sustainable casa

Fragrance -- "Not So Sexy"

2010-05-14T14:03:00.000-07:00

The Campaign For Safe Cosmetics recently released its report entitled "Not So Sexy/The Health Risks Of Secret Chemicals In Fragrance." You can read the report by clicking here.

Cadmium in Children's Jewelry

2010-04-14T17:38:00.000-07:00

I've been digging into Cadmium and whether it's found in products intended for use by children. I'm particularly interested in children's products because kids are more vulnerable to chemical toxicities than are adults.

Anyway, Cadmium has reportedly been found in cheap jewelry sold by retailers like Claire's, Wal-Mart, and Target. Here's a link to a CBS story re Claire's, Wal-Mart, and Cadmium jewelry. Here's a link to TheSmartMama.com's investigation re Target.

Rather than characterizing what I've found about the nasty characteristics of Cadmium, here are a few links: Scorecard's summary; National Toxicology Program substance profile; International Agency for Research on Cancer.

And, by the way, human exposure can be via the dermal route. See e.g., Godt, et al., “The toxicity of cadmium and resulting hazards for human health”,Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology 2006, 1:22.

Rule on Lead Safety

2010-04-09T10:37:00.000-07:00

The New York Times reported yesterday that the EPA is now on track to implement a regulation requiring the construction industry to help prevent lead poisoning in children. Congress reportedly passed the legislation in 1992, but it took a lawsuit by environmental and public interest groups to pressure EPA to issue the rule. Click here to read the article.

FDA Crackdown on Food Labels

2010-03-23T12:45:00.000-07:00

A couple of weeks ago, ABC News published the above-entitled story. FDA Commissioner Dr. Margaret Hamburg sent letters to 17 food manufacturers concerning their deceptive food labeling. Widely recognized manufacturers such as Dreyers Grand Ice Cream, Inc., Beech-nut, and Nestle were among recipients of Dr. Hambur's letters. Click here to read the story. Click here to see the list of companies and products.

Cell Phone Radiation

2010-02-18T20:00:00.000-08:00

The Environmental Working Group (EWG) has published an article related to cell phone radiation, so you can read it by clicking here.

New Jersey Court Rules That Lawsuit Related To Baby Personal Care Products May Proceed

2010-02-03T10:59:00.000-08:00

A federal judge in New Jersey recently upheld some consumer claims related to commonly recognized personal care products that are intended for use on infants -- namely, Johnson's Baby Shampoo and Target's Equate Tearless Baby Wash. One or both products allegedly contain methylene chloride, a substance banned by the FDA. Click here for information about methylene chloride. Click here to read the story published by Law.com.

Safe Cosmetics Ingredients -- iPhone App

2010-01-13T17:17:00.000-08:00

Today I received daily highlights from Cosmeticsdesign.com and learned that a new iPhone application is available for users who care to monitor the ingredients comprising the personal care products they purchase. The developer claims that the app is touted as having a searchable database of 5000 ingredients. This is the link to Cosmetifique for iPhon and iPod Touch.

Organic Or Not? Silk report

2009-12-26T15:48:00.000-08:00

So, as a proponent of transparency on consumer product packaging, I found an article published by the Cornucopia Institute this month interesting. The Institute reported that an investigation by the USDA's National Organic Program determined that Target corporation wrongly used an image of an organic product when promoting a conventional non-organic product to consumers. Click here to read Cornucopia's article. Minnesota Public Radio also published an article on this subject, here.

Doubt Is Their Product, Particularly those Targeted Toward Children

2009-03-21T18:11:00.000-07:00

Consistent, or approximately so, with Michaels' "Doubt is Their Product," what does a company do when hurried to create doubt about safety of a baby/infant personal care product? When faced with a public interest report about 1,4-dioxane in baby personal care products (click here) a company might ask people in China (click here) to say that ingredient isn't in whatever was manufactured there.

