(Photo: David Belt)

For the first time ever, New York City invites residents to
swim in pools made from repurposed garbage dumpsters as part of its third
annual Summer
Streets program. The city is closing down Park Avenue to cars on three
consecutive Saturdays (August 7, 14, and 21) so people can spread out to bike,
walk, play, watch live theater, and swim.   

On Saturday, 420 swimmers took a dip in one of the three
pools located near the Grand Central viaduct on Park Avenue between 40^th
and 41^st Streets. The pools will be open for the next two Saturdays
(August 14 and 21) from 7 a.m. until 1 p.m. The city is distributing bracelets
on a first-come first-serve basis so swimmers can enter in shifts.

Only 10 people can swim comfortably in a pool at a
time.  Each 8-by-22 foot dumpster
pool is surrounded by a wrap-around deck and has its own built-in water
filtration system. Unfortunately, dumpster-diving is prohibited since the pools
are only 3 to 4 ½ feet deep. Each unused dumpster has been equipped with a
layer of felt (so it’s soft to stand on) and pool lining liners before being
filled with around 4,600 gallons of chlorinated water and weighs approximately
50,000 pounds. 

The pools’ designer, David Belt, whose firm Macro Sea
created its first
dumpster pool in Brooklyn last year, thinks the idea of people swimming in
dumpsters in front of Grand Central is hilarious. It also has the potential to
reduce the pretentiousness of Park Avenue, he says, but his goals are broader.

Belt says these code-compliant portable pools can be used in
any city. “I think it would be so great if different municipalities that
couldn’t afford to build a whole park could set up these pop-up pools.” The
best part? They’re relatively inexpensive and easy to transport so a city could
move pools around to different neighborhoods. (Belt says it costs $200 to move
a dumpster on the back of a truck in New York City.)

All
the parts for the three dumpster pools he’s lending the city were donated so
he’s still figuring out the exact cost of each pool. But Belt points out that
it’s significantly cheaper to use dumpster pools than to build and maintain
permanent pools and the parks that house them. 

When Summer Streets closes, the pools will be moved to an
undisclosed location in   

East Harlem for an end-of-the-summer surprise pool party for
junior high and high school students.

If Belt’s idea catches on maybe we’ll see dumpster pools on
Market Street in San Francisco, 2^nd Street in Austin, TX, or even
Orchard Street in Singapore next summer!

(Photo: David Belt)

(Photo: David Belt)

(Photo: David Belt)

(Photo: Getty Images)

How clean is the water at your favorite beach? It’s easy to
find out thanks to the Natural Resources Defense Council’s newly released
report on the state of the nation’s beaches.

In general, beaches in the Great Lakes region tend to be the
dirtiest in the U.S., according to the report, while the Southeast and the
Delmarva Peninsula have the highest percentage of clean beaches. Louisiana,
Rhode Island, and Illinois had the most reported beach contamination last year,
according to the NRDC. Beaches in New Hampshire, Delaware, and Oregon had the
least amount of reported contamination.

All told, there were 18,682 beach closing and advisory days last
year because of water pollution, according to the report. That’s the sixth-highest level since the NRDC began it’s annual testing 20 years ago. Testing the Waters: A
Guide to Water Quality at Vacation Beaches is based on an analysis of beach
water testing results collected by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in
2009.

Swimming in
water that’s been contaminated
with bacteria, viruses, and parasites can cause skin rashes, stomach flu,
ear nose and eye infections, respiratory illnesses, hepatitis, and other
diseases.

The NRDC rated 200 of the most
popular beaches in the United States based on the quality of the beach
water, how frequently it is monitored, and whether the public was notified
about contamination.

Here is a list of the cleanest and dirtiest beaches that the
NRDC rated. They’re not listed in any particular order.  

Cleanest beaches:

• Lafayette Community Club Beach, Minnesota
• Franklin Park at 13^th Street on Park
  Point, Minnesota
• Hampton Beach State Park, New Hampshire
• Wallis Sands Beach at Wallis Road, New Hampshire
• Bolsa Chica State Beach, California
• Huntington City Beach at the Beach Hut, California
• Newport Beach, California
• Salt Creek Beach at Dana Strands, California
• Cardiff State Beach (portions of), California
• Laguna Beach (portions of), California
• Gulf Shores Public Beach, Alabama (As of July 27, this beach has been closed for 53 days
  because of the BP oil spill.)

