Happy 4th Everyone! I hope everyone is celebrating a very green holiday. We've added several new talented writers this week to give you the latest and greatest on everything green.

Introducing:

Gavin Hudson: He joins us from Seattle, and has worked for the Jane Goodall Institute on their Roots & Shoots program, among other things. He'll be covering the activism beat here at GO.

Christan Wasniewki: She's starting a non-profit called International Poverty Solutions, Inc., which will focus on incubating and/or financing businesses aimed at alleviating international poverty and environmental degradation. Christian will be covering the very complicated world of eco-finance.

Christal White: She is the eco-concierge at the 70 Park Avenue Hotel (a green one!) in Manhattan, and also blogs at I'm Organic's Organiblog. She'll be focusing on eco-travel for us.

Alex Ho: He is based in San Mateo, California, and blogs about green tech at Generation Exe. Alex will do green tech coverage for us, also.

Jason Leggett: He is a Civil Engineer in Huntsville, Alabama, and blogs at Reasic and Celsias. Jason will be covering climate science.

 

Without further ado, here are my favorite posts from this past week.

Cocoa and Conflict: A Look at Côte d'Ivoire

Chocolate, along with coffee and tea, is one of the most popular Fair Trade certified products available. Côte d'Ivoire is the largest producer of cocoa in the world, and the abundance of this popular ingredient has played a major role in the country's political crisis. A diplomatic source in Abidjan made the comparison that cocoa in Côte d'Ivoire "is the same as timberor diamonds were in Liberia."

After maintaining a stable and affluent country for decades, Côte d'Ivoire fell to a rebellion in 2002 which split the country in two. This led to many human rights violations, with harassment, child soldiers and executions reported on both the rebels and government. The fighting has claimed "thousands of civilian lives and led to the displacement of hundreds of thousands of people" with over 40% of the population now in poverty. There already exists an arms embargo ban on rough diamonds because of their contribution to the conflict. However, cocoa is still available to on the international market, with an estimated $118 million already used to fund the conflict on both sides.

London Mayor Wants to Crush American Ambassador for Refusing to Pay

The most recent episode in the ongoing dispute over the London congestion charge, once again pits the Mayor against the American Embassy. A congestion charge of £8, around $16, is levied on private vehicles entering a central zone of the vast capital city of Great Britain during working hours from Monday through Friday. The American Embassy, among others, is located in the central zone but refuses to pay the charge for its fleet of vehicles. The Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, is incensed, and he is not one to mince his words.

Referring to the wayward Embassy during a radio talk show last Thursday, he said: “If it was up to me, I would’ve seized their cars and crushed them, but it’s not legal for me to do that. I would've been quite happy to crush the car with the American ambassador in it, quite frankly.

Green Film Review: The Next Industrial Revolution

"When we follow nature's rules, growth is good. The question before us is not growth versus no growth, It is: what would good growth look like? And this is a question of intent, of design. What if we grow health instead of sickness, home ownership instead of indigence, education instead of ignorance?"

In a one hour film narrated by Susan Sarandon about the designer duo William McDonough and Michael Braungart (MBDC), we get a refresher course on Cradle to Cradle design theory. We review waste=food, the role of biological and technical nutrients in production, and why being less bad is no good. The MBDC design tenets result in buildings with net energy returns and products so safe they are edible.

Weekly DIY: Rain Barrels

I've been wanting to put in a couple of rain barrels at my house this year. We put in some garden plants this weekend, and they are going to need to be watered. Rain barrels are great because they help conserve water and cut down the amount of potable water that needs to be used. Rain barrels are commercially available for around $100 (or more). These are more "decorative" (if you find a piece of plastic molded with a wood barrel pattern decorative), but with a drill, some silicone sealant, and a couple of basic parts, you can build a rain barrel of your own.

It is important to remember that this is not drinking water that you are collecting. Without further treatment, there are too many possible problems, from dust and dirt to chemicals (from roof materials) to microorganisms that may colonize an available water supply. There are rainwater catchment systems that are designed for potable water use. These are more involved, and need to have other elements in the system beyond what is being discussed here.

Green Style Spotlight: Little Green Radicals

Parents want the best for their kids, so buying items with organic cotton is the minimum for most. As environmentalists of all different shades of green, being proud and outspoken about what you believe in becomes second nature. In a matter of weeks, babies show their own unique personalities, and their surroundings (clothing included) should reflect that.

London-based brand Hug, well known for their womens wear, recently re-released their unique children's line called Little Green Radicals. Available for babies and toddlers, all items are made from organic, certified Fair Trade, and sweatshop-free cotton in Egypt and India. Also noted on the brand's website: all prints "have been produced using the most ecological water based inks available."

Greening the Golden Years: Bay Area Senior Housing Goes Solar

Today’s guest is Ryan Chao, Executive Director of Satellite Housing, a San Francisco Bay Area not-for-profit corporation, providing affordable housing for low-income seniors, families and individuals with special needs. He is responsible for property management, resident services, financial management and affordable housing development activities for the organization.

The Nutrients We Need are Plant-Based

In my 15+ years of animal and vegetarian/vegan advocacy, I have answered countless questions – some smart, some thoughtful, some antagonistic, some ridiculous, and some over and over and over. Some people seem to think that by virtue of being vegan you hold degrees in nutrition, philosophy, anthropology, animal husbandry, ecology, and the culinary arts and often proceed to cross-examine you on each of these topics. Every vegan or vegetarian has been on the receiving end of someone trying to find a flaw with your lifestyle choice, and it can be exhausting at times.

Luckily for me, I love communicating - through talking (just ask my husband), writing (is anybody reading this?), and other means - and I never get tired of expressing the joy that comes from living a life that reflects compassion, kindness, and non-violence toward others. I am amazed, however, at the questions that arise in people once they encounter a “vegan.” Questions are great; don't get me wrong. But, it's as if people don't start thinking about health, nutrition, and animal rights until someone says the word "vegan” or even “vegetarian."

Tip o' the Day: Paper or Paper with Post-Consumer Materials?

Paper, paper, paper. It's everywhere. Even though it is easily recycled, a lot of paper evades the recycling bin and winds up in the landfills.

Everyday items — toilet paper, facial tissue, napkins, paper towels, and even books and magazines — can be made from recycled paper and can include post-consumer materials.

Weekend Grub: Honey Iced Espresso

Ingredients:

Two shots of espresso (regular coffee will work in a pinch): just make it strong. Use one of the many Fair Trade, organic and shade-grown coffees available. This is a triple whammy that ensures farmers were paid a fair wage, no nasty chemicals are tainting your drink or the environment, and many animals are able to relax in the coffee trees.

1-2 tablespoons of honey to taste. To find some great local honey check out your local farmer's market. And ask if the honey is organic as the problem of disappearing bees doesn't seem to be effecting the organic bee farms though the reason why is still a mystery.

Ice.

2 cups local milk or soy milk (adds a nice hint of nutty flavor).

Brew espresso shots. Put the honey in the hot espresso and stir well to fully dissolve before pouring coffee and honey mixture over ice. Add milk and enjoy a delicious and healthy treat!