In a interview, French President Nicolas Sarkozy told reporters France’s six months presidency of the European Union institutions* will focus on “giving back Europeans a sense of security”, arguing that it is the core precept of the EU that is being questioned by its citizens fearing the effects of globalisation. Climate and environment policies will part of his priorities: He admitted these are the most difficult projects he’ll face noting as the objectives of 20% CO2 emissions reduction and the 20% use of clean energy might be problematic for the countries that have recently joined the EU. He said he’ll also propose an import tax on products manufactured in countries that do not fight climate change to “level off the competitive field with European industries”.

* Each European member states take the helm of the EU for a period of 6 months. Considered very symbolic and often useless by critics, the presidency is often the opportunity to propose institutional change or strengthen them, and to promote a particular project. It is very much a diplomatic exercise as the presidency cannot supersede the European Parliament nor the European Commission.

Starting February 17, 2009, U.S. TV stations will switch from using analog signals to using digital signals. So the question is what will happen to your old TV when you take on this opportunity to buy a new one (of course, this does not apply to you if you consider purchasing a converter box)? The problem paused by disposing old TVs is not new. Americans have on average 2.6 TVs per household and replace one every 2 years.

If most TVs are donated or join the flourishing used electronic market (2,500 TVs listed on SF Bay Area’s craigs list today), many more end up in the exponentially growing electronics waste. And the amount ending up in landfills is likely to surge as an estimated 70 million TVs will become obsolete past that date. No doubt that some cleaver trade businesses will take on this opportunity to ship a large portion of them to Latin America, Asia and Africa where they will be sold or “recycled”. The recycling of ewastes in developing countries offers a gloomy illustration of an industry that lacks regulation and enforcement when products reach the end of their life cycle and the millions of TVs that will not find a second life will contribute to an environmental nightmare. Here and abroad. Continue Reading »

You can live without it but It is when you start using it that you realize how powerful and useful GreenHome is.

On the very top of the sustainable pyramid, we find the green gurus, they think green, they speak green, they live green days and nights. They were actually born green and see the world with a very acute green consciousness. After their green life on earth, they’ll probably ask to be buried naked under a tree.

A bit below, you’ll find the green movers: green entrepreneurs, green activists, green living people that are amongst the happiest that the world is turning green. They can be impatient, and not find themselves at the right place at the right time, but this is fine, they’ll keep pushing and moving things around until they feel they are making a positive difference. Their mantra is “failing is not an option”. They are convince of the urgency of the situation and will do a lot to improve it. Continue Reading »

The European Union Commission is considering lifting the ban on US poultry treated with antimicrobial substances, a move that is opposed by European consumers organizations, the European poultry industry, farmers unions and environmental and health NGOs. It is not the first time European constituents are expressing concerns over US agricultural products (GMOs are at the center of a much heated debate at the moment while growth hormones are banned). It is very tempting to accuse them of protectionism, a political game EU members seem to have perfected hiding behind consumer safety or even cultural exception. Yeah, that would be easy. But again, can we seriously blame them to be worried about their health and safety. Continue Reading »