Live Green Be Green | By PMD United

27Feb 2014

The Oscars And Sustainability– An Award Winning Combination

Academy Awards. Credit: blog.livingroomtheaters.com

Over the past years, the Oscars and sustainability have proven to be an award-winning combination. On Sunday, people globally will tune in to the 86th Academy Awards presentation to celebrate the best movies over the past year. It is important to salute the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (The Academy) for its commitment to “green” living.

It does not come as a surprise that the organization would have sustainability as part of its agenda considering that so many of its members are outspoken supporters of the green movement, and they often lend their faces and financial support to environmental, health and social concerns. The popularity of many of these celebrities, including, but not limited to George Clooney, Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt, Leonardo DiCaprio, Orlando Bloom and Selma Hayak, goes a long way to raise awareness of and garner support for environmental, health and social issues.

The commitment of the Academy to raise awareness of environmental issues and garner support through example also is noteworthy. This effort begins with the selection of the Dolby Theater, formerly the Kodak Theater, as the venue for the annual event. With this long-term agreement to be the home of the Oscars, Dolby is committed to environmental sustainability.

Dolby Theater– Home of the Oscars. Credit: www.cnn.com.

Global Green Oscar Week Kickoff

The Academy validated its commitment to sustainability with its annual kickoff by Global Green USA. This year the celebration was “dedicated to rebuilding communities subject to environmental degradation.” This organization now is the green event of Oscar week. It seeks to raise “conscience” about energy conservation, and this year included celebrities speaking about driving to the Oscar celebration in hybrid cars. This party featured a zero-waste plant-based dinner followed by a live auction that raised more than $20,000 to support its causes.

Red Carpet Green Dress

Second only to the actual awards ceremony, the highlight of Oscar night is the fashion displayed on the red carpet, and here some designers are featuring green dresses. Perhaps the most notable is Red Carpet Green Dress, who is marking its fifth anniversary for this event. This organization is the brainchild of Suzy Amis Cameron, wife of James Cameron, who, during press tours for Avatar (a Cameron film), sought to draw attention to the importance of sustainability in the fashion industry. Mrs. Cameron notes that “[w]hile there are still great strides to be made, it’s important to point out that there are a greater number of sustainable resources available to designers today than there were five years ago.”[1] This year’s Oscars Red Carpet will feature actress Olga Kurylenko wearing the design by this organization. Olga’s accessories also are selected with concern for ethical consumerism. Her limited edition vegan Red Carpet shoes are supplied as a result of a collaboration between PETA and Beyond Skin.

Meanwhile, on the men’s side, Kellan Lutz (Legend of Hercules) will be wearing the first sustainable tuxedo for Red Carpet Green Dress. This tuxedo was designed by Jomnarn Dul for H Brothers and was constructed from recycled materials.

James and Suzy Amis Cameron. Credit: the highlow.com

Dining with a Conscience

This year’s Governor’s Ball, the official dinner held following the award ceremony, will be created and officiated by Wolfgang Puck (celebrating 20 years in this role). To the delight of the green movement, the theme will be the transcendent wonder of nature, with a display of lush vertical gardens under the stars that invite guests to mingle and celebrate nature. The menu includes a prominent focus on vegan dishes. All of the food will range from one-bite hors d’oeuvres to small-plate entrees. Once again, these choices are indicative of the Academy’s concern and focus on the need to raise awareness of the environment and sustainability.[2]

The Academy Awards is one of the most popular events globally and is viewed by many people, thereby creating an excellent opportunity to raise awareness about green initiatives and sustainability. We are proud to present background information on the efforts of the Academy to make a difference in the movement for sustainability.

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Resources for this article:

1. http://redcarpetgreendress.com/home/olga-kurylenko-to-reveal-the-fifth-design-from-suzy-amis-camerons-red-carpet-green-dress-on-the-oscar-carpet.
2. http://fbworld.com/2014/02/24/starring-role-for-master-chef-wolfgang-puck-at-86th-academy-awards-governors-ball.

14Feb 2014

Valentine’s Day– Celebrate Green

by Sharon Halligan

Today is Valentine’s Day and we hope that each of you will celebrate green. Many of you reading this post have not finalized your plans for Valentine’s Day celebrations. Although some people procrastinate in making plans until the actual day, this year is different. The severe weather occurrences with heavy snow and ice storms over most of the United States for the past week considerably hampered many people’s ability to get out and shop. A lot of families are still snowed in with no power. Additionally, gifts that were supposed to be delivered by mail may not come in time for the holiday.

Credit: www.designbolts.com

The most important thing to remember is that Valentine’s day is about love, and materialism is not necessary to convey love. While Valentine’s Day often is criticized as being a man-made holiday, it still is important to us as humans. As we journey towards sustainable lifestyles, we learn that while investment in the environment is important, it is crucial that we include the investment in human lives as essential to achieving full sustainability.

