• Arctic global warming | Salon News
  “As the sea ice melts, a toxic stew of mercury and synthetic chemicals is seeping into the Arctic food web, harming the area’s people. We may be next.”
  (tags: news environment climatechange pollution)
• Grist | How Smart Is Your City?
  “An urban-dweller’s pop quiz”
  (tags: interactive cities environment green)
• The Lawn and Short of It; How to green your yard — even more | Grist | From A to Green | 13 May 2008
  “Good dirt and a few seeds can get you a plot of paradise, whether you’re nursing daffodils in a window box, planting a native tree, or cultivating carrots, cukes, and Incredible Hulk-sized zucchini in a perfectly preened organic garden.”
  (tags: diy green garden lawn)
• The Sierra Club: Club Insider: May 13, 2008
  “Sierra Club: Email - Cars That Never Need Gas”
  (tags: newsletter sierraclub clubinsider environment green)
• The Sierra Club: Club Currents: Volume VI, #113, May 13, 2008
  “Sierra Club: Email - Sierra Club, Developers Reach Historic Agreement”
  (tags: newsletter sierraclub clubcurrents environment takeaction)
• Ameya Preserve; Luxury community of “conscience” | Salon
  “When the locals cried green-wash, the elite developer cried class envy. Welcome to Paradise Valley.”
  (tags: news housing green greenwashing)
• Flickr: Use what you have
  “This group is for helping each other to reduce the stash-problem. So, pledge not to buy any new stash for a month, post photos of what you made using just what you have and let’s cheer each other on!”
  (tags: flickr photos diy reuse recycle reduce crafts)
• The Associated Press: US lists polar bear as threatened species
  “Put at risk by global warming, the polar bear is getting a life line as the government officially has declared it a threatened species in need of increased protection.”
  (tags: news environment animals wildlife conservation climatechange)

———- Forwarded message ———-
From: Kinship Circle - kinshipcircle [at] accessus.net
Date: Wed, May 14, 2008 at 3:53 PM
Subject: Mother’s Day Tornadoes Hit MO, OK, GA

KINSHIP CIRCLE ANIMAL DISASTER AID NETWORK
Networking resources for animal disaster victims + companion animal campaigns

RELIEF GLOBAL, www.kinshipcircle.org/disasters
5/14/08: “Mother’s Day” Tornadoes Hit Missouri, Oklahoma, Georgia

This alert represents all available information at this time. If more calls for aid become known, we’ll post updates to this disaster report.

IN THIS ALERT:

1. Midwest Tornadoes Ravage Rural Areas
2. Missouri: Scared Animals Begin To Emerge From The Debris

==================

1. Midwest Tornadoes Ravage Rural Areas

==================

SOURCES

Storms kill 23 across 3 U.S. states

Storms kill in Midwest, Southeast

MAY 10-11, 2008 STORMS STRIKE IN MISSOURI, OKLAHOMA, GEORGIA
At least 23 people died in tornados that touched down 5/10 and 5/11/08.

Buffy the dog lies on the floor of the wreckage of her family’s home near Racine, Mo., on Sunday. (Mark Schiefelbein/Associated Press)

(more…)

• Flex and Effects; Umbra on plastic bottles and BPA | By Umbra Fisk | Grist | Ask Umbra | 12 May 2008
  “I’ve been hearing a lot in the news lately about the dangers of certain kinds of plastic bottles. What’s the lowdown?”
  (tags: advice plastic bottles pollution environment health)
• Are laptop PCs the environmentally correct choice? - How the World Works - Salon.com
  Laptops draw less energy, but aren’t necessarily as long-lasting as desktop PCs…and the debate rages on!
  (tags: technology computers environment energy)
• EcoTech Daily | Green technology, gadgets & news
  “EcoTech Daily is the continuing journal of a green revolution. We’re here to help you make sense of change. We’ll keep you in touch with the latest green technology, gadgets, and news.”
  (tags: blog green technology)
• Bush misleads on ANWR - War Room - Salon.com
  “The additional production [from drilling in ANWAR] would account for less than five percent of our current total oil use.”
  (tags: news environment oil anwar animals wildlife conservation politics)

Update, 5/21/08: FORRESTER HAS BEEN ADOPTED!

Meet Forrester the Ferret, our Featured Adoptable this week!

Date of birth: 4/07

4/30/08: Forrester is a cute little ferret. He’s about a year old. He’s very friendly and silly and playful. He loves to play with toys!

