Quote of the Week - 12.18.11

"Happiness never decreases by being shared."

~Buddha

"Share a little happiness…share some Fair Trade Chocolate."

~Coco-Zen

VIDEO: Playing For Change - Stand By Me (tribute to Japan)

Love this... with Grandpa Elliot and Clarence Bekker of the Playing For Change band.

"In the summer of 2011 the Playing For Change Band was invited to perform at Jazz Fest in New Orleans. While we were in town long-time friend of the project, Jimmy Buffett, invited us to a jam session on the roof of Margaritaville that rocked into the wee hours of the morning. The PFC Band kicked off the night with this tribute to the people of Japan who have been a affected by this past spring's Tsunami."

Quote of the Week - 11.20.11

"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

VIDEO: United | Playing For Change

This may be one of our new favorites from the Playing For Change folks... beautiful!

"7 Billion People | 7 Billion Actions | 7billionactions.org - By the end of 2011 the world will have reached 7 billion people. The United Nations Population Fund is leading an innovative global campaign to bring awareness to the opportunities and challenges that this milestone presents. But 7 Billion people means 7 Billion hearts. Music has always been the best way to speak to the hearts of the people. Playing for Change has partnered with the United Nations to present an original song around the world to serve as an anthem for such an important time, "United".

We traveled across the globe, put headphones on musicians, added them to the track, and created a video that can serve as a tangible example of something positive we can all do together as a human race.

Lets inspire each other. Lets everybody get involved and join us on in this journey, so that together we leave this world better than we found it. To learn more about how to be part of the "United" track go to http://7BillionActions.org."

Quote of the Week - 11.13.11

"Love is just like rice - plant it elsewhere and it grows."

~Malagasy Proverb

"Love is like Fair Trade chocolate - share it and it grows."

~Coco-Zen

Greening up your Thanksgiving feast by going local...

Holiday season is fast approaching (yea!!), which usually means spending time with family and friends... and lots of yummy food! First up, Thanksgiving, and the the ladies over at Celebrate Green!® have got some great ideas on how to make our festive feasts a bit more planet friendly...and we think wallet friendly too!

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Buy local for a no-guilt Thanksgiving

Depending on where you live, this time of year it can be a real challenge to buy locally grown or raised food. But it's important, especially as we approach our most foodcentric holidays.

The Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture compared what it takes to haul food from other states into Iowa with semi-trailer trucks versus hauling by small light trucks within the state. Simply upping the in-state number by 10% would result in an annual fuel savings ranging from 294,000 to 348,000 gallons and annual emissions reductions ranging from 7 million to 7.9 million pounds.

And two years ago, the University of Washington predicted that if half of all King County's (WA), approximately 1.8 million residents ate a locally grown Thanksgiving dinner instead of an "imported" one, they could avoid contributing to emissions equal to 2.4 million vehicle miles.

So homegrown or neaby-grown food can have an environmental impact even greater than what the big meal has on our waistlines!

Of course, most of us are aware that the grapes we use to garnish our Thanksgiving dessert may have spent two weeks traveling to get to us before being placed on display where they might languish another few days before we bring them home. Fresh, they're not.

Unfortunately, the main constraint on shopping at your local farmer's homestead is the time of year. Unless you live in a temperate climate or are blessed with a heated greenhouse, obtaining fruits and vegetables locally year around means that at some point in the summer you may be inundated by zucchini and by January you're beginning to dislike turnips with a passion usually reserved for politicians.
But just because our consciences won't allow us to enjoy oranges in November if we live in New York doesn't mean our Thanksgiving tables will look barren.

Here are some ideas for finding locally grown foods and other Thanksgiving goodies.

1. Check LocalHarvest.org for what's in season and available in your neck of the woods.

2. While most farmers markets are closed for the season, some sell year round. Do a search for "year around farmers market+your city" and see what you find. (Local Harvest also may list them.)

3. Check local farms. Again, do an online search, i.e. "organic farm near Seattle," then if you find some, call and see what they will be offering prior to Thanksgiving.

4. Your natural market or co-op is the most obvious source of local fare.

Now that you've discovered some great places to buy, how do you afford it? Here are some ideas for saving green when buying green.

1. Group buy. Get together with friends/neighbors/schools and propose to purchase in bulk. Let your friendly neighborhood farmer know that you are willing to buy 50 pounds of her organic sweet potatoes and she's more likely to give you a good price. Why not approach your local natural food store with the same offer−it never hurts to ask.

