Hawaii’s Beaches Are in Retreat, and Its Way of Life May Follow
You might consider taking that Hawaiian vacation you’ve been day dreaming about sooner rather than later. According to a recent United States Geological Survey report, most of the beaches on Hawaii, Maui and Oahu are eroding quickly, and have already lost about 9 percent of their beaches over the past century.

What’s the Real Difference Between Cage-Free and Pastured Eggs
These days, there’s no shortage of big brands trying to win us over with catchy slogans, ads and packaging intended to make us feel as if the product were produced humanely and naturally. But how do we really know? Watch this beautiful video, which tells you exactly how to know if your eggs were raised humanely.

Willing to Pay (A Little) More for Clean Energy
A new study out from Harvard and Yale found that the average U.S. citizen would pay $162 more annually to support a national policy requiring 80-percent clean energy by 2035. A summary of this new study can be found here.

How ETSY is Changing the Way We All Do Business
We’ve long been big fans of ETSY here at LauraTurnerSeydel.com. Recently, I bought all of the decorations I needed for a bridal shower through the site and was blown away by the quality of the products as well as the customer service. By choosing to purchase products from local artisans, we help support a fair economy and we build relationships with producers. There’s a story to each item we purchase, and that means something this day in age.

Saudi Arabia to Unleash Solar by Investing $109 Billion
The desert country is the world’s largest exporter of oil, and has decided to capitalize on their country’s sunshine with plans to invest $109 billion in solar capacity by 2032. King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy said that it plans to turn the nation into the “Kingdom of Sustainable Energy.” “The main objectives of the program is a reduction in oil burned for power production as well as the establishment of a local solar industry and the creation of jobs.”

Must-Pack Items for an Eco Getaway
Taking a long weekend escape soon? Or maybe you’re simply looking for a good sunscreen or swimsuit to kick off the season. Well look no further: Here are a few healthy sunscreens, swimsuits and shades to keep you safe and eco-chic this summer.

Have a tip you’d like us to include in our next roundup? Tweet @LauraSeydel and @LindsEBrown using hashtag #EcoRoundup

This post was written by eco-contributor Lindsay E. Brown. She’s the managing editor at Eco-Chick.com, publisher of BrownLovesGreen.org, an author, and regularly contributes to EarthHour.org and a host of other sites across the web. Follow her on Twitter: @LindsEBrown
Photo Credit: Future Weather

Photo Credit – Jewel Samad/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

Below is a summary of the report by Georgia Water Coalition’s Dirty Dozen list for 2011. Please download the PDF for more information and continued reading.

Georgia Water Coalition’s “Dirty Dozen” highlights the worst offenses to Georgia’s water—offenses that are the consequences of an under-funded state environmental agency and a lack of politi cal will to aggressively enforce laws that protect our water, land, air and people. Too often in Georgia, the “fox is watching the hen house,” and the system gives polluters free passes while the rest of us end up with dirty water.

What unites each of our Dirty Dozen examples is that in practically every case our waters are being abused in ways that benefit a few, but harm many including property owners, downstream communities, fish and wildlife, hunters and anglers, boaters and swimmers, and more. A broken system allows these problems to occur and continue without resolution, often with catastrophic consequences.

The Georgia Water Coalition publishes this list as a call to acti on for our state’s leaders and its citizens to come together to correct the polluti on problems and threats to our water detailed in the Dirty Dozen. The Georgia Water Coalition is a consortium of more than 180 conservation and environmental organizations, hunting and fishing groups, businesses, and faith-based organizations that has been working to protect Georgia’s water since 2002. Collectively, these organizations represent more than 300,000 Georgians.

#1 – Ogechee River – Polluter Devastates Ogeechee for Five Years and Goes Undetected by EPD

#2 – Altamaha River – Rayonier Pulp Mill Discharge Destroys Fisheries

#3 – Savannah River – Costly Harbor Dredging Wrecks the Savannah River Estuary

#4 – Chattahoochee River – Critical Minimum Flow Neglected at Atlanta

#5 – Shoal Creek and Glades Reservoirs – Unnecessary Reservoirs Threaten Downstream Communities, Endangered Species and Public Coffers

#6 – Oconee and Ogeechee Rivers – Speculative Coal Plant Permitted Even Though it is Unneeded and Will Harm Water, Air and Fisheries

#7 – Flint River – Flint River Sucked Dry as EPD Allows Too Many Withdrawals

#8 – Georgia’s Coastal Wetlands – Docks in Georgia’s Coastal Wetlands Spoil the “Marshes of Glynn”

