Netroots Nation Through the Eyes of The Green Miles

A week overdue, here's my travelog from Netroots Nation 2008 in Austin.

I was waiting for the SuperShuttle at the airport when a horrific shriek had me jumping out of my flip-flops. It was my introduction to the great-tailed grackle. I asked an Austin resident about the birds, who told me with a scoff that they were introduced from Europe as songbirds. As was the case with Florida's love bugs, turns out locals often fall for tall tales. The grackles are native.

As much as I'd heard about Austin's BBQ, I ended up enjoying the Mexican food more. This enormous lunch from Las Manitas cost just about $10, much less than dinner at the famed Stubbs BBQ which was just OK.



Democratic Party Chairman Howard Dean arrived on Thursday in the "Register for Change" tour bus. Was a little disappointed not to hear more about climate action from the former Vermont governor. In two speeches, he only made one reference to global warming, a passing reference to creation care.

An all-star panel on energy featured two top Democratic challengers for U.S. Senate -- Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich, running against Ted Stevens, and Oregon House Speaker Jeff Merkley, running against Gordon Smith. Can you imagine those seats flipping from climate action foot-draggers to true climate activists? Interesting point from EnergySmart's Adam Siegel -- school buses use 550 million gallons of diesel fuel a year. If school districts bought hybrids to replace their aging bus fleets, America could cut that almost in half.

Al Gore made a surprise appearance to tout his plan to make America's electricity carbon-free in 10 years. But most felt Van Jones was the best speaker of the conference, presenting the need for climate action in an urgent, compelling and inclusive voice.

Early in NN08, some bloggers were grumbling about how Barack Obama wasn't scheduled to appear. Later, we learned Obama had a good excuse for not making it -- his trip to Afghanistan, Iraq, the Middle East, and Europe. I suppose that beats schmoozing the bloggers. Obama did send along a video message.

The only souvenir I splurged for on the trip -- a Texas belt buckle. Don't act like you're not jealous.







The big DailyKos-sponsored blowout was held at Austin's Maggie Mae's (props to convention organizers for making sure everything -- hotel, convention center, events -- were in walking distance, greatly reducing the need for rental cars or cabs). To go to the roof deck, you had to pour your drink into a plastic cup and toss your empty bottle into the trash. When I asked the bouncer about it, he said he was shocked when he first saw that, too, but that scavengers apparently pick the recyclables out of the trash and make a profit off of them.

Went to a reception for Glenn Nye (far right), running for Congress in Virginia's second district against Rep. Thelma Drake. I love how Thelma's website expresses her deep concern for the future of the Chesapeake Bay but search for either global warming or climate and you'll get "No documents matched your query." Saying you're concerned about the Bay but not worried by climate change is like saying you're concerned about your car failing to start but not worried about the battery.

Got to go see the bats emerge from underneath Austin's Congress Avenue Bridge. It's not an overwhelming force of nature or anything, but it is a pretty cool sight. It takes about 10 minutes for all the bats (up to 1.5 million of them) to come out, forming clouds off in the distance.

Gathered to watch the bats in the lounge of the nearby Four Seasons. It features the Batini, which claims to be the official drink of Austin. Blackberries, grapefruit juice, vodka and champagne. Tasted pretty good, but the presentation was obviously key, featuring a blackberry with mint "wings."

More great food -- chorizo and cheese with corn tortillas and not one but two Dos Equis. When I ordered a Dos Equis, the waitress said, "Amber or lager?" One of my friends blurted out, "BOTH! Get both!" So I went along with the gag. Yes, my friends are easily amused.






Finally, my favorite part of the trip -- Fat Tire everywhere! Before I arrived, I hadn't realized I'd be west of the Mississippi River where New Belgium's sustainable beer is available, but I was thrilled to find it on tap just about everywhere we went.

McCain Staff: Oil Drilling 'The Right Thing for the Environment'

From the White House to Congress, Republicans are pushing to open more of America's public lands and waters to Big Oil, letting them drill for more fossil fuels to help keep America addicted.

I've heard lots of outlandish arguments from drilling proponents, particularly Rep. Michele Bachmann. She's falsely claimed that drilling would cut gas prices in half (even the Bush administration admits it would cut prices a few cents at most) and that the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is as lifeless as the surface of the Moon (the threatened polar bears that live there would beg to differ).

But John McCain's senior policy advisers Douglas Holtz-Eakin and Nancy Pfotenhauer might take the cake:

"This [offshore drilling] is the right thing for the economy, it is the right thing for national security. And, as [McCain] is always committed to pursuing these endeavors in an environmentally friendly way, it's the right thing for the environment in the long run as well," said Holtz-Eakin. [...]

Pfotenhauer argued that yesterday's [Mississippi River oil] spill wasn't at all related to drilling -- even though one would assume the 420,000 gallons of fuel oil that were dumped into the river had to come out of the ground somehow.

Drilling comes with enormous risk of spills (like this week's) and disturbs surrounding wildlife. And what does Holtz-Eakin think we're going to do with that oil once it's out of the ground? Use it to grease our bike wheels as we toot around town in a carbon-free manner? Every gallon of gas produced will turn into 20 pounds of global warming pollution when burned.

Of course, if we'd raised gas taxes as economists like Robert Samuelson has been arguing for years, the money we're paying at the pump could be going to fix our failing roads and bridges. But instead, friends of oil companies fought to keep gas taxes low as prices climbed. Doesn't it looks silly now that people were claiming at $2 a gallon we couldn't raise gas taxes because it would break the backs of working people? Now we're at $4+ and still rising. Great plan, guys.

So now we have the worst of both worlds -- high prices at the pump and virtually all of our money going straight to Big Oil. Isn't it time to abandon our drill-and-burn policies and start encouraging some alternatives?

The Green Miles on Grist

Sorry I haven't been posting this week, been playing catch up at the office after my trip to Netroots Nation. But I've had a couple of posts on Grist.org's "Gristmill" blog this week. Here are the links:

Wait till next year: Netroots Nation pledges to cut footprint ... in 2009

Newt's got a song: Will Washington buy his brand of snake oil?

