Be A Green Giant today! Q&A with Brad Doan from Steelcase,Inc.

www.BeAGreenGiant.com

Q&A with Brad Doan
Manager,North American Brand Communications & Advertising
Organization: Steelcase, Inc. (www.steelcase.com)

CELESTE: Tell me about www.BeAGreenGiant.com.

BRAD: In February 2008 we decided to kick off a U.S. campaign that we called, “GreenGiants”. It consisted of a series of events and initiatives that culminated in a website: www.BeAGreenGiant.com. This campaign (one of the largest in recent Steelcase history) intentionally put our own marketing messages on the back burner. From the onset, this campaign wasn’t going to be centered around us. Our approach to advertising sustainability, had to mirror our approach to sustainability.

• We wanted to elevate the conversation beyond simply being “green”.
  
• The campaign says, “Sustainable environments begin with sustainable communities” – that’s been our company’s approach to sustainability since the beginning – a holistic approach that considers people and the planet.
  
• We believe that the social component (helping people) is critical when talking about and doing sustainable initiatives. We believe that social component is the difference between just being “green” and being a “GreenGiant”.
  

So GreenGiants don’t really need to be “giants” at all… it’s anyone that believes in or is practicing a broader approach to sustainability – one that considers people and the planet. And we believe that’s a message that resonated with people – as far away as India and other guests to the site from 116 countries.

CELESTE: What were the goals of the campaign?

BRAD: The campaign had three goals:

1) To educate others by providing comprehensive resources and information on sustainability,

2) Inspire others through stories of great works of sustainability and

3) Provide a platform for others to celebrate sustainable acts that have inspired them (friends, themselves, organizations, companies, projects, etc.) – elevating their visibility and giving them a global stage from which to share.

GreenGiants has been a rally cry within the corporation and has taken on deeper cultural significance than we could have imagined. Employees have committed to being GreenGiants and are looking for ways (big and small) that they can personally make a difference.

CELESTE: What does Steelcase specialize in?

BRAD: Steelcase, the global leader in the office furniture industry, helps people have a better work experience by providing products, services and insights into the ways people work. The company designs and manufactures architecture, furniture and technology products. Founded in 1912 and headquartered in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Steelcase (NYSE:SCS) serves customers through a network of over 600 independent dealers and approximately 13,500 employees worldwide. Fiscal 2008 revenue was $3.4 billion.

Background:

You can’t pick up a magazine or a newspaper these days and not see a company touting how “green” they are or celebrating their environmental achievements. And that’s a good thing, because it’s a sign that companies are starting to recognize the importance of being more environmentally conscious. The bad thing, is that a lot of companies don’t take the time or make the investment to do the things that really matter – choosing, instead, to celebrate small achievements for self-promotion.

At Steelcase, you could say sustainability is in our DNA, dating all the way back to our founding family members. We’ve been helping the environment and the people that live in that environment for many, many years. We’ve done that and continue to do it, because it was important to us… it’s one of our company’s core values.

www.BeAGreenGiant.com

Ask Environmental Working Group: What is Fragrance?

Manufacturers of personal care products, household cleaners, candles, and air fresheners don't have to disclose what chemicals make up their "fragrance"--that's all they have to list on the label. Jovana explains what chemicals "fragrance" may stand for, and why to avoid products with "fragrance" in them.

Honeybee Gardens: All Natural Body Care & Cosmetics

"I'd like to encourage other women to not be afraid to pursue their dreams. If you really believe in it, you can achieve it. The only one that holds you back is yourself."

Melissa Hertzler

President/CEO
Honeybee Gardens, Inc.
All Natural Body Care & Cosmetics
www.honeybeegardens.com

CELESTE: How did you come up with the name Honeybee Gardens?

MELISSA: Actually, my husband did. Everything I did stemmed from the herbs I grew in my little garden. In Greek, the name Melissa means Honeybee. Since everything came from "Melissa's Gardens" he thought it was a good idea to call the business Honeybee Gardens. I liked the sound of it. The simple innocence exemplified how I want my products to be perceived.

My Honeybee Gardens order arrived quickly and I couldn't wait to sample everything!

My Experience:

JobaColors Eye Liner pencils->>Brown Sugar..Belgian Chocolate. The names are sweet and so are the products. These rich jojoba-based eye liners glide on super smooth. 5 shades/$6.99/each.

Luscious Lip Gloss->>Smells so good I want to eat it! Do you see a pattern here? I chose the Glam I am which features a mango flavor. Finally a paraben-free lip gloss with cocoa butter, olive oil and shea butter. Or maybe you want to try Viper w/raspberry flavor, Hollywood w/orange flavor, Innocence w/watermelon flavor or Eternity w/mint flavor. $8.99/each.

Vegan PowderColors Stackable Mineral Colors->>These are so versatile! I chose the Flirtatious (very light matte pink) to use as cheek blush and a pop of eye shadow. The darker brown and lighter shade I'll use as eyeshadow. Did you know these can also be used as eyeliner, lip gloss or nail polish? See directions on this page: http://www.honeybeegardens.com/natural-cosmetics/products/pcsmc.html.
15 shades/$4.99 each.

