TAIPEI, Taiwan--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

DTS, Inc. (DTSI - News), a leader in high-definition audio, will participate in the DIGITIMES 2012 Ultra Mobile & Eco-system Forum at the Taipei International Convention Center on April 25. DTS joins mobile industry leaders Intel, Asus, and NXP, among others, to discuss the latest trends and market analysis for the next generation of mobile devices.

Mary Crebassa, vice president of strategic partnerships at DTS, Inc., will discuss the importance of audio on Ultra Mobile devices and ecosystems during her presentation. DTS mobile approach is based on delivering a complete audio technology solution for entertainment playback, which includes codecs, virtualization and audio enhancement; these allow consumers to experience HD music and video on their mobile devices, whether downloaded or streamed, at home or on the move.

DTS is an integral player in enhancing the mobile audio experience, and were looking forward to their presence as a mobile technology leader at our event, Chih-Feng Chen, director of marketing and sales department of DigiTimes Publication, Inc. Audio quality on mobile devices is becoming an increasingly valuable feature to consumers, and were thrilled DTS will share its insights on this growing trend and thoughts on how developers can leverage the companys premium audio technologies as a differentiator in the marketplace.

Recent integrations have showcased DTS strong commitment and holistic approach to deliver superior sound across mobile devices. Partnerships with Nextreaming and NXP provide consumers with applications to enjoy entertainment content in DTS audio on-the-go, while alliances with Huawei, LG, and Pantech incorporate DTS technologies directly into the mobile devices.

Brian Towne, executive vice president and chief operating officer at DTS, Inc., added, At DTS, were dedicated to providing the most realistic and immersive audio entertainment experience to on-the-go consumers. Our collaborations with innovative, like-minded companies ensure delivery of superior entertainment content with high-definition audio quality.

For more information, visit us online at DTS. Media interested in speaking with a DTS spokesperson please contact DTS@formulapr.com. Connect with DTS on Facebook, or on Twitter (@DTS_Inc.).

About DTS, Inc.

DTS, Inc. (DTSI - News) is dedicated to making digital entertainment exciting, engaging and effortless by providing state-of-the-art audio technology to hundreds of millions of DTS-licensed consumer electronics products worldwide. From a renowned legacy as a pioneer in multi-channel audio, DTS became a mandatory audio format in the Blu-ray Disc standard and is now increasingly deployed in enabling digital delivery of movies and other forms of digital entertainment on a growing array of network-connected consumer devices. DTS technology is in home theaters, car audio systems, PCs, game consoles, DVD players, televisions, digital media players, set-top boxes, smart phones, surround music software and every device capable of playing Blu-ray discs. Founded in 1993, DTS' corporate headquarters are located in Calabasas, California with its licensing operations headquartered in Limerick, Ireland. DTS also has offices in Northern California, Washington, China, France, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, and the United Kingdom. For further information, please visit http://www.dts.com. DTS, the Symbol, and DTS and the Symbol together, are registered trademarks of DTS, Inc. All other trademarks are the properties of their respective owners. 2012 DTS, Inc. All rights reserved.

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DTS Showcases Audio Innovations at DIGITIMES 2012 Ultra Mobile & Eco-System Forum

With barely a month left for the global climate change negotiations in Durban, China who has been hosting the ninth BASIC (Brazil, South Africa, India and China) ministerial meet Oct 31-Nov 1. Representatives of the countries of Group 77, island countries and the Arab League also attended the meeting.

A meeting of experts will be held alongside this meeting to carve out a strategy for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Conference of Parties 17 (COP 17) to be held in Durban, South Africa, Nov 28-Dec 9. Politics of Green and climate change issues are been discussing in this Beijing meeting, Forest as major source of climate play important role in climate change and have great significance.

Forests have four major roles in climate change: they currently contribute about one-sixth of global carbon emissions when cleared, overused or degraded; they react sensitively to a changing climate; when managed sustainably, they produce wood fuels as a benign alternative to fossil fuels; and finally, they have the potential to absorb about one-tenth of global carbon emissions projected for the first half of this century into their biomass, soils and products and store them

“Forests and trees on farms are a direct source of food and cash income for more than a billion of the world’s poorest people,” Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Assistant Director-General for Forestry Eduardo Rojas-Brails said.

“They provide both staple foods and supplemental foods. To enhance these benefits, governments and development partners should increase investments in support of sustainable forest management and rehabilitation of degraded forest lands,” he added, noting that in India, more than 50 million people depend directly on forests for subsistence, while in Laos wild foods are consumed by 80 per cent of its 6.4 million people on a daily basis.

Forests can play an even greater role in feeding the world with products ranging from vitamin-rich leaves to fruits and roots. According to the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), there were 4.033 billion hectares of forest or 31% of total land area standing in the world in 2010. That’s down slightly from 2000.

With 1 billion people suffering from chronic hunger, the role of forests for timber must not overshadow their important contribution to feeding many of the world’s poorest communities, and their over-exploitation for wood must be curbed, according to the Collaborative Partnership on Forests (CPF), a 14-member group which includes several UN agencies.

The story of the world’s forests is usually a depressing one. Tropical rain forests are under pressure in South America, Asia and Africa, threatening habitat for countless species and adding billions of tons of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere every year. but the good news is that the rate of overall forest loss has slowed considerably, dropping from 8.3 million hectares lost a year in the 1990s to 5.2 million hectares a year, thanks in part to significant reforestation taking place throughout much of Asia.

Women also play an important part in the processing of tree and forest products, the income from which helps their families achieve food security. For instance, women use shea as a cooking fat and food accompaniment in West Africa. The harvesting and processing of shea, which is an important ingredient in chocolate and other confectionery, provides rural women with nearly 80 percent of their income.

Emmanuel Ze Meka, Executive Director of the International Tropical Timber Organization, noted, “Food products are the fastest growing component of non-timber forest products in many tropical countries. And adding value to the forest makes it more likely to remain forest rather than converted to other uses.”

As a part of the developing world, BASIC countries hope to reach consensus on climate change through candid and deep discussions to lay the groundwork for the upcoming Durban conference, Xie Zhenhua, vice minister of the National Development and Reform Commission, also China’s chief negotiator of climate change also attend the meeting. This was the six meeting of BASIC Countries Hope finally the might agreed on some environmental friendly solutions that must be practicable.

Solar energy is a great, environmentally friendly way to power electrical appliances in the home and to feed electricity back into the national grid. It is generated by solar panel systems that use photovoltaic (PV) cells to convert the sun’s power into energy, whereby this chemical reaction creates a flow of direct current electrons (D/C) that then feed into an inverter, which converts the flow into alternating current (A/C). This current then can be used as electricity to power the home.

