The Story Of Cosmetics

The Story of Cosmetics, examines the pervasive use of toxic chemicals in our everyday personal care products, from lipstick to baby shampoo.

Produced with Free Range Studios and hosted by Annie Leonard, the seven-minute film by The Story of Stuff Project reveals the implications for consumer and worker health and the environment, and outlines ways we can move the industry away from hazardous chemicals and towards safer alternatives. The film concludes with a call for viewers to support legislation aimed at ensuring the safety of cosmetics and personal care products.

Get Your Volunteer On

Find volunteering opportunities with nonprofit organizations by location and interest area by checking out some of these sites.

• Volunteer Match
• Serve.Gov
• Volunteers of America
• Volunteer Abroad

GOOD

Biz Markie Reworks Classic For Mother Earth…?

I don’t know how I missed this last week- maybe I was out boozing celebrating.. but hundreds of supporters from all across the country joined hip hop legend DJ Biz Markie to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Earth Day by recording a clean energy remix of his classic song, Just a Friend.

Ummmm…?

Earth Day Playlist

If Mama Earth had an iPod…

MARVIN GAYE: Mercy Mercy Me

The Story Of Bottled Water

I have to admit, I haven’t ditched plastic bottles completely.  I try to remember to fill up my reusable bottles for on-the-go purposes but sometimes I forget or don’t want to be hassled with carrying it everywhere with me.  Cut to this little animated video from the lady that brought us The Story of Stuff.  I think I’ll start trying a little harder to stop being so forgetful and lazy.

Annie Leonard, the activist filmmaker behind “The Story of Stuff” and the above short, “The Story of Bottled Water,” had this to say:

In the last few decades, Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Nestle and other big beverage companies have spent untold millions making us afraid of tap water. They’ve told us that if we want to be sure what we drink is pure and clean — not to mention hip and fashionable — we should buy bottled water. After all, nobody cool or environmentally conscious drinks tap water, right?

The thing is, there are a lot of inconvenient truths the bottled water ads don’t mention:

• Bottled water is subject to fewer health regulations than tap water. In 2006, Fiji Water ran ads bragging that their product doesn’t come from Cleveland, only to have tests show a glass of Fiji water is lower quality than Cleveland tap. Oops!

• Up to 40% of bottled water is filtered tap water. In other words, if you’re concerned about what’s in your tap water, just cut out the middleman and buy a home water filter.

• Each year, according to the Pacific Institute’s Peter Gleick, making the plastic water bottles used in the U.S. takes enough oil and energy to fuel a million cars. And that doesn’t even include the fuel required to ship, fly or truck water across continents and state lines.

• Three-fourths of the half-billion plastic water bottles sold in the U.S. every week go to the landfill or to incinerators. It costs our cities more than $70 million to landfill water bottles alone each year, according to Corporate Accountability International.

Disney’s ‘Oceans’ Coming To Theaters Earth Day 2010

Ocean – Disney Nature Official Trailer 2010 – The funniest videos are a click away

Disneynature, the studio that presented the record-breaking film Earth, brings Oceans to the big screen on Earth Day, 2010. Nearly three-quarters of the Earth’s surface is covered by water and Oceans boldly chronicles the mysteries that lie beneath. Directors Jacques Perrin and Jacques Cluzaud dive deep into the very waters that sustain all of mankind-exploring the playful splendor and the harsh reality of the weird and wonderful creatures that live within. Featuring spectacular never-before-seen imagery captured by the latest underwater technologies, offers an unprecedented look beneath the sea in a powerful yet enchanting motion picture that unfolds on April 22, 2010. For more information, visit Disney.com/Oceans or become a fan on Facebook.

So Long Decade, Hello Twenty Ten!

Happy New Year everyone!  Be back once I recover from being FUBAR!!

Thanks for the pic Julia!  x

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.

Oh Yeah, Happy Holla*Daze!

No Mariah Carey, Bing Crosby or Chipmunks here. Enjoy!