2. Seriously consider how much food you need too pull of the best Thanksgiving ever. Will serving six dishes instead of ten make the holiday any less successful? Eliminate the dishes with the most expensive ingredients, substitute less costly alternatives or leave them out.

3. Vow not to purchase anything but food. No décor (borrow from nature), flowers (ditto), tablecloths, napkins, plates, glasses or silverware (borrow or have guests bring their own place settings and tell them you're having "an old-fashioned Thanksgiving," because that's what people did before there were paper plates and plastic flatware). You also could rent or purchase for very little at a thrift store.

4. Put together a potluck Thanksgiving where you provide only the main item, usually the turkey, unless you're going vegetarian. Assign all other dishes to guests.

5. Forage. No kidding. You may find everything from seafood to mushrooms and greens out your backdoor. But be sure to know what you're doing before you try this one. You don't want to kill anyone off as a result of eating at your house! If you hurry, there may be time to sign up for a foraging class before the holidays.

6. Trade. Know a local farmer, but can't afford to purchase what you want to feed your party? Ask what he needs. Maybe he'll trade six months of haircuts or carwashes, babysitting or weeding for a big bird.

Aim for a 100% local meal, but if you can't reach it, know that you tried. And in doing so, surely you've most likely impoved. Next thing you know, you'll be thinking about Thanksgiving 2012 in July and freeze veggies in anticipation!

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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.

Stuff We Found Today - 11.06.11

FLOTUS at the White House Autumn Harvest 2011

Food Stuff

• How to roast pumpkin seeds - (Mother Nature Network) In case you still have those seeds from your jack-o-lantern.
• Iron: Dark Chocolate Contains More than Beef? - (Care2) Get our iron from chocolate...we like that idea! OK - not really advocating that, but still...
• Recipe: Kale with Lemon Sauce - (Celebrate Green!) Mmmm...always on the lookout for yummy kale recipes to get more green into dinner.

Home Stuff

• Recycled Skateboard Bench - (EcoSalon) These would be super cool in a hip office...wishful thinking on our part??
• Don't get slimed: Skip the fabric softener - (Enviroblog) "Fabric softeners contain toxic ingredients that are bad for your health and the environment."

Beauty & Fashion Stuff

• Triumph Japan Recycles Old Bras Into Power-Generating Fuel - (Ecouterre) Sounds like a pretty good idea to us.
• Is Synthetic Clothing Causing "Microplastic" Pollution in Our Oceans? - (Ecouterre) Great...another way we're polluting with plastic.
• 6 DIY Pumpkin-Skincare Products You Can Make at Home - (Ecouterre) These are really easy... and good enough to eat right off your skin!
• 18 Vegan Shoe Brands That Are Eco-Friendly and Ethical, to Boot - (Ecouterre)
• 7 Beauty Ingredients To Avoid - (EcoSalon) Read the labels ladies!

Tech & Science Stuff

• Power the economy and grid with local solar [Infographic] - (Grist)
• Northeast States Teaming Up to Build EV Charging Network - (EcoGeek.org)
• Dow Solar Shingles Finally Hitting U.S. Markets - (EcoGeek.org) Can replace regular roof shingles.

Nature & Environment Stuff

• Up to 20 million tons of debris from Japan's tsunami moving toward Hawaii - (Yahoo! News) Yikes!
• The Simpsons Called It; Three Eyed Fish Caught Outside a Nuclear Power Plant - (Gizimodo) No joke...caught in a resevoir in Argentina. Check it out.
• Carbon Emissions Rise By Six Percent In 2010; Largest Rise Ever Recorded Concerns Scientists - (AboutMyPlanet.com) Not good!
• 12 Incredible Long Exposure Waterfall Photos - (Environmental Graffiti) Seriously beautiful pics.
• 6 Bizarre Alien-Looking Life Forms - (Environmental Graffiti) Nature...both beautiful and bizarre.

Website Stuff

• Vegan Cuts - A deal site just for vegans...check it out!

International Stuff

• Ikea to Build Massive 26-Acre Suburb in East London - (Inhabitat) Wow...welcome to IKEAland! Hey, at least it's planned to be eco-friendly.
• Saudi Arabia Begins Operations At First Solar Plant - (AboutMyPlanet.com) Hey...when oil rich nations start going solar...

