Daily Archives: November 21, 2008

Image from Joshua Rappeneker

It’s not quite ocean iron fertilization, but I have a feeling this new geoengineering proposed will still raise quite a few hackles. The idea, which originated with Federico Magnani of Italy’s University of Bologna, is, as the name implies, fairly straightforward: You would fertilize, or “dope,” as the New Scientist’s Catherine Brahic put it, trees

Manhattan Borough President Stringer telling it like it is
photo via the Observer

I was surprised the other morning when Brian Lehrer, on his eponymous WNYC radio show, stated that he had received 600 comments suggesting Michael Pollan as President-elect Obama’s Secretary of Agriculture. Who knew New Yorkers cared so much about agricultu

:: Get the do goodin’ dirt from the man on a squeaky-clean and green mission, Josh Onysko of Pangea Organics.

:: Cranberry salsa? Now that’s a modern and tasty twist on traditonal Thanksgiving fare. Try it along with these other deliciously sustainable side dishes.

:: Breathe new life into an old, unworn dress. Use its fabric to make a sexy new scarf!

Image source: Gainesville

In anticipation of the upcoming meetings to update Kyoto next month in Poznan, Poland, the 53 African nations met recently to develop the Algiers Declaration, stating that they will vote as one bloc during climate change negotiations, reports the Monterey Herald. Forests, renewable energy and deserts are the three major issues that African nations are most concerned about and its felt that voting as one bloc will give them more power during negotiations. Europe is hoping to get in on the action

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Image source: Shuuichi Endou/Tuvalu Overview

Tuvalu, made up of four small coral-reef islands and five atolls off the coast of Australia, will be one of the first to go as sea levels continue to rise. Shuuichi Endou decided his response was to take 10,000 photographs, almost one for every person on the island to capture the spirit and essence of the people, reports the Japan Times Online. When the island is gone, and the population has dispersed and assimilated into area nations, will the photographs be the only thing keeping this nation together?

Video clip: Amory Lovins on climate change, geoengineering and unintended environmental consequences.

In case you’re not a regular US News & World Report reader, we’d like to point out that Amory Lovins, co-founder of the Rocky Mountain Institute (which is a guest contributor to TreeHugger) has been just listed as one of <a href=”http://www.usnews.com/articles/news/best-leaders/2008/11/19/americas-best-leaders-amory-lovins-energy-scientist

Electronics are often so ugly and inanimate; why not make them do multiple functions like this combination wireless router and vase? Finally, electronics you can really call green! No doubt the flowers will last so much longer in that energizing bath of EMF. The designers say that “The STC Router successfully bridges the gap between lifestyle and technology with it’s flower vase functionality.”

Image source: Eco-Tools

Now that you’ve slowly updated your makeup stock to include eco-friendly and lead-free makeup, why not also update your brushes with ones made from sustainable and recycled materials by Eco-Tools. We’ve railed against the untested and toxic chemicals found in common makeup, but the brushes used to apply the gunk are rarely discussed. The brushes by Eco-Tools are available in drugstores across the US and are priced to not break the bank. A great gift idea for

photo: Mike Slichenmyer

Not to belabor the point, but of all sources of renewable energy taking a beating in the current economic storm, biofuels seem to be getting hit full force. Recently the world’s largest ethanol producer, Verasun, filed for bankruptcy and predictions have it that as many as 40 more plants could be shuttered within the next few months.

What this means for farmer’s i

If it were in France, this solar power installation would be receiving more money for the electricity it generates. Photo: Chris Muezer

Compared to its neighbors to the east, southeast and southwest, France has lagged behind in promoting solar power—though it has a backlog of some 400 MW of solar installations, it only has about 18 MW currently online. That’s all about to change with the introduction of a substantial feed-in-tariff for commercial solar installations. The hope is to make good on Minister for Energy and the Environment Jean-Louis Borloo’s promise to increase France’s supp