Stuff We Found This Weekend - 05.31.09

Wow!

Family, Kids & Health Stuff

• Eco Day Camps: Want kids to head outside this summer...? - (Ideal Bite) "Just sign up your squirts for eco day camp. They'll learn about nature, farming, science, and sustainability - and have some kitschy fun while they're at it." Some great suggestions in this post.
• Solar-Powered 6-in-1 Robot Drives, Flies and Floats - (EarthFirst) "For $21 you can distract your kids – or amuse yourself – with a fun kit that can be transformed into six different solar-powered robots."
• Modularean Eco Prefab Dollhouse - (Inhabitots) Looking for a dollhouse for your little one? This has got to be the coolest we've seen (and it's made from sustainable materials)...wouldn't mind having one of these in full-size!
• Parenting for a peaceful world - (Mother Nature Network) "Does your parenting style affect society as a whole?...an interesting book that delves into how child-rearing customs have shaped societies and major world events."

Food Stuff

• Massaged Kale & Current Salad with Gorgonzola - (Cookus Interruptus) Massaging your food...this looks like a fun recipe to try!
• Best-Selling Author John Robbins Gives The Low Down On Meat-Free Diets - (Ecorazzi) Warning - video in this post is graphic and difficult to watch.
• The Green Review: New Documentary "Fresh" Inspires Food Reform - (Ecorazzi) "Fresh featured a cast of real life characters who literally spend every minute of every day inspiribg the world to change our relationship with food."
• The unhealthy truth - (Mother Nature Network) Book - The Unhealthy Truth: How Our Food is Making Us Sick – and What We Can Do About It - "...modern developments in our food system very well might be the reason that so many children in the United States are disproportionately sick..."

Home Stuff

• Growing Chair: From the Forest to Your Living Room - (EarthFirst) This could be cool as backyard furniture so that it can keep growing as stay green.
• Helpful Tips On What To Do With Baking Soda - (EcoFriendlyDaily.com) Who knew you could do so much with baking soda...okay, well maybe our grandmas...
  
• Salvaged Dreams: Recycled Plates & Bowls by Fox & Clover - (Green Your Decor) These are gorgeous, handpainted plates and bowls made of recycled/repurposed glass.
• 32 amazing Examples of Recycled Furniture Art - (WebEcoist) Some of these are a bit odd, but some are pretty cool.

Beauty & Fashion Stuff

• Reviving Vintage Bags - (GirlSustainable.com) We love vintage, and these reworked bags are gorgeous.
  
• Berries - Ingredients in Anti-Aging Skincare - (Green Living Ideas) You can even make your own skin toner - see post.

Tech & Science Stuff

• Concentrated Solar Power Could Generate 25% of the World's Electricity by 2050 - (CleanTechnica) "...study from Greenpeace, the European Solar Thermal Agency, and the International Energy Agency’s SolarPACES Group..."
• General Motors First Hybrid: from 1969! - (Gas 2.0) Just imagine where we could be today if we actually made and bought hybrids back then.
  
• Google's new formula for energy independence - (Mother Nature Network) "Google lays out a plan to make renewable energy cheaper than coal."

Work & Business Stuff

• Great Green Job of the Week: Communications Director, Amazon Watch - (EarthFirst) "Join Amazon Watch, a dynamic organization that has led the way to ground breaking victories for indigenous peoples’ rights and the environment..."
• Green Jobs From Home - May 30, 2009 - (Green Gigs)
  
• Choose a green career - (Mother Nature Network) Now there's an Idiot's Guide to Green Careers!

Nature & Environment Stuff

• Climate Change Kills 300,000 A Year - (AboutMyPlanet.com) "Former United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan led a think-tank study which...found that climate change related deaths number around 300,000 a year.
• Can Desalination Projects Remedy California's Drought Problem? - (Blue Living Ideas) Possible in the short run...but bad in the long run?
• Carbon Emissions in U.S. Make Biggest Decline Since 1982 - (Global Warming Is Real) Just too bad that it took a dive in the economy for this to happen.
  
• Agency says climate change amplifying animal disease - (Grist) "Climate change is widening viral disease among farm animals, expanding the spread of some microbes that are also a known risk to humans, the world’s top agency for animal health said on Monday."
• Global Warming Will Harm U.S. Poor Disproportionately - (TheDailyGreen) "Study highlights risks of climate change to poor and minority populations within the U.S."

Arts, Entertainment & Travel Stuff

• Why Cate cares about climate change - (Celebs Gone Good) "She traveled to Copenhagen on Monday to participate in the World Business Summit and give business leaders a piece of her mind."
• HOME - a date with the planet video - (CTN Green News) "Spectacular Videography of the Planet, in a Film by Yann Arthus-Bertrand. THIS FILM IS STUNNING. We all have the power to change … so what are we waiting for?" (trailer video in post)
• Prius Stars in Casual Mafia's Rap Video - (EarthFirst) this is funny.
  
• ECO ART: Plastic Bottle Installation in NYC - (Inhabitat) "Sometimes it is hard to truly grasp how much waste we create as a society. That’s why NYC-based graphic design agency, MSLK is creating an installation that is an in-your-face visual of the amount of water bottles consumed in the United States. " (video in post)

International Stuff

• China to Impost Stricter Gas Mileage Rules Than U.S. - (EcoGeek) "While China still has a long way to go in cleaning up their technologies, they've repeatedly shown great ambition and advancements in areas like electric cars and renewable energy."

