Grist sent me this video in their newsletter and I thought I would share. www.hopensource.org Happy Earth Days! Make it plural!

Walking through the fog enveloped trees on my way to class the other day made me start thinking of how beautiful nature can be even in the face of buildings and parking lots. The fog did block out a lot of the dull, ugliness of the modern world so I have that to thank of course. It's just so easy to forget the little things in the busy, high tech life that most of us lead today. Our faces glued to our iphones, computers, TVs, its no wonder that a great many of us forget to just enjoy ourselves. To stop and look up at the sky, watch the sunset, and take a step inside ourselves and refocus on who we are and what we are doing here.

Quality is always better than quantity. So I challenge you to do something nice for yourself this month, to fill a need unnoticed for someone else, and to do something different in your life to take a step toward being more green whether it be unplugging unused appliances, reading a book instead of watching TV, or switching to reusable grocery bags and saying no to plastic! Winter tends to make me more lazy so I am not going to make any more excuses and I am going to get out there and take on this challenge this month for myself and I hope you do too! Spring is just around the corner but let's not wait til then to enjoy the outdoors and a break from technology!

The new year has begun already! Can you believe it's 2010? And since it's a new year, most of us are making resolutions to better our lives and our bodies that hopefully this year we will keep! Right?! One of my goals or "resolutions" for this year is to really get Musicians for a Better Planet up and running and to get people motivated to not only become a member but to get out there and do something good for the planet and for each other. Like I said in my previous blog, our quality of life not only depends on our environment but our relationships with the people in our environment. Just because the season of giving is over doesn't mean that we should stop giving until the season comes again. I feel like it should push through to every day life from the small things like helping an elderly lady carry her groceries to the big things like right now, helping with the people hurting in Haiti with donations or volunteering. We can change the world, one act of kindness at a time. Like Gandhi said "Be the change you wish to see in the world". Let 2010 be the year of change and making a difference! Cheers to you and the new year!

There are so many ways to help our planet and whether you realize it or not, a big impact on our quality of life is in how we treat each other. We all call earth our home and in that, we are, in our own weird way, one big family. The only way that we can do anything worth doing is not without each other. Our quality of life on this planet is not only determined by how we treat our planet but with how we treat each other. So I hope that during this holiday season, you not only reach out to your own family but to your "extended earth family" as well. The holidays can be a stressful time but I think it's because we place too much importance on "things" and not enough on good will towards each other. So this holiday season, I am not asking for anything that can be held within my hand or that can be bought at a store but what can be seen with loving eyes for everyone to enjoy.... a smile, a wish of good fortune, a wave of the hand. Something to brighten someone else's day. Not only to someone that you know and love but to someone you don't know. You never know, you could change someone's life with just a smile....it's been done before. :) Happy Holidays! 

From Seventh Generation Newsletter

Did you know that more than 50% of the products on your local grocery store shelf contain palm oil? With the demand for palm oil on the rise, vast tracks of rainforests are being clear cut, significantly adding to the growing global warming threat. In addition to depriving some of the world's most endangered species of key habitats, tropical deforestation is also pushing the indigenous people of the rainforest from their rightful lands. The situation is dire but with your help, we can change all of this. You can be part of the conversation. Join Seventh Generation, Rainforest Action Network and Whole Foods Market on a live webcast to learn more about what they�re doing and what you can do to end the destruction of vital ecosystems. Seventh Generation Live Video Webcast Live Date: September 24, 2009 7 p.m. ET - 8:30 p.m. ET Click HERE to register for the presentation.

I am sure many of you are wondering why a girl like me who has never been in a pageant before or has never even thought about being in one wants to compete to be the next Miss California USA. I mean, I grew up a tomboy racing dirt bikes and made it all the way to the Loretta Lynn National Motocross Championships, most of my friends are guys, I was against wearing makeup and heals for 90% of my life, I love to explore the wilderness with only what I have on my back for days at a time, I have only had a french manicure once in my life and ripped it all off my nails the next day because with it I couldn't play guitar, I really don't mind peeing in the woods, and I would rather sleep in than get up early enough to do my hair and makeup for the day.

I used to dream about moving to California when I was growing up in Michigan, my imagination would run wild at all the possibilities for me in California. Never had my imagination thought that I would have the chance to be Miss California herself and to represent all the beauty and majesty that California truly is.

The Miss California USA Competition is more than just a pageant not only because it is the biggest beauty pageant in the entire world being the preliminary to Miss Universe but because I have the chance to represent the most amazing state I have ever been to. I would also have opportunities to raise money for the things that I believe in and have a chance to play my music in front of the entire USA and possibly the world on television!

