Plastiki Successfully Crosses the Pacific, Lands in Australia!
July 20th, 2010 | posted by vkam in
After 120 days at sea, the Plastiki boat made from 12,000 plastic bottles has finally reached Australia! David de Rothschild sent a dispatch out today saying that the boat had successfully crossed the great waters of the Pacific and is now en route to their final destination of Sydney, Australia. The expedition set out across the Pacific from the blue waters of San Francisco in a valiant attempt to draw attention to the issues of waste and pollution by sailing right through the Pacific Gyre garbage patch — a great mass of garbage concentrated by currents in the Pacific ocean. The team sailed on a sturdy boat made from nothing other than discarded plastic bottles, and now as their 7,500 mile journey is nearing a close they hope that their efforts have helped spread the word about ocean waste.
It was recently reported in the news that Plastiki had called in distress to the Australian police. That’s not the case, and as they landed on shore they cleared up the confusion noting that the call was to initiate a pre-planned rendezvous with a charter vessel that would lead them into port — they’ve done this at all ports they’ve come into along the journey. They noted that throughout the 7,500 miles they traveled across the Pacific the plastic boat was not once in distress and have now safely landed down under. They landed today in Mooloolaba, Queensland — slightly North of their destination of Sydney — and were excited to be walking on solid ground.
“Now we’ve got to keep on thinking about how we can beat waste,” David de Rotschild — the leader of the journey and initiator of the project noted upon landing in Australia. He added that the crew hopes, “that the Plastiki’s legacy continues to put the message out there about how we can all be bigger, bolder and stronger in tackling the issue of waste. We already have the solutions it’s just about how we apply them.” De Rotschild seemed sad that the journey was over and is preparing with his crew to land in Sydney on the 25th of this month. Check out the Plastiki website for amazing dispatches from the journey, more on their mission and information about what you can do to reduce your waste!
http://inhabitat.com/2010/07/19/plastik
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Related Link:
The Plastiki sets to Sail
http://news.cnet.com/2300-11386_3-10002
Call for Queries - The People's Food Revolution
July 16th, 2010 | posted by vkam in
The food movement, whether in Canada or around the world, has come a long way in a short period of time. People are more aware than ever that food matters for a whole range of physical, economic, social, health, environmental and spiritual needs.
Community food security and what’s often called food sovereignty are drawing together diverse groups – from rural folks and farmers to urbanites, environmentalists and those involved in public health and social justice. It has created powerful new alliances that are being replicated globally.
In this issue of Alternatives, we will investigate the people’s food movement, both domestically and globally. We want examples of what is working and what isn’t, and what these examples tell us of the challenges that lie ahead. What will a secure and resilient food system taste like? What can be done to keep the food movement a people’s movement? How will the special things about food make food movements different from other social, environmental and public health movements? How will food organizers link to people with other causes? And what is the food movement anyway?
If you can say something big, new and powerful in a small number of plain words, we want to hear from you. This stipend is available to professional and amateur writers and students only. Please indicate your interest in this funding in your submission.
Send submissions electronically in word format (not pdf) to Nicola Ross, Editor-in-Chief (editor @ alternativesjournal.ca) by July 26, 2010.
For further details, please visit:
http://www.alternativesjournal.ca/food2
The Story of Cosmetics
July 16th, 2010 | posted by vkam in
On July 21st, the release of The Story of Cosmetics will expose the $50 billion cosmetics industry's use of toxic chemicals in everything from lipstick to baby shampoo-even chemicals linked to cancer and birth defects. The truth is, for way too long the onus has been on you and me to figure out if a product is safe, whether it's shampoo, or a kid's toy or that new laptop. Isn't it time we put the onus back where it belongs: on the companies who make this stuff?
You can help spread the word about the movie by forwarding the 30-second teaser to your friends, family, neighbors and colleagues. Thanks for everything you do to make the world a better place!
Sneak Preview -- http://storyofstuff.org/cosmetics/
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Related Link:
Campaign for Safe Cosmetics
http://community.livejournal.com/sustai
Plan an Eco-friendly Wedding
July 11th, 2010 | posted by vkam in
From the ring to the reception, say “I do” to a green celebration.
