LGBG Ventures into Green Job Recruitment

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Today on good news Monday, LGBG by PMD is excited to announce that the company will soon provide green job placement services. The decision to do this is a natural progression in the team’s focus on learning new things and using that knowledge to advance the causes of the green movement.

Over the past year, we have researched and shared information on all things green, celebrating the positives and making our audience aware of the problems that need to be addressed. Our discussions have included legislative issues, practical home and business solutions to green living, as well as conversations on sustainable energy and climate change, just to name a few. It is apparent to us that green initiatives now are entrenched in our society, and with that said, there are many opportunities for employment in green jobs. A review of several recruitment and employment boards, however, indicates that most companies tend to throw the green jobs in with all the other employment opportunities. Our team would like to see a job service that exclusively devotes itself to the green market sector with a platform that services both companies looking to hire and job seekers.

We feel that such a service will save time for job hunters committed to finding green jobs because they will not have to wade through tons of useless ads that are not applicable to them. Also for businesses looking to hire, they will not be bogged down with ads from other businesses totally unrelated to green initiatives. Our site will be exclusively green. It is our promise that any company listed on our site will meet the standards of being a green company. Conversely, potential employees referred to these businesses will be carefully screened to make sure that they meet the requirements for jobs offered by any potential employer.

Mahatma Gandhi said “Be the change you want to see”. Our team at LGBG by PMD wants to see a healthy green world, and we feel that our new venture into green job recruitment represents a great opportunity to positively advance the green movement so that we all can live green, be green.

LGBG Spotlight: The G.R.E.E.N. Journey

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Here at LGBG by PMD United, we continuously aim to assemble a team of researchers and writers dedicated to our fundamental philosophies of learning new things and sharing that knowledge.  Everyday our team members converse over topics and entries, and seldom do we find and mine information on such impressive initiatives as that of the Green Global Renewable Energy Education Network (or GREEN, for short).

GREEN is a fantastically young organization that realizes the importance of today’s impact on tomorrow.  Like LGBG, GREEN supports the expanse of knowledge, specifically regarding sustainability and renewable energy.  However, GREEN goes one step further and works to increase awareness through more meaningful, first-hand experiences.

What exactly does GREEN do, you ask, that has us here at LGBG so impressed?  Well, we believe a quick look at the organization’s early body of work can speak volumes for itself.

Say, perhaps, that someone in college is interested in pursuing further knowledge about heightened sustainability practices and renewable energy options.  Suppose also that this individual prefers not the conventional ways of the classroom but rather, if given the opportunity, would opt for more hands-on learning in a heartbeat.  Cue GREEN and its program.

GREEN assembles groups of highly motivated and top-performing college students from around the world to immerse them in a twelve-day, all-inclusive Costa Rican adventure.  The center of attention is undoubtedly on education, and fittingly, GREEN’s program design makes skillful use of all that Costa Rica has to offer.  In fact, as the current hotbed of renewable energy technologies, the country offers students the unique opportunity to learn about and experience five main types of alternative energy that power eighty percent of Costa Rica – hydroelectric, biomass, geothermal, wind and solar.

One of the major foci of the GREEN organization is supplementing typical classroom learning with a more hands-on approach, so as to further progress the students towards future career goals.  The GREEN program’s outside-of-the-classroom learning experience covers career interests in business, engineering, ecology and public policy.  With GREEN-assembled industry experts at the helm of all discussions and instructional sessions, and with managers, engineers, and operators heading all plant tours, students can rest assured that they are receiving a top-notch educational experience.

Students who participate in the GREEN program clearly share a passion for sustainability and renewable energies.  But there is one more thing students of each and every session can agree upon – perhaps the most fulfilling aspect of the trip is teaming their passions and newfound knowledge to complete the keynote project of GREEN’s program.  (The final project entails formulating their own green programs that are attainable on a university- or college-wide level, which students can potentially bring back with them and initiate at their respective institutions.)  GREEN is very proud to acknowledge that, in addition to the great network of alumni the program offers, graduate students have also taken advantage of the opportunities GREEN provides by pursuing excellence in internships and entry-level positions within the sustainability programs of major corporations like GE.

