Eco-Celebrity, David de  Rothschild is drawing attention to the state of our oceans,  the idea of waste, and the unacceptable reality of pollution.  After nearly 4 years of development, The Plastiki has finally sailed off into its big adventure.  The Plastiki  is the name of the 60-foot catamaran made primarily from used plastic bottles that David is traveling on.  The Plastiki expedition isl taking  him and his crew to the Eastern Garbage Patch, an island of trash in the Pacific Ocean twice the size of Texas. 

David and his crew are on a 3 month journey from San Francisco, California to Sydney, Australia on a mission to deliver a global message to beat waste and highlight the peril in our oceans. 

The website is www.theplastiki.com where you can follow their voyage. 

One can be a trash tourist and still travel first class.  The Plastiki’s hull is made of junk, but the interiors–including a reclaimed wood table, swashbuckling pirate motifs and custom gear satchels–were created by San Francisco-based designers Nice Collective.  And even as the crew is restricted to the barest of essentials, they will enjoy special all-in-one grooming products from Kiehl’s (an official expedition supplier) and fresh vegetables from an on-board hydroponic garden.  (Electricity generated by solar panels and energy bicycles, natch.)  Indeed, de Rothschild has learned from past experience that a few treats, like a drop of whiskey or a nice chocolate bar, can go a very long way.  To keep his friends close, he asked them to fill an iPod with music and an e-reader with books to take with him on his travels.  And he’s admittedly lost without his compass necklace, which is loaded with lucky charms like a Saint Christopher medal, a wishbone and a harmonica.

Quality.  It’s The Green Girl Difference

Quality is what counts and what women should look for in everything we buy, no matter the price.  Quality makes sense.   Quality lasts and gets better with age. 

The Green Girl brand is widely recognized by women for its high standards, producing only the highest quality products.   I direcly oversee production here in Los Angeles–the only way I can guarantee quality for my customers.  Fashionable women who are looking for designer quality and care about how their products are made have the perfect alternative in Green Girl.

Everything at Green Girl has been designed and manufactured to meet our standards - which, as you might expect, are very high.  We’d rather show you than tell you.  Touch, examine, notice the details.  You will see and feel it right away.  It’s the Green Girl difference.

Quality isn’t solely about clothes and fashion accessories.  It should be in everything and everywhere you look, from your morning cup of coffee to the bread for your toast to the bouquet of flowers in your room to the linens on your bed, to the food in your refrigerator and the car you drive. 

Quality will never go out of style.   Green Girl is all about quality.

THE GREEN HOUR:  60 Minutes Outdoors

I have fond childhood memories of carefree days spent playing outdoors - skateboarding, skiing, climbing, biking, digging, collecting, building,  and exploring the natural world around me, at my own pace, in my own way.

But today’s overscheduled kids are increasingly plugged in to electronic devices and media and unplugged from the experience of nature.  Their senses- including, mostly sadly, their sense of wonder- can be bombarded , overwhelmed, and ultimately diminished.

A Kaiser Family Foundation study found that the average American child spends 44 hours per week (more than 6 hours a day) staring at some kind of electronic screen.  Now, a growing wave of research indicates that children who spend time outdoors are healthier, overall, than their indoor counterparts.

The National Wildlife Federation recommends that parents give their kids a “Green Hour” everyday, a time for unstructured play and interaction with the natural world.  This can take place in a garden, a backyard, the park down the street, the beach,  or any place that provides safe and accessible green spaces where children can learn and play. 

To give parents, teachers, and caregivers the information, tools, and inspiration to get children outside, the National Wildlife Foundation has created www.greenhour.com , a website that provides a weekly parenting publication, rich in family-friendly content.  The site also hosts a virtual community where families can learn, explore, and share their outdoor experiences and backyard adventures.

Tigers, foilage, and geometric swirls are at their printed best on Green Girl’s reversible, machine-washable ecototes. It’s in the bag at 25% off.

Enter code GREENGIRL at checkout.

Direct Link:
http://www.dailycandy.com/all-cities/deal/79122/Earth-to-Shopper

As the founder of Green Girl, a Los Angeles-based company that specializes in eco-friendly tote bags in bold, upbeat colors and prints, Lori Rose lives by her company’s sunny, enviro-conscious ethos. “Our eco-totes are a fashionable, reusable bag that makes our customers look good, feel good and do good,” she says, ”I started Green Girl because that’s the world I want to live in.” Recently, we sat down with the enterprising entrepreneur to hear a bit more about her line, as well as the other goods that measure up to her exacting aesthetic and earth-friendly standards.

On the subject of how others can adopt a more eco lifestyle, Rose says, “One of the easiest things that the average person can do is to be more ‘aware’ of their daily actions.” It’s a philosophy she applies to running her business, including carefully monitoring every aspect of the design process to eke out as many green benefits as possible. She uses not just organic cotton and biodegradable jute, but also incorporates chemical-free dyes and keeps production local to reduce her carbon footprint. She also lives in a sustainable home. “No I’m not living off the grid!” she laughs, “but Green Girl is teaching me that a whole bunch of small changes can add up to a big impact.”

