support sustainability with your cell phone

Be fish savvy with Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch

I've been carrying around this little Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch card for a few years now. It tells me which fish are okay to eat, whether they're overfished or full of mercury or other contaminants. Well, now it's available as an app for iPhone. Since I broke down a couple of months ago and got an iPhone (that's another story...), as soon as I found out, I downloaded that puppy.

Seafood Watch app features

• Free, up-to-date recommendations at your fingertips
• Sushi guide lists fish by Japanese name as well as common market name
• Regional guides highlight the seafood that’s best in each area of the country

Got an iPhone? Get your free Seafood Watch app here, or at the iTunes store (did I mention it's free?).

No iPhone? Seafood Watch recommendations are available for all mobile devices with an Internet connection. Visit mobile.seafoodwatch.org for their online pocket guides.

No web phone? Do it the "old-fashioned" way, check out the website.

Raise awareness of endangered species with Rare Earthtones

Tired of hearing Samba, Fanfare, or Rondo Alla Turca when someone rings your cellie? How about giving endangered species a voice instead?

The Center for Biological Diversity has over 90 ringtones ranging from peregrine falcon calls to beluga whale songs. And they just added 7 new ones, including the cry of an elephant seal pup.

Over 200,000 Rare Earthtones have already been downloaded by thousands of people in more than 150 countries, including the UK, Canada, China, Japan, Iran, India, Poland, Germany, France, Brazil, Australia, and the US.

I'm going to download the Chiricahua leopard frog call right now. What will your endangered animal call be?

Get it here.

eco-minded art exhibits

A couple of exhibits on right now in NYC featuring environmental themes have caught my attention. The art shows run the gamut from recycled objects to artistic commentary on natural vs unnatural in modern life. Hopefully you'll get a chance to catch one of these while they're around.

Second Lives: Remixing the Ordinary
Museum of Art & Design
Now through April 19, 2009

"Second Lives: Remixing the Ordinary" is the inaugural exhibition at the Museum of Arts and Design in the new building at 2 Columbus Circle, which opened in September 2008. The exhibition features work by 50 international established and emerging artists from all five continents who create objects and installations comprised of ordinary and everyday manufactured articles, most originally made for another functional purpose. For a complete artist list, click here.

The exhibition includes works by well known designers, Ingo Maurer, Tejo Remy, and the Campana Brothers as well as internationally acclaimed artists, such as Tara Donovan, Xu Bing, El Anatsui, and Do Ho Suh.

Highlights from the show include American artist Tara Donovan's "Bluffs," a group stalagmite-shaped structures made of clear plastic buttons delicately placed one on top of the other. Paul Villinski, an American, creates beautiful butterflies out of his old record collection, producing a "soundtrack" of his life (image, right).

Other featured works are made from buttons, spools of thread, artificial hair, used high-heeled shoes, plastic spoons and forks, shopping bags, and 25-cent coins to mention only a few.

The exhibition surveys the rich artistic landscape of much contemporary art, in which hierarchies among art, craft, and design are disregarded. In addition, the exhibition examines the ways in which artists transform our world, respond to contemporary cultural paradigms, and comment on global consumerism.


Unnatural Acts And Other Illicit Thoughts About Nature
Broadway Gallery
Soho
473 Broadway, 7th Floor, 212-274-8993
January 2 - January 15, 2009

The Broadway Gallery NYC is pleased to Present:Broadthinking’s “UNNATURAL ACTS and Other Illicit Thoughts About Nature”

The exhibition will be on display from January 2 -15, 2009 (online opening midnight January 2 at www.broadthinking.org), with an opening reception: Tuesday January 6, from 6-8pm

In the exhibition, each artist utilizes the gallery space as a platform to consider the unnatural. As we move farther and farther away from a simple relationship with nature, a relationship naturally evolved out of a need for survival, our abilities to control and manipulate our environment and ourselves have taken us places beyond our imagination.

What IS unnatural in this era of artificially modified humans/plants/materials; medicines for mood or muscle enhancement, hormone manipulation of gender and fertility?

What about sex?

The quest for eternal life, a cure for diseases or poverty, a desire for pleasure and profit, a need for a spot in the hierarchy of wealth and well-being, or shear perversity, all motivate this drive to use and/or abuse nature.

The following artists invited to create work for this exhibition expose, distort, and subvert some of the premises of the natural to create commentary on - the unnatural.

Chris Twomey, Elizabeth Riley, Liz-N-Val, Kim Holleman, Alyssa Fanning, Peggy Cyphers, Joel Simpson, Miwa Koizumi, Kathleen Vance, Gulsen Calik, pale Infinity & Flash Light.

