Archive for June, 2008

Plastic Planet- Islands of Floating Trash in the Ocean

June 26, 2008 · Filed under environment · Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Why We Need to Stop Using So Much Plastic

 

When people throw trash in the streets, they may as well be tossing it directly into the ocean.

 

“In reality…(plastic bags and other garbage)…floats into a sewer, follows the storm drain to the ocean, then makes its way to the so-called Great Pacific Garbage Patch – a heap of debris floating in the Pacific that’s twice the size of Texas, according to marine biologists.

 

The enormous stew of trash – which consists of 80 percent plastics and weighs some 3.5 million tons, say oceanographers – floats where few people ever travel, in a no-man’s land between San Francisco and Hawaii.”- By Justin Berton, jberton@sfchronicle.com of the San Francisco Chronicle

 

Source cited:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/10/19/SS6JS8RH0.DTL

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Plague of Plastic Chokes the Seas

By Kenneth R. Weiss, Times Staff Writer -August 2, 2006


“

MIDWAY ATOLL –Midway, an atoll halfway between North America and Japan, has no industrial centers, no fast-food joints with overflowing trash cans, and only a few dozen people.
Of the 500,000 albatross chicks born here each year, about 200,000 die, mostly from dehydration or starvation. A two-year study funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency showed that chicks that died from those causes had twice as much plastic in their stomachs as those that died for other reasons.

 

 

Albatross fly hundreds of miles in their search for food for their young. Their flight paths from Midway often take them over what is perhaps the world’s largest dump: a slowly rotating mass of trash-laden water about twice the size of Texas.
This is known as the Eastern Garbage Patch, part of a system of currents called the North Pacific subtropical gyre. Located halfway between San Francisco and Hawaii, the garbage patch is an area of slack winds and sluggish currents where flotsam collects from around the Pacific, much like foam piling up in the calm center of a hot tub.

Some oceanic trash washes ashore at Midway — laundry baskets, television tubes, beach sandals, soccer balls and other discards. Nearly 90% of floating marine litter is plastic — supple, durable materials such as polyethylene and polypropylene, Styrofoam, nylon and saran. About four-fifths of marine trash comes from land, swept by wind or washed by rain off highways and city streets, down streams and rivers, and out to sea.”

 

 

Source cited: http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/la-me-ocean2aug02,0,5274274,full.story

 

**************

 

Ten Quick Ideas for what we can do with once-used plastic bags:

 

1. I found a site where the woman was making attractive handbags out of plastic bags!

 

2. Suggest that the grocery stores charge .25 for each plastic bag you want to use.

 

3. Grocery stores should give refunds of .05 for every plastic or cloth bag you bring in to reuse.

 

4. Grocery stores should sell the cloth bags to their customers for .25 each to encourage the use of cloth and recycled bags.

 

5. Every grocery or retail store should have a recycling bin for used plastic bags.

 

6. Use bags to pick up dog waste.

 

7. Use plastic bags as trash can liners.

 

8. Use the bags as packing material when shipping boxes.

 

9. Donate your used bags to a local merchant so that they can use the bags as packing material when shipping boxes.

 

10. Donate your used bags to neighbors having a yard sale so their customers can have a bag for their merchandise.

 

 

Add your inventive, original ideas to the list; let’s get thinking about how we can avoid using so much plastic!

 

Energetically Yours,

Diane Tegarden

Author:

“Getting OUT of Limbo-A Self Help Divorce Book for Women”- available at www.Amazon.com, www.Target.com and www.firewalkerpublications.com

“Light Through Shuttered Window- A Compendium of my Poetry”- available exclusively at: www.firewalkerpublications.com

“Anti-Vigilante and The Rips in Time”- available exclusively at: www.firewalkerpublications.com

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Put some Pizzazz in Your Monday Evening with Pam and Diane

June 21, 2008 · Filed under book talk · Tagged , , , ,

Anti-Vigilante and the Rips in Time

WHAT: Let’s Party with Literary Pizzazz, hosted by Pam Osbey

WHERE: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/literarypizzazz/va/2008/06/24/literary-pizzazz-welcomes-author-diane-tegarden

CALL IN# (646) 478-5460

WHEN: Mon June 23   at:  6pm PST/ 7pm MST/ 8pm CST/ 9pm EST

June is World Ocean Awareness month, and to highlight the growing concern over the scarcity of clean water Pam Osbey and I will be talking about  “Anti-Vigilante and The Rips in Time”, a science fiction novel set in the distant future with its hooks deep into renewable energy and the changing face of the planet.