You’re already living an eco-conscious lifestyle, so it’s no surprise that you want your wedding to be a reflection of that. Luckily, there's a movement towards helping new brides and grooms find the support and alternative items they need. With lots of wedding shows showcasing green vendors and reading books like Green Wedding (Stewart, Tabori & Chang, 2009) by New York Times staff writer Mireya Navarro you will be in a great place to start planning a truly green celebration.
“It all stems from a want to avoid waste and excess,” says Navarro. “Being green keeps couples in check as far as not overspending and not overdoing it.” The key is to follow the principles of the three Rs—reduce, reuse, recycle—and apply that to every aspect of your wedding.
Planning a wedding for 2009? Follow Navarro’s advice to plan a truly eco-friendly event—from the engagement to the honeymoon. It’ll be worth it. After all, the average cost of a wedding in Canada, according to Weddingbells magazine, is $17,300. Why not spend it on sustainability?
**Engagement**
Go for recycled gold, which is not fresh-mined, says Navarro. It may take a little searching but there are companies out there that work exclusively with recycled gold. Looking for something more sentimental? Collect old rings from family and friends, and have them melted down into one, incredibly meaningful piece of jewelry. Or ask your grandmother or mother if they have a vintage ring you can use as your own. And lastly, when purchasing a diamond, always ensure it’s mined without conflict. (Bonus: All Canadian-mined diamonds are conflict-free.)
**Invitations**
To keep things personal, Navarro stops short of suggesting electronic invitations. “Etiquette experts agree you should still send paper invitations,” she explains. Luckily, there’s an entire market of recycled invitations out there. And, for all your stationery needs beyond invites and thank you cards, she suggests creating a wedding website. A simple website with a personal URL can be set up for less than $100 for the year and everything from RSVPs to directions can be posted there.
**Ceremony**
Want to save on the cost of flowers? Say “I do” at a botanical garden or outdoor park and let the venue’s natural backdrop act as your (free) decor.
**Reception**
Try to bring the wedding to your guests, suggests Navarro. Reduce travel by holding your wedding in a city or venue that’s easily accessible for the majority of your guest list. “You don’t want your guests to travel far,” she explains. “Transportation has a huge impact and leaves a huge carbon footprint.”
**Favours**
“Favours are more optional than ever,” says Navarro; in fact, many couples are deciding against them altogether. But if you are going to hand out favours at your wedding, ensure it’s something that won’t go to waste, such an edible treat such as homemade jam or chocolate. Many forward-thinking couples are also opting to donate to a green cause on behalf of their guests in lieu of favours.
**Wedding Dress**
Though this should be one of the easiest ways to be green, Navarro admits it’s often the hardest. “Many women have a very specific idea of what they want to look like [on their wedding day],” she says. Perhaps the simplest way to green your gown is to buy something you’ll wear again. If you look at it honestly, she says, it’s a total waste of resources to spend thousands of dollars on something you will only wear once. Another option is to buy your dress second hand. (If the thought of buying something pre-loved doesn’t sit right with you, borrow one from a friend who is already married.) Finally, if you must buy brand new, ensure your dress has a second life. Donate it to an organization that takes wedding dresses or sell it yourself. “Just be sure to keep it moving along,” says Navarro.
**Honeymoon**
Luckily, you don’t have to sacrifice luxury to enjoy earth-friendly travel. In fact, there’s a whole industry built around eco-tourism. When planning your honeymoon, Navarro recommends choosing natural destinations, places where the people and the environment will benefit from your visit. And always ensure you’re being a responsible tourist by making sure the products and services you purchase will benefit the local economy (for example, ensuring the souvenirs you buy weren’t made in China – unless, of course, you’re honeymooning in China).
http://www.greenlivingonline.com/articl
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Related Links:
My Toxic Baby (The Documentary)
http://www.mytoxicbaby.com/synopsis.htm
Look Great in Those Greenjeans
http://www.tonictoronto.com/magazine/ar
Enrich Your Every Day with Compost
http://usa.weleda.com/news/we/content.a
Money Wise: Reduce Your Energy Bill
http://www.tonictoronto.com/magazine/ar
Eco-Living Rebates, Insights, Solutions
http://ecoliving.scotiabank.com/?cid=S1
World's First 747 Solar Flight/Coffee as Fuel?