The History of Valentine’s Day

In reality, this “lovely” holiday evolved from a very violent history. Valentine’s Day is named after a Roman priest under Emperor Claudius II during the third century. In this tumultuous era, the Roman Empire was divided into three competing states, with constant threats of invasion by one faction or another. The survival of the Empire became so threatened that Claudius struggled to maintain war power. Under the belief that unmarried soldiers fought better than their married counterparts, Claudius banned marriage among young people. However, the priest Valentine, held high marriage as a God-given sacrament and began officiating these unions in secret. He eventually was discovered, imprisoned and then beheaded. Later Valentine was martyred by the Church for giving up his life to perform the sacrament. Thus, Valentine’s Day is about love– love of God and love for each other.

St-Valentine-Kneeling-In-Supplication. Credit: en.wikipedia.org

Celebrate the spirit of Valentine’s Day.

The true spirit of Valentine’s Day should be reflected in our celebratory choices, and sustainability should be a driving concern in making these choices. Why buy chocolate candies produced by workers who are underpaid and treated unfairly when we can purchase guaranteed fair trade products? Why buy cut flowers that wilt and die in a matter of days when we can purchase potted plants and flowers that can be maintained in containers or transplanted outside to thrive and be enjoyed for years to come? Why spend long hours working to make money to buy “stuff” that creates clutter, especially when most families are starved for time together?

Emotionally-drained-love-valentines-day-ecards-someecards. Credit: someecards.com

Green is the way to go.

So as you ponder ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day, please be sure to remember that the day is about love and sustainability. Celebrate a green Valentine’s Day. To do so is to live green, be green.

__________________

Resources for this article:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/02/13/valentines-day-bloody-history_n_4768652.html

05Feb 2014

Super Bowl 2014 Sustainability Assessment

by Sharon Halligan

Credit: gambling911.com

Now that Super Bowl 2014 is over, it is time to do a sustainability assessment. It is important to do this because the super bowl is the largest annual event held in America, and effort must be undertaken continuously to ensure that all aspects of this event are sustainable in terms of environmental and human impact.

Venue: MetLife Stadium

The NFL’s selection of MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey was appropriate in terms of the facility in and of itself. MetLife Stadium is the home of the New York Giants and the New York Jets. It is deemed “the greenest stadium in the US.” This stadium was constructed on a parking lot between the old Giants stadium and Meadowlands Raceway. The construction of MetLife Stadium had absolutely no impact on greenfield land or natural habitats.[1] MetLife Stadium seats 82,000 people and has 13,000 parking spaces, each costing $150 a piece for Super Bowl 2014.

MetLife Stadium has excellent public transportation links (for normal Giants or Jets game day traffic), and a considerable percentage of football fans use public rail and bus networks to travel to and from the stadium on game days or to attend special events, i.e., concerts.

MetLife Stadium’s 82,000 seats are constructed from 80% recycled cast iron and 20% recycled plastic. There are 2100 HD monitors throughout the facility with a sound system that boasts 2,500 speakers.

MetLife Stadium’s partnership with the Environmental Protection Agency successfully crafted a facility worthy of the designation as one of the most energy-efficient stadiums in the U.S. MetLife Stadium also owns bragging rights to the first certified green restaurant in the world. Some key green facts about MetLife Stadium are:

Water: Reduced annual water consumption (in comparison to the old Giants stadium) by 25% with savings derived from low flow toilets and waterless urinals, synthetic turf and natural plants.
Power: Its solar ring has produced 350,000 kilowatts of energy as of February 2013, and it uses 30% less energy by employing Energy Star equipment, automated lighting, efficient windows and biodegradable fuels with reusable fluids in outdoor transformers.
Construction materials. Made from 80% recycled cast iron and 20% recycled plastic.
Reduced carbon footprint: Since opening in 2009, MetLife Stadium has avoided 3,176,250 vehicle miles and reduced its carbon footprint by 268,828 metric tons of carbon dioxide.

Credit: social.quintevents.com

Drawbacks and problems

MetLife Stadium is a state-of-the-art facility. Perhaps its biggest drawback in terms of hosting an event of the magnitude of Super Bowl 2014 is its physical location. The NFL dodged a bullet Sunday for the Super Bowl with clear, unseasonably warm weather for the game (temperature at game time was 49 degrees). Bad weather did move in by the end of the game, with rain, sleet, snow and icy roads making travel on Monday a horrific experience for many of the fans. Many people found themselves stuck in the New York area as a large number of flights were cancelled. Hopefully, the reality of climate change in planning huge events will become a major consideration of the NFL.

Secondly and perhaps most important, the location of Super Bowl 2014 in New Jersey with reliance on public transportation to move people proved to be an epic failure. The public rails and buses were ill-equipped to deal with commuter demand. Additionally, the high level of security warranted for an event of this magnitude severely hampered the flow of people into MetLife Stadium, even to the point of people collapsing from exhaustion during excessive wait times at Secaucus Junction.

