SustainEd

03/09/2013

An 'integrated constructed wetland,' the term we just studied but these folks have put it into practice. It's cheaper and more effective than mechanical tanks and treatment, and the fish and ducks like it better as well.
http://www.irishtimes.com/news/environment/swampy-tale-that-could-help-us-out-of-a-morass-1.1510859?page=1

There’s something different about Waterford’s Anne Valley, and it’s all about communities and water. Welcome to Dunhill Ecopark, an integrated constructed wetland

12/06/2013

Somewhere, somebody is measuring and comparing everything. I like this system of ranking cities based on their 'Park Score'. http://parkscore.tpl.org/rankings.php
Their methodology is interesting to read.

31/05/2013

Rida Bilgrami and Margo Mosher report back from the GRI Global Conference in Amsterdam.

29/05/2013

'Big' fines for Walmart because they violated the Clean Water Act in 2006. They say that since then, they have effective policies and training in place. We'll have to check up on that.
http://money.cnn.com/2013/05/28/news/walmart-hazardous-waste/index.html

Wal-Mart will pay $82 million for violating the Clean Water Act and other environmental regulations, after dumping pesticides and other hazardous materials down the drain.

13/05/2013

I think it is great that multinationals will use their money and their expertise to improve working conditions in Bangladesh. But will they become the de facto state? Will they inspect building design and construction? If Bangladesh has avoided regulating its own industry, will foreign corporations have to 'encourage' the government to enact regulations to protect workers?
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/14/business/global/hm-agrees-to-bangladesh-safety-plan.html

Consumer and labor groups hailed the moves by H&M and Zara after a building collapse in Bangladesh, saying they would increase pressure on other retailers to do likewise.

13/05/2013

Will the Bangladesh parliament carry through on proposals to improve labour laws? What role should multinationals play in encouraging compliance with international labor standards?
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/14/world/middleeast/bangladeshs-cabinet-approves-changes-to-labor-laws.html?_r=0

Officials say the move will expand benefits for garment workers and make it easier to form trade unions, in the wake of the Rana Plaza tragedy.

13/05/2013

It is a long, ongoing process to make water an issue for people in Ireland.

Fine PrintIn Fine Print, potential savings of more than €30,000 were identified through a range of resource efficiency measures…Read more ›

13/05/2013

The Irish Times gets a start on informing people of the consequences of their decisions as consumers, and offers a bit more information than simple hand-wringing:
http://www.irishtimes.com/news/consumer/do-the-clothes-on-our-backs-leave-blood-on-our-hands-1.1389030

Consumers say they would be willing to pay more for ethically produced product but evidence shows resistance

10/05/2013

yea, sure, I loved the old buildings and stuff. But what really amazed me was transport in Amsterdam. How about electric cars at €15 an hour? (The electric car spaces in our train station have been sitting unused for over two years.)
I just love integrated transport options.

10/05/2013

Amsterdam streetscape: look at the proportion of space given to cars, bikes, and pedestrians. Here it is clearly marked, but on most streets it is 'shared space,' meaning everybody keeps moving along and everybody pays attention and everyone is courteous (mostly).

10/05/2013

Just another train station in Amsterdam, with only a few bikes. Talk about an integrated transport network. And not one high-vis vest in sight. I guess people just look out for one another.

28/03/2013

"In February, [Mineau] published a peer-reviewed paper in PLoS One concluding that pesticides, and not habitat loss, have likely been driving bird-population declines in the United States."
I've never been concerned whether organic food is better for human health, but I'm sure intensive farming practices are bad for the natural world's health.
http://www.motherjones.com/tom-philpott/2013/03/not-just-bees-bayers-pesticide-may-harm-birds-too?google_editors_picks=true

Springtime is associated with the birds and the bees. It's also when farmers treat 140 million acres in a pesticide that might be taking them out.