Green Options - Is Wal-Mart Trying to Undermine Carbon Offset Guidelines?

As part of Eco-Libris' ongoing content partnership with Green Options Media, we feature a post that was originally published by Jeff McIntire-Strasburg on August 18 on The Inspired Economist. Today's post is about an interesting debate that is going on lately about Wal-Mart and whether they do or do not try to block an effort to have clearer guidelines of carbon offsets.

Though much of my time over the past couple of weeks has been devoted to the behind-the-scenes work of bringing The Inspired Economist into the Green Options Media blog network, I've also made sure to follow the discussion regarding Wal-Mart's comments to the FTC regarding carbon offsets and renewable energy credits. In a post titled "Wal-Mart Lobbies Against Carbon Offset Guidelines," Tony Calero at Wal-Mart Watch got this discussion started by pointing to the company's comments filed in response to an FTC request:

Herein lays the scandal: Despite the company’s “green” initiatives, Wal-Mart is actively lobbying against the clarification of offset guidelines. The company’s hypocritical stance on the issue came to light last week in a hearing of the Federal Trade Commission. The FTC is attempting to modernize the “Green Guides,” guidelines issued for corporations defining acceptable marketing claims regarding environmental products and initiatives. In response to the FTC’s solicitation of retailer comment to guide the process, Wal-Mart’s Director of Energy Regulation, Angela Beehler, expressed Wal-Mart’s firm opposition towards the clarified scope and definition of carbon offsets...

As you might imagine, other media outlets picked up on this pretty quickly: Grist, for instance, noted that Consumers Union and other groups have "been advocating for clear, specific definitions to avoid misleading green claims, " and that "the FTC's definition of carbon offsets could most affect the retailer's ultra-ambitious goal to someday run on 100 percent renewable energy -- a huge amount of which would likely have to come from offsets or renewable-energy certificates." US News and World Report's "Fresh Greens" blog asked "Is Wal-Mart being hypocritical, or are its green efforts in good faith?" Eoin O'Carroll of the Christian Science Monitor's "Bright Green Blog" not only expressed a reaction similar to my own (essentially head-scratching), but also took a step further than the rest of us: he gave Wal-Mart a call. Much of the response he received followed the typical MO of a corporate communications department: the company restated its broad sustainability goals, and offered some more specific ones related to greenhouse gas emissions and energy efficiency. It addressed offsets and renewable energy credits in the last paragraph:

Green Books Reviews - 'A Spring without Bees' by Michael Schacker

"Only 26 years” said the beekeeper, “this is how long we have. After that, you will be eating only corn, wheat and rice.”

We were enjoying a sunny afternoon at the Port Townsend farmer's market on the north eastern end of the Olympic peninsula. I just had a yummy raw pizza and the xylophone band were in the middle of their second exhilarating set. People from all walks of life were taking the time to stop when meeting and have long conversations before heading home with bountiful fresh produce in their tote bags. We stopped at the beekeeper's honey booth for a chat. “Yes, you see all these farmers?” he continued, pointing at other stallholders selling fresh vegetables and herbs, “Some of them are starting to ask me what is going on with the bees. They begin to realize something is wrong. But by the time farmers will join us beekeepers in calling for action, it will be too late.”

Driving back to Seattle, I had bees on my mind. I decided it was time to finish reading and review Michael Schacker's 'A Spring without Bees'.

The reason beekeepers all around the world are worried is that for the past years whole hives of honey bees are disappearing at alarming rates as part of what is now called “Colony Collapse Disorder” or CCD for short. The reason we should all be worried is that a significance portion of all the food in the world requires a healthy population of honey bees to be grown. How come? Schacker explains it in the beginning of the book. Sometime around 130 million years ago one of nature's most amazing synergies was negotiated. Flowers evolved to attract insects that will lubricate the intricate business of plant sex, and a certain specie of wasps answered the intoxicating seductive call of nectar to evolve into the tiny bee, a highly efficient pollinating machine. As I recently re-learned by watching the summer squash and tomatoes in the garden, most food crops rely on flowers for their reproduction, and therefore on insect life. And as the Port Townsend farmers are now discovering, no bees equals no crops.

In today's world of agricultural business and mega production it means that commercial pollinators regularly rent their bee hives to sit in crop fields and make sure pollination happens at the right season. But now as bees go AWOL the pollinators go out of business, as record percentages of their hives, as high as 80% per season, disappear. The worker bees simply go to work in the morning and never come back.