Here are a few advantages of this renewable energy source:

1. Environmental Benefits
The argument in favor for more renewable forms of energy gains more momentum each day. Oil and gas prices are continuously increasing and fossil fuel recovery methods, such as tar sands, are damaging the environment. These methods are leaving areas of land highly polluted and it’s possible that they can emit up to 45% more greenhouse gas than traditional oil and gas. Solar energy is becoming increasingly recognized as having a key part to play towards a low-carbon future, especially with peak oil production rapidly approaching.

2. Sunshine Not Required
Solar panels do not need sunshine to work, this is a myth! The photovoltaic cells react to daylight, and they can generate 40% of their potential electricity produce even if the weather is completely overcast. Electricity is still provided to the home outside of daylight hours as the home is still connected to the national grid as before and the homeowner will also be paid for any unused electricity that they feed back to the grid (more on this later).

3. Financial Benefits
Homeowners can benefit from solar energy in terms of cost savings, as the US government has introduced schemes that provide hugely compelling cost incentives for installing domestic solar panels, namely the Feed-in Tariff (FIT). For example, the state of California’s Feed-in Tariff currently pays between $1.10 and $1.90 per A/C watt that a solar panel system produces, despite whether it is has been used in the home. The amount the homeowner receives will also increase with inflation and is guaranteed for at least 25 years.
Altogether, homeowners can make around $19,000 profit during their solar panel system’s lifecycle, as well as saving between $110 and $173 on electricity bills every year.

4. The Incentives Are Better Than Ever
The combination of government schemes such as the Feed-in Tariff, rising electricity bills and dwindling fossil fuel resources makes free solar energy an even more compelling way to reduce both costs to the homeowner and environmental damage.

A Worthwhile Investment

The solar panel provider will handle the installation and the maintenance of the panels and in most cases planning permission will not be required.

Although the initial cost of the panels and their installation is between $12,500 and $22,000, the combined bill savings and money from government cash back schemes allows the homeowner to start earning back straight away. Many providers also offer the system for free in exchange for rights to the Feed-in Tariff until the costs are paid off, therefore, solar energy is more accessible and rewarding than ever.

Forestry and timber investing – the very concept seems either dull or extremely alien to most people. After all, its’ much more satisfying to follow the rest of the herd and chase the latest hot social networking stock. However individual investors – especially those looking for diversification and stable returns – are making a real oversight by ignoring the value timber investments could bring to their overall portfolio.

There are a number of factors that make timber and forestry investments attractive:

• First, as a “hard asset,” timber investments are an excellent hedge against inflation.
• The returns on timber investing have been quite impressive. According to the National Council of Real Estate Fiduciaries in the United States (NCREIF), timber returns since 1987 through 2010 have averaged 15% a year, whilst the main US stock index the S&P 500 has gone up only 9.1% annually. Furthermore, on average the price of harvested timber itself has gone up 5% per year over the last 100 years.
• Timber investments also perform extremely well when stocks are in a Bear Market. For example, in 2008 when stock indexes lost as much as 40 – 50%, the NCREIF’s main timber index actually went up 9.5%. As another example, during the Great Depression when stocks fell anywhere from 70 – 90%, the main US timber index went up 233%. The returns on forestry and timber investments are not correlated to the returns provided by stocks and bonds, which means that they provide true diversification.

The challenge with timber investing, however, is whether it can be done in a truly sustainable fashion or not. Some of the statistics are truly frightening. Clearly, the world’s forests are steadily shrinking. There was an estimated 90,000 sq km per year lost in the 1990s, to the point where half of the world’s forests that originally covered approximately 46% of the planet are now gone.

Tropical deforestation in particular – primarily caused by the attractiveness of tropical hardwood timber – is the highest in the world at approximately 130,00 sq km lost per year. (This data is from the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization/FAO). According to this pie chart based on figures from the FAO, approximately 17% of this tropical deforestation occurs in Asia, 4% in Myanmar, and 31% in other tropical countries, many of which are in SE Asia.

The loss of our tropical forests are a true human tragedy. Scientists believe that as much as half of the species on the planet live in tropical forests, and many of these species may have not even been discovered yet. Tropical forests also store vast amounts of CO2, and when they are cut-down, that CO2 is released into the atmosphere.

On the demand side, global lumber use is expected to double in the next 30 years, and China is on track to replace the US as the biggest consumer of wood in the world. Unfortunately, the demand for tropical forestry timber is causing severe environmental degradation.

The question is, are the attractive returns on order from tropical timber investing in irreparable conflict with concern for our environment? Luckily for investors, the answer is no. Timber investing does not have to mean large-scale destruction of native tropical forests. Managed forestry with tree stocks carefully controlled within specially designed plantations is an extremely sustainable way to benefit from the advantages of timber investing. The plantation owner will tend to growth of trees, and then harvest them in a sustainable fashion, without touching any tropical or other native forests.

There are now an increasing number of tropical forestry investments that are easily accessible by individual investors and are also extremely environmentally friendly. For example, Bamboo Investments produce extraordinary returns with dividends of 8-10% paid in only the second year and then rising from there. From an ethical perspective, bamboo absorbs carbon dioxide at a phenomenal rate – an acre of bamboo will absorb 40 tons of carbon dioxide in a year.

So, if you are looking for an investment that is both ethical and green without sacrificing performance, bamboo is one very good option to consider.

Photo Credit: Some rights reserved by ednl on Flickr

There are many factors that are causing people to look at transportation in a different way. Our knowledge about the world around us and our impact on it, continues to grow by leaps and bounds. Not only are we seeing that we impact the environment with our activities through processes such as climate change, we are also learning that much of what used to be seen as seemingly safe, can actually negatively impact us.

Alternative Transportation Options Please

The more we learn about global climate change, the more the way we get from point A to point B comes into question. Fossil fuels are responsible for pollution and global warming. Another symptom to fossil fuel is our “car-centric” lifestyle which contributes to expanding waistlines in our nation. It signifies that we must choose a more responsible lifestyle. It means that we can’t blindly get into our SUV, close the garage door, and ride off to our commuter job without having to think about it.

Alternative transportation is becoming a more mainstream topic. More people are taking public transportation where they can, and the scooter is seeing a boon in business. Electric scooters are popping up all over the place, allowing those who live in larger cities to get to work by a much more efficient means. Scooters are gaining popularity and can significantly reduce one’s fossil fuel burden on the planet.

Does Sustainable Transportation Lie in the Bamboo Electric Scooter?

For some, just having an electric scooter isn’t enough, what about an electric scooter made from sustainable, renewable materials? Now that would be the ultimate in green technology. That dream, while still in its infancy, is taking physical form. Designed in France, a prototype for a bamboo-framed electric scooter has been unveiled.