Secaucus Junction Jam

Super bowls clearly are momentous events in the United States, and as such, the NFL must incorporate sustainability in the planning of this annual event. To date, the NFL has proven that it can deliver an environmentally sustainable product in terms of facility or “stuff,” as witnessed by MetLife Stadium. However, the human components of sustainability must be given equal consideration. In its attempt to host the first mass transit Super Bowl, the NFL had a duty to thoroughly evaluate the human factors and to have contingency plans in place to avoid a transportation debacle. Also, the NFL’s Fan Express pre-ticket coach bus program plan needs to be evaluated and fine tuned to flawlessly control people movement.

In conclusion, with all the hoopla about Super Bowl 2014, proponents of the green movement really would have appreciated it if the NFL had done more to showcase its efforts at sustainability. With 111.5 million viewers tuned in, it would have been nice to see commercials highlighting the NFL’s commitment to commitment to green business and sustainability. This really presented a teachable movement to younger viewers.

Now the NFL will go back to the drawing board and incorporate lessons learned from Super Bowl 2014 in its plans for future super bowls. Hopefully, in its plans, green keywords, such as climate change, environmental impact, transportation, people moving, etc., will be central in the dialogue. To ensure the sustainability of future super bowls is to live green, be green.

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Resources for this article:

1. http://www.treehugger.com/green-architecture/metlife-stadium-home-years-super-bowl-may-be-greenest-stadium-us.html.
2. http://www.sportingnews.com/nfl/story/2014-02-03/2014-super-bowl-television-ratings-record-most-watched-television-event-of-all-time-seahawks-vs-broncos.

30Jan 2014

Pete Seeger: He Sang Songs In The Key of Life

by Sharon Halligan

Credit: www.wochenblatt.de

Today we here at LGBG would like to remember and honor Pete Seeger, folk artist, rebel, activist and environmentalist, who truly sang songs in the key of life. Seeger died as he lived, peacefully, on January 27th at the age of 94.

Seeger will be remembered for his contributions to society largely through his music. After dropping out of Harvard in 1940, he was introduced to Woody Guthrie, with whom he toured. As a believer in communal singing, Seeger is credited with the rebirth of folk music in America. This music embraces people as a whole and generally is an expression of a way of life, historical and personal events or impending tragedies or natural disasters.

The importance of singing together

“We all go to different churches or no churches, we have different favorite foods, different ways of making love, different ways of doing all sorts of things, but there we’re all singing together. Gives you hope.”

Seeger’s songs generally had simple lyrics that provided a verbal analysis of current social and political situations. Rather than preaching a stance on the environment, civil rights or politics from a podium, Seeger stood before his audiences, young and old, with his banjo and engaged them in songs that voiced a protest while uniting the groups of people present., who often were from very different backgrounds. His music helped us to learn to think for ourselves and to question the powers that be. While many political leaders and conservative pundits try to convince us that climate change is a myth, Seeger urges us to observe our surroundings and to question “where have all the flowers gone.”

We all should get in the game of life.

“There is something about participating. It is almost my religion. If the world is still here in 100 years, people will know the importance of participating, not just being a spectator.”

Pete Seeger’s songs were important to many movements in the 20th century. Perhaps the most notable is the civil rights movement. Seeger is credited with introducing and leading protesters in the singing of “We Shall Overcome,” which became the signature song of the civil rights movement. This song consistently has brought together protesters from various backgrounds, summoning emotion, strength and courage to continue the struggle for human rights in the face of all types of adversity, including legal, educational and physical. In fact, Seeger introduced Martin Luther King to the song and even suggested that the civil rights activists form a group to be known as Freedom Singers. He stated that these “songs have accompanied every liberation movement in history. These songs will affirm your faith in the future of mankind.”[1]

Seeger also joined in the anti-war protests during the sixties. Over the years, he lent his voice and support to protests for workers’ rights, world peace and environmental conservation. He remarked that “a good song reminds us what we’re fighting for.”

As a result of his stance on most political and social issues, Seeger’s life was not without controversy. In the early fifties, he and his singing group, the Weavers, were named as Communist Party sympathizers in a magazine called Red Channel. When subpoenaed to come before the House Un-American Activities Committee to answer to charges of Communist influence in entertainment, Seeger declined to invoke his constitutional right of protection from self-incrimination. Rather, this gentleman of high principle chose to discuss his music, and he even offered to sing some of his songs. In response to the questions posed to him, he remarked, “I think these are very improper questions for any American to be asked, especially under such compulsion as this.”[2]

Credit: blogs.loc.gov

Seeger was convicted of contempt of Congress and sentenced to four years in jail. However, his conviction was overturned due to a technical flaw in his indictment. He was not retried. He saw the curtailment of offers for his group, The Weavers, to perform. He later apologized for many of his early thoughts on Stalin, but he maintained his ideas on socialism, stating that “I ask people to broaden their definition of socialism. Our ancestors were all socialists: You killed a deer and maybe you got the best cut, but you wouldn’t let it rot, you shared it.”[2] Throughout his life, he maintained the right to free thinking and inquiry.