Forrester has been neutered. He also uses a litter box.

We do not want to place him in a home with children.

We transferred Forrester from an animal control facility when his time was up there.

Forrester is staying with The Humane Society of Greater Kansas City. To learn more about Forrester, check out his Petfinder listing here.

In the coming weeks, we’ll be featuring a wide variety of furry, feathered and scaled animals currently up for adoption in the Kansas City area. Whether you’re looking for a dog, cat, hamster, gerbil, parrot, ferret, pig, rat, horse, cow, or llama, most likely adoption is an option.

Check back every Wednesday for a new Featured Adoptable!

———————–

Each Wednesday, the Kansas City Freecycle blog will feature one adoptable animal from a local KC rescue group or animal shelter.

We do this for several reasons:

- To highlight the plight of companion animals in the Kansas City area.

- To remind members of our no-animal policy, and provide an alternative venue for members who wish to adopt an unwanted animal.

- To encourage members to adopt a furry friend.

- To help out out local animal rescue groups and animal shelters, many of which are overwhelmed by the sheer number of animals in need.

- To illustrate these animals’ unique personalities and characteristics, thus underscoring the fact that they are not objects and should not be “freecycled”.

Click here to view past Featured Adoptables.

———————–

Tagged: kcfreecycle freecycle kansas ks missouri mo kcmo kcks featured adoptables animal adoption animal rescue petfinder pet companion animal ferret Forrester The Humane Society of Greater Kansas City hskc

• Trouble in Paradise; Ouster of Sierra Club’s Florida leaders stirs up a storm of controversy | By Emily Gertz | Grist | Grist Feature | 06 May 2008
  “On March 25, the national board of directors of the Sierra Club voted to suspend its Florida chapter for four years — an unprecedented move.”
  (tags: news sierraclub politics activism)
• Minnesota Monitor:: U of M scientists protest their inclusion on think tank’s list of climate change deniers
  “I was surprised to find my name in the list of ‘Co-Authors’ in the Heartland Institutes’s web page…I resent their implication that I agree with one or more of their statements.”
  (tags: news science environment climatechange)
• McCain’s climate plan | Gristmill: The environmental news blog | Grist
  “Republican candidate’s climate proposals better than expected but still behind the curve”
  (tags: news politics elections environment climatechange)
• China’s coming land grab | Gristmill: The environmental news blog | Grist
  “More hidden costs of our love affair with cheap imported goods”
  (tags: news environment climatechange conservation food politics)

• Real-Estate Drop Has a Green Lining - WSJ.com
  “As Home and Resort Development Cools, Conservationists Snap Up More Land”
  (tags: news environment conservation housing)
• Loaded for Bear : Mother Jones
  “Any day now the polar bear could be listed under the Endangered Species Act. Conservative groups are already plotting their response—and lawsuits are just the tip of the iceberg.”
  (tags: news animals wildlife conservation legislation politics)
• National Parks Conservation Association : Park Lines, May 2008
  FEATURED PARK - Dry Tortugas National Park, Florida
  (tags: newsletter npca parklines parks)
• Fighting Junk Mail via ‘Do Not Mail’ Lists: Devilish Details and Front Groups | Center for Media and Democracy
  “Could a “Do Not Mail” list have unintended consequences?” & more
  (tags: news junkmail paper trees reduce conservation capitalism environment)
• Rainforest Action Network: The Problem with Palm Oil
  “Demand for palm oil is on the rise, and pristine rainforests are being clear-cut and burned to make way for palm oil plantations.”
  (tags: ran website environment wildlife animals conservation food)
• Lye and Let Die | Grist | News | 09 May 2008
  “Dissolving your corpse is the green way to go”
  (tags: news environment pollution death)
• On corpses | By Umbra Fisk | Grist | Ask Umbra | 31 Oct 2002
  “What’s the greenest method of disposing of one’s corpse? I’m just dying to know.”
  (tags: advice environment pollution death)
• Coffin Couches
  “Our niche happens to be 18 gauge steel coffins which we collected from local funeral homes primarily in Southern California.”
  (tags: weird recycle reuse death)

Inside sez: “Warmest wishes this Mother’s Day”

(more…)