Rent A Living Tree For Christmas

Founded in 2008, the Living Christmas Company, a socially conscious-based business headquartered in Redondo Beach, Calif., introduced a new concept of celebrating the holidays: Renting the highest quality local varieties of living Christmas trees as an environmentally conscious alternative to traditional cut or artificial trees.

You get a live, potted tree delivered to your doorstep. Simply choose from a wide variety of locally-grown trees and they will deliver it to your home or business. After Christmas they ‘ll pick up your tree and return it to their nursery until next year. You can even watch your tree grow as your family grows by adopting the same tree year-after-year.

This year, Living Christmas paired up with Goodwill, so if you have any clutter you want to unload, just have it ready when they come to pick your tree up and they will deliver your donations for you!

I don’t do holiday decorations any more but this is making me want to, especially if the owner- Mr. Scotty Claus is doing the deliveries himself. *wink*

Oh, And Thank You For Rainbows. Amen.

The subject isn’t funny but PETA really cracks me up. The commercial was rejected by NBC and will not air during the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on the tellie. Boo.

Method Is So Fresh And So Clean, Clean

Message: When did clean become so dirty? Method believes you deserve to know what chemicals are in your “cleaners.” Support the Household Product Labeling Acts at People Against Dirty.

Elizabeth Mitchell vs “V”

I haven’t followed a mini-series in quite some time but I’m definitely going to tune in to “V” featuring one of Coco Eco Mag’s past “green” cover girls, Elizabeth Mitchell.

I loved this show as a kid so I hope it doesn’t disappoint as an adult

Watch the first episode this Tuesday.

Whore-o-ween In L.A.

This year halloween fell on a weekend. Me and geto boyz are trick-or-treating.

Hella-ween In S.F. Happy Birthday Randall!

The Cove Comes To South Park

This episode might be viewed as racist but I don’t care, I still love Southpark! Trey Parker and Matt Stone are my heros for the day.

Commercial whaling has been banned by the IWC. The Japanese hunt whales under the guise of “research” then package and sell the meat. Japanese whalers killed over 4500 whales in the past two decades, and have almost no “research” that proves their slaughtering was justified. YOU BASTARDS!!

Learn more about the slaughter in Taiji, Japan here and be sure to watch the movie ‘The Cove‘ when it comes out on DVD.

Above is the animation- watch the real thing below and see why this cruel practice must stop. Warning: GRAPHIC!

The question is not, Can they reason? nor, Can they talk? But rather, Can they suffer? ~~Jeremy Bentham

Ladies Take It Off For Climate Change

It’s not Playboy material and I’m not sure how effective the message is coming from 350.org, but hey- it’s girls stripping down (kinda) and it’s for environment, so I ain’t gonna knock it.

What is 350?

350 is the estimated safe level of CO2 (in parts per million) for our atmosphere, a level first announced by Nasa scientist Jim Hanson in 2007 and most recently endorsed by Rajenda Pachauri, the head of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. The problem? We are already at 390, way over the 350 mark that some scientists believe is even too high.

Global Warming. Global Cooling. Now Global Dimming? FTW!

I can’t keep up. Um, refresh my memory. When is the world supposed to end exactly? 2012? Oh yeah, thanks.

posted by thuy

Fake NY Post Calls Attention To Global Warming

“SPECIAL EDITION” NEW YORK POST from The Yes Men on Vimeo.

Source Buzzfeed

Posted by thuy

Korean Bibimbop Is The Bomb!

Here’s Gwenny giving a 7 minute video on how to cook this deliciousness without having to venture out to K-town.

Bibimbop literally means “mixed rice” or “mixed meal” in Korean. It’s a popular meal consisting of a bowl of steamed white rice topped with vegetables, a whole egg, and kochujang (Korean chili pepper paste).

Seems simple enough. I think I’ll give it a try but if I don’t succeed, I’ll have a nice big bowl of rice with kimchee and practice my julienne skillz.

Posted by thuy

Source Ecorazzi via Vegetarianstar (go here for the recipe)

TGIF + 3 Day Weekend!

No posts. Just this video of an incredibly adorable pup that can’t get up.. hey, that will be me on Monday!

