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Middleboro Review 2

NEW CONTENT MOVED TO MIDDLEBORO REVIEW 2

Toyota

Since the Dilly, Dally, Delay & Stall Law Firms are adding their billable hours, the Toyota U.S.A. and Route 44 Toyota posts have been separated here:

Route 44 Toyota Sold Me A Lemon



Sunday, December 5, 2010

Have yourself a Merry Green Christmas!

This has been a challenging time for the environment and the climate. Below are some recent articles and broadcast worth reading and listening to in their entirety.

At the bottom, are some Holiday gift ideas for those seeking alternative gifts.



Big Polluters Freed from Environmental Oversight by Stimulus
BP, Westar, and DuPont Among Companies Exempted from Environmental Law





Ocean acidification may threaten food security: U.N.
CANCUN, Mexico (Reuters) - Acidification of the seas linked to climate change could threaten fisheries production and is already causing the fastest shift in ocean chemistry in 65 million years, a U.N. study showed on Thursday.

Production of shellfish, such as mussels, shrimp or lobsters, could be most at risk since they will find it harder to build protective shells, according to the report issued on the sidelines of U.N. climate talks in Mexico.

It could also damage coral reefs, vital as nurseries for many commercial fish stocks.

"Ocean acidification is yet another red flag being raised, carrying planetary health warnings about the uncontrolled growth in greenhouse gas emissions," said Achim Steiner, head of the U.N. Environment Programme (UNEP).

The Dirty Secret of Declining Global Coal Supplies

Americans Fail The Climate Quiz
LISTEN


Military Goes Green For An Edge On The Battlefield
LISTEN


Rising Seas, Climate Change & the Viriginia Coast
As the U.N. talks about climate in Cancun, coastal Norfolk, VA, is already dealing with rising sea levels.

Norfolk, Virginia is one of the oldest cities in America. It’s a city on the water, at the mouth of Chesapeake Bay.

And if you live in Norfolk, what you see is the water rising. Norfolk’s land base is settling. The seas are getting higher.

The combination has put Norfolk out front in confronting what cities all over the world may face in a century of climate change: water in the streets; big decisions on what to save and where to retreat; and huge costs.

Climate change deniers hate the conversation, but in Norfolk, it’s reality time. We look at getting real about high water, and what’s to come.

LISTEN



thedailygreen which includes:
Green gift ideas
30+ Surprising Ways to Save Money by Going Green
19 Easy Home Winterization Projects
11 Ways to Give Without Giving Stuff
9 Great Free and Ultra-Cheap Christmas Gifts
Keep holiday spending under control, without being Scrooge.


Environmental News Network does a superlative job offering information from around the world.

From Have yourself a Merry Green Christmas!

I'm guessing Christmas shopping has already started for many and I know of some people who have put up trees already. Christmas is a nice season: it wraps up the end of the year, gives us time to contemplate, spend time with families, shop and eat. Who doesn't like all of that? Modern Christmas is also supremely consumerist, so like with other holidays, it is essential to consider your personal footprint.

The recent survey released by price comparison site GoCompare via the Energy Saving Trust of British householders revealed just how much energy is wasted by Christmas lighting. 52% of respondents intended to display decorative Christmas lighting outside their house. With this in mind, GoCompare calculated that a display of 100 five-watt bulbs switched on for six hours a day over the festive period will consume 207 Kwh, the equivalent of 22.8 days of the average British household's
electricity consumption.

According to the American Environmental Defense Fund one of the easiest ways to lower Christmas electricity bills is by buying energy-saving LED decorative lighting, suitable for both outdoor and indoor displays. Though LED Christmas lighting often costs more than traditional alternatives, in the long term it consumes far less energy, which leads to lower electricity bills and reduces the environmental impact of the festive season. They also last longer.

Lighting is not the only way to reduce your festive footprint, as ethical consumer this can be extended to the food and drinks you serve as well as the presents you give, cards, the tree you choose - the list is endless. There are now many options when it comes to trees as well. A real tree wins, because artificial trees are made of PVC which is hard to recycle. Christmas tree farms, have sustainability built into the business: when you cart your tree off for trimming, they'll plant another one to sell a few years down the line. However, make sure that you opt for an organic farm that does not use pesticides and fertilizers. Additionally find out if you can rent a Christmas tree, or plant one in your backyard which you can use year after year.

Article continues:
http://www.justmeans.com/Have-yourself-a-Merry-Green-Christmas/38049.html

NRDC

From Rainforest Action Network:
Make Sure Your Holiday Shopping Is Rainforest-Safe

From The Center for Biological Diversity:
STOREFRONT
The Greener Giving Guide

From Jetson Green:

Green Gift Guide: The Gift of Giving

From Defenders of Wildlife:
Marketplace

From WorldWildlife Fund:
Gift Center


From Sierra Club:
Christmas gift ideas

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