Political, Social & Economy Stuff

• An Urban Garden Prepares Inmates for Green-Collar Jobs - (NYTimes.com) Like!!
• White House Autumn Harvest 2011 - (Obama Pics Daily) Love seeing FLOTUS in the veggie garden with all the kids!
• Guerilla Gardening at Occupy Wall Street - (350.org) "...a beautiful film from the crew at Seismologik.com on a unique way to connect food, direct action, and a fundamental new way of looking at the world around us..."
• Big News on the Keystone pipeline: Obama Steps Up and takes ownership of decision - (350.org) Question is... what will he decide?

Other Random Cool Stuff

• How many people have ever lived on Earth? - (Mother Nature Network) "As humanity welcomes its 7 billionth member this month, the Population Reference Bureau calculates our net population from 50,000 BC to today." Kind of interesting...
• Olly - An air freshener that works when you get pinged - OK...we know this isn't a "green" post, but thought it was so outrageous that we had to share. For reals people...c'mon!
• Too Many Halloween Treats? 10 good ways to get rid of the haul! - (Celebrate Green)

Quote of the Week - 11.06.11

"If your mind is scattered, it is quite powerless."

~The Dalai Lama

"If your chocolate is Fair Trade, it is quite powerful."

~Coco-Zen

VIDEO: La Tierra Del Olvido | Playing For Change

From the Playing for Change folks... As always, just beautiful!

"http://www.playingforchange.com - Today we are proud to share a new video titled, "La Tierra Del Olvido" (The Land of The Forgotten), featured on our PFC 2 CD/DVD. This video features over 75 musicians across the country of Colombia. Throughout our journey we have learned that music is the greatest tool for healing broken countries, cultures and hearts. With this video we set our to unite and inspire the people of Colombia so they can move forward from years of conflict and create a positive future. Listen to the music, see the smiling faces and remember we are going to make it as a human race!! One Love, Mark

Follow the link below to order the new album and support Playing For Change by telling all your friends and family to join the movement at http://playingforchange.com Order "PFC2: Songs Around The World" now on Amazon.com: http://amzn.to/PFCsatw2"

Quote of the Week - 11.01.11

"Every time you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing."

~Mother Theresa

"Every time you give someone Fair Trade chocolate, it is most definitely a beautiful thing."

~Coco-Zen

Stuff We Found Today - 10.23.11

"Macquarium"

Family, Kids & Health Stuff

• Stress and Toxins Can Combine to Increase Illness in Children - (Greenwala) Interesting study... (makes sense to us!)
• Child Slaves Made Your Halloween Candy. Stop Buying It. - (GOOD) Start spreading the news...
• Kids' Brains Absorb Twice as Much Cellphone Radiation as Adult Brains - (Inhabitots)
• 10 Ridiculous "Pinkwashed" Products That May Actually Cause Breast Cancer - (Ecouterre)

Food Stuff

• Infographic: Unexpected Chemicals in Your Food - The Health Risks of Pesticide - (Greenwala) That's why it's best to get organic whenever you can.
• 'No magic bullet' can protect cocoa from climate change - (ConfectioneryNew.com) Will chocolate become a true luxury item??
• Chocolate That Feels As good As It Tastes - (Green Energy TV) Video by Fair Trade USA.
• 12 healthy homemade candy recipes - (Mother Nature Network) Some fun ones to try...and to taste!

Beauty & Fashion Stuff

• Fair Trade Fashion: Ridiculously Inexpensive Jewelry from Morrocco - (EcoStiletto) Gorgeous gold "silk" and silver bead necklace and bracelet.
• The Company That Wants You to Buy Less - (New American Dream) Patagonia would rather you repair or buy used clothing instead of buying new...cool!
• 14 Eco-Friendly Women's Boots to Kick Fall Into Gear - (Ecouterre) Lovin' the Cri de Coeur boots!
• 14 Eco-Friendly Men's Boots For Ushering Fall - (Ecouterre) ...and, the men's selection...

Tech & Science Stuff

• Virgin Atlantic Announces Plans to Fuel Airplanes With Waste Gas - (Inhabitat) "Airline mogul and billionaire Richard Branson just announced that in three years Virgin Atlantic airplanes will be fueled by waste gas from power plants, steel works, and aluminum plants."
• Macquariums: Iconic Candy-colored Apple iMacs Recycled into Aquariums - (Inhabitat) Kinda cool and nostalgic.

Nature & Environment Stuff

• Extraordinary Toroidal Vortices [VIDEO] - (Eco-Tube) This is a pretty cool video... especially of the dolphins and whales making and playing with bubble rings.

