The Liquid of Life

The average American uses 100 gallons of water per day! No way, I say, and then I checked it out at a site called DCWASA for Kids. Yep, it's true. At the site I used the Daily Water Usage calculator. Three easy calculations on how much water I use in the shower, when flushing the toilet, and while brushing my teeth- that doesn't even include how much water I use for other things each day, like when I wash dishes, wash my hands, or fill up the pets' water bowls. If you don't have water-saving appliances, you are using 5 gallons for every minute of running water or every flush of the toilet. So, if you are in the shower for only 5 minutes, you have used 25 gallons of water! I am really bad about letting the water run a long time while I wash dishes. It would be more efficient if I used the dishwasher (uses 25 gallons) than if I left the water running while I wash dishes for 15 minutes (uses 75 gallons) Whoa. On the other hand, I am happy to say that a long time ago I stopped running the water while I brush my teeth- I make myself turn it off and walk away from the sink while I am brushing, so I am not tempted to let the water run the whole time, which is way fun- what is it about water- totally FUN. But it is not fun to learn how wasting water effects our environment in a negative way. For instance, some parts of the country are running out of clean, drinkable water. Fact: our bodies are 2/3 water, and we need 2 quarts of water a day to digest food, transport wastes, keep cells alive, make blood, and control body temperature. When we are all wasting water, we are using it up faster than it can be recycled; this hurts the environment, animals, plants, and people, which all need water. At the DCWASA site they call water the "liquid of life." Would you agree?
photo by krikit

Organic Cereals Rule, or Not

Sure, the ingredients are natural, and oftentimes proceeds from the purchase of these organic cereals go to causes that give back to the environment, but they HAVE to taste good, or we won't buy them! So, today we kid-taste-tested three organic cereals, comparing them to what we are used to eating at home, and commenting on them. Here is what we have to say.
Starting with Mother's all natural, low-fat Cocoa Bumpers- made with real natural cocoa and natural sweeteners, molasses and honey, this cereal is distributed by the Quaker Oats company (now do you feel at home? -can't get more down to earth than good ol' Quaker Oats.) Did you know honey comes from bees, flowers, and hives, or molasses is made from sugar cane, maple syrup, and apples? These are factoids on the back of the box (just gotta read the box while you munch!) Our testers say that Cocoa Bumpers is "really good- tastes almost exactly like Cocoa Puffs." "really crunchy, even in milk!" "doesn't taste like chocolate, the consistency is grainy," and "love it!" Other Bumpers cereals: peanut butter and graham.

Next up, Envirokidz organic Peanut Butter Panda Puffs- gluten free, no additives and preservatives, and low in sodium, this cereal is distributed by Nature's Path Foods. Did you know that 1% of sales are donated to wildlife, endangered species, habitat conservation, and environmental education for kids? This cereal has cool wildlife facts on the back of the box. Our testers say that Peanut Butter Panda Puffs " has a light taste, and tastes like peanut butter," "light, but still crunchy," "creamy like peanut butter," " it's cool that Envirokidz helps endangered animals. I want to go to their website!" Other Envirokidz cereals: Gorilla Munch, Koala Crisp, Amazon Frosted Flakes, Penguin Puffs, and Leapin Lemurs.

Last to bat, Barbara's Bakery Cinnamon Puffins- high fiber, low fat, no artificial colors and preservatives, and wheat free, this cereal is distributed by Barbara's For A Brighter Future. Brighter future for helping to restore and protect seabird habitats maybe, but not too bright in taste, say our testers, "tastes like bread," "cinnamon-y and pretty good," and "may I throw this away?"

Al-in-all our testers preferred all of these cereals with milk as opposed to munching them like a snack. They were impressed by the efforts all of the companies are making to protect the environment. They were surprised that you can find these cereals not only in whole foods markets, but in the regular grocery stores. They also became a little more educated about natural ingredients- safer for our bodies, safer for the environment, buying these products supports our farmers and habitat protection organizations. There are numerous other natural cereals out there, and taking some time to test different ones out and finding a few you really like is worth the effort. Here's to the environment, to your health, and to great natural taste.

Green Chocolate for Halloween!