This land is your land. This land is my land.

Folk music witnessed a resurgence in the 1960s, and with the many political struggles, the war in Vietnam and other social ills present at the time, Seeger found himself back in business with his simplistic approach of using music to encourage people to participate. He lived on 17-1/2 acres on a mountainside in Beacon, NY where he became very active in environmental efforts, including cleaning up the Hudson River. He founded the Clearwater Sloop Project, which he supported until his death.

Seeger’s commitment to the environment and sustainability through music was infectious as evidenced by the admiration and support he received by many entertainers, notably Jackson Browne and Bruce Springsteen. These singers support and appeared with him at Occupy demonstrations and other events for social causes and some even adopt Seeger’s easy enticing and uniting style in their songs. Perhaps one of the most popular is Browne’s song, Stay, which reminds us “people you got the power over what you do.”

It’s all about love.

Perhaps Pete Seeger sums his life up best in his description of his songs in the key of life.

I call them all love songs. They tell of love of man and woman,
and parents and children, love of country, freedom, beauty,
mankind, the world, love of searching for truth and other unknowns.
But, of course, love alone is not enough.[2]

Rest in peace Pete Seeger, and thank you for a job well done!

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1. http://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/jan/28/pete-seeger-man-brought-politics-to-music.
2. Barnes, B. (2013, January 29). Pete Seeger: He sang of things as he saw them. The Washington Post, pp. A1, A15.
3. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Folk_music

29Jan 2014

All Of The Above: Strategy or Cop Out at the 2014 State of the Union?

by Michael A Natale

Most viewers of the 2014 State of the Union address, delivered last night by President Barrack Obama, should be praised for having the wherewithal to persevere through such a sleep-inducing collection of strung together sentences — although, among the mind-numbing were a fair share of surprisingly spritely, humorous notes.

Regardless, for those green enthusiasts out there, hoping to learn more about initiatives in the way of sustainability, clean energy, and alternative fuels, there was relatively little mention of such, and with even less value behind it. Far from a laughing matter.

View the enhanced speech on demand –which is by far better than the
live broadcast– if you don’t believe me (tune in around the 15:40 mark).
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arhBRouSmWs&w=560&h=315&start=940]

Unfortunately, the most prolific takeaway for such enthusiasts was a regurgitation of the All-Of-The-Above Energy Strategy, originally introduced several years prior. And let me be clear (pun intended) — by “regurgitation” I don’t mean Mr. Obama repeated himself per se, but I do mean that it was just a simple spewing of what “we” have already accomplished over the past several years’ time.

Some of the facts and statistics used in the accompanying supplemental presentation seem randomly curated and desperately included, almost in some form of a last-ditch attempt to appear arguably progressive. And be careful not to blink when watching the address, you may miss the just-over-four minutes the Pres took to speak to the notions of this All-Of-The-Above plan.

Nonetheless, a brief recap is in order, to point potential non-viewers in the direction of the few notions splayed upon last nights audiences:

America is closer to energy independence today than we have been in decades. I hope this is self-explanatory.
Natural gas is being extracted safely. This was an obvious reference to hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, something we have written about in the past and something which environmentalists everywhere denounce.
Companies are planning to build new plants that use natural gas. President Obama made clear the fact that he wants to promote this via tax and other programs for these manufacturers who indeed increasingly move toward natural gas as a replacement means of production (instead of oil).
America will continue “strengthening protection of our air, our water, our communities,” and “protect more of our pristine federal lands for future generations” to come. By definition, probably the closest we’ve come thus far to targeting sustainability, but still not compelling. This just seems like some general commentary that could have been used years ago to describe our state, and which seem to be added only because they sound better to the heart than to the mind, once processed.
We are becoming a global leader in solar — “every four minutes, another American home or business goes solar.” This is a great stat, assuming its factually accurate. Bravo, Mr. President. And his use was impeccable, directly relating solar’s ongoing push to economic job growth by referencing that men (and women) physically installing pieces of such equipment is not outsource-able.
GOAL: continue to invest in fuels of the future. Check. This should go unsaid — it’s something that would be done regardless of who is in office, be it oval or congressional. Next.
We can continue to reduce energy we consume. He referenced the new standards for the auto industry, implemented after the bailout, to make vehicles more efficient. Good example, yes, but we have been there and done that, so where else could this be actionable moving forward? Another prospective example would have been beautifully refreshing.
The US is the leading nation in reducing carbon footprints. Impressive, but how about we explore how we will maintain that role modeling… right?
We need to legislate new standards on the amount of pollution our power plants are permitted to dump into the air. Air pollution is important, I get it. And as we’ve seen in places like Mexico City and eastern Chinese cities like Beijing, it can quickly get so out of hand as to realizably affect the day-to-day quality of life for area inhabitants. The future can only get worse, if not attended to, so let’s hope something of action can become of this verbiage.
“The debate is settled: Climate Change Is A Fact!” Again, self explanatory, but a headline-grabbing quote all enthusiasts can be mildly happy about.

