Non Toxic Vision

Method - new eco-friendly products

Cleaning products in sleek packaging: This seven year old company has been marketed largely through word-of-mouth, good shelf space and the appeal of the packaging. I have to admit when I first bought my first Method-product I knew nothing about the company. The packaging was alluring to me and the promise of eco-friendly cleaning product make me eventually buy it. And: the product is great. I bought a wood polisher and loved the smell. This week the company is rolling out one of the largest advertising push: Detox your home.  www.methodhome.com

GlobalWarming Survival Handbook

David de Rothschild's book The Live Earth Global Warming Survival Handbook (Rodale, U$ 15) attempts to be guide to things we can do about climate change - from giving up meat (18 % of greenhouse-gas emissions are produced by the livestock industry) to "adopting a glacier".  Some readers call the the book anything from pretty and colorful, but shallow; to cute; to an easy read to transform non-believers. I guess it is a good gift for people still in doubt of any global warming happening.

globalINHERITANCE

This organization is pushing the envelope in recreating the way people look at activism. Their initiative includes the following 6 programs:

• FashionPeace creative thinking over peace. An art based program in which participants collaborate through fashion design to present messages on a diverse range of topics and causes www.fashionpeace.org
• TRASHed :: Art of Recycling This large scale art initiative brings together the world's best artists to turn ordinary recycle bins into amazing work of art www.getTRASHed.org
• TRASHed :: Recycling Store: An event based program where recyclable bottles are the currency by which concert goers can acquire cool merchandise www.getTRASHed.org/store
• Tourrider: a traffic congestion and air pollution initiative where concert goers carpool to gain access to a range of perks including give bags and VIP access.
• You're the BOMB: an art initiative that aims to bring focus of the escalating problem of nuclear weapon proliferation in the 21st century. www.stopthebomb.com
• Instrumental Assistance: A music based initiative partnering with school districts nationwide to raise interest and participation among school aged children in playing instruments. www.globalinheritance.org/instrumental

Plugging into the Sun

Did you know that home solar systems in the Northeast can produce up to 90 % of the electricity generated by those in California. A good reason for California installers to expand nationally, e.g. PowerLight and Akeena Solar opened offices in New Jersey.

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority's website www.powernaturally.org explains the state's incentive program, which is in place since 2002. State approved installers are listed as well. Check out www.njcep.com for a listing of installers in New Jersey. New Jersey has been offering rebates to homeowners for photovoltaic systems since 2001, and it is now the second-largest solar market in the country. Rebates up to USD 3,80 per watt for home systems are offered. Connecticut's rebate program pays up to USD 25,000 per solar photovoltaic installation. More info at www.ctinnovations.com/funding/ccef/solar_rebates.php.

The Green Book: The Everyday Guide to Saving the Planet One Simple Step at a Time

• Here is an inside glimpse on what to find inside The Green Book:
  Don't ask for ATM receipts. If everyone in the United States refused their receipts, it would save a roll of paper more than two billion feet long, or enough to circle the equator fifteen times!
• Turn off the tap while you brush your teeth. You'll conserve up to five gallons of water per day. Throughout the entire United States, the daily savings could add up to more water than is consumed every day in all of New York City.
• Get a voice-mail service for your home phone. If all answering machines in U.S. homes were replaced by voice-mail services, the annual energy savings would total nearly two billion kilowatt hours. The resulting reduction in air pollution would be equivalent to removing 250,000 cars from the road for a year!

With wit and authority, authors Elizabeth Rogers and Thomas Kostigen provide hundreds of solutions for all areas of your life, pinpointing the smallest changes that have the biggest impact on the health of our precious planet.

Land art by Robert Smithson

Robert Smithson was one of the founders of the art form known as earthworks or land art, One of his amazing creation is the "Spiral Jetty, made in 1970 is located in the Great Salt Lake, Utah. This monumental earthwork was inspired in part when Smithson saw the Great Serpent Mound, a Pre-Columbian Indian monument in southwestern Ohio. It also embodied one of his goals which was to place work in the land rather than situated on the land. Smithson's earthworks defined an entirely original notion of landscape. Dissatisfied with the status quo, Smithson did not limit himself to any one form or style of art.

More information on this amazing artist: www.robertsmithson.com

Uncruel Fashion Labels

Stella McCartney, who has long been an activist for animal rights, sells canvas linen, Lucite and imitatin leather shoes and handbags. However she is not the only one rethinking luxury labels. Even though - one has to admit - her name just stands out. Check out fashion products made by Moral Fervor, NaturevesFuture or MooShoes.

Should you live in New York City here are a few choices:

• OrganicAvenue on 101 Stanton Street in the LES
• NY Artificial, Eighth Avenue @ West 12 Street
• MooShoes, 152 Allen Street
• Kaight, 83 Orchard Street

Low-impact Travel

You are planning your next vacation? Try those companies:

• Seacology: excursions to project sites in Tanzania, Fuji, Vanuatu and Indonesia www.seacology.com
• Nature Conservancy: a pioneer in encouraging ecotourism www.nature.org has also encouraged
• Mountain Travel Sobek: offers rafting trips on the Yangtze and Upper Mekong River, that benefit the Conservancy's Great Rivers Project www.mtsobek.com
• Volunteer at Blue Ventures for 3 to 6-week expeditions to its marine field station in Andavadoaka, Madagascar www.blueventures.org
• Earthwatch: study elephants in Kenya, track rare butterflies on Mount Fuji, or work with a conservation team to explore Brazil's cerrado ecosystem www.earthwatch.org

My Thoughts on Organic Foods

How important is it to you to be able to buy organic strawberries from Chile in January? While I totally support buying organic produce I support buying local even more. By buying organic non-seasonal produce you create lots of carbon dioxide. Sure you can buy yourself a green consciousness with carbon dioxide offset vouchers. But what is the point of being sustainable and Eco-minded? In my mind it is about being aware of your local surrounding. Well in winter - living in the northeast means - eating a lot of pumpkins and cabbage. I order my produce from Urban Organics. They assure the support of local organic farmers. In our household we now have fun finding new recipes on how to prepare pumpkins etc.

Pull the plug on appliences

This is an easy way to be more conscious about the environment. Appliances like television, radio, VCR, DVD-player still suck power when turned off. An estimated 95 % of the energy consumed by chargers comes when they are left plugged in. In my blog on May 15 I talk about the smartstrip, which automatically turns of the energy once you turn of the appliance.