Save Eco Destinations

Created by: Public Health Degree

What do you do when you go out to eat/drink/be merry and the establishment you frequent fails to offer recycling/reusing services?

In my case, there’s a sweet bar in South Beach with 300 beers for $4 each. You can imagine how full it gets and the thousands of beers they must sell each day… yet they do not recycle aluminum. Or plastic. Or glass!

And recently my partner and I have been increasingly eating at a particular sushi restaurant chain in Miami. After drinking our beers, since we often end up at different locations, I ask the employees, “So where should I place these [bottles] for recycling?” and I inevitably get the answer, “We don’t recycle. Sorry.” Pow! Right in the kisser. Sort of. You know what I mean. And I didn’t even ask about the disposable plastic “plates” or wooden chopsticks because I knew what the answer would be. Pretty depressing.

Access denied.

Another example is that various delicious self-serve frozen yogurt places only provide disposable containers for the decadent, sugar-filled delicacies that end up lushly (ha!) expanding my thighs (but the delicious factor wins, folks, which is why I ate a variety of those suckers for dinner last night). So would you bring your own reusable container? I bet Tupperware would work, or a wafer bowl that I could devour along with the frozen dessert. Eureka!

What do you do?

a)      Take the items in question home with you to reuse or recycle. (Pro: you can ensure that the items will be reused or recycled. Con: everyone else’s items will still go in the trash.)

b)      Write a letter or email to the supervisor or head of the company and kindly discuss how recycling services would benefit the establishment’s reputation, social responsibility, and so on.

Finish it and take it home for recycling!

c)       Boycott the establishment, either depriving yourself of the service/item or doing/making it yourself in a sustainable fashion. [Pro: you’ll be a DIY god(ess). Con: everyone else will continue to produce waste.]

d)      Continue to go but bring your own reusable containers, if possible (Pro: you’ll be awesome. Con: everyone else will continue to produce waste.)

e)      Continue to go about your eco-deathly routines, [albeit] ridden with rancid guilt. (Pro: none. Con: you and everyone else will continue to produce waste. Epic fail.)

f)       [Fill in the blank]

What would you add to this list? Share your wisdom!

Sale of shellfish at the roadside, Phu Quoc, Vietnam

(This is part two of a two-part series on a report regarding the dismal state of our oceans. Part 1 of the series discusses the report’s findings and the primary ocean stressors currently involved.)

Entire marine ecosystems could disappear within a generation — a phenomenon that would take a devastating toll on humans, not just marine animals, according to the International Programme on the State of the Ocean (IPSO) report discussed in part one of this series.

You might be surprised to hear that shellfish and other marine animals comprise 15 per cent of animal protein for 3 billion people throughout the world, and another 1 billion people rely on fish stocks for their main source of protein. It’s important to remember that we need to preserve marine ecosystems, not only because they’re pretty to look at and something to explore when we’re taking a decadent beach vacation, but also because much of humanity’s food security is at stake here.

In fact, the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) last December released a report called “Environmental Consequences of Ocean Acidification: A Threat to Food Security,” noting that burgeoning greenhouse gas emissions may have more widespread and complex effects on ocean health than previously anticipated, and that the chemistry of the globe’s oceans is being altered at a rate unseen for 65 million years.

Green turtle (Chelonia mydas) by Mila Zinkova, via Wikimedia Commons

The report confirms worries that corals, shellfish and other organisms may have an increasingly difficult time surviving due to weakening skeletons, and demonstrates that ocean acidification combined with ocean warming would lower the range of temperatures in which crabs and other animals can thrive.

This could powerfully affect, among other factors, catches of shellfish; species reliant on coral reefs and those such as salmon that feed on shell-building organisms lower down the food chain. – FIS

What’s more, climate change is predicted to cause big dents in coastal fisheries resources in the Pacific Islands region, potentially slashing production by as much as 50 per cent by 2100, the Secretariat of the Pacific Community’s Heads of Fisheries communicated in March. It is forecasted that higher sea temperatures, ocean acidification, and loss of important habitats like coral reefs, seagrass beds and mangroves will dramatically affect the inshore resources that provide myriad coastal communities in New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, and other impoverished countries with food and a livelihood. And let’s not forget that people who live off fisheries in various ways populate most countries on Earth, from the United States and Malta to Argentina and Pakistan.

