http://newlygreens.com Walking Green for a Sustainable Garden State Mon, 30 Aug 2010 15:41:09 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 en hourly 1 http://newlygreens.com/feed/ Stories of green living from the early adopters walking the walk. Produced in NJ just outside New York City the show gives an East Coast flavor to implementing more balanced choices. Hosts Greg and Connie, "newlygreens" and not so newlywed, try take the stories to heart and and bring practical change into their own lives. It may not be about being the ideal, but it is definitely about finding inspiration and working toward something better. Kaizen Productions LLC clean Kaizen Productions LLC info@newlygreens.com info@newlygreens.com (Kaizen Productions LLC) 2010 Kaizen Productions LLC Eco Friendly Tales of Going Green from the Northeast sustainable, environmental, earth, nature, solar, wind, recycle, organic, green, eco, eco-friendly http://newlygreens.com/_content/_images/powered_by_podpress_small.jpg http://newlygreens.com http://newlygreens.com/podcasts/reusable-news-july-22-2010/ http://newlygreens.com/podcasts/reusable-news-july-22-2010/#comments Thu, 22 Jul 2010 23:12:36 +0000 RisaP http://newlygreens.com/?p=3010 http://newlygreens.com/podcasts/reusable-news-july-22-2010/feed/ 0 Bacillus thuringiensis,Baghdad,BioCouture,biomaterial,BT,Central Martin's College,CNN,Environmental Protection Agency,EPA,green tea,Iraq,Jack Cafferty - The Headlines: - 650 dogs killed daily in Baghdad Bandages may soon have new functions San Fran pet sale ban Monsanto fined for mislabeling seeds Green tea grows clothes - The Details: - 650 dogs killed daily in Baghdad - You heard that number right. The Headlines: 650 dogs killed daily in Baghdad Bandages may soon have new functions San Fran pet sale ban Monsanto fined for mislabeling seeds Green tea grows clothes The Details: 650 dogs killed daily in Baghdad You heard that number right. The Associated Press reports 58,000 of Baghdad's estimated 1.25 million stray dogs have been killed in the last three months, equating to about 650 dogs every day. Iraqi officials hasten to say the killings are necessary because packs of stray dogs have been attacking people, some even killing children. But the brutality of the canine extermination is unsettling. Government workers have been putting out poisoned meat for the dogs to eat. We haven't been able to confirm which poisons they are using, but a common one, strychnine, is said to cause hours of pain before the animal suffocates and dies. And there's no telling how many other animals besides stray dogs are ingesting this poison meat. When they aren't poisoning dogs, Iraqi police are shooting dogs in the streets. This is also problematic because the Iraqi police force is not known for its accuate aim. Many shots probably miss their intended area and only wound the dogs, causing prolonged and painful deaths. The World Society for the Protection of Animals has many strategies for fixing this problem, including animal protection legislation, vaccinations, spaying and neutering, and registration of pets. But in war-torn Iraq, where many humans are still not given the care and protection they need, the services of the WSPA seem to be the last thing on the government's mind. Bandages may soon have new functions Researchers at the University of Bath and the Southwest UK Paediatric Burns Centre are developing wound dressings that not only stop bleeding, but also detect infections and even release antibiotic medication as well. This completely safe dressing only responds to harmful bacteria and doesn't have to be changed nearly as often because the medicine to treat infection is built right in. The nanotechnology can detect disease-causing pathogens and then release antibiotics contained in nanocapsules. When it does this, a color-changing dye indicates that medicine has been released. Scientists hope this new medical technology will be available for mass use, especially by developing countries, in four years. San Fran pet sale ban What began as a proposal to outlaw puppy and kitten mills in San Francisco has become a hefty piece of proposed legislation banning pet sales entirely. The list of pets that the legislation would render unsellable includes: rats, snakes, hamsters, guinea pigs, turtles, gerbils, birds, cats and dogs. (Chicken and rabbit sales are already prohibited in the city.) All of these critters end up in shelters and are frequently euthanized. Phil Gerrie is a member of the San Francisco Commission of Animal Control & Welfare, which