-week-old baby gorilla Tatu in her arms. Both live at the Gorilla's Pavillion at Zoo Praha, also known as Prague Zoo. The picture was taken this Tuesday, August 7.

Besides being home to Kijivu, Tatu and another female. Shinda, the zoo also takes care of four orphaned gorillas in the conservation station Limbe Wildlife Centre (LWC) in Cameroon. The stories behind all the gorillas who live there are pretty much the same: their parents and relatives were killed by hunters and they, the young survivors, were rescued from being sold as pets.

Among the rescued orphans are Chella, Jumbo and Pitchou. According to the zoo, Chella was found in a car boot next to the body of his dead mother when he was only 2 years old. He was then confiscated by local authorities who only provided him with beer for drinking and minute amounts of food during three long weeks. When he eventually arrived at the LWC, he suffered from great dehydration and malnourishment. He is now 17 and is the dominant male in the group.

Jumbo had fallen prey to a hunter when he was only a baby. According to the zoo, the hunter was trying to sell the little gorilla to a woman named Lena Perazzi because she knew that such purchase would cause more hunting of gorillas in the wild. Instead, Ms. Perazzi contacted the LWC and saved the baby's life.

For more on the stories of the gorillas who live at the LWC and more information on gorilla conservation, visit the Limbe Wildlife Center's website .