What really strikes me is that the US national average greenhouse gas emissions are 27 tons per person and the worlds average is 5.5 tons for a 1-person household. Holy cow! I understand most Americans live dramatically different than the rest of the world but maybe we can begin to understand some basic principles in how to reduce our own carbon footprint. The world has a fixed amount of natural resources and as our population grows we strain these finite resources so we need to preserve what we have so that our children and grandchildren can enjoy the same standard of living we have enjoyed.

A great place to begin is to find out what you or your family’s carbon footprint is. The Nature Conservancy has a great Carbon calculator that is easy to use. Once you have an idea, you can get busy doing some easy things to help our climate.

* The first thing you can do is to turn it off, if your not using it! Lights, TV, DVD players, computers, etc…

* You can save around 10% a year on your heating and cooling bills by simply turning your thermostat back 10°–15° for eight hours. You can do this automatically without sacrificing comfort by installing an automatic setback or programmable thermostat.

* Turn down the water heating setting. Just 2 degrees will make a significant savings!

* Fill your dishwasher and washing machine with a full load – this will save you water, electricity, and washing detergent.

* Hang your wash on a line instead of tumble-drying it. You can do this indoors or outdoors. I have a wooden clothing rack that I dry all my shirts and jeans on indoors. Drying clothes costs around $0.50/load of laundry done in an electric dryer or around $0.45/load of laundry to dry in a gas clothes dryer. The gas dryer costs around $0.04/load for electricity and $0.41/load for the gas. The average family will do around 6 loads of laundry a week, which is 312 loads of laundry a year! So if you are using an electric clothes dryer you will spend around $156/year just from drying your clothes. If you are using a gas clothes dryer, you will spend around $140.40/year to dry your clothes! (gogreeninyourhome.com)

* Travel less. This is a joke in Los Angeles because most of us have no choice but to drive on our freeways, however, if you are mindful of this idea there will be opportunities to make a carbon footprint friendly choice from time to time! Carpool, use the bus, or train, walk or cycle, and reduce the number of flights you take.

As well as your primary footprint, there is a secondary footprint that you cause through your buying habits. This is where my family and I started when we wanted to take being green seriously. It has been a slow and evolving commitment but we do not even think about these things because they are a part of our everyday living. We just do it!

* Don’t buy bottled water!!! Purchasing a reusable bottle is easier than ever. Tap water is safe!!!! Save yourself a lot of money and buy a water filter and fill up your own reusable bottle. This is a no brainier! More plastic bottle facts found here.

* Use reusable bags when at the store. There is a bag for every personality type out there. It depends on when and what I am shopping for but I always have two Flip & Tumble bags in my purse for those last minute occasions when I have to run to the store. They are the best!! Keep reusable bags in your house and in the trunk of every car so you have one no matter what. For more sobering plastic bag facts, go here.

*Buy local!!!! Folks, we all can find a farmers market close to our homes now. I know not every community has one but most do now a days. It is so much better. I love going to markets and knowing who grows my food. I love talking to the families who take great pride in traditional farming methods unlike most of the conventional farming that is ruining or food supply. Please take the time to learn more about commercial farming and the horrible conditions that take place. More resources found here.

* Buy organic when you can. I know this is not possible for everyone but if you can, please do. Pesticides are not helping our bodies.

* Reduce your consumption of meat. I am a meat eater. I grew up on a farm and what can I say…I love meat. The commitment I made is to only eat red meat once a week. That works for me. Maybe you can start meatless Mondays. Cows, pigs and other livestock are a big part of the climate change problem; estimates vary, but between 18 and 51 percent of the greenhouse gases that cause global warming come from livestock production. As bad as the air pollution is, the effects of animal feces on water may be even more immediate and troubling.

* Don’t buy over packaged products.

* Recycle as much as possible. The city of Los Angeles collects all plastics 1-7, cardboard, magazines, paper and all clean dry paper, glass bottles, jars, aluminum, tin, metal, bi-metal and styrofoam. We are lucky, most communities only collect plastic and glass. Call you local government to find out what you can recycle.