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Under no circumstances do we do animal testing, our packaging is made from 100% recyclable materials, and our raw material suppliers practice responsible harvesting.

WaterColors Nail Enamel:
A water-based nail color with NO formaldehyde,
toluene, xylene, dibutyl phthlate or FD & C colors.
Non-toxic and safe for the environment.
20 colors/$6.99 each.

ODORLESS NAIL POLISH REMOVER:
Acetone-free fragrance-free formula is enriched with horsetail extract to strengthen nails, and fortified with vitamin E and aloe to soothe and protect cuticles.
This totally odorless blend of alcohols works to remove the
WaterColors Nail Enamel as well as conventional polish.
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CELESTE: Share some Honeybee background.

MELISSA: Okay, here's the abbreviated version. After graduating from college and being disenfranchised by my chosen profession, I knew I needed to do something I loved. And I love herb gardening. Also, I was newly married to a husband who hated shaving. His skin would become so red and irritated, and I wanted to create something that would relieve his suffering. I was also learning about the harmful chemicals found in so many body care and cosmetic products, so I knew the local department store wasn't the answer. My knowledge of herbs lead me to develop an aftershave formula (after much trial and error!) that allowed him to shave with zero redness, no pain, no irritation. Our very first product and hence my own business was born.

CELESTE: Is Honeybee Gardens organic or natural?

MELISSA: Both. But we don't put organic on our labels. Mostly because it is too volatile of a word right now in our industry, and still loosely defined. But also because I can't always get the organic ingredients I need. So if 90% of the time I can get the organic peppermint we use in our aftershave, but 10% of the time I can't, then I'd be lying on our label if I listed it as organic. I won't do that.

Natural is Better

Honeybee Gardens products are created entirely of natural materials. You can actually pronounce our ingredients! We reuse and recycle as much as possible and, perhaps most importantly, we DO NOT test ANY of our products on animals (those are strict orders from our dachshund 'Ginger', ten pussycats, 'Pekoe' the lovebird, 'Tortuga' the turtle and 'Dim Sum' the Chinese hamster)!

We take great pride in providing our customers with the finest herbal products and customer service. We sincerely welcome comments and opinions, and are available to help with any questions you may have. So try our all-natural herbal body care products and experience nature's supremacy.

CELESTE: What sets Honeybee Gardens apart from other natural companies?

MELISSA: We're not just here to sell a product. We really believe in what we're doing. I want to create the healthiest, safest products, while still making sure they're effective and fun. Too often I would hear about health store brands being boring or 'that natural stuff doesn't work'. I knew I could do better. I knew I could create a lip balm that would honestly relieve chapped lips and cosmetics that were as fashionable as they were fun. Natural doesn't have to mean dull or second-rate. I want natural to be number one!

We're not your typical cosmetics company. We don't make products that follow the hottest new trends. We don't make false advertising claims or try to convince you that our products can perform miracles. All we do is make really good products made from really good ingredients that really work. That's it. We try to satisfy the real needs of real people. Oh yeah, we have really great customer service too.

Order a Honeybee Gardens Gift Certificate here:
http://www.honeybeegardens.com/natural-cosmetics/store/gift-certificates.html

CELESTE: Tell us about your private label products.

MELISSA: We do get lots of request for private label. In fact, I started a new company in 2001 just to handle our private label business. Unfortunately, it's harder for us to do private label for very small companies. Our batch sizes tend to be too big for their needs. I've been approached about creating a private label brand - something standard that small companies could just buy a few units of whenever they needed it, and I am considering that.

http://www.honeybeegardens.com

Soap Nuts!

Author: Cathy Herard

If you haven't already heard of or tried soap nuts, you are going to want to find out where you can get them and wonder why you haven't been using them your entire laundry washing life! They are amazing and grow on trees. Basically, soap nuts are the dried shells of the soapberry. The shells actually contain a substance called saponin, which provides a soaping affect, but no foaming like chemical filled commercial "detergents." The trees grow in India and Nepal and are a sustainable resource that gives a source of income to the local population. I have personally switched to using soap nuts for my laundry needs and am way more pleased than ever! There are no harsh chemicals being used to launder my family's clothing and better yet, I don't use any type of fabric softener because the soap nuts do that naturally! Just like with traditional detergents, soap nuts sometimes need a little "support" in getting out tougher odors and stains. I usually add borax if this is the case with my laundry.

Soap nuts are truly the most organic and pure way of cleaning your laundry and other things around your home. There is minimal waste(no big plastic jug like with commerical detergents) for a much smaller impact on the environment! My favorite soap nuts are from a company called NaturOli. A visit to their website gives you a feeling of relaxation, purity, and wellness! Besides soap nuts they offer many other pure and natural products as well. I love and have tried several of their skincare line as well as their soap nuts! Check them out, you will be glad you did. www.letsbegreentogether.com www.naturoli.com

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/wellness-articles/soap-nuts-635107.html

About the Author:
Cathy is an advocate for all things eco-friendly which includes everything organic and and as close to natural as possible. She is devoted to creating a healthier environment for her family and their future.