All of this may not be new to some of you, and probably you have read a version of it as part of the media's coverage of the “mystery” of the bee's disease, maybe in a novelty piece about how cellphone radiation or power lines may be the culprit, and how American scientists and beekeepers are supposedly baffled. Nothing like a good mystery to keep the work enthralled, right? Not always. According to Schacker what we're dealing with here is a series of industry red herrings designed to distract the US from the most likely cause, toxic chemical pesticides. He shows that the real mystery is how did the EPA and FDA, the federal government bodies that are supposed to regulate pesticides, become the legal loophole clearinghouse that they are, systematically allowing the chemical companies to bring to market toxic materials without proper environmental reviews, using certain clauses that allow them to waive important safety requirements for economic reasons.

So is the bottom line that big business once again bought the research and politicians with everyone else paying the price? It certainly seems that way, and Schackers level headed analysis and step by step explanations of the regulations, how they are circumvented, and how credible information from France is systematically ignored, makes a good case of it. In France an important study showed how minuscule quantities of certain chemicals would cause severe harm to the bees. When these chemicals were banned there, the result was a marked comeback of the bee population.

What are the solutions? The last chapter of the book, named “Plan Bee”, outlines these plans Immediate ban on these pesticides in the short term is a no-brainer. With a world food crisis in progress it only makes sense to take this precaution, which in nothing but following the real intent of the existing regulations, while plugging the loop holes used to fast track poisons into the market.

But in the long haul, a government sponsored move to organic farming will be required. At home, he encourages people to avoid certain lawn pesticide products, and suggests campaigning for “green golf”, as golf courses are a major user those similar products as well.

Colony Collapse Disorder and the dangers it poses to the world's food supply is one of the most important issues that are hardly acted upon in green activism these days. 'A Spring without Bees' is no doubt an important book that will hopefully pave the way for more literature on the subject, and will galvanize a movement to maybe do something about it. Hell, where do I sign up?

Book: A Spring without Bees

Author: Michael Schacker

Publisher: The Lyons Press

Publication Date: June, 2008

Available on: AMAZON • BARNES & NOBLE
BOOKSENSE • BORDERS • GPP

Notes:

Bee picture via flickr under creative commons license by MrClean1982 , pollen picture by TonyVC

Best,

Eylon @ Eco-Libris

Plant a Tree for Every Book you Read!

It's time to rent some textbooks - Chegg's 'Textbook Tuesday' is tomorrow!

Living nearby a university (UD in my case) has pros and cons. But one fact is that you know exactly when the academic year is about to begin (hint: flocks of students can be seen again on Main Street). And if you're also getting ready to go back or for the first time to college, it's the time to remind you about our partners Chegg, especially when tomorrow is "Textbbook Tuesday"!

Chegg is the number one textbook rental company, which just lately celebrated its first anniversary (Happy birthday!). Chegg helps college students save hundreds of dollars on textbooks each semester by offering them the option to rent textbooks instead of buying them. Chegg offers millions of textbooks for rent with savings of up to 80%. The process is very easy, delivery is fast, and return shipping is free. Can you ask for more? well, actually you get more - Chegg are planting a tree for every book they rent!

Eco-Libris is one of the environmental partners of Chegg in their tree planting program and we're very proud of it! Chegg is committed to the environment and their very essence is green - we wrote many times in the past how by renting books you maximize the usage of already printed books, just like you do when you get a book from your library. In the photos above and below you can see some of the results of our partnership with Chegg - new trees in Guatemala (photos at nurseries in El Tejar (the Dept. of Chimaltenango) and Hierba Buena, Guatemala - courtesy of AIR, our planting partner in Guatemala).

So tomorrow, August 21, is "Textbook Tuesday" and Chegg is is stocked-up and primed for the day. This year's Textbook Tuesday is expected to be the biggest day ever for online textbook rentals! Well, all you got to do now is check them out and see how much you can save on your textbooks, and don't forget that not only that you will save moeny and trees by renting textbooks with Chegg, you will also be responsible for planting new ones as well! Chegg's website is http://www.chegg.com

Yours,

Raz @ Eco-Libris

Plant a tree for every book you read!

Eco-Libris is available now at One Earth One Design store in Seattle!