This all comes down to being mindful of your actions and how you move through your life. If we continue to walk around with our eyes closed to our responsibilities we will wake up one day and ask, “What the hell has happened to our beautiful country?” Start with one thing. Get it down. This takes time when you’re converting an entire family. They will rebel sometimes. When you accomplish that first goal, pat yourself on the back, and pick your number two goal. Just start! This is what will make a change. All of us making these changes together make a difference!!!

Severn Cullis-Suzuki personally wrote the entire speech. My hero!

This project is the result of great people coming together to do a wonderful thing! The badge above is a link to purchase the album. Click on it and get yourself a great album! You’ll get 41 songs for just $9.99 or you can always buy them individually for $0.99.

The artists:

1% for the Planet exists to build and support an alliance of businesses financially committed to creating a healthy planet. All Green Things is a proud member of One Percent For the Planet. We strive to be good citizens within our industry, community, and the environment. That’s why when you shop with us; we give back a portion of all net profits towards causes in support of the arts, community, and environment. When people and businesses band together, 1% of hundreds of businesses’ profits amounts to a whole lot of good that can be done.

1% for the Planet promotional video – members mentioned from 1% for the Planet on Vimeo.

The Story of Cap & Trade is a fast-paced, fact-filled look at the leading climate solution being discussed at Copenhagen and on Capitol Hill. Host Annie Leonard introduces the energy traders and Wall Street financiers at the heart of this scheme and reveals the “devils in the details” in current cap and trade proposals: free permits to big polluters, fake offsets and distraction from what’s really required to tackle the climate crisis. If you’ve heard about cap and trade, but aren’t sure how it works (or who benefits), this is the film is for you.

The reality is that we’re leaving the most important decision in the world to a few hundred people. We will be living with the decisions that are being made at the UN for the rest of our lives. I don’t know about you but I’m curious what’s going on now and who is currently at the UN representing the United States.

Looking into this matter further I learned about Adopt a Negotiator from my friend Mike Austin, over at Blue Planet Almanac. I read that a group of people have organized and traveled to the UN letting all of our negotiators know that they are present, watching and reporting back to the world. The fact that these negotiations were going on with very little scrutiny or public participation did not seem right.

The mission is to change the way citizens from around the world engage in this process. 13 countries are being represented, speaking 9 different languages, and they will be working hard over the next six months, reporting back to us about the latest announcements, actions and statements from the lead climate negotiators from their represented countries. Our tracker is Ben Jervey. Upon watching his latest update I have to say it’s pretty darn sad and pathetic.

Folks if we want to see something big happen we will have to pick up the phone and get involved. Let your voice be heard on this issue with our politicians. Write or call Obama’s office.

“Representing only ourselves and with no organizational affiliations we are able to say it as we see it and really give a flavor of what it feels like to be involved in the process,” our trackers say. That’s the way it should be!

This is a day when we all came together and participated in something that matters. There was nothing more vital to the planet’s future that we all could have been doing. No deeper way to honor those who came before us, or to show our love to those who will come after us. I am so proud of my great community.

Today the number 350 is the most important number in the world and the most well-known. 350 defines what is necessary for our earth to continue as we know it. All of us who have participated in this most important day have made this number the centerpiece of the debate over climate. Everyone who joined together is standing up for scientific reality and reframing the debate in a way that will echo through the UN Climate Talks in Copenhagen and beyond. I am a very proud girl today as I know all who participated in over 181 countries are. Whoooo Hoooooo!!!!

I would like to thank Michael Wittman from Third Planet Energy for bringing his amazing Biodeisel/ Hydrogen car. More to come on Michael later!

There were close to 70 wonderful people who came to this event. Women, men, children and babies and of course some of our furry pals participated. Why leave them out! It was hot yesterday and I will be relaxing today basking in the joy of what we all showed up for. All of you who were there will be in my thoughts forever!

Without the help of my community this day would not have been possible. I would like to thank from the bottom of my heart Jim Brammer from State of the Art Images, the Woodland Hills Tarzana Chammber of Commerce, the Valley Cultural Center, the Office of Councilman Dennis Zine, the Warner Center Marriott Hotel, and the Westfield Promenade. Thank you for the education and support in planning this event.

A very special thanks to our American environmentalist and writer, Bill McKibben who founded 350.org. You are an amazing soul. Thank you for all that you have done for our planet.

To my amazing husband who has been by my side since the inception of All Green Things, without him none of this would have been possible.