Davos Question: Jeffrey Hollender from Seventh Generation. You Tube Video.

Jeffrey is the the President and Chief Inspired Protagonist at Seventh Generation and has some thoughts for the Davos community. Seventh Generation is the nation's leading brand of non-toxic and environmentally safe household products.

The Davos Question is: What one thing do you think that countries, companies or individuals must do to make the world a better place in 2008?

Visit Seventh Generation now!

Go Green With The Mother Of Temporary Tattoos: Mother Ink

Q&A
Laura Silverthorn/President

Mother Ink

CELESTE: How did you come up with the name Mother Ink?

LAURA: I wanted something all-encompassing and that everyone would remember. We all know Mother Goose, so I imagined what a Mother Goose figure would look like if she was also a tattoo enthusiast. Hip. modern, edgy, but still classically feminine. She embodies the attitude that tattoos may now be mainstream, but still a little naughty. Above all, the "Mother of Temporary Ink" is just that, a mother, and I love her for that!


LOVEBIRDS

CELESTE: What makes your temporary tattoos eco-friendly?

LAURA: The packaging. I really worked hard to find a way other than using plastic wrapped tattoo sheets. When I see this kind in the store, I just cringe. A thin plastic film is necessary for protection, but the outer wrapper is completely reusable as a colorful paper cd/dvd sleeve. I make all the tattoos a special size to accomplish this so that when you are finished with your tattoo, you now have a pretty little Mother Ink media sleeve...and no guilt! And of course, we only use paper to ship, even with our wholesale accounts. Peanuts are for elephants, not geese!

FOOTPRINTS

CELESTE: Ingredients in your tattoos?

LAURA: Wow, there are a lot! It's actually intimidating to look at the long names, but the tattoo inks are vegetable based and FDA approved for skin use (unlike Henna). Adhesive is added to make the inks stick to the skin, similar to an adhesive bandage. All ingredients are listed on the Mother Ink website "How to Apply" page.



CELESTE: What is the most outrageous tattoo you've ever designed?

LAURA: The real one on my lower back, but I'll never tell!

CELESTE: If someone asked you to design a tattoo for them, would you and how long would it take?

LAURA: I have had so many requests for custom tattoos, and even heard of someone getting a permanent Mother Ink "Peace" tattoo. I guess that's sort of stealing, but I was excited! If I were really quick at doing them, I would take custom orders, but unfortunately I'm a total slowpoke. My passion for design means I probably spend way too much time on each one. Believe it or not, I was actually going to hire out the design aspect when I first started the business. It was serendipity that I couldn't afford it!

PEACE

CELESTE: How long do the tattoos last on your skin?

LAURA: That's a tough question. It varies so much from person to person (due to activity level and skin type), but the range is anywhere from one to seven days. The best way to make them last is to cleanse the skin well before applying and not to place them where friction from clothing will be an issue.



PEACOCK

CELESTE: Laura-what inspired you to start designing tattoos?

LAURA: I got pregnant! Then I searched all over to find beautiful, hip temporary tattoos with which to decorate my growing belly, only to find the usual "clip art" varieties. I had heard about the dangers of Henna (not to mention many women can't afford this option), and decided to make them myself. Mother Ink was born!

CELESTE: Would you like to add anything else, Laura?


LAURA: Yes. As much as I love real tattoos, I think that (like most people) I'm fickle. I urge young people, as well as adults, to try temporary tattoos as a way to express themselves...temporarily. I will always be wearing a fresh, new, creative design that I love today. Will you?

LAURA'S BIO: Laura Silverthorn is a former nurse, foreign aid worker, and art school drop out. She conceptualized the Mother Ink Brand in early 2007 while pregnant with her first child and brought it to market in 2008. She currently lives in Philadelphia with her son Sean Patrick.

See all of Laura's designs at
Mother Ink now!

Natural Communities Magazine: "Bringing Positive Solutions To Life's Challenges"

Before your next trip to the grocery store, be sure to check out Dear God, Don't Eat That!, an article that lists 17 items to stay away from and why. And are you aware of the Dirty Secrets Of The Food Processing Industry?

These articles, along with a wide variety of other important topics are featured in one of my favorite resources, Natural Communities magazine.

Facts About Global Warming You Should Know

Author: Nathalie Fiset

Global warming is not a 20th century phenomenon. It has, in fact, occurred in the past more than once, along with periods of extreme cold known as the ice ages. With so much written and reported about global warming, sometimes it's difficult to detect which is fact and which is just part of scientific scare tactics. Here are some facts about global warming that might help:

What exactly is global warming?

Global warming is basically the increase in the temperatures of the Earth's atmosphere, land masses and oceans. The Earth's surface temperature is at an average of 59F and over the last hundred years, this figure has risen to about 1F. By the year 2100, the average change in the temperature of the Earth could range from 2.5F to about 10F, enough to melt glaciers and polar ice caps.

The cause of global warming

Global warming has and will always occur naturally. Why it has become such a concern in our lifetime is due to the fact that human activities and practices have contributed significantly to its occurrence and severity. With the advent of industrialization and careless environmental practices, we have caused the increase in the average global temperatures by contributing negatively to the greenhouse effect.