Bamboo is an incredibly robust, fast-growing, and sustainable source of wood-like material. It is strong, durable, and it is also flexible, which allows it to be molded into any number of shapes, such as a bike frame. Not only is this prototype bamboo electric scooter the epitome of sustainable personal transportation, it is also pretty classy looking. It goes against logic that a wooden motorized structure could look stylish or classy, but this scooter does.

Thanks to an increase in research and development in green transportation, ideas such as a bamboo electric scooter actually have a chance to make it into the marketplace. The idea is excellent, scooters are a great alternative to driving a car where possible. A scooter made from renewable and sustainable resources only sweetens the deal.

Photo credit: Steven Allen – The Environmental Blog

The Earth’s climate has been evolving continuously over millennia but the last two centuries have witnessed the development of the man-made greenhouse problem, which accelerates change climate vulnerability in an unprecedented manner.

A major new mapping study by, a British firm specializing in risk analysis, the Climate Change Vulnerability Index (CCVI), looks at exposure to extreme weather events such as drought, cyclones, wildfires and storm surges, which translate into water stress, loss of crops and land lost to the sea.

Recent studies, reviewed in a special report by UN‘s intergovernmental panel on Climate Change (IPCC), point to strengthening evidence of a link between global warming and extreme weather events.

The world is growing its population, now surpassing 7 billion people, at a faster rate than ever before. This is increasingly putting mankind at risk from the impacts of climate related natural hazards and sea level rise.

Countries Ranking

The Climate Change Vulnerability Index, analyzed the risks to 193 countries and territories on a national and regional basis. For example, some larger countries like Russia may have an overall low score, but could score a medium or high risk on regions close to the coast.

At a national level, the CCVI rates 30 countries at ‘extreme risk,’ with the top 10 comprising mostly of countries in Africa and in Asia including: Haiti, Bangladesh, Zimbabwe, Sierra Leone, Madagascar, Cambodia, Mozambique, DR Congo, Malawi and the Philippines.

Many of the Asian countries with the fastest population growth are rated as ‘extreme risk’. These include the strategically important emerging economies of Bangladesh (2nd), Philippines (10th), Vietnam (23rd), Indonesia (27th), India (28th) and Thailand (37th).

Haiti is the country most at risk from climate change, while Iceland is the least vulnerable. Africa is especially exposed to drought, severe flooding and wildfires, the report says.

The first 102 nations are all developing ones. Italy is next, at 124, and like Greece ranks relatively highly due to the risk of drought. The UK is at 178 and the country on Earth least vulnerable to climate change, according to Maplecroft, is Iceland. “Large areas of north America and northern Europe are not so exposed to actual climate risk, and are very well placed to deal with it,” explains Charlie Beldon, principal analyst at Maplecroft.

Cities Ranking

The survey looks at the risks facing the 20 fastest growing cities by 2020, many of which are also in countries ranked in the extreme risk category.

“Population growth in these cities combines with poor government effectiveness, corruption, poverty and other socio-economic factors to increase the risks to residents and business,” said Maplecroft.

In a parallel analysis of major cities at risk, Maplecroft pointed to Dhaka, Addis Ababa, Manila, Calcutta and the Bangladesh city of Chittagong as being most exposed. Three other Indian metropolitan areas — Chennai, Mumbai and New Delhi –also not out of danger.

High risk is Chennai, Mumbai, Kinshasa, Karachi, Lagos, Luanda, Kabul, Lahore, Delhi and Guangzhou, while Khartoum, Shanghai, Beijing and Cairo are medium risk.

As many as 150 million people in the world’s big coastal cities are likely to be at risk from flooding by the 2070s, more than three times as many as now. Miami in Florida will remain the city with the highest value of property and infrastructure assets exposed to coastal flooding caused by storm surge and damage from high winds, the report said.

Record Droughts…

Record droughts in Australia and Africa, floods in Pakistan and central America, and fires in Russia and the United States may all be fuelled in part by climate change, some experts say.

China (98) and the United States (160) — the world’s No. 1 and No. 2 carbon emitters — are in the “medium” and “low” risk categories, respectively.

At the other end of the spectrum, Iceland, Finland, Ireland, Sweden and Estonia top the list of nations deemed to be least at risk.
With the exception of Israel and oil-rich Qatar and Bahrain, the 20 least vulnerable countries are in northern and central Europe.
Current warming trends are on track to boost average global temperatures by 3.0 degrees Celsius (5.4 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels, according to some predictions.

Photo Credit: Consortium of Universities For Global Health
Source info: Maplecroft

Written by: Naseem Sheikh@yahoo.com

Earth is considered to be millions of years old. Humans, as major living creatures are harming Earth with different types of pollution and industrial production. The Earth’s temperature is rising from climate change. We could argue about whether it is a short term or long term trend, or whether it’s natural variation or anthropogenic, but nothing changes the fact that the Earth is warming. It is the greatness of nature for Earth to correct itself to maintain a balance. Human beings haven’t given much in return in terms of Earth’s resources, rather we face extreme weather events with an increasingly changing climate. We are facing the wrath of mother nature in the form of floods, lava eruption, drought and famines. It’s our responsibility to pay something in return to alleviate the harsh effects we’ve put the Earth through. An everyday person can help simply by planting a tree because trees absorb carbon dioxide, a known greenhouse gas. Scientists are working to form an artificial substitute for trees that can capture C02 to decrease the drastic effects of global warming.

The idea of a synthetic tree was given by geoscientists and environmental experts but mainly finalized by Dr Klaus Lackner, of Columbia University. According to him; “although they do not look like real trees, they could performed like them very efficiently except for storing biomass as a tree normally would and we could use that in the form of food and other purposes.“

Synthetic Trees Like HEPA Filters?

These synthetic trees were designed looking like a large box with filters fibers through which the air travels…kind of like a HEPA filter. If air going into the box has 400 parts per million (ppm) of CO2, the air coming out will have about 300ppm or even 200ppm. We wouldn’t want to remove all the CO2 because our goal is to reduce CO2 levels, not to make CO2-free air (we still need some in our atmosphere).

These “synthetic trees” were being experimentally planted at the start of 2010 in the prototype stage by professor and inventor Klaus Lackner, in the United Kingdom.

One of these “trees” can absorb up to ten tons of carbon dioxide a day, a thousand times more than a single live tree. Each tree would cost approximately 24,000 dollars and forests of hundreds of them are being planned, estimated to reduce the United Kingdom’s carbon dioxide emissions by 60%. Sodium hydroxide is used in this process to convert carbon dioxide to sodium carbonate.

