Thursday, January 31, 2008
Clean Green
Known largely for their cleaning and paper products, Seventh Generation, produces a growing variety of household items ranging from household scenters to chlorine-free diapers, all made of recyclable and/or sustainable materials and with fair labor practices. Their name is actually taken from an ancient Iroquois saying:, "In our every deliberation we must consider the impact of our decisions on the next seven generations," which is clearly a philosophy to which they adhere assiduously.
Seventh Generation's site is as much a call to greener ways and a resource for green living as it is a place to promote their products. Thanks to this purpose-driven stance they've gained a loyal following of customers who are as loyal for the quality of product (and it is all good stuff) as for the quality of the people running the company.
Seventh Generation products are available most everywhere, from Target to your local supermarket chain, so you can shop sponsibly with ease. And their prices are competitive with those of companies who have yet to embrace sustainable living practices. Give them a try– your home and soul will love them!
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Ideal Site
The site delivers very daily simple tips anyone can follow to make a substantial impact with minimal sweat. Ideal Bite has an unapologetically feminine bent, yet most of the information within is non-gender specific.
For example, opting for A/C rather than rolled-down windows when cooling your car at speeds over 45. The wind resistance caused by air pushing through the car's interior actually reduces fuel economy more than do open windows.
Or how about simply using recycled aluminum foil rather than wax paper or plastic wrap for food storage. It's the only one of the three wrap options that's readily available as a recycled product and can go right back into the recycling bin.
Ideal Bite describes their philosophy as being "light green," a term that defines a level of eco-consciousness that's about making small manageable changes rather than applecart-upsetting ones.
A sponsible congratulations to Heather and Jennifer and everyone working on Ideal Bite. We should all be so light green!
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Check out Ideal Bite on the Today Show:
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Track Meat
In "Rethinking the Meat-Guzzler" Mark Bittman cites both the environmental impact of meat-processing facilities and of the animals themselves, not to mention that of their food sources, with staggering statistics. To wit:
• An estimated 30 percent of the earth’s ice-free land is directly or indirectly involved in livestock production.
• If Americans were to reduce meat consumption by just 20 percent it would be as if we all switched from a standard sedan — a Camry, say — to the ultra-efficient Prius
• 2.2 pounds of beef is responsible for the equivalent amount of carbon dioxide emitted by the average European car every 155 miles, and burns enough energy to light a 100-watt bulb for nearly 20 days.
• Though some 800 million people on the planet now suffer from hunger or malnutrition, the majority of corn and soy grown in the world feeds cattle, pigs and chickens
• Americans are downing close to 200 pounds of meat, poultry and fish per capita per year (dairy and eggs are separate, and hardly insignificant), an increase of 50 pounds per person from 50 years ago.
• U.S. livestock produces about 3 tons of manure for each American.
Sobering statistics all – enough to give one pause and make them wonder how important a meat-packed diet really is to them.
Is vegetarianism the answer? To some. We are, however, omnivores at tooth, if not at heart, and as such need not feel guilt about the occasional meat craving. Yet it wouldn't hurt us or our planet to reevaluate our dietary habits and modify according to a larger sense of what's right and wrong for both our bodies and Earth.
Tofu, anyone?
Monday, January 28, 2008
New Car-ish Thing on the Block
Due out near the end of this year is the concept car-looking Aptera. The brainchild of founder Steve Fambro, the car is five years in the making, and apparently worth every hour of those five years.
The Aptera is a three-wheel, two-seat marvel of engineering that, in an initial test run, got over 230 miles to the gallon! The car is also built for safety, exceeding industry standards in rollover and crash tests. It's not exactly the fleetest of cars (top speed of 85mph) nor the peppiest (0-60 in 10 sec), but then, you're not buying the auto to set land speed records, are you?
Aptera is available in two models: a plug-in electric hybrid model ($29, 900) and an all-electric model ($26, 900). Individuals and organizations can reserve an Aptera today for $500 at the website. Our Civic Hybrid lease is up the end of 2010 and if the Aptera is available for lease by then we're pretty sure we're going to spring for one.
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Land Ahoy!