Dirtiest beaches:

• Ben T. Davis North, Florida
• Dixie Belle Beach, Florida
• Monument Beach, Florida
• Navarre Park, Florida
• Quietwater Beach, Florida
• Simmons Park, Florida
• Treasure Island Beach, Florida
• Old Orchard Beach, Maine
• Long Sands Beach, Maine
• Short Sands Beach, Maine
• Courthouse Road Beach, Mississippi
• Edgewater Beach, Mississippi
• Front Beach, Mississippi
• Nags Head (one section), North Carolina
• Hamline Beach State Park, New York
• Orchard Beach, New York
• Robert Moses State Park Beach, New York
• Rockaway Beach (sections of), New York
• Coney Island, New York
• Narragansett Town Beach, Rhode Island
• Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
• South Carolina State Park and Campground, South Carolina
• Springmaid Beach, South Carolina
• Surfside Beach, South Carolina

Can’t find your beach on this list? Check out the full list on
the NRDC’s website. If your beach wasn’t evaluated, then here are some additional sources
of information on beach water testing results as well as tips for avoiding
polluted beaches.

The NRDC offers the following suggestions: Don’t swim in
water that is cloudy or smells bad. Keep your head out of the water when
possible. Avoid swimming for at least 24 hours after heavy rains. Choose
beaches that are next to open water and avoid those in the middle
of highly developed areas when possible.

Impact of the BP oil spill on U.S. beaches

One new element to this year’s NRDC report is a special
section on how the BP oil spill is impacting beaches in the Gulf region, which the
NRDC says has resulted in a significant increase in beach closings and
advisories compared to the same time period last year.

So far this year, there
have been 2,239 days of beach closings, advisories, and notices in the Gulf
region. Beaches in Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, and Florida have been effected as of July 27. Check this map of current oil
spill beach closures to get up-to-date information.

Breathing in sea spray from dispersed oil or vapors can
cause headaches, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, and eye and throat irritation, and
you can get skin rashes if you touch oil, according to the NRDC.

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Scientists previously mapped huge floating trash patches in the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, but now a husband-wife team researching plastic garbage in the Indian Ocean suggest a
new and dire view. “The
world’s oceans are covered with a thin plastic soup,” says Anna Cummins,
cofounder of 5 Gyres
Institute.

Cummins
and her husband, Marcus Eriksen, established the 5 Gyres Institute to research
plastic pollution in the world’s oceans. The team works in collaboration with Algalita
Marine Research Foundation and Pangaea Explorations, two nonprofit scientific organizations devoted to marine preservation. They report that all of the 12 water samples collected in the 3,000 miles between Perth, Australia, and Port
Louis, Mauritius (an island due East of Madagascar), contain plastic.

Plastic debris collected from the ocean’s newest floating “garbage patch.”
(Photo: 5 Gyres Institute)

Map of the five ocean gyres (Image: NOAA)

Their findings support earlier research about trash washed onto beaches in and around
the Indian Ocean, and it’s already been well established that there’s an
enormous amount of plastic trash swirling in the North Pacific and North
Atlantic Ocean Gyres.

Gyres are powerful rotating currents in the world’s major
oceans. The five large subtropical gyres are located in the North Pacific,
South Pacific, North Atlantic, South Atlantic, and Indian oceans. Once plastic
makes its way into the ocean (through sewers, streams, rivers, or from the
coast), it is ultimately swept up and trapped in these gyres and forms a
swirling soup of garbage.

“There is no island of trash,” says Anna Cummins, cofounder of
5 Gyres Institute.
“It’s a myth.” Instead, she says the garbage patches resemble plastic
soup or confetti. “We now have a third accumulation zone of plastic
pollution that shows compounding evidence that the trash isn’t condensed to an
island,” she says. “It’s spread out across the entire gyre from coast
to coast.”

