Going Green at Work: Top Tips

A greener workplace can mean a lighter ecological footprint, a healthier and more productive place to work, and good news for the bottom line. Whether you're the boss or the employee, whether your office is green already or still waiting to see the light, some practical steps can lay the groundwork for a healthy, low-impact workspace. From how you get to work -- we recommend telecommuting -- to helping your company walk the walk through corporate financial investment in green, to getting a new green job that matches your career with your ideals, to starting your own green business, we break down your green workplace. Read on for all the details.

Going Green at Work: Top Tips

1. More Work, Less Energy For many people, a computer is the central tool at work. Optimizing the energy settings for computers and other devices can be more than a modest energy saver. Set computers to energy-saving settings and make sure to shut them down when you leave for the day ("standby" settings will continue to draw power even when not in use). By plugging hardware into a power strip with an on/off switch (or a smart power strip), the whole desktop setup can be turned off at once (make sure to power downinkjet printers before killing the power--they need to seal their cartridges). Printers, scanners, and other peripherals that are only used occasionally can be unplugged until they're needed. And of course, turn off lights in spaces that are unoccupied.
2. Digitize It does seem a bit strange that in the "digital age" we still consume enormous amounts of mashed up, bleached tree pulp, most of which gets used once or twice and then tossed or recycled ("downcycled," as McDonough and Braungart would call it). The greenest paper is no paper at all, so keep things digital and dematerialized whenever possible. The more you do online, the less you need paper. Keep files on computers instead of in file cabinets (this also makes it easier to make offsite backup copies or take them with you when you move to a new office). Review documents onscreen rather than printing them out. Send emails instead of paper letters. New software likeGreenprint helps eliminate blank pages from documents before printing and can also convert to PDF for paperless document sharing.
3. Don't Be a Paper Pusher When buying printer paper, look for recycled paper with a high percentage of post-consumer content and the minimum of chlorine bleaching. Even recycled paper gobbles up a great deal of energy, water, and chemical resources in its processing (toxic pulp slurry is the paper recycling industry's dirty secret). When using the real stuff, print on both sides of the page when appropriate and use misprints as notepaper. Try to choose printers and photocopiers that do double-sided printing. If your office ships packages, reuse boxes and use shredded waste paper as packing material.
4. Greening the Commute American workers spend an average of 47 hours per year commuting through rush hour traffic. This adds up to 3.7 billion hours and 23 billion gallons of gas wasted in traffic each year. We can ease some of this strain by carpooling, taking public transit, biking, walking, or a creative combination thereof. If there's no good way to phase out your car, consider getting a hybrid, electric vehicle, motorcycle, scooter, or using a car sharing service like Flexcar or Zipcar. See How to Green Your Car for more depth on the subject. Some employers are even giving a bonus to bike and carpool commuters and special perks to hybrid drivers. For those who think bike riding is for kids and tattooed couriers, consider a high-tech folding bike or an electrically assisted one (see below for more).
5. Green Sleeves You might be amazed how sharp work clothes from thrift stores can look. If you buy new, get clothes made with organic or recycled fibers. Avoid clothes that need to be dry cleaned, and if they so demand it, seek out your local "green" dry cleaner. See How to Go Green: Wardrobe for more tactics on greening those work duds.
6. Work From Home Instant messaging, video conferencing, and other innovative workflow tools make effective telecommuting a reality. If you can telecommute, hold phone conferences, take online classes, or otherwise work from home, give it a try. It'll save you the time you would have spent on the trip as well as sparing the air. As a bonus, you get to work in your pajamas. Telecommuting works for 44 million Americans (not to mention the TreeHugger staff). Also, consider the possibility of working four ten-hour days instead of five eight-hour days (a consolidated workweek), cutting the energy and time spent on commuting by 20% and giving you some lovely three-day weekends.
7. Use Green Materials Some paper use can't be avoided, so use recycled paper and envelopes that have been processed and colored using eco-friendly methods. Pens and pencils can also be made of recycled materials, and refillable pens and markers are preferable to disposable ones. Use biodegradable soaps and recycled paper or cloth towels in the bathroom and kitchen, and provide biodegradable cleaners for the custodial staff. Buy in bulk so that shipping and packaging waste are reduced, and reuse the shipping boxes. Recycling printer cartridges is often free, and recycled replacements are cheaper than new ones.
8. Redesign the Workspace Greening the space in which you work has almost limitless possibilities. Start with good furniture, good lighting, and good air. Furniture can be manufactured from recycled materials as well as recyclable. Herman-Miller and Steelcase are two groundbreaking companies that have adopted the Cradle-to-Cradle protocol for many of their office chairs. Incandescent bulbs can be replaced with compact fluorescents and there is an ever-growing selection of high-end LED desk lamps that use miniscule amounts of energy (see How to Green Your Lighting). Not only is natural daylight a free source of lighting for the office, it has been proven to improve worker productivity and satisfaction (as well as boost sales in retail settings). Workspace air quality is also crucial. Good ventilation and low-VOC paints and materials (such as furniture and carpet) will keep employees healthy (look for How to Green Your Furniture coming soon).
9. Lunch Time Bringing lunch to work in reusable containers is likely the greenest (and healthiest) way to eat at work. Getting delivery and takeout almost inevitably ends with a miniature mountain of packaging waste. But if you do order delivery, join coworkers in placing a large order (more efficient than many separate ones). Also, bring in a reusable plate, utensils, and napkins. If you do go out for lunch, try biking or walking instead of driving.
10. Get Others in on the Act Share these tips with your colleagues. Ask your boss to purchase carbon offsets for corporate travel by car and plane. Arrange an office carpool or group bike commute. Trade shifts and job duties so that you can work four long days instead of five short ones. Ask the office manager to get fair trade coffee for the break room and make sure everyone has a small recycling bin so that recycling is just as easy as throwing paper away. Ask everyone to bring in a mug or glass from home and keep some handy for visitors so that you reduce or eliminate use of paper cups.