Land for a Cause is an organization that sells parcels of land currently under their ownership that they're willing to part with so long as buyers agree to preserve and protect it. Prices for the plots start at a meager $99, and that's for full ownership- title, deed and all. However while the plots advertised average a few acres apiece, the portions of those plots up for sale can be measured in feet.
For example, a 2.5 acre lot in the Navajo country of Arizona has been subdivided into thousands, each one coming in at around four meters square. That's about 6.5 feet x 6.5 feet. Not exactly the kind of place you'd plan a family trip. But it is yours for life (your own, not the Earth's). So that's pretty cool, and should ensure that it never falls into the hands of mall developers.
Land for a Cause also donates 10% of their profits to various charities and make it evident through their blog that they're serious about protecting the Earth, not exploiting it. Consider any purchase you make to be an act of stewardship rather than a chance to become the next Trump, not that you had any intentions anyway...
Friday, January 25, 2008
Good Stuff
At a jaunty 20 minutes, The Story of Stuff is as much a call to action as it is an education in productions streams. In fact, DVD's are available through the website, perfect for schools or for hosting your own sustainable party, information on which is also provided on the site.
If you're not inspired to become just a bit more sustainable in your buying habits after watching this filmette, you just ain't human...
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Define a word, save a life...
FreeRice.com, a sister site to Poverty.com, combines global altruism with a voc to help save the world, one wordabulary test at a time. The premise is simple as can be: Choose the correct definition out of four choices and 20 grains of rice are purchased to support the United Nations World Food Program. So who pays for the rice?
The rice is paid for by whose names are at the bottom of the vocabulary screen. Each time you define a word correctly a new banner appears. So the advertisers are paying for each click on their ad page, which is going directly to the WFP. And you're getting progressively smarter to boot. Could there be a more ingenious site? We don't think so.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
The Magic of Baking Soda!
As it turns out, baking soda is very green, despite being white. From cleaner to deodorizer to meat tenderizer, baking soda can be used in place of a number of more ecologically costly products.
Here are some of our favorite uses for baking soda:
Get yellow stains off piano keys
Use as antiperspirant
Use as plant food
Keep bugs away from pets' dishes
Here's an example of baking soda's effectiveness as a cleaner in action:
Monday, January 21, 2008
Care 2 Shop?
If you do decide to follow his advice and spend your windfall, as opposed to, say, reducing your own personal debt, getting that leak in the roof repaired or donating it to a charity, you can still come out smelling sponsible all over.
Care2.org is a global network of people who, like us, are out to change the planet for the better. The site is incredibly comprehensive and offers sponsiblists of varying persuasion the chance to get their cause on.
Over at their store you'll find a ton of cool, green products on which you can spend your tax rebate. The irony of making a conscious purchase with your money is that you'll be doing exactly as the prez recommends, only instead of your dollars trickling down into the pockets of his corporate cronies they'll be going towards preservation interests. Perfect!
Dennis Kucinich welcomes you to Care2.org:
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Hannah California
In fact, Ms. Hannah has her own site, dhlovelife.com, where she espouses her environmentally progressive views, educates and even sells some really cool green products. Coolest of all is her own biodiesel-converted 1983 Chevy El Camino, which is currently up on ebay (as of this writing the price is at $9500).
On the video page there's some amazing footage of Daryl in Rwanda, communing with local villagers and Mountain Gorillas. In the "Know Dummy" section there's a compelling piece about the U.S. Energy Dept's plan to turn Yucca Mountain into a nuclear waste depository, and in her "Good News" section she has an article on the discovery of a new hummingbird in Colombia.
Daryl's range of interests is broad and her passion and commitment strong. Who would have thought a decade ago that the name "Daryl Hannah" might some day become better known in the world of activism than in acting.
Saturday, January 19, 2008
Greener Gadgets
Electronics have long been one of the least green areas of the typical households. Foreign manufacturing, toxin-filled batteries and screens and lots of plastic equal a large carbon footprint.
