Non Toxic Vision

Gore Vidal: A Manifesto

Oct. 1968

As published in Esquire Magazine: May 14, 2008:

Ten percent of the human beings ever born are now alive and breeding like bacteria under optimum conditions. As a result, millions live at famine level. Yet even with the fullest exploitation of the planet’s arable land—and a fair system of distribution—it will not be possible to feed the descendants of those now alive. Meanwhile, man-made waste is poisoning rivers and lakes, air and soil; the megalopolis continues to engulf the earth, as unplanned as a melanoma and ultimately as fatal to the host organism. Overcrowding in the cities is producing a collective madness in which irrational violence flourishes because man needs more space in which to be than the modern city allows.

But because the West’s economy depends upon more and more consumers in need of more and more goods and services, nothing will be done to curb population or to restore in man’s favor the ecological balance. Present political and economic institutions are at best incapable of making changes; at worst, they are prime contributors to the spoiling of the planet and the blighting of human life. It could be said that, with almost the best will in the world, we have created a hell and called it The American Way of Life.

To preserve the human race, it is now necessary to reorganize society. To this end, an Authority must be created with the power to control human population, to redistribute food, to purify air, water, soil, to re-pattern the cities.

Continue reading the article, which was published in Esquire Magazine, May 14, 2008

Greenhouse Gas

I found this amazing article at the official site for research*eu - the magazine of the European research area.

...Soils are suffering the consequences of climate change in terms of erosion and dryness. Evolving temperatures and humidity are disrupting soil composition and behavior. Soils themselves are also contributing to these atmospheric mechanisms. By over exploiting the soil, humans are triggering a time bomb with an uncertain detonation schedule.

The article also touches on subject such as: Geological impact, How desertification starts, Worldwide consequences and much more...

Read more on this subject

Green socialnetwork

Thanks to Victor, who posted a comment on my last entry, we now know about a new green socialnetwork: LayZGreenPeople, which was born out of a desire to get more people involved in improving our environment.  Tree-huggers, corporations and the government have started to take action, but they can't save the Planet alone.  Each of us has to do our part.

Most of us are far too busy to make major changes to our lifestyle.  We’re “LayZ Green People”.   We will never have time to research the latest organic hemp clothing or biodegradable detergent to buy.  But we can all take small actions that don't require time or money. Unplug your phone charger at night.  Turn off the tap while brushing your teeth.  Ask hotel housekeeping to keep the same linens on your bed.  It doesn't take much.  And imagine if millions of us agreed to do the same action, together?  

Join and make your voice heard and connect with follow green-thinkers.

(the above mentioned entry was taken off the "about us" section of www.layzgreenpeople.com)

Geotourism Challenge 2009

 

The National Geographic Society ans Ashoka's Changemakers opened the entry process for the second annual "Geotourism Challenge" to showcase how tourism done well sustains, enhances and preserves local culture and the environment. The competition will identify individuals worldwide wo have introduced the most innovative practices in tourism and destination stewardship. 

Conducted in partnership with Ashoka's Changemakers, the global Geotourism Challenge will accept online applications at www.changemakers.net geotourismchallenge through May 20, 2009. Applicants must demonstrate an innovation that protects destination quality and furthers geotourism, defined by National Geographic as "tourism that sustains or enhances the geographical character of a place - its environments, culture, aesthetics, heritage and the well-being of its residents."

During this period, anyone can debate, endorse or provide additional information on the entries. A distinguished panel of judges - including Keith Bellows, editor of National Geographic Traveler magazine, and Erika Harms, United Nations Foundation's executive director for sustainable development - will review the applications and select the finalists. The online community will then vote for the Geotourism Challenge winners, who will be announced this summer. Each winner will receive a cash prize of USD 5,000.

Participate at The Geotourism Challenge 2009: Power of Place - Sustaining the Future of Destinations, which is hosted at www.changemakers.net/geotourismchallenge.