#9 – South Georgia Wetlands – Four Decades of Ditches Dry Out South Georgia Wetlands

#10 – Broad River – Waste Disposal “Farm” Fouls the Broad River

#11 – Brier Creek and Commissioner Creek – Fish Dying in Kaolin Country and EPD Doesn’t Know Why

#12 – Coosa River – Coal-fired Power Plant’s Withdrawal and Heated Water Discharge

Download Full Report

Visit garivers.org

The Environmental Leadership Awards is the largest single fundraiser for the Georgia Conservation Voters, and largely determines the amount of work they will be able to accomplish this year.

This event honors public officials working to protect our children, our health, and our economy by supporting conservation and economic growth through innovation.

The Georgia Conservation Voters works on many important environmental issues for Georgia. I hope you will join me in supporting them as well as letting your public officials know we appreciate all that they have done for conservation.

The Captain Planet Foundation has been selected as a finalist in Toyota’s 100 Cars for Good program! Toyota’s 100 Cars for Good program will be awarding 100 vehicles to 100 nonprofits over the course of 100 days based on votes from the public. A total of 500 nonprofits were selected from more than 4,000 applications nationwide. We are hoping to win a new Toyota Prius V to help Captain Planet spread the word about environmental education to youth at schools, community organizations and eco-events.

What will environmental super hero do with a Toyota Prius V ?

1. He will travel to schools helping kids start their own edible, organic gardens.
2. He will help kids learn to monitor and test rivers, streams and oceans.
3. He will plant trees with kids at tree plantings.
4. He will teach kids about wetlands restoration.
5. He will help implement recycling programs in schools and youth groups.

Captain Planet Foundation plans to wrap their new car in Captain Planet branding to let people know when they see him coming, the world’s one and only eco-superhero is on his way to help!

Take the pledge to vote for Captain Planet today and you will receive a reminder on May 15!

This past March, Rutherford and I hosted an event with friends and family for our good friend, Dr. Hyman. His new book, The Blood Sugar Solution, is a #1 New York Times Bestseller!

Dr. Hyman is an incredible doctor and he has done so much to help various communities combat the problems of obesity and diabetes. While he was here, he gave an interview for a new health news site called HealthWired. I encourage everyone to check out Dr. Hyman’s interview for HealthWired!

According to Dr. Hyman, “Diabesity is epidemic – it affects one out of every two Americans … Ninety percent of [people] don’t even know they have it.”

Please share this video with your friends and family, together we can fight back against the diabesity epidemic. Knowledge is power!

by Lindsay E. Brown

Future Weather: New Sustainable Film
Future Weather premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival to rave reviews. I had the chance to see the film, and can attest to its greatness. The story surrounds a 13-year-old girl who is abandoned by her mother and tries to compensate through an obsession with climate change. Check out the film’s Kickstarter campaign here.

EPA to Rule on Whether Greenhouse-Gas-Emitting Palm Oils Can be Used as Biofuel
You might recall when Girl Scout cookies came under fire for using an edible vegetable oil called palm oil as an ingredient in cookies which contributes to deforestation, releases huge stores of carbon into the air, and destroys endangered species habitats and old-growth trees. Palm oil plantations have also been known to employ children and treat their workers badly.

Well, palm oil is back in spotlight. The Environmental Protection Agency recently refused to designate it as a biofuel, as it does not meet the agency’s greenhouse gas requirements laid out in the 2007 Renewable Fuel Standard. Agencies representing palm oil interests are lobbying the EPA to reverse its decision.

Heroines for the Planet: Human Rights Advocate and Sexual Slavery Survivor Somaly Mam
Internationally recognized human rights advocate, Somaly Mam, talked with me about the multi-billion dollar sex trafficking industry, what needs to be done to stop this global issue — which is a huge problem even in America — and how her time enslaved in Cambodian brothels fueled her to help rescue and rehabilitate women around the world.

Kashi Promises (Some) ‘Natural’ Products Will Be GMO-Free
Last week Kashi — owned by Kellogg — found itself amidst controversy because of its use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in some of its products. The news picked up on Twitter and Facebook after a grocer in Rhode Island tacked this sign on the shelf.

“You might be wondering where your favorite Kashi cereals have gone. It has recently come to our attention that 100% of the soy used in Kashi products is genetically modified, and that when the USDA tested the grains used there were found to be pesticides that are known carcinogens and hormone disruptors.”

