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Green World Cup

Green World Cup

Thanks to everyone who entered our contest during the World Cup to find examples of going green around the globe! Thanks also to the businesses that donated prizes: Seattle Sounders, Alchemy Goods and Energizer, and to our judges, Signe Gilson and Stokley Towles.

Do you have more ideas? Please send them to us!

Winners

Irene Buenavista

First place: Irene Buenavista
Example from the Philippines

Irene listed various ways many Filipinos reduce waste and conserve water:

• Use a "bayong" (a woven bag made of renewable native materials such as bamboo) at the market, rather than a disposable plastic bag
• Save the water from washing rice or vegetables to reuse for watering plants or cleaning the porch.
• Use a "pamaypay," a native/Philippine-made hand fan, instead of running air conditioning.
• Ride the Philippine "jeepneys" (a type of bus originally made from old U.S. Army jeeps) or walk, rather than drive your own car.
• Use a pail and dipper to conserve water for taking a bath, watering plants and washing dishes or clothes.
• Collect rain water in drums to use for watering plants or other chores.
• Use a cup for water when brushing teeth.
• Keep windows open to keep the indoor air fresh and clean.
• Buy fresh foods in the "wet market" (which offers seafood, meat and produce).
• Use durable utensils for eating at food gatherings and celebrations, rather than disposables.

A Seattle resident, Irene is a native of the Philippines who immigrated to the United States in April of 2008. According to Irene, going green comes naturally in the Philippines and is a common lifestyle for Filipino society.

Irene won four tickets to the Aug. 8 Seattle Sounders FC vs. Houston Dynamo soccer game at Qwest Field, from the Sounders.

Alexandra Turner

Second place: Alexandra Turner
Example from Germany

Alexandra gave an exuberant description of how the soccer team she was on in Germany reduced car trips. They would put all the gear in one vehicle and players would walk to the game together (for games far away, they would carpool). Their two-legged, low-tech transportation helped the environment, was a bonding experience, and was also practical because, as she wrote, "after every good game came a nice glass of beer."

An avid soccer fan, Alexandra grew up in south Germany and, after several moves, settled in Renton with her husband and children.

Alexandra won a backpack made from bicycle inner tubes and other recycled materials, from Seattle manufacturer Alchemy Goods.

Bryn Black

Third place: Bryn Black
Example from Kenya

Bryn described how a non-profit organization set up solar panels in one of the poorest slums in Nairobi, Kenya, so the residents could watch free television broadcasts of the World Cup (this was the first time the World Cup was held in Africa). The organization hopes that the introduction of solar energy there will allow residents to cut back their use of dangerous and polluting kerosene lamps.

A Northwest native who was born in Oregon, Bryn now makes her home in Seattle.

Bryn won a solar-powered charger for cell phones and other portable devices, from Energizer.

More examples of global green living

These include contest entries and other examples. Do you have more ideas? Please send them to us!

From the Netherlands

The Dutch have made their cities "bike friendly" and invested extensively in alternative transportation systems such as light rail. A "green road tax" recently proposed in the Netherlands aims to reduce carbon emissions by ten percent.

From South Korea

Leftover food is used for animal feed, and manure from the farms is used to grow more food. Recycling and reuse is also practiced extensively. Recycled glass bottles are used to make new bottles or for glass art.

From France

Paris and other French cities helped pioneer the concept of bike sharing, which has been spreading to a few American cities and across the world.

From Brazil

Curitiba, a major city with a population of 1.6 million, uses five different types of buses, with many dedicated busways.

From the United Kingdom

Rather than being served in plastic take-out packaging, fish and chips are traditionally wrapped in a napkin and then in newspaper when sold in Britain, cutting down on plastic waste.

From France

Tidal power is being considered as a source of energy around the world. The largest tidal power station in the world (and the only one in Europe) is in northern France, built in 1966.

From Italy

For one town in Sicily, costs associated with fuel and garbage pickup are not a problem. Since 1996, Castelbueno has banned diesel trucks in favor of daily donkey trash pickup. Not only has the transition improved the air quality and reduced noise and traffic, but residents also separate their garbage for recycling more frequently.

From Japan

A hand-washing sink on the back of the toilet tank routes the dirty sink water into the toilet tank, ready for the next flush. Common in Japan and a few other countries for decades, this concept then moved to Australia and is now starting to show up in the U.S.

From Iceland

Geothermal energy, which is power from the heat stored within the Earth, is viable in parts of the Pacific Northwest and in many other areas of the world. About 85 percent of all houses in Iceland are heated with geothermal energy.

From Bhutan

Rather than measuring the Gross National Product, in Bhutan they use the concept of Gross National Happiness.

From Australia

With skin cancer a major national health issue, Australia pioneered the concept of sun-protective clothing. Since there are many health concerns with sunscreen, this clothing can be a greener and safer alternative.

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