Personally, I think that we are all better off health-wise if we significantly cut back on eating animal products. But thatâ??s just me. I donâ??t claim to know better than anyone else about how to live their lives when I can barely figure out how to live my own.

So if your children eat meat, what kind of meat is better for his or her health? Organic, Factory Farmed, or does it even matter? Letâ??s look at the differencesâ?¦

Organic meat vs none organic farmed meat

Chances are, unless the meat you buy specifically has â??organicâ?� all over it, itâ??s not. So what exactly is â??factory-farmedâ?� meat?

1. Corn-fed. If left to their own devices, cows eat grass, not corn. Corn makes the cows fatter â?? thatâ??s why the meat is softer.
2. Live in unsanitary and inhumane cells. These pens are designed so the animals can barely move. Pens are filthy with animal waste matter.
3. Antibiotic-injected. Factory farmed animals are injected with antibiotics to prevent or treat diseases that are a direct result of their horribly dirty living conditions.
4. Injected with growth hormones. Factory-farmed animals are injected with growth hormones to â??encourageâ?� faster growth, faster turnover, and larger profits.

Organic meat comes from farms that have very strict rules that are constantly regulated, monitored and enforced. Organic meat is:

1. Free range. Organic meat comes from animals that are allowed to roam about and eat chemical-free food.
2. Clean and sanitary. Living conditions of organic meat animals is closely regulated by the government (US and UK).
3. Antibiotics are used ONLY if the animal is sick, which is not often because of the clean and highly monitored living conditions.
4. Not injected with growth hormones. Organic meat animals are encouraged to grow naturally â?? not chemically induced.

So after looking at the basic differences, what would you feed your child if you had to feed him meat?
Iâ??m betting on the organic farmed.

The truth about ethical fashion

Ever looked at where your T-shirt was made? Considered what misery may have gone into the production of that new jumper or pair of jeans? And what of the environmental or health consequences of unethical fashion?

We all want to look our best, but at what cost? With more and more allegations of sweat labour being levied at high street fashion companies, itâ??s hard to know who the good guys (and gals) are.

Choosing ethical fashion should first include sweatshop-free clothing. Those who suffer most in the production of most clothing are developing countries. According to Behind the Label, as little as 0.04 percent of the total cost of a garment will go to labour. The accusations made against sweatshops include:

• Extremely low wages that many suspect are insufficient for individual survival.
• Physical and sexual abuse, and forcing young women to abort babies to keep them working.
• Forcing children and adults alike to work very long hours in unhealthy working conditions.
• Failure to offer health care, child care, and other benefits to employees.
• Squashing strikes and the formation of unions by firing anyone inciting such activities.

Then you also want to look for something thatâ??s healthy for you. Chemical dyes used in many traditional textiles can contain heavy metals like copper, zinc, and chrome, all of which are suspected carcinogens. And then, of course, these dyes are often tested on animals to ensure their “safety” for humans. Looking for eco-friendly dyed clothing ensures youâ??re safe from unhealthy, cruel clothing. Low-impact dyes (such as fibre-reactive dyes and plant-based dyes) and “colour-grown” fibres are both good alternatives.

Opting for organic, natural textiles is also a good choice. Conventionally-grown cotton is the worldâ??s most pesticide-intensive crop and requires a lot of water, too. Wool, on the other hand, can be sheared from cruelly-treated sheep. And synthetics like polyester, lycra, spandex, and the like are all made from petroleum byproducts, making them inherently unsustainable. Better options include organic cotton, bamboo, soy, hemp, and other natural fibres, which are now used to produce all types of garments.

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Can you be sure that your medicine is eco-friendly

Supporting a charity that pours energy and time into making medical breakthroughs may seem like a good place for your money, but did you know that you may also be supporting the use of cruel animals tests? While looking for the Human Charity Seal of Approval is a great way to avoid sending your donations to the wrong organization, and spying the Leaping Bunny on cosmetics and personal care products ensures not cuddly bunnies were harmed, how to do you know whether your medicines are ethical?