Clouds’ Effect on Climate Change is Last Bastion for Dissenters
New York Times reporter and recent winner of Columbia Journalism School’s Oakes Award for distinguished environmental journalism, Justin Gillis, just published the latest installment in his “Temperature Rising” series which focuses on global warming and its consequences.  This article takes on climate change deniers’ most recent argument, or, last resort if you will: that clouds will save us.

Burger King Pledges to Go Completely Cage-Free
Burger King announced major plans to change the way it does business by enhancing its standards of animal welfare. The second-largest fast-food giant will improve the treatment of the chickens and the pigs which provide eggs and meat by using only products from uncaged chickens, and from pigs that have not been confined to gestation crates.

The dramatic shift from cruelty to awareness, hasn’t come easy. Thanks to groups like The Humane Society and PETA — who have worked to raise awareness of farm animal cruelty — consumers better understand the true cost of fast-food.

Buildings Don’t Have to Be New to Be Green
A recent study published by the National Trust for Historic Preservation found that retrofitted buildings are greener than building new. “I think the broader trend from an environmental, as well as a business standpoint, is that we’ll probably see more rehab of buildings rather than reconstruction. I don’t think it’s bad for the developers,” said Robert Watson, chairman and CEO of green-building consultant and operator EcoTech International.

Have a tip you’d like us to include in our next roundup? Tweet @LauraSeydel and @LindsEBrown using hashtag #EcoRoundup

This post was written by eco-contributor Lindsay E. Brown. She’s the managing editor at Eco-Chick.com, publisher of BrownLovesGreen.org, an author, and regularly contributes to EarthHour.org and a host of other sites across the web. Follow her on Twitter: @LindsEBrown
Photo Credit: Future Weather

Please join Rutherford and me on May 4th to support Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper River Revival.  We are both longtime supporters of UCR and this event.  We hope to see you on May 4th.

We have an incredible lineup of musical talent not to be missed:

• Ben Sollee
• Julia Haltigan
• Ruby Velle and the Soulphonics
• Burnt Bacon

And recognizing incredible environmentalists with our River Rock Star Award:

• Johnny Colt
• Ben Sollee
• Gareth Asher

Ticket options

•  $45 General Admission includes food, beer and wine from Park Tavern and a one-year UCR membership – as well as beer from SweetWater.
•  $65 VIP access (limited availability) includes all of the above, plus preferred seating with private bar and the opportunity to meet and mingle with musicians and honorees.

We’re talking about tickets worth more than $150, so this is a party with a value and a purpose!  Proceeds from this event help support our efforts to preserve and protect our Chattahoochee River – drinking water for over 3.5 million Atlantans.

SweetWater will again kick off the annual Save the Hooch campaign at the event! (For more info, visit this link.)

How did your childhood affect the way you feel about the environment today?
I was raised in a family where media was important and my dad has strong values about what people watched on television. He believed what they watch was a very powerful tool that could both educate and motivate them. This is why he was compelled to launch CNN.

Growing up, my siblings and I would watch the documentaries that were sent to my father for consideration to put on air. We were privy to cutting edge information about what was going on in developing countries around the world. We were aware of the “train wreck” issues that affected these nations. This inspired my dad to create ways to “edu-tain” kids all over the world through the Captain Planet and the Planeteers series. It has aired in more than 100 countries in 23 languages, reaching millions of children.

What does living green 
mean to you?
Everyone can lead by example. Start with simple things in your home, like saving energy, conserving water and recycling. Get involved in your school and community on environmental projects. Start a garden to help our pollinators who are in trouble. Volunteer to be the recycling coordinator at your workplace. Ask companies you work with or support about their sustainability plans.

What are the issues you are most passionate about?
I am passionate about creating zero waste zones in our homes, schools, offices and places of worship. Waste in our landfills negatively impacts our land, air, water and even our physical bodies.

What does a typical day/schedule look like for you?
I always start my day with a healthy, nutritious breakfast with my freshly-squeezed green juice*, and I exercise. My mantra is “early to bed, early to rise, work like heck and exercise.” I then catch up on news from around the world on CNN. From there, my day gets a bit more hectic. I am meeting with organizations I am involved with, such as Captain Planet Foundation, speaking on environmental or children’s health issues, blogging or writing articles and sending out information through my social media channels. I also like to balance this with quality family time with my wonderful husband and three children.