I want to make a difference in the world rather than just settle in and be a bystander in life. As a musician, I have always used my influence to better the world around me. I recently started a new club called Musicians for a Better Planet where musicians and music fans come together to green up our planet, get the word out there, and enjoy good music.

Being Miss California would open me up to new horizons and new opportunities to set a good example for the younger generations and to inspire the older ones. It is not only about winning a beauty pageant but a chance to do good with the title that you are given. Most of all, I love California and its diversity in all aspects from the people to the many different climates it has. Representing California in the Miss USA competition would be a dream come true.

I really appreciate everyone's support and generosity. I currently have to raise a lot of money just to be in the competition itself and I am so thankful for all of the donations and sponsors that I have received so far and to my potential supporters.

Even if I don't win, it will be the experience of a lifetime and the most different thing I have ever done in my life. No matter what, my passion won't stop at this, I am always going to be looking for the next adventure and the next chance to change for the better.

Shut off your computer when not in use, and save 200 lbs of C02. Conserve energy by using your computer's "sleep mode" instead of a screensaver. ~www.stopglobalwarming.org

One of my biggest bad habits it going to the grocery store and forgetting my reusable cloth bags. Plastic in general is very harmful to the environment and not many people are properly informed about the tolls it takes on nature. More info at  http://www.earthresource.org/campaigns/capp/capp-goals.html AND FYI, Not all plastics can be recycled!! Even so, too many plastics seem to end up in the wrong places, like the big beautiful ocean for example. Which is not too beautiful full of plastic I might add.

Living in Japan for a month last year, I got to see how aware they are of their effects on the environment and how they actively do things to lower their impact. For example, most of them ride their bikes....everywhere or take public transportation. I also haven't seen too many of them at the grocery store without their reusable cloth bags. So my next big goal is to be more like the Japanese and to say NO to plastic bags even when they taunt me with their convenience. I will ignore their taunts all the while knowing that though I may look a little dorky in today's "all about plastic" society walking around with my reusable cloth bags, I am setting a good example and doing Mother Nature a major favor. And maybe, just maybe, someday the typical air blown plastic bag floating through the air will slowly become less and less of a normality. We only have one planet, let's be nice to her.

The chemicals used in modern agriculture pollute the water supply, and require energy to produce.-www.stopglobalwarming.org also, the chemicals effect our bodies and can cause major health problems over time.Buying local organic products at farmer's markets and ideal because not only are you getting products without chemicals, you are buying local which in turn reduces the amount of travel the product has to get to the hands of the consumer (you) and results in less pollution from transportation! Better yet, start your own organic garden in your backyard. That way you know where your food has been and it only requires a walk into your backyard to retreive great tasting vegetables and fruits! Go organic! There are so many benefits!

Save water, and make plants stronger and healthier, by watering in the morning.
Source: http://thedailygreen.com

       The best time to water plants is usually in the morning, both to maximize the efficiency of H2O used and to promote healthy flora. Mornings tend to be cool and without strong winds, so the amount of water lost to evaporation is much less than during the middle of the day. Yes, evenings are typically similar, but if plants stay damp over night they are more likely to be damaged by fungal and bacterial diseases.

      Ideally, use a drip or soak system instead of a regular sprinkler, which wastes a lot of water and drenches the leaves, which are prone to damage as well as disease. Most experts recommend substantial, infrequent watering for established plants, typically a total of about one inch of water per week (including rain). One or two applications a week encourages deeper rooting, which promotes stronger plants. To avoid shocking tender greenery, try to use water at or near air temperature (collected rainwater is best).

     With population growth and climate change putting increasing pressure on freshwater supplies, it is becoming more important than ever to save water.

Yes that is right! You will save a lot of energy by doing your laundry with cold water and believe it or not, your clothes will fit better too. When I switched to using cold water to wash my clothes I noticed that my jeans fit better and were more comfortable to wear because they didn't shrink that usual small percentage when they are in the wash. Also, if you use a cooler setting on your dryer it will help you get the same result. Put your clothes in the dryer for the same amount of time (or less, less is always better) but on a cooler setting then air dry your clothes the rest of the way.

The Earth is a magnificent planet and today is the day to celebrate the wonder and the magic that the place we live really is. Musicians for a Better Planet is a club for musicians and music fans alike who have a passion to get together and make a difference. Everyone has the power within them to change the world.

Our weekly blog is dedicated to help you change your life into a greener one by slowly changing bad habits by the week and implementing good ones. Each week we give you a new challenge and a new goal to work on. Come back every Monday and and change your life one habit at a time and in doing so, you can help shape the world for a better future.