Ironically, it would be far easier to clean up the oceans if the trash
were forming islands, Eriksen explains. In his opinion, it isn’t practical to
try to recover the plastic from sea because most is fragmented and widely
distributed. “If you stand on island beaches and mainland coastlines, you
can watch the plastic coming to you. That’s where gyre clean up makes the most
sense,” Eriksen says, “but we need to stop the flow of plastic into
the ocean.”

The best solution, he says, is to collect debris that washes up on
beaches, which act as natural nets, before it washes back into the ocean where
it poses significant health risks for fish, seabirds, and other marine animals
that mistake small plastic pellets for food or get tangled in discarded fishing
nets.

Garbage washed up on island beaches. (Photo: 5 Gyres Institute)

This Indian Ocean garbage patch discovery means there are now three
confirmed ocean zones of plastic pollution, and Eriksen and Cummins also expect
to find others in the South Pacific and South Atlantic gyres also. The 5 Gyres
Institute, a team of scientists and educators, will lead eight expeditions to
explore the South Atlantic (starting later this summer) and South Pacific
(scheduled for next spring).

More garbage floating in the ocean. (Photo: 5 Gyres Institute)

What can we do help prevent this plastic soup from growing larger? We
can look for the new degradable bioplastics to replace conventional
petroleum-based plastic. We can choose reusable items over disposables, buy
less plastics overall, and help clean
up beaches.

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(Photo: Getty Images)

When the weather’s clear, yard sales and garage sales spring
up around most neighborhoods like weeds. Bargain hunters and fans of reusing and
recycling know that these sales are great places to shop for kids’ clothes,
furniture that can be repainted or restyled, paperback books, and even
collectibles which may be diamonds in the rough.

But you have to shop savvy to get the most out of yard
sales. They’re not as predictable as the mall, so you need to plan ahead.

Start by searching Craigslist.org, newspaper classifieds, and signs around town to
find the sales. Then map an efficient route for the places you want to
visit.

These tips can help you find bargains on things you can really use…

Prepare for a day of
shopping:

• Be prepared by bringing: cash in small
  denominations, a tape measure to get the right sizes of clothing and home decor
  items, and batteries to test gadgets.
• Don’t drive a really fancy car or wear designer clothes or
  expensive jewelry when you go to these sales. It’s harder to
  bargain if you look like you’re made of money.
• You can find the best selection right when a sale opens, so
  go early. But if you see something and can’t get the price you want, ask when
  the sale is ending and come back later. If the item is still around, you might
  get a lower price then.
• Stay cool and comfortable by wearing a hat and sunscreen and
  bringing a refillable bottle with water, plus snacks for the day.
• Looking for children’s clothes, toys, or electronics? Head
  to newer neighborhoods because the more recent residents there tend to buy (and
  thus throw out) newer things.
• Looking for antiques, collectibles, or furniture? Head to
  older neighborhoods because the longer-term residents are usually cleaning out
  attics and basements of older things.

What to buy and not
buy:

• Avoid buying baby or toddler equipment like car seats,
  cribs, playpens, and safety gates as models may get recalled and safety
  requirements change. And carefully inspect toys for small children to make sure
  there are no loose or broken parts.
• Don’t buy used helmets of any kind (you never know if they
  were in an accident!), and inspect used sporting equipment thoroughly.
• Always look inside boxes and cases. DVDs and CDs can easily
  get mixed up, and games may be missing pieces.
• Know brand names and genuine values. Brands made for Wal-Mart
  and Target (especially clothing) aren’t great deals second-hand because the
  items won’t have much life left in them. But high-end labels and designer goods
  can last for years more. Also, if you are a collector, know the value of your
  favorite items so you can spot a real deal.

Bargain like a
pro:

• Start by complimenting the item, no matter how beat-up it
  is. Never talk down what you’re trying to buy — the seller may have bought and
  loved that thing at one time.
• Don’t go too low. If an item is marked $20, don’t offer $5.
  Try $15 or maybe $10 if the original price seems wildly inaccurate.
• Ask if you can combine purchases for a better price. For
  example, if you want a $5 item and a $7 item, ask if the seller will take $10
  for both. Or if you’re buying a large number of items, ask if the seller will
  throw in another small item for free.
• Know what you’ll do if your offer is rejected. Will you walk
  away or pay the full price? Plan ahead, and stick with your plan.

