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Check out the cool things Emily the chocoholic over at Groomed L.A. has to say about our Chocolate Body Treats and truffles...
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Monday, December 6, 2010
Chocolate Tasting & Screening of "The Dark Side of Chocolate" in Palo Alto - Tue 12/7
If you're in the bay area this Tues evening 12/7, come to the screening of "The Dark Side of Chocolate" in Palo Alto. Coco-Zen will have truffles for tasting! Plus we'll have some of our holiday chocolates for sale as well.See the invite from Global Exchange below.
Here's the trailer to the movie...
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Don’t miss the event of the season! Please RSVP by Sunday, December 5
The Fair Trade Chocolate Tastings
Coco-Zen: Enjoy samples from the South Bay’s own local Fair Trade truffle-maker, with a wide selection of delicious milk and dark Fair Trade truffle flavors from Dark Chocolate to Orange Blossom (the Global Exchange Fair Trade Campaign’s favorite is Chai Spice!) http://www.coco-zen.com
Alter Eco: Savor chocolates from one of the most innovative, highest quality Fair Trade chocolate bar manufacturers, featuring flavors from Chocolate Velvet to the exotic Fair Trade Quinoa, http://www.altereco-usa.com
The Speakers
Adrienne Fitch-Frankel, Fair Trade Campaign Director, Global Exchange: Adrienne Fitch-Frankel will fill in details about forced and child labor in the cocoa industry and how Fair Trade addresses these issues.
Edouard Rollet, Co-Founder/Chief Operations Officer, Alter Eco: Visionary social entrepreneurship leader Edouard Rollet will describe his visits to Fair Trade cocoa cooperatives around the world and discuss the transformative impact on social justice, poverty, and the environment his company and others are making.
The Film: The Dark Side of Chocolate
The 2010 Documentary, The Dark Side of Chocolate reveals shocking evidence that child and forced labor continue in the cocoa fields for millions of children, nearly a decade after the major players in the cocoa industry promised to resolve the problem.
The Hosts
Chocolate Dividends: (http://www.
World Centric: (http://www.worldcentric.org/)
The Details
Date: Tuesday, December 7
Time: 7:00 pm doors open/chocolate tasting; 7:30 pm program begins
Location: World Centric
Address: 2121 Staunton Court; Palo Alto, CA 94306
Tickets (sold at door): $15
RSVP by: December 5
RSVP contact info: Dana Cabico - fairtrade@globalexchange.org/
Nationwide screenings are empowering thousands of people to come together to send one clear message to the chocolate industry: “We will not tolerate abusive child labor and trafficking in the cocoa fields.”
The screenings are organized by Global Exchange’s Fair Trade Campaign and other organizational members of the Raise the Bar Campaign, which is pressing chocolate manufacturers to end exploitative child and forced labor in the cocoa fields. To learn more about Global Exchange’s Fair Trade Campaign and the Raise the Bar Hershey Campaign, please visit www.globalexchange.org/cocoa.
Sincere thanks to Palo Alto screening sponsors Chocolate Dividends, World Centric, Alter Eco, Coco-Zen, and the makes of The Dark Side of Chocolate, Miki Mistrati and Roberto Romano!
Quote of the Week - 12.05.10
"How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world."
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Keep her sweet from head to toe!
This week's White Apricot newsletter features an eco-conscious gift guide and includes Coco-Zen's Chocolate Body Gift Set under gifts "for her"...
A chocolate alternative to Chapstick...
The Gloss includes Coco-Zen Chocolate Lip Balm in its round-up of winter lip balm alternatives to Chapstick...
Monday, November 29, 2010
Shop To Stop Slavery...with Coco-Zen Fair Trade Chocolate Body Treats!
"I just had the best spa indulgence with fair trade certified and organic chocolate. I used the chocolate sugar body polish, chocolate edible lip scrub, and chocolate lip balm all from Coco-Zen. My body felt smooth and the lip scrub can be licked off! Yummy!."
Read the rest...
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Thursday, November 18, 2010
50% Off Green Products from 12 Green Companies!
The Ladies over at Celebrate Green have just published their annual 50% off coupon sheet...just in time for holiday gift giving! With great items from 12 green companies (yes, Coco-Zen is one of them), there's something for everyone.
Click on the image below to download the coupon sheet (PDF file). From there, you can just click and shop from any of the offers on the sheet.
Participating companies...
Coco-Zen: www.Coco-Zen.com
Digs: www.Digs.com
Eco Party Time: www.EcoPartyTime.com
Kids Konserve: www.KidsKonserve.com
Magic Cabin: www.MagicCabin.com
My Mama's Love: www.My-Mamas-Love.com
Overall Beauty: www.OverallBeauty.com
Sweet P's: www.SweetPSkincare.com
Terra Trendz: www.TerraTrendz.com
This is it Creations: www.ThisIsItCreations.com
Wind and Weather: www.WindandWeather.com
World of Green: www.WorldOfGreen.com
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
New Chocolates to Wear!
