Library Exhibits and Events for June

The International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) is holding their annual conference in Denver June 27-30. An ongoing exhibit will be a Second Life representation of Denver and the conference center for participants to explore and also learn the potential of Second Life as a learning tool. As part of this SL experience, the Sustainable Living Library will be hosting a group on Sunday June 27 from 1 to 2 pm MTN time or 12 noon to 1 pm SL time. The library staff will give a brief introduction of library services and a bicycle tour of Etopia.

The library has a new exhibit to raise awareness about the signs and symptoms of heart attacks, strokes and common medical terminology. There are three interactive quizes designed by a medical librarian and clinical advisory team. This is part of a real life research project to determine the effectiveness of gaming on consumer health, health care behavior, and decisions. The exhibit is located on the library's front deck.

In addition, there is a two room exhibit on Water Resources researched and designed by Alliejnv library graduate student from Long Island University's Palmer School of Library and Information Science.

Posted in: , , , , , , on Monday, June 14, 2010 at at 1:03 PM 0 comments  

Earth Day April 22, 2010

Earth Day is this Thursday April 22. Etopia and the Sustainable Living Library will be celebrating with activities throughout the day. Below is a schedule of events:

  • Greeters will be at the main landing point on Etopia Island to welcome you to the sim.
  • Gondola and Shuttle rides - all day
  • Poetry readings at the Poetry corner by the main landing point from 8:00 am-9 SLT/
  • 9-10 Mountain Time. Read your own poetry or those of others. Event will be in voice.
  • Bicycle tour of Etopia from 12 noon-1pm SLT/ 1-2 pm Mountain Time with Ariell Enoch
  • Open House at The Sustainable Living Library from 4:00-6:00 pm SLT/ 5-7pm MountainTime. There will be a special exhibit on water conservation and resources.The exhibit, done by graduate library student Allie Listern, will be on loan for the next few months so be sure and stop by to see it if you can’t make thisThursday's event.
  • Dance from 6:00-8:00pm SLT/ 7-9pm Mountain Time at the Pavilion. DJ Aquiel Aero will take you requests. Come dressed as an endangered species.

Posted in: , , , , , on Tuesday, April 20, 2010 at at 9:15 AM 0 comments  

Earth Day April 22, 2010

Celebrate Earth Day on Etopia at the Sustainable Living Library. More information to follow.

Posted in: , on Monday, April 12, 2010 at at 7:30 PM 0 comments  

A Green Tour of Second Life


Albaycin Nature Preserve

I have decided to add a new feature to our blog, a look at Second Life communities and or groups that emphasize an ecological concern for the environment. My first community is the Albaycin Nature Preserve, which is a part of the Al-Andalus Sim. (http://slurl.com/secondlife/Al%20Andalus%20Alhambra/201/105/49) The Al-Andalus Caliphate Project, planned by Rose Springvale and Michel Manin, is a recreation of 14th century Moor Alhambra. “The plan is to create a system of political and legal governance, based on notions of community self-governance, active citizen participation, equality, dignity, social justice and democracy, and human rights.” (http://primperfectblog.wordpress.com/2008/03/08/al-andalus-opens/ )

Albaycin Nature Preserve is a territory within this sim and is designed to “be a simulated demonstration of ways that people can live in harmony with their natural environment.” (From Introductory Notecard to Albaycin Nature Preserve). Animals (terrestrial and marine), plants, geology, and temperature (wet and moderate) closely replicate the Bay of Biscay on the northern coast of the Iberian Peninsula. This is a beautiful territory, with friendly people, and a lot to do and see. Activities include canoeing, windsurfing, swimming, and hiking. (See attached pictures).

Manager and creator Delia Lake ask that you respect the territory. As in real life, she requests that you leave only “soft footprints.”

Posted in: , , , , , on Wednesday, March 31, 2010 at at 8:28 AM 0 comments  

Fascinating Reading about the Bottled Water Industry

The Huffington Post has released a story that contains a video put out by the Bottled Water industry. In this video, the BW industry proclaims how 'green' they are - and this video has been linked to 'fake reporting'. There are also several great links to other stories about this industry, and some facts about the true nature of bottled water production.

Read more and watch the video here.

Posted in: on Friday, March 26, 2010 at at 6:43 AM 0 comments  

10 Date and Gift Ideas for a Green Valentine's Day


From Natural Home Magazine:

Celebrate the holiday of love by showing some love for the earth. From organic flowers and chocolates to romantic evenings at home, here’s how you can have a green Valentine’s Day.

Valentine’s Day is right around the corner. This year, why not show some love to the earth as well as your sweetheart? You can have a romantic Valentine’s Day without putting any extra strain on the earth.

Natural Home Magazine's 10 Ideas for Valentine's Day

Posted in: , on Thursday, February 11, 2010 at at 9:15 AM 0 comments  

Fish for dinner? Best Choices for the Planet

What are the best and worst seafood choices for the environment?


Best to choose:
Anchovies
Atlantic herring
Catfish
Crab--blue or Dengeness and stone
Sardines
Shrimp
Tilapia
Wild Salmon from Alaska

Best to Avoid
American Lobster
Atlantic cod
Atlantic halibut
Chilean Sea Bass
Grouper
Monkfish
Snapper
Swordfish

What makes one fish safer or more desirable to eat than another: farming practices, mercury levels, habitat damage, and overfishing of certain species.

Farming practices: Farmed Atlantic Salmon pose a threat to wild fish because of the parasites found in their waste which is eventually dumped into the ocean; the amount of food needed to sustain them; and the open pens which allow them to escape bringing parasites and disease to wild fish especially to the Atlantic Salmon. Change is occurring but at a slow rate. Better choice: Wild Alaskan Salmon.

Overfishing: some species mature at a slower rate than others. Selecting fish from these species does not allow them enough time to grow to maturity and reproduce themselves. Because state of the art fishing trawlers can detect schools of fish, sweep them up, prepare them for flash freezing and storage maturity of the fish becomes a moot point. Unscrupulous companies catch according to popular tastes. Yellowtail and bigeyed Tuna will be extinct within the next 3 to 5 years, also included in this category is the Patagonian tooth fish (Chilean Sea bass), and Atlantic Cod. Better choice: Tiliapia or Pacific halibut.

Habitat damage: Habitat damage is not only caused by global warming but also from the fishing practices of large trawlers destroying the natural balance of the oceans by killing smaller fish, plankton, slow growing coral, and krill through their fishing practices. Choose fish that are caught by pole-and-line (see below).

Fishing Practices: Longline or purse seines (use of nets to catch large schools of fish) result in moderate to high bycatch of seabirds, turtles and marine mammals. Pole-and-line caught fish are a better choice. A growing number of restaurants will indicate how their fish were caught. If the information is not available on the menu, ask the wait person.

Mercury Levels: Mercury levels in tuna is a worldwide ecological problem. Most high levels are found in bluefin tuna. Buyer beware.









Posted in: , , , , , , , , , on Wednesday, February 3, 2010 at at 5:45 PM 0 comments  

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