Story of Stuff & Their Endless Pursuit on Sustainability

I've been a long time fan of The Story of Stuff Project and their many documentaries. Their very first one came out in 2007, and I've been writing about them for awhile.

They have a few new features out in their Movies page of their website. "Reuse Revolution" is fairly new, and their first movie details Okapi Coffee and it's circular economy solution to keep waste out of landfills by encouraging patrons to use reusable cups:

Go to Okapi's website to learn more about where to find participating cafes that are in their network.

I'm eager to see what else Story of Stuff comes up with for their Reuse Revolution series!

In the mean time, here are more of their educational movies you can check out.

• Their 13 video set of their "Story of ..." Movies.
• Their 6 video collection of their plastic pollution documentaries.
• Their 3 video series "Exposed" about Coca-Cola Company's attempts & advertising campaigns, all of which essentially shut down recycling their glass bottles. 
• "Burning Injustice" about incinerators in California and the toxic air pollution they create.
• Their 10 video set on plastic solutions in "Solving Plastics."
• Their set of 5 videos entitled "The World We Need" showcasing activists standing up to make a difference.
• Their 15 video collection "The Good Stuff" where they look at some pollution problems and some potential sustainable solutions that would benefit us all.
• Their 3 video set of "Water Documentaries" about clean water and bottle water sources.
• Their 11 episode series "The Shift" on the coronavirus epidemic of 2020.

With 67 video shorts (as of this writing) over the last 19 years, this is a powerhouse collection of environmental and sustability resources... all just a click away! What a bounty!

Video from https://www.storyofstuff.org/movies/reuse-revolution-coffee-without-the-waste/, image from https://www.storyofstuff.org/movies/the-reuse-revolution/

Independence Day & The Declaration of Interdependence

The summer is clipping along and the 4th of July is here. Our nation's birthday. Next year on this date, it will be our country's 250th anniversary of our country's birth.

Where are you on your Civics education? When was the last time you read the Declaration of Independence, written July 4, 1776? If it's been awhile, you can read it here at the National Archives. 

The 4th of July brings with it all the celebration of a national holiday and a day off of work: parades, pools, barbeques, and fireworks. Bigger than that though, it brings with it the ideas central to our nation: freedom, autonomy, self-determination. 

But, in a world growing more complex by the year with digital advancements, AI, social media, innovation, technological growth, environmental issues, climate change, and more--perhaps we're also on the cusp of needing more. Yes, we're celebrating our independence, but maybe there's also a need to celebrate our interdependence. Ways that we are all connected to each other and our planet, requiring not only life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, but perhaps also an approach and vision toward shared responsibility. 

In doing so, we take note on how local actions ripple outwardly to our global community. How our stewardship of the Earth is tied not only to our greater purpose but also our greater connection. A vision toward sustainability and how caring for our shared home will impact everyone with the cleanliness of the water, air, the soil that grows our food, and the energy that powers this planet of ours. 

Knowing and understanding this interdependence is what environmental literacy is all about. 

Maybe this holiday as we are thinking about flags, fireworks, and freedom, maybe its time to think about freedom not about standing alone, but standing together. Maybe its worth create your own Declaration of Interdependence by filling in the blanks below, in the style of the Declaration of Independence's Preamble:

Creating a Personal Declaration of Interdependence by Vicki Dabrowka at Canva.com using Canva Code; Top image created in canva.com

The Environmental Cost of AI

I have been embracing AI and trying out a multitude of platforms: ChatGPT, Microsoft CoPilot, Claude, Google Gemini, Canva's "Magic Media Tools," and more. Increasingly, AI is integrated into existing platforms for teachers, students, everyone. I've used it for planning a trip to Spain, for the scrapbook commentary of my pics from that trip, for recipes, for lesson planning, for photo creation, for revising & summarizing, and  on and on more. Additionally, I'm planning a one-day teacher professional development workshop for one day this summer--so I've been living in it a lot!