Arts, Entertainment & Travel Stuff

• Magic Mountain Lodge is a Hill-Like Hobbit Highrise - (Inhabitat) Gotta see the picture. How cool would it be to spend a few nights here?!!
• Tell Disney: Get the Lead Out of Disneyland! - (Center for Environmental Health) "For nine months, Disney has known about dozens of lead-tainted brass and stained glass items at Disneyland, yet the company has failed to act to protect children!"

Website Stuff

• How Many Slaves Work for You? New Online Tool Measures Your Impact - (Ecouterre) Almost scared to try this one out...

International Stuff

• Bosco Verticale in Milan Will Be the World's First Vertical Forest - (Inhabitat) Now if all high rise condos could be like that.

Other Random Cool Stuff

• WTC Complex Aiming for LEED Gold, Will Be The Largest Green Project in NYC - (Inhabitat) Nice!!
• HOW TO: Make Flying Ghosts from an Upcyvled Sheet for Halloween - (Inhabitots) Fun times!

Quote of the Week - 10.23.11

"Every new day is another chance to change your life."

~Unknown

"Every new day is another chance to have some Fair Trade chocolate."

~Coco-Zen

Skip conventional candy this Halloween...

If you're not already passing out Fair Trade chocolate this Halloween (hee, hee), here are some great alternatives to conventional candy from the ladies over at Celebrate Green. Bye, bye scary pesticide laden candy!

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Thinking outside the (conventional) candy box this Halloween

Halloween is supposed to be nothing but fun for kids.

Yet there are some scary statistics out there right now about our children.

For one, this is the first generation of American children whose life expectancy is now shorter than their parents.

And for another, if the current trend continues, one in every three children will develop diabetes in her lifetime.

"But Halloween is only one holiday. Why can't we let kids eat all the candy they want?" some might ask.

If candywere only doled out by the handful once a year, it might be all right. (Even then, some parents would prefer moderation and still, we would face the issues of the unhealthy chemicals in the candy.)
But the fact is that many of our holidays have turned into sweetfests-Valentine's Day and Easter, for example, to say nothing of kids' birthday parties and other celebrations throughout the year. Add to this the candy children receive if they accompany you to the bank (even thedoctor!), the dry cleaners or pet store. Some teachers even hand out candy as a reward for good behavior.

So it's not about once a year. It's about recognizing the impact of our national sweet tooth (and our reliance on artificially derived and modified ingredients), and how we can help our children to enjoy healthy and safe alternatives, even when celebrating.

What to give instead?

If you don't want to hand out conventional candy this year, what can you substitute? Lots of things.

You can choose from an assortment of organic candies, and/or those made without dyes and preservatives, and that use juice or fruit for sweetening.

Or consider honey sticks, a favorite among kids of all ages. (But do not give honey to children under the age of two.)

If you'd prefer to skip thecandyaltogether but still want to offer food-how about real fruit strips and rolls, dried organic fruit, whole food bars, raw or toasted nuts (check with parents of young children due to allergy concerns), natural gum, organic crispy rice bars, or pumpkin and other seeds. (For a longer list with specific brands, check out www.GreenHalloween.org)

Treasures instead of treats?

Another alternative is to substitute "treasures" for treats.

Think about it this way. When you empty your kids' pockets before doing the laundry, what do you find? These are things your children think of as precious even if you do not-bits of shiny paper, rock crystals, acorns, for example.

So when it comes to treasures, don't dismiss them just because you think kids will turn up their noses. Ask them! You might be surprised that they would be happy to receive stickers,friendship bracelets, coins (who doesn't love money?), polished rocks, sea shells, cookie cutters, or other small items. (Lots more treasure ideas at Green Halloween.)

Enter the bowl

To ensure you offer something children will like, fill a bowl with a variety of treats and treasures, then invite children to take their pick. You will no doubt be surprised at their choices.

At a Halloween event a couple of years ago, we placed a bowl filled with feathers on a table in our booth. Adults passed by without a second glance. But as kids approached, their eyes grew wide and they asked, "Can I have one?" So many wanted a feather that we ran out in an hour. They blew them into the air, they tried to tickle themselves (or their siblings), or lightly brushed the feathers against their cheeks. Boys, girls, teens and tweens all had the same reaction.

Who would think that today's children who seem to be entertained only when they are plugged in, could enjoy something as simple as a feather?

So this Halloween, offer lots of choices, allow children to pick their favorite instead of taking a handful (which, no matter what is chosen, is not only better for kids' health, but also should cut down on your purchase costs) and feel great about providing the children who come to your door with a healthier Halloween.

Photos ©Holli Dunn

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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 - 10.16.11

"To love oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance."

