Daily Tomorrow-An Eco-blog about green living, health and the environment

May 16th, 2008

Daily Tomorrow Looks Back at Its Favorite Five Posts

As I mentioned at Fertility Notes, I would love every post here at Daily Tomorrow to be seen noteworthy. But, if I must choose five, and it seems I must, here are the five most popular posts from the last few months:

5. Another Reason to Love Mushrooms - Bioremediation California experiments with mushrooms. It’s not what you think.

4. Greensburg, Kansas Rebuilds Itself - Completely Green Follow Greensburg, Kansas as it reconstructs itself from the ground up, and tries to live up to its name.

3. Where in the World is the Green in That? Matt Lauer Playing Carmen Sandiego = A Good “Going Green” Spokesperson for NBC? A few differing opinions on this one. There’s still time to add your thoughts.

2. Tuesday Travels: Could You Be Smart Material? Ali explores the newest Smart Cars and whether or not they would fit into America’s mindset. And lastly…

1. Friday Favorites: Caves Reveal Climate, Amazon Sighting, Eco-Friendly Tourism, Soaring Solar and More… - Months later, this one is a perennial favorite. Thanks, Ali! Hope you are doing well!

Share This

By Gabrielle -- 0 comments

May 15th, 2008

Go in Search of Your Green and Eco-Friendly Gadgets at b5media’s Technology Channel

If you’ve never paid a visit to b5’s technology channel, today would be a great day to do it. Green Day is the theme of their theme day and just look at the sites that Hilary from Eco-Friendly Driver has pulled together for you!

There’s been a huge surge in the last few years toward living “green”, being environmentally-friendly, and lessening our impact on the Earth. Purists may demand the key to this is by doing a cultural 180. Stop buying unnecessary things, use the things we do need until they are entirely worn and when we can no longer use them for what they were intended, find a way to turn them into something else. Rehome, Recycle, Reuse.

Unfortunately, that idea and technology don’t always go hand in hand. Our tools are constantly changing. Improving. Now we’re finding ways to improve on today’s gadgets for a cleaner, greener tomorrow. At Eco-Friendly Driver, this is on topic every single day, but this month it’s at the center of our Tech Channel theme. Green gadgets are popping up all over:

Lia at Gadgenista, found the most adorable phone charms I’ve seen to date. What an ingenuitive way to show our support!

Tris Hussey’s asking the question, “Is Web 2.0 Really Green?” and offers readers a surprising tip on something really easy we can do to cut back.

Juned’s talking green tech opportunities at A Feed is Born, including a few really great “green” feeds ;) and leading the search for the ultimate eco-ultraportable over at UltralightDelight.

Check out the green innovations for autos that work (and that don’t) today at EcoFriendlyDriver.

The AfterMac talks about Apple’s CSR programs for keeping green with the environment.

If you’d like to search for environmental topics of your own choosing, head to Search Engine Herald where Noel has a treat in store.

Jayvee at Cellphone9 is giving away a world’s first: the Iqua Solar Bluetooth headset! The contest is open till the end of the week — all you gotta do is leave a comment and you’re part of the raffle!

On a side note, the technology channel is offering a 15% discount promotion for Mobile Edge, a leading manufacturer of mobile accessories that include bags, sleeves and cases for your precious devices. All you need to do is enter the promo code B5Media at the checkout. Offer is valid till December 31 2008.

I obviously have my surfing cut out for me today. Hope yo, too, find some green techy treats. Enjoy!

Share This

By Gabrielle -- 0 comments

May 13th, 2008

Is Going Green Good for Your Mental Health, or Just Making Your Crazy?

Last week, I shared with you one writer’s ecophobia, a condition where he sees environmentalists as not only reveling in, but as the cause behind natural disasters. Now Fox News is highlighting a new term: Eco-Anxiety.

Fox recently interviewed Sarah Edwards, a woman dealing from Eco-Anxiety, which is

the growing angst experienced by those who can’t handle the thought that they — or anyone — are in some way contributing to global warming, species extinction and dwindling natural resources.

Now, I know what you’re thinking. Dude, it’s Fox News. Right. So, go to Sarah’s own blog to see her take on the story and the condition. She asserts that eco-anxiety is not a mental illness, but at the same time,

many people are troubled on one or more levels about what is happening with the environment.

Sarah suggests what she calls Eco-Therapy. More than getting folks to recycle or change their light bulbs,

Ecopsychology, eco-therapy, and the natural systems thinking process (NSTP) are educational and psychotherapeutic approaches for learning to live more harmoniously with oneself and one’s environment, both natural and manmade. Though they involve interacting with nature, they can be practiced virtually anywhere and do not require individuals go to a distant, remote, or wild setting, unless they choose to.