Along my research travels, I ran across this infographic from Educators Technology that Med Kharbach, PhD. It describes the environmental impacts of AI. With us all on our computers all the time, we don't think that one more website might have as big of an impact as it does. But clearly, as it shows below, it's not just the website. There's the energy consumptions, carbon footprint, mineral mining & resource depletion, multiple levels of pollution, and transporation costs. It's a lot to consider here while technology's innovation solves many of our problems, it also creates new ones too... all of which highlights the importance of addressing environmental issues and making it a planetary priority!

Images from https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1092111519614816&set=a.558590699633570

The Invisible Rights That Hold Us: Flag Day 2025

Today is Flag Day, 2025. There's a lot of fanfare going on in and around Washington, D.C. today to honor that and the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army. All of which has caused me to reflect on our the flag and the heart of some of our founding American documents:

❤️ Our 1776 Declaration of Independence and it's powerful theme: “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” 

🤍 Our 1777 adoption of the flag and how Flag Day was first formalized in 1916 by President Wilson then officially recognized by Congress in 1949 as an annual day of honor and celebration.

💙 Our Bill of Rights, ratified in 1791, naming the first 10 Constitutional Amendments and our fundamental freedoms worth fighting for: free speech, religion, due process, right to assemble, and more.

Embedded in all of this is the knowledge there are other freedoms that aren't printed in these doctrines, but they are equally important. Ones with environmental impact, ones without which we cannot live. Maybe they aren't etched in marble or housed in the National Archives, but they are necessary. Quieter, simpler, maybe softer, silent, and invisible. Yet, they are vital and hold us all the same.

Click through the slides below to see the 10 Invisible Rights That Hold Us (and that we should hold dear):

“The Invisible Rights That Hold Us” by Dabrowka, Ms. Vicki

So this Flag Day, while the flags are raised for our country--a country with a long, layered history based on principles, resilience, strength, and democracy while also flawed and imperfect--let’s raise our awareness too of these other rights. These invisible rights. Let's protect them, and in doing so protect each other. 

Sometimes that comes quietly in observation, and sometimes we need to speak up when it counts. Here are three places that can help you do that:

• Learn how environmental law protects invisible rights at Earthjustice.
• Explore how enviornmental rights & human dignity are intertwined at The Center for Human Rights and the Environment.
• See how businesses are rethinking their impact in protecting our shared future via climate action at We Mean Business Coalition.

Images created at canva.com.

Yay or Nay to "No Mow May"?

I’m sitting outside, observing nature, weekend chillaxing, and pondering my words—not an unusual approach to my weekends here at this time of year. Especially as out school days are dwindling. It’s sort of my outdoor office. 

As I gander about at the flowers my green thumb husband has planted to beautify our yard, I’m noticing the heavy doses of rain from the week have made our grass shoot up. It’s time to mow…but it isn’t happening today.

All of which brought to mind the concept of “No Mow May” since we are still here in the middle of that month.

To mow or not to mow…that is the question. And a rather controversial one at that, I’ve come to discover. 

The benefits are striking. By skipping mowing, you …

• Allow your lawn to flourish with wildflowers (preferably native) to provide safe comfort and nectar for pollinating bees and butterflies.

• Promote biodiversity by creating a yard habitat for a variety of wildlife.

• Improve your soil health by letting your grass grow longer, which in turn aids in water retention. 

• Save your own time and effort by letting your lawn go “au naturel.”

• Reduce pollution by leaving your lawn mower in your garage.

• Can create a healthier, more resilient lawn that is more drought resistant.

But the downsides are also numerous:

• If not tended properly, you can inadvertently create an unwelcome pests: ticks, mosquitoes, and rodents, to name a few.

• You grow more weeds than grass or maybe some invasive species take root, which then takes up an unruly life of its own, overtaking the “good grass.”

• You may even get some unwanted tree seed growth that blow your way in the wind. Woody plants over time are harder to get rid of than weeds (should you change your mind later on with the no-mow business).

• Some home owner associations and local municipalities get a little grumbly over the overgrowth. Might be worth checking you HOA rules and bylaws, which might come with fines.

• Long grass gets heavy over time and the blissful meadow you were hoping for may come to look like a neighborhood eyesore and a no-mowed abandoned lot instead. (see HOA above!)

