The Navy and Marine Corps Embrace Alternative Energy to Save Lives and Reduce Fossil Fuel Use

Being a part of the United States Military myself, I relish the opportunity to speak about the great things the Military is doing to save the lives of soldiers. Today on Treehugger I saw a post about how the Marine Corps have been experimenting with solar charging systems to reduce the need for fuel to power electric generators. 

According to the Office of Naval Research (ONR), the two main systems employed in the field are their Ground Renewable Energy Networks (GREENS), and the Solar Portable Alternative Communications Energy Systems (SPACES). With these two new systems, along with the deployment of LED lighting systems, Solar Shades, and Solar Light Trailers, the Marines saw a reduction of up to 90% in their fuel consumption. These systems allowed for the Marines to overcome many obstacles. By using the SPACES system Marines could recharge batteries on extended patrols, no need to return to their FOB to resupply. The introduction of GREENS PV battery charging system allowed larger bases to reduce their daily fuel consumption to 2-3 gallons from 25. 

These advancements make many things possible but the biggest advantage is saving lives. The men and women of our Armed Forces deserve every technology possible to help them accomplish their missions and return home safely. By deploying these systems in the field fuel resupply convoys will not have to risk their lives and equipment. A 90% reduction in fuel consumption means a 90% reduction in the supply chain that delivers that fuel. A 90% reduction in vulnerable fuel tankers and supply trucks exposed to IED's and ambushes. This is a huge step forward in reducing the Military's dependence on foreign oil and fuel, and anything to save the lives of our Soldiers is supremely important. The ONR's full report is available here.

Eager to start a garden this spring? Beware of seeds from Monsanto!

If you are like me you enjoy watching the crops and flowers you plant in the spring grow and develop. There is certainly nothing more satisfying than reaping that which you sow, but this day in age it can be a lot more complicated than that. As we all know many seed varieties out there are genetically modified to produce stronger, more productive plants, seemingly a great concept. However, there are many problems with this concept.

My biggest issue with this whole arrangement is that very few companies hold a monopoly on the supply of seeds, making them a very pretty, not so green, penny. Along with that these companies are into some very shady practice. For instance, the company Monsanto, one of the worlds largest seed producers is famous for suing farmers who grow crops adjacent to farms using Monsanto seeds. Their argument is that because the crops near the Monsanto plants might be fertilized by the Monsanto plant's pollen, those farmers then owe Monsanto royalties for the genetic information passed on. Utterly outrageous. Once more these seeds are often times designed so that their progeny are sterile and seeds collected from these genetically modified crops will, often times, not grow. This obviously forces farmers to continuously buy from one company. For sake of time, I won't start on how these seeds are often sold as part of a package deal of fertilizers and pesticides that are REQUIRED for these seeds to flourish.

If all this strikes you odd and maybe even enrages you slightly consider this article by Colleen Vanderlinden, titled; Keeping Monsanto Out Of Your Garden This Spring. In it she addresses which companies are owned by and sell seeds produced by companies like Monsanto and others. She also gives you some tips on knowing what to look for when buying seeds. If you want my opinion and you are from the Northeast, talk to the oldest person you know with a garden. Often times they keep their seeds for generations, and will have some genuine non-GMO heirloom varieties. If that doesn't work talk to the people at your local Farmers Market or Organic Co-Op, they will be able to point you to the varieties and companies, that work best with your local area. If all else fails start Googling, AND READ!

Collaborative Consumption, the return of a barter economy?

After watching Rachel Botsman's talk about Collaborative Consumption on TED, I find myself thinking more and more about barter economies and how incredible a resource the internet has become for the modern person with  a skill or product to sell.

What interests me more than the idea of sharing our possessions, or trading our possessions for another's, is the amount of trust and collaboration that it takes to get these transactions to take place. For years I have used sites like Craigslist and eBay to buy and sell just about anything, but also to look for jobs, sell my skills, and hire employees. But these are easily made transactions, things like sharing a car or tools take a considerably larger amount of trust. The fact that people can still trust each other to do these things is fantastic. Is this possibly a sign of a renewed sense of community brought on by our reliance of the internet? Fascinating.

So this new economy, an economy of content rather than ownership, what does that mean for local economies? Can we introduce these macro ideas of sharing over the internet to our micro, local, economies? I think we can, and many of these sites do just that. For instance Craigslist has a page for just about every major or large city or region of a state. The movement towards redistribution of possessions through these channels and in person transactions could help reinvent the local economy and interest in community. I like.