Al Gore on Meet the Press

I didn't get to watch Al Gore on Sunday's Meet the Press as I was listening to Van Jones speak at Netroots Nation '08. However, Dave Roberts at Grist watched and it sounds like Tom Brokaw should've stayed retired:

Brokaw had the ... gall? idiocy? ... to ask why the Democratic Congress had not passed any sweeping energy proposals. Gore pointed out that if you can't get 60 votes, you can't overcome a filibuster in the Senate and nothing gets done. Brokaw responded with this: "But you can put it on the agenda and try to move the country."

Could you scream? There were probably a dozen agenda-setting, country-moving bills that floated around Congress this year to establish a carbon cap, removed oil subsidies, fund renewables, increase efficiency standards, etc. etc. etc. Republicans killed them. Does Tom Brokaw really not understand that?

Then he pestered Gore to condemn Hillary Clinton -- who's no longer in the race -- for proposing a gas tax holiday, without so much as mentioning that John McCain -- who's still in the race -- is still supporting one. [Rips hair out.]

Yeesh. Makes me not want to check out the clips/transcript and see how bad it was. I'm back in Arlington and it's bedtime, but maybe I'll review the carnage tomorrow.

Zap That Sunday Morning Hangover with Clean Energy

Tom Brokaw's guest on Sunday's edition of Meet the Press - Al Gore.

The Quintessential Picture of Netroots Nation

Blackberries and booze.

Who Needs The Dark Knight? Austin Has REAL Bats.

Did you know that in the summertime, there are more bats than people in Austin? Up to 1.5 million of them spend the summer under the Congress Ave Bridge, emerging each night to suck the blood of the unsuspecting tourists that locals tricked into gathering nearby.

Just kidding! LOL! And also ROTFL! The Green Miles is only pulling your leg. They actually eat insects -- up to 20,000 pounds of them a night (more on the bats & their bridge here).

I hear they're quite a sight when they emerge from under the bridge each evening, so I'm going to check them out Friday night while I'm here in Austin for Netroots Nation. The Four Seasons lounge apparently has a great view, even offering a Batini cocktail, which is allegedly "the official drink of Austin."

The Four Seasons concierge desk keeps track of when the bats come out and estimates Friday's show will take place around 8-8:15pm. If you're at Netroots and want to join us, email me!

Gore Calls for Clean Energy "Moon Shot"

Congress has so far refused to set a mandatory national renewable electricity goal. Al Gore would like to make a suggestion - 100 percent:

To meet his 10-year goal, Gore said nuclear energy output would continue at current levels while the nation dramatically increases its use of solar, wind, geothermal and so-called clean coal energy. Huge investments must also be made in technologies that reduce energy waste and link existing grids, he said.

If the nation fails to act, the cost of oil will continue to rise as fast-growing China and India increase demand, Gore said. Sustained addiction to oil also will place the nation at the mercy of oil-producing regimes, he said, and the globe would suffer irreparable harm.

One weird part of the article - the AP's Ron Fournier oddly references "ozone-killing" coal plants and never mentions carbon dioxide, the primary greenhouse gas pollutant. Does Fournier think ozone depletion is what causes global warming? Strange. Fournier was recently in the news when his sycophantic, pro-war, overtly-religious emails with Karl Rove were revealed.

As The Hill reports, Republican leaders are already responding to Gore's call for bold leadership by ... pandering on gas prices. Way to step up, guys. But who comes to Gore's defense? Virginia's own Rep. Rick Boucher, who says, “Those who oppose a climate control measure will make the argument that it should not be considered at a time of high energy prices, but that is a bogus argument.” Nice job, Rick!

Cross-posted from RK

Now That's an Excessive Package: Netroots Nation Schwag Bag

Product: Netroots Nation registration bag

Approximate weight: 5 pounds

Percent suitable for recycling: 80

Most recyclable item: Salsa-flavored tortilla chips from Wired for Change (already eaten)

Most interesting item: Condom from Center for Constitutional Rights

Item most prone to waste: Small t-shirt from One.org, which if I wasn't a damn dirty hippie would go right in the trash, but since I'm a treehugger I'll follow the instructions to go to the One.org booth to trade in the shirt for my proper size

Full credit for coining term "Schwag Bag": Meghan from WakeUpWalMart.com

The Green Miles' level of disappointment Netroots Nation didn't do anything at all to make their Schwag Bag less wasteful/more sustainable: 100 percent

I'm Just Keepin' It Weird, Yo: Heading to Austin for Netroots Nation

The Green Miles is at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport right now. I’m on my way to Austin for Netroots Nation, a blogger convention (formerly known as YearlyKos).

The second leg of this trip will be my fourth flight in five days. I take the train or drive as much as I can on personal and business trips to keep my carbon footprint to a minimum, but some flights are unavoidable. While doing the jet-setter thing, I do what I can to at least minimize waste, bringing my reusable coffee mug and downloading articles to read rather than buying newspapers and magazines. I also ask flight attendants if they recycle cans and paper, if not taking them with me into the airport, which usually offer recycling these days.

From an environmental perspective, I actually find the view from high up to be heartening. For all the wide highways and sprawling cul-de-sacs scarring the suburban landscapes as you take off and land, there remain vast expanses of forest and rolling hills untouched by development. And from 20,000 feet, it’s nice notice that among of the few identifiable man-made structures below are baseball diamonds.

I’ll be spending most of my time at Netroots Nation on the job for the National Wildlife Federation, but I’ll try to post interesting tidbits here as time permits. Considering how much time liberal blogs tend to spend focused on political races and Iraq, I was pleasantly surprised to see how many environmental sessions are on the agenda.

And with the Democratic National Convention putting so much effort into going green, I’ll be watching to see how well Netroots minimizes its environmental impact. Will they give me a big bag full of junk when I get there? Will the convention site and hotel offer recycling?