Now, that brief recap above contains literally every point I could imaginably pluck from the whole discussion of ecological sustainability, and most of it spoke solely of vague past accomplishments and emptily bottomless comments surrounding the overall direction we are headed. Personally, as someone truly interested in hearing what particulars could lay on the horizon, I was extremely underwhelmed by the President’s words, or complete lack thereof with respect to true governmental policy. This could have been a chance for Mr. Obama to openly target specific goals and initiatives on one of the broadest stages possible, to really put the pressure on Congress to do something about the potential headliners — an opportunity blown.

As one US News and World Report describes fairly well, the State of the Union was predicted to be and then turned out to be unsustainable. The article describes, quite adequately, that sustainability is the focus of making sure our living our lives does not hinder the ability of the generations to come from living theirs. While the State of the Union contained moments wherein the glimmer of hope for the future verged on addressing some social or economic sustainability, environmental sustainability was not allowed to shine in its full brilliance. There was clearly insufficient forethought and future initiatives relayed from the President — no true future plans were outlined for environmental policy.

All of this being said, I must concede that it is not all President Obama’s fault, that the entire State of the Union address seemed monotonous and archaically pointless. In actuality, it is just that, and by inevitability. The State of the Union was originally put into policy as a way for the President of the United States to relay his views on the current status and future agenda of the country to the US Congress. This is especially needless in today’s society of technological advancement, what with all the instantaneous newsfeeds at our constant disposal via push notices to our pocket devices.

Overall, Obama’s address was only half-baked, nearly ignoring future sustainability, clean energy, and alternative fuel plans altogether. But that’s just my opinion.

Got some time to share your opinions? We’d love to hear them!
[polldaddy poll=7755598]

19Jan 2014

Lions Need Us

by Patrick Halligan

Simply put, The lions need us. More specifically, the West African Sub-species needs us. Desperately. It is estimated that less than 250 mature males exist in 17 countries from Senegal to Nigeria and they are continuing to decline rapidly.

Help Save this Beautiful Creature

Here is a map from PLOS One that illustrates the current presence of lion populations in West Africa.

The Causes

At this very point in time, these genetically unique lions have lost 99% of their historic range due to land conversions for cotton plantations and crop farms
A steep decline in prey populations resulting from unsustainable hunting and poaching
Human and lion conflict
Lack of funding for governments to maintain protective areas[1]

The Reality

The majority of this comes down to a lack of funding. Most of these West African nations are in the midst of extreme poverty and have zero funds to contribute to the conversation of these precious animals. Still though, for most of these countries, lions are held in the highest regard. They are a symbol of pride and appear on several countries’ coats of arms. In order for this subspecies to dodge extinction, the international community must step up.

African wildlife is the continent’s most precious natural resource. Protection of the wildlife, particularly the endangered species, is key to many African nations rising from poverty and becoming economically independent. The potential income from promotion and tourism that stands to be gained from the global interest in seeing lions and other wildlife will go a long way to provide funds for many causes, including education, health and infrastructure development, just to name a few. These beautiful lions are the face of African wildlife and deserved to be helped.

Contribute

As always, when trying to make a difference, there must be a call to action. We along with the international community can do so much to help with this effort. You can donate at Panthera or simply share this post to help create awareness!

Additional Sources:

[1] http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0083500;jsessionid=0EA32041EEA89E0BAB3A2429CEE7D8C9

15Jan 2014

Living Green– Does Size Really Matter?

by Sharon Halligan

Size is a featured component of many topics of conversation, and in living green, the question as to whether or not size does really matter is entertained often.

Size is mentioned in discussions of many facets of life, including, but not limited to portion size, clothing size, family size, house size, sexual endowment and so on. In each case, the reference of size is important when it comes to living green.

Why is size important?

So many decisions that we make are influenced or should be influenced by size. The very size of a paycheck and budget determines an individual’s ability to live and function in society. The size of one’s indebtedness contributes to a person’s happiness, stability and the ability to raise a family, get an education and live a wholesome life. The size of a family’s food budget determines their ability to eat nutritious food. The size of one’s ego impacts his/her self perception.