Introducing the newest additions to our Chocolate Body Treats collection... |
 Chocolate Sugar Body PolishPolish away dry skin cells while moisturizing to reveal soft, supple and sexy skin! This rich, thick scrub looks, smells and feels like a sugary fudge batter. After cleansing, use your fingers to scoop the polish and gently scrub all over in a circular motion. Then rinse off with warm water and pat dry. Organic almond oil, cocoa butter and aloe vera work to moisturize your skin - no need to apply additional moisturizer. Your skin will feel soft and supple, while faintly smelling of sweet chocolate...sexy! |
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
VIDEO: The Story of Electronics
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Quote of the Week - 11.14.10
"An idea that is developed and put into action is more important than an idea that exists only as an idea.."
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Tips for a greener and less wasteful Thanksgiving...and save a little money, too!
Our friends over at Celebrate Green offer some useful tips and suggestions to help make this Thanksgiving greener and less wasteful. What's even better is that you'll save a little money, too!
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Plan ahead Thanksgiving saves time, money and waste
You may balk, but the best way to save money, save time, save waste and save your sanity if you want to have an eco-friendlier feast this year, is to--say it with me now--plan ahead.
Planning helps zero in on when to buy, how much to buy, how to decorate, how to deal with leftovers and all the other details around hosting a fun, Earth-friendly celebration.
One hour of planning can make the difference between a pleasurable event and a frenzy of expensive over-consumption.
So gather the kids, a pen and pad (or be extra-eco and write on a blackboard), and start by posing and discussing these 10 questions:
1. What foods do we traditionally serve? Are we going overboard? If we usually provide eight side dishes, could we cut that to six?
2. What items should we be sure to buy organic? (Here's the list of fruits and veggies with the most pesticide residues and those with the least.)
3. How are we going to decorate the table? Can we use décor we already have? Borrow? Use items from nature? Do double duty with edible décor?
4. Can we check with friends and neighbors to see if they'd like to join us in buying organic produce in bulk at reduced cost?
5. Can we aim for a no-waste Thanksgiving by avoiding pre-packaged items?
6. Can we find what we need at a local organic farm and save money while having fun by picking veggies and fruits?
7. Can we consider an organic turkey or a heritage variety? (It's complicated and time consuming to wade through all the labels you may find on turkeys, but the USDA organic label offers pretty clear standards. If you're buying from a local farmer, ask about methods used in raising and slaughtering. Their turkeys may not be labeled organic because of the cost involved in doing so, but assuming you trust the farmer, you should be purchasing a healthier alternative to conventionally raised birds.)
8. Do we have enough dishes, flatware and glasses for the crowd? If not, how will we sidestep purchasing new? (We suggest asking guests to bring their own place settings. To add meaning to the greening, ask them also to be ready to share the history of the plates. Were they a wedding gift? Handed down from great grandma? Purchased with your first paycheck?)
9. How much of our meal can we make using in-season items instead of those imported from far away?
10. What will we do with leftovers? Will we provide guests with upcycled glass jars for them to take home what they like? Can we make something delicious from leftovers and take to a food bank? Freeze for later? Will we compost anything we can't use? If we don't compost ourselves and haven't asked, can we call our local trash service and ask if they will compost food scraps?
Whether you go all out in celebrating an eco-Thanksgiving or take one or two steps, be sure to give thanks for the bounty that the Earth provides.
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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.
Plan ahead Thanksgiving saves time, money and waste
You may balk, but the best way to save money, save time, save waste and save your sanity if you want to have an eco-friendlier feast this year, is to--say it with me now--plan ahead.Planning helps zero in on when to buy, how much to buy, how to decorate, how to deal with leftovers and all the other details around hosting a fun, Earth-friendly celebration.
One hour of planning can make the difference between a pleasurable event and a frenzy of expensive over-consumption.
So gather the kids, a pen and pad (or be extra-eco and write on a blackboard), and start by posing and discussing these 10 questions:
1. What foods do we traditionally serve? Are we going overboard? If we usually provide eight side dishes, could we cut that to six?
2. What items should we be sure to buy organic? (Here's the list of fruits and veggies with the most pesticide residues and those with the least.)
3. How are we going to decorate the table? Can we use décor we already have? Borrow? Use items from nature? Do double duty with edible décor?
4. Can we check with friends and neighbors to see if they'd like to join us in buying organic produce in bulk at reduced cost?
5. Can we aim for a no-waste Thanksgiving by avoiding pre-packaged items?6. Can we find what we need at a local organic farm and save money while having fun by picking veggies and fruits?