Colorado Senator Slams Bush's Oil Shale Fantasy

Sen. Ken Salazar (D-CO) has a great op-ed in the Washington Post today on the false promise of oil shale:

Bush and his fellow oil shale boosters claim that if only Western communities would stand aside, energy companies could begin extracting more than 500 billion barrels of recoverable oil from domestic shale deposits. If only the federal government immediately offered even more public lands for development, the technology to extract oil from rock would suddenly ripen, oil supplies would rise and gas prices would fall.

If only.

Since the 19th century, we in the West have been trying to extract oil from the vast oil shale riches that lie under our feet. It is no easy task, and past efforts have failed miserably. Commercial oil shale development would require not only immense financial investments but also an undetermined quantity of (scarce) water from the Colorado River basin and the construction of several multibillion-dollar power plants.

Sen. Salazar goes on to point out "that oil would not come easily. It would take around one ton of rock to produce enough fuel to last the average car two weeks." ThinkProgress has a great analogy about the amount of energy stored in all of our oil shale: Think of it like a trillion tons of tater tots.

So how can we tackle our energy problems? How about recharging America's economy with renewable power and energy efficient technology?

Airport Security Gets a Shade Greener

At Baltimore Washington International Airport this weekend, I noticed there are now recycling bins outside the x-ray machines! After the Transportation Security Administration implemented a rule banning containers of liquid larger than three ounces, piles of plastic bottles in trash cans just outside the screening area were commonplace. Nice to see that's finally being addressed, at least at BWI.

I thought about trying to take a cell phone camera picture for posting here, but I didn't feel like getting pulled out of line for the full body cavity search. I hope you can understand.

A Friday Afternoon Distraction

For those of you struggling to make it through the final hours of the work day, here's something to keep you from doing that pesky work: National Geographic's Recycle Roundup game.

New & Noteworthy Links from Virginia and Beyond

Thought I'd highlight a few additions and updates from The Green Links:

• Not sure why Bacon's Rebellion wasn't on The Green Links already, but consider the oversight fixed. It mainly covers Virginia growth and transportation issues from a fiscally conservative slant but tends to avoid easy categorization, always a good thing.
  
  
• Based out of Cleveland, Black and Into Green looks at sustainability from an African-American perspective.
  
  
• Recently stumbled across Gaiam, a green lifestyle company offering eco-friendly products.
  
  
• Girasol, Arlington's bilingual dog blogger, survived the 4th reporting, "I’m still afraid of the fireworks but my hiding place is under the bed."
  
  
• New Belgium Brewing has launched a new blog called The Tinkerer.
  
  
• From the Prince William Conservation Alliance comes Your Piece of the Planet.
  
  
• Virescent details an Alexandria resident's efforts to live more sustainably.

And over at NBC4.com, Wendy Rieger's Green Room seemed to fade for a bit, but it's back and looks better than ever. Here's a recent tidbit about an attempt to use a green strategy to tackle her ant problem:

Last night I tried an “organic” solution. I sprinkled cinnamon along the window sill where they were marching in and bam! They stopped. It seemed to horrify them. They woudn’t go near it! They became quit distressed by the presence of this amber powder. Amazing.

I read that lemon peel and cayenne pepper have the same effect. This morning when I woke up the kitchen had a sweet smell of cinnamon and there weren’t any ants around. Problem apparently solved.

Although now I have a nagging desire for rice pudding. Or flan. French toast. Or maybe some pie. Or what’s that thing with the bananas in warmed butter with brown sugar and cinnamon? I could eat that right now. Snickerdoodles … mmmm.

Maybe I should go get some more Windex.

Any great websites and blogs that haven't made The Green Links? Post them in comments!

Now That's an Excessive Package: Cell Phone Accessories

Product: Cell phone case and earpiece for Verizon cell phone
Purchased from: Amazon.com
Approximate weight of packaging: 1 pound
Percent of packaging suitable for recycling: Less than 10
Does The Green Miles regret switching to Verizon considering it took three weeks to figure out how to get this picture from his phone to his computer: Yes

Now That's an Excessive Package: Nintendo Wii

Product: Nintendo Wii and extra remote control
Approximate weight of packaging: 2 pounds
Percent of packaging suitable for recycling: 50
Does The Green Miles wear those Syracuse Orange Crocs out of the house/backyard: No

Nintendo also ranked low on a recent environmental scorecard form Greenpeace.

Car Talk Guys to GM: "Why Do You Make Such Shit?"

I was catching up on old podcasts of NPR's Car Talk and heard the Magliozzi brothers mention a recent appearance on PBS. The program NOVA sent Click and Clack in search of the Car of the Future. The whole show is worth checking out, especially if you're new to phenomenal concepts like plug-in hybrids and questionable concepts like biofuels and hydrogen cars.

But this exchange in segment 6 really sums up the program. A GM rep is walking the guys through a car show, trying to show off the Chevy Volt:

RAY MAGLIOZZI: It's right next to the Ford Mustang with 550 horsepower.

BETH LOWERY: Yes. And the Camaro convertible. Isn't that great?

RAY MAGLIOZZI: Yeah.

BETH LOWERY: America is all about choice. If you want a Camaro, buy a Camaro.

RAY MAGLIOZZI: But if we're about hugging trees ...

TOM MAGLIOZZI: With 500 horsepower? Who the hell needs 500 horsepower?

BETH LOWERY: Obviously not you.

TOM MAGLIOZZI: Why do you make such shit? I mean it's ridiculous!

BETH LOWERY: You mean these popular vehicles that are on the floor?

TOM MAGLIOZZI: Yeah, these popular vehicles. Five hundred horsepower ... jeez!

BETH LOWERY: It creates a little excitement, doesn't it?

RAY MAGLIOZZI: You're good, Beth.

TOM MAGLIOZZI: Thanks a million.

RAY MAGLIOZZI: Thanks for your time.

BETH LOWERY: Thanks.

RAY MAGLIOZZI: Sorry for giving you a hard time.

BETH LOWERY: That's okay. I'm used to it.

