Statue of Liberty. Photo by satosphere. (Creative Commons)

Summer in New York City means tourists. Many people, from all over the world, make NYC their summer vacation destination. And why wouldn’t they, we have amazing museums, attractions, parks and of course shopping.

However, those of us that live in the big apple rarely get the time to appreciate those things. We’re always on the move, running from work to the gym to a restaurant and maybe to a play, movie or party. More and more folks are beginning to change that though in an effort to save money and gas by taking a “staycation” right here.

Staycations can range from visiting the sites you’ve never seen (like the Statue of Liberty) or staying at home and watching TV during the day. Either way you’re doing something different than your regular routine and you’re also saving money and gas - both things that folks are having trouble with these days.

Read the rest of this entry »

Diddy in coach? In case you ever doubted that we need new environmental solutions and that gas prices are too high, Diddy’s video below should convince you:

Of course oil is not the answer - but finding new energy solutions is. So takepart to help support the environment with We Can Solve It.

And let’s hope Diddy offset his travel using Terra Pass - takepart to offset your own carbon footprint when you travel.

Read the rest of this entry »

The TakePart Top 10 Weekly Roundup is a compilation of the week’s most notable stories from our entertainment-meets-social-action blogging network. Check out some of our most popular stories of the week, as well as a few TakePart blogger favorites!

TakePart Gang:

Arrested in Development by Wendy Cohen

Is Google Making Us Dumber? by Blair Golson

* * *

Nicole Hughes:

Top 5 Ways to Green Your July 4th

Greenopia: Eco-Guides For Your City

* * *

Andy Kondrat:

Hypermiling Contest Winner Gets 124 Miles to the Gallon

Rise in Fuel Prices May Lead to Dirtier Energy Sources

* * *

Jon Popham:

Red Tide in Yellow Sea Threatens Olympics

Mercedes-Benz Ditching Gasoline Cars by 2015

* * *

Giulia Rozzi:

46664 Concert: Happy Birthday Nelson Mandela

Denise Richards Likes to Share

* * *

Gina Telaroli:

Top 10 Movies for the 4th of July: For Patriots and Cynics!

The Radical and Beautiful Journey of Wall-E

So some of us hadn’t been too bent out of shape with the skyrocketing fuel prices because 1) Some of us are selling our cars anyway, and 2) Some of us kind of hoped this would necessitate a rise in renewable energies. However, there are some predictions floating around out there which state that may not be the case. The International Herald Tribune tells us,

According to Climate Strategies, an international climate policy network based at the University of Cambridge, one of the likeliest consequences [of high fuel costs] could be a rush to highly polluting technologies to extract more fossil fuels from different sources, including technologies pioneered during the last century to extract liquid fuels from coal.

The thought is that, instead of spending on innovation to combat fuel prices, governments and companies might instead revert back to tried and true, yet dirtier, practices to meet energy demand.

Read the rest of this entry »

High gas prices have sparked an American flight out of the suburbs and into urban areas according to a recent survey of 903 real estate agents, which found that 78% of potential home buyers reported high fuel costs as the reason for wanting to relocate to cities. In 2003, the average suburban household spent $1422 on gas annually; by April 2008 that number jumped to $3196. With higher fuel prices likely to remain, money-conscious folks are now moving back into urban areas where proximity and public transportation equals less driving.

Read the rest of this entry »

The TakePart Top 10 Weekly Roundup is a compilation of the week’s most notable stories from our entertainment-meets-social-action blogging network. Check out some of our most popular stories of the week, as well as a few TakePart blogger favorites!

Katie Halper:

Debra Winger and Rights Camera Action!

James Byrd Jr. and the Struggle for Tolerance

* * *
Nicole Hughes:

Green Video of the Week: 5 Tips for Reducing Your Garbage

The Week in Green Politics

* * *

Andy Kondrat:

Disappearing Destinations: Visit Before They Vanish

Chuck Norris Wants America to Start Drilling for Oil Here and Now!

* * *

Jon Popham:

NASA Plans Voyage to the Sun

The Girl Effect

* * *

Giulia Rozzi:

Gay Discrimination at Seattle Baseball Game

Bison Brucellosis

* * *

Gina Telaroli:

Fathers Day Celebration of Movie Dads #1

My Father’s Gift of Tecumseh!

Remember when Chuck Norris was a fun ironic name to bandy about harmlessly? Turns out that becomes less fun when he talks politics. Yesterday, on WorldNet Daily, which appears to be a website dedicated to conservative ideals, Norris posted an editorial called “Congress, get off your gas, and drill!”  I’m almost positive there’s a pun in there, but for the life of me, I can’t find it.

Norris, it would appear, is no fan of high gas prices. He is also no fan of foreigners controlling our economy. And he’s no fan of cap-and-trade systems to control carbon emissions, because that will raise gas prices another buck fifty. You know what? Let’s let the Texas Ranger himself sum up what’s wrong.

Read the rest of this entry »

If you’re stuck in traffic or waiting in a drive-through line, is it better for the environment to idle your car engine or turn off the gas? According to Slate, unless you’re driving something out of the dark ages, it’s rarely a good idea to leave the car running if you’re going to be stopped. Today’s cars use electronic fuel injectors, which rigorously control the amount of gas burned when you turn on the ignition. The outdated axiom that says turning on your car wastes the same amount of fuel as leaving the it idling for 30 minutes went out with the carburetor.

Read the rest of this entry »

The TakePart Top 10 Weekly Roundup is a compilation of the week’s most notable stories from our entertainment-meets-social-action blogging network. Check out some of our most popular stories of the week, as well as a few TakePart blogger favorites!

Katie Halper:

Necklacing Returns to South Africa, Tutu Calls for Peace, and History Repeats Itself

Ted Kennedy’s Malignant Brain Tumor: Sad News, But the Work Goes On

* * *
Nicole Hughes:

Bush’s Food Aid Package Promotes Use of GMOs

Gas Prices Exceed Those of 1973 Oil Crisis

* * *

Andy Kondrat:

Greenhouse Gas Emissions Could Cost US 38 Trillion Annually

USDA Budget Squeeze Forces Agency to Stop Tracking Pesticide Use

* * *

Jon Popham:

Brooklyn Bridge Birthday Celebration!

Smokey the Bear: Environmental Icon

* * *

Giulia Rozzi:

Suicide Tourism in New York City

Kristin Davis and Her Solar Powered Home

* * *

Gina Telaroli:

Media That Matters Film Festival Premieres on May 28th

Top 10 Ways Indiana Jones Saved the World: Part #1

Gas prices hit $4 per gallon in the Philadelphia area after weeks of upwardly creeping costs. Adjusted for inflation, the $4 gallon of gas is higher than the cost of gas during the infamous 1973 oil crisis.

With gas currently at $129 per barrel, seven gas stations in the eight-county area have posted prices of $4 or higher for regular-grade gasoline yesterday, according to AAA Mid-Atlantic. Gas hit $4 per gallon at Connecticut pumps earlier in the month too, and it’s now the state average. One station owner predicts that he’ll be charging as much as $4.50 per gallon by July 4th.

“It seems like it’s been inching up every day, even if it’s just by a penny or two,” Catherine L. Rossi of AAA MidAtlantic said.

“We had expected that some stations in the Philadelphia area would reach $4. We’re hopeful that the average price would not top $4, though it is certainly possible,” she said. [philly.com]

Read the rest of this entry »