Check out the latest video from the snarky green blog EarthFirst.com. It demonstrates how to bike to work without showing up all sweaty (and it stars Fresh Cut’s own greenophile Dorothee Royal-Hedinger!)

The world needs more people like Severn Cullis Suzuki who at the age of 9 started Environmental Children’s Organization (ECO). In 1992, at the age of 12, she raised money to attend the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro where she spoke to delegates from the UN. She received a standing ovation. Read about the experience and her thoughts on whether it truly had an impact ten years later here.

‘Tis summer and apparently that means it’s time for lots of video contests - including two chances to win a Flip Video camera!

1) Activate wants to feature your citizen journalism photos and videos for a chance to win a Flip Video camera and other prizes:

News shouldn’t be a spectator sport. The best stories engage you with the world. They are a call to activate. To celebrate our 100th Issue, we are stepping out of the mainstream-media box. We want to showcase the stories that activate your universe. Enter here to win some great prizes by sharing your story on our Flickr ™ group.

2) WE Can Solve the Climate Crisis wants suggestions for their “Unlikely Alliance” series:

You may have seen the ads already. Nancy Pelosi and Newt Gingrich. Al Sharpton and Pat Robertson. Complete opposites. But there they are, together, on a couch. Addressing climate change brought them together. Now it’s your turn to come up with the next pairing for the couch. Tell us what famous pairs would motivate the rest of America to put aside differences to solve the climate crisis. Click here to watch the ads and nominate the next “Unlikely Alliance.”

Here’s one they’ve already done with Al Sharpton and Pat Robertson. Personally, I’d like to see Bill Gates and Steve Jobs appear together…

3) Americans for Informed Democracy is offering a chance to win a Flip Digital Camcorder through their Rights Camera Action Video Contest:

“For the past six months, student groups across the country have been organizing innovative campaigns around global human rights issues and documenting their experiences on film. From labor rights to access to essential medicines, and from fair trade to divestment, these campaigns have touched upon a myriad of pressing human rights issues. Vote for your favorite video here and be entered to win a free Flip Digital Camcorder!”

Thanks to Treehugger.com, I just found two great videos made by German companies that spread the message of alternative energy in surprising ways.

“Mr.W” was created by Epuron in association with the German Ministry for the Environment. I don’t want to give away the details so just watch it below:

“Hail: Return of the Sun” is an ad campaign by Solon AG Fuer Solartechnik, manufacturer and distributor of solar cells and photovoltaic power panels, which operates in Germany and Switzerland. Some people think it’s a bit violent but I’m sort of glad they’re forceful with this important message.

The title, “Green Porno” is shocking but the reality is probably no less bizarre than what you first imagined. A series of eight short films depicting the strange and amazing sexual practices of insects, Green Porno was written, co-directed and stars Isabella Rossellini. It was created for the Sundance Institute and premiered at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival but was made to be viewed primarily on mobile phones.

Since the films have been pulled from YouTube “due to a copyright claim by the Sundance Channel”, I’m posting the AP story featuring clips and an interview with Rossellini below. However you can see all eight films on the Sundance website.

If anthropologists from the distant future took a look at the objects we’ve left behind, what conclusions would they come to? KQED’s QUEST series explores this idea with a funny and revealing take on the “future” analysis of plastic water bottles. What does our use of these objects say about us and our society?

Special thanks to Morgan M. for the tip!

We all know by now that drastically reducing carbon dioxide emissions would be good for the planet, but many of us also wonder how strict environmental policies could effect the economy. Is regulation aimed at protecting future generations worth it if people will suffer now because of reduced growth?

Enter Yale Professor Robert Repetto who has put together an interactive website that calculates the costs of climate change (Treehugger.com is featuring an great post about his work today). The site, See For Yourself, is unique because it allows you to input your own assumptions about the economic impact of policies to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Then you can form your opinion based on the final calculations. Hint: As the site states, “Assumptions matter. Even under worst case assumptions the economy would continue to grow.”

In addition to reducing pollution by taking cars off the road, bicycles can be used to bring clean water to people around the world. Check out this video about the winning entry in the Innovate or Die contest put on by Google and Specialized. The contest challenge was to build a pedal powered machine that has environmental impact. Team Aquaduct created a pedal powered vehicle that transports, filters, and stores water for the developing world. The YouTube description explains how the Aquaduct works:

A peristaltic pump attached to the pedal crank draws water from a large tank, through a filter, to a smaller clean tank. The clean tank is removable and closed for contamination-free home storage and use. A clutch engages and disengages the drive belt from the pedal crank, enabling the rider to filter the water while traveling or while stationary.

A video for all the bicyclists out there who feel like drivers just don’t see them! This awareness test was created as part of the UK’s cycle safety campaign that aims to reduce the number of cyclists that are hurt on London’s roads. We’d say it’s good for American drivers as well…

This year, the National Geographic Channel asked college students from around the country to create a film or PSA for their Annual Preserve Our Planet Film + PSA Contest using the theme “what you do counts.” From now until March 28th you can vote for your favorite short film and Public Service Announcement once per day from among the top finalists in each category.
Check out this amusing finalist, “Animal Cracker Nature Show” by American University student Genna Duberstein: