A recycled plastic sea dragon decorates the floor at the Opportunity Green Conference 2010!
I love how it goes into the ground like you'd expect Loch Ness to do.
Can you believe an elementary school class made this with their teacher?
A side view of the head. They captured it really well!
An eco-friendly pen that is almost entirely recyclable/compostable!
The pen, the case, even the ink - biodegradable.
98% biodegradable! That means it's non-toxic and I can just throw it in my compost. Sweet.
The DBA pens come in a cool, space-saving design.
I like to do what I can to be environmentally-friendly and lessen my impact on the planet. Unfortunately, I have found that much of this behavior is considered unusual and people often seem to judge me because of it. Not for being environmental, but for other reasons. Take plastic bags, for example. When I go to a grocery store, I have to very loudly and assertively ask to not have my food bagged (except in Whole Foods). Otherwise, a bagger will come over and immediately start dumping my food into more bags than is necessary, sometimes even double bagging. Each one used makes me cringe. Where will that end up? Will some poor bird try to eat it one day? It’s hard to say.
When I make that request, I often get looks and people ask me if I’m sure. Of course I’m sure! Gosh, why do you think you’re selling reusable cloth bags but to reduce use of these stupid plastic ones? It’s slightly annoying that they are so incredulous that I may actually want to inconvenience myself a bit with carrying the items separately than to stuff it into a bag. I guess I should start bringing my bag just so they won’t wonder why I chose to carry those five items in my arms. Not that that is such a difficult task anyway, but it seems people don’t understand why you wouldn’t even bag one item nowadays. It’s a mentality that needs to be broken before our disposable habits trash the world even worse than it already has.
Then there is my habit of bringing my own set of utensils to use. The first thing people think is that I do so because of hygiene issues. But no, my handy dandy To-Go Ware is purely for a conservation purpose. The less disposable utensils I use, the better, since fewer will be thrown out later. Having a bamboo set solves all my problems. I have my very own fork, knife, spoon, and chopsticks for any food I might encounter. I also intend on getting my own reusable straws to bring around. Until then, I refuse to use straws. They are, after all, completely useless except for sucking up boba. Sometimes I get looks then, but really, can your glass be much dirtier than the plate you eat on? Please. Don’t think it’s unhygienic to drink directly from a cup when you eat directly off a plate.
And finally, another consistent thing I do is not use paper towels. What’s wrong with air drying? I also bring around a little People Towel in my purse most of the time, which is great for wiping your hands. Although having wet/damp hands after each wash is a bit of an inconvenience, people seem to find it a bit gross. Perhaps because you never know if that’s water or something else… but that isn’t an issue that people should be worried about, unless you’re dealing with a young child. Yet nonetheless, I am on the receiving end of looks all the time, for these little habits I have that aren’t the norm. Alas, it ain’t easy living a green life!
One of the newest trends in eco-friendly products are these fun cards made from recycled paper pressed with seeds. I’d assume they’re printed with vegetable-based inks. So you get it, read it, enjoy it, then plant it! Cool, huh? There are a variety of wildflower seeds embedded into the sheets, so you never know what you’ll get. It’s a nice way of disposing of paper products, letting them biodegrade as they give life to plants.
My favorite gas station is the BP Helios House on Robertson & Olympic in Beverly Hills. Why? Because it’s futuristic and as eco-friendly as a gas station could really be. A bit of a conundrum, I guess, but it fascinates me with its energy-efficient lighting and environmental tips. One of the things they have is a panel of postcards, each with a tip for greening your life. When I was there not long after its opening, I grabbed a few of these. Years later, I am finally putting them to use.
This image inspired me to try skipping the soil and see how it comes to life.
I’ve begun the planting process for one of the cards, so I thought I’d do some research on how to take care of them and get them to grow. As I was doing that, I came across these pictures that got me excited for when the seeds blossom! I’m also going to try soaking a sheet just in water until it sprouts. Hope that works… good thing I have eight sheets to play around with.