We're very excited to have our West Coast office in Seattle. This is a great city and now it also has a first representative on our bookstores program - One Earth One Design.

One Earth One Design, founded and owned by Sandy Campbell, is a Seattle-based company that specializes in sustainable interior design services for both commercial and residential projects, with a sustainable lifestyle store on 14300 Greenwood Ave. N. (Suite A).

Customers will have the opportunity to pay $1 to plant a tree to balance each book they purchase in the store. They will also receive an Eco-Libris sticker (made of recycled paper) at the counter for each book they balance out, saying 'One tree planted for this book'.

We're very happy that our first collaboration in Seattle is with such a sustainable store, and we invite everyone to visit the store and 1Earth 1Design's website to learn more about their unique and green offers.

This week, there's a very good reason to visit at the store: Artist reception and book signing event on Thursday, August 21, 6 - 9:00PM, with great green authors that will attend the event. Here are the details from the store's events page:

Join us in celebrating local artists, authors and designers of eco-friendly products from the Seattle-area community. An Artist Reception and Book Signing will highlight seven Northwest artists and authors. Locally made wine and delicious, seasonal appetizers will be served. Who will be featured:

Scott Anderson, artist and creator of Hatched Egg'rs children's art and toy boxes, made from non-toxic materials and re-claimed wood. http://www.hatchedeggrs.com/

Juli Adams, well known, contemporary painter of imaginative and whimsical characters and scenes. http://www.juliadams.com/

Dinah Coops, designer of nature inspired, eco-friendly and modern silk screened patterns on PaperStone. http://www.dinahcoops.com/

Darren Guyaz, photographer of natural environments, capturing ephemeral moments of vivid color, form and pattern. http://www.darrenguyaz.com/

Kathleen O'Brien, co-author of the Northwest Green Home Primer, a green building guide. http://www.obrienandco.com/

Michelle Salazar, figurative painter of emotionally charged and abstract symbolic pieces. http://michellesalazar.com/

Becky Selengut, private chef and co-author of the Washington Local and Seasonal Cookbook. fd. http://www.cornucopiacuisine.com/

This event is FREE. RSVP requested but not required.

Store's address and phone:

14300 Greenwood Ave. N., Suite A, Seattle, WA 98133

(206) 418-8120

Store Hours:
Monday - Saturday: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM. Open late Thursdays for film nights and cooking classes. Check schedule of events. Free Parking on Street.

For the full list of stores on our bookstores program, please check http://www.ecolibris.net/bookstores.asp

Yours,
Raz @ Eco-Libris

Plant a tree for every book you read!

An interview with Madeline Kaplan, author of 'Planet Earth Gets Well' (and the winner in the book's giveaway)

Today we have the pleasure to interview Madeline Kaplan, author of 'Planet Earth Gets Well'. But before we're getting into it, I'd like to announce on the winner of the giveaway of the book that we reviewed last Monday.

We got great ideas for ways children can act to make Planet Earth feel better and what would be the best way for them to convince their parents to join them. And the winner is Sharon, who suggested the following:

The best thing is for them not to waste anything..and the 3 R...reduce, reuse, recycle...and the best way to do this...is to do it with adults...go to the recycling center together, make crafts out of 'old' items, go shopping together...each with their own canvas bag...THANKS

Congratulations Sharon! You have won a copy of 'Planet Earth Gets Better' and a tree will be planted with Eco-Libris for this book. You will also receive our sticker saying "One tree planted for this book" which you can proudly put on the book! Also, thank you to all the other participants for the great ideas and advice.

This book is Madeline Kaplan's first children's book, and as we collaborate with her to plant trees for copies sold at the book signing events and at other promotional sales, I wanted to learn more about the book and what led her to publish a green-themed book for children.

Firstly, here's a little bit background (and a photo): Madeline Kaplan holds a B.A. in English literature and an M.B.A from Baruch College. She has published various business articles, but her three grandchildren inspired the writing of Planet Earth Gets Well, her first children's book. She lives with her husband in New York and Connecticut.

And now to the interview:

What brought you to write 'Planet Earth Gets Well'?

Becoming a grandparent was a transitional moment for me. When I realized that I would be leaving the planet to my precious grandchildren I thought that I must do something that would hopefully have a lasting effect beyond my own lifetime. My grandchildren love me to read stories to them and it occurred to me that the overwhelming problem of global warming would not be solved in my generation. For that reason, I decided to write a children's book that would introduce the topic in a child-friendly concept and make my personal concern a more public one.