Political, Social & Economy Stuff

• The Prez hits up DC's "Five Guys" restaurant for lunch - (Obama Pics Daily) Fun pics.
• The FLOTUS @ Bancroft Elementary School - (Obama Pics Daily) Kids just seem to love her.
• Photos from Obama's Great-Uncle - (Obama Pics Daily) Kind of neat to see...
  
• The Military responds to Global Warming - (Change.org: Stop Global Warming) "Could the U.S. military help lead the nation into a clean energy future?" Could be the best way to get naysayers to realize how important this issue is.

Other Random Cool Stuff

• Activist Nuns convince Chevron to Track its Carbon Footprint - (EarthFirst) That's what we call "good sisters".
• The Butts Remain - (EcoSalon) Cigarette butts, that is... "Cigarettes might go up in smoke but the butts remain and account for 1.7 billion pounds of non-biodegradable trash."
• Global Warming's Six Americas 2009: An Audience Segmentation -(Goerge Mason University: Center for Climate Change Communication) Interesting report on on how Americans are divided on their perception of global warming...eye opening. This is a PDF file to download.
• Blowin In The Wind - (Ecopreneurist) Funny cartoon.
• Trade this for that: Compact discs - (Mother Nature Network) "CD-Rs are wasteful. Why not try CD-RWs packaged in recycled plastic?"
• Ka-ching, ka-green - (Mother Nature Network) "Save the planet -- one credit card purchase at a time."

VIDEO: The World According to Monsanto - Full Documentary

One of our favorite blogs, Twilight Earth, recently posted The World According to Monsanto in its entirety - albeit, broken into 10 parts so that it could be viewed via YouTube. Everyone should see this.

From their post:

The World According to Monsanto is an in-depth Documentary that looks at the domination of the agricultural industry from one of the world’s most insidious and powerful companies.We are pleased to bring you the full documentary in 10 parts.

This is one of the most powerful, must see films for anyone interested in the behind the scenes world of the food industry, and how just one world dominating corporation holds the keys and patents to much of the worlds food supply.

Monsanto, which started out as one of the planets largest chemical companies is also responsible for such chemical compounds as Agent Orange, Bovine Growth Hormone, PCBs and genetically-engineered crops.

Click on image below to see original post and the documentary.

Quote of the Week - 05.31.09

"We are responsible for our own destiny. What matters is how we improve ourselves from this moment forward."

~Daisaku Ikeda

"We are responsible for our own chocolate. What matters is that we buy Fair Trade form this moment forward."

~Coco-Zen

Stuff We Found Today - 05.28.09

Building swallowed by the desert

Family, Kids & Health Stuff

• My Teddy Feeds Hungry Kids in Africa. What Does Yours Do? - (Yahoo! Shine) "Made of organic cotton and natural burlap, the FEED Bear may look like a run-of-the-mill teddy, but its sales support Plumpy'nut, whose mission is to feed severely malnourished children ages five and under in sub-Saharan Africa..."
• Campaign for Safe Cosmetics: Remove Toxic Traces from Shampoo - (TheDailyGreen) "Johnson & Johnson has been asked to remove traces of two potentially harmful chemicals from baby shampoos and other children's bath products."
• Eco-Safe daycare - (Mother Nature Network) "How to find a childcare facility that will give you peace of mind."

Food Stuff

• Reusable Snack Bags: Want a smarter way to pack your kids' cookies and carrot sticks? - (Ideal Bite)
• The Man Behind Mars Bars Going FairTrade - (Treenhugger)
• Green Your Drinks: Cocktails - (Sierra Club: The Green Life) Mmm...cocktails...organic cocktails! There also a post on Wine and on Beer.
• Find a pick you own farm near you - (Mother Nature Network) "If it's not growing in your own back yard, the best way to get the freshest produce is to pick it yourself from a farmer's field." This could be a fun outing with the kids!
  

Home Stuff

• EPA: The rising threat of radon - (Mother Nature Network) "A silent killer lurks undetected in millions of homes across the United States. Find out how to stop it."
• The Most Energy Efficient Way to Cook - (TheDailyGreen) "Comparing microwaves, gas stoves and electric stoves."
• Clear2Go Filtered Water Bottle - (Sustainable Is Good) "The Clear2Go water bottle with replaceable filter, can be filled from any tap water source, providing a convenient solution for clean water on the go."
• Turning trash into cash - (Mother Nature Network) If you haven't heard of RecycleBank, check this post out.
• New Leaf Paper Made From Recycled Banana and Palm Fibers - (Inhabitat)
  

Beauty & Fashion Stuff

• Sustainable Wedding Gowns from Puridee, Adele Wechsler and Hanna Hartnell - (EcoStiletto) Gorgeous gowns that are sustainable too!!
• 5% Off Toms Shoes - (EcoAvenueLTD via Twitter) "Love This! Toms Shoes - 5% off with Coupon Code TomsBDAY -For every pair you buy they give a pair to a child in need."

Tech & Science Stuff

• Tesla Recalls 345 Electric Vehicles - (TheDailyGreen)
• Green GT's All-Electric Supercar Unveiled - (Inhabitat) "...a fully-electric vehicle that is heralded to be the most powerful and cutting-edge electric race car ever built."

Work & Business Stuff:

• Telecommuting Green Jobs - May 28, 2009 - (Green Gigs)
• Green Jobs From Home - May 27, 2009 - (Green Gigs)
  

Nature & Environment Stuff

• San Francisco Launches EcoMap, Busts High-emission Zip Codes - (Whole Travel Blog) "The site tracks the amount of carbon emissions by zip code, and even breaks down the information to the source of the greenhouse gases: transportation, energy use or waste."
• Amazing Buildings Swallowed by the Desert - (WebEcoist) Ahhh...and nature takes back what man built...
• The Dead Zone - How Farming is Killing the Fishing Industry - (Twilight Earth) "Alexandra Cousteau, has created Expedition: Blue Planet. In this segment, she discusses the how farming is creating a dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico." (video in post)
• Study: Northeast U.S. Most at Risk for Sea-Level Rise - (TheDailyGreen)
• 85% of the World's Oyster Reefs Are Gone (and the Remaining 15% Are Imperiled) - (TheDailyGreen) ...so not a good thing!
  

Arts, Entertainment & Travel Stuff

• Nickelodeon And Disney Help Spread The Green Word - (EcoStiletto)"...while we might wish our wee ones spent a little more time out in the green and a little less time sucked into the screen, we are pleased to report that kids’ TV’s two top dogs are doing their part to spread the message of environmental stewardship and resource conservation."
• The Goode Family - (ABC) Missed the first episode of this new animated series? Watch free episodes here.
  

Website Stuff

• AltUse: Tapping the Wisdom of Crowds on Alternative Uses for Everyday Products - (TheDailyGreen) "Crowdsourced voting on the best surprising uses for vodka, vinegar, ketchup and zillions of other things."
• Are you connected to mountaintop coal? - (Mother Nature Network) "Web gadget lets you see if your utility purchases illegal coal from Appalachian mountaintop removal."

Political, Social & Economy Stuff

• Supreme Court Justice nominee Sotomayor has environmental record - (Mother Nature Network) "Nominee Sonia Sotomayor sided with the fish against power companies in a 2007 case."
• We Must Stop Living Throw-Away Lives. - (The Good Human) "This is not about who we are or what we do, but rather what we consume."

Other Random Cool Stuff

• Painting the Town White - (Sierra Club: The Green Life) "The newest revolution in the fight against global warming... Energy Secretary and Nobel laureate Steven Chu recommends painting flat roofs of homes and corporate buildings a heat-reflecting white."

VIDEO: Cap and Trade: What is It?

From one of our favorite blogs, EcoGeek, comes this snarky yet informative video that explains the "Cap and Trade" is all about...because not everyone knows.

Stuff We Found Today - 05.26.09

Amazing sand art by Peter Donnelly

Family, Kids & Health Stuff

• Natural Allergy Relief: Ready to nix your kid's allergy meds? - (Ideal Bite) "...treat allergies with a drug-free, saline nasal rinse. It'll relieve your kid's itchy, sneezy, runny nose just as well as tradish nasal sprays, but without synthetic residues and side effects - plus no toxins bringing down our waterways." Love nasal rinses for ourselves...wonder how well it go with the little ones...hmmm...
• Consuming Kids: The Commercialization of Childhood [video] - (Eco Child's Play) "The Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood (CCFC) has just released a documentary called Consuming Kids: The Commercialization of Childhood about the 'pervasive and pernicious effects of children’s advertising on the health and well-being of kids.'" (video in post)
  

Food Stuff

• Book Review: In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto - (EarthFirst) "...lays out the history of nutrition in America, the vicious cycle of food-related disease we’ve gotten caught up in and how you can shop and prepare meals to avoid ending up with diabetes, heart disease or other health problems yourself."
• Look Closely - Your Tofu and Soy Milk May Not Be Organic - (Eat. Drink. Better.) "...a recent report raised serious questions about many brands of soy products."

Home Stuff

• 9 Great Eco Cleaners for Your Home - (EcoSalon)
• Covered by Coconut - (EcoSalon) Cool decorative tiles made from Bahia coconut shells that can be used for walls, floors and furniture.
  

Beauty & Fashion Stuff

• Norma Kamali Goes Eco Friendly - (EcoFashionWorld) Norma Kamali brings affordable organic cotton clothing to Walmart.
• Hempday - (ecofabulous) Some very cute handbags made from hemp.
  

Tech & Science Stuff

• Sensaris Lets You Wear the Air Quality on Your Sleeve - (EcoGeek) Is this a gadget we really need??...or will it get tossed!
• Guy Builds Electric Motorcycle From Junk - (Gas 2.0) "...He Also Made A Solar And Wind-Powered Charging Station For The Bike."

Work & Business Stuff

• Great Green Job of the Week: GreenBridge Program Manager, Brooklyn Botanic Garden - (EarthFirst)
• What are green-collar jobs? - (Green For All)
• 4 Green Writing Jobs for the Holiday Weekend - (Green Gigs)
• Green Job Listings - May 21, 2009 - (Green Gigs)
  

School, College & Student Stuff

• Green College Spotlight: Stanford University - (EarthFirst) "Granted an A- by the College Sustainability Report Card (the highest grade awarded), Stanford University excels in nearly every category rated from administration to transportation."

Nature & Environment Stuff

• Global Warming Could Be Twice As Bad As Thought - (AboutMyPlanet.com)
• New MIT Study Shows Risks of Climate Change Doubled form Previous Assessment If No action Taken Now - (Global Warming Is Real)
  
• Coral is Too Precious to Wear - (EarthFirst) "Think twice before buying anything made with real coral: that’s the message that SeaWeb is sending out as coral reefs decline around the world."
• The Beauty of Birds Flocking Above [PICS] - (Environmental Grafitti) More cool nature pics.
  