Toodles.
x
Thuy

Advocacy Group Decries PETA’s Inhumane Treatment Of Women

Advocacy Group Decries PETA’s Inhumane Treatment Of Women

“Look at these poor women. They’re made to stand outside all day in the wind wearing nothing but lettuce leaves or wear a grey bikini pretending to be a mouse stuck in a glue trap.”

The Onion strikes again.

Posted by thuy

This Should Be Good For The Landfills

Wired reports that CBS has embedded a video ad in Entertainment Weekly. The ad is called a “VIP (video-in-print) promotion” and it works similar to the audio greeting cards. Wired says it works better than Esquire’s e-ink cover did, but the one downside to the ad is that it is loud and there is no volume control.

Let me see.. a 2-5 minute promo and then a lifetime in a landfill. Makes total sense.

Source Wired

Posted by thuy

Heath Ledger X Modest Mouse: For The Whales

King Rat

Before his untimely death, Heath Ledger began directing a video for Modest Mouse’s “King Rat”. Unfortunately he died before the video was completed, and it has been languishing in limbo until now.

The concept of “King Rat” video is based on Ledger’s “vision, brave and unapologetic in its nature [which] marry his love of bold and original music with his impassioned stance against the illegal commercial whale hunts taking place of the coast of Australia each year.” Proceeds from this video’s downloads in its first month of release will go toward Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, an international non-profit organization committed to ending the destruction of habitat and slaughter of wildlife in the world’s oceans.

Watch Ledger’s music video, completed by his associates at the Masses, a violently unabashed commentary on illegal whale hunting.

Love.This.Video!

Posted by thuy

Brazilian PSA: Give Your Shower A Golden Shower

Warning: If you’re at work I would turn the volume down. Here’s a rough translation:

Pee in the shower! We want everyone to do it!
Men! Women! Children! Brazilians! Or not! Nobles! Commoners! Musicians! Sports stars! People half-human, half-monster. Twilight creatures! Brazilian legends. Greek legends. Good people. Not so good people. Art geniuses. Science geniuses Circus performers. Lovers! People from other planets! Movie stars!

To sum it up: If you pee, you’re invited.
(when you flush you waste up to 12 liters of drinkable water / 4380 liters in one year)
Pee in the bath! Help the Atlantic Forest.

Only recommended if you have good drainage. And make sure R. Kelly ain’t around.

Posted by thuy

Earth Cinema Circle

I’ve been reading about Earth Cinema Circle for quite some time and I’ve finally made the decision to join after realizing I’m pretty obsessed with movies such as ‘Food Inc.’ and ‘The Cove.’ Movies like these don’t usually get an entire back wall of “Guaranteed In Stock!” at Blockbuster- but they should!

Earth Cinema Circle is a DVD club dedicated to increasing social & environmental awareness through entertaining films.

How it works: Every other month the customer is sent 1 DVD containing 4 environmental movies on it. It is sent in 100% recycled packaging and after viewing the movies, they’re yours to keep. All that for the low price of $17.95 (plus $4.95 s+h.) Bonus: Earth Circle Cinema is sponsored by Gaiam and narrated by Ed Begley, Jr. Beat that Netflix!

If you break that down, including shipping, you’re only paying $5.73 a movie. Cheaper than a matinee and more fulfilling than the entire box set of Gossip Girl.

Check it out and do your recession ridden wallets a favor and support environmental filmmakers by joining Earth Cinema Circle now!

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

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

Let’s Trash The Beach PSA

I’m sure ya’ll know this is a jokey times video.

I love it.

Keep California beautiful!

Source Huffington Post

Posted by thuy

F*CK RINGLING BROS!

Sorry about being out of commission since being back. Busy with work and prepping for my next shoot with Coco Eco Magazine.

I was just sent this link from Perez Hilton. Ringling Bros. had their show (arrived the day of the Michael Jackson Memorial) in LA at the Staples Center- they had a 4 day run beginning on July 9th.

