All the News That’s Fit

FitPlanet is one of two environmental consulting firms working with the Dow Live Earth Run for Water, a global event taking place on April 18 in cities and towns around the world. The mission: to raise awareness and financial support about the plight of millions who lack clean water.
The run distance is 6K, which symbolizes the distance a villager has to walk every day to get water if there is no potable water in their community.
FitPlanet encourages you to get out and participate, either run or walk. Many of the runs will have music and a festival.

FitPlanet is honored to be the Sustainability Sponsor for Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars 2010 US Tour from April 14-May 22.

We love their music and what the band stand for. The All Stars’ message is one of peace and hope, and they are bring much needed attention to the environmental and social plight of West Africa. We encourage the Friends of FitPlanet to check out their concern schedule and see them in concert. If you can’t see them live, then download their music for free and check out the compelling documentary of their incredible story.

Check out the press release here.

USA Triathlon announced Monday that it has extended its partnership with Athletes for a Fit Planet through 2010, supporting a commitment to implement programs that preserve natural resources and protect the environment via its GoGreen initiative.

“USA Triathlon is thrilled to be partnered with FitPlanet once again in 2010,” said USAT CEO Skip Gilbert. “Environmentally sound practices are important to our membership, and we continually strive to make our national events as sustainable and green as possible. FitPlanet has been an invaluable resource in reaching these goals, and I encourage all race directors to take the FitPlanet Pledge of Sustainability.”

As a key part of this partnership, USAT has taken FitPlanet’s Pledge of Sustainability for the 2010 Age Group, Elite and Sprint National Championship in Tuscaloosa, Ala.

“The fact that the USAT has taken the Pledge of Sustainability is testament to the USAT’s commitment to environmental responsibility,” said Bruce Rayner, FitPlanet’s Chief Green Officer.

Click here to read the USAT’s press release.

Kangaroos are cute, neat critters, earning them the well-deserved status of being Australia’s national symbol. When I saw my first roo, I remember being pretty giddy at the sight of this hopping marsupial. Even though I’ve since seen hundreds of kangaroos, I can’t help but be a bit thrilled when I startle them grazing during my early morning runs. Despite my appreciation for these animals, however, I am a strong supporter of kangaroo harvesting. While that idea might seem a bit brutal for people who see the animals solely as cute hoppers, they present a terrific alternative to Australia’s cattle and sheep industries.

Unfortunately for kangaroos, but fortunately for humans, they produce virtually no methane. Despite having a diet similar to ruminants, the kangaroo is able to digest its food without releasing methane, a gas with an effect that is 23 times greater than carbon dioxide. Currently, 11% of Australia’s carbon footprint is the result of the sheep and cattle industry. If the country were to switch from beef to roo burgers, however, fewer greenhouse gases would be produced Down Under.

This growing meat industry is also more environmentally friendly than farming cattle and sheep because kangaroos require less feed, are well adapted to drought and do not destroy the root systems of native plants. Of grazing pressures on Australia’s land, at least 63% is the result of the cattle and dairy industry and 28% is the result of the sheep industry. By contrast, kangaroos account for between 1% and 8% of the grazing pressure. In the driest, most fragile inhabited continent on Earth, this grazing pressure has a profound effect on the biodiversity and general health of the ecosystem.

In addition to being more environmentally friendly, kangaroo meat is also low in fat (2%) and high in protein. It is also low in cholesterol and high in conjugated linoleic acid (CJA), which reduces blood pressure. The meat is also pretty tender and tasty, especially good as a ground beef substitute.

While I am eating very little meat these days, I have had the opportunity to cook and eat kangaroo and have enjoyed it. The taste is something between venison and bison. Personally, I can’t understand why Australians don’t eat more kangaroo. In the country with the highest per capita greenhouse gases in the world, replacing beef and lamb with kangaroo could serve as a symbol to jump start Australia’s campaign to reduce emissions.

Learn more at…
BBC: Australians urged to eat kangaroo
BBC: Eat Kangaroo to ‘Save the Planet’
SMH: An industry that’s under the gun
Australian Kangaroo Industry Association
Per capital Green House Gas Emissions

Your Kitchen. Probably my favorite place – even if it’s your kitchen?! If you have me over – that’s probably where we’d congregate and, at some point during the visit, we’d probably talk about food and recipes.

Think about it – the kitchen is where the action takes place, right? Not only is it a place to hang out but it also provides sustenance and supports our daily need, to feed our bodies, and fulfill our cravings for… chocolate.

Have you ever thought about your kitchen as “eco-friendly”? Eating green, energy-efficient food prep, cleaning habits, using equipment made from sustainable materials, avoiding harmful chemicals in the products you use? I love this topic so I am sure you’ll see it pop up every now and again… and this particular blog is all about wasting not and wanting not.

I grew up listening to my mom reminding me to “know what I want when I go to the fridge.” Or giving useful advice like “turn the lights out when you are done using the kitchen.” And the old favorite, “eat everything on your plate or else you will not get dessert.”

My poor mom. I’d just roll my eyes, let out a huff and…do what I was told. She was right and still is right.