7. Can we consider an organic turkey or a heritage variety? (It's complicated and time consuming to wade through all the labels you may find on turkeys, but the USDA organic label offers pretty clear standards. If you're buying from a local farmer, ask about methods used in raising and slaughtering. Their turkeys may not be labeled organic because of the cost involved in doing so, but assuming you trust the farmer, you should be purchasing a healthier alternative to conventionally raised birds.)
8. Do we have enough dishes, flatware and glasses for the crowd? If not, how will we sidestep purchasing new? (We suggest asking guests to bring their own place settings. To add meaning to the greening, ask them also to be ready to share the history of the plates. Were they a wedding gift? Handed down from great grandma? Purchased with your first paycheck?)
9. How much of our meal can we make using in-season items instead of those imported from far away?
10. What will we do with leftovers? Will we provide guests with upcycled glass jars for them to take home what they like? Can we make something delicious from leftovers and take to a food bank? Freeze for later? Will we compost anything we can't use? If we don't compost ourselves and haven't asked, can we call our local trash service and ask if they will compost food scraps?
Whether you go all out in celebrating an eco-Thanksgiving or take one or two steps, be sure to give thanks for the bounty that the Earth provides.
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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.
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Stuff We Found Today - 11.02.10
FLOTUS plays flag football to promote childhood fitness
Family, Kids & Health Stuff
Home Stuff
Beauty & Fashion Stuff
Tech & Science Stuff
School, College & Student Stuff
Nature & Environment Stuff
Political, Social & Economy Stuff
- Study finds BPA easily penetrates skin - (Mother Nature Network) "New study suggests handling store receipts could be significant source of BPA."
- Best Organic Deodorants (That Actually Work) - (EcoSalon)
Food Stuff
- The BBC looks at the benefits of Fairtrade chocolate - (BBC News) Video
- 'Bitter' Chocolate Report: Hershey Dominates U.S. Market, But lags Behind Competitors in Avoiding Forced labor, Human Trafficking, and Abusive Child Labor - (CNBC.com) “Hershey has been hiding too long behind its image as America’s chocolate company and a responsible corporate citizen...”
- Pumpkin Cake Bars With Cinnamon Icing - (Food Renegade) Mmmmm...these look and sound so yummy - perfect for the winter holidays!
Home Stuff
- Eco Homes from ECO HAB - (found via @GreenCartoons) Cool little eco homes in a "hobbit" kind of way.
- We Tested 9 New Energy Saving Light Bulbs. See Which Is Right for You - (TheDailyGreen)
Beauty & Fashion Stuff
- Inflatable Airbag "Collar" Protects Helmet-free Cyclists From Broken Skulls - (Ecouterre) Hmmm...cool or funny?? ...or both?!
- Freitag Launches Backpacks Made From Recycled Truck Tarps - (Inhabitat) These are cool for both guys and gals.
Tech & Science Stuff
- Cannabis Electric Cars: Canada 1, U.S. 0 - (Change.org) Why are we so afriad of industrial hemp?
- A perfect marriage: Electric car charging and solar power - (Mother Nature Network) "Envision Solar's 'groves' shade parking lot vehicles while also capturing power from the sun. GM is applying this no-brainer tech to the Chevrolet Volt."
- Insane Traffic-Straddling Bus May Come to America - (Inhabitat) Wow...imagine never getting stuck behind a bus again. We know...we should be on the bus instead of in the car behind the bus.
- San Francisco Will Launch Electric Vehicle Taxi Program - (Inhabitat) Pretty cool...
School, College & Student Stuff
Nature & Environment Stuff
- It's a Communication Challenge, Not a Scientific Challenge - (Huffington Post) When talking green to people... "You cannot change the mind of a global warming skeptic by citing scientific facts." Great read.
Political, Social & Economy Stuff
- FLOTUS and the NFL promote the "Play 60" campaign for childhood fitness - (Obama Pics Daily) Probably some of the best FLOTUS pics ever...the woman rocks!
- The Environment Is Not Political - (The Good Human)
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
VIDEO: The Empathic Civilization (Animated)
This is an interesting way at seeing how we're all connected...and how we may hopefully evolve into a true global civilization. Just some food for thought.
Monday, October 25, 2010
Friday, October 15, 2010
Halloween can be about giving...not just getting
The ladies over at Celebrate Green offer some wonderful ideas and suggestions for showing our kids that Halloween can be about "giving" and not just "getting"...and have fun doing it!
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Trick or treat for good
With one notable exception, Halloween has traditionally been about getting, not giving. That exception began 60 years ago, when a mom in Philadelphia had the idea to turn the getting into something bigger. With nothing more than a desire to see change, Mary Emma Alison spread the word through schools, churches and community groups, encouraging kids to collect pennies that would go toward food, medicine and other needs of poor children around the world through UNICEF (the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund).
Her efforts were noticed by UNICEF, which eventually took over the campaign.