~Oscar Wilde

"To love Fair Trade chocolate is the beginning of a lifelong romance."

~Coco-Zen

Stuff We Found Today - 10.06.11

Cute eco-friendly trick-or-treat bags

Family, Kids & Health Stuff

• Eco-Friendly Candy Monster Trick or Treat Bags Eat Kids Goodies - (Inhabitots) These are adorable!

Food Stuff

• Dr. Oz, apple juice, and arsenic: chicken may have 10 times more - (NutritionFacts.org) "Every year about two million pounds of arsenic-containing chemicals have been fed to chickens in the United States..."
• Recipe: Sweet Potato Biscuits - (Peta.org) Yummy and super easy recipe...perfect to do with the kids (they'll have fun forming the biscuits with their hands!), and it's even vegan!
• Mars Commits to More Fairtrade While Hershey Loses Ethical Ground - (Change.org News)
• Climate Change Could Make Chocolate A Luxury Item, Report Finds - (Huffington Post) Just great...
• Recipe: Mujaddarah - This Middle Eastern comfort food of spiced rice and lentils sounds delish...gotta try!
• Monsanto's broccoli (and other business ventures) - (Mean Joe Green's Environmental Cartoons) Check out Monsanto's newest veggie...

Home Stuff

• 7 Amazing sun-Powered Homes in the 2011 Solar Decathalon! - (Inhabitat) Oooohhh...some of these are pretty nice!
• Stainless Steel Straws - (Ecobold) LOVE these straws... and this 4-pack comes with a cleaner!
• 24 things you can clean with lemon - (Mother Nature Network) Really like the tip on cleaning microwaves.

Beauty & Fashion Stuff

• 11 Hot Green Designers at the New York Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2012 - (Ecouterre) Always fun to look at...
• Human Hair Accessories - (Ecouterre) Hmmm...interesting or creepy??
• 14 Eco-Friendly Capes, Cloaks, Ponchos For Cozying Up to Fall - (Ecouterre) Love, love love!
• Uggs Made Using Dog Fur, Yep. - (GirlieGirl Army) BOOOOO!!!!!!

Tech & Science Stuff

• Who Will Spark the Future of U.S. Energy? - (Greenwala) Calling all U.S. billionaires... Check out what a wealthy man in Japan is doing!
• Coffee-Powered Car Breaks World Speed Record for Vehicle Powered by Organic Material - (Inhabitat)
• Could Bamboo Surfboards Inspire Bamboo Cars? - (GOOD) We'd want one of those...the new eco-version of the old surfer "woody" station wagon!

Nature & Environment Stuff

• Plastic found at the ends of the earth - (Surfrider.org) Plastic trash floating around in Antarctica...great!
• Video: Moving Planet - (350.org) For anyone who missed the Moving Planet celebration on Sep 24th, or who just want to relive it... here's a great little video they put together.
• Red Tide Causes Glow-In-The-Dark Blue Waves On San Diego Beaches (VIDEOS) - (Huffington Post) This is crazy looking... check out the videos.
• Mother Lion Makes a Daring Rescue to Save Her Cub Off a Cliff - (Greenwala) Don't mess with mama lion!!

Website Stuff

• Fair Trade Finder app crowd-sources product locations - (Mother Nature Network) "Fair Trade USA has just released an app that allows users to upload the location of fair trade products that they find for sale." Works for smartphones and Facebook.
• 10 Free iPhone Apps To Help You Go Green - (The Good Human) Gotta love an app!

Political, Social & Economy Stuff

• How your 'slow money' can make a difference - (Mother Nature Network) "Let's do with money what the slow food movement did with food. By investing in local businesses, you can turn a profit and change your community for the better."

Other Random Cool Stuff

• Infographic: America's report card - (Mother Nature Network) "Hundreds of U.S. residents in all 50 states grade their state on natural beauty, eco-friendliness, medical care and more."
• Guatemalan Schools Built from Bottles, Not Bricks - (Huffington Post) Pretty cool!

Quote of the Week - 10.02.11

"Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated."

~Confucius

"Chocolate is simple, just insist on Fair Trade."

~Coco-Zen

VIDEO: Higher Ground | Playing For Change

Here's another video from Playing For Change: Songs Around the World...

"http://playingforchange.com - "Higher Ground" is a song that speaks of the perseverance it takes to reach the higher consciousness. Let's all keep trying together, one heart and one song at a time, until we all reach the Higher Ground.