Back to Fox News:

The American Psychological Association has no official position on the merits of what it calls an emerging field.

While the validity of Eco-Therapy is being discussed, I am interested in knowing whether or not gradually shifting to a greener lifestyle has been known to have a positive impact on one’s mental well-being. I think the answer is yes. Jennifer Forbes explores this question on her blog Mental Health Minutes and judging by her reader’s comments, several feel that participating in more eco-friendly activities helps to give them peace of mind and one commenter notes: for me, cycling is an act of exercise, environmentalism AND mental salvation.

At the same time, I know that many people are turned off by the green movement because they associate it with feelings of guilt (Oh great, yet another reason for me to feel bad when I buy a bottle of water) or inadequacy (you think you’re green, well wait to you see my new eco-contraption…) or even worse, feel as if they are on the receiving end of finger pointing and blame (SUV driver! De damned!)

I don’t think it has to be that way.

I hope that you see the “new” Daily Tomorrow as a resource for green information, particularly as it relates to your own physical and mental wellness. No judging or finger pointing here. Just the facts, ma’am. And a little bit of fun infused on the way.

Tell me what you think. Is going green good for your mental health, or making you crazy?

Share This

By Gabrielle -- 1 comment

May 13th, 2008

The Health and Wellness Channel Celebrate Mental Health Month

And a big thank you goes to Alicia at Mental Health Notes for hosting this month’s theme. Be sure to visit Alicia to see a review of the first set of posts from around the channel and how they connect with your mental well being. Check  in just a bit for my contribution: Is Going Green Good for Your Mental Health, or Just Making Your Crazy?

Share This

By Gabrielle -- 0 comments

May 11th, 2008

Happy Mother’s Day from Daily Tomorrow - Moms Making a Difference

Happy Mother’s Day from the Daily Tomorrow!

While I believe our lives are influenced by everyone we meet, I do agree that moms hold some special sway. Stand up straight! Don’t talk with your mouth full! Remember to say please and thank you…..All great life lessons, for sure. Here is a small collection of moms (there are many, many more) that are also teaching their kids to live mindfully, waste less, and care for the environment so they can share it with their own set of offspring:

The Ecomom Alliance -The Ecomom Alliance believes that one of nature’s strongest forces is a network of mothers. The Alliance inspires and empowers mothers to help reduce the climate crisis and create a sustainable future. In the process, they help to alleviate the isolation and overextension so common among mothers in contemporary society.

Punkymoms.com -Punkymoms is an awesome online community that just got cooler: Punky Moms is taking a more green approach to living, or at least a more vocal green approach. In addition to purchasing renewable energy cards to off-set their energy use, they are also getting ready to launch a green campaign. Included in the campaign will be new canvas shopping bags that come with samples from eco-conscious companies, coupons, a pamphlet about conservation and more. It’s an exciting time to be green, and we’re not just talking about your hair!

Treehugging Family - Visit Jennifer and Peggy daily to see how you and your family can live the “green life.” Their blog on the b5 Lifestyles channel is chock full of great and practical household tips, product reviews (including green toys!) and tons of useful links.

Kid’s Health Notes - Another b5 blogger, this time over here at the Health and Wellness Channel, Grace often writes about to teach your young ‘uns that caring about the health of the world around them can be fun and healthy for them as well, like this great post on “reusing.”

Tell me: Who are your favorite eco-moms?

Share This

By Gabrielle -- 0 comments

May 7th, 2008

My Biggest Green Sin

This morning, I added my vote to TreeHugging Family’s newest poll which asked the question, “what is your biggest green sin?” And by noon, I showed myself to be a liar.

I had confessed that I used the printer way too much and probably more often than I actually needed. Yes, I blamed my boss for this in a previous post. I do it too.  But then I took a shower and learned that my drain was clogged. Since the drain was clogged I also learned just how much water I was using during my long, hot shower. Yikes. As I stood ankle deep in my shower stall, I realized, hmm, I’m thinking this is probably my biggest green sin. Can I vote again?

So now, I have a small but relevant step take to reduce waste in my own home. I need your advice on some next steps:

• I am in search of an eco-friendly drano-type product. Any ideas?
• In the meantime, I am thinking about using the run-off water to water my plants - does anyone have any experience with that? My soaps and shampoos are natural, but its still soap. Will my corn plant hate me forever, or will it be grateful to use water that would otherwise be wasted?

