Have you finished your Christmas Shopping yet? No? Good! Then you still have time to do some environmentally-friendly gift-buying this year at the ECO Gift Expo in Santa Monica on Saturday and Sunday December 15 and 16. Click here for more information. {more}

Can you imagine a world where nothing is thrown away? Or at least a world where waste is food for something? Imagine, for example, ice-cream packaging that is not just bio-degradable within minutes of being discarded but where plants grow from within it when thrown away? Sound far-fetched? Well, in fact, this is here today. I was absolutely ecstatic to hear that the Sundance Channel is now airing a series of shows called The Green; one of which discusses the work of William McDonough and Bill Braungart authors of the book Cradle to Cradle, which presents to us a world where materials are perpetually reused to maximize their value without damaging this wonderful eco-system we live in. {more}

Congratulations California! The Mountain View News (a weekly paper distributed at my local metro station among other places), reported on page 8 of their April 12-18, 2007 edition that "Californians recycled an all-time record 12.4 billion beverage containers, 61% of the 20.5 billion that were purchased in the state." In addition, the paper also reported that California now celebrates 20 years as the biggest bottle and can recycling progarm in the United States. Now if we can only get the rest of the country to follow our lead. {more}

Here's a short video of the 2007 Earth Day festival at Memorial Park in Pasadena, California. A few things missing from this video are the Phoenix Electric Vehicle, the Kiddie Protest and the clip with the Path To Freedom House people. I didn't include those since I have separate videos for those already on YouTube. Check 'em out! {more}

I caught a few minutes of the KCAL 9 news broadcast today at 2 pm and heard that California is using 1% less gas than it did one year ago. According to the news broadcast, this is the first time in 14 years that there has been a decrease in gas use in our lovely state. Congratulations California! This is great news. Keep it up! {more}

The Tennessee Center for Policy Research recently obtained reports that Al Gore uses more energy in his home each month than the average American does in a year. Now although there may be plenty of valid reasons for this, this gives me the perfect opportunity to once again point out the the problems we are facing will not be solved by simply complaining about them and urging people to switch their light bulbs. {more}

In April of last year, I posted an article about the unnecessary waste of energy in incandescent light bulbs. Well, apparently, there are enough people somewhere that care to do something about it. CarbonFund.org recently announced that Australia is planning to ban the incandescent light bulb, hoping to cut emissions by 4 million metric tons by 2012, and be the first country in the world to take this impactful step. Although California has been considering the idea for a while, it has yet to take any serious steps in that direction. {more}

MySpace, an online social networking web site has bought out 7 movie theaters nation-wide this friday in order to show the movie An Inconvenient Truth, a movie about Global Warming, for FREE. THIS FRIDAY June 16th, 2006, visit any one of these 7 theaters at their stated times to watch this MUST SEE movie for FREE. I saw this movie last week and was absolutely shocked at the information presented and mostly that not more is being done about it. PLEASE SEE THIS MOVIE. {more}

CarFreeLA.com has recently reported that the United States Surgeon General has issued a new warning about cars and their effects. Click here to learn more. {more}

Yesterday, I wrote about a band called the Ditty Bops on CarFreeLA.com in an article entitled Move Over Neil Young, the Ditty Bops Found a Better Way. This pop duo is taking off May 25th for a cross-country tour, solely on bicycles! They will be kicking off their tour in Los Angeles and will be heading up to Seattle and then New York City. They will also be on KCRW doing a live show before they leave as well. Their music is pretty cool and their message is great. So take a peak for yourself. {more}

Why is it that I have to travel to a third world country to find technology that could help deal with the water shortages we face here in California and much of the west? When it comes to toilets, it appears that we are a bit behind... no pun intended. While we here in the states are told to put bricks in our toilets to use less water, far more advanced countries like Egypt, for example, have toilets that can dispense more or less water depending on the task at hand. What a great concept? I wonder when this technology will hit us backwards people. {more}

Last week, in my entry about global warming, I wrote about becoming carbon neutral and the companies available today that are helping people offset their carbon emissions. Apparently, this is an attractive option to many of you. Since I have been asked a few questions about it already, I thought I would give you a little more information about it and share with you how I went ahead and calculated my 2005 emissions and offset them. {more}

