Sustainability

In its most recent newsletter, The Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education, better known as AASHE, listed Conscious Lifestyle's Socially Innovative Venture Competition.

AASHE is a member organization of colleges and universities in the US and Canada working to create a sustainable future. With its focus on youth, and goal of promoting sustainability in all sectors of higher education, AASHE is very relevant to Conscious Lifestyle ventures, which by definition are active proponents of sustainability on campuses.

Check out the AASHE website today!

The college selection process is a rigorous one. As a rising senior, I know how difficult it is to search for a school that meets all your needs, be they class size, student teacher ratio, best dorms, or even best parties. Every little thing counts in order to make sure your four years go smoothly. But when cruising college campuses and digging through acceptance stats, how many of us stop to think about how a school best our meets ecological needs? I doubt most even have a clue how to tell just how green their dream college or university really is.

It might not be a top priority for some, but for those young men and women who are becoming increasingly environmentally aware, it is important for them to have this information at hand.

In fact, according to a Princeton review survey, “six out of 10 college applicants and parents say the environmental factor would affect their decision to apply to or attend a school.”

Groups such the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) and the Sustainable Endowments Institute (SEI) have started to release rating systems which students and parents can use to narrow down or even expand their college choices. The SEI in Cambridge Massachusetts gives letter grades to at least 200 public and private schools with the largest endowments. It grades how well a school uses its funds to advocate for the environment, as well as green campus factors.

Among those colleges listed as “Climate Change and Energy Leaders” are: Amherst College, Arizona State, Cornell University, Duke University, Harvard, MIT, New York University, Northeastern University, Tufts University, University of Washington, Wesleyan, and Yale. To find out more about various other colleges and to see who else made the list, check out theSEI’s 2008 Report Card. And while you’re at it, read more about others’ takes on the sustainability reports.

Personally, I love the idea of the reports, and will definitely be factoring them into my ongoing search for the perfect college.

(Shame on you, Northwestern! Go Cornell!)

Found through AASHE and its newsletter, Idealist, Higher Ed Jobs, and Bright Green Talent

Climate Program Manager, AASHE
AASHE, the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education, seeks a Climate Program Manager to lead AASHE's efforts to support signatories of the American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment. A bachelor's degree in a related field is required (graduate degree preferred). Applicants should also have at least five years experience in energy management and/or emissions mitigation.
Deadline: apply now

Director of Campus Sustainability, U Wisconsin Oshkosh
The University of Wisconsin Oshkosh seeks a Director of Campus Sustainability to begin in November 2008. Job responsibilities include providing leadership to the campus in all facets of campus sustainability; collaborating with various campus operational units in developing sustainability policies, priorities, and practices; coordinating with the faculty to integrate sustainability into teaching and research; collaborating with students, student groups, and student units such as residence life in promoting sustainability; and supervising sustainability interns. Requirements include a Bachelor's degree in a relevant field; experience with energy, water and waste conservation; and leadership experience in environmental initiatives. A Master's degree is preferred.
Deadline: apply now

Deputy Director, Responsible Endowments Coalition
Media Coordinator, Responsible Endowments Coalition
The Responsible Endowments Coalition is looking to hire a Deputy Director and a Media Coordinator. The Deputy Director will lead the organization in building strong operational systems, and play a pivotal role in financial management, HR and staff management. Applicants should have three to five years of successful nonprofit management experience and a strong demonstration of management and operational skills. The Media Coordinator will work closely with the Communications Director and Organizing Director to implement a media strategy to support campus efforts, including the training of young people to reach out to local media, in addition to more traditional story pitching. We are looking for someone with two to three years of media experience and an organizing background.
Deadline: apply now

Environmental, Safety, & Recycling Manager, Western New England College
Western New England College (MA) seeks an Environmental, Safety, and Recycling Manager to advise, develop, and coordinate comprehensive environmental, safety and recycling programs for the college's operations. Other responsibilities will include establishing an Environmental Health and Safety presence on campus to support the college's compliance with all state and federal EPA and OSHA regulations and standards. Qualifications include a BS in Occupational Safety, Environmental Management, Chemistry, Biology, or a related field.
Deadline: apply now

