Quote of the Week - 11.29.09

"Make finding the good in others a priority."

~Zig Ziglar

"...and in mMake finding the Fair Trade in chocolate a priority."

~Coco-Zen

From Joyce's Desk: Giving Thanks...

We're already into the craziness known as "the holiday season", but I want to take a moment to say thank you...

To family, friends, fans and followers, I just want to say how much I truly appreciate all the support and encouragement you have offered over the past year and half. This wild journey into chocolate has truly taken a life of its own, and I am grateful for the help from both old friends and new connections. Coco-Zen is growing... and I am thankful to all of you.

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!!

Peace, Love & Chocolate,
Joyce

Video: Captain Planet - Smog Hog

Episode recap:

In Smog Hog, Hoggish Greedly steals a car factory and takes the owner hostage. The Planeteers must save her and get Greedly to stop producing his smog by creating road hogs before the town can no longer breathe.

Quote of the Week - 11.22.09

"In matters of style, swim with the current; In matters of principle, stand like a rock."

~Thomas Jefferson

"...and in matters of chocolate, choose Fair Trade."

~Coco-Zen

Video: Captain Planet - Whoo Gives a Hoot?

Episode recap:
In Whoo Gives a Hoot?, the Planeteers must prove that endangered species live in a forest to stop Looten Plunder from clear-cutting their home. However, time is of the essence. Can the Planeteers make their case to the judge before it's too late?

Stuff We Found Today - 11.19.09

Treehouse prep school in UK

Family, Kids & Health Stuff

• Pregnant moms are exposed to toxic chemicals - (Safer States) Video in post.
• Don't Be Fooled: Target and Walmart Caught Selling Lead-Tainted Products for Children, Again! - (Center for Environmental Health) Take action and sign this letter... we did!
  
• High lead levels found in popular holiday toys - (Mother Nature Network) "How safe are the toys on your holiday shopping list?"

Food Stuff

• What Is Really In Your Olive Oil? - (ShowTheLove) Who knew that many "olive oils" aren't really olive oil???

Home Stuff

• Natural Pet Toys - (ShowTheLove) ...and they're adorable too!

Beauty & Fashion Stuff

• Power Your Music Player With Your Running Pants - (Ecouterre) For real... " the Dancepants converts kinetic energy from running or dancing into electricity for your MP3 player."
• DIY "Colour-In" Dress is a Coloring Book You Can Wear - (Ecouterre) "...the fitted A-line shift is covered in a black-and-white print that you can fill in with the included textile markers." This would be super cool if made for kids!
• Human Teeth Jewelry: Creepy or Cool? - (Ecouterre) We're all for upcycling, but this is just a little too weird, huh??
• Hair Gloss: Hair to the Throne - (Ideal Bite) "Try some eco hair gloss on your crowning glory. Postpregnancy (and with aging, unfortch), hair starts to turn dull and dry; these planet-friendly balms and oils for all hair types court shiny locks."

Tech & Science Stuff

• Now you can hear electric cars - (EcoTube) Cool sounds for your electric car...and makes it safer for vision impaired pedestrians.
• ChargeCar Aims to Create Crowdsourced Electric Vehicles - (Inhabitat) Video in post.
  
• CO2, Methane Ousted as Worst Global Climate Change Chemicals - (Gas 2.0) "The majority of 'greenhouse gases' are created by humans." See what they are... and which human made products contain them.

Nature & Environment Stuff

• GPS-fitted marine animals create first-ever atlas of the Patagonian Sea - (Mother Nature Network) "An unprecedented 300-page atlas of the Patagonian Sea has been 'written' by the marine animals that live there -- with the help of fitted GPS collars."

Arts, Entertainment & Travel Stuff

• Eco-Movies: Movies & Shakers - (Ideal Bite) Some great eco-themed movies to check out... and not just little indie films, but some big budget Hollywood ones, too. Personally, we can't wait to see Avatar! (Yeah, we're sci-fi geeks.)
• Jimmy Fallon's eco-jam session - (Mother Nature Network) "Jimmy Fallon turns pop songs into eco-anthems. Will they inspire Justin Timberlake to start 'bringing bottles back'?" (video in post)

International Stuff

• Solar Powered Treehouse Classrooms Unveiled in the UK - (Inhabitat) Wow!! Wish we had a treehouse school when we were kids!

