Red, White and Blue... and Green?

On the Fourth of July, what's not to love? You've got hot dogs, fireworks, and patriotism galore! This year we challenge you to make your red, white and blue a little greener. Declare your food independence by sourcing ingredients for your holiday meals as locally and sustainably as possible. Buying local foods is good for our local farmers, our economies, our health, and our planet. Best of all, they taste delicious because they’re fresh from the soil.
A nonprofit organization from Maine called “Kitchen Gardeners International”, has launched the Food Independence Day campaign to encourage 50 states, 50 governors, and 50 first families to celebrate July 4th with locally sourced food. This group needs your help to ask your elected officials to eat sustainably this July fourth. To help you can pledge to join in the celebration of “edible independence” by eating healthy and delicious foods grown by your very own local farms, gardens and communities. To learn more click here.
Thanks to Nora for this tip, and HAPPY 4TH!!!

Every Step Counts

Tropical deforestation accounts for 1/5th of the world's greenhouse gas emissions. Deforestation in the Amazon is fueled by the growing number of cattle ranches. Nike, Timberland, Adidas, Reebok and other brands have cattle ranches to produce leather for their sneakers. When you support the brands, you are supporting deforestation and the rising amount of greenhouse gas.



For more information, and to speak out against deforestation of the rain forests, click here

American Clean Energy and Security Act

Last week, Congress passed a new bill, planning to cut carbon emissions by 80% by 2050. And also:

"To create clean energy jobs, achieve energy independence, reduce global warming pollution and transition to a clean energy economy."

More about the American Clean Energy and Security Act.

Newburyport Farmer's Market

Need something to do on lazy Sundays this summer? Make it something green, and support local business at the Newburyport Farmer's Market. Local farmers, artisans and businesses have tents where they sell their goods, most of which are organic and/or sustainably made. In addition, bands from the area perform each week and environmentally conscious organizations often set up booths to educate and spread awareness. This week Pingree's very own Transparent Four performed, and the River Valley Charter School's Environmental Action Club had an info table (check out their blog here!) The Market takes place every Sunday of the summer at The Tannery (parking can be found across the street.) See their website for more details.

Here are some pictures from this week's market!

Jack Johnson

Do you know what Jack Johnson is doing for the environment?

Currently, he works with or runs four charities to help endangered species and to educate children about the environment. Here is a site where you can learn more,
http://www.looktothestars.org/celebrity/474-jack-johnson

Check out Jack Johnson's song, "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle." He performs this song in both classroom settings to teach children as well as to a huge public audience.



Props to Tomas for sending us this information!

Think About the Trees!

Here's a photo of one of the signs that have been posted along the driveway to discourage idling during the Pingree Camp pick-up line.

"Secretary of Saving the Planet"

Pick up the June 25 Rolling Stone magazine (the one with Adam Lambert on the cover) to read about Steven Chu. Chu is a Nobel Prize in Physics winner and was picked as President Obama's Secretary of Energy back in January.

Here are some of his goals:
1) Smarter Buildings: He believes it is possible to cut energy consumption in buildings by a whopping 80%!

2) Better Biofuels: Chu wants to change our fuel to perennial grasses which packs double the energy content of corn.

3) Thinner Solar: He hopes to cover less than one precent of the Earth's deserts with thinner solar panels. This would supply the world's entire demand for electricity without producing a single ton of CO2.!

4) Living Batteries: As the technology becomes more advanced, batteries are becoming more stable and efficient.

5) Captured Carbon: Using genetically engineered bacteria, Chu hopes to capture CO2 from coal plants.

Ecorazzi.com

We know everyone here loves the earth. Now I'm going to be honest- I'm also a sucker for a gossip website, and I'd be willing to bet that most of you are too.
Meet the best of both worlds: Ecorazzi.com.

Perez Hilton + environmentalism. It's a beautiful thing.

More on Food

In their June 2009 issue, National Geographic had a special report on food called, "The End of Plenty: Special Report: The Global Food Crisis."

The whole article can be found here. If you don't have time to read the really long article, look at the picture gallery which tells the story pretty well.

