Direct Action

Save Money, Save the World

- Adam Clare

MSNBC has a quick and simple list on things that you can do to help you save money and the planet. They have a list of 10 carbon-reducing actions that you can take if you own a house and a car. Those who have neither may not find this list that useful, but there is a bonus tip #11!

From the list:

10. Think about your refrigerator. Don’t locate this particular appliance in direct sunlight or next to the stove or dishwasher. Also, unplug that extra fridge, especially if it’s just keeping a six-pack cold.

Mother’s Day Gifts That Make a Difference

- Adam Clare

Granted, Mother’s Day may be a “Hallmark Holiday” (or not), but that doesn’t mean that the holiday can’t be used fro good.

OneWorld US has launched a gift guide for Mother’s Day that let’s you purcahse gifts that can make the world a better place!

If you have any ideas on gifts for Mom that make the world better, leave a comment to let everyone know!

Greenpeace Influences Apple

- Adam Clare 2 Comments

Here’s more proof that trying to make a difference does work. Greenpeace, who scolded Apple for not being green, has been effective in getting Apple to change its way.

Steve Jobs, the man behind Apple, has released a statement that Apple is going to be greener.

Apple has been criticized by some environmental organizations for not being a leader in removing toxic chemicals from its new products, and for not aggressively or properly recycling its old products. Upon investigating Apple’s current practices and progress towards these goals, I was surprised to learn that in many cases Apple is ahead of, or will soon be ahead of, most of its competitors in these areas. Whatever other improvements we need to make, it is certainly clear that we have failed to communicate the things that we are doing well.

Europe’s First Plastic Bag Free Town

- Adam Clare

Modbury is a very small town in England that is quiet and quaint, until today. At 8am today Modbury became the first plastic bag free town in Europe. This is great news which comes after San Francisco gave up plastic bags last month.

Modbury may spark a Europe-wide rejection of the dreaded plastic bag.

Spurred by environmental fervour and growing concern about the 100bn or more plastic bags thought to be littering the world and clogging the seas, the town’s 43 traders have unilaterally declared their independence from the plastic bag and have pledged to no longer sell, give away or otherwise provide them to anyone in Modbury for a minimum of six months.

6 Environmental Warriors!

- Vanessa King

earth.jpgThe Goldman Environmental Award is the world’s largest prize honoring grassroots environmentalists, and this years winners were just announced! Check out these 6 amazing people from all over the Globe who have done some really incredible stuff for nature!

North America
Sophia Rabliauskas, 47, Manitoba, Canada: Working on behalf of the Poplar River First Nation, Rabliauskas succeeded in securing interim protection for the boreal forest of Manitoba, effectively preventing destructive logging and hydro-power development while the government and international agencies deliberate on the future of the region.

Africa
Hammerskjoeld Simwinga, 45, Zambia: In an area where rampant illegal wildlife poaching decimated the wild elephant population and left villagers living in extreme poverty, Simwinga created an innovative sustainable community development program that successfully restored wildlife and transformed this poverty-stricken area.

Asia
Tsetsegee Munkhbayar, 40, Mongolia: Munkhbayar successfully worked with government and grassroots organizations to shut down destructive mining operations along Mongolia’s scarce waterways. Through public education and political lobbying, Munkhbayar has effectively protected Mongolia’s precious water resources from additional unregulated mining.

South & Central America
Julio Cusurichi, 36, Peru: In the remote Peruvian Amazon, Cusurichi secured a national reserve to protect both sensitive rain forest ecosystems and the rights of indigenous peoples living in voluntary isolation from the devastating effects of logging and mining.

Europe
Willie Corduff, 53, Ireland: In the small farming community of Ross Port, Corduff and a group of committed activists and landowners successfully forced Shell Oil to halt construction on an illegally-approved pipeline through their land.

Islands & Island Nations
Orri Vigfússon, 64, Iceland: Vigfússon brokered huge international fishing rights buyouts with governments and corporations in the North Atlantic, effectively stopping destructive commercial salmon fishing in the region.

All winners will be honored as they come together at the San Fransisco Opera House tonight!!

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