Follow the link below to order the new album and support Playing For Change by telling all your friends and family to join the movement at http://playingforchange.com"

Quote of the Week - 09.26.11

"You're happiest while you’re making the greatest contribution."

~Robert F. Kennedy

"We’re happiest while we’re eating Fair Trade chocolate."

~Coco-Zen

Stuff We Found Today - 09.18.11

Ben & Jerry's Schweddy Balls made with Fair Trade vanilla ice cream

Family, Kids & Health Stuff

• Hannah and the Talking Tree - Check out this children's environmental book that teaches the power of personal action.
• BPA Ban on Baby Bottles and Sippy Cups Approved in California - (Inhabitots) YEA!!
• Sunscreen pills form coral reefs? - (Mother Nature Network) "Scientists have discovered a natural compound that protects coral reefs from sunlight, opening the door to sunscreen pills and UV-resistant crops." Hmmm...eat your sunscreen??

Food Stuff

• 5 healthy slow cooker breakfasts - (Mother Nature Network) Some great ideas for getting the kids to school on time with a hot breakfast in their tummies...it cooks overnight so you don't have to wake up early to prep - genius!!
• Insect develops resistance to Monsanto's GM corn - (FoodNavigator-USA.com) Uh...maybe GMOs are not the answer?!!!
• Blueberries faked in cereals, muffins, bagels and other food products - Food Investigations [video] - (NaturalNews.tv) Watch this video and then go check the labels on the "blueberry" items in your pantry.
• Annual Report Card: Hershey, Trailing Behind Competitors, Gets 'F' For Failing to Remove Child Labor From Its Chocolate Production - (PR Newswire)
• Ben & Jerry's Schweddy Balls! - (Washington Times) Remember the SNL skit w/ Alec Baldwin - haha!! Ben & Jerry's newest flavor is made with Fair Trade vanilla ice cream...even better!
• Cooking with Chef A: Quinoa for breakfast [video & recipe] - (Mother Nature Network)

Home Stuff

• Sloan's Innovative AQUS Grey Water Toilet System Recycles Your Sink Water - (Inhabitat) Super great, especially if your toilet is next to your sink.

Beauty & Fashion Stuff

• Sierra Club Socks - Made from upcycled and organic fibers...these just look so warm and comfy.
• Toxic Tattoos - (Greenwala) Check this out if you have tattoos are are thinking of getting one.
• Eco Fashion Shows from New York Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2012 - (Inhabitat) Always fun to look at!

Tech & Science Stuff

• This Company Turns Plastic Bottles Back Into Crude Oil - (GOOD) "Ohio-based energy company, is taking even plastics that can't be recycled and reverting them to the material state from whence they came: crude oil." Hmmm...sounds interesting.

Work & Business Stuff

• LinkedIn adds new volunteer section - (Mother Nature Network) "Individuals who have donated their time to a nonprofit organization can better publicize this work on their LinkedIn profile."

School, College & Student Stuff

• America's Coolest Schools: Sierra's fifth annual ranking of the greenest colleges - (Sierra Club) Plus tidbits on all sorts of "green" goings on with schools and students across the country.
• 10 Eco-Friendly, DIY Projects for Back to School - (Greenwala) We're diggin' the Homemade Study Center and the Chalkboard Globe.

Nature & Environment Stuff

• Dolphin Fish-Eating Trick Catches On - (DiscoveryNews.com) "...a very clever group of bottlenose dolphins in Australia has created its own new combo tool that both captures fish and functions as a food bowl..." Some pretty smart animals!

Arts, Entertainment & Travel Stuff

• Sierra Club's Military Families Outdoors - Great outdoor adventure programs for families of those who serve our country.

Political, Social & Economy Stuff

• How would you spend $7 billion - (Mother Nature Network) "Two proposed energy projects (each with a $7 billion price tag) present two very different directions for America's future. Which would you choose?"
• The Climate Reality Project - "24 Hours of Reality will focus the world’s attention on the full truth, scope, scale and impact of the climate crisis. To remove the doubt. Reveal the deniers. And catalyze urgency around an issue that affects every one of us."
• Infographic: What's driving gas prices - (Mother Nature Network) This is kind of interesting.
• Why would a Hawaiian coffee ship import bananas? - (Mother Nature Network) "On Hawaii's Big Island, a Starbucks outlet sells Ecuadoran bananas. It's a trivial example of the way the twisted logic of global business creates its own unsustainable reality."
• Demand Facebook Remove Pages That Promote Sexual Violence - (Change.org)

Other Random Cool Stuff

• Bees have a home in Chicago airport - (Mother Nature Network) "At O'Hare International Airport, the open space is used for beekeeping and giving meaningful employment to felons"... helping planet & people... AWESOME!!
• VW: The Dark Side [video] - (Greenpeace) Check out this awesome video comeback to VW's "Star Wars" TV ad... "Despite its green image, Volkswagen is spending millions of Euros every year funding lobby groups who are trying to stop Europe increasing its commitment to greenhouse gas reductions..."
• World's First Functioning LEGO Greenhouse Unveiled at the London Design Festival - (Inhabitat) Ahhh...Legos.