Fishers near Galata bridge, Istanbul

Some 55 million years ago, 2.2 gigatonnes of CO2 were released annually for thousands of years and numerous species died out. Today, it is estimated that 2.2. gigatonnes of CO2 are shot into the atmosphere every year by deforestation alone.

“The rate of carbon dioxide emissions in the atmosphere and the rate of change in the oceans is extraordinary — there is a very urgent need to get that under control,” stressed Alex Rogers, a professor of conservation biology at the University of Oxford and lead author of the study.

And now, the most important part of this series:

What YOU can do

To address the findings, the IPSO report gives several recommendations, such as the creation of “a global body empowered to ensure compliance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea” and steps to improve the fish stock sustainability.

Rogers suggested that anything from choosing the right kind of fish to eat to lobbying politicians helps.

I suggest that fish eaters scan Greenpeace’s canned tuna guide to make sure they are choosing sustainably caught tuna whose harvesting is not wiping out turtles, dolphins, or other species. Also, California’s Monterey Bay Aquarium has a seafood guide that’s really nifty (available as pocket or mobile, too) and the website is rich with information on related issues. Check out their recommendations!

The folks at Sea Shepherd are amazing

Support green organizations like Sea Shepherd Conservation Society and Greenpeace, who work to both spread awareness about vital issues and fight the “bad guys” (in this case, Sea Shepherd – very courageously – goes after poachers hands-on, while Greenpeace targets harvesters of destructively caught fish and the companies that sell them, fights companies that pollute egregiously, and so on).

Attend clean-up days at your local beach or park. Go to Hands Across the Sand each year. Consider volunteering and donating whatever resources you have to anyone working toward a worthy cause.

Whenever a petition appears that could help ocean health, sign it. Visit sites like Care2 and Change.org and sign up for their newsletters to stay informed on new developments, learn how to help, and to find likeminded friends.

Together, we will make a difference.

“If I look at the mass, I will never act. If I look at the one, I will.” – Mother Theresa

It’s summer and once again Hands Across the Sand is coming to your beach or city so you can gather with likeminded, environmentally oriented folk and peacefully show your opposition against offshore oil drilling and your support of clean energy solutions for a sustainable Earth. This Saturday will be the second annual Hands Across the Sand event held across the globe.

It goes like this: on June 25^th at 11am, wherever you are, go to the beach for 1 hour (rain or shine). Stand and hold hands with others while forming lines in the sand against oil drilling in your coastal waters. Remember to wear eco-friendly sunblock :)

According to the website, the movement is not about politics; instead, it is a push toward protecting coastal economies, oceans, marine wildlife, and fisheries from the menace of expanded offshore drilling and the accidents that can come with it, such as last year’s massively catastrophic BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, whose calamitous effects are expected to be felt for decades to come.

More you can do:

• Florida residents can sign a petition to ban oil drilling (you have to download, print, sign, and mail it to officials in Tallahassee, FL).
• Donate $5 or more by clicking on the “donate” buttons on the website.
• Follow the movement on Facebook and Twitter.
• Spread the word.

See photos from last year’s event.

The history of Hands Across the Sand

Florida surfer and restaurateur Dave Rauschkolb founded the even in October 2009 after a bill was passed in the Florida House of Representatives to end the ban on nearshore drilling. Rauschkolb got the support of sponsor organizations and rallied over 10,000 Floridians to join hands on February 13, 2010 along the state’s coastlines, to show the extent of Floridians’ opposition to nearshore drilling.

Hands Across The Sand enjoys the support of national (U.S.) and international environmental groups such as the Sierra Club, Surfrider Foundation, Oceana, Environment America, Greenpeace, Defenders of Wildlife, Alaska Wilderness League, Ocean Conservancy, Friends of the Earth, 350, Center for Biological Diversity, Audubon, and CleanEnergy.org.

