Affordable Renewal Energy

Site Archives

Not Comfortable with TSA Pat-Downs? Take Amtrak, You Can Bring a Gun


If the TSA’s new body imaging x-ray machines and pat-downs make you uncomfortable, you can now feel completely unsafe on long-distance transportation, thanks to Amtrak’s new lift on its gun ban. Starting on December 15, passengers will be able to transport unloaded guns in their checked luggage on Amtrak trains for the first time since bans put in place after September 11th terrorist attacks, along with up to 11 pounds of ammunition. … More »

Post from: BlissTree

Not Comfortable with TSA Pat-Downs? Take Amtrak, You Can Bring a Gun

Should Angelina Jolie Lose Her U.N. Ambassador Status?


Angelina Jolie’s foray into directing may also be her exit from the good graces of many humanitarian organizations, thanks to her portrayal of a love story between a Muslim woman and Serbian man during the Bosnian War. In a letter to the U.N. from the Women Victims of War Association, female survivors of wartime sexual violence called the actress “ignorant” and expressed their desire to meet with Jolie to offer their perspective for fair representation in the film. They concluded with the suggestion that she be removed from the United Nations’ Refugee Agency, saying: “Angelina made a big mistake. We feel that she did not act like a real UNHCR ambassador and we believe that she has no more credibility to remain the ambassador.”

More »

Post from: BlissTree

Should Angelina Jolie Lose Her U.N. Ambassador Status?

Want to Know What’s In Your Makeup? Check Out This Interview with Authors of No More Dirty Looks


Check out this interview with No More Dirty Looks by Virginia Sole-Smith on Lemondrop.
A few weeks ago, we told you about the No Makeup Challenge issued by Siobhan O’Connor and Alexandra Spunt, co-authors of “No More Dirty Looks: The Truth About Your Beauty Products — And the Ultimate Guide to … More »

Post from: BlissTree

Want to Know What’s In Your Makeup? Check Out This Interview with Authors of No More Dirty Looks

China Unveils Fuel Cell Light Rail Train


china-light-rail
China has been making great strides in mass transit in the past year.  They’re building a huge Asia-Europe rail network, rapidly expanding their national high speed rail lines and have unveiled the world’s fastest high-speed train.  The country has now revealed a fuel cell light rail locomotive for local, city-wide and suburban transportation.

The locomotive was developed by the China North Vehicle Yongji Electric Motor Corporation and the Southwest Jiaotong University.  The train is powered by a permanent-magnet motor and hydrogen fuel cells that run a synchronous motor and frequency converter.  This set up allows the train to produce and use power very efficiently while also cutting down on vibrations and noise.

The magnet motor out-performs traditional motors while reducing energy use by 10 – 20 percent.

via Inhabitat

Starbucks Cups to Be Reusable by 2015


We’re running out of reasons to hate Starbucks, now that the corporate coffeehouse has announced their commitment to using 100% reusable or recyclable cups by 2015. Their cups are currently non-recyclable in most cities, due to their waterproof interior lining, but Starbucks says that it thinks more paper recyclers could process the paper cups. Given that their consumers currently use one billion paper cups and one billion plastic cups every year, we hope they’re right. … More »

Post from: BlissTree

Starbucks Cups to Be Reusable by 2015

Video of the Day: Bloody Anti-Smoking Campaign Asks If You Really Need a Hit With Your Coffee?


We’re used to anti-smoking ads that point out the harmful side effects of cigarettes, but we’d never have come up with this bloody anti-smoking campaign, directed by Stefan Friessner & Lukas Griesser and posted by Good Food Studio on Vimeo earlier this month: … More »

Post from: BlissTree

Video of the Day: Bloody Anti-Smoking Campaign Asks If You Really Need a Hit With Your Coffee?

Blisstree » LIVE 2010-11-30 10:46:22


Become a Chocolate Ambassador — Green & Black’s is looking for Global Ambassadors to go to the Dominican Republic and build a clean water supply for its cocoa growers. Yes, please?
Post from: BlissTree

More »

Post from: BlissTree

9 So-Called Green Celebs With Too Many Kids: Are These Famous Moms and Dads Eco-Hypocrites?


When Stella McCartney gave birth to her fourth child last week, we wondered if her child-bearing record makes Stella an eco-hypocrite — does having four kids really match up with her environmental advocacy? Some readers disagreed with the logic, citing her ability to pay for her offspring and applauding her for raising more like-minded, earth-conscious children, but other readers agreed that, despite her eco-friendly words and vegan fashion designs, at the end of the day, four kids per family simply isn’t eco-friendly. … More »

Post from: BlissTree

9 So-Called Green Celebs With Too Many Kids: Are These Famous Moms and Dads Eco-Hypocrites?

Blisstree » LIVE 2010-11-30 09:51:10


Angelina Jolie Is Ignorant, Say Bosnian Rape Victims — The actress’ humanitarian efforts aside, Bosnian rape victims are outraged over her newest movie, in which she’ll play a Bosnian Muslim woman who’s raped and falls in love with a Serbian man during the Bosnian inter-ethnic war. (via CNN)
Post from: BlissTree

More »

Post from: BlissTree

Walking for Sanity and the Surprising Side Effects of Birth Control: Morning News Roundup


Oil Spill Is Over, but Still Traumatic — BP capped their oil well, but Gulf Coast families still struggle to recover from the spill. (NPR)

Is the Pill Changing Fertility? — As birth control turns 50, some are questioning its “side effects.” (NY Magazine)

Walking Can Keep You Sane — Simply walking can slow brain decline, according to new research. (CNN) … More »

Post from: BlissTree

Walking for Sanity and the Surprising Side Effects of Birth Control: Morning News Roundup