Arts, Entertainment & Travel Stuff

• Getting Music Online: Tune Up - (Ideal Bite) CDs are made from petroleum-based plastic, and album CDs usually cost more than downloadable albums. Check out this post for great digital music sources and what do do with your old CDs.
• Who is the sexiest celebrity vegetarioan of them all? - (ecollo) Oh...just for fun.
• Cate Blanchett Urges Business Leader To Curb Carbon Emissions - (Ecorazzi) Lovely Cate...we adore you!
• Sand Art: When Beaches Become Giant Artistic Canvases - (Environmental Grafitti)
  

International Stuff

• Carteret Islands Evacuation: Climate Change Refugees in the Pacific? - (Blue Living Ideas) "...being called the world’s first evacuation of an entire people as a result of climate change..." It's happening!!
• Indonesian Orangutan Habitat Wiped Out for Airport & Brothel - (EarthFirst) "The root of the problem...is that officials are giving away land spaces to people to win their votes in the local administration elections. What it comes down to, as usual, are two of mankind’s biggest weaknesses: greed and the desire for power."
• World's First Active House in Denmark - (Jetson Green) "...a highly efficient home that captures more energy than the occupants need for heat and power. In particular, this Denmark Active House should generate enough electricity over 30 years to cancel out the energy costs of building it."

Political, Social & Economy Stuff

• President Obama on Memorial Day - (Obama Pics Daily)
• The True Oil Cost of the Military Monster - (Culture Change) As always, this website posts some very interesting perspectives...worth pondering.
• Hopi Nation to Sue the U.S. Government Over Environmental Charges - (EcoSalon) "Imagine your village’s water supply was about to be contaminated by nuclear waste from a nearby dump and the federal government simply offered to put a fence around it..."
• Ex-Pentagon Officials: Energy Efficiency Directly Related to National Security - (Red, Green and Blue) You'd think conservatives would be all over this and rooting for alternative energy - regardless of climate change.
  

Other Random Cool Stuff

• Shrinky Dinks: Grain Surfboards - (Daily Candy) "The environmentally friendly wave riders are crafted from local white cedar planks in Maine. While they may seem heavier than the typical fiberglass variety, the boards are incredibly buoyant and produce gnarly momentum..."
• JUNKMAIL Saturday Night Live Green - (CTN Green News) "Junkmail tops the list of unopened postal paper waste by volume, with newspapers, catalogs and magazines topping the list by weight. Megatons. Daily." See video - hilarious!!
• Should've Been Plugged Out At Birth No. 29 - (Do The Green Thing) Now, we love our chocolate, but this has got to be the most ridiculous thing we've seen.
• Make It Green: Dream up ideas that'll green up our planet. - (Yahoo! Green) "We’re looking for the best green do-it-yourself ideas... Submit your idea, and if it’s chosen, you could see your product on store shelves, get $2,500 and a share of the sales, and possibly appear on the Everyday Edisons TV show..."
• Help EWG Bottled Water Research (and win a prize!) - (Enviroblog) "Environmental Working Group wants to make sure bottled water companies give you accurate and useful information about their water sources, purification techniques and water quality testing results. But first, we need to do some research. And that's where you come in."
• America's Energy Illiteracy - (Focus Organic) "...jaw-dropping facts that depict Americans' energy illiteracy according to Public Agenda, a nonprofit research group." This is very sad...and why we must all keep passing on the info!

VIDEO: Nature Interview with James Lovelock

Interview: James Lovelock on how to save Gaia

"James Lovelock is best known as the father of Gaia theory: the idea that the planet acts like a single organism. His latest book is The Vanishing Face of Gaia: A Final Warning."

Stuff We Found This Weekend - 05.24.09

Beautiful, gorgeous, awesome Mrs. O

Family, Kids & Health Stuff

• New Books About the Planet: Wanna keep kids hooked on reading through summer? - (Ideal Bite) A great list of children's books on green living.
  

Food Stuff

• Guide to Good Food: Hormones - (TakePart Social Action Network) Hormones in our beef and dairy...do we really want this??
• Gas or charcoal - which is the greener grill? - (Mother Nature Network) "Is your grill gas or charcoal? Do you know which one is greener? Don't worry too much about having the 'wrong' one - this video shows you how to make either greener." Just in time for Memorial Day BBQs. (video in post)
• Ample Harvest: Connecting Gardeners with Food Pantries - (Living Green Below Your Means) Got extra food from your garden. Check out this site to find a nearby food pantry/bank to donate to.
  

Home Stuff

• The pick of the litter box - (Mother Nature Network) "Complete with "rooftop access" and a reusable tarpaulin liner, the ModKat Litter Box is a stylish place for kitties to do their biz." It's a bit pricey, though. Is it worth it??
• Kick litter: Potty training for cats? - (Mother Nature Network) "...Kick Litter: The Nine-Step Program for Recovering Litter Addicts is a hilariously written book that follows the exploits of two cats (Moxie and Cooper) and their owner as they attempt to kick the kitty litter habit."
• $75,000 Clayton "I-house" - (Inhabitat) Check out this supercool AND affordable prefab home...it'll make you rethink mobile homes.
• Our Roundup of the Best Kids Design @ ICFF - (Inhabitots) Some super cool eco-friendly home designs for kids...we especially love the Greenplay airplane seating piece.
  