For more information go to www.broadthinking.org

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Other relevant posts
climate change exhibit @ AMNH
growing and greening ny

bicycle icicle

Maybe I'm a wuss or maybe the Danes just have thicker blood than I do. Since the mercury dropped, my bike has been collecting dust. But Old Man Winter isn't stopping the folks captured on Copenhagen Cycle Chic. They make it look so good, even in below zero temps (is that in degrees F or C, I wonder?).


Thigh-highs allow for greater pedaling mobility in a skirt.


How cute, they even have matching coats.

My boyfriend even got me a cool new pedal-powered dynamo headlamp (by Green Goods) for my bike and I've yet to take it for a test spin.


It also has emergent charging capabilities
so I can charge my cell phone in a pinch.

Maybe a daily dose of Danes on cycles will inspire me to get pedaling again.

pastured meats: good for you, good for the planet

By now you've probably heard -- pasture-raised animals provide healthier meat, and the practice of raising these animals is also easier on the planet than big agribiz. Now you can meet the farmers who are part of the Slow Food movement, learn why pasture-raised is a more sustainable option, and sample some of these meats for yourself.

Slow U: Local Pastured Meats, Good for You, Good for the Planet
with Slow Food NYC, Dan Gibson, Flying Pigs Farm, Caroline Fidanza

Where: The Study @ Astor Center
(399 Lafayette St. @ East 4th St)

When: Wed, Jan 14th, 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM

How much: $45.00

Humanely raised, pastured animals not only make for good eats, they are good for you and the planet. Shake the hands that feed you, join Greenmarket farmers Dan Gibson, of Grazin’ Angus Acres in Ghent, NY, and Mike Yezzi, of Flying Pigs Farm in Shushan, NY, to learn about the animals they raise, their production practices, and the health and environmental reasons to eat sustainably and humanely raised pork and beef. Mike and Dan will be joined by Executive Chef Caroline Fidanza, of Diner and Marlow and Sons in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Caroline will explain the culinary advantages of pastured meats and provide some tasty samples to make the point.

Get tickets

[via Brooklyn Based]

nyc recycling events this weekend

Mulchfest!
Chip in! Mulch your tree! Help NYC grow!

What: Bring your droopy, naked tree to a mulch center near you. At some locations you can bring home your very own pile of mulch.

When: Saturday, January 10 and Sunday, January 11, 2009
10am - 2pm

Where: Various locations in NYC. Look here for yours.

Who: Brought to you by the NYC Department of Parks & Recreation.


e-waste recycling
Keep your old pollutin' electronics out of the landfill -- at two locations (see below)

What: Bring your tired, weary computers and peripherals, TVs, DVD and VCR players, stereos and more to the following locations this weekend.

When: Saturday, January 10, 2009
10am - 4pm

Where: West 23rd St btwn 6th & 7th Aves, Manhattan


When: Sunday, January 11, 2009
10am - 4pm

Where: Fulton St & S. Portland Ave, Brooklyn

Who: Brought to you by The Lower East Side Ecology Center (LESEC).


textile recycling
Give your old clothes and other textiles a second chance at two locations (see below)

What: Bring that old shirt you haven't worn in 5 years, the jeans that don't fit, holey shoes, really any old rags (wearable or not) to give them another life.

When: Saturday, January 10, 2009
9am - 4pm

Where: Grand Army Plaza, Brooklyn


When: Saturday, January 10, 2009
8am - 2pm

Where: Inwood Greenmarket, Isham St @ Cooper St (West of B'way and 211th St), Inwood

Who: Goodwill, Council on the Environment of NYC (CENYC)

how to make a loomed scarf or belt

One of my fondest art projects as a kid was making a cardboard loom and weaving a little piece of textile (it was too small to be called a rug and there weren't any computer mice at the time to make one of those silly rug mousepads).

I just got all nostalgic watching this tutorial on ThreadBanger. Barbara of Bobbi Clothes shows us how to make a simple loom and then weave a scrap fabric scarf or belt. I'm inspired to whip up one of these beauties myself!

food matters

Common wisdom is often an oxymoron. Here's an example: "Never trust a skinny chef." I can't stand that saying. Why? Because it's total BS. Wouldn't you expect someone with a discerning palate to eat only the good stuff and not everything in sight?

I love to eat. And while I'm not a chef, I'm a decent cook and know really good food when I see it, smell it, taste it. I'm also pretty particular about what I consume. There are several reasons for this which break down into the categories of nutrition, ethical treatment of animals, and environmental impact.

So of course I'm excited about the latest book to tout responsible, wholesome, and delicious eating: Mark Bittman's Food Matters: A Guide to Conscious Eating with More Than 75 Recipes. Bittman is one of my favorite foodies. He cooks simply with quality ingredients and over the past few years has really awakened to the horrendous state of this country's food industry and what it's doing to our bodies, planet, and pocketbooks.

