Walking is the New Driving

By guest contributer Stacey Harman

Since greenisthenewpink.org hit the scene over a year ago, I have tried my best to incorporate “green” ways of living into my lifestyle…

I changed out all my BAD light bulbs for Eco-friendly bulbs. I started recycling, or at least reusing everything and anything I could. I unplug my cell phone chargers during the day like a good little girl. I shut down my computer when I’m not using it. I get my books from the library instead of buying new every time. I never had air conditioning to begin with so that was a non-issue. I do laundry at odd hours of the night. I drink tap water (God help me if my unborn children arrive with an extra arm or one lonely ear). And I cut back to four squares of Charmin when wiping. I figured this was the least I could do.

However…if all that sounds too difficult, yet you still want to reduce your carbon footprint (I still have no idea what that means, but it’s fun to say), if you really want to make a difference, there is one more thing you can do. It’s so simple and yet it will make a huge impact. Are you ready…?

WALK!

That’s right. You heard me…start walking. You learned the ancient art of walking when you were just one year old. You’ve been doing it for as long as you can remember, but right around 16 you learned to DRIVE (ooh - bad word, bad word) and if you’re anything like me, driving became the norm.

School was a hop, skip and a jump away but I insisted on driving my little ‘94 Hyundai back and forth everyday. Plus, if I took the long way to school, I could pass by my crush, Brian’s house, pretending I just happened to be in the neighborhood (something stalkers do). I had no idea driving two blocks here and three blocks there was actually releasing harmful toxins into the air.

If only I knew then what I know now…

DRIVING 3 miles produces roughly 1.0 KG of CO2.

Walking still sound like a drag? Maybe saving the Earth isn’t enough incentive to drive less and start walking. Here’s a little bonus incentive…

You’re getting fat. That’s right. I said it…FAT.

WALKING 3 miles burns roughly 300 calories.

• Walking the mile to the nearest Whole Foods can and WILL help you to lose those 20 aggravating pounds you’ve put on since college
  

• Walking to your favorite bar (which is undoubtedly in your own neighborhood anyway) will not only reduce your carbon footprint (heehee – I said it again), but also, stop you from “one-eyeing” it on the way home which is not only dangerous, but illegal.
  

• And here’s another brilliant idea…WALK to the gym, Fatty. I was driving to my gym everyday when finally it dawned on me…My gym is only 1.3 miles from my house. That’s 130 calories each way if I walk. My 30 minutes of cardio combined with walking the 2.6 mile round trip may just be the perfect combination for reducing my thunder thighs and saving the Earth all at once

Do your part…Save the Earth…WALK.

-Stacey is a writer who lives in Los Angeles

Seasonal Winter Produce

Just a friendly reminder to eat your vegetables, but to also make sure you buy ones that are naturally in season right now. Out of season produce is grown in far away lands and shipped to you at a high cost to the environment! Here's a list of what's in season right now, look for it when you do your grocery shopping....






Winter Fruit
Grapes
Meyer Lemons
Blood Oranges
Mandarin Oranges
Tangerines
Grapefruit
Limes
Avocados

Winter Vegetables
Winter Squash
Parsnips
Broccoli
Cauliflower
Kale
Spinach
Beets
Fennel
Leeks
Escarole
Brussels Sprouts
Mushrooms
Walnuts
*** availability and seasonality changes by region***

For the recipes in the pictures and other wonderful winter vegetable recipes check out these from Bon Appetit magazine's February issue. Remember to also buy the fruits and vegetables grown in YOUR area to downsize transportation costs and CO2 emissions.

For more information and facts on the environmental benefits of seasonal eating, read our past post on the issue.

Spring is just around the corner so take advantage of the winter bounty while it lasts!

Green Politics Part Deux

Who says today's youth doesn't care? Even though our generation barely has the attention span to make it through a Tivo'd episode of The Hills, we know there's lots of us out there who care about the issues and actually do something about it to boot. And as proof (and inspiration) that the younger generation really does have something to say about global warming, we've let one of our favorite collegiate students--CALVIN SLOAN--take the post this week... Calvin's tackling the subject of how Congress has been handling the issue of global warming. The good news is that Congress is finally talking about it. The bad news is that their proposed acts leave a lot to be desired. Without further ado...here's what Cal has to say on the subject:

Why is it that America rewards short-term corporate profits over long-term human needs? Our imperialistic response to fossil fuel depletion and global warming science proves that our policymakers are beholden to special interest. With each unregulated, CO2-emitting day that passes, we bare witness to the power of lobbying for King Coal, Big Oil, and other polluting industries. Since the United States’ oil production peaked in 1970, American politicians have been morally obligated to develop alternative energy sources. Just as England was damaged by its inability to shift from a coal-based society to one of petro, the U.S. will eventually suffer for not being able to make the green transition. The emergence of greenhouse gas science in the late 80’s should have catalyzed this political obligation, but had no initial effect upon public policy. Unfortunately, although it is the people who politicians are suppose to serve, it has been corporations who have received the representation.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change was created in 1988, and released their first report in 1990. We have waited until 2007, and FINALLY there are bills on the House and Senate floors that address climate change. Numerous climate bills are under debate and gaining traction in the House and Senate. Unfavorably, the Lieberman-Warner proposal has gained prominence on the Senate floor. The bill bases itself off a flawed cap-and-trade system, contains gratuitous subsidies for outdated industries, and, regardless of it potentially gaining strong support from Democrats, will be shot down by either a Republican filibuster or Presidential veto through 2008. In a cap-and-trade system, polluters are given a limit for the amount of CO2 emissions they are allowed to emit. Based upon this limit, companies are financially rewarded or punished for their capability to arrive below or above the limit. These government-allocated polluting allowances can then be traded or saved for future use by a company. Thus, there becomes an economic incentive to decrease CO2 pollution. In practice though, the desired effect of this system, reducing CO2 emissions, has not been achieved. One simply has to observe the European Union Emission Trading Scheme that has overseen a rise in both emissions and corporate profits to understand that shifting CO2 into a market commodity only increases corruption. The system is not a stupid one, it’s just very hard to implement correctly.

There are certain issues that are non-negotiable. The climate crisis has to be approached with this maxim in mind. We must look at what the science says and act upon it. In contrast to what is presented in the mainstream media, the scientific consensus on what needs to be done is strongly supported and clearly defined. We must cut CO2 emissions 80 percent by the year 2050. According to the most current IPCC report, a reduction of this magnitude will give us a 50/50 chance of reducing man-made warming to a manageable level.

The sky and planet are our property. The government is our property. It’s time we started taking it back.

Thanks, Cal....For more info on ALL the different bills pertaining to global warming right now, click here. Your vote is arguably your strongest tool for change in this country so make sure you consider your candidate's stance on Climate Change when you cast your ballot in the primaries this coming year. We must demand our government get involved in solving the crisis of climate change now!