The LA Times is running a five part series on the 'crisis in the seas'. It is definitely worth reading to understand what is happening to our oceans. A sample: "Runoff from modern life is feeding an explosion of primitive organisms. This 'rise of slime,' as one scientist calls it, is killing larger species and sickening people... Toxic algae that poison the brain have caused strandings and mass die-offs of marine mammals — barometers of the sea's health."

The AP reports today that Britain and California are set to announce a carbon trading pact that sidesteps the Bush Administration's lack of action on global warming. "The aim is to fix a price on carbon pollution, an unwanted byproduct of burning fossil fuels like coal, oil and gasoline. The idea is to set overall caps for carbon and reward businesses that find a profitable way to minimize their carbon emissions, thereby encouraging new, greener technologies." The United States is one of only a few countries that has refused to sign the Kyoto Protocol despite the fact that the U.S. is responsible for 25% of the world's greenhouse gas emissions. The Bush Administration's excuse is that it would cost 5 million US jobs, but this is typical political math as it does not account for the net gain in jobs created by new industries and technology that would come online. The larger point, here, is that there are non-Federal ways to reduce carbon pollution. Another non-Federal way to make a difference is to join earthscreen: members receive carbon offsets to neutralize the pollution created by their cars and homes as a benefit of membership.

Nobel Laureate Paul Crutzen from the Max Planck Institute for Chemistry at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California at San Diego has proposed shooting Sulfur into the atmosphere to cool the planet. The effect would mimic the chemical reaction following a volcanic eruption when sulfur shoots skyward. After the Mount Pinatubo eruption the surface temperature was lowered by .09 degrees Fahrenheit the following year. For the full story at LiveScience.com, click here.

from Daily Grist: "As global warming's effects reverberate across the planet, expect an uptick in litigation against governments and companies. Pacific Islanders whose homes are being swallowed by the ocean, African farmers with withered crops, and ski-resort owners resigned to offering mountaintop waterskiing may seek redress. "If the evidence [of anthropogenic warming] hardens up ... it has all the ingredients of the tobacco case," said Myles Allen of Oxford University. It won't be easy to prove that a specific company or country is liable for making global warming worse -- but that doesn't mean enterprising lawyers won't try. "There have been no large awards of damages, but there are an increasing number of cases," says Roda Verhaugen of the group Climate Justice, which advises plaintiffs in climate cases. Most global-warming-related litigation thus far has been directed at the greenhouse gassiest of them all, the U.S., which produces a quarter of the world's emissions."

Now is a great time to try Organic Bouquet roses. Order for delivery between now and August 15 and Organic Bouquet will send two dozen roses when you order one dozen roses. The roses are the best of the bunch and harvested daily. Organic Bouquets flowers are certified organic by Veriflora which uses the following principles in its certification process: Organic Agricultural Practices, Conservation of Water Resources, Conservation of Ecological Resources, Waste Management, Social Responsibility, and Product Quality. earthscreen members save up to an additional 10%.

Media Artist Nate Pagel took this photo for earthscren members at Los Volcanes National Park in El Salvador. This is one of the meaningful media photos delivered daily to members in the earthscreen screen saver. earthscreen developed a screen saver that delivers images of protected forests to its members. It requires a one-time download and then the screen saver downloads a new image every day. Its one of the many benefts of membership.

from the blog at Ideal Bite: "Plastic is one of those things too that has helped advance our society a lot, especially in the medical field. I just feel like we, as a society, take things too far. Like, "oh great plastics rule and are cheap to make so let's hurry up and find a zillion applications for them and skip a lot of the testing (like what they do to food when heated up in the micro)." Seems we are so smart on the invention side, then so rash on the application side. And quite honestly, we could be much MUCH smarter on the invention side.. like designing things that are continually reused - a concept called "cradle to cradle." Right now things are designed with the "cradle to grave" (ie: landfill) mentality."

