When we picked June 4th as the launch day for HuffPost's new Green section, little did we know the Democratic nomination would be decided just the night before.
So today, as well as celebrating the culmination of a historic primary race, we here at HuffPost are also celebrating the kick-off of HuffPost Green.
Ever since we launched HuffPost, environmental issues have been a significant part of our focus -- indeed, part of our DNA. In fact, long before HuffPost was even a twinkle in our eye, I was championing, via the Detroit Project, the need to push the nation's energy policy in a more sustainable direction -- better both for our environment and our national security.
And our HuffPost community has made it clear that you are interested in learning about -- and talking about -- living in a more environmentally-friendly way.
So as we continue the Huffington Post's expansion, creating a go-to destination for the latest and most useful Green content was a logical next step.
HuffPost Green features up-to-the-minute news stories, blog posts, video, and community forums. The focus is on eco news and trends -- from the latest scientific findings and environmental legislation to the latest green lifestyle tips. The section will also feature advice on sustainable investing and highlight eco-friendly businesses such as renewable energy, green building, recycling and organics.
While bringing about real change is critically important -- we don't think going green has to be like taking your medicine. So don't expect any finger-wagging (well, not too much anyway). We're not interested in being greener-than-thou -- just greener today than yesterday. Our philosophy is pretty simple: it's not about some people doing everything, but everyone doing something to make the world a more sustainable and better place to live.
And to ensure that we are bringing you the smartest, freshest, and most useful green content, we have partnered with two of the world's premiere green media brands -- Discovery's popular sustainable-living website, TreeHugger.com, and Planet Green, Discovery's 24-hour eco-lifestyle television network.
TreeHugger will provide its blend of timely blog postings, video features, news items, and forums where users can interact. Planet Green will contribute highlights of its original green lifestyle programming -- content for people of all ages and backgrounds. And our editors will infuse this green mix with the usual HuffPost style and attitude.
So please click here to check it out. And, most importantly, send us any ideas you have for HuffPost Green, including any green news items you think our readers would like to see.
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Even though, the discussion whether global warming is caused by human activities is ongoing, it is a fact that human activities result in major environmental pollution.
Lets find solution and build the basis for a better future.
Lets fight the ignorance and change our behavior.
Lets work together for the sake of our kids
What if elections were held by starting in one corner of the country, and working around the country contiguously? This would be determined by estimating the least amount of mileage between all points needing to be covered. Put the idea of advancing transportation reforms within the confines of the campaign itself.
Roll out a couple of states a week, in six months it would be all done. The media would win, as they would have constant coverage unstead of BIG nights in which they get no sleep, and all of the states would get the same amount of attention. You could rotate the staring position of each election cycle, and come out with another variation where you start in the middle and work around.
Am I the only one who has seen this multiple jet cavorting-across-the-country media circus as being totally OBSCENE in terms of how many fossil fuels have been expended? The hell with MIchigan wanting to go first.! We need to convince the Democratic Party to take the concept of a green primary season seriously and change the order in which states participate on this basis alone.
There is so much that could be done to reform campaigning. In Jan '09, we'll have a president who is amenable to instituting some needed changes.
The voters of South Dakota on primary day approved a measure to build the first oil refinery in America in their state in over 30 years. It will create 4500 construction jobs and 1800 permanent plant jobs (in the $20-30 hr. range).......I'd again be interested in everybody's thoughts if there for or against this. Thank you.
Want jobs? How about maintaining windmills, solar photovoltaic arrays, and building batteries for the next generation of plug-in hybrid automobiles? How about retrofitting dams, for on-grid hydroelectric energy storage? How about These are far more productive and far-sighted uses for our labor.
Every effort should be made to avoid feeding more dollars into the maw of the Petroleum Monster. Unless we starve it, it will only live longer.
I look forward to expanded posts, articles, and hopefully, data boxes that would simply post such things as the world's actual temperature, the world's estimated population today and one year ago, how many barrels of oil burned a day, average water use per capita in the Northern Hemisphere compared to the Southern Hemisphere,etc. etc. These don't take much space, but they can have much impact as people pick them up and use them in their own day to day thinking and conversation.
Again, I look forward to this section.
I recently attended a seminar at the Scripps Institute of Oceanography in honor of Dave Keeling, the man behind the "Keeling Curve", developed fifty years ago. I learnt that among the scientists, any doubts that Global Warming and climate change is not related to human activity was put to rest in the 1970s. There is no such serious doubt or debate on the matter since then. Based on hard data and evidence, scientists have determined, with over 90% certainty, that the current accelerated rate of warming is directly attributable to human activity. In climate science, over 90% certainty is about as certain as one gets. That Global Warming acceleration is caused by human activity is a scientific fact.
And yet, I read posts here, and I listen to callers on radio and TV programs, of people playing scientists, oblivious to what is conclusively known, trying to substitute anecdotal accounts for scientific fact and political ideology for science.
Here's 31,000 + scientists that say you are mistaken:
http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/fpcomment/archive/2008/05/17/32-000-deniers.aspx
and here:
http://www.petitionproject.org/
And here's where you can read about how the blessed science of global warming needs a little fine tuning:
http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=525590
As for politics, here are the political views of David Suzuki the high priest of all things environmental in Canada:
"What I would challenge you to do is to put a lot of effort into trying to see whether there's a legal way of throwing our so-called leaders into jail because what they're doing is a criminal act." (not bowing in front of the alter of kyoto)
Imprisonment. Suspension of democracy, and free speech. Oh, it’s a brave new world isn’t it? The progressives don't appear to be so progressive anymore.
In so far as all morality is fundamentally based on preservation, betterment and continuation of life, there is no higher morality than environmentalism. All religions pale in comparison. Morality, when associated with religion, is limited and parochial. It is primarily focused on preservation, betterment and continuation of humans, but not all humans, only those following a particular belief system. Even when it pretends to extend beyond that parochial realm – for example, “Love thy neighbor” and “Thou shalt not kill”, religious morality is limited to human life. Environmentalism, on the other hand, encompasses preservation, betterment and continuation of all life, and, therefore, is the highest level of morality.
Furthermore, because environmentalism transcends all political, religious , racial, ethnic and national boundaries, it can bring the world together.
where did this morality begin?
I am a Realtor, and am, at this very moment of my life, studying to become a Green Realtor and an EcoBroker. Energy conservation, energy independence, working to save our very sick planet, is the direction that our society and world will take. Staying in denial will just postpone the inevitable; we owe it to our children and grandchildren to make this a better place for them to live in. Huffington Post will contribute so much by opening up this forum for open and free discussions.
Again, thank you Huffington Post...