Benefits of Drinking Green Tea , Green tea Health Benefits, Green tea Tablets , Green Tea Diet

Posted: July 2009 in Wellness
31

Benefits of  Drinking Green Tea

 

Green tea drink is the new trend of the modern times to stay healthy.  Green Tea extracts like the EGCG and other flavonoids have several health benefits it stimulates and enhances state of logical thinking & improve our memory. Green Tea reduces fatigue and promotes our body metabolism. Helps to prevent tooth decay, as it has the tannin extracts that acts on the germs in the mouth. It has plenty of trace elements like –Zinc, Copper in tea which is valuable for our body.

 

Green Tea is known for its effects on different types of Cancer. It has been clinically proved that it has a great effect on the cancer cells categorically:

 

Prostate Cancer

A batch of South-East China researchers found that the prostate cancer cells fail to grow when they are kept in green tea extracts. The risk of prostate cancer can be diminished by 60 % if someone consumes Green Tea for a long duration. But it also has been found that the sensitivity of the chemotherapy is diminished if one consumes green tea. Thus, if you are under chemotherapy don’t have any Green Tea.

 

Skin Cancer

The Green Tea has a polyphenol called epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). It is very effective to stop the onset or growth of skin cancer or tumor. ECGC has anti- inflammatory and anti-cancer properties.

 

Bladder Cancer

It has been revealed by substantial studies that the green tea can reduce the possibility to develop bladder cancer. Specially in women the consumption of black tea or organic green tea powder reduced the possibility bladder cancer. Even for people with bladder cancer, especially men, green tea can be expected to increase their survival rate by five years.

 
Breast Cancer

The most common cancer amongst women can also be prevented by the consumption of green tea. The polyphenol content of green tea can reduce the possibility of occurrence of ****** cancer. In the early stages of this ****** cancer if someone consumes green tea can decrease the spread of it by a considerable rate. In a study of 472 women at different stages of ****** cancer it was discovered that the women with the consumption of green tea had the least spread cancer (especially pre-menopausal women in the early stages). After the completion of the treatment of ****** cancer if one consumes 5 cups of green tea, the person would have the least chance recurrence of the cancer. Well why worry if you can prevent the occurrence itself by the consumption of the green tea.

 

Ovarian Cancer

One of the most dreadful type of cancer is this one. The women suffering from this tend to loose hope very early, but there is hope in consumption of green tea. Well a study in China reflected that the women with this cancer survived longer with the consumption of the green tea. In fact the women with the highest consumption survived the longest. Now you can wonder why goby that stats if we can prevent that by the consumption of this amazing age-old herb.

 

Colorectal Cancer

In a research in Japan it is revealed that people with rectal cancer, who consume green tea have noticed a decline in the spread of the cancer. People, who treated it in the first stage itself, noticed that the recurrence percentage is diminished to 0% with the consumption of green tea.

Esophageal Cancer

Esophageal cancer is very common in the sub continent. People who consume tobacco and its by product are prone to this. Well the toxins of tobacco are highly infectious but the researches have shown that the consumption of green tea can diminish the effect of the toxins to a very considerable amount. Green tea works wonders in the case of women who suffer from the esophageal cancer. Esophageal cancer once treated has a high percentage of recurrence. Green tea not only decreases the spread but also the recurrence after treatment of this cancer. 

Lung cancer

The most common cancer of all is Lung Cancer. Well people who have lung cancer can really rely on the consumption of the green tea because green tea has ECGC, a polyphenol which has anti-inflammatory effects on cancer cells. Since in lung cancer the bronchioles are affected the most and in contact of polluted air they have the property inflaming and multiplying at rigorous rate. The multiplicity of the cells can be diminished simply by the consumption of green tea along with some restricted diet chart.

Pancreatic Cancer

Pancreatic cancer is the most commonly occurring cancer because it is caused by bad eating habits. Everyone from a commoner to a high-profile person can suffer by this cancer. Green tea and its supplements have a remarkable effect on the cancer cells in this case. If someone can avoid contaminated and spicy food, along with green tea consumption one can surely tackle this cancer even without medication.

