Exposing: The People’s Grocery
By Erin Gallagher
Filed Under eCo TV | 1 Comment
Q: What is the second largest cause of death in America?
A: Eating unhealthy food and sitting around
The People’s Grocery is a revolutionary, community oriented, citizen-driven project that began by identifying an opportunity to supply organically produced food to those who could not afford it due to the poorly designed US food system. It has succeeded in creating a thriving urban agricultural landscape in West Oakland, California by educating local citizens on urban farming techniques and thereby increasing the health of the entire community. Inspiring and insightful, this short film by the Global Oneness Project models what can and should be done in most urban settings to offset the effects of exponentially rising transportation costs and live a healthier life.
Click here to check out what else the Global Oneness Project is up to.
Statistical Source: The Center for Disease Control
Posted on August 13, 2008 |
(Don’t) Go Fish
By Scott Badenoch, Jr.
Filed Under The Big Picture | 4 Comments
As the environmental movement grows by leaps and bounds, conscious people are figuring out that a predominantly vegetarian diet is best for the environment and global food stocks. Why has fish not entered this equation? We’re still digging into our wild alaskan salmon and our yellowtail sashimi like they’re going out of style. Well, they’ve been going out of style-in a major way. Sushi lovers, marine life enthusiasts, fishermen, and any human with a pulsing heart-we have some very harsh news for you. The oceans are literally in a state of collapse.
Continue reading (Don’t) Go Fish…
Posted on June 19, 2008 |
Carrotmob: The Art Of The Buycott Continued
By Greg Berry
Filed Under Conscious Commerce, eCo TV | Leave a Comment
You may have read about The Art Of The Buycott last month on eCo Times. If not, the basic idea is about using the buying power of the masses to make positive changes in the world, rather than boycotts, marches, and sit-ins (which can be effective too, but much less enjoyable.)
We found a choice example of the art of the buycott by an emerging organization called aptly, Carrotmob. You can probably tell by the name, Carrotmob is leading with humor. They dangle the carrot of fun, finance, and positivity to lead business to make the right environmental decisions. Carrotmob organized a hugely successful buycott in April at San Francisco’s K & D Market. Check out the hilarious video…
Posted on June 6, 2008 |
Junk Raft: Sailing The Seas Of Debris
By Jenn Breckenridge
Filed Under News & Reviews | 3 Comments
What do you get when you take 15,000 plastic bottles, the discarded wingless body of a Cessna 310 aircraft, and a sail? A seaworthy, solar powered ship dubbed the ‘Junk Raft‘ headed from Long Beach, CA to Hawaii, of course. Dr. Marcus Eriksen and Joel Paschal plan to sail a raft with recycled plastic bottles wrapped in discarded fishing net acting as pontoons and an old wingless Cessna cockpit as the cabin. This long, strange trip will be calling attention to the massively detrimental effect of plastic in our oceans. (Apparently 10,000 pounds of plastic are dumped into the ocean every day from Los Angeles alone.) Eriksen has sailed with the Algalita Marine Research Foundation, trolling the waters of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch and now he’s ready to risk life and limb for this cause. When asked why he and his partner were willing to put their lives on the line over some plastic in the ocean, Eriksen stated the folowing…
Yes, we are risking our lives, but the issue of petroleum-based plastic and our national dependence on petroleum, warrant urgent action. My quality of life, the future of our nation’s economy, environmental quality, and human health, are at stake. I remember 17 years ago, as a young Marine in the Gulf War, standing in Kuwait City covered with drops of oil from the burning wells, saying to myself, “Why have we done this?” James Baker, former Secretary of State, the man that sent me to war, said recently, “We had a written policy that we would go to war to defend secure access to the energy reserves of the Persian Gulf.” This is not why I chose to serve my country!
So Eriksen, along with co-pilot Paschal and Junk’s on-the-ground operations czar Anna Cummins, have all chosen to serve their country in a different way. Continue reading Junk Raft: Sailing The Seas Of Debris…
Posted on May 30, 2008 |
Top 10 Reasons to Ride Your Bike…Everywhere
By Greg Berry
Filed Under Green Living | 4 Comments
First, I must preclude this Top 10 with a note about my cycling experience. I’ve been bike commuting for all of my professional life, and before that all during college, and before that I was an early convert to mountain biking. In short, I’ve spent my whole life on a bike and I think it’s the coolest thing going. Why, you ask? Well…
10. No Traffic
Well, this one kind of depends. I commute on bike paths almost the whole way. I bought my home with this in mind, but not everyone has that as a criteria. Either way, at least you’re not contributing to evil traffic, and hopefully you can avoid it altogether.
9. Enjoy The Outdoors
As a culture, we have gotten so completely disconnected from our natural environment, it’s frightening. On your bike you can hear the birds, breathe the outdoor air. See the clouds and decide for yourself whether or not it’s going to rain. Beyond reconnecting with the outside world, cycling is completely emissions-free!
8. Critical Mass
Calling all rebels and rabblerousers…Biking is political protest. If you didn’t know about Critical Mass before, you do now. It’s happening monthly in cities all over the country. Come join us, it’s a blast.
7. Community
Once you start bike commuting regularly, you’ll notice that you see the same people out there. You’ll meet someone from your neighborhood you didn’t know before. And you’ll develop camaraderie that doesn’t come from watching the same TV show.
6. Relax
We all spend too much time rushing around. There’s reason for me to believe that humans weren’t meant to go so fast all the time, hence jet lag. When you’re only moving as fast as your body can make you go, there’s a better sense of groundedness. Continue reading Top 10 Reasons to Ride Your Bike…Everywhere…
Posted on May 22, 2008 |
Behind The Swoosh: Nike’s Catholic Nemesis
By Jenn Breckenridge
Filed Under Conscious Commerce, eCo TV | 4 Comments
The story of Jim Keady, former coach of St. John’s University, who heads to Indonesia with Leslie Kretzu, Co-Director of Educating For Justice, to personally experience the living conditions of Nike factory workers there. Behind The Swoosh is a deep piece. Apologies for the video quality, but the story was worth it. Get ready to rethink your running shoes…
Posted on April 23, 2008 |
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