The short term benefits may not be worth the long term costs—to you, your home aesthetics, and the road back to a healthy lawn. So before you make the decision to finish off May in a no-mow-kind-of-way… or if you are pondering jumping on the band wagon for next year, it’s worth doing your research. 

Maybe creating a native plants garden patch in your yard is the best way to get maximum benefits with minimal side effects.!

These are good places to go to learn more:

• Niall Garden's YouTube Video: "No Mow: Yes or No? | Everything You Need to Know! | No Mow May"
• AP New's "No Mow May? Good intentions, bad approach, critics say"  by Jessica Damiano (May 2023)
• Monarch Gardens LLC's "Just Say No to No Mow May" (April 2023)
• Greenwise Team's "No Mow May: Pros & Cons of This Pollinator Movement" (April 2022)
• Rewinding.com's "The Surprising Downside of #NoMowMay" by Sheila Colla (May 2022)

Image from https://wildsight.ca/events/no-mow-may/ and my backyard, grass level

Just in Time for Earth Day: Revitalizing Our Nation’s Commitment to Environmental Justice for All

On Earth Day this past Saturday, I was delighted to run across this post on social media from the Plastic Pollution Coalition.

I love that the White House issued this the day before Earth Day! As I have learned more and more over the past decade about environmentalism, it has been striking how much a part of it is tied to environmental justice. NIMBY is a real thing, and it impacts black and brown communities and those less affluent in many ways! 

NIMBY, by the way, stands for "not in my backyard," which is a philosophy of many of where we want -- and need -- different global solutions, but people don't want them in their backyard. Classic examples include subsidized housing, waste facilities, factories, wind or solar farms, homeless shelters, and more. Typically the ones complaining and who are heard, are also the ones with power, influence, voice, money, and majority. So more often than not, these items appear in lower income neighborhoods, where the negative impacts affect minorities disproportionately to those in the majority. Additionally, these populations also feel the greater impact of climate change.

Hence the need for environmental justice!

To read the White House Fact Sheet of Biden's Executive Order, Revitalizing Our Nation’s Commitment to Environmental Justice for All, click here.

Additionally, among the many facets of the executive order, Biden and the EPA have released the draft for "National Strategy to Prevent Plastic Pollution." Open to the public for comment, this 41 page document (that you can access online), highlights the following 3 quoted objectives and proposed actions from page 1 of the document:

1. Reduce pollution during plastic production
2. Improve post-use materials management
3. Prevent trash and micro/nanoplastics from entering waterways and remove escaped trash from the environment.

Marine pollution is certainly a problem that even if we tackle it today, there is pollution and waste that is out there that will still make its way into waterways over time. 

Commitment such as both of these major moves is worth celebrating and I'm proud that Biden and the EPA unleashed it right during Earth Day season. It's time we start making forward movement collectively in favor of our planet!

Facebook post from https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=606086091547046&set=a.478972317591758 and https://sustainability.uconn.edu/environmental-justice/ and https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2018/06/5-ways-we-can-improve-ocean-health/

Major US Climate Steps Through the Inflation Reduction Act

Amidst the cacophony of new cycle clutter this week, something happened that isn't getting the media recognition that it should. (Which sadly sometimes happens in given the noisiness of partisan politics here in the USA.):

This week in the United States, some monumental steps went forward with Congress passing the bipartisan Inflation Reduction Act [IRA] which President Biden signed it into law. Not only is it the biggest climate action we've taken as a country, it also serves as the largest US federal investment in clean energy. Finally, it's a move towards taking action and addressing the climate crisis

• Electric vehicles will be cheaper, as will solar panels.
• We finally have a united push to cut greenhouse gases by 2030.
• Tax credits will be available to individual for using energy efficient technology.
• There are incentives in place that will potentially influence companies and corporations to push clean options over polluting ones. 
• The same is true for innovative entreprenuers to push to creating new companies, new techonologies, and new jobs
• Environmental justice is factored in by protecting those who live in impoverished areas and who typically get the brunt of ecological injustice.

More than that too, it will feel real in our pockets as it caps out-of-pocket Medicare drug costs and reduces other health care costs, it closes tax loopholes used by the wealthy, and it also financially protects small business owners.