Which is exactly why green design firm Marc Alt & Partners and Inhabitat decided to promote February 1st's event. Companies like HP, Nokia, SONY and Philips will be presenting their initial stabs at greener home electronics. There will also be seminars and speeches and a general exchange of information and inspiration, which to our minds is the most valuable resource of all.
The conference will take place at the McGraw-Hill Conference Center, which is at 1221 Avenue of the Americas in midtown Manhattan on February 1st. For more info on the event and how to register to attend go to greenergadgets.com
Meet Inhabitat:
Friday, January 18, 2008
Charge Up Your Hybrid!
Even more amazing is the fact that this uber-green auto could be shipped in situ to the U.S., but isn't. Instead the plug-in charging system is removed, the better to continue our ongoing addiction.
Hymotion, a Toronto-based company, has figured out a way to reinstall the Prius' plug-in system, bringing it back to the fuel-sparing beauty it was always meant to be. They employ something they call Battery Range Extender Modules (BREMs) to convert Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs) into Plug-in Hybrid Vehicles (PHEV), which seem to be a logical step on the path to full-fledged plug-in electric cars (a road we've already been down, BTW).
While oftentimes we blame industry for so many of the woes in this world of ours, in this case a company is doing its part to make it better. Kudos to Hymotion from sponsible! Now, to convince them to adapt the technology to the Civic...
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Priorities
So the question arises- Should we prioritize and if so, how? From where should we remove our attention and to where focus it? Tough choice that, it would seem, no one should have to make.
I've long said, "It doesn't matter to which charity you give, so long as you give to charity," and while I still stick to the belief that on the whole it is better to give than not, I now clarify my edict by adding, "But while you are giving, why not get the most bang for your buck?" In other words, all charities are good. Some are just gooder than others.
We heard someone make a strong argument for making the environment our #1 cause. Fact is, if our ozone layer is depleted and our polar ice caps melted, nothing else matters. We won't have to worry about human rights abuses or healthcare costs or much of anything else. Our main concern by that point will be whether the weatherstripping on our houseboats can withstand 120º temperatures.
We tend to agree with this view on the whole, which is why, you may have noticed, the majority of our posts concern environmental matters. Certainly we want to protect gorillas, end the genocide in Darfur and pressure our leaders to bring nationalized healthcare to the U.S. But global warming is essentially ground zero when it comes to worldwide concerns. It's first level of stones in a pyramid. If it breaks down, the entire pyramid crumbles.
Moving forward we are going to continue with our call to get involved to positively impact the world. We will continue to weigh in on issues covering a broad range of concerns. However, we will also pay special attention to the needs of our planet and the ways in which we can take care of it, so that it will allow us the freedom to take care of ourselves. In the end it's about synergy, for sponsible as well as for Earth.
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
A Site that MATTERS
Sections include "At Home," "At Work," "Energy," "Environment, "Money," "Transportation" and "Travel." They also have daily blogs covering a broad range of sustainability-related topics. The writing is quality and the topics diverse. We're a fan. Check 'em out.
Here's a great travel article, posted by the Gaiam Community: 5 Places to Go Before They're Gone.
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
SPONSIBLE CHALLENGE #3
Last week Schwarzenegger proposed closing 48 California state parks to help shore up money to balanced the state's woefully top-heavy budget. It's one measure in a group that also contains the cuts to schools statewise and early release for certain prisoners.
We understand that the Governor is in an unenviable position. With an expected fiscal deficit of $3.3 by this June he's got a huge hole to fill if he doesn't want to suffer the same fate as his predecessor, Gray Davis. But to our way of thinking education and natural beauty are two domains that should never be compromised to save a buck.
So our third SPONSIBLE CHALLENGE is to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. Mr. Governor, we challenge you to rethink your budget cuts. Consider the intrinsic value of both education and our state parks. Challenge yourself to find other areas where spending can be reduced, think about tightening up the illegal immigrant loopholes that cost the state over $10 billion per year. Consider business taxes (yes, taxes!), but please leave our kids and trees alone.
We'll be issuing a formal challenge to the Governor and publishing his response, if any, right here.
The following link lists the 48 parks to be closed: http://www.sacbee.com/114/story/628440.html
Monday, January 14, 2008
Plug it in, Plug it in...