If you're want a more "green" Halloween, try out chocolates that do not include processed sugars, hydrogenated fats, and chemicals, like pesticides. Look for sweets that are made with all natural or organic ingredients. Two companies specializing in natural-ingredient candies are NaturalCandyStore.com and Endangered Species Chocolates. I liked that both of these companies are custom-wrapping mini chocolates and other sweets for Halloween. Another plus, if you buy any of the Endangered Species Chocolates, 10% of the net profits are donated to support species, habitat and humanity.
image at http://www.chocolatebar.com/index.asp

Recycle Your Plastic Gift Cards

Now this is true re-gifting! What better a way to give back to the environment than by recycling your plastic gift card after using it? Did you know that 75 million pounds of polyvinyl chloride (PVC, a toxic substance) material from plastic cards enters America’s waste stream every year? Several companies, such as Target, REI, Borders, and Wal-Mart are helping to keep all that PVC out of landfills by providing bioplastic gift cards made with a corn-based material. The bioplastic material will biodegrade in a regular compost bin after 40 days. So, what if your gift card is not biodegradable? Keep your used card, instead of letting the company throw it out. Your family can save up your used cards (gift cards, driver's license cards, bank cards) and mail them to Earthworks, where they create huge PVC sheets to make new cards. That way, if you are not biodegrading, you are at least recyling! The next time we receive a gift card, let's re-gift it back to the environment. It's a little thing we can do, and the little things we do add up to make our world a better, safer place.
source article provided by ecologue

Companies or Individuals Mail Used Cards To:
Earthworks System, LLC * 33200 Bainbridge Road, Suite E * Solon, OH 44139

How Green Is Your School?

Wherever we turn, it seems we are seeing, hearing, or reading about going green. The Tennessean featured an article on the front page today about schools focusing more and more on being environment-friendly, or "green." Some schools are focusing more on recycling, some are constructing energy-saving buildings. A high school student from St. Cecilia Academy recommends schools go green by having more kids ride bikes, by recycling being a way of life, and by saving energy by having more outdoor classes. Not all schools can build huge new energy-efficient buildings, but even the small stuff matters, like our attitude and our effort to pick up trash, recycle, or turn off lights when we leave the classroom. And then, all that small stuff adds up and becomes a BIG change for the better. What kinds of things would you like to see our school do to be more green? Post your reply here. We can make a difference!
source: The Tennessean, August 19, 2008, staff writers Vivi Hoang and Colby Sledge

Save Gas- Ride a Bike

HEY MRS SCHULZ! I HAVE A NEW IDEA FOR THE BLOG. MY FAMILY AND I WERE TALKING ABOUT GAS PRISES AND WE THOUGHT THAT MAYBE IN THE LONG RUN, IT IS GOOD THAT THEY ARE GOING UP. IF THEY ARE HIGHER, MAYBE PEOPLE WOULD BUY FUEL EFFICIENT CARS AND WALK AND USE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION MORE OFTEN! IT DOESNT MATTER WHEN YOU GET THIS OR IF YOU RESPOND, I WAS JUST THROWING OUT AN IDEA! [posted by EW, 4th grade]
photo by tandemracer

Reviving the Florida Everglades

A reservoir is being built to help revive the ecosystem of the once famous River of Grass in the Florida Everglades. The reservoir will be contained within earth and concrete walls, similar to an aboveground swimming pool- bigger than the size of Manhattan! The wetlands used to cover over 6,250 square miles, but that has shrunk by half, due to the building of homes and farms and drainage canals. Animals are at risk. The Everglades has lost 90% of its wading birds. In addition, 68 other species are considered threatened or endangered. The reservoir will help protect animals and restore natural water flow to the wetlands, near sugar cane fields, where turtles grow the size of basketballs!
photo of purple gallinule: Savannah Grandfather;
source: Associated Press staff Brian Skoloff

BIG FREE Event! Recycle Your Electronics!

Vanderbilt University, University of Memphis, and East TN State University are hosting a statewide FREE electronics recycling event May 14-17! The event will be held at the LP Field (Titans Stadium) from 9 am to 3 pm each day. Any type of computer system, printers, copiers, fax machines, TVs, cell phones, iPods and other mp3 players, game consoles, and other types of consumer and office electronics will be accepted for recycling.