Here's a letter from the Ritz-Carlton Sarasota to Veronique and Michel of the Organic Wine Company. earthscreen members can save up to 10% on OWC's Ritz-y wines. "I wanted to take a moment to thank you both for making such great wines available. Their quality and originality are a perfect complement to the organic food we serve here at Vernona, our Four Diamond-AAA and Four Star-Mobil rated restaurant. We recently conducted a tasting of eighteen of your wines for the restaurant service staff as well as several of my colleague chefs. It was a thrill to see everyone rate the wines so highly. It became difficult in fact to select the dozen now featured on our wine list. It is very exciting for me to have the ability of pairing these wine gems with my food and in keeping thus with our mission to serve the best and healthiest food and beverage products. Thank you for partnering with us. Fondly, Chef Yves Vacheresse, RITZ of Sarasota, FL Vernona Restaurant Chef de Cuisine"

The Rocky Mountain Climate Institute released a report titled: Losing Ground: Western National Parks Threatened by Climate Disruption. Citing data from the National Park Service and U.S. Geological Survey the report gives specifics about 12 National parks, from California's Death Valley to Glacier National Park in Montana. The glaciers are on a path to a complete meltdown within 25 years. Even now, Grizzly Bears in Colorado are starving as they compete with the pine beetle for whitebark pine bark. The range of causes for the disintegration of the parks is vast: reduced snow pack in the mountains, rising sea levels in California, forest fires, decreased fish stocks - the list of ills goes on and on.

Heat waves always seem more of an annoyance than a natural disaster like a hurricane, but it turns out they are they are the deadliest natural disaster of all (30,000 people died in the 2003 heat wave). The Guardian (via htstwff) has a very sobering look at the effects of heat waves and hyperthermia: "When the human body gets to 42C (107.6F), it starts to cook. The heat causes the proteins in each cell to irreversibly change, like an egg white as it boils. Even before that, the brain shuts down because of a lack of blood coming from the overworked, overheated heart. Muscles stop working, the stomach cramps and the mind becomes delirious. Death is inevitable."

I have always loved the Tango (100% electric 0-60 in 4 seconds) because its ultra-narrow design allows you to park it almost anywhere, but for a more traditional look, the Tesla Roadster (via groovygreen) looks to be the one to beat (also 100% electric 0-60 in 4 seconds).

Check out these nifty online energy use calculators via off-grid. "If you are trying to work out what power supply you will need to live off-grid, or trying to reduce your grid-connected carbon footprint, or just save money, it pays to know exactly how much power your are using in your home."

Via PlanetSave: 'BRISBANE, Australia (AP) _ Time is running out and countries must immediately address the world's environmental crisis, former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev said Monday at an international forum in the eastern Australian city of Brisbane. Gorbachev, in a closing speech at the three-day Earth Dialogues forum, condemned world leaders for lack of political will, saying high-level forums had not delivered on promises to address climate change, pollution and other critical issues. He urged immediate action. ``If we don't (act), then I think that the coming generations will look at us and will say that we failed,'' Gorbachev, chairman of environmental lobby group Green Cross International, said through an interpreter.'

earthscreen partner Carbonfund.org has a new site that contains lots of facts about pollution offsets and the impact of modern life on the environment. Even the smallest, efficient car puts out 3 tons of carbon dioxide per year (for this purpose, a "green" car is one that gets more than 41 miles per gallon in the city). A typical SUV puts out 10 tons of carbon dioxide pollution per year. A single SUV is responsible for the entire carbon output of the average person's whole lifestyle every year (car, air travel, A/C for the home). Pollution offsets are a trouble-free way of doing even more to help the environment, no matter what kind of car you drive. earthscreen includes offsets as a benefit to each of our members. It is a simple and effective way to make a difference.

The Autopilot Workstation gets its name from its curved shape which makes you feel like you are sitting in a cockpit. The desk is made of Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified wood. from Vivavi.com: "The FSC is an international not-for-profit organization founded in 1993 by environmental groups like Greenpeace, The Sierra Club and World Wildlife Fund. Its mandate is to protect the world’s forests through globally recognized principles of responsible forest stewardship. FSC certified sustainable wood is the only wood that is accepted under the U.S. Green Building Council’s stringent LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) program. FSC certified wood is also the only certified wood accepted in the bid specifications of the International Olympic Committee (IOC)." earthscreen members save up to 10% on all purchases at Vivavi.