The problem is that by and large, most pharmaceuticals today are tested on animals before theyâ??re tested on humans. Itâ??s a problem because of the cruelty inflicted on innocent, feeling creatures, but itâ??s also a problem because in many cases, the assumption of â??corresponding human validityâ?� just doesnâ??t pan out in many circumstances.

Alternatives to animal testing are being pioneered by several companies and research organizations as society increasingly objects to such torture. But what should we do now to avoid supporting companies that test their drugs on animals?

Perhaps the best solution is to look for natural alternatives to traditional medicines. More studies are being done every day to confirm the effectiveness of good nutrition and healthy lifestyle for prevention. But scientific evidence is also mounting to support the efficacy of alternative methods of treating illness, too. Many of these natural solutions to common health problems are tested only on humans because theyâ??re gentler and less risky, giving you new options for getting healthy.

So the next time you get the sniffles, break out in a rash, or need some help with falling to sleep, call up your local naturopath, homeopath, acupuncturist, herbalist, or other natural health care practitioner. Chances are, theyâ??ve got a solution for what ails youâ??one that doesnâ??t cause additional animal harm.

Ethical foods are the new fad

By and large, people assume that organic, ethical food is costlier than conventional options and that the benefits are slim to none compared to factory farm-raised options - but is this assumption true?

Sure, organic produce is free from pesticides and fertilizers, but evidence is mounting that it may also be healthier for our bodies (which results in lower health care costs). According to a study by the Quality Low Input Food Project, quantities of antioxidants (helpful in fighting disease) are higher in organic fruits, veggies (40 percent) and dairy (90 percent) than other options. In a study conducted by the Journal for Alternative and Complementary Medicine, the conclusion was that produce grown organically showed higher than average levels of 21 important nutrients, including vitamin C, magnesium, iron and phosphorus.

And who wants to gobble up food laced with synthetic chemicals like pesticides? They’re not only unappetizing, theyâ??re detrimental to our health! A report by Pesticide Action Network North America explained that we’re exposed to persistent organic pollutants-associated with cancer and hormonal, nervous system, reproductive, and immune system disorders - around 70 times daily. Children are especially at risk since their smaller bodies arenâ??t able to properly cope with the toxic barrage of chemicals.

And while taste is a personal matter, many chefs and home cooks alike prefer organic food because of its superior flavour. But here, too, studies are showing us that our instincts are likely spot-on. A study by the Washington State University sensory quality laboratory showed that organic strawberries were consistently judged sweeter than their non-organic counterparts.

Then there are the environmental matters related to our food:
- A Rodale Institute study has found that organic crops sequester carbon better than non-organic, making it a good choice in terms of climate change.
- Animals, considered by many as part of the “environment,” are often cruelly treated in confined animal feeding operations (CAFOs). Calves, for instance, are forcibly removed from their mothers (who grieve the loss of their young) and pent up in small crates to create veal. Those on organic, free-range farms, on the other hand, are able to forage and frolic as they would naturally if they were “wild.”
- Purchasing food grown or produced locally reduces the greenhouse gas emissions expended to get from farm to table.

But ethical food also means that which is produced without undue cruelty to both animals and humans. Yet, as pointed out by CorpWatch, to keeps costs down, meat packing plants are some of the dangerous and emotionally devastating places to work. Poor ventilation, angry and terrified animals, fast-moving equipment, and unsafe working conditions result in injury rates three times higher than any other private industry. And as long as we support conventional foods, weâ??re making it harder for small farms to survive.

It seems obvious that the benefits of eco-friendly, ethical food are great-for the planet, human and animal health, our taste buds, and more. Some, however, still argue that the price is too high. But is it? When you consider the bigger picture-the environmental, health care, and human costs related to conventional foods-perhaps big farm options arenâ??t as inexpensive as they seemâ?¦

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Are green beauty products worth it?

We all want to feel beautiful, but there’s no need to make yourself up at the cost of your own or the planet’s health. Whether you’re putting on your evening face or preparing for a normal day of work, you could be applying beauty products that could cause you physical harm. That’s because there are dozens of industrial chemicals-many of which have not been tested for their impact on human or environmental health-added to common over-the-counter cosmetics and personal care products today.