President John F. Kennedy recognized the willingness of children to move beyond self-interest:
"UNICEF has caught the imagination of our people-especially our nation's children whose Halloween collections have become a symbol of concern and an expression of tangible aid."
Children still can collect for UNICEF, but in addition, there are a number of other ways in which they can turn Halloween into a good-for-others event.
Trick or treat for good
With one notable exception, Halloween has traditionally been about getting, not giving. That exception began 60 years ago, when a mom in Philadelphia had the idea to turn the getting into something bigger. With nothing more than a desire to see change, Mary Emma Alison spread the word through schools, churches and community groups, encouraging kids to collect pennies that would go toward food, medicine and other needs of poor children around the world through UNICEF (the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund).Her efforts were noticed by UNICEF, which eventually took over the campaign.
President John F. Kennedy recognized the willingness of children to move beyond self-interest:
"UNICEF has caught the imagination of our people-especially our nation's children whose Halloween collections have become a symbol of concern and an expression of tangible aid."
Children still can collect for UNICEF, but in addition, there are a number of other ways in which they can turn Halloween into a good-for-others event.
For instance, kids can collect eye glasses. Organized by OneSight and Lions Clubs, Sight Night is a non-traditional way to go door-to-door for good. Instead of trick-or-treating for candy, children and community groups collect used prescription glasses as well as sunglasses which are then recycled for usage by global clinics. Click here for more information and download materials for Sight Night.
Do your kids have allergies? The Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network's Trick or Treat for Food Allergy is an alternative way for kids of all ages to have fun during Halloween. Instead of trick-or-treating for candy, which may contain ingredients that can cause allergic reactions, kids will trick-or-treat for donations to fund FAAN's food allergy education and research programs. This way, they can dress up as their favorite characters while raising awareness to an important cause. Participating kids can even win cool prizes.
Older children may want to raise awareness of Fair Trade Certified chocolate and help end abusive child labor conditions in the cocoa industry. If so, they can try "reverse" trick-or-treating with Global Exchange. Instead of accepting candy (or in addition), they will hand out Fair Trade chocolate and/or informational cards on why supporting Fair Trade practices in the cocoa industry is a year around must.And finally, with kids bringing home pounds of candy, most parents won't allow them to eat it all. Instead of tossing the loot, check with the Halloween Buy Back program to see if your local dentists are listed. Participating dentists pay children $1 for each pound they bring in. Kids can keep the money or use it to help defray the cost of sending collected candy to troops overseas.
If dentists in your area are not participating, see whether your local food pantry or Meals-on-Wheels might accept the treats.
This Halloween, why not take the focus off collecting as much candy as possible and offer your child the opportunity to be generous. That idea is anything but scary!
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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.
Monday, October 4, 2010
Fair Trade Month Kickoff Party at Temple Nightclub in San Francisco
Last Wed night, Fair Trade USA (formerly Transfair USA) held a kickoff party for Fair Trade Month at TempleNightclub in San Francisco. Along with music and a great crowd there was Fair Trade vodka, food and chocolate (of course)! Coco-Zen was there and we were serving up our vegan truffles.
Check out some of the photos (via Fair Trade USA)...
 Temple Nightclub - |  Joyce & her chocolates - |
 Environmental lawyer by day, Coco-Zen spokesperson by night... Thanks Mary! |  Paul Rice, CEO of Fair Trade USA hangs out with the Coco-Zen ladies. - - |
 Serving up truffles...everyone was surprised that these were vegan! |  Partygoers enjoying the night. - |
Last Chance for Reverse Trick-or-Treat and FREE Chocolates!
Coco-Zen is proud to once again donate chocolates to this year's Reverse Trick-Or-Treating campaign. 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.
See the announcement below, and find out how you and your kids can participate this year...and get your FREE Halloween chocolates!
ORGANIZATIONS (congregations, schools, youth groups, etc):
INDIVIDUALS (families, students, etc):
Order your kits TODAY at www.reversetrickortreating.org. We usually run out long before the deadline!
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:
Whether or not you order a Reverse Trick-or-Treating kit, please join the Raise the Bar Campaign and circulate flyers on Halloween calling on Hershey's to stop using cocoa grown with child or forced labor and start using Fair Trade certified cocoa. Flyers available at: http://www.globalexchange.org/campaigns/fairtrade/cocoa/reversetrickortreating/RTTpublicparticipate.html
October is Fair Trade month!
Learn how you can participate at http://www.fairtrademonth.org/
*Thanks to Reverse Trick-or-Treating 2010 Fair Trade chocolate company donors Equal Exchange, Sweet Earth, and Coco-Zen.
See the 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 8
Deadline for individuals and groups to request Reverse Trick-or-Treat kits!
Deadline for individuals and groups to request Reverse Trick-or-Treat kits!
ORGANIZATIONS (congregations, schools, youth groups, etc):
- Kits for organizations are $24 per box of 150 minis and cards (maximum 2 boxes per organization).
