Earth Day: Industry Leaders Setting Green Examples

As our world becomes more aware of the need to preserve our environment, more and more companies are making the switch to sustainable packaging. In particular, Whole Foods and Procter & Gamble are passing new regulations for sustainable and recyclable packaging.

Whole Foods’ new regulations, which went into effect in September 2010, mandate that suppliers use packaging materials that are easily reused or recycled and non-toxic, and that they switch from plastic to glass when possible. And over the next couple of years, Procter & Gamble will make the switch to sustainable packaging made from sugarcane for their top three global brands – Pantene Pro-V, CoverGirl, and MaxFactor.

It is estimated that the global sustainable packaging market will exceed $142 billion by 2015. Other “green” companies include big names such as Boeing, Chevrolet, and Clorox. Chevrolet’s 2011 Cruze Eco has been billed as a “shape-shifter” that can become more fuel-efficient on the fly, with highway mileage of up to 42 miles per gallon. And Boeing has conceptualized an aircraft, the Sugar Volt, that will burn 70 percent less fuel. This project is expected to come to fruition over the next 30 years. While this may seem a long time to wait, we believe it will be a worthy investment.

As always, we love to hear what our readers think. Do you purchase products in sustainable packaging when possible? Would you purchase the Cruze Eco or a similar car for the sake of fuel efficiency? We hope that others will do what they can to support a greener environment, not just in honor of Earth Day this month, but all year round.

How to Help Japan!

The American people are directly aiding the Japanese people to deal with the horrific occurrences in their country. The U.S. Navy has an aircraft carrier and other ships nearby providing helicopter resources. The Marines are there helping as they are assigned. The usual experts in search and rescue services from this country are there, and the President has asked the Japanese government what else we might do to help. Still, some Americans, as always, are asking what else they might do. Here are 10 ways to help: 1. Google has launched a “Person Finder: 2011 Japan Earthquake” resource. People wanting to inquire about U.S citizen living in or visiting Japan are urged to contact the U.S. Department of State at 1-888-407-4747. Google has also has put up a crisis response page with local resources and emergency information. 2. The American Red Cross, already in Japan, is accepting donations: http://www.redcross.org/. 3. Save the Children has responded. Contribute to their “Children’s Emergency Fund.” 4. The International Medical Corps: http://www.internationalmedicalcorps.org/ is accepting contributions. Like the Red Cross, they are asking for $10 or whatever else you can afford. 5. GlobalGiving has already raised over $100,000. You can help with a donation at http://www.globalgiving.org/. 6. Salvation Army: is mobilizing a team specifically for the critically damaged city of Sendai. Donate $10 or more at http://www.salvationarmyusa.org/. 7. Doctors Without Borders is sending teams of doctors and medical specialists. To learn more or contribute: http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/. 8. Operation USA: is collecting bulk corporate donations: http://www.opusa.org/. 9. PayPal: has announced transactional fees incurred by money transfers to U.S. 501(c) (3) organizations between March 11th and April 10th will aid relief efforts in Japan. 10. AmeriCares, ShelterBox, and Mercy Corps: Are sending representatives. Mercy Corps is gathering donations for its overseas partner, Peace Winds Japan, which currently has personnel on the ground distributing emergency relief. In dedication to Earth Day on April 22, Americans, we hope, are giving what they can. Perhaps you too will be able to contribute. We would like to ask our readers: in light of our own economic struggles here in the U.S., how do you feel about contributing aid to another country?

Some Hard, Cold Facts for Americans

Consider the following: In a 60 Minutes program aired late last year, Ben Bernanke, the Chairman of the Federal Reserve, said there is a “rising inequality” in terms of unemployment: the unemployment rate for college graduates is 5%, but the rate for high school graduates is 10% or more. Money Magazine created a list of “top careers” taking into account such factors as projected growth rate, average salaries, stress level, and flexibility. The top 5 of the list are: software architect physician assistant management consultant physical therapist environmental engineer Each of these careers will require some level of post-secondary training or education. That means those with only high school diplomas will fall even further behind in terms of the factors that define a “top career.” In a parallel study, it was reported that people in the highest income group can expect to live, on average, at least six and a half years longer than those in the lowest group. Kent Gilbreath, professor of economics at Baylor University, has done a study (with 2008 statistics, the latest available) that shows the average starting salary for males at $52,301 and the average starting salary for females at $46,121. A study at UC Irvine’s Clinic for Aging Research determined that 79% of people aged 90 and over are disabled, and that women are twice as likely as men to be disabled. While 2010 was the 20th anniversary for the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the statistics show that gains made under the ADA, like every other entity in the economy, have been adversely affected by the recession. The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have left nearly 40,000 U.S. service-members wounded and have caused veterans’ disability claims to skyrocket to a point of impending disaster. In the final analysis, issues like these can only be addressed through our political process. So, if we want to address all or some of these serious realities of American life in 2011, where do we start? Are any of these issues worthy of our attention? If so, who specifically can we talk to about these and related realities? What do you think?