Connecting Prisons With Nature

Connecting Prisons with Nature from Benjamin Drummond / Sara Steele on Vimeo.

You've got to check this out. I'll let the video do most of the talking, but here's the brief background: The Sustainable Prisons Project, a collaboration between The Evergreen State College and the Washington State Department of Corrections, brings biology, beekeeping, agriculture, and connecting with nature to prisoners. Really, really cool.

Now connect that with other prison projects that attempt to do more than lock 'em up and throw away the key, such as The Prison Yoga Project and teaching meditation to inmates in LA County Men's Central jail. Then make the leap to studies showing howspending time among growing things can boost self-esteem, improve mental health, and make you feel more alive. Surely something, anything, that attempts to rehumanize, re-naturize those members of our society who haven't made positive choices is worth paying attention to.
As the video points out we've got 2.3 million people in prison in the United States. That's the greatest percentage of people in jail of any nation (23.4% of the entire number of people incarcerated in the world, with only 5% of the world's population). Just under 40% of those people are listed as non-Hispanic blacks, while this demographic category is just 12.6% of the US population.

Will and Kate's Royal Wedding: The Green Lowdown in 8 Juicy Details

I know this post is late. However I hope everyone had a fantastic Earth Day last Friday!!. Unfortunately with the crazy weather going on here in Ohio I did not get to plant anything. But dont worry folks I will!! I want to share an interesting article I stumbled across since I have no updates

Will and Kate's Royal Wedding: The Green Lowdown in 8 Juicy Details

It's been 30 years since Charles and Diana's wedding, which means royal watchers all over the world have been working themselves into a tizzy over every last, secret detail of the Friday, April 29th nuptials between Prince William and Kate Middleton.
And while a royal wedding for 2,000 is hardly going to be a small, understated affair, some reports credit the couple with making eco-friendly choices. Of course, not alltheir decisions are taking the environment into account.

1. The Ring

William popped the question on a trip to Kenya with Kate and some friends in November 2010 -- and sealed the engagement with the same sapphire-and-diamond bauble that his father gave to his mother on their engagement.The 18-carat center stone would be worth about $300,000 today, say jewelry experts, but the choice of an heirloom ring means the couple skipped extra resources that would have gone into making new.

2. The Party

For most of us, wedding food is not the best or worst meal we'll ever eat -- but forPrince Charles, who's reportedly a fan of organic gardening on his own properties, the standards are different.
Ecorazzi reports that the future king hired Swiss chef Anton Mosimann, who's well-known for his use of organic meat and fish, to cater a three-course dinner for 300 at night after the ceremony.
And some sources have also said that the couple will choose in-season flowers for their decor: Business Green quoted an anonymous "source with knowledge of the plans" as saying, ""[Sustainability] is considered by both Clarence House and Buckingham Palace in terms of everything it does, so you wouldn't be wrong to assume that the food and flowers will be seasonal and sustainably sourced.

