Stuff We Found Today - 10.29.09

Michael has an eco message for us all...

Family, Kids & Health Stuff

• Toxins Make Halloween Face Paints Scary - (U.S. News) "Report finds all product tested contained lead and some had know skin allergens."
• Boys will be ... girls? - (Mother Nature Network) "Everyday chemicals may be feminizing an increasing number of babies."

Food Stuff

• Take Action!: Is There Life on Mars? - (Center for Environmental Health) Tells Mars Candy to stop using sugar made from untested GM sugar beets in their candy...sign the letter - we did!
• Organic Sparkling Wine - (Ideal Bite) Korbel now has a sparkling wine made from 100% organic grapes - California Brut!
• 22 Fish You Mustn't Eat - (EcoWorldly) See the "red fish list" published by Greenpeace. Maybe if the market price of fish reflected the "real" price of the fish, we'd eat accordingly.

Home Stuff

• Planet Green Announces New Green Material Guide - (Twilight Earth) "...a fabulous source for information on wall coverings, flooring, insulation, windows, heating and cooling, bathrooms, kitchens and general green building techniques."

Beauty & Fashion Stuff

• Organic Underwear - (Ideal Bite) "...eco-underwear made from organic cotton and recycled polyester..."

Tech & Science Stuff

• Build your own cheap electric car? These guys did - (Mother Nature Network) "Starting with junkyard finds and bargain buys, people are converting common cars to state-of-the-art electric vehicles." (video in post)

School, College & Student Stuff

• EPA Names Top 20 Green Powered Schools - (Twilight Earth)
• HS students: Get $1K for you eco-idea - (Mother Nature Network) "Got a good idea for saving the planet? Planet Connect may give you $1,000 to make it happen."

Nature & Environment Stuff

• 100 coastsiders spell out 350 on Linda Mar Beach to promote environmental awareness - (SFGate.com) Our little town of Pacifica came out to support 350.org's International Day of Climate Action...Joyce & family are at the top right corner of the "5".
• Concern About Climate Change Waning - (NPR) Interesting radio story/interview. Sad...there are actually people out there that believe "scientists making up statistics for their own job security." WHAT???!!!
• Gorgeous But Deadly: 13 Unassuming Poisonous Plants - (WebEcoist) Who knew such pretty plants could be so deadly?
• Inland Seas Worth Seeing: The 10 Most Amazing Lakes - (WebEcoist) ...and some of them are shrinking...fast!

Arts, Entertainment & Travel Stuff

• Eco-themed Cartoons - (Ideal Bite) Online and TV shows "for ages 4-12 (and up) cover stuff like wildlife and global warming, and are fun to watch."
• World Series gets eco-friendly in game 2 - (Mother Nature Network) "The Natural Resources Defense Council adds some green to Philly red and Yankee blue."
• Without cheap oil, it all will Collapse - (Mother Nature Network) "The new documentary/horror flick Collapse from the director of The Yes Men examines life in a world without cheap oil." Definitely NOT a feel good film!
• Michael Jackson's 'This is It' movie sends an eco-message - (Mother Nature Network) "Over the next two weeks, millions are expected to flock to theaters to see the King of Pop's final concert. Besides catching a terrific film, they'll also get a glimpse of Jackson's eco-activism."

Political, Social & Economy Stuff

• Michelle Obama on cover of Glamour - (Obama Pics Daily) What can we say? We love this lady...and what a great looking staff of White House interns!
• Obama Administration Outlines Newest Economic Sustainability Retrofitting Plan - (Green Energy News) "Initiative Allows Homeowners to Support Cost of Energy Improvements via Property Tax Assessments-"

Other Random Cool Stuff

• Geeks, Gamers, Gory Flick: 114 Cool Pumpkin Art Carvings - (WebEcoist) Some of these are pretty amazing.
• Bill Gates Forced to Support GMO's (cartoon) - (Red, Green and Blue)
• Climate Change Commercials - (Twilight Earth) Check out their top 10 picks.

VIDEO: Fair Trade - The Story

"Fair Trade Certification empowers farmers and farm workers to lift themselves out of poverty by investing in their farms and communities, protecting the environment, and developing the business skills necessary to compete in the global marketplace."

From Joyce's Desk: International Day of Climate Action

"On 24 October, people in 181 countries came together for the most widespread day of environmental action in the planet's history. At over 5200 events around the world, people gathered to call for strong action and bold leadership on the climate crisis." ~350.org

The International Day of Climate Action that took place this past Saturday turned out to be quite an event with 5245 actions in 181 countries and 19,000 photos posted. People all over the world brought attention to the very important number of "350". 350 parts per million is the amount of C02 scientists believe we should get back down to in order to avoid runaway climate change.