This began about 240 years ago, when the Industrial Revolution was born. As more and more fossil fuels in the form of oil were mined and burned, gases as the by-product of that process began to be released in the atmosphere. Currently, it is estimated that 75% of the increase in the carbon dioxide content of the Earth's atmosphere is caused by the burning of these fossil fuels.

Global warming and the greenhouse effect

Global warming is related to changes in the Earth's greenhouse effect. Gases naturally occur in the Earth's atmosphere and act both to protect and retain heat. These gases include carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and water vapor. Of these, water vapor is the most dominant and abundant greenhouse gas.

Global warming and the greenhouse effect are not the same thing. The greenhouse effect refers to a natural process that occurs in the Earth's atmosphere. If this process is disrupted, then it could contribute to global warming.

As the sun's rays hit the Earth, heat is bounced back to the atmosphere where these gases contain the heat and keep it there to warm the planet. This is an important natural process and allows life forms to flourish and survive. Problems only occur when these gases multiply and build-up, containing heat too efficiently and thus warming the Earth's atmosphere.

As the Earth's average temperature rises, effects in its landmasses and sea water level become apparent. Polar ice caps melt along with glaciers, contributing to higher and warmer sea levels. By the end of the century, it is estimated that sea levels can increase from 4 inches to a high of about 40 inches if global warming continues unabated.

Global warming can also affect the behavior of the winds and can also contribute to a harsher and drier climate, with frequent visitings of strong hurricanes. Water from heavier rainfall will not stay long to irrigate the land, however because with a warmer climate, water on the Earth's surface will evaporate quickly. This has a significant effect on agricultural practices not only in the US but also for the rest of the world.

Another phenomenon that is equated with global warming is the El Nino. The El Nino phenomenon has occurred for possibly thousands of years and is not caused directly by global warming. However, changes in the average temperature of the planet can contribute to its severity and frequency.

The other human practices that contribute to global warming

The agricultural revolution has also contributed to global warming. As more and more communities need lands converted from forests to residential and commercial areas, biomass is reduced, contributing to the increase in the presence of carbon dioxide in those regions. Since carbon dioxide is processed by plants and trees, their absence contributes to its increase.

It is estimated that about 25% of the annual increase in the carbon dioxide found in the Earth's atmosphere is caused by extreme changes and usage of the Earth's natural resources. Other practices also include deforestation, salinization, desertification and overgrazing also contribute to global warming. However, many scientists surmise and agree that the contribution is slight and indirect.

Facing the facts of global warming

Countries all over the world have just begun to acknowledge the negative effects of global warming not only to the world's politics and economy but also to humankind in general. Many of the world's governments have encouraged implementation of measures to try to counteract the problem of global warming through careful measures and practices designed to protect and respect the environment.

How these measures will fare and contribute to the long-term maintenance of our planet, though, remains to be seen.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/environment-articles/facts-about-global-warming-you-should-know-131079.html

About the Author:
For more information now go to: http://www.solutionstoearthdestruction.com
http://www.stopearthdestruction.com/index.html

I Signed The Pickens Plan Petition--Will You?

Click here to sign a petition
asking the Presidential candidates to tell us
what their plan is for energy independence.

Learn More About the Pickens Plan here:

http://www.pickensplan.com/about/

Make a Green Splash With Eco-Friendly Promotional Items From PromosMatter -FREE Organic T-Shirt Giveaway!

Enter to win a free organic t-shirt!
You pick the color and size.

To ENTER DRAWING FOR FREE ORGANIC T-SHIRT:

1) Post a comment below and

2) Email me (greenwithceleste@yahoo.com) to let me know
why you should be the winner of this eco-friendly t-shirt & to provide
your mailing address should you be selected as the winner.

This will qualify YOU to be entered into the drawing.

A Go Green With Celeste winner will be randomly selected on October 18, 2008.
The winner will be contacted by e-mail.
Open to individuals in USA (lower 48) states only. One entry per person.
*********************************************
Q&A with PromosMatter
www.promosmatter.com
www.promosmatter.com/efriendly.html

About PromosMatter:
PromosMatter is a direct marketing promotional products company, offering more than 350,000 products through a network of 3,000 plus suppliers. Kim Martin, the owner of PromosMatter, incorporated in October of 2007 after working from home and with another promotional company. In March of 2008, PromosMatter opened their retail location in Bartlett, TN.

CELESTE: Tell us how companies can go green when it comes to their promotional materials.

KIM: There is a wide variety of eco-friendly concepts in the promotional market today. Suppliers and manufacturers are providing items made from sustainable sources - examples being cups made from potatoes, beets, pens made from corn to lanyards made from bamboo. There is a movement to lower the amount of packing materials goods need to be shipped and making sure packing can be recycled. Even a resurgent in refillable/reusable goods such as pens, spray bottles, and travel packs has started to sweep the industry.
Many manufactures are going to organic materials and/or green process to create goods for the market. It’s always good to be able to show people that this process is having a smaller carbon footprint on the environment.