 

 Green Tea is helpful to prevents cell aging or enhances cell regeneration, and contributes to healthier and longer life. One of the benefits of green tea extract helps enhance the rate of athletic activity, as it stimulates the central nervous system; the tannic acid content of green tea extract that helps to kill wide range of bacteria inside our mouth, therefore helps to prevent stomatitis, pharyngitis, as well as enteritis, dysentery that are more prone to occur in summer season. Green Tea Extracts are exemplary for the overall health of a person.

 

Apart from these, the green tea drink also helps in maintaining a good glowing and healthy skin. Green tea extracts are noteworthy in maintaining a wrinkle free skin without any acne.  The studies reveal that Green Tea extract is as effective as a 4% solution of Benzoyl Peroxide. A study by American Academy of dermatology reveals that when compounded into a cream base green tea extracts is far more effective on a regular skin than any other acne preventive.  It was noticed that when the patients took green tea along with the application of green tea extract externally achieved almost a zero blemish skin without even a single mark on it. It must be kept in mind that acne and pimple are much more than a superficial skin disorder it may have its root in your metabolism and digestion. Green Tea as mentioned above is very effective in boosting the digestion and the metabolism as a whole.  

 

The most important aspect of drinking green tea is that it helps to lose weight without any side effects. Green tea extract called EGCG boosts the metabolism rate; this would convert the fat globules to the ATP molecules. Green Tea also triggers the thermogenesis process to burn the fat that was accumulated near the tummy. Green Tea also acts as an appetite suppressor, which harnesses your crave to eat more. EGCG is a well known for its effect in the blood sugar levels. The Green Tea firstly acts on pancreas, specially the islets of Langerhans which are responsible for the secretion of the enzyme called insulin. The blood sugar levels are lowered to diminish the risk of type1 Diabetes.

 

The green tea can also help to lower the LDL levels thus, substantially lowers the risk of heart disease. So. Green tea Diet is recommended highly by the doctors for a overall health.

 

 For More Information Visit :- http://green-tea-talk.com

 

 


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Anyone have any good Earth Day slogans for advertisements?

Posted: July 2009 in Earth Day
30
I’m making some posters to advertise an earth day event and would like some catchy phrases or ideas for posters. Thanks!
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“eco Drive” Unveiled by Fiat and Microsoft at the Frankfurt

Posted: July 2009 in Automotive
30

At the Frankfurt Motor Show Fiat Group Automobiles together with Microsoft will unveil its “Eco Drive”.
This Eco Drive solution headed by the Fiat Group Automobiles shows that an automaker’s environmental responsibility should continue even when the car leaves the production line and should extend up to the time when consumers start using their cars.

At present the official fuel consumption and emission figures of cars are obtained by using cars that are driven by professional drivers on a Roller Dynamometer Test Bench. The results are then certified by the European Union. The testing takes place in optimum ambient conditions with fixed vehicle speed, time and gear shift options but without the use of air conditioning, radio, lights, and auto meter tachometer other devices to ensure that the results are comparable. However real emissions levels are significantly different and usually are dependent on where the car is driven whether in a rural or an urban setting. Likewise the condition of the car as well as the driver’s driving style is also being considered.

Basically the Eco Drive has the same purpose as that of the Roller Dynamometer Test Bench and that is to determine fuel consumption and emission of vehicles however in the manner of gathering data that is where the Eco Drive surpass the latter since all of its gathered data relating to vehicle efficiency and emission are simply transmitted into a normal USB key via the Blue&Me’s USB gate. The driver have to simply plugs the USB into a PC and viola!—the driver is provided with detailed environmental performance of the car including of course its level of CO2 emissions for each trips that it took. And that’s not all! The Eco Drive also analyzes the driver’s style and then provides recommendations and tips on how to further improve driving to save fuel and to reduce CO2 emissions.

The Eco Drive also encourages the driver to set targets for his travels like in terms of CO2 reduction for particular journeys or even go as far as set a target covering a certain period of time. The objective of the Eco Drive is to help drivers to better understand their cars so that they may be able to change their driving behaviors in such a way that they will reduce the harmful effect of their vehicles to the environment.

