According to Microsoft, the July 7, 2007 Live Earth concerts streaming on MSN.com made history with more than 8 million people watching over 15 million streams, with peak simultaneous viewership of 237,000 people.

The company claims that, to date, more than 30 million people witnessed some portion of the event online. The peak simultaneous viewership was during Madonna’s performance in London.

Live Earth television ratings, on the contrary, did not fair so well. Nielsen Media Research reported that only 2.7 million people watched the event last Saturday and was ‘least watched’ compared to other shows aired opposite it: ABC’s America’s Funniest Home Videos, CBS’ 48 Hours Mystery, and Fox’s America’s Most Wanted.

Here are some videos from Live Earth 2007:

Madonna - Hey you

John Mayer - (Not) Waiting on the world to change

The Police - Message in a Bottle

Shakira - Hips don’t lie

SM, the largest mall chain in the country, in partnership with Unilever has started with an initiative to make shopping an environmental experience through the Green Bag. I am actually pleased with this move. I’ve been longing for this to happen.

But what I really want to say is that I want one. I shop at SM every week but always forget to claim my green bag. I hope I won’t forget it this week. Oh well, look at the picture above. I wonder why those girls look unhappy.

They might like it better if they sport Keira Knightley’s bag.

Anyway, to those who claimed their bags already, please use them as intended. Use them when buying groceries and not for other purpose. Remember that the purpose of that bag is to cut down the use of plastics. That’s all for now!

Photo credits: http://greenphils.com/

I commute everyday on my way to the office. I believe that in that way, I help the environment repair itself. I have nothing against people who take their cars to work. But they do have an option to make the most out of the carbon emissions they contribute.

What do I mean? My past boss in the Energy and Clean Air Project (ECAP) is a good example. He encourages carpooling and I was one of the three people who benefited from that. We live around the same area. But I guess, what I really appreciate most there is the environmental side to it. Imagine if all people drove a car. One person per car is one of the most destructive things I could imagine.

Last week, I read about a planned effort of Beijing government to ban 1 million cars from August 7-20 “as a test-run to ensure clean air at next year’s Olympics.”

Beijing, one of the most polluted capitals in the world, was said to have pollution levels that cause around 400,000 premature deaths in a year.

Beijing has spent around 15 billion dollars on a massive pollution clean-up in the run-up to the Olympics, according to city officials, but air quality remains a key concern.

Despite assurances from the Chinese government, International Olympic Committee leaders have expressed deep concern about the problem and demanded “contingency measures” to contain the pollution threat. AFP

The 2008 Olympics will be held on August 8-24, 2007.

On a similar note, I would like to share that the electric jeepney has been launched here in the Philippines. Superbong reports…

Have a clean air day! Breathe free and have a longer life. Don’t let the smoke get in your eyes.

A pumping malfunction from the Coffeyville Resources refinery last weekend caused more than 40,000 gallons of crude oil to overflow, causing panic and concern from the local leaders and residents.

Kansas got a break from the weather Monday, but more rain was scattered over Texas and eastern Oklahoma, the latest in nearly two weeks of storms. It was the 20th straight day that rain had fallen in Oklahoma City. AP

The flood created great damage in the people’s homes and properties. With the oil spill, the problem becomes a bigger one as people worry about their safety and health, as well as the ill effects this might cause the environment.

“We’re very concerned. It’s chemicals mixed with water,” said Coffeyville Mayor Virgil Horn, whose own home was submerged. AP

Thousands have been evacuated from their homes and are now waiting for the recede while President Bush “declared a major disaster in Kansas and ordered federal aid for recovery efforts elated to storms and flooding that began June 26.”

Eleven people have been reported dead and two are missing.

Some photos:

FYI: It had been raining in Kansas for 20 days straight.

Read the full article here.

A related article.

In an earlier post where Matt Dillon asks on how to save energy, I rejoiced because Yahoo! Answers has incorporated a feature such as having celebrities ask relevant questions pertaining to environmental messages. Once again, Yahoo! shows us what being green is all about with its new environment online hub called Yahoo! Green.

When you get to the main page, there’s a tagline which says “Many small changes equal one great change.” Yahoo! Green is focused on one of today’s hottest environmental topics: climate change. It has a section wherein you can calculate your personal impact to the earth. Apart from that, it also contains relevant information on environment and tips on how to be a better environmental steward. Take action and be counted!

I super recommend this site. Go visit Yahoo! Green and live it green!

Recommended must-read for today: How to Green your Coffee and Tea.