Here's a bit of a review by Slate's Laura Miller:

For Bittman personally, the moment of truth was twofold. At 57, he'd gained 50 pounds over his college weight and had developed high cholesterol, high blood sugar (especially scary for someone with a family history of diabetes) and sleep apnea, a condition caused by his excess weight. At the same time, as a food writer he could no longer ignore his "increasing disgust with the way most meat is grown in this country." The lives of factory-farmed livestock can only be characterized as "misery," and the resulting meat and dairy products are full of nutritionally dubious additives like hormones and antibiotics (which in turn wind up in the water supply, further damaging everyone's health).

With a colleague, Kerri Conan, Bittman devised a plan they called "vegan until six." They ate almost no animal products at all until dinnertime, no simple carbohydrates and no junk food. (Simple carbs are sugars, white flours and other processed grains like white rice.) At dinner, they ate as they had before, although in time Bittman found that even his evening meals came to include more "vegetables, fruits, legumes and whole grains and less meat, sugar, junk food, and overrefined carbohydrates." It was easy, and in a matter of months he'd lost 35 pounds, lowered his cholesterol and blood sugar, and had no trouble sleeping through the night. Most important, he continues to eat this way and is content to do so for the rest of his life.

Read the rest.

I've pretty much adopted this way of eating already without giving it a name, but the idea of "vegan until six" seems fairly simple to me. Cutting out meat or reducing your intake is an easy way to significantly improve health and at the same time reduce your carbon footprint.

According to Miller, Bittman readily acknowledges the influence of Michael Pollan and his mantra"Eat food, not too much, mostly plants," in the creation of this manifesto/eating guide/cookbook.

A culinary writer who promotes conscious eating and is helping people how to adopt the lifestyle for themselves -- now, that's a skinny chef I can trust.

your right to be beautiful

The dry air of the winter months saps my already combination skin of all its moisture. So a couple of weeks ago I thought it was time to up the ante on my facial moisturizer. I was all set to get some delicious product from suki-- one of the best earth-friendly beauty care regimens out there. But when I got to the shop (Organic Avenue on the LES) the saleswoman led me astray.

I'd seen this product before on their shelves and didn't even think twice about buying it. When you get a look at the super-kitschy packaging you'll understand why:



Yep, that's it -- Your Right To Be Beautiful. Reminds of those Pearl Cream ads from the early 80s. But she told me to ignore the packaging, the stuff really works. I tested a bit and was sold. Light yet really creamy with the not-too-overwhelming sweet scent of coconut and almond. Even my boyfriend approved (and he hates scented products). And I read the ingredients -- no petroleum, no parabens, none of the bad stuff, just nourishing plant derived oils and extracts.

Turns out the woman who created the stuff, Tonya Zavasta, is the one whose face graces the box. And it also happens that she's built a little raw food empire for herself. I'd say it's working out for her. She's nearly 50 and looks pretty comfortable in camel pose.




Learn more about Tonya's methods for staying healthy and beautiful at any age.


Your Right to Be Beautiful: How to Halt the Train of Aging and Meet the Most Beautiful You by Tonya Zavasta

Or visit her site, Beautiful on Raw.

old christmas tree, old christmas tree...

...how lovely were your branches.



The ornaments are starting to spontaneously fall off your now droopy branches, so it's time we kick you to the curb. A bit harsh, yes, but you'll serve a new purpose now. Like mulch. You'll help other plants grow and thrive. Or maybe you'll be used to prevent beach erosion.

But your new life will only be realized if we put you out on the curb naked -- no ornaments, lights, garland, plastic bags -- and from January 5th to January 16th (in NYC).


Not sure when and where to recycle your Christmas tree?
Find out at Earth911.

enjoying winter outdoors

In the colder months, I'm prone to get the itch of cabin fever. While I could take a skiing trip or participate in some similarly pricey winter sport, I remind myself that there are simpler ways of enjoying nature around me -- even in the city.

I'm fortunate enough to live near the great Prospect Park where it's not so unusual to take a stroll on a chilly January day.

Prospect Park ducks, geese, and swans on New Year's Eve

No matter where you live, I'm willing to bet there's somewhere you can walk (or take public transport) to and enjoy the great outdoors, despite the winter weather.

If you're in NYC, here are a few ways to get outside and beat the winter blues:


Witness a meteor shower (this Saturday!)
Need I say more?
Pelham Bay Park Ranger Station
Bruckner Blvd and Wilkinson Ave, da Bronx
7pm
[FreeNYC via nonsense nyc]


Take a hike (also this Saturday)
Hey! I'm Walkin' Here takes you on a 19-mile journey around southeast Brooklyn: Canarsie, Georgetown, Bergen Beach, Mill Basin, Flatlands, Midwood.
Meet at corner of East 105th St and Farragut Rd in Brooklyn
@ East 105 St subway station (L train)
at 10am
[BurnSomeDust via nonsense nyc]


Visit a garden
This Sunday (and the first Sunday of every month), Brooklyn Botanic Garden hosts a guided tour to beat the winter blues.
1pm starting at the Visitor's Center
[BBG]

See also: NY Botanical Garden


Go birdwatching
Every Saturday, explore the nature trails of Prospect Park while learning about native and migrating bird species with Introduction to Birdwatching.
12 to 1:30pm starting at the Audubon Center
[Prospect Park]

See also: Central Park


Take a turn around the rink
Here are just a few locations for ice skating around the city:

• Prospect Park
• Bryant Park
• Central Park
• American Museum of Natural History

happy new year!