Toyota, the world's #1 auto manufacturer (and now America's #2- selling car), is often at the forefront of auto innovation, so we're a bit surprised that they were beaten to the plug-in punch by, ahem, an American car company. However, the auto giant's entrance into the electric market will spark competition among all the world's car manufacturers to outdo one another, ultimately creating a surplus of affordable, efficient electric cars. The future of driving has just gotten a whole lot greener.
The other day we were driving down San Vicente when we came upon the brightest, cleanest-looking gas station we've ever seen. Looking at the pricing sign we noticed that not only did they sell the usual three grades of unleaded fuel, but also B99 biodiesel and ethanol!
The station is called "Conserv" and is the brainchild of Kristopher Moller, who sold off a chain of traditional stations in favor of starting up a new, eco-conscious one. Conserv's website looks more lik that of an activist organization's, with links for "Community" and "Conservation Tips."
Kudos to Kristopher and everyone behind Conserv. Here's to hoping they overtake EXXON/MOBIL one day!
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Cereal (Waste) Killers
Being the cereal fans that we are, we've become ever more cognizant of the waste inherent in purchasing a box of cereal, and as such our breakfasts just haven't been as satisfying.
Recently we purchased a 32 oz. bag of Nature's Path Multigrain Oatbran Flakes and immediately cereal regained its status as a favorite food. Sold in what Nature's Path refers to as a "Eco Pac," the 32 oz. bag contains nearly 3x as much cereal as the typical box, but uses 2/3rds fewer resources to produce. At $7.99, the flakes cost considerably less than your typical bran flakes, plus they're 100% organic.
Kudos to Nature's Path for creating a healthy food that's not just good for you but for the Earth as well. Oh, and Multigrain Bran Flakes are really tasty to boot!
Friday, January 11, 2008
GREEN DRINKS
At last count Green Drinks parties were being held in over 300 cities worldwide and the NYC holiday version a few weeks ago drew over 900 people and the attention of CNN. If your city hosts Green Drinks make it a point to stop by one evening and hobnob with likeminded folk. If it doesn't, why not be the one to inaugurate it there? All it requires is a bit of initiative and a few greenies like yourself to get started.
Here in Los Angeles, Green Drinks rotates between four locations: Culver City (1st Thursday of the month), Hermosa Beach (2nd), Silver Lake (3rd) and Studio City (4th). Sponsible.org is going to make it a regular habit of attending at least one Green Drinks per month and updating sponsible readers on some of the ideas exchanged during these fun, inspiring events.
Here's recent NBC News segment on NYC's version of Green Drinks:
Thursday, January 10, 2008
CAN YOUR PAINT
Whereas before you may not have known in the past what to do with excess paint, now you will. That's because we're providing you with a handy reference guide for disposing of unused paint:
Storing Leftover Paint
When you are ready to store paint:
1. Clean any dried or moist paint from the threads of the can and lid.
2. Cover the opening of the can with plastic wrap or wax paper for oil-based paints. The wrap seals the can and makes it easier to remove the film that forms after it has been sitting around for a while.
3. Fit the lid securely on the can and gently tap it with a hammer until it is completely sealed.
4. Turn the paint can upside down. The paint will naturally form a skin to help seal the paint and keep it fresh.
5. Paint is flammable. Store in a climate-controlled area away from heat sources. Cans exposed to extreme heat can expand causing the paint to leak. Also, keep water-based paint from freezing. Water-based paint can survive a couple of freeze-thaws, but the paint will degrade until it is ruined.
Disposing Of Water-Based Paint
Liquid paint should not be taken to a landfill or poured down a sink. Use the following method when disposing of water-based paints:
1. Fill a paper bag or box with kitty litter, sand, or saw dust.
2. Pour the remaining paint over the absorbent material.
3. Allow to dry completely in a well-ventilated area away from children, pets, and direct heat.
4. Dispose of the solid in the regular trash.
5. For paint residue in the can, remove the lid and allow to dry completely. Remove the skin and dispose of it in the regular trash. Leave the label on the can and recycle if a program is available in your area.
