Here’s a round-up of pleasant and encouraging news, with links, from around the web, taken from environmental news sites, main media sources,. You could call it happy news, but perhaps that would be an overstatement.
Below is the environmental and green good stuff reported on at a variety of green news sites since Tuesday last week. Find all my articles on this topic, with the most recent one at the top, here.
- Sweden is setting a good example for Europe and beyond, with a goal set for 50% renewable energy by 2020 and to be carbon neutral by 2050. I think this is what we need, examples of what works and the co-operation to share solutions between countries. Read more…
- Roughly half the US population lives within 50 miles of a coast. Wow! I wondered why there’s so much space and not many people here in Kansas. This gives us the opportunity to go back to using waterways as a major transportation network, allowing us to save energy. Apparently there’s a Marine Highway Bill currently under consideration, which seems like good stuff to me. Read more…
- According to TreeHugger, US seed sales are up 19%. I think it’s a good sign when people are getting involved in planting.
- At National Geographic wood is being suggested as a source of earth-friendly, green energy. We’re not talking about open fireplaces though, there’s a higher tech solution.
- The Daily Green has 35 stories of real people making a difference. Their list of nominees for the 2009 Heart of Green award includes teachers, parents, business owners, and community contributors. Do you know a green hero? At the same site you can tour a community’s local food network and see a slideshow on green going mainstream in politics.
- Several green news sites have reports up on The Maldives – the first country to pledge to go carbon neutral. They aim to do so within 10 years. Here’s the report at Yahoo News and more from New York Times.
- I don’t personally approve of the idea of growing a garden that needs regular watering. There’s plenty of scope for native plant landscaping and xeriscaping and thankfully folks in California are getting the message and planting drough resistant gardens. Sounds good to me!
- The New York Times reports on city funding for solar power in California, a Germany-inspired scheme for solar power funding being tried in Florida, and an innovative way to attract solar manufacturers in Tennessee. Let the sun shine!
- According to Newsweek America could soon out-innovate Europe and Japan when it comes to being green. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that this is not just hot air.
- The Christian Science Monitor reports on the green cities movement and no-till farming. The San Francisco Chronicle claims the bay area as the slow capital and at Mother Earth News the slow down of the economy means less trash in landfills.
- Last, but not least, live on less but love it.
Are you convinced yet that there is plenty of good news? I’m tempted to say that I’d love your recommendations for news sources outside the USA – I’m not just interested in America – but, now that I think about it, I’m not sure we can deal with any more news!
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I love hearing about good news. Thanks for doing all the hard work for us!
That was interesting to read through! I’m definitely interested in what Nat’l Geo has to say about wood. Gotta go check that out!
We’ve got to be united to save earth! Earth Hour is practised at large scale in all developed and developing countries but there has been more publicity and awareness this year, as well as participation from large corporations like http://www.commit21.com/ which is a good sign – that there is still hope and that people still care!
Let’s all do this, no matter where you are! Saturday, 28 March 2009. Lights off from 8.30pm to 9.30pm!
Nature Concern
Thanks for the reminder about Earth Hour. I am going to do this with my family.