Photo posted to 350.org's photostream on Flickr

Our little beach community of Pacifica came out to show it's support as well. I brought hubby and son out with me to participate in our "action", which was organized by the Pacifica Climate Committee, Pacifica Beach Coalition and P-Town Classic. Even though it was foggy and chilly that morning, it was great to meet our fellow Pacificans - residents, business owners, surfers, kids, parents, grandparents, dogs... just everyday people (and animals) who care about this planet we live on.

*To learn more about 350 and the International Day of Climate Action, visit www.350.org.

Stuff We Found Today - 10.26.09

The Thinker...

Family, Kids & Health Stuff

• Study Suggests Insecticide Causes Lupus and Arthritis - (Planetsave) "...a link between women’s exposure to household insecticides (including roach and mosquito killers) and the autoimmune disorders rheumatoid arthritis and lupus."
• Disney Admits Baby Einstein Does NOT Increase Intelligence - (Eco Child's Play)

Food Stuff

• Smart Choices Labeling Gets the Axe - (Change.org) "...the Smart Choices labeling scheme, which sought to peddle clearly unhealthy foods as wise eating choices, has been halted, reports MSNBC."

Home Stuff

• Let Dyson Elegantly Keep You Cool - (Jetson Green) Not only is this fan way cool in design, it only "uses 1/50th of the electricity of an air conditioning unit..."

Tech & Science Stuff

• Biofuels Could Make Global Warming Worse - (EarthFirst.com) "...because rules governing their production encourage deforestation."
• Lessons from Detroit Conference on Plug-in Electric Vehicles - (Gas 2.0) "If I could sum up last week’s conference on electric vehicles in a single sentence, it would be this: I’m now certain that my kids will grow up driving electric cars."
• Dell Build Solar Trees For Parking Lot - (Gas 2.0)
• ReNu Modular iPhone Charger Makes Solar Power Sleek - (Inhabitat)

Nature & Environment Stuff

• Melting Alpine Glaciers Expose Our Toxic Past - (Blue Living Ideas)
• 20 Incredible Primate Expressions - (Environmental Graffiti) Just some fun & adorable monkey pics with funny captions...enjoy!

Arts, Entertainment & Travel Stuff

• The Green Quote: Ted Turner On Captain Planet And Solid Waste - (Ecorazzi)
• Dead Flies Circus - (Environmental Graffiti) Strange but interesting and actually humorous art.

Website Stuff

• Explore Oceana.org - Check out this great new section of Oceana.org's website. Great fun for kids and adults...explore sea creatures, places and science!

Political, Social & Economy Stuff

• California May Regulate TV Energy Consumption - (Green Living Ideas)

Other Random Cool Stuff

• World's Stupidest, Most Wasteful Consumer Products - (EarthFirst.com) Seriously...a plastic spinning ice cream cone so you don't have to move your tongue to lick it??!!!! WTF?!
• Target Offers 5 Cent Credit Per Reusable Bag - (FocusOrganic.com)

Last Minute Halloween Treats!

Give Good Chocolate this Halloween!

Treat your neighborhood Trick-Or-Treaters to chocolate Halloween goodies that aren't so scary to planet & people. Made from organic and Fair Trade Certified™ chocolate, Coco-Zen Halloween treats are good chocolate, that's good for planet & good for people.

Need some last minute Halloween Treats? Get 50% off USPS Priority Mail shipping if you order by Tuesday 10.27.09...HURRY!

Place your order by 9pm Tuesday, Octover 27th, and yu can take 50% off USPS Priority Mail shipping. Orderw ill be shipped out on Wednesday, October 28th to arrive by Halloween.

To redeem offer, use promo code HALLOWN09 at checkout.

To to www.Coco-Zen.com to shop now.

Quote of the Week - 10.25.09

"Better than a thousand hollow words, is one word that brings peace."

~Buddha

"Better than a thousand pieces of chocolate, is one piece that is Fair Trade."

~Coco-Zen

Quote of the Week - 10.25.09

"Better than a thousand hollow words, is one word that brings peace."

~Buddha

"Better than a thousand pieces of chocolate, is one piece that is Fair Trade."

~Coco-Zen

Stuff We Found Today - 10.23.09

1st Lady Obama at Healthy Kids Fair

Food Stuff

• Corn-based meat and ethanol: burning the planet to a crisp - (Grist) "What do industrially produced meat and corn-based ethanol have in common? ...they both got tagged as major drivers of climate change this past week."

Home Stuff

• Eco Moving Services - (Ideal Bite) "Go for green movers, who transport your stuff with less pollution and waste."

Beauty & Fashion Stuff

• Why You Should Replace These 3 Beauty Products Now - (TheDailyGreen.com) "How to choose the best natural deodorant, perfume and face cream."
• Fashionable Solar Jackets - (GreenMuze) "...new Zegna Sport Ecotech Solar Jacket is made from recycled plastic and features solar panels on the sleeves that power a heating device to keep the jacket warm." Plus, there's a solar battery pack to recharge your iPod or cellphone! (cheesy video in post, as well).