Disposing of Oil-based Paint and Solvents
Oil-based paint and solvents, including mineral spirits, are considered hazardous waste materials. Special precautions and steps must be taken for proper disposal. Never dispose of liquid oil-based paint or solvents in the regular trash or pour them down the sink. Some communities have special hazardous waste collection programs for liquid paint. Check your local regulations to ensure proper handling. You can also visit paint.org for more information.
Of course, the best medicine is always preventive. Next time you find yourself with a paint job try as accurately as possible to estimate tje amount of paint you'll need. Buying a gallon when a quart will do is an expensive, wasteful and environmentally expensive mistake. Also, try putting your excess paints on craigslist.org. You may find that your refuse is someone else's home beautification project.
And the next time you do buy paint, consider getting it from these guys.
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Rainforesty Day
A number of organizations exist whose mission it is to save the forests, by way of advocacy and education, not to mention actually buying plots of land. There's another option that is equally effective, and can also be quite tasty to boot.
Most supermarkets, be they Trader Joe's or Vons, now carry lines of rainforest-derived chocolates. The cacao plant is indiginous to South America's rainforests and the chocolate made from native trees is particularly rich. By purchasing these treats you are making an impact in two ways: 1. a portion of the proceeds from sales usually goes to one of the rainforest organizations and, 2. a business that supports sustainable practices is promoted. This one is key, as thriving business based on the maintenance, not destruction, of the forests, is the most compelling argument you could make to a farmer who needs to support his family.
Check out our list of rainforest chocolates and treat your tastebuds, and your conscience, to an Earth-friendly treat!
A few rainforest facts, courtesy of rain-tree.com:
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Eco-Chic Consumerism
Now, with your new perspective take a look around and notice how much stuff is surrounding you – stuff that is produced using countless resources, manpower and time. Now consider how much stuff will be thrown away to make room for the new stuff. Think of all the clothes that are tossed in the trash to accommodate this year’s model and how this year’s will soon meet the same fate.
Yet, so long as we continue along with our national fetish to always own the newest, be it clothing, TV’s or sunglasses, more and more stuff will continually be produced, requiring evermore resources, manpower and time – time that could be used more… productively.
So, how can you, as a fashion-savvy, ultrahip, semi-consumer serve the Earth while serving your consumer tendencies? Ever hear the eco-phrase "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle?" It's the middle word that can pull us through this particular quandary.
Thrift shops, garage sales and antique shows can be a goldmine to the savvy shopper for all manner of goods from wearables to collectibles. Walk around NYC's lower east side and you'll find some of the hippest style mavens in the world. Ask them where they got their duds and the response will more often be "Goodwill" than it will "Hugo Boss."
Garage sales are a great place to find toys. As any parent can tell you, kids outgrow their toys almost as quickly as they do their shoes. Consequently garage sales can yield you in-demand toys with little road wear for bargain basement prices.
Who needs Pottery Barn when you've got a place like the Rose Bowl Flea Market in Southern California, Brimfield in Massachusetts or Renningers in Pennsylvania? You can get home good ranging in style from Victorian to country to modern and everything in between at a decent antique show. And the best part is, you don't have to pay for shipping.
Being environmentally conscious doesn't always mean wearing hemp and using organic dental floss. It can also mean something as simple as rethinking an old system. You don't have to buy new to get yourself a new look.
Monday, January 7, 2008
SWITCHGAS- Key to Alternative Fuel?
Switchgrass shows promise for ethanol production: study
CHICAGO (AFP) — A large-scale trial of switchgrass suggests that the crop may be a more viable plant source of biofuel than previously thought, according to a study released Monday.
A five year trial of the native North American prairie grass on farmland in the Midwestern United States revealed that the crop produces 540 percent more renewable energy than energy consumed in its production.
Previous estimates, based on small scale research plots, suggested the grass would yield a net energy production of about 343 percent. Net energy production is considered an important measure of sustainability.
"When you go to the farm scale, results are better than predicted," said Kenneth Vogel, a research geneticist with the US Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service based at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln.
"There is a lot of potential to make further improvements," he added. "The plants used in this trial were developed for pasture and conservation. We're now breeding plants specifically to be used as energy crops."
