| Earth Hour aftermath |
[Mar. 30th, 2008|10:48 am] |
One of the things we did last night was wander around the house and locate all the things that glow in the dark when the lights are turned off.
The TV doesn't need to be "on" all the time when we watch it once a week. There is a clock on the microwave and one on the coffee maker, we don't need both of them. We never use the VCR in the bedroom for recording, it doesn't need to be powered all the time either.
We already power 90% of the house through extension cords and power bars. We're going to rearrange them slightly so that anything that isn't say, a refrigerator can be switched off when it's not being used.
The best part is that the money we save on electricity eventually gets spent on insulation. |
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| The Right Honourable Speed Bump |
[Dec. 12th, 2007|05:13 pm] |
Avaaz has set up a petition to try and get Prime Minister Harper to cease and desist being a NATIONAL FUCKING EMBARRASSMENT.
http://www.avaaz.org/en/another_canadian_climate_crime/4.php
Go sign it. Please.
[EDIT] You don't have to be Canadian to sign. |
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| pleather thou? |
[Sep. 18th, 2007|11:29 pm] |
I was thinking about something totally different tonight, and somehow two things converged in my head, and I started wondering.
How does the carbon footprint of leather shoes compare with those made out of petro-chemicals?
I think this popped up because I was reading about PETA's public statement that one cannot be an environmentalist while consuming animal products and then I started thinking about how I really can't see myself wearing clothes that are made of artificial fibres, and it kind of snowballed from there. Most leather comes from cows which are horrible for the environment. Artificial substitutes are made from a non-renewable resource, but the issue is less about running out of the stuff as it is what kind of mess we make using it.
So what do you think? |
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| dieting feet |
[Jun. 9th, 2007|02:47 pm] |
Buying food from local sources is getting a lot of press lately, to the point that Axe & I heard a CBC feature on it while we were in the car. Which led to a conversation about the comparative benefits of eating an omnivorous but local diet vs eating vegetarian/vegan if your goal is to reduce your carbon footprint.
We're trying to reduce the amount of meat in our diet. But is it really helping if we cut down on the meat we buy - all raised in Southern Ontario - and replace it with vegetables shipped from all over the world?
(Of course the ideal is to go vegan and eat only locally grown organic foods, but just for the sake of argument.) |
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| petition on climate change |
[Mar. 11th, 2007|01:29 pm] |
Avaaz.org is trying to get 100,000 signatures on a petition to be delivered to the Enviornmental Ministers of the G8 nations this week.
Petition basically says, "Climate Change is important, get off your collective ass already." But in you know, polite speak.
http://www.avaaz.org/en/climate_action_germany/cf7.php |
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| get out of the kitchen |
[Aug. 2nd, 2006|01:34 am] |
I don't have a huge amount of faith in online petitions. But you know, it can't hurt.
http://www.ceasefirecampaign.org/
We have a couple of days off this coming weekend. Axel is currently looking up current temperatures in other parts of Canada so we can figure out where it is cooler and go there.
And now I am going to bed. |
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| contributing to Katrina |
[Sep. 15th, 2005|07:11 pm] |
I'm still catching up with the news. Jesus.
One quick thing; Other people have pointed towards this; The Manilow Fund For Health and Hope is a charity founded by Barry Manilow that normally directs funds towards charities such as AIDS, cancer, abuse and homelessness. They are currently running a fundraiser for Katrina survivors. For every dollar donated, it will be matched by both the fund and by Barry Manilow himself. Three dollars donated for every dollar you send.
I've done a quick search for more information about this charity, and I haven't found anything negative. If anybody has additional info, please do pass it on. In the meantime, it seems to be the biggest bang for your buck I've come across. |
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| calling all Canucks |
[May. 5th, 2003|01:34 pm] |
Just found out about this petition to include sexual orientation in the wording of upcoming hate legislation.
There are 10-1/2 hours left to sign it.
The petition was initiated by Svend Robinson, so you know it will actually be seen by the guys on the hill. At the time I signed it, there were over 10,000 signatures. |
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| wind technology |
[Jan. 27th, 2003|02:16 pm] |
Today when I was driving down to the highway, I passed the new windmill in the CNE grounds.
Holy fuck! It's huge.
It's gorgeous. It towers over the nearby buildings. |
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| This is important |
[Jan. 10th, 2003|04:12 pm] |
| [ | Tags | | | slacktivism | ] |
| [ | mood |
| | half-awake | ] |
| [ | music |
| | Joy Division box set | ] |
If you are Canadian and want to preserve the health care system, go here and sign the petition. |
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