This project was initiated by Microsoft and Fiat nearly four years ago and will be employed across the Fiat, Alfa Romeo, Iveco, and Lancia ranges. The Eco Drive was developed on Microsoft’s flexible and updateable platform Microsoft Auto, which was innovated by Fiat in partnership with Microsoft to come up with the in-car infotainment solution called the Blue&Me™.

Eco Drive will be made available starting 2008 in certain Fiat models equipped with the Blue&Me™ system. This marks another step in the innovative collaboration between Microsoft and Fiat Group Automobiles.


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The Knight and the Green Man

Posted: July 2009 in Literature
28

A Different look at the Mid English poem

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

Introduction

The usual interpretation of the poem is seeing in it a test for chivalry for one of King Arthur’s most prominent knights, Sir Gawain. My contention is that behind the mask of Christian chivalry lies an idea based on pagan ritual. It is possible that this basis was not only familiar to the initial readers, but perhaps even in actual use at the time among the populace, camouflaged by ideas more acceptable to the authorities.

I. The Poem

It may be helpful to take a look at the main points of the poem Sir Gawain and the Green Knight (s. links below) in order to clarify the idea presented in the Introduction. The poem tells us that, on New Year’s Day, while the knights of King Arthur’s court are celebrating under the auspices of Queen Guinevere, a giant knight appears dressed all in green. He challenges the knights at court to behead him, claiming it would cause him no harm; in return, he demands to do the same to his beheader on the next New Year Day. Sir Gawain, King Arthur’s nephew, volunteers for the task, holds the great axe the Green Knight hands him and cuts off his head. Instead of dying, the knight picks up his head and rides away, after reminding Sir Gawain his promise for next year, and appointing their meeting at his dwelling place in a Green Chapel.

Toward the end of the year, Sir Gawain rides in search of the Green Chapel. On his way he meets many adventures and many dangers until, at Christmas, he arrives at a castle. The Lord of the Castle, Bertilak, who is an avid hunter, welcomes him with courtly manners; he introduces him to his wife, the Lady of the Castle, who is a beautiful young woman; and to her companion, who is old and ugly. The Lady flirts with Sir Gawain in the absence of her husband on his hunting trips, and gives him a green belt to guard against being killed.

At the end of the poem, a few mysteries are solved. It seems that the castle is actually the sought-for Green Chapel, and the Lord of the Castle is the Green Knight himself. Sir Gawain, who had been made a fool of over the green belt and his flirting with the Lady, is courteously sent home, unharmed.

II. Sir Gawain

The figure of Sir Gawain is crucial for the story, as no other knight would have gone through the improbable task demanded by the Green Knight. Who was he, then, to take such a prominent part in Arthur’s court? In a genealogical table from a site about the figures featuring the Arthurian legends (s. link below), it can be learned that Gawain has been seen by some scholars as the representative of the Solar God.

In the Welsh legend, Gawain was known as Gwalchmei or the “Hawk of May”. Gwalchmei appeared not only as a hero and a nephew of Arthur, he was also son of the goddess Gwyar. In his seasonal interpretation of Celtic myths, presented in his book The White Goddess, Robert Graves sees the life of the Hero as symbolizing the course of the sun through one year. That heroic divinity was born at Christmas (25 December), soon after the birth of the sun at the shortest day of the year (21 December); in the spring month of May, when the sun has climbed higher in the sky and gained enough strength, the young Hero flies up to the sky in the shape of a hawk.

Gwalchmei had also been compared to the greatest Irish hero, Cu Chulainn, who was the son of the Sun god Lugh. (A “son of god” would usually symbolize the god’s younger version). In the tale of Culhwch and Olwen, Gwalchmei was the hero who “never returned without fulfilling his quest” – the quest being the completion of the Year’s full circle, as represented by Gawain’s wanderings. It was known that Gawain’s greatest strength in duels would always be shown at noontime, when the sun is at its highest point in the sky. In the Mid English poem, then, Sir Gawain represents the mythological figure of the Sun god.