Global biofuel production has tripled from 4.8 billion gallons in 2000 to about 16 billion in 2007, but still accounts for less than three percent of the global transportation fuel supply, according to US Department of Agriculture figures, as quoted in Amber Waves, a USDA publication.
Concerns about energy security, climate change and soaring oil prices drove policymakers and scientists to develop alternative energy sources that would allow them to break their dependence on foreign oil.
The unprecedented run-up in oil prices in the past six years has kept the pressure on, but rising demand for biofuels, among other things, has led to higher prices for some of the commodities that are currently used to make biofuel - such as corn and vegetable oils.
In the case of corn, it is thought that competing food and feed demands on grain supplies and prices will eventually limit expansion of grain-ethanol capacity, so researchers have begun to explore alternative plant sources for second-generation or cellulosic biofuels.
Switchgrass like some other fast-growing, high-fibre grasses and wood by-products is rich in cellulose, a material that can be readily converted into sugar and fermented to make ethanol.
It is thought that cellulosic biofuels made from perennial plants such as switchgrass will require fewer agricultural inputs than annual crops such as corn, and will offer better yields, lowering the price of bio-ethanol.
Scientists are also hopeful that they can deliver better yields and efficiencies through improvements in crop management and by breeding strains of switchgrass better suited to be converted to ethanol.
In the paper in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the researchers reported that newer breeds of switchgrass have yields 20-30 percent higher than earlier strains.
Related News
- Texas agriculture bounces back
Bizjournals.com - 5 hours ago - Food and fuel crops can co-exist, says US
North Queensland Register - Jan 6, 2008
Sunday, January 6, 2008
THAT'S MY BAG, BABY!!!
Now that carrying your own bag to the store has become the "in" thing, you'll find yourself with myriad choices in your bag style, size and material. Below we've compiled links to sites where you can purchase some pretty funky carry-alls. Of course if paying $15 for something in which to carry a $3.99 box of Ring Dings seems a bit ostentatious you can always just grab one of the offerings at the checkout of your local supermarket. At a buck or two they'll do the job just as well, if not as stylishly.
• Reusable Bags
You'll find anything and everything to do with reusable bags right here. Lots of choices and a broad price range, from a $4.95 plain organic cotton tote to the Heavy Duty XL Hemp Tote. Our fav on this is site is the Basura Bag, which is made from juice bags collected from the streets in the Phillippines.
• um, random
This site of quirky items featured a few quirky canvas bags. Our favorite has a gorilla face illustration on one side. There's also a cool Asian-inspired catfish bag. You can look funky fresh while saving the earth, all at the same time! Not a bad thing at all.
• 1 Bag at a Time
Schoolteacher and company founder Lisa Foster created this company after a trip to Australia in 2005 ingrained in her the importance of reusability, something already firmly ingrained in the Aussie culture. She's actually the supplier of Ralph's, the supermarket giant, bags.
• Envirosax Mono Bags
These bags are tres chic and, at $34.95 per, tres expensive. These bags have been mentioned in magazines ranging from OPRAH to ELLE to METROPOLIS, so you know when you buy one that you'll be very haute, not to mention green.
• BAGGU
We like these a lot. Designed by a mother/daughter team these are made of nylon, which means they're lightweight yet strong, easily cleaned and portable (they come with their own 5"x5" pouch. 4 colors to choose from.
• ECOBAGS
Another in the category of haute bagging. They specialize in mesh bags that were featured on OPRAH a couple of times, and so have a very large following. All their bags have a summery Hamptonseque feel to them.