These tips should help you shop savvy at yard sales and garage sales around town. Have more suggestions? Post them in the comments. Or share your favorite deals from sales you’ve been to.

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(Photo: Tyson / Yellow House
Photography)

When Peter Geyer caught the garter at a wedding last fall, his girlfriend Andrea Parrish immediately dropped to her knee, pulled out
an opal earring, and proposed to him. Parrish admits they had been discussing
getting married, so she was kind of prepared for such a moment just in case it
happened. “What better way to announce it to the family than with a big
dramatic moment?” asks the 25-year-old marketing writer.

It seems Parish and her fiancé have a flair for creating
buzz. Known as the “wedding can couple,” Geyer and Parrish have been in the
news because they are paying for their July 31 wedding solely with the $3,800
in proceeds they earned from recycling 400,000 cans.  

The Spokane couple reached their goal last week when over a
ton of aluminum cans was hauled off their porch by a local recycler. They continue
to collect cans to raise money for their honeymoon and to donate to Doctors
Without Borders and Rim Country Land Institute.  

How did they come up with the offbeat idea? Parrish said they
quickly realized they’d have to save around $500 a month to pay for their
wedding if they wanted to get married in a reasonable amount of time and avoid
getting into debt. They didn’t have much extra cash because Parrish
was laid off from her job right after they purchased a house.  

Parrish and Geyer already had some experience collecting aluminum cans. Geyer, who works as a digital print
technician, also melts cans down on his Weber grill and uses the metal to create art
in his spare time.

Parrish came up with the idea to pay for their wedding in
the middle of a sleepless night. She had just helped Geyer sort through some cans
that evening and knew you could get money for aluminum by the pound, so she
figured why not collect aluminum cans to fund their wedding and help the
environment.

She woke Geyer up at 1 a.m. to share her plan. “When I told
Peter about it, he kind of gave me a look that said this is a crazy idea, but
you’re the type of crazy that can pull it off,” she says.

Indeed, Geyer was right. Parrish built a website and spread the word amongst
friends and through social
media. Alcoa donated 150,000 cans to the cause and United Recycling
Services contributed another 73,000. 
And others are copying their idea to raise money for weddings and other
causes.

(Photo: Andrea Parrish)

Their wedding will also be light on the planet. With only
$3,800 to spend on a party for 150 people, there’s little room for excess and
waste. The couple has focused on what’s most important to them (gathering their family
and friends together for a lively celebration), and they’ve also enlisted help.

Here are some details about their DIY wedding:   

Venue: Corbin Art Center in Spokane,
WA. Cost: $1,000.

Food and beverages:
The bride and groom are providing some food, but it is mostly potluck
style.  The groom has a friend who
brews beer as a hobby so he’s contributing a keg or two. Parrish and Geyer are making
the wine in their basement. The bride’s mom, who owns a catering and reception
center in Idaho, is baking and decorating the cake. “We asked our friends to
bring a potluck dish, bring yourself, and have fun, because that’s all we care
about,” says Parrish.

Flowers: Parrish’s
sister-in-law is growing all the flowers for bouquets and decorations.

Music: A harpist
is playing free of charge during the service. Afterwards it’s “DJ by iPods,”
says Parrish. Friends are creating the playlists.

Clothing: The
matron of honor’s mother-in-law is sewing Parrish’s floor-length black, red,
and white wedding dress. Total cost: $250 for the fabric, plus another $200 for
the custom-made corset she’s splurging on. Geyer is sewing his own vest from fabric that cost $25. The couple is making ties for all of the groomsmen and
telling everyone in the wedding party to wear whatever they’d like.

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(Photo: Getty Images)

Planning a
summer vacation or short getaway? Be sure to consider your carbon impact and
look into ways you can green your travel plans. Here are six quick ideas to
give both yourself and the planet a break:

How you
get there

Air
travel is the most carbon-producing way to travel, so avoid it if possible. If
you plan to hit the road and don’t currently have a fuel-efficient car,
consider renting one. Or try taking a train and enjoy the journey as well as a
destination.

Search
companies renting fuel-efficient cars.