III. The Course of Seasons

The seasonal atmosphere of the poem is strongly marked, a fact that adds to the character of the hero as a seasonal Sun god. Thus, the poet describes what happened with Sir Gawain after the Green Knight had left the festivities, and before he sets on his quest for the Green Chapel; Gawain is given “a year and a day” for this purpose, as the Irish year is counted: 13 months of 28 days plus one day to complete the official number of 365 days.

These are the seasons mentioned in the original poem, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight: It begins with the festivities on New Year Day because, although the Sun god is born on Christmas eve, the lengthening of the days becomes evident only around New Year Day. After that comes the season of late winter called Lent, when the earth is bare and the sun is cold and ineffective. As the days get longer and the sun gets stronger, what happens in the poet’s words is that: “The cold withdraws itself, the clouds uplift, and the rain falls in warm showers on the fair plains.” That is when the Hawk of May spreads its wings and flies to the sky. Then, “the flowers come forth, meadows and groves are clad in green, the birds make ready to build, and sing sweetly for solace of the soft summer that follows thereafter… The blossoms bud and blow in the hedgerows rich and rank, and noble notes enough are heard in the fair woods.“ Strangely the poet is silent about what happens when the sun reaches its peak at Midsummer – perhaps because in ancient days, unspeakable things happened at that time, which might included human sacrifice (as will be seen below). After Midsummer, the year turns, “harvest comes and hardens the grain, warning it to wax ripe ere the winter… The drought drives the dust on high, flying over the face of the land.” Autumn comes, and “the angry wind of the welkin (=sky) wrestles with the sun; the leaves fall from the trees and light upon the ground, and all brown are the groves that but now were green, and ripe is the fruit that once was flower.” This description of the dying of the year fits the closing circle of the sun’s travels. That is the time when people begin to wait for the darkening of winter.

At Michaelmas (29 September), with the onset of autumn gloom, Sir Gawain begins to think about his coming journey. On the Day of All Saints, after the Autumn Equinox, in a mournful mood in expectation of his coming execution, Sir Gawin sets on his adventurous way to look for the Green Chapel and the Green Knight. By Christmas Eve, he arrives at the beautiful castle surrounded by a green park, where begins the next stage of his adventures.

IV. The Figure of the Goddess

The Goddess is the one who rules life and death and all things of Nature, including the seasonal course of the sun through the year. The three women in the poem represent her three aspects, according to pagan theories: Queen Guinevere, who presides at King Arthur’s court over the festivities of the birth of the Sun god (whose Christian name is Jesus), represents the Goddess as the Sun Hero’s Mother. The Lady of the Castle, young and beautiful, elegantly dressed with her neck and bosom exposed, flirts with Sir Gawain and would have chosen him for a husband were she not married; she represents the Goddess as a Spring Bride, who each year makes her choice of a Hero to be her lover for the season. In some cultures she is the sister and lover of twin-brothers, who between them symbolize the waxing and the waning year. Her old companion, who is described in the poem as “wrinkled, stocky, hairy, black-browed”, covered entirely in clothing, represents the Goddess at the end of the year, when she causes the death of the Hero symbolizing the death of the Sun. These are the three aspects of the Triple Goddess, who appears as Bride, Mother and Crone.

V. The Green Man

The person who, more than anyone and anything else shows the pagan basis for the poem, is the “Green Knight”, who represents an ancient but well established figure called the Green Man. The green color appears consistently in the poem, in the Green Knight, the Green Chapel, and the green belt given by the Lady to Sir Gawain as protection against being killed. This green color, which does not have much to do with Christianity, more than anything else hints at ancient pagan times. In those times many rituals would take place in field and forest, and not under the roofs of church, palace or castle, where chivalrous manners are so important. The Green Chapel itself points out to the forest, with its green canopy, where unheard of savage rituals took place in olden times. The Green Man was part and parcel of those wild rituals.

