TresSugar

Models Strip Against Climate Change - Love It or Leave It?

TresSugar — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 09:00:00 -0700

A few days ago, an International Day of Climate Action was put on by the global campaign 350.org. Figuring the public is more likely to pay attention to practically naked models than Al Gore (naked or not), the group put together a video of smiling models taking off their clothes because global warming makes them too hot. I'm already skeptical of naked activism, but I think this video is trying to appeal to people who like barely-clothed models. I think they might want to rethink their angle - if global warming causes beautiful people to strip, won't some people think that's a good thing?

Want to Save the Planet? Use Contraception

TresSugar — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 11:00:00 -0700

Society's focus on green technology is a waste of time, according to the London School of Economics. What we really need to do to prevent climate change is to boost access to contraception.

Economists claim that family planning is the cheapest way to reduce carbon emissions. Every $7 spent on improving access to contraception would reduce carbon emissions by more than a ton, which is a great return. Conversely, you need to spend $30 on green technologies to see the same reduction.

The analysis focused on fulfilling current contraception needs that go unmet. If people who want access to services like the birth control pill got it, unintended births would be reduced by 72 percent, and thus future carbon emissions would be reduced. Fewer people, less carbon.

The London School of Economics isn't the first to point out that reducing the number of children you have is a powerful way to cut back your total environmental impact. Earlier this year, an environmental adviser for the UK controversially called on the government to provide better access to contraception and abortion as a crucial piece of its anti-global-warming policy.

Do you think getting contraception to people who want and need it should be the focus of climate change policy?

Retro Is Eco: A 1970s Lifestyle Could Protect the Planet

TresSugar — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 12:20:00 -0700

Want to stop climate change? Start by trying to fit into a pair of vintage bell bottoms.

A new study reveals that if the current world population was more like that of the 1970s (aka slimmer), there would be less pollution.

The report uses the UK as a case study. In the 1970s only 3.5 percent of the British population was classified as obese. Today, 40 percent of Britons fit that description.

While this larger reality undoubtedly has serious health consequences, researchers wanted to know how the weight gain impacts the environment.

Compared to the 1970s, the UK consumes 19 percent more food. The increase in food production equates to an extra 60 mega tons of greenhouse gas emissions each year. There are also not-so-obvious consequences. Thanks to a heavier population, much more fuel is needed to transport modern-sized people.

So how can we get back to the environmental friendly ways (and weights) of the 1970s? Think green -as in vegetables. Three decades ago people ate larger portions of vegetables and smaller portions of meat. They also engaged in more physical activity back in the day. Can you dig it?

Source

Picture It: Once Upon a Midnight Dreary

CitizenSugar — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 14:00:39 -0700

Nevermore was the message scientists sent today in Coventry, England as a New Orleans-style funeral march was staged to mourn lost generations of the future. It comes on UK's Climate Change Day of Action when the protest leader, NASA's director of the Goddard Institute For Space Studies, said scientists have a moral obligation to become politically involved.

View 5 Photos ›

Source

Protesting the Weather: Climate Change Activists Storm Capitol

LibertySugar — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 00:01:03 -0800

Activists braved the cold and snow yesterday to participate in Capitol Climate Action Day. The day of civil disobedience focused on getting the capitol's power plant to ditch coal for natural gas. Participants cut off access to the plant's entrances and refused to leave when asked. The group followed action guidelines, which included a ban on violence and damage to property.

NASA's chief climate scientist Dr. James Hansen took some heat for encouraging the act of civil disobedience. The scientist, who claimed the Bush administration muzzled him, thinks:

We need to send a message to Congress and the president that we want them to take the actions that are needed to preserve climate for young people and future generations and all life on the planet.

DC's nonvoting congressperson Eleanor Holmes Norton also supports the cause. She says the plant has "poisoned untold numbers of people who live in the District of Columbia." Last week, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid asked the Architect of the Capitol, which oversees the plant, to switch it to natural gas. Maybe the protesters will get what they asked for.

To see more photos of the protest, read more.

View 9 Photos ›

Source

Love It or Hate It? Global Warming Rug

CasaSugar — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 14:00:46 -0800

While I think that the NEL Global Warming Rug (inquire for price) makes an important statement, I can't imagine displaying it in my home every day - it would just be too depressing. However, maybe products like this are the necessary kick in the pants we need to start being more proactive about climate change.

Front Page: Las Vegas Hits The Snow Jackpot

CitizenSugar — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 07:47:28 -0800

A rare snow storm has hit Las Vegas, leaving more snow than the city has seen in decades, and grounding most flights in and out of sin city. The National Weather Service has called the storm a "significant historical event." - Las Vegas Review Journal
A former Rwandan Army Colonel has been convicted of genocide by the UN court in Tanzania, after the court determined he masterminded the 1994 mass killings of the Tutsis and moderate Hutus. - New York Times

MSNBC host Mika Brzezinski was mugged this morning in Washington, D.C. while waiting for a car to pick her up and take her to the studio to tape Morning Joe. - Washington Times
The man who threw his shoes at President Bush has asked for a pardon, after describing his behavior as an "an ugly act." The attacker's brother says the idea that he sent a letter of apology to Iraq's prime minister is unbelievable. - AP

Source

Al Gore Says Thanks, but No Thanks to Climate Czar Role

LibertySugar — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 11:30:39 -0800

Word on the street is that Barack Obama plans to create a "climate czar" position to lead his administration's climate change and energy policies. But Al Gore, the most likely candidate, has already said that he doesn't want the job.

Perhaps Al Gore either didn't want to fill out that cumbersome questionnaire Obama is passing out to potential appointees, or saw the position as a demotion from vice president. Then again maybe he thinks he can get more done outside of government. Whatever the reason, Al Gore's disinterest may clear the way for another candidate - California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Source

The Scoop: Accelerated Ice Melt Threatens Life in the Arctic

PetSugar — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 16:00:35 -0700

Not only does the ice help regulate the earth's temperature, but it also sustains life by giving access to food to many Arctic creatures. Unfortunately, with the ice shelf melting at an alarming rate (about 10 percent per decade), it's having a deadly effect on the Polar Bears native to the region. Kassie Siegel, staff attorney for the Center for Biological Diversity explains:

The Arctic sea ice melt is a disaster for the polar bears. They are dependent on the Arctic sea ice for all of their essential behaviors, and as the ice melts and global warming transforms the Arctic, polar bears are starving, drowning, even resorting to cannibalism because they don't have access to their usual food sources.

But the Arctic ice melt doesn't just affect residents of the north. See how this will affect us here in the US, just read more.

Melting of the Arctic ice not only effects our temperature, but it also means a change in the weather patterns. It could mean less rain for us . . . which means lower crop production. Experts say that the Arctic could be ice free during the Summer within the next five years! Although it's debated that this climate change is a natural occurrence, I'm frightened to see what that Earth would look like without our Arctic friends so soon!

Source

UN Fights Global Warming and Suits by Turning Up Thermostat

LibertySugar — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 03:00:25 -0700

The UN has announced an "In-house Climate Change Initiative," which will begin by raising building temperatures by five degrees at the UN's headquarters in New York. The thermostat in the Secretariat building will be turned up to 77 degrees, and air conditioning turned off during the weekends.

During the month-long "Cool UN" experiment, engineers will test energy consumption and utility costs. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon has a plan to beat the heat: he's suggesting UN workers ditch their sweaty suits, and wear their national dress to work, a dress code that used to be common practice at the UN.

Critics portray the effort as a token policy, but even if it doesn't stop global warming at least diplomats will relate to their constituents in dress and in body temperature.

Source