Credit: www.toprosters.com

Of course, we know that serving size is a very important component of a healthy diet. To that end, we can find specifications on the amount of food we should eat in a meal, as well as the actual size of the plate that should be used to limit the portion size. Consideration of portion size also can be applied to control the percentages of meat, vegetables and carbohydrates that should occupy our plates at any given time. The subject of size has led to a criticism by nutritionists of the fast food industry and its practice of advertising “super size meals” for a small additional price. Also, moviegoers are familiar with the policy at most theaters whereby the purchase of giant size bags of popcorn and drinks earn patrons free refills. The increase in the size of our meals has led to weight increase and ever-expanding abdominal girth in so many Americans, along with the accompanying adverse health consequences of obesity, diabetes, back and joint pain, infertility and hypertension.

Credit: fitmapped.com

Clothing size and body size also are major topics of conversation in the fashion industry. Shopping for clothes often is difficult because there is no uniformity in clothing sizes. Sizes of clothes, particularly for women, vary widely by brands. This forces consumers to spend considerable time, energy and fuel traveling to different stores trying to find clothes that fit. In that living green includes being healthy and stress free, the dilemma of clothes size negatively impacts those efforts.

Credit: venusvision.com

Also, the issue of body size must be considered in any efforts to live green. Perception of a healthy body size is important, and we need realistic guidelines, both to achieve and maintain this. Unrealistic expectations for body size can be emotionally and physically damaging, leading to harmful practices such as unhealthy dieting, binging and purging, and even psychiatric problems of anorexia that can be fatal. As we are constantly bombarded with visual images of thin models and beautiful clothes only available in small sizes, many people struggle to achieve these looks and fit those clothes, not realizing that often the people depicted in these pictures are airbrushed and images are electronically altered to give an appearance that is false. It is important to accept that body size is important, but that we must be realistic and acknowledge the major contribution of genes to our appearance. We should adhere to a healthy diet, exercise and maintain a balanced weight but not go to extremes to look like models in the media.

Another area where size is a major concern is in the housing industry where builders keep constructing larger houses and mass marketing efforts constantly remind us that we need more living space in our dwellings. As a result, we cut down more trees to clear areas for houses. We build more roads and supporting structures for our new larger communities, reducing open green space. We assume larger mortgages to pay for our more expensive houses. We endure higher energy bills to heat and cool our super sized houses. We buy more furniture and objects to fill our houses. The bottom line is that we are drowning in debt and working longer hours to pay for all of this. Sometimes we feel like hamsters on treadmills, and that is neither healthy nor green. This is an instance where size does really matter. It can make the difference between a wholesome fulfilling lifestyle and sheer misery.

Credit: www.designboom.com

Family size is important in green living. In modern times, families are smaller than they were many years earlier. Increased housing and other costs of living have forced most families to rely on both parents as wage earners. As a result, people tend to have fewer children due to time and money constraints. Some countries, such as China, have legally enforced limits on family size for purposes of population control. Clearly when it comes to family, size does matter.

Lastly, size often comes up when discussing sexual relationships. Hollywood and popular culture have forced sexual endowment to the forefront of relationship issues. Living green includes healthy and satisfying interpersonal relationships. In choosing a mate, it is important that such selection include character, morals, values and compatibility and not just physical attributes such as sexual endowment, breast and hip size. Here size matters but should not be the primary consideration.

It is important that we learn to live green, and from the examples given, we can see that size does really matter. In our efforts to adopt a green lifestyle, we have a lot to consider. As we look at ways to live sustainably, we have to take time and size up the situation carefully. To do so is to live green, be green.

_________________

Resources for this article:

1. http://www.forbes.com/2008/01/09/ralph-lauren-gap-ent-tech-cx_tvr_0109sizemeup.html
2. http://www.eatright.org/Public/content.aspx?id=4294967941
3. http://www.askmen.com/dating/vanessa_60/87_love_secrets.html
4. http://www.wect.com/Global/story.asp?S=3015997

31Dec 2013

New Year’s Resolution– Commit To Live Green

by Sharon Halligan

Health (Photo credit: 401(K) 2013)

As New Year’s Eve descends upon us, and we give serious thought to resolutions, we should try hard to commit to live green. The best reason to resolve to live green is that by doing this, so many of the other items on our “usual” lists will happen as an offshoot. Considering that most people’s list of resolutions include exercising, losing weight, eating healthy, reducing clutter, reducing stress, being more spiritual, and spending wisely, you will find that with the adoption of green initiatives, all or most of these goals will be accomplished in the process without the anxiety and trepidation often felt when focusing on these goals directly.

To get you started, we here at LGBG would like to offer some tips on green living.

Buy local to eat greener.

Buying local is important because it gives consumers more immediate access to fresher food, particularly fruits and vegetables. Additionally, local farms often are governed by very restrictive ordinances in terms of fertilization to prevent runoff of chemicals into rivers and streams. These farmers are members of the communities that they serve and are expected to endorse sustainable practices. On the other hand, large corporate factory farms are invisible to communities and often can obtain favorable legislation for their practices through lobbying efforts.