The scary fact is that the average woman uses between 25 and 30 products on their body every day. And with ever-changing fashion trends, women are purchasing more low-cost (and possibly low-quality) products to keep up with the latest looks. From facial cleansers to eye makeup, here’s a few of the top chemicals of concern:

• Parabens: Found in acne treatment, toner, astringent, and shaving cream, this chemical is an endocrine system disruptor.
• Phthalates: Commonly found in toner, astringent, shaving cream, aftershave, and nail polish, phthalates can cause liver, kidney, lung, and reproductive system damage.
• Toluene: Used to make nail polishes, toluene is a possible reproductive system disruptor, and can cause nervous, kidney, and liver system damage.
• Triclosan: Known to be added to acne treatment and shaving cream, triclosan may form dioxin and chloroformin, both of which are probable carcinogens.
• Acetone: Common in nail polish and nail polish removers, acetone can cause ear, nose, and throat irritation and dermatitis.
• Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA): Can be found in lipstick, facial washes, scrubs, and exfoliants, as well as toner, its health risks: it’s a carcinogen, can contribute to allergies, and is an endocrine disruptor.
• Ethanolamine: Used in hair dyes, this one can cause central nervous system depression.
• Salicylic acid: Used in acne treatment, concealer, facial cleanser and moisturizer, exfoliant, anti-aging cream, toner and astringent, salicylic acid is a possible carcinogen, a neurotoxin, and a developmental and reproductive toxin.
• Coal tar dyes: Added to hair dyes and cosmetics, coal tar dyes are commonly found listed as FD&C and D&C colors. They have known carcinogenic side effects (bladder cancer in particular).
• Titanium dioxide: Another pigment used in makeup, powders, foundations, and lipsticks, titanium dioxide can cause lung damage.

Certainly price isn’t a sure-fire indicator of quality, but more than likely if it’s cheaper, it will contain more chemicals and perhaps come with less testing. High quality brands that use plant-based ingredients are therefore a better bet if you’re trying to avoid some of the nastier diseases mentioned above.

But that leads us to the issue of animal testing. Many conventional, low-cost brands come with hidden costs-cruelty to animals. You can be sure that if it doesn’t indicate anywhere on the packaging that animals weren’t harmed, they likely were. To safeguard against this evil, look for a certification such as Leaping Bunny or Vegan Certified.

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Should mothers trust green baby products

Although for the most part, being green means higher product safety, this may not necessarily always be the case. Take reusable baby bottles and feeding utensils, for instance. While plastic baby bottles, no-spill cups, and kid-sized water bottles may prevent loads of waste heading for the bin, they may contain bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical linked to cancer, early onset of puberty, hyperactivity, and more. Usually found in polycarbonate (#7) plastics, this chemical is now being widely phased out, but thankfully there are many better options glass, stainless steel, and BPA-free plastics.

Some feeding utensils like knives, forks, spoons, plates, and bowls may also put your child at risk. Those made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC), soft plastics that can contain phthalates and other toxins, and melamine, brightly-coloured, hard plastics that contain formaldehyde, should both be avoided for their potential health risks. To evade these poisons, Mom’s can choose bamboo, glass, and growingly popular BPA-, PVC-, and formaldehyde-free plastic options.

But what of the food weâ??re serving in these various dishes? Is it safe? If you’re serving up conventional baby formula or pre-made food, it may not be. That’s because nonorganic foods likely contain a cocktail of pesticides that can be harmful to your babyâ??s health. Little bodies are at a higher risk because they consume more food by weight than adults, thus concentrating these chemicals in their systems. The safe bet (which is also the eco-friendlier bet): look for the ECOCERT label on your baby’s food choices.

