[Green Thursdays] Green Blog: Eco-Chick

Vartan, photo via Eco-Chick

I've just started following the Eco-Chick blog, which is all about living green and living fashionably (sound familiar)? They're girls after our own hearts. They've been doing what they do since 2005, which, you've gotta hand it to 'em, is a damn long time. The blog's author, Starre Vartan, also has a book that accompanies the blog. It's an informing, easy read, so take five minutes to check it out today!

[Green Thursdays] Unplug That Cable Box!

Image via Todd Hiesler, NY Times

Did you know that the cable box sitting on top of your television is the number one energy-inefficient item in your home? Even turning it off doesn't do much. According to the New York Times, the on/off switch merely powers off the clock and keeps the box running.

The problem is, when you unplug these things, they take forever to reboot. Most people are too lazy to wait the 45 seconds for everything to power up again.

In the future, buying a cable box with the "Energy Star" label will guarantee some energy reduction, but not much. We'll just have to wait and see.

So you can wait around or do what I've done and just give up cable. Life really does go on even without Bravo. Hard to believe, I know.

[Get Involved Tuesdays] Volunteering at National Parks

Image via Conservation Corps

Fresh air, helping others, and being in some of the most beautiful land on earth: yeah, that sounds pretty good, doesn't it? And with so many people out of work and confused about where their lives are going, why not give a volunteer opportunity a national park a shot?

Find all the opportunities here.

If you can't just get up and leave everything behind, look at other ways you can do your part.

[Green Thursdays] Shark Fin Soup Ban

Shark Fins

Sen. Leland Yee (D-CA) promoting shark fin soup

Have you heard about "finning"? It's when fishermen go out into the ocean, catch a bunch of sharks, cut off their fins for human consumption, and then throw the sharks back in the water to die. Then they can the stuff or sell it fresh in markets. California, following Hawaii's lead, is now trying to ban a popular dish, shark fin soup, from being served in restaurants. Read more about the possible ban and the practice of finning and take a side.

[Green Thursdays] GreenIsSexy.org

I stumbled upon this blog a few weeks ago while looking for ways to save water in my house, and now I keep coming back for all the practical, energy-saving tips. GreenIsSexy.org is run by three women, one of whom just so happens to be the lovely Rachel McAdams.

Check out all the interesting articles about things like how much water goes into making one pair of jeans (now you might think twice about buying yet another pair of Rock & Republics), the gross stuff in our air fresheners, and which fonts save the most ink.

[Get Involved Tuesdays] Green Volunteers

Photo via Habitat for Humanity

Are you looking for ways to get involved in your community and help the world at large? Do you want to save animals, keep trees alive, maintain parks and public spaces, or get rid of all the ridiculous waste in your life (including your ex-boyfriend who keeps texting you)?

Take a look at this article on GreenBiz.com. It lists all types of environmental volunteer opportunities: overseas, on the political scene, at green festivals, and so on. The most valuable resource I found was Treehugger, which, like Idealist.org, lists environmental volunteer opps.

So get to researchin'. I can't guarantee that taking on one of these volunteer gigs will help get rid of all those annoying text messages from what's-his-face, but you'll definitely feel like you're doing you're part to save the world, even if just a little bit.

[Get Involved Tuesdays] Celebrate Earth Day in Style

There are all kinds of fun ways to celebrate the earth this year! You can find tons of eco-friendly and earth-conscious deals and programs that will let you love the earth without being a total hippy (not that there's anything wrong with that either).

1. Visit a National Park this week. All 394 are free until April 24! 
My California recommendation: Sequoia National Park. Giant sequoia trees; absolutely mesmerizing.

Photo via CC

2. Get a free Starbucks coffee when you bring in a travel mug on Earth Day, April 22. Sure, it's Starbuck's and Starbuck's kinda sucks, but it's also free, and I am not one to judge free shit.

3. Read about the 100 Mile Challenge, in which you pledge not to eat any foods that have been shipped over 100 miles to get to your plate. It's a fascinating challenge, one that Barbara Kingsolver took on in her book, Animal, Vegetable, Miracle. Or ease yourself into seasonal, sustainable living by checking out the Planet Green website. 

4. Donate your phone to the Verizon HopeLine project, which donates the money to people who are victims of domestic abuse. I mean, you're not using that Nokia anyway, and throwing it in the garbage makes the planet super angry. 

5. Buy some stuff from Etsy vendors who are part of the EcoEtsy network. I mean, you wanted to buy some cute jewelry anyway. It might as well be eco-friendly.

Bike Ring from uncorked

[Green Thursdays] Ireland's EcoVillage

Photo via ConstructIreland

Today is a really green Thursday because it's St. Patrick's Day! I'm not Irish, but I do like Jameson, Guinness on tap, and verdant countrysides.

This morning, I read about the first ecovillage currently being constructed in Ireland, called Cloughjordan (say that ten times fast... if you know how to speak Gaelic).The community includes its own farm, 114 low-energy homes, workspaces, and a school where the members of community and tourists alike can learn about permaculture, organic farming, and sustainability.

In reading this, I also found out that Europe has its own ecovillage network. If America has something like this, I want to move there, like, tomorrow. Otherwise I need to get a visa and move to Europe.

Read more about the project in the ConstructIreland article and on their website, The Village.

Happy St. Patrick's Day! I know this day is not historically about getting wasted, but since when did Americans care about history anyway?

Ohhh, yeahhhh. Or maybe not.

[Green Thursdays] Why Eco-Labeling Isn't Good Enough

A Well-Rounded Meal, Of Course

Here is a prime example of why buying foods/clothes/basically anything marked "sustainable" or "green" or "organic" is not a sufficient way to eat sustainably. 

Think before you buy. Even if that Gap t-shirt is made of "organic cotton", it's quite possible that the cotton was certified organic, but the workers still weren't paid enough to eat a well-rounded meal. 

Just a thought.