GloBobo Warriors

Bottled Water - Now Taking a Stab at our Wallets

2008-04-26T18:39:00.003-04:00

Most of you have probably already heard of the great bottled water dilemma. All over the news, there has been articles debating over the chemicals and bacteria found in our bottled water. Activists are relentlessly giving speeches about how it's hurting our environment. Countless of YouTube videos have been made arguing that tap water even tastes better than bottled water when undergoing a blind taste test. But despite the never-ending forum discussions, video posts, and big television debates, Americans are still continuously buying bottled water. In fact, the production of bottle water is rising fast. Whether it be incredulity or just for the sake of convenience, we tend to ignore the media's warnings and what it has to say. Now the hype about bottled water is back at it again, this time aiming for our wallets.

Due to health issues and safety concerns, water bottles are made using polyethylene terephthalate (PET), but in order to produce these bottles, over 900,000 tons of plastic is needed. This is where the problem comes in. As many already know, it takes a combination of natural gas as well as petroleum to create these plastics.

Research shows that our love for bottled water has caused a production of 31.2 billion liters of water in 2006. That's right. It took 7.6 million barrels of oil to produce 31.2 billion liters of water. America's obsession is now hurting our wallets at the gas pump. -WW

Earth Day

2008-04-20T14:20:00.004-04:00

Hello fellow GloBobo Warriors. As you may know, Earth Day is coming up. We have managed to invite a group of friends who are expected to show up at our local elementary school to clean up the litter in the fields on Tuesday. However, you are all welcome to gather your own friends and family from your neighborhood to help out the Earth on its special day. Whether it's planting a tree or picking up litter, every act is a step to help protect our environment. Good luck and keep up the good work! -WW

Earth Day 2008

2008-04-18T17:22:00.001-04:00

Hey GloBobo Warriors!

How was Earth Hour 2008? Hope everyone participated! To be honest though, there were a disappointing number of participants in cities across the US. Hopefully, next year will be better. Be sure to mark your calendar for Earth Hour 2009!

Meanwhile, here's some cool videos of Earth Hour:

Earth Hour in Toronto:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGEJtYvkzbE&feature=related

Something I hope makes you smile:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=23pxzJ35oso&feature=related

Tuesday, April 22 is Earth Day! Think eco-friendly thoughts and if the weather permits, take a breath of fresh air, go outside, and clean up the litter around your neighborhood. :D -YL

Earth Hour 2008- Participate!

2008-03-27T21:06:00.004-04:00

On Saturday, March 29, our planet will face its darkest hour… because from 8 to 9 PM , millions of people around the world will participate in Earth Hour by turning off their lights. This initiative was created last year by the WWF and implemented in Australia. More than 2 million Australians participated last year, and in that single hour, there was a whopping 10% decrease in energy consumption. This year, Earth Hour is going to be an international fiasco, as cities, corporations, and individuals all over the world turn off their lights on March 29. Even lights on the Golden Gate Bridge, Times Square, and the CN Tower at Niagara Falls will be shut off. So save the date and join in as the rest of the world unites in stopping global warming.

P.S. During Earth Hour, try to stay away from anything that will waste more energy (i.e. electronics). Instead, take a nap, go outside and watch stars, exercise, contemplate the meaning of life… you get the idea. Hope everyone participates in Earth Hour!

Find out more at http://www.earthhour.org/. -YL

Another Year!

2007-12-30T20:45:00.000-05:00

Welcome 2008! We made it through another year. I was on the phone once with fellow GloBobo president WW talking about how, in elementary school, a classmate presented a scientific report claiming that a meteor would strike the Earth in 2007 and-BOOM- we'd all be blown up into oblivion. Hmm, whatever happened to that? Well, luckily we survived another year and proved that meteor report wrong. Let's hope we'll disprove those reports about the polar ice caps melting in 50 years too.

So, here's a recap of 2007 and our climate's status so far.
Or just copy paste: http://cosmos.bcst.yahoo.com/ver/251.6/popup/index.php?cl=5683173

So after much consideration, my New Year's Resolution is:
TO NOT GO ON THE COMPUTER SO MUCH!
Saves energy, CO2, time, and my eyesight. (Hah! I'm still glasses-free) Darn. I'm breaking that resolution right now, so I better log off soon. Remember: Make your own green resolution, and be sure to keep it!