Beauty & Fashion Stuff

• 30% Off Buddiwear Organics - Great line of super comfy organic cotton clothing with cool graphics. Plus, they plant a tree for every garment sold...how cool is that! To get get 30% off your entire order, use coupon code: MEMORIAL.
• Amazon Sandals - Recycled Tires for Your Feet - (Twilight Earth) Cool flip-flops made from recycled tires.
• Memorial Day weekend eco-fashion sales - (Mother Nature Network)
  

Tech & Science Stuff

• Power your car... with termites? - (Mother Nature Network) "The pesky termite could hold the key to creating a green energy future."
• Who can make the greenest rocket? - (Mother Nature Network) "As private space tourism nears launch, some companies are climbing to new heights for less-polluting rockets." Private space tourism?!!! Do people really have that much money to blow??
• iUnika Unveils Lutralight Cheap Solar-Powered Netbook - (Inhabitat) It's only $180!!! ...and it's solar powered!
• L1 Most Fuel Efficient Car - (GreenMuze) It's tiny...but kinda cool.
  

Work & Business Stuff

• Planting green moles in corporate America - (Grist) "...the Climate Corps...MBAs on a mission to infiltrate the Fortune 500 and help them save ... money (and the planet too) by rooting out energy inefficiency and developing strategies to cut corporate carbon budgets." Changing the mindset of big business?? -that would be HUGE!
  

School, College & Student Stuff

• Green course for high school grads - (Mother Nature Network) "Green entrepreneurship course at SUNY-ESF teaches high school seniors and grads new approaches for going green." Perhaps after a generation of kids have been exposed to green education, we'll see more happen...question is: can we wait that long?
  

Nature & Environment Stuff

• California beaches get graded - (Mother Nature Network) "The popular Santa Monica beach got an F for water pollution -- but 85% of California beaches nabbed As and Bs."
• Top 10 tornado videos - (Mother Nature Network) Wow...these are crazy! (videos in post)
• The Mediterranean's Most Dangerous Species - (Twilight Earth)

Arts, Entertainment & Travel Stuff

• ABC's The Goode Family Pokes Healthy Fun at Green Living - (TheDailyGreen) "The new animated TV show from King of the Hill creator Mike Judge looks playful and thoughtful." Can't wait for this to start - Wed at 9pm! (video in post)

International Stuff

• Illegal Electronic Waste Smuggled from Australia to China - (Twilight Earth) Makes you wonder what other developed nations are doing the same...including our own.

Political, Social & Economy Stuff

• "The Meaning of Michelle": TIME's Behind-the-Scenes feature - (Obama Pics Daily) Beautiful, gorgeous and awesome Mrs. O.
• The Perfect, the Good, the Planet - (NYTimes.com: Op-Ed Columnist) In our opinion, this is a realistic and pragmatic view of the Waxman-Markey Climate Bill...for now. What do you think?
• U.S. Will Still Lag Far Behind World in Fuel Efficiency - (TheDailyGreen) ...and we thought we were doing so good with our new fuel efficiency standard.
• Fair Trade, Diversification and Structural Change: Why the standard macro-economic critique of Fair Trade needs to be questioned - (Shared Interest Blog) "One of the most persistent critiques of Fair Trade argues that by paying a guaranteed minimum price, Fair Trade encourages producers to continue in a livelihood that is not beneficial in the long term... This thought piece offers alternative economic analysis which hypothesises that such a critique is both simplistic in its theoretical approach as well as empirically questionable."
• Connecticut: Senate passes BPA ban - (Safer States) "Connecticut’s Senate has passed a bill that will ban bisphenol A from baby bottles and reusable food and drink containers with a nearly unanimous vote of 35-1."

Other Random Cool Stuff

• Creative Ways to Give Old Beer Cans New Life - (WebEcoist) Some pretty cool ways to upcycle your beer cans.
• The Beauty of Recycling - (TakePart Social Action Network) Philly recycling trucks get artistic makeovers...cool!
• Gasping for air... in style! - (Mother Nature Network) "Haute Couture gas masks beg the question: Can you ever be truly wealthy in a polluted world?" Here's a little editorial food for thought.
• Green States: Keeping score - (Mother Nature Network) "Numbers don't lie. Unfortunately. Peter Dysktra looks at some startling eco-statistics."

Quote of the Week - 05.24.09

"No yesterdays are ever wasted for those who give themselves to today. "

~Brendan Francis

"No chocolate is ever wasted if made Fair Trade…and eaten today."

~Coco-Zen

Gourmet Food Mall Recommends Coco-Zen: Chocolate lover's of the world rejoice!

From Gourmet Food Mall Recommends...:

"Chocolate lovers of the world, rejoice! Pure, dark, luxurious gourmet chocolate truffles from Coco-Zen are here to satisfy your palate and enrobe your senses in cocoa bliss. These truffles are big in size and even bigger in flavor."

Read the rest of Gourmet Food Mall's review...
Coco-Zen Organic Fair Trade Certified Gourmet Truffles

Mom's Want Coco-Zen

From Mom's Most Wanted:

"Anyone who knows us through Twitter, knows that Mom Stefanie LOVES chocolate and it is one of her absolute favorite subjects! So, when she received the above Coco-Zen lip scrub and lip balm, it was like a little piece of heaven with every lick! Coco-Zen's lip scrub made my lips feel so soft and then followed by the lip balm, my lips were then soothed! Just what I needed for the dry climate we just moved to and getting a chocolate fix any time I wanted! Awesome!"

Read the rest of Mom's Most Wanted's review...
Coco-Zen Giveaway

Yes - there's a giveaway! Check out the review to learn how to win a $25 Coco-Zen gift certificate.

Stuff We Found Today - 05.21.09

Canned Whole Chicken

Family, Kids & Health Stuff

• Green Screen for Sun Fun - (Parenting on Shine) Some great eco-sunscreens that "gentle enough for little ones and strong enough for the whole family" and that are also given high marks by the Environmental Working Group (EWG). Be sure to check out EWG's Skin Deep Database for rankings.
  