- When placing your order you must use the coupon code COCOZEN for the discounted wholesale price.
- Last day for organizations to sign up for Reverse Trick-or-Treating is also October 8th.
INDIVIDUALS (families, students, etc):
- Kits for individuals are FREE and include 15-20 Fair Trade chocolate minis and informational cards.
- Last day to order kits is October 8th.
Order your kits TODAY at www.reversetrickortreating.org. We usually run out long before the deadline!
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
- http://www.equalexchange.coop
- http://www.sweetearthchocolates.com
- http://www.coco-zen.com
Whether or not you order a Reverse Trick-or-Treating kit, please join the Raise the Bar Campaign and circulate flyers on Halloween calling on Hershey's to stop using cocoa grown with child or forced labor and start using Fair Trade certified cocoa. Flyers available at: http://www.globalexchange.org/campaigns/fairtrade/cocoa/reversetrickortreating/RTTpublicparticipate.html
October is Fair Trade month!
Learn how you can participate at http://www.fairtrademonth.org/
*Thanks to Reverse Trick-or-Treating 2010 Fair Trade chocolate company donors Equal Exchange, Sweet Earth, and Coco-Zen.
Sunday, September 12, 2010
VIDEO: Lost Generation (repost from 2/16/09)
This is a repost from Feb 16, 2009 - thought video was so inspirational that it was worth reposting...
"This video was created for the AARP U@50 video contest and placed second."
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
2010 Reverse Trick-or-Treat Kits Now Available
Update from Global Exchange:
Halloween 2010: Participate in the Fourth Annual Reverse Trick-or-Treating!
Reverse Trick-or-Treating gives thousands of schoolchildren (& high school/college students, and adults) the opportunity to treat neighbors with Fair Trade chocolate while educating their communities about how they can help end poverty and the human rights, child labor, and environmental abuse that is pervasive in the cocoa industry.
The Fair Trade chocolate is attached to a card with information unmasking social and environmental problems in the cocoa industry, and how buying Fair Trade certified chocolate provides a solution.
See how much fun you'll have by watching the Reverse Trick-or-Treating video or reading our 2009 media.
Reverse Trick-or-Treating kits are distributed FREE to individuals and at a DISCOUNTED WHOLESALE PRICE to organizations, thanks to the generous donations of Fair Trade chocolate companies Equal Exchange, Sweet Earth, and Coco-Zen. (Participants pay the cost of postage.)
Place your request today…we always run out long before the deadline!
DATES TO REQUEST KITS:
Individuals (one group of Trick-or-Treaters):
Dates to request kits: September 1 - October 8 (unless supplies run out sooner)
Price: FREE + shipping costs (kit includes 15 cards/chocolates)
Organizations (schools, congregations, youth groups, etc organizing multiple groups of Trick-or-Treaters)
Dates to request kits: October 1 -October 8 (unless supplies run out sooner)
Price: $24 per box of 150 cards/chocolates (maximum 2 boxes per organization) + shipping costs.Organizations: Please note that when you place your order you must use the coupon code 'GLOBALEXCHANGE' for the discounted wholesale price.
Request a kit/more information available at: www.reversetrickortreating.org
This year, make an even bigger difference for cocoa growing communities. Child and forced labor, poverty, and environmental degradation in the cocoa industry will not end unless EACH ONE OF US takes action!
1. Distribute Reverse Trick-or-Treating flyers on Halloween, whether or not you request a kit. Pdf available at www.reversetrickortreating.org.
2. Help challenge Hershey to Raise the Bar! Distribute flyers/petitions as part of the campaign asking Hershey to go Fair Trade and end child and forced labor in the cocoa industry. Pdf available at www.globalexchange.org/cocoa.
3. We are calling on every household to distribute Fair Trade certified chocolate minis to trick-or-treaters who visit your household. To purchase, please visit www.globalexchangestore.org
4. Organize a showing of The Dark Side of Chocolate at your home, school, congregation, etc during Halloween week. This important new documentary reveals that the nightmare of child labor, trafficking, and slavery is continuing in the cocoa fields. Screening toolkit includes petition for viewers to sign asking Hershey to end child labor/slavery and go Fair Trade. More information available at www.globalexchange.org/cocoa.
Reverse Trick-or-Treating is an initiative launched by the human rights organization Global Exchange in cooperation with Fair Trade company Equal Exchange and is a collaborative effort of countless children, youth, and adults supported by institutions including nonprofit organizations, faith-based organizations, Fair Trade companies, and schools.
Monday, August 30, 2010
VIDEO: The Story of Bottled Water
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Stuff We Found Today - 08.26.10
"Living" Dress - Ecouterre
- Egregious Packaging Hall of Fame: Oral B Pulsar Toothbrush - (Inhabitat) Seriously??? A DISPOSABLE electric toothbrush (batteries and all)?? Should they be rechargeable?