And -hmph- we didn't have a white Christmas. I wonder why.

P.S. For those of you who will be watching the ball drop in Times Square, here's good news. This year's ball is made with "9,576 energy-efficient bulbs that use about the same amount of electricity as 10 toasters," according to Associated Press. And if you can't be in NYC tonight, share your New Year's wishes on the virtual wishing wall and it might just appear on a piece of confetti. -YL

Brrrr...

2007-11-15T18:17:00.000-05:00

The alcohol in your thermometer is plunging, the leaves are withering like popcorn dipped in butter, and the watery-eyed children in school just can’t stop sneezing and sniffling. Winter is approaching and there’s only one way- actually four ways- we GloBobo Warriors can prepare for the COLD:

Clothes should be donated!!
So let’s say you take out your winter coat, and ¡que lastima! (What a shame!) it’s too small. Instead of wasting it and throwing it away so quickly, bring it to a clothing drive (one is bound to happen at this time of year) or drop it off at any clothes donation bin (I’ve seen some at Rite Aid and Seven Eleven.) Save production energy, resources, and landfill space!

Operate your thermostat at one degree lower!!
Yes, this rule is an old one but a good one. Treehugger.com says that one degree Celsius less is 10% in energy savings. 68ºF is an acceptable room temperature. Please, just don’t turn the heat up to 80ºF and parade around in shorts; wear a little extra and turn the heat a little lower.

Leaves can be turned into fertilizer!!
Your summer vegetable garden is probably dead by now, and what can be better than piling even more decaying matter in your patch o’ veggies? Of course, nothing’s better because turning fallen leaves into fertilizer is healthy for the environment, good for your wallet, and safe for budding plants and bulbs.

Doors and windows need to be sealed!!
A lot of heat can escape through the cracks between the window and windowsill or the door and threshold. Put your hand near the bottom of your window for proof. Can’t you feel the cold air? Just take a piece of tape and stick it over the crack to prevent the warm air in your house from seeping. Be sure, however, to use a tape that can be easily and cleanly removed when you open your windows again in spring. (Masking tape works for me.) I doubt that your parents will accept “I’m saving the world from eco destruction!” is a good excuse when they find that you rip half the paint off your windowsill. -YL

Montreal Protocol Patches Up Ozone

2007-09-14T16:35:00.000-04:00

Nations will meet in Montreal on Monday, September 17, to hasten plans for fixing holes in the ozone layer. The ozone layer is a layer of oxygen in our stratosphere that helps filter UV rays (which can cause cancer) from the sun. However, since there are holes in this protective layer caused by chemicals that eat away this layer, the sun's radiation can seep through and warm the Earth. By fixing these holes, 35 billion tons of CO2 can be saved! That's 15 times greater than the carbon reductions called for by the Kyoto Protocol, according AFP news.

So far the Montreal Protocol has prevented 100 million from getting cancer and decreased the level of CFC's by 1.8% per year.

Even more good news- the USA has agreed to the Montreal Protocol, which requires developed nations to stop using chemicals that break down the ozone layer by the year 2030. Developing nations are required to stop by 2040.

Products that can destroy the ozone contain the chemicals CFC or HCFC. (or would you rather call them chlorofluorocarbons and hydrochlorofluorocarbons? I think not.) Some of these products are contained in certain types of:
-refridgerators
-hairspray
-fire retardants
-air conditioners
-inhalers (for asthma)

So please be wary when you purchase products, and let's hope that soon companies will stop using CFC's or HCFC's while manufacturing their products. -YL

(Get it? The bandage is patching up the Earth. The Earth is smiling however, even though I really don't think it would be that happy due to the poor and negligent way we have treated our planet. )

Local Cooling

2007-08-25T17:28:00.000-04:00

Alright, so I was bored as usual, so I decided to search up some stuff on global warming. Wowie, look what I found. www.localcooling.com
made this awesome new application. It's free to download, AND it helps you become more eco-friendly.

