The Human Development Report 2007/2008 warns that the world has less than a decade to avoid a climate change crisis that could bring unprecedented reversals in poverty reduction, nutrition, health and

Added: 12/15/2008 12:08:46 PM

One of the easiest ways to save a few dollars is by making your home more energy efficient. For many families decking the halls means adorning the house with a breathtaking display of holiday lights,

Added: 12/15/2008 9:07:28 AM

Farmers can start having a purely renewable way to produce energy by using Biogas - agriKomp GmbH set national and international standards for efficient, high-quality biogas plants.

Added: 12/12/2008 7:08:13 PM

Biological waste represents a major challenge for the waste industry. GE Jenbacher Engine takes organic substances from agriculture, foodstuff, & feed industries and converts it into energy.

Added: 12/12/2008 11:42:30 AM

The Dutch government has provided funding for Biogas plants for small farmers in Vietnam to meet their energy needs.

Added: 12/11/2008 6:05:49 PM

I met several lovely chickens yesterday when I was in Oakland, and I am now quite smitten. They are truly engrossing creatures to observe; the animal’s social behavior is very complex, their vocalizations are both soothing and fascinating, to say nothing of the delicious fresh eggs they provide. More and more urban chickens are being raised in cities, as increasing numbers of people are growing their own food and trying to create a more locally-based, sustainable and self-sufficient food supply.

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A fresh new take on the military look is having a very strong moment, as seen on the runways of Paris, Milan, and New York this season. However, Burning Torch has been doing gorgeous recycled military surplus for years now. The white jacket above is made from surplus “snow camo.” It’s from their Spring 2010 collection in stores soon. I think it would look fabulous with the Killspencer bags we featured last month.

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I recently stumbled upon a great recipe for Spaghetti Squash Pancakes from Mollie Katzen’s book, The Vegetable Dishes I Can’t Live Without. It’s a winner. Although the original recipe calls for spaghetti squash (quite delicious) and gives the option of using all-purpose flour or rice flour, the recipe can accommodate any kind of squash and a variety of gluten-free flours. The topping possibilities are also endless, giving you the option to play with flavor combinations. Happy eating!

Recipe for Gluten-free Squash Pancakes (adapted from Mollie Katzen’s The Vegetable Dishes I Can’t Live Without):

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I can appreciate Walt Disney World copyrighting their park.  After all, they’re largely responsible for just about every inch of it, from the sculpted bushes to human-engineered lakes and waterways.  Obviously, it’s well established that biotech companies currently have every right to own and patent new forms of life.

But when I was passing through Pebble Beach on the spectacular Monterey Peninsula of California, a friend mentioned that I could NOT photograph nature should it ever be used for some commercial purpose.  In essence, every inch of the natural area, including the coastal ocean frontage, was owned and copyrighted by the Pebble Beach Company — thus my jarring red line through an otherwise brilliant image of nature’s beauty.  Thousands of happy-camera-clicking tourists — many of whom make deposits to enter the grounds or eat at the upscale restaurants in the area — end up capturing images of the famous “Lone Cypress” tree.  Some of these photos, my guess, will end up on Flickr or in Wikipedia.  At that point, anyone can “borrow” them for their own uses, commercial or otherwise.  Funny, since the Pebble Beach Company brochure actually proclaims that the Lone Cypress is one of “California’s most familiar landmarks…inspir[ing] countless artists, photographers and sightseers.”  Just don’t share them with anyone.

So should a company be able to copyright a view of nature for which it was not directly responsible for planting or otherwise creating?

Perhaps the Pebble Beach Company should consider the California Coastal Commission’s report related to public access for an insight less motivated by greed:

“The California Coast is a place of magnificent vistas and seemingly endless beauty. It seems to define who we are and what this State is all about. Anyone, no matter who he is and how much or how little he has, can partake of this beauty. The California coast belongs to us all. It sustains a remarkable variety and abundance of life. It fires the imagination, inspires creative expression, and offers sanctuary to body and soul.”

So what’s next, charging us for the air we breathe as we pass by a park or preserve (trees take in carbon dioxide and produce oxygen, which we then breathe)?

What ever happened to the idea of sharing the commons?  Must everything be reduced to dollars and cents?

Canadian duo Nathalie Butterfield and Terra Kushner launched their fabric line when they were frustrated with the limited selection of sustainable fabrics.

Nathalie talks about how their company evolved:

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Do you know of a green person, product, company, event, or concept that deserves to be lauded for the positive environmental change it has enacted? Let us know! In TreeHugger's second annual Best of Green Awards, we're looking to bestow top honors on the people, places, and things that are helping move sustainability into the mainstream. Last year, we awarded more than 170 prizes across eight general themes. This year, we're asking for your help making some of the selections. Let us know who you think should be nominated for a Best of Green Award. Then we'll ask for your hel...Read the full story on TreeHugger

Credit: Michigan State University. Trees. They provide shade. They turn carbon dioxide into oxygen. They're the perfect shape for hugging. Unless they're riddled with disease. There are dozens of diseases that sicken or kill trees in the United States. There also are bugs that make trees more prone to disease, like the Emerald Ash Borer, first found in Detroit in 2002. The bug, native to Asia, likely arrived h...Read the full story on TreeHugger

Image credit: Good Plastic trash, we know, is a serious problem. It's refreshing to know that some innovative people are working on solutions....Read the full story on TreeHugger

Photo: Toyota Ouch We all knew it was coming, but now it's official. Toyota has formally filed a voluntary recall for 437,000 hybrid vehicles worldwide. Most of those are third generation Prius hybrids, but they're also recalling the few Prius PHEV out there (the plug-in hybrid version, more details here), the Lexus HS 250h, and the SAI in Japan. This breaks down to about 223,000 hybrids recalled in Japan, 150,000 in North-America, and about 63,000...Read the full story on TreeHugger

Image via Bundle Ahhh, keeping up with the Joneses - spending more so you can match up with your neighbors. But does it always have to be that way? When it comes to smart metering, experts have shown that knowing how much electricity your neighbors are using can spark up the competitive spirit, and you're likely to reduce your energy consumption just to "bea...Read the full story on TreeHugger