That's just a quick snapshot, but for a better one, check out this one-page Democratic fact sheet summary of the IRA.

Additionally, here are some great articles to learn more of how we are finally moving in the right direction climate-wise through the passing of this act:

• President Biden's 8/16/2022 tweet and the one minute video in it (make sure to watch it!):

The climate provisions I sign into law today are a big deal. Let me explain why: pic.twitter.com/b4QTqXGSaz

— President Biden (@POTUS) August 16, 2022

• The Congressional Progressive Caucus Center's Analysis of Climate and Energy Provisions in the “Inflation Reduction Act of 2022"

• NPR's article "Biden Signs Sweeping Climate, Health Care, Tax Bill Into Law" by Barbara Sprunt

• Time Magazine's article "Biden Just Signed the Inflation Reduction Act. Now the Hard Work on Climate Really Begins" by Justin Worland

• The Center of American Progress' article "How the Inflation Reduction Act Will Drive Global Climate Action"

• The Citizens Climate Lobby's post by Steve Valk: "This Major Climate Bill is Signed, Sealed, Delivered. Good Job, Everyone."

Image from: https://www.marketplace.org/shows/make-me-smart/should-we-just-call-the-inflation-reduction-act-the-climate-bill/ and https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/calculate-bidens-inflation-reduction-act-save/story?id=88458834

Fighting Flygskam

It's no surprise to anyone what an impact air travel has on the collective, planetary carbon footprint. It's come to have a name: flygskam. This Swedish word, which popped up in 2017 but gained popularity  shortly before the pandemic began means "flying shame." It is defined as climate guilt from flying, and is a term that came into being during Greta Thunberg's activism and refusal to fly due to the fact that flights can be extremely hard on our environment and contribute to high rates of greenhouse gasses. Additionally, many Europeans especially can take high speed trains at a much lower impact. Their choices reduced the amount of air travel right before the pandemic, double hitting the aviation industry.

Clearly it's a problem that needs to be solved as our world becomes more global and there is a greater need for people to be in other parts of the world. How can we do it responsibly? It is going to take innovation to help solve the problems of climate change and other environmental issues.

Board Now is just one of the many innovative plans trying to work on this solution. Board Now is a program that has partnered many organizations to build a coalition to reduce emissions through sustainable aviation fuel.  This Fues would be "made from sustainable feedstocks such as waste oils from biological origin, agri resides or non-fossil CO2." By having companies buy into the program, more refineries that produce sustainable aviation fuel can be built, which over time will lower the cost of this type of fuel. When companies affiliate with Board Now, they make a commitment to the planet to reduce overall emissions and their own carbon footprint while also helping to make this a more sustainable alternative overall in the field of aviation. 

To learn more about Board Now, check out their website. Also, be sure to check out some of the members and partners that are affiliated and on board with Board Now.

Flygskam video from https://www.bloomberg.com/news/videos/2019-09-26/how-something-called-flygskam-is-hurting-european-airlines-video, Board Now video and logo from https://boardnow.org

World's Largest Lesson: Global Goals For Sustainable Development

While researching the late Sir Ken Robinson, I ran across this video series about the World's Largest Lesson. Created a few years ago, this ties in the with United Nations Global Goals for Sustainable Development, with their target date of making "our planet fair, healthy, and sustainable by 2030." Both were written by Sir Ken Robinson. And... with the second one narrated by Emma Watson, and the first narrated by Malala Yousafzai, how can it be anything but amazing?!

On The World's Largest Lesson website, there are a wealth of free resources (including lesson plans) and ideas for taking action as students. 2030 is a mere ten years away. 

With every year, it becomes more daunting, but we can certainly do the important work, if we put our minds to it! These videos certainly serve as inspiration!

The World's Largest Lesson pt 2 - with thanks to Sir Ken Robinson and Emma Watson from World's Largest Lesson on Vimeo.Videos from https://vimeo.com/worldslargestlesson/english-malala and Part 2:  https://vimeo.com/178464378, Part 3: https://vimeo.com/266852848

Happy 50th Birthday Earth Day 2020

For 50 years, Earth Day has been a time honored tradition, growing more and more important as we see more and more the effects of our human impact. As I showcased in my "5 Decades of Environmentalism" this past fall, we've made a lot of strides to be proud of in these 50 years.

