Do The Green Thing

I’ll admit I have not really been inspired recently. I have had a lot going on lately and have been making up for lost time, in doing so, I of course lost time. Anyway, I was wading through a multitude of e-mails I fell behind on, which led me to this fresh site, Do The Green Thing. It’s a winner ladies and gentlemen. Every month they come up with a new video that represents one green thing you can do for that month.

I’ve watched two so far and laughed, which I love to do! They are out of London and an independent, not-for-profit fed by grants from foundations and individual contributions.

Also, I think Green Things are adorable.

This month’s video about not buying into marketing and advertising facade about bottled water…or anything for that matter, was done superbly. It was funny, not preachy, well done!

Drink the real deal, drink water!

-Cara

Supersaturated

The other day I did an entry based on my visit to stopbigmedia.com. I will not rehash all the drama, you can read it here if you want.

It leaves me sad to think about all that stuff….then tired from fighting the propaganda and advertising shoved down my throat while I watch TV, ride the train, walk the streets, listen to music, surf the web. I hear all the people telling me to then just turn it off, but do I really want to disconnect? How then can I fight the good fight to save myself and those who are still plugged in, which is the majority of people in the world? Plus, I am a super nerd and like following the evolution of technology.

Look, I’m not here to save all the unplugged people in the world. These 3 people can take care of themselves. I am here to help people like me who are excited for Season 3 of Workout, can’t get enough of Sandra Rinomato of the fantastical show Property Virgins. :D Someone who likes to sing a catchy jingle every now and again, and who has to get places in this supersaturated, advertising conglomerate called America. That is who I write for.

I was fighting with someone earlier in the day who was trying to get me to see the positive in something that was just super annoying and at that moment positivity was the last thing I was searching for, so just to be a jerk I started surfing the web for obnoxious positive quotes and “you-can-do-it”, “you-are-good-enough” crap to include in every exchange we had in this “debate”. Then a strange thing started to happen, as I read all these quotes and positive news, etc., I started to get in a better mood and feel more…positive.

For some it might be hard getting through the granola-ness of it all, my anger and desire to be annoying is what initially pushed me through it and then the good feeling I got kept me going…not bad.

Here is some of the positive sites I found for when you want to take a break from all the negative stuff surrounding you, but are too lazy to take yoga. ;)

1. Mr. Positive has a blog! All good news, all the time! “Mr. Positive” David R. Boufford is the Founder of PNN-Positive News Network, Inc. and also a business coach and consultant.
2. Then there is Positive News International, which has a US version as well. Positive News (PN) is a free, not for profit newspaper published four times a year. They report news from around the world in the areas of sustainability, social equality, education and happiness with a clear message that “another world is possible.”
3. A blog, Only Positive News, who quotes the awesome Maya Angelou, “If you don’t like something change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude.” That’s positive!!! Their mission is to “remind you of all that is great in our world!” OK, sounds good.
4. Lastly I was going to list some positive quotes sites I went to, but they all have so many banner ads an pop-ups I am afraid it will bring you down. Instead, I will list some positive and/or inspirational quotes I really like and you can come back to The Day After whenever you need a little bit of love!!!”

Quotes

“Hope is the dream of a soul awake.” —French Proverb

“Leap and the net will appear.” —Julia Cameron

“I must create a system or be enslaved by another man’s. I will not reason and compare; My business is to create.” —William Blake

“When you get into a tight place and everything goes against you, till it seems as though you could not hold on a minute longer, never give up then, for that is just the place and time that the tide will turn.” —Harriet Beecher Stowe

“Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent.” —Isaac Asimov

“Never give up and never face the facts.” —Ruth Gordon

“What we need is to use what we have.” —Susan Sontag

“I am an expression of the divine, just like a peach is, just like a fish is. I have a right to be this way…I can’t apologize for that, nor can I change it, nor do I want to… We will never have to be other than who we are in order to be successful…We realize that we are as ourselves unlimited and our experiences valid. It is for the rest of the world to recognize this, if they choose.” —Alice Walker, Democracy Now Feb. 13, 2006

Alright, I think that covers a vast amount of positivity. I am going to stop while I am ahead.

Keep it real.

-Cara

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Reason 31 from, 101 Reasons Why I Am Vegetarian:

The world’s exploding human population, combined with its sagging ability to feed itself, appear to be on a collision course. The Green Revolution, which facilitated much of the recent growth, has clearly stalled out. Indeed, cereal availability per capita has been declining since 1984, and the “promise” of biotech is far from certain or free of risk. Today, 70 percent of grain in the U.S. and 43 percent of grain worldwide lavishly go to feed livestock. And just as the world clamors for more grain to feed to animals, so people can eat them, per-capita world cropland declined by 20 percent in the 1990s alone. The World Health Organization says 800 million people in the world live with chronic hunger. More meat production is definitely not the answer.

