Know what bugs me? Those sanctimonious "green" pretenders who carry reusable bags around in their car trunks (but never remember to bring them into the store), buy bamboo sheets (oops—not green) and drop bucketloads of cash on eco-unfriendly stuff in the name of supporting a good cause. Talk about greenwashed ... Those poor souls have positively painted themselves into a corner.

Still, I suppose you have to start somewhere—and starting with the easy stuff is exactly what most people, in fact, actually do. Megan Quinn Bachman, a master's degree student in earth and environmental education, surveyed more than 2,000 early adopters of green lifestyle changes on two green listservs. Rather predictably, she found most of their efforts concentrated on easier undertakings such as cutting back on purchases, buying more local goods and services, conserving energy at home and gardening. More than two-thirds of survey respondants had managed to make those changes.

More life-altering changes remain much less popular. For example, only one-sixth of those surveyed had started new, greener careers, and anything involving driving habits or dietary changes proved to be a hard sell.

Perhaps the most fascinating part of the survey was seeing how feedback about the lifestyles they've made affects the attitude of green-leaning people. From the report:

• People are driven to act in the face of global threats largely by a sense of right and wrong—their conscience—with some encouragement and inspiration from books, movies, media programs and articles.
• Emphasizing the positive consequences of particular lifestyle changes and focusing on health and wellness benefits and a simpler, more satisfying life may be more effective ways to encourage change than promoting financial savings.
• The lack of support from one’s community and family and lack of assistance with overcoming unhelpful personal habits and attitudes are more significant roadblocks to effective response than not having enough information on what actions to take.
• Most people do not feel they need to measure the impact of their lifestyle changes, but some think such feedback would motivate and assist them with doing more. Setting goals, even without measurement, is extremely helpful.

(Photo credit:The Oil Drum: Campfire)

Snake oil or science? Food for a healthy life ... or merely food for thought? End confusion over contradictory research with this balloon chart showing the scientific evidence for various health supplements. You may see some of your own bubbles burst as you spy your favorites bobbing just below the "Worth It" line (or worse still, sinking below "Conflicting" into oblivion). Sort by compounds, enzymes, minerals, plant/herbs and vitamins in relation to overall health or specific conditions such as cancer, mental health and even sex.

The source information appears credible enough. The chart is generated from this Google doc, which updates the balloon chart automatically when new research results come in. Sources include PubMed and Cochrane.org, considering only large human blind-placebo controlled trials. And if you're still skeptical about natural remedies, you can do the footwork yourself with these objective, scientifically verified sources on complementary and alternative therapies.

Of course, there's no discounting the possibility of the placebo effect. NPR just published a curious story showing that scientists are finding signs that the placebo effect is getting stronger over time. Talk about the power of positive thinking ... Now that's a balloon we'll gladly hitch to our stars!

(Photo credit:InformationIsBeautiful.net)

March 8th is International Women's Day  a day on which hundreds of events that celebrate women occur all around the world.

For so many women green is the color of choice, the color of hope. Green initiatives offer a way out of poverty and oppression for women and cast a new light upon their role within the nuclear and Global family.

2010 being declared the International Year of Biodiversity, makes this year's celebration of women more poignant since biodiversity is key to the survival and livelihood of so many women worldwide.

The green movement has so many incredible women achievers to celebrate. Here are just a few interesting sites that celebrate women and the environment:

1. Going Green: Women and the Environment at Women Make Movies films by and about women.
2. The Green Women listing at Best Green Blogs
3. The Green Belt Movement whose mission it is: "to mobilize community consciousness for self-determination, equity, improved livelihoods and security, and environmental conservation."
4. The Eco Mom Alliance "a global organization of mothers working collectively to reduce global warming and propel an environmentally, socially and economically sustainable future.
5. Audubon Women In Conservation Program "was created for girls and women to discover the world of conservation and connect with the best and brightest women leaders in the environmental movement."

Happy International Women's Day 2010!

(Photo credit:blmurch on flickr)

In 1894 John Muir wrote: "When California was wild, it was one sweet bee-garden throughout its entire length, north and south, and all the way across from the snowy Sierra to the ocean."

He continues by describing the immense biodiversity before him: "The great yellow days circled by uncounted, while I drifted toward the north, observing the countless forms of life thronging about me, lying down almost anywhere on the approach of night. And what glorious botanical beds I had! Often-times on awaking I would find several new species leaning over me and looking me full in the face, so that my studies would begin before rising."

This sounds like a beautiful dream, a beautiful impossible dream. But biodiversity because of its very nature is still within our reach. Favoring  biodiversity over monoculture, that is the crucial task at hand.