Political, Social & Economy Stuff

• Everything is OK - (EcoTube) Hiliarious video of protest in the UK... "Thinking is boring! ...sheeple, not people..."
• Cash for caulking? - (Mother Nature Network) "Bill Clinton is behind a home weatherization variation of the cash for clunkers program that he hopes will give the sagging economy -- and the environment -- a boost."

Other Random Cool Stuff

• Terrafon Plays the Earth as an Instruments - (Inhabitat) "If the earth could make music, what kind of songs would it sing?" Kinda crazy, but interesting... (video in post)
  
• TerraCycle: Outsmart Waste! - (Recycle Your Day) Upcycling what normally can't be recycled... brilliant!
• San Francisco Offers Christmas Trees that Live on After the Holidays - (Inhabitat)

Bill Nye "The Science Guy" has some smart things to say about energy independence & climate change...

Bill Nye "The Science Guy" lends his voice to the Repower America Wall. Take a look at his video post... the guy makes some pretty smart and sensible comments on energy independence, climate change and the need for the US to take a lead in alternative energy development.

PS - Have you added your voice to the Repower America Wall yet??

Bill Nye "The Science Guy" has some smart things to say about energy independence & climate change...

Bill Nye "The Science Guy" lends his voice to the Repower America Wall. Take a look at his video post... the guy makes some pretty smart and sensible comments on energy independence, climate change and the need for the US to take a lead in alternative energy development.

PS - Have you added your voice to the Repower America Wall yet??

Stuff We Found Today - 11.16.09

Real Tree houses - literally!

Family, Kids & Health Stuff

• Organic Throat Lozenges - (Ideal Bite) It's cold season...check out these suggestions for organic throat lozenges that skip on the synthetic ingredients (like artificial colors...yuck!).
• Which Dolls Contain PVC? - (The Soft Landing) Thinking of getting a new doll for a child's present? Check this out first!
• BPA-free Sippy Cup Guide - (The Soft Landing)

Food Stuff

• Nestle may move Fairtrade with Kit Kat - (Confectionery News) Let's wait and see...
• Kid-Size Cooking Gear - (Ideal Bite) Eco cooking tools and accessories sized just for kids...what a great way to them started in the kitchen, learning how to prepare fun and healthful meals!
• Special Report: Some vinegars -- often expensive, aged balsamics -- contain a big dose of lead - (Environmental Health News)

Home Stuff

• Literal Tree Houses: Amazing Homes Built with Whole Trees - (WebEcoist) Just kind of fun to look at...
• 6 Surprisingly Comfortable Cave Homes - (TheDailyGreen) Would you live in a cave? Maybe...if it looked like these!

Beauty & Fashion Stuff

• Fighting "Fast Fashion" and Toxic Clothes: Green Our Wardrobes from the Inside - (TheDailyGreen) "A growing movement hopes to reduce the environmental impact of looking good"

Tech & Science Stuff

• 33 Excellent OLED Energy Saving & Eco-Friendly Designs - (WebEcoist) Some pretty cool designs...
• Coal Star State - (The Texas Observer) "While America turns away from dirty energy, Texas could soon have 12 new coal-fired power plants. What gives?"

Nature & Environment Stuff

• Do The White Thing: 7 More Amazing Albino Animals - (WebEcoist) Some neat picture...the albino turtle is pretty wild.
• Afloat in the Ocean, Expanding Islands of Trash - (NYTimes.com) "...the detritus of human life is collecting in a swirling current so large that it defies precise measurement."

Arts, Entertainment & Travel Stuff

• Bill Nye "The Science Guy" on energy independence and climate change - (Repower America Wall) Yes, this guy has some pretty smart and sensible things to say. (video)
• Eco Film Festival - (Ideal Bite) If you happen to be in the LA area this weekend, check out the Green Screen Environmental Film Festival & Salon at the Electric Lodge in Venice Beach.