Fun Facts (or just scary):
The corn used to make a 25-gallon tank of ethanol would feed one person for a year.
35% of the world's grain is used to feed livestock instead of people.
The United States' per capita meat consumption is more than twice as high as China's.

Food Inc.

Here's the trailer for the new Robert Kenner documentary "Food Inc." This "unflattering look inside America's corporate food industry" is in limited release right now, but hopefully will be available at a theater near you!

ClimateFriendly

The organization "Climate Friendly" is working to reduce carbon emissions through individuals, as well as companies. First, they quickly calculate your carbon emissions. Then, they help you find greener choices for travel and at home. The profits made are put towards new Climate Friendly projects for alternative energy. Also, 5% of all profits are donated to WWF. Check it out!

GreatGreenList

The Great Green List is an environmentally focused website dedicated to helping find sustainable options in our everyday lives. It includes links for Party Planning, Home&Garden, Green Jobs, Travel, Clothing, Resources and Energy. "If its green, its here."

Flashback to Earth Day April 2009

To inspire you to start thinking about (and planning for) fun events and a fall bike to school for September and/or October 2009, here are some pictures from April 22, 2009.

"When one tugs at a single thing in nature, one finds it attached to the rest of the world." -John Muir

Climate Counts!

Climatecounts.org

This amazing site ranks dozens of companies on their sustainability and their plans for improvements and gives them a score from 0-100 based on their efforts. First click on Climate Scores and then go to a sector and a specific company within that sector to see its detailed score. Here's my favorite part- for most companies there is a button at the bottom with a picture of an envelope, and if you click on it you can send an email to the company telling them that you think climate counts!

Also on the home page there is a link to download a printable scorecard- I already did it and now have a list in my wallet of the companies that are greenest (and brownest...).

Go to Climate Counts and take direct action to initiate a change!

Missy Higgins and The Sierra Club

Missy Higgins is a singer/song-writer who is teaming up with the Sierra Club to save the environment! If you pledge to reduce your carbon emissions by 2%, (or a lot more!!!) you get a free download of her song!

Here is the link to make a pledge: http://missypledge.warnerbrosrecords.com/

Props to Jimmy for discovering this opportunity!

Next year

Here are a couple questions from Priya in regards to the Bio curriculum next year:
1. Should we keep the scavenger hunt? Or is there a better/easier/more fun way to show how Pingree recycles?
2. Do we want to add a project in which the students have to research a new green product on their own? (something along the lines of what they do in Earth Science, I believe...)
Leave your comments and ideas!

Green Hangout!

Summer is finally upon us which means more time to spend with family and friends. Instead of going to your usual restaurant or hangout, check out Latitude 43 in Gloucester. Besides the amazing food and live music, Latitude 43 is helping out the environment!
Their tables are made of plyboo, a plywood made out of 100% renewable bamboo! The fireplaces are made of local granite which cut down on CO2 emissions. Latitude 43 uses solar water heaters and even use salvaged materials to decorate the restaurant!

Check out the green section of their website here!

Good Guide

Here is a really neat website that rates all different types of food, cleaning products, personal care products, and toys based on the products health performance, environmental performance, and social performance. The rating takes into account the entire process of making the products, so it seems like a pretty thorough rating. Here is the link: www.goodguide.com

PASS ON THE WORD TO BUY GREEN!

"A society is defined not only by what it creates, but by what it refuses to destroy." -John Sawhill

Ride to Sustain

Hey everyone- Jimmy put up a link to this but I thought I'd explain it for those who weren't at the initial meeting.
Colin Davis spoke to us about his Ride to Sustain and the accompanying documentary. He made a really interesting presentation about his work as a corporate sustainability consultant, and gave us some pretty awesome statistics and ideas for our work. Check out the whole trailer, its sick. (I'm going to attempt to put it on this page in order to demonstrate my technological-osity...)

Welcome!

Welcome to the Pingree Sustainability Blog!
Here we will post ideas for being more green, cool videos and pictures, articles about new green technologies and projects, and Environmental Club updates.
Spread the word, and help us make the world a better place!

"Don't blow it - good planets are hard to find." -Time Magazine