Share This

By Gabrielle -- 4 comments

May 7th, 2008

Chaiten Volcano Begins to Spew Ash (But Don’t Blame Environmentalists)

The New York Times reports that thousands of people are being evacuated from the area south of Santiago, Chile as the Chaiten volcano, dormant for two thousand years, is beginning to spew ash. Even if the activity stops here, the environmental and agricultural impact will be significant:

About 25,000 head of cattle and sheep are at imminent risk of dying, eating plants and drinking water contaminated by volcanic ash. The navy has shipped feed, and the government is beginning to evacuate some cattle from the area, but many are expected to die. Some civil engineers said they believed that the soil and plant life in the area may not recover for several decades, if at all.

“The soil in the area covered by this volume of ash deposits will be practically lost,” said Wilfredo Vera, engineer from the University of Chile. He told a Chilean radio station that “agricultural production will be virtually nil.”

When I lived in Santiago, residents were always hyper-aware of early signs of a natural occurrence of a different nature: earthquakes. Sure volcanoes were all around us, but like the article said, they were more a part of the static, not active, landscape.

If I were Colin Flaherty and had “ecophobia” as he calls it, I might be tempted to somehow pin this event on environmentalists. In a guest article in the Hernando Today (thanks, Heather, for the heads up) Flaherty explains his new disease:

I imagine environmentalists creating catastrophes all the time all over the world. I see great floods, famine, disease and death and behind each is the same thing: A grinning environmentalist reveling in the mayhem as if it were magic.

I read the entire article and honestly couldn’t decide if Flaherty’s tongue was in his cheek or not. Since he then uses the term “eco-freaks,” I’m guessing not. What do you think of Flaherty’s assessment?

Share This

By Gabrielle -- 1 comment

May 6th, 2008

Bloggers’ Choice - the Best of b5’s Health and Wellness for April

Last week, us Health and Wellness bloggers starting talking about our favorite posts from April. Before you know it, we had a nice long list of posts that we were all proud of. I’m proud to share that list with you today….

Read More

Share This

By Gabrielle -- 0 comments

May 5th, 2008

President Bush Gives Commencement in Greensburg, Kansas

On the anniversary of the event that would alter the face of its town, Greensburg residents graduated 18 high school seniors and listened to surprise commencement speaker, President George Bush. The New York Times highlights the visit in today’s edition and paints a picture of what was left post-tornado:

A new water tower rises high above denuded elm trees. New houses are springing up. The brick bank building, the only one on Main Street to survive the storm, is still standing, boarded up and vacant, next to a hole in the ground where the movie theater used to be. The old red brick schoolhouse is gone, replaced by a collection of mobile trailers — a marvel in the eyes of people who once doubted that there would be school at all.

And quotes Mayor John Janssen as to his reasons around a new city ordinance which requires all public buildings to adhere to high standards of energy efficiency:

“There were people who said we need to build it back just like it was, and I said, ‘Fine, we’ll order plywood for the windows on Main Street at the same time,’ ” he said. “But when you have a blank palette, why not do it right? And right was green.”

Share This

By Gabrielle -- 0 comments

May 5th, 2008

Study Supports PlaNYC Plans to Plant 1M Trees by 2017

Part of Greensburg, Kansas’s rebuilding plans include the encircling of the town with rows of protective trees, meant to shield the town from high winds and minimize the impact of future tornadoes.

An article in this month’s Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health explores how the prevalence of trees may benefit young children in urban areas for totally different reasons. MedPage Today reports:

Young children who live in city neighborhoods with tree-lined streets are less likely to develop asthma, but the actual protective factor remains unknown, researchers said.

Asthma rates in preschoolers would fall by 24% to 29% for every standard deviation increase in tree density, equivalent to an additional 343 trees/km

The study, which was funded by the National Institute for Environmental Health Science and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Health & Society Scholars Program did recognize that,

“Trees may help prevent asthma, either by encouraging outdoor play or through an effect on local air quality,” the researchers said. “On the other hand, trees are a source of pollen and may exacerbate asthma among children with atopic asthma.”

It’s also possible that other factors could be responsible for the protective effect, said Dr. Lovasi.

“For example, trees could be more abundant in areas that are well maintained in other ways,” she said, “leading to lower exposure to allergens like mold or cockroaches that we know are important triggers for asthma attacks.”

Even with the confounders, the study concludes that street trees were associated with a lower prevalence of early childhood asthma and looks forward to the PlaNYC sustainability initiative to offer an opportunity for a larger evaluation. PlaNYC plans to plant one million trees by the year 2017, as well as reduce emissions by 30% by 2030.

Share This

By Gabrielle -- 0 comments