International Stuff

• Which Countries Pollute the Most? - (TheDailyGreen) "You Might Be Surprised In the run up to the Copenhagen climate summit, we need to gauge where we are today."

Political, Social & Economy Stuff

• More National Security Risks Caused By the Climate Crisis - (Al Gore)

Other Random Cool Stuff

• Sports Equipment - Rematch.com - (Ideal Bite) It's like a consignment shop for sports stuff - REUSE. Located in San Francisco or buy online...awesome!
• Which Is Greener, a Real or Fake Christmas Tree? - (TheDailyGreen)

Quote of the Week - 11.15.09

"One way to get the most out of life is to look upon it as an adventure."

~William Feather

"...an adventure in Fair Trade chocolate."

~Coco-Zen

Celebrating a Green Thanksgiving

With Halloween over, it's on to the next holiday of the fall/winter season...Thanksgiving! Of course our friends over at Celebrate Green have easy and wonderful tips to help us all green-up turkey day (or Tofurkey day for some of you!).

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

Put the meaning in the greening this Thanksgiving

Making every celebration more about people and less about things is a key to celebrating green. When we focus on relationships, we tend to spend less, eat less, have less left over and end up putting less into landfills.

So this Thanksgiving, take a look at your rituals and seek out ways to enhance their meaning. Here are some suggestions.

• In the weeks before Thanksgiving, gather the family and talk about your traditions. Ask for input about what kinds of things you might do together to increase the joy everyone will take from the celebration. Brainstorm ideas, then choose a few to implement this year. (See below for suggestions, but start by asking your family as they are likely to come up with ideas that fit your group perfectly.)
• Also prior to the holiday, invite your family on an outdoor decor hunt. Go for a walk whether you live on the plains, near a river, or by the ocean. Gather (legally) items, return home and set them up on a table. They might make a gorgeous centerpiece on their own. Or fill a bowl or clear vase with them. Place a couple of beeswax candles in their midst and you've got natural table decor that cost next to nothing.
• Encourage your kids to come up with games that the whole family can enjoy following the feast. Seach online or check out library books on non-competitive games that are fun for everyone.
• Involve the family in crafting decor, place cards, and small takeaway gifts that are either made from recycled materials or edible. As you are working with them, explain why it's important to avoid using virgin trees (i.e. paper), and other unsustainable materials, especially for a holiday that is so tied to the Earth.
• To add more meaning to your meal, shop locally. If possible, visit a local farm. Talk to the farmer about what is in season and how to best prepare the food for your guests. Be sure to acknowledge the farmer and the work he/she did to ensure you had a flavorful meal when you are giving thanks at the table.
• Ask each guest to bring a small item representative of something for which they are grateful. Place each item either at the place of each guest or in a bowl that can decorate the table. During the meal go around and ask each person to explain the meaning of the item.
• If you host a large gathering for which it's difficult to supply enough china, here's a twist on the idea above. Ask each guest to bring their own place setting along with a story about the plates. At the table, ask guests to explain what is special about the setting. Did the china belong to a great grandmother who brought it when she immigrated? Was this place setting a gift from a beloved friend? Are you especially proud that you bought it for pennies? The stories don't matter. Sharing them does.
• And speaking of sharing, how about asking each guest to bring a contribution to your local food bank?
• Aim to make a tradition of a no-waste Thanksgiving. This involves a little more planning than usual, for example, offering fewer choices (do we really need mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes and rice?), and ensuring that leftovers go to people who will use them. Decorating glass jars that everyone can fill and take home is a great way to share the leftover bounty. If you compost yourself or do it through your community, be sure that leftover food is deposited in a properly marked container.
• If a member of your family or a close friend has passed away during the year, remember them sometime on Thanksgiving day. You might light a beeswax candle in their memory, relive some memories or offer a prayer.

Whatever you do this Thanksgiving, focus on those you care about and you will make priceless memories. What is more eco-friendly than that?


