Unusual Global Eco-Alliances That You Should Know About!

Even though we are all citizens of the same world, it may not be so obvious to most of us of the ‘names’ of certain orgnizations that have coalesced together in recent years to tackle the problem of protecting our planet – specifically the continual global assault on our environmental resources and the health of all of its inhabitants. Call it “planetary justice” if you like, but behind the scenes these six organizations are transforming the way we live and look at this world as human beings whilst building a more sustainable greener planet. There is much to do to preserve just our own local communities and societal heritage here at home but we at Cherltons Green Guide cannot but help to give a high approbation to these wonderfully inspiring multi-dimensional, interdisciplinary “eco-global alliances”. They are as follows:

1. The Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves – http://www.cleancookstoves.org/ Being an American, I take for granted my quiet GE electric cooktop stove.  But did you know that 40% of the world’s population in parts of Asia, Africa, Eastern Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean still cook over open fires and on rudimentary cookstoves? – And they are using dung, brush, charcoal, and crop residues as their cooking fuel?  The shocking truth is that the smoke from these solid fuels causes a wide range of illnesses from respiratory infections to cardiovascular disease, from lung cancer to child pneumonia, from increased cataracts to low birth-weights.  Another words four million people die each year from household cooking smoke each year.  Hence, the goal of this organization is “to foster the adoption of clean cookstoves and fuels in 100 million households by 2020.

2. Eco Health Alliance – http://www.ecohealthalliance.org/ Being a Texan, I am all too familiar with the recent outbreaks of the West Nile virus being reported in the media in this part of the country, but did you know that 60-75% of emerging infectious diseases that affect humans originate in animals? And that two thirds of these animals are wild animals? Hence, the goal of this global, non-profit organization is to prevent the transmission of these EID’s (Emerging Infectious Diseases) from becoming pandemic. And at the same time, this organization is determined to protect the delicate ecosystems of endangered wildlife species as the link between these two goals is interrelated and can affect both human health as well as global biodiversity.

3. Global Climate Change Alliance – http://www.gcca.eu Living in Texas, I am very aware that 94% of the state is abnormally dry. But did you know that weird weather patterns are also adversely hitting the ‘Least Developed Countries’ (LDC’s) such as Cambodia, Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Mozambique, Rwanda, Guyana, and the ‘Small Island Developing States’ such as the Solomon Islands, Seychelles, Maldives, and Jamaica? Even though these countries have contributed the least to green house gas emissions? Hence, the goal of this European Union-sponsored organization is to both provide informational exchange and technical and financial support to developing countries on ways to build and integrate a “climate-resilient low-carbon economy”, to incorporate “disaster risk reduction strategies” and to support investments in renewable energies and land resource protection and adaption programs.

4. Trusted Adventures Alliance – http://www.trustedadventures.com/about-us.php Being an experienced world traveler in search of unique one-of-a-kind travel adventures whose touring itineraries typically combine eco-sports such as hiking, biking, walking, rafting and kayaking with cultural anthropological immersions into traditional indigenous communities, I have found it best to partner up with tour operating companies that are internationally known for their responsible travel practices, exceptional guest services, and uncompromising quality. Such is the case with these nine independently operating travel companies –Austin-Lehman Adventures, Wildland Adventures, ROW Adventures, The Wayfarers, Myths and Mountains, American Safari Cruises, Western River Expeditions, Ciclismo Classico, and Great Alaska International Adventure Vacations – all of whom have joined together to “provide authentic, transformational travel experiences” for individuals, families, and groups with the aim of “preserving our planet and its cultural heritage”. To ensure sustainable travel experiences for the future and promote existing local economies, this organization has also been active in funding conservation programs, libraries, and “cleaner” motorized boats – again with the aim of protecting natural resources and world communal heritage throughout the Americas, Europe, Asia, Australia and Africa.

5. Global Human Ecodynamics Alliance – http://www.gheahome.org Being a cultural anthropologist myself by training, I am fascinated by the field of “Human Ecodynamics” which looks at “the past and present global interactions of humans and the natural world, using fields of inquiry and methods of investigation from anthropology, archaeology, sociology, geosciences, climatology, biological sciences, art, history, and political science.” Hence the goal of this organization is to foster – “working groups” – interested researchers from an array of backgrounds and studies who voluntarily collaborate with each other around a particular project and a common purpose – the biological and sociological interactions of humans and their ecosystems over space and time. Two such collective examples of these working groups now under discussion are: 1) “the issue of coastal erosion as it affects human communities past and present” and 2) “global climate change and the attendant serious threats to the global archaeological record”.