This year, Earth Day won't be marked in marches on Washington or major community clean up events due to the global health issues from Covid-19. However, now, perhaps more than ever, community has taken on greater meaning, and we see the effects of that human impact in major cities that have been pollution-free for weeks for the first time ever, based on our staying home efforts. Additionally, the impact of contaminated waste (such as discarded gloves or masks road side or in parking lots) may be seen by many more (than ever before) for the health problem that they are.

From Earth Day Network's website:

So in honor of that, what can you do this unusual Earth Day? Turns out, a lot:

1. You can join Earth Day Goes Digital With 24 Hours of Action.
During the 24 hours of today, April 22nd Earth Day, Earth Day Network will have a lot of digital "global conversations, calls to action, performances, video teach-ins and more. "

2. Find Digital Earth Day Events.

3. Make Earth-friendly decisions in your home.

4. Do an individual clean up as part of Earth Day Networks' Great Global Clean Up.
Given the social distancing, you should not take part in any group events! Additionally, please take proper precautions if you are handling waste. During this time of coronavirus, gloves and possibly even masks should be worn during clean up. For other individual clean up help, check out their website. Then mark yours on the map!

5. Be a part of the Earth Day Challenge 2020.


What is Earth Challenge 2020? An effort to bring together citizen scientists to empower people around the world to take action for the environment. By tying together mobile technology and open citizen science data, Earth Day Network, the Wilson Center, the U.S. Department of State, and more organizations are working together and hoping to create the biggest citizen science event ever.

Do you need to be a scientist--no! That's the beauty. You can be an average person that helps collect data on all sorts of environmental data--in a myriad of areas such as plastic pollution, water quality, air quality, biodiversity, and more. This data then will be gathered in a central database, which then can help promote environmental policy and education.

And yes, there's an app for that--both for Apple devices & Android. The information will support their 6 Earth Challenge 2020 research areas:

Whatever you do this Earth Day, take a minute and do something that makes a difference. Just think what kind of world we would live in if we all did just that. 

The power of one can be downright enormous! 

Video from https://youtu.be/ci4hF9IVPws, Earth Day 2020 image from https://thematthewsgroup.com/events-calendar/earth-day,  screen shot images from https://earthchallenge2020.earthday.org and https://www.earthday.org/campaign/digital-earth-day/, quote from https://ecogirlshop.com/quotes-for-earth-day-and-every-day/

5 Decades of Environmentalism: 1969--2019

By the time the first earth day circled 'round in April of 1970, I was just about to hit my 6-month birthday. Needless to say, I don’t remember much about it and I was far too little to hug my first tree.

In honor of my 50 years on this planet, I wanted to celebrate 50 of some of the biggest environmental moments of the last 5 decades. What better way than with an infographic.

Infographic created using canva.com   Data from https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/earth-days-modern-environmental-movement/; https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/2019/09/environmental-victories-in-photos/; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_history_of_environmentalism; http://environmentalhistory.org; https://www.preceden.com/timelines/165371-major-events-in-the-environmental-movement; https://ecowarriorprincess.net/2018/12/year-climate-progress-top-5-environmental-victories-2018/

World Environment Day: June 5, 2019 #BeatAirPollution

As a "knower-of-random-dates" and a sometimes-perceived "knower of useless pieces of knowledge"... June 5 is not only during my kids' first week of summer, but it's also World Environment Day. It's often an annual blog post here! 

World Environment Day was introduced back in 1972. On December 15th of that yearit was designated by the General Assembly that June 5th would be known as an annual day where "world-wide activities reaffirming their [the United Nations'] concern for the preservation and enhancement of the environment, with a view to deepening environmental awareness and to pursuing the determination expressed at the Conference." Likewise, they adopted the creation of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). World Environment Day's first celebration was held in 1974, each year with a different environmental focus. 

This year's theme: #BeatAirPollution. The reason: 9 out of 10 people breathe polluted air. From the Climate & Clean Air Coalition: "approximately 7 million people worldwide die prematurely each year from air pollution, with about 4 million of these deaths occurring in Asia-Pacific."

