Getting Real About the High Price of Cheap Food

Excerpt:
"...And perhaps worst of all, our food is increasingly bad for us, even dangerous. A series of recalls involving contaminated foods this year — including an outbreak of salmonella from tainted peanuts that killed at least eight people and sickened 600 — has consumers rightly worried about the safety of their meals. A food system — from seed to 7‑Eleven — that generates cheap, filling food at the literal expense of healthier produce is also a principal cause of America's obesity epidemic. At a time when the nation is close to a civil war over health-care reform, obesity adds $147 billion a year to our doctor bills. "The way we farm now is destructive of the soil, the environment and us," says Doug Gurian-Sherman, a senior scientist with the food and environment program at the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS).
(See pictures of what the world eats.)

Some Americans are heeding such warnings and working to transform the way the country eats — ranchers and farmers who are raising sustainable food in ways that don't bankrupt the earth."

Read More..

15 Year Old Invents Algae-Powered Energy System

Thanks to 15 year old Texan Javier Fernández-Han, we feel a little more hopeful about the next generation’s ability to adapt to a world of limited resources. The high school student developed a fully featured algae-powered energy system that combines a dozen new and existing technologies to treat waste, produce methane and bio-oil for fuel, produce food for humans and livestock, sequester greenhouse gases, and produce oxygen. Dubbed the VERSATILE system, the project is this year’s winner of the annual Invent Your World Challenge $20,000 scholarship.

READ MORE...

We are still burning crops to move vehicles

No surprise here, Electric vehicles are more efficient than burning fuel in a conventional engine. According to a California Professor we should be using the energy we get from crops and use it to generate electricity for electric vehicles.

Excerpt:

"Bioelectricity outperforms ethanol across a range of feedstocks, conversion technologies, and vehicle classes. Bioelectricity produces an average 81% more transportation kilometers and 108% more emissions offsets per unit area cropland than cellulosic ethanol. These results suggest that alternative bioenergy pathways have large differences in how efficiently they use the available land to achieve transportation and climate goals.

This is hardly a surprise, though it has seemed startling enough to the media that it's gone mainstream. After all, conventional car engines of the sort used to burn ethanol put out barely 20 per cent of their fuel's energy at the drive shaft. By contrast, an electric motor can beat 80 per cent without trouble."

But wait:

"Are you sure there's enough land, Professor?

Let's hope that Campbell never bumps into Dr Richard Pike, head of the Royal Society of Chemistry here in the UK. Pike is deeply scathing about the idea of using plants to power transportation by any means - electric or ethanol. He notes that you get 2,000 per cent more energy per acre by covering land with solar cells, making Campbell's measly 80 per cent improvement look pretty rubbish"

Read the full article here

Biochar - No April Fools Joke

Putting the Gene back in the bottle is always the trick. In the case of CO₂ it my be critical for mankind and the planet.

A group of researchers in Georgia are working on a new/old solution: Biochar

Not only does it help the soil, microbes and plants, it also holds the CO₂ in the soil. By taking organic waste and creating Biochar not only are we helping our Global Warming issue, we are are also helping feed people and possibly make more energy (fuel).



Also visit http://www.biochar.org/

Earth Hour Saturday Night

Join in for one hour Saturday night March 28th to support the Earth and send a message about global warming.

No matter where you live in the world, turn off your lights for one hour starting at 8:30 PM

For more information and to join in the conversation Click Here



From the Earth Hour Website:

VOTE EARTH
YOUR LIGHT SWITCH IS YOUR VOTE
This year, Earth Hour has been transformed into the world’s first global election, between Earth and global warming.

For the first time in history, people of all ages, nationalities, race and background have the opportunity to use their light switch as their vote – Switching off your lights is a vote for Earth, or leaving them on is a vote for global warming. WWF are urging the world to VOTE EARTH and reach the target of 1 billion votes, which will be presented to world leaders at the Global Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen 2009.

This meeting will determine official government policies to take action against global warming, which will replace the Kyoto Protocol. It is the chance for the people of the world to make their voice heard.