Where you
stay

More and
more hotels are going green. Conserving water through towel and linen reuse
programs, installing Energy Star appliances, using low-flow toilets and carbon
florescent bulbs,  composting leftovers, and planting native plants in
landscaping are just a few of the sustainable practices to look for. Read up on
the hotel’s website to see what it is re doing to make your stay an
eco-friendly one.

Search
for green hotels.

How you
get around town

Pick a
destination with a good public transit system. If you must take a taxi, check
ahead and jot down the number for one that uses hybrid vehicles. Renting a bike
and walking are the best ways to really get to know a new place and be eco-friendly
(bonus: you’ll get some exercise so you won’t feel guilty about any dining
treats!).

Search
for green taxis.

Search “bike
rental” on Yahoo! Local for your destination.

Staycations

How about
staying close to home this summer? Cozy up in a nice (green) hotel to enjoy the
amenities and forget about daily chores waiting in your own house. Skim an
online travel
guide, take public transit for new views, and be a tourist in your own backyard.

Search Yahoo!
Travel for activities in your hometown.

Search
for online travel guides,

Volunteer
vacations

Try
something different and make your getaway time a productive way to give back.
Look into volunteer vacations.  You may end up in a place
you never dreamed of, saving hiking trails, helping with endangered animal
conservation, or participating in local education. In some cases, your
accommodations and meals will be covered in exchange for your volunteer
efforts.

Search
for volunteer vacations.

Carbon
offsets

If your latest
trip still leaves a Sasquatch-size carbon footprint, at least consider relief
for the planet though carbon offsets. There are companies that collect
contributions to put toward renewable energy.  While there has been some
debate about the effectiveness of these programs, you could just as easily
donate to your favorite environmental organization. Be sure to see if your employer
will pitch in for a match.

Calculate
how much you need to offset.

Search
for a carbon offset company.

Read
up on carbon offsets from Ask Umbra.

With
these few, simple considerations, your vacation can truly tread lightly on the
places you set out to enjoy and make it a much more restful and peaceful escape
– isn’t that what it’s really all about?

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(Photo: Getty Images)

The BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico
is the latest and most obvious threat to the world’s oceans. It may seem like
individuals can’t do or say anything to prevent another catastrophe like this
from happening. But people like surfer and restaurateur Dave Rauschkolb believe
otherwise.

That’s why he founded Hands Across the Sand and encourages people to go to the nearest beach on Saturday, June 26, 2010, for a
simple, peaceful demonstration. At thousands of locations worldwide, individuals will
stand on beaches at 12 noon local time, join hands for 15 minutes, and
literally form lines in the sand to show they oppose offshore oil drilling.

Earlier this year, Rauschkolb organized this type of
symbolic event across the state of Florida.
On February 13, 2010, thousands of people at 90 beaches held hands to show
the state government that Floridians didn’t want a ban lifted on oil drilling
in Florida
waters. Soon after that event, the state legislature tabled discussion of
the issue and the ban was not changed.

So Hands Across the Sand might not be a mere gesture. The more
people out on beaches this Saturday, perhaps it’s more likely that policymakers will pay
attention. It’s happened before.

Even if you don’t live near a beach, you can check the organization’s
website
for a supporting group. You’ll find events in most every U.S. state,
including the landlocked ones, plus a dozen countries worldwide.

Will you be there?

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Many vacations start with a plane flight, a car trip, or
even train travel. But have you considered a trip that ends with a night
spent inside an airplane or other vehicle? Creative hotels around the world are
reusing cast-off planes, trains, and trailers as stylish places for guests to
relax.

You’ll find posh suites in planes, retro-1950s trailers
decorated by hip artists, and cozy cabooses with a view. Whether you’re
visiting Chattanooga or New Zealand, a recycled, upcycled,
transit-themed hotel could be worth a stop.

Check out these unique places to stay. You might be inspired
to hit the road and then sleep inside your choice of transportation.

(Photo: Hotelsuites NL)

Airplane Suite, Teuge Airport, Voorst, Netherlands

A Dutch hotel company has converted an entire 1960s plane
into one luxury suite for two people. With a Jacuzzi, sauna, three flat-screen
TVs, a Blu-ray DVD player, Wi-Fi, and more, the airplane is a far cry from like
today’s typical, cattle-car flying experience. And at 350 euros per night,
these accommodations still cost less than coach-class tickets from the U.S. to the Netherlands.