You may not have realized it, but a campaign has been underway since May 24th of this year, running through today's World Environment Day, urging people to join the "Mask Challenge." From their website, here are some things you can do:

To give you more of a hint about World Environment Day, check out their 2017 #CleanSeas focus and how one day can indeed make a difference! May we be able to do the same this year with #BeatAirPollution!


World Environment Day logo from http://www.aaee.org.au/event/world-environment-day-2019/
#BeatAirPollution from http://webtv.un.org/d/watch/world-environment-day-2019-mask-challenge/6042745643001/?term=?term&lan=english#CleanSeas video from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dTeXOF_9j_k&list=PLZ4sOGXTWw8GNZglk8F_fubpnmH2jvhTc&index=2, screenshots from https://www.worldenvironmentday.global/get-involved/world-environment-day-mask-challenge

John Oliver: For the Climate Awareness Win

Sometimes you just need to laugh... in order to not cry. Our late night comedians know how to do this well.

In a very "not safe for work or in the presence of small kids" sort of way, John Oliver nails things once again last week (on May 12th) Climate change, the "Green New Deal," carbon pricing/emissions, oh my! Not to mention, he brings in Bill Nye to help him bring it all home later in the episode. (Bill Nye is always for the win! Even when he's fired up [quite literally] and cursing.)

"It's just science everyone," John Oliver states. Yes, yes that's true.

For more on science-concerns right now that American voters should have on their radar, read this article and the 9 bullet-points of scientific & environmental neglect.

And then, there's this. Always this:


 
Video from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDcro7dPqpA, photo from http://www.lovethispic.com/image/227430/every-time-you-find-some-humour-in-a-difficult-situation,-you-win and https://warosu.org/sci/thread/9134322

Mother Earth & Me: Celebrating Earth Day With Smithsonian's Discovery Theater

Last week we had the great pleasure of having the Smithsonian Discovery Theater come on location to our school and present "Mother Earth & Me: Celebrate Earth Day" during Earth Week. I was blown away by the message, meaning, presentation, and power of the 4 person troupe that came to our school.

The Synopsis from their website:

Mother Earth and Me (Celebrate Earth Day)
Available Tour Dates: April 16-25, 2018
Recommended for Kindergarten-5th Grade
The magic of earth science takes center stage in this fun, interactive Discovery Theater original as we explore the origins of our planet, the water cycle, and our important role in protecting the ecosystem, as well as folklore about the “big blue marble” we call home. Kick off Earth Month by pledging to become an Earth Warrior—and find out some great ways to start right away!

The level of engagement for all, Preschool to 5th grade was high for the entire duration of their 45-60 minute presentation. We all left giving our oaths to our Mother Earth, because like a good mother she takes good care of us...so it's our job to take good care of her!

Click here to see their learning guide for this specific production.

Additionally, if you ever get an opportunity to see any of Discovery Theater's production, make sure you do!



Discovery Theater banner from https://www.facebook.com/SmithsonianDiscoveryTheater/; pictures from my camera.

Crash Course Kids

I love me some Crash Course... not the wreck-up, destructive kind, but the John & Hank Green variety. They have a phenomenal way of making history--and every other topic under the sun--come alive with their fast talking, zippy animations! You can find them a few places:

• PBS
• Their YouTube Channel (my first line of defense)
• Their Website

Well, there's a new kid in town. Crash Course Kids, to be specific!  Bringing the same brilliance and humor that Crash course offers older students (although I've used their videos with upper elementary), Crash Course Kids is a little more on the elementary level, starting with 5th Grade Science--complete with standards, and they'll be adding as they go. Here's a preview:

 

You can find their entire playlist here.

Categories at this writing include:

• Engineering & Engineering Process
• Earth Science: Earth's Spheres and Natural Resources
• Life Science: Ecosystems and Flow of Energy
• Physical Science: Introduction to Gravity
• Physical Science: Properties of Matter
• Space Science: Introduction to Stars
• Space Science: The Sun and Its Influence on Earth

Crash Course Kids is addictive... in the best way! So go forth and gobble up the knowledge!