CELESTE: What statement is a business making to their customers when they provide eco-friendly giveaway products?

KIM: It is real simple – a company giving out eco friendly products is saying to their customer base, “We are not only interested in the bottom line but we have our eyes on the future.” Everyone knows that things are changing. Showing that you are ahead of the curve is never a bad idea.

CELESTE: How is PromosMatter, Inc., different from the rest of the companies out there who provide eco-friendly promotional items?

KIM: All promotional products companies have access to eco-friendly products. What we at PromosMatter are doing is just making so much easier. We have created an entire catalog of green, organic, and eco-friendly products on our web site www.promosmatter.com. As you will see, we gave these once second class citizens of the promotional world, a place on the front page of our web site.

In talking to our customers, we educate many of them on greener options – a recycled material, a reusable product, or just something with less packaging. Even in our showroom, we have an entire display dedicated to Eco-Friendly advertising so customers can handle the products and decide what best suits their needs. We want to help everybody get their name out to their customer base as effectively as possible and being green is one of those ways.

CELESTE: Your best selling green product is?

KIM: PromosMatter doesn’t have one best selling green product. We have seen an increase in customers requesting t-shirts made from sustainable or organic materials, which can be imprinted with eco friendly or soy based inks. We also have a large customer base for eco -friendly pens, which are made from corn products, recycled plastic, or recycled cardboard. As a whole, the industry has seen a switch from use once and toss to reusable products.

CELESTE: If you could share a secret with businesses about eco-friendly promotional products--what would you tell them that they may not already be aware of?

KIM: Something as innocent as a ceramic coffee cup is one of the most eco-friendly products there is - simply because they are reusable. Paper and styrofoam fill trash bags and landfills every day in this country. Many companies have forgotten many of the best promotional products can be washed and reused rather than thrown in the trash. This simple fact makes putting your company’s logo on a reusable product more visible to your customers and Eco Friendly when you stress the reusable concept.

I know of one company, which did away with the use of styrofoam cups and replaced them with washable coffee cups for the employees, made good business sense all the way around.

CELESTE: If a company comes to you with small budget but wants to make a big green splash---which product(s) would you recommend?

KIM: Recycled Sports Bottles that are BPA free would be my first suggestion. People carry their water bottles everywhere these days. Many states and municipalities have started to regulate the sale of bottled water making sports bottles a much more desirable promotional product. These bottles have a relatively large imprint area so a company’s name will be seen. It is also important to remember these bottles are reusable. I would like to stress when ordering it is very important to for a company to be specific and request recycled plastic that are certified BPA free. The price, set-up fees, and minimums can be low compared to other promotional items. Because they are plastic, being lighter than other products, shipping is also less costly saving money.

CELESTE: What has been the most memorable promotional product you have designed for a business?

KIM: Trying to get a tree frog with the companies name on latex balloons has been the most challenging. The frog was multi dimensional and multi colored, as tree frogs are known to be. In order to keep the cost down for the client we reworked the art so it was a single color, while maintaining the integrity of the tree frog. I must admit I learned a lot about art that day.

CELESTE: Any other eco-friendly ideas for businesses looking to make a green statement?

KIM: The old teacher adage, “Monitor & Adjust.” Look around.

Do ANY of the products currently being used in business have a recycled, green, organic, or more eco-friendly equivalent that will meet the needs of the business while providing for the environment?

Can ANY of the products you have in your business be greened up?

Other ideas:

• Add recycling bins to the hallways and break areas can be a planet saver.
• Get everybody flash drives instead of having to make copies to move files around.
• Offer an embroidered jacket with the company logo to your employees and lower the thermostat in the winter is another great idea.
  

PromosMatter through our network of suppliers has over 3,000 eco-friendly products with more being adding on a regular basis. If a business is unsure where to start, they can call one of our representatives, 901-347-0468 or e-mail info@promosmatter.com and we can help get them started.

CELESTE: Have you considered teaming up with an organic/natural cosmetic company to offer personalized items specifically for men and women? (Such as lipsticks, lip balms, lotions, etc.)

KIM: Of course, some of our health and beauty suppliers have gone green.
Organic lip balms, insect repellants, and refillable hand sanitizers are just some of the eco-friendly printable products we offer. However, our industry has not brought in a full cosmetic line, but anything is possible.

CELESTE: Kim, would you like to add anything?

KIM: We really enjoy working with people who are interested in the green movement. We love providing them with small, simple steps that can have a big positive impact on our environment. Going green is not as difficult as some seem to think. It starts with one step forward, and working with knowledgeable people. We are more than happy to help someone take that first step. We are always here to answer questions and give bright ideas.

Website – www.promosmatter.com
Eco friendly page www.promosmatter.com/efriendly.html

To ENTER DRAWING FOR FREE ORGANIC T-SHIRT:

1) Post a comment below and

2) Email me (greenwithceleste@yahoo.com) to let me know
why you should be the winner of this eco-friendly t-shirt!

This will qualify YOU to be entered into the drawing.

Free Book & Tote Giveaway Contest: REALLY GREEN by Debra Lynn Dadd

NEWSFLASH: TOTE & BOOK GIVEAWAY!