You have traveled all over the world. Is there any one country that stands out to you?
When I visited the Arctic two years ago, we saw 13 polar bears in their natural habitat. The weather at the poles is on average nine degrees higher than it used to be. The climate is definitely warmer and is posing danger for the species that live there, especially the polar bears, as well as the planet. The fallout from carbon emissions is definitely wreaking havoc. Climate change in the Arctic is real and I’ve witnessed it myself. It is truly unlike any place I have ever been and made me even more committed to protecting our beautiful natural resources and endangered wildlife.

I recently spent time in Accra, Ghana with the Ghana Planeteers, an organization of  young career professionals from all fields who meet weekly to organize events and campaigns to protect the environment in their communities. These young professionals have grown from a group of 50 to more than 215 in the past year alone. Throughout the world, there are more than 500,000 Captain Planet Planeteers who meet up on Facebook to converse with each other and develop new ideas for protecting our planet.

What advice would you give to parents trying to get their children to be more environmentally responsible?
Lead by example, showing your children that it is important to conserve our natural resources and be good stewards of the environment. It is important that we leave enough natural resources to other people and future generations. We need to manage our resources more sustainably. Teach your kids to pick up litter, recycle, use reusable water bottles, always turn off lights and electronics when they are not in use, and turn the water off when they brush their teeth. Reduce or eliminate toxic chemicals in your home and landscape. Instill a work and conservation ethic in your children that they can carry with them for the rest of their lives.

What inspires you every day?
I stay motivated knowing that we have dedicated people working everyday in the trenches advancing the effort to protect our life support systems. At the end of the day, we want to be able to look our kids in the eyes and tell them that we did everything we could to make this a better planet for them and future generations.

Do you have any new projects/events coming up this year that you can tell us about?
I have many things coming up – the 10th Annual Captain Planet Foundation Earth Day Kids Fest on April 14 and the Captain Planet Foundation Benefit Gala on December 7.

For the full interview please visit Best Self Magazine!

by Lindsay E. Brown

Going for Green — Britain’s 2012 Dream
Will the Olympic games in London set new records for being the the most sustainable Olympics ever? Find out by watching this video which tells the story of how the Olympic Park is being constructed sustainably.

Joel Salatin Responds to New York Times’ ‘Myth of Sustainable Meat’
Joel Salatin’s healthy and unconventional farming practices are lauded in Michael Pollan’s book “The Omnivore’s Dilemma” as well as the popular documentary “Food, Inc.” But recently, one of America’s favorite farmers had a bone to pick with the New York Times for publishing an editorial “The Myth of Sustainable Meat” which, according to Salatin, “contains enough factual errors and skewed assumptions to fill a book.”  Read the rebuttal and share your thoughts with us.

10 Surprising Recycling Efforts
In the U.S., over 7 billion pounds of PVC is thrown away each year; and of that amount, only 18 million pounds (approximately one-quarter of 1 percent) is actually recycled. From bras to crayons, give objects in your home new life with these clever recycling tips.

No Place For Heated Opinions
Did you catch the final episode of Frozen Planet Sunday night? Despite breathtaking footage of rapidly melting glaciers and sea ice, the episode has drawn criticism for tiptoeing around climate change and not discussing why the poles are warming. One director came out and said nature documentaries are no place for “political” messages, but environmentalist and 350.org founder, Bill McKibben disagreed. “It’s kind of like doing a powerful documentary about lung cancer and leaving out the part about the cigarettes,” he said.

Empowering Women, After the Genocide
Between April and June 1994, an estimated 1,000,000 Rwandans — men, women and children — were killed in the space of 100 days as part of a civil genocide. Eighteen years after the tragedy swept the country, here’s a powerful story of Rwandan women who are building their country back up. The Women’s Opportunity Center, slated to launch in March of 2013, will be a permanent space for women that will advance progress toward gender equality and social inclusion for Rwandan women.

A Punishment BP Can’t Pay Off
In this op-ed, the reporter discusses the two-year anniversary of the BP Oil Spill — the largest accidental oil spill in U.S. history — and the fact that no one has truly been held accountable. BP received a mere slap on the wrist, and pocketed $26 billion in profits in 2011.

Engineer Arrested in BP Oil Spill Case
Federal prosecutors have arrested a BP engineer in Texas and charged him with two counts of obstruction of justice, saying he deleted text messages documenting the amount of oil that was leaking. These are the first criminal charges filed in connection with the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Kurt Mix, the BP engineer, allegedly deleted hundreds of text messages describing the high volume of oil flowing from the well.