A forest of sprouts! (Photograph used by permission from Botanical PaperWorks Inc. http://www.botanicalpaperworks.com)
The hard thing is that my office is so shaded from sunlight that I can’t keep them indoors, yet it’s been very windy outside and there aren’t really any places to put it. I tried keeping it out by the plants today, but the wind kept drying it out. I brought it inside at the end of day and hopefully tomorrow will be a milder day. Unfortunately, rain is in the forecast this week, so we’ll see how that pans out. I’ll post a photo blog on it in a few weeks to show the progress!
How often do you replace your toothbrushes? If you listen to your dentist, you probably do every three months or so, which means you go through three or four a year. At that rate, Americans would be producing far more than the 50 million pounds of waste per year we already do from throwing those little guys away. Since toothbrushes are inherently in need of replacing periodically, how do you avoid the waste issue?
Well, why not try Recycline’s Preserve toothbrush?
First of all, their handles are entirely made from recycled yogurt cups saved from ending up in landfills. It’s free of BPA and the bristles are brand new, so you can rest assured it is safe to put in your mouth. They consulted dentists to come up with the curved handle to help you reach those tricky places at just the right angles. The tiered bristles are designed to fit around your teeth and gently massage your gums. You have a choice of Ultra Soft, Soft, and Medium stiffness for the bristles, depending on your sensitivity. Preserve toothbrushes also come in delicious colors such as Berry Red, Eggplant, and Pear Green.
Besides that, they come in a reusable travel case, complete with ventilation holes! The case is made from wood-based plastic from renewable forests so you can feel good about using them too. Once your toothbrush has reached the end of its effectiveness, you can send it back to Recycline in a postage-paid envelope. Their partner company will recycle it for you and make plastic lumber for park benches, picnic tables, and boardwalks. Rest assured that your environmental impact is minimized and every effort is made to keep plastic out of landfills! If you like, you can even purchase a subscription to their toothbrushes and get a new one sent to you every three months, along with an envelope to send back your used one.
So, the next time you’re looking for a replacement toothbrush, think Preserve. You’ll responsibly minimize your environmental impact associated with dental hygiene and even enjoy a better clean! It’s truly “Nothing wasted. Everything gained.™” What’s not to love?
[written for OppGreen Insights]
A few nights ago, I went to a screening of HOME, a film by Yann Arthus-Bertrand. It’s a film that brings to light many environmental issues surrounding the planet. It has such spectacular graphics that sometimes it doesn’t feel real. Plus, you’re seeing things from a bird’s eye view (or, more accurately, a hot air balloon’s eye view), which is rather unique in itself. Such images are striking possibly purely because of the difference in perspective you get. Whatever the case, the beauty of the film is undeniable and the message it spreads is powerful. In fact, you should go see it yourself – it’s free to the world!
The bit that struck me the most was when it said that Dubai has just about as much sunlight as you can ever hope for, yet not a single solar panel. It’s not really something that I had thought of before, but it’s ironic, isn’t it? The great thing about films like these is that they not only inform you and teach you, they make you think. They don’t always have the answers for you, but they bring about certain issues that are important to consider. Just by starting conversations and getting people aware of things they should consider, they’re making a vital contribution towards the betterment of this world. In addition to learning that tidbit, the film also showed me an area (I believe it was in Germany) that has solar panels covering the rooftops. If a place like that with less sunlight can take advantage of the energy provided by the sun, why aren’t the countries closer to the equator and with far stronger sunshine following suit?
It’s truly a fantastic film that should be shared with the world. By making it free, what better way to spread it far and wide? That is his goal, and he has been traveling all over the planet to promote the film, answer questions at screenings, and generate the sort of momentum we must gather to turn the environmental movement into something that will truly change the world. We are changing for the better, but not fast enough. It’s not too late to right some of the many wrongs that have happened, but all too soon it could be. Hence, it’s important that we take action now, in a way that we haven’t been. Copenhagen was disappointing in the lack of unity between countries and that NEEDS to change. We’re the first and only species that has ever done so much harm to the very environment we live in. Are we set on self-destruction?!
