Disease Proof : Disease Proof : Health & Nutrition News & Commentary : Dr. Joel Fuhrman

Yes, I know it’s a cartoon and I know it’s childish, but I’m still pumped up from Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. So, fresh from the 1980s, here’s the ultimate role model Optimus Prime doing battle with the sinister Decepticon leader Megatron:

Listen, inspiration comes in many forms. Some people see a beautiful sunset and that inspires them to get up and get moving, but others—i.e. cool people—watch giant robot aliens fighting each other and get energized. Hey, whatever works!

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• The economy is suffering. And unemployment is rising. But green jobs are expected to boom, such as farmers, CSA coordinators, recyclers, conservation biologists and solar power installers. Currently, the solar industry employs over 25,000 workers, but it could leap to 110,000 by 2016; via FastCompany.

• Speaking of community supported agriculture. There are plenty of reasons to eat local! Locally grown food tastes better, retains more nutrients, contains no genetically modified organisms, promotes genetic diversity, and is better for the environment and preserves open spaces; from Green Living Review.

• Now, despite out obvious recession, interest in green products continues to grow. A new survey of 9,000 consumers revealed shoppers deliberately bought more green products in 2008 than any year before. In 2007, 32% of people sought green products, but in 2008 it increased to 34%; ENN reports.

• Electricity usage from the internet doubled between 2000 and 2006. But don’t feel guilty. According to data, the internet’s energy efficiency is improving. Old dial-up connections sap 3.56 kWh per GB, but new stuff, like DSL and cable, only consume .17 kWh/GB and .72 kWh/GB, respectively; via earth2tech.

• Under the new administration, government officials are hopeful the "Bigger Better Bottle Bill" has its first real shot at becoming law. The legislation would impose a nickel deposit on non-carbonated beverage containers and invest unredeemed deposits into state cleanup programs; The Post-Standard explains.

• The European Union seeks to tighten environmental standards for ships, striving for zero waste and zero emissions, by strengthening existing laws surrounding ship waste disposal at port facilities and setting up an environmental management system to oversee the maritime shipping sector; from ENN.

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• The E.U. might love watching soccer on TV. But soon they won’t be doing it on giant plasma screen televisions. Currently, countries are drafting energy performance standards that plasma TVs will not be able to meet, basically banning them. Plasma TVs use 50% more power than LCD TVs; via EcoGeek.

• Sorry spring-breakers, tequila is not good for the environment. The region of Mexico, where tequila is made, cannot re-grow blue agave cactuses, tequila’s prime ingredient, fast enough. The blue agave takes 6 years to mature and increased production has made tequila unsustainable; from NewScientist.

• Climate change whacks the environment. But it also harms human health. And not just from pollution. An epidemic of nephropathia epidemica, which can cause internal hemorrhaging and death, in Europe is being blamed on booming vermin populations, due to warming temperatures; ScienceDaily explains.

• A group of major U.S. corporations, including 3 automakers, has announced a joint pact to reduce carbon emissions by 80% by 2050. A spokesperson for the coalition says America, has the will, the capabilities and the courage to eco-innovate, even in these tough economic times; via ENN.

• The Environmental Protection Agency has settled a lawsuit over their failure to adequately monitor mercury emissions from cement plants. In 2007, a group of 9 states sued the EPA. As part of the settlement, the agency will now regulate cement plant mercury pollution; the Associated Press reports.

• More bad news for the EPA, this time 6 environmental groups have sued the EPA over a rule that doesn’t require dairies and livestock farms to notify officials when harmful materials, like ammonia and hydrogen sulfide, found in cattle urine and feces, are released; the Associated Press investigates.

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• The price of solar panels is about to plummet. Next year, solar modules could fall by 10% to 15% in euros and 25% to 30% in dollars. And by 2012, the entire industry could cut costs in half. Lower prices will increase market share and make solar energy more attractive; Reuters reports.