Food Stuff

• Foodie-Friendly Organic Baby Food from Top Chefs at Pomme Bebe, Sprout Organic and Petite Palate - (EcoStiletto: Kids) Some organic baby foods you may just want to eat yourself developed by popular chefs...best thing, you can order online! Check out the post for some discount codes too.
• Doctors Warn: Avoid Genetically Modified Food - (Chelsea Green) "More and more doctors are telling their patients to avoid genetically modified foods whenever possible, based on some very disturbing scientific evidence..."
• RECIPE: Mediterranean Quinoa - (Cookus Interruptus) Kinda like a couscous but with quinoa...mmm... (video in post)
• Easy On the Canned Whole Chicken - (Do The Green Thing) Canned whole what?!!! Have you ever seen such a thing? Yuck!
• Beer: Green, greener, greenest - (Mother Nature Network) "Conventional beer production can be tough on the environment, so it’s definitely worth it to seek out alternatives."

Home Stuff

• GE to Start Selling Smart Appliances This Summer - (EcoGeek) "...for use with their smart meter technology that would allow utilities and household appliances to communicate and improve energy efficiency and grid performance."
• Natural bug repellents - (Mother Nature Network) "...a number of natural alternatives to DEET, made primarily from plant essential oils, that you can use to protect you and your family from bugs..."
• A green cat litter that works - (Mother Nature Network) "World's Best Cat Litter's a biodegradable, renewable product that lives up to its name -- for most cat owners."

Beauty & Fashion Stuff

• PROPR - David Arquette goes Organic - (CTN Green News) Another celeb launches and organic clothing line...but David Arquette?? (video in post)
• Taking An Eco Approach To After Shave - (EcoFriendlyDaily.com) List of natural after shaves...check it out.
  

Tech & Science Stuff

• NYK Super Eco Ship 2030 Promises to Reduce CO2 Emissions - (Blue Living Ideas) "The shipping industry isn’t known for its environmental friendliness–it has been deemed 'far more damaging than flying' by the International Maritime Organization..."
• Make A Wallet Out Of A PC Keyboard - (Do The Green Thing) Okay...here's one for hard core techies that want to show off their eco-geekness through their wallets.
• Find the Greenest Paper Products with Greenpeace's Mobile App - (EarthFirst) "Instead of spending ten minutes reading the claims on the packaging, you can just whip out your phone and use a new mobile app released by Greenpeace to find out which paper products are easiest on the environment." Cool!
  

Work & Business Stuff

• This Week's Sustainable Jobs Posting - (JustMeans) See list of job posting along left side of post.
  

School, College & Student Stuff

• Exercise Machines Generating Energy At College Campuses - (AboutMyPlanet.com) Now there's a way to put students to work!
• Green College Spotlight: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill - (EarthFirst)
• Go Green 101 - (Mother Nature Network) "College is the perfect time to start living greener." Here are some helpful tips.
  

Nature & Environment Stuff

• World's Biggest Landfill... in the Pacific Ocean? - (GenGreenLife) "According to the United Nations Environment Program, every square mile of ocean hosts 46,000 pieces of floating plastic, and of all the trash floating in the world’s oceans and in the Central Pacific, there are up to six pounds of marine litter to every pound of plankton."
• Blue Whales Return to Alaska - (AboutMyPlanet.com) Yea!!
• The Aral Sea Disappears: NASA Photos - (EcoGeek) "In a series of dramatic photos, NASA has been able to capture the disappearance of the Aral Sea from space."

Arts, Entertainment & Travel Stuff

• Miley and the JoBros get their green on - (Celebs Gone Good) This one's for the teeny boppers out there..."Want to help the Jobros decide where one million dollars goes? “Friends for Change” thinks you should have a say. You can pledge to join Miley and the JoBros in Disney’s new multi-platform environmental initiative that will help you help the planet..." (video in post)
• New Terminator Film Deadly For Humanity, Easy On The Planet - (Ecorazzi) "...Director McG made sure that the production was as green as possible..."

Website Stuff

• How to recycle weird stuff - (Mother Nature Network) "Obsessed with recycling that plastic name tag holder you got at last week's conference? Here's a blog to ease your anxiety."
  

International Stuff

• The Coca Cola Company vs. Indian Farmers - (Blue Living Ideas) "The Coca Cola company has invested over $1 billion dollars building a market for its products in India, but the company’s welcome has been less than effervescent, considering the contentious issues raised by the company’s business practices..."
• The Mystery of Chile's Dead Birds and Fish - (EarthFirst) "Scientists are trying to determine what may have caused the deaths of hundreds of penguins, millions of sardines and 2,000 baby flamingos in recent months. Some speculate that global warming may be to blame." This is kinda scary.
  

Political, Social & Economy Stuff

• Act Now for a Just Planet: Exxon needs a new business plan - (Green America) Check out this call to action by Green America and sign the letter to urge Exxon to move away from fossil fuels.
• GOP Rep. Joe Barton Says CO2 is Harmless Because "It's in Coco-Cola" - (EarthFirst) About 3 minutes into the interview, just listen to what he says.
  
• Obama Picks Superfund Polluter Lawyer for Environmental Post - (EarthFirst) What?? There's gotta be a good reason for this...right?!!

Other Random Cool Stuff

• Another Truth About Bottles Water - (GenGreenLife) "...did you know that, unlike municipal water companies, bottled water companies are not required to make their water testing results public?..."
• 6 Nominees for the Climate Greenwash Awards 2009 - (EarthFirst) "The Climate Greenwash Awards 2009 highlights the ways in which businesses have promoted false solutions to the climate crisis, insisting that we can continue burning coal and oil."
• Greening your Memorial Day BBQ - (Mother Nature Network) "Memorial Day weekend means the unofficial start of summer and that means lighting up the grill. Here are some ways to green your BBQs all summer long."