This is a perfect article for those of you who are still using the incandescent light bulbs and think they are cheaper than the much greener fluorescent light bulbs. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/4922496.stm In fact, in Germany the German Federal Environment Agency have just concluded studies that show that "over its 15,000 hour lifetime, a single 20W compact fluorescent light bulb would save 188 euros (£131) worth of electricity." For more information, I encourage you to read the story. {more}

After watching the documentary Super-Size Me, I stopped eating at McDonald's; mostly because of health reasons but also because I no longer wanted to contribute to a company that causes that kind of damage to people, especially me. It's kind of like paying your enemy to hurt you. Now as if that were not enough, McDonald's has actually found another reason for me, and many others around the world, to stop eating their food and sponsoring their destruction machine. According to Greenpeace forests campaign co-ordinator, Gavin Edwards, "Fast food giants like McDonald's are trashing the Amazon for cheap meat. Every time you buy a Chicken McNugget you could be taking a bite out of the Amazon." {more}

Although scientists agree that the Earth has been around for billions of years, it was not until 1970 that she was finally given a day for us to celebrate, a type of birthday if you will. On March 21, 1970, Earth Day, the brainchild of John McConnell, was born. (1) Since then Earth Day, which coincides with the first day of Spring, has become an annual event that is celebrated world-wide and designed to “deepen reverence and care for life on our planet.” (1) This year will mark the 36th official international celebration of Earth Day, which will take place on March 20, 2006. {more}

According to the Washington, D.C.-based American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) “The U.S. wind energy industry easily broke earlier annual installed capacity records in 2005, installing nearly 2,500 megawatts (MW) or over $3 billion worth of new generating equipment in 22 states,” and “2006 is expected to be even bigger, with installations topping 3,000 MW.” (1) This brings the total U.S. installed wind power fleet capacity to 9,149 MW. (1) Well, I am glad that we finally broke some records in the right direction! Is this suppose to be some big moment though? {more}

A simple thought like recycling water before sending it down the drain helped save Metalworks, a manufacturer of office furniture, 20 million gallons of water in the last two years. (1)This saved them about $30,000, which more than paid for the $10,000 cost to upgrade their system; and they still plan to decrease their usage by another 6 million gallons this year! (1) It’s nice to see the bottom-line and nature on the same side for a change. The environmental, health and safety director at Metalworks, Sidney Shaw, was quoted by the Associated Press as saying “Not only do we save money, but the environment wins, too.” (1) But Metalworks is not the only company eyeing conservation as a way to save some money. {more}

If you are lucky enough to be a homeowner in California, consider yourself even luckier now as the state regulators have just passed a measure approving $3 billion in customer rebates for installing solar panels on their roofs. (1) If all goes well, homeowners can help generate 3,000 megawatt hours of solar electricity, (1) and help keep six conventional power plants from being built in the state. (2) But is this bill all silicon-sunsets and caviar dreams or are we in for caviar prices on our energy bills? {more}

Ah, we seem to be off to a really good start this year with the Green Trends! I hope we can keep this up! Walgreens, the nation’s largest drugstore chain, recently announced that it will be installing solar panels on more than 100 stores and two distribution centers, which are expected to generate more than 13.8 million kilowatt-hours per year of electricity, the United State’s largest solar project. (1) {more}

"Salt Lake City is offering free metered parking to residents whose vehicles get over 50 miles per gallon, have low emission or are powered by an alternative fuel." (1) "Salt Lake City joins New Haven, Conn., Fresno, Calif., and Albuquerque, N.M., in the free parking meter program. In the past year, Austin, Texas, also approved a green vehicle incentive that provides $100 in free parking." (1) {more}

On Tuesday, January 10th, 2006 Whole Foods Market Inc., announced, “it will rely on wind energy for all of its electricity needs, making it the largest corporate user of renewable energy in the United States.” (1) The EPA reports that Whole Food’s 458,000 megawatt-hours of wind energy credits per year purchased puts it well above the 312,416 megawatt-hours purchased by the U.S. Air Force and the previous corporate leader Johnson & Johnson who had purchased 241,398 megawatt-hours. (1) {more}