Tech & Science Stuff

• Smart cars, smart meters: Recharging battery vehicles on a consumer-friendly grid - (Mother Nature Network) "As EVs plug in, they'll need to interact with a more sophisticated electric grid. And that's exactly what a platoon of wised-up utilities has in mind."
• Harvard Scientists Create Dirt Powered Bacteria Batteries - (Inhabitat)

Work & Business Stuff

• Hot Spots for Green Jobs in Solar, Biofuels and More - (EarthFirst.com) "The clean-tech sector remains a bright spot in a dull economy..."
• Three Reasons Why New Green Jobs Hold the Key to Economic Recovery - (TheDailyGreen.com) "Solar and wind energy are hot, but opportunities extend far beyond that."

Nature & Environment Stuff

• How does groundwater pollution occur? - (Mother Nature Network) "Farms, freeways and front yards are flooding underground aquifers with dangerous toxins, slowly poisoning many communities' water supplies. But how can this happen?"
• Overpopulation to Blame for Southeastern U.S. Water Shortages - (Blue Living Ideas)
• Livestock Responsible For Over 50 Percent Of Emissions, According To New Report - (Causecast)
• 7 Species That Won't Survive Global Warming - (TheDailyGreen.com) "The Arctic won't be the only region to lose wildlife due to climate change. These U.S. species are threatened, too."

Arts, Entertainment & Travel Stuff

• Even Climate-Change Skeptics Are Condemning New Anti-Gore Documentary - (Ecorazzi)
• The Green Quote: Russell Simmons Is Afraid Of America's Future - (Ecorazzi) "I’m worried that the karmic effects of our negative actions will finally come home to roost. Our lack of compassion and love could actually consume us." Read full article by Simmons on Huffington Post.

Website Stuff

• Speak up to save the Internet - (Credo Action) "Who do you want to decide which websites you can visit or what Internet content you can access -- you or a big telecom company?" It's about "net neutrality"...please read and sign the petition!
• Climate change Interactive Map - (GreenMuze) "The map is a visual representation of what scientists believe the planet may experience in less than 50 years if global warming continues unchecked..."

International Stuff

• Oct 24 International Day of Climate Action - (350.org) Check it out and then find an event near you (see map).

Political, Social & Economy Stuff

• 1st Lady Michelle Obama at Healthy Kids Fair on South Lawn of the White House - (Obama Pics Daily) Awesome pics of Michelle hoola-hooping, jump-roping and just having fun with the kids...LOVE THIS WOMAN!

Other Random Cool Stuff

• Joyce Kushner uses chocolate to wake people up - (San Francisco Examiner) Check it out...Joyce is in the SF Examiner!!
• San Francisco starts mandatory composting this week - (Mother Nature Network) "Becomes first city in the nation to require people to properly dispose of their organic garbage waste."
• Have a Coco-Zen Halloween: Get Your Reverse Trick-Or-Treat Kit! - (Eco Child's Play) Thanks for the shout out Leslie!!

It's Official: We've run out of Reverse Trick-Or-Treat Kits!

As of this afternoon, we've officially run out of Reverse Trick-Or-Treat Kits! Thank you to all you amazing Fair Trade supporters. We're looking forward to a great Halloween... TRICK-OR-TREAT!!

Vegetarian Times Picks Coco-Zen Truffles-To-Give for their holiday gift guide!

We're so excited about our first editorial placement in a major publication! The editor over at Vegetarian Times has hand-picked Coco-Zen's Truffles-To-Give as the perfect gift for "foodies". Check out the spread in their Nov/Dec 2009 issue...

Gift-O-Rama: Fab For Foodies

VIDEO: 1958 - Global Warming - It's NOT newly known

"For FIFTY YEARS scientists have known about global warming. This exerpt is from the well known educational documentary Unchained Goddess produced by Frank Capra for Bell Labs for their television program The Bell Telephone Hour. It was so well made, that it went on to live a continued life in middle school science classrooms across the nation for decades.

Nearly half a century before Al Gore's Inconvenient Truth, this film was made. But what does it reveal? That our scientists have known for over two generations about this danger, but our politicians and citizenry have chosen to ignore the dangerous implications of this fact until it really is too late to avoid the preventable consequences."

Interview: Joyce Kushner uses chocolate to wake people up

Joyce was recently interviewed by the San Francisco Examiner and was asked about Coco-Zen's involvement with the national Reverse Trick-Or-Treating campaign. Check it out!

Joyce Kushner uses chocolate to wake people up

Stuff We Found Today - 010.19.09

"Clean Coal?!"

Family, Kids & Health Stuff

• Mom-to-be Acne Remedies - (Ideal Bite) "Keep your complexion clear with planet-friendly acne treatments that are effective and baby-safe, so you can handle red bumps en route."
• Green Shopping Guide for Toy Lovers - (Eco Child's Play) Just in case you're already staring to think about what to get the kiddies this holiday season.
• Welcome to the Party in My Pants. - (Feelgood Style) It's the name of a new eco-feminine product. Ladies, check it out...

