GO HERE

It's fresh and it's easy. It's Fresh & Easy! The UK born grocery store has made it's way to the states without leaving a footprint.  Fresh & Easy is a smaller grocery store, but may also be the most affordable, healthiest, and environmentally friendly.

You'll find less of the common name brands that you find at other grocery stores, and more of the Fresh&Easy line products- but don't shrug at that. Fresh & Easy products contain no added trans fats or artificial colors and flavoring.  As claimed by the company, whenever possible Fresh&Easy uses local farmers and suppliers. If it's not as local as down the street, it is always within the United States. And you know what that means- it's a lot less expensive!

All important. But even more impressive, they have made the environment their priority.  

The company is a pilot member of LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design). Their stores will use 30% less energy than the average grocery store due to various implementations.  Stores are lit by skylights and auto-dim lighting that (hence the name) dim when there is enough natural light.  Increased insulation in stores means less use of heaters and air conditioning. Solar panels line the roof, and hybrid and family parking mark the closest spaces.

They are great to their environment. They are great to their neighbors. They are great to their employers.

They are sprouting all throughout Southern California, and not without bearing gifts. The company donates $1,000 to every neighborhood they open in. 

Okay, I have ranted and raved about them enough. Check them out for yourself. Go here to find a store near you: http://www.freshandeasy.com/home.aspx

Then, go there!

'SELF' RANKS SOCAL

Ready for a surprise?

 Self Magazine released their 'Healthiest Cities' list of 2007 in this December's issue. And guess what....L.A. has made the list! Yes, yes, yes, L.A. has taken the title of 'Dirtiest Air.'

I am sure you are gasping with shock.

Due to numerous ports and refineries, and about six million vehicles commuting through the county, the American Lung Association concludes that L.A. is responsible for creating the highest level of ozone and pollution. Blessed with our sunny days and warm temperatures, we also have smog. It's no wonder why so many people want to move here!

L.A also pulled away with one other honor. It was listed as #4 of the 'Least Smoky' cities, and It's a good thing. With the ozone, pollution and smog, do we really need smoke?

For those of you who live in Orange County, you should be very proud.  Orange County was listed as #4 on the 'Least Smoky' list, #3 on the 'Healthiest Eaters' list, and #1 on the 'Fittest' list. Self claims that the OC's yearlong beach season can be a motivation for residents to exercise.

No surprise there.

Some other familiar areas made the cut as well. Riverside walked away as #4 on the 'Dirtiest Air' list, and #3 as the 'Worst Place to Have a Baby.'  Bakersfield- a little further, took #5 on the 'Unhealthiest Breasts' list, #3 on the 'Dirtiest Air' list, and #1 as the city with the 'Most Toxic Sites.' Not one worthy honor.

Well, SoCal, there's more bad than good. My suggestion- walk, ride a bike, or drive a Prius. Change something!

CHERNOBYL MAKES THE LIST

I wrote last about the beautiful places of the world, most of which I have only seen from my television screen. I fixate on them, hope to visit them, and wish for more places like them. But as often as I forget that those places need protection from deconstruction, I forget even more that there are horribly polluted areas desperately in need of reconstruction.

I found this picture while reading the ' Worst Polluted Places' list of 2007, constructed by conservation groups and issued this past September. 

This picture is the hardest thing to look at. But it is the biggest eye opener to me.

This boy is an orphan in Chernobyl, Ukraine and a radiation victim. The 1986 nucelar explosion in Chernobyl affected thousands and continues to affect previous residents and residents in surrounding areas. The children suffer the most. From 1992-2002 in Belarus, Russia and Ukraine, there were more than 4,000 children diagnosed with thyroid cancer. Currently, more than five million people live in those areas, classified as contaminated. 

Though a large amount of radiation was released at the time of the disaster, the majority is still within the plant. It is estimated that more than 100 tons of radioactive products could be released if another accident occurs.

What can we do? Well, I know we are all hard-working college students and our money earned is usually money we need. But, keep the children of Chernobyl and other polluted places in mind when you have a few extra bucks to give. 

You can donate here: 

https://secure.groundspring.org/dn/index.php?aid=14660

STOP THE CLOCK!