In the effort of re-using and recycling, the captured carbon dioxide could be used in small markets which need CO2 to run businesses, for example dry ice producers, greenhouses, algae ponds and enhanced oil recovery.

Synthetic Trees to Absorb Tons of Carbon Dioxide a Day

The study also calls for pots of algae that absorb CO2 from the atmosphere to be used to line buildings. Algae could then be used as green bio fuels for cars. Some scientists say that just one synthetic tree, which could be about one third shorter than the average wind turbine, could capture and store up to ten tons of carbon dioxide from the air every day, which would make it thousands of times more efficient at absorbing CO2 than a real tree.

The trees, which could cost around £15,000, would be coated with special synthetic materials that absorb CO2, which would then be stored underground in old used up oil fields and old used natural gas reservoirs. As mentioned before, they could also be sold to businesses that could use the material.

As work continues in this field of study, scientists are quite satisfied from their experiments. In other countries this is also suppose to be a workable solution as well. Geophysicist Klaus Lackner from Columbia University wants artificial trees to restore the balance. If the synthetic trees are seen as a problem solver for climate change, bigger countries like the United States or Australia might adopt the use of them.

Documentary Discussing Carbon Synthetic Trees

Global Warming: The Signs and the Science on sale at Amazon.com. It was one of the first films I watched when I was learning about the effects of global warming five years ago. I highly recommend watching the film, as it’s educational, and it sort of inspires hope that mankind will solve the pressing issues to live more sustainable lives.

Written by Naseem Sheikh

If you are new to “greening” your lifestyle you may have found yourself recently in a situation where you were standing in line at Trader Joe’s or your local Wholefoods market, shopping cart full of health conscious grub. You’re looking over your list to double check you have all the ingredients to try to recreate that fabulous vegan dish you had at the restaurant the other night. As you are patiently waiting your eyes have wondered over to the attractive blonde in front of you. You don’t want to stare so in your peripheral vison you notice what he is having for breakfast (crunchy granola cluster, rice milk, etc) as he one by one adds each item to the conveyer belt. Then he pulls out his neatly folded canvas shopping bag. Darn! I knew I forgot something! Don’t worry even the most experienced eco-veteran makes this mistake. As people anxiously wait in grocery lines you will notice its a great time to people watch (after you go over your grocery check list of course.) What a more perfect time to promote awareness of a waste free environment. Plastic bags take a whopping 80 percent of the grocery and convenience store market since they were introduced over a quarter century ago.

Plastic Bag Pollution Everywhere

According to a data released by the United States Environmental Protection Agency in 2001 on U.S. plastic bag, sack, and wrap consumption, somewhere between 500 billion and a trillion plastic bags are consumed worldwide each year. Of those, millions end up in the litter stream outside of landfills—estimates range from less than one to three percent of the bags. Plastic bag pollution has been attributed to the Plastic Vortex in the Pacific Ocean.

If you think about in how many instances the average person uses plastic bags and understandably so, they are convenient, almost always handy, and available in abundance. So what is a good alternative to those oh so convenient plastic bags? Well one of the morst popular ways today is the reusable canvas bag. It has become somewhat of a movement. It’s such a fun, smart, and cost effective approach to helping our beloved marine life and environment.

Plastic Bag Ban

I think we need to fight back against the plastic bag industry just as countries like Ireland, Bangladesh, South Africa, Thailand and Taiwan have done. Some U.S. cities are trying to follow in their footsteps as well by taking a stand such as San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Portland.

Tony Lowes, director of Friends of the Irish Environment in County Cork, said the 15 cent (about 20 cents U.S.) tax on plastic bags introduced there in March 2002 has resulted in a 95 percent reduction in their use. “It’s been an extraordinary success,” he said.

Although such a high increase in the US would cost thousands of job losses and an increase in energy consumption, maybe a much lower tax would do the trick?

Reusable shopper bags can be the practical, cool, and smart way of taking this matter in your hands. Believe it not, some people that may not even think twice about using a canvas tote may reconsider just by seeing an eye catching design or noticing an increase of people carrying them at the store. They may not want to feel embarrassed for being a green offender. Or they simply may want to just become part of the movement!

Whether you’re toting around your eco shopper tote to work, the pool, your kids soccer games etc, they can be very handy and fashionable too. You will know deep down that it’s the right thing to do all the while consciously or subconsciously effecting the decisions of others around you. Some cities already banned the plastic bag, if you live in one of those cities, you already have to use reusable bags. Amazon sells a pack of six for a good price.

Make your tote shopper bag an eco accessory like I have. These days you can get them personalized and with thousands of designs on the market today it’s easy to showcase a specific cause you care about.

I urge you to pick up a couple of eco friendly shopper bags as they remind us of our responsibility to the environment while preserving its beauty for all inhabitants.

Thanksgiving day is coming up before you know it and with it comes friends, family, and food. It’s one of the holidays that Americans loosen up the belt to cram a piece of every last dish on the dinner table. Even after shoving all that food in your face, the sad fact is that Americans waste about 25 percent of all Thanksgiving food prepared. It really is a tragedy to waste food when it could go to those who are more needy. Here are my top ten tips for a green Thanksgiving:

Buy Local and Seasonal

Farmers Markets have exploded to nearly every part of the country in the past ten years. That means you have no excuse, support your local farmers and keep your money in the local economy. Since organic produce often costs more, buy organic for produce that is known to have more pesticide residue. According to the Environmental Working Group list of dirty dozen for 2011, apples have the most pesticide residue followed by celery, strawberries, peaches, spinach, nectarines, grapes, sweet bell peppers, potatoes, blueberries, lettuce, and kale. Make sure you get those items in organic and check out their list for other produce items that have very low pesticide residue and should be okay to buy conventional. Generally, onions, corn, asparagus, sweet peas, eggplant, and sweet potato are okay to eat according to the EWG list.

Have A Potluck Thanksgiving

Having a potluck for Thanksgiving saves the host from bearing the full financial cost of dinner without compromising the amount of food to share with everyone. Pulling resources together is great way to involve everyone attending Thanksgiving dinner and also makes for great conversation topics with the whole group.

Plan For Leftovers

After a large family gathering for your fancy green Thanksgiving dinner you’ll probably end taking home a ton of leftovers. But chances are you are going to get sick of eating turkey sandwiches, and before you know it you’ll have wasted food that needs to be thrown away. Plan ahead for unique and different recipes that you can use that leftover turkey for, an example would be turkey soup. Letting food go to waste is crying shame, so be sure to plan ahead.