It also is important to note that locally grown food reduces the need for extended transportation to markets, thereby reducing the carbon footprint. You also will find fewer additives to maintain color or prolong freshness of the food products. Finally, buying from local businesses promotes reinvestment in the community. The big payoff here is that the consumer gets healthier, less expensive food and his/her purchases benefit the community. So for the New Year, make sure your green resolution starts with your diet.

English: Healthy Food For Life logo (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Resolve to clean green in 2014.

Now is a great time to switch from toxic cleaning chemicals to eco-friendly products. There are so many green cleaning products on the market that will help you make your house spotless without contaminating the air in your house. Also, try stocking up on baking soda, vinegar and even castile soap for daily cleaning, along with reusable cleaning cloths. You can breathe easier and reduce spending on cleaning products. Simultaneously, you can apply some elbow grease and burn extra calories.

English: The carbon footprint as it is understood by people. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Walk, run, bike, play– Resolve to get moving.

Make this the year that you get off the couch and get moving to burn calories. Exercise, along with a healthy diet, will aid in weight reduction, healthier joints, lower blood pressure, improved heart rate, improved food digestion and improved sleep. This is a great chance to use the features of a smartphone. Download your favorite songs and create a playlist for exercise routines, reduce stress with motivational music and audiobooks or engage exercise apps to track your dietary record or exercise progress. Join a bowling league, softball team, tennis club, etc. Physical exercise is great for family time or to engage socially and make new friends. Make 2014 the year that you get moving.

English: Exercising outdoors is healthier than working out indoors. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Make green living a habit.

Unlike past years, this time around plan to make healthy green living a habit. Do not overload yourself or set a specific date to achieve a goal. Plan a lifestyle change. Be creative and involve the entire or family in green initiatives. Have fun, save money, and enjoy the health benefits that follow.

From all of us here at LGBG, we wish all of our readers a healthy, happy and green New Year!

Credit: www.hdwallpapersinn.com

___________________

Resources for this article:

[1] http://life.gaiam.com/article/green-resolutions-new-year
[2] http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tag/green-new-years-resolutions

15Dec 2013

Leftover Chicken Pot Pie

by pmdproducts@gmail.com

After a brief hiatus I’m happy to be back and cooking for the LGBG faithful. in the spirit of the holiday season, I’m proud to present this recipe created with the goal of sustainability. As we all know, and if my family is any indication, this time of the year awards us with a gluttonous amount of food, and more importantly leftovers. This recipe allows you to take your leftovers and efficiently transform them into a new and delicious meal. Side dishes such as peas, carrots, and corn are transformed into a great filling for the pot pie and affords you the ability to spend more time with the people who matter the most. So without further ado I present to you my recipe for leftover chicken pot pie.

Ingredients

3 cups leftover chicken
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
4 cups chicken stock, preferably homemade
1 cup white wine of your choice
2 chicken bouillon cubes
12 tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter
2 cups yellow onions, chopped (2 onions)
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 half-and-half milk
2 cups medium-diced carrots, blanched for 2 minutes
1 (10-ounce) package frozen peas (2 cups)

For the pastry:

3 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 cup vegetable shortening
1/4 pound cold unsalted butter, diced
1/2 to 2/3 cup ice water
1 egg beaten with 1 tablespoon water, for egg wash
Flaked sea salt and cracked black pepper

Directions

In a small saucepan, heat the chicken stock, white wine and dissolve the bouillon cubes in the mixture. In a large pot add the hot chicken stock and the flour and cook over low heat, stirring constantly, for 2 minutes. Simmer over low heat for 1 more minute, stirring, until thick. Add 2 teaspoons salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper, and half-and-half. Add the cubed chicken, carrots, and peas.

For the pastry, mix the flour, salt, and baking powder in a bowl. Add the shortening and butter and mix quickly with your fingers until each piece is coated with flour. In a food processor pulse 10 times, or until the fat is the size of peas. With the motor running, add the ice water; process only enough to moisten the dough and have it just come together. Dump the dough out onto a floured board and knead quickly into a ball. Wrap the dough in plastic and allow it to rest in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

Divide the filling equally among 4 oven-proof bowls. Divide the dough into quarters and roll each piece into an 8-inch circle. Brush the outside edges of each bowl with the egg wash, then place the dough on top. Trim the circle to 1/2-inch larger than the top of the bowl. Crimp the dough to fold over the side, pressing it to make it stick. Brush the dough with egg wash and make 3 slits in the top. Sprinkle with sea salt and cracked pepper. Place on a baking sheet and bake for 1 hour, or until the top is golden brown.

09Dec 2013

How To Really Have A Green Christmas

by pmdproducts@gmail.com

Merry Christmas! (Photo credit: Kelvin Servigon)

The Christmas season is in full swing, and we here at LGBG wanted to weigh in with some helpful tips in planning a really green Christmas. We feel that it is important to address the topic of a green Christmas because so often in this age of mass consumerism, we witness the holiday season losing its true meaning and getting buried under an avalanche of all types of excess, ranging from uncontrolled spending, overindulgence in food and beverages, and even careless disregard of established principles of green living habits, thereby sabotaging all the advances we previously made and all in the name of a happy holiday. These negative actions can lead to feelings of guilt, remorse, anger and depression once the holidays are over.

