This video is posted from a company that makes cotton bags but I think the facts and images shown are very compeling.
Everytime you get a plastic bag from a store think about this video… remember to bring your reusable bags with you when you shop.
Archive for January, 2009
Green Baby Shower Gifts
I originally started writing this post a few months ago when I was researching items to put in my “green basket” baby shower gift for a friend. I could not post it because her and her husband read my blog and then I got lazy and never finished it.
Here are some great ideas for some green gifts you can give your parents to be.
Sigg or other stainless steel sippy cups- Plastic with bis-phenol or BPA has been know to leach into the food that is contained in them (see my post of the health effects of plastic here). By using stainless steel sippy cups you do not expose the child to any harmful chemical. I think we all know that plastic is not good for the environment so by purchasing a stainless steel sippy cup you are saving another plastic item from being made and ending up in a landfill.
G diapers- Regular diapers can take up to 500 years to break down in a landfill and G Diapers take 90 days because they are plastic free. You can also compost (the wet ones) or flush them as well. Basically they are cotton breathable outer pants that come with disposable inserts. Because you are not throwing out the entire diaper with every change there is a little bit of work involved for a parent to keep up with this method of diapering but G Diaper has an 800 number and website for help for parents. Remember kids can poop through regular, bad for the environment, diapers so be realistic in your expectations for these diapers. The good they do for the environment are worth the learning curve needed to be successful in using them.
Diaper service- Find a local diaper service for your eco-friendly family-to-be and pre-pay a month or two for them. Give them some cloth diaper pants, covers, or holders (for lack of a better term). You can order diaper covers from babynaturale.com or cottonbabies.com . You can also get cloth diaper accessories at kellyscloset.com
Organic baby clothes and blanket- organic cotton is much easier to get these days for kids and babies. Organic cotton is most sustainable for the environment because no harsh pesticides are used in the farming of cotton. These pesticides comes through in the fibers of the cotton and can get on babies skin so organic clothes are better for baby and the environment.
Baby food maker- There are devices out there now to make it even easier for parents to make their children a fresh nutritious dinner. The <a href=”Beaba Babycook Baby Food Maker
Baby food cookbooks- It is actually quite easy to make food for your baby and most food can be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months so it is possible to devote some time on a regular basis to make the food but still have the same conveniences as store bought processed foods. It helps you buy local, organic, and healthier foods. One of the best cookbooks I have found is the “<a href=”Cooking for Baby: Wholesome, Homemade, Delicious Foods for 6 to 18 Months
Recyclable stroller- Baby Planet makes some of the coolest strollers ever… They come in animal themes like tiger and frog, a donation goes to the Wildlife Conservation Society with every purchase and when you are done with the stroller you send it back to them for free and they recycle the ENTIRE thing! While I have never actually pushed one I read the reviews on Babies R US and it appears people are happy with it, the complaint I read the most was that it was a little heavier than other strollers but I personally feel the big plastic strollers are to light weight a cheap (not to mention bad for the environment).
Check their registry as Babies R Us, Target, Walmart, Buy Buy Baby and other stores start carrying more eco-friendly baby items you may find that the parents have already registered for items that fit into this theme.
Find a creative way to package the items to that is eco-friendly like canvas bag or basket made out of recycled materials. Try not to undo the green goodness of the gift by its packaging (easier said than done, I understand).
PS. Sorry for a few formating problems in this post I cannot seem to figure out what is wrong. I did not want to hold up posting this anymore.
Green Celebrities: Al Gore
As the grand finale of this series of posts I thought I would give you the one you all expected from the beginning Al Gore. He is a celebrity not for being a tv or movie star but rather a politician and an activist. He is a Nobel Prize winner (the only one on the list), author, award winning star/producer of one of the leading movies about the environment, and pioneer in other ways we can make a change in the environment. Below is a list of several of his accomplishments and I think alot of you might be suprised to know what he is involved in.
An Inconvient Truth is a documentary that came out in 2006 which basically went in depth outlining the effects global warming will have on our environment and how it will affect our world. The movie won rave reviews from both the movie world and the political world. The format was innovative, it is basically Al Gore making a presentation with various interviews and news clips edited throughout. It presents amazing facts of what has happened and scary predictions for the future if things continue the way they are. The movie has continued to live on to be an educational tool for businesses and even children in school.