Receive a FREE tote &
and a copy of REALLY GREEN by Debra Lynn Dadd, one of my expert Go Green With Celeste contributors!

Visit her website here:
http://www.debraslist.com

DETAILS: Simply post a comment below and then Email me (greenwithceleste@yahoo.com) to let me know why you should be the winner of this free set! This will qualify YOU to be entered into the drawing.

A Go Green With Celeste winner will be randomly selected on September 10, 2008.
Open to individuals in USA (lower 48) states only. One entry per person.
All entries must be received by September 9, 2008, by 11PM CST.

Campaign For Safe Cosmetics: Take Action Today!

Do you know what the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics is?
I learned about it when I interviewed Stacy Malkan, author of Not Just A Pretty Face: The Ugly Side of the Beauty Industry. Author Interview: Stacy Malkan: Book Title: Not Just A Pretty Face: The Ugly Side of The Beauty Industry
Stacy is co-founder of the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, a national coalition of health and environmental groups working to eliminate hazardous chemicals from personal care products.

I signed the petition to congress for safe cosmetics, will you?
http://action.safecosmetics.org/petition/Index.asp?id=35

I've since been on a journey to discover if the personal care products I'm using myself are healthy or harmful to my skin and the environment. It was pretty clear after searching my products on the www.cosmeticdatabase.org website that I needed to do a little (BIG) makeover on my makeup/skincare items!

My challenging climb to a healthier skincare route came about with lots of help from Stacy Malkan, author of Just Not A Pretty Face: The Ugly Side of the Beauty Industry (www.NotJustaPrettyFace.org), Robyn Bloom, owner of Purely Cosmetics (www.purelycosmetics.com) and Coral Rose, Founder of Eco-Innovations (www.eco-textiles.com).

Check out my Q&A's with each of them and feel free to comment!

Stacy Malkan:
Author Interview: Stacy Malkan: Book Title: Not Just A Pretty Face: The Ugly Side of The Beauty Industry

Robyn Bloom
http://gogreenwithceleste.blogspot.com/2008/07/how-green-is-your-makeup-introducing.html

Coral Rose:
http://gogreenwithceleste.blogspot.com/2008/07/q-coral-rose-founder-of-eco-innovations_16.html

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Learn more about the CAMPAIGN FOR SAFE COSMETICS here:
http://www.safecosmetics.org/about/

Socially Conscious Investing And The Law Of Abundance

Author: Roslyn Randle


To know that one has a divine right to live in abundance means that one has a respect for nature's supply. Usually those who have become abundance conscious are also environmentally conscious. With respect to nature, many who have aligned themselves with universal laws strive to incorporate every aspect of their lives with abundance principles and concepts.

Consequently, as we become more conscious, we understand that money is a seed and in many ways we are responsible for where we plant our seeds. It is only wise to search for investment options that reinforce our beliefs and lifestyle.

Environmentally sound investments are more available this century than ever before. Such investments are known as Social Funds. Social Funds made its debut on Wall Street in the 1970's and has been soaring ever since. Years ago there was concern with these funds ability to be profitable. But with growing technological advancements and an ever increasing interest in the age of spiritual and environmental consciousness, socially conscious investing has proven to be not only profitable, but consciously probable.

From investing in solar panels to buying fuel efficient cars, living a green lifestyle has never been more attractive. Due to increasing popularity with becoming environmentally conscious, one is not labeled as a weird tree hugger with too much time on their hands. Instead, taking care of Mother Earth has been championed by influential celebrities, well respected politicians, and altruistic business leaders.

With the flow of wealth and consciousness beginning to take root and manifest in many, there has been a growing concern among conscious green and holistic individuals regarding the atrocities that may have been funded using their money. Individuals who once invested, through stocks and mutual funds, for example, in companies that have been responsible for damaging the earth (i.e. alcohol, tobacco) and abusing its people (cruel labor) are now conscious and aware of their prior investments. Those living a conscious, abundant, and green lifestyle are appalled that their dollars have contributed to situations that do not match their personal values.

According to The Social Investment Forum, an environmentally friendly organization made up of like minded investors, estimates that 10 percent of all investments are made with social values in mind. The forum also counts 151 socially responsible mutual funds with assets of more than $148 billion, up from $111 billion in 2001; an outstanding increase from its humble, yet highly influential beginnings.

Many who are environmentally and socially conscious gain the greatest return on their investments knowing that their money hasn't supported or had any type of horrid effect on nature, its people, and the community at large. These types of investors have seen the bigger picture and realize that the end results yield the highest return.

But still there are those individuals who don't quite yet feel comfortable trading their conventional stocks for socially conscious funds. One shouldn't beat themselves up. Start slowly. Begin to use the profits of conventional investing to further your socially conscious agenda. Use the funds to reinvest in your causes by:

1. Becoming a "Green" Angel Investor. By supporting start-up/ environmentally conscious organizations, in time nature and its people will begin to feel the positive trickle effects of these worthwhile efforts.