In an article called ‘The Green Man – Variation on a Theme’, which appears at a site called Edge (s. link below), Ruth Wylie says that “the mighty questions of who, what and why” concerning the figure of the Green man “have no answer yet”. However, in her own article she manages to give quite a few answers to those questions. The idea and figure of the Green Man, as Ms. Wylie states, is spread all over England. It is “a mediaeval image usually found in churches… He can be recognized as a face, often grotesque, with foliage sprouting from his mouth, nose, eyes or ears. Alternatively, he may be a face composed entirely of leaves… The earliest known examples are in the art of Classical Rome, from where the idea seems to have moved northwards, to be adopted by Christianity and spread far and wide along the pilgrimage routes. The Green Man vanished with the ‘Old Faith’ after the Reformation…”

The expression of “Old Faith” is the answer to those questions initially brought in by Ruth Wylie. This obviously the pagan religion spread all over Europe before the advent of Christianity. Referring to the same wide occurrence of the Green Man, the Mything Link site (s. link below) states plainly: The Green Man was the god Pan – dweller of the forest, dressed in its leaves and ruling over all kinds of wild rituals.

But according to other sources, the god Pan had a double in the better known, more widely spread and powerful god, Dionysus. In his book The Golden Bough, Sir James Frazer says about Dionysus that he was a god of trees in general, sacrificed to by all Greeks as Dionysus of the Trees, sometimes represented as just an upright post (which is considered a phallic symbol). Dionysus assumed the form of a goat, as was Pan, and was worshipped under the title The One of the Black Goatskin; he himself was sacrificed in the shape of a kid in the autumn festival (which marks the end of the year in Mediterranean countries). As God of the Forest, Dionysus can be identified with the King of the Wood at Nemi. At Diana’s grove there, he was her mate and her yearly sacrificial victim, because “some peoples preferred to kill the king while he was still in the full vigor of life.”

In an elaborate site explaining the essence of some Greek deities (s. link below), it is said about Dionysus: He was associated with death and rebirth; (the Great Goddess) Hera arranged for the Titans to kill him and they ripped him to pieces, while the (Earth) goddess Rhea (also known as Cybele) brought him back to life, and he was raised by the mountain nymphs. The followers of Dionysus worshipped him in the woods, working themselves up into mad states of frenzy and ecstasy, and any animals (or people) they came upon would be ripped apart in sacrifice, their flesh eaten raw. In art he is depicted wearing a crown of ivy, and covered in vine leaves and grapes, a typical image of the Green Man. He is a God of Nature and Lord of the Harvest, a God of the Underworld, a Son/Lover of the Goddess, a Child of Promise, the Green Man and the Horned God, all combined into one. The Green Knight of the poem, then, represents this ancient God of the Forest, who was sometimes brother to the Sun god. His being torn to pieces in his sacrifice is symbolized in the poem by being decapitated; his staying alive shows him as the dying and resurrected god in the figure of Dionysus.

In a site by that name (s. link below), it is claimed that The Green Man makes his appearance in the Morris Dancers of England as Jack-In-The-Green. His is a disruptive character that attempts to distract the dancers from their dancing by playing the fool, as well as by breaking away from the dance troupe and accosting the onlookers. This description is evidence to the appearance of the Green Man, not only in Medieval England, but even in these days.

Conclusion

The main points connecting the Green Man with the Green Knight of the poem are, firstly, the widespread figure of the Green Man in England, enough to be familiar to the listeners of that medieval poem. Secondly, the character of the Green Man, which is evident in the figure of the Green Knight: he lives in the forest and takes part in uncivilized customs not known in King Arthur’s court; he takes part in a dismemberment, which does not kill him. He is definitely connected with the seasons of the year, making a point at his ritualistic dying taking part at Midwinter, with the death and rebirth of the sun. As the Lord of the Castle, he is obviously connected with the Nature goddess as a Bride, who can bring dying things back to life with the help of a “green belt”. Both heroes of the poem, who vie for the Lady’s love and for their right to live, represent the twin Sun gods in the manner of many known pagan gods and heroes of ancient days, and the story revealed behind the mask of a poem of test for chivalry, is the story of their birth, love, death and revival from ancient days, when that pagan religion ruled everywhere.

