Formation of an ocean is a rare event, one few scientists have ever witnessed. Yet this geophysical nativity is unfolding today in one of the hottest and most inhospitable corners of the globe. Visit the site in safety through this extraordinary photographic essay.
From Sciam:
In northeastern Ethiopia one of the earth’s driest deserts is making way for a new ocean. This region of the African continent, known to geologists as the Afar Depression, is pulling apart in two directions—a process that is gradually thinning the earth’s rocky outer skin. The continental crust under Afar is a mere 20 kilometers from top to bottom, less than half its original thickness, and parts of the area are over 100 meters below sea level. Low hills to the east are all that stops the Red Sea from encroaching. Read the entire article here...
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From Ecorazzi
The Home Shopping Network just went from kinda creepy to kinda AWESOME!! The network, which reaches over 90 million U.S homes, has made a commitment to adopt a strict fur-free policy effective immediatly. Hallelujah! To announce their new plan, HSN CEO Mindy Grossman wrote a letter to PETA stating: ”We and the customers of HSN share your concern about the treatment of animals in the making of fur products. As such, we no longer purchase any product that uses real fur, a strict policy that went into effect in the first quarter of this year.”
Oh, but wait….IT GET’S FRIGIN BETTER!! At the end of the year HSN will donate all unsold fur items to PETA to be used in their anti-fur campaigns. Mindy Grossman, can we makeout?
While the folks at HSN are strong enough to stand up to cruelty, some other companies — like HSN’s leading competitor ShopNBC — still insist on selling fur. If you think that’s totally messed up then take a few seconds (it literally takes like less than 10) to send ShopNBC an automated message urging them to get with the times and drop fur permanently. Because let’s be honest, cruelty is never, ever, ever, ever cute!
From Planet Green
On World's Greenest Homes, every inch of Robin's "La Casa Verde" reminds inhabitants and visitors how beautiful eco-friendly living can be. Keep your mind on the planet, and the planet on your mind, with some cool-looking visual aids that'll help you stick with eco-friendly habits.
* At the top of your grocery list, write LOCAL in big, blocky capital letters. Every time you glance at your list to see what you need while walking the supermarket aisles, this cue will subtly help you remember to consider how far what you're buying has traveled, so you're more likely to make eco-friendly choices that shrink your carbon footprint as you fill up your cart.
* As a nudge to hang your laundry up to dry on a clothesline instead of using electricity, tape a piece of string across the door to your dryer. The extra moment it'll take you to remove the barrier before using the appliance will give you time to consider whether you can drip-dry the laundry instead, and the string will be a tactile reminder of your clothesline as an eco-smart alternative.
* Remind yourself to flick off the faucet to save water whenever possible by hanging a picture of a pristine, idyllic, and pollution-free lake, ocean, or waterfall just above your tap. You can snip an image from an old newspaper or magazine in your recycling bin, or go upscale with a beautifully framed photo or antique postcard. However you find your picture, seeing the rewards of conservation every time you use the sink will help you stay motivated. When you start getting used to seeing the snapshot every day, swap it for a picture of a dry, desolate, waterless desert. A cautionary image can wake you back up to the importance of what you’re trying to do by going green, helping you stay on track.
*To cue yourself to keep your thermostat a little closer to the natural climate, which saves energy, make a dot with an erasable china pencil, or place a thin strip of masking tape, at the temperature that's reasonable and appropriate for your season. Marking the line will help you think twice about crossing it.
This post was inspired by Planet Green's show, Hollywood Green.
Search Local Green Products and Eco-Friendly Services on EcoFlip.org