Eco-Logical Art

ECO-LogicalART
New Art, With History

Today’s blog is about eco-art. Taking trash and flipping it into art, making it functional and of use again.

According to Eco-LogicalART’s site…

Eco-LogicalART is a dynamic new non-profit sister company to Peter Schulberg’s personal recovered element studio, the DejaDesign Gallery. Both entities share his conviction that beautiful objects surround us and only need to be re-envisioned.

With Eco-LogicalART Schulberg takes his theory of creative recovery to ground braking—or rather ground liberating new heights. The gallery’s fine art line features original art painted on recycled billboard vinyl. Tossed into landfills by the ton weekly, this heavy, ink impregnated material is an environmental nightmare. But ECO-LA takes the indestructible nature of the advertising vinyl and turns it into an asset. In fact the art can even hang on an exterior wall. To date his Off The Wall 1 and 2 indoor/outdoor art events have drawn hundreds of spectators and produced over $25,000 in sales of original art on recycled vinyl. OFF THE WALL 3, which will premiere on Earth Day Eve, 07 (April 21), promises to be bigger than ever because in addition to the art in and on his gallery exterior original art on 5 actual recycled billboards will be up for display around Los Angeles. At 14 by 48 feet it is estimated that over 250,000 people a day will see the free art month long drive-by “exhibit.” To put that in perspective the famed Getty Museum averages about 4000 visitors daily.

By definition Eco-LogicalART works are cutting edge and provocative. With original billboard elements peeking through, then artist re-envisioned, the pieces recalibrate the old question with a new eco-answer– offering neither art nor commerce, but art from commerce. Dynamic and aesthetically pleasing as they are, the works offer something more– the feel good satisfaction of knowing that a landfill, somewhere, is a little less full because of the art hanging on your wall.To that an old Shaker saying is recalled that is one of Schulberg’s touchstones:

“We do not inherit the earth from our parents; we are borrowing it from our children.”

I like the idea and images.

Good stuff.

-Cara

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Reason 5 from, 101 Reasons Why I Am Vegetarian:

The Humane Slaughter Act requires that mammals be rendered insensible to pain before being slaughtered. A Washington Post series in 2002, however, exposed a packing industry hard pressed to follow this law. Animals were found regularly butchered alive on speeded-up conveyor lines. A resolution that the Humane law be followed to the letter did become part of the U.S. Farm Bill. But long after the politicians enjoyed their photo-ops, the live butchering surely continues. Appropriated Farm Bill funds ended up being diverted to food-safety inspectors already employed. In the end, it almost doesn’t matter. The Humane law does not even apply to 99 percent of animals slaughtered, because poultry and fish are not covered by it.

Slow Food USA

What is Slow Food USA?

Slow Food USA envisions a future food system that is based on the principles of high quality and taste, environmental sustainability, and social justice – in essence, a food system that is good, clean and fair. We seek to catalyze a broad cultural shift away from the destructive effects of an industrial food system and fast life; toward the regenerative cultural, social and economic benefits of a sustainable food system, regional food traditions, the pleasures of the table, and a slower and more harmonious rhythm of life.

What Does Slow Food USA believe in?

Slow Food is good, clean and fair food. We believe that the food we eat should taste good; that it should be produced in a clean way that does not harm the environment, animal welfare or our health; and that food producers should receive fair compensation for their work, and that all people should have access to this good and clean food.

We consider ourselves co-producers, not consumers, because by being informed about how our food is produced and actively supporting those who produce it, we become a part of and a partner in the production process.

People respond to the growing movement, and the ideas expressed therein, for many different reasons: some have become tired of eating the same foods wherever they go across the globe; some have noticed the degradation of flavor in our food; some are concerned about the health issues raised by an industrialized food supply; some would like to be environmental stewards of the land through the food choices they make. The beauty of Slow Food is that it provides a welcome home for the food lover, the health seeker, and the environmentalist. With all of these interests in mind, our mission is to create a robust, active movement that protects taste, culture and the environment as universal social values.

Where can you find your local convivium ([Latin] getting together with friends for a meal; it is similar to a symposium; in Latin, it literally means “sharing life together”.)?

Here

What about the Slow Food in New York City?

Slow Food NYC is the New York City convivium (chapter) of Slow Food, a non-profit, member-supported organization founded in 1989 to counteract fast food and fast life. We stand against the disappearance of local food traditions and people’s dwindling interest in the food they eat, where it comes from, how it tastes and how our food choices affect the rest of the world.

Last but not least what is the New York City “Snail of Approval“?

In order to help guide New Yorkers and visitors to food that is good, clean and fair, Slow Food NYC awards the Snail of Approval to those producers, purveyors and artisans who contribute to the Quality, Authenticity and Sustainability of the food we eat and the beverages we drink in the City of New York.

Post Script – Finding this site is thanks to my Ms. Marine. Thank you so very much…good stuff.

Good Day!

-Cara