If you’re a wine drinker, you’re in a powerful position.
Viticulture (the science, production and study of grapes) is a branch of the science of horticulture. “Sustainable viticulture” goes vital steps further and views the vineyard as a whole system which creates a high level quality fruit production reducing reliance on synthetic chemicals and fertilizers to protect the growers, the consumers and the environment. Many conscientious vintners ascribe to this method and produce some very fine wines while pursing a responsible higher goal. Universities and private organizations responsibly teach and encourage these practices.
What’s worse than a roaming monkey? How about a monkey that’s on-the-go because he’s been pushed out of his habitat by climate change?
Talking about White Bearded De Brazza’s monkeys, who got their name from French explorer Pierre Savorgnan de Brazza. Normally found in the wetlands of Africa, these guys have recently been spotted far from their natural homes, hiding in the forests of Kenya’s Great Rift Valley.
According to Richard Leakey, son of famed paleontologist Louis Leakey, this extremely rare migration is just one of several pieces of evidence that Africa’s climate is rapidly changing. Leakey’s peeved at African authorities, claiming they’re ignoring the crisis. He continues to urge them to take action and address the issues at hand.
The Solar Tower plant that was once constructed and successfully operated in Manzaneres, Spain, is now the prototype for Australian company Enviromission Limited’s Solar Tower plant. The 50 kilowatt tower in Spain, originally designed by Jorg Schlaich of Schlaich Bergermann Partners, ran from 1982 to 1989. Now Enviromission hopes to have their 200 megawatt scaled-up version running in Australia by 2008. So far, the location is thought to be Buronga in the Wentworth Shire of New South Wales.
Once built, it will be one of the world’s tallest structures. At 1,000 meters, its height alone makes the concept seem a bit surreal. But in reality, the plant has been proven to work and is based on some very simple and tangible principles: the greenhouse, the turbine and the chimney. The higher and wider the chimney, the greater the efficiency.
Take it from me, bamboo is the fabric for the future. This super versatile plant has long been used in construction, as a food source (for humans and pandas alike) as well as providing the raw materials for everything from chopsticks to food steamers to martial arts weaponry. Now fashion forward designers can’t enough of bamboo. Why? Well, it’s cool in summer, warm in winter, is anti-bacterial and is as soft and luxurious as cashmere. And best of all, it’s sustainable.
Seems simple to me, if the world is ninety percent water, a crucial part of preserving our environment should be the monitoring and maintaining of our oceans. However, due to the massive volume of water and inclement weather conditions, it’s almost nearly impossible to do this year round. But a possible solution may be in sight.
Enter the robotic floats that collect argo data from the ocean’s heat. First used in the Indian Ocean by Australia in ’99, there are now about 2,100 currently in use, with another 900 or so ready to dive in.
According to the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), the floats are less-compressible than seawater and therefore drift at depth. By pumping fluid from inside the float to an external bladder, they’re able to rise to the surface. When the float needs to dive, the fluid is drawn back inside, making the gadget denser than the seawater surrounding it. These floats can be deployed from ships or aircraft.
Espadrilles are so ‘80s… what, with their fussy wedges and the ties. Why not get your hands (or, shall we say, feet) on an aughty’s equivalent -– Tom’s Shoes, which are inspired by traditional Argentine footwear. They’re unisex, minimalist and most importantly, ethical. It’s simple concept really: you buy a pair of Tom’s, and Tom’s donates a pair on your behalf to a child in need.
Designer Blake Mycoskie stumbled upon the idea while traveling around Argentina. While he instantly fell in love with the culture and people, he was deeply affected by the poverty. He visited many villages without running water and where the children went without shoes, often leading to infection, disease and even death.
Pro Skater Bob Burnquist And His Friends Are Taking The Fitness Business Green. How by focusing on Fitness apparel of course. Fitness makes me think of athletic apparel. Which reminds me of the days I worked at a major athletic shoe licensee here in West L.A. The marketing director at the time always used to say “FORM FOLLOWS FUNCTION.” I never bothered to ask what it meant, although I found myself repeating it when ordering food, dating or getting new pair of pants. That’s why Wikipedia is the greatest thing ever… and the Wiki sez: “form follows function… the basic principle stating the shape of an object should be predicated or based on its intended function or purpose.”
And that got me thinking G Fitness… what would it look like if fitness followed sustainability? (An exhausting intro to an article, I know… welcome to my mind.) In my effort to answer my new question, I found the Action Sports Environmental Coalition (ASEC).
ASEC, supported by action-sports athletes, industry leaders and natural-products companies, aims to answer their own question: “What would happen if the action sports industry became a role model for sustainability?” (Fitness Follows Sustainability?). ASEC founders Frank Scura, Bob Burnquist, Jen O’Brien and Damon Way answered the call in 2001 by creating the organization. ASEC specializes in progressive eco-education and empowers people to adopt a sustainable existence in a way that embraces their current lifestyle and enhances it. Sounds totally “G” to me!
The world is changing from Global Warming, but how does this effect the communities and populations on the edges of the oceans and arctic ice sheets. How will the rising seas effect all of us?
According to the world’s scientists, sea level rise is arguably one of the world’s most important potential impacts of global climate change. This documentary explores two remote regions of the world, the Marshall Islands and the Arctic. It investigates the problems of climate change from the perspective of these two environmentally threatened cultures.
It’s good to look backwards once in a while and reflect on your journeys. This video interview with Professor Howard Zinn is one of the amazing things which have happen to us on our journey while developing G Living. This is a low quality version of the interview which I posted on youtube.com a few years ago. I will try and find the time to re-edit this interview and include the full speech Professor Zinn gave that night about the true cost of war.
CNN highlights the growing trend of using all those wasted shipping containers as building blocks for new homes. CNN producers talk with Architect Peter De Maria, a previous guest on G Living’s Room101. Peter specializes in Container based homes here in Southern California. He is even building a Container home just down the street from the G Living studios.
Architects are designing modern homes from the millions of excess shipping containers that are piling up at the port of LA due to the US trade deficit with China. By using the steel shipping containers as building material, homes can save 50% of construction costs, while reducing the waste and blight caused by trying to store them.
What happens when a carpenter / artist learns about primitive techniques of building and experiments with tree saplings as a construction material? Natural organic forms of art on a grand scale.
Internationally acclaimed sculptor Patrick Dougherty is known for large-scale installations that incorporate tree saplings. Working only with these saplings, the North Carolina based artist twists and wraps his medium to create large, organic sculptures. The surrounding environment and its given materials play a significant role in shaping his sculptures. Dougherty often uses saplings gathered near the installation site, adjusting his designs to the different ways local materials bend and respond in his hands.