Food Stuff

• Voluntary Sustainable Seafood Labels Now Law in California - (Blue Living Ideas) Voluntary law?? Doesn't "law" usually mean mandatory? Hmmm...
• Atlanta's 5 Seasons Brewery Producing Rainwater Beer - (EcoLocalizer)

Tech & Science Stuff

• Transmitting Alternative Energy in U.S. May Become Easier - (AboutMyPlanet.com) A good sign of things to come...
• EPA Warning Could Mark Beginning of the End for Mountaintop Removal - (CleanTechnica)
• Reliable Wave Power Ensures Secure Terrorism Protection - (CleanTechnica) "...the US Navy just awarded Lockheed Martin and Ocean Power Technologies a $15 million 4 year contract to provide wave power for terrorism prevention around the coasts."
• 60% of US States Could Supply 100% of Their Own Power From Renewable Energy, New Rules Project Shows - (CleanTechnica) So, what are we waiting for???

Work & Business Stuff

• Top 5 Coolest Green Jobs That are NOT Desk Jobs - (Inhabitat)

School, College & Student Stuff

• Colleges Greener than Ever Despite Economy - (EarthFirst.com) Students have always been on the forefront of change...

Nature & Environment Stuff

• Our Dirty Fuels and Overconsumption are Changing Our Oceans - (Blue Living Ideas)
• Acid Test: The Global Challenge of Ocean Acidification - (Natural Resource Defense Council) Documentary "made to raise awareness about the largely unknown problem of ocean acidification, which poses a fundamental challenge to life in the seas and the health of the entire planet."

Arts, Entertainment & Travel Stuff

• Quote of the day: Matt Damon - (Do Something.org) "When your great-great-grandkids study history, don’t you want them to be proud that you were part of the solution?" EXACTLY!!

International Stuff

• Amazonian Tribe Massacred by Loggers Dwindles to 5 Members - (EarthFirst.com) "The once-vibrant, ancient Akuntsu tribe of Brazil lost almost all of their numbers to a massacre by loggers intent on stealing their land in the 1990s."
• Maldives Scuba Meeting - (GreenMuze) "Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed, and his ministers held the world’s first official underwater cabinet meeting on Saturday October 17th, 2009 as part of an international movement to draw global attention to the pressing issue of climate change." See pictures in post!!
• Sweden is Burning Biofuel Made from Bunnies - (Inhabitat)

Other Random Cool Stuff

• $400 Per Gallon Gas And The Green War Of The Future - (Gas 2.0) "Pentagon officials disclosed that getting conventional petroleum fuel to remote combat locations in Afghanistan costs a whopping $400 per gallon... the U.S. military is the world’s single largest consumer of oil." Finding alternative energy? Can we say national security?!!!
• $25 Billion for Imported Oil - In One Month! - (CleanTechnica)"..how much the US spent on imported oil in September 2009... Last year, we engaged in essentially the biggest transfer of wealth in human history due to oil being at $140/barrel."
• New York City Starts "One Year, One Thousand Green Supers" Green Building Program - (Green Building Elements) "New York City plans to train one thousand superintendents on green buildings this year." Very cool!
• The Cartoonist vs. Big coal (cartoons) - (Red, Green and Blue) Some funny stuff here...

Quote of the Week - 10.18.09

"In dwelling, live close to the ground. In thinking, keep to the simple. In conflict, be fair and generous. In governing, don’t try to control. In work, do what you enjoy. In family life, be completely present."

~Tao Te Ching

"…and in chocolate, choose Fair Trade."

~Coco-Zen

VIDEO: Building a Slow Food Nation

Summary:
Moderated by Corby Kummer - Wendell Berry, Vandana Shiva, Michael Pollan, Alice Waters, Eric Schlosser and Carlo Petrini join together in conversation about the local, national and global impact of the philosophy and practice of Slow Food.

Building a Slow Food Nation - Part 1

Check out:
Chapter 7 - Lack of Focus on Human Rights
Chapter 12 - Food as Social Ecological Justice

Building a Slow Food Nation - Part 2

Check out:
Chapter 3 - A Sun Food Agenda (removing fossil fuel from our food system)
Chapter 10 - Becoming Less of a Consumer

Stuff We Found Today - 10.15.09

Solar powered vehicles

Family, Kids & Health Stuff

• Costume Makeup for the Kids this Halloween - (Ideal Bite) "...apply safe, planet-friendly face paints. Veggie- and mineral-based ingredients are healthier for your kiddo's skin than regular makeup and won't leave Mama Earth covering the tab."

