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December 29, 2005
Praise from Lester Brown is praise indeed!
"The Armchair Environmentalist is filled with wisdom for those who want to live an environmentally responsible life. For example, simply saying no to bottled water will save energy and measurably reduce carbon emissions. Karen Christensen has incorporated more environmental advice in this crisp, tightly written volume than in anything I've seen to date."--Lester R. Brown, President, Earth Policy Institute and author of Plan B: Rescuing a Planet Under Stress and a Civilization in Trouble.
I met Les Brown, founder of the Worldwatch Institute in Washington DC and one of the most influential environmentalists of our time, in London in 1990. We became friends, and he's always encouraged my work, especially in those early days on the connection between consumer culture and environmental problems. He's a person who does not offer praise lightly, and these remarks from him are as gratifying as any I could receive, and welcome encouragement now that I am starting work on a new, bigger environmental handbook, the Cool Planet Guide.
Posted by Karen Christensen at 10:59 AM | Comments (0)
December 22, 2005
Your ecological footprint (and mine)
I'm a little shocked by the results of this Earth Day Footprint Quiz. Try it out: a salutary reminder of some of the things that have most impact. I'll be digging a little deeper to find out how their measurements work. BTW, the programming on the front page doesn't work very well, so be patient. The quiz will open after you choose your country and language if you give it some time.
Posted by Karen Christensen at 5:27 PM | Comments (0)
December 13, 2005
Urban skywatching!
I was at my niece's wedding last month, in a museum courtyard in Florida under a beautiful evening sky. A fine crescent moon rose behind the palm trees, with a bright star near it. Venus, I thought, vaguely remembering the the first star in the sky is a planet. I wondered, though, and asked around. No one knew more than I did--and that was all too little. Here is a great site for anyone who wants to be more attuned to the natural world: Urban Skywatching by Bob Parvin
Posted by Karen Christensen at 5:01 AM | Comments (0)
EnvironYoga
Ski season has already started in the Berkshires, after our first big snowfall last Friday. I love the idea of people being outside, enjoying the winter outdoors, but skiing, at least our modern industralized version, is one of the sports with the worst impact on the environment. I've found a farm nearby that grooms trails for cross-country skiiing and plan to give it a try.
But even a quiet activity like yoga has impact--mostly because people drive and fly to do it. Here's a modest way to make your asana practice more earth-friendly: The Eco-friendly Yoga Mat from Wai Lana Yoga.
Posted by Karen Christensen at 3:28 AM | Comments (0)
December 8, 2005
Greening the X games
Good to see that the younger athletes who are driving the growth of extreme and adventure sports are also thinking about the environment: "X Games Go Extreme and Green. Sports can be a great way to connect with the natural world and with our physical selves, but they can be destructive, too. This rising consciousness is a wonderful thing to see . I'm working on a book project called Sports for Every Woman and plan to try them out, but have to admit I'll cry off when it comes to skateboarding!
Posted by Karen Christensen at 10:51 AM | Comments (0)