Well what's coming up for family holidays?

 Some people in Canada and definitely in the United States of America have a wonderful ThanksGiving holiday coming up in the next few weeks.  My Aunt lived in the states for many years and still thought of the US Thanksgiving as a holiday.  I think in the USA it appears that airlines are inondated by busy travellers.  These travellers are going to leave their Carbon Foot print.  I would like to think that many travellers would do a carbon offset to help the environment.  Equally, of course as we book our travels for the Christmas season it will be important to use the most efficient method of transportation.  Start thinking about transportation and offsets that can assist in reducing carbon foot prints for the holidays and of course carry these methods through to other seasons and times.

What can we do to make Thanksgiving and other holidays better?

I'll start with a few and hopefully there will be more people submitting thoughts and ideas as we move towards our seasonal holidays.

1)  Serve locally grown Turkey and Ham? 

2)  Have a veggitarian meal at one of the holidays

3)  Plan early next year and prepare your own pickles and preserves.  While there are fresh carrots, beets and all those wonderful veggies will be so good later for holidays and so good healthy eating. 

4)Decorations should be as energy efficient as possible.  Make sure that lights are on a timer or that they are not left on longer than necessary.  LED or solar light sets are more energy efficient.

5) Gift Wrapping can be using eco-bags instead of non-recyclable gift bags or packaging.

These are just a few options and I'll blog about holiday planning again. 

I am going to start a group for discussion so that we can all share ideas and then have a greener holiday.

Start thinking, start planning.  A better world is ahead of us when we share ideas and take action.

Does my small step make a difference?  Absolutely!!

It's time to consider that it's all the small steps or large steps that got us into the trouble in the first place.  We, as an individual, can make a difference.  Imagine if we all changed a CFL light bulb in one day.  The energy saving would be astronomical!!!  Why is it that so many people do not talk about what they are doing in their daily lives when they think they are doing something different?  We should be so proud of what we do and it is by sharing stories with others that will help change the habits of families, co-workers, communities and the world.  One step leads to a change... we can't keep it a secret though.

Remember that every act of green helps to build momentum and ultimately leads to a new way of doing things.  Take a chance, share your ideas, develop or improve on ways of doing things.  We are part of the solution and it's time to take action.  This weekend I am going to check the windows and put weather stripping and weather sealer on my windows to save money and help take a step to helping the enviroment.  What are you going to do this weekend?

when you select your act of green don't forget to log in on the CBC's One Million Acts of Green http://www.onemillionactsofgreen.com/  Share your ideas and keep active.

Have a great green weekend.

I would like to congratulate the many citizens, the media and my colleagues for the great work that they did in talking about the environment during the election campaign but the work is not done!

The situation is even more important to push for good environmental policies and steps.  We now have an opportunity to urge the party leaders to get together and attempt to come to a socially acceptable, fiscally sensitive (not fiscally restrained) way to match the environment and the economy.   We need to make sure we don't wait to deal with environmental concerns until the Politicians can learn to play well with others.  Let's do what we can make  to ensure that the Members of Parliament  get the message.  Push and keep pushing.. The time to keep the efforts up is now.

I am urging people to encourage the federal goverment to set up a national citizens committee of ordinary canadians to help to figure out how we can help transform the minds of other citizens and ultimately recommend corporate and national government policies. These committees are being formed in many provinces but have provincial scopes, their needs to be a national approach to deal with climate change.  Many people have said that they can't do anything themselves to battle climate change but they haven't thought that a collective effort makes a huge difference.  People changing habits at home cause discussions at the water cooler and effectively begin changing corporate policies.  Together we make a difference.

I urge everyone between today to write a letter to their Member of Parliament and/or go and visit them.  Congratulate them first on their election and ask them not to forget climate change and the environment as they move forward. 

 Keep an eye on the MP's - Another election is around the corner in 2010 or before? 

Enjoy your day and remember the work is just getting started.