Maintain Your Green Cleaning Practices

Make sure that you stay true to your green Thanksgiving even after everyone has long gone from your home and you are stuck with cleaning up all the mess. Be sure to fill that dish washer to the rim before starting it. Dish washers are very efficient at cleaning a full load of dishes when compared to washing by hand. Before tossing dishes into the dish washer, grab a fork and scrape excess food off those plates rather than running water to pre-rinse. Also, avoid using odd cycles on your dish washer like heavy rinse or pre-rinse. You should also avoid using the drying function on the dish washer, instead let them air dry for maximum energy efficiency.

Speaking of Energy Efficiency…

With all the hustle and bustle going on in the kitchen with cooking a turkey or two in the oven, and all the baking, and prepping, it’s going to get warm…especially if you have a lot of guests over already. Be sure to turn the temperature down on the thermostat. Don’t worry your guests won’t even notice and you’ll save yourself some money on that utility bill too. If you want to take it a step further, you could buy some soy or natural wax candles to light your home and create a peaceful ambience.

Avoid Disposables

Even though using disposable dishes and utensils makes life easier for cleaning after a huge green Thanksgiving, try to avoid them. Disposables cost extra money, and are really just plain wasteful when you consider you probably have the means to get by without them. If you need extra dishes or utensils you don’t already have, just ask one of your guests or neighbors to borrow what you think you might need. They’d be more than likely to oblige, especially if you are planning to provide them a grand Thanksgiving dinner.

DIY for Decorations

Let your creative imagination run wild here. The easiest thing to do for centerpieces at your green Thanksgiving are pine cones, branches, red, orange, and yellow fallen leaves, etc. Not only will you save yourself money from buying decorations that you can only use once a year, but you can easily throw away your decorative pieces because they are biodegradable. You’ll save yourself storage space and spare the environment precious resources.

Green Turkey

If you happen to be vegan or vegetarian, this tip isn’t for you. In the spirit and tradition of Thanksgiving, a turkey must sacrifice its life for the dinner table of millions of Americans. Make sure that it is organic, and preferably from a local source. If you happen to live in rural country like my parents do, you could even raise your own turkey and call him Thanksgiving, and when the time comes, he ends up on the Thanksgiving dinner table. For most people, raising your own turkey isn’t really an option. If you must buy it from the grocery store, don’t be fooled by labels like ‘natural’ or ‘free range’, ‘organic’ is the greenest turkey option from the store.

Larger Isn’t Always Better

Sometimes people don’t realize that their plates are bigger than normal and attempt to fill their entire large plate with food and then attempt to eat it all. This is problematic because it can lead to over-eating, which is actually expected for Thanksgiving, but it can also lead to wasted food that gets tossed in the garbage. Using smaller plates allows for guests to fill smaller portions of food, and then get up for seconds if need be. It’s also a great idea for small children who tend to take one or two bites out of something and then run off to play with their brother, sisters, or cousins. This really cuts down on wasted food while also helping people watch their weight.

Cook or Prepare Less Food

Most people cook or bake up a storm in the kitchen and way over-do the Thanksgiving thing. In the spirit of attempting your first official green Thanksgiving this year, try to tamper it down a litte with the old adage ‘less is more’. As mentioned before, Americans waste about 25 percent of prepared food on Thanksgiving every year. Think about how much money that could be in savings when you consider the total cost of providing a large gathering a giant feast.

Can you think of any more tips? Let us know in the comments.

Photo Credit: Some rights reserved by cnewtoncom

What are Dryer Balls and How do They Work?

Dryer balls are quite literally balls that you toss in your dryer (hopefully your energy efficient one) that replaces the need for chemical dryer sheets as fabric softeners. Dryer balls work in two different ways that benefit you the most. They work to soften fabric by bouncing around the dryer and preventing clothes from clumping which should shorten your drying time and therefore save you on electricity.

People seem to be on both sides of the fence as far as efficacy goes. Makers of the “As Seen on TV” dryer ball product claim that results may depend more on what is in the dryer load. They also say in the product instructions that results will vary based on the dryer type, fabric type (cotton, nylon, polyester), load size, heat level setting, etc.

People on forums that claim to use them do say that they notice a shorter drying time with certain types of loads. Anything that cuts down on drying time, saves you electricity costs and saves unnecessary carbon emissions.

Benefits that random people on forums claim:

• Reduce static created by ironing
• Reduce total drying time
• Soften fabric the natural way
• Anti static and crease
• Keep fabrics fluffy and soft for longer periods of time
• For PVC free only: No toxins or chemicals

If you’re into cutting your energy consumption wherever you can, like I am, you will use a pair of dryer balls whenever you toss your laundry into the dryer. There are a couple different product choices to choose from.

PVC Free Dryer Balls

The blue plastic rubbery looking dryer balls associated with the ‘As Seen on TV’ product that resembles the end of a ball and chain are probably what brought the dryer ball market into the lime light. As an environmental advocate, I don’t endorse these balls because they are made from PVC or polyvinyl chloride. PVC is a controversial material, in part because of the chemicals used during its production, but additionally due to chemical additives that can leach out of certain vinyl products.

For this reason I would recommend purchasing PVC free dryer balls. If you are concerned about leaching chemicals in hot temperatures all over your clothes in the dryer, choosing PVC free is the way to go. You can purchase PVC free dryer balls on Amazon for about $15 for a pair.

Make Dryer Balls

Making your own dryer balls can be fun and rewarding at the same time. It’s really easy to do, and I will outline all the materials and instructions you need to make your own. The following instructions are on how to make wool dryer balls:

First you’ll need:

• 100% Wool Yarn
• Scissors
• Sock
• Piece of string
• Small crochet hook
• Measuring tape

Instructions:

1. Winding the core. Start by wrapping the wool yarn a few times around a couple of fingers. Then, take those fingers out and wrap more yarn around the piece of yarn. Continue to wrap until you have a decent sized ball. Then, cut the yarn and tuck it under itself using the crochet hook, so that it does not come loose.
2. Felting the core. Place the ball inside of your lucky sock, and seal it off with a piece of string. Throw the sealed off sock into the washer and then dry on high heat after that. Once it’s done drying, take the core ball out of the sock. It should be slightly disheveled.
3. Winding the dryer ball. Wind the ball with more wool yarn until it’s about the size you want. 9 to 11 inches as measured around the ball is good. Then, tuck the end into itself using the crochet hook.
4. Felting the dryer ball. Again, put the ball in your handy sock, and close it off with some string. Toss it in the washer and then dryer on high heat again. Once it’s complete, cut the string and take out your dryer ball. They should be almost completely felted.
5. Use it! The dryer ball will felt the more you use it. Toss it in the dryer with your laundry to eliminate static cling without the use of chemicals and to reduce drying time.

Now that you know how to make your very own dryer balls, let us know if you’ve made any and how they tured out for you.