VIDEO: The Future Of Food

"The Future Of Food offers an in-depth investigation into the disturbing truth behind the unlabeled, patented, genetically engineered foods that have quietly filled U.S. grocery store shelves for the past decade."

VIDEO: Green iPhone Apps - ZapRoot

"Save money on your iPhone with these Green iPhone Apps. A single mannequin stun protesting for Climate Justice shuts down a Bank of America branch. Trade in your current mode of transportation with the newest Alternative Autos."

Stuff We Found Today - 05.19.09

Posted on The Good Human

Family, Kids & Health Stuff

• BPA affects development of monkeys, tadpoles and humans - (Safer States) "The bad news keeps on coming as scientists continue to learn more about bisphenol A."
• Book Review: The Green Teen by Jenn Savedge - (Recycle Your Day) Got a teen in your house? "The Green Teen is an eco-friendly teen’s guide to saving the planet. In less than 200 pages it covers basics on what teenagers can do to protect the environment."

Food Stuff

• Eco Popsicle Molds: Wanna be the mom all the kids are raving about this summer? - (Ideal Bite) "...make your own ice pops in reusable molds... You'll save cash - no shelling out for frozen pops made with synthetic ingredients - and have the best (tasting) summer."
• Can You Eat Well on Food Stamps? - (Sierra Club: The Green Life) "As the recession continues, more Americans are being forced to pinch pennies. Is healthy, organic food still an option when money is tight?"

Home Stuff

• Report: Pool Chemicals Cause Thousands of Illnesses - (TheDailyGreen)
• Not All Toilet Paper is Created Equal - (Sierra Club: The Green Life) Remember, this is stuff we use just once and then throwaway or flush down the toilet...do we really need to be using virgin wood pulp? (video in post)
• Ditto Paper Hanger Available to Consumers - (Sustainable is Good) "...100% non-toxic and 100% recyclable in all paper recycling systems, can even be composted." Cool product, but we say use the hangers you've got first...then consider these if you really need more.
• Graypants Twice Recycle Scrap Cardboard Lights - (Inhabitat) These would look so great in an modern living room.
• Woven Palm Leaf Vava Lamp from IKEA - (Inhabitat) Another cool lamp.
  

Beauty & Fashion Stuff

• From GreenLoop - 40% off Loomstate organic clothing - Thanks to EcoAvenue for posting this great deal.
• Eco-chic Eco Chick necklace - (Mother Nature Network) "Christy Robinson makes eco-chic jewelry with whimsical green messages -- out of 100% recycled aluminum." These are cute and would probably be a hit with the teen set (far better than the cheap lead filled jewelry being peddled everywhere).
  

Tech & Science Stuff

• Charging electric cars, guerilla style - (Mother Nature Network) "Charging stations may be few and far between, but EV owners are pushing the limits by bartering with businesses to let them plug in on longer drives."
• Sneak peak of Konarka's roll-up solar charger - (Mother Nature Network) Video in post.
• World's Tiniest Car Made From a Children's Ride - (Inhabitat) OK...this is a little funny (and silly)...although, it's street legal. Video in post.
  

School, College & Student Stuff

• School Vending Machine - Saturday Morning Cartoon - (The Good Human)
  

Nature & Environment Stuff

• Remarkable Religious Structures Reclaimed by Nature - (WebEcoist) When man goes away, nature takes over...thank goodness. Check out these cool pics...would love to visit some of these places!
  

Arts, Entertainment & Travel Stuff

• Share Your Green Wish - (Recycle Your Day) "Ed Begley Jr. star of Living with Ed on the HGTV has recently launched a grassroots non-profit charitable organization known as Green Wish. Green Wish focuses on helping local green organizations fund projects for their communities through 'pay what you can' donations at local retailers and online."

Website Stuff

• mokugift: Plant a Tree. Share the Inspiration. - We found these guys on Twitter... "Plant a tree for a Friend or Plant a Tree and Tell a Friend. $1/Tree. It is like sending an e-card. Each friend can Inspire the next to plant one more tree. Together, we can Fight Global Warming."
• World of Good does world of good - (Mother Nature Network) "Catching the attention of eBay and Whole Foods, a nonprofit/for-profit hybrid merges going green with making green." You can fine Coco-Zen on World of Good, too!
  

International Stuff

• Largest Offshore Wind Farm - (GreenMuze) "The London Array, a 1GW offshore wind farm, has just been given the go-ahead to begin construction and, when completed, will be the world’s largest offshore electrical power generation facility."

Political, Social & Economy Stuff

• Obama Accelerates Car Efficiency and Emissions Standards - (TheDailyGreen) "By 2016, the average vehicle will get 35.5 mpg -- a 40% improvement over today's fuel economy."
• 'Appalachian Apocalipse': Obama Permits Mountaintop Removal Mining - (TheDailyGreen) Noooo!!
• Van Jones on energy innovation - (Mother Nature Network) "Last month, Jones discussed energy innovation as the solution to two problems plaguing the world – the recession and climate change." (video in post)
• The Daily Show uncovers Mrs. Obama's rogue agenda - (Mother Nature Network) "The Daily Show uncovers the rare public health crisis that will make us obese and starve us all at the same time." This is both funny and scary that the guy interviewed actually said these things.
  

