Daily Loaf

According to recent research published in the British medical journal The Lancet Wednesday (November 25), cutting greenhouse pollutants could not only save the planet from drastic climate change but could also greatly affect our health in a positive way. The studies linking climate change and health show that reducing carbon dioxide emissions from our atmosphere could greatly reduce preventable deaths from heart and lung diseases.

The studies performed looked at confronting climate change in four areas: electricity generation, household energy use, transportation, and food and agriculture. Each study looks at both high- and low-income nations and the health implications of reducing greenhouse gases from fossil fuels. Major amounts of carbon emissions are due to both transportation and from the burning of solid fuel in the household stoves of poorer countries (that burn dung, charcoal, wood and other polluting fuels) to cook and heat their homes. Carbon emissions cause air pollution because it increases ground-level ozone, thus accumulating fine particulate matter that could lead to lung disease.
Read the rest of this entry »

Yesterday, the Nature Geoscience Journal released a report saying that global carbon emission levels are still rising – 29% since 2000 – and they continue to rise 2-3% each year.

These findings that come from the researchers at the Global Carbon Project who report that the cause of the steadily rising carbon levels is due to the lack of absorption by the Earth’s natural carbon sinks. They believe there is a decrease in the efficiency of the natural land and sea carbon sinks.
Read the rest of this entry »

This Saturday, October 24, 2009, is the International Day of Climate Action - the biggest day of grassroots action on global warming ever. Why are people speaking out on this day, you ask?

People are trying to make their voices heard over wanting stricter regulations on global carbon emissions, so we can try to curb global warming before it gets out of hand. This December in Copenhagen, many world leaders will be attending the Climate Conference to reach an agreement on a new climate treaty. Environmental activists want them to know that they mean business and want things changed now, before it’s too late.

That’s where 350.org comes in:
Read the rest of this entry »

What’s the buzz on the latest issues in the Green Community? Check out what you may have missed this last week:

Living with the land: Florida’s first Earthship (video) – Eric Stewart gives a firsthand look at Florida’s first Earthship in Manatee County, and gets his hands dirty while helping out.

Not getting a million-dollar bonus this year? Think local stimulus- Scott Milinder shows us a real stimulus package that will work for us: we all commit to “Buying Local First.” According to recent economic studies, shifting your buying habits to locally owned businesses creates more circulation of money, more economic activity and more jobs in the local economy.

Eco-friendly summertime fashion accessories- Are you searching for a unique and beautiful purse to enhance your summer wardrobe? Then why not consider one of these recycled handbags that are made from recycled items that help to promote a cleaner and healthier world, reports Jen Meier.
Read the rest of this entry »

Reducing your beef (or all meat, for that matter) consumption could make quite an impact on not only your health, but also on the environment.

Beef contains high levels of cholesterol and saturated fat, as well as chemicals and growth hormones. Many scientific studies have linked the consumption of red meat to heart disease, stroke, and breast and colon cancer.

According to the National Research Council, beef has the highest levels of herbicides of any food food sold in the US. This is obviously due to all of the pesticides used on the corn and soybeans that is then used for cattle feed. The NRC says that beef rates as second highest on the list of foods that pose the greatest risk of cancer due to pesticide contamination (tomatoes being the highest on the list). Their studies also show that over 95% of all cattle in the US are receiving growth hormones and other pharmaceuticals, many of those then showing up in the cuts of beef we buy at the grocery store.
Read the rest of this entry »

The Tampa Bay Derby Darlins had their first official green event take place at Little Bayou Park, in St. Petersburg, this past Saturday morning. Teaming up with the super fun and cool people at T.R.E.E. (Tampa Bay Reforestation and Environmental Effort, Inc.) the Darlins planted over 100 native trees at the Park in a record time.

With about a 20 minute introduction from T.R.E.E. representatives about how big to dig the holes for the trees and how to fill them in properly and top with mulch, the girls were off and running with shovels in hands in groups to get started. Some of the T.R.E.E. reps mentioned how this was one of the most humid days they have ever done a planting, but no one seemed to complain about the weather as everyone knew that there was important work to be done.
Read the rest of this entry »

Below, is an interview I just conducted with Arlen Slobodow, a local filmmaker who just completed a documentary about air pollution caused by fossil fuels in the Tampa Bay area and how it affects our health and the health of our planet. Also, see my last post which goes more in depth about the film.

The following interview was conducted by phone on the evening of Tuesday, June 16, 2009.

Matt De Vlieger (M): How did you get involved in documentary filmmaking?
Arlen Slobodow (A): I have always been interested in social change work and have found mass media a good way to accomplish that. Read the rest of this entry »