In true Bush Administration fashion, the nomination of Susan Dudley to head the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs is in line with most past Bush appointments: find a person who opposes the mission of any particular agency and then make them its leader. Though not as high-profile as the EPA or the Department of Education, the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs has its hand in each department's pie as it helps each department set regulatory policy. Here are some regulations Susan Dudley is on record as being opposed to: from ThinkProgress.org

Opposed EPA plans to set tougher public health standards for smog.

Opposed lower-polluting cars & SUVs and cleaner gasoline.

Opposed air bags in cars, preferring to leave public safety decisions “to the market place.”

Opposed stronger regulations for arsenic in drinking water, claming that there “is a wide range of uncertainty in the science surrounding the health effects of arsenic in U.S. drinking water supplies.”

Opposed measures to curb global warming, stating that the “evidence regarding global warming and human contribution to it is mixed, and…if a slight warming does occur, historical evidence suggests it is likely to be beneficial, occurring at night, in the winter, and at the poles. Taking ‘precautionary action’ to protect human health based on a series of tenuous linkages would likely create a new set of risks.” Exxon Mobil is a major contributor to the think tank from which Dudley hails, The Mercatus Center at George Mason University.

The temperature in Woodland Hills, California this past Saturday was 119 degrees. I have never experienced such heat, ever. I am usually a good sport about the weather, but on Saturday I did find myself a little more impatient than usual. It is impossible to do anything quickly when it is that hot, so I took a deep breath and resigned myself to getting things done as efficiently as possible, but moving slower and slower as each hour wore on. It was a seemingly endless day. On top of dealing with the heat, I had the task of shopping for a new car. The old one was immobile: it had do be done, though it was not the best day of the year to spend traversing the blacktop amid the singe of the metal of the autos on display. The goal was to find an affordable small car with great gas mileage. No one had a hybrid to test drive. They are all back ordered. The MINI Cooper has always been a fantasy car for me, but in looking backwards I realized that the seat belt hump in the middle of the back seat would be impossible for my 100lb dog Jasper to navigate. On to other options. Frankly, there were none. From American to Japanese to Swedish models, the sizes were grotesque. I actually felt sick to my stomach at one point over the size of the average car. And few promised greater than 25 miles per gallon. This day solidified the importance of my work to me. I thought, no one predicted 119 in Woodland Hills. What if I wake up tomorrow and its 125 or 140? It is true that we do not know the precise consequences of climate change. Climate change naysayers will brag about the point. But I do know this. Something is changing. We don't know the extent. Are we going to bicker about predicting the specifics, or are we going to look at the science and make educated choices? It is my hope that we, as individuals, communities, and nations will opt for the educated choices. Today, I am prouder than ever to be a part of the earthscreen community. It is how I choose to act.

“To understand and protect our home planet; to explore the universe and search for life; to inspire the next generation of explorers ... as only NASA can.” NASA spokesman David E. Steitz says the reason for the change was to allign the mission statement with Bush's goals of exploring Mars and the Moon. However, the manner in which the change was made is raising eyebrows within NASA and some scientists suspect a more cynical motive. When the phrase "To understand and protect our home planet" was added to the statment in 2002, it was done so in open session and with the agreement of scientists and NASA employees. When it was deleted, it was done in a much more authoritarian manner: those who work at NASA were not consulted. Andrew C. Revkin of the The New York Times writes: "But the change comes as an unwelcome surprise to many NASA scientists, who say the “understand and protect” phrase was not merely window dressing but actively influenced the shaping and execution of research priorities. Without it, these scientists say, there will be far less incentive to pursue projects to improve understanding of terrestrial problems like climate change caused by greenhouse gas emissions." I have covered the work of James Hanson of the Goddard Institute of Space Studies, a division of NASA, in this blog on several occasions. The NY Times quotes Hanson: “They’re making it clear that they have the authority to make this change, that the president sets the objectives for NASA, and that they prefer that NASA work on something that’s not causing them a problem." The New York Times article can be found here.

