Mark Your Calendar...07/07/07

Love music? Love the earth? Then mark your calendar for 07/07/07 to take part in this global mega-concert to raise awareness about climate change.



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Mark Your Calendar...07/07/07

Whether you are a music lover, an environmentalist, or both, you will definitely want to mark your calendar for July 7th (07/07/07). This is the day that Live Earth will host a 24-hour, 7-continent concert series that will bring together more than 100 musicians and 2 billion people around the world to raise awareness about climate change.

Live Earth was founded by Kevin Wall, the Worldwide Executive Producer of Live 8, an mega-event that sought to use global awareness to combat poverty. Wall formed a partnership with Al Gore, Chair of the Alliance for Climate Protection and other international organizations to launch Live Earth, an event that is sure to inspire behavioral changes long after 7/7/07.

Live Earth Concerts will be held at Giants Stadium in New York; Wembley Stadium in London; Aussie Stadium in Sydney; Copacabana Beach in Rio deJaneiro; Maropeng at the Cradle of Humankind in Johannesburg; Makuhari Messe in Tokyo; the Steps of the Oriental Pearl Tower in Shanghai; and HSH Nordbank Arena in Hamburg. Concerts will be broadcast to a live worldwide audience by MSN at www.LiveEarth.MSN.com.

Want more info? Check out http://www.liveearth.org/friends_of_le.php.

Why Go Green?

As a parent, I knew that I did not want to raise my kids in a world full of toxins. And I wanted my kids to respect the planet and the other species that share it with us. But let's face it, there are days when it is all I can do to keep my girls clean, safe, and happy and I just don't feel up to the monumental task of saving the planet. But the reasons to go green are inextricably linked with my job as a mom. After all it's hard to keep my girls clean, safe, and happy if they are exposed to polluted water, air, and food. So here are the reasons that I choose to go green.

1. Going Green Saves Green

The essence of going green is to use less…less electricity, less water, and less stuff. And guess what, the good news is that using less actually saves you money. Conserve energy and you’ll have a lower electric bill and need less fuel at the pump. Reduce waste and you’ll spend less at the store and have lower trash removal fees. And fix your leaky faucets and you’ll not only conserve water, you’ll also slash the cost of your annual water bill. Now, who couldn’t use a little more green?

2. A Clean Bill of Health

We rely on the environment for more than aesthetics and commodities. It is literally the air we breathe, the food we eat and the water we drink. Air pollution, global warming, acid rain, and water pollution deteriorate the environment as well as your health. Protecting the environment means protecting these resources and ensuring that your family has access to clean water, healthy foods, and fresh air.

3. It’s For The Birds

Contrary to popular belief, we are not the only species on the planet. Every bird, mammal, fish, and tree depends upon the environment for its survival. And even if you are not an avid bird-watcher, the survival of one species is inextricably linked to the survival of the others. You may not notice when one plant or bird species becomes extinct, but as the number of species on the planet becomes threatened, the pressure on the environment builds up, affecting the survival of humans.

4. So I Can Look My Kids In The Eye

There is an old Native American adage that says, “We did not inherit the Earth from our parents, we are borrowing it from our children.” One of my obligations as a parent is to ensure that my children have the same access to nature that I enjoy. When I am old and gray and bouncing my grandkids on your lap, I’ll be glad that are growing up in a clean, healthy environment.

5. Raising ‘Em Right

No matter how hard I try to teach my children to do the right thing, they will inevitably learn from what I do rather than what I say. If I show my children that I care about the environment by making environmentally-friendly choices, they will (hopefully) follow my lead. Raising children who understand their connection to the environment is one of the most eco-friendly impacts you can make.

6. Give The Economy A Boost

You do not have to choose between protecting the environment and supporting the economy. Eco-friendly choices drive a free-market economy. Industries such as farming, fishing, and tourism, rely on the health of the environment. Innovative technologies and products that protect the environment create new high-paying jobs. Using the marketplace for eco-friendly products is a win-win solution for consumers and businesses. So by going green, I am helping to foster a strong economy.

Why Go Green?

Everywhere you look, things are going green. But is it really worth the bother? Here are the top 6 reasons for busy parents to save time, money, and the planet.



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Up At Dawn?

Water plants first thing in the morning. The cooler temperatures will prevent water from evaporating too quickly and watering at dawn rather than dusk helps prevent the growth of fungus.

A Green Clean For Clothes

Want to get your family's clothes clean without drowning them in chemicals? Natural ingredients such as borax, lemon juice, hydrogen peroxide, washing soda, and white vinegar are safer for you, your children, and the environment. Check out GreenerChoices.org for specific recipies.

If you just love your laundry detergent, try just using less of it by adding 1/2 cup baking soda to the wash. Need to soften up those stiff baby overalls? Try adding a 1/4 cup of either baking soda OR white vinegar to the wash. And for all of those lovely grass and grape juice stains, you could try a natural bleach such as hydrogen peroxide or a commercially made chlorine-free bleach. Ecover and Seventh Generation are two great companies to check out for eco-friendly laundry detergents, stain removers, and fabric softeners.

Go Low-Flow

As a parent, I would love nothing more than a nice, long, hot shower if for no other reason than to take a break from doling out snacks, referring fights, and wiping up spills. Of course, I'm lucky if I can get 5 minutes to myself. But even 5 minutes is all it takes to wash away 30 gallons of water. Showers make up a big chunk (roughly 22 percent) of the average family's water bill. And showers hit the pocketbook twice...once for water and once for the energy the water heater uses to make the water hot. Low-flow shower heads have come along way since they were first introduced, reducing water use by as much as 500 to 800 gallons of water per month. Install one and you'll save water, energy, and a ton of $$$.

Don't Be A Drip!

Set aside one day this month to repair dripping faucets and leaky toilets. Aside from being annoying, these little drips can add up to big dollars and major waste. Dripping faucets can waste up to 2,000 gallons of water each year in the average home, while leaky toilets can waste as much as 200 gallons per day.
water conservation

Get A Green Clean

Harmful chemicals and toxins abound in the average cleaning products. As a parent, I was always wondering what was worse...dirt and germs or the chemicals I was using to clean them up! But if you're looking for a greener way to clean up those juice spills, don't be taken in by green slogans. Get savvy about labels and learn to separate the green from the toxic. According to David Steinman, co-author of The Safe Shopper's Bible, look for grain alcohol instead of toxic butyl cellosolve as a solvent; coconut or other plant oils rather than petroleum in detergents; and plant-oil disinfectants such as eucalyptus, rosemary, or sage rather than triclosan.
green clean

Park It!

The next time you're headed to the grocery store or the soccer field, make an effort to park in the shade. It will keep your car cooler in the summer and minimize the evaporization of fuel.
driving green

It's A Gas

Tired of paying an arm and a leg to fill your gas tank? Take these steps to save gas, money, and the planet.

1. Go Slow: Stick to the speed limit and avoid excessive braking and accelerating.
   
2. Pump It Up: Make sure your tires are properly inflated (underinflated tires reduce fuel economy).
3. Clean It Out: If your car is like mine, it is a rolling closet, fileld with clothes, toys, books, strollers, and snacks. But all of that extra weight may cost money at the pump. The Department of Energy estimates that drivers can save anywhere between 3 and 6 cents a gallon just by removing unnecessary weight.
4. Go Cruisin': Using cruise control, especially on long trips, can save you as much as 7 percent on fuel (according to Edmunds.com.)