• On May 14-16, the event if open to school, government institutions, and no-profit organizations (click here to register your institution)

• On May 17, the event is open to the public

More information
(photo by D'Arcy Norman)

Comics Celebrate Earth Day

On Earth Day, King Features Syndicate encouraged cartoonists to feature "green" cartoons on Earth Day. Kind Features runs comics and other features in about 5,000 newspapers around the world! Many cartoonists participated by submitting a cartoon for Earth Day last Tuesday. A few cartoonists are "green" all the time, like Alex Hallatt, whose comics are about endangered penguins and polar bears (b/w comic above.) To view these and other Earth Day cartoons: Kleefeld's blog on Comics To read more: USA Today article by David Colton

And The Winners Are!

Wow! What great participation from third, fourth, and fifth grade students. A special thanks goes to the Sign and Save members, who organized, made announcements, and judged this contest, with four of their teachers. The contest was a close one! The judges are happy to share the results of the winning posters (see right), which included a balance of information, creativity, photos, and illustration. Besides recognition on this blog, each winner is the happy winner of an ice cream gift certificate- Mmmm! Way to go, Tigers! You all did a fantastic job. Take care of your environment- Take care of your planet Earth.

photo by laffy4k

Earth Day Poster Contest!

Grades 3-5 are invited to participate in an Earth Day poster contest! You may choose any Earth Day theme and hand-draw your poster. All entries are due on Earth Day, April 22nd. The winning poster per grade will be featured on this website, and an additional ice cream gift certificate will be awarded! Join in on the fun. Celebrate our beautiful planet Earth!

photo by woodleywonderworks

Nat Geo TV

National Geographic is showing two interesting programs on Sunday night the 13th. Now that NCAA basketball is finished up, there ought to be some freed-up TV time to catch one or both of these programs! (photo by Cyron)

"Six Degrees Could Change the World" (Narrated by Alec Baldwin) 6-8pm central
NGC visualizes in spectacular high-definition the devastating ecological impact each single degree increase in temperature could have on our planet over the next century.
"Human Footprint" (two-hour world premiere) at 8pm central
Follow the lifetime consumption of an average American, from T-shirts to soda cans to laptop computers, and everything that goes into making them. The volume will shock you. This program also airs the following Sunday the 20th, 3pm Central time

Nat Geo TV Schedule

Global Warming Affects Our Health

Global warming affects our health, says a new campaign announced by the American Public Health Association. in an article from yesterday's USA Today. Many Americans are unaware of how their health could be affected by global warming. Below are excerpts from the article, including the affects predicted for the southeast (image by SoftPIX_Techie)


Global Warming, Global Health: Campaign will raise awareness
By Doyle Rice, USA Today
The connection between global warming and public health is the focus of a new campaign announced by the American Public Health Association. "There is a direct connection between climate change and the health of our nation," says the campaign's new blueprint designed to combat the health effects of climate change.

Southeast Atlantic and Gulf Coast: Hurricanes and other weather events are expected to last longer and be more intense. That would mean bigger storm surges, more damage to buildings and roads, and contaminated food and water.

"These are all problems we have today, but they will intensify with climate change," said blueprint lead author Jonathan Patz of the University of Wisconsin.

read full article

Protecting Earth's Resources

Below are excerpts from an article in the weekend edition of the Washington Post. Many experts agree that planet Earth is in danger unless we make a huge effort to protect natural resources. Might the government impose fess for things we are used to receiving for free, like clean water? Although this would be an effort to help fund the protection of our natural resources, says one environmental advocate, how would this affect the poor? (photo by aussiegall)

Earth's Sustainability Is Not Guaranteed Unless Action Is Taken to Protect Resources, Experts Say

By Shankar Vedantam

Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, March 30, 2005; Page A02

Many of the world's ecosystems are in danger and might not support future generations unless radical measures are implemented to protect and revive them, according to the most comprehensive analysis ever conducted of how the world's oceans, dry lands, forests and species interact and depend on one another.