- EWG's Back-To-School Guide - (Environmental Working Group) In the market for non-toxic school supplies?... check this out.
- High Lead Content Found In Bounce Houses - (CBS5.com) Be safe...wash hands and change kids clothes after jumping in the bouncy house.
- President's Cancer Panel: Eat Organic, Avoid Plastics - (Organic Consumers Association) "...the idea of reducing exposure to environmental toxins—like chemicals used in farming and in plastics—to reduce the risk of cancer." Hellooooo...people!
- The Cheyenne Children's LEED Platinum Village Garden is a Place to Grow - (Inhabitots) What an awesome place to take kids!
Food Stuff
- Make sure your wheat bread is worth it - (Mother Nature Network) "Not all wheat breads are created equal. What should you look for to get the most nutritional bang from your brown bread?" Some good info here about "whole wheat" versus "wheat" bread.
- Responsible liquors from around the globe - (Tasting Table) Fair Trade vodka, goji berry liqueur and coffee liqueur... we see some new truffle flavors in the making!
- Monsanto & Cancer Milk: Fox News Kills Story & Fires Reporters - (YouTybe) You gotta see this...especially if you're giving your kids regular milk.
Home Stuff
- Extraordinary Japanese Micro-Home Built From A Grid Of Boxes - (Inhabitat) Oh, those Japanese and their super cute little homes.
- Why You Shouldn't Use RoundUp (or Trust Its Labels) - (Generation Green)
Beauty & Fashion Stuff
- Top 7 Solar-Powered Bags for Back-to-School! - (Inhabitats) Keep your gadgets charged with green energy!
- Jane Bowler's Space-Age Raincoats Make Fantastic Use of Recycled Plastic - (Ecouterre) OK...so these may be a bit too fantastical for the typical person to wear, but they're sure cool to look at!
- "Living" Dress, made From Recycled Inner Tubes, Changes Every Season - (Ecouterre) Who says you can't take your garden with you?
Tech & Science Stuff
- Sonnenschiff: Solar City Produces 4X the Energy it Consumers - (Inhabitat) "...solar city in Freiburg, Germany is very much net positive." Awesome!
- Are e-mail attachments bad for the environment? - (Mother Nature Network) Hmmm...something to think about here...
- French Engineers Design a Pedal-Powered Submarine - (Inhabitat) Hmmm...new toy for wealthy eco adventure seekers? Wonder if Richard Branson has one...
School, College & Student Stuff
- Enter Inhabitat Green Back-To-School Contest - (Inhabitat) Win cool backpack, binders, etc...check it out!
- 9 Green Architecture Student Projects That Make the Grade - (Inhabitat) Some of these are pretty cool...go green students!
Nature & Environment Stuff
- 7 U.S. cities with the worst air pollution - (Mother Nature Network) Not too many surprises here.
Political, Social & Economy Stuff
- Fixing a World That Foster Fat - (NYTimes.com) "Fast-food restaurants can charge lower prices for value meals of hamburgers and French fries than for salad because the government subsidizes the corn and soybeans used for animal feed and vegetable oil... We have made it more expensive to eat healthy in a very big way..."
- Why conservatives are bad on energy - (Mother Nature Network) "...the one-sided logic employed by conservatives to dismiss solar power."
Other Random Cool Stuff
- Downsizing an XL water footprint outside the home - (Mother Nature Network) "According to a National Geographic Water Footprint Calculator, effectively curbing the amount of H2O you use may not lie in tweaking habits at home but in taking a closer look at how you shop, eat and travel." Definitely something to think about.
- Suitcase beds for pets - (The GirlieGirl Army) Okay...this is cute - especially if you make it yourself.
Sunday, August 15, 2010
VIDEO: Ocean Acidification... in a nutshell (by Greenpeace)
"Our emissions of carbon dioxide threaten to alter the very chemistry of sea water and change life in our oceans within the span of a single human lifetime."
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Stuff We Found Today - 08.11.10
Awesome kids!
Family, Kids & Health Stuff
Home Stuff
Beauty & Fashion Stuff
Tech & Science Stuff
Nature & Environment Stuff
Arts, Entertainment & Travel Stuff
International Stuff
Political, Social & Economy Stuff
Other Random Cool Stuff
- 8 Inspiring Green Kids and Their Eco-Innovations - (Inhabitat) Awesome kids!!
- Study Links BPA to Low Sperm Counts and DNA Damage - (Inhabitots)
- Chemicals and Obesity Speeding up Puberty in Girls (cartoon) - (Mean Joe Green Cartoons)
Food Stuff
- Giant Toasted Leafcutter Ants - OMG, these are being sold like a snack food (in a pouch) online from England...really??? Maybe we should try covering them in chocolate...not.