Canada Bans/Restricts Additional Personal Care Product Ingredients

2009-03-11T12:17:00.000-07:00

Canada recently banned or restricted the use of 4 ingredients in cosmetics. Anyone interested can read the article by clicking here. Or, check the following against the labels on your own personal care products: 2-MEA (2-methoxyethanol acetate); DEGME - 2-(2-methoxyethoxy) ethanol; 2-methoxypropanol (reportedly not added, but may be an impurity); and Pigment Red 3.

Penguin House

2009-03-06T16:28:00.000-08:00

I think this video is interesting about using light to make a small space seem larger. Click here.

Wyeth v Levine -- A great victory for a severely injured woman

2009-03-06T14:56:00.000-08:00

On March 4, 2009, the United States Supreme Court issued its opinion in a case involving a woman who was severely injured by an antinausea drug called Phenergan, manufactured by Wyeth. After a clinician injected Ms. Levine with the drug by the IV push method, she developed gangrene and doctors amputated her forearm. The Vermont jury determined that Ms. Levine's injury would not have occurred if Phenergan's label included an adequate warning. Anyone who's interested in reading the opinion can click here, or simply be happy that the Supreme Court rejected Wyeth's argument that Ms. Levine could not recover from them for her injuries because federal law precluded her recovery under state law. The score was 6 to 3.

High Fructose Corn Syrup & Mercury

2009-02-25T14:01:00.000-08:00

On January 26, 2009, Environmental Health published an article titled "Mercury from chlor-alkali plants: measured concentrations in food product sugar." The authors discuss an investigation by an Environmental Health Officer at the Food and Drug Administration after the EPA reported that on average approximately seven tons of mercury were missing from each of eight mercury cell chlor-alkali plants in operation in the United States. The results are shocking. Click here to read the article.

CFL Lightbulbs, Mercury, & What To Do If The Bulbs Break

2008-06-25T14:00:00.000-07:00

A friend forwarded this link to a video recording Representative Ted Poe (Texas) speaking to the U.S. House in May 2008. One point of interest is the steps to be taken in the event that consumers break one of these lightbulbs. Click here to read EPA's instructions.

Attack On Phthalates Study

2008-06-23T17:53:00.000-07:00

For anyone following the Phthalates health issues, it appears that an organization calling itself Center for Individual Freedom (CFIR) is waging an uncertainty campaign related to a February 2008 study published in the journal Pediatrics. The uncertainty campaign is discussed in an excellent book, "Doubt Is Their Product; How Industry's Assault on Science Threatens Your Health." Another organization called SourceWatch exposes CFIR's beginnings and connections to possible tobacco funding. You can read the SourceWatch profile of CFIR by clicking here.

Phthalates

2008-02-04T16:03:00.000-08:00

There has been renewed news coverage about phthalates in baby personal care products. Click here to read one carried by AP. You can read the underlying study titled "Baby Care Products: Possible Sources of Infant Phthalate Exposure" by clicking here.

The Chemicals Within

2008-01-31T13:59:00.000-08:00

Anne Underwood authored an article appearing in Newsweek's February 4, 2008 edition titled "The Chemicals Within." Underwood highlights three potentially hazardous classes of compounds found in common household products like shampoo, tin cans, shower curtains and upholstery. You can read the article by clicking here. One source for the article is a November 2007 report (titled "Is It In Us?") documenting the results of a national biomonitoring project that tested 35 diverse people from seven states for contamination with three types of toxic industrial chemicals -- Bisphenol-A, Pthalates, and Polybrominated diphenyl ethers. The report is another interesting, ablbeit alarming, read. You can obtain the report in pdf form by clicking here.

Chemicals Considered For Possible Listing Under California Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act

2008-01-29T13:42:00.000-08:00

The Act (Proposition 65) requires California's governor to publish and update a list of chemicals known to the State to cause cancer or reproductive toxicity. Two chemicals are recently being considered for addition to the list: Dibromoacetic acid and Methylimidazole. You can read the announcement by the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment by clicking here. With respect to Dibromoacetic acid, I found a report identifying the 3 most polluted communities in California. You can read the California State Contaminant Report published by EWG/National Tap Water Quality Database by clicking here.

House Members to Watch on Global Warming

2008-01-29T09:37:00.000-08:00

The Environmental Defense Action Fund recently published information about 10 of the most influential movers and shakers in the House and their involvement in global warming legislation. You can read ED's here.