Part-Time Coordinator, Green Urban Living Center, Miami Dade College
Miami Dade College seeks a part-time Coordinator to oversee and coordinate the Green Urban Living Center. Responsibilities will include supervising and monitoring student volunteers; overseeing the design, upkeep and planting of the organic garden, butterfly garden, rock pine land, and other areas under development; and creating awareness of GULC programming. Requirements include a Bachelor's degree and two years of related environmental experience. Grant writing experience is preferred.
Deadline: apply now

Program Assistant, Campus Ecology, National Wildlife Federation
The National Wildlife Federation seeks a Program Assistant for the Campus Ecology program in Reston, Virginia. The purpose of the Campus Ecology Program Assistant position is to help dramatically broaden engagement in NWF’s climate action initiatives. This position will be responsible for supporting fellowships, supporting special media projects, coordinating the internship program, and tracking and engaging alumni. The Program Assistant will also provide administrative, logistical and outreach support for Campus Ecology program and staff on a regular basis. A BA in environmental studies or a related field and a minimum of one year of professional experience is required.
Deadline: apply now

Research Assistant, Economic Policy Institute
The Economic Policy Institute has an immediate opening for a Research Assistant. This is permanent position. Responsibilities of the job include collection and analysis of data from print and electronic sources, preparation of tables and figures, research and summarization of literature, and the ability to analyze and process economic data. The key responsibilities include assistance with the creation of spreadsheets for EPI reports, such as its flagship publication, the State of Working America, and other EPI reports (see www.epi.org for further examples). To this end, the RA is required to be a methodical and detailed oriented researcher and have the ability to transform economic data (e.g. convert nominal wages into inflation adjusted wages). Skills include the ability to find data—for the most part from web searches—and transfer data into spreadsheets to make scores of tables and figures. Accuracy and attention to detail are a must. The candidate must have the ability to organize large amounts of data in excel and meticulously source and document those data and meet deadlines. The position will emphasize research in labor and international economics; the work might also include projects on race and ethnicity and/or pension issues. Successful candidates will have (or almost have) a B.S. in economics, math or related fields, or in other social sciences (e.g. public policy or political science); several months of work experience as a research assistant or performing similar type of work; knowledge of word processing, spreadsheets, and the internet, excellent oral, writing and proofreading skills, and the ability to work well with others. Requires advanced knowledge of spreadsheet manipulation, including the creation of graphics and familiarity with macros is a plus. Experience with data manipulation, programming and regression analysis in Stata is also strongly preferred. The Economic Policy Institute is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer with excellent benefits. To apply, send cover letter, resume and a list of three references to: researchjob@epi.org. They can also be mailed to Research Dept, Economic Policy Institute (Suite 300 East), 1333 H St NW, Washington, DC 20005 or faxed to: 202-775-0819. Please send inquiries to above email address. No phone calls please. Cover letter should state when the applicant will be available to start work. Deadline: apply now
Sustainability Coordinator, Longwood University
Longwood University (VA) seeks a Sustainability Coordinator to develop, implement, and direct Longwood's sustainability program. The candidate will be responsible for establishing a formal University sustainability policy; working with faculty, staff, and students to integrate leadership, instruction, and operations in order to meet the University's sustainability goals; integrating the Campus Master Plan sustainability goals into University planning and operations; and implementing and manage sustainability outreach, communications, and continuing education. A Bachelor's degree is required.
Deadline: apply now

Student Activities Coordinator, MIT Energy Initiative
The MIT Energy Initiative is seeking a Student Activities Coordinator to be responsible for the timely planning and implementation of projects to advance MITEI objectives in student networking, energy education, and related outreach. Other responsibilities include maintaining and strengthening relationships with energy, environment, and sustainability student groups, including organizing student leader networking events, providing guidance to student groups and student projects on project planning, and participating in selected events and activities. A Bachelor's degree in a related field is required.
Deadline: apply now

Sustainability Communications & Outreach Coordinator, Middlebury College
Middlebury College seeks a Sustainability Communications and Outreach Coordinator to fill a 1-year term position. The successful candidate will design and implement cultural and behavioral change programs that will help members of the Middlebury College community to engage more effectively in practices of sustainability. He or she will also communicate Middlebury's sustainability initiatives and the success stories of individuals and groups to internal and external audiences through writing, speaking, video, and managing the Environmental Affairs website. The ideal candidate will be a strategic thinker with sound technical skills, analytical ability, good judgment and strong operational focus. A Bachelor's degree and four years' related experience and/or training are required.
Deadline: apply now