When I heard that a few of my friends were going to the circus that week, my stomach knotted up. I tried explaining to them that the animals (especially the elephants) get beat and it didn’t make a difference. How could it if you only see the glittery show side and not what goes on behind those curtains and what they go through while traveling between cities and in their training sessions?

PETA vice president Daphna Nachminovitch said that their undercover agent “witnessed these elephants being beaten for no apparent reason.”

Ringling Bros. said they could not comment on the video because it had not been viewed yet, but they did say that “PETA is an animal rights extremist group…We are very proud of our animal care, we are committed to the care of all our animals partly through our conservation programs at the Ringling Bros. Center for Elephant Conservation…We have 139 years of experience of working with Asian elephants.”

If you support Ringling Bitchasses this is what your money is contributing to.

Disgusting.

FUCK YOU RINGLING BASTARDS!

One pissed off bitch.

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

Pork Rinds

Are freakin’ NASTY! Watch how they’re made in this video. Thank baby jesus I’ve never liked them!

I just barfed in my mouf and outta my eyes.

Source Huffington Post

Posted by thuy

Solar Powered G-Spot Vibrator

The SolaVibe is compact, energy efficient and comes with its very own BRIGHT PINK solar panel! One of the commenters suggested leaving it on a windowsill to charge for a few hours- hahaha- holy shit! What if you forgot to put it away? How would you explain that one? Guess you could say it’s to charge your Hello Kitty travel toothbrush or something.

You’ll help save the environment by cutting out batteries, your lady bit will be safe because it’s phthalate-free and you get three uses in one- clitoral, internal vaginal or anal vibes. Sounds like my kinda party! Table for one please.

And the item below isn’t green. It’s white, like my old school first gen iPod. The OhMiBod plugs into any MP3 player and it vibrates to the music…Hello!! Hold up! MAXWELL! Wait, has Johnny Depp ever recorded anything? Google time!

Seriously-Maxwell- straight up sex sauce!

Source Libida

Posted by thuy

Earth Song

Here’s my MJ tribute song. I didn’t even know about it until today.

What have we done to the world
Look what we’ve done
What about all the peace
That you pledge your only son…
What about flowering fields
Is there a time
What about all the dreams
That you said was yours and mine…
Did you ever stop to notice
All the children dead from war
Did you ever stop to notice
The crying Earth the weeping shores

Never can say goodbye- so for now I thank him for giving us a gazillion memorable party time songs..he definitely made his mark on this earth and will be missed.

Posted by thuy

Children’s Guide to Growing Up: Animal Rights

Kids vs. Teacher in the deliciously epic debate on the treatment of animals.

I can’t figure out if this is cute or scary.

Posted by thuy

Baby Squirrel Gets Human Help Over Wall

Unfortch I’m still out of commission- but I happened to have some random stories saved in my drafts that I never posted. Don’t expect much or anything current. Most of them are about animals- or animal cruelty- but I’ll try to keep it light on the sad stories. NOT! Jk. Here’s a happy one.

A story about a big squirrel and a baby squirrel, a wall at UCLA, and some human intervention.

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

Baby Smiley Gives Makeup Tutorial Says Eff The Ozone Layers

Yes as in layers- she pluralized it, not me.

“Now, in order to get these razor blade sharp look you’ll get like 3 gallons of hairspray. Don’t even worry about the- what is it called? The Ozone Layers? Gotta have at least like 50 more layers left for the earth to like freeze over and explode.”

Sorry but I think this gem from Cops would’ve given a better tutorial. If you only watch one video today-make it this one. I’d quote my favorite parts, but it’d be the entire thing, so just press play.

I’m going to try this the next time I get pulled over by the po po’s.

“EXCUSE MY BEAUTY!!!”

source dlisted

posted by thuy

The Secret Life Of Cell Phones

Cell phone companies need to make it easier to recycle the cell phones they manufacture. Many consumers would like to do the right thing, if they only knew how.

Watch this video to learn about the life and death of cell phones.