Ask EWG: What is a Fragrance

2007-12-12T14:03:00.001-08:00

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.

$2 Million of Potentially Harmful Cosmetic Eye Product Seized by FDA

2007-12-12T10:55:00.000-08:00

In mid-November the FDA issued a press release announcing the agency's seizure of Age Intervention Eyelash, which is sold and distributed by Jan Marini Skin Research, Inc. The FDA stated that it considered the product a misbranded drug for which a prior showing of safety and efficacy must be shown to- and approval obtained by- the FDA BEFORE marketing. The FDA also considered the product to be an adulterated cosmetic, as it contains a nasty thing called "bimatoprost."

These guys apparently didn't do what they were supposed to, instead calling the product a "cosmetic" for which prior FDA approval before marketing is not required; however, the company was still charged with adequately substantiating for safety before selling the product as a cosmetic.

Energy -- Presidential Candidates' Comments

2007-12-04T17:43:00.000-08:00

I put a playlist together that's comprised of video clips from comments made by some of the Presidential candidates.

Lead In Lipstick

2007-12-04T14:04:00.000-08:00

I just thought I'd pass on to anyone who's interested in Senator John Kerry's press release announcing that he and Senators Boxer and Feinstein have called on the FDA to do something about reported lead in certain lipsticks. I personally think that private solutions (e.g., litigation) should accompany political efforts to safeguard cosmetic/body care product consumers.

Power House: Experiments in Future Technics

2007-12-04T10:41:00.000-08:00

I stumbled on this educational toy for kids. "Power House: Experiments in Future Technics provides an engaging introduction to regenerative energy sources while learning basic concepts and principles in physical science. The kit focuses on the heat and light energy from the sun, the energy from the wind, as well as with electrochemical and plant energy. You will learn how to transform and use these forms of energy. Includes an electric car kit!With this Power House kit you can build a model house complete with solar panels, windmill, greenhouse, and desalination system. You can build and operate an electric train, windmill, solar cooker, solar hot water tank, hygrometer, electric motor, power hoist, sail car, and more! Plant watercress, prepare sauerkraut, and make chewing gum. Learn how plants convert sunlight into energy for your body and your engines."

Video List Re Cosmetics & Body Care Products

2007-12-02T12:36:00.000-08:00

Here's a link to a working playlist of videos that I found in You Tube concerning views about safety, or lack thereof, of cosmetic and body care products.

The Richard Heinberg Interview Part - 2

2007-12-02T11:23:00.001-08:00

This is part 2 of the interview.

The Richard Heinberg Interview Part - 1

2007-12-02T11:22:00.001-08:00

This is part 1 of the Heinberg interview explaining peak oil and why it's important.

What Would Jesus Buy?

2007-11-30T17:15:00.000-08:00

My friend Javier sent me a link to the trailer for this documentary. I'm sure the film touches on sustainability in many ways. Toys, possibly made from phthalates, in a country having social equity gripes (China). The film is also supposed to be funny. I think I'll see it.

Climate Change Legislation

2007-11-29T17:06:00.000-08:00

The U.S. Senate is working on a bill, co-sponsored by Senators Lieberman and Warner, that would require cuts in U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. Opponents, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, cite huge numbers without explanation. According to the Chamber of Commerce stated "If this bill becomes law, 3.4 million Americans will lose their jobs. American GDP will decline by $1 trillion. And American consumers will be forced to pay as much as $6 trillion to cope with carbon constraints." Here's a link to the depth the Chamber has sunk to.

Tyson Foods -- Antibiotic Chicken?

2007-11-20T08:17:00.000-08:00

Nope. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has withdrawn its approval for Tyson's "raised without antibiotics" label. The Company apparently feeds the birds animal medication called ionophores. Read more....here.

Eichler Homes Bring The Outdoors In

2007-11-16T15:08:00.000-08:00

The San Jose Mercury News carried this article on 11/15/07.

