4 Surprisingly Green Presidents

Presidents Day is upon us once again, a holiday that encourages us to reflect on the legacy on some of our most influential presidents (and gives us an excuse to relax on our federally mandated day off). By the nature of their position, the POTUS has an unrivalled platform from which to dictate policy and enact legislation with regards to the environment. While many presidents have shirked their environmental responsibilities, others have championed our nation's greatest attribute, attempting to ensure its glory for future generations. Here are a few of our most environmentally proactive Presidents. 

Momenta: More than a Film

Set in the pristine wilderness and charming communities of the Pacific Northwest, Momenta shows us the potentially catastrophic future for some of America's most treasured real estate. But it also provides hope and shows that a green and sustainable future is not only possible these communities, but that it's already happening. 

Momenta tells the story of the Powder River Basin, an area that straddles the Montana and Wyoming border and is home to one of the biggest coal deposits in the world. Currently, 18 trains, all a mile-and-a-half long, haul coal from these deposits to seaports in Oregon and Washington each day, snaking through National Parks and clogging major arteries in communities throughout the region. These trains pose major environmental and health risks to the cities they pass through, with each train spilling up to 31 tons of coal and coal dust during their journey. And things could get much worse for these communities.

As the U.S. weans itself off coal-fired power plants, demand for coal in Asia continues to rise. Major coal companies are proposing to build new deepwater ports on the Pacific coast in order to reach these Asian markets, significantly increasing production in the Powder River Basin.

Andy Miller, one of Momenta's co-directors, described the pressure that U.S. coal companies face to get their product to market. "The U.S. coal market is flattening, and if they can't find international markets to ship to, it'll close." 

The construction of these seaports will dramatically effect the landscape of the Pacific Northwest, more than doubling train traffic and significantly altering the environment. The proposed Gateway Pacific Terminal in Cherry Point, Washington, one of the major seaports up for construction, would ravage pristine Washington coastline, as well as be rife for shipping disaster due to the tight turns and congested navigation required.

4 Ways to Host a Green Super Bowl Party

The Super Bowl, essentially an American holiday, is an excuse to scream at a TV and eat and drink more than the average human should. More than 100 million Americans are expected to tune in Sunday to watch the Seattle Seahawks take on the Denver Broncos. But like all large sporting events, the Super Bowl, and all the fanfare that goes along with it, carries a rather hefty environmental impact. To its credit, the National Football league has stepped up its efforts to host a greener event, making this year's event the greenest Super Bowl ever. But there are plenty of ways for those of us not privileged enough to watch the game in person to do our part as we watch at home. Here are a few ways to make sure your Super Bowl party is as green as possible.

Recycle

These Eco-Videos Make Us Laugh, Then Cry

Sometimes all of our environmental problems make it feel like the world is the star of an eco-horror film.

People at 350.org must think so too, because they made two short but awesome videos dramatizing environmental issues like the Keystone XL pipeline and climate change disasters.

Both should be shared with wild abandon.

The first, Keystone Horror, really goes all-out eco-horror, complete with a creepy kid. It even features appearances from actors Ed Begley Jr., Amy Smart, Justin Chatwin, and Wendie Malick. Watch it below:

How Could You Say No to this Face?

You may know him as irresistible bad boy Damon Salvatore, but unlike the undead cad he plays on the Vampire Diaries, actor Ian Somerhalder just wants to compel people to protect the planet.

As part of the #STARTARYOT Challenge, the eco-minded thespian is asking fans to compete for a good cause. Here's where you come in: If Somerholder can help the Sierra Club Foundation raise the most funds on CrowdRise, RYOT will donate an additional $75,000 to the organization. That money would help the Club protect more wild places, get more kids outdoors, fight more pollution, and build a cleaner, healthier future.

Somerhalder, who has always had a connection to the outdoors, was inspired to take his eco-activism to the next level when he saw how the BP oil spill devastated his home state of Louisiana. An lest you think he's just lending his gorgeous face to the environmental movement, rest assured that Somerhalder also has his hiking boots on the ground — he recently took the stage at a Beyond Coal rally in North Carolina, where his strong words inspired a more than a few young fans to think differently about dirty energy.

The #STARTARYOT Challenge ends on Tuesday, September 24, so visit the site soon to help Somerhalder help the Sierra Club. Every donation — no matter how small — moves the Foundation closer to its goal. But first, take a moment to look into those dreamy, vampy eyes. You just can't resist doing a little good today.