Can you tell us a little bit about the writing process?

The writing process was easy because it was a subject that I was passionate about. I pretended that I was talking to my young grandson and used words that I knew he would be able to connect with. The character of "Planet Earth" evolved easily. I wanted him to be my grandson's playmate and by definition other children's playmate so I was readily able to imagine his "being" and "personality". Once that was accomplished, the actually writing process went quite smoothly.

Your story is very optimistic, with a positive message and a belief in the possibility to change things and make them better - are you also optimistic when it comes to fighting climate change?

I wanted the story to be optimistic because I certainly did not want to scare my young audience! Children learn that if they get sick or injured they will get better and that was the message I wanted to convey with "Planet Earth". I simply could not fathom being pessimistic. Earth's "Mother" had to be as all knowing as the readers' mothers! A child's belief requires nothing but a happy ending! I am encouraged by the growing number of web sites that encourage children to be eco-warriers and eco-aware. I wanted "Planet Earth Gets Well" to add to this growing awareness that it is never too soon for parents to begin asking their kids to preserve their natural environment.

As most of us see and call Planet Earth' Mother', I found it very interesting that you make it a baby in the story that has its own mother. How does this idea go with children? do they find it easy to imagine Earth as a baby?

Actually, Planet Earth is not a baby -- rather he is the age of the reader -- between 4 and 8. That is because he is starting to be aware of the word around him, he is interacting with children his own age, he is learning right from wrong yet he must still obey his parents. He wants to be healthy so that he can play with his friends and he is smart enough to understand that there are certain things he must do (and tell his friends to do) to allow this to happen. Planet Earth's age is one that resonates with readers of the story. It is also an age when kids begin to learn about their natural environment. So the story dovetails nicely with what they are learning in school.

What the responses you get already from children? do they get the message behind this tale?

Children become exacted with Planet Earth's plight and immediately engage in a dialogue about ways in which they might be able to help. They offer instant suggestions in readings and I am delighted with their enthusiasm. They draw pictures of Planet Earth, the Sun, the Trees, the Oceans and have presented me with those pictures as a gift. Their illustrations tell a story and lead me to believe that I've struck a chord.

I've been offered tissues, allergy medicine and a host of other things to help planet earth get well and it has warmed my heart. I have been asked to read the story repeatedly which tells me that although this may be a new concept for kids, they are interested enough to want to understand it more deeply. Their concern for Planet Earth is real.

Do you think the story can impact parents as well?

When parents see how their kids respond and how much it inspires them to care about the earth, how can parents not respond? And when they continue the dialogue with their kids after they have finished the story they become even more engaged in the thought process about the implications for not taking care of the environment. The book gives kids ideas about what they can do to protect the earth and their activism is contagious.

What other educational measures should be taken in your opinion to educate children on the importance of living green and conserving our resources?

The best way to educate is by example - everyone should try to " walk the green walk " in whatever way they can. As in other behavioral areas, parents who model for their children encourage them and habits become second nature (no pun intended!). If we want our children to live green lives, then we must lead by example.

Thomas Friedman wrote in the NYT lately that "Our kids are going to be so angry with us one day. We've charged their future on our Visa cards. We've added so many greenhouse gases to the atmosphere, for our generation's growth, that our kids are likely going to spend a good part of their adulthood, maybe all of it, just dealing with the climate implications of our profligacy. " What's your comment on that? is their any way we can convince the parents' and the grandparents' generation that Planet Earth is sick?

The fact that is starting to hit so close to home and people of our generation are feeling the effects of our actions right in our own backyards. That is precisely why I wanted to target a younger audience. New habits must become ingrained at an early age. Our generation is late to the party. Thankfully, green awareness is in the news more and more, companies are beginning to go green and so working parents are hearing more about environmental issues and they want to pass it on to their children.

Do you have plans for writing more children's books? will they be with environmental messages as well?

My key focus right now is to create more awareness for the book so that more kids and their parents can benefit from the learning. Since there is so little on the market for kids from age 4-8 , I want them to be able to receive this very important message in a concept targeted specifically to them. I am also looking at partnering with various environmental organizations by donating books so that they can use the story as part of their educational curriculums. I want to do all I can to help these organizations get this big message out to the little ones.

