Eco-Office Gals» Earth

Directories of Environmental Groups, Businesses and Jobs

Jen — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 16:16:01 +0000

EarthTalk^TM
From the Editors of E/The Environmental Magazine

Dear EarthTalk: Where can I locate directories of environmental groups, businesses and jobs so that I can get involved in making a difference? — Jeanette, Carle Place, NY

The most comprehensive directory of environmental groups—from small to large and local to international—is provided for free online by the Washington, DC-based National Wildlife Federation. The group’s Conservation Directory (www.nwf.org/conservationDirectory) features listings for some 4,200 groups, including conservation-oriented non-profits, commercial businesses, government entities, colleges and universities, zoos, aquariums, museums, grant-giving organizations, and related coalitions.

Each listing includes all contact information, as well as a general description of the group’s work, the issues it focuses on and other relevant information. Users can search by keyword, location, issue and even contact name. Groups that aren’t in the directory can easily add themselves via an online form. NWF reports that new groups are added every day.

EnviroLink (www.envirolink.org), which started as a mailing list in 1991 between 20 students at Carnegie Mellon University, is today one of the best resources for green info on the web. The EnviroLink database has links to thousands of groups and resources across the U.S. and beyond, and is keyword-searchable.

Another old-standby is EcoMall (www.ecomall.com), which has an extensive “activism” section listing various eco groups and their campaigns. The site allows users to search by keyword or to navigate through well-conceived listings by issue topic. While the simple design of the site may bring users back to the early days of the World Wide Web, the listings remain fresh for the most part.

Beyond organizational listings, there are many other sites where you can find various green resources. Those looking for green products or services, for example, need steer their web browsers no further than Coop America’s National Green Pages (www.coopamerica.org/pubs/greenpages). The trusted directory lists some 3,000 businesses that have made commitments to sustainable, socially just principles, including support for sweatshop-free labor, organic farms and “cruelty-free” (not tested on animals) products.

Another good online directory of environmental products, services and even related job opportunities is the Eco Business Links Environmental Directory (www.ecobusinesslinks.com). A couple of other excellent environmental jobs listings include 5 Million Green Jobs (www.5milliongreenjobs.org) and the Green Jobs Network (www.greenjobs.net). Meanwhile, EnviroEducation.com also offers job listings, but focuses on helping aspiring students of environmental education, policy and science find graduate- and certificate-level programs to indulge their green learning muses.

Of course, in this day and age Internet search engines rival these directories for helping people find groups to work or volunteer with. An expertly crafted keyword search on Google (www.google.com/Top/Society/Issues/Environm ent) is sure to turn up some promising results. Remember to set key phrases apart by surrounding them with quotation marks to get better results. Navigating through Yahoo’s topic-based Environment and Nature Organizations page (http://dir.yahoo.com/Society_and_Culture/environment_and_nature/organizations) is another way to harness the power of the Internet to find environmental groups, information and resources.

SEND YOUR ENVIRONMENTAL QUESTIONS TO: EarthTalk, P.O. Box 5098, Westport, CT 06881; earthtalk@emagazine.com. Read past columns at: www.emagazine.com/earthtalk/archives.php. EarthTalk is now a book! Details and order information at: www.emagazine.com/earthtalkbook.

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Directories of Environmental Groups, Businesses and Jobs

Guest Post: Improving Health For Today and Tomorrow

Jen — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 14:15:02 +0000

July 16, 2009 Written by James O’ Shea with the maacenter

Going green used to be considered expensive and a luxury for those who could afford the trend. Now it appears that we are learning that not only is adopting more environmentally conscious attitudes good for our economic situation, but also our….health? Yes, if we dig a bit deeper we can see that dirty industries and backwards policy is actually harming the health of the earth for our children and the health of her inhabitants today.