Earth Hour began in Sydney in 2007, when 2.2 million homes and businesses switched off their lights for one hour. In 2008 the message had grown into a global sustainability movement, with 50 million people switching off their lights. Global landmarks such as the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, Rome’s Colosseum, the Sydney Opera House and the Coca Cola billboard in Times Square all stood in darkness.

In 2009, Earth Hour is being taken to the next level, with the goal of 1 billion people switching off their lights as part of a global vote. Unlike any election in history, it is not about what country you’re from, but instead, what planet you’re from. VOTE EARTH is a global call to action for every individual, every business, and every community. A call to stand up and take control over the future of our planet. Over 74 countries and territories have pledged their support to VOTE EARTH during Earth Hour 2009, and this number is growing everyday.

We all have a vote, and every single vote counts. Together we can take control of the future of our planet, for future generations.

VOTE EARTH by simply switching off your lights for one hour, and join the world for Earth Hour.

Saturday, March 28, 8:30-9:30pm.

First Jet to fly on Algae Fuel

BBC Story:

A US airline has completed the first test flight of a plane partly powered by biofuel derived from algae.

The 90-minute flight by a Continental Boeing 737-800 went better than expected, a spokesperson said.

One of its engines was powered by a 50-50 blend of biofuel and normal aircraft fuel.

Wednesday's test is the latest in a series of demonstration flights by the aviation industry, which hopes to be using biofuels within five years.


Read More....

In Reality - No Existing Clean Coal Plants

All this talk about "Clean Coal" my be just a bunch of hot air. Hot air full of green house gases!

It turns out there is not one coal fired plant using technology to clean up their by product before it goes out into the air we breath.

thisisreality.org has a TV campaign and a website with the Facts.

30 Best Eco Sites

Our friends over at Listropolis have posted an interesting link to a list of The 30 Best Eco Sites.

Check them out. (Thanks for the info Shaun)

http://www.listropolis.com/2008/09/the-30-best-eco-sites-on-the-web/

100 Mile Diet - Eating Locally

It is so simple. It just makes sense.

Buying local supports local business owners and farmers. The food is fresher, most likely better quality and better for you.

Check out this site and make a pledge to do more to eat better and buy local.

Visit the Site

See the FAQs

Cars Running On Compressed Air!

I got excited when I read this. Then I really got excited when I saw the video. Both are great ideas and I really love the Aussie rotary version!

Imagine how we can change the level of pollution in cities and even travel long distances with this technology coupled with biodiesel or other fuels. If "air stations" where everywhere we could use nothing but air!

This video is less than 9 minutes long and well worth it. I plan on tracking this technology and will bring you any news I find out.



US Company Site - Click Here

French Company Official Site - Click Here

Australian Rotary Engine Air Car Site - Click Here

Arizona to Get Wind Power

The state's first wind-energy farm could be operating by late next year, filling a gap in Arizona's alternative-power offerings.

Salt River Project officials said the proposed plant, to be built about 18 miles northwest of Snowflake with turbines stretching more than 300 feet high, finally offered the utility an affordable wind-power option.

Utility officials said Monday that they have agreed to buy electricity from the plant's operator, enough to power more than 15,000 homes.

Full Article at the Arizona Republic Web Site - Click Here

Gas Prices

Finally, a truly accurate gas price panel at the local station:

300 MPG Vehicle

This car caught my attention yesterday while surfing the web. 300mpg highway and the possibility to got 1000 miles on one gallon at lower speeds.

Aptera comes in a Hybrid or all Electric versions. Sleek, modern and a car that makes sense.

Oh, and the price... Under $30K expected! Right now you can reserve one if you live in Southern California for support and maintenance reasons. My hope is this car company will be able to expand rapidly across the US. Personally, I want one. I could drive around Sedona on all electric and when I need to go further, I can. The price point puts this car in the budget of a large portion of American families too. Not just a car for the wealthy...

Green Festivals

Find "green" stuff and learn new things at the Green Festivals