Of course, we should also consider the other end of the digestive system. Are green nappies necessarily safer for baby? Traditional disposable diapers can contain a bevy of toxins, including bleach, glues, dyes, gels (for absorbency), fragrances, and more:

• Dioxins, produced when paper and cotton products are bleached, can cause skin disease, liver damage and cancer.
• Fragrances can contribute to headaches, rashes, and dizziness as well as asthma.
• Gels employed to absorb liquids (such as sodium polyacrylate) can cause allergic reactions and skin irritations.
• Some nappies (namely Proctor and Gamble’s Pampers Baby Dry diapers) even contain tributyl tin (TBT) which has a hormone-imitating effect that can impair hormonal and immune systems.

While some eco-friendly disposable diapers still use the absorbent gels, most do not contain dioxins, fragrances, or TBT, making them much safer for your little one and the planet.

And then there’s the issue of waste. Disposable nappies, because they contain plastic, may increase scrotal temperature in male babies, which could hamper normal development. For these and other reasons, some recommend using cloth nappies for better baby health. And of course, that means less bin-build-up, too!

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Leather and environmental issues

I’m sitting here in my leather office chair and in my leather workboots with my leather wallet in my back pocket - comfy chair, Internet, comfy boots; what more could a guy want aside from a never-ending pizza?

I started thinking more about leather the other day after seeing the most horrible video of an animal that was skinned alive for the fur/skin trade.

I can’t relay in mere words how horrific it was to see this animal after the process - the poor creature seemed fully conscious and the look on its face was just incredibly heartbreaking. Without its skin, I couldn’t even recognize what sort of animal it was. It looked so forlorn, confused and in so much pain, I nearly cried.

It’s incidents like these that really make me question the concept of we humans as evolved and “superior” beings.

The practices of some in the fur and skin trade have gained a lot of media coverage to the point that wearing of fur as a fashion statement is generally frowned upon these days.

Leather is another story - I guess that most of us like to think that the leather goods we buy - shoes, furnishing, clothing, bags etc. - have come from animals that have been humanely slaughtered and that the leather is more of a by-product rather than the focus; i.e. from animals used for meat.

Even if that is the case, and the term “humane” when it comes to slaughter is subject to a lot of controversy, what about the other environmental impacts from our desire for leather?

Leather’s chemical cocktail

As leather is basically just skin, the base component (rawhide) is fully biodegradable. Without some form of treatment, known as tanning, it would simply fall apart.

Back in the old, old days, smoke was often used to cure leather as were vegetable tannins, salt, urine and animal faeces or animal brains - it was a rather smelly and messy affair, so most tanneries were situated outside towns.

These days, here’s how most tanning occurs:

- Hides are first prepared by by curing them with salt

- The hides are then soaked in clean water to remove the salt

- The hides are treated with one or more of the following as part of the de-hairing process:

* Sodium sulfide
* Sodium hydroxide
* Sodium hydrosulfite
* Arsenic sulfide
* Calcium hydrosulfide
* Dimethyl amine
* Sodium sulphydrate

- Once the hair is removed, the hides are then treated with a mixture salt and sulphuric acid if mineral tanning is to be done.

- The hides are soaked in water once again and biocides such as pentachlorophenol may be used to prevent bacterial growth.

- Tanning can be performed, and usually this is via mineral methods that uses chromium in the form of basic chromium sulfate

Modern tanning is still a messy and smelly affair with a ton of extra energy, water and toxic chemicals thrown in. The process is so toxic that many old tannery sites cannot be used for agriculture. Tanneries not only often poison the land they are situated on, but also the waterways into which they discharge effluent.

Given all that, I’m left wondering if modern leather tanning processes are just as environmentally damaging as some of the plastics we use in clothing and furnishings such as polyester and nylon.

Imported leather

But surely if the toxicity of the process is well known, our governments have taken steps to address it, right? Yes, that’s often the case in places like the USA, Australia, Canada and the UK - but here’s a quote in regards to a tannery in Australia fined for environmental issues that sums up where the problem lies:

“…told the court the business would not operate as a tannery in the future, but would move to importing sheepskins”

Our desire for cheap leather coupled with tightening local government regulations is not solving the problem, but simply moving the environmental issues overseas to countries where controls are more lax - not only on the pollution side of things, but in relation to animal welfare.

So, even if the boots or coat you buy says “Made in Australia” or “Made in the USA”; there’s a very real possibility that the actual leather used in the product was imported from overseas.