The first step in planning a really green Christmas is to ignore the lure of television, Internet and email advertising that encourage extravagance at all costs and entices us to run out to the malls or to log on and get the deal of the day. After all, Christmastime is a monumental merchandising opportunity, and retail businesses want to secure their “numbers” as early in the season as possible. To that end, it is important that we resist the urge to feel that we are letting the best deal get away or to buy impulsively without doing the necessary homework to really find the best buy.

A great way to guarantee an affordable and really green Christmas is to start with a realistic budget to make sure you know exactly how much money is available for holiday spending. This budget should include everything for the holiday, such as gifts, decorations, meals, activities and travel expenses, particularly if a trip is part of the holiday plan. Make sure that all regular financial obligations are covered first. You will not feel happy or merry when the New Year arrives if you missed December’s bill payments. Also, consider this budget approach as an opportune time to set up a Christmas savings account to routinely and painlessly save for next year’s holiday.

Once the budget is finalized, the next step is to make a gift list, noting each person who will receive a present and allocating a dollar amount for each individual. This function really is the heart of a green Christmas. Whether your holiday tradition is religious or secular, the task of devising a gift list takes you back to the true meaning of the season. With each name listed, you can reflect on that individual and decide on a gift that shows that person that you appreciate him or her and your present represents something that you feel he or she would enjoy. Here you will find that the gift is not about money, and it does dot have to be expensive. Rather it is about an emotional connection. It could be a homemade gift, a special dish, a picture, a donation to a cause important to the person or a commitment to spend time in some particular activity at a later date. This truly is green because it is about investing in each other or social capitalism. It is a wonderful way to invest in the ownership of experiences as opposed to the ownership of “stuff.”

Now you are ready to shop. Make sure you compare prices for retail gifts on the computer or through paper advertising prior to going out to shop so that you do not waste time and gas going to different stores. Also, note that if you have the store list and pricing of articles that you want to buy, many brick and mortar establishments will give you the lowest price. This practice developed in response to savvy shoppers doing their homework before going out, but who want to physically inspect an item before purchase. Some stores feel it is best to secure the sale while the person is standing there, ready to purchase. That being said, make sure you retain receipts and also that you are informed of store return policies, refunds, final sales notices, etc. Sometimes you will be surprised to find further price reductions on items already purchased in the final days before Christmas that present the opportunity to save even more money.

Green Xmas (Photo credit: nhi.dang)

Decorations are a major aspect of the Christmas season, and here green practices can make a really big difference. While natural trees, wreaths and roping are better than artificial selections that often are made from petroleum and other toxic ingredients, it is important to be wary of having natural greenery inside the home, particularly in instances where family members have allergies. Also, if you insist on having a natural tree, keep in mind that cutting down a tree is green and sustainable only if the tree is harvested from a forest or farm created for that purpose. Additionally, check to ensure that any Christmas tree farm that you consider is managed in an eco-friendly fashion, specifically without the use of industrial chemicals. An alternative option is to use a living tree. When decorating your Christmas tree or your home, please avoid cheap dollar store decorations. Cheap decorations have a high environmental impact, and they also contribute to household clutter in terms of storage. To have a green Christmas, think simple, healthy, effective and elegant when decorating.

Christmas lighting is one of the highlights of the season. Think green here and use LED lights to reduce the electricity burden. Be very careful with candles to avoid fires. Turn all lights off at bedtime or better yet, put indoor and outdoor lights on timers. Another option for outdoor lights is the use of solar lights, a big energy saver.

Clifton Mill in Clifton, Ohio is the site of this Christmas display with over 3.5 million lights. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Finally, to really have a green Christmas, invest in yourself and your loved ones. Take the time to sort out relaxing activities that bring the family together. Take advantage of free community events, such as tree lightings, caroling, school plays and holiday concerts. Prepare wholesome, healthy meals, taking care to avoid overindulgence in unhealthy sweets, saturated fats or alcohol. Try using ingredients with properties that help your body to reduce stress. [3] Also, this is a great time to support local merchants to find the freshest fruits and vegetables.

Christmastime can be a wonderful, magical experience for you and your family, and it also is a great time to recommit to a green, sustainable lifestyle. As you plan your Christmas celebrations, we hope that you embrace the season from a green perspective and enjoy a really green Christmas. To do so is to live green, be green.

_____________________

Sources:

[1] http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1568489,00.html.
[2] http://m.wikihow.com/Have-a-Green-Christmas.
[3] http://health.clevelandclinic.org/2013/11/tis-the-season-eat-this-dont-stress-about-that/

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