3. The Registry

What do you get a Prince and Princess who can have, literally, anything they want? Instead of registering for candlesticks, roasting pans, tablecloths, and new flatware, William and Kate instead set up a Charitable Gift Fund, which allows guests to donate to more than 26 different organizations -- including those that support armed forces members and their families, youth sports, education, and community foundations.

Also on the list: Conservation efforts from the Zoological Society of London to save black and greater one-horned rhinos, three species of tiger, African forest and Asian elephants, and Earthwatch's global volunteer work.

4. The Cake

Feeding 600 guests means the royal couple needs plenty of cake: They've decided to have two, reports The Telegraph.
One will be a traditional fruitcake made with "dried fruits like raisins and sultanas to walnuts, cherries, grated oranges, and lemon, French brandy and free range eggs and flour," and decorated with intricate scrollwork and icing flowers, including roses, lily of the valley, and ivy. The second cake -- a request of Prince William -- will be an English treat known as a McVities chocolate biscuit cake, which the paper says was a favorite childhood dessert.

5.The Dress

Of all the questions surrounding the details of the wedding, the biggest ones are about the dress: What does it look like, and who's designing it? The palace has been tight-lipped about the details of the frock, insisting that they don't want to spoil the Prince's first look at his bride, but last week The Huffington Post's royal correspondent, Yvonne Yorke, wrote a post claiming that the chosen designer is Sophie Cranston of Libélula -- but Cranston denied it. (Other suggestions have included Sarah Burton of Alexander McQueen, who designed the dress shown here, and Stella McCartney.)

The Daily Mail says that Kate designed the gown herself with "inspiration" from Renaissance fashions and "a nod to the iconic Emanual wedding dress worn by Lady Diana Spencer."

Though eco-friendly labels aren't the rumored frontrunners, speculation is that Kate will wear plenty of borrowed jewelry from her soon-to-be grandmother-in-law (and if your grandmother-in-law was the queen, wouldn't you?).

6. The Honeymoon

Add the royal honeymoon to the list of details that the palace hasn't released yet -- though plenty of watchers have their own ideas. It's been suggested that the couple would vacation in Mustique, in the Seychelles, in Jordan, in Kenya, and in countless other places -- so we can pretty much assume they won't be taking a staycation (although they could follow the example of William's parents and spend some time inScotland).

7. The Guests

Nearly 2,000 guests from all over the world were invited to the wedding ceremony -- including David and Victoria Beckham, friends of Middleton's parents from Mustique, the King of Jordan, Elton John, and royals from throughout Europe.

About 600 of those guests are invited to the reception afterward, and 300 to the dinner Charles will host that evening. It's way too much math for us, but if you calculate the flights, trains, cars, and other travel required to get those people there, the amount of food and drink, the paper that went into the invitations, and the rest of the supplies required to entertain that many people, you get a skyrocketing carbon footprint.

8. The Transportation

Though it's often traditional for brides to make their way to the church in a horse-drawn carriage, Willia and Kate opted for a more modern mode of transportation: A car.
Whether that's for safety reasons, in case of bad weather, or simply because that's what they wanted, the choice means that the couple won't be supporting the horse-and-carriage industry. And while cars aren't necessarily greener, the royal itinerary leaves a very precise nine minutes between the time Kate and her father depart their hotel and the moment the wedding ceremony begins, making this short car trip the least of the couple's green concerns. (But hey -- they could always choose a hybrid.)

Algae Biofuels Could Replace 17% of US Imported Oil

Seemingly perpetually just over the commercially-viable horizon, algae biofuelsconsistently show good potential both in terms of yield and not competing with food production to the extent that other feedstocks can. But they are nevertheless water intensive--not an insignificant concern considering projections of decreased water availability across parts of the US and in many parts of the world.

So, without sucking up absolutely all the water from agriculture and all the other important things water is connected to (everything...), how much of current imported oil demand could be replaced with algae biofuels?

According to new research at the Department of Energy Pacific Northwest National Laboratory the answer to that question is 17% of 2008 levels. It would take an area of land the size of South Carolina to do so and 350 gallons of water per gallon of fuel. In total, that'd be one quarter of all the water the US currently uses for irrigated agriculture.

