Wangari on the lack of making links

Quote of the Day on TreeHugger:
Wangari Maathai Speaks for the Trees

"Well, I don’t only think that the biosphere is in trouble, I know it is. I just have to look around in the environment, in which I live.

In my own part of the part of the world, I keep telling people, let us not cut trees irresponsibly. Let us not destroy especially the forested mountains. Because if you destroy the forests on these mountains, the rivers will stop flowing and the rains will become irregular and the crops will fail and you will die of hunger and starvation. Now the problem is, people don’t make those linkages."

Wangari Maathai in The 11th Hour

So lets look at the big picture!

Suzuki on GMO

The quote of the day on TreeHugger:

"We have been told that genetically engineered (GE) material just disperses in nature, but in fact, it is remarkably permanent. Biologically engineered genes and DNA have been found to persist in soil organisms, in insects, pollen, and especially water, and have been found in agricultural ditches as much as a kilometer from the original site. The antibiotic-resistant marker genes used in the process have survived digestion by cattle and even bees, and therefore post a threat of increased antibiotic resistance up and down the food chain. This is one reason why the technology is under a de facto ban in Europe. The genes themselves are not confined to the original, patented plant, but can be spread by wind or pollen to other varieties of the same crop, and even to wild relatives.

Canada is already having tremendous problems with genetically engineered canola, which has not only spread its herbicide-resistant trait to other canola, but is now affecting its many wild relatives, creating what are being termed "super weeds." The situation is so serious that one reason the Canadian Wheat Board is actively fighting the introduction of herbicide-resistant GE wheat, apart from market considerations, is that the species has many wild relatives that could forever become contaminated with herbicide resistance."

David Suzuki and Holly Dressel, Good News for a Change: How Everyday People are Helping the Planet (2003, Greystone Books).

Do I even need to comment on this?

Sustainable is cheaper than you might think

The cost of building energy efficent and otherwise sustainable buildings are not as expensive as many think. Many constructors think 17% of total cost, true value is closer to a third of that...

The UK Department of Transport has launched a site to make it easier to compare CO2 emissions from cars: Act on CO2. Browse through class, fuel and gear style. Also, suggestions for better fuel economy and lower CO2 emissions just by better driving.