A Green Goodbye...

Well I can’t say that my blog has changed lives, or that it has fully solved the problem regarding global warming…but I can say that it has spread the word of greener living.

If not to many, at least it has raised my personal awareness. And not for the rest of the semester, or the rest of the year, but for the rest of my life.

When my class came up with the idea for a greener living online magazine, I was devastated. I thought it would be impossible to find a connection between sports and the environment, but I found numerous.

Then, I thought it would be impossible to write about a greener lifestyle for an entire semester, but now that the time is winding down, I find it impossible to stop finding new story ideas.
Green has swept the nation, and I’m proud to say we had a part in it. With every blog I wrote, information was spread, and knowledge was gained.

My trip home for Thanksgiving was proof that it’s hard to escape the green revolution, even when your trying to vacation.

I carpooled the 500 mile trip home, instead of driving by myself which I always prefer.
When shopping for a gift for my god puppy on the road, a recycled doggy sweater couldn’t be passed up.

And finally, instead of watching the traditional three movies after thanksgiving dinner, we decided to teach the kids present for the holiday, the benefit of finding something non-electrical to do for fun instead. We played ping pong and miniature golf outside until sunset, and then played card games inside only using our fire as light.

It’s kind of a stretch, but that was the point of my blog. To change the small things in your life. Big changes to save the planet are too overwhelming to try and endure. So it’s the small things you can do that will add up to something someday.

Thanks to everyone and anyone that ever read my blog. I’m sure I got more out of it than anyone else, but that’s what made it all worth it.





To continue your greener living habits, here are some of my favorite web sites:
Tree Hugger
Green Guide
Living Green

Dashing through the snow, on an eco-friendly board...

The holiday season is approaching, and that means one thing to those born and raised next to an ocean. The surf is up!

Despite the fridged water temperatures, and the pitch black early mornings, the waves in the winter months are incomparable to any other months.

So with great waves, and the holidays about to approach, there is almost no better time to start talking about the eco-friendly surfboard revolution.

Companies have jumped on the greener life band wagon and started producing natural-material boards.

Ocean Green EcoFoil is a surfboard company that makes all of their boards out of sustainable forested wood. It also uses hemp instead of fiberglass laminates.

According to the Ocean Green website, the Bangor University in Wales has proven that the hemp being used in boards is creating a stronger composite, weight for weight than the usual fiberglass equivalent.

The EcoFoil boards look the same as other boards in regards to width and height, however their color and design-free exterior screams environmentally friendly.

Now if our feeling left out, because you couldn’t surf if your life depended on it, and throwing a couple hundred dollars into a new board just isn’t your style…but you don’t want to be left out of the winter surfing fun, I have just the idea for you.

Build a skim board. With winter break off from school, you’ll have a little more time on your hands to become a skim board creator, builder, and designer.

My brother has been building skim boards for years, and the results are nothing less than greatness.

He starts by finding large, old pieces of wood that have been thrown into dumpsters by corporations or small companies.

He cuts, shapes, sands, paints and glosses the boards to perfection and in no time they are ready to be taken down to the beach and thrown hard against the shoreline sand.

It’s cheap, fun and it’s a unique way to recycle old wood into a new toy. Plus, when everyone heads down for an early morning ride, you won’t be left behind.

For more information, check out these sites:
Surfer's Path
The Green Guide

Green candidates didn't win, but are still moving forward...

With the elections over and done with, the green party still wants to move forward in the green movement despite their losses. Dave Ewoldt, the campaign manager for Dave Croteau speaks on the next steps.






To learn more about the former candidates, and ways to get involved in Arizona, visit:

Dave Croteau

Beryl Baker

Sustainable Tucson

Arizona Association for Environmental Education

Community Gardens of Tucson

NBC introduces Green Week

This week NBC introduces it's very first Green Week with a focus on energy independence.

Besides working for a NBC affilate station for over two years, the aspect of “Green Week” that has affected me most so far was the coverage of the Cowboys/Eagles game today.

If you didn’t happen to catch NBC football night in America, the stage was set, the anchors were prepped and ready, and the game was about to begin, however, one thing was missing: There were no lights on. There were two shadows and the voice of Bob Costas that said,

“Were turning off all the lights that are used in this studio…and
we’ll keep them off for the rest of the night, including during the
half time and post game shows. Aren‘t there enough dim bulbs on
this program already? Haha.”

That is just the beginning. The Nightly News will focus on energy independence all this week and is asking the public, “Is it possible for the U.S. to meet it’s own energy needs without dependence on foreign resources?”



The Nightly News line-up of stories is as follows:

Monday: “Wind Power”
Wind provides about 1% of America’s electricity, but experts say it could provide up to 20% by 2030.
Tuesday: “Wave Power”
Scientists say that ocean energy has the potential to meet 10% of current U.S. electricity needs
Wednesday: “Grass is Greener”
Grass ethanol could provide 20% of the nation’s fuel and 9% of it’s electricity by 2030
Thursday: “Nuclear Renaissance”
America currently gets 20% of our energy from nuclear reactors.
Friday: “Energy Efficiency”
“Energy Star” electronics use 30% less energy and can save homeowners nearly $400 a year

If the news isn’t really your style, NBC has you covered. Most of their entertainment based shows will also be including a greener script. For example, on Days of Our Lives, Sam and Lucas tie the knot with a Green Wedding

To get started at home, check out

Simple Green Living Tips

Don't forget to pack your greener lifestyle...

Ecotourism can be considered as a form of tourism that primarily appeals to ecologically and socially conscious travelers, as well as to nature seekers.

It is keeping in mind environmental and cultural factors while traveling, in addition to promoting recycling, energy efficiency, and water conservation.

Mark Fredrickson is a professor at the University of Arizona and is currently teaching a class on Ecotourism:



For more information on ways to get involved locally in Arizona:

La Ruta de Sonora Ecotourism Association

Internationally:

The International Ecotourism Society

The Nature Conservancy

Ideas for greener living sprout up at Native Seeds...

Julie Evans is the Director of Marketing and Operations at Native Seeds/SEARCH(Southwestern Endangered Aridland Resources Clearing House) located on 526 N. Fourth Avenue.

She gives us some insight on simplier ways to greener living:



To learn more about Native Seeds:

Native Seeds

To find local Tucson Farmer's Markets:

Civano Farmer's and Artisans Market

Famer's Market at UA

Rincon Valley Farmer's Market

From junk drawer...to junk no more.

Everytime I upgrade my cell phone, I throw my old one in a drawer, walk away and ponder what everyone else does with their old and useless cell phone.

Finally, I decided it was time to find out. I found that organizations such as the Phoenix Zoo and Petsmart have created cell phone donation campaigns to benefit various charities.



Here are some links to help clear out your junk drawer, and donate your old phone to the charity of your choice:

Phoenix Zoo

Special Olympics of Arizona

PetSmart Charities