If water and land use was increased, just under half of current US oil imports could be met with domestically-produced algae biofuels, the report found. But if you concentrated production only in those places where it is both sunniest and most humid so as to minimize environmental impact, the lower figure results.

 Matthew McDermott, New York, NY  on 04.14.11

In the Future, Everything Will Be Made of Algae

Remember a few years ago when everyone decided that using algae as a biofuel feedstock would be the best thing ever? Well, progress on that front is moving so slowly that companies have realized that that might not be where the money is. But there is still all this algae lying around. So, instead, a handful of ambitious biofuel and algae production startups have decided to put their product into every segment imaginable--we're talking about putting algae in your makeup, your protein supplements, and even your medication. Now Aurora Algae has unveiled its mysterious-sounding A2 Product Portfolio--a series of algae-based oils and powders that will be used in the biofuel, food, aquaculture, neutraceutical, and pharmaceutical industries. What will happen when all the products you use have everyone's favorite sea vegetable added to them?

Heart-Healthy Supplements: As it stands, Omega-3 supplements (they help keep your heart in good shape) are usually made with fish oil, a major source of the fatty acids. It's also a major source of killing lots of fish. Aurora Algae's family of Omega-3 oils are made with--you guessed it--algae. That means vegetarians can pop Omega-3 pills without feeling guilty.


Medication: Algae can also be added to more traditional medications; its anti-inflammatory properties could one day help with conditions like arthritis. But really, the medical possibilities are endless: according to one recent study, protein from algae can even be used to treat SARS infections.


Protein Drinks: You may not notice the difference when your favorite protein drink contains algae--but the company behind the product certainly will. Algae is infinitely scalable (there's a reason we call it seaweed) and cheap, meaning it's one of the easiest places for food and beverage companies to grab the protein they need for their products.


Fish Food: This doesn't affect humans directly, but algae is important for the aquaculture industry, which is expected to double in size by 2030. The demand for cheap, renewable protein sources is high--and Aurora Algae is there to help. Plus, the company tells us that algae "has a taste palette that animals prefer." Seriously.


Moisturizer: Aurora Algae isn't working on cosmetics, but an algae biofuel company called Solazyme has already launched head-first into the market with its Algenistskincare line. The company's proprietary algae-based compound is supposedly more effective at triggering skin elastin production, inhibiting melanin production, and protecting against UV-triggered cell damage than other popular skin care products.

We'll have to wait awhile for most of these algae-infused products to start appearing; Aurora is still in talks with distributors for its algae oils and powders. But if you're really eager to get in on the wonders of algae, head to Sephora--the Algenist product line is already on sale.

Transocean Gives Execs Multi-Million Dollar Bonuses In The Same Year It Caused Biggest Oil Spill in US

by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY

In case you haven't heard the most Orwellian bit of news in the first week of April:Transocean, the company which was operating the Deepwater Horizon oil rig when it exploded and caused the largest oil spill in US history, just gave its executives multi-million dollar bonuses for... wait for it... its "best year in safety performance."

Notwithstanding the tragic loss of life in the Gulf of Mexico, we achieved an exemplary statistical safety record. (Wall Street Journal)

Apparently safety performance accounts for one-quarter of execs bonuses and despite the Gulf Oil Spill received two-thirds of the maximum possible award for this section. You can read more about how Transocean managed to twist logic into a pretzel in this case at the WSJ link above.
In the righteous outcry over the wording of their proxy statement, Transocean lamely back peddled:

We acknowledge that some of the wording in our 2010 proxy statement may have been insensitive in light of the incident that claimed the lives of eleven exceptional men last year and we deeply regret any pain that it might have caused.

Failing to Acknowledge That There's More To Life Than Human Life Is Painful
I'm not at all convinced Transocean understands the impact of their actions. As unfortunate as the loss of workers aboard the Deepwater Horizon was, that isn't the part that most people are (or ought to be) angry about. It's the resultant oil spill that befouled beaches and fisheries, killed countless amounts of animals, and indeed has polluted the entire Gulf of Mexico food chain that's the problem.
It's the utter lack of recognition of the interconnectedness of life in this situation that is appalling--and in some way, perhaps unconscious, that actually contributed to the situation in the first place. If all that matters to safety is human loss of life and loss of product, then you have valued the rest of life (indeed the majority of it) at nothing. It is utterly self-centered and destructive, both self and generally.
Oh, And Transocean Moved to Switzerland to Avoid US Taxes
If you're not too outraged to continue reading, consider this nugget of information, which really exemplifies a colossal portion of what is wrong with the United States at the moment: Climate Progress reminds us that in 2008 Transocean moved its official headquarters from Houston to Switzerland to avoid paying US taxes.

