Green

Politico reports:

In a secret ballot vote in the Cannon Caucus Room, House Democrats ratified an earlier decision by the Steering and Policy Committee to replace the 82-year-old Dingell with his 69-year-old rival. The vote was 137-122 in favor of Waxman.

The ascension of Waxman, a wily environmentalist, recasts a committee that Dingell has chaired since 1981 with an eye toward protecting the domestic auto industry in his native Michigan. The Energy and Commerce Committee has principal jurisdiction over many of President-elect Barack Obama's top legislative priorities, including energy, the environment and health care.

"Seniority is important, but it should not be a grant of property rights to be chairman for three decades or more,” Waxman said after emerging from the caucus meeting.

Emmy Award-winning actress and long-time PETA supporter Christina Applegate recently shared her super easy to make vegan truffle recipe with the world and it’s so very delicious.

The secret ingredient is the vegan cream cheese. Don't be scared - nowadays you can find it just about anywhere.

3 cups powdered sugar

1-8 oz. vegan cream cheese, softened

1 ½ tsp. vanilla Ground nuts, unsweetened cocoa or toasted flaked coconut

12 oz. organic semi-sweet chocolate, melted in a double boiler or on the lowest power in the microwave, stirred frequently.

1. Beat the “cream cheese” until smooth. Gradually add the powdered sugar, beating until well-blended.

2. Add the melted chocolate and vanilla and mix well. Refrigerate for about 1 hour.

3. Shape into 1-inch balls and roll in the nuts, cocoa or coconut. Chill in the refrigerator.

Makes about 5 dozen truffles.

via: sprig.com

Do you have an awesome vegan holiday recipe to share? Post it in the comments section and spread the vegan love.

Tired of seeing all the usual suspects piled into the nascent Obama administration? Want to see someone get in who signals a commitment to things like community organization and grassroots activism? Then sign this petition asking Obama to tap farm activist and author Michael Pollan!

Has your company been financially damaged by the current crisis? Looking for a plan to make a profit? Two words: go green.

LDK Solar Co., Ltd. a leading manufacturer of power-producing solar cells, reported today that its third-quarter profit doubled because of increased demand for solar energy.  

According to Martketwatch:

Food is making big headlines, and it's about time.

In a year marked by rising food prices and riots throughout the world, we've seen what happens when the reality of our energy, climate and water crises collides with trying to feed a planet.

As Vandana Shiva writes in her newest book, Soil Not Oil, "The era of cheap food and cheap oil is over." Add to this changing precipitation patterns, melting glaciers and increasing drought from climate change, and we have a recipe for disaster.

New Jersey's Atlantic City Convention Center has begun installing the first section of solar panels in an ambitious project that will result in the largest single-roof photovoltaic power system in the U.S.

The plan calls for 13,321 panels that will cover two-thirds of the convention center's roof making it possible to generate 2.36 megawatts and will prevent 2,349 tons of carbon dioxide from releasing into the atmosphere every year.

Construction started during the month of June and is expected to be completed by December 31, 2008.

The solar panel project is the first in a series of initiatives the ACCVA is planning, including participation in the Convene Green Alliance. The ACCVA was invited to participate as a founding member of the Convene Green Alliance, a grass-roots, industry initiative spearheaded by several associations that seek to affect positive environmental practices through national, regional and local outreach and education.