Don’t be completely fooled, however.  Although GREEN means business, and there is a very comprehensive list of well-planned informational activities, there is also time for play to be adequately mixed in with the work.  Students have some downtime during which they can explore the beautiful landscape and activities Costa Rica has to offer.  From enjoying the physical features of the landscape to delving further into cultural centers of the country, the possibilities for fun and learning prove endless.

Overall, LGBG proudly endorses, to the highest extent, the programs and initiatives set forth and carried out by GREEN.  It is precisely through this kind of igniting and continually feeding the green flame of knowledge, that People Making a Difference United firmly believes the future can be changed for the better.  Dedicated to that same cause, obviously, is the Green Global Renewable Energy Education Network (GREEN), and for that, we offer our sincerest praise to the organization.

To our readers, LGBG urges you to learn more of the GREEN program by visiting the official website, www.thegreenprogram.com, now.

Put Green in Halloween

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Halloween is a fun holiday for children and adults, and with just a little over a week left before the big day, many people have shifted into high gear to make the celebration festive.  It is important to be green conscious with Halloween plans so that we protect the environment and stay safe.  Here are a few tips to have a healthy and happy Halloween:

  • Make sure any store-bought costumes and makeup are safe.  Many of the costumes, masks and ornaments on the market, particularly those manufactured in China, contain some levels of lead.  Several new reports out this week noted the seizure by U.S. Customs and Border Protection of shipments of pirate costumes with lead in ornamentation, masks and props, such as swords.  The best way to avoid lead contamination in products is to buy costumes made in America or to make costumes at home.  I think it is important to note that store-bought costumes are permitted to have some levels of lead, but I feel that avoidance of this toxic substance altogether is the safest route to take.  The same is true for face paint.  These products often contain lead and other heavy metals and can be toxic, causing allergic reactions.  Make sure your face paint is organic.  The healthiest alternative is to avoid face paint altogether if you are unsure of the ingredients, or go to the website, Big Green Purse Blog at http://blog.biggreenpurse.com/biggreenpurse/2009/10/make-your-own-green-halloween-face-paint-.html to get reliable information on safe face painting.
  • Be careful about lighting.  While tea light candles in decorator bags lining a pathway are scenic, they pose a danger to trick-or-treaters.  Instead, try LED lights, which are safe for the kids and the environment.
  • Swap or donate costumes.  Once Halloween is over, consider swapping out used costumes with friends, or neighbors.  An alternative is to donate used costumes and props to local theater groups.
  • Try natural decorations.  While the plastic pumpkins and ghosts may seem like a bargain, they are not good for the environment.  This year try natural decorations with real pumpkins, bales of straw and corn husks.  As a bonus, these decorations can double for Halloween and Thanksgiving.  Some clever fall decorating ideas can be found on Pinterest.  Remember to save the pumpkin seeds to eat later after carving pumpkins.  Roasted pumpkins make a delicious and healthy snack.

These are just a few tips for an environmentally healthy and happy Halloween.  Let’s put green into our orange and black celebration so that everyday we live green, be green.

Go Green! Ditch the Water Bottles!

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Go Green! Ditch the water bottles. The bottled water industry is a primary target of the ‘green” movement and for great reason.  If we are going to effectively integrate “green” practices and ingrain future generations with second nature “green” practices, then we must eliminate our consumption of bottled water!  If we do not do something now, bottled water will continue to resonate as one of the leading causes for the decline of our Earth’s health.   This entry is intended to exist as an educational realization of a very real problem that has masked itself as a common, healthy consumer good.  It is also intended to serve as a call to action for people to make the conscious effort to “go green” and consider switching to tap water as well as purchasing reusable bottles to drink from. The true extent to which bottled water is damaging our environment would take thousands of pages to explain however, I will do my best to paint a brief, yet alarming picture with one woman’s research.  Please read, think about what you are reading and take action by doing some research of your own and sharing what you learn as we are trying to do.