New Link To European Commission Safety News

2007-11-16T14:52:00.000-08:00

I've added a link to the safety news page of Europa's web site. In paging through the site, I think it's interesting to note that the perspectives of the Europeans and Americans concerning consumer safety are quite different. The EU apparently assesses the inherent toxicity of a substance and based on an accumulation of evidence determine that its potential to cause harm is enough to remove it from the market. In contrast, American regulatory authorities seem to wait for conclusive scientific evidence of toxic exposure before acting.

Ingredients in Yoga and Other Workout Clothes

2007-11-14T07:29:00.000-08:00

The New York Times reports that it commissioned laboratory tests of a VitaSea shirt, one of the Lululemon Athletica lines, to determine whether claims by the company that the fabric purportedly containing seaweed "releases marine amino acids, minerals and vitamins into the skin upon contact with moisture." Results? According to the Times, "there was no significant difference in mineral levels between the VitaSea fabric and cotton T-shirts. In other words, the labs found no evidence of seaweed in the Lululemon clothing." Lululemon founder and Chairman Dennis Wilson reportedly could not dispute the Times' findings.

This kind of behavior by a company, particularly a publicly-held company, is no different than lying in financial statements. The need for transparency is equally applicable, whether in a product's characteristics or in the financial statements submitted to the SEC.

Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture Thinks Consumers Are Stupid

2007-11-11T08:10:00.000-08:00

This morning's New York Times reports that the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture has as of January 1, 2008 banned labeling on dairy products that informs consumers of the absence of artificial bovine growth hormones. The Pennsylvania agriculture secretary reportedly said that such absence labeling confuses consumers because it implies "there is a safe, nonsafe dimension." The ban will reportedly extend to "pesticide free" and "antibiotic free". The secretary's position seems like a long stretch. It undercuts consumer rights to transparency -- whether in the context of food labeling, cosmetics & body care product labeling or corporate financial statements.

Organic Milk Produced By Aurora Organic Dairy?

2007-11-07T11:36:00.000-08:00

Not. Here's the link to the consent agreement entered into between the United States Department of Agriculture and Aurora Organic Dairy and another to Q&As on the Aurora Consent Agreement.

I understand that Aurora sold purported organic milk to many retailers, including Costco (sold under "Kirkland" label), Safeway (sold under "O Organics" label), Publix (sold under "High Meadows" label), Giant (sold under "Nature's Promise" label), Wild Oats and others.

Anyone who has further interest in Aurora's apparent misleading branding, let me know.

Lead In Lipstick

2007-10-14T13:34:00.000-07:00

For those of you who missed the NYT's 10/11 article, "Lipsticks Contain Lead, Consumer Group Says," here's the link. According to The Campaign For Safe Cosmetics, 61% of the lipsticks tested by Bodycote Testing Group had detectable levels of lead. One third of the lipsticks tested reportedly had more lead than allowed in candy. Hmmm. Lead is allowed in candy? Seems like there's something wrong with that too.

Infant Cough And Cold Medicines Withdrawn

2007-10-13T12:41:00.000-07:00

Here's a link to CNNMoney's article on 10/11 discussing the withdrawal of many of the kid cough and cold meds.

Building a Yurt

2007-10-09T16:27:00.000-07:00

I love yurts, so when I stumbled on this video -- Building A Yurt Kazakh Style -- I thought to pass it on. Here's the link.

"The Everyman Who Exposed Tainted Toothpaste"

2007-10-01T10:17:00.000-07:00

Today's edition of the New York Times carries the above-titled article. Walt Bogdanich discusses Eduardo Arias, a 51-year-old Kuna Indian, his reading the label on a 59 cent tube of toothpaste and discovery on the ingredient list of "diethylene glycol", a sweet tasting, poisonous ingredient in antifreeze. Diethylene glycol had previously been mixed into cold syrup in Panama, killing or disabling at least 138 Panamanians during 2006, according to the article.