The Climate Project consists of 2,500 dedicated volunteers from throughout the United States, Australia, Canada, India, Spain, and the UK, all personally trained by Al Gore to educate the public about climate change. TCP presenters have reached a combined 4 million people worldwide. The goal of the organization is that by raising the awareness of our fellow citizens about this crisis and informing them about potential solutions, all of us, together, can preserve the climate balance on which humanity and our planet depend. The group started in June of 2006 with 1,00 volunteers that were trained to give the slide show that is featured in an Inconvenient Truth. By the end of last year they have already made 20,000 presentations with an estimated total audience of over 2 million people.
Gore shared the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007 for his efforts “to disseminate knowledge about man-made climate change.” The Nobel committee cited Gore as “the single individual who has done most to create greater worldwide understanding of the measures that need to be adopted” to halt global warming. Gore shared the prize with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), a United Nations (UN) agency comprising more than 2,000 climate scientists and experts. The Nobel committee has increasingly focused on environmental issues in awarding the Peace Prize because the exploitation and control of natural resources, such as petroleum and freshwater, have become conflict issues, as well. The committee noted that global warming “may induce large-scale migration and lead to greater competition for Earth’s resources.” Gore donated his half of the Nobel prize money to the Alliance for Climate Protection. (from Encarta Online)
Current TV is a tv station that started in 2005 with viewer submitted videos on all day. The Current TV website descrbes that channel as the: “world’s leading peer-to-peer news and information network. Current is the only 24/7 cable and satellite television network and Internet site produced and programmed in collaboration with its audience. Current connects young adults with what is going on in their world, from their perspective, in their own voices.” But it is much more than a You Tube for tv. I have spent a good amount of time watching this channel and there are several thought provoking segments that are about more than just the environment. It is an innovative idea and I have to say I am not surprised that Al Gore is involved in it.
Al Gore was also instrumental in organizing and promoting the Live Earth worldwide concert to increase awareness about global warming. He is also Chairman of Generation Investment Management. Generation’s mission is:
- Deliver superior investment performance by taking a long term investment view and integrating sustainability research within a rigorous fundamental equity analysis framework.
- Create long term client partnerships by delivering unique investment insights and exceptional client service.
- Attract, retain and develop the best professionals within a passionate investment culture through a commitment to Our Values.
The Generation Investment Management offices are also located in some of the most environmentally state of the art buildings. They have offices in New York (that they are moving into very soon) and London both of which are certified by their countries leading environmental standards (Platinum LEED in NY and Excellent BREEAM in London). They do not stop at the construction of their offices but they are also committed to being carbon neutral through purchasing off sets for both business operations AND the personal actions of employees and their families.
Al Gore has set an amazing example of how to get the word out about an important issue and use the resources available to him to get people to act.
Green Celebrities: Hayden Panettiere
I wanted to put a woman on my list so I spent a pretty significant amount of time researching women who are making a committment to helping improve the environment. I chose to profile Hayden Panettiere from the TV show Hero’s on NBC. She is young and is not the leader that other people on the list may be but because she is young I think she is a possible front runner in the future of celebrity activism.
Hadyen is an active member of PETA (disclaimer: this blogger has some problems with PETA’s radical views). In a PETA2 post they talk about Hayden’s commitment to save dolphins. She paddled out with 5 other people on surf board to try to stop fishermen who were participating in the annual Japanese dolphin slaughter. An arrest warrant was even issues and eventually rescinded for her actions. She also happens to be a vegetarian. Some argue that defense of animals does not help the environment but this blogger disagrees so I think that having someone on the list that has a strong commitment to helping animals is important.
Voting was also an issue that was important to Hayden. She was one of many celebrities that participated in the Declare Yourself campaign to get people out to vote. She starred in an “home shopping inspired” model of the muzzler (which represented a non-voters inability to speak if they did not vote). She also appeared in print ads.
With all the clothes that a actress gets she has set up Panettiere’s Closet with the mission of: “Cleaning out my closet is just the beginning; and putting my stuff up for sale is the first step in a crusade that will go a long way to helping these majestic mammals. The money we raise together will bring a larger-than-life awareness to everyone who believes saving the world means living in a humane world.”
She uses her interest in animal protection and political action. She has personally delivered letters to the Norwegian and Japanese ambassadors in hopes that they would stop practices in their countries that are detrimental to ocean life.
I do think it is important to note some of the other women I considered profiling:
Daryl Hannah- while she has not been in the news recently she is famous true tree hugger. I would put her in the category with Ed Begley Jr…. being green before it was cool.
Alicia Silverstone- Famous vegitarian, animal rights activist and PETA member.
Green Celebrities: Adrian Grenier
I would say that Adrian Grenier, star of Entourage, lives a green life in a much quieter way than alot of the other people who are on this list. He may have dreams of being as famous for his green lifestyle as the other listed but I do not think he is there yet but he might get there so I think he deserves to be on the list.