Tech & Science Stuff

• Bright Bodywork: 3 Vehicles That Soak Up The Sun - (WebEcoist) Whoa!!! Check out these crazy solar cars!
• Electric cars are quiet. Maybe too quiet. - (Mother Nature Network) "Automakers are devising unique sounds to let the blind and other pedestrians know that EVs are approaching. But should you be able to customize your own 'cartones'?"
• Power plants clean air, pollute waterways - (Mother Nature Network) Because coal is NOT CLEAN people!!...the "waste has to go somewhere..."

Nature & Environment Stuff

• Out of This World: Earth's Most Bizarre Landscapes - (WebEcoist) Some very cool pics!
• Weird Wonders: 15 of the World's Strangest Animals - (WebEcoist) Some strange looking creatures here...

Political, Social & Economy Stuff

• Obama's Executive Order Enforces Smart Energy - (CleanTechnica) "President Obama has just signed an Executive Order that compels the largest consumer of energy in the US economy to invest in energy efficiency improvements to get to huge reductions in energy use by 2020."
• Our Three Bombs - (NYTimes.com) Thomas Friedman talks about the nuclear bomb, the climate bomb and the debt bomb.

Other Random Cool Stuff

• The Shocking Truth About Junk Mail - (TheDailyGreen) "See how the numbers add up in terms of money, time, trees and emissions. Then make it stop."

VIDEO: The American Denial of Global Warming

"Polls show that between one-third and one-half of Americans still believe that there is "no solid" evidence of global warming, or that if warming is happening it can be attributed to natural variability. Others believe that scientists are still debating the point. Join scientist and renowned historian Naomi Oreskes as she describes her investigation into the reasons for such widespread mistrust and misunderstanding of scientific consensus and probes the history of organized campaigns designed to create public doubt and confusion about science."

You can still get your Reverse Trick-Or-Treat Kit at Coco-Zen!

The deadline to get Reverse Trick-Or-Treat Kits from Global Exchange has passed. But you can still get them from Coco-Zen!!

As one of the Fair Trade chocolate companies donating to this amazing campaign, we've made extra kits available...and they're FREE!*

You have until Oct 27th to order yours (or until we run out).

*Kits are free, but a $5 flat shipping fee is charged for each kit ordered - shipped via USPS Priority Mail.

Stuff We found Today - 10.12.09

Nice block Mr. President!

Family, Kids & Health Stuff

• Eco Playing Cards - (Ideal Bite) Perfect for family fun!

Food Stuff

• Farm Vending Machines - (GreenMuze) "...a novel solution to sell fresh produce to the public at a reasonable price by keeping overhead low with the use of vending machines." This is interesting...

Home Stuff

• Give These a Turn: Modknobs Matte Paperstone Doorknobs - (Green Your Decor) Some cool looking doorknobs made from "%100 post-consumer recycled cardboard."

Beauty & Fashion Stuff

• 6 Eco-Friendly Men's Jackets Ready to Take On Fall - (Ecouterre) Some great classic and modern silhouettes...all very wearable.
• Playback Clothing Helps Recycled Soda Bottles Dye Another Day - (Ecouterre) "...tees, hoodies, and sweatshirts that take on the preexisting color of the original recycled material. To wit: No potentially hinky chemical dyes are required..."

Tech & Science Stuff

• Biofuel Production From Municipal Waste - (AboutMyPlanet.com)
• Recycling Your Cell Phone Just Got Easier - (EcoGeek) Check out the new EcoATM "where you can drop off your old phone, have its value assessed and immediately get an in-store trade-up coupon or gift card."
• Cell Phone Radiation Series: Part 1 - The Science - (Enviroblog)
• Dow Unveils Impressive New Powerhouse Solar Shingle - (Jetson Green)
• BMW's Hybrid Trike Gets 120 MPG - (Gas 2.0) "...kinda looks like a Stealth Bomber with training wheels..."

School, College & Student Stuff

• Watch and Be Inspired: The Providence Effect - (TakePart Social Action Network) "new documentary profiles Providence St. Mel, a pre-K-through-12 independent school in Garfield Park, Chicago, that has sent 100% of its graduating seniors to college every year for the past 30 years." Because education IS the most important thing!

Nature & Environment Stuff

• The first rule of Squirrel Fight Club - (Mother Nature Network) "You do not talk about Squirrel Fight Club." ...haha, funny pic!
• Overfishing: Are there really plenty of fish in the sea? - (Mother Nature Network) "Decades of overfishing sent many U.S. fisheries into free fall last century. Can a new focus on sustainability save fish and fishermen from going extinct?"
• Saving Forests Five Times More Effective than Carbon Capture - (EarthFirst.com) "According to a new report released by WWF Sweden, world leaders have got to join together in an international agreement to halt forest loss as a highly cost effective measure on climate change."
• Amphibian Going the Way of the Dinosaurs - (EarthFirst.com) "If we don’t act soon, amphibians could disappear – forever... experts say they’re in a swift decline and projected losses would constitute the biggest mass extinction since the disappearance of dinosaurs."
• 46 days and counting - (Oceana) The Timor oil spill is still leaking..."the oil slick has grown so large it can be seen from space."
• Beware the giant bacteria-filled sea blobs - (Mother Nature Network) Ewww...seriously gross!
• CO2 Levels Reach Highest Concentration In 15 Million Years - (Take Part Social Action Network) So this can't possibly be good...right???