Quote of the Week - 09.18.11

"Smile, breathe, and go slowly."

~Thich Nhat Hanh

"Smile, breathe, and eat Fair Trade chocolate."

~Coco-Zen

Coco-Zen Truffles featured in SF Weekly's Foodie Blog!

SF Weekly Foodie writer thinks our Truffles-To-Give will make great holiday gifts. Check out the article...

Coco-Zen Delivers Great Packaging, Very Good Truffles

Go green this Halloween by swapping costumes... National Costume Swap Day!

It may not quite be Halloween yet, but National Costume Swap Day is right around the corner! And it’s never too early to start thinking about how to make one of the best holidays of the year more eco-friendly. Check out this cute video from Green Halloween!

On October 8, people across the country will get together for costume swaps in their own cities and towns. Swaps are a great way to go green by exchanging gently used Halloween costumes for new-to-your-kids. You’ll save the money you would’ve spent on new costumes for your kids and help the environment. In fact, swapping half the costumes kids wear at Halloween would reduce annual landfill waste by 6,250 tons—about the weight of 2,500 midsize cars!

If you’ve got friends and neighbors or a school or community group for whom a costume swap would be a good project, we encourage you to host a swap yourself or join with others. It’s easy, fun and a great way to build community around this money-saving and planet-saving idea.

You can learn the simple steps to hosting a swap here.

And be sure to register your swap so everyone can find out about it.

Many neighborhoods and towns have already begun planning their swaps. Find one near you, then spread the word and help make it an eek-o-fabulous success!

National Costume Swap Day is sponsored by Green Halloween, KIWI magazine, and Swap.com.

Ready to get started? Find existing swaps—plus information to help you start your own at CostumeSwapDay.com.

Quote of the Week - 09.12.11

"Success is more permanent when you achieve it without destroying your principles."

~Walter Cronkite

"Chocolate is more delicious when you achieve it through Fair Trade."

~Coco-Zen

Coco-Zen included in group of "5 Chocolate Makers Doing It Right"

Coco-Zen was recently included in an article about a select group of chocolate companies "who are making the sweet stuff in a sustainable way." Check out the article (and cool infographic) on Halogen TV...

Happy World Chocolate Day!

Coco-Zen featured in Organic Soul...

We are so excited to have been recently featured on Organic Soul...check it out!

Coco-Zen: Scrumptious Sweets with Purpose

Stuff We Found Today - 08.29.11

Floating micro-country funded by Paypal Founder

Family, Kids & Health Stuff

• Why Pregnant Women in California Have High Levels of Toxic Chemicals - (TIME) Hmmm, definitely not good!
• Alternatives to Toxic Hands Soaps at your Kid's School - (Greenwala) "Most hand soaps used by schools contain nasties like fragrance, triclosan and other nasty chemicals."
• 9 habits that my do more harm than good - (Mother Nature Network) A few things here we never really thought about before...

Food Stuff

• Keep Pesticide-Ridden Corn Off Your Dinner Plate - (Center for Environmental Health) "Monsanto’s new GMO corn, intended for the frozen and/or canned corn market. This experimental corn will not be labeled, so consumers cannot know when they may be eating a GMO food that contains a toxic pesticide in every bite." Take action.
• Cocoa's benefits linked to anti-inflammatory potential: Human data - (Confectionery News) Cool beans... cocoa beans, that is - haha!
• Hershey's Chocolate Sweatshop Sullies its Image - (InvestorGuide.com) Right here in the good ole US of A! C'mon Hershey's... it's bad enough that you don't use Fair Trade chocolate.
• The Bicycle Coffee Company: Sustainable From Bean To Cup - (Dowser) We are huge fans of these guys...and their coffee!
• Cargill pays premium millions to cocoa farmers as sustainable sourcing grows - (ConfectioneryNews.com)
• Salmon Fish Cake [Recipe] - (Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution) Mmmm...going to have to try this out this weekend!