Friday, January 4, 2008
SPONSIBLE CHALLENGE #2
With 2008 still fresh as new fallen snow we figure it's a great time to start the year off on the right foot. Our request to you is to get in the habit of doing one good deed a week. We're not even asking for a daily commitment out of you here, just once a week. By "good deed" we mean any of a variety of things. Here are a few examples:
• Stop and talk with a homeless person/buy them a meal
• Volunteer at an elder community
• Go out of your way to make sure that plastic bottle gets recycled rather than dumped
• Buy CFL bulbs or better yet, LED's
• Power down your computer and turn off your lights when not in use
• Adopt an animal
• Make a donation to a charity
• Ask a waiter or waitress how they're doing and really mean it
• Praise a child on a good job
• Drop clothes and home items off at your local thrift shop
• Volunteer at a soup kitchen
• Recycle your companies used batteries- collect them in a container in the copy room
• Call an elderly relative and just listen
• Plant a tree
• Work with your local elementary school to plant dozens of trees
• Go for a run without headphones
• Love yourself
As you may have noticed, good deeds don't only apply to others. They can be done to yourself, to flora and fauna as well. The point is, the more we treat ourselves, our neighbors and our earth with love and respect the better our world will be, simply by default.
Let us know how you got sponsible and we'll publish your efforts right here, to help inspire others to follow your lead. Consider this challenge a group effort.
Thursday, January 3, 2008
JOHN EDWARDS FOR PRESIDENT
It is clear that the Democrats, en masse, take global warming more seriously than do the Republicans. Likewise, they are for the concept of a "We" society, as Michael Moore so eloquently put it in Sicko, as opposed to a me society. That means greater federal government assistance for those in need here in the U.S.
The Democrats also roundly support an assault weapons ban, stringent background checks for potential handgun owners, withdrawal from Iraq, legalization of and support for embryonic stem cell research and an overhaul of both our healthcare and educational systems.
One frontrunning Democratic candidate, however, is strongly opposed to campaign financing, a practice that is all but synonymous with malfeasance, and that candidate is John Edwards.
Edwards is the only Democrat besides Dennis Kucinich who has made the abolition of corporate financing of political campaigns a key issue of his run at the presidency. It can't be overstated how destructive corporate financing can be to our very Democracy. It has surely influenced the current state of not just our nation, but the entire world.
Could George W. Bush have even had the chance to co-opt the presidency twice if not for the network of corporate cronies, from lobbyists to local elected officials, who used their considerable influence to control the voting scenarios in states like Ohio and Florida? And this is just the tip of the iceberg.
We also applaud Edwards' strong stand against on nuclear power as an energy source. With so many options out there, why must we choose the only one whose byproduct is a poison? Sure, containment of the waste water is improving, but nothing is guaranteed free from breaking. Oil tankers are evidence of this.
W do admire Barack Obama for his eloquence and clear empathies for the common man. Our concerns with him are the number of ties to corporate interests he seems to have and the fact that he doesn't come off as decisive on certain issues, particularly military involvement in Iraq. Our concerns with Hillary are similar, particularly in her strong ties to corporate America.
You can see a detailed account of where our candidate, John Edwards, stands in relation to all his major opponents at 2Decide.com. Also, check out John Edwards' website, JohnEdwards.com.
Whomever you decide to vote for we implore of you to just get out and vote. It is both a right and a privilege and as much a civic duty as is paying taxes.
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
PICK A PREZ
Here at sponsible, environmental concerns, along with human rights, healthcare, education, foreign relations and employment issues, are high on our priority list when it comes to picking a candidate. The environment is after all our lifeblood, and without it we wouldn't be voting at all.
Grist and AlternativeEnergy.com have teamed up to present us with a comprehensive survey of all the leading presidential contenders' positions on the environment. Interestingly, the viewpoints of the candidates within the two major parties don't vary so much as do the party positions themselves. Almost to a man (and woman), the Democrats show a relatively strong stance on issues such as raising CAFE standards and supporting alternative energy projects while the Republican candidates show less commitment in these areas.
We encourage you to read through the entire list and do your research on a variety of issues before handing your vote to a candidate. Maybe even more importantly, we ask that you exercise your right to vote, in both the primaries and the general election, and that means on the various proposals that will share space on your ballot with the candidates. The 60% rate of voter turnout that we usually see in presidential elections is far too low, especially now, when so much is at stake.
Tomorrow sponsible will be making its endorsement for the next President of the United States of America. We'll give you a hint as to who it may be for now though: Our candidate is not a member of the Republican Party. Big surprise, huh?
VIDEO OF THE DAY