Sustainability Coordinator/Staff Assistant, Worcester State College
Worcester State College (MA) invites applications for the position of Sustainability Coordinator and Staff Assistant. The successful candidate will be responsible for the development and implementation of campus wide programs relating to sustainable efforts; encouraging, developing, and facilitating sustainability programs initiated by student, faculty and staff community members; and organizing training seminars, workshops, and conferences as required in response to other evolving needs and opportunities. Qualifications include a Bachelor's degree or significant progress towards a degree in environmental science or a related field.
Deadline: apply now

Sustainability Manager, University of California, Davis
The University of California, Davis invites applications for Sustainability Manager within the newly created Environmental Stewardship and Sustainability group in the Office of Resource Management and Planning. The Sustainability Manager is a new position that will provide leadership, analysis and program recommendations to the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Environmental Stewardship and Sustainability, to campus executive leadership, and to the campus community for development of a program that will achieve sustainability goals. One of the first and most important duties of the sustainability program is the development of a Climate Action Plan for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Qualifications include knowledge and significant experience in environmental planning, environmental science, physical planning or a related field with an emphasis on sustainability.
Deadline: apply now

Sustainability Research Assist, U Corp. for Atmospheric Research

The University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (CO), the nonprofit organization that manages the National Center for Atmospheric Research, is hiring a part-time Sustainability Research Assistant to support its first greenhouse gas emissions inventory. This position is a paid, part-time opportunity open to graduate students and upper level undergraduates with academic or professional experience in sustainability and/or greenhouse gas inventory projects. The Student Assistant will primarily be responsible for conducting research and data analysis to complete a report on GHG emissions that result from UCAR-sponsored conferences, workshops, and events.
Deadline: apply now

5 positions, Energy Action Coalition
The Energy Action Coalition is seeking an Internet Director, Online Organizer, Director of Development, National Field Director for Power Vote, and Operations Assistant. The Internet Director will direct the overall growth and strategic direction of the organization's online presence. The Online Organizer will be responsible for developing and implementing online strategy for Energy Action Coalition campaigns. The Development Director will be responsible for leading and directing the fundraising and development efforts of Energy Action Coalition. The National Field Director will be the point person for implementing field operations, evaluating strategy and programs, and developing a comprehensive field plan for the Power Vote Campaign. The Operations Assistant will be responsible for assisting the Director of Operations with coalition coordination, meeting planning and preparation, coalition fundraising, and day-to-day support of Energy Action central staff.
Deadline: apply now

Energy Manager, U Utah
The University of Utah seeks an Energy Manager to Identify, develop and implement energy cost saving initiatives on campus. Other responsibilities include developing and implementing financial goals, performing strategic and tactical planning for the Energy Management Program, and establishing short and long range goals. Qualifications include a Bachelor's degree in a related field plus two years of related experience.
Deadline: July 25

Become a Higher Education Sustainability Fellow
The Higher Education Associations Sustainability Consortium invites applications for the Higher Education Sustainability Fellows Program. Fellows will spend 4-5 hours each week working with their professional association and other related higher education associations, helping them to collect and share quality sustainability information with their members. Fellows will serve as mentors to others doing sustainability work on college campuses. Their role is to nurture, connect, assist and inspire the very important but often challenging work being done by disconnected individuals across the country.
Deadline: August 1

Energy and Environmental Educator, Renewable Energy Program, Penn State
Pennsylvania State University is seeking an individual to coordinate and deliver educational programs and development projects in the broad area of sustainable energy, sustainable agriculture and rural development for the Northeast PSU Cooperative Extension Region and the Mid Atlantic/New England regions. The position will be based at Penn State Wilkes Barre campus and requires periodic travel throughout the northeast. A Bachelor’s degree is required, and a Master’s degree is preferred in Environmental Resources Management, Agricultural or Environmental Engineering or Environmental Sciences.
Deadline: August 1

National Organizer, Focus the Nation 2009

The Focus the Nation team is gearing up for another national day of dialog during the first 100 days of the new administration, with a goal of educating millions and engaging a majority in each house of Congress in conversations on global warming solutions. The national organizing team will be responsible for implementing an outreach plan to recruit event organizers in every congressional district; identifying, mobilizing, and building relationships with hundreds of volunteer organizers; supporting event organizers in event planning; coordinating events at the state and regional level; maintaining an online presence on social networking sites and blogs; managing a comprehensive organizer database; and working with partner organizations. Applicants must have some organizing or campaign experience.
Deadline: August 1