Last night as I presented my "Inconvenient Truth" presentation and again came to a slide that include in every presentation.  The old addage that history repeats itself can be considered very appropriate as when I think of Winston Churchill in 1936  saying that we were in a period of consequences.

 We are now in another period of consequences.  We could take time to continue to debate the issued of environment, environment vs economy, and other issues related to the enviroment or we as an energized population we can take our surroundings in hand and deal with Global Warming. The time for action is now and we must not let the politicians forget.

 The media and our politicians have started to vere away from talking the environment and we cannot let them forget. 

Get Active. Get Questions out to the organizers of your local debates.  Ask questions and talk to your friend.

 We Are in a "period of consequences."  Lets not miss the opportunity to create solutions. 

The election is just starting and the media is talking about planes, trains and automobiles.  Imagine that the media is bringing the environment into light for all to see.  It's about time.

The reason the media, governments, and politicians are listening is because the grass roots people have decided they want a future.  We need people to walk the walk and talk the talk.  It's about time the media talked about the environment in an actual important way. Keep up the good work everyone.  It's even more important that spin doctors, and media handlers and the politicians have already thought of environmental implications when creating their speaking notes. Things are changing. The power of the people is here and now, let's make sure the discussions continue.

Now what else will political parties do? Signs?  Pamphlets?  Travel?  and more.. Keep an eye on what you here and what you see. It's one thing to say that you are respecting the environment and it so important,  and then jump into your gas guzzling SUV and ride away into the sunset.  Sometimes actions speak louder than words. 

The most important thing is make your choice known on October 14, 2008.  People are wondering if they make a difference.  Your vote is a privilege and a responsibility.  Make it count.  Inform your selves, watch what’s happening during the campaign and most importantly exercise your democratic right to vote.  We make a difference when we make a choice.  It will be environmentally friendly to do so...  Elections Canada will  create enough ballots for all eligible voters to make their choice, we can't reuse them so lets use them when we get a chance.  It would be a shame to let all those ballots go to waste without being used. 

 We need to see how far politicians will go to win an election... Are they going to talk the talk or are they actually going to walk the walk?

We need to see how far politicians will go to win an election... Are they going to talk the talk or are they actually going to walk the walk?

How far will the politicians go?  Only as far as we let them.  Keep them on their toes. 

This blog today is to let everyone know that the Chief Greennexxian, Peter Corbyn received the New Brunswick Merit Award, category environment for the City of Fredericton.  Peter has been involved in engineering and especially environmental issues for a very long time.  I would like to take this opportunity to say a big thank you to Peter for all he does to encourage the involvement in supporting and protecting the environment, and for the leadership he provides for today, tomorrow and our future. 

I would also like to issue a challenge to all Greennexxus participants and visitors to nominate people around you for awards.  It doesn't take long but someone deserves recognition everyday.  NB merit awards were given out in most communities in NB and everyday there is a call for nominations for other awards.  Don't wait for someone else to do it.  Make someone's day, recognize the least suspecting.  Don't wait for someone else... It starts with you.

How can we get our festivals to be more green?  We have to ask for it and do our part.

This year we had an awesome festival and great events.  We had adult events (19 years and older) that served beverages of many kinds.  This year we did not have to drink from a plastic glass we were permitted to use a can or plastic non-breakable container.  I didn't over indulge but I looked for places to put my can for recycling.  Every time I went to the bar area (there were 4 days of music) I brought my can back and asked them to recycle them.  They seemed to place them in a different container.  They got used to seeing me come up and most were quite good about it.

One thing outside and inside the huge tent is that their were tin cans everywhere, although it could be considered hazardous with that many people in attendance, I dont' know that anyone fell because of a discarded can. This litter was terrible but I took it entirely different.  I know that some of the cans was because of extreme laziness not wanting to walk to a garbage can but another portion of the population was so used to recycling beverage containers that they left them in a pile around the tent poles etc.  I thought that was a true testament to what is going to come of recycling and taking care of our planet in the future.  The population is coming around but we have to push on. If people had not been shy or partying I think more people would have simply asked for recycling sites.

