It ain't easy being green

So, you think you're a "green consumer". Well, according to a study you'll always be a sucker for a good deal. This article
explains how when it comes down to it we'll always try to save a buck or two.

I think we can all relate to this dilemma. However, as time goes on and consumer patterns and demands change so will the availability making the choice easier. At least we hope so. The interesting point to me about this study is that people will buy themselves a "reward" for being good without considering the impacts of it. Good luck in making the green choices and as I find more readily available options I will try and compile my list and I look forward to hearing any suggestions any of you may have.

Look out

Think Again!

Animated video about pollution from the WWF.

Climate Change Action

Climate change

A 2 minute video encouraging action on climate change in the UK.

How much will climate change cost?

Yesterday a report commissioned by the British government provided some startling figures about the potential costs of climate change. This page
has the report, press release and other documents supporting the report.

The costs could be as high as 20% of world GDP and create all the worst-case scenarios predicted by many others as a result of global warming.

If you don't want top read the full report the NY Times has a good article summarizing the press conference and report.

Message to my readers

A dear friend to my family passed away. I will not be posting for a few days. Thank you all for your understanding.

Africa's tallest mountains nearly bare of ice

Here is a good article about climate change and how it is affecting Africa's two tallest mountains.

Coral Bleaching

"Coral bleaching is the loss of color from corals under stressful environmental conditions."

To date, one fifth of our coral reefs have been destroyed and seventy percent are threatened. Research has shown that the rise in sea temperatures due to global warming are the reefs biggest threat. Other causes are over fishing, spills from tankers, divers, boaters, coastal runoff, hurricanes and typhoons.

Threats to Coral Reefs

Here is a brief summary of the importance of coral reefs.

The Link Between Breast Cancer and Pesticides

Recently a team of researchers studied the link between women who developed breast cancer and their occupations. In 2000 to 2002 a group of women with breast cancer participated in the study which was done during their treatment at a cancer center in Windsor, Ontario. The finding was that women who developed the disease were three times more likely to have worked on farms than women who did not have the cancer. Also, the same women that worked on the farms and later went on to jobs in the automotive industry, were four times more likely to have the disease.

What is known is that pesticides are used frequently with farming. Many pesticides can mimic and even block the normal functioning of estrogen and other important hormones.

Currently among industrialized countries the epidemic has increased at alarming rates. Canada has among the highest rates in the world. For a woman living here, her lifetime risk is 1 in 9. 22,000 women will be diagnosed this year in Canada with breast cancer and of that an estimated 5,300 will die from it.

This study shows that there is a link between the disease and occupations where chemicals are used. However, more research needs to be done to pinpoint the exact cause so we can then take the preventative measures needed to protect ourselves and those we love from this disease.

Taking action on climate change. Again. And Again.....

In the province of Ontario the Premier had promised to close coal fired electricity plants. He has also voiced opposition to recent meetings between the federal environment minister and the transportation industry on emissions reductions and standards because it may cost jobs in the auto sector. Now the province is the second largest polluter and home to the single largest greenhouse gas emitter in Canada; Ontario Power Generation. Now a petition has been filed to review the policies. McGuinty simply blames the federal government without taking responsibility for his broken promises and inaction.

The federal government is planning to table the Clean Air Act and work on reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The previous government had spent billions on numerous programs committed to the Kyoto Protocol with only a public attack on the United States to show for it.

After a lot of politics and little results what will Canada actually accomplish in it's fight to curb GHG emissions? It will be up to each individual to realize their personal impact on the world. If electricity generation is creating a lot of pollution individuals need to reduce their use. We can only rely on government regulations and funding of corporate programs to take us so far.

International Air Pollution

Recently the World Health Organization (WHO) recently released a challenge to improve international air quality. Some guidelines were set for different pollutants. However, within a week Indonesia is issuing an apology for being unable to control the air pollution blanketing neighboring Malaysia and Singapore.

Unfortunately, about 2 million people a year die from air pollution and many of these are in developing countries. Large cities around the world have air pollution problems but those cities in the developing world may lack any regulations controlling emissions of any kind. Air pollution does not recognize borders and where it is generated may not be the place where it has an impact. Global standards and recognition of the problems must be made beyond written agreements. While the impact on businesses and commerce is important what difference will it make if all your customers are dead?

Green Branding

Telus has used an interesting advertising campaign to promote their cellular phone service. Now it appears they have integrated that into their physical infrastructure. The article outlines how corporations are integrating their branding and advertising into their corporate behavior. In particular, they are building a LEED Silver certified building. This is definitely a positive step and if all offices could be LEED certified it would be great. I think we will all be wary until corporations could be environmentally friendly and socially responsibility in all their actions or at least attempt to do so for reasons other than selling us stuff.

Bulk Water Exports

According to an article in the Globe and Mail I read today the bulk water export issue may be resurfacing. Sorry the article is not available online unless you're a subscriber but if you get a copy of the paper look on page B2 for the article.

There are several reasons this is a problem and the article does an excellent job of explaining them. One of the most interesting aspects was the economic impact. If water were exported to the US then that would be less water available in Canada. That's pretty obvious but if you think about in economic terms and remember the concept of scarcity water could get pretty expensive in Canada. Another statistic in the article that scared me was that it takes four barrels of water to make a barrel of oil in Canada's oil sands. Think of that next time you fill up.

Once water becomes a traded commodity under NAFTA provisions what can be done to protect supplies? What happens if Canada pollutes the water and then exports it? Can the trading be stopped? So many questions.

Air Pollution in Canada

An interactive site that provides information on the contributors to air pollution in Canada.

Corporations going green?!?!?!

I'm not getting paid to plug a company or product but I read a Home Depot catologue called Eco-Options and nearly fell out of my chair. They talked about how it is better to store food in glass containers than plastic because the chemicals can leach into the food. They also refer to studies about organic food being healthier for people. I can't believe a big corporation is actually publishing this. Take a look at the magazine because it does have good tips about making your home a little more environmentally friendly.

Be thankful for the chemicals

Thanksgiving takes place this weekend in Canada. Apparently, all the foods that we would consume on a typical holiday weekend would contain levels of pesticides above what many Europeans or Americans would consume because of different regulations. Take a look at the report prepared by the David Suzuki Foundation about levels of pesticides in food found in Canada.

Looks like we have another reason to eat organic foods.

Water Quality in Canada

This past week a report came out about drinking water quality. This report was about Canadian jurisdictions. The bottom line is that bottled water is not the best and water quality is not the same across all provinces. Check out the report here. Fundamentally, bottled water is very expensive compared to tap water, bisphenol A (see an earlier post) can leach into bottled water, and a lack of federal standards are impacting individuals access to clean water.

We all know how important water is to us. Work to reduce water pollution and ensure your local drinking water standards are being adhered to and be active in making them stricter.

Ivory Coast Spill

A highly toxic cocktail of petrochemical waste and caustic soda, ended up in a suburb north of Abidjan Africa last month. This toxic black sludge came from a Greek-owned tanker flying a Panamanian flag and leased by the London branch of a Swiss trading corporation whose fiscal headquarters are in the Netherlands. Proper and safe disposal in Europe would have cost in the hundreds of thousands. Due to decisions made in North America and Europe, it was dumped on the doorstep of some of the world’s poorest people. To date eight people have died from inhaling pernicious fumes from the dumped waste and thousands more have been treated in hospitals crippling the already fragile health care system.

Michael Williams, a spokesman for the UN Environment Program, says that illegal dumping goes on all the time in African countries with very little attention.

For more on this story go to BBC News