Found through Youth Venture, AASHE and its newsletter, Conference Alerts, and Americans for Informed Democracy

UN Climate Negotiations, COP14
The SustainUS Agents of Change program is now accepting applications for its delegation to the UN Climate Negotiations, the Conference of Parties 14, to be held in Poznan, Poland this December. COP14 will determine the future of international policy on climate change, and this is an opportunity for youth to make their voices heard. The SustainUS delegation, comprised of key leaders in the youth climate movement from various organizations and backgrounds, will have the unique opportunity to represent American youth at the COP. Delegates will work with each other and with international youth in advance of the conference to educate themselves, develop policy priorities, acquire skills in effective lobbying, and engage the broader youth population in a conversation about international climate policy.
Dates: December
Deadline: July 12

Community College Summit: Building Gateways to the Green Economy
The two-day event will feature general sessions with keynotes, speakers and more than 30 workshops and sessions addressing the full range of green workforce, education and building issues. Attendees will learn from educators, policy makers, business leaders and a range of experts about the curriculums that are being developed in conjunction with renewable energy and other green industries and coordinated among campuses; creating campuses that are models of sustainable practices to their communities; the savings available from building and running green campuses; community colleges that are living laboratories where students learn by applying their skills and training to green their campuses; and green job opportunities – what the “green collar” jobs are now, and what they will look like in the future.
Dates: October 8th and 9th
Deadline: August 1

Performing the World
Performing the World ’08 builds on the momentum of 2007’s PTW 4, which brought together 300 practitioners, scholars, educators, youth workers, researchers, psychologists and therapists, health and helping professionals, business people, artists, and community activists from 27 countries. Some conversational themes, panels, workshops and performances will include Performance as a Community Building Methodology; Postmodern Creativity and Performance; Knowing, Not Knowing and Performing; Performance and Politics; Performance in Daily Life; The Therapeutics of Performance; The Creativity of the Group; Ensemble and Community; Theatre and Community; The Creativity of Improvisation; Performing, Improvising and Learning; The Power of Play; and Conflict Resolution and Performance.
Deadline: October 2nd-5th
Deadline: August 1

HMF International Film/Media Festival and Conference
HMF seeks to tap into the power of the media—film, both documentary and narrative; art and music; print, web, television, and photojournalism—and extend their influence more broadly, so that humanitarian issues are not just covered in brief articles, commercials, profiles, or soundbytes, but can be explored and given context, so that their importance is more widely known. With greater knowledge, more people in positions of authority and influence can then also be drawn in as part of the dialogue, so that such issues are not just lamented, but perhaps some constructive and creative answers can be illuminated among those with the greatest capacity to make a difference. The Conference will cover the media’s role in humanitarian histories, events, issues and crises; the role that the media has played and perhaps should play in the work of the UN, NGO’s and other agencies who help to support populations in need and are affected by certain issues or crises; the future role of the media with the advent of new technologies, the possibilities inherent in the web, and how these new possibilities can be utilized by those seeking to bring further attention to the public sphere regarding issues of humanitarian importance; the role of the artistic media in revealing the nuances of issues of humanitarian importance and the significance of “celebrity” involvement; the role of print, television, web, and photojournalism and its importance in the humanitarian sphere.
Dates: December 10th-14th
Deadline: August 1 for presenters; December 1 for attendees

The Annual Youth Assembly at the United Nations
This Assembly attracts hundreds of youth leaders to the United Nations Headquarters in New York from over 52 countries. During the assembly, attendees learn more about the Millennium Development Goals and find ways that young people can contribute to the MDGs in their own country. The Assembly has become a major gathering of young people over the past five years. Among our honored guest speakers each year is Dr. Arun Gandhi (Grandson of Mahatma Gandhi), UN officials, Olympic Medalists, Goodwill Ambassadors and other celebrities, who have made significant contributions to young people's lives and to the Millennium Development Goals themselves.
Dates: August 11th-14th
Deadline: August 5