By Isabel Clift

Everyone loves a stolen weekend away, but your typical short-haul city break incurs a heavy carbon footprint. Here are five green travel tips to make your city break more eco-friendly:

Reykjavic, Iceland (Credit: Pocius)

1) Choose a green city

Urban areas generate tonnes of carbon emissions, but some cities are actively working to reduce this by creating more eco-friendly infrastructure. If you’re planning a city break, think about visiting places that make it easier for you to reduce your trip’s carbon footprint: Reykjavik, for example, runs entirely on geothermal and hydroelectric power, and has busses powered by hydrogen fuel cells. Other green cities include Stockholm, which has reduced emissions by 25% over 20 years and runs all trains and inner-city busses on renewable fuels, and Vancouver, where 90% of power is drawn from renewable resources.

(Credit: Christensen)

2) Get there without flying

Commercial flights use up huge amounts of fuel during take-off and landing. Avoid adding the tonnes to your carbon footprint by travelling by train or coach for short-haul journeys: watching the land and architecture slowly change as you cross borders makes the getting-there part of the magic. Also, you’re likely to arrive at the city’s central station, rather than at an outskirts airport – saving you time and reducing extra transport emissions incurred getting to the city centre.

(Credit: Curtis Perry)

3) Stretch your legs

Once you arrive, you’ll be raring to explore! Walking or cycling from sight to sight means you’ll be able to get far more of a ‘feel’ for your city destination, and it’s obviously a 100% green way to get about. Some cities do cycling better than others, though – Copenhagen has well-established cycling routes and Paris’s Velib’ scheme makes biking round the city easy. If you’re not cycling, using busses and metro systems is preferable to taxi rides – and your wallet will thank you later, as well as your eco-conscience.

(Credit: Gael Martin)

4) Stay at an eco hotel

Hotels are getting greener – do your research and you’ll be able to bag yourself an eco-friendly place to stay that won’t break the bank. Look out for hotels that take a responsible approach to every area of their operation, from providing refillable pumps for bathroom products (instead of producing mini plastic toiletry bottles), to employing local staff on a fair living wage. Other things eco hotels can do include recycling waste, introducing low-flow taps and grey water recycling systems, using energy-efficient lighting, going on a green energy tariff (a la City Lights City Centre Deluxe in New York) and powering water heaters with rooftop solar panels (like Mellow Eco Hostel Barcelona).

Saturday morning farmer's market in Pennington. (Credit: Nosha)

5) Support local businesses

Shop at farmers’ markets and independently-run stores, eat at restaurants that source produce from local suppliers and support the regional arts and heritage scene by attending concerts and exhibitions, as well as visiting galleries showing local artists. These all give a boost to the local economy and support the people and ways of life that make the city what it is.

Ready to travel greener? See the AnyTrip Blog for more eco travel tips.

Isabel Clift is a travel writer and blogger for AnyTrip.com, a travel company based in the UK. She lives in London, loves vintage fairs and organic food, and tries her best to balance a love for travel with an eco-conscience!

By Philipp Mimkes Coordination gegen BAYER-Gefahren

By Hunter Richards

Greenwash (verb, \ˈgrēn-wȯsh\): to market a product or service by promoting a deceptive or misleading perception of environmental responsibility.

Companies have been launching major ad campaigns to show off green products and services, but many of their claims are questionable. Greenwashing is threatening the credibility of legitimate environmental marketing and turning would-be green consumers away from the hype.

So how can we know who’s telling the truth about supposedly green products and who’s just greenwashing?

We can increase transparency and put an end to greenwashing through carbon accounting. A new kind of software is a key component of the solution.

Scrutiny of green business campaigns is reminiscent of the demand to hold corporations accountable for their financial reporting. The U.S. is still a leader in financial accounting, but we need to develop the same infrastructure for environmental accounting to restore credibility.

Enterprise Carbon Accounting (ECA) software is becoming the foundation of this infrastructure, and the market is growing. ECA software enables companies to track and measure all the components of their carbon footprint and find opportunities to lower costs and reduce waste. It’s expanding the potential for corporate environmental transparency.

When the transition fully takes hold, greenwashers could disappear entirely.