2. Independently invest in organizations that advocate social change. Become involved and rally around organizations which lobby and challenge congress to create "greener" laws.

3. Diversify your investment portfolio by having more Social Funds than Conventional Funds.

Spirituality and morally, if you take care of nature, nature will in turn take care of you. It is never too late to discover spiritual and universal laws that will guide you into creating the life that one desires. Trust in and align yourself with the Laws of Nature and you will soon see that living green will yield much green, spiritually and financially.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/education-articles/socially-conscious-investing-and-the-law-of-abundance-424028.html

About the Author:

Roslyn Randle is an accomplished writer. Create a life of continuous wealth and flow. Visit Abundance Training 101: The Universal Law Of Abundance. Also learn the secrets of permanent weight loss. - Keep weight off and make money while doing it. Visit How to Lose Weight While Becoming A Wellness Coach

Top Ten Nontoxic, Earth Friendly Living Suggestions

By Amy Todisco

www.greenlivingnow.com

According to the Union Of Concerned Scientists, in their book, The Consumer's Guide to Effective Environmental Choices, just three of the household activity areas-transportation, food, and household operations-account for the majority of consumer caused environmental impact. The following is a brief list of suggestions to help you create a healthier, less toxic, earth-friendly lifestyle:

1. Transportation
   Choose a fuel-efficient, low-polluting car. Trade in or sell your Sport Utility Vehicles, mini-van, or light truck (unless you need the truck for business).

   • Choose a place to live that reduces need to drive (commute to work/school)
   • Think twice before purchasing a second car
   • Whenever practical, walk, bike, take public transportation
   • Set concrete goals for reducing travel

   Did You Know: Household use of transportation, from recreational boating to cars to passenger air travel, is responsible for 28-51% of greenhouse gases and air pollution and 23% of toxic water pollution. The use of land for roads is a significant threat to wildlife.

2. Food
   

   • Avoid conventionally raised meat (beef, lamb, pork, and poultry) and prefer certified organically raised alternatives. Reduce overall meat intake.
   • If you eat fish (which can also be contaminated with toxic chemicals) prefer: haddock, wild pacific salmon, U.S. harvested shrimp, and yellowtail. If you eat tuna, limit to once/week due to high levels of toxic Mercury.
   • Choose certified organically grown foods, ideally locally grown.

   Did You Know: The Union of Concerned Scientists reported "our results show that meat production causes more environmental harm than other food production, so it is desirable to try to reduce the amount of meat you eat." Additionally, Epidemiologist T. Colin Campbell, Ph.D, one of the world's leading authorities in nutrition science, said, "In my view, no chemical carcinogen is nearly so important in causing human cancer as animal protein."

   Conventional food can be: genetically engineered, irradiated, fertilized with municipal sludge, artificially flavored, colored and preserved, injected with growth hormones and antibiotics, and contaminated with other industrial chemicals and radiation. Sound appetizing?

3. Water
   

   • Have your drinking water tested for pollutants (Watercheck National Testing Laboratories, 6151 Willson Mills Road, Cleveland, Ohio 44133).
   • Depending upon results, choose an effective, affordable tap and shower water filtration systems, like my favorite: Lakota Scientific (You can purchase them on my webstore.)
   • Install low-flow aerators on sinks and showers. Consider a composting toilet.

   Did You Know: Approximately 43% of the nation's community water systems are in violation of federal safe drinking water laws. Lead is one of the most dangerous drinking water contaminants. Bottled water is not required by law to be pure, and it may become contaminated from the plastic container it's bottled in.

4. Clothing
   Choose organically grown cotton, hemp, and untreated wool as much as possible. Environmentally friendly clothing is now offered by: Levi Strauss & Co. (Levi's Natural jeans), VF Corp (owner of Lee and Wrangler), Esprit, and Patagonia. O wear is also offered in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, and NYC. Tomorrow's World catalog also offers a good selection of organic cotton and hemp clothing (1-800-229-7571).
   

   Did You Know: One of the most heavily sprayed crops in agriculture is cotton, and yet toxic water and air pollution are created from the production of synthetic fibers from petroleum products. The production of shoes and leather goods are very damaging with regard to water pollution and land use.

5. Dry Cleaning
   

   • It's better to launder clothes than to dry clean. Many items that are labeled "dry clean only" can be washed without harm, if you know how to do it. (Check out Debra Lynn Dadd's book, The Non-toxic Home and Office, for washing instructions).
   • If you must dry clean, remove clothes from plastic bag, tie bag into a knot and safely throw away. Air clothes outside to reduce solvent fumes (ideally) or in a closed room with ventilation. This could take up to 1 week, less if the weather is dry and warm.

   Did You Know: Dry cleaning, on a per-dollar basis, is responsible for very high levels of toxic air pollution? Trichloroethylene may be outgassing from dry-cleaned clothes. Trichloroethylene is suspected of causing cancer in humans.

