Host an eco-friendly Super Bowl Party
Posted on 24. Jan, 2010 by admin.
Downplay the décor. All eyes will be on the game, so cut back on decorations. “Stay away from the ‘Super Bowl XLIV’ stuff,” says Fineliving.com’s Alexis Mersel. Use centerpieces of fresh fruit or flowers. Or hang strings of miniature LED lights in your team’s colors, says Jeffrey Davis, senior editor of the blog “Fun Times Guide to Living Green.”
Go organic and local. Serve beer from your local microbrewery. It’s a great conversation piece, Mersel says. Help guests make healthier choices by serving some vegetarian “junk food,” such as meat-free chili or vegan cookies.
Avoid paper products. Use real dishes, glassware and utensils. Put recycling bins in obvious places. “Do a little homework to find out what you can and cannot recycle,” Davis says. Try Earth911.com for tips. Ask guests to bring containers from home for leftovers, or find a homeless shelter or soup kitchen that accepts food donations.
Continue Reading
Sustainable Forestry Initiative Releases New Standard
Posted on 19. Jan, 2010 by admin.
Washington, DC — The Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI), which has certified more than 180 million of acres in North America, has released an updated version of its certification standard.
The new SFI 2010-2014 Standard came about after an 18-month public review process and includes updated and expanded principles, objectives and performance indicators.
Changes to the standard address conservation of biodiversity in North America and offshore forests, climate change, bioenergy, fiber sourcing, illegal logging, controversial and illegal offshore fiber sources, logging training and more.
The updated standard explicitly requires SFI program participants to reach out to and support non-certified family forest owners that supply wood fiber to SFI participants. The support is aimed at protecting threatened and endangered species, promoting reforestation and protecting water quality.
Participants must also now perform risk assessments on offshore fiber suppliers in order to avoid illegal harvesting operations, areas involved in civil unrest and other controversial sources.
The previous standard, the SFI 2005-2009 Standard, included nine core principals, 13 objectives, 34 performance measures and 102 indicators. The new standard has 14 core principals, 20 objectives, 39 performance measures and 114 indicators.
The set of principals includes new principles for responsible procurement practices in North America, avoidance of controversial offshore sources, research, training and education, and public involvement.
The new standard took effect on Jan. 1 and program participants have one year to meet the changed requirements.
Tree - http://www.flickr.com/photos/cmdrgravy/ / CC BY 2.0
Source: GreenBiz.com
Continue Reading
5 great websites that let kids get creative
Posted on 11. Jan, 2010 by admin.
These artistic sites are fun, safe and free. Explore them with your children to get your creative juices flowing.
Draw and design. Shidonni lets kids draw animals online, give them names and design backgrounds for imaginary worlds. Winner of 2009 Parents’ Choice Gold Award. Ages 5 to 12; shidonni.com.
Devise games. “Fidgit” is a multiplayer game on PBS’ Design Squad site. Kids can also design and build their own games and challenge their friends. Ages 8 to 13; pbskids.org/designsquad/games/fidgit.
Craft cartoons. Kids write, read and tell stories by creating comic strips online, then printing or e-mailing them to friends or relatives. All ages; makebeliefscomix.com.
Program a video. Create movies, music and video games at Scratch, developed by MIT Media Lab members. Ages 8 and up; scratch.mit.edu.
Make music. On Crank It Up!, kids can compose and record multilayered rhythms using pots, pans, wooden spoons and even the computer keyboard to create a masterpiece. All ages; pbskids.org/arthur/games/crankitup.
Paul Wisentha, USA Today Weekend