"Download the 100% Free LocalCooling Application and it automatically optimizes your PC's power consumption by using a more effective power save mode. You will be able to see your savings in real-time translated to more environmental terms such as how many trees and gallons of oil you have saved.

Local Cooling will:

Cut your energy bills.
Reduce the amount of Greenhouse Gas CO2 emissions as a result of your reduced PC power consumption.
Give you full control over your power mode settings.
Improve your overall computing experience and efficiency.
Show you in detail how much you have saved since installing the software." -WW

Manhattan's Future

2007-08-22T21:04:00.000-04:00

This is only an artist's interpretation, but if you're a true GloBobo Warrior, this will hit pretty hard to the heart, because it's as real as anything to me. Yes, this is Manhattan you are seeing - half underwater. Due to global warming, sea levels will continue to rise, and sadly, this is New York's fate. So what do you say, my friends? If not for the good of the planet, then at least for our Manhattan? -WW

Your Green Guide for Back-To-School

2007-08-22T16:43:00.001-04:00

It’s time to start off fresh, and that means your environmental impact too. Here are ten tips to earn an A in fighting global warming:

1. Buy all your school supplies at one time
Cut multiple trips to the store. Make a list of your necessities and buy everything in one go, and save time and carbon.
2. Purchase recycled paper or notebooks
Save trees and use post-consumer waste instead. Look for the recycle sign on your purchases.
3. Reuse your stuff
Your torn binder is good as new with a bit of duct tape. The same goes for your folders and books. Book socks can be sewed or taped together. Don’t clog up landfills with relatively new school supplies!
4. Get a lunch box
Don’t kill trees with your brown paper bags! Buy a five dollar lunchbox to use forever. Also, pack your sandwich in a reusable Tupperware container instead of plastic bags and foil wrappers.
5. Bring a canvas shopping bag
Plastic bags are dangerous to the animals that are accidentally caught in them, and paper bags contribute to deforestation. Instead, find a canvas or cloth tote bag stashed away in your basement somewhere and bring it to the office supply store to carry your purchases in.
6. Carry a USB
Keep your files digital. Don’t print out your documents if you can help it. Try to transport info through a flash drive rather than your notebook to save paper.
7. Opt for a CFL or LED
Does your desk lamp still have an old-fashioned incandescent light bulb? Replace it with a CFL or LED light bulb which saves electricity and lasts longer. WARNING: CFLs contain a little mercury (it’s not harmful) so PLEASE throw it away correctly. 732-745-4170: Middlesex Solid Waste Management
8. Buy a reusable water bottle for Phys. Ed
And fill it with tap water! Contrary to popular belief, the shipping and factory production of bottled water wastes more oil and creates more carbon than regular tap water.
9. Choose your clothes wisely
Growing cotton uses many harmful fertilizers and pesticides, so when you go shopping for new fall fashions, think smart. Buy a size or two bigger if you know you’re going to grow in the next couple of months, and sew on a missing button or fix a hem instead of throwing your shirt away. If you have to trash it, donate it instead. In a sense… don’t waste clothes.
10.Find a new route to school
Walk or bike to school if you can and carpool if you can’t. Cars are the major contributors to greenhouse gases so find a greener and shorter route! -YL

Clean Your Community Greens; Yahoo's New Page

2007-08-15T14:48:00.000-04:00

Summer's almost over, but there's still one more month left. Have a weekend to spare? Take advantage of the good weather and gather some friends to do something that can help the earth.

Taking a stroll at a nearby park and picking up stray pieces of litter is a great way to help the environment. Better yet, try walking to the park instead of driving there. Did you know that the average American drives 12,000 miles per year? That's around 11,000 pounds of CO2 you're emitting into the atmosphere!

Yahoo! now has a new "green" page welcome to all visitors. Create a new account, or use your current Yahoo! mail account to sign in. Make a plan, add new items to your pledge, all for the better of the environment. And don't think you can't help, because as a matter of fact, it only takes 18 seconds to make a difference. That's right. Just change your current light bulb with a fluorescent light bulb, and believe it or not, that's one step closer to saving the earth. -WW