(Photo: Winvian)

Winvian’s Helicopter Cottage, Litchfield Hills, Connecticut,
U.S.

Perhaps the most amazing of the 18 standalone cottages at
this lavish getaway is the one with a 1968 Sikorsky HH37 Sea King Pelican
helicopter as the fully stocked bar and high-tech entertainment room. This
might be as close as you can get to sleeping in a helicopter. The suite
features a whirlpool tub, walk-in steam shower, and fireplace, plus Winvian
offers numerous outdoor activities and a lush spa.
Rates start at $650.

(Photo: Woodlyn Park)

Woodlyn Park, Waitomo,
New Zealand

Near the glowworm-filled Waitomo Caves, Woodlyn Park gives visitors a taste of kiwi
culture and several unusual accommodation options. Guests can try out a train,
ship, or an airplane as a bedroom. The 1950s Bristol Freighter might be the
most historical option because this was one of the last Allied Forces planes to leave Vietnam. It now contains two double-bed hotel rooms available for NZ$160 to NZ$175. Kids
can even sleep in the plane’s cockpit, which has been turned into a bed loft.

(Photo: Kaitlin Wilson, Aurora-Express)

Aurora-Express, Fairbanks,
Alaska, U.S.

For a touch of local history along with a uniquely shaped
room, try the Aurora-Express. Owners Mike and Susan Wilson bought a series of
railcars that had previously been accommodations at the Denali State Park
Hotel, and they started their own B&B with these vehicles. High above Fairbanks on 16.5 acres
of spruce forest, the trains provide charming views for nightly rates between $145 and $225.

(Photo: Buchanan Railcar Inn)

Buchanan Railcar Inn, Buchanan,
Virginia, U.S.

The entirety of a 1934 Hiawatha dining car makes up this
elegant small hotel. Plush furnishings and fine wood details give
the Buchanan Inn the feel of a private, upscale club. But no brandy or cigars are
allowed onboard, and the rooms are a modest $135 per night. The inn is
conveniently located near the town’s shops, theater, and restaurants to make
for a lovely stay.

(Photo: Karrels’ Double K Ranch Bed & Breakfast Inn Homestay)

Karrels’ Double K Ranch Bed & Breakfast Inn Homestay, Tucson, Arizona,
U.S.

Book the caboose room for a private train getaway in a
completely restored Southern Pacific 1901 car. This place is perfect for
couples or families — an additional rail roader’s bunk is available for
children. The B&B’s four acres feature a pool and spa for guests, a cactus
garden, and model railways. Caboose residents will be visited by native birds
that come to feeders right outside the bay window. It’s a train lover’s and birder’s
paradise for only $135 per night.

(Photo: Chattanooga Choo Choo)

Chattanooga Choo Choo, Chattanooga, Tennessee,
U.S.

Pardon me, boy, is that the — OK, it had to be said. Yes,
this is the Chattanooga Choo Choo, and you can actually sleep in it. The
historic hotel at the train station made famous by Glenn Miller’s song has
three buildings full of accommodations. But what makes this place extra-special
are the 48 Victorian train car rooms. Top off your stay with dinner in the
dining car. Rates for the train rooms start at $180 a night.

(Photo: Controversy B&B)

Controversy Train B&B and Controversy Tram-Inn, Hoogwoud, Netherlands

If the Dutch airplane hotel isn’t right for you, how about
a train or tram hotel? The fine people at the Controversy complex have turned a
train compartment into a grandiose room featuring a boat as a bed. Nearby are several Dutch and German public transport trams that have been
restyled into cheery hotel rooms with all the amenities. You’ll even find a
spacious family suite with room for the kiddos. These commuter-themed lodgings are available for 60 to
300 euros per night.

(Photo: The Shady Dell)

The Shady Dell, Bisbee,
Arizona, U.S.

Heading out in an RV is expensive and wastes gas. Why not
get the same experience while staying put? And what better place to relax than
the mid-century modern oasis of the Shady Dell? You’ll find nine beautifully
restored vintage travel trailers, each outfitted in its own quirky retro
style. Authentic 45-rpm records, black-and-white TVs, tiki gods, and leopard
prints set the mood. One of these trailers can be yours for $50 to $130 per
night.