“Wasting” starts outside of the kitchen in the supermarkets. Have you ever stopped to notice the excessive packaging supermarket shelves? Unbelievable. What can we do?

Tip 1: When grocery shopping, take your own, cloth bags (or even used plastic bags) or buy one in the checkout line. Most grocery stores sell cloth bags.

Tip 2: If you don’t have access to a farmers market which is great way to get fresh food and support local farmers – and have to shop the local grocery store, then buy mainly fresh, unwrapped produce.

Tip 3. Buy in bulk- but not too much! If you are regularly throwing food away cut back on the quantity. It’s better to shop more often and buy less fresh food.

Tip 4: Reuse. Reuse. Reuse. …what you can, that is. Like old glass jars or bottles, grocery bags, and packaging you can’t avoid. And of course, eat leftovers.

Tip 5. Compost any uncooked organic waste (including cardboard and paper), and don’t fret if you don’t have a garden on which to spread your yummy compost. Even in big cities, many local farmers markets and organizations will gladly accept your compost.

Mary Miller is a pro-triathlete, eco-athlete and a Friend of FitPlanet. Look for her green tips, recipes, and musings in the months to come blog on the News page of the FitPlanet website. Share your ideas and thoughts on green livings with Mary at info@afitplanet.com .

Hello world and Happy New Year!!!

It’s a brand new year and brand new chance to start making healthier decisions.

2009 was my first year with A Fit Planet and (truthfully) my first year thinking on a daily basis about being more aware of the environment and how I can reduce my carbon footprint. I started blogging about “our” part and simple steps to being more Green. I’ve learned so much and I am excited to keep learning and growing in knowledge and wisdom in this area…and hopefully YOU can too!

I have to admit when it came to travel- all I think about is my carbon footprint in regards to my mileage. But the act of actually “traveling green” are the actions we take as individuals moment by moment- while getting from point A to point B.

Recently, I made the BIG flight over to Australia. A 40+ hours of day of driving, waiting, flying, waiting, flying, scrambling, flying, etc. — 5 plane changes, and long layovers suddenly created a perfect opportunity to watch and notice how “green” or how wasteful we humans are while traveling. It also provided a great challenge to see how “green” I could be while I traveled.

Mary’s Green Tip of the Week: Traveling Green:

- Book flights with airlines that recycle the waste created when serving food and beverages to passengers. I traveled with Air New Zealand and upon entering the airplane, they gave us plastic cups to reuse while on the aircraft. They also announced that they recycle as much as possible. British Airways, has a very strong environmental agenda. Southwest Airlines recycles all cabin waste, and was the first to offer electronic ticketing systemwide.

- Packing. I tend to over pack. I always do! BUT the one thing I’ve started to do is to pack everything I think I need, once that’s complete- I repack the necessities and limit the “frilly” and the “I wants”. A rule of thumb- pack then half it and pack again.

- Most airports have recycling bins- USE THEM! Even if you are in a rush- it doesn’t take much time nor effort to separate what’s trash and what’s recyclable.

- Pack snacks, lunch/dinner ahead of time! That saves YOU a bit of dosh to spend on that thing you’ve always wanted. And chances are- you’ll like what you’ve packed over what any chain restaurant/Hudson’s Book Shop could sell you.

- Everyone loves to buy things at the airport. Well, if you do…I challenge you to read the labels and investigate their environmental claims. Select products with genuine eco-friendly features, such as:

Non-toxic and natural contents
Made from recycled materials
Minimum packaging
Produced locally
Energy- or water-efficient

- Sigg it up. It’s good for you AND for the planet!! http://www.sigg.com

- Public Transportation. Get to know it and support it. Wherever you are, whenever you can.

There you have it, people. This month’s tip on Traveling Green. Have a wonderful day and Happy 2010!!

We’ve got some exciting news to share…

FitPlanet has been a strong supporter of the Council for Responsible Sport (CRS) since the industry standards body launched in late 2007. Now we have established a formal partnership with CRS with the mission of providing sporting events a clear roadmap for earning recognition as a sustainable event.

FitPlanet has aligned our Pledge of Sustainability with the CRS standard so event organizers can use the Pledge as a starting point on their journey toward CRS certification.

FitPlanet’s Pledge of Sustainability provides event organizers the opportunity to formally and publicly commit to produce sustainable events by implementing a minimum of 9 out of a possible 26 eco-practices. FitPlanet’s Pledge criteria are now aligned with the 41 credits that comprise the CRS certification standard.

An event pays $100 to take the Pledge, which gives it the right to display the Pledge of Sustainability logo and list their event in the FitPlanet Green Events Directory.

The event organizer has access to the password-protected FitPlanet Resource Center that includes a ‘how-to’ guide, a business directory of green product and service providers, and a 60-minute FitPlanet webcast for greening events produced by Active Network, a FitPlanet partner on the Pledge of Sustainability. In February, FitPlanet is introducing a monthly webinar series for race directors who have taken the Pledge and/or are working toward CRS certification.