Crash Course banner from https://www.patreon.com/crashcourse, Crash Course Kids image from https://i.ytimg.com/vi/QTPY4j65O10/maxresdefault.jpg

Great Green Wall

Here on our one year anniversary of America's Inauguration Day of our 45th President, I'm going to pay my tribute in this way....

If we are going to build a wall anywhere, this is what we should build. The Great Green Wall is an project with the plan to counter the dry Sahara desert from growing. The plan--an 8,000 kilometer long and 15 kilometer wide green wall that is meant to provide food and jobs for the multitudes of people of people in the center of an area facing climate change.

Begun with the first planting in 2008, the Great Green Wall is destined to be the largest living structure on Earth and a modern day wonder of the world!





Videos from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kmgrwW5fQ5E and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bdRDfXFjgZg; image from https://www.nationalgeographic.org/news/great-green-wall/

The Story We Want

I ran across this trailer at Moms Clean Air Force... which is fitting as it is a showcase of moms most certainly taking action. Pitching this 5 part series as moms as "unsung heroes," Climate Listening Project does this:

"They listened to ordinary women—unsung heroes— confronting fossil fuel industries, climate change impacts, and a culture of extraction. These individuals are doing research, planting seeds of hope, and inspiring people across the country to share their stories, take action, and find solutions. The goal for the series is to connect audiences to inspirational moms across this country who challenge us all to join the chorus fighting for a better today and a healthy tomorrow."

Here is the trailer. 

The 5 chapters highlight moms in North Carolina, Pennsylvania, California, New Mexico, and Florida (coming soon).  All of these videos (5-10 minutes) are certainly worth the watch!!

May we go forward into the new year together, working to make environmental change!!

Trailer from http://climatelisteningproject.org/the-story-we-want/; image from http://www.momscleanairforce.org/climate-listening-videos/

Transportation Goals for the Future

Scotland, for the win, transporationally speaking.  Great goals ahead!




Jaguar too has some pretty aggressive transportational goals to counter fossil fuels:

 


videos from
https://www.facebook.com/climatereality/videos/10154768361436479/
https://www.facebook.com/climatereality/videos/1737917969582709/

Cows to the Climate Rescue

Cows have frequently gotten a bad wrap when it comes to the environment because they are well-known as methane producers. (Methane is 100 times more potent as a greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide. Greenhouse gases are responsible for trapping heat in the atmosphere, causing ultimate rises in temperature, which contributes to climate change).

In classic philosophical logic, we could say the following is true:

cows are gassy animals 

↓

bovine gastrointestinal distress causes methane

↓

methane leads to raised greenhouse gas

↓

higher greenhouse gasses lead to climate change

therefore: cows → climate change

What if the inverse was true:

If we could eliminate cows having gastrointestinal distress

↓

we could diminish methane

↓

we could diminish greenhouse gases

↓

we could lower our risk of growing climate change!!

There seems to a way we in fact can do that. Dried seaweed seems to be the answer...to this cow problem and a couple others! Cheers once again to science and innovation!

Video from https://www.facebook.com/DavidAvocadoWolfe/videos/10154720612001512/; graph from https://medium.com/@SFGillman/can-we-make-cow-burps-climate-friendly-f9709048f226; cow meme from https://giphy.com/gifs/ficazo-facts-cow-cows-3o6ZsSTf6i7ncd5TvW

See-Through Camping

Today I just finished reading "The Way of the Peaceful Warrior" by Dan Millman. There were a lot of references to being outside and being one with nature. While reading it, I found myself craving the outdoors. Add in the fall festival photos on Facebook, and plethora of seasonal and open apple orchards/pumpkin patches/corn mazes that are out there, I think that intensified my desire to be one with nature.

Then I ran across this video.  This could completely be my ideal form of camping. Security against the threat of looming bears, inclemate weather, or critters in my sleeping bag. Then there's the awe and wonderment of the vast vista that surrounds. The best of all worlds (with a comfy mattress to boot). Yes, a weekend here, unplugged, could be just what the doctor ordered!!

 

Video from https://www.facebook.com/attnlife/videos/1926745277587812/.