Links:

www.lib.rochester.edu/CAMELOT/sggk.htm - English Translation in Full

www.sparknotes.com/lit/gawain/section1.html - Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

www.timelessmyths.com/arthurian/roundtable.html - Knights of the Round Table

www.indigogroup.co.uk/edge/greenmen.htm - Edge, The Green Man as a mystery

http://www.controverscial.com/Greek%20Mythology.htm - Description of Dionysus as a Green Man

http://thegreenman.net.au/mt/archives/2003_06.html - Jack in the Green

www.mythinglinks.org/ct~greenmen.html - Comments on ideas and customs of the Green Man


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Climate Change Likely To Result In Eco-Migration: What Can Be Done?

Posted: July 2009 in Environment
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Climate change is the largest environmental change expected this century. It is likely to intensify droughts, storms and floods, which will undoubtedly lead to environmental migrations and potential conflicts in the areas migrated to.

In the aftermath of environmental disasters such as Hurricane Katrina in the US, Rafael Reuveny from Indiana University in the US looks at the role of environmental degradation on population migration, or ‘ecomigration’. He examines its impact on areas receiving migrants and resulting violent conflict in particular.

People facing environmental disasters have no choice but to leave the affected area. The larger the migration and the shorter the period over which it occurs, the harder it is to absorb the migrants, raising the likelihood of conflict. For instance, migrants clash over jobs, resources and way of life, and violent interactions such as theft, beating, armed scuffles, seizure of resources and property, murders and insurgencies are likely.

In order to minimize the impact of environmental migrations, which can cause violent conflict in areas receiving migrants, Reuveny says developed countries would be wise to invest in preventive strategies both at home and in developing countries – since climate change is expected to degrade the environment considerably this century.

Reuveny’s analysis of three case studies – the US Dust Bowl in the 1930s; Bangladesh since the 1950s; and Hurricane Katrina in 2005 – shows that although climate change can spur large population movements, public policy can alleviate the pressures of ecomigration. Indeed, if a country can invest in areas affected by environmental problems, the scope of ecomigration can be reduced and transitions can be smoother as more people are likely to return to the area.

In Reuveny’s view, “minimizing climate change-induced migration and violent conflict in receiving areas requires an engineered economic slowdown in the developed countries, and population stabilization and economic growth in developing countries financed by the developed countries.” These policies form the basis of the five-step approach he advocates to policy makers.

Read more


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Costa Rica Eco Travel

Posted: July 2009 in Travel
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The evolution of ‘Ecotourism’

As a world-wide leader in nature-oriented travel, with 5% of the world’s biodiversity within only .035% of the world’s land, Costa Rica continues to be in the spotlight for ecotourism. Since 1993, tourism has been the top generator of foreign revenues for Costa Rica, surpassing both bananas and coffee. The ICT (Costa Rican Institute for Tourism) acknowledges that the tourism in Costa Rica has become mainly ecotourism. It is easy to see why, with Costa Rica’s 26 national parks, 58 wildlife refuges, 32 protected zones, 15 wetland areas or mangroves, 11 forest reserves, 8 biological reserves, as well as 12 other conservation regions. The array of flora and fauna is staggering. Martha Honey of the CESD (Center on Ecotourism and Sustainable Development) cites the following:

“This West Virginia-sized country boasts more bird species (850) than are found in the United States and Canada combined, more variety of butterflies than in all of Africa, more than 6,000 kinds of flowering plants (including 1,500 varieties of orchids), and over 35,000 species of insects. Costa Rica is, as former minister of natural resources Alvaro Umana put it, a biological superpower.” (Honey 2003)

All of this natural wonder in the most stable country both socially and politically in Central America, perhaps even all of Latin America, is heaven for especially the ecotraveler. To its credit, Costa Rica has the highest percentage of protected land in the world (Fenell and Eagles 1990). Further, Costa Rica has preserved these lands and natural habitats in such a way that they are more accessible to tourists than those of any other country in the region (Budowski 1993). The small size of the country is a huge factor as well; a traveler has the opportunity to visit more destinations per visit if desired.

The International Ecotourism Society (TIES) defines ecotourism as:

“Responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people.”

