Video

If you get a chance, head on over to YouTube to view the class video (V1), and let me know what you think.  I'm very glad I was eventually able to export the final product.  Feel free to send your friends and family over to watch it as well.

Have a great Summer!!

Shirts are HERE!!!

If you ordered a shirt please contact me and we will figure out a time to exchange a nice, shiny, and new t-shirt for $16.  If you have friends that would like one they will cost $20.  They look really nice.  If you didn't order a shirt, no worries we have a variety of sizes left over.  As a reference, Heather and I are wearing mediums and Nick has on a large in the photo below.

 

Class is Over

Class is over and this semester has been good, a little frustrating at times but good. I learned how to ride a bike somewhat and will continue learning. I will continue walking on the trails I enjoy the serenity of them. I met a lot of good people and hope to see them around. This class was interesting.

Help me win Tia a bike

Hey there,

Does anyone still read this?

I have entered a contest with Mock Orange Bikes to win a bike.  I was thinking... I don't need a bike... who needs a bike?  Then I remembered Tia's story about her broken bike that the cave/camel crickets have claimed and how much she has really embraced biking outside.  I would love to give everyone a new bike, but I will need time to track down more contests :)  Its a really nice bike...

Ok, how can you help?  Go to the Mock Orange Bikes fan page on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Mock-Orange-Bikes/112966143303

Find this photo and "like" it.   Then tell your friends to like it and have their friends like it.  Voting is open until May 27th.  That is all!!

350--What's That?

In the summer of 2007, Arctic ice began to melt far more rapidly that scientists had expected. This is when the thawing of glaciers and the spread of droughts showed global warming was a present crisis, not a future threat. This is when George W. Bush, Jr., announced global climate change was indeed a national threat. Most importantly, this is when our leading climatologists gave up a number for the red line: 350—The number of parts per million CO2 in the atmosphere. Guess what? We’ve already passed it!

At a recent talk at Wake Forest’s Center for Sustainability, author Bill McKibben discussed the inspiring global movement that he’s led to help change the world’s understanding of its’ imminent danger. He’s even spurred the reforms necessary to get the planet back to safe CO2 levels.

According to him, above 350 parts per million carbon dioxide, the atmosphere heats too much for us to have a planet “similar to the one on which civilization developed and to which life on earth is adapted.” Well….Guess where we are today? 390 parts per million…and rising two parts per million per year. Tragic, huh? At 450 ppm, climatologists claim its atmospheric suicide. In the past when carbon levels rose to that height, sea levels rose 120 feet. Digest that…if you can still breathe.

He discussed one action that fascinated me. Around the dwindling Dead Sea, Israeli activists formed a huge human 2 on their shore, and the Palestinians a 5 on their beach, while in Jordan, a huge 0 was formed, proving that, even in places with deep division, people understand that the crisis that faces us now calls for one thing: UNITY.

He pointed out that rapidly getting the world off fossil duel is the most difficult task we’ve ever undertaken as a planet. Global movements are rare things—to work across linguistic boundaries, and the enormous divide between rich and poor, is extremely difficult.

His last comment—NO ONE (especially the United States Congress) has even begun to talk about spending the kind of money the developing world needs to adapt to the changes already coming at us…even in the Copenhagen treaty.

Graduation Robes--A New National Movement towards being Green!

My boyfriend recently graduated from Wake Forest University...and when he walked across the stage, we wore a graduation gown made COMPLETELY from recycled plastic bottles. Pretty Cool, huh? I thought so!

Then, come to find out, Salem College's Class of 2012 has also adopted this new intuitive and will be purchasing these gowns for the next graduating class! How exciting!

This new line of graduation wear, named "GreenWeaver" is made of fabric spun from molten plastic pellets. The result is a fabric so comfortably soft you have to feel it to believe it! It takes an average of 23 bottles to make each gown.