Despite all their commercials with green trees and blue skies and cheery kids, GM makes clear that all that good corporate citizenship stuff is just greenwashing. They have only one goal -- making as much money as possible.

So the Tappett Brothers come to the conclusion that if we want to cut our gas bills, increase our energy security, and curb the worst effects of global warming, we need government incentives. All the futuristic cars in the world won't matter unless we have the right carrots and sticks to prompt the car industry to make them and consumers to buy them.

Deeds: Four More Years of Kaine's Environmental Policies?

Just noticed this on Creigh Deeds' website:

Today he's working with Governor Tim Kaine to keep Virginia moving forward with an energy policy that will cut greenhouse gases by 30 percent over the next two decades and a pre-kindergarten program that will put children on the path to success from the start.

Does Creigh Deeds really think Old Kaine Coal is the model of gubernatorial green? Apparently so, since he's picking up Kaine's false advertising about his energy plan. As Lowell has explained many times, Kaine's Virginia Energy Plan would only cut greenhouse gas emissions 7 percent by 2025.

I don't mean to single out Deeds. At least Deeds has a page dedicated to environmental issues. But neither his site nor Brian Moran's site offer any sort of defined policy goals for protecting consumers from rising energy bills or easing our growing dependence on imported fossil fuels. Polls show Deeds and Moran evenly matched and Kaine's numbers slipping. Meanwhile, Bob McDonnell's site clearly lays out his a campaign strategy of trying to terrify Virginians into voting for him.

Yet still, Deeds and Moran seem united behind the energy policies of the past. Will one of the contenders stand out from the crowd by following Barack Obama's lead on clean energy?

Cross-posted from RK

Convergent Evolution: Obama & Timberland

From Biology Online:

convergent evolution

noun

1. a kind of evolution wherein organisms evolve structures that have similar (analogous) structures or functions in spite of their evolutionary ancestors being very dissimilar or unrelated

Barack Obama's organic cotton t-shirt commemorating the Sierra Club's endorsement:

Timberland's logo:

Quick (Recycled) Tips for a Green Fourth

The Green Miles did a post last year on being green while celebrating Independence Day. Not my best post ever, but in the interests of reduce/reuse/recycle (and since I don't have time to update it this year), if you're looking for tips for a sustainable Fourth, go check it out!

Suggested Theme Song for Gov. Kaine

Just finished writing up a post over at RK on the major coal plant ruling in Georgia. I should be happy that it dramatically increases the likelihood the planned Wise County coal-fired power plant will be blocked. The Wise County plant's permits allow for unlimited carbon dioxide emissions, which the Georgia judge ruled are a no-no under Massachusetts vs. EPA.

But it's a lose-lose-lose situation. Wise County doesn't get the jobs. Virginia's clean energy future remains murky. And we're no closer to global warming solutions.

As for Gov. Tim Kaine, a year ago, I hoped to convince him to change his mind on the Wise County plant. But he only dug in his heels deeper. That seems to be his style. He's a brawler. He doesn't want to be persuaded - he'll show you who's boss.

Now it looks like he'll go down with the ship on Wise County. And I can't be happy about that, either. As I got to the last paragraph of that RK post thinking about Kaine's legacy, Coldplay's Viva la Vida kept playing in my head. "I used to rule the world ..."

Opportunity Lost: Virginia Dems & the Wise Co. Power Plant

Virginia's Air Pollution Control Board last week approved Dominion's permit to build a coal-fired power plant in Wise County. You can read a first-hand account at the Chesapeake Climate Action Network's blog. The Southern Environmental Law Center has vowed to continue the fight against the Wise County plant in court.

The biggest losers are Virginia consumers who will now have to pay high costs in both the short term and long run. In the short term, we'll be paying at least $1.8 billion to build the plant. And in the long term, we'll bear the burden of skyrocketing coal prices along with any national carbon pricing.

But the plant decision also represents a huge opportunity lost for Virginia's leading Democrats:

• Opportunity lost for Gov. Tim Kaine, a relentless cheerleader for Dominion and coal who has seen his national standing tarnished and his statewide approval rating drop to 46 percent. There are many factors to Kaine's plummeting popularity like the ongoing gridlock on transportation solutions and his signing of the estate tax repeal. But his have-it-both-ways environmental stance - talking tough but refusing to take a stand on coal - has managed to tick off everyone, angering both flat-Earth conservatives and climate activist liberals.
  
  
• Opportunity lost for U.S. Senate candidate Mark Warner, who put forth a strong energy plan but passed on an opportunity to put his principles into action. Warner instead pandered on the power plant while in southwest Virginia, calling it the proposed plant "an economic engine for the whole region" even though the SCC has said the plant would result in a net loss statewide of 1,474 jobs. Is Warner a Kaine clone - saying one thing in Northern Virginia and another down south?
  
  
• Opportunity lost for gubernatorial candidates Creigh Deeds and Brian Moran, who've chosen to stay completely silent on the most critical environmental issue our state has faced this year. Environmentalists fought hard to elect Tim Kaine, only to see him take environmental stances so soft they should be served in a mini-helmet covered in strawberry sauce and walnuts. Why should environmentalists bother fighting for either Deeds or Moran if they side with Dominion and coal over clean energy and climate action?

If Virginia Republicans were savvy, they could follow the models of Gov. Charlie Crist (R-FL) and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R-CA), using environmental issues to win over moderate voters. But they're much too busy targeting immigrant families, trying to ban all abortions, and blocking funding for transportation solutions.

Daily Show: McCain Submits to Higher Power - ExxonMobil

How Are Rising Gas Prices Impacting EnviroCAB?

With gas now averaging $4.07 nationally, I thought I'd check in with enviroCAB. Are their drivers glad they made the switch to hybrids when they did? Here's what an enviroCAB rep wrote back:

I think the rising cost of gas is just showing everyone that going green does not have to be a financial impairment. A few weeks ago I was talking with a driver of a traditional taxi, he said that he spends about $65 a day on gasoline. Even with the $1 fuel surcharge he was still struggling to make money. Meanwhile, our drivers are typically spending $35 dollars a day to drive the same amount of miles.