The history of ecotourism is interesting. The term ‘ecotourism’ was coined in 1983 by Hector Ceballos-Lascurain, one of Mexico’s top architects as well as renowned environmentalist and Ecotourism expert. Ceballos-Lascurain is the Director General of the Programme of International Consultancy on Ecotourism (PICE), and special advisor on Ecotourism to the World Conservation Union (IUCN). The following definitions are quoted from Ceballos-Lascurain in an ecoclub.com article Meet the Architect of Ecotourism.

1983 definition: “Ectourism is tourism that involves traveling to relatively undisturbed natural areas with the specific object of studying, admiring and enjoying the scenery and its wild plants and animals, as well as any existing cultural aspects (both past and present) found in these areas.” His hope was that the result would be that people would become more knowledgeable and aware of nature and thus likely to be more involved in conservation issues. This very desire came to fruition.

He revised the definition in 1993, which was then adopted by the IUCN in 1996 as its official definition, which states: “Ecotourism is environmentally responsible travel to relatively undisturbed natural areas, in order to enjoy, study and appreciate nature (and any accompanying cultural features, both past and present), that promotes conservation, has low negative visitor impact, and provides for beneficially active socio-economic involvement of local populations.”

What began as a niche in the early 80’s has grown exponentially with far-reaching effects. From the roots of ecotourism sprang ‘responsible’ and ’sustainable’ tourism, and as seen above ecotourism is now defined to include the latter. In October of 2008, United Nations Foundation Founder and Chairman Ted Turner joined the Rainforest Alliance, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) to announce the first-ever globally relevant sustainable tourism criteria at the IUCN World Conservation Congress. The new criteria was developed to offer a common guide to the burgeoning practice of sustainable tourism and to help consumers, businesses, governments, non-governmental organizations and education institutions to ensure that tourism has positive, rather than negative effects on local communities and the environment. To find out more, check out www.SustainableTourismCriteria.org.

In order to promote tourism providers that practice sustainability, the Costa Rican ICT developed the Center for Sustainable Tourism (CST) which provides certification to businesses that are committed to sustainable practices. The certification is given at levels from 1 to 5 green leaves, with many businesses currently certified and in process. The Rainforest Alliance recognizes the CST as a valid entity to promote and ensure sustainable practices in Costa Rica. Countless others in tourism are involved in sustainable practices in Costa Rica that are under the radar. Also there is the newly formed Costa Rican National Chamber of Ecotourism (CANAECO) which is Rainforest Alliance affiliated. With all of these organizations to help promote and enforce authenticity, backed by huge consumer demand, there is sure to be more and more in the tourism sector on board to protect Costa Rica’s priceless ecosystems and communities.

NatureAir and NatureVacations are proud to practice environmental and social responsibility. NatureAir is The world’s first certified Carbon Neutral Airline and presents an informative video at http://www.natureair.com/carbonneutral/ . Also to learn more about our biodiesel program see http://blog.natureair.com/.


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Eco and Organic Schools

Posted: July 2009 in Education
23

Companies often have environmental policies where they recycle waster paper, ink cartridges and have energy saving stickers at the switches to remind people to switch off the lights. Companies are also increasingly becoming Fairtrade Workplaces by making a commitment to only buy Fairtrade tea, coffee and sugar. But this is for adults, what about the children?

Well, the Eco-Schools Programme enables schools to become a more stimulating place in which to learn about eco issues and the schools themselves will be able to reduce their environmental impact within the school itself and the wider community including their own homes.

Once registered the school will be part of an international group of schools working towards education for sustainable development and a better quality of life for local and global communities. This global development perspective will enable them to better understand poverty and appreciate the work that Live Aid and international charities such as Oxfam and the Red Cross are doing.

The Eco-Schools programme provides a simple framework to enable schools to analyze its operations and become more sustainable. A bit like business re-engineering in companies but in manageable bite size chunks.

Pupil involvement is a key part of the Eco-Schools programme. Having pupils engaged in the whole process, including monitoring, action planning and decision-making, leads to genuine ownership of the programme and an increase in their sense of responsibility for the school environment and local area.

There is also an award scheme that will raise the profile of the school in the wider community and provide an incentive to participate. Schools can also be featured in local and regional media when they reach award level.