advises the San Francisco legislature on matters concerning animals. Gerrie brought the idea up in one of their meetings. When they scheduled a hearing for it, over 100 people from all sorts of animal rescue groups as well as concerned citizens showed up, causing the longest meeting the Commission has ever had. Local and national media paid attention to the idea, prompting a firestorm of debate. Even Jack Cafferty of CNN got in on the action, calling the idea "not half bad." All the fuss is making it impossible to actually get the resolution together, so for the moment, the vote on the proposal has been set back another month. Monsanto fined for mislabeling seeds No environmentally conscious news day would be complete without a story on Monsanto, the multinational agricultural seed and supply company. They may have won in the Supreme Court last month lifting the ban on their alfalfa seeds, but they lost a hefty chunk of change two weeks ago. The Environmental Protection Agency issued a record-breaking $2. Kaizen Productions LLC clean 13:17 http://newlygreens.com/podcasts/reusable-news-june-10-2010/ http://newlygreens.com/podcasts/reusable-news-june-10-2010/#comments Thu, 10 Jun 2010 12:00:18 +0000 RisaP http://newlygreens.com/?p=2851 http://newlygreens.com/podcasts/reusable-news-june-10-2010/feed/ 0 animal waste,BBC,Britain,China,CITES,EPA,Europe,factory farms,fish,freight transport,freshwater wind farm,fuel pellets - The Headlines: Fish affected by a different kind of pollution Madagascar's rosewood rainforests ravaged EPA to crack down on factory farms Robot fish to help schools in need Freshwater wind farm in the works UK's waste to become Euro fuel - The Deta... The Headlines: Fish affected by a different kind of pollution Madagascar's rosewood rainforests ravaged EPA to crack down on factory farms Robot fish to help schools in need Freshwater wind farm in the works UK's waste to become Euro fuel The Details: Fish affected by a different kind of pollution We're not talking about oil, and we're not talking about trash. We're talking about sound. A new study published in ScienceDirect finds that fish have a very well developed sense of sound, and over the last 100 years, humans have increasingly used the oceans of Earth, to the detriment of sea life. According to the BBC, 80 percent of global freight transport is done by motorized shipping, and the global shipping fleet is made up of around 1.2 million vessels! That's a lot of noise under the sea, and one effect of that is that fish are fleeing from the loud noises, causing an unequal distribution of fish across the oceans. There are also problems for the fish that don't flee from loud human sounds: they can't hear the sounds they need to hear to function properly. Fish make noises to define territory, to court mates and to find food. They need to hear each other and their surroundings to live and thrive, but shipping noise is so loud that it's disrupting their ability to do so. Madagascar's rosewood rainforests ravaged You may know rosewood from high-end furniture or from the necks of guitars. But not many people know where rosewood comes from, or what the environmental impact of rosewood might be. Most rosewood comes from Madagascar and it's being plundered from the countryside on orders from Chinese furniture makers, who buy the wood to craft expensive furniture for Americans and Europeans. It's been going on in small illegal operations for years now, but this past year, it has increased at least 25-fold, according to environmental groups. They estimate the value of trees felled this past year at $167 million or more! Malagasy timber barons have stepped up operations because of a military coup that took place last year. The new government is weak and can't really enforce rules against felling these increasingly rare trees. Some environmental groups even claim that the government of Madagascar is getting a cut of the profits. Some scientists are recommending the few remaining rosewood trees in the rainforest of the island deserve the protection of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. We hope they get it. EPA to crack down on factory farms Due to a recent lawsuit settlement with environmental groups, the EPA is proposing a new policy in dealing with factory farms. It doesn't have anything to do with animal treatment, however. This rule is about animal waste. Animal waste, bacteria and parasites from chickens, pigs and cows drain into streams and rivers, posing a threat to human health. The EPA's response? Their new policy