I hope not. Which is why I appreciate efforts like these to get people to take charge of the future and make this world better, not worse. And for those who laugh and make fun of the environmentalists out there… well, you can be the ones to blame when our progeny no longer have a safe planet to live on. That’s just a lose-lose situation for us all. It’d be pitiful for a “great” population such as ours to contribute to our own undoing. So much for being superior. Ultimately, the film ended by saying that “it’s too late not to be optimistic” and I think that’s true. If we give up hope, all is lost and we destroy so much beauty and wonder. So, we have no choice but to put our hearts and souls into saving the future of the planet and believe that we can. I certainly believe we can. Now, will we?
The past week has been really hard on me, as the pressure to get a job grew and my parents and I had a tiff over my sleeping pattern and job search, among other things. So, it was an absolute blessing that Opportunity Green was holding a retreat over the weekend. One of the Board Members owns Casa Barranca, a fabulous estate out in Ojai. People who had contributed to the Opportunity Green Conference back in November were invited to either stay the weekend or swing by on Saturday or Sunday to hang out. Tucked in the hills of Ventura County, in a gorgeously maintained house from the early 1900s, I got to spend my weekend relaxing, enjoying nature, and chatting with some really amazing people.
Delicious potluck to start off the weekend.
That yoga studio was to die for!
A cute little shop in the middle of town!
Can you believe it was only her first time teaching? She did a fantastic job and should totally be a yogi.
We came across some great vantage points and learned to be grateful for every bit of shade we got.
And for more pictures of the weekend… I’m quite proud that some came out looking nearly like a DSLR took them, or so I think!
I went to have some fun on the springy surface.
They tried to get a shot of me in the air, but the timing just wasn’t right. I had a blast anyway!
Artistic pieces sit by the doors that open out to the view over the hillside.
The view that we saw as we did yoga in the studio.
The statue that sits to the left of the yoga studio entrance.
The fire pit situated right outside the yoga studio doors.
I wonder if the tree was shot at or got infected with bugs?
This pathway led up to one end of the house, where the kitchen is located.
Looking the other way down the path, you see more fruits that you could possibly eat!
Hidden amongst the green, orange, and yellow is this little gem, just barely clinging on.
These plants grew in a patch just outside the kitchen.
I love the colors of the Bird of Paradise.
It kind of looks like those 8-prong head massagers.
Take a look at that freshness!
There’s something really fun about the dimpled texture of citrus fruits.
What a beautiful shade of purple! Absolutely gorgeous.
Jack, one of the dogs with us for the weekend.
Jazzy, the other dog hanging out with us.
One of the bungalows/teahouses scattered around the property.
Inside each were two single beds, a little desk, a fan, and heater.
A hammock was put at the edge of the hill, with a great view of the land below.
It was a hazy day and the sun began to sink slowly.
It soon became a brilliantly beautiful sunset. I love the details of the rocks in the distance.
It was so cozy, warm, and welcoming.
Everyone squeezed in to the bar for their share of the wine being sampled.
Many of these were tasted that night, as Casa Barranca generously shared their products.
Check out these awesome coasters recycling paper into a great new use! I think I remember reading they were from Vietman or Thailand or something.
Along the trail path were these funky leaves, complete with curling tendrils.
The kind of fence you used to hand make with an axe and nails.
Now that house is situated in a place with views in nearly every angle!
A random sculpture tucked away along the trail.
Such a pretty little puppy!
I was trying to capture how there was a perfect little paw print on her leggings, but the angle isn’t quite right.
So many layers of hills!
We seriously expected some sheep to be grazing here. I thought we were continuing over this hill, but thankfully we cut down the mountain before then.