AASHE 2008: Working Together for Sustainability--On Campus and Beyond
AASHE will host its second biannual conference, AASHE 2008: Working Together for Sustainability – On Campus and Beyond. AASHE 2008 will offer an opportunity for every sector of higher education in the United States & Canada to come together to demonstrate how colleges and universities can lead the way to a sustainable future. Goals of the conference include advancing sustainability on campus and beyond through partnerships and collaborations, increasing the integration of social responsibility and social justice into mainstream campus sustainability, promoting new pathways for elevating sustainability education and student leadership development, magnifying the role of campuses as responsible members of communities, both local and global, and to involve a wider range of participants in advancing sustainability in higher education. Students, administrators, faculty, staff, community members, and business are encouraged to attend. During the conference, AASHE will also host a two-day tradeshow, Sustainable Solutions Expo: Green Solutions for Campuses, Businesses and Institutions. Admission is included with conference registration. Discounts are available for students and AASHE members.
Dates: November 9th-11th
Deadline: August 29

Global Youth Enterprise
Making Cents International will convene practitioners, donors, educators, youth, members of the private sector, representatives of governments, and other partners in youth enterprise, entrepreneurship, and livelihood development for the Global Youth Enterprise Conference. These conference participants are part of a growing community committed to investing in young people, and the innovations necessary to ensure programs and policies achieve greater impact, sustainability, and scale. Making Cents supports this community regularly meeting to share lessons learned, promising practices, and new ideas that create economic opportunities for young people. This year's conference themes are Market-Driven Approaches and Effective Methodologies and Practices for Monitoring, Evaluating, and Conducting Impact Assessments.
Dates: September 15th and 16th
Deadline for late registration: September 1

2008 Greenbuild International Conference and Expo - Revolutionary Green: Innovations for Global Sustainability
The U.S. Green Building Council will host its Greenbuild 2008. USGBC’s Greenbuild conference and expo is an opportunity to connect with other green building peers, industry experts, and influential leaders as they share insights on the green building movement and its diverse specialties. Speakers include Archbishop Desmond Tutu, E.O. Wilson, and Janine Benyus. The conference will feature over 100 educational sessions, LEED workshops, off-site educational sessions. Students, universities, and professionals are invited to attend.
Dates: November 19th-21st
Deadline: September 8

CFP - Fifth World Environmental Education Congress
The Organizing Committee of the Congress invites submissions for abstract proposals. The presentations may be in the form of a poster, oral, or round table presentation, or a workshop or NGO forum. Themes include relationships between ecology and economy; the issue of sustainability; questions of fairness in socio-ecological issues; environmental health; urban challenges; greening colleges and universities; and school and community. Each participant is limited to a maximum of two proposals.
Dates: May 10th-14th
Deadline for presentation submission: September 30
Deadline for presenter registration: February 1

Good and Green
This conference gives you the opportunity to catch up on the very latest green marketing info and know how. It is the only event focused on green marketing solutions and insights for Fortune 100-1,000 companies and their agencies! Attendees will receive invaluable research, case studies, strategies and techniques. They can also expect some new marketing ideas and insights, as well as surprise entertainment value from Planet Green. Presenters include The Daily Green.com, The Natural Marketing Institute, Ketchum Public Relations, Denise Waggoner from Getty Images, and Earthsense. There will also be a Partnership Panel, from which attendees will learn to correctly identify and develop great partnerships successfully. Good And Green is the place for senior brand marketers to touch base, connect, learn and share insights from their green marketing journey.
Dates: December 3rd and 4th
Deadline: register online now

Green Community College Conference
The National Council for Workforce Education Board of Directors will host the Green Community Colleges Conference: Sustainable Campuses and Programs. Presentations will be given on sustainability initiatives, energy programs and opportunities, and workforce curriculum and faculty development.
Dates: October 18th-21st
Deadline: register online now

National Youth Venture Summit
The First-Ever National Youth Venture Summit will be an exciting leadership experience, gathering young changemakers from across the nation. Attendees will participate in skill-building and Venture-strengthening workshops, engage in meaningful dialogue to share experiences, network and find ways to collaborate. Free time will also be available to explore our nation's capital. For additional information and questions regarding financial support, contact Kristin at 703.600.8347 or kfurio@youthventure.org.
Dates: July 17th-20th
Deadline: register online now