--Photo by Renee Scott

Why Jellyfish Might Rule the Future

Are jellyfish taking over? Dr. Lisa-ann Gershwin, author of Stung! On Jellyfish Blooms and the Future of our Oceans and the director of the Australian Marine Stinger Advisory Sciences, has outlined how rising temperatures and the toxicity of the earth's oceans have resulted in an increase in jellyfish blooms. We recently asked the marine biologist about the rise of the jellies and whether humans are smarter than brainless invertebrates. 

Can you start of by telling me what Stung! is about?

It's about human impact on the oceans and the unexpected and unwanted consequences of jellyfish taking over. Nobody could have imagined that jellyfish could have done so well in damaged ecosystems.

There is a really powerful quote in your book: “Here we are at the dawn of a new millennium, in the age of cyberspace, and we are at the mercy of jellyfish.” What is the significance of that quote to you?

Despite all of our gadgets and all of our technologies and all of our good intentions and our good management models, despite our ability to do things right, nonetheless jellyfish are getting the best of us. We’re losing this battle to jellyfish. Mind you, it’s not their fault, we’re not losing the battle to ourselves because we want our cake and we want to eat it too. It’s our fault because we’re damaging the ecosystems to the point that they’re able to exploit that damage.

Solar Panels and the White House: A Brief History

The White House recently announced plans to install solar panels on the esteemed presidential residence. The solar array reflects Obama’s promise to have 20% of the federal government’s energy come from renewable sources by 2020. Though this is commendable, Obama isn’t the first president to install solar panels on the White House. Here's a little history lesson:

Jimmy Carter
(1977–1981)
Carter is the first president to install solar panels on the White House. He fit 32 on the presidential residence in order to heat water. At the time, there was an embargo on Arab oil and the US was facing an energy crisis.

“A generation from now, this solar heater can either be a curiosity, a museum, an example of a road not taken, or it can be just a small part of one of the greatest and most exciting adventures ever undertaken by the American people,” predicted Carter in 1979.

Blackfish: The Film Everyone Is Talking About

Blackfish, the highly anticipated documentary by director-producer Gabriela Cowperthwaite, has brought into question the ethics behind marine-wildlife captivity.

The film, released July 19, highlights the dangers of orca captivity while profiling Tilikum, a killer whale responsible for the deaths of several people, the most recent being that of SeaWorld trainer Dawn Brancheau in 2010.

The film is hauntingly beautiful, juxtaposing scenes of wild orcas with orcas in captivity. It leaves viewers reflecting on the emotional capacity and intelligence of marine mammals, while remembering their own experiences in marine parks. It's no surprise it has generated the response it has among critics and fans alike.

Did Your Alma Mater Make Our Top 10 List?

It's back-to-school season, which means that Sierra magazine has unveiled its seventh annual ranking of America's greenest universities. This year, the University of Connecticut took top honors. The number-one school offers more than 600 sustainability-related classes, produces its own honey, eggs, and seasonal produce on campus, and has cut its water use by 15% since 2005.

In addition to naming the Top 10 Coolest Schools, Sierra asked the question "Do Green Schools Matter?" We covered life-changing teachers and classes, examined how green education leads to jobs, reported on the newest on-campus activist movement, and compiled eco-scholarship opportunities. Our conclusion? At America's Coolest Schools, the future looks bright.

Check out the latest issue of Sierra magazine to find out if your alma mater made our list.

--Cover artwork by Harry Campbell

Peruvian University Makes Water out of Thin Air

Most of the time, billboards are used to sell new products, television shows, or government messages. However, in Lima, Peru, the University of Engineering and Technology (UTEC) and Mayo Advertising has used this publicity tool to provide people with a basic human right: drinking water.

Lima and its surrounding villages are located in one of the driest regions in the world. The annual precipitation rate is a close-to-nothing 0.51 inches so people resort to taking water from polluted wells. The dryness of the area is largely unrepresented in world news and politics. According to UTEC, Lima has 96% humidity but until now, nobody has seen the oasis that has been right in front of them all along. UTEC decided to take the moisture from the surrounding air and convert it into free, purified water. This billboard is located on the Panamerica highway, in the district of Mala and province of Cañete.

What started as a marketing technique for the university's admission process became a worldwide sensation. This simple yet innovative project serves the needs of the community and sheds light on the potential of an engineering degree.