So what’s a leather lover to do?

Firstly, we need to look at our consumption - do we really need 10 pairs of leather shoes, 5 wallets or 8 handbags? Every leather item you don’t buy mean less toxic waste entering into the environment and perhaps an animal not killed - you’ll save some cash as well.

We can also reduce our associated impact by asking companies where they source their leather - if it’s outside “developed” countries, assume the worst.

Additionally, if you’re prepared to spend a few more bucks, consider organic leather. Organic leather comes from animals that have been raised and slaughtered humanely and the tanning uses more environmentally friendly processes such as smoke and plant based tannins. You can find these products simply by typing: organic leather X into your favorite search engine, where X is the type of product you are wanting.

Leather alternatives

After you watch a few videos and read a bit more about the treatment of animals destined to become leather products, it does tend to work away at your conscience; but the alternatives also present a minefield for the environmentally conscious consumer.

You could just turn your back on leather altogether, but so many of our fabrics are petro-chemical based or use incredibly environmentally destructive and energy intensive processes.

This is where we need to start looking more towards organic cotton, soy, hemp, bamboo and other forms of organic clothing. Most of these are still terribly expensive and I must admit I’m guilty of leaning towards cheaper and very non-green clothes - even if I do manage to squeeze a decade out of a t-shirt :). It’s a habit I’m trying to kick.

If you just love the look and feel of leather, consider pleather, which is just a slang term for synthetic leather made out of plastic; but just be aware of the associated impacts - not all pleather is created equal and some plastics will be worse than others. These range from calico coated with boiled linseed oil mixed with dryers and pigments to fabric bases coated with plastic, to 100% plastic substitutes.

Unfortunately for the leather lover - it’s a case of abstinence or choosing the lesser of the environmental and humanitarian “evils”; but a reduction in impact is certainly better than taking no action at all.

Article written by Michael Bloch of Green Living Tips.com

Michael has been active in green business for 6 years and currently work for an Australian company that sells solar and wind power equipment energymatters

Flickr image by Barnaby

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An earth friendly shave

Shaving is one of those personal care issues that we can probably all green a little more. I’m writing this from a guy’s perspective, but I’m sure some of this applies to the ladies as well

Back in my late teens, I used disposable razors but then I was given a hand me down electric razor from my father. It served him for years and then me for a couple. It was great in that I wasn’t dumping so much shaving related waste (but there’s the electricity consumption of course). However, each time I buy an electric razor since that original hand-me-down, the time span before buying yet another new one seems to be getting shorter.

My next shaver lasted me several years before it required a new head. Then cheaper cordless/rechargeable ones started hitting the market and it’s been a downhill run ever since.

Even some of the more expensive and well known brand names I’ve bought seem to be rapidly degrading in quality. Granted, I’ve never bought one of the $300 - $500 models, but given my experiences to date, there’s nothing that leads me to believe they’ll be worth the money, or the waste.

What I find rather disgusting is that the cost to replace the head or battery on an electric razor can be comparable to buying a whole new shaver - so what do many people do? Dump the 1 - 2 year old shaver and buy a new one. I’ve been guilty of this myself. A head and screen for my last razor was going to cost $60 and the battery was starting to go as well, so I simply bought a $150 shaver that was marked down 50%..

That was just 6 months ago. My newest acquisition is a well known brand, but one of the cutter bars somehow fell off and now I can’t seem to find a replacement part. This is by no mistake or oversight, it’s called planned obsolescence.

So after over a decade of electric razors, it’s back to blade shaving for me, but that presents other challenges.

Disposable razors

The disposable plastic handled razors are still ultra-cheap, but create a lot of waste - even if you can squeeze a number of uses out of them. 2 billion disposable razors are purchased annually in the USA.

There are also many replaceable head brands, but what happens with those is that after X period, the blades can be discontinued.

razors and the environment

Blade vs. electric shaver - the solution?

