ECOMB Art by the Sea!

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Adopt a bin fundraiser organized by ECOMB of Miami Beach and Sponsored by Seaside Syndication, Miami Dade County and Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce, The Sun Post in colloboration with other creative groups will be sponsoring adopt a litter bin campaign. Liter bins are located in Miami Beach from 1st to 23rd street. The campaign will select 204 artists to decorate one of the Miami Beach trashcans in an effort to boost our beaches vibrancy and encourage litter pick up.

The program will reduce beach by at least 70%.
All money collected from sponsors will go to commisioning artists and implemetning educational programs.

1. Recycling Educational Brochures
Provides funds for additional ECOMB's "Recycling Campaign" multi-lingual brochure

2. Eco Cabana
Provides funds for a mobile eco-information center located on the beach.

3. Eco-Logical Teams
Implementation of neighborhood-based environmental teams, which encourages and teaches community memebers to adopt more environmentally sound practices.

4. Beach Bin Litter Sampling
Hope one day to convert Miami Beach trash cans into recyling bins.


For more information please visit ECOMB: http://www.ecomb.org/

WATERSHED Close the TAP

On average, 103 gallons of water are consumed each day by each citizen

A seemingly limitless supply of water but wrong.

Every day, over four billion gallons of groundwater are consumed to satisfy the demands of agriculture, industry, power plants, development, and municipal and public water supplies, and as a result, we are depleting our natural, underground water resources faster than they can be replenished.


Each of us can play a role by helping reduce groundwater pollution and decrease water consumption.

Learn more about some of the simple steps you can take to protect nature's gems.

Landscaping and Lawn care

• Reduce the size of your lawn and choose grass varieties that require a minimal amount of fertilizers and watering.
• If you use fertilizers, use only slow release varieties for residential lawns and gardens. Be sure to have a soil test done to determine if fertilizers are necessary.
• Resist the temptation to over-fertilize. Applying twice as much as fertilizer as is recommended does not make plants grow twice as fast.
• Do not over-water your lawn. Use a rain gauge to determine when and if you need to water.
• Plant native or drought-tolerant trees, shrubs, ground cover and flowers to minimize water use. Native plants will also attract desirable wildlife like butterflies and hummingbirds.
• Use pesticides if absolutely necessary and apply them only to the affected plants or area of lawn.
• Use mulch in plant beds and leave grass clippings on the lawn after mowing. Mulching helps prevent evaporation of moisture from the soil.
• Use rain barrels to capture and store rainwater to water plants.
• Visit www.floridayards.org to learn more about landscaping techniques to protect springs and Florida's natural resources.

Indoor water use

• Check to see if your plumbing has any leaks. Read your water meter before and after a two-hour period when no water is being used. If the meter does not read exactly the same, you have a leak.
• Often, toilets have quiet leaks. To find out if your toilet is leaking, add a little food coloring to the tank. If the color appears in the bowl 30 minutes later, your toilet is leaking.
• Upgrade toilets and install low-volume toilets that use half the water of older models.
• Every drop counts, so turn off the faucet! Don't let the water run while doing the dishes, brushing your teeth, shaving, or washing your face and hands.
• Take shorter showers. You can save several gallons for every minute saved in the shower. Replace your showerhead with an ultra-low flow model. They're easy to install.
• Install aerators on all household faucets; they slow the flow of water.
• Re-use water. Catch water while you shower and use it to water plants. Try the same technique when washing vegetables or rinsing dishes.
• Insure that your septic tank and drainfield are properly maintained.

Recreational Impacts

• When visiting a spring, use established trails, boardwalks, and canoe launch ramps at all times. Foot traffic can damage native vegetation and hasten bank erosion.
• Avoid trampling underwater vegetation and stirring sediments when tubing, snorkeling, or swimming at springs.
• Use extreme caution when boating and anchoring in spring runs. Anchors, props and boat groundings destroy aquatic vegetation and increase the cloudiness of the water.
• Dispose of your trash properly. Cans and bottles, cigarette butts, plastic bags and other trash harm water quality and wildlife and destroy the natural beauty of the springs.
• Be a responsible steward of the springs and teach others how to protect our springs.

Help Protect Sinkholes

• Never discard trash or refuse into a sinkhole. This can introduce dangerous contaminants directly into the underground aquifer, our drinking water and the springs.
• Properly dispose of hazardous household chemicals such as industrial cleaners, solvents, automotive fluids and paints at an approved landfill facility. Never pour them down your sink or into a stormwater drain.
• Organize a community clean-up to keep sinkholes in your area free of household waste and other dangerous debris.
• Recycle or donate old appliances and other household items instead of disposing of them in a sinkhole.
• Educate your children and neighbors about the dangers of illegally dumping into a sinkhole. Illegal dumping should be reported to local law enforcement.