Have you seen the recent documentary series, Planet Earth? If you haven't, I highly recommend it. If you have, you know how amazing it can be to learn about different species and observe them in their natural habitat- at least from the comfort of your of your own home. Sitting on my couch, in a house, on a street busy with cars, in a city busy with people, full of buildings, stores and smog, it is easy to forget about the beautiful lush areas of the world that still exist, and wild animals that actually live outside of a zoo.  They may be far, far away, but I take pleasure in knowing they're out there, seeing them on TV, and imagining that just maybe one day I could go there. 

Well, at the rate we are going, that's not going to happen. 

To think that those animals are quickly dying off, and the areas they survive in are going from thick forests to man-made developments, is scary to me. This problem is a result of two factors- habitat deconstruction and climate change. I, like many people, don't know what I could do to single-handedly help the situation, but I know I would like to. I like my "Planet Earth," even if it's only from my couch.

Through MSN Green I found an organization that has made a commitment to endangered species and areas- Conservation International. They don't necessarily want money, which is good since I have none, they just want a signature. So I signed it! 

Their "Stop The Clock" campaign is collecting signatures to present to policy-makers from 189 countries. The more signatures, the more government officials will understand the importance of implementing responsible conservation policies to ease climate change and maintain ocean and forest habitats to end species extinction.

The way I see it- these policies will benefit more than just the animals and the ares they live in, they will benefit us. Easing climate change, can improve human health. Maintaining clean oceans means that we will have healthier fish to eat and cleaner waters to swim in. 

You can sign it for the animals,you can sign it for yourself, or you can sign it for others. You should just sign it.

NBCU: It Doesn't Stop With Green Week

Endulging in my weeknight sitcoms, an advertisement for NBCU Green Week caught my attention. NBC Universal has dedicated its programming to raising awareness on environmental issues from November 4th through the 11th.

Initially I was reminded of issues I've addressed in previous blogs- Is NBCU jumping on the bandwagon? Is it a business strategy created by a large network that just wants to market themselves as green because they see money in the cause? Or, is it a genuine concern for our environment and desire to spread a message? I didn't know and didn't care, but looked into it regardless. It turns out, NBCU's committment to the environment goes far beyond one week of TV shows.

In May of this year, the Universal Studios lot installed it's first solar panel energy system that is the largest in the industry. Recently, they announced the development of their new West Coast News Headquarter and Content Center which will be leading examples of sustainable design and construction under the U.S. Green Council's LEED certification. They will also seek LEED certification for their existing buildings. NBCU's office supplier is providing them with paper made of 34% recyclable content, however they plan on using less of it by utilizing multi-functional office machines that will also eliminate the need for multiple devices. The list goes on.

Maybe Green Week will draw a profit and higher ratings for the network. Maybe it won't. Maybe people who don't necessarily care about the environment will be turned off by the idea of their favorite shows addressing an issue they are already tired of hearing about. It doesn't really matter. NBCU believes this is an important issue, they care about it, and they are making it heard. Maybe they will get a response.

Could It Be, A Battle At Sea?

Earlier this year, the Japanese set out on their (illegal) whaling voyage to hunt a target goal of 960 whales. A fire on deck (luckily) forced them to abort their mission early for the first time in 20 years, 452 whales short of their goal. Though they returned with 508, much of that whale meat on board was damaged by the fire and the chemicals used to fight it. Even scarier thing is, the meat will still be sold to an unsuspecting public who most likely will remain ignorant to the contamination.

Sea Shepherd to the rescue!
While the Japanese are repairing their boat damaged by the fire and preparing to return to the Whale Sanctuary this December, so is Sea Shepherd. Sea Shepherd Conservation Society is an organization founded in 1981 with a mission to protect marine wildlife. Also repairing their boat, the Robert Hunter, Sea Shepherd will set out on “Operation Migaloo” to be at the Antarctic Whale Sanctuary this December to defend these whales from the illegal acts of the Japanese.

Sounds like a battle to me!

There are so many horrible elements to this issue:
1. They are killing our whales, an already endangered species.
2. They are selling contaminated whale meat to the public who could possibly die from it, all to make a profit.
3. No one has stopped this. It is illegal activity that has existed in Japan for 20 years now, and in other areas of the world.
Non profit organizations are amazing, but stronger forces need to get involved.