For ECA software and environmental accounting adoption to get rid of greenwashers, we need action in five main categories:

• Clear government action on regulations
• Adoption of carbon accounting principles
• Expansion of Scope 3 emissions accounting
• Better green business incentives
• Demanding, informed consumers

Clear Government Action on Regulations

lncreased coverage of existing new policies and decisive action on new legislation could quickly boost the adoption of carbon accounting and ECA software. The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Mandatory Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule, which requires businesses that emit 25,000 metric tons or more of greenhouse gases annually to disclose their emissions to the Agency, could be strengthened to include smaller businesses. Firm action on new legislation could also help encourage ECA software adoption and end greenwashing.

Adoption of Carbon Accounting Principles

Stricter requirements for disclosure of standardized corporate emissions information, now more feasible with the adoption of ECA software, would provide a precise way to examine a company’s environmental record. When such a measure exists and becomes widely used, one will only need to refer to these numbers to get an impression of a company’s overall environmental performance. It will be a lot more difficult to conceal corporate environmental impact during marketing campaigns.

Expansion of Scope 3 Emissions Accounting

Mandatory inclusion of suppliers’ emissions and other indirect emissions sources in company environmental reports (Scope 3) would prevent under-reporting of emissions; all emissions would be measured and reported without room for loopholes. Requiring Scope 3 measurement would also spread more adoption of general carbon accounting throughout the supply chain. When a business must account for Scope 3, it must ask its suppliers to track their carbon footprints; a chain reaction could quickly increase the number of companies with comprehensive carbon emissions reports.

Better Green Business Incentives

Using ECA software to identify eco-friendly savings opportunities can make it cheaper to truly go green, making it unnecessary for businesses to greenwash in the first place. Businesses often find that shrinking their carbon footprints and minimizing costs can go hand-in-hand. Government incentives can also encourage eco-friendly business practices. ECA software could alert users to new opportunities to take advantage of government incentives as more of these opportunities emerge, ensuring that green sincerity is in the best interests of businesses.

Demanding, Informed Consumers

Demanding the hard numbers from standardized carbon accounting reports, while boycotting the proven greenwashers, forces businesses with green marketing campaigns to prove their sincerity or risk failure. After all, fully informed consumers won’t be fooled. When standardized carbon accounting is required and ECA software is available, companies won’t have any more excuses to conceal their carbon footprint. The final blow to greenwashing will be dealt by informed, rational consumers.

Hunter Richards is the accounting market analyst for Software Advice, which reviews hospitality and travel accounting software along with other systems. To learn more about ECA software and greenwashing prevention, check out Software to Hold “Greenwashers” Accountable.

The Bird Island Nature Reserve in Lambert's Bay Western Cape, South Africa

By Louise Baker

Eco-Tourism is thriving and ever growing trend that has the benefits of a vacation combined with the experience of working with or studying the wonders of the world at the same time. Depending on a student’s course of study, certain locations may lend themselves better than others, and some destinations may not be suitable at all. Fortunately, there are some valuable resources like the International Eco-Tourism Society that make researching and choosing the right destination fairly easy. In addition to private tour providers, many colleges and universities sponsor or fund eco-tours as part of their curriculum; these programs are a great way to see some the most fascinating sights on the planet while also helping to preserve and protect them.

Africa

Africa is host to range of eco-destinations covering aspects including humanitarian aid like assisting local villagers with wells, irrigation, disease control, and more, to technological ventures and wildlife management strategies. There are current eco-tours that include counting populations of wildlife, re-introduction of species, and preserving endangered species that allow college students to obtain priceless knowledge firsthand while making a difference in the world at the same time.

Steam at Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone National Park and Yosemite National Park

Yellowstone and Yosemite both have a wide variety of biological and geological features that make them totally unique in terms of geological history and diversity. Many endangered and re-introduced species in these two parks are the direct result of conservation projects that are now open to students and even the public to participate in. Yosemite is a lure for studying the movement of glaciers, rock formation, and even climate and weather phenomena, while the super-volcano that is suspected to be lurking underneath Yellowstone has kept biologists, geologists, and chemists busy for decades with extreme conditions and extreme life forms living in them.

