It's an honor and a privilege to say that I'm in Glamour magazine this month! They are highlighting 70 Women in Green, and I'm one of them! Check out my thoughts on the shoot, who I met, and more at my other site, Ecorazzi.com.

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This week we were featured in Julie Landry Laviolette's article Shop Green, Save Green on MomsMiami.com. I recommended saving cash and staying green by shopping at my favorite consignment store Baby Posh Garage in Aventura.

Also check out her previous Green Parenting articles: Where to Start,  Unplug, Natural Cleaners, and Compost 101. 

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Tamara Lush recently wrote a very interesting article on plastic bags in the Miami New Times. It seems that Commissioner Marc Sarnoff is planning on floating "four green proposals before the commission: ban all leafleting in the city, ask county leaders to require that all taxis be hybrid vehicles, stop city government from buying bottled water, and prohibit grocery stores from using plastic bags."

What do I think? I love it. I love that it will be at least discussed.

The article mentions the use of paper bags and eludes to the fact that they are biodegradable…seeming to insinuate that paper bags are a better option. I beg to differ. Data tells us that paper bags take MUCH more energy to create, recycle, and due to current landfill situations, nothing biodegrades.

I love the idea of a ban on plastic bags. But are we talking about a ban on bags, or will people just wind up using paper bags, which is no better whatsoever.

I promote the first step as "pay-per-bag". Start charging customers 25 cents per plastic bag and see how many people start to bring their own. It may not sound like a lot of money, but it should do the trick.

Read the entire article…what do you think?

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The Miami Herald did a very nice feature on greenerMIAMI in today’s paper. Check it out. It looks even cooler in the real paper. (Recycle, please!)

To all of our new readers, please add greenerMIAMI to your favorites, or subscribe to our updates via email. Each time we publish something new, you’ll receive the full content in your inbox.

It’s almost Earth Day and we hope you’ll come celebrate with us on Sunday @ EarthFest!

Photo credit: Patrick Farrell (thanks, Patrick!)

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Did you know that there is a green bank in Miami? As of today there is, at least. Today Union Credit Bank became the first in Florida to be recognized by the UN Environmental Program Finance Initiative.

They join over 170 financial institutions that now enter "sustainability into decision making". The bank is already offering Hybrid Car Loans and a Green Home Equity Line of Credit. Green commercial programs are also in the works. 

During the press conference today, Miami Mayor Diaz noted that he was happy to have another thing to brag about amongst other mayors also saying that Miami is "catching up very quickly" to green cities like Chicago and Seattle. He also hopes that we are "making this world a little better than we inherited it".

Union Credit Bank is located at 1150 S. Miami Ave. Check ‘em out.

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Just to keep those of you interested updated, Earthrace, the powerboat attempting a world record attempt on biodiesel, was in an accident this weekend off of the coast of Guatemala. They collided with a small fishing boat holding 3 people, with one still missing - presumably drowned. It’s a terrible situation for both the fishermen as well as the crew of Earthrace. Read the press release & entire story on the Earthrace site.

I met the crew of this ship and felt like I was with family immediately. I’m sure they did all that they could, and that this situation is very heavy on their hearts. Our thoughts are with all those involved and their families. 

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THIS WEEKEND

Get trained to rescue and rehab marine animals this Saturday. RSVP is required. Marine Animal Rescue Society.

The 14th Annual Bob Marley Festival is this Saturday at Bayfront Park. Buy a ticket and don’t forget: 4 cans of food is REQUIRED - per person. Excess food and canned goods will benefit Farm Share to feed hungry families in Florida and Jamaica.

NEWS

600 Brickell to be Brickell Financial Centre, is going for LEED Certification. Via Miami Beach 411 Forums.

Ft Lauderdale Tire Reef Disaster - it even sounds like a bad idea, how did that get approved?

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FIU and Florida Crystals will work together to develop ethanol technology. Link

Unanimous MPO vote in favor of the Everglades Skyway. Link

Dayngrous Discourse gives some Eco-Friendly Baby links on her Website Wednesday.

Local Miami Beach resident & her daughter make a mini-documentary about plastic grocery bags. Watch it.

Miami Mayor Diaz proposes first ever city-wide master plan.

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Alesh pointed out an article in the Herald about endangered panthers, and issues with cars killing them. When there are only 100 adults in the wild, 11 highway panther deaths last year is a HUGE number. Read the article.

Photo Credit: Cayobo’s Flickr

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Yesterday I went to a press conference on "No on Florida’s Amendment 3". At first, I have to admit, I didn’t know what Amendment 3 was. If you look on the sample ballot for the upcoming election, you’ll see this:   

REQUIRING BROADER PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS
OR REVISIONS

Proposes an
amendment to Section 5 of Article XI of the State Constitution to require that
any proposed amendment to or revision of the State Constitution, whether
proposed by the Legislature, by initiative, or by any other method, must be
approved by at least 60 percent of the voters of the state voting on the
measure, rather than by a simple majority. This proposed amendment would not
change the current requirement that a proposed constitutional amendment imposing
a new state tax or fee be approved by at least 2/3 of the voters of the state
voting in the election in which such an amendment is considered.

It doesn’t sound that bad, right? As I learned today, this seemingly simple sounding Amendment has a potentially grave impact for homeowners, students, parents, low-income families, and the environment. That is because items like smaller class sizes, universal (free) kindergarten, funding for the Everglades, and the homestead exemption all passed with less than 60% of the vote.

We elect our representatives with a simple majority vote, why change it for other measures?

Here’s the point that drove it home for me: by changing the "majority" to 60%, you are giving the power to 40% of the people, and that’s no majority.

I’m not here to tell you how to vote, but this is an important issue not just for the environment, but for citizens in general. Please educate yourself on this and every issue and don’t forget to vote.

For more information on "Vote No on Amendment 3" visit, Trust the Voters.

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