Photo Credit: Some rights reserved by The Itsy Bitsy Spider

If you’re interested in promoting environmentalism and simultaneously putting your money where your mouth is to back your favorite green technology, then there are plenty opportunities around to do just that.

From wind farms, to alternative fuel sources, solar energy companies and various renewable energy technologies, green investing has become huge over the past decade or so.

There are far too many to look at individually. But the beauty of this form of investing for environmentalists is the ability to direct capital in the direction you truly believe in.

Let’s consider a couple of interesting environmental investment ideas…

First off, how about trying to make a little money by aligning your interests with the greatest investor of all time, Warren Buffett, whilst trying to encourage the world to buy low emission cars?

In 2008, Buffet’s Berkshire Hathaway investment group took a major stake in the Chinese company BYD listed on the Hong Kong stock exchange.

Mr. Buffett is a little up on his investment so far as the company struggles to introduce an all-electric car by the year 2010, the E6, in the USA.

BYD has suffered various delays and setbacks in trying to achieve its goal. Buffett paid around HK$8 a share for his investment, but you can still join him at around HK$15 a share to support the company as it struggles to make sure that its new car offers a viable green alternative for the biggest gas-guzzlers on the planet. Or maybe you’d rather a green energy investing strategy…

More Green Investing Ideas

Alternatively, how about an intriguing green investment in wave technology? Listed on the Australian stock exchange, Carnegie Wave Energy Limited could be on the crest of a big future. The company is fully focused on developing and commercializing its patented wave energy technology, which is capable of producing sufficient zero-emission power and direct desalinated water, from one operation.

The company reckons that wave energy globally is capable of supplying between 50% and 200% of the world’s current power consumption – and points out that approximately 60% of the world’s population lives within 60 kilometers of a coast.

Also, a few companies specializing in developing carbon credits are also going cheap after the summer sell-off. UK-listed Camco has two decades’ worth of experience in working with companies and governments in China, the US, Africa, Russia and South-east Asia in developing emission reduction and clean energy projects. The company has recently made a move into converting cow manure from a dairy farm in Idaho into clean electricity.

Alternatively, there are quite a few investment trusts around that offer lower risk, pooled investments in green technologies. The disadvantage of this form of investment is the lack of ability to direct your money in the way you want it to go, but then they’re a lot safer.

Photo Credit: Opportunist Magazine

If you have a family there is a danger for the car to become yet another dumping ground for everyone’s stuff. It’s not just the discarded snacks, empty bottles and cans on the back seat. Kids’ sport bags and football boots get left in the boot, along with re-useable shopping bags, umbrellas and extra coats.

Although it may be hard to make sure all the family does its part, it’s best to take all unnecessary items out each time you leave the car. Not only will it make a nicer place to be, but it’ll save you money too. Every extra item you carry adds to your fuel consumption, and that includes not only all the obvious stuff inside the car, but things like roof racks and bicycle carriers. It may seem like an effort to remove the roof rack and put it back on each time you need it, but with petrol prices steadily rising you’ll be better off storing it in the garage.

By travelling light, you’ll also be helping protect the environment, as the less fuel you burn, the fewer emissions your car will produce. Most modern cars have much lower emissions than their equivalent model did a few years ago, as they have to conform to tighter air quality standards. With many brands offering low emission cars, like Honda UK, buyers even have the advantage of currently being exempt from UK road tax and London’s congestion charge zone if their cars produce carbon dioxide emissions of less than 100g/km.

Another way to make sure you don’t use more fuel than you need to is to make sure your tyres are properly inflated. Check them on a monthly basis to ensure that they’re at the correct level – you can usually do this when you’re getting petrol as most petrol stations have air pressure pumps available for use. Properly inflated tyres offer less rolling resistance – or weight for the car to move against.

These simple actions can save you money on your fuel bills, and in the case of the tyres, can also help keep you safe on the road. If you want to reduce your fuel costs even further, consider switching to one of the many hybrid cars now available next time you’re ready to change your car. Hybrid pioneers Honda and Toyota now offer hybrid versions of a range of their classic models, and make it easy to find the right size for your family.

Burma, officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, is the 40th largest country in the world and the second largest country in Southeast Asia. Unfortunately, it is suffering the negative impacts of climate change along with Pakistan and Thailand.

Myanmar Flash Floods

Flash floods about 500 kilometers north of Yangon have killed hundreds of people and left many more people missing, according to officials interviewed by the Myanmar Times.

The official put the estimated damage from the disaster at around $1.64 million. More than 1,500 people have sought refuge in two shelters in the flood-hit town of Pakokku and were visited by the military-dominated country’s second vice-president Sai Mauk Kham on Sunday morning.

Besides, 403 other houses including one clinic, one monastery and one primary school from 22 villages in Pauk Township were ravaged and 19 other people including 10 women were missing or killed in flood of Yaw creek and Kyaw creek.

Local media said six relief camps have been set up to accommodate 1,500 flood victims. More than 2,000 houses were swept away by the mass of water that hit four towns in the Magway region on Thursday and Friday.

“The water level is back to normal now,” by a local man “Transportation is still difficult as the bridge was destroyed and most telephone lines are still down,” the man added.

South-East Asia has been battered by particularly severe monsoon rains this year. The flooding is the worst to hit Thailand in decades, killing at least 356 people, displacing more than 110,000 and doing huge damage to the economy, tens of thousands of families sheltering in evacuation centres.

Heavy rains since July have inundated large parts of Southeast Asia, forcing millions from their homes. Another 336 people have died in Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam, an official said

Warning For Bangkok, Thailand

A huge amount of water is making its way towards Bangkok and is expected to reach inner Bangkok in 3 to 7 days. Northern Bangkok is already beginning to flood and areas around the old airport are seeing rising flood water. The province immediately to the North of Bangkok is under water and for anyone in Bangkok at the moment all you have to do is drive north of Don Mueang airport and see for yourselves. Google GISTDA and look at the daily satellite photo to see the progression of the huge mass of water.

The flooding will not be like a flood after a heavy rainfall but it will be like rapid water rising and could be severe like a fresh water tsunami. After one or two days the water will start to pollute and a few days after that it will be full of garbage. Once flooded expect the flood water to remain for weeks, told by a local there.

Central, and Southern Bangkok are both still safe but other areas are suffering badly. No electricity, fresh water or food. All the markets in Bangkok don’t have bottle water anymore and stuff like flash lights, dry food, instant noodles are in high demand.

A growing number of countries are pledging aid to the flood-ravaged region. Please help donate to any flood funds for Burma, Thailand, and the other countries in the area. People are suffering badly.

Search and rescue work are underway, the report added.

