“Gristle” By Moby: From Factory Farms to Food Safety

More than ever, meat is making the headlines and growing numbers of people are becoming more informed and passionate about what they eat. The facts are compelling: contamination cases are on the rise, obesity has become pandemic in the United States, and the animal agriculture sector is responsible for more human-induced greenhouse gas emissions than the entire transportation sector.

Gristle is for the growing number of people–from omnivores to vegans–who are thinking twice about the consequences of our industrial factory-farming system of raising animals for food. Multi-platinum musician Moby and leading food policy activist and expert Miyun Park have brought together fifteen of the country’s leading voices on this issue–an eclectic group from such diverse backgrounds as farming, workers’ rights activism, professional athletics, science, environmental sustainability, food business, and animal welfare advocacy–who together eloquently lay out how and why industrial animal agriculture unnecessarily harms workers, communities, the environment, our health, our wallets, and animals.

In the tradition of Michael Pollan’s The Omnivore’s Dilemma, Gristle combines hard-hitting facts with a light touch and includes fascinating charts and illustrations depicting the stark realities of America’s industrial food system.

No Questions Asked Drug Drop-Off Locations In So. Cal

After just posting about the NY E-Waste event, I started to research where to recycle electronics  in LA and guess what I came across?  A website for safe drug drop-offs at local sheriff stations.  Shit, I’d normally be too paranoid to post anything having to do with drugs and the po-po but this is for a good cause, right?

From the website No Drugs Down The Drain:

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, in conjunction with the Los Angeles County Departments of Public Health and Public Works present the “Safe Drug Drop-Off” Program.  The program provides an opportunity for residents to safely and anonymously surrender any unused or expired prescriptions, over the counter medications, “SHARPS” (needles), or any other controlled substances.  There will be no questions asked (wink*wink).  We just want to get it off the streets.

Drop off  at your own risk!

World Water Day: Clean Water For A Healthy World 3/22/10

Today is World Water Day so get ready for a flurry of water related posts.

Brita and Nalgene (the real BPA-free reusable bottle-cough*SIGG*cough) teamed up to create the FilteForGood pledge to reduce bottled water waste.  Together, filtered water and a reusable bottle are a solution for going green at home and on the go.

Take the pledge and fill your reusable bottle instead of the landfill.

About World Water Day

March 22 was first deemed World Water Day in 1993 by the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) as an international day of observance and action to draw attention to the role that freshwater plays in our world and lives. Today’s reality is that one in eight people in the world don’t have access to safe water, millions of women and children must still spend several hours a day collecting water from distant, often polluted sources, and 2.5 billion people live without a toilet.

To do something about that UN-Water has chosen Clean Water for a Healthy World as theme for World Water Day 2010. The overall goal of the World Water Day on 22 March 2010 campaign is to raise the profile of water quality at the political level so that water quality considerations are made alongside those of water quantity.

CNN Heroes Of 2009

Last night in an attempt to pull myself away from my own drunken pity party of downloading picture hell, I turned on the boob tube and stopped dead in my remote tracks once I caught glimpse of the hot piece above.  It was CNN Heroes of 2009 and I got a quick reality check of people with real issues and the ones that are doing something to help.

Bartender Doc Hendley is providing clean water to communities worldwide. Through creative fundraising, his nonprofit Wine To Water has brought sustainable water systems to 25,000 people in five countries.

Jordan Thomas, 20, of Chattanooga, Tennessee, lost both of his legs in a boating accident in 2005. Since then, his Jordan Thomas Foundation has raised more than $400,000 to provide prosthetics for children in need.

Efren Peñaflorida gives Filipino youth an alternative to gang membership through education. His Dynamic Teen Company‘s 10,000 members have taught basic reading and writing to 1,500 kids living in the slums.

Thowin’ in this clip of Maxwell performing just because..um..it’s Maxwell!  Swoon.

Check out the rest of the heroes and their inspiring stories here.

Fellas, Are You Having Problems Getting IT Up?

Alright guys, it’s time for ya’ll to start paying attention to toxic chemicals too. This is what HealthDay Reporter had to say about the penis fun times killer:

Exposure to high levels of the controversial plastics chemical bisphenol A (BPA) significantly raised the risk of sexual dysfunction, including impotence and low sex drive, among Chinese factory workers, a new study has found.