When you give organic flowers from Organic Bouquet, the whole presentation is rich and beautiful. Every element is organic and recycled and makes a great impression. No skimping, here. Here's how OB describes its presentation:

Exquisitely designed, 100% recyclable gift box and protective liner

Simple yet elegant gift card and envelope made of 100% recycled, 100% post-consumer content, processed chlorine-free and printed with vegetable based inks

100% recycled glass vase, exclusive European design (optional)

Recyclable gift tissue paper, uniquely designed and custom printed

Gourmet Swiss chocolates, handmade using 100% organic ingredients (optional)

earthscreen members save up to 10%.

Last week was baby week at Ideal Bite and they have some great tips for greening your baby. Each year the US discards 10 billion diapers. They write: "Blame it on Mother Nature - but don’t punish her. There’s no getting around that mess, but we can avoid the additional mess associated with resource-intensive disposable diapers. Just switch to products that are better for baby’s skin (and hundreds of times better for the planet)." Here are the choices in order of best to worst: 1. Use a cloth diaper service 2. Use cloth diapers and wash them at home 3. Use biodegradable disposable diapers 4. (Don't) use non-biodegradable disposable diapers.

As an antidote to the fact that, so far, 2006 is the hottest year on record, here's a photo taken in Belize by Matt Kujak for earthscreen members. Whenever this picture comes up in my earthscreen screen saver, I just say "ahhhhhh...," and imagine diving right in. Connect your desktop to the wilderness.

In this month's issue of Vanity Fair, Amanda Griscom Little writes and in-depth article about GE and its move into Green technology. The piece covers everything from GE's reputation as one of the top polluters in the US to its future as a provider of Green technology. To quote GE CEO Jeffrey Immelt: "Green is green," meaning that he believes solving the world's environmental problems will be good for the company's bottom line. On GE's past: "It is also responsible for more greenhouse gases than most American cities, more toxic-waste sites than almost any other company in the nation, and one of the highest-profile environmental controversies in U.S. history: between 1947 and 1977, G.E. discharged 1.3 million pounds of health-threatening polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in New York's Hudson River from electrical-equipment plants in Fort Edwards and Hudson Falls. To this day, the waterway is reputed to be the largest hazardous-waste site in the nation." On GE and Jeffrey Immelt's influence: "There's no question that Jeff has taken a leadership role and come to be seen as a Pied Piper of sustainability," says Wal-Mart's Lee Scott. "He has not only engaged me and other G.E. customers in the environmental discussion, he's made it a business imperative." Adds Paulson, "Jeff Immelt is proving by example that the world's best and strongest companies are those that have the best environmental practices." For all the details, click here. Its a good, informative read.

The number one post at Treehugger last week covered a super efficient home that has most modern conveniences. The house uses only 800 Watt hours per day rather than the average 4500 Watt hours. How do they do it? "Using solar power, the house generates 120V AC, but it's also wired for 12V. The living room has three 7W 12V compact fluorescent lamps, a 12V Widescreen LCD TV, a DVD player, and an efficient surround sound stereo system. The office has a Mac laptop acting has a desktop, and all other computer peripherals are switched off automatically when not in use. When not lit by daylight, the office uses compact fluorescents lamps, and 12V LED desk lamps."

As the earth gets warmer, certain plants go mountain climbing. Plants normally found in the tundra will spread to higher elevations when conditions allow them to thrive there. Biologists at the University of Colorado have installed an alarm system at the peaks of three mountains in areas that are closed to the public. The system is designed to sound an alarm when tundra plants reach a certain elevation. It is a measure of climate change based on actual changes in alpine ecosystem biology. RockyMountainNews.com has the full story here.