There are three award levels:

• Bronze award - self-assessed via website leading to a certificate

• Silver award - self-assessed via website leading to a certificate

• Green Flag - externally assessed leading to a certificate and flag

Eco-Schools is run internationally by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE). It is administered by ENCAMS in England and Tidy Northern Ireland in Northern Ireland. Eco-Schools are supported by a wide variety of partners.

Organic Issues

If the school also wants to learn about organic issues then the Soil Association is encouraging the use of organic and local produce in school meals by running a Food for Life workshop at interested schools. It is a one day workshop for key stage two pupils. It is run by the Soil Associations education department. The workshop provides children with an opportunity to consider healthy eating, local and organic food through the theme of choices.

Schools also need information on good practice when sourcing healthy food for school meals. Schools can further improve childrens diets and increase their understanding of food by means of farm visits, and classroom activities. Wouldnt it be wonderful if all schools could have gardens so that kids can see that food doesnt come just from packets or appear miraculously in shops?

For more information on Eco Schools click here

For more on information on Organic Workshops click here


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Green Home Ideas - Energy Efficient Lighting, what a bright idea

Posted: July 2009 in Home Improvement
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Setting up a good green home starts with energy efficiency. Traditional incandescent light globes lose almost 90 per cent of their energy in generating heat - only 10 per cent of the electricity used is actually going into lighting your room. And because of their various filaments and parts, incandescent bulbs generally have a much shorter life span than their more energy efficient counter parts.

Installing energy efficient globes is one of the most cost effective and easiest options available for a good green home. Some companies had even traditionally given out energy and water saving “packs” for people to try out. Nowadays, these energy saving globes are available everywhere - so the question becomes, which light fitting is right for you?

Eco Home Tip # 36 - The lowdown on CFL - Compact Fluorescent (CFLs) are the most common energy saving fitting. CFLs use just about 20 percent of the energy required for the same amount of light from an incandescent globe and last 10 times as as long. All in all, a CFL will help reduce the cost of lighting your home by as much as 60 %.



Eco Home Tip # 37 - Keep your CFLs close, if shaded - a British study last year revealed that CFLs produced a small amount of UV radiation when used unshaded and in close proximity. Open globes were of note, which “encapsulated” globes were considered safe. So if you’re using a work lamp with a CFL, keep it shaded of opt for an encapsulated globe instead.

Eco Home Tip # 38 - Recycling your CFLs - The typical CFL contains a minute 4 mg of mercury sealed in its glass tubing. Some manufacturers have lowered its CFL mercury content to as little as 1 - 2.5 mg. Handle your CFLs with care and take advantage of recycling programs for CFLs to keep mercury from ending up in landfill.

Eco Home Tip # 39 - Leading by example with LEDs - Light emitting diodes (LEDs) are another popular energy efficient lighting option, especially to replace halogen globes and downlights in your home. The small cluster of diodes can be arranged in a number of configurations and sizes to suit your home. LEDs have been traditionally found in electronics including clocks, and have a variety of uses in terms of producing a broad spectrum of bright coloured light. LEDs are the perfect substitute to the more heat intensive halogen globes and last for over 50,000 - 60,000 hours and uses 70 percent less energy than standard halogen globes. LEDs are also mercury free.

Lighting a home can account for as much as 20 percent of a home’s energy use. Energy saving lights are simply a bright idea for your green home.

Looking for more eco home tips and ideas? Visit the Green Pages directory for more great eco home tips and ideas!


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Has anyone had a bad experience with eco-friendly laundry detergent?

Posted: July 2009 in Polls & Surveys
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I tried it, and it bleached white spots on all my clothes, even when they were turned inside out.
This is what I get for trying to be eco-friendly…(the stuff is expensive, too!!)

If you use an eco friendly detergent and it works, what is it?

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Accessories to go with an emerald green dress for winter ball?

Posted: July 2009 in Fashion & Accessories
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I’m wearing an emerald green satin/chiffon dress to my winter ball. I found these awesome zebra pumps. I know it sounds like a weird pair but they go really well together. Now i just need to know what to wear in the way of jewelry. Links appreciated, but just an idea would be good.
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