The researchers stressed that the workers were exposed to BPA levels about 50 times higher than what most Chinese or Americans would be exposed to in everyday life.

Even so, they said the study adds to a growing body of research that shows that the ubiquitous chemical may be harmful to humans. BPA, used to make polycarbonate plastic (hard, clear plastic) and epoxy resin, is found in electronic and medical equipment, cars, sports safety equipment, and food and drink containers, including plastic bottles and the lining of cans.

Read the rest of the story here.

Alicia Silverstone: The Kind Diet

Last night I stepped out with Anna Griffin (www.cocoecomag.com) to Alicia’s book signing at the Stella McCartney store. (♥-♥-♥)

If you want to pick up her book, The Kind Diet, she’ll be doing two more book signings this week.

Thursday, October 15
7:00pm
BOOK SOUP
8818 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, CA 90069

Saturday, October 17
1:00pm
BARNES & NOBLE (SANTA MONICA)
3rd St. Promenade, 1201 3rd St, Santa Monica, CA

Visit her site for more info: The Kind Life

Knitting With Aunt Flow

Ladies, I just can’t. But if you can..go to Green Daily to learn more.

posted by thuy

Lunch Encounters Of The Third Kind

Lunch Encounters of the Third Kind from Parent Earth on Vimeo.

“Lunch Encounters” launched the One Tray campaign depicting the cafeteria tray as the conduit for a reformed school food system that supports healthy children, local farms, and smart schools. “Lunch Encounters,” a spoof of Close Encounters of the Third Kind was made to raise awareness for the upcoming reauthorization of the Child Nutrition Act.

The videos are clear: if you want a healthier America, take action at onetray.org. Every child deserves the opportunity to eat food in school that ensures their health and well-being and Farm to School programs are one solution to incorporating healthier foods into school meals.

Source The Vibe.Social Vibe

Just for health food fun, check out the map below showing the distance from the nearest McDonalds in the lower 48 states. Who’s lovin’ it?

Source Serious Eats Created by Stephen Von Worley

Posted by thuy

Take Your Pre-2009 Sigg Bottles Back To Whole Foods NOW!!

Well ain’t this a bitch? We’ve touted and praised our beloved BPA-free Siggs several times on our blog, only to get hit below the skirt with the sad news that Sigg has indeed had BPA in their lining all along!

In a letter from the CEO, Steve Wasik, dated Sept. 1^st, the company verified that the rumors that bottles manufactured prior to August of 2008 do in fact have liners containing bisphenol A – a chemical that may adversely affect human health.

Jen and I have spent a pretty penny on our Siggs. At $20+ for one container, we thought it was well worth the investment for our health and for the environment. We’ve given them out as gifts to several friends and have suggested them over any other brand over and over. Hell, we even mentioned them in a holiday gift list for Dame Magazine. FML!!

See links below for more on the big fib. For now, please note that Sigg is offering to replace your tainted bottle with a new one by sending it in to their headquarters. But eff that! That means you pay for shipping. It’s not stated on their website, but you can also take your Sigg back to any Whole Foods. Hurry up because it ends at the end of this month. No receipt necessary. Just walk on up to the customer service counter, tell them you got juked and would like to exchange yours for a new one.

Below is an example of the different linings. The bottom two with the bronze color lining are the older ones (with BPA.) The top two with the light greenish lining are the newer ones (w/out BPA.) If any of yours match the coloring of the bottom bottles, hightail it to your nearest Whole Foods immediately.

I’m guilty of being a Sigg whore. And I want to thank them for giving it to me in the back door with no lube. Now I gotta go down to the free clinic on Monday and make sure I don’t have BPA cooties. Damn you Sigg and damn your Keith Haring series that you got me hooked on like crack!

Suggested reads: CEO “I so sowwy” and How Sigg lost my trust

Posted by thuy

Monsanto: Liar Liar, Seeds On Fire

Monsanto= EVIL. And they’re not too happy about their portrayal in Food Inc. From their site:

Welcome to the Monsanto Fact site about the movie Food, Inc.

Food, Inc. is a one-sided, biased film that the creators claim will “lift the veil on our nation’s food industry, exposing the highly mechanized underbelly that’s been hidden from the American consumer.” Unfortunately, Food, Inc. is counter-productive to the serious dialogue surrounding the critical topic of our nation’s food supply.

And they even provide a fun lil’ quiz for you to take. It says I lost but I got every single one of those answers right.