From the AFP: "In that "spirit of shared responsibility," Chirac said the G8 needed to cope with global warming by improving the functioning of the gas and oil markets, promoting renewable and alternative energies and reversing "the weakening of the international regime for climate change," referring to the Kyoto Protocol, which the US did not sign. "We seek an ambitious agreement commensurate with the threat posed to humanity, one committing all the G8 countries, including the United States, as well as emerging countries." The seven members of the G8 that signed the Kyoto Protocol, Chirac said, "must set an example by respecting their commitments, as Europe and France are doing." "The current ecological crisis demands effective and coordinated global responses. I will call upon my counterparts to commit to the rapid establishment of a United Nations Environment Organization," he added."

From the AP: "The first half of the year was the warmest on record for the United States. The government reported Friday that the average temperature for the 48 contiguous United States from January through June was 51.8 degrees Fahrenheit, or 3.4 degrees above average for the 20th century. That made it the warmest such period since recordkeeping began in the National Climatic Data Center reported."

From CNET: 'It's no joke. The U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday approved legislation instructing Americans to "give high priority to energy efficiency as a factor in determining best value and performance for purchases of computer servers."

'But what official Washington is belatedly discovering is hardly new to technology companies, which have tried to boost efficiency in servers since at least as long ago as 2001. Higher efficiency not only reduces electricity bills, it also offers lower cooling costs, so server buyers have long had a strong market incentive to go green.'

Marcus Kabel of the Associated Press writes a piece today about the steps Wal*Mart is taking to address global warming and the part it plays as the world's largest retailer. On the scope of Wal*Marts carbon footprint: "The world's largest retailer emitted the equivalent of 20.8 million metric tons of carbon dioxide last year, the main greenhouse gas, while the best estimate for its supply chain — all the production and shipping needed to fill Wal-Mart shelves — is 10 times that, said Jim Stanway, director of project development in Wal-Mart's energy department." As a testament to the large impact of small changes, especially if you are a large company, the AP reports that last year Wal*Mart installed alternative power units in each of its 7000 trucks. The units allow the drivers to turn off the big rig engines during loading and unloading. The savings: $25 million in fuel savings and a CO2 reduction of 100,000 metric tons.

Today, Reuters reports: "The tiny nation of Vanuatu, one of the "happy isles of Oceania," has topped a new index that measures quality of life against environmental impact, with industrial countries, perhaps unsurprisingly, faring badly." "The Happy Planet Index strips the view of the economy back to its absolute basics: what we put in (resources), and what comes out (human lives of different length and happiness)," the NEF said." While this news indicates happy times for the happy isles, the nation has been besieged by rising sea surges that have caused some of the first mass relocations resulting from climate change. The Vanuatu news agency, Port Vila Presse reports on this story here. (photo credit: Reuters Photos)

Newsweek's cover article: The New Greening of America breaks new ground by discussing several angles of environmental action from Christian evangelism, to Wal*Mart's entry into the Green marketplace, and many points in between. The article highlights Green's new populist face and addresses the larger problem of climate change only briefly, creating a tone of "we can do it" rather than the more familiar, pessimistic tone of uncertainty, fear, and hopelessness. I especially like what the president and founder of Grist.org has to say and it sums up the attitude of the entire article: "Chip Giller sees the site as participating in a 'rebranding of the environmental movement' away from preachiness and toward creating jobs, enhancing national security and having fun."

One of the many things I like about the reforestation projects supported by Carbonfund.org is that they support tree planting in areas where the reforrestation will help not only with carbon sequestration, but also with other environmental challenges. Here's a project they support in the Ozarks. From Carbonfund.org: "Carbonfund is supporting tree plantings of primarily red oak trees in areas of the forest that have been damaged by the red oak borer. This insect has turned highly scenic, old oak stands into barren plots. The new trees will be resistant to the borer and be able to produce acorns much faster than ordinary oak trees. The oaks will restore beauty to the region and provide habitat and food for squirrels, rabbits, deer, fox, bald eagles, and black bear." earthscreen supports Carbonfund.org through its adopt your earth program.

The Evangelical Ecologist reports on a new car called the Eco-Fueler Roadster. Here are some quick facts about the American Roadster: 70 miles per gallon of Compressed Natural Gas (Barbeque Grill fuel?) 0 to 60 in 5 seconds 700 miles for $7.00 (Drive from Los Angeles to San Francisco for about $4.00) The website for Evangelical Ecologist is currently offline. As soon as it is back up, I'll link to their original post.