You can see part of downtown Ojai now.
Now that’s an imposing wall to have for your driveway.
Back inside and we are made some fresh guacamole! I learned that putting bananas and avocados together makes them ripen faster.
There’s nothing quite like freshly-made, is there?
There was this cool rooftop patio complete with lounge chairs for resting in!
The view of part of the backyard from the rooftop.
You can sleep here and feel like you’re outdoors without the bugs!
Lines of vines of wine grapes! That’s just too fun to say.
Jealous much? 😉
Some of the cool things that were at the 2009 Opportunity Green Conference! (Images linked to the website of the maker, if known.)
Made from 100% certified organic cotton by Topo Ranch. They're so soft!
AdVinylize saves billboards from the dumps by making useful bags out of them! Plus you can get straps made of seat belts, which is oh so comfortable.
KOR "hydration vessel" made from BPA-free plastic and designed to make drinking water a better experience.
Organic cookies in a very zen display.
So peaceful.
A very green type of centerpiece.
The MINI E electric car, ready for its test drives!
A cornboard chair... you really can do anything with corn!
Beautiful wooden bench and playful tree stumps.
Eastman is the company that produces the type of plastic that KOR and Y Water are made of.
With Greenbox, when you get a pizza you can take the lid, split it into four plates, then take the bottom and fold it in half to create a smaller box to store leftovers! Just follow the dotted lines.
Veeery comfortable, ergonomically-designed office chairs.
I’m frustrated.
This bad economy has made it very difficult for me to find a job and I’m starting to get impatient. Here I am, at 5 (well, now nearly 8 that I’m posting this…) in the morning, still not sleeping because I’m so angst-filled I can’t. I can only stare at job listings for so many hours a day, day in and day out, before it all becomes a blur and what I want becomes too similar to what’s out there. Let’s not even get into the pain of sorting through the legitimate stuff and the sketchy postings. My parents keep telling me to just get a job first and then worry about getting one I actually want. However, I just can’t do that. I can loosen my desired fields and responsibilities, but I am not going apply for every single job I am close to qualified for. I’d just end up doing something I won’t care about to want to get up in the morning. Plus, no matter how temporary, it’d be a job I’d have to stick with for a couple of months at the least.
I have this terrible fear that if I get started in a position that is too whatever-focused, I’m going to end up doing that for far too long for me to be happy. Not that I need to be happy all the time, of course. Right now the thought of the whole job hunt makes me cringe, but I do it because I need to support myself. I’d love a job that’s a little bit of this and that, touching on many of my interests. I don’t want to get restricted to just one area. Am I being too short-sighted? I’d love to get into some of the areas I’ve worked in, but I also don’t want to drown in them. Also, it’d be great to work for a non-profit, but I will need to learn how a for-profit works. Everything I do now I’d hope would be useful for me in the future as an entrepreneur. And sure, all of the above would be great for that, but what I really want is something in the green space and/or at UCLA. (That’s not all that I’m applying for, of course.)
I don’t really know why I am so stubborn, however I have applied for plenty of jobs that may not fit the bill of what I want perfectly, but would be something I care about enough to work hard at and have enough experience in to make a real contribution. Unfortunately, I’m not exactly hearing back yet. I have experience in a lot of areas, but not extensive in any particular area. I wonder if that’s hurting me. It’s also extremely difficult to figure what exactly is an entry-level job! The job I really wanted I lost out to someone who’s been working for 3-5 years, I believe. With all these people who have anywhere from 1 to 5 years edge on me, how do I leverage myself? The competition these days is harsh and I am always up against people with more/better experience.