Pop!Tech 2008: Scarcity and Abundance
For the twelfth year, the Pop!Tech Conference will again convene a network of 600 remarkable thinkers, doers, leaders and global change agents in science, technology, social innovation, business, environmentalism, globalization, media, education, and many other fields for a four-day exploration of ideas shaping the future. This year, we will pay particular attention to the 21st century dynamics between systems based on scarcity and those based on abundance, in areas ranging from digital social networks to environmentalism, from biology to business, from peacemaking to politics. We’ll chart the core scarcities that humanity will face in this century, and how a wealth of new innovations, new bottom-up approaches to collaboration, and new insights into collective wisdom might hold the key to addressing them. As always, there will be incredible performances, jaw-dropping technology demonstrations, spirited discussions, formal debates and surprises throughout. We will leave each other with an inspired sense of our challenges, our potential, and the dynamics of positive change.
Dates: October 23rd-25th
Deadline: register online now

Slow Food Nation 2008 This event is the first-ever American collaborative gathering to unite the growing sustainable food movement and introduce thousands of people to food that is good, clean and fair. The first annual event of Slow Food Nation takes place on Labor Day 2008 in San Francisco with enjoyable, accessible and educational activities for all Americans. Slow Food Nation is dedicated to creating a framework for deeper environmental connection to our food and aims to inspire and empower Americans to build a food system that is sustainable, healthy and delicious.
Dates: August 29th-September 1st
Deadline: register online now

UCB, U Washington Summer Institute in Sustainability
The University of British Columbia and the University of Washington Extension are pleased to invite participants to the Summer Institute in Sustainability, a 5-day intensive program that will provide intellectual perspectives and practical skills to integrate sustainability as a core value within an organization, and develop programs that represent best practices in sustainability planning. The program provides participants with a combination of lectures by sustainability experts and practitioners, on-site excursions to UBC’s sustainability initiatives, case studies featuring five of UBC’s signature sustainability programs, and applied work sessions focusing on sustainability planning.
Dates: July 20th-25th
Deadline: register online now

United Students Against Sweatshops Summer Conference
This summer, hundreds of students from throughout the US and Canada will be gathering in Boulder, Colorado for this conference. Attendees will be participating in skill building workshops, strategizing around winning our campaigns, hearing from workers, participating in anti-oppression trainings, and meeting up with students from hundreds of other schools.
Dates: August 8th-10th
Deadline: register online now

World Youth Congress
The 4th World Youth Congress will bring 600 of the world's most dynamic young activists in the field of sustainable development to Québec from 120 different countries. The congress offers a unique opportunity to meet and work alongside young people who are really doing things and going places. This event sets a new standard for international youth events, and will be the largest and most inspirational gathering of its kind for young people taking place anywhere in the world in 2008. There is a strong role at the Congress for young journalists, cultural performers (e.g. dancers / actors / film makers / musicians), as well as for those with an interest in sustainable development, but less personal experience in this area. Delegates will join forces with young Canadians to undertake hands-on community action projects across Québec, and will help shape international policy by documenting and showing governments what young people are doing to achieve the MDGs.
Dates: August 10th-21st
Deadline: register online now

State of the World Forum
The Forum, in partnership with Wisdom University and Olmstead Productions, is convening a new State of the World Forum in 2009 designed to draw attention to the emerging power of the cultural creatives and the enabling technologies required to shape constructive change in the face of the growing crisis of global warming. The application will be posted soon.
Dates: November 9th-15th
Deadline: registration materials will be available online soon

“Creating Global Change: How Youth are answering the question, 'What can I do?'”
Interested to know how you can make a career out of social change? How you can continue to work for poverty reduction and social justice after your time at college? This summer, AID and the Student Movement for Real Change will be hosting a conference to address these questions. Attendees will get an opportunity to speak with young social entrepreneurs, national organizers, and new media activists—learning from them about how to create global change as youth. For details, contact kristen@aidemocracy.org.

Global Health Conference in DC: "Mobilizing and Engaging Communities in Global Health"
This conference promises to be informative and filled with take-home actions you can do. For more details, contact christine.g@aidemocracy.org.

A new clothing line called Nature89 is now offering eco-friendly wear, both trendy and comfortable. The company sells a variety of products including tanks, hoodies, printed tees, polos, skirts and shorts. The style is classic casual with functional elements. Prices range mostly $from $15 to $35. Both men's and women's wear are offered.