Top tips for a greener Thanksgiving

1. Buy less so there is less cost and less waste. Try cutting out one or two dishes (not the absolute favorites) or cutting down on the amount of each you make.
2. Use the freshest (organic if possible), locally grown, seasonal ingredients whenever possible. To save money, buy in bulk (go in with friends) from your local farmer, use coupons for organic items and start saving for next year's organic turkey (they really do taste better), the day after this year's celebration.
3. Avoid purchasing anything that cannot be reused, recycled, composted or consumed.

Top picks for a greener Thanksgiving

1. 100% beeswax candles in holiday shapes as well as tapers etc. from Big Dipper Wax Works
2. Handmade, hand dyed, organic cotton table cloths and napkins from Fiberactive Organics
3. If you are grateful for your guests, why not plant a tree in their names in a national forest that has been decimated by wildfire through Trees for a Change.

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

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.

Stuff We Found Today - 11.12.09

Recycled Billboard Housing

Family, Kids & Health Stuff

• H2Go Fuel Cell Car Makes Great Eco Christmas Gift for Kids (and Dad) - (Gas 2.0) "...a toy car aimed at teaching kids about alternative energy in a fun and exciting way... this little number runs on a combination of solar and zero-emission hydrogen."

Food Stuff

• Nestle may move Fairtrade with Kit Kat - (BeverageDaily.com) Great news if really happens...but, currently only in the UK.
• Be a Green Lush: Eco-Chic Fall and Holiday Cocktails - (Eco-Chick) Green cocktail anyone...bring 'em on!
• Michelle Obama On Iron Chef - (GreenMuze) Love it!!
• Michelle Obama's Honey Crop - (GreenMuze) "For the first time, as part of First Lady Michelle Obama’s healthy and local eating project, honey is being produced at the White House..."

Home Stuff

• Paper, Full Circle: Recycler 360 Bins By Way Basics - (Green Your Decor) Made from recycled paper... love the espresso colored one!
• Recycled Billboard Housing - (GreenMuze) How'd you like to live right behind a billboard? ...literally!!

Beauty & Fashion Stuff

• Dutch Designers' Modular "Refinity" Clothing is Like Legos for Fashion - (Ecouterre) Not sure how wearable this really is, but super cool idea!
• Borrow Designer Dresses for Less at Rent the Runway - (Ecouterre)
• Stunning LED Fashion - (GreenMuze) "More than 24,000 color LEDs and 4,000 hand-applied Swarovski crystals were used to create the stunning Galaxy Dress..."

Tech & Science Stuff

• Detroit sees green future - (Reuters.com) "For decades Detroit has been known for building big gas-guzzling SUVs but these days it looks as though the country's automakers, both big and small, see green in their future." (video in post)
• Forecasts for Future Oil Supplies Are Unrealistic - (Culture Change)
• Fueling the Modern World with... Air? - (EarthFirst.com) Could this be for real??
• Europe Testing "Road Trains" to Cut Fuel Use - (EcoGeek) This is an interesting concept.
• NPR Uncovers Natural Gas' Dirty Secrets - (Enviroblog)
• Ultimate Youthmobile 2030 - (GreenMuze) "Design studios for Audi, GM, Honda, Mazda, Nissan and Toyota, attempted to envision what young people (and middle-aged men seeking their youth), raised on cell phones and online communities, will want from their vehicles in the future..."

Work & Business Stuff

• Great Green Job of the Week: Accountant, Appalachian Sustainable Development - (EarthFirst.com)

Nature & Environment Stuff

• U.S. Fish Contaminated With Mercury And PCBs - (AboutMyPlanet.com) Hello...can't just keep dumping things and think it'll go away.
• Bears Gone Bald! - (AboutMyPlanet.com) Some crazy looking bear pics here...
• Mount Kilimanjaro May Soon Be Without Snow Or Ice - (AboutMyPlanet.com)
• Birth of an Ocean Occurring the the Ethiopian Desert - (Blue Living Ideas)
• 5 Animals Most In Need of a Haircut - (Environmental Graffiti) Just some cute animal pics...

