Stop Iceland's Whale Hunting

From Care2.com's Petition website:

Iceland's whaling season began last week, kicking off a bloody whale hunt that could lead to the death of 100 minke whales.

Iceland is one of only two countries worldwide that still authorizes commercial whaling. About half of the whale meat from this year's hunt is intended for domestic sales in Iceland, while the rest of the quota will be sold to Japan.

Please click on the banner below to be taken to the petition and tell the Icelandic government to reduce this year's whale hunt quotas immediately – and to ban whaling forever.

A Message from a Fellow Care2 Member

I will not mention her name in case she wants anonymity outside of Care2.com, but she sent the following message to her friends on Care2 and I ask my visitors to give the short articles a read and spread the word.

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Dear Friends,

I'm trying to raise awareness about the increasingly damaging effects of global warming in my country. Namely, Macedonia is now the number 5 country worldwide affected by global warming, which is dreadful, considering it's small size. I would like to ask you to note my stories on the issue.

Thank you so much.

Here are the links to the stories:
http://www.care2.com/news/member/365932028/1158438
http://www.care2.com/news/member/365932028/1158425
http://www.care2.com/news/member/365932028/1158419

If a turtle doesn't have a shell - is it homeless or naked?

This was a joke/riddle I saw on Twitter today. We can only hope that conservation and wildlife protection will keep us from having to answer this question seriously.

The following is a picture of a dead turtle on a beach. It's shell has been spray painted to discourage people from cutting away the shell and using it for other purposes. This is to maintain the dignity of the turtle's death. I will have to research this further to find out where this practice of taking shells happens fairly regularly and what's being done to stop it.



Personally though, I have a feeling a turtle would look extremely funny naked. With that said, we better work hard to help the turtles keep their shells!

I do not claim copyright of the above photo - copyright belongs with the owner of the photo.

In Today's News - Alternative Energy

Alternative energy is still very much in the news, but mostly on a local level. But that is alright! not everything has to be done on a federal or global level. Small towns and communities can do their part to help keep our planet clean and healthy.

Oklahoma: Governor signs alternative energy bill

Gov. Brad Henry signed legislation Monday to encourage Oklahoma motorists to fuel their cars and trucks with compressed natural gas. [Read full article]


Utah: Alternative energy requests more than doubled

With some congressional cash, Mayor Mark Daniels said he could attach turbines to city-owned water pipes creating a mini-power plant that would produce more than double the electricity used to run the municipal government. [Read full article]


Various States: Some states turn to biomass power for alternative energy

Some U.S. states without the capacity for large-scale wind and solar energy are turning to biomass for renewable energy. The Southeast and parts of the Midwest are investing millions in biomass plants that burn wood and other plant material to generate electricity.
[Read full article]

Make a monumental difference

It does not take much at all to make a monumental difference to help keep our planet clean and healthy. Even doing so can be beneficial to your health. Take one day a week and walk along a well-used roadway to pick up trash. Separate the items that can be recycled from those that can't. Not only will you help the environment and the wildlife, but the walking will do you wonders!

The Sierra Club has been working to make a difference since 1982. They work to protect communities, wild places, and the planet itself. They are the oldest, largest, and most influential grassroots environmental organization in the United States. The Sierra Club founder, John Muir, appears on the back of the California quarter.

There is a lot to do with the Sierra Club. Their Outings are a huge hit! You can stay in your own community, or go to one of 350 trips here in the US and around the world. Many of these outings are open to even non-Sierra Club members. Go hiking, fishing, camping, and more.

So, get out there! Make new friends. Explore new places. And rediscover nature and our beautiful planet.

Kids' Sculpture Results in Town Recycling

This a wonderful (and short) article from the Steamboat Springs, Colorado Steamboat Pilot and Today newspaper. A classroom of students, around the ages of 11 and 12, created a sculpture from plastics and presented it to the county Commissioners. This resulted in recycling bins being placed at the county courthouse.

Student sculpture prompts county to buy recycling bins

There is one line of this article that struck me:
Another student, Cristal Seniff, 11, said she liked it better when she lived in Sweden, because there they have whole landfills dedicated to recycling.

What is your reaction to Cristal's statement?

Computer Recycling - 3 Ways to Delete the Old

As we all know, technology is changing faster than you can blink. Each year, computers get faster, cellphones get smaller, yet more full of features, and more gadgets are being created that we just have to have. And as we buy all these electronics, in order to keep up with technology, we tend to pile up the old computers, printers, scanners, cameras, cellphones, and more.

Despite being made of plastics and other recyclable materials, many electronics also have hazardous parts that need to be disposed of carefully and properly.

There are three ways to recycle computers and other electronics safely and with the knowledge that you are helping your planet stay clean by reusing perfectly good materials.

he first way is to donate your old electronics. You can help out local folks who need their first computer by donating to Goodwill or other local organizations that have donation programs. In many cases, this is how schools in low-income communities get their computers to help their students acquire a better education.

Big name companies, such as Dell, Staples, and Apple also have recycling programs that you can look into. Many of these will not only recycle your computers, but also mouse, keyboards, speakers, printers, scanners, and more. Some companies will apply a discount to the purchase of a new computer when you turn in your old one.

Lastly, consumer and corporate recycling is big in many regions. You can find local recyclers and refurbishers to take in your old electronics and they will either recycle them or refurbish them for other uses. You may also find a great deal on a refurbished computer or other electronics via this method.

With so many ways to safely get rid of your old computers and other electronics, we can greatly reduce the filling of landfills and illegal dumpings just by recycling computers at your local recycling centers.

This Earth Day, April 22, would be the perfect time to clean out your garage and basement!