proposal would require factory farms to report the type and capacity of manure storage facilities, quantity of manure generated, available land acreage to apply manure and how excess manure is disposed of to the EPA. This is a nice first step, but the EPA's proposal only requires farms to report this information every five years. Robot fish to help schools in need There are robots in the seas! They monitor ocean temperatures and scan for pollutants. But there's a new robot fish on the block, and it's there to actually help the fish. Maurizio Porfiri, assistant professor at Brooklyn laboratories at Polytechnic Institute of New York University, created this new robot fish that can mimic the actions of 'leader' fish, who dart quickly around other fish to lasso them into a school which they then lead. The idea is that the robot fish could take over a school and lead it away from boat motors and power plant turbines. Laboratory experiments with fish in aquariums have proved successful, Kaizen Productions LLC clean 14:03 http://newlygreens.com/podcasts/greensprouts-for-use-with-nwf-interview/ http://newlygreens.com/podcasts/greensprouts-for-use-with-nwf-interview/#comments Thu, 27 May 2010 13:41:03 +0000 cmatti http://newlygreens.com/?p=2786 http://newlygreens.com/podcasts/greensprouts-for-use-with-nwf-interview/feed/ 0 BP,Deepwater Horizon,EPA,Gulf oil spill,Lisa P. Jackson,National Wildlife Federation,NOAH,oil spill,Ranger-Rick,TransOcean - In keeping with today's topic of the BP Oil Spill we've gathered some information on how you can help.  From the EPA to the NWF, there are many ways to find out more and get involved. - Only one tip today: Stay informed.  Ask questions. In keeping with today's topic of the BP Oil Spill we've gathered some information on how you can help.  From the EPA to the NWF, there are many ways to find out more and get involved. Only one tip today: Stay informed.  Ask questions.  There are better alternatives.   In the meantime, get information on the spill and how you can help below.. From the  EPA website: To volunteer, call the Deepwater Horizon Response Volunteer Request Line at 1-866-448-5816. More information and volunteer hotlines. Report an oil sighting: Report oiled shoreline: 1-866-448-5816 Report oiled wildlife: 1-866-557-1401 Discuss spill related damage: 1-800-440-0858 Submit a question or a comment about the spill. Follow EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson on Facebook or Twitter Follow EPA on Facebook or Twitter Submit a technology solution. Vendors - submit information to EPA's list of contract services your company can offer. Add EPA's BP Spill response widget to your Web site, Facebook page, or other location. From the National Wildlife Federation website: Volunteer for the Cleanup Efforts - The National Wildlife Federation is helping coordinate the on-the-ground volunteer effort, including NWF's Gulf Coast Surveillance Teams, which are being set up to monitor the coastline for wildlife in distress. Donate to the National Wildlife Federation's Gulf Oil Spill Restoration Fund - You can help wildlife threatened by the oil spill by donating online, making a leadership gift or donating via your mobile phone. Your support will help NWF's on-the-ground volunteer and restoration efforts. Speak Up for Cleaner Energy Choices - Tell your senators that now more than ever we need to pass comprehensive legislation that provides America with cleaner and safer energy choices. Help Spread Messages Online - Follow @NWF on Twitter or join us on Facebook to get all the latest updates about the BP Oil Spill. On the ground in the Gulf? Share your photos and videos on Flickr by tagging them SPILL_NW10. How to talk to your kids about the spill:  http://www.nwf.org/Kids/Ranger-Rick/Parents-and-Educators/How-To-Talk-With-Kids-Gulf-Oil-Spill.aspx PLEASE, if you find wildlife along the Gulf Coast that you think may have been injured by the oil spill, do NOT attempt to rescue it. Call the Oiled Wildlife hotline at 866-557-1401. Kaizen Productions LLC clean 6:21 http://newlygreens.com/podcasts/reusable-news-may-13-2010/ http://newlygreens.com/podcasts/reusable-news-may-13-2010/#comments Thu, 13 May 2010 12:00:03 +0000 RisaP http://newlygreens.com/?p=2656 http://newlygreens.com/podcasts/reusable-news-may-13-2010/feed/ 0 http://newlygreens.com/podcasts/reusable-news-april-15-2010/ http://newlygreens.com/podcasts/reusable-news-april-15-2010/#comments Thu, 15 Apr 2010 20:31:10 +0000 RisaP http://newlygreens.com/?p=2353 http://newlygreens.com/podcasts/reusable-news-april-15-2010/feed/ 