We present to you,  “Water Bottle Pollution Facts”, which was published in a 2011 publication of National Geographic by author, Susanne Didier.  Simply put, her findings are overwhelmingly alarming.  In her article, she breaks down the environmental impact of water bottle pollution in terms of the bottles as well as overlooked factors such as production and transportation.  Suzanne points out that American consumers alone, purchase more than 29 billion bottles of water a year, a staggering number.  To honor this demand, more than 2.4 billion pounds of plastic are needed.  Even more alarming, she reports that sadly, only 13% of these 29 billion bottles of water are being recycled!

The next part of her article discusses the transportation element of the water bottle industry supply chain.  People tend to forget that the costs that go into consumer products extend beyond just those of the raw materials and assembly of the product. Two of the biggest added costs are those of shipping and delivery.  To cut to the chase, in order to effectively and safely transport 29 billion bottles of water to U.S. markets alone, over 50 million barrels of oil are needed.  Yes, you read correctly, 50 million barrels of oil are needed!  To put that into perspective, each American, on average only uses a little over 24 barrels of oil a year and around 1500 barrels in a lifetime.  That’s it.

The last part of her report simply highlights that on top of how detrimental water bottles are to the environment, their purpose is not completely justifiable.  She reports findings from a 4-year study by the NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council) that revealed shocking findings.  Most notably, “Roughly 22 percent of the water tested contained contaminant levels that exceeded strict state health limits.” The report also concluded that there were traces of various levels of hormones and other contaminates, most of which people think they are avoiding by choosing bottled water over tap water.  Ironically enough, in a move (strategic marketing ploy) to be healthier, we are actually doing much more harm to ourselves overall!    

To conclude, the facts are before us and this one example is merely the tip of the iceberg.  We challenge you to impart this knowledge to others and think twice about continuing to purchase bottled water.  We challenge you to use this as a first step towards “going green” and consciously choose to live green and be green in some way every single day!

Here is a link to her article http://greenliving.nationalgeographic.com/water-bottle-pollution-2947.html

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Green Talk in the Second Presidential Debate

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The green movement deserves a pat on the back today because we gained some traction in the second presidential debate.  Thanks to the efforts of many environmentalist organizations and conservationists, some of the concerns voiced by these groups were discussed.  This undoubtedly was made possible by the town hall-style of the debate with the questions posed by ordinary citizens.

It was refreshing to hear discussion on the government’s regulations on gas pricing, and it was important to learn that inasmuch as oil is a global commodity, with its prices set by a global energy market, any presidential administration has minimal impact on gas and oil prices.  Also, 65% of the cost of oil and gas is set by the market with the difference attributed to distribution, delivery and other local market concerns.  We do know that our economy is held hostage to oil price shocks over which we have no control.  The one solution to this problem is to reduce our dependence on oil.

Unfortunately, most of last night’s debate discussion on green concerns were limited to the oil and gas industry.  Once again, the subject of climate change was ignored.  Maura Cowley, executive director of the Energy Action Coalition, a group of youth-led environmentalist and social justice groups remarked, “[i]t’s preposterous that both candidates spent so much of the precious few minutes dedicated to energy policy tonight fighting over whose vague plan would fry the planet”.  Proponents of the green movement know that America must seek alternative energy solutions.  We no longer can rely on oil, gas and coal.  The future of our planet mandates clean energy, such as wind and solar power and biofuels.

Although the green initiatives did not get the full dialogue it deserved last night, at least the subject made it into the conversation.  It remains more important than ever that we, as citizens, incorporate green into our daily lives to save the planet.  To do this, let’s live green, be green.