“Fit Planet has had a great deal of success in supporting event organizers in their pursuit of attaining CRS Certification,” said Marisa McGilliard, Executive Director of CRS. “Most recently, the Marine Corps Marathon (MCM) earned CRS Silver Certification. This included achieving over a thirty-two percent reduction in waste to landfill in just one years’ time under Fit Planet’s direction. To put this percentage into context, the standard decrease in waste to landfill year over year for most events is ten percent.”

From running to snowboarding, cycling to lacrosse, the Council believes that athletes, spectators, and event directors have the opportunity to encourage sports to adopt standards of environmental and social responsibility. The CRS certification standard is the recognized de facto standard for mass participation sporting events in North America. Modeled on the US Green Building Council’s LEED green building certification system, CRS certification is a rigorous process requiring events to earn a minimum of 22 out of a possible 41 credits. To date, 19 events have earned the right to display the prestigious CRS emblem including the Austin Marathon, Baltimore Running Festival, Los Angeles Marathon, Marine Corps Marathon and the Birmingham Half Marathon in England.

ABOUT THE COUNCIL FOR RESPONSIBLE SPORT
The Council for Responsible Sport (“CRS”) is a non-profit organization based in Portland, Oregon, with a mission to establish a new standard in sport. One program of CRS is administering a sustainability certification for mass participation sporting events. The CRS Certification defines a set of credits that empower directors and organizers with a comprehensive framework to incorporate standards of environmental and social responsibility into their event while informing athletes and participants which sports adhere to those standards. Additionally, CRS works in collaboration with a number of partner organizations in creating sustainability plans for individual teams, sports associations, and entire leagues.

FitPlanet Contact: Bruce Rayner at 508-429-0976
CRS Contact: Marisa McGilliard: 503-863-6892

FitPlanet would like to congratulate Race Director Rick Nealis and the entire 2009 Marine Corps Marathon team for earning Silver Certification to the Council for Responsible Sport (CRS) standard. MCM is the largest event to date to achieve this certification level.
FitPlanet worked with the “People’s Marathon” through the planning, implementation and reporting process to ensure the race achieved it’s goal of Silver Certification.
CRS awarded MCM 27 out of a possible 41 credits in five categories: Waste, Climate, Equipment and Materials, Community and Outreach, and Health Promotion.
Congratulations MCM!

Los Angeles, CA-based Live Earth has tapped FitPlanet to help green the first annual Dow Live Earth Run for Water, taking place around the world on April 18, 2010.

The event will be the largest global water initiative in history aimed at solving the world water crisis. The campaign focuses on the sources and impact of the water crisis locally, nationally and internationally and suggests actions individuals can take to effectively address the issue:
- Conserve water
- Host or run/walk a Dow Live Earth 6k race on April 18, 2010
- Give money to provide clean drinking water where the problem is most critical
- Speak up by signing the UN petition making water a basic human right.

Each of the global events include a 6K run/walk and “water village” to help educate and inform participants about the critical water issues many communities around the world face. Many of the events will also include concerts.

The 6K distance represents the average distance many women and children walk every day to secure water.

FitPlanet is supporting Run for Water events in North and South America including Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, Mexico City, Minneapolis, New York City, Rio de Janeiro, Toronto, Sau Paulo, and Washington DC.

We encourage you to support the cause. Please click here to find a 6K Run for Water near you.

The campaign will integrate 6K Community Run/Walks (the average distance women and children walk for water in many third world countries) with concerts, online resources, and hands-on interactive experiences in countries across the globe — helping to create a tipping point to combat this crisis.

Athletes, please register for the 6 K run/walk on April 18th nearest you. Every step counts to solve the water crisis.

If there’s no event listed in your community, get involved by throwing your own “Friends of Live Earth” event on April 18th- we already have over 30 “Friends of Live Earth” events registered worldwide.

Here’s some ideas for a local event”
· Host a local run/walk
· Promote the run in schools, get local youth involved
· Show a movie (there are a lot of good ones out there: FLOW, Blue Gold, Tapped Out)
· Organize the clean-up of a local stream or pond
· Develop a local water & sanitation project

Click here for more information. If you have any questions or need more information about this event please e-mail us at: ngo@liveearth.org

Big news for two FitPlanet athletes in November.
Sarah Groff, professional triathlete, environmentalist, and Friend-of-FitPlanet, took 7th place in a time of 4:09:34 at this year’s Foster Grant Ironman World Championship 70.3 in Clearwater Florida, November 15.
Sarah was in the lead pack of elite women out of the water. The women’s winner was Julie Dibens of Great Britain, who came in just under four hours, setting a course record and breaking the 4-hour barrier.
And congratulations to Toby Radcliffe, FitPlanet’s Senior Consultant, Europe, who finished 27th overall at Ironman Arizona, November 22 in a time of 9:12:44.
Toby’s other recent accomplishment was working with the EDF Energy Birmingham Half Marathon, Birmingham England, to earn certification to the Council for Responsible Sport standard. Congratulations Toby!
For details on both Sarah and Toby visit the Ironman website. And for information on the EDF Energy Birmingham Half’s ReSport certification Click here.