0 Anna Tibiajuka,Australia,Chevron,coal mine explosion,Delta National Wildlife Refuge,Department of Transportation,Douglas Shoals,Environmental Protection Agency,EPA,Global Greenhouse Gas Standard,Great Barrier Reef,Louisiana - The Bad News: - Coal mine explosion kills 25 - Oil spills devastate Delta wildlife refuge - Chinese ship slams into Great Barrier Reef - The Good News: - UN launches global greenhouse emissions calculator - Obama signs the first federal fuel econo... The Bad News: Coal mine explosion kills 25 Oil spills devastate Delta wildlife refuge Chinese ship slams into Great Barrier Reef The Good News: UN launches global greenhouse emissions calculator Obama signs the first federal fuel economy standards into law Clean technology investments soar in 2010 First the Bad News... Coal mine explosion kills 25 Everyone by now should know about the tragic coal mine explosion in West Virginia that killed 25 employees of the Massey Energy Company on April 5. But now, media outlets are beginning to scrutinize the company about its safety record as well as its environmental impact. In the last two months, miners had to be evacuated from the Upper Big Branch mine three times because of dangerously high methane levels. According to the New York Times, "In 2008, one of its subsidiaries paid what federal prosecutors called the largest settlement in the history of the coal industry after pleading guilty to safety violations that contributed to the deaths of two miners in a fire in one of its mines. That year, Massey also paid a $20 million fine — the largest of its kind levied by the Environmental Protection Agency — for clean water violations." Oil spills devastate Delta Wildlife Refuge A Chevron Pipe Line Company pipeline leaked an estimated 18,000 gallons of crude oil into the Delta National Wildlife Refuge in Louisiana last week. No word yet on the damage, but investigators are flying planes above the area to try and assess the situation. The refuge covers nearly 49,000 acres of marsh and is the habitat of many different species of birds and other wildlife. Chinese ship slams into Great Barrier Reef The Chinese coal-carrying ship Shen Neng 1 ran aground two weeks ago on Douglas Shoals, off the coast of Queensland state in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. The shoals are in a protected part of the reef where shipping is restricted by environmental law. This ship was nine miles out of the shipping lane it was supposed to be traveling in. The ship is currently leaking oil into an otherwise pristine environment and it could take weeks to get the ship off the Reef. Here's Patrick Quirk of Queensland's Maritime Safety department, courtesy of the Associated Press: [Insert Clip] The ship's owner could be fined up to 1 million Australian dollars ($920,000) for straying from a shipping lane used by 6,000 cargo ships each year. Now the Good News! UN launches global greenhouse emissions calculator On March 23, the United Nations launched the first common system of calculating the amount of greenhouse gases produced in a given city, allowing cities to compare their performances and analyze differences. It's called the Global Greenhouse Gas Standard. The new common standard also takes into account cities’ primary energy sources, climate, means of transportation and urban form. “In reducing greenhouse gas emissions, cities are part of the solution: city officials are discovering new ways to get people out of cars and into rapid transit buses; to harness the methane released by landfills and turn it into energy; to support compact urban development and not urban sprawl,” said Anna Tibaijuka, Executive Director of UN-HABITAT. First federal fuel economy standards created The EPA and the Department of Transportation have tag-teamed President Obama's greenhouse gas directive, announcing on April 1 the first-ever national greenhouse gas emissions standards. The new program claims it will do the following: Reduce carbon dioxide emissions by about 960 million metric tons over the lifetime of the vehicles regulated, equivalent to taking 50 million cars and light trucks off the road in 2030. Conserve about 1.8 billion barrels of oil over the lifetime of the vehicles regulated. Enable the average car buyer of a 2016 model year vehicle to enjoy a net savings of $3,000 over the lifetime of the vehicle, Kaizen Productions LLC clean 10:16 http://newlygreens.com/podcasts/reusable-news-april-1-2010/ http://newlygreens.com/podcasts/reusable-news-april-1-2010/#comments Thu, 01 Apr 2010 12:00:06 +0000 