In my novel, the last War on planet Earth (Terrax) was called “The World Water Wars”. In the last three years, while collecting research for my novel, I’ve documented the increase in violent conflicts worldwide over water.

Pam writes:
“Diane Tegarden writes across genres. Her latest effort delves into planet and shows how society is changed by the use of renewable energy production. She delicately explains the beauty and folly of the human condition through some innovative ideas like a “reimaging” machine that will enable people to relive emotions and experiences from their past. Throughout the book, Tegarden interjects her native spirituality, detailing some of the rituals and dances of her native faith.”

Come listen in to see what’s happening and what’s being done to resolve the water shortages, and remember to call in with your questions!

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Duke Gets Educated about Solar Power

June 19, 2008 · Filed under environment, renewable energy · Tagged , , , , ,

solar power system

Duke Plans $100M Investment in Solar Energy
By GreenBiz Staff, GreenBiz, Published June 10, 2008

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Duke Energy Carolinas wants to invest $100 million in up to 850 solar energy arrays that could sit on the rooftops of as many as 850 homes, schools, stores and factories.

The program could generate about 20 megawatts of renewable energy for a utility that is heavily dependent on coal-fired electricity from the Carolinas and Midwest. The program would increase customer bills by 25 cents or less per month.

For the rest of the article go to: http://greenerbuildings.com

***

The good news is that traditional utilities are slowly being mandated to incorporate clean, renewable technologies into their power mix. This is no doubt one of the reasons why Duke Energy Carolinas has chosen this time to invest in renewables.

In addition, the federal tax credit on the large renewable systems will run out this year, so this is the best time to take advantage of that program.

Are there any major RE projects going on in your area? Share your stories with us!

Energetically Yours, Diane Tegarden
“Getting OUT of Limbo-A Self Help Divorce Book for Women”;”Light Through
Shuttered Window- A Compendium of my Poetry”;”Anti-Vigilante and The
Rips in Time”- are available at http://www.firewalkerpublications.com

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original poem- Elementals#1 by Diane Tegarden

June 16, 2008 · Filed under book talk, environment, poetry, renewable energy · Tagged , , , , , , , , ,

 

Good morning All,

this poem is from my poetry ebook entitled “Light Through Shuttered Window”.

Elementals#1

 

I am heavy and slumbering,

depths still unknown.

My movement is constant,

changing the globe.

 

I cover the planet with thunderous noise,

my storms shake down cities,

soaking the cement spires.

 

When a river,

I hurl trees to destruction.

I toss down boulders,

swift is my current.

 

As the ocean,

I can be mirror still.

Ships may be calmed,

soundless and smooth am I.

 

Tides and currents

washing down the bones of the world,

offer pools of cool relief

on the hottest days.

 

I am filled with life,

all shapes and sizes.

I am eternal.

 

I am water.

 

 

 

I thought this poem especially appropriate today since I’m being interviewed today by Dennis Griffin about worldwide water shortages. Here are the details:

*****

WHAT:  My appearance on the “Meet The Author” Blog Talk Radio Show

HOST: Denny Griffin, Author, Blog Talk Radio Host

 

WHERE: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/dennisngriffin

CALL IN# (646) 478-0982

 

WHEN:  Monday June 16th

TIME: 8am PST/ 9am MST/ 10am CST/ 11 am EST

June is the month for World Ocean Awareness and to highlight the growing concern over the scarcity of clean water Dennis Griffin and I will be talking about  “Anti-Vigilante and The Rips in Time”, a science fiction novel set in the distant future with its hooks deep into renewable energy and the changing face of the planet.

In my novel, the last War on planet Earth (Terrax) was called “The World Water Wars”. In the last three years, while collecting research for my novel, I’ve documented the increase in violent conflicts worldwide over water.

Come listen in to see what’s happening and what’s being done to resolve the water shortages, and call in with your questions!

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Making Alternative fuel from Algae

June 12, 2008 · Filed under environment, renewable energy · Tagged , , , , , , , , , ,

Algenol Trains Algae to Turn Carbon Into Ethanol
(www.planetark.com)

“NEW YORK – Private US company Algenol plans to make ethanol from a primordial green soup that won’t raise food costs compared to other biofuel feed stocks like corn and sugar cane.