Given all of the above, and the fact I’m not brave, patient or skilled enough to handle a straight razor, the solution appears to be finding a solid blade razor model that uses replaceable heads - but once I’ve found a model I like, I’ll buy the blades in bulk so at least I’ll get years from it. I will also try to find a model with heads that contain a minimum of plastic.

Extending disposable razor life

You don’t *have to* throw out a disposable razor after the first use. There’s no law against using it until it’s blunt :). To extend their life, as a disposable razor blade rusts quite rapidly and it’s this corrosion that speeds up the dulling process, you can slow it down by rinsing the razor after use, flicking off the excess water and then placing it in a container of olive oil.

What about shaving cream?

This is another scary area and one we don’t have to deal with when using an electric shaver. I’ve made do with vegetable soap and water in my latest blade razor ventures, but it’s pretty rough going and time consuming. For guys that have heavy facial hair growth rates, it would be even tougher; so shaving cream is the obvious answer.

But have you seen what’s in canned shaving cream? Here’s an example list of ingredients from a well known brand:

• Palmitic Acid
  Stearic Acid
  Triethanolamine,
  Butane
  Isobutane
  Laureth-23
  Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
  Propane
  Parfum
  Sodium benzoate
  Hydroxythylcellulose
  Lauryl alcohol
  Stearyl alcohol
  Irish moss
  Dimethicone PEG/PPG-20/23 benzoate
  DMDM Hydantoin
  Coceth-7
  PPG-1-PEG-9 Lauryl Glycol ether
  PEG-40 Hydrogenated castor oil
  BHT
  Iodopropynyl butylcarbamate

That’s just frightening - some of those ingredients such as Sodium Lauryl Sulfate are particularly nasty in an aquatic environment and given most of us shave over the sink, waterways are where all this gunk ends up.

A more natural shaving lather

So how the heck did our forefathers achieve a comfortable and effective shave? With a soap bar and bristle brush for lathering. The soaps used back then were quite environmentally friendly, consisting primarily of vegetable oil. If you type the following into google:

natural shaving soap

.. you’ll find it’s not all that hard to source and is quite reasonably priced. If you are more adventurous, try searching on

shaving soap recipe

… and make your own :).

Shaving brushes

Shaving brushes pose a bit of a challenge too.

The best quality shaving brushes are said to be made from badger hair - and that hair is not gained through the badger having a hair cut unfortunately. As badgers are a a protected species in North America and most of Europe, most badger hair comes from China where in some places they are considered a nuisance. Boar hair or horse hair is also used in some brushes.

If you’re concerned with animal cruelty issues; the only option might be a nylon bristle brush - which is plastic; so it’s a case of being caught between a rock and hard place, but a good brush should last many years.

While taking a more earth friendly approach to shaving won’t save the planet on its own, it’s one of the many small things we do that in total do make a positive difference.

Article written by Michael Bloch of Green Living Tips.com

Michael has been active in green business for 6 years and currently work for an Australian company that sells solar and wind power equipment energymatters

Flickr image ‘Self-Portrait Shaving’ by saintbob

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Click on the image below to go through to the video, it takes a little time to load but it is worth it. Why not pop back and share your veiws with us after.

Annie Leonard and

2008 good for 10 eco friendly reasons

1. MICRO ALGAE AS FUEL

Micro Algae or Oilgae as it is otherwise known isnt the prettiest thing to come out of 2008, but i think it’s lovely, its green it doubles its size every hour and it isnt fussy where it lives.

Micro algae our green little friend

Since i have already waxed lyrical over its clever new bio oil status in the post ‘Pond skum to petrol tanks‘, i thought i’d share a few other amasing things Micro algae is used for;

FOOD -

Eleven areas of research are reviewed, ranging from algae’s ability to enhance brain function to issues of safety. A few common components found within microalgae, such as antioxidants, essential fatty acids, and amino acids, are significant across a range of topics.