Arts, Entertainment & Travel Stuff

• Alicia Silverstone Clues In With The Kind Diet - (EcoStiletto) Here's one seriously hot vegan...
• Could auto racing go green? - (Mother Nature Network) Looks like the Formula One's are trying too...but what about the stock cars?? Think they'll ever race electrics...hmmm...

Website Stuff

• Alicia Silverstone To Launch Green Website Featuring Her "Groovy Finds" - (Ecorazzi)
• Greenopia: a Handheld Guide to Living Green - (EcoSalon) "...the web’s largest directory of green/organic/sustainable brands, is just a click away. Greenopia publishes extensive national green business, product and brand directories, as well as offering up a green web community, news articles, blogs and tips to help everyone eat, shop and live green."
• Google Earth Climate & Rainforest Tours - (CleanTechnica) "You can now explore the Amazon, Madagascar, and Sebangau National Forest in Borneo through Google Earth."

International Stuff

• What would you say to your world leader? - (YouTube: Greenpeace) Like the lady in this video says..."cut the bullshit!"
• Maldives President Calls Underwater Cabinet Meeting: Tells His Ministers to Take Scuba Lessons - (Global Warming Is Real) Way to make a statement as "one of the first nations to disappear entirely due to sea level rise from global warming."
• Climate Change Puts South India Under Water - (EcoWorldly)
• Largest Solar Bridge Opens - (GreenMuze)
• Pee Before You Fly - (GreenMuze) All Nippon Airays has implemented the "‘empty bladder campaign’ to reduce passenger weight and subsequent greenhouse gas emissions..." Wow!
• Why conservatives back climate regulation in Denmark - (Mother Nature Network) "Connie Hedegaard, the Danish minister of Climate & Energy, explains why conservatives embrace climate regulation in Denmark... The political consensus in Europe sees climate as pro-growth, not anti-growth." Think our conservatives could ever come around??

Political, Social & Economy Stuff

• President Obama blocks Reggie Love on the basketball court - (Obama Pics Daily) Just a little humor at the White House...see video in comment section below the pics.
• Obama Wins 2009 Nobel Peace Prize - (Obama Pics Daily) Truly wonderful for the US.
• Recession not driving ethical spending underground - (Confectionery News) Great news for retailers/manufacturers of ethical products.
• U.S. Ambassador wants human trafficking to be known as slavery - (Digital Journal) Mentions slavery in "in the production of common household items like chocolate, coffee, and cotton."
• Is the U.S. Chamber of Commerce the "Voice of Business" on Environmental Issues? - (Sustainablog) "...then why are so many businesses leaving the Chamber?"

Other Random Cool Stuff

• 3 cities get paperless postal service - (Mother Nature Network) "San Francisco, Newark and New York sign on to Zumbox to provide paperless municipal mail."
• Cadbury accused of racial stereotyping in chocolate advert - (The Independent) Terrible misstep...too bad, especially since they were the 1st of the big choc companies to try and go Fair Trade.
• Reverse you trick-or-treating - (Mother Nature Network) "New trend takes trick-or-treating to a new level." Plus, Coco-Zen is among the donating Fair Trade chocolate companies!
• The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind on The Daily Show - (TakePart Social Action Network) Just a cool story about an amazing kid in Africa.

Celebrate a Green Halloween This Year (Part 2)

Our friends over at Celebrate Green have some great and easy suggestions to make this spooky holiday a little less scary for the planet. Last month in "Part 1", costumes and treats/treasure were discussed. This month in "Part 2", decor and activities are covered.

******************************************

Get ready for an EEK-O-friendly Halloween

(Part 2)

When it comes to decor, Halloween lines right up after Christmas. Americans spend $1.5 billion decking their homes with the latest in ghosts and goblins, much of it tossed when the holiday is over.

In reality, there is no need to purchase decor. This is a definite area of want. And while we know that most people are short on cash this year, many will still want to make some purchases. If you're one of those, keep these ideas in mind while spending green to celebrate green.

• Buy less. Whatever your budget, cut it by 25%. Will anyone really miss that life sized witch among all the other yard decor?
  
• Buy what will last. Dollar stores do offer great bargains. But poor quality items are likely to end up in the landfill. Better to spend a bit more on fewer items that can become a part of your holiday tradition. Be sure to wrap carefully after October 31, to preserve for the future.
  