6. Global Green Grants Fund – http://www.greengrants.org/ Like most Americans, I do my bit everyday in giving to charities that support animal rights and promote land and ocean conservation efforts right here in the USA – but this association of “changemakers” does a great deal more! It is a public charity that funds eco-related projects primarily in the developing world and emerging economies – projects that address “toxic contamination, destruction of natural resources, disappearance of water, food, and work and displacement from traditional lands”. Their mission in essence is “to mobilize resources for global environmental sustainability and social justice” and since 1993 they have been doing just that – making nearly 6,000 grants to youth groups, tribal councils, and non-governmental organizations who are in need of basic educational resources and infrastructure and “green” leadership.

Sustainable Investing in Tree Archives, Oyster Castles, & Floating Islands? – Meet the New Eco-Technology Portfolio!

In order to understand sustainable investing or eco-investing, it helps to understand the ‘eco-functions’ of nature at its most basic level – facts that we as humans take for granted, sometimes ignore, but more often overlook.

To begin with – let’s take a look at some of the ‘eco-functions’ of a tree – for who hasn’t crayon-colored a tree in school when they were just a kid? For me, it’s one of the earliest memories of my childhood – a brown stick-looking figure with an out-of-control leafy hairdo! But it wouldn’t be till much later that I figured out how important trees are to my health rather than to climb them.

Fact#1 – Trees are in essence bio-filters – they filter out pollutants from the air and the soil as well as store carbon dioxide in their wood, leaves, and roots.
Fact#2 – Trees are not only a tremendous source of food for birds, insects, mammals, and rodents (and our own dinner table) – but 40% of our medicines can be traced back to trees.
Fact#3 – Trees are not only drainage stoppers – controlling our soil erosion by straining and slowing down storm water runoff and recharging our aquifers – but they also act as outdoor control panels – moderating ground temperatures and providing windbreaks and glare reduction from nearby sidewalks, pavement, and buildings.

Today, there are many non-profit organizations and companies that now specialize in tree conservation projects and tree restoration programs in which one can invest in – but the one that intrigues me the most for it’s creative new age way of promoting ‘tree-technology’ aka ‘the eco-functions of a tree’ – is that of the “Archangel Ancient Tree Archive” based in Michigan – a non-profit group dedicated to collecting, archiving, and cloning genetic material from the ‘granddaddies’ of all trees – the oldest, the biggest, and the most important trees on the planet such as the California Redwoods, the Giant Sequoia, and the Ancient Irish Oaks.

Another fascinating non-profit group bringing new light to the meaning of ‘eco-technology investments’ is that of “The Nature Conservancy” now operating in the coastal waters off South Carolina – specifically promoting ‘oyster-technology’ as it pertains to oyster reef restoration. For it is an ‘eco-functional fact’ that the average oyster filters 50 gallons of water per day. Multiply that by thousands and you can see why oyster reefs are not only important for maintaining healthy habitats for fish, shrimp, and crabs (and providing an alternative source of protein for our own dinner table) but these same oyster reefs protect the shoreline from erosion. So in order to stimulate growth of the threatened oyster reef around South Carolina’s Jeremy Island, “mini-condos”, or “castle-like structures”, are being built using recycled oyster shells and cement to lure millions of oyster larvae to settle into and attach themselves rather than sink in the mud and die.

Lastly, a third kind of ‘eco-technology investment’ that has truly grabbed my imagination (and my wallet) is that of the Montana-based company, “Floating Island International”, started by outdoorsman, Bruce Kania, a proponent of biomimicry (the art of examining and mimicking nature’s ‘eco-functions’ to solve man-made problems), and the inventor of a new type of ‘plant raft’ or “floating treatment wetland”, a mesh of seeded recycled plastic bottles and carpet which allows plants to flourish, float, and filter out waterway pollutants. According to Bruce’s company website – “Over 4,000 islands have been launched and over 30 different applications have been identified for floating islands.”

In summary, what I love about this new eco-technology portfolio is the simplicity of both the initial eco-investment idea and the ‘eco-functions’ they were modeled after – and the simple fact that both kids and adults alike will always want to have a backyard tree, a community pond and a public beach to call their own and where recreation is safe and fun for all who use it.