A Campaign to Change the Course of History

FOUR YEARS. GO. is a campaign to catalyze and empower a fundamental shift in the direction of humanity, inspiring collaborative action, connecting individuals and organizations, and amplifying best practices and successes.

We are creating a global rallying cry to inspire an awareness of the urgency to shift humanity’s trajectory by 2014, before our destructive trends make that shift impossible. We are empowering individuals and organizations to set and reach goals that will cause a positive global tipping point by 2014, setting humanity on a new path toward a socially just, environmentally sustainable, and spiritually fulfilling future.

To get involved on an individual basis or as an organization, check out www.fouryearsgo.org.

Recycle Your Batteries!

Having a child, you end up with a lot of toys that require batteries and as well all know, they don’t last forever.  Buying rechargeable batteries is a great start but you still end up with old batteries. 

Recycling batteries saves them from ending up in a landfill and having acid seep into our drinking water.  Go to www.batteryrecycling.com to get your own recycling kit. 

Or check out these locations in West Virigina where you can recycle batteries for free! 

Battery Recycling in West Virginia(WV)

Used(Alkaline, Rechargeable, Lead Acid, Laptop, Phone, Car) Battery Recycling Services, Centers & Companies in West Virginia(WV)

Advance Auto Parts
Location – 5466 Big Tyler Rd Charleston, West Virginia Zip code 25313
Phone. 304 776 0771

Staples
Location – 800 Nitro Mkt. Place Charleston, WV Zip code 25313
Phone. 304 769 0200

Advance Auto Parts
Location – 315 MacCorkle Ave Charleston, WV Zip code 25303
Phone. 304 744 5060

RadioShack
Location – 965 Dunbar Village Plaza Dunbar, West Virginia Zip code 25064
Phone. 304 768 0239

Advance Auto Parts
Location – 990 Dunbar Ave Dunbar, WV Zip code 25064
Phone. 304 766 1560

West Virginia Cashin Recyclables Incorporated
Location – Pickens Rd Nitro, West Virginia Zip code 25143
Phone. 304 755 5187

Cingular Wireless
Location – 305 Great Teays Blvd Scott Depot, WV Zip code 25560
Phone. 304 757 2516

Advance Auto Parts
Location – 702 US Route 60 Cedar Grove, WV Zip code 25039
Phone. 304 595 6457

Advance Auto Parts
Location – 233 E Main Street Milton, WV Zip code 25541
Phone. 304 743 1311

RadioShack
Location – 250 State Street Madison, WV Zip code 25130
Phone. 304 369 1285

Advance Auto Parts
Location – 318 Smoot Ave Danville, WV Zip code 25053
Phone. 304 369 5390

So, the summer’s heat is bending to the fall leaves and that means it’s time to take advantage while we still can.

Here’s a quick list of great eco-friendly summer ideas to end out the season:

1.  Host a yard sale.  Get rid of that stuff in the attic you’ve forgotten about and take the proceeds to a local shelter or green up your house.

2.  Turn off the TV and get outside!  Take that hard bike ride you’ve been putting off.  You know you’ll regret it if you don’t tackle that high hill this summer.

3.  BBQ time!  Get your friends over for an end-of-summer celebration, just be sure to use all post-recyclable goods for the fare.   Check out compostablegoods.com.

Original post by greenlifestyle.com.

There’s more to camping food than hot dogs and s’mores. Here are some green camping tips for your next outdoor experience:

• Learn to leave no trace.
• Buy bulk organic foods and cook them on the greenest stove that meets your needs.
• Choose your camp stove wisely: for backpacking, Sustainable Travel International recommends the Sierrastove, a lightweight, super-efficient model that can burn pine cones, wood chips, tree bark, charcoal or any other solid fuel.
• Consider a pollution-free solar oven if you’ll be car camping.
• Pack biodegradable soap (or none at all) for cleaning up.
• Up your culinary game with Campfire Cuisine: Gourmet Recipes for the Great Outdoors by Robin Donovan

Original Post by Sierra Club.

Babies’ and children’s developing brains and bodies (especially their reproductive systems) are extraordinarily vulnerable to toxic chemicals. And children’s bodies may not metabolize and excrete toxic chemicals as readily as adults. So it’s important for our children’s long-term health that we focus on the toxic chemicals they’re exposed to, and do our best to keep them away when it matters most.

Read on to learn three important ways to raise eco-healthy kids:

1. Reduce Mom’s chemical exposures while pregnant
2. Feed your baby safely
3. Create an eco-healthy home
4. Clean greener at home

Original Post by Environmental Working Group

ACTIVITY LEVEL:
Anyone can participate but adults are required to use power tools.

ITEMS NEEDED:

• Two dark-colored 8-10 gallon plastic storage containers
• A drill and 1/4” and 1/16” drill bits
• Newsprint
• Window screening, cut in 1” x 1” squares (or you can get a window screen patch kit from your local hardware store)
• One pound of red wiggler worms (1lb = about 1,000 worms. We buy ours from unclejimswormfarm.com)

A pound of worms will eat about a half pound of food each day. This is a GREAT way to minimize the amount of food that ends up in our landfills, causing harmful methane emissions.