• Mum’s the Word; An eco-friendly gift guide for Mother’s Day | By Holly Richmond | Grist | Grist Feature | 07 May 2008
  “Now that Earth Day has come and gone, it’s that time of year when “love your mother” can be taken literally again.”
  (tags: holidays mothersday shopping green)
• New American Dream: New Dream News: Issue No. 48, May 9, 2008
  Plastic or Paper? Neither! & more
  (tags: newsletter newamericandream newdreamnews environment)
• Defenders of Wildlife: eNews: May 2008
  eNews: Amphibians Slipping Away
  (tags: newsletter defendersofwildlife animals wildlife conservation)
• Organic Consumers Association: Organic Bytes #134, 5/8/08
  “Big Ag Profits off Hunger, GE Candy, Nano Toxics…”
  (tags: newsletter organicbytes organic environment takeaction food)
• Action Alerts - Help Us Keep Animals Like Indy from Being Caught in Cruel Traps
  “Work with us to protect dogs, cats, and other animal victims from suffering in traps. Most state agencies do not track incidents like Indy’s death, but we do, and we need your help.”
  (tags: takeaction bornfreeusa animals wildlife companionanimals)
• Bean Sprouts: Carnival of the Green # 126
  When Blogging is not Enough, fair trade soccer balls & more
  (tags: carnival green)
• Center for Biological Diversity: Endangered Earth Online, No. 408, May 8, 2008
  Tejon Sprawl Deal Threatens Condors, Wildlands & more
  (tags: newsletter centerforbiologicaldiversity endangeredearth environment animals wildlife conservation)
• Escape from Suburbia | Gristmill: The environmental news blog | Grist
  “New peak oil documentary fluffs the faithful”
  (tags: movies review environment oil)

This week’s Featured Adoptable is Gramby, a young pit bull terrier mix who is currently staying with Animal Haven.

18 months, 55 pounds. What a wiggler! Our ants-in-the-pants pal Gramby is always on the lookout for something interesting. Who can blame him? There’s a lot going on around here! He has been in the shelter for over one year. He is patiently and eagerly looking for his forever home

Found as a stray from a city with a breed ban, he’s just a youngster, ready to learn anything you can throw his way. Group training classes will set him up for success, and you’d certainly want such a handsome dog to be out in the world, strutting his stuff. Gramby’s dedicated friends (Animal Haven volunteers/staff) have taught him a few things, and he’ll sit for a treat (though he likes to be sure it’s abundantly tasty). He’s playful with all, even fond of other animals.

Gramby is also Animal Haven’s current Featured Pet, and is the inspiration for their Tire Marks logo! (On June 21st, the group is holding their first annual Poker Run benefit; you can find out more on their website.)

If you’re interested in taking Gramby home with you, check out his Petfinder listing for more on Animal Haven’s adoption fees and procedures.

Please note: Because Gramby is a pit bull mix, you’ll want to find out whether your municipality has any ordinances restricting ownership of this breed (”breed specific legislation”, or BSL).

———————–

Each Wednesday, the Kansas City Freecycle blog will feature one adoptable animal from a local KC rescue group or animal shelter.

We do this for several reasons:

- To highlight the plight of companion animals in the Kansas City area.

- To remind members of our no-animal policy, and provide an alternative venue for members who wish to adopt an unwanted animal.

- To encourage members to adopt a furry friend.

- To help out out local animal rescue groups and animal shelters, many of which are overwhelmed by the sheer number of animals in need.

- To illustrate these animals’ unique personalities and characteristics, thus underscoring the fact that they are not objects and should not be “freecycled”.

Click here to view past Featured Adoptables.

———————–

Tagged: kcfreecycle freecycle kansas ks missouri mo kcmo kcks featured adoptables animal adoption animal rescue petfinder pet companion animal dog canine pit bull animal haven

• Sierra Club: Club Currents: Volume VI, #112, May 6, 2008
  Sierra Club: Email - Oil Companies, Stay Out of Polar Bear Habitat!
  (tags: newsletter sierraclub clubcurrents environment takeaction)
• ConserveOnline
  “ConserveOnline is a “one-stop” online, public library, created and maintained by The Nature Conservancy in partnership with other conservation organizations.”
  (tags: green website environment conservation)
• Freecyclers give it all away - KCCommunityNews.com
  “For more than 11,000 people in the Kansas City metro area, someone’s junk has become someone else’s treasure.”
  (tags: news freecycle kansascity positive)
• Women face tougher impact from climate change | Reuters
  “Many destructive activities against the environment disproportionately affect women, because most women in the world, and especially in the developing world, are very dependent on primary natural resources”
  (tags: news environment climatechange gender poverty)