(Photo: Eric Ryan Anderson, El Cosmico)

El Cosmico, Marfa,
Texas, U.S.

If you’re looking for a vacation with something more, try a
trailer at El Cosmico. Not only does this site have well-kept vintage trailers, but it also sponsors a series of workshops and classes on
art, writing, sewing, and more. Plus, you’ll find tepees, yurts, and tent-camping nearby. The five 1950s trailers seem like the best deal — from $90 to
$125 per night for a spacious lodging with Southwest style.

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(Photo: Yahoo! News / AP Photo /
Charlie Riedel)

It’s been over a month since the BP oil drilling platform exploded
in the Gulf of Mexico. In the past few weeks, we’ve seen devastating
photos of wildlife affected by this disaster. The oil poses a serious
threat to fishermen’s livelihoods, marine habitats, beaches, wildlife, and
human health.

Although BP has publicly stated the company
will pay for all damages from the oil spill, many organizations still rely
on donations and volunteers to protect wildlife from this type of impact.

Here are some ways you can help.

Reduce your oil dependency:

For those of us who don’t live close enough to volunteer,
reducing our dependency on oil is one of the best ways to help. Driving less is
most important. Being conscious of products we buy is also valuable because oil
is used in thousands of everyday products from shampoo to trash bags.

Report incidents and submit suggestions:

Louisiana Bucket Brigade Oil Spill Crisis Map
Collects information from
citizens of the Gulf Coast about the impacts of the oil spill and documents stories
of those who witness it. Submit an incident.

Deepwater
Horizon Unified Command
Accepts incident
reports and suggestions on how to stop or contain the oil in the Gulf of Mexico.

Donate or volunteer to help threatened wildlife:

General

Greenpeace USA
Defends our oceans and protects our environment from toxic pollution like the
recent oil spill. Donate to Greenpeace USA. Find volunteer opportunities with Greenpeace USA.

Oxfam International
Works closely with local residents and community groups to immediately mobilize
for recovery efforts and to help vulnerable communities prepare for the coming
challenges. Donate to
Oxfam International.

Louisiana

Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana
Maintains a list of volunteers prepared to help with this response including wildlife
recovery, monitoring and photographing oil movement, and providing boats and
drivers for response activities. Donate
to Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana. Register to volunteer with Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana.

Louisiana Wildlife Rehabilitators Association
Advocates for preserving Louisiana’s battered coastal ecosystem. Donate to Louisiana
Wildlife Rehabilitators Association.

Volunteer Louisiana
Connects Louisiana’s citizens and out-of-state volunteers
with volunteer service opportunities available in all communities throughout
the state. Sign up to volunteer.

Florida

Emerald CoastKeeper
Gathers volunteer crews ready to help clean-up efforts. Donate to Emerald
CoastKeeper. Find volunteer opportunities with Emerald CoastKeeper.

Wildlife Sanctuary of Northwest Florida
Ready to mobilize and provide appropriate care to injured or orphaned
indigenous wildlife. Donate to Wildlife Sanctuary of Northwest Florida. Find volunteer opportunities with Wildlife Sanctuary of Northwest Florida.

National Wildlife Federation Gulf Coast Surveillance Teams
Looks for volunteers to track and report impacts of the oil spill, support wildlife rescue and rehabilitation efforts, and restore damage to delicate coastal ecosystems in the Gulf of
Mexico. Donate to the Gulf Oil Spill Restoration Fund. Sign up to volunteer.

For more volunteer opportunities, check out this how
you can volunteer post on Tonic.

Do you have more ideas about how to help? What are you doing to show support for Gulf Coast communities? Share your thoughts in  comments below.

Check out Yahoo! Green on Twitter and Facebook.

With so much money to be made in the energy production industry, more kids are likely choose to attend a college that offers an education that will land them a high-paying job developing alternative energy or researching the cleanest, most efficient fuels of the future. And more colleges are now offering courses and even majors that concern green technologies. A Newsweek article from one year later notes "Green Degrees in Bloom" with talk of degree offerings that will enable students to graduate as LEED-certified contractors. 

This post was submitted by ThinkDwell. Visit Our Blog.