There are two levels of health consequences associated with dirty industry, both direct and indirect. The direct consequences are examples like increased asthma rates in areas with high smog indices. Chlorofluorocarbon release into the atmosphere has shown to decrease the filter of direct sunlight on the planet, resulting in more concentrated ultraviolet light reaching the surface of the earth. Perhaps it is no surprise then that in countries with depleted atmospheric gas, skin cancer rates are among the highest in the world.

The indirect health consequences are harder to see immediately, but closer examination reveals that these are, in fact, perhaps the most hazardous. Bi-products of dirty and backwards industries, such as coal and oil processing, include cancer causing substances like asbestos and benzene. A U.K. study conducted in 2002 indicated that coal and oil industry workers are at a much higher risk of developing mesothelioma and leukemia. Dr. Robert Taub among many other doctors who specialize in this area understand that these are substances that can be directly traced to antiquated pre-regulation equipment in industries whose environmental hazards are even more inherent.

Can we really afford to continue on the path we were on before? Investment in clean industry means not a healthier planet for our children and grandchildren, but also a healthier place for us to live today.

Post from: Eco-Office Gals

Guest Post: Improving Health For Today and Tomorrow

Grist: A Few “choice” thoughts on Earth Day.

Jen — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 15:04:38 +0000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 20, 2009

Grist’s “Screw Earth Day!” Campaign Stirs Debate Among Environmental Community

Grist Urges Public to Make Every Day Earth Day with Free Download of ‘Wake Up and Smell the Planet’ and Sweepstakes for Free Trip to Bonnaroo Music Festival

SEATTLE, WA — Grist’s irreverent Screw Earth Day! campaign has inspired a fresh look at the annual Earth Day celebration as its 39th anniversary approaches. The promotion has sparked lively debate on numerous blogs and websites, stirring up feelings throughout the environmental movement.

Grist, the nation’s leading online source for environmental news and information, launched the Screw Earth Day! campaign on April 9 to underscore the importance that one day of action each year is not sufficient to address the pressing needs threatening our warming globe.

“In many cases, Earth Day has been reduced to a sort of planetary sound bite,” said Chip Giller, founder and CEO of Grist. “Well, we think that bites. Our campaign is sending the message that it’s time to wake up and smell the planet: the environmental challenges of today require us to treat every day as an Earth day. One day is for amateurs.”

Grist has published a special editorial series, “Does Earth Day Really Matter?”, that explores the green movement’s conflicted feelings over Earth Day. And Grist has rolled out — as a special treat — a new series of Ask Umbra videos on Grist.org that are sure to make Earth Day blush.

Grist is encouraging new users to sign up for daily and weekly news updates by providing two compelling incentives: a free download of its popular, award-winning book Wake Up and Smell the Planet: The Non-Pompous, Non-Preachy Grist Guide to Greening Your Day; and a free trip for two (including round-trip airfare, full festival passes and carbon offsets) to Bonnaroo, the popular music and arts festival that has a long-standing commitment to sustainability.

To download a free copy of Wake Up and Smell the Planet and enter the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival sweepstakes, register at http://www.grist.org/screwearthday or www.screwearthday.com.

About Grist
With a fresh spin on environmental news and views, Grist informs, inspires, and links America’s next generation of green citizens. Founded in April 1999, Grist has developed the most recognizable voice in environmental journalism: funny, opinionated, and intelligent. Grist offers in-depth reporting, news analysis, opinions, and practical advice — all tailored to inform, entertain, provoke, and encourage its users to think creatively about environmental problems and solutions.

Each month, Grist reaches more than 800,000 unique individuals through its website and e-mails, and it has enjoyed particular success among readers in their 20s and 30s. Through partnerships with major media outlets such as MSN, The Huffington Post, The Washington Post, and Yahoo!, Grist is reaching an even broader audience that extends into the millions. Grist has been featured in The New York Times, Newsweek, Time, Vanity Fair, and dozens of other major media outlets worldwide, and was recently ranked as a top green website by both Time and The London Guardian.

Post from: Eco-Office Gals

Grist: A Few “choice” thoughts on Earth Day.

Coca Cola Promotes Use of Plastic for Earth Day?