What is green architecture?

 

The Goethe-Institut New York continues its hit series What Is Green Architecture?, a series of conversations, lectures, and events exploring the cutting-edge developments in the field and their impact on contemporary life as well as implications for the future. This season premieres with a talk by noted Berlin-based architect Diébédo Francis Kéré addressing his current award-winning project in his native Gando Village, Burkina Faso, followed by a conversation with Andres Lepik.

February 3rd, 6:30pm, Avery Hall, Room 114, at Columbia. Free.

One stop Shop

Greenzer: a shopping engine that makes environmentally conscious shopping easier.
This is a great new site, whether you are just looking, comparing or shopping. Thousands of green products are listed. Greenzer collects product and merchant information from across the internet then filters and arranges it into a comprehensive yet very organized website. This is such a comprehensive site and included brands like Seventh Generation, Patagonia, Burt's Bees, Hermann Miller and many more. You'll see...check out www.greenzer.com

Panel Discussion at Deutsches Haus in NYC

If you happen to be in New York City on October 21, 2008 at 7 pm stop by the Deutsches Haus, 42 Washington Mews for a panel discussion "Green Solutions for Everyday Living: Germany & Japan". This is a great way to find out what is going on in various countries regarding Green developments.

I myself will be in Austria, so unfortunately I'm not able to attend. However if you can make and get any great insights please let me know and we can share it on the blog. Thank you.

Go to the website of the Deutsches Haus for more info: www.nyu.edu/deutscheshaus

This discussion is made in collaboration with imagining global asia (iga) of The New School and made possible by the generous grant from the DAAD.

What is GreenPix?

GreenPix is a solar power-harnessing, light-emitting facade system designed by Simone Giostra and Arup. Integrated with the curtain wall of the Xicui entertainment complex in Beijing near the site of the 2008 Olympics, Greenpix features the largest color LED display on earth.
Greenpix behaves like an organic system, absorbing solar energy during the day and generating light from the same power that evening. Polycrystalline photovoltaic cells are laminated within the glass of the curtain wall and placed with changing density on the entire building’s skin. The density pattern increases the building’s performance, allowing natural light when required by interior program, while reducing heat gain and transforming excessive solar radiation into energy for the media wall.

Whole Foods - Wild Oats Merger???

I just read this great article in the Los Angeles Times:
Almost a year after Whole Foods purchased the 110-store Wild Oats chain for $565 million, a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington overturned a lower-court ruling that allowed the merger to go through. The ruling was a surprise to antitrust experts.

When the two companies announced plans to merge in early 2007, the Federal Trade Commission moved to block the deal, arguing that it would give Whole Foods too much of the organic and natural foods market. A federal district court ruled against the FTC, saying it had not made a case for delaying the merger. Specifically the panel says the lower court erred when it ruled that the FTC's definition of what constitutes the market for natural and organic foods was too narrow.

Whole Foods says it is evaluating its legal options, and it notes that "the decision acknowledges that neither the court nor the FTC has found the merger to be unlawful." It has already rebranded most of the Wild Oats stores, sold 35 more and closed 12. There are still 15 that use the Wild Oats name but they will be converted soon. Read the entire story

Monsanto - the really bad guys

I have just received a very disturbing email from MUG-Manhattan Users Guide:

"...the Monsanto company produces a synthetic growth hormone called Posilac, used by some dairy farmers, which juices cows to produce more milk. Lots of people don't want this in their milk, for compelling reasons. Dairy farmers that do not use the recombinant bovine growth hormone (rBGH) almost invariably state that on their milk carton labels. You, the consumer, get useful info. But since the FDA would not allow Monsanto to ban rBGH labelling nationally, the dirtbags have been going state-by-state to pass legislation that would ban the labelling. They're now trying to do it in New York; they need to be stopped."... Please take some action and sign now before Monsanto takes over.

Great "Thank you" to Charlie Suisman and his team from MUG.