Last year, 20/20 ran a story about how scary hotel beds can be: without going into the gory details, suffice to say that lots of microscopic critters live in a mattress. Yuk. I tried a mattress barrier cover, but found the crinkle of the plastic version I bought unbearable. Green Nest sells a barrier cover that tackles both problems. It's made from extremely tightly woven organic cotton that promises to remain soft while keeping mold, dust mites and other small critters on the other side. earthscreen members can save up to 10% at Green Nest.

From Treehugger: "After posting about biofuel mapping, we learned about Renewable Planet, " a free and accessible resource that highlights the number and variety of renewable energy projects from around the world. Here is an opportunity to celebrate and learn about the impact individuals and organizations have already made and continue to make as part of the renewable energy community."" This site makes great use of Google maps. Users can submit their own projects for inclusion. As a directory is only as good as its entries, spread the word!

I've always thought dogs looked a little uncomfortable craining their necks to eat from bowls placed directly on the floor. Additionally, for those with deep-chested dogs, it is a good idea to elevate the food and water bowls to prevent a condition known as bloat, which can be lethal. Vivavi sells a stylish, eco-friendly solution whether Fido's needs are comfort or medical: The Bent Ply Feeder by Holden Designs. earthscreen members can save up to 10% using earthscreen rewards. *Extra Credit: PLY-BENDING FACTS: 1) Ply-bending yields 8-10 times more usable wood from a log than solid lumber. 2) Ply-bent furniture has greater potential to outlast solid wood furniture. 3) The energy utilized in converting wood from a raw material to a finished product is minuscule when compared to any other industrial material.

Rainforests provide us with a huge array of fruits, vegetables and medicines. And yet over 2.4 acres are destroyed every second. earthscreen helps stop this destruction to protect the planet. Mat Kujak took this picture of wild blackberries while photographing Belize for our members. It is one of hundreds of images earthscreen members see in their earthscreen screen saver. The screen saver automatically downloads a new image every day. Upgrade your membership to experience nature's beauty on your desktop.

At 2AM one night last September, I stood on the roof of my house in Woodland Hills, California armed with a 75 foot garden hose. The Chatsworth fire was approaching. The sky was orange, the smell was putrid, and the quarter-sized pieces of white ash covered all I could see. I didn't expect watering down my house would keep a big blaze away, but I thought I could at least prevent a flare up should an ember reach my roof before it turned to white ash. The fire was now 2 miles away - one wrong turn of the wind and it could all be lost. Today, the Washington Post reports on research that indicates the increase in Western wildfires since the mid 1980's may be the result of human induced global warming. "I see this as one of the first big indicators of climate change impacts in the continental United States," said research team member Thomas Swetnam, director of the Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research at the University of Arizona in Tucson. "We're showing warming and earlier springs tying in with large forest fire frequencies. Lots of people think climate change and the ecological responses are 50 to 100 years away. But it's not 50 to 100 years away - it's happening now in forest ecosystems through fire."

While butanol is not new, its been used in everything from paint thinner to perfume, producing it as a bio-fuel is. Its promise is that it is a clean burning fuel like ethanol, but also can provide 30% more energy than the more familiar alcohol. Previously, butanol has been produced from fossil fuels. Last week, however, DuPont and BP announced their partnership to "develop, produce and market a next generation of biofuels to help meet increasing global demand for renewable transportation fuels." Butanol is on the top of that list. Here's more from manufacturing.net.

From Carbonfund.org: "[Carbon] sequestration is the process of reducing carbon dioxide emissions by taking them out of the atmosphere. Sequestration is often synonymous with planting trees, but can also include other activities that reduce CO2. Sequestration can be a bit controversial because while trees suck up CO2 while they are alive, they ultimately die. However, a well-managed forest creates a net CO2 reduction by absorbing CO2 and moving it into the depths of the soil around it." earthscreen partner Carbonfund.org has recently updated their website. It looks great. For a list of Carbonfund.org projects, click here.