Go see Food Inc.

Posted by thuy

Hugo’s

Vegetarians, vegans and organic food followers can take comfort at Hugo’s. Even after recently revamping its interior, the West Hollywood favorite for breakfast and brunch remains committed to its use of free-range, organic and sustainable ingredients.

Their egg scrambles, breakfast a la carte plates (Chilaquiles above- to die for!!) and pancakes are popular morning options; their create-a-plate feature allows flexibility for lunch or dinner.

Hugo’s Restaurant
8401 Santa Monica Blvd.
West Hollywood, CA 90069
(323) 654-3993

Posted by thuy

Thanks To The Recession..

Sales of polluting, plastic water bottles are down.

And sales of home water filtering systems are up. Yay! Target is having a sale on Brita filters (which are now recyclable) and pitchers until September. On top of that, you get a $5 Tar-jay gift card with every Brita purchase.

Then all you need are some of these eco-friendly, good for the planet, non-leaching (good for you,) reusable bottles and ta-dow! How you like me now?

Hello.. Keith Herring Sigg bottle?? So much sexier than a plastic water bottle. (I got mines at Whole Foods.)

Posted by thuy

Must See Movie: Food, Inc.

In Food, Inc., filmmaker Robert Kenner lifts the veil on our nation’s food industry, exposing the highly mechanized underbelly that has been hidden from the American consumer with the consent of our government’s regulatory agencies, USDA and FDA. Our nation’s food supply is now controlled by a handful of corporations that often put profit ahead of consumer health, the livelihood of the American farmer, the safety of workers and our own environment.

We have bigger-breasted chickens, the perfect pork chop, herbicide-resistant soybean seeds, even tomatoes that won’t go bad, but we also have new strains of E. coli—the harmful bacteria that causes illness for an estimated 73,000 Americans annually. We are riddled with widespread obesity, particularly among children, and an epidemic level of diabetes among adults.

Featuring interviews with such experts as Eric Schlosser (Fast Food Nation), Michael Pollan (The Omnivore’s Dilemma, In Defense of Food: An Eater’s Manifesto) along with forward thinking social entrepreneurs like Stonyfield’s Gary Hirshberg and Polyface Farms’ Joel Salatin, Food, Inc. reveals surprising—and often shocking truths—about what we eat, how it’s produced, who we have become as a nation and where we are going from here.

Visit the Food, Inc. website

Posted by thuy

Something In The Blood Ain’t Clean

In Nova Scotia, Canada, there’s a problem with tampon applicators backing up the sewer system and overflowing into the ocean (hello ladies, it’s called a trash can and your brain- use them.)

Recently, a Dutch tampon company Libresse thought it would be a great idea to drop thousands of tampons with little parachutes attached to them out of planes and onto 6 popular Dutch beaches. Why? Well, the manufacturer of Libresse wants the females to put a bloody cork in it (literally) and hit the beaches while Aunt Dot is visiting. Seriously ladies. Why let that pesky little crimson tide between your legs stop you from having fun in the sun?

I just wanna thank the cooter plug maker for adding to our pollution problem. Oh and for contributing to that other thing- when birds and aquatic animals mistake plastics for food, eat them and choke to death..yeah, your marketing scheme was pure genius. The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is just a joke right? Well I saw it on Oprah so it must be real!

Source Buzzfeed

What’s The 411? And Having Technical Difficulties

Hey kids, I always throw up a picture or vid with my posts but something’s broke- it’s either wordpress or my brain- so I’m currently trying to fix that shit. And by “fix that shit” I mean having a noontime cocktail while staring at the screen and wondering why it’s being like that.

Be back soon. For now, please use your imagination- the picture I was going to use was the one of Obama and his fine self walking out of the ocean in Hawaii, dripping wet and..damn, I’ll stop here.

Obama declares June National Oceans Month. The Daily Green

Paul McCartney and Yoko Ono urge for ‘Meat Free Mondays.’ Think you could do it? Winnipeg Sun

Tila Tequila writes anti-fur post on Global Grind and Russell loves her for it. See his post here.

Pasadena gets solar powered trash can-compactors. Must LA always be last? CBS2

Oooh Target stores get busted for dumping hazardous waste. Green Biz

Sitting on your ass collecting unemployment? Start training for ‘green’ jobs now. Just Google it damnit.