Go Daddy's Bob Parsons Brushes Off Criticism Over Elephant Killing

Thanks to the below article I will never consider using GoDaddy as a hosting site. His excuses dont add up and are disgusting.

The outspoken entrepreneur and member of the AOL Small Business Board of Directors has been branded "Scummiest CEO of the Year" by PETA, over a hunt he says helped African villagers. He plans to hang the certificate in his office.

By ROD KURTZ

Posted 3/ 31 11 at 8:00 PM | News, Board of Directors, Technology, Advertising & Marketing, Leadership,International Business, 

Go Daddy founder and CEO Bob Parsons is not one to back down from a little controversy. The outspoken entrepreneur helped make his company a household name -- and the largest Internet domain registrar in the world -- with edgy Super Bowl commercials that have become perennial water-cooler fodder. Now, he finds himself in the crosshairs of the equally outspoken PETA and other animal-rights advocates over agraphic video he posted online, which depicts him shooting and killing an elephant in Zimbabwe. The video has already been viewed more than 300,000 times.

Parsons, a member of the AOL Small Business Board of Directors, says he was working with tribal authorities to prevent "problem elephant" from decimating crops, legally, and that the slain elephant provided food for impoverished villagers. PETA is leading the charge against Parsons, branding him the "Scummiest CEO of the Year," canceling its Go Daddy account and encouraging others to do the same. "Instead of coming up with flimsy excuses for killing these highly intelligent and social animals, Parsons should use his wealth to fund humane solutions to human/elephant conflicts," PETA said on its website.

"Things couldn't be better," Parsons said in an interview with AOL Small Business, deflecting the criticism and noting that the hunt not only helped feed Zimbabwean villagers and protect their crops -- but that the ensuing controversy will inevitably help Go Daddy too.

It's an interesting question for entrepreneurs, who are often the public faces of their companies and run the risk of alienating customers with their personal behavior, political views and the like. Parsons, for his part, isn't too worried. His advice? Be yourself, and when controversy strikes, keep being yourself.

Well, Bob, you're always up to something. What happened here?

Here's the deal. I'll give you the whole genesis. This is the sixth year I've been to Africa. I'm a hunter. I went there to hunt buffalo. I gradually became aware of this situation with problem elephant and the need to control them. Since then, it's the only thing I do. I go over and spend two weeks volunteering to deal with problem elephant.

In Zimbabwe, elephant are not endangered. There's actually too many of them. The people there are very impoverished. The poverty is beyond our imagination. They have nothing. I'll give you an example. When I'm there, I drink bottled water so I don't get Montezuma's Revenge. One of the things the people absolutely treasure is a plastic bottle with a cap. They use it to take water to school or in the fields. That gives you an idea of how little these people have.

If they don't get a crop, they starve to death. That's the bottom line. So what I do, I'm invited by the tribal authorities there. I go there, I work with a friend of mine who lives there, we patrol the area in a truck. A farmer will get us, elephants will be tearing their crop up and our goal is to go in. The people there try to keep them away with fire, beating drums, screaming. The elephants have learned. So what it takes is for someone to go into the field while the elephants are there. The elephants storm out and they don't return. So what happens is you've got the rest of the crops saved. And you have protein for people who need it.

Why shoot and publish a video about it?

First of all, this is something that happens that I think ought to be recorded. Folks should be able to watch this years from now and say, "Look at this, this actually happened over there." In America, many of us are like ostriches -- we stick our heads in the sand and have this Pollyanna view of this. This is really the way it is. I put a warning on there that it was graphic and don't watch it if you don't have a stomach for it. I'll tell you, years from now, maybe my great grandchildren will see this and say, "This is what he did, this is how it was done." There's not that much footage of something like this.

Were you worried about any backlash?

No. Am I surprised that it amounted to what it is? When you're 60 years old, nothing really surprises you.