Read Full Story >>>

It’s not about doing without at Christmas; it’s about doing it differently. Cutting down your carbon footprint over the holidays doesn’t mean cutting out all the fun. It’s not about sacrificing. It’s a simple matter of giving extra thought to typical holiday events, from the turkey dinner to shopping for gifts to decorating the house.

By now, most people are aware of the environmental benefits of eating organic, locally grown food. But a green Christmas dinner doesn’t stop there. To avoid polluting your body, for instance, avoid non-stick cookware. Teflon, or PFOA, is a know human carcinogen.

Also, try to make your own cranberry sauce rather than eat the canned stuff - canned food can contain bisphenol A, a hormone disrupter.

As environmentalists regularly point out, taking baby steps such as these may not change the world, but it’s better than doing nothing at all. Besides, baby steps can take you a long way.

Bring reusable, fashionable Green Girl totes when you go shopping and, if you’re giving electronics as a gift, throw in reusable batteries and a charger.

When it comes to gift-giving, opt for either things that are going to last a long time or an experience, like a massage, pilates or yoga gift certificates or going to an art gallery or the theatre.

For those who want to go the extra mile, take a stand against packaging. I encourage where possible to leave some of that packaging at the store. You don’t have to deal with it at your home and you also send a signal to the companies that this type of packaging isnt’ always necessary.

The excess of the holidays can be overwhelming, but even individual efforts can reap big results. You can figure out where you want to make an impact. You don’t have to do it all.

The best part is the gift you’re giving yourself by helping the environment. Your reward is getting out and enjoying it, whether skating, skiing, tobogganing, a beautiful hike, surfing or swimming in the ocean.

There are damaging chemicals in many of the household items we come into contact with every day.  It’s time we paid attention for the sake our health.

Say ‘no’ to non-stick and stain repellents  These types of chemicals are on furniture, carpets, clothing, non-stick frying pans and fast food wrappers.  Known as perfluorinated chemicals (PFC’s), they are linked to cancer and can mimic human hormones.  To avoid these chemicals, don’t buy the latest “stain repellent pants or shirts, replace your non-stick frying pan with stainless stell or iron, and pop your popcorn the old-fashioned way (microwave popcorn bags are coated in PFCs).

Dump the toxic flame retardants.  These chemicals are linked to cancer, impaired brain development and a host of other health problems.  Called polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) or simply “brominated flame retardants,”they are in furniture, mattresses, curtains, carpets and electronics.  To avoid them, use natural fibres, such as wool, hemp and cotton.  Ask stores or manufacturers to identify PBDE-free products for you.

Eat organic Organic fruits, vegetables, meats and dairy products have a lower pesticide content.  Some studies have linked pesticides with an evaluate risk of cancer, neurological disorders, and damage to our immune and reproductive systems.  So choose organic food whenever possible, particularly dairy, soft fruit and vegetables.  Can’t find organic?  Make sure to wash produce well before eating.

Get gardening.  Growing your own food means you can avoid pesticides, and have great-tasting veggies.  Start by growing fresh herbs; it’s easy to do and requires little space.

Eat fish in moderation.  Fish is generally good for you, but levels of mercury are high.  Mercury is a known neurotoxin that harms the development of children.  It builds up in certain fish, so smaller fish are safer to eat than big fish.  If you are pregnant or are planning on becoming pregnant avoid all tuna, shark and swordfish.

Avoid phthalates  Phthalates are found in PVC plastic and a range of personal-care products.  They both keep plastic things pliable and carry scent well (they’re the basis of many products with a strong artificial fragrance). It’sbest to get rid of phthalates if you can because they mimic human hormones and harm children.  Simple ways to avoid phthalates include getting rid of your vinyl shower curtain, refraining from the use of synthetic air fresheners and choosing unscented body-care products.

Get rid of bisphenol A (BPA) BPA mimics estrogen and has been linked to a host of health problems from breast cancer to diabetes.  Don’t use any polycarbonate plastic containers, including baby bottles, reusable sports bottles or microwaveable containers.  BPA also lines canned food, so choose fresh or frozen food when you can.  And never microwave your food in plastic.

Use some elbow grease.  Household cleaning products have a toxic mix of chemicals that are linked to health problems including cancer.  Consider making your own cleaners using simple household ingredients such as vinegar, baking soda, vegetable oil and lemon juice.  Whole Foods carry an array of non-toxic household cleaners as well.

Make friends with germs.  Our fear of germs has led to an explosion of antibacterialproducts, from soaps to toothpaste.  There are two types:  those with alcohol and those with triclosan.  Alscohol is fine but triclosan weakens the immune system and is suspectedof causing cancer.  Avoid products with triclosan.

Become an active consumer  Companies that add BPA, PFCs and other controversial chemicals to their products are very sensitive to consumer demand. So read the labels, ask store staff questions or call teh 1-800 number listed on products and find out what is in them.