Blackle.com

It looks like this has been out there awhile but this is the first I have seen of it. If everything is accurate , it sounds like a good idea. Read about blackle.com here.

RFK Jr's Speech at Live Earth

This speech was one of the highlights for me at the show. He has such an important message. The transcript of his speech can be found here.

07.07.07 Live Earth Pledge

I PLEDGE:

1. To demand that my country join an international treaty within the next 2 years that cuts global warming pollution by 90% in developed countries and by more than half worldwide in time for the next generation to inherit a healthy earth

2. To take personal action to help solve the climate crisis by reducing my own CO2 pollution as much as I can and offsetting the rest to become "carbon neutral"

3. To fight for a moratorium on the construction of any new generating facility that burns coal without the capacity to safely trap and store the CO2

4. To work for a dramatic increase in the energy efficiency of my home, workplace, school, place of worship, and means of transportation

5. To fight for laws and policies that expand the use of renewable energy sources and reduce dependence on oil and coal

6. To plant new trees and to join with others in preserving and protecting forests

7. To buy from businesses and support leaders who share my commitment to solving the climate crisis and building a sustainable, just, and prosperous world for the 21st century


Answer the Call and Pledge to Make a commitment.

Live Earth Concert

I just got back from the Live Earth concert and it was amazing. I was in the 8th row on the “field” which had been covered by metal plates which served as a great conductor of sunlight which made it pretty hot. Except for being hot at the beginning, the concert was great.

First, the performers: I was surprised that everyone sounded pretty good. It might have been related to being there live and I may change my mind once I watch the performances back on the TV. I was most surprised by Alicia Keyes as I never really listened to her music before. She had a lot of energy and a great duet with Keith Urban. I enjoyed John Mayer and Melissa Etheridge the most. They both sounded great. There was lot of excitement over the Smashing Pumpkins. The Police sounded good, but I wish they would have performed more songs.

Second, the message: I was surprised there was not more of a message coming from the artists. They pretty much only had 20 minutes to perform their sets which I guess did not leave a lot of time to speak. AFI and Fall Out Boy made a brief mention and Melissa Etheridge intertwined her message in her songs. Very long but definitely a message that needed to be said. I’m Awake, Wake up America! I am going to be shocked if they show her performance on TV. The best message of all came from Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. I really hope there is a clip out there of it because I want to watch it again. His speech was very inspiring and I hope he made an impact on the concertgoers. The only problem I had is that he came on right before Bon Jovi. The teenagers in the row behind me kept saying his 10 seconds were up and to get off the stage so Bon Jovi could come out. It was probably the most important message of the concert and all these girls cared about was Bon Jovi. I also enjoyed Al Gore and his speeches as well as Leonardo DiCaprio and Jane Goodall.

I hope the concert accomplishes it’s purpose and does raise awareness and causes people to make changes in their lives. I’ll post more info from the concert as well as pictures later on.

Green Tip: Water - Turn it Off

One of the easiest changes people can make is to turn the water off when brushing their teeth or washing their face. This can save up to 4 gallons of water PER MINUTE. Up to 24 gallons of water per person per day could be saved assuming most people brush their teeth twice a day for 2 – 3 minutes. 24 GALLONS!! This is an easy habit to break yet I still see people who let the water run until I show them how much water they are wasting. I am challenging myself to see how many people I can get to change their habit of letting the water run. I am challenging you to do the same. Let’s see how many people we can get to make the change.

Green Tip: Lighting - Change Those Bulbs

Replace those incandescent light bulbs with compact florescent bulbs. CFLs use less energy and last much longer. The upfront cost is more, but over time the CFLs will save you more money in energy costs. There is some controversy that it takes more energy to manufacture a CFL compared to an incandescent bulb, but one CFL will usually last as long as up to 10 incandescent bulbs while using 4 times less energy. Energy Star has a lot more detailed information on the different types of CFLs and how to choose the right bulb for you.

Don’t forget when you turn off a light, you’re saving energy and money. Every time you come across a light that is on, or leave a room, turn the light off.

Greetings

This blog has been started as a place to gather information in one central place to help those who would like to make a change and make a difference. I am planning on blogging on my journey of Going Green, environmental issues, news, events, tips, as well as the political side of environmental issues. I would like this to develop into a community where we can have open discussion on the current events and on ideas others may have. We live in a world where it is time to make a change, Lets make a change.