Posted by thuy

FRESH The Movie

FRESH celebrates the farmers, thinkers and business people across America who are re-inventing our food system. Each has witnessed the rapid transformation of our agriculture into an industrial model, and confronted the consequences: food contamination, environmental pollution, depletion of natural resources, and morbid obesity. Forging healthier, sustainable alternatives, they offer a practical vision for a future of our food and our planet.

FRESH

Postd by thuy

Belgian City Goes Veggie Once A Week

Source BBC UK

Posted by thuy

Celebs For H&M Fashion Against Aids

OMG. How cute is Cyndi Lauper!

H&M’s campaign for Fashion Against AIDS is partnered with Designers Against AIDS with the goal of raising youth awareness of HIV/AIDS. This year’s campaign lists an impressive array of heavyweight ambassadors from the entertainment, fashion, and music communities including Dita von Teese, Yoko Ono, Katy Perry, Estelle, N.E.R.D., Cindy Lauper, Robyn, Moby, Dangerous Muse, and more (many of which are pictured above wearing their FAA creations.) Going graphic with the designs in various racer-back cuts, easy tees, body suits and t-shirt dresses, the collection is sure to please fashionistas/os equally while 25% of the sales will be donated to projects helping raise youth awareness of HIV/AIDS.

What’s more, the collection is very reasonably priced for consumers and boasts 100% organic cotton, making it that much sweeter for those of us supporting a greener fashion world.

Visit Designers Against Aids for more info.

Posted by thuy

Coco Eco Magazine Promo

Check out some live action from past shoots for Coco Eco featuring Summer Rayne Oaks, Josie Maran, and Elizabeth Mitchell.

Congrats to Anna Griffin, the founder of the magazine that I am so very proud to be a part of.

Go to Cocoecomag.com to see my styling contributions on the Desert shoot and the Lost… in Elizabeth Mitchell story (which was actually co-styled by Anna herself!) Read Elizabeth’s interview here.

Bravo Anna!

Posted by thuy

The World According To Monsanto

The World According to Monsanto is an in-depth documentary that looks at the domination of the agricultural industry from one of the world’s most insidious and powerful companies.

This is one of the most powerful, must see films for anyone interested in the behind the scenes world of the food industry, and how just one world dominating corporation holds the keys and patents to much of the worlds food supply.

Monsanto, which started out as one of the planets largest chemical companies is also reposonsible for such chemical compounds as Agent Orange, Bovine Growth Hormone, PCBs and genetically-engineered crops.

Monsanto is scary shit and we eat their scary shit. Watch the entire document on Twilight Earth.

Posted by thuy

Check Your Foot Work

I once laughed at one of my guy friends when he got hella mad at a girl for scuffing his pearly white Air Force 1′s with her stilettos. Big mistake. Ladies, watch where you’re walking while drunk because homies don’t play that!

Now all you sneaker heads can clean the tramp off your shoes while being eco-friendly by using the freshness known as the Jason Markk Premium Sneaker Cleaner.

Read what Jason Markk said when asked on Sneaker Files how much research and development went into the production of his special concoction.

With my team of chemists, we set out to engineer a cleaning solution with the sneaker enthusiast in mind. Meaning, we took into consideration several factors that were important to that of a sneaker enthusiast. Factors such as types of common stains, application on various materials, various types of soil conditions, yellowing, etc., but most important was making the solution effective and safe to use. We went round after round after round of R&D and finally created a precise formula that is 98.3% natural, does not contain any harsh abrasives or chemicals, is completely biodegradable, is safe to use on all colors and materials, and is super effective.

JM and his little team of chemists just won major granola brownie points in my book.

I wonder if it will get the Long Island Ice Tea off my vintage heels that the Affliction shirt tool spilled on them last night? I’m sure anything that comes in a box with Koi fish on it is going to work wonders.

Posted by thuy

Michelle O. Visits Sesame Street

So ca-ute.

Posted by thuy

Pork Is The Meat Of Kings?

Is that so? Tell that to Edgar Hernandez.

Posted by thuy

Design Your Own Swine Flu Mask

At least the peeps in Mexico are keeping a sense of humor about it. You know if that ish hits LA, you’ll be seeing people rocking ones like these.

Source Telegraph UK

Posted by thuy

Earth Day Event: Fuel The Movie At The Fine Arts Center

In celebration of Earth Day, Fuel will be playing at the Fine Art Center in Beverly Hills. A must see documentary!

