Andrew Warner

Discovery Communications (as in the Discover Channel) is capitalizing on the trendy environmental fervor and releasing a 24-hour channel with a focus on environmentally-conscious living.

The only group not capitalizing on all the momentum of the green movement is the Green Party. Hopefully they'll get on board soon. After all, it was kind of their baby.

Labels: environment, media

Posted by Andrew Warner at 10:16 AM | Permalink | Comments

As you can probably tell, I don't care too much for politics right now. However, there are certain things that we shouldn't take breaks from – namely the preservation of our environment.

So when one of many "action notices" popped up in my inbox with exciting news, I thought I would share it:

On January 18, 2007, the House of Representatives is scheduled to vote to create a multi-billion dollar clean energy fund. The bill would locate the funding by eliminating billions of dollars of taxpayer subsidies to an oil industry already rolling in record profits.

There will be more energy related work for our country to do, but establishing the clean energy fund would represent a good first step in improving our national energy policy. The fund would expand the use of clean energy technologies like wind and solar power, and by further investing in biofuels, it would help reduce our dangerous dependence on oil. This kind of investment would allow our country to move closer to energy independence while at the same time protecting our nation's most cherished wild lands, including areas in Alaska like the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and Teshekpuk Lake.

Sound as good to you as it does to me? If so, click HERE. You will be taken to one of those handy, automatic forms that supposedly make the internet such a powerful tool of democracy (finally, a way for us to send junk mail back to politicians).

Labels: environment, National Politics, Social Justice

Posted by Andrew Warner at 3:51 PM | Permalink

It's strange being able to leave your jacket on the hanger in the middle of December. The same could be said about being able to roll down your window in your car a week before Christmas.

Don't get me wrong, I like being able to give the heater a rest in what is usually a time to plug in the space heater and curl up in a blanket. It was interesting buying a vegan cheese steak from Melt, cruising over to Burnet Woods, and snagging a picnic table by a few older gentleman soaking up the winter sun.

But for those of you who are used to the biting cold that comes with Ohio winters, the debate has to be close to over as to whether global warming was just a way for Al Gore to scare us into voluntarily listening to him lecture for two hours, or if it's the real mccoy.

I suppose there will always be nay-sayers, even on something as obvious as global warming, but they are just burying their heads in the sand – on their December weekend trip to Lake Michigan maybe. It seems that denying the truth, or making up an alternate reality, is easier for some than actually confronting destiny and taking it by the horns.

For now I'll just enjoy picnics in December. I may even plan a Christmas camping trip (At this rate I wouldn't be out of line to bring a bathing suit). I'll just hope the irony won't be lost on the general public.

Labels: Cincinnati, environment

Posted by Andrew Warner at 10:28 PM | Permalink | Comments

Mayor Mallory is finally taking his first step towards promoting alternative energy in Cincinnati.

Mayor Mark Mallory, Director of the Parks Department Willie Carden, and representatives of Duke Energy today unveiled the Solar and Wind Energy Project. The pilot project is part of the Cincinnati Green Initiative that the Mayor announced in his first State of the City Address. The project will install solar panels and a wind turbine to generate electricity to power the Parks Board Administration Building.

"This innovative project takes our commitment to a Green Cincinnati to the next level,” Mayor Mallory said. “By using renewable energy to help power our city buildings, we can save money on energy costs and make our city more environmentally friendly.”

Moving towards alternative energy is long overdue, but this is the first baby-step in the right direction. First, the Parks Board Administration Building, then every city-owned building. Then we can move it out to the general population.

Well, I'm getting ahead of myself. But as the proverb goes, every journey begins with one small step.

Maybe Mayor Mallory got tired of letting all of his supporters down and decided to start delivering on some of his weighty campaign promises.

Labels: Cincinnati, environment

Posted by Andrew Warner at 12:48 PM | Permalink | Comments