paper vs plastic

John Tierney cites research evidence coupled with IHHO and relays his conclusions on some conventional wisdoms about what's ethical and not in today's New York Times. He's got 10, but here's a sampling:

Debate
1. paper v plastic bags?
Answer: plastic
Why? less energy to produce, transfer, easier to recycle, less space in landfills

2. is saturated fat good or bad?
Answer: good
Why? recent study in Israel reveals people who consumed more saturated fat than control group lost more weight

3. local or far away fruit?
Answer: far away
Why? more efficient distribution

My granite countertop is radioactive?!?

"Hot" granite has high uranium levels that emit cancer-causing radon gas, reports the NYT this week. No problem, yours can be simply checked with a handheld Geiger counter.

every time you turn on your TV...

It's hard to quantify and lower power use on an analog scale. New home moderation systems are getting less pricey. Check it out on in today's NYTimes Technology section.

parking footprints, a convenient truth

It used to be that one needed a MD or diplomatic license to get a free parking spot in nyc. If you are somewhat less pedigreed, the $12k Smart Car Fourtwo buys something similar. Saw this one at North End Vespa enclave in Battery Park. Treehugger lightly suggests that it's not an environmental purchase on gas mileage. (something like 33mpg downhill with tailwind). There's only a 1yr+ waiting list to get one.

Oil Gone Wild

Jack Hidary writes on Huffington Post economic restructuring suggestions for reducing dependence on oil. $1 million goes overseas every minute with oil prices at $147 a barrel. 55% of US oil use is by autos and SUVs, so presumably curbable.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jack-hidary/oil-gone-wild_b_112446.html

what's a watt?

Great tips for saving energy in your home from Michael Bluejay to get your power use (and bill) down from the average american usage (around 850kwh/month). Michael also notes coal carries 50% of the power load in the US.

http://michaelbluejay.com/electricity/

Apocalypse In Progress

For the entry #1 of the EthicL blog, we introduce the idea that social ethics, green-ness and wellness are moving targets and are certainly not black and white. The world is complicated and while many of us like to think of our values and beliefs as "fixed", things change very quickly, so I am often reminded of being open to opinions and ideas, to keep thinking.

Mike Davis writes a fantastic article at Salon which comprehensively goes through issues of how global warming is not only changing the earth's environmental condition, but also the human condition. Raises issues about the concentration of wealth in the middle east, the realities of treaties and the complexities and contradictions brought about with many seemingly positive eco-initiatives like biofuels and carbon offsets.

Apocalypse Now by Mike Davis, Salon.com
http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2008/07/07/global_warming/index.html