Ralph Higgins is the author of Higgins Unhinged and is a regular contributor to the Green Business Chamber website.

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The following two articles are only related by the fact that they both involve eating.

Where Has All The Oil Gone?

As the Deepwater Horizon spill fades under the weight of more current economic news, it’s interesting to go back to the “incredible shrinking” oil slick. The hole was plugged, but the prognosis for cleaning up the surface oil and the reports of globs of oil and massive oil plumes drifting ominously beneath the surface was anything but encouraging. Apocalyptic mythology and threats of Armageddon cost jobs, lowered property values and devastated tourism. It was a mess.

Then magically the oil seemed to disappear. News reports searched for an explanation as to where the oil had gone. But it isn’t magic. The media failed to account for the dilution of the oil when it hit the Atlantic and furthermore the reports of huge plumes of oil beneath the surface proved to highly exaggerated and contrary to the laws of physics. Oil is lighter than water and rises above water. Media hysteria is nothing new.

But there is another interesting reason for the fact that 75% of the oil was gone by early August. The Gulf has the ability to break down oil on its own. The Gulf is a rich ecological smorgasbord of natural oil seeps, oil-eating bacteria and marine life that eats the bacteria and other marine life that eats the marine life that eats the bacteria and on it goes.

In addition to the normal process, scientists have discovered a new microbe closely related to a well known petroleum-degrading microbe known as Oceanospirillales that operates deep the ocean waters. This new version loves oil like Italians love pasta. It thrives in deep cold water where temperatures have been recorded at 5 degrees Celsius (41 Fahrenheit). Scientists were initially concerned that these little oil gobblers would use up oxygen in the water, creating a “dead zone” where other marine life could not survive. But that does not appear to be the case. The eating frenzy continues and life flourishes.

So, again, Mother Nature cleans up after us.

. . . . . . . . .

In Search of Grub Dealers


Speaking of eating, how about this: The UN is considering strategies to cut levels of meat consumption worldwide as part of its commitment to stamp out famine and cut down on greenhouse gasses. The UN claims that cows and pigs and other livestock require too much space and fodder to be an energy-efficient food source as the population increases. So the UN Food & Agriculture Organization is urging us to eat bugs.

Is that a foreign concept? I’ve eaten a few bugs in my life, mostly when riding a motorcycle and I had a cousin who once ate a spider during a psychotic episode where he morphed into a chameleon.

John the Baptist lived on locusts and honey and the 1st-century Roman author, Pliny, wrote that beetle larvae, raised on a mixture of flour and wine, was considered a great treat among toga-wearers. The UN recommendation of grubs, bugs, scorpions and giant ants will no doubt help us lose weight, if nothing else. It’s evidently high in protein.

An authentic package of giant toasted ants states that these special treats have a “nutty, bacon-like taste, with an earthy, spicy kick.” For that taste combination how about cashews, Canadian bacon, top soil and Tabasco sauce instead? Forget the top soil.

It’s estimated that 80% of the world’s population devour the creeping and crawling creatures found under rocks. Since our country is moving into third world status at an alarming rate, grub dealers and ant farmers may corner the food market someday. In the meantime I’ll stick with steak and ravioli.

Wal-Mart says, “We save people money so they can live better.” Sustainability is an example of how they fulfill this mission. Despite their success and their satisfied customers Wal-Mart is often the butt of jokes and the object of condescension by some.

But for the practical shopper, Wal-Mart is a good bet. This company is also on the forefront of environmental awareness and has implemented programs to move aggressively in a green direction. There are lessons to be learned from the Wal-Mart business model and the green goals that they define very precisely.

Wal-Mart has three goals, which were initially established in 2005:

Goal #1 – Be supplied 100% by renewable energy

Goal #2 – Create zero waste

Goal #3 – Sell products that sustain people and the environment

Regarding the company’s ambitious green program, Michael Duke, President and Chief Executive Officer states, “’Sustainability 360’ is what we call the approach that has guided the expansion of our efforts. It’s a company-wide emphasis on integrating sustainability into our business by engaging the Wal-Mart’s associates, suppliers, communities and customers. Together, our goal is to make an even bigger difference in people’s lives, in our businesses, and in the communities that we touch around the world.”

This is not a stand-alone issue that is separate from or unrelated to the business of Wal-Mart and it’s not an abstract or philanthropic program either. The company doesn’t view this as a corporate social responsibility, which is interesting, but Wal-Mart builds sustainability into their business, because it is actually good for their business.

The Green Business Chamber website has stated that green business programs can be good for business and, based on its recent “Sustainability Report”, Wal-Mart is proving that to be very true.

For example, by using more renewable energy, reducing waste and selling sustainable products Wal-Mart has managed to take costs out of their system. This translates into lower costs to customers, which then translates into more customers.
The company has invested heavily in solar and wind energy in Mexico, Canada and the U.S. toward the goal of being supplied 100% by renewable energy.