This is the third time I've posted a video like this, but this is the first time that this has happened. This is the first time I've gotten a letter from PETA. They told me they're sending me a certificate calling me the "Scummiest CEO of the Year." I'll tell you, if I get it, I'm framing it and putting in my office.

What disappoints me about this is that this is their best shot. I would think they would have something more intellectual or professional to say.

I'm not a member of PETA. I'm a proud carnivore, I love a good steak. But this video is still tough to watch. Some people are objecting to the fact that you played AC/DC's "Hell's Bells" and zoom in on one of the villagers wearing a Go Daddy hat during the video, like you're using this as a commercial. How do you respond?

The reason that they're wearing Go Daddy hats is that I grab whatever I have in swag and give to these guys, because they have nothing. People were saying, "Bob is promoting the company." Let me tell you, when I want to advertise, it won't be a guy with an elephant. It'll be a sexy girl dancing on a car.

I picked "Hell's Bells" because if you're in that situation with knives fighting for meat, that's about as close to Hell as you get. Am I apologetic? I'm going to do it next year.

Yeah, it is heart-wrenching. The people are sweet, they're the most wonderful people in the world. They're pretty special. So to see them in that situation, it's heart-wrenching. On the one hand, it's a great feeling to know you provided that, but on the other hand, it's sad that there's not more.

You're one of the most outspoken entrepreneurs around. That's why we like having you on our Board of Directors. Are you always comfortable just doing your thing, no apologies?

Yeah, I am. I never do what I do for the money. I never worry about quarterly earnings, I never worry about any of that. I do what I do to do a good job, to live my life the right way, to be an American. And when you do that, you're willing to stand up and speak your mind.

Do you wish more CEOs did that?

That's pretty much up to them.

Being a CEO comes with a lot of responsibility -- you're often the face of your company. And everyone's money is green. Ever worry that your personal behavior might alienate some customers and ultimately hurt the company?

Here's what I believe is going to happen. Most of the people PETA resonates with are not our customers. The second thing is that the average American realizes what is going on here. The average American has a pretty good soul. They realize people need to eat, the circle of life, they're realistic. They're not politically correct. And because of all this stuff, you're going to have more people aware of Go Daddy and our business is going to go up.

This is actually good for business?

I'll just say, lucky me. If people say it's wrong for me to benefit because our business goes up -- I didn't start it. I didn't send me a certificate.

You're somewhat of a marketing master, with your controversial Super Bowl ads and popular video blog. Is all publicity truly good publicity?

I would say, it is -- if there's a positive side to it. When I ran my first Super Bowl ad, I cannot tell you the negative comments I was swarmed with. I thought I was going to be tarred and feathered by every feminist. And our market share went from 16 percent to 25 percent. I was hearing from this small, vocal minority that moves like a tsunami. But most people see it and they step up with their wallets. So I think the deal is to not shrink from it. It takes a certain amount of backbone.

So when you're hit with a controversy...

Embrace it.

Cruelty of the Circus

An animal minder has been secretly filmed in the U.K. repeatedly hitting a 57-year-old Asian elephant with a metal pitchfork and kicking the circus animal, prompting an investigation by police and an animal rights group.

Northamptonshire police and the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty of Animals are looking into covert footage taken by Animal Defenders International, The Guardian reports.


"We are appalled and shocked by the scenes contained in the video and will be investigating what is shown," the society said on its website.

ADI said it filmed Annie the elephant being hit with the pitchfork and kicked in the face and body 48 times while leg chains kept her from fleeing from the beatings in the winter quarters of the Bobby Roberts Super Circus.

The group said it used a remote camera showing the inside of a barn. It said it filmed 516 hours, including periods at night when nothing can be seen, between Jan. 21 and Feb. 15.

ADI said the video, released over the weekend, shows Annie is suffering.

"It is clear from the speed and ferocity of the swings that the blows are intended to cause pain and intimidation, and you can tell from Anne's posture and behavior that she is feeling the pain, and tries to avoid it," the group said on its website. "She is clearly stressed and suffering. Unfortunately she cannot move away, as she is chained to the spot, which makes this situation all the more barbaric. "

The circus said in a statement to The Guardian that the case "appears to be isolated" and happened when circus owner Bobby Roberts was not there.

Roberts' wife, Moira, said the man responsible was a Romanian groom who has since left the circus, the paper said.