The report was assembled by the U.N. Environment Program and included scientists from many universities and organizations,

"Human actions are depleting Earth's natural capital, putting such strain on the environment that the ability of the planet's ecosystems to sustain future generations can no longer be taken for granted," the authors said.

read full article

Kids Vote!

Scholastic Weekly Environmental Vote
Scholastic is running a weekly vote on environmental topics. Not only can you visit the site and post your vote on the issue, but you can also read all about the environmental issue so you are more informed. The votes from kids everywhere will be tallied and the results posted on Earth Day.

Ideas For Our Blog

A Poll: Are you interested in surveying our school community and seeing how many people recycle, or surveying on another topic? We can announce the poll through email and at lunch periods, asking people to visit our site and respond to our poll. I think it could be interesting to see how many people recycle.
Earth Day: Are you interested in doing an activity or presentation for Earth Day? There is an Earth Day countdown on the sidebar of our blog. Clicking the Earth Day 2008 link takes you to a site about things happening on Earth Day. We might gather ideas from this site.
A Podcast: An audio podcast is a recording that can be downloaded to your iPod or computer, and then you can listen to it, kind of like a news cast. What about making a podcast recording our thoughts on the environment, and making the podcast available for download for our friends and family? We can link to the podcast from our blog, which makes it easy for others to access.
Challenge: Now that we are familiar with how the blog works, think about how much of it you have used- have you visited the links and learned more about environmental issues- have you posted comments that talk about environmental concerns, thoughts- have you shared sites or infom0ration from particular environmental sites- and have you read through the comments posted by others and responded to them?
Visitors: Check out our visitors! Faiz, from Evergreen Primary School has said hello Please offer a warm welcome! Faiz may be able to share what environmental issues are being discussed at Evergreen school.

Welcome Students from Evergreen Primary School, Singapore

Welcome to our blog; we hope you will enjoy reading our posts and looking at the links we've found. We also want to invite you to submit responses and comments, along with other links to interesting and helpful sites you've discovered. We're interested in knowing more about you personally and about your interest in the environment and the problem of global warming.

Our state, Tennessee, just had one of the worst outbreaks of tornadoes in the past 70 years; more than 30 people were killed. Many were injured and many buildings were destroyed.

February is very early for tornado activity and it was unusual to have such powerful storms so early in the season. What's the worst type of weather you have in Singapore? Has it been worse than usual in the past few years?

Keep Up the Good Work

Save and Sign members are doing a great job. I'm very glad to see so many making the effort to get to the computer lab in the morning on Tuesday or Thursday. However, I know this isn't possible for everyone and I hope that many of you will ask for permission to get onto the blog at home so you can read it and make contributions to it. We'll be opening access to the students from Singapore in the next week or so. Think about what you might like them to know about you or to learn about your thoughts and ideas about climate change and care for the environment. Thanks, Mr. Libonn

Banning Plastic Bags

Have you heard about banning plastic bags in the news? ecokids blog from Canada has a post about China banning plastic bags. Whole Foods has announced they will be banning plastic bags. I just purchased reusable bags at Publix ($1 a bag) for my grocery adventures. At this blog, you can see a YouTube video which highlights making bags out of recyclable bags. If you start looking more closely, you will see how the global movement to recycle is right in your neighborhood.

Planet Earth

My husband received the DVD Planet Earth for his birthday. We have been watching a little of it each night. It is incredible. You'll see all kinds of different biomes, animals- even rare and endangered, knock-out scenery...plus, you'll learn a lot. If you are looking for a great gift, this would be one that really helps you appreciate our beautiful planet. It also encourages me to work just a little bit harder at protecting what we have. One step I have taken is to recycle more at home. The movie- it is expensive, but worth the cost, in my opinion.

Getting Started

You made some nice contributions to the site today- exploring what we already have, suggesting some ways we can get others to look at our site- maybe with a poll, adding a comment to a post (from Snowbird), even finding a cool video on how to make a reusable bag by recycling ordinary plastic bags. Keep up the good work and watch our Web log grow!

Welcome!

It is wonderful that you are so interested in learning more about our environment, and in communicating with others around the world on this subject. Enjoy your time at this blog. Learn a lot. Share your findings and opinions. Be positive. Remember to encourage others in their efforts when you reply to their comments. This will be a great place. Blog on :)