Jen — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 12:52:03 +0000

I love my Diet Coke, I do. I grew up drinking Coke, I hated “New” Coke, I supplemented my allowance growing up by turning in Coke cans and bottles for a refund. I have the cutest Christmas ornament a glass coke bottle with real coke in it that I bought 10 years ago. My mention of my soda of choice even won a solar radio last week:

Time for a TGIF cocktail-hour #earthtweet giveaway. The following just fits the occasion too perfectly…4/10 #earthtweet winner: RT @EcoOfficeGals sipping my Captain & Diet with my glass straw from @glassdharma dm us with an address; we’ll send you a solar radio from @gaiam! YEAH!!

But then as I went through my email yesterday morning, I saw one from My Coke Rewards that really disappointed me. For anyone that doesn’t know My Coke Rewards are points you can collect from entering codes on the inside of the bottle caps and cases of Coca Cola Products.

So, let me just share this email with you first:

Earth Day is a great time to celebrate the many wonders of the world—like cool, crisp refreshing water. In honor of Mother Nature, you can earn Double Points with DASANI.

April 20th through the 30th, enjoy any 12-pack of DASANI*—then enter your codes to boost your balance with Double Points—it’s a great way to enjoy Earth Day.

Basically, they are encouraging people to buy plastic bottle for Earth Day, and get rewarded for it! PLASTIC BOTTLES!!

From Earth 911:

In 2006, Americans drank about 167 bottles of water each but only recycled an average of 23 percent. That leaves 38 billion water bottles in landfills.
Bottled water costs between $1 and $4 per gallon, and 90 percent of the cost is in the bottle, lid and label.
According to the Beverage Marketing Corp, the average American consumed 1.6 gallons of bottled water in 1976. In 2006 that number jumped to 28.3 gallons.
It takes over 1.5 million barrels of oil to manufacture a year’s supply of bottled water. That’s enough oil to fuel 100,000 cars.
Eight out of 10 plastic water bottles become landfill waste.
In 2007 we spent $16 billion on bottled water. That’s more than we spent on iPods or movie tickets.
Plastic bottles can take up to 1000 years before they begin to decompose once buried.
If everyone in NYC gave up water bottles for one week, they would save 24 million bottles from being landfilled. One month on the same plan would save 112 million bottles, and one year would save 1.328 billion bottles from going into the landfill.

I don’t usually hash out my issues on this blog, but when so many people are out there trying to do good for Earth Day this is a real insult coming from a HUGE corporation.

I expressed my concern on Twitter to @CocaColaCo, but at quick glance I can see they do not use the platform to monitor customer concerns, but rather to send out periodic promotional blasts.

taraburner@thegoodhuman RT @EcoOfficeGals Drink DASANI from plastic bottles, it’s a great way to enjoy Earth Day. WTF??? <==that & coke offer..INSANE
thegoodhumanRT @EcoOfficeGals Drink DASANI from plastic bottles, it’s a great way to enjoy Earth Day. WTF???about 15 hours ago from web
thegoodhumanreally?? RT @EcoOfficeGals like cool, crisp refreshing water. In honor of Mother Nature, you can earn Double Points with DASANI.about 15 hours ago from web
SageMcGreen@EcoOfficeGals Was it Dasani? That’s their brand. Conscious capitalism is a new marketing ploy.about 15 hours ago from web in reply to EcoOfficeGals
thegoodhuman@EcoOfficeGals Hey, it’s Earth Day! Drink more coke from plastic bottles! (this is the hijacking of earth day was talking about earlier)about 15 hours ago from web in reply to EcoOfficeGals
sanmccarronSo wrong. RT @thegoodhuman @EcoOfficeGals Reward the use of plastic bottles for Earth Day? @CocaColaCo #earthtweetabout 15 hours ago from TweetDeck
thegoodhuman@EcoOfficeGals thats unreal!about 15 hours ago from web in reply to EcoOfficeGals

thegoodhumanRT @EcoOfficeGals Doubling Coke Rewards 4 Earth Day 4 bottled water?Reward the use of plastic bottles for Earth Day? @CocaColaCo #earthtweetabout 15 hours ago from web
AlainaFrederickRT @EcoOfficeGals: Doubling Coke Rewards for Earth Day for bottled water? Reward the use of plastic bottles for Earth Day? Seriously @Co …about 15 hours ago from TweetDeck

