Author: Diane Nudelman
Website: http://ecoswag.typepad.com/my-blog/2009/10/eco-umbrellas-a-g…

There are basically two kinds of promotional umbrellas. There are the cheap crappy ones that blow inside out and soon become garbage… and there are quality ones that you keep and use for years and years.

From both an ecological perspective AND as someone who believes in the branding power of quality promotional products, it's a mystery to me why companies even bother to buy poor-quality umbrellas with a custom imprint. They'll end up in a landfill after just a few uses, which is a waste of resources (and promotional budget) and NOT the place you want to be advertising your company logo!

Shedrain Umbrellas is based here in Portland OR, where it rains pretty much all the time from November through May. They may be the only people in town who really get excited when the rainy season starts, but they do know their umbrellas! Shedrain has a world-wide reputation for quality at a reasonable price, and they've sold custom-printed umbrellas through the promotional products industry for…

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Author: Megan Brown
Website: http://www.renewablechoice.com/blog-walmart-drive-to-improve…

Suppliers should be submitting their sustainability index assessment.

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Author: Lisa Frack
Website: http://www.enviroblog.org/2009/10/something-is-amiss-with-ou…

Written by Alice Shabecoff, co-author with her husband Philip of Poisoned Profits: The Toxic Assault on our Children

As we watched each of our five grandchildren and their friends enter this world and begin their life’s journey, it became more and more clear that something is amiss with this generation. How are your children and your friends’ children doing?

Most likely, one in three of the children you know in this generation suffers from a chronic illness. Perhaps it’s cancer, or birth defects, perhaps asthma, or a problem that affects the child’s mind and behavior, such as Downs Syndrome, learning disorders, ADHD or autism. Though one in three may sound exaggerated, unbelievable, the figures are there amidst various government files.

This generation is different.
Childhood cancer, once a medical rarity, has grown 67 percent since 1950. Asthma has increased 140 percent in the last twenty years and autism rates without a doubt have increased at least 200 percent. …

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Author: easy eco blog
Website: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/easyecoblog/~3/hEa29ft7DlM/

photo credit: Ed.ward
A reminder that there is a 30% upto $1500 Federal Tax Credit on Qualifying Gas, Oil, Propane Water Heaters as well as Electric Heat Pump Water Heater and Solar Water Heaters.
Gas, Oil, Propane Water Heaters must have Energy Factor >= 0.82 or a thermal efficiency of at least 90%.
Electric Heat Pump [...]

Related posts:

1. Federal Tax Credit – Wood Heat Stoves, Pellet Stoves, Fireplace Inserts
2. Hybrid Water Heaters
3. Tankless Water Heaters

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Author: easy eco blog
Website: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/easyecoblog/~3/_WPmgrIukq8/

Almost everyone has to deal with pests.  Whether indoor or outdoors, we need to think about eco friendly alternatives to toxic pesticides.
Our Water Our World has a great free guide to Healthy Home and Garden. It was funded by California’s State Water Resources Control Board.
Some key items I learned from this book:
1) Try to use [...]

Related posts:

1. Green Pest Control
2. Chinese Insecticide Chalk
3. Eco Friendly Termite Pest Control

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Author: Joe Ascanio
Website: http://www.terracurve.com/2009/10/22/help-congress-protect-o…

In 1976, over three decades ago, Congress passed a law to oversee safety reviews of common household chemicals. In over thirty years, this set of guidelines, called the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), has not been updated. So, the question is: what’s in your cabinet?

As a parent, I tend to stay up-to-speed on the latest warnings and hazards that may be involved in the common household products I buy and use, whether they be for cleaning, playing, or any other method within the daily routine. Recently, though, it seems that more and more “breaking news” continues to expose further dangers of toxic chemicals – in places you would sometimes never even think to look.

Scientific studies are emerging on an almost daily basis that continually link toxic chemical exposure to serious health problems, especially in young ones.

From bisphenol-A in baby bottles to phthalates in childrens’ toys and flame retardants in nursery furnishings, the modern world is filled with synthetic compounds…

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Author: Joe Ascanio
Website: http://www.terracurve.com/2009/10/22/still-think-climate-cha…

As a definitive climate-change consequence, a four-year drought in East Africa is depleting 23 million Africans of food and water.

Although drought is common in East Africa, this new heightened frequency is cause for alarm. While the cycle of drought used to revolve in 10-year-intervals, now it is virtually constant. Scientists and government officials are attributing this dramatic shift to radical climate change.

Yes, climate change. Global warming. That nagging “Inconvenient Truth.”

The threat is real and is quickly encroaching on the lives of millions around the world. While we in the States are not directly feeling the impacts just yet, we soon will. As agricultural and water-supply devastation sweeps across the globe, our food and resource supplies will dwindle to nothing. On this small and fragile planet, East Africa is a lot closer than many will admit.

Emergency level threat

The dry lands of East Africa’s northern region are seeing its cattle collapse and die out from…

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Author: David Chamberlain
Website: http://www.terracurve.com/2009/10/22/understanding-philanthr…

“Philanthropic Travel is the ultimate luxury and a WIN-WIN-WIN formula on many, many levels.” -David Chamberlain CEO Exquisite Safaris Philanthropic Travel Worldwide

WINNER #1 Destination Communities

Destination communities win when philanthropic travelers arrive with open hearts and philanthropic intent. The economic generosity of those travelers allows communities to move past the daily march for survival by gifting education, medical facilities, clean water and entrepreneurial training. Philanthropic Travelers create a chain reaction of ‘pay it forward,’ goodwill that unlocks powerful community development and gratitude.

“What David is doing is wonderful because it combines the best of everything,” says Chellie Kew, founder of Qfund, a non-profit organization whose grassroots endeavors in Africa are sometimes observed by Exquisite Safaris travelers. “You get the world-class accommodations, the top-notch activities, and then end up at a project that is life-changing.” -Chellie…

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Author: Jean-Paul
Website: http://www.thechicecologist.com/2009/10/how-long-does-it-tak…

I talk a lot about biodegradable items, biodegradable soaps, and even biodegradable diaper services, but what does ‘biodegrade’ even mean?
In our effort to keep from burying ourselves in trash and waste since we are still very much a ‘disposable’ society, how can we reduce our impacts (other than the obvious re-use of materials?) By [...]

Related posts:

1. Eco Baby Care – Earth Baby Compostable Diaper Service
2. Seven Great Biodegradable Items You Should Know About
3. Green Water Bottles and Now The PlantBottle Soda Bottle

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Author: Green Talk
Website: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/green-talk/jRYI/~3/_g_JAoGAcP…

TerraCycle is one of my favorite companies.   Their motto is someone else’s trash is someone else’s pocketbook, or bag or flower pot or binder OR whatever, this entreprenuerial groups of lads and lasses can dream up…They collect yogurt cups, FritoLay’s potato chips bags, Nabisco wrappers, and assorted other items that we ordinarily just flip into the garbage.  (I think the count if up to 18 items they collect.  Whew!  You need roller skates to keep up with them…)

What do they do with all that “garbage?”  Upcycle it into different products.   PLUS,  the Company pays schools and other nonprofit and religious organization two cents per item.  Nice little incentive.

What is one of the newest and greatest additions to the collection bridgades?  TerraCycle has partnered with 3M to take back tape dispensers and cores, so 3M can reused them to sell new tape dispensers.  Why does this thrill me?  According to the Company, there are millions of tape dispensers and cores that…

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