 What can we do about this?  We need to get involved.  In December 2008 I am going to volunteer for the festival and work towards helping to green the festival, starting with recycling bins.  I challenge each reader to get involved with their own local festivals and work with them to help take steps to protect the environment - one step at a time.

We had the most beautiful fireworks on Sunday july 28. 2008 in my wonderful local City of Bathurst.  They were beautiful and managed to bring people near and far and from all ages together.

I thought about things and this is one item that the experts even say created only limited short term pollution but the after effects of the fireworks are far reaching.  Fireworks energizes the population and the community.  I would never want these beautiful creatures to disappear.  Industry and other pollutant causes much great harm to the environment and although they create employement have an obligation over the long term to protech the environment. 

The one item I would like to say is that the part that really wears everyone down is the amount of litter that is created by an event such as this.  It has merit  and spunk but each individual should realize that if they leave things the way they find it, ie: cleaner green space, no litter and returned to norma,. we could likely have more events and get more civic work done.

The litter on the water front was very apparent the next day.  I think everyone should do their part to recycle but also not to litter.

 I can't wait until next years fireworks... my obligation is to keep working to keep the air as clean as possible and reduce the effects of global warming the other days and other ways.

I read in a blog about green marketing and I also read a news paper article about green products and their regulation in the very same day.

From these articles and issues  I found that I am not alone in wondering how we really can find out if the companies are just talking the talk or are they really walking the walk.  What scares me is that people in general show environmental issues and the environment as being really important, however these are the same people who won't necessarily do the research to make sure it is going to help.  Just saying something is green and picking up the product, no doubt will start making things better, however, if we want to have an impact we have to make sure that the regulators keep on top of the products and make sure the companies us e at least a template to qualify as a step in the right direction.

I am a marketer at heart and I know that products can use the label "new" for products that have been available for two years.  What qualifies a product for a proper greeen designation.  I thnk that green should be product based as well as product based.  I company should have a ecologically friendly product, produced in an environmentally friend production line.  Re-using water, recycling programs in-house and all the other great steps should assist with giving the product a 1 - 10 rating.

What is our responsibility... We need to let the MP's or Government members that proper and tighter regulations have to be in place in the consumer product market and that companies have to prove that they are truly green products without getting the designation.

What else can we do?  We can contact out City Councillor all over the country and let the know that their municipality should implement a green procurement policy and that they need to make more ecologically friend choice.  The municipalities and governments in general need to lead the way but the political will has to be there first.   The political will comes from the people.  Speak up, speak often, it will come but we have to make sure greeen products are really green and that we use them.

 What do you think? 

How can we encourage people to use re-useable shopping bags and make other choices that help the environment.

This year I had already made a pledge to package gifts in shopping bags.  In most communities, shopping bags are $ 0.99 and the wonderful dollar store gift bags are $1.00.  Some reuse the gift bags and other people throw them out.  The same day the ppt presentation was shared with us, I was very proud to be sitting there with my two newest gifts packaged in shopping bags.  I didn't even wrap them inside, I simply placed the items in the bag and then gave them to my friends.  I am going to find another way of decorating the bags in an environmentally cautious way, however I was quite happy with my efforts.

Shopping bags can used for gift bags, shoe bags, lunch bags and so much more.  By giving them as gifts they will spread like wild fire.

I have started a new trend... After shopping I put the bags back in my car and then they are ready for my next shopping trip.

It is also very important to ask if they have paper bags in stores when you forget your shopping bags, and try to minimize the use of plastic bags whenever possible.  We can all forget but we can make changes.  Yesterday I was in the US and stopped a my first store and got a paper bag.  I didnt' buy much but everything went into the same bag. Every step helps.

 Thanks for sharing the article on the bags and the PowerPoint presentation.