On the bright side, I’m going to speak with the boss at my internship next week to go over what I want to learn while I’m there and what I want to do in terms of work. Perhaps she’ll have some useful suggestions in mind. I just wish she could have leads too. I had an evaluation with my manager before she left last week and she gave me great feedback. I also hear a lot of good words from the boss. All of that’s great, but I need it to work for me in terms of landing a full-time position somewhere. I can only work for free for so long. In fact, it’s already been too long and I am itching to have benefits so I can finally get my teeth checked, buy new contacts, and perhaps even get a physical. I also can’t wait to not have to ask my parents to help me out. I’m ready to be fully self-sufficient!
But of course, all this comes at the price of finding a job I can enjoy (at least most of the time), be qualified for, and contribute to in a meaningful way. It’s not fair to a company to pretend I love the position to land the job only to leave them as soon as I can get another one I truly want. I just worry that there are too many positions I’ve dismissed because I couldn’t imagine myself doing those tasks for 40 hours a week. Maybe it wouldn’t be as bad I imagine to focus on something that is not my strongest interest. Guess we’ll see as I continue this (seemingly) endless struggle.
I just came back from watching a screening of No Impact Man tonight, which left me with a thought: it is important to have a sense of community. One of the last things talked about was what Mr. NIM would recommend for people if they were to do just one thing to change their lives to be more environmentally-friendly. His advice? Volunteer for an environmental group because with that comes the community connection.
Typical Chinese meal: lots of dishes shared between everyone.
I find that to be a really good point – we’re not on this planet alone and we shouldn’t live and act like it (though oftentimes we do, especially in the American culture). Much of the poor behavior that we’ve learned is because of this mentality. Everyone wants a house to themselves, a car or two for their family, and their own share of everything. The concept of sharing even extends to how our meals are eaten, with individual portions given out rather than some of everything that is shared amongst a group. When we’re all too busy thinking about me, me, me, we do a lot of things that benefit us, but harm those around us, humans, animals/plants, and environment. Plus, having that sense of community bond keeps us grounded and centered so we don’t lose sight of ourselves and fall into the throes of negative behavior (assuming your “community” is not a gang or drug cartel).
This point seemed particularly relevant for a poster I saw on the walk back. It was advertising a young man who was struck by leukemia and was in the Intensive Care Unit at our local hospital. He desperately needs a bone marrow match and as the poster said, he needs your help. I thought of how when we as a population share our resources (which sometimes means donating blood or cells or the like), we are so much better off as a whole. There are so many lives that could be saved if the healthy people in the world were willing to share some of that health with those less fortunate.
Typical American meal: individual portions of each dish.
I actually just made a friend with a young lady in a similar situation (she just doesn’t need to be in an ICU). In her last video update, she said something that I feel is something more people should think about: if the person who got leukemia was your mother, father, sister, brother, cousin, aunt, uncle, etc., then how would you react? Would you still be so reluctant to donate cells that your body easily reproduces to save a life? We’re not even talking about organs that can’t be replaced or something that drastic. Sometime it’s blood, bone marrow, or plasma, but it’s all things that you can make more of in the coming days, weeks, and months.
I really think that this wouldn’t be so much an issue if we were more connected to our communities and had a better sense of those around us. Honestly, how could you continue to not offer what you can if you cared for the people around you? Once people start realizing that they won’t need to undergo the scary spinal tap procedure they thought was what you need to donate bone marrow, I think they have no excuses. It’s either just like giving blood or you’ll be under anesthesia anyway. In this case, sharing is caring!
Similarly for the environment, if we just cared more about others, we’d be able to move away from the individual cars per household mentality to the public transportation mentality. One reason people tout buying local so much is because it supports others’ businesses and prevents you from getting outrageous out-of-season foods that are harder to find during certain times of year. (Local produce may not actually be better for the environment though, but that’s an issue for another day.) Other ways to be environmental and help your “neighbors” (including those in other cities, countries, and continents) is to reuse things rather than creating more trash that will end up in somebody’s backyard. Too many people are living in dumps and all because of our irresponsible consumerism.
So moral of the story? Care more about your neighbors, local and global. It’ll make things so much better for everyone.