Anything else you would like to share with Eco-Libris blog readers?

I am honored to be able to team with Eco-Libris. I believe strongly in its mission and welcome our collaboration. "Planet Earth Gets Well" is currently being sold on http://www.amazon.com/.
The book has received some great endorsements from major green sites like http://www.treehugger.com/, which compared the book to Dr. Seuss' "The Lorax". This was very gratifying indeed.

Planet Earth Gets Well's website - www.planetearthgetswell.com

Yours,
Raz @ Eco-Libris

Plant a tree for every book you read!

Eco-Libris medalists at the Garden Gate Shop

I just saw Michael Phelps winning gold medal no. 8. What a performance! This is so exciting and I was so happy for him. So kudos to Phelps, and now it's time to brag with our own medalists -Sheena Petty, Heather Osborn, and Megan Harper (from left to right in the photo).

Sheena, Heather and Megan didn't receive these medals in Beijing, but in St. Louis, Missouri, or if I'll be more specific at the Garden Gate Shop in the Missouri Botanical Garden. The Garden Gate Shop is taking part in our bookstores program, offering visitors to plant a tree with us for every book they buy at the store and receive our "One tree planted for this book" sticker at the counter.

The store has a great success with the customers and this is also due an Eco Libris sales contest they initiated. The contest was between the sales associates and the prizes for the winners were really cool - an hour lunch, a free lunch in the Garden’s café, 5 Eco Libris stickers and 50% off any shop item.

So Sheena, Heather and Megan (along with Lucy Herleth) are the Eco-Libris medalists and we're very proud in it!! Thank you to all of them, as well as all the other wonderful people of the Garden's shop who are taking part in making reading more sustainable. And of course many thanks to the Garden Shop's Book, Media, and Toy Buyer, Christine Kennedy, for contacting us originally and making all of this happen!

Below you can see another photo of the medalists, this time with the oldest tree in the Garden in the background (a ginkgo).

The Missouri Botanical Garden is conveniently located off I-44, and is easily accessible from the major highways in the area.4344 Shaw Boulevard, St. Louis, MO 63110. Automated events hotline: (314) 577-9400, 1-800-642-8842.

And if you visit this beautiful place, don't forget to check out the Missouri Botanical Garden’s café, Sassafras, that has just been designated as the first Certified Green Restaurant in the state of Missouri by the Green Restaurant Association. This is another outstanding example of the Garden’s ongoing pledge to care for the planet and preserve its resources!

Yours,
Raz @ Eco-Libris

Plant a tree for every book you read!

Are we out of time? Author Bill Roth is answering in a new book and collaborating with Eco-Libris!

Eco-Libris is happy to announce a new collaboration with Bill Roth, author of 'On Empty (Out of Time)'.

Bill Roth is working with Eco-Libris to green up this new green-themed book. A tree will be planted for every copy sold of the book. Buyers will also receive our sticker with their book, saying "One tree planted for this book".

We're very excited to work on this important book, which readers have described as "America's final "wake-up call"" and "A must read if you want freedom from high pump prices!". As it looks like we are running out of time with regards to the current energy sources we use and the prompt need in high , it's definitely an important book.

So what is this book all about? Here is the description of it:

On Empty (out of Time) graphically details the threat of economic and environmental disaster tied to our unsustainable addiction to fossil fuels. It proposes fresh ideas for implementing a Man on the Moon national commitment for deploying American-owned sustainable technologies that will achieve lower pump/meter prices, solve Global Warming and eliminate the need for Boots on the Ground protecting other people's oil fields. And it outlines how the American consumer, a $10 trillion a year buying force, can be empowered to vote with their pocket books for changes that their political votes have yet to achieve.

About the author: Bill Roth is Entrepreneur.com’s Green Business Coach with a regular column and he is President of NCCT (http://www.cleantechgrowth.com).

The book is already available (though the first edition was sold out!) and can be purchased at Amzon.com, http://www.onemptroth.com, http://www.cleantechgrowth.com, and on Lafayette Book Store.

If you're curious to learn more, you can read a chapter in the book right here on this link - http://onemptyroth.com/images/docs/Sample_Chapter_On_Empty_Out_of_Time.pdf. We will also review the book very soon, so stay tuned.

Yours,
Raz @ Eco-Libris

Plant a tree for every book you read!