RisaP http://newlygreens.com/?p=2256 http://newlygreens.com/podcasts/reusable-news-april-1-2010/feed/ 0 Air Pollution,Bill Ritter,Budget Raid,Call In Day,Cell Phone Towers,Chris Christie,Clean Energy Program,Climate Change,Colorado,Cooking Oil,Environment New Jersey,EPA - The Headlines: India Uses the Power of the Sun for Cell Phones New Hybrid Car in the Works Climate Change Causing Flowers to Lose their Scent Used Cooking Oil Finds New Use A Loss for France, Gains for Colorado, and a Thumbs Up for L.A. The Headlines: India Uses the Power of the Sun for Cell Phones New Hybrid Car in the Works Climate Change Causing Flowers to Lose their Scent Used Cooking Oil Finds New Use A Loss for France, Gains for Colorado, and a Thumbs Up for L.A. Christie Raids Clean Energy Budget The Details: India Uses the Power of the Sun for Cell Phones We heard from CleanTechnica.com that India's Ministry of New and Renewable Energy is planning to force all their cell phone providers to switch their towers from diesel generators to solar panels. India has a National Solar Mission which works towards the ability to create 20,000 megawatts of solar power capacity by the year 2022, and the expected push to telecom providers would become part of that initiative. India has more than 250,000 cellphone towers consuming 3-5 kilowatts of power. Switching to solar is projected to curb 5.3 million tons of CO2 emissions and could potentially save $1.4 billion per year. New Hybrid Car in the Works Ecogeek.org reports that a new concept car called the Ingocar is in development. It's not our practice to report on every new hybrid on the market, but this one caught our eye because of its potential for a very high amount of miles per gallon. The car would sport a hydraulic drive system in place of a conventional power train. This would reduce the weight of the car, and coupled with some other innovations, the car could potentially get an astounding 170 miles per gallon! Currently, the only vehicles on the road with more engine efficiency are motorcycles. In comparison with other hybrids, the 5 passenger Ingocar would weigh 2200 lbs while the Chevy Volt's weight is expected to be around 3500 lbs, and the current Toyota Prius weighs in at around 3000 lbs. Climate Change Causing Flowers to Lose their Scent In a bizarre story first reported by AsiaOne, flowers across Malaysia are losing their scent, and many are wilting fast. Climate change and air pollution are causing the degradation of scent production in flowers according to Dr Abdul Latif Mohamad, Science and Technology Professor Emeritus at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. Climate change is also the reason Kuala Lumpur City Hall is increasingly turning to shady trees, because flowers which previously formed the centerpiece of its beautification program have been dying. There are plans to invest in genetically-modified seeds which would be better able to withstand climate change and pollution. Used Cooking Oil Finds New Use Running your car on old cooking oil is the best-known way to reuse the stuff, but now you can put it on your roof! Inhabitat.com reports that used cooking oil can be applied to a roof and used to reflect light in the summer, keeping the house cooler. Then, when the temperature changes from hot to cold, the coating of used cooking oil acts as an insulator, retaining more heat inside the home. The team of scientists working on the project have managed to manipulate the oil to become non-flammable, unscented, and most importantly, non-toxic. They can also make it into any color, from clear to black. This highly useful and adaptable version of cooking oil should be out for the buying in as little as three years. A Loss for France, Gains for Colorado, and a Thumbs Up for Los Angeles In green politics, after taking a verbal beating as well as a beating in the polls, French president Nicolas Sarkozy has dropped one of his key agendas: his proposed carbon tax to limit emissions growth and promote renewable energy. Sarkozy learned the hard way that no one likes new taxes, no matter how good their intentions. Here in the U.S. one state governor wants to push his state to the forefront of green energy. Bill Ritter, governor of Colorado, has just signed into law an ambitious renewable energy program. The new law requires 30 percent of large utilities’ electricity to come from renewables by 2020. Kaizen Productions LLC clean 11:28 http://newlygreens.com/podcasts/reusable-news-dec-10-2009/ http://newlygreens.com/podcasts/reusable-news-dec-10-2009/#comments