Bird Lovers Fly South: Nature Tourism in Rio South Texas Generates $300 Million Annually

EDINBURG, Texas - One of America's most vibrant "birding hotspots" is Rio South Texas; a tropical paradise with almost 500 recorded species of bird. The huge number of bird species, alongside the region's large tracts of nature preserves and ranch land, is attracting a new color to kaleidoscopic Rio South Texas: green! Each year, this border region brings in more than $300 million from nature loving tourists, who flock in from all over the world to view the majesty of the Western Wood-Pewee, fish the Laguna Madre, or go bow hunting for wild Javelina. This finding comes off the back of a study recently conducted by Texas A&M University's Department of Recreation, Park & Tourism Sciences and Department of Agricultural Economics. Nature tourism has long been an important focal point for the area's visitor bureaus, and the study's results demonstrate that these efforts are paying dividends. In addition to the influx of cash that nature tourists bring to Rio South Texas, these nature lovers also boost local employment. The study estimates more than 4,407 full- and part-time jobs are directly attributable to nature tourism. Given that the survey was conducted during the off-peak season for nature tourism, the resulting figures are likely conservative estimates. Rio South Texas Economic Council (RSTEC) member and CEO of the Mission Area Chamber of Commerce, Matt Ruszcazak, believes sustainable growth is an important balancing act: "It's tempting to clear every piece of land for development when your economy is booming like ours, but the benefits that come from caring for nature corridors can also have an impressive and positive economic impact for our area." "Once you've watched a Yellow-Bellied Kiskadee chase off a Peregrine Falcon, it's pretty easy to get hooked," grins Ruszcazak. "This study makes it clear just how positive nature tourism is on a financial level; its effects are not only apparent today, but also set to bring great advantages for the region in future years." RSTEC brings together the region's economic development organizations with a unified, clear vision focused on fostering expansion and relocation efforts by companies seeking an attractive business environment. The Council also works toward furthering educational opportunities in the region to boost the area and provide local companies with a workforce of highly educated individuals.

Melvin Wylie

How Green is Your High School?

Consumers Energy's Green Scenes Video Contest to Award $5,000 to Winning Entry Consumers Energy's Green Generation program is inviting Michigan high schools in its electric or combination service territory to participate in a video contest showing their school's commitment to renewable energy. The grand prize entry will receive $5,000 for their school, with smaller prizes for first, second and third place. Videos can be submitted from now through November 15. Information on this contest is available at www.greenscenescontest.com, including official contest rules. "This program taps into the amazing creativity and enthusiasm for renewable energy by high school students. It also provides a great opportunity to win a cash prize to benefit your high school," said Thomas Shirilla, Green Generation program manager for Consumers Energy. The winning entries will be based on a number of criteria, including creativity, strength of theme, video quality, and the number of votes received at the Green Scenes Contest website. Voting for this contest ends on November 30, 2011, and winning entries will be named shortly thereafter. Student participants are encouraged to recruit their family and friends to vote for their video application, and help their high school win one of the four prize levels. Consumers Energy is Michigan's largest renewable energy provider. Green Generation is the utility's voluntary program for homes and businesses served by the utility. Launched in 2005, the program relies on renewable energy produced in Michigan, including wind and landfill gas. The Green Generation program adds diversity to Consumers Energy's overall energy mix, reduces dependence on traditional energy sources, and helps to preserve our natural resources.  

Melvin Wylie

Being Green This Halloween is Simple at Goodwill

ROCKVILLE, Md. - Busy families can be earth friendly this Halloween by shopping at Goodwill® stores. Find everything you need at Goodwill to create a unique costume for yourself or your children. All you need is a little imagination to transform your child into a favorite superhero or fairy princess. (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20090716/DC47803LOGO) By shopping at Goodwill this Halloween, you are purchasing high-quality, affordable items and diverting them from landfills. The nearly 2,600 Goodwill stores in the United States and Canada have items donated by 74 million donors. This vast inventory includes anything you can imagine, from clothing in every color to apparel from different decades and accessories to transform an ordinary look into a fantastic costume. "Shopping at Goodwill for Halloween is a simple step toward living a more sustainable lifestyle," said Jim Gibbons, president and CEO of Goodwill Industries International. "Reusing and repurposing items from Goodwill stores are a fun way to make a unique Halloween costume for not a lot of money." Shopping at Goodwill is not just good for the planet. It also benefits people in local communities. Revenue from Goodwill stores fund job training programs and career and community-based services for people with disabilities, those who lack education or work experience, and others facing challenges to finding employment. Your purchase helps people learn the skills they need to work in Goodwill stores and in growing fields outside of Goodwill such as healthcare, green industries and financial services. "In 2010, Goodwill Industries® diverted more than 2 billion pounds of used goods from landfills," said Gibbons. "Look no further than your nearest Goodwill store to find what you need to celebrate a green Halloween." To find your local Goodwill, visit locator.goodwill.org. To learn more about Goodwill Industries International, visit www.goodwill.org. This year, Goodwill Industries International is partnering with Green Halloween to share our commitment to safe and eco-friendly Halloween celebrations. For more information, visit http://greenhalloween.org/.