The company goal of zero waste has already resulted in a 57% reduction in waste, which would normally go to landfill.

Sustainability, in the words of Sam Walton, has really helped “our people make the difference” in their own lives and in their communities. Whether it’s compact fluorescent light bulbs or organic milk, the company has helped make sustainability affordable and accessible to its customers and members. These products which contribute to sustainability should not be out of reach cost-wise to customers, so the company strives to level the field in this regard.

Despite the fact that we are going through tough times and most companies are cutting back, Wal-Mart has remained committed to their sustainability program and is actually expanding their efforts worldwide. This is a green business program on a grand scale and it is proving beneficial to Wal-Mart as a business and to their customers in cost savings.

Back in 1947 a Norwegian explorer and writer named Thor Heyerdahl built a raft called the “Kon-Tiki”. He sailed for over 100 days across the Pacific Ocean and made a documentary in 1951. I saw the film and one point that he made never left my memory. He said that not a day went by that he didn’t encounter trash floating in the water. This was over a half century ago and pollution of the ocean was well on its way even back then. Frankly, I found that upsetting enough that I have never forgotten it.

More recently scientists have discovered a floating island of trash in the Pacific Ocean estimated to be somewhere in size between Texas and the continental United States. This mass of trash consists primarily of plastic, which doesn’t biodegrade. It photo degrades and does break down into smaller particles, but it never actually goes away. Plastic kills sea life and even when broken down into small particles passes through various forms of sea life and eventually to fish that we eat. Evidence indicates that there may be a connection to various health problems in humans as a result.

Despite our “throw-away” culture, it’s childish to think that what we throw away will simply cease to exist. Some people and some industries are like a kid who sticks his chewing gum under his desk. Out of sight, out of mind. There is no excuse for this kind of irresponsibility. It’s our job to take care of the earth without resorting to counterproductive and foolish extremes.

But there are extremes in every movement. A famous female entertainer recently claimed on TV to use only one square of toilet paper in order to save the environment. (Don’t dwell on that one.) A well-intentioned scientist changed the diet of test cows to cut down on bovine flatulence (gas), which some think is destroying the planet. He could have used that methane gas productively by hooking his cow to an outdoor barbeque. What a waste of a natural resource.

The recent volcanic eruption in Iceland reversed all the environmental benefits of riding a bike to work, feeding cows Beano, and saving toilet paper. In fact, all of our efforts in cutting down on greenhouse gases were destroyed in one volcanic blast. But look at Mt. St. Helens today. It’s recovered. The earth has bounced back from volcanic destruction centuries before college kids discovered trees.

Some are overly concerned about carbon dioxide - the gas that we exhale. You can easily spot these folks. They tend to be blue. They’re blue because they’re holding their breath to avoid producing carbon dioxide and a rise in sea levels. They’ve forgotten that plants and trees feed on carbon dioxide. They might actually help the environment if they went outside and exhaled on a Geranium.

Then we have the geniuses who want to use corn as fuel, which encourages people in third world countries to clear-cut rain forests in order to grow corn and make a quick buck. Ironically, the forest soil left after the land has been cleared can’t support corn crops and is rapidly washed away by the tropical rains. So now the world has lost a valuable natural resource and a source for much of our medicine while attempting to produce fuel to drive cars to a mall where fertile farmland has been covered in concrete. Pogo once said, “We have met the enemy and he is us.”

We need to be aware of the motivations of those who stoke the fires of the global warming and the man-made climate change hysteria in an effort to alter the world’s economic environment under a green banner. Does any thinking person believe that the cap and trade program is actually intended to save the environment rather than a program designed to transfer wealth on a global scale? Isn’t it obvious that the environmental movement has evolved into a religion that is anti-capitalist; anti-business and maybe even anti-human?

So the question is this: Can a business owner support aspects of the “green agenda” without being sucked into full-blown radical environmentalism? The answer is “yes”.

It is possible to be environmentally responsible without the hubris to think man has more power than solar activity in effecting climate change. It may be a slippery slope and somewhat tricky in today’s politically correct culture, but it is possible to be conscientious about the environment without trading brains for tofu. And it can actually be good for your business and decrease the actual cost of doing business, but discernment is critical.

The Green Business Chamber supports responsible business practices that contribute to a cleaner and healthier environment. We think this is eminently important. Applied intelligently, these practices can also contribute to a healthier bottom line for your business. So join us onboard the Green Business Chamber.

This beautiful motorcycle was designed and developed by Siemens with the Orange County Choppers of the American Choppers Show on TLC. This is their first all electric chopper. In an effort to reflect the Siemens company's environmental awareness and to stay on the cutting edge of the green economy, this joint effort has resulted in a forward-looking bike that runs on electricity. It's a beauty with great market potential.