A Cardboard What?

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How about this for an idea. Let’s make a mode of transportation that is ideal for huge metropolis’, has no impact on the environment, and is made completely from recyclable materials. Oh yea, and it has to cost less than $20. As crazy as this checklist sounds, a man by the name of Izhar Gafni has created just that in the form of a full functioning cardboard bicycle.

After witnessing a prototype for a cardboard canoe, Gafni used his engineering background to construct a similar prototype for a bicycle. Similar to origami, in which each fold can up to triple the strength of the apparatus, the bicycle can hold up to 308lbs or 140kgs. The end result is that Gafni has created a mode of transportation that is lightweight, utilizes completely recyclable materials, and costs under $20. In order to weatherproof the bicycle, an application of paint and water sealant is used so that the cardboard itself is not turned to pulp.

The greatest potential impact the bicycle can have is in bustling cities already ripe with congestion and smog. The cardboard bicycle provides a clean and efficient way for getting from point A to B while also saving natural resources. And while its price tag seems inexpensive enough as it is, some governmental recycling programs could even make the device free in certain countries. Overall, not only is this idea genius for its use of recyclable materials, but more importantly because it does not sacrifice functionality or cost in order to do so.

Source: http://www.examiner.com/article/cardboard-bicycles-extreme-green-on-wheels

Green Jobs Propel Economy Forward

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Despite the criticism of skeptics and conservative politicians, the green job movement is moving forward and progressing.  In fact, a report issued last week by the Economic Policy Institute (EPI) states that the growth and benefits of green jobs are even stronger than previously expected.  After its analysis of employment data from the Brookings Institution and the Pew Center on the States, who undertook the task of categorizing green jobs on a detailed industry and occupational level, the EPI concludes the following:

  • Green industries are growing faster than the overall economy, at a rate of 2,5 times as fast as other jobs.
  • States with green jobs withstood the recession and fared better than those without green jobs.
  • Approximately 20% of all green jobs are in the manufacturing sector, which is great for the economy because roughly 5.5 million jobs in this area have been lost since 2000.
  • Green jobs offer pathways into the middle class.  These jobs tend to require less education but pay better wages.  This is good for people who cannot afford to go to college but still need good jobs that pay well, enabling them to support their families in a wholesome and healthy manner.

Now we need to adopt the appropriate governmental policies on all levels–local, state and federal–to support the positive movement in the green economy.  This includes investing in storm water infrastructure and supporting energy efficiency programs in cities and states.  We need long-term commitment to businesses involved in solar and wind energy.  Most importantly, we need a change in mindset.  Only through education and technology with demonstrated successes in improvement of air and water quality and reduction in adverse health conditions attributed to pollution will we reverse our dependence on coal and fossil fuels, which are so detrimental to our environment.

A green economy is a win-win situation for everyone.  We can keep moving forward by practicing healthy living, educating our families and communities on green initiatives and demanding that our elected officials support the green movement through public policy.  We know that these strategies are important ingredients in the recipe to live green, be green.

Green economy pays off

(Leaf)ing the Past Behind

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With autumn upon us we can look forward to apple cider, jack-o-lanterns, and pumpkin flavored anything.  But with all this goodness comes fall cleanup that is, picking up all the leaves that nature leaves behind (no pun intended). These treats are nature’s way of taking a poop in our backyards. That being said there is a lot that we can do with leaves to maintain a green environment.

One of these benefits is composting. In many instances, the primary waves we dispose of leaves are through incineration or dumping them in the garbage. Yet reusing and utilizing leaves as a compost can do wonders for the backyard garden and the environment.  Suchg benefits include creating a natural tilling, turning, and aeration of the soil. According to Jennifer Hetrick over at reading eagle.com, successful composting requires:

“…A 30-to-1 ratio of brown and green materials. Brown materials can be fallen leaves, twigs, chipped brush, perennial clippings and wood chips. Green materials would encompass grass cuttings, used coffee grounds, weeds and kitchen leftovers like vegetables or fruit.”

Clearly all of us can do it, all we need is a conscious effort in doing so. But thinking of some previous articles we’ve written here on recyclable materials and using them in non-traditional ways, maybe there is a way to transform leaves into new clothing. Plastic bottles have been shown to be successful in creating such a fabric so why not your backyard leaves? Experimenting with such a new material may lead to new and innovative fabric and a sustainable way of using leaves. More importantly however, whether it’s composting or creating fabric for clothing, by doing these actions we are taking one step closer to where we all live green, and be green.

Source: http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=420576

Look to Luscher Farm in Lake Oswego for Farming Innovation

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This week’s Good News Monday features Luscher Farm in Lake Oswego, just outside Portland, Oregon.  This farm was suggested to blogger, Julie Brothers, as a great example of an innovative effort by a group of people who truly are making a difference in the quality of our food supply.  A visit to the farm confirmed the area’s excitement over the program.

Perhaps the most profound fact about Luscher Farms is that it is owned and run by the Lake Oswego Department of Parks and Recreation for the benefit of its citizens.  It includes an organic demonstration garden and teaching facility, a living flower museum, 180 community garden plots and indigenous insectaries.  This farm provides classes in sustainable practices.  It promotes a real-time connection to the land and encourages local food production and preservation of rural open space.

Luscher Farms has local partners who support the project financially, and they use volunteer labor to work the farm.  They endorse innovative farming practices to accommodate successful organic farming, such as straw bale gardening  (a technique used for gardening in limited space) http://farmforklife.com/voice/Oregon-Tilth2#voice.  Additionally, this farm has developed a sustainable community farming model that other cities can follow (http://farmforklife.com/voice/Lusher-Farm).

This successful community gardening project is indeed good news.  It is evidence that it is possible for communities to control what they eat and to ensure that any effort to produce food does not harm the environment.  Practices such as these help us to live green, be green.

Luscher Farms is an innovative effort in sustainable gardening.

Source for this article is http://www.huffingtonpost.com/julie-brothers/luscher-farm-lake-oswego_b_1945609.html?utm_hp_ref=food-safety.

Life After Death

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Here at livegreenbegreen, we are always searching for new and inventive ways to maintain a green lifestyle. So when I came across this article which detailed the environmental effects of our deaths, my interest peaked to say the least.

The article, written by Yuan Gao and Robert Short, describes the environmental problem our passing’s cause as, “Every cremation creates about 160 kg of carbon dioxide (CO2).” This is a particular problem in China where nearly five million bodies were cremated in 2011 alone. More staggering is that the rate of cremation is increasing due to the aging population, which ultimately will result in an estimated 143,066 tons of additional CO2 being emitted. This figure fails to mention the other pollutions that will be released as a result of the process including, “…Sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, monoxide, hydrocarbons, hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, hydrogen chloride, hydrogen fluoride, and mercury among others.”

Thankfully, the authors propose greener options to combat this growing problem. They advocate, “Burying the corpse in a simple and biodegradable bag or container under a tree, without building stone tombs or erecting tombstones.” This ultimately would save valuable land space in addition to reducing the emissions from a cremation alternative. Also, the additive of placing the bodies near trees enables them to absorb CO2 that naturally emits from the decaying body and enables them to grow naturally and sustainably. Lastly, this practice saves wood for those buried in wood coffins, and makes  ecological sense in that our bodies, in an act of retribution, serve as a natural fertilizer for the earth we used during our lifetimes.

While we tend to focus on changing our current habits to affect the world in a positive place, similarly our posthumous actions can have a lasting impact on our environment. By changing the way we think, we can all have a positive bearing on our planet both during our lifetime, and after death.

Source: http://theconversation.edu.au/dying-green-environmentally-friendly-burials-in-china-9857