Good evening wherever you may be. Welcome to the latest issue of the green gazette – a weekend update if you will. The gazette is here to share with you eco-ideas that have caught my eyes and are worthy of your time. It’s a busy weekend so I’ll just jump right in and you should too.

I’m starting with a big story in every sense of the word and the implications are huge and to those of you fully conversant with climate change, hardly shocking. As a little chap learning geography I was taught that Iceland is

Greener than Greenland. Not exactly a scientific overload but it helped me remember that Iceland being South of the much larger island (the world’s largest island that isn’t a continent) of Greenland was where the people lived. Greenland is still governed by Denmark and it has historically been 95% ice for most of the year. This has helped Greenland maintain the world’s lowest population density with just 58,000 residents and much of it’s natural resources are untapped. This could well be a very different picture in 50 years time as this article explains. The rapid loss of Greenland’s ice sheet has scientists buzzing and residents planning. It’s no coincidence that the climate change has accelerated the idea of full governmental autonomy from Denmark as Greenlanders examine the benefits of self-rule in what could become a country in great economic growth in the years ahead. I’m sure the environmental impacts of higher sea levels and different storm patterns facing Europe will be equally critical.

Now on to something a little somber but decidedly planet friendly. One of the things we all face is death and cremation is quite naturally a choice that is greener than burial. In the US it is a choice that works for 30% of all who pass and is expected to rise significantly. The Neptune Society has introduced a very eco-conscious option for cremated remains. One of their options for your ashes is for them to be added to a man-made reef 3 miles off the coast of Florida. It sounds strange initially but after you see the video below I can see the appeal. We did after all, come from the sea.

I consider myself very fortunate, I’ve been able to travel to 5 of the continents on the planet and seem some wonderful places. One country I always hear amazing tales about that I’d love to visit is Costa Rica. Costa Rica coincidentally has positioned itself as perhaps the most progressive nation

on earth in terms of eco-tourism. This excellent article in Time magazine focuses on the challenges facing this country and the commitments they’ve made to not spoil the majesty they host. Some heartwarming facts; 26% of the land is under ‘protected status’, the amount of forest has doubled in the last 25 years, Costa Rica aims to be carbon-neutral by 2021…yes…as a nation!! Naturally this hasn’t happened by accident but it is tremendously inspiring. There is a related article about the amazing commitments the hotel industry takes to ensure the green message rings true. If you’re anything like me and have been repulsed by the waste of Las Vegas, Costa Rica is the pure opposite…I can’t wait to go one day.

More soon….

Tags: carbon=neutral, Costa Rica, cremation, eco ideas, eco-burial, eco-tourism, Global Warming, Greenland, Greenland climate change, planet forward, rain forest, rising sea levels, the neptune society, time magazine