- Cocoa Journalists in the Ivory Coast locked up - (Stop The Traffic Blog)
- Floating Dining Room Sets Sail on 1,672 Bottle Raft in Vancouver - (Inhabitat) Cool pop-up restaurant in Vancouver.
- USDA wants us to 'know your farmer, ' FDA wants us to stay home - (Grist) Interesting read...
Home Stuff
- Lucky Drops is a Lantern-Like Japanese Micro Home - (Inhabitat) Cool looking, but could you live in a space like this?
Beauty & Fashion Stuff
- The End of Leather - (The Discerning Brute) Trippy...clothing made from organic, cellulose-based leather that's grown from green tea.
- Industry-Wide "Eco Index" Will Offer Energy Star-Like Rating for Apparel - (Ecouterre) "...could eventually be used as a comparison tool for shoppers to determine if, say, Keds are greener than Vans..."
- Vogue Italy Uses Oil Spill For Fashion Shoot - (Ecorazzi) Ok...seriously, this is not cool.
Tech & Science Stuff
- Top 6 Designs That Harness the Power of Play - (Inhabitots) Harnessing the kinetic energy of kids playing to generate power...neat!
- Scientists Produce Spider Silk From Metabolically Engineered Bacteria - (Ecouterre) Silk from bio-engineered E. Coli... hmmm.
- Volkswagen to Unveil Hybrid Beetle Next Year - (Inhabitat)
Nature & Environment Stuff
- Malibu to be declared a World Surfing Reserve - (Surfline.com) Awesome!!
- 8 of the creepiest trees on Earth - (Mother Nature Network) Cool tree pics.
Arts, Entertainment & Travel Stuff
- Guerra de la Paz Turns Discarded Clothes into Mind-Blowing Sculptures - (Ecouterre) "...recover landfill-bound clothing and render them into subversive art installations." Cool!
International Stuff
- Gigantic Grassy Lawn Lounges Sprout Throughout England! - (Inhabitat) Cool!!.. how fun would it be to lounge out on one of these?!!
Political, Social & Economy Stuff
- Veterans find peaceful new lives as sustainable farmers - (Mother Nature Network) "Programs like 'Combat Boots to Cowboy Boots' aim to give veterans a new sense of purpose and make them a driving force in the green economy."
- A food bill we need - (The Washington Post) Written by Michelle Obama about kids and food... go FLOTUS!!
Other Random Cool Stuff
- Super Long Seaside Bench Made From Reclaimed Wood - (Inhabitat) Neat! Bet the kiddies would love to play on this!
- BP's Getting All Cap-Happy (cartoon) - (Mean Joe Green Cartoons) Haha - funny!
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Eco-Friendly Back-To-School Ideas...And Wallet-Friendly!
Our friends over at Celebrate Green have some great ideas for Back-To-School that's not only easy on the planet, but easy on your wallet too!
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Celebrate back-to-school with better-for-the-planet choices that can save money too
The new school year is just around the corner and that means shopping. Kids not only want/need new clothes, but want/need to be re-supplied with everything from backpacks to lunchboxes, paper, pencils and, depending on age, electronics.
And while living an eco-friendlier lifestyle means buying less (and spending less), it also means buying smarter if you're going to purchase. Here are some tips for making better-for-the-Earth choices when it comes to schools supplies.
1. Before setting foot in the store or clicking on your favorite store's website, make a list of every item your kids need/want.
2. Next, have your children go on a hunt through the house for items on the list. (Checking with grandparents, neighbors and friends is encouraged.) If you're like most families, you've already got dozens of pens, highlighters, notebooks and other sundry items that you don't need to buy. Set a timer for 10 or 15 minutes and if you like, reward the family member who comes up with the most usable items.
3. Discuss with children who are old enough, why it's important to use what you have and avoid spending money and creating more waste. Perhaps you can come up with a challenge. Ask your kids to keep track of expenditures. If they can get everything for an amount you set, the family does something they enjoy together as a treat.
4. Set up a swap. This is a great way to save money as well as recycle not only clothing, but all sorts of school necessities. If parents are enthusiastic, most kids will be perfectly happy with new-to-them items!
5. Prior to heading to a store where you'll buy new, stop by one or two local thrift shops. You're likely to find lightly used three-ring binders, pads, scissors, desk lamps, back packs and electronics like calculators and of course clothes and shoes as well. Buying used means no packaging and no "gifts" for the landfill.
6. When buying new, seek out eco-friendlier alternatives. Even big box stores are carrying 100 percent recycled paper, recycled binders and notebooks, but you might need to seek them out. And if your local store doesn't have these goodies, be part of the solution by asking the manager if she would consider ordering some. Have favorite brands you usually buy online? Pass on the names to the manager.
7. Buying online makes choosing eco very easy. Do a search for an eco-friendlier option for any school supply. Here are just a few examples of what you'll find: Ecojot, carries awesome recycled journals and notebooks. ReBinder has 3-ring binders, Recyled Products offers lots of recycled pen and pencil choices, and backpacks made from recycled soda bottles can be found at many sites.