He happens to have a show on Planet Green just like some of the other on the list but it is a more personal look into his transformation to green. The show, Alter Eco, shows how Adrian is renovating a new house to be green and looks at other lifestyle changes he can make with help of his environmentally minded friends. His friend Rick Bryd is a real estate developer who says he green and is helping Adrian renovate a new house in a green way. While Rick knows what he is talking about every time he opens his mouth it seems like green slime comes out… he is the yuckiest guy Adrain is friends with that you see. His other friends Angela Lindvall, Dareen Moore, and Boise Thomas have a genuine interest in all things green. In shows they take you a farmers market and then follow a florist home and learn about how she composts…etc. He has surrounded himself with people who really want to live a green life so their influence on him is sure to rub off.
Through out the course of the show the renovate the house and I encourge you to check out the house in these two slide shows pictures of house and more pictures of house. The house is amazing looking and shows alot of great green design elements.
Recently he was the Charity Ball Gala (picture) at the Metropolitan Pavilion in New York City to raise money to build wells in 13 countries so residents can have clean drinking water. He has volunteered for City Harvest bring food to the poor and home bound (picture).
He talks about his commitment to the environment in all of his interviews and talk about the changes he has made in his life.
I had a hard time finding any bio’s on him or a list of environmental organization that he supports but I think it is clear that he lives a green lifestyle. I think he might become as active as the other listed here so I decided to include him.
Green Celebrities: Ed Begley Jr.
You are probably not surprised he is on the list either but he was a pioneer in bringing green issues to the forefront. Celebrity gossip shows always talked about the fact that he drove a hybrid or electric car (he has also been known to ride his bike as well) to an award ceremony. He has built a reputation of taking green to the extreme at least by the average persons standards.
He has a tv show called Living with Ed. He shows you the green things he is doing to his house and in his life and visits his fellow Hollywood friends to get them to be more green. The show is hilarious, his wife calls him out on his extremism sometimes and his friends joke around with him. One of the episodes I saw was titled “I Spy Bill Nye,” where Ed and his wife go over to Bill’s house where he trys to one-up Ed with the green changes he has made in his house. Ed then goes home and embarks on some other green renovation projects around his house. Ed really works hard to live a green life but the show is also entertaining.
He is an entrepreneur too, he created Begley’s Best which an all purpose and all natural household cleaner. It is made from extracts of pine, de-acified citrus, maize, fermented sugar cane roots, and olive seeds. The ingredients are all natural, non-toxic and totally biodegradable in just 3 to 7 days. According to the website “Begley’s Best™ dissolves away grease, grime and dirt, quickly, safely and effortlessly. You can use it on any surface that is compatible with water, such as tile, showers, porcelain, counter tops and cupboards, linoleum, plastics, wood, leather, stainless steel, aluminum, chrome and colorfast fabrics.”
So he rides a bike to events, has a tv show where he lectures his friends and his wife about the environment and he has his own cleaning product what else is there right… well he has to be an author too!! He recently wrote a book titled “<a href=”Living Like Ed: A Guide to the Eco-Friendly Life
Ed also supports alot of environmental organizations like Tree People (just like Leonardo DiCaprio), Earth Cinema Circle, Environmental Media Association, Santa Monica Mountain Conservancy, and Thoreau Institute.
So I think Ed Begley is probably the first green celebrity and deserves to still be recognized. He will probably always be a leader in setting a living green example.
Green Celebrities: Leonardo DiCaprio
Leonardo DiCaprio is a celebrity that uses his celebrity status sparingly but very effectively for green causes. He is personally committed to living a greener lifestyle, uses his wealth to give to green charities, and uses his professional skills to make movies that educate the public about the environment.
Many people reading this probably already would have put him on the list of green celebrities but I hope you learn a little bit more about why I put him on my list and why he qualifies.
One of the most public, recent and recognizable achievements is the documentary The 11th Hour. He serves as the narrartor and producer of the thought provoking documentary that features experts, religious leaders, politicians and other people explaining why we need to work to fix the environment and offers real solutions on how to do it (some of which Obama has mentioned in recent speeches). To read my full review of The 11th Hour click here.
He also runs the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation which was established in 1998 (before it was the in thing to do) that gives money to environmental organizations that fostered awareness of environmental issues. Some of the organizations he has given money to are: National Resource Defense Council, International Fund for Animal Welfare, TreePeople, and the California Community Foundation. According to the foundations 2007 990 form he gave money to 22 organizations including the ones listed above and Global Green USA ($75,000), Oceana, Bioneers, and Amazon Watch ($20,000 each).