So, I ask my readers for support. Coca Cola is HUGE, and could really do some GOOD for Earth Day but this is NOT the way to do it! I am against Coca Cola rewarding people for using plastic bottles in honor of Earth Day, are you?
If so, PLEASE retweet this post, email it, stumble it, blog it, digg it just get it out there in anyway you can! Thank you in advance for your support.

All the best!

BTW: Only a few more days to enter the Green My World Giveaway, OVER $400 in Green Products from sponsors that REALLY want you to celebrate Earth Day the RIGHT way! Be sure to get your entries in!!

Potocredit: psd

Post from: Eco-Office Gals

Coca Cola Promotes Use of Plastic for Earth Day?

Earth Day Giveaway Round Up

Jen — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 13:00:39 +0000

There are many awesome giveaways going on this month for Earth Day. While, Eco-Office Gals will promote ours, we can’t be running around the blogoshpere entering other giveaways and not let our readers in on the opportunity! So, today will just be a round up of giveaways found in honor of EarthDay. How about an extra entry for Green My World, too? Find a giveaway I missed and enter to win, come back to Green My World and let our readers know about it with a link!

Green and Clean Mom – She has a few going on go check them out!
Alternative Consumer – Black & Decker Electric Mower & Leaf Blower
Teensy Green – Disney Earth Giveaway
EarthTweet – Several, I already won a solar powered radio! woohoo!
Cosa Verde – Wow! Way to much to even start, just go on over!
The Green Parent - Disneynature’s Earth Grab Bag
Mama Goes Green – RuMe Bags Giveaway

Looks like a short list right now… help me out by finding more and linking to them in your comment on Green My World for an extra entry!

Post from: Eco-Office Gals

Earth Day Giveaway Round Up

10 Things You Can Do In the Office for Earth Day

Jen — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 12:22:50 +0000

10 easy steps to help you green up your office routine. Try it for Earth Day. Make it a habit.

Grab an empty paper box and make it a recycle box for your desk.
Dump your stale coffee on the plants instead of down the drain.
Shut off the light when you leave the rest room.
Stop printing emails.
Going out to lunch? Go local. Walk.
Sniff out toxic dry erase markers – get them out of the office.
Collect old magazines around the office and drop them off at a school, or doctors office.
Got cleaning supplies? Replace with non-toxic as you run out.
Turn down the thermostat.
Go meatless – bring in a meatless lunch.

Got an easy step to share? Add it below!
Jen

Photocredit

Post from: Eco-Office Gals

10 Things You Can Do In the Office for Earth Day

To Clean or Not To Clean?

Jen — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 15:53:27 +0000

This morning I was reading The Good Human’s post Your Contract With Life On Earth and I started to think of the contracts we sign when we rent an apartment, house, office space, equipment, etc.

We sign these contracts promising to care properly for someone’s property, right? I really appreciated the post since it made me look at this scenario on the larger scale of Earth. The Earth is the property of every person and every generation. When our lease is up shouldn’t we let the next person move into a clean and presentable earth?

Wouldn’t you be pretty ticked off if, on moving day, you found out the last tenants left heaps of trash & filth for you to deal with? What if the last tenants were your own parents? Yah, the ones that made you go clean your room all the time growing up. Furthermore, if they had left the place nice and clean for you to move into, wouldn’t you be more apt to do the same for the next person moving in?

This isn’t some unique thought I came up with. But it was a fresh perspective for me and I wanted to jot it down. Thanks to The Good Human!

Go Green!
Jen

photo credit chrstphre

Post from: Eco-Office Gals

To Clean or Not To Clean?