Description: Josh Tickell will be at the Fine Arts Theater of Beverly Hills showing FUEL and signing books. Josh will be participating in an open discussion with Rebecca Harell, producer of FUEL, and 10 year old UN Jr. Goodwill Ambassador Nikkos Hansen.

Director Josh Tickell takes us along for his 11 year journey around the world to find solutions to America’s addiction to oil. A shrinking economy, a failing auto industry, rampant unemployment, an out-of-control national debt, and an insatiable demand for energy weigh heavily on all of us. Fuel shows us the way out of the mess we’re in by explaining how to replace every drop of oil we now use, while creating green jobs and keeping our money here at home. The film never dwells on the negative, but instead shows us the easy solutions already within our reach.

When: Wednesday, April 22nd (Earth Day.) Book signing 6 P.M. Movie 7:30 P.M.

Where: Fine Arts Center. 8556 Wilshire Ave. Beverly Hills, CA 90221

Admission: $8. Buy your tickets online here.

Thanks Jenny!

Posted by thuy

What’s The 411?

Obama in the doghouse: WH pup coming soon and he isn’t a rescue. Obama Dog Blog

Still got love for him. The big O getting 17,000 hybrids for his government posse. Swoon. Washington Post

Mmm. It’s that pesticide flavor that taste so damn good in Mickey D’s fries. Daily Green

5 million w/o water for 36 hrs in Mexico City. Learning to reserve water the hard way. Eco Worldly

Posted by thuy

Ode For Intelligent Optimists

Ode is an independent magazine about the people and ideas that are changing the world.

Sometimes it’s difficult to see beyond the war, poverty, exploitation and pollution that the mainstream media use to fill our view of the world. But there is more to life. There are other stories to report. Stories of countless initiatives being launched around the globe by people devoted to justice, respect and equality. Stories that bridge the gap between thinking and doing, between rage and hope, and the painful gap between the rich and poor – and thus build peace and sustainability.

That is the news that Ode promises to deliver. By reading Ode you connect to a network of positive change and inspiration. Ode points the way to knowing better, doing better and feeling better.

Ode publishes ‘the stories that are different from the ones we are brainwashed to believe’ (Arundhati Roy). Ode challenges us and invites us to change. We realise that change starts with information. We can only make a choice to change things for the better when we learn how it can be done. Similarly, we can only change our behaviour when we understand the harmful effects of what we do.

Ode teaches and inspires us, helps us see how every one of us can contribute to a more just and sustainable world.

Ode is printed on recycled paper or you can do your “green” civil duty and receive the digital version. Subscribe here and you’ll get the first issue free and then the one year subscription will be $19.95. They’ll also plant a tree for joining as well as send you a Thich Nhat Hanh meditation CD.

Ode Magazine

Posted by thuy

Yogamatic X Jill Malek Collabo

Yogamatic.com, the online destination for high quality, custom designed yoga mats, along with popular graphic and wallpaper designer Jill Malek, partnered up to produce an exclusive assortment of mats featuring the revered designs from Malek’s 2008 “ frequencies” collection. The special collaboration marks the first time Yogamatic has united with an independent designer.

Yogamatic.com offers top of the line yoga mats that are functional, eco-conscious and custom designed to fit every personality. The Yogamatic mat is a 72″ x 24″ (180cm x 60cm) and 1/4″ (5mm) deep mat with a slip-resistant, zig-zag tread on the underside that keeps the mat firmly on the floor. Each Yogamatic mat is completely made from biodegradable TPE, which can be easily disposed of without harming the environment.

Additionally, Yogamatic mats offer a closed cell structure which provides the highest quality cushioning possible, so customers can enjoy perfect comfort and support during yoga practice. The cell structure also means that our mats are almost 50% lighter than yoga mats made from PVC. Yogamatic mats are uniquely designed so they cannot absorb moisture or bacteria, a benefit that affords customers a mat that is not only healthier, but also lasts longer.

The Yogamatic / Jill Malek designer mats are now available for purchase and retail for $85.00 each. Tax and shipping costs are additional, and with each purchase a free shoulder bag is included. As well, a percentage of every sale made through Yogamatic.com will benefit Global Green’s progressive work on climate change and global accountability for the environment.

For more information, visit www.jillmalek.com, yogamatic.com and globalgreen.org

Posted by thuy

Isn’t She Lovely?