Take Action to Protect Springs

• Get involved in local planning and land use issues to protect sinkholes and other land in springsheds. Your voice counts!
• Encourage and support the county and city leaders to make stormwater and land use decisions that will safeguard the groundwater flowing to our springs.
• Support your water management district in protecting groundwater.
• Help teach others about groundwater issues and responsible landscaping. Volunteer and become an advocate for a spring.
• The next time you visit a spring with your children, explain the importance of protecting these beautiful natural resources.

For more info click here: http://www.protectingourwater.org/watersheds/
http://www.floridasprings.org/protection/

Power Guzzling TVs now banned in California

Energy-hungry television sets will soon be banned across California in a landmark move by state legislators to reduce energy consumption.

The state of California will be the first in the US to impose a mandatory energy curb on TVs, an often-overlooked power drain.

Supporters say the move will help save California residents more than $8bn over 10 years in energy costs. The California Energy Commission will require that all new television sets up to 58 inches (147cm) be more energy efficient by 2011, consuming 33% less energy than current sets.The standards will get even tougher in 2013, when regulators will require sets to be 50% more efficient. However, some consumer advocates and industry leaders opposed the move, saying it would limit consumer choice and increase the price of television sets.

For full article please visit : http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8367545.stm

Itare Beach in Bahia Brasil

Itare Beach in Bahia Brasil is a Carbon-Free Destination!

Following a Carbon Free Tourism Certification Program directed by the movement Mecenas da Vida (Patrons for Life)

The Program aims to work in partnership with businesses, to develop the solution for two serious social-environmental problems in the country:

1 - The destruction of tropical forests resulting in reduction of biodiversity, degradation of natural resources and increase in carbon dioxide emissions;

2 - The exclusion of traditional communities living in precarious conditions and conducting illegal activities (cutting wood, hunting and sale of coal commercial) as their only alternatives for survival.

It includes eco-friendly lodging from bungalows, hostels, to camping catering to surf and adventure from water rafting to surfing along Brazil's world renown Itacare coast.

For more information please visit: http://www.itacare.com/itacare/ecotrip/index.php?lang=english

EXPO 2010, Shanghai, China

Energy is central to sustainable development and poverty reduction efforts. It affects all aspects of development -- social, economic, and environmental -- including livelihoods, access to water, agricultural productivity, health, population levels, education, and gender-related issues. None of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) can be met without major improvement in the quality and quantity of energy services in developing countries.

Recently, an independent report assessment of the environmental initiatives taken by Shanghai in its preparation for the World Exposition in 2010 (Expo 2010) in Shanghai, China aims to provide an objective appraisal of the efforts of Shanghai in improving its environmental quality and organizing an environment-friendly Expo. Measures and achievements are documented and analyzed and recommendations are made to assist the Shanghai municipal government to strengthen environmental initiatives for and beyond the Expo 2010.
"Like many rapidly developing cities, Shanghai faces enormous challenges in ensuring fresh air, clean water, sustainable energy, efficient transport and waste reduction for its population. The experiences of Shanghai in handling these issues provide valuable examples and lessons for other cities in China and worldwide."
The theme of Expo 2010 is "Better City, Better Life" and focuses on Shanghai, the environment and the concerns of our times: the sustainability of urban

For more information and what you can do to help visit: http://www.unep.org/

REDWOOD and DINOSAURS!!

In the past 150 years, 95 percent of all redwoods have been cleared. The 5 percent that remains are still being liquidated. Ancient trees that go back 2,2000 years old, sprouted well before the birth of Christ. The forest existed during the dinosaur era and contains more biomass acre for acre than the Amazon, yet it has been reduced to mere patches on a map. Redwoods rely on fog for up to 40 percent of their water, they never grow more than 50 miles from the coast. The tallest tree called "Hyperion" reaches 379.1 feet.

Please protect our trees!











For more information on Redwood National Park and camping please visit: http://www.nps.gov/redw/index.htmhttp://www.nps.gov/redw/index.htmhttp://www.nps.gov/redw/index.htm

NO ORDINARY BOOT!

The Bugathermo is no ordinary boot.

Now we can dream, plan, and do arctic adventures comfortably. The power of design engineering at Colombia Sports-wear has introduced a new kind of boot that fits like a glove.
An innovative, rechargeable heating system keeps feet warm for up to eight hours. Three temperature settings adjust to the coldest conditions, and with waterproof, breathable Omni-Tech, feet stay dry. All this, plus Techlite construction, keeps the boots lightweight and comfy.

Design Technology allows for:

Temperature Control
Three temperature settings and an easy-to-use LED ankle button let you customize your heating system on the go.

Rechargeable Battery Pack
Internal lithium polymer batteries deliver lasting heating power and are easily recharged with the included adapter.

Dual Heating Elements
Integrated toe heating element and underfoot insulation combine for a
-25˚F/-32˚C rating.

Omni-Tech

Waterproof Breathable

Maximum waterproof-breathable protection keeps outside elements from getting in.

Lightweight Performance

Techlite is specially formulated to provide impact absorbing support and stability.
Once again design and science combine to give results to intelligent design.

For more information please visit: http://www.columbia.com/Bugathermo/Bugathermo_Landing,default,pg.html