"We wish we had been given the opportunity to prosecute him and hand him over to the police," she told the paper, adding that the couple felt "shock and horror" when they saw the video.

ADI's chief executive, Jan Creamer, asked the circus to let the group care for Annie.

"We have a terrific network of sanctuary contacts throughout the world and are very experienced at animal rescue, re-homing and relocation, so we now appeal to Mr. Roberts to do the decent thing and hand Annie over to us,"he said on the group's website.

"Let us now give Annie the proper retirement that she now so richly deserves, where she will have space to be free and act like an elephant, as nature intended," he said.

Getting Selfish

Now don't get me wrong, I am a very caring person or so I like to think, but its time for me to get selfish. I want to be selfish with my own life, passions and desires. I tend to have this thing where I put my "things" on the back burner. Why I do this I don't know. I suppose in some small way I am scared of failure or what people will think or even just change. What inspired me to write about this today my little calendar quote desk thing.

" In nature there are neither rewards nor punishments-there are consequences" - R.G. Ingersoll

When thinking about it it made perfect sense. I need to just take risks, jump.Whats the worst that could happen? I don't succeed but like anything in life I am not stuck in that situation. Change is a good thing.

So upon evaluating my life and circumstance there are numerous parts that need a revamping and dusted off.

Health: Now I know that I am a vegetarian which is a great start on my healthy living journey. The instant I cut meats out of my diet I felt instantly lighter, healthier and happier. But I am no saint I love junk foods and sweets and the instant I start eating I know Ill regret it later. That regret is something I really need to speak with a doctor about, because many foods make me very sick. Ive known this for a long time but put it off. No longer will I put off DR.s and dentist appointments! As for fitness I workout and try, with spring in the air it will make more outdoor activities available which I am greatly looking forward to.

Career: Although I love the people I work with, my current position is not suiting for a longterm role in my life. I want a job that I enjoy going to. I know not everyday I will want to, but I need a position that I can grow and develop in and something that provides me with the tools to continue developing my skills. I want a position that lets me have a life, my life believe it or not is more important than just any other job.

Living: Currently I live out of my car, or at least thats how I feel especially with a 50 minute commute. I mainly live at my wonderful boyfriends but I also live with my parents. I cannot express how stressful it is having your belongings between 2 houses and storage. It really makes things rough when your trying to find the right pair of shoes. This also explains why my car has sooo much crap in it.

Love: As there are few things wrong in my love life, I am ready for the next big step. I love my friends and family and tend to neglect them because "I am to tired" or "I don't have time" and that isn't fair to myself or them.

Life: I have this immense passion for life, I want to do everything and go everywhere. Working with a limited budget makes that very difficult, but I need to find that balance. My biggest fear is waking up one morning all old and wrinkly on the verge of passing on and thinking, what did I do with my life?. When that moment comes and it will I want my life to flash before me like some great film or novel. I want to think how fortunate I was to experience all of those things and to know all those amazing people. I want to look at my family and think I created this, I want to look back on my life with no regrets, but with awe. Of all the things I want to change about my current situation this is my main priority, I don't want to be the old lady alone and sad because I did nothing with my life.

With all that being said today I start making changes.Changes for the better. I don't want to live a boring life any longer

Chickens Have Feelings Too!

Leading animal behavior scientists from around the globe know that chickens are inquisitive and interesting animals whose cognitive abilities are in some cases more advanced than those of cats, dogs, and even some primates. So next time you call someone "bird brained" you might be giving them a compliment.

Like all animals, chickens love their families and value their own lives. The social nature of chickens means that they are always looking out for their families and for other chickens in their group. People who have spent time with chickens know that they have complex social structures, adept communication skills, and distinct personalities, just as we do.

They can complete complex mental tasks, learn from watching each other, demonstrate self-control, worry about the future, and even have cultural knowledge that is passed from generation to generation.

Chickens comprehend cause-and-effect relationships and understand that objects still exist even after they are hidden from view. In this respect, they are more cognitively advanced than small human children.

A recent British study on mother hens showed that they were able to feel anxiety when their chicks were in distress. If chickens are able to relate to another animal’s feelings, they are capable of feeling empathy. 

According to the Daily Mail, empathy was once thought to be a uniquely human trait. Researchers at Bristol University in southern England chose to conduct the study on chickens because they believed that empathy had evolved in animals to help them look after their young.

“It’s very fascinating to find out about the emotional lives of animals, but also it’s highly relevant for animal welfare,” said Joanne Edgar, a Ph.D. student at Bristol who led the study. “The extent to which animals are affected by the distress of others is of high relevance to the welfare of farm and laboratory animals,” she said. 

The study involved separating the mother hens from their chicks so that the mothers could see and hear the chicks, but not touch them. They then tested the mother hens’ reactions when their chicks’ feathers were ruffled by a puff of air. When the chicks were exposed to air puffs, they showed signs of distress that were mirrored by their mothers, said MSNBC. The mother hens’ heart rate increased and their external temperature went up. The mother hens even emitted a “maternal vocalization” call which they used to try to call their young back to them.

Edgar said she is now conducting research to see if the same results could occur amongst adult chickens.

If these results hone true this would mean that chicken you eat for dinner did suffer and watched its friends die. Animals are living, breathing beings and deserve as much nurturing and respect as humans.

I hope this information helps bring to light in you and in the meat industry that animals feel pain and love. Would you want to grow up in a tiny cage and murdered for someone meal?

~Becky

Inspirations and Blessings

In my life I have had the opportunity to be blessed with and inspired by a great deal of people. Today has been one of those days where I have been touched by others opinions and views on life. Of the things I take away from this day can be summed up in a quote by Golda Meir " Don't be humble; You're not that great." I have decided to stop living in the future and worrying so much about things I cannot control. I will live in the moment, control my destiny and enjoy every precious moment my life will give me.

With all that being said a particular individual whom I am proud to say is a member of my widely diverse family has inspired me in numerous ways through out my (some would say) "short" lifetime and today. She is an artist with words and is very passionate about life and the potential for joy it holds. Today she sent me a copy of a poem she has written, that strikes home for many Americans and in my opinion portrays a world where caring and love is what people hold for each other.  To many people go through their life living selfishly and thinking only whats best for themselves rather than for the greater good. Here is her poem, read it, think about the words, and embrace it!


Call Me What?

Call me a socialist if you must

If you like

I’m no rap artist

I have no mike

I don’t care for labels

For they fit to tight

I just want to rhyme a little

To the left and to the right

I want to pick up the poor

And comfort the middle class

Pick up the ceiling and the broken glass

Ask the wealthy to please give back

Ask corporate America to stay home grown

Cradle the sick and their empty-pockets and moans

I believe in accountability

But it can’t exist

Without equal opportunity

Imagine

Education for all

Pick up the entire country

I YELL FOR A PATRIOTIC CALL!

We send our young to war

Yes the middle class and the poor

We call it

The ultimate sacrifice

Is that much greed that much of a vice

It’s like a hoarding disease

Like compulsive survival needs

Like money talks, walks, breathes and bleeds

I want to pick up the poor

And comfort the middle class

Pick up the ceiling and the broken glass

Ask the wealthy to please give back

Ask corporate America to stay home grown

Cradle the sick and their empty-pockets and moans

Freedom

For only a few

All for me

None for you

An incidental déjà vu

At what cost

Reputation lost

Quality of a product

Corporate misconduct

Fair wages

Benefits

For the working class

I think we are seeing the backlash

Our economies driving horse

Yet we outsource

America’s ugly divorce

This is what I know

This what I perceive

What I believe

What I grieve

A tear running down my cheek

I want to help the weak

If I can save another life

Tax my wallet

It is a freedom

I’m willing to sacrifice

I only ask that it be fair

We need the wealthy to step up

With their share

In togetherness

We rise

In togetherness

We will never fail

It is in our diversity

That we will bind

Adaptability we will find

For I decry

This poem to thy

Fight! Fight! Fight!

To compassionately unite

Look through the creative light

And what you feel

In your heart is right

Counteract the selfish plight

To conquer and divide

To eliminate the middle class

And make the poor work off their weary ass

This is what we must do

To survive

God damn

Wake up

Are we blind

Open your mind

For the whole to exist

All parts must thrive!

I want to pick up the poor

And comfort the middle class

Pick up the ceiling and the broken glass

Ask the wealthy to please give back

Ask corporate America to stay home grown

Cradle the sick and their empty-pockets and moans

America we must first help our own!

Written by,

Shellie Blevins

Hope you enjoyed!

Becky