I would say that typically our drivers are the happiest around. They are helping to build this business from the ground up. When they see that we are taking on more and more corporate accounts, and they have the same customers calling everyday because they refuse to ride in anything but an enviroCAB, its must give them a great sense of ownership and accomplishment.

Have you added enviroCAB to your cell phone contacts yet? If not, do it right now so you have it whenever you need a cab. The number is (703) 920-3333.

ESPN on the Most Polluted Olympics Ever

While China maintains the air quality in Beijing will be acceptable for the Summer Games in August, extensive environmental concerns persist. The New York Times reports, "Independent scientists who have sampled Beijing’s air have said levels of ozone and particulate matter from diesel engines remain five times as high as maximum standards set by the World Health Organization.

But a Beijing environmental official urged the reporter, "Just tell everybody they don't have to worry." OK? Everybody just calm down. China says there's nothing to worry about. (Of course, China also says this never happened.)

ESPN's "Outside the Lines" reported this week that concerns about poor performance in the polluted air are running so high, Olympic officials have taken the unusual step of informing athletes that the games are about the "spirit of competition," not breaking records.

Here's a snippet:

Ask The Green Miles: Recycling VHS Tapes

Jennifer asks:

I have several VHS tapes - movies and some blanks.
What do you think is the best way to recycle them? Thanks!

First of all, The Green Miles strongly recommends carrying at least five VHS tapes on you at all times in case you're stranded on a deserted island. Could come in handy.

It doesn't look like there's any easy way for consumers to recycle small quantities of VHS tapes. I'm just guessing here, but I'd think there are just too many different types of plastic, metal and chemicals in too small a package to make it worthwhile.

However, that doesn't mean you can't give the tapes new life. The website eHow has several recommendations for donating old tapes to places that can get more use of out them.

And for really creative folks, MyRecycledBags.com offers instructions for using the tape itself to make a crocheted sling bag.

UPDATE 6/30: Just heard about this option for businesses or apartment/condo complexes -- the GreenDisk Tecnhotrash can.

The Green Miles Turns Two

Welcome to The Green Miles' second birthday party! Sorry, but as usual, my one-year-old self ate all the cake.

My first post was a review of An Inconvenient Truth. It seems almost surprising that the movie only came out that long ago considering how much has changed in the global warming debate since then. We've gone from debating whether warming is happening to whether it's our fault to what we need to do about it.

Over the last two years I've slowly gotten the hang of blogging and readership has grown as a result. So if you're relatively new to reading The Green Miles, here are a few tips to getting the most out of it:

• You can subscribe to The Green Miles thanks to FeedBurner.
• What happens to a site or article I like but don't have time to write a whole blog post about? It's added to the del.icio.us box on the right side of the page.
• You can also follow what I'm reading by adding me as a friend at Digg or StumbleUpon.
• I update the The Green Links about once a month, adding new pages as I find them and deleting dead links or abandoned blogs. Any suggestions for better organizing the links or do you like them the way they are as one long list?
• The Green Miles doesn't accept ads and has no plans to.
  
• Donate to The Green Miles' favorite nonprofit, Arlingtonians for a Clean Environment, through the SixDegrees.org box. A $20 donation will get you a one-year individual membership.

Can you expect any changes over the next year? Even though I'm blogging more at other places like RK, I'll always keep The Green Miles going, though you might see a slight increase in half-assed posts. But I actually find the busier I am outside The Green Miles, the more I post. I wind up getting more ideas and want to get them up here.

The biggest change over the next year will be a subtle one. I've upgraded my cell phone, so you should see much better quality photos here.

As always, thanks for reading. If you didn't keep coming back, I wouldn't keep writing. The visits, comments and emails are what get me to wake up early before work and fire up the organic coffee to get a post going!

Genuine or Greenwashing: Nats Organic Cotton Cap Day

The Chesapeake Climate Action Network just launched a new campaign highlighting ExxonMobil's extensive sponsorship of the Washington Nationals and their new ballpark.

The Green Miles wasn't sure how to react at first. After all, the Nationals have one of the greenest ballparks in the majors. Should being a green business mean you can't make as much money as you can off ads?

Fortunately, the Nationals and ExxonMobil decided to make my decision for me. They're partnering on one of the most blatant examples of greenwashing I've ever seen:

Nats Conversion Day
June 29 vs. Baltimore - 1:35 PM
Bring in any MLB team merchandise and trade it in for a Nationals hat made from organically-grown cotton. One hat per person, while supplies last.
Presented by ExxonMobil

It's recycling old merchandise! And the hats are made with organic cotton! What could be more green than that? Pay no attention to the fact that it's sponsored by one of the least moral corporations in the history of the planet!

And when I say least moral, I'm not just talking about ExxonMobil's ongoing leadership role in denying global warming and blocking climate action. Just check out ExxonMobil's Wikipedia entry. Environmental abuses galore, sure. But also shady foreign business practices. Supporting human rights abuses. A zero score on gay issues from the Human Rights Campaign.

Learn more at StrikeOutExxon.org.

This Is What I Get For Wine Shopping While Thirsty

I recently made a trip down to Broad Run, VA to visit Pearmund Cellars, a sustainable winery (more on their green features here). Pearmund was donating a bottle of their Ameritage Reserve, two Pearmund wine glasses and some free tasting certificates to the Arlingtonians for a Clean Environment 30th Anniversary event.

So The Green Miles generously agreed to go down and pick up the donation. And drink some wine. Anything for a good cause, right?

As regular readers know, I tend to stick to beer, but apparently I'm going to be drinking lots of wine this summer, because I walked out of Pearmund with a full case of wine. Note to friends of The Green Miles - I'm going to need help drinking it. I know I can count on your support during these trying times.

My favorites? For red, I'd go with the Ameritage. But on a hot summer night, I'd definitely pick their Sauvignon Blanc.

But why take my word for it? A tasting's only $5 per person and Pearmund is a beautiful 45-minute drive from Arlington. To continue your wine tasting over dinner, check out Iron Bridge Wine Co. in neighboring Warrenton.

