Posted by Frances Beinecke in Green Enterprise , Living Sustainably , Solving Global Warming
Winston Churchill wrote that “All great things are simple.” Yet in their simplicity, they are often overlooked. I have been thinking about this common blind spot since the Senate began considering the Lieberman-Warner Climate Security Act recently. When we talk...
Posted by Frances Beinecke in Living Sustainably , Solving Global Warming , The Media and the Environment
My day-to-day work life focuses on relatively concrete notions: passing global warming legislation, getting more energy efficient appliances into the hands of consumers, pushing automakers to produce more efficient cars. These are the tools I believe we must use to...
Posted by Frances Beinecke in Curbing Pollution , Health and the Environment , Living Sustainably
In the past week, there have been a lot of news reports and blog chatter about BPA, also known as bisphenol-A. Finally, government agencies, consumers, and manufacturers are starting to take this toxin seriously. But BPA is only one member...
Posted by Frances Beinecke in Living Sustainably
Okay, so it’s Earth Day and time to reflect on personal practice. I’m at a Fortune Magazine conference called Brainstorm Green. There is a lot of talk here about innovative solutions, but also about how some of the key environmental...
Posted by Frances Beinecke in Health and the Environment , Living Sustainably
It’s been a bad week for bisphenol-A, and that’s a good thing. Not one but two government agencies came out for the first time publicly saying that this chemical--found in plastic water bottles, canned food, and numerous baby products--could harm...
Posted by Frances Beinecke in Living Sustainably , Solving Global Warming
Like millions of New Yorkers, I ride the subway all the time. I view it as one of the small steps I can take as an individual to help curb global warming, since fewer cars on Manhattan streets mean fewer...
Posted by Frances Beinecke in Health and the Environment , Living Sustainably
I had breast cancer nine years ago. I have a strong constitution--and a strong will--and those carried me far during my diagnosis and treatment. But still it was a difficult time for me and my family. One thing that brought...
Posted by Frances Beinecke in Living Sustainably
Last week, the New Times Style Section had a great article on the steps that suburbanites are taking to adopt green power, get kids to walk or ride their bikes to school safely, and reduce the impact of those perfect...
Posted by Frances Beinecke in Health and the Environment , Living Sustainably
The evening baby bath routine is one of the simple pleasures of life for young parents. My three girls loved playing in the water. And seeing their unfettered delight in splashing in the water calmed me down after harried days....
Posted by Frances Beinecke in Living Sustainably , The Media and the Environment
Last year was a momentous one for the environment. Green issues screamed across the headlines, as every company, every magazine cover, every state, every politician wanted to get on the green bandwagon. As someone who joined this movement in the early...
Posted by Frances Beinecke in Health and the Environment , Living Sustainably
Last week the New York Times caused a flap among fish lovers when it detected alarmingly high levels of mercury in several samples of tuna sushi bought from Manhattan restaurants and stores. The mercury in question comes largely from coal-fired...
Posted by Frances Beinecke in Health and the Environment , Living Sustainably
I recently read about Michael Pollan’s new book, In Defense of Food--currently the second best-selling hardcover in the nation. Like many others, I was inspired by its famously lean tagline: “Eat food. Not much. Mostly plants.” I love how Pollan’s...