About two dozen elementary school students helped first lady Michelle Obama break ground on the first day of spring for a garden on the White House grounds.

The 1,100-square-foot garden, the first of its kind since Eleanor Roosevelt planted a victory garden during World War II, will grow dozens of vegetables, berries and herbs.

The collection of crops, a wish list from White House kitchen staff, will include lettuces, squash, fennel, rhubarb, cucumbers and sweet and hot peppers. White House chefs will use the produce to prepare meals for the family and for official functions, and some of the produce will be donated to Miriam’s Kitchen, a soup kitchen near the White House.

There will also be a beehive.

“We’re going to try to make our own honey here as well,” Obama told the fifth-graders from Bancroft Elementary School in Washington before they got to work on Friday.

The students will be brought back to the White House next month to help with the planting, and after that to help harvest and cook some of the produce in the mansion’s kitchen. The first harvest is expected by late April.

With the garden, Obama initiated a public campaign to help Americans better understand where their food comes from.

I think I’ve made it clear how I feel about Obama, but just to let ya’ll in on a lil’ secret, I crush on Michelle too.

Picture Win McNamee

Source Kansas City Star

Posted by thuy

Spin Yourself Green

Talk about killing two birds with one stone (Sorry PETA) or having your cake and eating it too…

Revolution Fitness is offering spinning classes on the Green Spinner NXT Bike, which transports all the energy you generate in class right back into the gym’s power supply.

In every spin class, one of the new StarTrac stationary bikes is attached to a battery, which is getting powered up through the energy generated by the spinner. The other end is then plugged into the mic or stereo and powers them up.

As of right now, it’s only one bike in every class, which you can reserve in advance, but the owners are looking to eventually make Revolution Fitness BYOB (bring Your Own Battery) so you can bottle up your workout to power anything you like.

Source urban daddy

Posted by jen

Organic Shaving With Bikini Kitty

Bikini Kitty introduces a full line of smooth body treatments for the elimination and prevention of ingrown hair and bumpy ‘chicken-skin’. Natural Fruit Hydroxy Acids and organic treatments are mixed into Paraben-free solutions that will address shave bumps, waxing irritation and generally bumpy skin.

Duo exfoliation techniques and irritation reducing shave products provide a smooth shave in Bikini Kitty’s™ Clean-Up Kit. The compete kit provides up to three months of bump-free shaving for the targeted areas of the underarms and the bikini area.

Bikini Kitty’s Body Products are Vegan, Organic, Toxic-Free and Cruelty-Free, No Animal Testing.

The pic above is my own and does not represent Bikini Kitty. Please visit their website to view their products.

Posted by thuy

Opi + Sephora= Free Of The Big 3

Nail polish powerhouse OPI has teamed up with Sephora to create Sephora By OPI: Digital Diva Collection, an extensive line of 54 fashion-forwardshades for $9 each. In fashion-forward colors like buttercup yellow, magenta plum and bright orange-red with names to remember including IM Beauty, Meet for Drinks and Lost Without My GPS.

The new and exclusive line will have you covered with all your nail essentials: base coat, top coat, nail color drying drops, remover, and of course, the most on-trend colors in the industry. Opi does not test on animals. Plus, the long-lasting, chip-resistant polishes are free of toluene (a petroleum-based ingredient), formaldehyde (a cancer-causing chemical), and dibutyl phthalate or DBP (a chemical shown to cause birth defects). Sephora by OPI Nail Polish will be available at Sephora in early August (and on Sephora.com in late July).

Source M.I.S.S

Posted by thuy

Green Tip: Buy Organic

It’s common sense; organic food is good food. Good to eat, good for the environment, good for the small-scale farmers and farm workers who produce it. By the year 2000, the USDA estimates that half of all U.S. farm products will come from only 1% of the farms. The EPA says that agriculture is responsible for 70% of the pollution to the country’s rivers and streams caused by chemicals, erosion, and animal waste runoff. Organic farming may be one of the last ways to keep both ecosystems and rural communities healthy and alive.

Organic food doesn’t contain toxins like pesticides, heavy metals, dangerous industrial chemicals (for example, artificial flavors, colors or preservatives). And everything in it is natural: it’s real food, not “Frankenfood” created in a laboratory for profit regardless of the fact that genetically modified, synthetic foods have massive, well-known health hazards

Posted by thuy

What’s The 411?