Other Random Cool Stuff

• 10% off everything at Gifts with Humanity - (EcoAvenue) "Use coupon code - Summer. $25 will provide wages for 2 days in Kenya."
• 14 of Freecycle's Most Outrageous Free Deals - (TheDailyGreen) When "freecycling" gets a little wacky...
• Starbucks looks to recycle billions of cups - (Mother Nature Network) Curious to see how they will do this as food soiled paper cannot be recycled in the paper recycleing stream. Anyways...we should all bring our own cup!
  

VIDEO: Toxic: Garbage Island - Part 1

"For years we've been reading about a patch of garbage the size of Texas floating in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, ingeniously dubbed the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Basically, any trash that gets dumped in the water rides the currents to this one spot and joins an ever-increasing flotilla of crap. For all the breathless accounts of the mess and its impact on the area's sealife, however, no one seemed to have a picture of the buildup...."

*WARNING: Some foul language used by those in the film (swearing)...just a caution if younger children are viewing.

Stuff We Found This Weekend - 05.17.09

"...youngster wanted to see if the President's haircut felt like his own."

Food Stuff

• Enjoy Pothole Possum Stew at the RoadKill Cook-Off - (EarthFirst) Some may gag, some may find this funny...
• Coke - The Plant Thing? - (GreenMuze) "Coca-Cola is attempting to join the eco-masses in trying to find greener alternatives for their corporate products. The multi-billion dollar global company recently announced the PlantBottle made from renewable, recyclable, plant-based plastic."
  

Home Stuff

• Municipal Solar Financing: The Biggest Revolution that You've Never Heard Of - (Red, Green and Blue) "...allows homeowners to pay for solar panels through property tax bills over a 20 year period. The bills carry a fixed interest rate and stay with the house, so there’s no need to worry about paying for panels on a house you don’t live in anymore."
• VIDEO: In habitat Green Tour of BKLYN Designs - (Inhabitat) For all you eco-design/furniture junkies...some cool items in the video.
  

Beauty & Fashion Stuff

• Eco Hair Dye: Did your Bond with hair dye break when you found out you were preggers? - (Ideal Bite) "These safe dyes use plant- and food-based colors to hide your roots or boost your hue. That means no harsh chems, such as ammonia, infiltrating your body."
• Cheap Teen Jewelry Full of Lead, Study Finds - (EarthFirst) "Inexpensive fashion jewelry sold at teen stores like Wet Seal, Forever 21, Claire’s and Charlotte Russe is laden with lead..."
• Eco Underwear Trends - (eco fashion world) We're not so sure about the "Recessionista Look", but happy to see some interesting options for eco-friendly undies.
• 3 Green Shaving Cream Alternatives Better than the Norm - (Feelgood Style)
• The Newest Eco Plastic Jewelry from Paris is from Sexy Batucada - (Feelgood Style) These are unique and different.
  

Work & Business Stuff

• Great Green Job of the Week: Public Relations/Marketing Intern, Northwest Natural Resource Group - (EarthFirst) "Northwest Natural Resource Group is seeking a summer intern in Port Townsend, Washington to assist with development of case studies of successful Northwest Certified Forestry (NCF) and NW Neutral landowners."
• Green Job Listings - May 15, 2009 - (Green Gigs)
  

Nature & Environment Stuff

• Magnetic Termites Are the Architects of These Gian Monoliths - (Environmental Graffiti) If you're into nature and bugs, this is kinda cool.
• 30% Ocean Mercury Rise Linked to Asian Coal Plants - (EcoWorldly) "World wide, 75 percent of human exposure to mercury is from the consumption of marine fish and shell fish. In the U.S., about 40 percent of all human exposure to mercury is from tuna harvested in the Pacific Ocean..."

International Stuff

• Organized Criminals Stealing Bees in the UK - (EarthFirst) Kinda scary that the bee situation is getting this bad that people are actually stealing them.
• Water Wars Strike Ahead of Predictions - (EcoWorldly)
  

Political, Social & Economy Stuff

• Touching Obama's Head - (Obama Pics Daily) "President Barack Obama bends over so the son of a White House staff member can pat his head during a family visit to the Oval Office May 8, 2009. The youngster wanted to see if the President's haircut felt like his own."
• Being an Embarrassing Soccer Dad - (Obama Pics Daily)

Other Random Cool Stuff

• Twitter For Trees: Help Plant 100,000 Trees With U.N.E.P. - (Ecopreneurist) "All you have to do is ‘follow’ http://twitter.com/unepandyou and they will plant a tree."

Quote of the Week - 05.17.09

"A good laugh and a long sleep are the best cures in the doctor's book. "

~Irish Proverb

"A good laugh and some Fair Trade chocolate are the best cures in our book."

~Coco-Zen

Coco-Zen Gifted to Maggie Gyllenhaal, Jenna Elfman, Kate Winslet, and Michelle Williams

In honor of Earth Day last month, Style Cafe Moms delivered gift baskets full of eco-friendly items to Maggie Gyllenhaal, Jenna Elfman, Kate Winslet, and Michelle Williams. These actresses are not only known for their talent and beauty, but also for their green advocacy. We were thrilled to have our Chocolate Body Treats included in these gift baskets.




Read the press release - click here (download PDF)

VIDEO: Captain Planet - Twelve Angry Animals, Part 4

Episode recap
"In Twelve Angry Animals, the Planeteers are put on trial for the crimes of mankind against nature. A jury of extinct animals shares stories with each Planeteer in hopes of understanding why humans destroyed them. Will the Planeteers provide the answers or be convicted of these crimes?"