Remember you can drop off electronics at your local Goodwill for free. They will e-cycle it responsibly or you can try to get some bucks for them from Gazelle.

source ecoscraps

posted by thuy

The Cove Movie

The Cove, which has won honors at many film festivals, including the Audience Award at January’s Sundance Film Festival, chronicles the efforts of Richard O’Barry and the Save Japan Dolphins Coalition to stop the brutal annual slaughter of thousands of dolphins in Japan. The Cove also won the Audience Award at the Toronto Film Festival and the Newport Beach Film Festival.

“The dolphin slaughter is scheduled to begin again on September 1st,” notes Richard O’Barry, Director of Save Japan Dolphins. “The world-wide exposure of the dolphin slaughter through The Cove movie is going to put a spot-light on this secret environmental disaster. It can’t happen too soon.”

“We believe The Cove will be a game-changer,” stated David Phillips, Director of Earth Island Institute’s International Marine Mammal Project, a members of the Save Japan Dolphins Coalition. “Japan’s flaunting of international agreements and international norms must end — the killing of dolphins and whales is no longer accepted by civilized society.”

For further information on the Save Japan Dolphins Coalition, go to: SaveJapanDolphins.org

Get more info at thecovemovie.com

Posted by thuy

Will Ferrell Man Vs. Wild

In the harsh arctic tundra of Sweden, Bear Grylls and Will Ferrell from the Land of the Lost set out to conquer the wilderness … together. And of course, Will is highlarious.

Click on the video to get linked to the remaining four videos from the episode.

Posted by thuy

Watch HOME Documentary Online For Free

HOME is a 2009 documentary by Yann Arthus-Betrand (photographer of “Earth from Above” book.). The film is entirely composed of aerial shots of various places around Earth. It shows the diversity of life on Earth and how humanity is threatening the ecological balance of the planet.

The movie was released simultaneously on June 5th (World Environmental Day) in cinemas all over the world, on DVD, TV and on YouTube. Released on the same date in 50 countries is a world record for any film release in history. The film is 100% free, and no profits will be made from its release or future showings.

Making this movie was an unusual risk for its financial backer, one of the planet’s biggest retailing conglomerates, France’s PPR SA. PPR, the maker of Gucci handbags and Puma shoes, paid PPR, the maker of Gucci handbags and Puma shoes, paid 10 million euros ($20.55 million) of the 12 million euro production budget to create HOME.

Laurent Claquin, senior vice-president of corporate social and environmental responsibility at PPR, said the company took a chance on the film.

“It’s true we’re putting ourselves at risk in a way,” said “We’re not perfect yet. We’re never going to be perfect. But we have a duty to act.”

Watch the entire documentary here for free and in HD.

Pics below are from the screening of HOME this past Friday night at the Stella McCartney store.

Photos by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

Posted by thuy

Casual Mafia In My Prius

Highlarious.

via autobloggreen

posted by thuy

SADE.4.LIFE

The queen of slim-fitting one piece backless dresses, pulled back hair and the voice of an angel is back and will be blessing us with a new album! Sony has confirmed that Sade Adu has been in the studio and has already finished a few songs. Sade’s last album, Lovers Rock was released in 2000.

Like millions of other people, I have been mesmerized by Sade and her talent since the mid 80′s. Her voice, her face and her style is so unconventional, yet soothingly hypnotic. I saw her twice during her last tour and was in heaven both times.

Welcome back Sade!

We love our Sade tee’s by Diamond Supply Co. Nick, we’re waiting on the hoodies!

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

LA Gay Marriage Prop 8 Protest

Check out what Perez, George Takei, Mark Hoppus and others had to say this past Tuesday night about the fight for gay marriage.

Also, watch the video below of another great Keith Olbermann WTF moment on how same sex marriage could jump start the economy. It’s no joke.

I think it’s time to prep for the day WHEN it finally happens. I see a career change in my near future-wedding planner or better yet, green wedding consultant! Or professional wedding crasher. I can already think of numerous invites or job opportunities I would get from my gay friends. It’s on!

I know Reverend Eric Lee says the only way to fight hate is with love but the bitch in me wants to tell all the H8TRS to go FUCK THEMSELVES, in a nice way. The fight continues…

Hugs and kisses.

thuy