Outdoor Retail Show

This weekend in Salt Lake City is the Winter Outdoor Retail Show. I am torn between the want to have the newest coolest gear around and the knowledge that my old hiking boots are just as good as this year's model. In fact they are probably better because not only are they super comfy, but by not buying new shoes I reduce the need to use more resources and energy.

To keep from purchasing everything in sight I have been watching Do the Green Thing's youtube video about consumption: http://www.dothegreenthing.com/actions/stick_with_what_you_got

Have a great weekend!
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Happy Mass Public Transit Day SLC!

In the aftermath of a horrific week of air quality, residents of Salt Lake City are devoting the day to taking public transit, biking, or walking instead of driving their cars. The goal is to decrease harmful air particles, making our air cleaner and our lungs healthier.

Upon planning my bus routes to and from school today however, I found that I am actually unable to participate. Getting a bus to and from the Avenues during the day is hard enough, but apparently after 7:40pm it is literally impossible. Since I don't get out of class until 7:30 tonight, I opted for driving instead of being stranded. And since I got here at 9:00 this morning, my sacrifice is that I won't drive home until after that evening class.

UTA seriously needs to step up their game and make getting around Salt Lake easier at all times of the day. If they get enough ridership today, maybe that will influence them to make better and more comprehensive routes. So, all you carbon-emitters out there, take a break from your car today and take the nearest bus or Trax route. You'll breathe easier - from cleaner air and a break from the stress of driving! As for me, I will see you on the bus tomorrow.

Contributed by Kelsie D.

Learn more about this event on their facebook page.

The Avatar Effect...

As I was casually surfing the web the other day I came across this article on CNN regarding some curious side effects of the new hit movie Avatar. Many people have reported that they have felt the urge to commit suicide because our world has just become as many people said "Too small" and that Earth no longer offers us any mystery as it once did. People are bumming that we have no "Pandora" to explore and that the bore and corruption of our society today has just become to much for them to handle. Many of these accusations got me thinking about the deeper meaning of this new film. After experiencing the movie in Imax 3D (Amazing a must see!) I feel that it conveys a strong environmental messages to all of us on Earth. If greed, corruption, and consumption continue to dominate the lives of billions of people around the globe than all hope for the Human race and mother nature is lost. People need to start looking at the big picture and began to understand how intricately biotic(Living) and abiotic(nonliving) things on earth are connected just like the mystical species of Pandora. Everyone, now, is concerned about the green movement, but what are we actually DOING? I see people driving Hummers in the city and throwing away recyclable materials! Nothing is being done to spot major corperations rethink how they run their business practices! Why? When are we going to make a change as a human race? When will that time come and who will be bold enough? I think that Avatar is letting us know that if we don't change soon we will destroy everything! All the raw beauty in our world will be gone. So my answer to all of you folks who are suffering from the AVATAR EFFECT is to stop, take a minute to think about your life and how you could pioneer change in our modern world (this is our generation's calling afterall). Make sustainable changes in your lives as easy as buying local and seasonal food, using public transit, recycling, and turning off your lights. If everyone learned once again to live in harmony once again with nature, then and only then could we go back to the "Pandora" we once had and Earth as well as the Human race would be better off.

K-nut

Homemade

For my New Years resolution I want to become more self sufficent in the kitchen. And I think I will start with attempting to make my own yogurt. I found a recipe from 101 cookbooks, but it recommends that I need a yogurt maker. Anyone know if it is possible to make yogurt without a specific yogurt maker?
Have a great week!
-Posted by Meghan J.

New Year's Eco-Resolution

It is absolutely infuriating that in the face of a world water crisis, companies such as Pepsi, Coke and Nestle are bottling water and selling it back to us to make a profit. Water is a basic human right and we can not allow it to be turned into a commodity.

My New Year's resolution is to be smarter than bottled water companies and drink for free what they are trying to sell me.

What is your New Year's resolution?

Contributed by Sarah C.