Photo Credit: Broken Power Lines

Written by Naseem Sheikh

Workplace Mold Harms Employee Health and Employer Finances

Exposure to elevated levels of indoor mold in the workplace building and air conditioning system can cause serious health damage to workers, visitors, and customers, plus be costly to the employer because of increased worker sick days, health insurance claims, poor morale, worker’s compensation claims, and employee mold lawsuits. The hazards of workplace mold and indoor mold in general can be devastating. Potential health effects and symptoms associated with mold exposures include allergic reactions, asthma, and other respiratory complaints.

The employer has a legal duty and obligation to employees, guests, visitors, and customers to provide an environmentally safe work environment, and that includes no significant mold dangers.

Knowingly tolerating and not correctly quickly and effectively elevated levels of indoor in the workplace and its heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment and ducts is a clear violation of both the employer’s legal duty to provide a safe workplace and of state and federal Occupational Health & Safety Administration (OHSA) laws and regulations.

Mold is Often Hidden

Workplace mold is often hidden inside the employer’s furniture, fixtures, and equipment, plus on and inside the employer’s building walls, floor (especially carpeting and padding), ceiling (especially drywall and ceiling tiles), attic, basement, crawl space, and frequently inside the HVAC system, as well as inside window or wall air conditioners.

Employers, managers, and employees can learn how to find, remove, and prevent workplace mold by reading the in depth information and advice provided on these three educational websites: http://www.workplacemold.com, http://www.airconditionermold.com, and http://www.moldinspector.com.

In addition, there are a number of useful tips to handle and prevent mold in the home and to prevent mold in buildings in general on the Environmental Protection Agencies Mold website epa.gov/mold.

Companies and workers can get free email mold advice by writing mold expert Phillip Fry at moldconsultant@yahoo.com. Mr. Fry is a Certified Environmental Hygienist, Certified Mold Inspector, and Certified Mold Remediator.

Fry is also the author of five mold advice ebooks, and he has extensive mold inspection, testing, and remediation experience since 1999 throughout the USA, Canada, mainland China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, and the Philippines.

How many people do you know reference the yellow phone book when they are trying to look up a business they might need to go to? The answer is probably ZERO. In our day in age, the famous yellow pages phone book is outdated and obsolete. This is the 21st century after all, not the 50′s or 60′s, or 70′s, or 80′s, or even the 90′s. The invention of the internet and major adoption of it in the 2000′s has basically reduced the yellow pages phone book to a really good door stop, or worse, a source of paper for the fire place.

Stop receiving that darn Yellow Pages phone book every year by going to Phone Book Opt Out today. Once you visit the website, you’ll enter in your zip code to find out what types of phone books could be sent to your home. It gives you a list of the which phone books you are elegible to receive. You then select all of the options, for me there were seven different phone books, then you register your name and address with the website. They will then contact those companies and attempt to remove your name from their lists.

Enlisting Yellow Pages Opt Out services might not stop every phone book from appearing at your door. If you still receive them, place a call to the contact numbers on the actual phone book and talk to someone in person for removal. Want to stop more than just unwanted phone books from coming to your home, visit our post on how to reduce junk mail by up to 90%.

Online Business Directories

yellowpages.com – this one is probably the most well known online business listing due to its brand name, they also have an mobile App for smartphone users including iPhone, Android, Blackberry, and PALM users.
yellowbook.com – this alternative has local coupon deals, in my opinion, has a better website interface, and also has mobile apps for smartphone users.
superpages.com – this other alternative also has local coupon deals, mobile apps galore, and a very friendly user interface.

There are also services such as texting to 46645 (GOOGL) “Mellow Mushroom Pizza Portland, OR” and you will get a text message back with listings. GOOG-411 was a free voice activated directory service offered by Google but was cancelled in November 2010. An alternative is 800-BING-411 and it works very similarly to GOOG-411, except it offers turn-by-turn driving directions, news headlines, travel info, cheap gas, horoscopes, weather for any city, traffic, sports scores, and movie information.

Recycle Your Old Phone Book

If you’re currently receiving curbside recycling, chances are, you can toss your yellow pages phone book right into the paper recycling. Check with your local recycling company to be that you are allowed to recycle your phone book.

1-800-RECYCLING.COM is a free, comprehensive recycling database that lists local information about how to recycle plastics, electronics, paper, glass, metal, automotive, and household hazardous materials. It also lists state recycling guidelines throughout the US.

Download the Yellow Pages Sustainability Report 2011.

Photo Credit: ianbell.com

Presentation on the Table for Coastal Resiliency: Introduction to the CommunityViz^® CHARM Model for the Houston/Galveston Region by Amy Anderson of Placeways and Steve Mikulencak of Texas AgriLife Extension (March 14, 2 pm EDT/11 am PDT/6 pm GMT). The Houston-Galveston region of Texas is growing rapidly, and much of that growth will be along the coast and its bayous. As these communities plan for their future, they must consider coastal hazards and climate change impacts such as hurricanes, sea level rise, water pollution, flooding, water demand, wetlands and habitat. This project applied a highly interactive, low-cost public outreach and education workshop format that engaged local stakeholders (municipal planners, resource managers, community leaders) more deeply in the regional planning process. The workshop used an innovative hands-on tabletop sketching exercise. In this exercise, participants sketched alternative growth scenarios using infrared pens and a light table and used CommunityViz software to track the likely implications of their plans for a range of issues such as housing, economics, environment, hurricane risk, and water quality. Learn more about the workshop at http://placeways.com/communityviz/gallery/casestudies/pdf/CHARM.pdf. Register for this webinar at https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/864958049.

Demonstration of the EcoSpatial Information Database by Keld Madsen and Daniel Hearn of AMEC (November 17, 1 pm EST/10 am PST/6 pm GMT). The EcoSpatial Information Database (ESID) is a database of ecological information for the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management’s (BOEM) Atlantic Planning areas on the Outer Continental Shelf of the East Coast of the United States. The database supports ecosystem-based management of activities that BOEM permits by compiling ecological information resources and associated data into a searchable database with a mapping interface. Ecological data is referenced to spatial layers, source documents, and metadata. ESID data emphasizes pelagic ecology (plankton, nekton, sargassum), infauna, meiofauna, demersal fishes, coral and hardbottom, seagrass, water quality and geology. The database is being designed using the ESRI ArcMarine data model. Access through a cloud hosted web GIS application provides broad access to the data. Learn more about the EcoSpatial Information Database at http://www.gomr.boemre.gov/homepg/regulate/environ/ongoing_studies/gm/GM-08-13.html. Register for this webinar at https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/801262272.

