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Latest tip: Inflate your tires to increase your fuel economy and help le planet...

Earth Hour will be the largest voluntary power down in history

Tonight, March 29, the world will take a stand. Millions of people from Australia to America and buildings including the Sears Tower and the Golden Gate Bridge will turn off their lights for one hour to show how working together we can make a difference in the fight against climate change. Staring in Christchurch, New Zealand, Earth Hour will roll through 14 time zones, wrapping up in the Pacific Time zone representative San Francisco, CA. Traversing more than 25 cities in 10 countries, Earth Hour will be the largest voluntary power down in history.


Please consider participating in this effort by, that's right, shutting off your lights tonight from 8-9.


Who's Involved?

World Wildlife Fund

Sports Teams and Corporations

Phoenix Suns

Chicago Bears

Hewlett Packard

Esurance

National Geographic Channel

McDonald's will turn off its golden arches in over 480 locations in Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana.

Flagship Cities

Aalborg, Denmark

Aarhus, Denmark

Adelaide, Australia

Atlanta, United States

Bangkok, Thailand

Brisbane, Australia

Canberra, Australia

Chicago, United States

Christchurch, New Zealand

Copenhagen, Denmark

Dublin, Ireland

Haifa, Israel

Manila, Philippines

Melbourne, Australia

Montreal, Canada

Odense, Denmark

Ottawa, Canada

Perth, Australia

Phoenix, United States

San Francisco, United States

Suva, Fiji

Sydney – Australia

Tel Aviv, Israel

Toronto, Canada

Vancouver, Canada


Find out more http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earth_Hour


Spread the message.

Push Large American Mutual Funds to Use their Clout to Push Companies in Climate Change

Co-op America needs our support...help them help you by pushing some of the largest mutual funds in America to use their biggest weapon (their wallets!) to push companies on climate change.

This just in from Co-op America's email:
"Mutual funds like American Funds, Morgan Stanley, Pioneer, Vanguard, and more have a history of abstaining or voting against climate resolutions. Tell them with us that the time to act is now.

Push mutual funds to act on climate change »"

Big deals at Patagonia

Patagonia, one the the goodest (I know that's not a word, but it's our blog and we can do what we want to) companies on the planet. If you need any great gear that will last a lifetime, then check out their uber-fab dealios:

From a Patagonia email:

After your downwind paddle, glide on over to the Web Specials* section of Patagonia.com and dig in to some discounted gear. The list below is just a sampling of the off-season and special make-up items you'll find at 30-60% off retail prices. Styles, colors and prices change periodically so check back often.

M's Synchilla® Marsupial - Special Was $80 NOW $40

M's Micro Synchilla® Jacket Was $99 NOW $49

M's Nooner Jacket Was $138 NOW $70

M's Buckshot Flannel Shirt - Special Was $78 NOW $39

M's Super Guide Jacket - Pro Patrol Was $165 NOW $82.50

M's Lightweight Stand Up Shorts® - 7" Inseam - Special Was $50 NOW $29

M's Capilene® 3 Crew - Special Was $44 NOW $26.40

W's Retro-X Jacket - Special Was $175 NOW $105

W's Braata Flair Pants Was $50 NOW $30

W's Brushed Vitaliti Blazer Was $90 NOW $54

W's Synchilla® Marsupial - Special Was $80 NOW $40

Overhead Shed Was $245 NOW $125

Critical Mass® Bag Was $99 NOW $49

Kids' Synchilla® Marsupial - Special Was $59 NOW $35.40

You can now shop by size or browse all Web Specials

Organic Style Early Bunny Special: Tulips + Chocolate Giveaway

Hey Conscious Spenders! If you are in the market to send flowers, go organic!

Organic Style sent an email out announcing a special flower deal with OrganicBouquet.com - they are offering a FREE chocolate gift with Easter Tulips!


Organic gifty fabulousness!

Contact Your Senator Today to Vote YES on Toy Safety Amendment

Three Leaf Cards loves the Breast Cancer fund because they work so hard to get to the root of breast cancer issues - it's all about research and education and health issues start early....

I never think about toys being toxic, but they can be and you can help. From a recent BCF email:

"What started with lead in children's toys has become much more—and forced us all to look more critically at the toys and teethers we buy for our kids.

Yesterday, Sen. Dianne Feinstein introduced an amendment to the Consumer Product Safety Commission Reform Act that would ban six toxic chemicals called phthalates from children's toys and child care articles. A vote on the amendment is expected this week.

Phthalates, a family of industrial chemicals used to make plastic soft, have been linked to birth defects in baby boys, testicular cancer, liver problems and early onset of puberty in girls—a risk factor for later-life breast cancer.

The European Union and 14 other countries, including Japan, Argentina and Mexico, have already banned these toxic chemicals from children's toys. In October 2007, California became the first state in the nation to enact a statewide ban on phthalates in children's toys, and now about a dozen states are following suit.

Urge your senator to vote yes on the Feinstein amendment, and to oppose any weakening amendments.

Contact your senator TODAY »
USA Today: "Everywhere chemicals" in plastics alarm parents »
Ask friends and family to take action »

Our way of life is killing the planet

I rarely use the blog to rant - it is my job to give you ideas about how to spend consciously, but I had a crude awakening over the weekend that I wanted to share as I think it applies to some of our planetary pitfalls and if we don't become more aware of the connection of our lifestyle and the impacts of it on the planet, we will hose ourselves.

Okay, here I go....

I travel a lot for work and as a conscious spender, I work to offest my impact with things like Terrapass to offest my carbon emissions for driving, 41pounds.org to stop junk mail, I use eco-friendly cleaning products and I support conscious businesses....BUT...I was strapped for cash last weekend and selected a more budget hotel (vs. a sustainable hotel) this weekend (I was teaching in the Bay area) and because I had time alone to think and observe, I really got a nasty taste of our time-crunched culture and how our way of life may be a direct link to the negative dent on the planet....

Let me explain....

I stopped to get gas as I drove up the coast and the places I stopped at for gas only sell junk...plastic water bottle everything, packaged foods, ick. I watched as my fellow travelers purchased dozens of plastic bottled goods and body-toxifying items (that really aren't food when you think about it) All the junk being sold at "convenience stores" have packaging that can end up in landfills OR hopefully some plastic will get recycled, but it's really disturbing when you look hard at it...

I will not name the hotel I stayed it, but I can tell you that I am NEVER staying there again! I got up for my continental breakfast and I was abhorred by:
1. All the crap that was out for breakfast
2. That ALL the serving utensils were plastic or foam!
3. All the trashable crap that was in my room from coffee making items, toiletries and more.

To help diminish my eco-impact at breakfast, I went up to my room and got my personal cup for coffee but I was really freaking out as I watched my fellow travelers eat fast, eat stupid and worst of all - waste, waste, waste.

Shame on the hotel for not being mindful of the products they put out, but

SHAME ON US for our time-crunched culture where we all move so fast and multi task and eat on the run so we make so much waste. I really believe that our culture is the culprit and until we change our lifestyles, we cannot make the best choices for our planet and future generations.

It's hard being a single girl on a budget...it's not always easy to support eco-friendly hotels when you have bills to pay, but frankly, I'd rather be poor in paradise then go cheap and stay somewhere like I did last weekend.

We CAN make a difference if we care and are aware. I want everyone to think about ways they can ease the time crunch so you have time to fill your own reusable cups before you hit the road, actually eat while sitting down so your body gets the nourishment it needs and you can take a moment to breathe and remember to recycle, make conscious choices and give a damn...

I welcome all opinions - I need ideas, thoughts, challenging opinions!