2nd Green Revolution

On or around the first of every month, 2nd Green Revolution updates the green events calendar for the coming month. Last November we began including a post highlighting some of the intriguing events for that month. Many of the events on the calendar for February take place in India, New Zealand, and Australia. However, there are a few in San Francisco, California and several intriguing domestic events at the end of the month.

Here is a sampling of a few domestic symposiums that caught our eye. Read the rest of this entry »

On one level I don’t care about global warming, because it doesn’t matter. On the other, I know it is an incredibly important concern, one that may have drastic effects on society. However, because it has become politicized and polarized, I have steered clear of it. I am a science teacher, but not entirely a scientist in the traditional white lab coat sense of the word. I like to stick to the verifiable and the quantifiable. I do not pretend to know all of the data surrounding global warming – from both sides of the argument – and do not have the background of a debater to refute seemingly specious arguments that “deniers” or skeptics make. Skepticism is one of the fundamental “Habits of Mind” for scientists (along with the incredibly important habits of “tolerating uncertainty”, maintaining “openness to new ideas”, and exhibiting “intellectual honesty”). The latter of which may have been violated in last year’s debate over hacked emails from East Anglia University’s Climate Research Unit in England. However, there is a point at which healthy skepticism may be overtaken by radicalism.

What I do care about – which should be readily apparent for those that read my posts – is ushering in an era of sustainable development. We MUST use resources wisely. Read the rest of this entry »

A little post-consumer waste can go a long way. Hyperion Books saved the following resources by printing Stirring It Up: How to Make Money and Save the World on New Leaf Pioneer 100 for the text, and Neenah Environment 100 for the jacket. Both papers are made with 100% post-consumer waste fiber versus virgin fiber.

• Trees: 67 fully grown
• Water: 28,769 gallons
• Energy: 49 million BTU
• Solid waste: 3,209 pounds
• Greenhouse gases: 6,322 pounds

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The United States government announced the recipients of $8 billion in high speed rail stimulus funding today. Three projects will receive the lion’s share of money set aside in last year’s stimulus bill. The projects will be based in California, Illinois, and Florida. According to a press release from The White House, President Obama and Vice-President Biden stated that “the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) is awarding $8 billion to states across the country to develop America’s first nationwide program of high-speed intercity passenger rail service.”

The following chart from the Christian Science Monitor via the Associated Press provides a breakdown of the projects receiving more than half a billion dollars: Read the rest of this entry »

Okay, the only real connection from these “rice art fields” to sustainability, clean energy, green tech etc.  I can think of is that no ink or dye is used in the process. That said, I find the idea and the resulting art work too cool not to post. It also shows a connection with nature a la Richard Louv’s Last Child in the Woods.

In the village of Inakadate in Aomori prefecture at the very north end of Honshu, Japan’s main island, something weird is growing in the rice fields. Or so it seems from the air. Every year, the towns people get together to painstakingly arrange and plant different colored rice seedlings in the spring. Then, as the summer progresses and the rice shoots start to grow, the patterns that were planted begin to emerge. What results is some truly stunning artwork. When seen from above, images include warriors, Napoleon, and manga characters such as Doraemon.

Art Rice Fields of Inakadate, Japan

Take a look at some of the artwork here (great pictures but in Japanese). A Google Image Search for “Inakadate rice art” will also produce numerous examples of these awesome rice fields. Enjoy.

- Justin Manger

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With the proliferation of websites, weeding through the valuable and worthless can be all-consuming. Several sites contain worthwhile simulations and games that get people thinking about resource management. Today’s post details a few of those that do a particularly good job.

Chevron, the oil and gas megalith, teamed up with The Economic Group to develop Energyville. The goal of Energyville is to power a large city (with a population of nearly 6 million). Players must consider the economic, environmental, and security impacts associated with their choices. Read the rest of this entry »

Following on the heals of last week’s update about Solar Roadways comes news of an organization called Greenroads that hopes to bring US Green Building Council-like standards to road construction. The USGBC’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification represents an industry-wide set of standards for green building. Greenroads aims to develop a list best practices in constructing sustainable roads.

According to an article from Discovery News, roads that meet these standards will provide a wealth of benefits. The aim of Greenroads is to Read the rest of this entry »

One year ago today saw the launch of 2nd Green Revolution. We look forward to many more productive years. Thank you to our readers and friends. Please join us on Twitter and Facebook to keep track of the latest stories. Keep an eye out for our redesigned website, coming in the next quarter.

- Justin and Eric

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It’s been almost two weeks since a 7.0 magnitude earthquake leveled much of Port-Au-Prince and nearby towns in one of the poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere. The outpouring of support and aid to the afflicted region by companies, individuals, and governments around the world has been enormous. What modern infrastructure there was in Haiti before the quake – and that is still usable now – has been overwhelmed in the ensuing relief efforts. For all the tragedy, rescue workers were still pulling survivors from rumble more than a week after the earthquake and even after the Haitian government had officially called off rescue efforts.

The priority is still on treating survivors and trying to bring some sense of normalcy to the chaos. Many of you have already given supplies or money to the ongoing relief efforts and 2nd Green Revolution has also made a small donation. Here are two ways to help out:

•The American Red Cross is providing immediate needs for food, water, temporary shelter, medical services and emotional support. They are accepting donations through their International Response Fund or through text messages:

• Customers of participating wireless carriers can text message “HAITI” to 90999 and make a $10 donation to the American Red Cross Haiti Relief and Development Fund. Donations will appear on customers’ monthly bills or be debited from a prepaid account balance.

•Clinton Bush Haiti Fund is being run by former Presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton and was created at the behest of President Obama. They oversee the CBHF through their respective nonprofit organizations, the William J. Clinton Foundation and Communities Foundation of Texas.

Once immediate needs are filled, the long hard task of rebuilding must begin. While a major catastrophe like this will take years to recover from, the silver lining, if any, is that Haiti has the chance to start over to create a more functional society. Even small donations can assist Haiti in moving toward a better tomorrow. Here’s to a recovery that puts Haiti on the road to a more prosperous, peaceful, and sustainable future.

- 2nd Green Revolution

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As a science teacher I can tell you that people find science scary. Perhaps you already knew that. They think it is something they “can’t do” or “don’t get.” They may say they do not have a scientific brain. I can also tell you that these are entirely untrue. Real world, personally accessible examples, instead of theoretical situations, help make the connection to the here and now. For instance, the title of this post “Inefficient Devices and the Laws of Thermodynamics” would probably be enough to scare off most readers. However, by thinking about your own home, this scientific concept comes to life. Read the rest of this entry »