While at the Green Festival in San Francisco in November 2005, I stumbled across a gathering on the Mezzanine. It was a group of people discussing Green Careers. Unfortunately, I did not have much time to stick around but I did get to hear Marie Kerpan, a career consultant and founder of Green Careers, say a few words. What she had to say resonated with me as she mentioned how a lot of times people are not happy at their jobs because they do not share the same values. So, it is really important to work yourself into a career that will lead you on a path you will enjoy. {more}

The 25th Anniversary Health & Harmony Music & Arts Festival at the Sonoma County Fair grounds in Santa Rosa features a health expo, eco village, crafts market, Goddess Temple, massage center, free workshops, alternatively-fueled vehicle expo, a global bazaar, children activities, a natural food tasting, great music (headliners include THE NU LADIES of FUNK featuring George Clinton & members of P-Funk, and Jon Anderson, lead singer from Yes,) and great speakers (including Congressman Dennis Kucinich). For more information call 707 575-9355 or visit their web site. {more}

Well for those of you who haven’t heard yet, I sold my 2003 Honda Civic Hybrid. I actually sold it over a month ago but have been waiting to post about it until I purchased my new car so I could tell you all about it. Unfortunately, I had some deals fall through and to make a long story short, I still don’t have my new set of wheels. Since it looks like I might be waiting another week or two to find the right car, I thought I would tell you what I am up to. {more}

Don't delay. You have until December 31st to make your Year End contribution to Co-op America and have your gift doubled – dollar for dollar. In case you've forgotten... {more}

Thank you dear friends for staying on top of me and persistently pestering me until I get my article on this year’s Green Festival completed and posted. Unfortunately, this article isn’t it. I’m sorry, there is just so much to write about and with the holiday season approaching I have been getting pretty far behind. I promise to have it posted soon. Keep an eye out! In the meantime, watch the video! {more}

At this year’s Green Festival, I had the privilege of listening to Paul Rice, the founding president and CEO of TransFair USA, the only Fair Trade certification organization in the U.S., give a speech regarding fair trade called “Fair Trade: Awaken Consumers, Empower Farmers.” I was shocked to hear during his lecture that coffee farmers, for example, get only $0.35 per pound of coffee they grow! You all know what we pay for coffee here and the difference is ridiculous. Even in third world countries, it is impossible to live from a wage like that. According to Paul Rice, Fair Trade is all about a way for consumers to use their purchasing dollars to better the world… by buying from companies involved in Fair Trade. These companies, for example, pay their farmers $1.26 per pound of coffee… that’s over 3 ½ times more, and a living wage. {more}

I’ve just been informed that all gifts given to Co-Op America between the date this article was written and December 31st, 2005 will be matched, dollar for dollar, by a group of very generous members. {more}

In case you haven’t noticed, there has been a growing Green movement in the United States for the last few years, and I am not just referring to GM’s hoped-up dancing jungle animals either. The Green movement that I am referring to is one that focuses on trying to develop and grow an economic system and a method of life that helps to minimize the footprint of the human race on our beautiful planet. The most common phrase I have heard used to describe this type of economy is a “Sustainable Economy.” Coop America has stood out as a leader in this movement and is helping all of us get involved with the distribution of their “National Green Pages” directory. Throw out that nasty yellow book; I’ve got a new one for you. {more}

All of us are Christmas, or holiday, shoppers, but have you ever stopped to wonder whether you are a socially responsible Christmas, or holiday, shopper? When you pick out clothes, do you check to make sure they weren't produced in a sweatshop or in a factory that uses child labor? When you are looking at toys for your kids, do you check to make sure they were not made using unfair trade policies or using plastics or chemicals that will irreversibly harm the planet? Although I would love to say that I do, this is really hard to do and practically impossible in most shopping situations, however, there are now two web sites designed to help us do just that. {more}

In October of 2002, I rushed to the Honda dealership to check out the 2003 Honda Gas/Electric Civic Hybrids that had just come in. I had been researching these cars for quite a long time. In fact, I had wanted to buy a hybrid vehicle since the Prius came out over a year earlier but I just did not like the design of the first one. So I waited… researched… and waited. Aside from the bright blue interior dashboard lights, which I thought were really cool, the car was just what I was expecting. I took it for a test drive and I was pleasantly surprised {more}