6. Cleaning Products
   

   • Avoid common synthetic cleaning products; many of them are toxic regardless of what the packaging indicates. Be aware that some "natural" looking product labels and packaging may be hiding nothing more than a synthetic chemical product with added herbs and essential oils.
   • Seek out truly nontoxic, earth-friendly household cleaning products, like Ecover, or make your own. (You can purchase them on my webstore) Consult Annie Berthold Bond's book, Clean and Green, and Debra Lynn Dadd's, The Non-Toxic Home and Office, for recipes.

   Did You Know: Cleaning products rank high on a per-dollar basis in terms of air and water pollution impacts. Their use also creates unhealthy indoor air in homes, offices, schools, etc. which can cause illness. Thanks to "trade secret laws", manufacturers of cleaning products are not required by law to disclose all of their ingredients. Many of the undisclosed "inerts" are toxic, and they can make up to 99% of the product.

7. Pesticides And Fertilizers- Indoor
   

   • Eliminate use of toxic home pesticides, including pet flea and tick products, fly strips, and synthetic fertilizers.
   • For ants, try a 50-50 mix of borax powder and sugar. Line cabinets, cracks, and crevices where ants have been noticed. (Keep out of reach of children and pets).
   • Try flea prevention. Comb pets regularly with good metal flea comb, comb daily if they have fleas. Bathe pets with Vermont Soap Company or Dr. Bronner's organic castile soaps. Vacuum at least once per week. Call Flea Buster's (non-toxic service) at 1-800-765-FLEA for local referral.
   • Fertilize indoor plants (and lawns and gardens) with liquid seaweed or fish emulsion (Neptune's Harvest) & compost (for lawns and gardens).

8. Pesticides & Fertilizers -Outdoor

   • First, change mindset about "perfect" lawn. Learn to tolerate some "weeds", different color grasses, and uneven spots.
   • Limit amount of grass and instead use other ground cover like ivy. Plant more native shrubs and trees.
   • Cut grass high (3"), lime, aerate the lawn, and rake vigorously in spring.

   Did You Know: One study found a rate of childhood leukemia 4-7 times greater in children whose parents used store-bought home and garden pesticides. Pesticides, whether used properly or improperly, are designed to kill living organisms. Of the 34 most commonly used lawn chemicals, 11 are known carcinogens, 20 poison the nervous system, 9 cause birth defects, and 30 create skin irritation.

9. Energy Use

   • Insulate. Replace old windows and doors with newer energy efficient (triple glazed) options.
   • Try to increase the amount and use of sunlight in your home through building on a passive solar sunroom & installing solartubes (energy efficient skylight).
   • Consider purchasing photovoltaic panels to generate clean electricity and a solar electric hot water heater (save $150-350/year depending on local climate).
   • Lower thermostat to 68 degrees (or lower) during the day and 64 degrees (or lower) at night
   .
   • Use wood or wood pellets to generate electricity in modern energy efficient pellet or wood stove.
   • When appropriate, replace old appliances with newer energy efficient ones, like solar hot water heaters, and incandescent lights with compact fluorescent full spectrum lights.
   • Choose an energy supplier who supports renewable energy generation. For renewable energy products, call: Real Goods at 1-800-762-7325.

   Did You Know: Burning fossil fuels for heating, hot water and air conditioning creates 31% of consumer-caused greenhouse gases, and 24% of common air pollution.

10. Home Furnishings

    • Choose unfinished solid wood cabinets, furniture, and hard wood floors. Antique wood furniture is also a good choice.
    • Use non-toxic wood primers, stains, etc. (The Natural Choice at 1-800-621-2591, and A.F.M. at 1-800-239-0321, and ICI's Performance 2000)
    • Look for organic or untreated cotton, silk, linen or hemp fabrics for upholstery, curtains, sheets, towels, etc. (Winter Silks, 1-800-648-7455).
    • Organic cotton and solid wood beds, and organic cotton and hemp clothing are currently available (Tomorrow's World, 1-800-229-7571).
    • Untreated, nontoxic, all natural carpeting is available from: Earth Weave Carpet Mills, Inc. 706-695-8800, www.earthweave.com)

    Did You Know: Formaldehyde is used extensively in commercial furniture; medium density fiberboard emits the highest level of formaldehyde. Formaldehyde causes cancer and nervous system damage. Many brands of carpets are treated with poisonous moth repellents, mold retardants, and pesticides. Toluene, xylene, and styrene are nerve toxins found in carpeting. They all outgas into our indoor air environment. Commercial paint contains nerve toxins and cancer-causing chemicals including formaldehyde, methylene chloride, xylene, and toluene, and others.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Amy Todisco is the President and Owner of greenlivingnow.com organic and natural product webstore. She was the founder and executive director of the nonprofit, the Consumer's Healthy Home Center (CHHC). CHHC was created to hire independent toxicologists to test a variety of household products for their potential inhalation health effects, and then recommend the safest products to consumers. Amy closed down CHHC to create the greenlivingnow.com webstore. She felt that she could inspire and positively impact more people through the webstore.

Amy is also a professional life coach (Catalyst 4 Change Life Coaching) and is creating a group teleclass on several topics of green living, beginning with organic food on a budget. She's also created three green living ebooks that are going on sale by 8/1.

Contact Amy here: amy@greenlivingnow.com

www.greenlivingnow.com