Arts, Entertainment & Travel Stuff

• Daryl Hannah's 'Kill Bill' Trans Am Now Running On Pure Alcohol - (Ecorazzi)
• Planet Green To Debut 'Burn Up' In US - (Ecorazzi) "Burn Up is a two part tele-pic about the international conspiracy behind the oil industry and climate change."
• Fox Show 'Bones' Features Real Factory Farm Footage - (Ecorazzi) "Last week, the hit Fox show featured gruesome footage (courtesy of Farm Sanctuary) of the cruelty that chickens face on a daily basis in slaughterhouses." (video in post)

Political, Social & Economy Stuff

• Keep Offshore Drilling Out of Climate Legislation - (Oceana.org) Sign this petition... we just did!
• Senator John Kerry Calls On American Youth For A Green Movement - (Causecast) Video in post.
• Who Says Saving the Planet Has to Cost a Fortune? - (Spiegel Online International) "One of the nagging issues in the run-up to the Copenhagen climate summit are demands that the US and Europe provide massive aid so poorer countries can buy expensive emissions-free technologies. Activist David E. Martin claims many of the patents for today's low-carbon technologies -- including some used in wind power and hybrid cars -- are already in the public domain."
• John Kerry knows his climate science - (Mother Nature Network) "Senator John Kerry makes a good case for a robust, smart, and effective response to the dangers of global warming during a recent Senate hearing." In the words of this writer, Kerry gives a "verbal smackdown"!

Other Random Cool Stuff

• Buying Fair Trade: Real Life Inspiration - (see Jane Advocate) Great little story...everything we do, even small has an effect somewhere or on someone.
• Recyclables Used To Create Blankets For Disaster Victims - (Causecast) "The Tzu Chi Foundation, the largest Buddhist charity in the world, has collected millions of empty plastic bottles from the city’s waste and turned them into 244,000 polyester blankets that it donates along with other relief supplies to victims in disaster areas..."
• Forbes Names America's Top Toxic Cities - (Causecast) A couple surprises...
• Finally! A Recycling Plant for Dirty Diapers - (EcoGeek) This one is planned for the UK...maybe it'll catch on over here??
• The Urban Sleepbox - (GreenMuze) "The small container (2m x 1.4m x 2.3m, 6.6ft x 4.6ft x 7.6ft), proposed for train stations, airports and shopping centers, can be rented for anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours and allows weary tourists to grab a quick nap without the expense of renting a hotel room."
• Moms Against Climate Change Video - (GreenMuze) “If our children knew the facts we do they would take action. Shouldn’t you?”
• Dissolving Magazine Packaging - (GreenMuze) Wow, this could be amazing!

Uber Apparatus tells guys to give their girls Coco-Zen this holiday...

Men's blog site Uber Apparatus tells guys how to "score points this holiday season"...by giving their gals Coco-Zen Chocolate Body Treats... score!

Chocolate Body Gift Set: Head-To-Toe

VIDEO: Acid Test: The Global Challenge of Ocean Acidification

"This groundbreaking NRDC documentary explores the startling phenomenon of ocean acidification, which may soon challenge marine life on a scale not seen for tens of millions of years. The film, featuring Sigourney Weaver, originally aired on Discovery Planet Green."

Quote of the Week - 11.08.09

"He is able who thinks he is able"

~Buddha

"He can have Fair Trade chocolate who thinks he can have Fair Trade chocolate."

~Coco-Zen

VIDEO: Green Day + NRDC: Be Part of the Solution

"Billie Joe, Mike, and Tre of Green Day talk about how they got interested in protecting the environment. Join them in taking action by going to GreenDayNRDC.com"

Stuff We Found Today - 11.05.09

1st Lady Michelle Obama in the White House garden

Family, Kids & Health Stuff

• MomMaps: Kid spots on the go - iPhone app that helps you find kid friendly locations - parks, playgrounds, restaurants, museums, etc.
• Wearable Teething Jewelry - (Ideal Bite) Made from non-toxic materials... Moms of babies, what do you think...cool or just more greenwashed junk???

Food Stuff

• Your Choice of Chocolate Matters - (Treehugger.com)
• California vineyards: Swirl, sip, solar - (Mother Nature Network) "West Coast vineyards harness the energy of the sun in new and inventive ways."
• What to do with leftover Halloween candy - (Mother Nature Network) There's even some fun science experiments...haha!