Demonstration of the Climate Change Vulnerability Index by Bruce Young of NatureServe (January 19, 1 pm EST/10 am PST/6 pm GMT). The Climate Change Vulnerability Index assesses the relative vulnerability of plant and animal species to the effects of climate change (e.g. range contractions, population reductions) using readily available information about climate predictions and species’ natural history, distributions and landscape circumstances. This webinar will describe the concepts used to develop the Index, and the climate data sources it draws upon, and the specific assessment factors. It will also demonstrate the use of the assessment and highlight a variety of ways in which it has been applied. Learn more at http://www.natureserve.org/prodServices/climatechange/ccvi.jsp. Register for this webinar at https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/242109593.

Photo Credit: Local Government Federal Credit Union

The official title of the position was Environmental Advocate for Clean Water Action. It was an environmental policy and advocacy job and I worked there for a little over a year. Previously, I worked in outdoor retail stores and have a degree in Outdoor Education, so at that point I had approximately five years of experience in the field. To describe myself, I would be passionate, dedicated and reliable.

I am a white male and in this position, this would sometimes help or hinder me depending on the area I was working. I do not believe that I have ever had a specific incident where there was outright discrimination towards me.

As an Environmental Advocate, I was responsible for going door to door and talk with people about a particular environmental issue. The goal was to get support for the cause through signatures and also get donations for Clean Water Action. It involved a lot of walking and required you to have a thick skin when talking with some people. A common misunderstanding people had was that they often did not believe they could make a difference simply by signing a petition or donating a small amount of money.

The job satisfaction for this position was usually a 6. It was rewarding when you got to speak with a person who was behind the environmental movement or when you were able to open someone’s eyes to the issues. Since it was essentially a sales job, it was quite demanding and stressful at times. Complete confidence is needed to succeed in this.

The environment has always been important to me, so this was more than a job. It was a chance to change the way people think and make a difference. If I had more of a knack for sales at that point in my career, I may have stayed longer in this position.

There is nothing particularly unique about my situation.

I first fell in love with the outdoors at summer camp as a child. I worked at camps for many years, and then went to college for Outdoor Education. Once I got out of college, I thought I was going to find the perfect job where I would be a Naturalist and then settle down from there. Reality snuck in and I was searching for something in the environmental field. This position was open in the city I was looking to live in, so it was the perfect fit. A career path is usually winding and interesting, so I would honestly not change anything with my particular path.
Rejection was a difficult lesson in this particular position. Learning to accept this and simply move on to the next person is all that you can do. After getting a less than great reception from some people on the first day of work, I realized that it is a part of the job.

The most important thing that I have learned is that no matter what position or job is held, it is always best to do the job to the best or your ability.

Since this position involved going door to door, you would encounter a lot of interesting people every day. The strangest thing to happen would have been when I was invited in a person’s house and he proceeded to tell me about his preparations in the event there was some sort of environmental disaster. He was a bit of an extremist, but did support the cause I was working with.

The reason for going to this job each day was simply because it was making a difference in the environment. On those days where I was able to convince a person to care more about the environment, I felt proud and successful.

With this position, the challenge was always to make the daily and weekly quotas. It was basically a sales job and this was often quite difficult.
When sales are difficult, this job could be quite stressful. I always wanted to perform to the best of my ability and some days were harder than others. It was a day shift job with decent hours, so I was able to maintain a decent work-life balance. Once I was home for the day, I was done working and focused on my home life.

The salary range varies quite a bit. It was an hourly position that started at $12 an hour, but there were bonuses on top of that based on the performance each week. The salary was fine for a single person, but could not support more than that.

There was ample vacation time. I was usually able to take at least five days off for a small vacation each year.

The main skills that are needed would have to be an ability to sell to people and be comfortable with speaking in potentially difficult situations. The only other requirement would be a love for the environment and the ability to get behind a cause. In this position, a particular educational background was not necessarily more beneficial than another.

For a person considering this line of work, I would say that it takes determination to succeed to do this as a long term position. It can be stressful and it takes the right person to do well at it.

Since working in this position, I have moved up in the ranks and have been working in management positions. In five years, I would like to see myself as a high level manager.

This is a true career story as told to AllEnvironmentalalJobs.com and is one of many interviews with environmental professionals, which among others include an environmental scientist and an environmental operations manager.

October Marks Non-GMO Month

American’s are no longer comfortable just trusting a company about what they put in their mouths. We are becoming more informed consumers. No longer do we get in our cars, close our garage doors, and drive to the store to blindly buy whatever they are selling. As we learn more about preservatives, agricultural practices, and how those things negatively impact both our bodies and our planet, many are being more conscious of what they put in their mouths. October marks Non-GMO Month, bringing the subject of genetically modified foods back into the foray.

Potential Dangers of Genetically Modified Food

Non-GMO Month is a month during which those who are against genetically modified put on a number of different talks, conventions, and other activities that aim to inform people about the potential dangers of genetically modified food. There are many questions as to what consuming genetically modified foods may do to those who consume them, but this is just a part of the problem. Genetically modified organisms, once released into nature, cannot be reeled back in. This leads to problems with potential cross-contamination between regular and genetically modified crops. There are already instances where this has happened.

Those who have been following the progress of genetically modified food have a number of good causes for concern. There is concern about the negative impact that genetically modified foods might have in terms of environmental biodiversity. A really worth while documentary that really explains this issue in detail is called The Future of Food. The documentary includes information about the Genetically Modified food industry, and farmers who try to resist GMO and get sued by corporations. While the long-term health effects of consuming genetically modified foods is not well known, there are real health issues, such as allergies, that must be considered. Long story short, there are many unknowns with regard to GMO’s and the more we learn, the more people seem to be getting uncomfortable with them.

Polls Show Public Opinion is Changing on GMO’s

Polls have shown a sway in public opinion about genetically modified foods. When they first hit the marketplace, there was enough corporate literature in place, and not enough research, that many didn’t think anything of GMO’s. However, the more we have learned, the more an increasing number of people are becoming uncomfortable with the idea of GMO’s. At the very least, American’s are starting to feel that we have a right to make a choice in the matter. A poll conducted by CBS News found that 87% of American’s polled want GMO’s to be labeled. Another question in this poll was whether or not consumers would purchase labeled GMO foods, 53% said they would not.

As the CBS News poll shows us, as American’s have learned more about GMO’s, they have made the decision that not only do they want to know whether what they are buying is GMO or not, a slim majority would refuse to buy foods known to be GMO. It is easy to see why agribusiness companies are fighting labeling laws. As more people make their opinions known, however, these businesses might have a choice, in turn giving us a choice, allowing us to follow the Non-GMO movement year round.

Chris Keenan is a green and general blog writer. He writes for many sites including Precision Garage Door. Chris also maintains a personal house and garden blog.