July 1st, 2010 | posted by vkam in
PAYERNE, Switzerland — A solar plane with wings as wide as a 747's and the power of a small motorboat took to the skies for the first time Wednesday, cruising a mile high at bicycle-like speeds for nearly 1½ hours in a step toward becoming the first sun-powered aircraft to circle the world.
In its maiden test flight, "Solar Impulse" — designed by Swiss adventurer Bertrand Piccard's team — completed a series of turns, slip maneuvers and bank angles reaching 5 degrees. Most importantly, it proved able to take off and land. The team plans to fly it around the world in 2012.
"There has never been an airplane of that kind that could fly — never an airplane so big, so light, using so little energy," said Piccard, who in 1999 copiloted the first nonstop round-the-globe balloon flight. "So there were huge question marks for us."
At a military airport in the Swiss countryside, the plane lifted off after at a speed no faster than 45 kph (28 mph) after a short acceleration on the runway. It slowly gained altitude above the green and beige fields, and disappeared eventually over the horizon as villagers watched from the nearest hills.
The descent was even slower, as the craft appeared to hover ahead of the runway for a couple of minutes before touching down to cheers from spectators.
The weather for the flight was sunny, and there was little wind.
Solar Impulse web site
http://www.solarimpulse.com/
The 70 million-euro project has been conducting flea-hop tests since December, taking the plane no higher than 60 centimeters (2 feet) in altitude and 300 meters (1,000 feet) in distance. A night flight is planned before July, and then a new plane will be built based on the results of those tests.
The big takeoff is planned for 2012, and it will use not an ounce of fuel.
"The goal is to fly day and night with no fuel, the goal is to demonstrate the importance of renewable energies, to show that with renewable energies we can achieve impossible things," said Piccard, who monitored but didn't pilot Wednesday's test run.
Test pilot Markus Scherdel said the plane isn't designed for maneuvers, but showed it was able to take off and land safely with handling like a passenger jet.
"Everything worked as it should," he said.
Using almost 12,000 solar cells, rechargeable lithium batteries and four electric motors, Piccard and co-pilot Andre Borschberg plan to take the plane around the world with stops to allow them to switch places and stretch after long periods in the cramped cockpit.
The circumnavigation will take time.
With the engines providing only 40 horsepower, the plane will fly almost like a moped in the sky, at an average flight speed of 70 kph (44 mph). The trip will be split up into five stages — keeping the plane in the air for up to five days at a time — with the stopovers also allowing the team to show off their creation.
Solar flight isn't new but Piccard's project is the most ambitious.
In 1980, the fragile Gossamer Penguin ultra-lightweight experimental solar plane flew short demonstration flights with one pilot on board. A more robust project called the Solar Challenger flew one pilot from France to England in a five-hour-plus trip in 1981.
Solar plane technology recalls the early days of manned flight, and the slow ascent of the Solar Impulse was somewhat reminiscent of the Wright brothers pioneering experiments over a century ago.
"The first crucial question was: Do we have enough power to fly?" said Borschberg. "The second crucial thing was: are we capable of landing this airplane, is it controllable?"
"It was two hours of deep emotion," he added, calling it the high point of seven years of work on the project. "The airplane has landed but we have not yet landed."
Borschberg followed the flight in a helicopter; below waited numerous people involved with the project and Piccard, who comes from a long line of adventurers. His late father Jacques plunged deeper beneath the ocean than any other man, and grandfather Auguste was the first man to take a balloon into the stratosphere.
Solar Impulse said the flight reached an altitude of 5,500 feet (1,676 meters). After landing, Scherdel emerged from the cockpit with his arms raised and the team broke open bottles of champagne.
"It went so silent, so soft," Piccard said.
He acknowledged the role of good weather, however.
Because the solar panels are needed for day flying and for charging the 400-kilogram (882-pound) lithium batteries that power the plane by night, it relies on sunshine, and Piccard said his team will have to scrupulously monitor conditions and change routes to avoid storms.
Personnel on the ground will also have to be able to keep up with the plane as it follows the best weather to provide service at each stop, he said.
"Round-the-world will seem impossible until we do it." Piccard said. "Today is an absolutely incredible milestone."
http://www.cleveland.com/world/index.ss
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Related Link:
Coffee Fuel: Have a Cup & Power Your Way to Work
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-o