How important is green in your life? Keen For Green is conducting a poll to learn about people's green habits and what is important to you. Click here to take our brief survey!
Slash-and-burn agricultural practices, banned by governments because of the risk of uncontrolled fires, provide better growing conditions for valuable new trees than more modern methods of forest clearance, a study suggests.
Argan oil, rich in vitamin E and fatty acids, has become the sensation of the decade, sought after by chemists, dieticians, hair salons, chefs and cosmeticians. Until recently, it was a rare product grown only in the Atlas Mountains and traditionally made by Moroccan tribes, as the Argan tree could not grow outside of Morocco. Now, Israeli company Sivan is developing "Argan 100" – a super strain of Argan that is tolerant of the Mediterranean climate and can produce ten times more nuts than the average tree in Morocco, they say.
Clues to how life evolved, not only on this planet but also possibly on alien worlds, might be found in underwater caves in the Bahamas, researchers say.
The caves in question are called "blue holes," so-named because from the air, their entrances appear circular in shape, with different shades of blue water in and around them. There are estimated to be more than 1,000 such caves in the Bahamas, the greatest concentration of blue holes in the world.
Recycling: this is something that’s been on my mind a lot lately and it’s really bothering me.
I recycle and I am pretty good about it, but what really bothers me is that businesses are not so much into it. Especially big business. Oh, they say they are “green.” Green is the new marketing buzzword, but when it comes down to it the majority of the companies are not!
Today we have a guest blog post by Jeff of Vegetableoilkent, explaining the basics of biodiesel. Thanks to Jeff for an informative post!
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Biodiesel is made from vegetable oil or animal fat and when reacted with methanol and a catalyst, yields biodiesel and glycerin as a by-product. Which, incidently, you can make soap out of.
Sulphur dioxide emissions are eliminated because biodiesel contains no sulphur. Remember the acid rain problem we had killing off the trees and poluting the sea and rivers in the 80's: well that was concidered to be the sulphur dioxide introduced into the air from the exhaust pipes from cars and trucks (aided and abetted by power stations, jet airoplanes etc.) and fueled by petro-diesel which contains sulphur. The only problem was it helped the lubrication of the engines. The solution they came up with was to reduce the sulphur content by half and introduce, yes, you guessed it, biodiesel: 5% of it to make up what was lost. So, if you run a diesel powered car or truck and you run on petro-diesel, which is in most garage forecourt diesel pumps, you are running on biodiesel already! Well 5% of it anyway. ... read more
The current trend of increasing ocean acidification, which threatens fisheries around the world, is driven mainly by man-made changes and is higher even than that seen at the end of the last ice age, some 11,000 year ago, a study has said. Much of the carbon released by human activity ends up in the oceans, increasing their acidity and reducing the growth of corals and molluscs, which in turn may affect fisheries and aquaculture.
I’m just minding my own business, and suddenly all these eco-leaders are up in my face telling me to get angry about Global Warming? Bill McKibben -- who never raises his voice -- says I should stop being cynical and start being angry about Global Warming. The ever-methodical League of Conservation Voters emails me to “get angry, and fight this one out!” Even climate scientists, always so calm as they gaze into the abyss, are telling us to get angry. I always figured: if the climate scientists aren’t freakin about Global Warming, then I needn’t be freakin. And, now they’re freakin.... read more
Sand dunes flow over the land subject to the winds like ocean waves or rivers. What makes them move? What makes them start or stop? In a study at the White Sands National Monument in New Mexico, University of Pennsylvania researchers have uncovered a unifying mechanism to explain the beautiful dune patterns that occur. The findings may also hold implications for identifying when dune landscapes like those in Nebraska's Sand Hills may reach a tipping point under climate change, going from valuable grazing land to barren desert.
Surprise your sweetie with some green treats this Valentine’s Day! Here are some gift ideas.
Chocolate:
Order some fantastic chocolate from Endangered Species Chocolate. They have chocolate bars, gourmet chocolates, and gift sets. They support a bunch of really important eco-causes, too, so you can feel good about buying your chocolate from them! If you can't order chocolates online in time for Valentine's Day, you can find eco-friendly chocolate at almost any supermarket. I love Newman's Own's peanut butter cups and they're available almost anywhere. (Hint, hint, to my Valentine!)
How important is green in your life? Keen For Green is conducting a poll to learn about people's green habits and what is important to you. 
I’m just minding my own business, and suddenly all these eco-leaders are up in my face telling me to get angry about Global Warming? Bill McKibben -- who never raises his voice -- says I should stop being cynical and start being angry about Global Warming. The ever-methodical League of Conservation Voters emails me to “get angry, and fight this one out!” Even climate scientists, always so calm as they gaze into the abyss, are telling us to get angry. I always figured: if the climate scientists aren’t freakin about Global Warming, then I needn’t be freakin. And, now they’re freakin.