Galapagos Islands

Possibly the most famous eco destination in the world is the renowned Galapagos Islands; the majority of this fame in the eco-tourism arena comes from the sea turtle conservation programs that, over the years, have become increasingly popular. Aside from collecting and counting sea turtle eggs and releasing the young turtles, the Galapagos Islands are also home many other wildlife conservation efforts, and with many of the species native to this area only being found here, it is no wonder why.

Sunrise in Machu Picchu

South America

The South American continent is one of the most popular eco destinations in the world, second only to the famed Galapagos Islands. South America has been hosting tours and trips along the Inca Trail and through the ruins of Machu Picchu for many years, and this area of the world still holds fascinating secrets that waiting to be uncovered. Lush jungles and thick rainforest are home to most of the animal and plant species on the planet, and with threats like climate change and poaching progressing, many South American governments have stepped up efforts to promote eco-tourism and preserve eco destinations.

With so many eco-destinations available, it is now possible to actually travel to remote destinations and touch, see, and feel the actual subject matter with one’s own senses, use the knowledge you have to build more and preserve the planet and its inhabitants for future generations.

Louise Baker is a freelance writer and blogger who usually does car insurance comparisons over at CarinsuranceComparison.Org. She recently wrote about finding cheap car insurance quotes.

Hello there!

In this post, I’m going to share with you some special dates for the month of October as well as something we can all practice today, September 28. Show your compassion for the planet and your fellow beings!

Here’s a list of events and celebrations for the next few weeks:

September 28: Green Consumer Day – Of course, the best way to be a green consumer is … tun tun tun … not to be a consumer at all! But if you must succumb, consider purchasing something used or recycled instead of a shiny new (even if “green”) gadget/garment/whatever-you-need. Unless it’s food. You probably shouldn’t buy used food, whatever that would be.

October 1: World Vegetarian Day – This one is particularly special for me, as I’ve been a vegetarian for the past 14 years and an on-and-off vegan. October is Vegetarian Awareness Month, although I’ll admit I’m not sure what that means. Anyway, take it a step further and celebrate Meat-Free Monday too for a happier planet and a happier you! Plus, it’s cheaper if you stay away from fake meats.

Oh, Lisa, that's exactly what happened to me.

October 1-7: World Wildlife Week – Help raise awareness about the importance of preserving wildlife by “adopting” a wild animal or species for cheap to keep wildlife in the wild (choose from 100 species! Note: this makes a sweet present for birthdays and holidays), signing petitions, educating others on boycotting exotic animals and animal parts, and whatever else you can think of.

October 3/4: World Animal Welfare Day – Look for an event in your area, as this event is celebrated worldwide! I, for one, will be attending an event in downtown Buenos Aires on Sunday. There will be vegetarian food and general super-awesomeness! Here’s some info on events going on in New York City, Venezuela y Argentina. Dates might vary by a day, so make sure you go on the right one!

October 4: World Habitat Day – Held annually on the first Monday of October, the United Nations says this is a day to ponder the state of our towns and cities and the basic right of everyone to adequate housing and to remember our collective responsibility for the future of the human habitat.

“The United Nations chose the theme Better City, Better Life to highlight our collective vision of a sustainable urban world that harnesses the potential and possibilities, mitigates inequalities and disparities, and provides a home for people of all cultures and ages, both rich and poor.”

Read more here.

More events coming up in the next post.

Siesta Key, Sarasota, FL

Love your beaches

On Monday, June 10, we celebrated World Ocean Day 2010.

On June 26, you can head to your local beach and join hands to oppose offshore drilling and endorse renewable energy. Look up Hands Across the Sand events near you or email everyone in your area and start one up in your community! And don’t worry if you’re not in the U.S. — the event is taking place across the globe!

Read more about the event here.

Be sure to travel green

Remember to do your part and be eco-friendly, whether at the beach or anywhere you travel.

Going on a road trip? Read this.

And if you’re planning to get married, remember that coastal weddings are a no-no!

Further, if you’re looking for lodging, make sure you choose an eco hotel. Learn about eco hotel certifications here.

And finally –

The top 10 U.S. beaches

For the past 20 years, a coastal scholar known as Dr. Beach has compiled a list of the best beaches in the country. Dr. Stephen P. Leatherman is the director of the Laboratory for Coastal Research at Florida International University.