I hope you all have a safe, happy, and healthy new year!

very last minute tax-deductible giving

Tomorrow's the last day of 2008 and also the last day to make tax-deductible donations to your favorite cause for this tax year. Here are a few of my favorites that I've given to over the years, hopefully you will adopt them, too.

Energy and economy

Green for All
If you haven't heard of the Green Jobs Movement, here's your chance to invest in the next biggest industry which will both boost the economy and preserve the planet

Rocky Mountain Institute
Creating clean energy and supporting sustainable development are at the core of RMI's mission -- based on the founding principle of "Natural Capitalism," a new and rapidly spreading business model that harnesses environmental performance as an engine of competitive advantage

iLoveMountains
Putting an end to mountaintop removal coal mining and supporting the Appalachian people and environment from the destructive effects of this industry are the goals of this org


Community and the environment

Green Map
Participants of green mapmaking help make communities more aware of the green and sustainable resources available to them. I personally have a thing for maps in general, so I love the idea of smashing the ecological and cartographical worlds together

Brooklyn Greenway Initiative
The Brooklyn Greenway will be a 14-mile recreation and transportation path connecting the coastal communities of Brooklyn -- from Greenpoint to Sunset Park. It will provide bikers with a safe and enjoyable path on which to pedal

Brooklyn Center for Urban Environment
The city has a unique natural environment that might not be readily recognizable. BCUE introduces the community to this environment through education, tours, and events


Natural resources and animal protection

Conservation International
Defending natural resources and precious habitat so that all creatures can thrive is part of CI's mission

Farm Sanctuary
A friend to farm animals, Farm Sanctuary is a public advocate and educator, and serves as a shelter for abused or rescued farm animals

World Wildlife Fund
An advocate of wildlife, WWF conserves habitat and preserves species from endangerment and extinction

The Nature Conservancy
Through the Nature Conservancy you can adopt an acre in the US, plant a tree in Brazil, or give a gift membership to someone you know cares about this great planet on which we live

Union of Concerned Scientists
They provide real science and solutions for the environmental issues we face today -- genetically modified crops, climate change, pollution -- they cover it all


Human rights

Amnesty International
They're committed to the rights, dignity, and well-being of all humans on this earth, and right now they're matching donations (eg, you give $50 and the donation becomes $100)

CARE
CARE fights global poverty by empowering women who thereby help their families and communities

dirty, filthy coal

Hopefully you didn't get any in your stocking this year, because now more than ever, coal is a symbol of greed, filth, and general naughtiness.

A few days before Christmas, a blanket of coal ash sludge fell on a Tennessee town when a coal dam broke, burying residents and releasing toxins into the Emory River. It's been estimated that the amount of ash that flooded the area would be enough to cover D.C.'s National Mall in a toxic blanket 4 to 6 feet deep. Or as Tom Yulsman (Co-director, Center for Environmental Journalism, University of Colorado, Boulder) put it:

The spill covers 400 acres — enough to blanket the Mall from the Capitol to the Lincoln Memorial, with enough left over to spill out onto 100 acres of D.C.’s side streets. It’s also important to note that this material is not just mud. In addition to toxic heavy metals, the ash left over from burning coal (which is what is in the sludge) may also contain radioactive substances.

[CE Journal via iLoveMountains]Blogger: supereco - Edit Post "dirty, filthy coal"

UPDATE: The damage is greater than once estimated. From the New York Times:

Officials at the authority initially said that about 1.7 million cubic yards of wet coal ash had spilled when the earthen retaining wall of an ash pond at the Kingston Fossil Plant, about 40 miles west of Knoxville, gave way on Monday. But on Thursday they released the results of an aerial survey that showed the actual amount was 5.4 million cubic yards, or enough to flood more than 3,000 acres one foot deep.

The amount now said to have been spilled is larger than the amount the authority initially said was in the pond, 2.6 million cubic yards.

See what happened

News coverage

Watch CBS Videos Online

Raw footage

[DeSmogBlog via YouTube]

Learn more
Read about the toxic coal ash avalanche
Read about Mountaintop Removal Coal Mining (and here)

Do something!
Tell Obama to end mountaintop removal in his first 100 days

Related organizations
iLoveMountains
Mountain Justice
Appalachian Voices