Ecstasy (MDMA) threatens rare Cambodian Tree. How’s that for guilt trippin’ your next trip? Treehugger

Spit that Diet Coke out right now. BPA in soda cans. Eco Child’s Play

90% of parents opt out of school’s paper handouts. YES! Mother Nature Network

California leads in Energy Star Buildings. Environmental News

Posted by thuy

Get Your Green Workout on

Equinox gym has traditionally been praised for it’s elite and upscale vibe, but now this posh gym can add ‘eco-conscious’ to it’s list of credential.

Here are a few of the chains latest “green” initiatives, that might make you reconsider the costly membership fees:

• All the tiles, paint, wood products used to make the gyms include low VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds), as well as recycled and rapidly renewable materials.
• It has switched to using low-toxic and natural cleaning products during workout hours, which improve indoor air quality while still maintaining a high level of cleanliness
• It uses recycled paper in all clubs and in the corporate office, as well as have launched initiatives to reduce paper consumption.
• Trion air filtration systems are also being installed to purify the indoor air.
• Will be moving away from energy-intensive incandescent lighting and using more efficient technologies.
• Special showerheads will be installed to control water flow and deliver a luxurious, drenching flow, along with low-flow toilets and waterless urinals that reduce water consumption.

Heather Mills Does Good.

Heather aka Lady Mucca gets on my damn nerves but she did something charitable so I have to give her credit. Paul McCartney’s goldigging ex-wife, Heather Mills donated a million dollars worth of vegan food to underprivileged children in the Bronx. Way to go by providing fresh veggies, fruits and nutritious to kids that do not have access to these types of food on a daily.

Ok, that’s about all I can give her. Watch the vid to hear more.

Source Huffington Post

Posted by thuy

Manifest Hope DC Art Contest

MANIFESTHOPE: DC offered artists and activists from across the United States the opportunity to submit artwork in an online contest and to join the high profile exhibit on display in Washington, DC during the week of the Presidential Inauguration.

These works, based on three themes- HEALTH CARE REFORM, WORKERS’ RIGHTS, and THE GREEN ECONOMY – were then evaluated by a panel of renowned judges, including Anne Ellegood(Curator of Contemporary Art, Smithsonian Hirshhorn Museum), David Rolf (President, SEIU Healthcare 775NW), Eric Hilton (Thievery Corporation and ESL Music), Laura Dawn (MoveOn.org Creative & Cultural Director, Artist), and Robbie Conal (Artist), Shepard Fairey (Artist, Obey Giant),Spike Lee (Producer, Director, Actor) and Van Jones (Author, Founder Green for All & Co-Founder Ella Baker Center for Human Rights).

Although almost all the 1000 submissions were fantastic, five pieces in each category stood out to the judges’ as the most exceptional works.

Check the site to see the rest of the pieces.

Source Manifest Hope

Posted by thuy

N.O.R.E Loses It

Mmmm, mmmm… Don’t you just want a piece of this chocolate-y goodness??

Well I have some good news for you if you prefer your men lean and chiseled, and bad news for those of you who prefer the full-figured type.

Rapper N.O.R.E turned vegan and LOST 65LBS!!!!!! How’s that for a weight loss incentive! He will be documenting the transformation via a 12 part vlog. In addition to turning veggie (Yay!!) He is also following a strict exercise regimen and has given up drinking.

Source and Image bossip

Posted by jen

Celebs Say “Thank You” And Go “Green” To Obama.

Gotta love Hollywood and the Sierra Club.

Posted by thuy

Breakin’ It Down: Greywater

Greywater is water that flows down sink, shower, and washing machine drains–but not the toilet. Greywater may contain traces of dirt, food, grease, hair, and household cleaning products. While greywater may look “dirty,” it is a safe and even beneficial source of irrigation water. If released into rivers, lakes, or estuaries, the nutrients in greywater (mainly phosphate from detergent) become pollutants, but to garden plants, they are valuable fertilizer. Aside from the obvious benefits of saving water (and money on your water bill), reusing your greywater keeps it out of the sewer or septic system, thereby reducing the chance that it will pollute local water bodies Reusing greywater for irrigation reconnects urban residents and our backyard gardens to the natural water cycle.

Posted by thuy

Fuel- The Movie

An award-winning Sundance documentary by Josh Tickell. The need for alternative fuels is no joke.

Check the Fuel website for a theatre near you.