It's Not Illegal Dumping If It's At The Recycling Center, Right?

I've seen piles of non-recyclables left next to the trash at the recycling center, but this takes the cake. Someone left what looks to be most of a home or office at the recycling center on N. Quincy between Wilson and Glebe: It wouldn't be nearly so comical if it wasn't so carefully constructed. I can almost picture the late great Johnnie Cochran making his Chewbacca Defense-style closing argument now:

Note that the items on the right are meticulously leaned up against the trash can -- because as everyone knows, it's not illegal dumping if it's in contact with the trash can. That giant chair is no different than the gum wrapper at the bottom of the can!

And then since everything else is in physical contact with the first items in a chain, everything counts as trash! Clearly not illegal dumping! Am I right, people? Who's with me? Here, look at the monkey. Look at the silly monkey!

To learn more about proper recycling, visit the site of Arlington County's recycling programs.

The Benefits of Working Late

While Monday's thunderstorms rolled through, I decided to work late and give I66 a chance to clear out. Not only did I get a smooth ride home, I got an extra show in the empty office parking lot out in Reston. The family of groundhogs that lives behind our office waddled past and a couple of rabbits came hopping by:

Wednesdays: Organic Beer Happy Hour in Shirlington

My immediate reaction to reading about Busboys & Poets' organic beer happy hour was, "How have I not heard about this yet???":

If you want to sample organic ale without the high price tag, Busboys and Poets in Shirlington hosts its Organic Beer Happy Hour every Wednesday. You can try Wolaver's Organic, Peak Organic, Stone Mill Pale Ale and (for those concerned with drinking locally) Baltimore's Clipper City ales.

The happy hour got started last December when Silver Spring-based author Christopher Mark O'Brien arrived for a talk about his book, "Fermenting Revolution: How to Drink Beer and Save the World." The talk was followed by a signing and organic beer tasting, which garnered such a positive response that Busboys has been running the weekly happy hour ever since -- and they don't sell these beers otherwise, so the only time you can get them is at the happy hour. Unfortunately for city mice, there are no plans for the event to migrate to the D.C. location.

$4 beers (bottles). Wednesdays, 4-7 p.m. Busboys and Poets, 4251 S. Campbell Ave., Arlington. 703-379-9756.

I'd recommend all of those beers except Stone Mill, which I'm neutral on. It's organic but is brewed by Anheuser-Busch and shipped in from California. Read more about sustainable beer options here.

Nice to know that even after blogging for nearly two years, there are still hidden gems out there for The Green Miles to discover!

Secretive Kaine Air Pollution Control Board Letter Revealed

After days of mysterious reports and devastating condemnations, Gov. Kaine's full letter to Virginia Air Pollution Control Board members has finally hit the net.

As has been reported, it couldn't be more vaguely worded. Kaine writes that he wants to provide "clear direction on my expectations," yet never actually references Dominion's proposed 585-megawatt, $1.8 billion coal-fired power plant in Wise County. Kaine also never says what form of air pollution he's so concerned about. As for what prompted the letter, Kaine only makes a murky reference to "recent reports."

In fact, the letter really only makes one thing clear - board members should do as Kaine directs them. The governor uses some form of the word "direct" seven times in a ten-sentence letter.

Let's review the expected annual emissions from the proposed plant:

- 5.3 million tons of carbon dioxide
- 4,132 tons of carbon monoxide
- 3,369 tons of sulfur dioxide
- 1,971 tons of nitrogen oxides
- 739 tons of particulate matter
- 139 tons of volatile organic compounds
- Up to 72 pounds of mercury

And we're supposed to believe this is "clean coal"? Right. As Cale Jaffe of the Southern Environmental Law Center said today, "If the issue is about enforcing the 'existing regulatory framework' as Gov. Kaine says, then this plant should not come close to getting permitted."

An Air Pollution Control Board hearing on the plant is set for next week in Wise Co. Learn more at CCAN's website.

Cross-posted from RK

Bristol Herald Courier: Kaine "Knee-Deep in the Muck"

UPDATE 4:40pm: Find the full text of the letter and more at RK.

Gov. Kaine has already sacrificed huge amounts of credibility to go to bat for Dominion Virginia Power, cheerleading unrestrained dependence on coal even in the face of proposed massive rate increases.

But today, the Bristol Herald Courier says Kaine has reached a new low:

For some months, Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine has carefully stayed out of the controversy surrounding Dominion Power Co.’s proposed coal-fired plant in Wise County.

No more. The governor is knee-deep in the muck – firing off an opaquely worded letter to the state Air Pollution Control Board that nudges the panel to give the plant its stamp of approval.

Kaine shrewdly avoids issuing a direct executive command, but the implications of his letter are clear. The five-member citizen panel had better not stand in Dominion’s way. [...]

Kaine drafted the letter to the board June 10. A day later, his communications director, Gordon Hickey, denied that such a letter existed. On Friday, Hickey said he didn’t learn of the letter until after he spoke with this newspaper. [...]

It seems likely that Kaine wanted to influence the Air Pollution Control Board in private while preserving his public persona as an environmental crusader. He cannot have it both ways without being judged guilty of blatant hypocrisy.

Check out more analysis of Kaine's letter from the former chair of the Virginia Outdoors Foundation.

Cross-posted from RK

Green Gifts for Father's Day

Eh.

That was my reaction to Grist's green gift guide for Father's Day. Sure, it's got lots of cool stuff. The golf balls that dissolve in water are neat.

But it is nevertheless mostly stuff, which Grist wisely urged us to avoid giving just last Christmas. Of course, I wasn't nuts about that list, either. Show your love for your dad by giving ... a carbon offset? Gee, just what I wanted!

OK, so maybe I'm being too negative. What should you go for? Get dad something he can enjoy but won't add to his pile of stuff. Maybe a restaurant gift card (and mom will get a date out of it), a bottle of organic wine, or tickets to a ballgame or a show.

