Deforestation in Brazil

In honor of the World Cup and the controversies about Brazil hosting the World Cup, I want to bring up another thing that is happening in Brazil...deforestation.  Already, 2,256 square miles of land in Brazil have been cleared of trees for grazing land for cattle.  Instead of allowing the Earth's lungs (the forests) to be destroyed, let's think of some ways to stop this process.  For example, we should think before we consume so much beef.  Cows require an immense amount of water and grass to grow.  If we each eliminate meat from our diet just a couple times a week, it would make a huge difference in terms of our environment.  Why don't you join me in helping to stop the deforestation of the rain forests?

-Liam 

Deceleration in Global Warming?

Hey guys, Liam here, I'm sorry that I haven't been posting for a while but I will try to start blogging more regularly. Anyway, scientists have evidence that global temperatures are being brought down every year! Scientists are currently trying to find out what the cause of this breakthrough is. Although there is some doubt that this is really true, it shows that our efforts to try to stop this problem may gradually be working.

This chart shows the slow but steady decline in global temperature.


Image and information source: Capitol Weather Gang

 P.S.  Please comment with your thoughts on global warming and some ideas about slowing it down.  We might feature your idea in a post and it really helps to have feedback! Thank you.

Did you know that all these items can be recycled?

At our school, we just received new recycle bins from the Bay State Textile’s
Recycling Rebate Program. The bins can be used to recycle many textiles from stuff animals to duffel bags. Although 95% of used textiles can be recycled, 85%  of it goes to landfills. The average citizen throws away 70 lbs of clothes each year.  For every ton of recycled textiles our school earns $100.  

What can be recycled:

●Comforters ●Sheets ●Pillows ●Blankets	●Hats ●Jackets ●Jerseys ●Gloves ●Scarfs	●Slacks ●Blazers ●Sweaters ●Shirts ●Vests ●
●Belts ●Coats ●Ties ●	●Purses ●Duffle bags ●Totes	●Sweatpants ●Sweatshirts ●T-shirts
●Curtains ●Draperies ●Table Cloths ●Placemats ●	●Shoes ●Boots ●Flip Flops ●Slippers ●	●Undergarments ●Bras ●Socks ●Pajama’s
●Stuffed Animals ●Towels ●Bathrobes	●Skirts ●Dresses ●Capri’s -Liam	●Shorts ●Pants ●Jeans

Nstar green

NSTAR Green:  The objective of NSTAR Green is to enable NSTAR Basic Service customers – those who buy electricity from NSTAR rather than from a competitive supplier – to support electricity generated from renewable sources. By participating in this program, NSTAR customers will support the development of renewable energy resources in the region.

Highlights

• Basic Service customers can choose to have half or all of their electricity use support wind power.
• There is an additional premium for this option. Beginning February 1, 2014, customers choosing to have 50 percent of their electricity support wind power pay an additional 4.240 cents per kWh, while customers choosing to have 100 percent of their electricity support wind power pay an additional 8.030 cents per kWh.
• Wind power is generated at Maple Ridge Wind Farm in upstate New York and Kibby Wind Power in Maine, before being delivered into the New England power grid.
• Customers can enroll, change options, or choose to end participation in NSTAR Green at any time. Changes will take affect with your following bill.
• NSTAR Green has been certified by Green-e Energy. This certification confirms NSTAR Green meets standards of environmental quality, that relevant information has been disclosed to potential consumers, and that the seller has acquired the renewable energy supply it has committed to deliver to its customers. A product label for NSTAR Green is also available.

Overview:  Basically you can have some of your electricity come from natural, renewable energy for only an additional 4 cents per week. It is an affordable way to immediately become more environmentally clean.


- Liam

Source: http://www.nstar.com/residential/customer_information/nstar_green/nstar_green.asp
Image source: http://news.boisestate.edu/update/files/2010/11/GreenEnergy300x300.jpg

Check out Emily Abram's New CookBook "Don't Cook the Planet"

My mom went to a book signing for Emily's new cookbook this week in Boston.  Emily, who is only 19 years old and a senior at Deerfield Academy, wrote this cookbook to remind people that the small things that they do on a daily basis (like the food choices they make) can make a difference in terms of climate change the future of our planet.  The cookbook is filled with delicious recipes from celebrities and environmental activists, as well as Emily's tips for what we can all do to make a difference and reduce our carbon footprints.  Best of all, 100% of the author's proceeds from the sale of the cookbook will be donated to non-profit organizations committed to fighting for a more sustainable planet!  So check it out!  Even better, go on Amazon and buy a copy!  -Liam

Start Something!

Recently my school has started a "Green Team." It is a group of kids who sign up and do cool fundraisers like selling trees for people to plant and other helpful things such as having people get the recycling bins and "Recycling police." It is a very fun and helpful group and if you don't have something like this in your school, office or community you should organize a group of people to help start one.
 

                           Image source: http://fortyfort.org/departments/public_works/recycling/calendar/Recycle_Logo_copy.gif

-Liam

Methane Collector

Hey guys! Whats up? Dylan here. So, looks like I'm going to be posting a lot more so look out for that. So I wanted to highlight an idea that my friend had about going more green. Did you know that methane is a big part of greenhouse gases and is causing a lot of heat? Well, my friend Gray, thought about a methane collector. A way to suck the methane OUT of the atmosphere. Kind of like a...a...clean up crew kind of thing. And the best part about it, is that we can expand on it. How about a carbon dioxide cleaner? Or a nitrous oxide cleaner? I'm telling you, people it's these ideas that can save the Earth from Global Warming. By the way, you're not gong to believe what happened at school?! It was announced that the whole 7th grade was going to have a project dedicated to just...solutions for Global Warming!! Each of us are going to have a solution, create a model, and write a paper about it. It's these kind of projects that can solve Global Warming forever. So yeah, I think I'm going to highlight some of classmates ideas and we'll go from there. People, its been real, this is Dylan, signing off.