All clothing is made from organic and pesticide-free cotton, eco-friendly dyes, and water-based inks. The entire collection is certified 100% organic.

Nature89 was founded by apparel entrepreneur Tariq Huq and a team of designers. They are committed to fair trade and to the environment. Besides being eco-friendly, the clothing line does not use any child labor, and all adult workers are provided a fair wage. 1% of its sales is donated towards the preservation of nature.

I really like the look of the the short-sleeve Elsa Hoodie, pictured above. This adorable hoodie, with cute rhinestones on the chest and front kangaroo pockets, is available in three colors and four sizes (S-XL). I think it looks trendy and very wearable.

The Essential Krista Camisole is another piece I like a lot. It's made of organic light-weight cotton and available in two colors (rose and violet). It looks like something I could layer with another top and wear to the mall, and something comfortable enough to put on for a pajama party.

There are many other cute pieces of clothing on the website, www.nature89.com. Click the link to make a purchase or to learn more about Nature89.

With the presidential campaign well under way, many issues have been debated and discussed such as Iraq, gas prices, and foreign policy. One of the lesser addressed areas is each candidate's stance on the environment and animal rights. However, Obama's and McCain's views on this matter should be taken into a greater consideration for the decision of who should become the next leader of the country.

Obama has a variety of environmental goals and successes. He has organized inner-city recycling, introduced bills to reduce mercury and lead levels, and supported national parks. Much of his effort is focused on environmental racism and educating the inner cities and the poor.

He does not support the storage of nuclear waste in Yucca mountain, and instead promotes green technology and fuel efficiency.

The Humane Society gives him a score of 60%. While Obama supported bills against dog/cock-fighting and signed a letter asking for more funds for the Animal Welfare Act, he did not vote for the Horse Slaughter Prevention Act or the Downed Animal Protection Act.

John McCain received a 40% from the Humane Society. He only supported the bills involving the prevention of horse slaughter for human consumption and exportation.

McCain believes that the economy and the condition of the environment are not "mutually exclusive, but intrinsically linked." Therefore, he advocates sustainable use of resources and the preservation of wilderness areas.

He co-sponsored many bills on protecting natural parks and wants the EPA to become a cabinet department. He does support Yucca Mountain and using nuclear energy.

So, the two candidates do have some overlapping opinions, especially on the subject of national parks and sustainability. Obama has a slighter better track record in the eyes of the Humane Society, but both candidates don't seem to be hardcore animal rights supporters. The major area in which they disagree is the storage of nuclear waste in Yucca Mountain.

Obama seems more of an "activist"; he has actually gone into the cities, interacted with the people; physically done more for the environmental cause. McCain, on the other hand, has supported a lot of legislation in Congress that protects and preserves nature.

Both candidates seem to do fairly well from the environmental standpoint. At least they each acknowledge the problems that the world has and have advocated methods to alleviate them. Hopefully, no matter whether McCain or Obama wins, our country will start making eco-friendly decisions for a sustainable future.

The image is from www.time.com

With the rising gas prices no where near slowing down, Americans are contemplating using their own resources to combat the problem. Oil reserves currently are located offshore and also in some regions of Alaska previously not opened to drilling. However, is this really the right thing to do? Is it worth the possible environmental consequences to lower prices?

I don't believe so. First of all, there are varied estimates on what amount of oil could be provided by these sources, especially the untouched Alaskan reserves. Predictions range from 6 months to 2 years. This amount of oil would hardly offset the foreign oil usage, and probably would not lower prices by noticeable amount.

Furthermore, obtaining oil causes numerous hazards to the environment, ranging from the actual drilling process to possible spills. Though there are precautions that are taken to prevent these disasters, the immense damage that they cause mean that we should not even take the slightest risk.

The amount of money that would need to be spent would cause another blow to national budget. Personally, I believe that there are many other aspects of our country that could use the spending, including education and investments into renewable energy.

The main problem is not that we need more oil, but that we rely too much on oil. One positive effect of high gas prices is that people and businesses trying to reduce their usage of the precious commodity. Really, reducing the amount of fossil fuels we use and exploring alternative sources are the best strategies for this energy crisis.

The image above is from www.treehugger.com.

