Facts about water

How much water is used to get our food, drinks on the table is something that reflects the tool it has on our environment. Here are just a few facts from the sprinkla magazine.

EMBODIED WATER OF COMMON FOODS
1 cup of lettuce > 11 litres
1 orange (100g) > 50 litres
1 apple (100g) > 70 litres
1 glass beer (250 ml) > 75 litres
1 glass wine (125 ml) > 120 litres
1 coffee (125 ml) > 140 litres
1 bag of potato crisps (200g) > 185 litres
1 glass milk (200 ml) > 200 litres
1 steak (230g) > 4660 litres
1 kilo of rice > 3400 litres
1 kilo of beef > 16 000 litres

Source: http://www.sprinkla.com/files/Sprinkla_02.pdf

A few really good quotes

I got them from from the "sprinkla" magazine.

They say that time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself. --- (Andy Warhol)

Money is like manure, it's not worth a thing unless it's spread around encouraging young things to grow. --- (Thornton Wilder)

Really good photos are here: http://www.sprinklaphotos.com/

Green businesses in the South Bay area

I believe the only way to make more and more businesses move over to the GREEN side is to start using them as much as we can and possibly letting the ones you are not using anymore know, politely but frank why you are switching. We need to move from awareness of the need to be green to action. The one global way we can "convince" businesse to act on their green awareness and the green talk is through the wallet!

THE WALLET TALKS LOUD AND CLEAR.

Car wash LINK

Obama visit in Berlin

It was expected that the visit in Berlin will be a big boost for Obama and that he will be welcome with open arms there. After looking at the news and the pictures I am still amazed how positive Germany is to this presidential hopeful.

Images taken from: http://www.faz.net


Diving into the crowd.







































Communication made in Germany












Artwork in the German Kanzler's office. Can you imagine that in our president's office......

































Obama supporter in Berlin

Updated Highlights of Al Gore's Challenge

ECO Tuesday

http://www.ecotuesday.com/
This is a new Sustainability meet I found out about just today. I like it much more than the ones I have been to so far as it has the tiniest bit of a structure, hence allowing the meeting/gathering to be a lot more productive, informative and fun.
Let's see if we can set one up like that in the South Bay.

How much CO2 we can save by using recycled paper

Did you know that for every 20 cases of 30% post-consumer copy paper purchased over virgin paper you will save the environment one metric ton of carbon dioxide! Well, this translates to one pound of CO2 is saved with every 50 pages of recycled paper you use instead of virgin paper.
Even better is to not use the paper or print the paper on both sides. Use double sided printing on 50 pages and save one pound of CO2 to be released to the atmosphere. THAT"S easy!!

How to setup a Bee hive - Part 1 of many

Barrack Obama's speech "A New Strategy for a New World"

Water-fuel car unveiled in Japan

The latest gossip about Obama

There are many things people do not know about BARACK OBAMA. It is every American's duty to read this message and pass it along to all of their friends and loved ones.

Barack Obama wears a FLAG PIN at all times. Even in the shower.

Barack Obama says the PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE every time he sees an American flag. He also ends every sentence by saying, "WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL." Click here for video of Obama quietly mouthing the PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE in his sleep.

A tape exists of Michelle Obama saying the PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE at a conference on PATRIOTISM.

Every weekend, Barack and Michelle take their daughters HUNTING.

Barack Obama is a PATRIOTIC AMERICAN. He has one HAND over his HEART at all times. He occasionally switches when one arm gets tired, which is almost never because he is STRONG.

Barack Obama has the DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE tattooed on his stomach. It's upside-down, so he can read it while doing sit-ups.

There's only one artist on Barack Obama's iPod: FRANCIS SCOTT KEY.

Barack Obama is a DEVOUT CHRISTIAN. His favorite book is the BIBLE, which he has memorized. His name means HE WHO LOVES JESUS in the ancient language of Aramaic. He is PROUD that Jesus was an American.

Barack Obama goes to church every morning. He goes to church every afternoon. He goes to church every evening. He is IN CHURCH RIGHT NOW.

Barack Obama's new airplane includes a conference room, a kitchen, and a MEGACHURCH.

Barack Obama's skin is the color of AMERICAN SOIL.

Barack Obama buys AMERICAN STUFF. He owns a FORD, a BASEBALL TEAM, and a COMPUTER HE BUILT HIMSELF FROM AMERICAN PARTS. He travels mostly by FORKLIFT.

Barack Obama says that Americans cling to GUNS and RELIGION because they are AWESOME.

The Story of stuff

This is a truly incredible little video about our consumer society and how materials go through the different cycles and phases.
You-Tube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ucMJ32-xp64
Website with lots of good info and hints:
http://www.storyofstuff.com/
I really have not much to add to this than to say, Watch it and then think about it.

Peace on earth
Stefan

Intersolar North America 2008 conference & trade show

The Intersolar North America 2008 conference & trade show will be
taking place from July 15 - 17 at the Moscone Center in San
Francisco. This event will focus on photovoltaics, solar thermal
technology, and solar architecture.

More than 10,000 people are expected to attend this event and over 200 companies are expected to participate in the exhibit hall.

A related Intersolar Europe 2008 conference recently took place in
Germany and featured more than 1,000 exhibitors and 52,000 visitors
from 140 countries.

For more information --

* Intersolar North America 2008 - home page
http://www.intersolar.us/

Taken from the "greenjoblist" Yahoo group.

USGBC (United States Green Building Council)

Today was my 1st real appearance at a USGBC event. It was a monthly meeting between construction professionals that are dedicated and knowledgeable to reconstruct and build in a sustainable and environmentally conscious way. The added benefit is of course that you get to live or work in an environment that is not hazardous to your health. It was also the very 1st time I actually met Sushanta in person. Sushanta is a Interior designer and already very knowledgeable in the field. She is running a student education program that I find amazing. But please, read about it yourself. www.empoweringworldchange.com
The Northern California Chapter is the one I will join to learn more about LEED and how to get certified. http://www.usgbc-ncc.org/