The company has signed an US$850 million deal with a Mexican company BioFields to grow algae, one of the planet’s first life forms, that has been trained to convert water, sunlight, and the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide into motor fuel.

Paul Woods, Algenol’s chief executive, said he’s known the technology for decades but that today’s record oil prices and rising alarm about global warming make it time to produce the fuel.”

For the rest of the article, go to: www.planetark.com

*******

More and more companies are investigating the use of alternative fuels, like the algae mentioned here, and switchgrass, neither of which are food crops.

Investing in alternative fuels, low emission cars and better ways to power our future will take money, but it will be worth the value when we see CO2 emissions start to decrease, giving our planet a chance to recover from the environmental damage of a coal and gas powered lifestyle.

To A Brighter Future,
Diane Tegarden
Environmental Journalist

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Converting Gas Cars to Electric Cars in our Near Future

June 11, 2008 · Filed under environment, renewable energy · Tagged , , , , , , , , ,

Japanese Automaker, U.S. Firm Team Up To Convert Cars to Electric Power
by Liu Enming, Voice of America- North Carolina, United States

[excerpt from RenewableEnergyWorld.com]
 
“Our car is very different from a gasoline car in that it uses no gasoline, it’s all electric, lithium battery and with a proprietary battery management system by Hybrid Technologies,” Ron Cerven said.

“We want to make lithium powered, electric-powered vehicles [a part of the] mainstream in America, moving towards more electric-powered vehicles, electric-powered products, and electric-powered energy.”– Linda Hill, Marketing and Public Relations Manager, Hybrid Technologies

Ron Cerven is a project development engineer at Hybrid Technologies, a research and development company focusing on electric vehicles powered by lithium batteries. The cars, like the Toyota Yaris, look like any other until you peek under the hood. Inside, the gas-powered engine has been replaced by a powerful electric motor that is powered by a stack of lithium batteries. “

For the rest of the article go to: www.renewableenergyworld.com

***

This is good news in the clean powered car sector because one of the biggest problems that EV makers have has been the life of the battery pack. With the improvements in the new lithium batteries this should extend the driving time between charges, giving drivers more miles to drive before they’d need to recharge the batteries.

The auto makers, with pressure from consumers to provide more fuel efficient and clean burning cars, are definitely coming around to a more environmentally conscious way of doing business.

Insist on green car technology and the auto makers will build them!

Energetically Yours,
Diane Tegarden
Environmental Journalist

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Sunday June 8th is World Ocean Day- the oceans are a vast reservoir of untapped power!

June 7, 2008 · Filed under book talk, environment, renewable energy · Tagged , , , , , , , , , ,

coral reef

I’m so excited, I’m going to be on the radio!!!

WHAT:  My appearance on the “Meet The Author” Blog Talk Radio Show
HOST: Denny Griffin, Author, Blog Talk Radio Host

WHERE: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/dennisngriffin
CALL IN# (646) 478-0982

WHEN:  Monday June 16th
TIME: 8am PST/ 9am MST/ 10am CST/ 11 am EST
 
Sunday June 8th is World Ocean Day, and to highlight the growing concern over the scarcity of clean water Dennis Griffin and I will be talking about  “Anti-Vigilante and The Rips in Time”, a science fiction novel set in the distant future with its hooks deep into renewable energy and the changing face of the planet.
 
In my novel, the last War on planet Earth (Terrax) was called “The World Water Wars”. In the last three years, while collecting research for my novel, I’ve documented the increase in violent conflicts worldwide over water.
 
Come listen in to see what’s happening and what’s being done to resolve the water shortages, and call in with your questions!

Energetically Yours,
Diane T.
Author, Environmental Journalist

Leave a comment »

Daily Saving Habits Add up to Big Change

June 4, 2008 · Filed under Finances and Budgeting · Tagged , , , , ,

Gold bars

Here’s my little budgeting tip:

tape your grocery coupons to your grocery list, this way you have them handy and don’t forget which brand you need to buy in order to cash in on those savings.

I average $36.00 in savings per week with coupons and club card savings, it doesn’t sound like much until you add it up; that’s $1,872.00 per year! I reward myself for this diligence by writing a check to my (interest earning) savings account for the amount I save each week, and this becomes our vacation fund.

To have coupons delivered to your computer, check out coupons.com

To The Dance!

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