• Look for local and handmade items, especially those produced from recycled/recyclable or sustainable materials. Check for local artists through www.Etsy.com
  

A great solution to the decor challenge is to go DIY (do-it-yourself), preferably using materials you already have on hand, can secure via swap or, best of all, select from nature. This is the perfect time of year to pull together items from

nuts to branches to leaves and use them to brighten your home (see activities below). If you feel challenged when coming up with ideas, of course the internet is an incredible resource. Just do a search for "recycled Halloween crafts." Here are a few to get you started:

• Wonderful ideas from Value Village including a t-shirt wreath and ghoulish goblets
  
• Use recyled light bulbs to make pumpkins. You could hang these in a row or fill a basket on a table with them. Make a stand for each one and use to hold placecards.
  
• Make this glass jug jack-o-lantern if you happen to have an old jug on hand.
  
• Grab your tent pole sticks and make this scarecrow.
  
• Goodie buckets can be used for trick-or-treating, but also for decor. Make several for your table and add branches with colorful leaves or berries.
  
• Got extra clay pots? Make a scarecrow for the center of your table.
  

(Frankenstein as pictured above, is made from a paper towel roll and fabric scraps. The original comes from www.GPurse.com Let it inspire you.)

When it comes to table decor, simply bringing in a selection of natural items and arranging them in containers or even directly on the table, can create a stunning tableau. Best of all, everything can (and should) be returned to where you found it for totally wastefree decor.

If you're itching to purchase new lighting, look for LEDs or solar. (Get rid of the old ones by recycling them through www.HolidayLEDs.com.

Bonus craft: Shadow box picture frame chandelier

Here's a project that's easy to assemble, but packs plenty of punch.

Gather:

• Shadow box picture frame or any frame that is deep enough for you to place items on the glass without them sliding off.
  
• Leaves, moss (if you are taking moss from nature, be sure it is not in an ecologically sensitive area), whole acorns, acorn caps, small pinecones
  
• Glue
  
• 4 screw eyes
  
• Wire, ribbon, rope or whatever you have on hand for hanging
  

Directions:

• Remove all backing from picture frame.
  
• Turn frame over so glass rests on bottom.
  
• Screw one screw eye as close to each corner as possible while avoiding the area where the two sides meet.
  
• Randomly glue items like the acorns etc. to the frame. Use as many or few as you like.
  
• Glue on moss.
  
• Decide how low you want to hang the chandelier, then cut four pieces of wire to that length plus a few inches.
  
• Feed each length of wire through a screw eye, then secure it by winding the wire around itself.
  
• Bring the four lengths of wire together in the middle so that the chandelier is balanced. If you have a round item like a nut, you can wind the wires through that to secure. Be sure whatever you use has a large enough opening to hang from a hook in the ceiling.
  
• Fill with leaves, acorns, candles (in holders), small pumpkins or whatever you like.
  

Note: If you prefer, make without screw eyes and wire and simply place in the center of your table.

Of course, when it comes to Halloween activities, trick-or-treat can't be beat. But for parents who are green-leaning, this traditional activity presents challenges. They don't want their kids to miss out on the fun, but neither do they want them eating all the candy. If you're facing this conundrum, you might want to consider inviting the Halloween Fairy/Witch to your home.

Eco-friendly activities before and after the holiday can engage your kids and help them learn about green issues as well. For instance:

• Visit an organic farm/orchard to select a pumpkin or pick apples and talk to the farmer about how veggies and fruits are raised.
  
• Spend an hour outside, hunting for decor. Be sure you have permission before taking items from nature, especially from parks or any ecologically sensitive area. Once you bring the items home, have each child make a special item for the table. Rotate the items during the week preceding Halloween.
  
• Roll beeswax candles for pumpkins or other displays.
  
• Do craft activities as a family each day leading up to Halloween.
  
• Try out new recipes for Halloween menus. If you're hosting a Halloween party, making something to eat is can be a central activity and the resulting treat can be taken home as a party favor (if the kids can wait to eat it!).

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Lynn Colwell and Corey Colwell-Lipson are mother and daughter and co-authors of Celebrate Green! Creating Eco-Savvy Holidays, Celebrations and Traditions for the Whole Family, available at www.CelebrateGreen.net.

Quote of the Week - 10.11.09

"When you realize how perfect everything is, you will tilt your head back and laugh at the sky."

~Buddha

"When you realize how perfect Fair Trade chocolate is, you will tilt your head back and enjoy the chocolate."

~Coco-Zen

Last chance for Reverse Trick-Or-Treating and FREE chocolates!

Coco-Zen is donating chocolates to this year's Reverse Trick-Or-Treating. This annual event is headed by Global Exhange, a membership-based international human rights organization dedicated to promoting social, economic and environmental justice around the world.

To view the press release regarding Coco-Zen's participation in Reverse Trick-Or-Treating, click here.

See the "last chance" announcement below, and find out how you and your kids can participate this year...and get your FREE Halloween chocolates!

