photo: Tim Thomson

As the House of Representatives just approved a new energy package which contains provisions to allow some offshore oil drilling, it may seem to be a moot point to go into a discussion of where John McCain and Barack Obama stand on the issue, but as there are still legislative hurdles to be cleared before any law is actually passed on the matter, it's worthwhile to go over their positions. So here there are, Obama and McCain on oil drilling, both offshore and in ANWR:

Recent Comment by Anthony : "Thanks for this article. It is nice to see two candidates' views on a particular issue ..." [read]

Photo Credit: West Coast Green

West Coast Green is only a week away and we're getting excited! WCG is an annual event in which anyone and everyone involved in green innovation, technology and design in the building industry gathers together to show off their latest products, talk about what we can do to improve sustainability, and hear what top leaders (including Al Gore!) have to say.

Bike-Powered Compost Tumbler
Ahh, the things you find on YouTube. I’m clearly not the only compost-geek out there – my recent post on how to build a DIY compost tumbler generated some lively comments. However, I’m sure there are folks who consider even turning a compost tumbler a little too much like hard work. And that’s where the intriguingly named “Team Broken Spokes” come in (aka Tonyinmontreal, we think), with their remarkably easy-to-use pedal powered compost turner. As the comments on their YouTube page suggest, for many applications a simple handle would do – but adding the bike powered option not only provides for more turning capacity (and hence more compost!), it also looks like it’s kinda fun. Click below the fold for some links to more hot composting action...

::Team Broken Spokes on YouTube::

Over in Wales, Tony Wrench's "ecohome of wood frame, cobwood and recycled window walls, straw-insulated turf roof; with solar power and wind turbine for electricity, compost toilet and reed beds for grey water" has just been granted approval after a ten year fight- it was built without permission in a public park. (see Secret Green Community Saved from Demolition)

Um, OK, but what if Mr Wrench had just pulled in an old trailer and parked an ATV in front?

Lenovo is doing great things when it comes to more energy-efficient monitors. They’re launching six new monitors to the ThinkVision line, each of which uses between 30-60% less energy than their previous models.

Emma Orbach founded the self-sustaining Brithdir Mawr community in Wales. “It’s a milestone in a free society that a minority of people who wish to live simply on the Earth are now being given this opportunity. The villagers are pioneering a new lifestyle.” Down the road, Tony Wrench has been pioneering "permaculture" for decades, and built the Roundhouse, an "ecohome of wood frame, cobwood and recycled window walls, straw-insulated turf roof; with solar power and wind turbine for electricity, compost toilet and reed beds for grey water. "

There was only one problem: They were doing it secretly, on public land in a national park. In 1998 a pilot doing an aerial survey caught a reflection off a plexiglass skylight and the jig was up.

Recent Comment by Cybercat : "Same here. I'm glad the people who moved in were as green as they are, but they set a ..." [read]

Christian Americans have one. So do the Chinese, Muslims –– and the Jews. I am talking about New Years celebrations. While January 1st is the obviously date when most Americans and Europeans party and drink copious amounts of organic champagne and kiss under the wilting Christmas mistletoe, people from other faiths celebrate New Years a little differently, and at different times.

Come next Monday September the 29th, Jews around the world will be celebrating their New Years, Rosh Hashanah, marking 5769 years since the beginning of time –– or the advent of modern civilization, depending on one’s belief. While tradition is tradition in Judaism (we’ve all seen Fiddler on the Roof, right?), Jews with a green conscious are looking to incorporate the environmental message into this year’s celebrations.

If you’re New York-based consider dipping your organic apples into locally-produced honey with Green High Holidays at 92YTribeca. Over the fold for more.

Li Xinggang designed the Chinese Pavilion at the Venice Architecture Biennale entirely out of paper. According to Designboom, "the aim of the 'paper brick house' was to construct a paper house which is fully functional and allows people to
live, play, meet and continue on with other daily activities. the house is constructed from cardboard boxes which previously held drawing papers and behave much like 'bricks'. unused cylindrical shafts which were originally paper tubes, have been used to as structural support acting as beams, flooring and roofing."