So what did The Green Miles get his dad? An assortment of organic coffee, tea, and breakfast items from Green Mountain Coffee. And of course, a completely inappropriate e-card. The eco-friendliness of the e-card takes the sting out of the sarcasm.

Timberland Reduces Its Footprint

A recent hiking binge left The Green Miles in need of some new footwear. Sneakers are fine for most trails, but every once in a while you'll regret it when you jump off a ledge and a piece of gravel jabs the bottom of your foot through the soft sole.

So I went shopping online for some new hiking boots. I only looked at Timberlands because of their commitment to sustainability. Timberland has pledged to make all its owned-and-operated facilities carbon neutral by 2010.

The shoes arrived today and literally announced their eco-friendliness from the moment I looked at the box. It had a big "RECYCLED" label on one end and had clearly been used to ship shoes a few times before making it to Arlington. Reusing is one of the few things that can truly be called carbon neutral, making the box free of cost for both Timberland and the planet.

Inside the box was a shoe box made of 100% post-consumer recycled content and printed with soy-based ink. The shoe-stuffers looked to be made of recycled materials. In fact, the only part of the package that wasn't recyclable was the plastic shoe-wrap - which itself was made from recycled materials.

The bottom of the shoe carried an "our footprint" sticker. It looked like a nutritional label, but instead of calories and dietary fiber it counted renewable energy and recycled content.

Finally, I noticed the box said "reuse, then recycle." It didn't take long for someone to find a new use for it:

The Green Miles vs. White Oak Canyon

The Green Miles went back to Shenandoah National Park recently to hike White Oak Canyon. The weather was as weird as the waterfalls were beautiful:

3pm: Arrive at top of canyon. 85, sunny.
4pm: Arrive at bottom of canyon. 80, thunderstorm.
5:30pm: Arrive back at top of canyon. 55, cloudy.
6:30pm: Exit park. 80, sunny.

We stopped at the visitors center to grab some water, but instead of buying bottled, I grabbed a reusable water bottle. Didn't say if it was BPA-free, so I'm assuming it has it. I wouldn't use it every day, but for hikes and such, it'll do just fine. Kept the water surprisingly cool, too.

H-B Woodlawn & The Green Miles on CNN!

CNN just did a story on the eco-friendly prom of Arlington's H-B Woodlawn High School. It features Leslie Keller, H-B senior and Arlingtonians for a Clean Environment student board member. The Green Miles was also interviewed. Check it out!

UPDATE 10/6/08: CNN.com finally started posting the code to allow you to embed video, so I went back and got the video for this ...

Bay-Friendly Dishwashing Detergent Hits The Teet

The Green Miles takes so many cell phone pictures at Harris Teeter, they must think I'm a Safeway spy or something.

But there's good news to report. The Teet is now stocking Palmolive Eco dishwashing detergent, a phosphate-free alternative. As Grist's Ask Umbra reports, most dishwashing detergents use phosphates, which contribute to algae blooms and dead zones in the Chesapeake Bay even though natural enzymes work just as well.

Virginia recently joined Maryland in banning phosphates from dishwasher detergent effective 2010. The legislation passed the Virginia General Assembly last year without a single opposing vote.

The Teet also recently added an extensive selection of Seventh Generation products, so there are natural alternatives available for all sorts of kitchen and bathroom cleaners.

Heat Wave Tips: Cut Your Power Bill, Ease Grid Strain

The Green Miles is still wiped out from the big Climate Security Act throwdown last week, so just a quick post today. Lots of fun stuff in the pipeline though, promise.

With any heat wave inevitably comes talk of strain on our power grid and even brownouts, which power companies then use to shill for more power plants and transmission lines.

In the short term, so much of the burden could be eased if consumers took small steps to ease their usage. When you're leaving home in the morning, shut off your central air conditioning. It'll make a noticeable difference in your power bill:

The typical household keeps the thermostat set at 72 degrees in the summertime, adds Sheree McKenna, coordinator for Edison's in-home audit program. For every degree you hike that temperature, it saves you about 3% on the cooling portion of your energy bill, she says.

So if you raise the indoor temperature to 78 degrees in the summer, you save 18% on that portion of your bill. For a family spending $150 a month on air conditioning bills, that's a $27 monthly saving--enough to buy several new tank tops. They'll need them.

If you're out of the house for most of the day, consider pushing the thermostat even higher, [Southern California Edison engineer Tony] Pierce suggests. Although the house won't feel quite as refreshing when you step in, for every hour that your 4-ton air conditioning unit doesn't run, a family that's used more than its "baseline" energy allotment will save $3.36. Over a 20-workday month, that cuts your bill by $67.

Another common-sense tip - keep your house cool by keeping your curtains closed.

In the long term, smart-thinking utilities are coming up with wicked cool new ideas to reduce power consumption at peak times, like the Ambient Orb.

Climate Security Act Vote This Morning

Watching the Climate Security Act cloture vote in the Senate right now on CSPAN2. An aye is to move forward with debating and amending the bill. A no is a vote to get behind the Roadblock Republican filibuster against climate action. I'll let you know what happens!

UPDATE 9:33am: Cloture vote fails 48-36 (need 60 to break Republican filibuster). An additional six senators entered statements into the record that they couldn't make the vote but would've voted to move forward with the bill, bringing the total to 54 senators in support. 54-36 is nearly a reversal of the 38-60 vote in June 2005 on the McCain-Lieberman Climate Stewardship Act, a much weaker bill. Amazing how far the Senate has shifted in just three years!

UPDATE 9:47am: Only four Democrats voted against moving forward -- Sherrod Brown (OH), Byron Dorgan (ND), Tim Johnson (SD) and Mary Landrieu (LA). After some questions about his position, Sen. Webb voted to end the filibuster. Thanks to all the Virginians who urged Sen. Webb to vote the right way!

UPDATE 10:28am: Here's the full roll call vote.

Webb to Vote with GOP Filibuster on Climate Action?