Floating Offshore Wind Turbine Collaboration Announced Between US, UK
Floating offshore wind turbines have been around for some time now, but they haven’t been commercially viable. That is, until now. The U.S. and the UK have announced plans to collaborate on developing these floating offshore wind turbines which will operate in waters up to 500′ deep.

Have a tip you’d like us to include in our next roundup? Tweet @LauraSeydel and @LindsEBrown using hashtag #EcoRoundup

This post was written by eco-contributor Lindsay E. Brown. She’s the managing editor at Eco-Chick.com, publisher of BrownLovesGreen.org, an author, and regularly contributes to EarthHour.org and a host of other sites across the web. Follow her on Twitter: @LindsEBrown
Photo Credit: AP

Air Quality Awareness Week marks the beginning of smog season and is an annual opportunity for all of us to review issues surrounding air quality in our communities and the precautions we need to take to ensure our family’s health.

What is Smog?
Smog is another term for ground level ozone, which is formed when nitrogen oxide (NOx)combines with volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the presence of sunlight. NOx are a by-product of fossil fuel combustion (oil, natural gas, coal) and so come from cars and trucks, power plants, and industrial processes.  (definition via MothersandOthersforCleanAir.org)

Exposure to many pollutants in the air can result in a range of adverse health effects from shortness of breath and coughing to heart attacks and lung cancer. Check out Mothers and Others’ Health Effects of Bad Air Fact Sheet for more information.

Georgia Guide to Air Qualilty Awareness Week
1. World Asthma Day
May begins with World Asthma Day on May1! Join me at at the Fulton County Health & Wellness event “Asthma Awareness: Putting the Pieces Together.” In an effort to combat asthma, the Fulton County Department of Health and Wellness, Division of Health Promotion, is launching the Fulton Asthma Improvement and Reduction (FAIR) program to focus on the state of asthma in Fulton County. The FAIR kick off panel discussion will raise awareness about asthma and allow participants to share strategies for improving asthma care throughout Fulton County. The event is May 1, 10am – 2 pm at the Fulton County Aldredge HealthCenter. Click here to register! Seating is limited.

2. Get Informed: Air Quality 101
As smog season 2012 approaches, please consider making a commitment to at least one personal action to reduce your contribution to smog this summer. At the same time, ensure you have the tools you need to reduce your and your family’s exposure to smog by bookmarking Georgia Environmental Protection’s air quality forecast site and reviewing and sharing Mothers & Others guidance documents on outdoor air quality and physical activity.

3. Clean Air Campaign
The Clean Air Campaign invites schools to observe the week by incorporating activities on air quality, sources and types of air pollution, and actions to reduce air pollution and improve health in their school community.
For Clean Air Schools, Air Quality Awareness Week is a prime occasion to celebrate the pounds of pollution your school has already taken out of the air through No-Idling, Ride the Bus! For Clean Air and Pool to School programs.
Teachers can download the 2012 teacher’s guides for planning tips, air pollution resources and classroom activities at the Clean Air Campaign Website.

4. M&O School Air Quality Index (AQI) Flag Program
Many school nurses, principals and teachers are concerned about high rates of asthma among students and faculty. They welcome the flag program as a way to ensure all staff, as well as parents who see the flag when dropping off their children, are aware when air pollution concentrations are high. Flying a flag that corresponds to the day’s air quality index—green, yellow, orange or red—makes air quality forecasts highly visible to the school community, including parents, faculty, staff and children. In addition, the flags are flown daily, in contrast to the smog alert system that only comes into play if the air is unhealthy. As a result, while taking precautions when the flag is orange or red, teachers and coaches can celebrate green days and use the green flag as a visual cue to get active outdoors when air quality is good.
Mothers & Others for Clean Air is expanding the AQI flag program to other Georgia schools as we head into the 2011 smog season. Contact Mothers & Others if your school is interested in participating.
More information can be found here

5. Mothers & Others for Clean Air Newsletter
This is a comprehensive resource for your need to know information on local clean air initiatives, legislation, updates, health information, resources and events. If you would like to receive the newsletter please contact rebecca@mocleanair.org

6. Check the Air Quality Index
Georgians can check their Air Quality Index here
Additional Resources for National Clean Air Information-
NOAA’s Air Quality Awareness Week Resources
EPA’s Air Quality Awareness Week Resources
AirNow.gov Local Air Quality Conditions and Forecasts
GINA