Last June 21, millions of Londoners joined the campaign to raise awareness on climate change. London turned off its lights from 9-10 PM during this night in an effort to make a difference for the environment.

An estimated 2 million light bulbs went out around the capital, saving roughly 750 MWh of electricity in just one hour – enough to run 3,000 televisions for a year.

Homes, shops, businesses, the Buckingham Palace, and Tony Blair participated in this noteworthy endeavor, showing to the rest of the world that London is a green city that respects the earth. Even the Piccadilly Circus Advertising Lights went out for the first time since World War Two! That is just amazing.

Check out the video of this event:

This is again another success story that can be replicated in other places. I admire London, its people and leaders, for their sense of environmentalism in spite of its first-world status. They are not afraid to give back to the environment what they have taken from it. For your social conscience, London, you are now close to my heart.

Know more about this initiative…

Tidbit, a female blacktip reef shark in Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center reacted negatively to routine sedatives administered to her shortly after biting the shin of a curator, causing her death.

However, as veterinarian Bob George sliced the body of the 5-foot 94-pound shark, he was surprised to find an outline of a fish not in Tidbit’s stomach but in her uterus. How could have Tidbit become pregnant when there is no male blacktip shark in the whole aquarium. Could Tidbit have reproduced asexually or is her pup a hybrid? That remains a question up to now.

However, if this is proven to be a case of asexual reproduction, this will not be the first. The article says:

A recent study had documented the first confirmed case of asexual reproduction, or parthenogenesis, among sharks: a pup born at a Nebraska zoo came from an egg that developed in a female shark without sperm from a male.

George initially was depressed by the events. But something positive emerged out of the negative.

Since Tidbit hadn’t looked pregnant — and there was no reason to think she was pregnant — the pup likely would have been born and immediately eaten by another shark, without aquarium employees ever knowing it had existed.

Read the whole article here.

The manta ray believed to be first born in captivity has died at a young age of 4.5 days. The baby manta ray was said to have died because of its father’s abuse.

Baby manta ray was born in Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium in Japan. It measured six feet wide.

The father’s violent behavior apparently caused cuts and bruises on the baby according to the keepers. Up to now, the they are still looking at what caused the aggressive behavior of the father. Investigators are already handling the matter.

*Sigh* poor baby…

Photo Credits: weddingthailand.com

When June comes, there is one thing that comes to mind - weddings!

History tells us that June Weddings have roots in early Roman times, Pagan traditions and the Elizabethan England… The Roman goddess Juno — goddess of women’s well being and marriage lends her name to this month.

Pagan traditions of hand-fasting, summer solstice — the longest day of the year, first harvest — not only of crops but said to be the ‘harvest of emotions” are all part of the origin of the June wedding. Our current honeymoon, has origins in the Pagan “honey moon” — the first moon after the summer solstice and named for the honey-flavored mead drunk after the solstice hand-fasting. PRWeb.com

But now that a lot of people are becoming more conscious about the environment, consider a green wedding just like Kristy Wang and Nik Kaestner.

I read from KansasCity.Com that this lovely couple’s big day was “green” from the bridal apparel to the reception and car. Here are some tidbits:

• The bridal gown has a design and style that makes it suitable for parties too, meaning it can be used again
• They organized guest car pools in hybrid vehicles
• They chose an “outdoor Japanese garden instead of a big, energy-sucking reception hall”
• They used “homemade tablecloths that were later turned into dinner napkins”
• The food served came from locally grown organic vehetables and fish catched using sustainable means

According to the article in the above mentioned website,

“Going green is one of the great business opportunities of the 21st century, and the rapid growth of green weddings and green wedding consulting groups is not surprising,” said David Cooperrider, a business professor at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland. “In fact, wedding advisers that are not going green are going to be at a competitive disadvantage.”

Are you getting married anytime soon? Make it green.

Read the complete article here…

Once again, Keira Knightley, star of Pirates of the Carribean and Pride and Prejudice, was spotted carrying her “I’m not a plastic bag” handbag while shopping at a Farmer’s Market in central London last week.

The bag, which got sold out after Knightley was seen sporting it early this year, is from the eco-fashion line of Anya Hindmarch. At least, celebrities like Knightley choose to use their status to bring about positive change in society. Hopefully, more than being a fashion trend, this inspires people to imbibe greenism in their lifestyles.

To Keira, two thumbs up! You’re definitely more than just a pretty face! Thanks to ecorazzi.com for this scoop. Ecorazzi’s always first to know about the green trends of our favorite stars. Kudos!