GreenMark Public Relations®, Inc.

The Polynesian island nation of Tuvalu recently announced their mission to use 100% clean, renewable energy by 2020. Their effort was kick started by a new solar panel system atop the largest football stadium in Tuvalu, which now powers 5% of the electricity needed in Funafuti, their capital city. The 40 kilowatt system is the first of its kind in the nation and in the 14 months of its operation, it’s replaced the need to import nearly 4,500 gallons of diesel fuel and reduced their carbon footprint by 50 tons.

They have a lot to accomplish in the next 10 years, but the sad fact is that in less than 100 years, most of the island nation might be uninhabitable regardless of their efforts.Most of the island is less than three feet above the sea level and scientists predict that would put them under water, if current conditions continue, by 2109.

This country deserves a standing ovation for their goal, but it’s going to take the bigger countries to step up and make a difference to save these people. If a nation of 12,000 can do it, why can’t a larger nation? The scapegoat is that there are more people, there’s more land, more money involved, these are the basic delimiting assumptions. But wouldn’t a move to 100% renewable energy by a designated time create thousands - even millions - of jobs? From designers to builders, to engineers, to marketers, to sale reps, to maintenance, a bold step forward will create jobs, a green economy and a more connected world community.

Some people say it’s wishful thinking.

I’ll bet the Tuvaluan people wished we all took climate change a bit more seriously.

Where did we get our facts?

Read more about Tuvalu’s bold new green power goal.

Learn more about sea level rise.

Photo from Wikipdedia, Author: Stefan Lens, re-printed under the Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 2.0 License.

Garden reporter Beth Botts has spent more than 20 years on staff at the Chicago Tribune, where her stories won bronze, silver and gold awards from the Garden Writers Association. She was raised on Chicago’s south side by an organic gardener and environmentalist and now resides in a leafy suburb on the edge of Chicago. She says there’s always something to do in the garden and offers her uplifting advice in a friendly, conversational tone on her new garden blog, “Growing in Chicago.”

Follow Beth’s blog, “Growing in Chicago,” here.

The Garden Writers Association Foundation (GWAF) reports the continuing trend toward new vegetable gardens in America. The finding was unearthed in a spring report on trends conducted by the GWAF in February. According to the 2009 Late Spring Gardening Trends Report, 44 percent of American households with a yard or garden plan to add or expand a vegetable garden in their yard in the spring or summer of 2009. This marks an increase of 12 percent since 2008. In comparison, 42 percent reported plans to increase perennials (up 1 percent from 2008) and 34 percent planned to add more annuals (up 2 percent), The second largest growth category was herbs, with a reported planned increase by 19 percent of respondents (up 8 percent).

“It’s reassuring that we have new confirmation that home gardeners see herb and vegetable gardening as a practical solution to health, safety and economic issues,” says GWA Foundation President Steve Dobbs of Forth Smith, Arkansas. “We believe the latest trends report shows public interest in edible gardens goes well beyond current economic issues and points to a significant growth in sustainable living that will carry vegetable gardening to new heights for years to come.”

Other findings from this national consumer survey include:

Reasons to garden: 35 percent of Americans say that their primary reason for gardening is better mental health, nutrition or fitness.

Concerns about environmental impact: 70 percent of gardeners are either very (36 percent) or somewhat (34 percent) concerned about the environmental impact of the gardening-related products that they are purchasing. 16 percent say that they are neutral about the issue, while 12 percent are unconcerned.

Recycling: 51 percent of the gardeners surveyed say they always recycle plastic nursery pots/trays (48 percent in 2008); 49% said they always mulch or compost grass clippings (48 percent in 2008); and 44 percent said they always mulch or compost garden waste (41 percent in 2008).

Planned lawn activities: 53 percent of gardeners said weed control was the number one activity this year, while insect control (33 percent) and over-seeding with new seed (20 percent) capture second and third place, respectively.

This information comes from a press release issued by the GWA Foundation titled “Vegetable Gardening Still Tops Most Consumer Gardening Lists,” issued May 2009.

At the 2008 Democratic National Convention, AlGore said, “We are facing a planetary emergency, which, if not solved, would exceed anything we’ve ever experienced in the history of humankind.” While oil companies continue to make soaring profits, scientists predict that the North Polar ice cap will be completely gone by summer 2009. Among the increase in frequency of natural disasters such as fires, earthquakes and floods, scientists predict the very web of life is endangered by an unprecedented number of extinctions.

Gore says the climate crisis is intertwined with “the other two great challenges facing our nation: reviving our economy and strengthening our national security.” The solution? End our dependence on carbon-based fuels and invest in American innovation.

Thomas Edison said, “I’d put my money on the sun and solar energy. What a source of power!” He continued, “I hope we don’t have to wait until oil and coal run out before we tackle that.”

In 2008, we have all the materials to do what Edison implied, not only in harnessing solar power, but wind energy, geothermal power, conservation and efficiency.

The only way to solve this is by turning, “Yes we can” into “Yes we are!”

Abby Mandel Meyer was the founder of Chicago’s 10-year-old Green City Market – and GreenMark’s first client. I’ll never forget the first time I met her. She didn’t know me but greeted me with her famous ear-to-ear smile and a hug. She felt strongly about the importance of eating sustainably and about supporting local farmers and local chefs. Abby believed food should be respected and celebrated. She created a wonderful fresh food oasis for us to enjoy two days a week. But she was also creating a sustainable food network in Chicago that celebrated the abundance of the earth. Abby took great joy in watching children at the Market. She believed that they are the future of sustainability. Those of us who also believe that must continue what she started and ensure that her legacy of belief in the protection of the earth, the support of small family farms and the health of human beings continues.

Rest in peace, Abby.
Fondly,
Sue Markgraf

Click here to visit Greencitymarket.org.