Building something with your own hands is very rewarding, but it’s important to know exactly what your doing!Jean-Claude Mengoni, a trained computer engineer, and passionate about green building; wrote a book called “La construction écologique”, very useful if you want to avoid very expensive mistakes or if you want to talk on equal terms with architects and other craftsmen. You will find in this book a very complete description of all the green building materials and the different ways of using them.From the foundations to the roof, all the main elements needed to buid a “low consumption”and green house are llisted.This book is really like a Bible for beginners in green building, talking about all the different building techniques and the materials needed, insulation and sealing ,and the different choices of framework.

« La Construction écologique » by Jean-Claude Mengoni, Published by Terre vivante, EUR 28

Journalist and co author of the best seller “Pesticides”, Fabrice Nicolino is concerned by the consumption of meat in the world nowadays. In his book, he talks in a very straightforward way about the frightening issue of industrial meat (“bidoche”, in French). He says it’s of very poor quality, because of the way the animals are fed (with GMOs) and because of the drugs they are given. In Europe, 70% of the total cultivated area is used the feed the cattle because it takes 7 to 9 vegetal proteins to make only one animal protein. Industrial breeding doesn’t only consume lots of energy, it’s also a threat to climate balance and most of all destroys the relationship between men and animals, pushing men to be very cruel. Living beings with sensitivity are reduced to the level of a merchandise. In the book the author describes very clearly the tragic cycle of meat consumption, which is increasing with countries like China and India, to the detriment of the environment, of health (swine flu is one very good example of that), of hungry men and of animals themselves.

« Bidoche », by Fabrice Nicolino, Ed. Les Liens qui Libèrent. 19,95€.

As a true chef, Alain Ducasse does it all : chef, CEO, manager and school principal. He’s everywhere, and now he teaches us new ways of cooking and eating green, and no doubts our appetites will be satisfied! He gives us the secrets for a great ecofriendly cooking.
First of all, even if it seems obvious, It is important to buy the right products. Buy local products, following the seasons, at the market, from producers who are committed to be ecofriendly.
One of the most important rules of cooking Is to respect the products, in order to regain the original flavor (Buy yourself a mortar to squash basil in it).
Did you know that to produce1 kg of beef you emit 4 kg of carbon, which is the equivalent of driving 60km, knowing that 1 kg of poultry and 1 kg of pork produce each 0.5 and 1 kg of carbon. So it all about eating less meet and most of all  choosing it better. It’s also a good thing to eat mostly veggies, herbs, and cereals.
Fish should only be eaten if it comes from ecofriendly fishing : it shouldn’t be on the list of endangered species : bass, mackerel and sardine are good fishes to eat.
Animal fat should be replaced as often as possible by olive oil. Cooking food with olive oil or simmering, by mildly heating the product or steam cooking, is highly recommended as a healthy ay of cooking.
Last but not least,eat fruits! Dessert made with fruits of the season are a good choice.

Check the book by Alain Ducasse “Natural, simple and good” (Alain Ducasse Editions, 35€). He ‘s proving us that you can eat well and respect the planet at the same time.

Crédit photo

Christophe Corne, founder of Dotgreen just published last September by Editions Dunod, an overview of the environmental impact of computing today. The situation is delicate: powerful computers are increasingly, efficient and fast, thus inviting men to change them more regularly.
This ever-increasing power leads to pollution of our environment, primarily because of the many waste caused by the material itself (cartridges, printing, computer,…), and secondly, due to the high energy daily needed to operate these machines.
The objective of this work? Educate those who use every day one or more computers, whether at home or at the office, making them understand that the technology race can not go …

Green It: Best Practices for Green Pages – Christophe Corne.
Editions Dunod. Price: 24€.

Pierre-Jean Sugier and Nicolas Peltier just published the first playful guide about small producers and local products in the Ile-de-France: The Grandgousier Ile-de-France. Relatively well designed, this guide provides comprehensive information on the days and hours of direct sales at farm markets or pick-ups. It also provides information on labels (including organic label), and in all Paris sectors of agriculture (seed, livestock, vegetables, tree etc.).
The Grandgousier Ile-de-France lists nearly 150 producers to help you eat better. This direct relationship with farmers from the region provides an accurate traceability and authenticity of products.

Jardins Dyonisiens du développement durable
Salah Taibi
100, rue Henri Barbusse
93200 Saint-Denis
France
T. : +33.1.48.26.49.86
Accessible from Paris via metro ligne 13

Early this year, here is an ideal ecofriendly gift as a token of gifts. The book by Yann Arthus-Bertrand, “1001 ways to eat responsibly” is a beautifully designed guide, giving you plenty of ideas for each day of 2009.

Published under the name of his non-profit association, Good Planet Guide by Yann Arthus-Bertrand talks about green products and gestures that are relatively simple to achieve on a daily basis. Because for him, it’s not too late to respond: “We can consume less and live better, be reasonable and happy. We can choose to build a new society that brings us together … We are at the foot of the wall . It is too late to be pessimistic. “

Catalogue Good Planet
by Yann Arthus-Bertrand, Éditions La Martinière.
Price : 25€.

The excellent book “Pesticides: a French scandal unveiled” was published by Fayard a few months ago.  It takes us to the heart of the most disturbing ecological secrets and reads like a thriller. The book features revelations on the truth about the use of pesticides in today’s society and the pressure from lobbies following the book’s publication. Despite being attacked and slandered, the authors of “Pesticides” have had the courage of their convictions. Of course, such determined advocates as Fabrice Nicolino and François Veillerette are not easily thwarted. The first is a journalist who previously worked for Le Canard Enchaîné and is now with Terre Sauvage; the second is a former chairman of Greenpeace and presently a trustee of PAN Europe (Pesticide Action Network).

And the goal of publishing this book? The reason is that as with all environmental problems, pesticides may be scary but at the end of the day, they appear to be a remote threat. However, in truth they are everywhere: in the atmosphere, rain and dew, rivers, groundwater – in fact, in any watercourse. As well as being harmful to the environment, pesticides are very dangerous to our health. The risks include cancer, neurological diseases and loss of fertility. We consume a significant quantity of pesticides every day completely unawares. Even when pesticides are used in very small doses in industry and farming, these tiny doses are repeated many times, so that their combined impact is eventually much larger. Today, 5% of fruit and vegetables still exceed the authorised limits of pesticide residue. It is worth raising awareness of this alarming issue if it leads to us being submerged by pesticides no longer.

For more information, visit the official website of “Pesticides: a French scandal unveiled”.

Pour plus d’informations, connectez-vous vite sur le site officiel “Pesticides. Révélations sur un scandale français”.