He uses 50 criteria to evaluate the nation’s beaches, including water and sand quality, beach width and environmental management, according to CNN.

Cape Florida Lighthouse at Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park, Key Biscayne, Florida.

Here’s the list:

1. Coopers Beach in Southampton, New York

2. Siesta Beach in Sarasota, Florida

3. Coronado Beach in San Diego, California

4. Cape Hatteras in the Outer Banks of North Carolina

5. Main Beach in East Hampton, New York

6. Kahanamoku Beach in Waikiki, Oahu, Hawaii

7. Coast Guard Beach in Cape Cod, Massachusetts

8. Beachwalker Park in Kiawah Island, South Carolina

9. Hamoa Beach in Maui, Hawaii

10. Cape Florida State Park in Key Biscayne, Florida

By the way, I have been to Siesta Beach (#2) and I can attest that it is amazing! It’s got sand like flour and warm, luscious waters. Hopefully it will remain unscathed by the oil spill currently taking over the Gulf of Mexico…

If spring is coming up for you (and you’re not near the Gulf) enjoy the beach!

Dolphins in the Pacific Ocean

The United Nations (UN) is celebrating World Ocean Day on Tuesday, June 8^th with the theme ‘Our oceans: opportunities and challenges.’

The celebration was instituted just last year and since then has been commemorated annually by conservation groups, schools, businesses and governments everywhere.

Check out this year’s events here and find more info on World Ocean Day at The Ocean Project.

Reasons to celebrate World Ocean Day

Given the recent and very-much-ongoing BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, it’s an especially wonderful time to raise awareness about the oceans’ plights and learn how we can “make a difference” (or a phrase that doesn’t make you gag).

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moo said the ocean’s main three challenges right now are overfishing, climate change and pollution.

World Ocean Day allows us to:

• Change perspective: encourage others to consider what the ocean represents to them and our planet, which hopefully will get more people interested in respecting and working to preserve it for generations to come.
• Learn: read about and watch documentaries on marine life and the richness of life in our oceans, visit the beach, etc., – whatever you feel will allow you to bond with our planet’s natural bodies of water.
• Make adjustments: educate yourself about endangered marine species (e.g., bluefin and other types of tuna, swordfish, skates and rays, marlin, Atlantic cod and orange roughy) so you can cross that seafood off your shopping list – and remember to tell others why you’re switching! (Check out Greenpeace’s Seafood Red List here.) You can also read up on which supermarkets shun unsustainable seafood (so you can shop there), biodegradable pesticides and fertilizers for your backyard, wear biodegradable sunscreen, etc.
• Celebrate: take part in the day’s festivities! For instance, write a letter to BP about the catastrophe it’s caused in the Gulf of Mexico and take part in demonstrations and sign petitions against oil drilling.

Atlantic cod is an endangered species

The UN resolution

The UN resolution calls on user States and States bordering straits utilized for international navigation to keep working together to resolve issues regarding navigation safety, e.g., aids to navigation safety and the prevention, reduction and control of pollution generated by ships and other vessels.

Countries are being urged to consider becoming members of the International Hydrographic Organization, and to cooperate with that organization to boost the coverage of hydrographic information across the planet.

These orders are meant to strengthen technical assistance and promote navigation safety, particularly in areas of international navigation, ports and vulnerable or protected marine zones.

“The oceans play a fundamental role in our daily lives. They are an integral part of sustainable development and an important frontier for research. As scientists explore the oceans to increasing depths, they continue to discover new forms of marine life,” said Ki-moo.

“These investigations have great potential with regards to the improvement of human welfare. But if we are to benefit fully from what the oceans have to offer, we must address the harmful effects of human activities. The diversity of life in the oceans is under increasing pressure,” he added.

Ki-moo said marine ecosystems are being threatened by three major phenomena:

• The overexploitation of living marine resources;
• Climate change;
• Pollution from activities involving materials and hazards.

“The same applies to the increase in criminal activities, including piracy, which have serious implications for safety of navigation and the protection of seafarers,” he noted.