• With the economy in recession, consumers are ferreting away their money and not spending as much. And eco-conscious products are no exception. Consumers want to go green, but they’re unwilling to shell out the big bucks for things like hybrid cars and solar panels; from Reuters.

• However, many consumers still want electronic devices to be more environmentally friendly. According to a report by the Consumer Electronics Association, 89% of households want things like televisions to be more energy efficient and 53% would pay more for them; CEA explains.

• Heating your home is costly. The U.S. Department of Energy claims households spend 31% of their home-energy costs on heat. But there are simple ways to reduce that figure, like replacing weather stripping and ensuring air ducts are not leaking; The New York Times investigates.

• American oil consumption could collapse over the next 2 years, falling to levels not seen since 1997. The demand for crude oil is down by 50,000 barrels a day this year. Okay, it’s cool that we’re kicking our oil addiction, but expert claims this could signal a depression; via GreenDaily.

• UPS is looking for cyclists to lug around 200 pound trailers for deliveries. For every 3 bikes, the company can save an average of 17 gallons of fuel per day. This means during the holiday season, UPS could save $38,000 in vehicle operation and upkeep costs; TreeHugger explains.

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• Most historic buildings are dark and grey. But that could change. As air quality improves and more clean fuels are used. Buildings in the U.S. and Europe, like the Empire State Building, might turn yellow, reddish-brown and even green with lichen and moss; NewScientist investigates.

• Regular plastic is non-degradable. That’s why a company is developing a bio-plastic, also called liquid wood, made from trees. It uses lignin, normally thrown out in paper production, combined with natural materials, like wood, hemp, flax and wax, to produce plastic granules; via DiscoBlog.

• Cattle farmers are fuming mad! Federal officials want impose fees on belching and gaseous cows, citing cattle’s effect on air-pollution. If passed, large farms would have pay an annual fee of $175 for each dairy cow, $87.50 for beef cattle and $20 for hogs; the Associated Press reports.

• Trees might make plastic, but elephant crap can make paper! A Brooklyn, New York company, called Mr. Ellie Pooh, won Co-op America’s 2008 Green Business Leader Award for turning Sri Lankan elephant dung into stationery and various grades of paper; from SustainableBusiness.

• Nintendo Wii is the hot holiday gift this year, but an environmental group will reevaluate one of its components, claiming it could possess the harmful chemical bromine. The Michigan-based, Ecology Center plans to reexamine the battery cover on the controller; via the Associated Press.

• Piezoelectric crystals produce electricity when stress is applied. This could power things like cell phones with sounds waves. So a Japanese railway company will install piezoelectric elements in subways in order to generate power from people passing through ticket gates; from CleanTechica.

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• Solar power will save you money. But it has a huge upfront cost. So some companies are now leasing out solar systems. Leasing has a lower initial cost, but money-savings will vary based on time and future energy prices; Green Living Ideas explains.

• Scientists have created cyborgs! Cyborg leafs. When placed under light, extracted photosynthesizing plant cells, attached to thin sheets of gold, generate electrons that can be harvested as electrical current; NewScientist investigates.

• Here’s more sunny news. The mayor of Los Angeles will unveil a proposal to supply 10% of the city’s energy from solar power by 2020. Utilizing solar panels owned by the city, residents and private companies; via earth2tech.

• This is pretty incredible. Heavy winds and rain helped wind farms supply 43% of Spain’s total energy requirement on Monday. Wind turbines generated 9,253 megawatts of the total 21,264 megawatts demanded at 5AM; the AFP reports.

• The money in recycling comes from selling reprocessed raw materials. But dismal economic conditions have hurt the industry. Copper, aluminum and steel prices have dropped and recycled paper is basically worthless; from Green Living Tips.

• Harvard University urges rich nations to lead by example and cut greenhouse gases. However, their idea also allows developing countries to continue business-as-usual, but with a long term goal of reducing emissions too; Reuters reports.

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