Beauty & Fashion Stuff

• The Perfect Tee Shirt, Made From a Glass Bottle - (The GirlieGirl Army) Great stuff for guys and gals here.
• Kid's Eco-Boutique - (Ideal Bite) Entertaining Elephants has super cool kid's clothes made from "organic cotton (colored with low-impact dyes) or vintage or locally salvaged fabrics." The shop is in L.A., but you can buy online as well.
• Are Mass-Market Eco-Fashion Lines a Good Idea? - (Ecouterre) Interesting question...
• New! Ecoist Candy-Wrapper Bags Inspired by Jackie Kennedy - (Ecouterre)
• 6 Terrifying Crimes of Eco-Fashion That Will Make You Scream - (Ecouterre) Yup...these are pretty scary. Although the Julia Stiles video is pretty funny.
• Want a Closer, Smoother, Greener Shave? Check Out The New Azor... - (Feelgood Style)

Tech & Science Stuff

• America's Electronic Waste Is Filling Landfills Worldwide - (Causecast)
• Universal Cell Phone Charger Can Save Million Of Tons Of Carbon Emissions - (Causecast) About time!! Do we really need to get a new charger whenever we get a new cell phone??
• Toyota to release solar charger for electric vehicles - (Physorg.com)
• The Governator Introduces Short Haul Fuel Cell Semi-Truck - (Gas 2.0) "Getting truckers on board with the green movement will play an integral part in the widespread acceptance of alternative fuel vehicles."
• Four wheels good; three wheels better? - (Mother Nature Network) "EV trikes are now eligible for lucrative federal loans, so expect a flood of new (and very strange-looking) plug-in cars on the market."

Nature & Environment Stuff

• Oil spill Off Australia Harming Marine Life And Humans Alike - (AboutMyPlanet.com)

Arts, Entertainment & Travel Stuff

• Art Paints - (Ideal Bite) List of eco tempera paints...perfect for the kiddies.
• Al Gore And Stephen Colbert Debate Global Warming Solutions - (Ecorazzi) Haha... pretty funny! (video in post)
• Sam Waterson: Stop Killing The World's Oceans - (Ecorazzi) Hey...it's Jack McCoy talking here...
• Eco-Themed "Avatar: Epic Gets A Full Trailer, Will Dazzle Your Eyeballs - (Ecorazzi) Calling all enviro sci-fi enthusiasts out there...this is awesome!

International Stuff

• Indian Engineer Builds Glaciers To Fight Global Warming - (Causecast) 76 yr old civil engineer trying to do something about global warming in his lifetime...cool!
• Windsor Castle Goes Vegan For 24 Hours As They Celebrate Faith And The Environment - (Ecorazzi)

Political, Social & Economy Stuff

• 1st Lady Michelle Obama works the White House Garden - (Obama Pics Daily) Awesome pics...diggin' her purple Converse!
• Special release of the Green Tax Guide, 2009 - (Green Building Elements) Useful resource to navigate all the "green" government incentives available.

Other Random Cool Stuff

• Fun Theory - (YouTube) Getting people to recycle more by making it "fun"...neat idea. Check out this video.
• What's Beck's Beef? Vegetarians, This Time - (TreeHugger.com) OMG...Glen Beck is a paranoid freakazoid!! Do thinking people really listen to this guy??
• The Living Christmas Company - If you live in the Los Angeles area, check these guys out...they rent potted Christmas trees! They'll deliver to you, and then pick up on Dec 31st...awesome!!!

VIDEO: To world leaders regarding climate control..."Cut the bull$#@*!"

What would you say to your world leader?

"Ula from the Pacific tells world leaders exactly what she expects of them at the climate summit in Copenhagen this December."

VIDEO: Captain Planet - The Big Clam Up

This week's episode recap:
In The Big Clam Up, the Planeteers need to solve a toxic mystery. People in San Francisco are somehow being poisoned by pollution. The Planeteers put their detective skills to the test, but what happens when their sleuthing puts their lives at stake?

Quote of the Week - 11.01.09

"Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into a friend."

~Martin Luther King

"…and sometimes sharing a little Fair Trade chocolate can help too."

~Coco-Zen