$100 a barrel for oil?

Wake-up call to U.S. on oil?: Discusses a current worry that the fighting in the Middle East could cause the price for oil to become $100 per barrel. I think that's a very realistic concern, if we think about what's happened with the oil prices over the last couple years. The tensions in the Middle East have served to push up the price.

But that's not the only influence causing the oil prices to be so high as they are today.

There's growing oil demand from both India and China. Both countries are in a massive growth period, due to modernization of their economic activity.

There's the continuing rise in world oil demand, regardless of growth in India or China.

There's the peak oil consideration where it looks like world oil production capacity is going to soon reach a peak. Once the oil production peak is reached the price is inexorably going to go up.

The Chicago Tribune article is flawed by looking only at the immediate issue, and the immediate cause for oil price increases. If we think about those three effects, the price for oil is only going to rise. And once the oil production peak is reached, the price for oil is going to increase dramatically.

Green Maps

URL: 

Green Maps

Description: 

Green Map System is a global eco-cultural movement, energized by local knowledge, action and responsibility.

Green Maps are locally created maps that chart the natural and cultural environment. Using adaptable tools and a shared visual language of Green Map Icons to highlight green living resources, Green Maps cultivate citizen participation and community sustainability in hundreds of places around the world.

apartmenttherapy.com is a group blog covering apartment dwellers

URL: 

apartmenttherapy.com is a group blog covering apartment dwellers

Description: 

A group blog aimed to helping people to make their apartments better places to live.

They believe:

• A calm, healthy, beautiful home is a necessary foundation for happiness and success in the world.
• Creating this home doesn't require large amounts of money or space. It requires inspiration, connection to resources and motivation to do something about it.
• The basic elements of good home design can be learned and achieved by all.
• Simplicity and luxury are not mutually exclusive.

Greenprint Denver

URL: 

Greenprint Denver

Description: 

The mission of Greenprint Denver is to provide leadership and solutions to ensure a prosperous community where people and nature thrive.

The City of Edinburgh - Sustainable Development Unit

URL: 

The City of Edinburgh - Sustainable Development Unit

Description: 

The City of Edinburgh, Scotland, has a vision that "by 2015, Edinburgh will lead the most successful and sustainable city region in Northern Europe and sustain the highest quality of life of any UK city". They have a number of projects which aim to integrate sustainable development practices with the city Council activities. These include climate change, energy, fair trade, sustainable construction, resource use, water, and sustainable travel.

What to do with old glass bottles?

Tree Hugger notes What Should You Do with Extra Glass Bottles? riffing off a question on Apartment Therapy. The question is, you've bought something in a glass bottle, used the contents of the bottle, and now what?

I just recycle stuff. I recycle so much stuff that I hardly ever take out "trash" as most of what I take out gets into the recycling bin instead.

But, Tree Hugger suggests an alternative. Make stuff out of it. That glass bottle could be remade into several kinds of uses.

I remember as a kid we had a glass bottle cutter gizmo that we'd stick in the neck of a bottle, zip the cutter around the bottle, and off cops the top of the bottle. Instant flower vase, or instant pitcher, or instant drinking glass.

Well, not so "instant". The edges tend to be sharp, so you have to smooth them down. Especially if you want to use the ex-bottle as a drinking glass. Also you should be careful in handling the thing because you can accidently break the bottle while cutting it.

But ... as one of the commenters on Tree Hugger says, you only need so many drinking glasses. After you've made a set of drinking glasses, then what?

Yup... then what?

Recycle, my friend. The Earth will love you for it.

Re: Why the chicken crossed the ocean -- twice

This is one of those deals which makes you scratch your head ... Why the chicken crossed the ocean -- twice ... the idea is that uncooked chickens will be shipped to China, from the U.S., cooked, packaged, and then shipped back to the U.S.

The article describes this as a politically motivated deal with China.

But I see it as an abysmal move in terms of sustainability. It's bad enough we get food shipped all over the world as it is, because that drives more use of oil and contributes to the baddening of our food. In order for food to remain safe as it's shipped across the world, it has to be buried in various preservative chemicals, or harvested when it's still unripe, etc.