Here are some simple ways we can all foster green biodiversity:

1. Become informed about the historical biodiversity of where we live. Find out about local organizations that aid in the preservation of local endangered species, habitats and watershed. Learn what efforts are being attempted to restore these habitats and how we can help. Get the whole family involved.
2. Support worldwide conservation efforts whenever we can.
3. Research threatened and endangered plants species and provide some space in our landscape for them whenever possible.
4. Remove invasive species that may be choking out biodiversity on our small or large acre. Buy our seeds and plants from ethical organic sources. Plant heirloom varieties. Kick the pesticide/herbicide habit!
5. Support our local birds, they are great sowers of seed and plant a  butterfly/bee garden. Compost everything that you can.
6. Dedicate a "wilderness" area on our property where beneficial insects, birds and small wildlife may shelter and thrive. Plant a hedgerow habitat.
7. Buying our meats and produce from local ethical and organic farmers and markets whenever possible is so important.
8. Dialing back our fast food consumption sends an important message to companies that thrive on the devastating practices of monoculture.
9. Buy less stuff: use it up, wear it out, donate it, gift it. Reduce, reuse, recycle, upcycle, repeat!
10. If you are going to buy things, buy handmade things that support local economies, cottage industries and craftsmanship.
11. Whether we live in an urban or rural setting learning what we love about where we live is so important. Taking a walk in nearby nature, noticing that life is happening all around us, becoming connected, breathing...

Have a beautiful green day!

(Photo credit:ms.lume on flickr)

Looks like there's something fishy about some of the most popular brands of fish oil supplements. A lawsuit filed in California earlier this week claims that many leading fish oil manufacturers are peddling products packed with toxic polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) compounds, despite labeling that states the products are "treated" and are safe from PCB contamination. Eight companies are on the hook: CVS Pharmacy, Inc.; General Nutrition Corp. (GNC); Now Health Group, Inc.; Omega Protein, Inc.; Pharmavite LLC (Nature Made brand); Rite Aid Corp.; Solgar, Inc.; and TwinLab Corp.

Polychlorinated biphenyl (PCBs) are persistent organic pollutants that continue to be a significant environmental hazard despite having been banned since the 1970s. PCBs are classified as a probable human carcinogen. Exposure has been linked with liver cancer, skin rashes, liver damage, irregular menstrual cycles, lowered immune response, fatigue, headaches, coughs and poor cognitive development in children.

Continue reading Fish oil supplements packed with PCBs ›

(Photo credit:Stephen Cummings, flickr)

When it comes to hitting the books, college students prefer to keep hitting the books—this, according to a new study on replacing traditional textbooks with e-readers. Students using Amazon Kindle DX e-readers at several major universities missed the ease of use in flipping through and taking notes in traditional textbooks.

Students' main concern was not being able to open more than one text at a time. According to a report at USA Today, "Students whose curriculum requires them to organize information culled from many different sources are particularly concerned with being able to navigate multiple documents at once, said Michael Koenig, director of operations at Virginia's Darden School of Business, which also ran a Kindle DX pilot program last fall. 'At the point where you need to highlight and notate in a fairly high-paced classroom—to be able to move back and forth between business cases, class readings, your own notations, your own highlights, your own analysis—it's just not as flexible or nimble as having your paper notes or your laptop right there,' he said, adding that the Kindle was 'not quite ready for prime time."

Old-fashioned note-taking techniques also proved hard to duplicate. With backpacks traditionally bristling with neon-colored highlighters for color-coding different types of information in different texts, students were unhappy with the difficulty of highlighting text. They also disliked the clunkiness of typing notes on the Kindle's keypad. "Many users thought that the addition of a touch screen and stylus would make for a much better device," wrote Princeton researchers.

Far from being a disappointment, the research results appear to confirm that Amazon has hit its mark with the Kindle. The e-reader was designed specifically for recreational use rather than hardworking study or professional applications. While 75% of the Darden students said they wouldn't recommend the Kindle for other students, about 90% gave it a thumbs up for casual reading. Whether or not it's a greener choice—now that's a topic for another day!

(Photo credit:Plutor, flickr)

If a small plot is your plight, fear not for, it's pocket gardening to the rescue!

Taking a lesson from good old mother nature, who can send up a shoot of something green through the cracks in almost any parking lot, some clever folks have come up ingenious green ideas for small gardens.

This new spin on window box gardening has people growing their own green vegetable bounty in the most unlikely places and containers. Pick a pocket, plant a packet and watch your garden grow.