Fri, 11 Dec 2009 04:14:46 +0000 RisaP http://newlygreens.com/?p=1987 http://newlygreens.com/podcasts/reusable-news-dec-10-2009/feed/ 0 Coke,EPA,Gorilla,Inhofe,Oregon,Tidal Power,UK Headlines: EPA Regulates Carbon Inhofe Shows His Ignorance Gorillas in the Midst UK Gets with the Climate Program Tidal Power in Oregon Coke Reduces it's Footprint Well Played, EPA In a bold move well timed to coincide with the US Climate Summit d... Headlines: EPA Regulates Carbon Inhofe Shows His Ignorance Gorillas in the Midst UK Gets with the Climate Program Tidal Power in Oregon Coke Reduces it's Footprint Well Played, EPA In a bold move well timed to coincide with the US Climate Summit decision at Copenhagen,  the EPA has declared carbon dioxide a “Public Danger” - - triggering the certainty of regulation for big greenhouse gas emitters such as power stations, cement kilns, crude-oil refineries and chemical plants. Jim Inhofe, Senator from Oklahoma, is going to Copenhagen with some of his politician friends, a posse he is calling the "truth squad", to boycott the Climate Change summit and make a general nuisance of himself. But with the EPA essentially demanding legislation by naming CO2 a Public Danger, Senator Inhofe and all the other Congressmen who take money from fossil fuel lobbyists are much less likely to make a dent at the Summit. Gorillas and Humans BFF Again Years of protecting the mountain gorillas of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in southwest Uganda nearly unraveled four years ago when gorillas began to destroy farm crops outside the reserve. Villagers in Nkuringo, located outside the Bwindi boundary, quickly turned against the endangered species. Recently, in an effort to stave off the possibility of gorilla killings, villagers and wildlife officials have partnered up to ensure that the community receives economic benefits for helping to conserve Bwindi's mountain gorillas. The agreement has furthered efforts to ensure the apes' safety and could serve as a model for protecting gorillas across central Africa. 320 individuals, about half of the wild global gorilla population, live in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, and they are resting a bit easier now thanks to those that care about them, and those that actually live with them. Oregon Making Waves to Make Energy Within two years, barring any unforeseen problems, the first wave power station will be up and fully operational off the coast of Oregon, generating about 1.5 Megawatts of energy. Wave power company Ocean Power Technologies just signed a contract with Oregon Iron Works to start building buoys which harness the energy produced by waves. If all goes well with these first ten buoys, Ocean Power Technologies might get the go ahead to create a 200-buoy project in the area. The project's success could mean great things for the future of wave power in America.  Studies have shown that wave power could power the world twice over. More on that as the project progresses. UK Prime Minister Lays the Smack Down on Climate Change Haters Gordon Brown, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, launched an outspoken attack on climate-change skeptics amid growing signs of public doubts about the scientific and political consensus on the environment, insisting that the science on climate change was settled, and accusing those who questioned the consensus of being outdated. He said: "With only days to go before Copenhagen we mustn't be distracted by the behind-the-times, anti-science, flat-earth climate skeptics. We know the science. We know what we must do.” Climate skeptics around the world are using the crisis to argue that man made global warming is not proven and therefore there is no need for a deal to curb greenhouse gas emissions or pay to help poor countries adapt. Coca Cola Green Vending Machines Coke has announced that it will turn all of its 10 million vending machines worldwide hydrofluorocarbon-free by 2015. This is a major, ambitious move, as those machines emit 15 million tons of greenhouse gases annually and comprise 40% of Coke's carbon footprint. By switching to using carbon dioxide as the gas in vending machines rather than more carbon-intensive hydrofluorocarbons, the company expects to save as much as 53 million tons of CO2 emissions over a 10-year-period Yet again, Coke is taking a step in the right direction. However, Kaizen Productions LLC clean 9:10 http://newlygreens.com/podcasts/reusable-news-oct-15th-2009/ http://newlygreens.com/podcasts/reusable-news-oct-15th-2009/#comments