A few items that caught my attention in November:

• The British blog Electric reported that an environmental group is pushing for more stringent noise guidelines for wind turbines.  The group, Environment Protection UK, notes that the guidelines have not been updated in more than 11 years, changes in wind turbine have outpaced current regulations and suggest that plans for new wind farms could be in jeopardy due to outdated noise regulations.  The blog countered that about 94 per cent of households living near to turbines are in favor of them, citing a study from the British Wind Energy Association.  We’ll keep an ear to this process and monitor for replication on this side of the pond. 

• Tinker Bell was named the "Honorary Ambassador of Green" by the United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Communications and Public Information Kiyo Akasaka.  According to Toon Zone, several cast and crew members of the newly released Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure direct-to-video animated movie attended.  The announcement was part of the Secretary-General’s Creative Community Outreach Initiative (CCOI) to promote environmental awareness in advance of the upcoming Copenhagen conference on Climate Change.

Disney using a green issue to promote a new direct-to-video movie, sure, I can see that.  The United Nations being involved?  That caught me a little off guard.  Honorary Ambassador of Green Washing is more like it. 

•  Keeping on the theme for youngsters, The Redding (California) Record Searchlight reported on an innovative new design in lunchboxes from Yubo Lunch Box.  The Yubo is made of recyclable, BPA-free polypropylene plastic; is waterproof and dishwasher-friendly; and has three container sizes - a large sandwich, half-sandwich, and smaller round containers. Each container is injected with a food-safe, anti-microbial agent that prevents bacteria or virus growth.  Get yours at www.getyubo.com (no affiliation with me).