Melvin Wylie

'Shark Girl' and Guy Harvey Painting Collaboration Raises $7500

CORAL GABLES, FL - Already raising nearly $4,000 for shark research through selling lemonade and shark-shaped cookies at her home in Minnesota, 8-year-old Sophi Bromenshenkel recently joined forces with her hero, celebrated marine wildlife artist and conservationist Guy Harvey, to raise an additional $7,500 for the cause with a few creative strokes of a brush. Alexandra Junor of Coral Gables purchased the artwork collaboration‹ which Sophi named Free Pass, because a loggerhead turtle shown swimming near the sharks in the painting was left alone. The funds raised from the painting will go to the University of Miami¹s R.J. Dunlap Conservation Program, which was founded in 2009. Sophi flew from her home to participate in the South Florida Premier of This is Your Ocean: Sharks, a documentary starring Dr. Harvey, fellow artist Wyland and diver and underwater photographer Jim Abernathy. The South Florida Premier was held October 13th at the Bill Cosford Cinema on campus at the University of Miami. Directed by Emmy award-winning producer George C. Schellenger, the film will be shown again in Broward County, Florida on October 20th at the Nova Southeastern University¹s Miniaci Theatre. The 44-minute documentary depicts sharks in their environment capturing both adventure and passion and providing the audience with face-to-face realism never shown before on film. Dr. Harvey, a highly active and passionate conservationist, has through his foundation, The Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation, www.guyharveyoceanfoundation.org, and through support of research groups such as Miami¹s R.J. Dunlap Conservation Program and the Guy Harvey Research Institute at Nova Southeastern University, embraced the protection and conservation of many endangered species, including sharks, bluefin tuna, Nassau grouper, sea turtles and marlin. PHOTO CREDIT: Bob Soto  

Melvin Wylie

A great video from Organica Sustainable Water!    

Melvin Wylie

24th Episode of GreenNews4U

An Interview on E-waste Recycling E-waste is the disposal of electronics or in other words electronic waste. Technology is moving at such a fast pace and new electronics are manufactured to keep up with the technology so old technology is discarded. We see this in cellphones, smart-phones, computers, printers, monitors, refrigerators, TV's, washing machines, excreta, excreta. Let's use an example on computers. The average life of a computer is around 3 years. In America 76% of the people have computers. This number does not include companies, organizations or education facilities. According to the EPA, if you total it all up, each year in the US, 3.2 million tons of electronic waste is trashed. Globally its 50 million metric tons of electronics and the sad part is many of these electronics end up in a landfill. But letâs go back to computers. Did you know 99% of a computer is recyclable and that in the U.S. about 4.2 million computers are used in homes or businesses? In the U.S. an estimated 500,000 are recycled annually. That's a little less than 12% which is a very shocking number considering how many programs are in place to encourage electronic recycling. Now there is a lot that goes into promoting, handling, and recycling e-waste and Iâd like to get down to some nuts and bolts and take a look at the challenges, processes and the benefit of recycling e-waste. To do this I have one of Canada's industry leaders in e-waste solutions. The name of the company is FCM and on the line with me is Andrew Rubin.

Melvin Wylie

FCM Announces October 15th E-Waste Collection Event in Ottawa, ON

FCM will be holding an e-waste collection event located on the corner of Baseline Rd. and Clyde Ave. at the Scouts National Office on Saturday October 15^th from 12 pm to 3 pm in collaboration with the Scouts of Canada.   CORNWALL, Ontario, October 12, 2011 – FCM Recycling is pleased to announce that it will be holding a collection event located at the Scouts National office at 1365 Baseline Road in Ottawa, Ontario on Saturday October 15^th from 12 pm to 3 pm in collaboration with the Scouts of Canada. Staff from FCM and the Scouts will be on hand to assist Ontario residents to recycle their unwanted electronics including PCs, computer monitors, CD/DVD/VCR players, radios, printers, fax machines, keyboards, televisions, cell phones and other items. The complete list along with more information can be found at http://www.ontarioelectronicstewardship.ca/program/accepted-electronics. The collection will be free for all Ontario residents and a portion of all proceeds will be donated to the Scouts of Canada. More information can be found by contacting FCM Recycling at (888) 781-8111 or info@fcmrecycling.com.   About Scouts of Canada Scouts Canada is the country's leading youth organization. For more than 100 years, they have brought a world of adventure, outdoor experience and friendship to 17 million Canadian youths. Scouts have a lot of fun discovering new things and experiences they wouldn't have elsewhere. Along the way they develop into capable, confident and well-rounded individuals, better prepared for success in the world. For more information please visit http://www.scouts.ca/   About FCM Recycling FCM Recycling is one of North America's leaders in the recycling and safe disposal of end-of-life electronic equipment.  We dispose of EOLEs with no impact to the environment and the highest level of data protection. We boast major processing facilities with state-of-the-art equipment, government certifications, over 18 years' experience, and knowledgeable, dedicated personnel. One of our key objectives was to become a pioneer in e-waste environmental services. We have achieved that objective. Today we strive to maintain our position as industry leader by continuously improving our processes and using the best practices available to us and the recycling industry. EOLES received at any of FCM's various state-of-the-art recycling facilities, are broken down into various recyclable components such as copper, aluminum, plastics, glass etc.  Equipment is fully destroyed, ensuring that no data becomes exposed to pilfering, with Certificates of Destruction issued on request.   For more information about FCM Recycling please visit www.fcmrecycling.com

Melvin Wylie