Today, here are the statistics:

5% of today's colleges and universities support GreenWeaver

310,000 graduates have worn, or plan to wear, GreenWeaver gowns this year as they graduate

7,130,000 bottles have been removed from the landfill to make these gowns

How's that for reducing our ecological footprint?!?

Check it out here!

$76 BILLION...a year

For what, you ask? Treating children in the United States who have lead poisoning. That's a larger number than autism and cancer...COMBINED.

Lead poisoning has been directly linked to environmental toxins and pollutants in our air, food, water, soil and homes.

A study that was published in the May issue of Health Affairs found childhood healthcare costs to be:

-- Lead poisoning, $50.9 billion.

-- Autism, $7.9 billion.

-- Intellectual disability, $5.4 billion.

-- Exposure to mercury, $5.1 billion.

-- Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, $5 billion.

-- Asthma, $2.2 billion.

-- Childhood cancer, $95 million.

Left unchecked, these preventable environmental factors will continue to harm the health of our children and push up healthcare costs. By updating environmental regulations and laws aimed at protecting the public's health, we can reduce the toll taken by such factors on children's health and the economy.

Bike To Work Week

As mentioned by Louise and Sarah, this is National Bike to Work Week. Monday I did just that. It was great, I could not wait until work was over so that I could ride home. It only took an extra 10 minutes and it was so enjoyable. I plan to bike commute more often, whenever my schedule allows. I found a route that allowed me to utilize sidewalks and side streets and never left me fearing for my life on the main roads. I was able to ride through some pretty nice neighborhoods and it felt like I was in a park for most of my ride. There was one hill that you can not get around as you ride into downtown; otherwise, I made excellent time. I hope to ride my bike to the Cobblestone Farmer's Market this morning, and I hope to see you there!

Boston implements new bike-sharing system!

BOSTON SHARES BIKES!

Boston implemented a new bike-sharing system in late April. It allows Boston-ers to rent bikes at just over 60 stations through the city. The new program is called New Balance Hubway. They have hopes of expanding the program to 5,000 bikes!

Renters will use swipe cards to use Hubway bicycles with costs of $5 per day, and free trips that are 30 minutes or shorter. There will be $85 annual memberships. Users will rent bikes from one station and return them at another across the city, with about 10 bikes available at each station.

“Over the past four years, we have taken great strides toward making Boston a city that welcomes and encourages bicycling but this innovative bike share system may be the most significant step yet,” said Boston Mayor Thomas Menino. “We have worked tirelessly to build the infrastructure necessary to support such a system and we are confident that there is no better time to make Hubway a reality. We have had the goal of going from worst to first, and with Hubway we’re nearly there."

So how can we go green in college? I have the answer...

In College, it's hard to go green...SO WE THINK.

As college students, we are just as capable of making a difference. Certain “green” habits are so easy and effortless, they can be worked into your everyday routine too!

1. Be aware of the energy we use at home. Use windows and ceiling fans for air, as opposed to air conditioners. Turn off lights when you leave the room, and use high efficency bulbs. I know they may be more expense, but in the long run, you'll save on those power bills we'll soon have to start paying.

2. Avoid packaging...in the grocery store that is. It's a waste of money and mother Earth.

3. Use reusable shopping bags. Not only are the cute, but they're helpful to our environment! They are also much stronger than plastic or paper bags, and can carry more too! One reusable shopping bag can hold the same amount as up to four plastic bags!! WOW! (Just digest that...)

4. RECYCLE, RECYCLE, RECYCLE...EVERYTHING! Starting a recycling bin for you and your roommate(s) is easier than you might think! There are so many different materials that can be recycled that we often don’t even think about.

5. Buy reusable water bottles. Bottom line: In the end, it's worth the extra money you'll save in the long run. Promise! Plus, you can decorate that Nalgene bottle with stickers too!

JUST THINK, THEN RECYCLE.

EVEN IN COLLEGE, WE CAN HELP OUR ENVIRONMENT TOO!