DIRECTIONS:

1. Drill about twenty 1/4” evenly-spaced holes in the bottom of one storage bin. These holes will be used to drain excess fluid or “worm tea” into the second bin. We don’t want worms to escape, so use a tiny bit of glue to attach the window screen squares over these holes.
2. Drill ventilation holes about 1 inch apart around the top of the same storage bin using the 1/16” drill bit. Also drill some evenly spaced holes in the top of one of the lids.
3. Worms need bedding that is moist (not soaked!) Tear newsprint into 1” strips. Run some water over it, squeeze out the excess and then fluff it up. You want to cover the bottom of the bin with about 4” of moist newsprint. Throw in a handful of soil to help the worms digest their food.
4. Add a few bricks in the second, undrilled bin. Set the first, drilled bin on top of this one. The second bin will catch any excess water or “worm tea” from the drilled bin.
5. Add the worms the top bin and cover them (and the newsprint scraps) with a small piece of damp cardboard and fasten the lid. Otherwise, worms will escape!
6. If you have your worms shipped to you, they will take a few days to get adjusted to their new surroundings. After that, you may feed them your kitchen scraps and watch them create that wonderful “black gold!”

THINGS TO REMEMBER:

• Worms multiply FAST. Within three months, a healthy colony will double in size!
• Doesn’t look like your worms are eating the food you give them? Make sure it’s on the food list, and remember they can eat the food only after it has started decomposing. So you only need to feed them every few days (in order to give the food a chance to decompose in the bin).
• Remember to keep the worms in a slightly moist environment. If they start to crawl to the top of the bin, add some dry newsprint. Eventually the worms will eat the paper, so make sure to keep a good 4” in the bin.
• Do not feed your worms ANY animal products other than egg shells. They will NOT eat meat. The best things to feed your worms are: breads & grains, cereal, coffee grounds & filter, fruits, tea bags, and vegetables. Cutting everything into tiny pieces will help speed up the process.
• To harvest the vermicompost, shine a flashlight into the bin and the worms will dig deeper. By the handful, you can scoop out the “black gold.”
• If you notice fruit flies in your bin, you need to bury your food deeper.
• If your bin starts to smell (it shouldn’t smell foul at all), make sure it is well ventilated by drilling more holes in the top bin.

http://littlegreenfamily.com/

Earth Hour Movement

On Earth Hour hundreds of millions of people around the world will come together to call for action on climate change by doing something quite simple—turning off their lights for one hour. The movement symbolizes that by working together, each of us can make a positive impact in this fight, protecting our future and that of future generations. Learn more about how Earth Hour began, what we’ve accomplished, and what is in store for 2010.
Read more ›

I’ve been trying to research new computers and how environmentally friendly they are.  Here’s what I found through Greenpeace about electronics in general.

Greenpeace first released our ‘Guide to Greener Electronics’ in August 2006. The guide ranks the 18 top manufacturers of personal computers, mobile phones, TVs and games consoles according to their policies on toxic chemicals, recycling and climate change. Last updated: January 2010

Go Green this Valentines

Valentine’s Day is a holiday celebrated on February 14 and while it has a very long history dating back hundreds of years, the scale of the occasion we have today is largely thanks (or no thanks) to marketers.

Some fast consumption related facts about Valentines day :

- Around a billion valentines are sent each year globally, making the day the second largest card-sending holiday of the year behind Christmas

- 25 percent of all seasonal cards annually are valentines

- Over 36 million heart-shaped boxes of chocolate are sold each year.

- Valentine’s Day is the top holiday for fresh flower purchases with red roses being most popular

- 10% of engagements happen on Valentine’s day

- Over 60 percent of planned to by at least one valentine last year

Those statistics come from American Greetings Corporation

Valentines Day is big business and as such has the potential to have substantial impact on the environment. For example, the one billion cards laid end to end would stretch around the world 5 times! That’s a lot of trees.

Valentines day gifts with the planet in mind

If Valentines Day is an important day for you or the one you love; then you can show a bit of extra love for the environment by carefully considering what you buy. Here’s some ideas:

- Cards made from recycled or tree-free paper (this will be indicated on the card)

- Consider sending an e-card instead using one of the many quality services around.

- Fair trade and/or organic chocolate

- Choose organic and/or locally grown flowers

- Make a donation to an environmental organization on behalf of the person.

- If you wish to give jewelry, consider pre-owned or purchasing from jewelers who are certified to be sourcing precious metals and gemstones in an ecologically and socially responsible manner. Or considering something really offbeat like a wooden ring – they look amazing.

- Buy the person a gift certificate for holistic therapies e.g. massage, naturopath, health spa.

- Arrange dinner at a local restaurant specializing in organic or locally grown food. Eating locally cuts down on food miles.

- Perhaps make dinner yourself using locally grown ingredients, accompanied by a nice organic wine. Set the mood with earth-friendly candles. The effort you put in will be sure to impress!

- Book a retreat in a wildlife reserve, park or natural area. Your business will help support the running of such establishments.

- Give natural perfumes and fragrances. Popular mainstream fragrances are chemical cocktails. By buying natural fragrances, you’ll be showing you not only care for the environment, but the person’s health.

These are just a few ideas to get you thinking, but as someone not known to be much of a romantic, I’m sure that Green Living Tips readers would have a stack of other great ideas; please add them below!

Original post by Green Living Tips.