Every year the Goi Peace Education Foundation develops educational programs and contests to promote global awareness in young people, emphasizing the leading role they can play in promoting world peace.

Together with UNESCO and the Earthwise Society, the Foundation has organized a series of International Essay contests for young people to take part in. Years 2005-20014 have already been designated by the United Nations as the "Decade of Education for Sustainable Development." Through this, the UN hopes that young people not only benefit from global initiatives, but are also empowered to play a part in them any way they can.

The theme of this years' International Contest Essay is "My project to create positive change in my environment. How can I foster sustainable development in my community?" Young people from around the world are invited to submit innovative ideas and concrete plans to address the social, cultural, environmental or economic problems faced by their community.

Considering the economic and environmental problems we are currently facing, this is a brilliant idea to introduce fresh new ideas for change from the rising generations.

The contest is divided into two separate age categories. Children (ages up to 14) and Youth (ages 15-25). If you happen to be the lucky 1st prize winner, you will receive a cash award and an all expense paid trip to Japan for the awards ceremony. For more guidelines information, visit the Goi Peace Foundation site.

All entries are due by June 30th, so good luck!

Apparently biomass - anything from crops like corn to dead wood and straw- is getting a lot of attention these days. First, there was that whole controversy about using biofuels in place of gasoline. Now, the United Kingdom government is offering grants to farmers and business owners to produce and use biomass for heating and fuel.

The government tries to avoid the former downfalls by only selecting inedible matter, such as grass and straw. Therefore, the new program hopefully will not have much of an effect on food supplies.

Some people wonder, doesn't the burning of all that plant material still release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere? How does using biofuels even help the greenhouse gas situation?

Well, here's the answer in a nutshell. Carbon continuously cycles throughout the atmosphere and the earth. It's in the air, animals breath it out, plants take it in, burning and decomposing releases it. However, all these activity takes place above ground, meaning that the net amount of carbon always stays the same.

When people discovered fossil fuels, they began to release large stores of carbon that were sequestered below the ground into the air. Therefore, the net amount of carbon in our atmosphere is increasing. It takes a much longer time for carbon to become stored in the forms of fossil fuels underground than it does for fossil fuels to be burned and release carbon. So, now we have this problem.

Are biofuels our savior? I don't think so. Whatever impact their usage has will be minimal, mainly because they only make up a small fraction of our total energy output. However, programs such as this one show that governments are becoming more aware of environmental concerns, which can lead to larger changes in the future.

Individuals also can make a difference. Conscious Lifestyle is still accepting applications for its 2008 ventures. You will receive money, mentoring, webspace, and other opportunities to help achieve your goal. This link takes you to more information.

This image is from www.alternate-energy-news.info.

What is greywater?

Water that’s kinda dirty because it’s been used once, but clean enough to be used for something else.

Examples: Water from rinsing fruit that can be used to then water plants; or water from washing hands, laundry, or dishes that can be reused to flush the toilet.

Why I use greywater:

Last year I saw this Greentime video and began using greywater in my apartment. I was amazed by how easy it is to save lots of water.

The more I use greywater the more I realize how nonsensical our normal water system is. Think about it. Our bathroom sink is located a few feet from our toilet, but instead of using water from the sink to flush the toilet, the water from our sink is sent miles away to be purified, then sent miles back to our toilets. This is crazy. Why do we need water that is pure enough to drink for our toilets? As someone who loves efficiency (like any good social entrepreneur), I couldn’t stand for this normal water system, so I put a bucket under my sink and collected the water used for washing my hands, shaving, and brushing my teeth to flush the toilet. I do the same with water used to wash dishes. I also collect water that is normally wasted while it heats up and use it to water plants. By doing this, I save gallons of water everday and am more mindful of the global water crisis that is affecting billions of people.

There are a lot of great resources about greywater where you can learn more about the subject, as well as how to get started. Make sure to search for “greywater” on Goodsearch.com to support your favorite charitable organiation. Thesimpleway.org has a post on greywater that is short, sweet, and convincing. The greentime video mentioned above is a perfect introduction to the subject. And there are other videos that range from washing machine greywater system to ways to use greywater to irrigate your backyard.

If you are a student leader who wants to learn more about living a conscious lifestyle and get support for your student venture, apply now for a Conscious Lifestyle social entrepreneur grant.

Picture from thesimpleway.org