Home Stuff

• Cat Hammock in a Box - (CatAbove.com) For cat lovers, this has to be the coolest cat gadget/accessory ever... and it's made of corrugated cardboard!
• 8 lush green rooftops from around the globe - (Mother Nature Network) These are neat to look at!

Beauty & Fashion Stuff

• Christie Brinkley Launching Vegan Skin Care Line - (Ecorazzi) Set to launch this summer...keep an eye out!
• Stick Your iPad Down Bernie Madoff's (Recycled) Pants - (Ecouterre) iPad cases made from Madoff's auctioned off pants...kind of funny.

Tech & Science Stuff

• GE's Solar Powered Carousel Opens at the South Street Seaport! - (Inhabitat) Fun!!
• Lightning Motorcycles Break 200 MPH Electric Bike Speed Record! - (Inhabitat) For all you speedster bikers...

School, College & Student Stuff

• Announcing the Global Green USA Green School Makeover Competition: A Chance to Win $65,000 to Green Your School! - (Global Green USA)
• Enter to Win Inhabitat's Green Back-To-School Contest - (Inhabitat) "Worth a whopping $1155, our back to school prize package includes a HP Pavilion dv6 laptop with Windows 7, a set of notebooks from ecosystem, a creative bundle from Behance, some sweet recycled newspaper pencils from TreeSmart, folders, tabs and more courtesy of Naked Binder, and a Voltaic Converter solar backpack to put all of it into!"

Nature & Environment Stuff

• Shell Oil Leak in North Sea Raises Memories of BP Gulf Oil Spill - (Treehugger)
• Moving Planet: A Day to Move Beyond Fossil Fuels - Coming Sep 24th... check it out!! From the guys over at 350.org.

Arts, Entertainment & Travel Stuff

• Constance Hockaday's Boggsville Boatel Turn Defunct Boats Into Floating NYC Hotels - (Inhabitat) Maybe a fun getaway with kids??

Political, Social & Economy Stuff

• Fair Trade Chocolate Activists Upload Protest Photos On Hershey's Facebook Page - (Huffington Post)

Other Random Cool Stuff

• Apple Unveils Exciting New Pictures of It's Foster & Partners Designed Green Headquarters in Cupertino! - (Inhabitat) Self-sufficient curved glass building... cool!
• Paypal Founder Peter Thiel Invests $1.25 Million to Create Floating Micro-Countries - (Inhabitat) "...building his very own start-up countries in the far off, open ocean..."

Quote of the Week - 08.28.11

"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step."

~Confucius

"The journey towards a kinder world can begin with a single piece of Fair Trade chocolate."

~Coco-Zen

VIDEO: Getting to Know Fair Trade in Four 2-Minute Micro-Documentaries

Fair Trade USA recently released a series of micro-documentaries that help bring a better understanding of what Fair Trade is all about and how it helps both people and environment. Take a look...

Fair Trade: Quality Products

"Fair Trade Certified products are some of the highest quality goods available on the market. Farming communities around the world are rapidly realizing that quality-not quantity- is directly related to profitability; leading many Fair Trade cooperatives to invest their premium funds in quality control initiatives. By strengthening their capacity to produce high quality goods these farmers are gaining increased market access, strengthening their business capacity and in turn earning higher wages to support the well being of their families and communities."

Fair Trade: Improving Lives

"Through Fair Trade certification not only do farmers earn a higher price for their goods, they also receive an additional premium fund for community development projects. These funds are used for things like building schools, health care clinics and clean water wells, as well as for home loans, scholarships and transportation. Fair Trade empowers communities to take their futures into their own hands."

Fair Trade: Protecting the Environment

"Fair Trade is not just about earning a higher price for the harvest, it's about learning techniques for sustainable agriculture that help protect the environment and make the world a better place for future generations. To become Fair Trade Certified, farms must adhere to a strict set of environmental standards, including but not limited to: no use of GMO's, minimal and safe use of chemicals, elimination of slash and burn techniques and responsible disposal of waste and water runoff. These standards not only ensure sustainable production practices, but also worker health and safety.

Additionally, while Fair Trade does not require organic certification, it does encourage organic conversion to further enhance environmental commitment."

Fair Trade: Power of the Consumer

"Fair Trade is a system that harnesses the power of the market to help alleviate poverty and generate significant global change; this is why the American consumer has so much power. By making small, simple changes to your everyday purchasing habits, such as choosing a cup of Fair Trade coffee or eating a Fair Trade banana, shoppers are able to vote with their dollar for a better world."