Media · Eco-Chick

Browsing all posts tagged with media

What Are Your Consumer Consequences?

Play this fun (or is it scary?) game, Consumer Consequences, to see how many Earths would be needed if EVERYONE lived like you did. I’ve used calculators like this before, but this one really covers all the bases and you even get to make a funny avatar for yourself. Good times courtesy of American Public Media. How many Earth’s did you get? Report back in the comments. Come on, you’re just wasting time at work anyway, right? Hee. hee.

This is actually part of some great programming that you may have been hearing this week if you listen to public radio (you should!):

American Public Media recently announced that “Consumed,” American Public Media’s cross-program series on the sustainability of the consumer economy, will broadcast on public radio stations nationwide November 9-18. “Consumed” will provide listeners with a unique perspective of the impact our consumption has on our economy, our ethics, our environment and more.
“Consumed” comprises reports from Marketplace, Marketplace Morning Report, Marketplace Money, Weekend America, Speaking of Faith, The Story and American RadioWorks. Each program will examine the consumer economy in its own way, providing a thorough, multi-disciplinary approach to a topic that affects all of us.

car, consumption, ethics, farm, media, sustainability

Vroom, Vroom!

2 Comments

by Starre Vartan · 11/11/07

Speaking of fuel-effieciency…..

….this is what I’m talking about!! The new i-MIEV sport from Mitsubishi, which is actually supposed to be available in 2009, will go about 100 miles on a battery charge with a gas-powered motor kicking in after that. (Although I’m not a Mitsubishi fan considering their past enviro sins, I think I can forgive them enough to get behind this car!)

Via: Inhabitat, Engaget

car, farm, gas, habitat, Inhabitat, media, sport, transportation

Swimming With Dolphins: The Reality

5 Comments

by Kimberly Jordan Allen · 11/06/07

This video shows what goes on in the dolphin hunts and includes Hayden Panettiere (of the TV show ‘Heroes’) and a team of surfers who tried to protest and protect the mammals.

Some think swimming with dolphins, or going to see animals/mammals in captivity, is somehow “environmental” or serving some sense of naturalism. While I understand there are marine biologists that nurse creatures back to health, or keep them in captivity because they would die otherwise, the enslavement of healthy animals has never made sense to me.

I read several blog posts on this video; some people feel it is just a photo op for a Hollywood starlet, or they mention so many other important environmental issues not being covered. And what about all the other animals that are near extinction or that have already become extinct that we should focus on? At some point, you have to choose your activism. I have always been fond of aquatic life, growing up with Jacques Cousteau and all things National Geographic, so for me, this video had resonance.

I heard someone talking about swimming with dolphins recently and they discussed what a ‘spiritual experience’ it was and it made me cringe. This video, of the dolphin slaughters that occur in Japan for six months out of the year, shows where some of the dolphins are harvested and the massacre that ensues. The prime specimens are sent for captivity, while others are used for food. Here is more information on the dolphins and how the multi-million dollar industries that support captivity perpetuate the slaughters. The World Society for the Protection of Animals also discusses why swimming with dolphins is wrong, especially for anyone who claims to care for wildlife.

Thanks to Perez Hilton for the initial post on this.

activism, Animals, autos, car, Food, health, Hollywood, media, spa, Tea, tv, video, Wildlife, wood

Growing a Greener Apartment

1 Comment

by Starre Vartan · 10/28/07

Living in a city, especially one as walking and public-transport oriented as New York, is way more sustainable than the ‘burbs or the country, since resources for so many people are centralized. You can go even greener by renting or buying an apartment that’s in one of the green buildings that are cropping up in the NY-metro area. Check this fun video out on the greening of New York City’s real-estate market, and get a few peeks inside what those LEED-certified eco-apartments look like (fun)!

It’s a little light on the specifics, which I was curious about….what exactly are the energy savings over a tradtional apartment, what materials are used in building and insulation, any wastewater innovations, and how much better is the air quality in one of these pads? Still, a fun eco-centric watch for those who are into real-estate porn (guilty!).

autos, Energy, media, New York City, resources, spa, sport, sustainable, video, waste, water

Bring the Trees Back to Armenia!

4 Comments

by Starre Vartan · 10/15/07

Two different regions in Armenia, Shikahogh Reserve, which is now protected thanks to the work of the Armenian Tree Project and other groups (L) and the Gabion (L).

I’ve been a big fan of the Armenia Tree Project (ATP) since I first wrote about them for E Magazine a couple of years ago, and it’s not just because I’m 1/4 Armenian. The truth is, like most mixed-ethnicity (I’m also English, Lebanese, German and Scottish, whew!) Americans decended from immigrants I don’t feel particularly attached to any one country. I’ve certainly never been to Armenia and know little of the culture there. But reforesting a country that has had it’s forests decimated by people just trying to keep warm is not only important for the people that live there, but also in the fight against global warming and to improve air quality worldwide.

This map shows the deforestation in Armenia; the dark green is where forests exist now, the light green is where they were historically.

Over 70% of Armenia’s trees are gone (trees used to cover 25% of the land there, now they cover less than 8%) leading to erosion, landslides, flooding, loss of wildlife habitat, and degraded farmland. Trees were, and still are being cut down to heat homes. So importantly, not only does the ATP plant new trees but they also educate people (especially young people) to care for their local ecosystem, and the group is also working to find alternative fuels to help people keep warm without resorting to chopping down trees.

Gratuitous cute Armenian girl with apricots. Love her hat!

A little background….

After the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, Armenia sought its full independence in a war with Azerbaijan. From 1991 to 1994 economic blockades prevented heating oil from coming into the country. “That resulted in massive burning of wood, from furniture to books to trees in forests and parks,” explains Jeff Masarjian, executive director of the nonprofit Armenia Tree Project, founded in 1994. “With little if any insulation in houses, and no alternative sources of fuel for heat and cooking, the people had little choice. Poverty is the greatest enemy of the forest.”
Although heating oil is now available, deforestation remains an ongoing problem because firewood is often the more affordable choice. “If the deforestation isn’t reversed immediately, the World Bank estimates that all the forest could be gone in 20 to 50 years,” says Masarjian. “Eighty percent of Armenia could turn to desert.”

So, if you know someone with deep pockets, or you have a bit of change floating around in yours, consider giving to the Armenia Tree Project. Right now a guy named Harry Mangurian is matching all donations to the group, so whatever you donate will be automatically doubled. With the money 33,000 new trees will be planted, which not only improved the environment, but gives needed money to low-income Armenians. Instead of being under such economic duress that they log trees illegally, folks will be paid to plant trees instead. A win-win!

For reference in case you don’t know where Armenia is…I always forget!
Armenia is a mountainous country located between Turkey and Azerbaijan, above Iran and below Georgia.