The best thing we can do is to lead by example. Living green doesn't only make you feel good but it can be fun too!! So Happy Earth Day to all of you out there and I hope you will join our club and people like you who want to use their influence to make the world a cleaner and better place to live!

Even though it is Spring and the sun is out more, it still can get quite a bit chilly outside especially at night. "Instead of turning up the heat in your home, wear more clothes Save 1,000 lbs. of carbon dioxide and $250 per year." -www.stopglobalwarming.org

Now that it is becoming quite a bit warmer outside, flowers are blooming, and the sky is blue I thought Air Drying Your Clothes would be a perfect for our green tip of the week. There is nothing quite like Spring and with all of the nice scents in the air, your clothes will have a natural great smell that will last for days. Stop Global Warming.com says "Line-dry your clothes in the spring and summer instead of using the dryer. Save 700 lbs. of carbon dioxide and $75 per year."

"America has an obsession with ultra-soft toilet paper, but as a recent New York Times article pointed out, that fluffiness comes at a high environmental price -- the destruction of millions of trees in North America, including rare old-growth forests in Canada.

But it's more than just the loss of forests: "Turning a tree to paper requires more water than turning paper back into fiber, and many brands that use tree pulp use polluting chlorine-based bleach for greater whiteness. In addition, tissue made from recycled paper produces less waste tonnage - almost equaling its weight - that would otherwise go to a landfill."

No forest should be used to make toilet paper. There is another choice -- post consumer recycled tissue products. Greenpeace and the NRDC provide guides to the environmental soundness of tissue brands. Check them out." - Directly quoted from Stop Global Warming Virtual March Newsletter http://stopglobalwarming.org

"California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger declared a state of emergency and warned of possible mandatory water rationing as the state struggled through its third consecutive year of drought." -ABC News. So this week, make it a habit to start saving more and more water. Believe it or not, there are so many ways to save water. "American Water" actually lists 49 ways to save which you can read here http://www.americanwater.com/49ways.htm

Water is one of our most precious resources so save as much as you can even when we aren't in a state of emergency. Wasting less is the right way to live.

Yahoo News today had an interesting and quite a bit depressing article posted, it's title is the title of this blog. No one likes to start the day with bad news or end it that way for that matter but sometimes it is inevitable. No one can escape those parts of life.

It doesn't matter if you believe that Global Warming is real or not and with all the scientific evidence out there now, I would be surprised if there were still those skeptical, naive people out there. It gets more real by the day. How? Our CO2 emissions are the cause of the Earth's accelerated warming.

If you would like to read the article, you can by following this link http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090225/ap_on_sc/un_un_warming_antarctic.

Now what do we do? Obviously what we have been doing isn't right. Most of us have been in the habit of being wasteful in every aspect of our lives. Instead of adapting to our environment, we make the environment adapt to us. We have many ways of making this happen (heating, air conditioning etc) and the environment is suffering because of it and soon, so will we. Like George Carlin once said "The Earth doesn't need us to Save it" Humans cannot destroy this planet but it can destroy us. Let's step up now and take care of our Mother Earth. She has taken care of us throughout the years and has let us do what we will with her but now we need to change our ways and return the favor. Earth has given us a place to live so let's stop polluting our home and wasting it's resources. Let's come together to find new ways to live even if it is less comfortable. There is more comfort in quality of life than quantity of life any day anyway.

In a way, the economic crisis that we are in now is almost a blessing. It is making people change things that hurt their pockets such as wasting paper, leaving the lights on, or driving too much and wasting gas. It is sad that it has to hurt our pockets before most of us will do anything but most of us will only change if we feel it effects us directly. Let's wake up and smell the fresh air (if there is any more left) and look to the horizon (if it is still clear) and embark on a new journey (without oil or coal). Like any story of heroism and change, the journey is always full of challenges that some times leaves the hero without the belief that he or she can go on but there is always a happily ever after when the adventure is over. The great thing about life is though some of the challenges are of less consequence than others the adventure is never really over. Everyone searches for their purpose and wants to be part of something great. Climate change is the biggest challenge that any human has had to face. Just remember if you ever give up hope that any one can be a hero and we must all stand together. So this is where the journey begins. I will see you out there.

This week, focus on unplugging unused appliances (phantoms). Believe it or not, they suck up electricity even if they are not being used. "If one million households halved their phantom power load, we'd eliminate 150,000 tons of CO2 per year." says David de Rothschild in his Global Warming Survival Handbook. So either get power strips that you can easily turn off when what is plugged into it is not in use or try and make it a habit to unplug the coffee maker, the toaster, and all those other appliances that sit there for most of the day not being used. Or next time you need a new appliance, make sure it is an Energy Star appliance. 

