Naturalpath

Which causes more greenhouse gas emissions, raising cattle or driving cars?

Surprise - it's the cows. Yes, it's true that our cow-centric American diet contributes significantly to global warming. And cutting even some meat from our daily diets could have a greater effect than buying that eco-friendly car you've been oogling.

According to a recent report published by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, the livestock sector generates more greenhouse gas emissions as measured in CO2 equivalent – 18 percent – than transport. It is also a major source of land and water degradation.

Meat production not only consumes a huge swath of agricultural land, but the by-product of animal raising - nitrous oxide and methane gases -- are no laughing matter as they contribute much more to the greenhouse effect than CO2.

This conclusion was supported by impressive data in a United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) report issued last year: Livestock’s Long Shadow.

Our Body's Acid vs. Alkaline Balance: Why Do We Care?

What is pH anyway? Most of us know what an acid is, but many of us are confused by what a base is, and what the acids and bases have to do with each other, or what they mean to our health is even more of a mystery. It turns out that many diseases rampant in today's society may have a common cause.

Just how green is the Internet? Going virtual has the potential to save significant amounts of energy, with a recent study predicting that Internet services could reduce carbon emissions by staggering 1 billion tons.

But look beyond the green hype, and the web has a dark secret - at the other end of your Internet cable, humming away, and hidden from sight, are thousands of energy hungry datacenters, running 24/7 and estimated to be using energy equivalent to all of the color televisions in the US. Worldwide datacenter energy usage has doubled since 2001 and is set to double again by 2011.

Google is today’s biggest datacenter operator, having more than twice the server capacity of any other firm in the world, but this could be set to change. The proposed merger of Microsoft and Yahoo would create a rival Internet giant with similarly huge capacity, creating new competition at many different levels.

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The start of green competition?

Aware of their environmental footprint, Google launched a massive renewable energy investment program last year, making Google one of the most eco-friendly destinations on the web. So how green is Micro-Yahoo-Soft in comparison? Could the new web giants start competing not only for web users, but also for carbon credits? And how might these champions of technological innovation shape the future of green computing?

Energy supplies

Valentine's day is a conflicting holiday of which people typically fall into two categories. First, the die hard romantics who thrive on the sentiments that Valentine's day brings. Second, the bitter and cynical few who are quick to blame this "Hallmark" holiday as coprorate conspiracy to increase consumption. Regardless, when it comes to socially conscious gifts of the heart there is something for everyone. The Green Guide recently came out with their list of V-Day gift ideas, and below are some of our favs:

WorldofGood.com: Ethically sourced gifts, housewares and accessories.
Organic Style: Buy Organic Roses and 5% goes to charity.
Furturenatural: For Natural and Organic Pampering.
EconsciousMarket: For gifts that support charities (50% goes to a charity).

Whatever category you fall in, single or coupled, take a moment to appreciate all the loved one's in your life. Or, if you prefer to stay cynical and bitter, at least forego the bon bons and consider curling up with some fair trade chocolate instead.