Source Greendaily

Posted by thuy

Bev. Hills Surgeon Uses Body Fat To Fuel Car

A Beverly Hills doctor is being investigated after patients filed complaints that he performed liposuction and extracted too much fat and left them disfigured. During the investigation it was founded that he was turning the fat he removed from patients into biodiesel that fueled his Ford SUV and his girlfriend’s Lincoln Navigator.

Fat, whether animal or vegetable, contains triglycerides that can be extracted and turned into diesel. Using fat to fuel cars might be environmentally friendly, but it’s definitely illegal in California to use human medical waste to power vehicles.

Would you be down to fuel your car with human fat if it were legal, safe and available?

Source Forbes

Posted by thuy

Jeremy Piven Drops Out Of Broadway Due To High Mercury Count

Extreme mercury toxicity is what’s to blame for Piven’s recent illness which landed him 3 days in a hospital and his doctor ordering him to drop out of his Broadway show and get rest. Piven is reportedly an avid sushi eater, sometimes having it twice in one day.

Being half asian, I’ve always gotten crap for not eating seafood. The smell and consistency of fish has always grossed me out. I’ve tried to make myself like it, esp. since every time someone suggests what to eat, sushi is the first choice. I’ve recently heard of two friends that got deathly ill from having a high mercury count and their stories weren’t pretty. I remain seafood-free except for the occasional tuna sandwich.

Go here to learn more on which fish have the highest mercury levels: TUNA is one of them! Yikes. Be careful ya’ll.

Source: Huffington Post

Posted by thuy

Planet In Peril

The latest “Planet in Peril” with Anderson Cooper (aka Mah Boo or the Silver Fox) and CNN’s chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta looking for the potential outbreak of the next AIDS epidemic with “virus hunter” Dr. Nathan Wolfe. They trace the rising consumption of “bush meat” in central Africa, where a virulent disease could easily jump species, with global implications. In fact, it already has, in the form of AIDS and monkey pox.

Catch it tonight. Click here for more info.

Posted by thuy

NextAid World Aids Day

NextAid is a humanitarian organization, based in the electronic music community, dedicated to creating sustainable solutions for African children orphaned by AIDS. Proceeds from all participating events are going toward the ongoing construction of the NextAid/Youth With A Vision Community center and Children’s Residential Village in Dennilton, South Africa. Read more below or visit the website. www.nextaid.org.

Check out the thumbnails below for flyers from some of the venues/dj’s participating. There are more venues participating in several different cities. Click here to find one near you.

Posted by thuy

Eat Well Guide. Local. Sustainable. Organic

The Eat Well Guide, www.eatwellguide.org, is a searchable, online directory of thousands of listings for family farms, restaurants, food co-ops, farmers markets and other purveyors of local, sustainably produced food. The Guide covers the entire U.S. and Canada and is a great resource for making sustainable food connections in your local community. Visit today to find good food near you!

Posted by thuy

Tofu Bikini Wrestling

Thought that would catch your attention. But remember, it’s by Peta…you know what to expect.

watch the video here

source PETA

Posted by thuy

The Girl Who Silenced The UN For 5 Minutes

She pretty much sums it all up in a nutshell.

Thanks Greg

Posted by thuy

Green + Chic

We here at GG&S can never get enough of natural, organic beauty products. We came across this site, Green and Chic and I am salivating over the Lavender Chamomile body wash and the Deep Steep Honeydew body butter. Hop on over and check it out here.

From Clueless To Kind

Your favorite Clueless girl and long-time vegan is set to write a tell-all book…. No, not about her wild-child party days, followed by a stint in rehab, more partying then a relapse, back to rehab.. rinse and repeat.

Alicia Silverstone is actually one of the few Hollywood girls who hasn’t gone that route. On the contrary she has been a strict vegan for years and hardcore animal activist. She’s also very publicly battled the bulge and was even referred to as “Fatgirl” instead of “Batgirl” in the Batman and Robin movie.

So it only makes sense that she would pen a book on vegan dieting.

The book entitled The Kind Diet is set to release in Fall 2009 and “explores the connection between what we put in our bodies and what we’re doing to the planet, and how choosing the right foods in the kitchen can help you feeling lighter, sexier, and more alive.”

The book will also include a 3-step diet program, along with 75 vegan and macrobiotic recipes.

Source perez hilton

Flick zimbio

Posted by jen