 A big culprit is the phone charger. Many people never unplug their phone charger from the wall and only use them once every few days. "It's estimated that only 5% of the power drawn by cell phone chargers is actually used to charge phones so the other 95% is wasted when they are left plugged in." says David de Rothschild.

For me, attempting to unplug things when not in use was hard at first. It is hard to remember the little things some times but over time I have made it a habit. Making it a habit is the key. They say you have to do something for 28 days to get rid of a bad habit or to acquire a good one. If we stop being lazy and wasteful and just unplugged our phantoms when not in use, then we can make a difference for not only the environment but also for our electricity bill.

This week, plant a tree and breathe a little easier with these things in mind... Throughout a tree's lifetime, it will absorb more than 1 ton of CO2. So just imagine how much cleaner the air would be if we stopped building over the land and instead, planted thousands more trees. But as with all great things, there is a catch. Trees, if not properly taken care of (if it dies or you chop it down for firewood), will actually omit back into the atmosphere all of the CO2 it absorbed during it's life. Not all hope is lost, trees can be used as lumber or if properly disposed of, won't harm the environment as a decomposing tree in the middle of the forest would.

Yes, decomposition is the natural way of the forest and does contribute to a healthy forest habitat for all of the forest creatures but if YOU plant a tree to help the environment it is YOUR responsibility to watch over it. If you don't have the time or the space in your yard to deal with that kind of responsibility (keep in mind, trees really aren't that hard to care for; tender loving care, the right combination of soils, a bit of sun, and water is all it needs) you can donate to American Forests Organization http://www.americanforests.org/planttrees/  whose goal is to help the environment. Your donation will go to their tree planting projects "planting trees in the right place for the right reason".

So the moral of the story is, a healthy tree is a happy tree absorbing CO2, the happier the trees, the happier are our lungs. Now if we could only stop our own CO2 emissions, wouldn't that be nice?

Buying carbon offsets is a new thing that many people are taking advantage of but nothing can make as much of a difference as reducing your carbon output altogether. There is a great calculator on the EPA's website that you can use to calculate how much Carbon you personally omit into the atmosphere each year or you can calculate by household.

http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/emissions/ind_calculator.html 

The first step, is finding out what your carbon footprint is and then finding ways in your daily life to reduce it. If you change one thing per week to reduce your carbon output, you can reduce it drastically. Every Monday, I will post a green tip or "challenge" to help you to reduce your carbon footprint. Make it your goal each Monday to check Musicians for a Better Planet and try changing your life for the better one week at a time. Then in 6 months or so, calculate your carbon again and see how much you have improved! Everyone is part of the problem and we all can be part of the solution!

Ever since I was a little girl I knew there was something we were missing. As I grow and change with the world around me, I realize more and more the pull to conform to society's ways. I mean, it was the way I was brought up, to be comfortable and do whatever it takes even pollute, waste, and destroy things for that comfort. The challenge is to ignore that pull and do in your heart what you know is right. That is why I have created this website, in hopes to find more people like me that want to make a difference and who care about the earth and all of it's inhabitants.

Music and Musicians have a big influence on the ways of the world. You are setting the example to every one of your fans that who you are is a great way to be. Many people look up to musicians and their music for many different reasons. I have created this website to bring musicians and their fans together to do something good and who says we can't have fun while doing?! I will be planning MANY fun events this year that I invite everyone to attend! Join the club and be part of something good! 

It is hard being green in a non-green country but hopefully we can steer away from the ease of falling into those wasteful ways and become an example to the people around us by standing up and saying. I am going to do this! And since this first challenge I give you is to COMMIT, then all the more reason to take that stand right now. If you don't do it for yourself, do it for your children and your children's children because these lands and waters are worth the change of lifestyle. This beauty is worth the commitment.

So here I am today standing up joining this club and it's future members together with the commitment that I will lead by example and try to be greener in every aspect of my life. Here is my pledge.

The following information is directly quoted from "The Live Earth Global Warming Handbook by David de Rothschild" The book is available on amazon.com

THIS WEEK'S CHALLENGE:

1. COMMIT

If one million people stand up to say, "I can help fight global warming," we have taken the first step.

The two most critial survival skills are clear thinking and perserverance.

Global warming may be the most serious challenge the human race has ever faced, but don't freak. Your survival depends on your ability to stay calm, to use your head, and to stick it out.

If this book is your first exposure to the facts about global warming, you may slip into a state of "climate shock"-triggered by the sudden realization of the imminent dangers we face. Warming signs include shortness of breath, a sense of powerlessness and despair, a concern for polar bears, and an urge to lecture others about glaciers.

Luckily, climate shock is managable- and so is climate change, if all of us are commited to the task. A first step: memorize this acronym.