Bobbi Rubinstein you are amazing!!!!

Ray Rifice my video god, thank you for all your help!

A big thank you to my supporters who helped spread the word:
Mike Austin from radio Blue Planet Almanac
KPCC
Hills of Woodland -Our local community blog
Green Home & Family Magazine
The Valley Vantage
Coffey Sound
Jeremiah McNulty Design
Got Green Printing

Action: Aerial Photo- Spell out the numbers 350 with people at the Warner Center Park. This is an unpermitted gathering which means that nothing can be sold for a profit and we must be respectful of our noise levels.

Location: Warner Center Park- Also known as Warner Ranch Park
NE Corner of Park- In the open area of the field.
5800 Topanga Canyon Blvd.
Woodland Hills, CA 91367

Times: 3PM-5PM
Please arrive in plenty of time to get into formation for the photo. We will have an information booth set up with additional information to help expedite this event. I will do my best to make this as seamless as possible. If you RSVP you will receive an email with all the final details to reduce confusion.

We will have a template on the ground in the shape of 350. When you arrive please take a position. Feel free to relax and sit if you are an early arrival. It should be pretty straight forward. Once everyone has settled into formation we will make sure our photographer, he will be on the roof of the Marriott, is happy with the look. Once approval is given I will address the crowd briefly. Once I am finished I will get into formation with you and we will shoot several photos. I will inform you all when we are able to break away from the formation.

Michael Wittman from Third Planet Energy will be there with his biodiesel car. If you have any questions about this world he is your guy. Thank you
Michael!!

Please invite as many people as you know. We will look back on this day and be proud we participated in this very important day!!

Parking Information

Free:
You can park on surrounding streets around the park but this is first come, first serve.

Free:
Westfield Promenade Shopping Center
6100 Topanga Canyon Boulevard
Woodland Hills CA 91367

Paid Parking:
The Marriott has paid parking in the garage for $6.00/self-parking and $12.00/valet.

Warner Center Marriott Woodland Hills
21850 Oxnard Street
Woodland Hills, California 91367

Transportation:
The Metro bus stops at the transit center on Owensmouth which is just a block north of the Park.

Important Note: Please RSVP!! This will help with the organization of the aerial photo. Everyone is donating their time and their equipment so this event is a very grassroots effort.

Please bring your own water in a reusable Kanteen. At this point we do not have any donated beverage stands. You can contact me, Tanya, for more information or additional questions at this email address: info@allgreenthings.com or my phone number: (818) 346-7763 if you have any additional questions.

If you would like to volunteer your time for the event day please contact me. I need an additional group of 5 to help organize people into the formation.

Contest:My photographer and I have entered into the 350 aerial contest and this photo along with thousands of others will rotate in time square. It is all really exciting. Stay tuned…

A pretty impressive day with 32,000 total trackable blog posts with a current estimate of 18 million people participating. UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown blogged and even President Barack Obama’s White House blog joined in.

This is a time for us all to continue our collective effort to remain involved in the movement to address climate change.

Ways to get active:
1. Sign an “I am ready” pledge supporting an ambitious, fair and binding climate agreement in Copenhagen this fall at Tck Tck Tck.
2. Join All Green Things for the 350.org International Day of Climate Action October 24.
3. Join the Causecast community and find new ways to get involved with organizations working to end climate change.
4. Support strong climate legislation in the US by making calls to your Senators with 1Sky.

Check out the YouTube video above from The Nature Conservancy.

My goal is to support the opportunity that today new conversations can happen about climate change all around our globe. It’s about involving individuals like you and me to work together to make a difference.

Ways to get Involved

Tell the U.S. it’s Time to Act on Climate Change. Nobel Peace Prize Winner and President Barack Obama has said that climate change is an urgent threat, and now is the time for him to lead the United States in confronting the climate crisis.

This is a chance for people around the world and in the United States to join together in telling President Obama that we want him to lead the United States in taking bold and significant action to reduce greenhouse gasses.

Register for the 350.org International Day of Climate Action October 24. If you live in the area, join All Green Things and the community for an Aerial Photo in Warner Center Park between 3PM-5PM.

Sign the Tck Tck Tck campaign’s “I am ready” pledge supporting an ambitious, fair and binding climate agreement in Copenhagen this fall.