Here are a few really great ideas for pocket and container gardens:

1. Handmade in the USA from recycled plastic bottles Woolly Pocket soft-sided garden containers are suitable for indoor or outdoor usage. Their breathable sides release excess moisture to aerate the soil and their waterproof lining helps keep walls and floors dry.
2. Upcycling an old colander or salad spinner for indoor lettuce and herb growing is a great idea.
3. Create your own attractive DIY hanging pocket garden by upcycling any number of beautifully designed and sturdy coffee or juice bags. Macrame some jute or twine to hang them on.
4. Stylish recycled tire planters are attractive, relatively lightweight and much easier to move around than heavy flower pots. The large handles are really convenient.
5. Eco-friendly and really quite attractive biodegradable rice hull pots and planters are great for green windowsill gardening.
6. Repurpose an old wheelbarrow by drilling drainage holes in the bottom and filling it with soil. This makes a great portable outdoor garden that can be repositioned easily to optimize sunny or shady spots around the garden.
7. Old teapots hung by their handles so that the spout is pointing downwards make great outdoor hanging planters. They usually have a strainer built into the spout to trap tea leaves but if their is no strainer a small piece of screen works just as well. Fill with enough soil so that it does not spill out and plant a hanging thyme, rosemary or other creeping herb and drape it out through the top of the pot.
8. A festive and colorful tin can garden can be made by upcycling large restaurant sized cans. Drill a few holes in the bottom and add some small stones or gravel to provide suitable drainage. Be sure to set these on a tray of some sort as tin cans tend to rust.
9. Always use a good quality organic planting medium to ensure good growth. Well begun is half done.

Don't be shy, if you plant it it will grow! Happy planning, happy planting and please feel free to share your favorite small space garden ideas with us.

(Photo credit:ms.lume on flickr)

We're all aware that certain seemingly innocent-sounding words on product labels hide some not-so-innocent ingredients (phthalates, parabens ...). What we may not all have realized is just how many pernicious little tricksters are hiding behind the word "fragrance" on cleaners, candles and cosmetics. We're not talking a dozen or so pseudonyms; we're talking about 3,163 ingredients. That fresh, fragrant feeling you were searching for? It very well could be stink-bombed by toxic additives.

The International Fragrance Association has compiled and posted this gargantuan list in an effort to help consumers who are struggling with chemical sensitivities to fragrance additives. The list includes both natural and artificial fragrances masquerading as fragrance.

The fragrance industry has struggled to strike a balance between detailing its ingredients and divulging proprietary blends and secrets. “The publication of the Fragrance Industry list of ingredients is a move towards greater transparency while still protecting proprietary details of specific fragrance formulae,” explained the IFRA's Jean-Pierre Houri. “This initiative shows the responsibility and accountability of the fragrance industry and our commitment to communicate our extensive safety program.” The ingredients listing initiative was led by the Consumer Specialty Products Association (CSPA), The Soap & Detergent Association (SDA) and the Canadian Consumer Specialty Products Association (CCSPA).

The best way to protect yourself continues to be the Environmental Working Group's Skin Deep cosmetics database. Before plunking down your hard-earned cash on pricey cosmetics, candles or household cleaners that turn out to be toxic, take a few minutes to learn how Skin Deep can flag chemicals best avoided.

(Photo credit:ubik2010, SXC)

I daresay that climate change naysayers will be forced to sit up and take notice when the price of their beloved java rises through the ceiling, roof and beyond. Eventually we all may be dialing back our coffee consumption in the face of skyrocketing prices.

Global warming is having a devastating impact on coffee growers as they scramble to claim land at higher altitudes upon which to plant their crops.

According to Nestor Osorio, head of the International Coffee Organization "There is already evidence of important changes" he states that "In the last 25 years the temperature has risen half a degree in coffee producing countries, five times more than in the 25 years before."

Climate change has shifted the delicately balanced patterns of rainfall and aridity needed for coffee to flourish and prosper. From Brazil to Indonesia coffee is a mainstay export and one of the most important trade commodities in the world.

Fair trade coffee may be the coveted gift you want to give for any occasion as it becomes more and more precious.

Pero anyone?

(Photo credit:P.J. McAdie on flickr)

It might not be the epicenter of London's fashion week (yet!), but estethica is definitely the "heart" of sustainable, ethical style. The ethical fashion event, now in its seventh year, will feature 28 designers in 2010 including Ada Zanditon, Christopher Raeburn, Goodone, Minna, Nina Dolcetti and The North Circular.

This is no hodge-podge of saggy hemp jumpers. One eye-popping example at this year's event will be Nicola Woods' Beautiful Soul line, a high-end eco-luxury label that has drawn critical acclaim. Londonfashionweek.com notes, "Delving below the surface and discovering new ways to incorporate recycled vintage fabrics and sustainable alternatives, adds exclusivity and a spirit of conversation. Silhouettes are considered throughout the design process and a strong emphasis is placed on product longevity, garment adjustability and multi function, offering a versatility determined by our change in body contours. Material remnants feature as trimmings and fastenings, providing a solution to ‘zero’ waste."

Estethica is co-curated by Orsola de Castro, founder of green label From Somewhere, Filippo Ricci and The British Fashion Council.

(Photo credit:British Fashion Council)