Nov 9
2012
Super PACs spent big to influence elections this year. Their ROI varied, and considering that many invested in losing candidates, many received a poor return. Starting with those backing Mitt Romney, who spent $6.35 per vote, vs. $1.83 per vote for Super PACs in support President Obama. A report from ProPublica.
Nov 8
2012
The New York Times Green blog has an interesting story about what a market in Mexico City does to increase recycling efforts. Here’s a snippet of the blog post: Part bottle depot, part farmers’ market, part family outing, the Mercado de Trueque, or barter market, promotes recycling in a region with serious waste management and water issues. Problems range from a lack of landfill space to litter that plugs storm sewers and results in flooding. The barter market’s coordinator, Paola de María y Campos, describes it as an educational project. “We’re trying to show people that trash is worth something,” he[...]
Nov 7
2012
Nov 7
2012
Although it only lasted about a second, the president finally mentioned global warming outside of the MTV interview he did last month. In his victory speech this morning after defeating Mitt Romney, Obama may have signaled that he’s going to end his silence on global warming during his second term. Here’s what he said early this morning in Chicago: “But despite all our differences, most of us share certain hopes for America’s future. We want our kids to grow up in a country where they have access to the best schools and the best teachers. A country that lives up[...]
Nov 6
2012
Sustainability is the new big thing. Although it is a long-term approach, sustainability makes a clear connection with the environment, the economy and how we live in the world. What level of social responsibility do you take to live a more sustainable lifestyle? To see sustainability on a local level, check out this interview that Kristen Kaszubowski, the social media assistant for GrowWNY, did with Aliesa Adelman, a sustainable design coordinator at Wendel Companies. One portion of the interview that struck me was when Kaszubowski asked how one could be more sustainable in their daily practices. Recycling is one way to live[...]
Nov 6
2012
Investigative Post Editor Jim Heaney and WGRZ reporter Aaron Saykin will provide election night results and analysis starting at 8:30 p.m. via a live webcast on WGRZ.com. We’ll focus on local races, including the Congressional race pitting Kathy Hochul and Chris Collins, and the state Senate contest involving Mark Grisanti, Mike Amodeo and Chuck Swanick.
Nov 5
2012
Nov 5
2012
San Francisco isn’t just a world champion in major league baseball. The City by the Bay’s recycling program is also world class. San Francisco has tripled its recycling rate since 1996 to about 78 percent. It’s one of the highest recycling rates in the nation and light years ahead of Buffalo’s, which fluctuates in the 12 to 16 percent range. How did San Francisco do it? Officials constantly educate the public and businesses, offer almost two dozen different recycling programs that are customized for each neighborhood district, and enforce the mandates in a way that could result in someone’s trash[...]