I've heard from sources that Sen. Webb is "leaning against" supporting the Climate Security Act. Apparently Sen. Webb wants to protect coal interests like the Wise County coal-fired power plant, which a Virginia State Corporation Commission analysis shows would result in a net loss statewide of 1,474 jobs.

Hard as it is for me to believe, I'm told there's a real chance Sen. Webb could vote against Democratic leadership and with Sen. James "Global Warming is a Hoax" Inhofe on this bill. (That is, if the Roadblock Republicans ever let it come up for a vote in the first place.)

A vote on continuing debate on the bill is expected to happen by Friday morning at the latest. If you haven't already, please take a few minutes to call Sen. Webb right now at (202) 224-4024 to ask him to strengthen and pass the Climate Security Act.

Nats Go Green By ... Wearing Green Caps. No, Really.

UPDATE 6/5: The game was rained out. According to the Post, "The Nationals had planned to wear green hats to promote environmental awareness and use a green theme around the park. The 'Go Green' theme will now be used Monday instead."

The Green Miles is a partial season ticket holder of the Washington Nationals. Tonight's game is part of my package and apparently we're all supposed to wear green to the game. Why? Discovery is launching its "Planet Green" channel today and is sponsoring the game:

Nationals players will be wearing green hats during the game.

Discovery will have signs for the Planet Green channel at the stadium and ushers also will be wearing green hats. There will also be random giveaways during the game, including 5,000 free Metro cards.

OK, so it's not exactly an overwhelming environmental agenda. And I doubt we'll hear any mention of the Climate Security Act. But it could be good if the right information is presented in a persuasive way. The Nationals also get some leeway since Nats Park is a LEED-certified green building.

In any case, expect a full Genuine or Greenwashing report on the event in the days ahead.

Remember in November: Senate Republicans Fight Climate Action

Following the interminable Senate discussion of the Climate Security Act? You can thank Senate Republicans for the unbelievable 30 hours of debate -- and that's before a single amendment can be offered.

You see, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (up for re-election - hint, hint, Kentucky voters) doesn't want any Republicans on record on climate action. He'd much rather let people like Sen. Gordon Smith (R-OR) claim to support climate action without having to actually vote on any existing proposal. So McConnell is pushing for as much debate and delay as possible, living up to his reputation as the leader of the pack of the Roadblock Republicans.

As Greenwire reports, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid plans to try to keep McConnell on a short leash:

"We need to get some kind of agreement, a gentlemen's agreement, from the Republicans, or we'll have to approach it in a different manner," Reid said.

Asked about the timing for the overall debate, Reid said he expected to give senators a chance to consider amendments through this week and into the next. "I would hope that we can finish the bill next week," he said. "That'd be really good. I'm not determined to get it off the floor this week."

But Reid added, "This is the most important issue facing the world today. I want to be patient and try to get as much done as soon as we can. If we arrive at a point where we're just wasting our time, we will have to figure out something else." [...]

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said he expected Reid to allow an unlimited number of amendments on the bill, though he was not ready to say just how many the GOP planned to offer. "I don't have a number," he said. "We have some important amendments. I wouldn't call it an unlimited number."

Oh, well that's reassuring. It's not an infinite number of amendments. It's safe to say it's somewhere between one and 196,843,012. If McConnell has his way, we should have a vote on the bill just as the Capitol is swallowed by rising sea levels.

As Grist's Kate Sheppard reports, only three Republicans spoke in favor of climate action on the first day of debate. While there are other Republicans like Sen. Norm Coleman who back strong global warming legislation, the rest are doing their best to prove that if you want to be green, you have to vote blue.

"Crunchy Con" Neighborhoods in DC Area?

I recently discovered the Crunchy Con blog, written by a conservative environmentalist. I hadn't heard the term "crunchy con," but it's a lot catchier than Log Cabin Republicans, don't you think?

I don't expect to agree with everything written by the author, Rod Dreher, but it's certainly a different take on politics. Just last week, posts criticized both Barack Obama and President Bush.

One recent posts asks if there are any "crunchy con" neighborhoods in the DC area. The comments are definitely worth a read, some very thoughtful responses.

Ask Sen. Webb to Support Climate Security Act

The U.S. Senate opens debate today on the Climate Security Act. It's by far the strongest global warming legislation to make it this far in Congress. Check out Grist for the long version of the bill and its journey to the floor.

The Climate Security Act aims to cut carbon dioxide emissions by setting up a cap-and-trade system, putting a price on global warming pollution. Revenues from the program would be used to promote the development of new low-emissions and efficient technologies, helping low- and middle-income families with energy costs, and preserving America’s natural resources. The legislation would also allocate resources to states and tribes to assist with local global warming efforts.

Some greens are complaining the targets aren't tough enough. While deeper cuts would be ideal, the current ones are still light years ahead of anything even Democrats are proposing here in Virginia. The Climate Security Act would cut national emissions 19% from current levels by 2020 and close to 70% by 2050, while Gov. Kaine's Virginia Energy Plan would only aim for a 7% cut from current levels by 2025.

While Sen. Warner is a co-sponsor of the bill, Sen. Webb hasn't yet indicated if he'll support it. Please take a few minutes to call Sen. Webb right now at (202) 224-4024 to ask him to strengthen and pass the Climate Security Act.

Cross-posted from Raising Kaine

Major DC Commuting Shift: More Workers Leaving Cars at Home

Interesting tidbit from the Malcontent Minute blog of WTOP's Mark Segraves:

"For the first time since the 1960s," [Department of Transportation Director Emeka] Moneme said, "More District workers are walking to work than driving." According to Moneme "Thirty nine percent of those who work in D.C. walk to work, compared to 35 percent who drive."

Arlington's 2000 census numbers showed 65% of commuters drove to work (55% drove alone, 10% carpooled), while 23% took public transportation and 6% walked. Strangely, bike commuting wasn't listed as an option. Just 3% worked from home.

I'm sure these numbers are changing by the day as gas prices continue to skyrocket. And overall, Metro ridership is up 25% since 2000, jumping from roughly 600,000 to 750,000 commuters per day.