8. Get those coupons! Many people believe that eco=expensive. Sure, that can be true. But the fact is, coupons and deals abound. Google the name of the product or store plus the word "coupon" or "deal." Shopping in a locally-owned store? Contact your friends and get their lists, then ask the manager if you can get a discount for buying in bulk.
9. Buy only what you need. Those 12 for-the-price-of-6 notebooks are not a bargain if your kids never use them.
10. On the other hand, buying in bulk can save on packaging, so if you can buy a bunch for less, then split among friends, you'll not only save money, but help the Earth as well.
11. If purchasing new, according to the Center for Health, Environment and Justice, you will want to:
And when the gathering/swapping and/or buying is done, have some fun. Celebrate this year's eco-friendlier (and money-saving) choices with a family fashion show/demo or an old-fashioned ice cream social.
*****************************************
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.
*****************************************
Celebrate back-to-school with better-for-the-planet choices that can save money too
The new school year is just around the corner and that means shopping. Kids not only want/need new clothes, but want/need to be re-supplied with everything from backpacks to lunchboxes, paper, pencils and, depending on age, electronics.And while living an eco-friendlier lifestyle means buying less (and spending less), it also means buying smarter if you're going to purchase. Here are some tips for making better-for-the-Earth choices when it comes to schools supplies.
1. Before setting foot in the store or clicking on your favorite store's website, make a list of every item your kids need/want.
2. Next, have your children go on a hunt through the house for items on the list. (Checking with grandparents, neighbors and friends is encouraged.) If you're like most families, you've already got dozens of pens, highlighters, notebooks and other sundry items that you don't need to buy. Set a timer for 10 or 15 minutes and if you like, reward the family member who comes up with the most usable items.
3. Discuss with children who are old enough, why it's important to use what you have and avoid spending money and creating more waste. Perhaps you can come up with a challenge. Ask your kids to keep track of expenditures. If they can get everything for an amount you set, the family does something they enjoy together as a treat.
4. Set up a swap. This is a great way to save money as well as recycle not only clothing, but all sorts of school necessities. If parents are enthusiastic, most kids will be perfectly happy with new-to-them items!
5. Prior to heading to a store where you'll buy new, stop by one or two local thrift shops. You're likely to find lightly used three-ring binders, pads, scissors, desk lamps, back packs and electronics like calculators and of course clothes and shoes as well. Buying used means no packaging and no "gifts" for the landfill.6. When buying new, seek out eco-friendlier alternatives. Even big box stores are carrying 100 percent recycled paper, recycled binders and notebooks, but you might need to seek them out. And if your local store doesn't have these goodies, be part of the solution by asking the manager if she would consider ordering some. Have favorite brands you usually buy online? Pass on the names to the manager.
7. Buying online makes choosing eco very easy. Do a search for an eco-friendlier option for any school supply. Here are just a few examples of what you'll find: Ecojot, carries awesome recycled journals and notebooks. ReBinder has 3-ring binders, Recyled Products offers lots of recycled pen and pencil choices, and backpacks made from recycled soda bottles can be found at many sites.
8. Get those coupons! Many people believe that eco=expensive. Sure, that can be true. But the fact is, coupons and deals abound. Google the name of the product or store plus the word "coupon" or "deal." Shopping in a locally-owned store? Contact your friends and get their lists, then ask the manager if you can get a discount for buying in bulk.
9. Buy only what you need. Those 12 for-the-price-of-6 notebooks are not a bargain if your kids never use them.
10. On the other hand, buying in bulk can save on packaging, so if you can buy a bunch for less, then split among friends, you'll not only save money, but help the Earth as well.
11. If purchasing new, according to the Center for Health, Environment and Justice, you will want to:
- Avoid backpacks with shiny plastic designs as they often contain PVC and sometimes, lead. (Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) is unique among plastics because it contains dangerous chemical additives used to soften or stabilize it. Federal law has banned the use of phthalates one additive in PVC, in children's toys, but not school supplies.)
- Choose cloth or metal lunchboxes. Many lunchboxes are made of PVC, or coated with it on the inside-and don't forget cloth bags to hold sandwiches, cookies and fruit.
- Choose cardboard, fabric-covered, or polypropylene binders. Most 3-ring binders are made of PVC.
And when the gathering/swapping and/or buying is done, have some fun. Celebrate this year's eco-friendlier (and money-saving) choices with a family fashion show/demo or an old-fashioned ice cream social.
*****************************************
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.
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Video: Brian Williams Slow Jams The News With Jimmy Fallon - Gulf Oil Spill
from Ecorazzi.com
This was on "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" a little while back...freakin' hilarious! Brian Williams slow jams with Jimmy Fallon about the Gulf oil spill and alternative energy.
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