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October 13: Deadline for individuals (families, college students, etc) to request a kit

It's just a few more days until the deadline to sign up for Reverse Trick-or-Treating for individuals - sorry, deadline for groups has already passed (Oct. 5).

Kits are FREE* and include Fair Trade chocolate minis and informational cards.

Request your kits TODAY at www.reversetrickortreating.org

What is Reverse Trick-or-Treating?

Children (+ high school/college students/adults) on their regular trick-or-treating rounds through their neighborhoods, or at an equivalent community event, give chocolate back to adults at each house they visit on Halloween...Fair Trade chocolate attached to an informational card about the problems in the cocoa industry, (such as child slavery, environmental degradation, and poverty) and how Fair Trade provides a solution.

With your help, we will reach nearly a quarter million households in the US and Canada with this important informational message!

To order trick-or-treating chocolate to distribute from your doorstep, including Global Exchange's fabulous Halloween Fair Trade Action Kit, visit https://www.globalexchangestore.org/SearchResults.asp?Cat=263

October is Fair Trade month! Learn how you can participate at http://www.fairtrademonth.org/

*Thanks to Reverse Trick-or-Treating 2009 Fair Trade chocolate company donors Equal Exchange, Alter Eco, Sweet Earth, Coco-Zen, and La Siembra (& others in Canada).

VIDEO: Bill McKibben - Fighting Climate Change in the Obama Era

Bill McKibben talks about the politics of climate change in the new Obama era, both domestically and internationally...

Stuff We Found Today - 10.05.09

Honda's New EV-N Concept

Family, Kids & Health Stuff

• The Body Toxic: Hazardous Chemicals in Everyday Things - (Eco Child's Play) Looks like a book worth reading.
• Talcum Powder Linked ot Ovarian Cancer, Need Warning Label - (Green Living Ideas) All women should read this!!
• Modern Cabana's 'KIDDO Cabana' Prefab Playhouse - (Inhabitat) Wow...is this a playhouse or what?

Beauty & Fashion Stuff

• Sonic Fabric Neckties Made From Recycled Cassette Tape Play Sweet Music - (Ecouterre)

Tech & Science Stuff

• World's Largest Wind Farm Completed in Texas - (EcoGeek)
• U.S. Military Bets on Jet Fuel Made From Algae, Weeds, and Animal Corpses - (Fast Company)
• Teenage-Built Diesel Hybrid Does 0-60 in 4 Seconds, Soon to Break 100 PG - (Gas 2.0)
• Honda's New EV-N Concept - (GreenMuze) It's kinda cute!
• San Francisco Set to Harness the Power of the Bay - (Inhabitat)

Work & Business Stuff

• Clean Tech: #1 in Worldwide Venture Capital Investments - (CleanTechnica) "Clean tech has passed biotech and IT as the top venture capital (VC) investment category in the world."

Arts, Entertainment & Travel Stuff

• Brad Pitt's Make It Right Unveils House That Floats - (Ecorazzi) "...a house that floats when it floods? Now that’s something that truly raises the bar for sustainable and functional design in the face of adverse elements!"
• Heather Mills Opens First American VBites Location In The Bronx - (Ecorazzi)

Website Stuff

• Eco-themed Video Games - (Ideal Bite) "...online games about the planet. Role playing games (RPGs), where kids take on parts like island natives or explorers, are a fun, interactive way to introduce them to stuff like climate change and endangered animals. Even better: These picks use their virtual worlds to fund eco-causes in the present."

International Stuff

• France Building EV Charging Network - (EcoGeek)
• Hydrogen-Powered charger Developed in Taiwan - (CleanTechnica) "In Taiwan, a new charger technology claims to be able to charge phones without even being plugged into an outlet. That’s because it taps into the power of hydrogen as a fuel source..."

Other Random Cool Stuff

• Apple Abandons Chamber of Commerce Over Climate Issues - (Causecast) "Disgusted that the U.S. Chamber of Commerce would take action against the Environmental Protection Agency’s efforts to force businesses to trim their greenhouse gas emissions, Apple has issued their official resignation from the Chamber."
• Nike Opposes US Chamber of Commerce & Leaves Board, over Climate Change - (EcoWorldly) They're dropping like flies...
• Five Ways to Stop Junk Mail - (ecomii) "...retailers are poised to unleash their steady onslaught of holiday catalogs. If you don’t want your mailbox to bulge with glossy catalogs and other annoying junk mail, read on."

Quote of the Week - 10.04.09

"Happiness is not achieved by the conscious pursuit of happiness; it is generally the by-product of other activities."

~Aldous Huxley

"...such as eating Fair Trade chocolate."

~Coco-Zen

VIDEO: 'No Impact Man' movie trailer

"Follows the Beaven family as they abandon their high consumption Fifth Avenue lifestyle in an attempt to make a no-net environmental impact for the course of one year."