Thu, 15 Oct 2009 20:00:14 +0000 Greg http://newlygreens.com/?p=1727 http://newlygreens.com/podcasts/reusable-news-oct-15th-2009/feed/ 0 Aluminum,Chamber of Comerce,Energy,Energy Audit,EPA,Extinction,Meatless Mondays,recycling,UCS Today's Stories: U.S. Can Curb Global Warming and Lower Energy Costs With the right policies in place, the United States could dramatically cut the heat-trapping emissions that cause global warming and, at the same time, Today's Stories: U.S. Can Curb Global Warming and Lower Energy Costs With the right policies in place, the United States could dramatically cut the heat-trapping emissions that cause global warming and, at the same time, lower energy costs in every region of the country, according to the findings of a two-year, peer-reviewed study by the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS). "We can protect the environment and Americans' pocketbooks by adopting the right policies," said UCS President Kevin Knobloch. "Our analysis shows we have the technology and the know-how to do this. What we now need is the political will." UCS found that implementing a cap on emissions with a suite of energy and transportation policies would trigger investments in efficiency improvements, renewable energy technologies, clean vehicles, better transportation choices, and low-carbon technologies and fuels. A copy of the report can be found here: "Climate 2030: A National Blueprint for a Clean Energy Economy" Twenty-nine species in more than 20 states may need federal protections to avoid extinction, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The agency said Tuesday that 20 plants, six snails, two insects and a fish may warrant protection under the Endangered Species Act but in-depth studies are needed first. Among the 29 that federal officials said may need protection are the Yellowstone sand verbena, which only lives on the sandy beaches of Yellowstone Lake, several species of milkvetch in Wyoming, Utah and Colorado, and a Midwestern mollusk called the Frigid Ambersnail. Diane Katzenberger, a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service spokeswoman in Denver, said each of the species will now get a detailed review, including identification of its range, distribution and threats. Federal officials will then decide whether each needs to be protected as a threatened or endangered species. The Fish and Wildlife Service said several of the 29 species being considered for protection could be affected by climate change, including the meltwater lednian stonefly that's only been found in Montana's Glacier National Park. The loss of glaciers in the park by 2030 as predicted by some scientists could jeopardize the fly's habitat, the agency said. Aluminum Can Recycling Nears 55 Percent Earth 911 The Aluminum Association, Can Manufacturers Institute (CMI) and the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI) released recycling figures for 2008 showing that 54.2 percent of aluminum cans were recycled in 2008, making it once again the most commonly recycled beverage container. The only curbside recyclable with a higher recycling rate is steel, which is buoyed by strong numbers for car and construction material recycling, to put it over 65 percent. Both these metals can be recycled continuously and can be turned back into metal containers and other metal products. The energy saved by recycling a single aluminum can can power the average TV for 4 hours. It takes 95 percent less energy to manufacture a new can using recycled aluminum. ___ 80,000 Students Can't Be Wrong! Our General Manager at WP 88.7fm has been doing this thing recently where he forgoes eating animals on Monday, dubbing it Meatless Mondays. Apparently he's a trendsetter because according to Treehugger.com, students of the Baltimore City Public School System, all 80,000 of them, will be the first to participate in the Meatless Monday Program. Tony Geraci, chairman of BCPS wants to lead the country in reconnecting our next generation with food cultivation and food preparation. The Baltimore City Public School System has even been working with local farmers to bring in local, fresh produce. Cutting down on meat is not only healthy, but it reduces your ecological footprint as well. In recognition of BCPS' efforts, the Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future presented the school system with its 2009 Award for Visionary Leadership in Local Food Procurement and Food Education. Kaizen Productions LLC clean 12:13 http://newlygreens.com/podcasts/reusable-news-october-8-2009/ http://newlygreens.com/podcasts/reusable-news-october-8-2009/#comments Thu, 08 Oct 2009 20:00:13 +0000 RisaP http://newlygreens.com/?p=1717 http://newlygreens.com/podcasts/reusable-news-october-8-2009/feed/ 0 Atlantic Highlands,EPA,Obama,Roz Savage,Timberland Boots,Toilet Paper,TP,Wyclef Jean Obama Begins Gingerly to Attempt to Get the Ball Rolling on Tougher EPA Regulations - NY Times.com The New York Times reports that President Barack Obama has finally decided he's tired of waiting for Congress to start regulating greenhouse gas emiss... Obama Begins Gingerly to Attempt to Get the Ball Rolling on Tougher EPA Regulations - NY Times.com The New York Times reports that President Barack Obama has finally decided he's tired of waiting for Congress to start regulating greenhouse gas emissions and has authorized the Environmental Protection Agency to do just that. The EPA will soon regulate greenhouse gas emissions from hundreds of power plants and large industrial facilities. The proposed rules, which could take effect as early as 2011, would place the greatest burden on 400 power plants, new ones and those undergoing substantial renovation, by requiring them to prove that they have applied the best available technology to reduce emissions or face penalties. Another one of Obama's almost adorably lofty goals will be to pass a Climate Bill this year. Let's see how that goes. Progressive Green thinkers hope to have the world off of Toilet Paper someday soon - Treehugger.com Treehugger recently brought alternative bathroom hygiene to our attention and soon, with any luck, toilet paper will only be used to tp people's houses on Mischief Night. Going without paper has proved to be healthier and it actually saves water. Still scieved out by it? Lots of people around the world get on just fine with TP. Making a roll of toilet paper uses 1.5 pounds of wood, 37 gallons of water and 1.3 KWh of of electricity. In one day, Americans use 34 million rolls of TP which equates to 221,000 trees, 255 million gallons of water, and produces 88 million pounds of Greenhouse gases. A new product called the Blue Bidet insists it can cut toilet paper use by 75% (the other 25% you would still need to dry your rump.) There is a toilet attachment model which only costs 69 bucks here in the US. It can reportedly be installed in a 1/2 hour. Still unconvinced? Wait for a rich friend to try it first, then make an assessment. Just when you think it can't get any cooler being Green, Hip Hop makes an entrance - AP Coming to us from the Associated Press, the Timbaland boot company is teaming up with rapper and former Fugees member Wyclef Jean to create a new line of eco-friendly footware. The 16-boot collection goes on sale in November. A cut of the profits will go to help the reforestation of Haiti, Wyclef's native country. TOXIC NEW JERSEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FINALLY WINS RELIEF Vapor Intrusion Controls May End Three-Year Ordeal at Atlantic Highlands The students, staff and parents of a New Jersey elementary school suffering from an underground plume of toxic chemicals finally may be getting some help, according to documents released today by Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER). A state-approved vapor intrusion plan will be in place next month at Atlantic Highlands Elementary School in Monmouth County on the northern New Jersey shore. For more than three years, children and teachers have been exposed to unsafe indoor toxic air pollutants that exceed state vapor intrusion levels. In announcements this week, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) says that it will oversee installation of a "sub-slab vapor mitigation system" to reduce chemical exposures within school facilities. "While this is good news, it is long past due because the state DEP again has fallen down on the job." stated New Jersey PEER Director Bill Wolfe, a former DEP analyst, who had been prodding the state to address the long-standing problem. "Even this new remedial action is the result of a voluntary negotiated settlement and not a state enforcement action." The situation does call into question how seriously the NJ DEP actually takes it's own rhetoric about putting the health of children first. ROZ SAVAGE ARRIVES IN TARAWA Roz Savage, ocean rower and environmental campaigner completed stage 2 of her epic bid to become the first woman in history to row solo row across the Pacific Ocean in early Sept. She launched this stage of her voyage on May 24, from Honolulu, Hawaii. Kaizen Productions LLC clean 9:11