He has also made films that are available to watch on his website titled: Global Warming and Water Planet. Click here to go to his website, there is no direct link to videos.
Leonardo DiCaprio also Executive Produced Greensburg for the Discovery channel. It is a 13 part documentary/show the explores Greensburg, Kansas’ efforts to rebuild their town after a devastating tornado on May 4, 2007 that destroyed 95% of the town. From the shows website:
In an extraordinary 13-part series co-produced by acclaimed actor and environmental activist Leonardo DiCaprio and award-winning producer Craig Piligian, viewers will meet the people of this amazing town, seeing the daily struggle of a community as it fights its way back from the edge of extinction and learning how the lives and livelihood of Greensburg’s citizens will be changed by this massive reconstruction effort.
Struggles abound as the city government strives to build the greenest buildings in the entire country, and citizens endeavor to remain patient as they live in FEMA town trailers, the temporary residences for many citizens, and prepare to rebuild their homes using green technologies.
Still, the spirit of the citizens of Greensburg are what make the journey most inspirational, as they are ordinary, everyday people of great character who choose to face adversity head on and create a better life for themselves and their children. The dependable-yet-futurist city planner, the “good old boy” mayor, and a bright high school senior all share a deep connection to the city, both past and future.
Greensburg’s story is both poignant and universal. The imagination and innovation demonstrated in Greensburg inspires and enlightens audiences, showing that when individuals, companies and communities respect and harness nature, the results are a dramatic improvement in our social, economic and environmental living conditions.
The rebuilding of Greensburg presents a historic opportunity. One rural town on the plains of Kansas vividly demonstrates that sustainable, eco-friendly building is an imperative path to the future.
Paparazzi photograph him often riding his bike around NYC (here is one from TMZ). I believe he also still drives a hybrid vehicle and is looking at (or purchased) and apartment in lower New York in an environmentally designed apartment building.
Choice quotes from speeches by Leonardo DiCaprio
While our Congress and the President have failed to act to stop these rollbacks, individuals are starting to act. Tens of thousands of people have chosen to drive a hybrid vehicle in the last 2 years, including myself, in order ro conserve energy, reduce their gas bills, and fight global warming. We have sent a message to car manufacturers in Detroit that these types of vehicles are not only central to our survival, but that we can create jobs from clean, green technologies. (At Case Western University in Cleveland, Ohio 2004-10-19)
We must break this cycle now – and we must make it a clean break. And the good news is we’ve never had better solutions. I drove here today in my hybrid vehicle that gets 50 miles to the gallon and has less than half of the pollution of a normal car. (On Global Warming at NRDC Press Conference February 7, 2003)
Is he perfect no… I am sure he flys alot, there are pictures of him on yachts and he currently selling a huge house that probably is not the most environmentally friendly but he certainly professionally and personally has made a commitment to helping the environment.
Introducing the 5 Greenest Celebrities
Over the next 5 days I will blog about a different green celebrity. They will be in no particular order. They are all famous in their own right and do alot for the environment. On day 6 I will do honorable mentions and potential nominees for next year!!
As we look to green out lives it is fun to see how the famous are lending their celebrity to green causes.
Have any suggestions?
Green New Years Resolutions
Maybe you do this every year but Ialmost never make resolutions. This year I want to try to really do what I need to do to live a greener life. Some of these items I list you probably recognize from earlier posts but it is definitely worth making a new commitment to.
- Compost more, I personally have been slacking this winter in adding to my compost bin. I am still creating lots of great items to put in there (egg shells, orange peels…etc.)
- Recycle even more. I need to move the plastic and tin can recycling bin closer to my back door so I put the stuff out there. I also need to dig into the trash and take out the cans that my husband throws out too.
- Stop the junk mail. I signed up for Green Dimes and did alot of work on making that work but I need to keep following up with it. All of a sudden I am getting a ton of catalogs and I need to update my preferences. I also need to figure out how to get rid of the credit card offers…. there is a forest a week being lost to these.
- Bring canvas bags with me everywhere. I really made a committment to do this the other day when I was shopping and it was more comfortable to just put everything in the bag. I am going to leave one in my car and one in my husbands (hidden under the seat, he would not want my litter in his car) so there is no excuse for me not to do it.
- Drive less… this is just hard.
- Walk more… this will be easier when it gets a little warmer out.
- Eat more organic and local food.
- Be a more active environmentalist. Participate in events locally that promote environmentalism, learn more about the environment, share that information on the blog, and shop in a more environmentally responsible way.
I hope that as I commit to these resolutions I can share with you what I learn along the way.
Please post your green resolutions or suggestions you may have for me.