BIOREMEDIATION -

Some microalgae have been considered in bioremediation strategies for contaminated soils and water. Such organisms are able to accumulate toxic methals and methalloids. There are reports that some algae can assimilate and metabolize inorganic arsenic converting it into less toxic organic forms through biomethylation

Watch the video of how micro algae is made into oil

2. Crystals that absorb CO2

In february of last year UCLA researchers lead by Omar Yaghi developed a nanocrystals that had the ability to absord CO2. Infact the prject went so well that half way through all the student working on it were instucted to stop and journal their findings.

nano sized CO2 absorbing crystals

Possible uses for crystals that can selectively absorb specific molecules are numerous, including military applications and hydrogen-fuel storage for green vehicles.

3. Cars that eat their own waste

Researchers have announced a new strategy that would capture carbon as it is burned in vehicles, store it, and then turn it back into fuel at a central processing plant.

Car exhaust fumes

4. The water recycling kitchen sink

The award-winning Eulo Grey Water Recycling Sink designed by Ainslie Asher from Australia is not just a concept on paper but a working prototype. Sticking to the basic principles of saving water, it makes use of a strainer to block the solid particles. That done, the filtered water is passed through a gravity-activated carbon filter. and lastly ultraviolet light is used to destroy the germs and bacteria.

grey water recycling kitchen sink

5. Ipods & mobiles that charge themselves

Texas A&M Professor Tahir Cagin believes that piezeoelectric materials, that convert motion into electric currents could be closer to applied applications thanks to their recent design breakthrough

nano self charging material

6. Bye bye styrofoam - Hello mushroomfoam

Polystyrene products have been used for years as home insulation and Styrofoam packaging, but the petroleum-based materials are infamous for the toll they take on the environment. Ecovative, a Troy, N.Y., start-up, aims to replace such products with an organic alternative derived from fungus and agricultural waste.

creators of mushroom insulation material

7. Dirty coal plants are frozen

Responding to a lawsuit filed by the Sierra Club over a new coal plant being built in Utah, the board ruled that the EPA had no grounds to refuse to regulate the CO2 emitted by new coal plants. Immediately, that made it virtually impossible for the EPA to certify any new coal plant, freezing development. In the long term, it gives the incoming Obama Administration an opening to force the coal industry to clean up â?? or shut down.

New rules put freeze on coal plants

8. Polar bears are finally listed as an endangered species

In May of 2008 Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne due to overwhelming support for the bill was forced to add Polar bears to the endangered species list, the first animal ever added to the list due to global warming.

Polar bear under water

Yet Kempthorne emphasized that the listing would in no way be used to force reductions in U.S. carbon emissions â?? even though the point of the ESA is protect endangered species, and in the polar bear’s case, the danger comes from greenhouse gas emissions. But with the polar bear being only the first of countless species that will be endangered by global warming, expect the ESA to become a potent weapon against CO2.

9. Bug poo that runs your car

Genetically modified bugs that poop crude oil - science fiction? NO. Greg Pal a former software executive from silicon valley is working on geneticaly altering bugs to make them actually excrete crude oil.

Because crude oil is only a few molecular stages removed from the fatty acids normally excreted by yeast or E. coli during fermentation, it does not take much fiddling to get the desired result.

The genetically altered wonder bugs are fed on agricultural waste and not the earths much needed foodstuffs such as corn. The bugs called LS9’s are the billionth the size of an ant and change the non pathagen E-coli in their foodstuff by a process of fermentation into pretty much pump ready oil.

crude oil excreting LS9 bugs

I love this story and will be researching it further in later posts, any questions you have throw them at us.

10. Prime minister finally commits to the long awaited Marine Bill

At Prime Minister’s Question time today, Angela Smith (MP for Sheffield, Hillsborough, Lab) asked: “More than 70 Members have signed early-day motion 2189 calling for the inclusion of the marine Bill in this yearâ??s Queen Speech. Will the Prime Minister assure us that the Bill will be included and that it will give adequate protection to our marine wildlife?”

The Prime Minister answered “I know that my hon. Friend has taken a great interest in these matters. We are discussing them with the devolved Administrations to deliver a coherent approach across the United Kingdom. The Government continue to prepare the Bill for introduction early in the fourth Session and do not intend to reduce its scope or coverage.”

two healthy dolphins

Little note from Minkbaby: Remember its not all on your shoulder its the work of the many ok - stay postitive