Just for the hell of it, I entered "diethylene glycol" into the sustainable casa search engine and narrowed my search to include the EWG/Skin Deep database. Guess what? EWG/Skin Deep show that Johnson & Johnson, among other manufacturers, make or made several products (depending on current formulations) containing diethylene glycol: Neutrogena SkinClearing Oil-Free Compact Foundation, Blushing Ivory; Neutrogena SkinClearing Oil-Free Compact Foundation, Classic Porcelain; Neutrogena SkinClearing Oil-Free Compact Foundation, Natural Buff; Neutrogena SkinClearing Oil-Free Compact Foundation, Rose Cream; Neutrogena SkinClearing Oil-Free Compact Foundation, True Beige; Neutrogena SkinClearing Oil-Free Compact Foundation (Rose Cream, Natural Buff, Golden Bisque, Classic Porcelain, Blushing Ivory); and Neutrogena SkinClearing Trio Salicylic Acid Blemish Treatments (Medium 03, Light 02, Fair 01).

Ban Sought On Kids' Cold Medicine

2007-09-29T12:19:00.000-07:00

The New York Times today reported that FDA safety experts urged consideration of an outright ban on over-the-counter, multisymptom cough and cold medicines for kids younger than 6. Gardiner Harris wrote, "[t]he reviewers wrote that there is little evidence that these medicines are effective in young children, and there are increasing fears that they may be dangerous[,]" and cited the experts' 356-page safety review report disclosures of at least 54 kids having died after taking decongestants and at least 69 having died after taking antihistamines. On the other side of the safety issue is, of course, the Consumer Healthcare Products Association armed with its industry-sponsored safety review. Anyway, here's the link to the article.

Forbes -- Building Green -- $12 billion bucks in 2007

2007-09-28T17:29:00.000-07:00

Here's an excerpt from the article:

"The U.S. Green Building Council estimated the green building industry--an area that was rarely heard of a decade ago--to be worth around $12 billion for 2007. While sustainable construction is one of the fastest-growing segments of the commercial building industry, only a small percentage of buildings going up are actually green. The buildings that do meet green standards save significantly on energy costs, a benefit that is likely to become more attractive as the cost of non-renewable energy sources continues to increase."

Wind Up Lamp Saves Energy

2007-09-28T09:57:00.000-07:00

I stumbled on this lamp while reading the morning's news. I like the idea, though not the aesthetic.

Additional Sites to Sustainable Casa Search

2007-09-25T16:32:00.000-07:00

OK. I've taken a break from suing my former law partners to do something that makes me feel good. I've added 6 eco-friendly flooring manufacturers to the sustainable casa search engine:

www.interfaceflor.com
www.naturalfloors.net
www.meridameridian.com
www.dkmikc.com
www.earthweave.com
and
www.fibreworks.com

Who Also Likes The Light Invited By Smartshax?

2007-09-16T19:45:00.000-07:00

California Coastal Cleanup Day Reminder

2007-09-14T10:29:00.000-07:00

Bad Cosmetics Search Engine

2007-09-05T12:23:00.000-07:00

For those of you who are interested in the good, bad & ugly about some of the body care products you use, I've created a custom search engine that pares the results from what you'd normally get from doing a routine google search.

The World Without Us

2007-08-14T14:56:00.000-07:00

I haven't yet read Alan Weisman's book, marketed as an explanation of how our infrastructure would collapse and vanish without human presence. There's a nifty site that allows you to place your mouse over certain time periods to see what the author says would happen.

Penn & Teller

2007-08-13T14:54:00.000-07:00

The magicians Penn & Teller have a great video on YouTube in which they persuade people to sign a petition banning “di-hydrogen monoxide,” a ubiquitous chemical found in many raw and prepared foods. “Di-hydrogen monoxide” is another name for H₂O—that is, water. It shows how consumers can be duped by technical chemical names and the importance of actually understanding what's in the products we purchase for ourselves.

S&P Expands Global Thematic Index Series

2007-08-13T14:19:00.000-07:00

S&P Expands Global Thematic Index Series

I was more interested to see the S&P Global Clean Energy Index referenced in the alternative energy index mix. And. It's encouraging to me that providers of capital have another vehicle in the context of the natural capitalism needed to bring about a true revolution toward sustainability mindset.

Greenest Book In History?

2007-07-17T23:14:00.000-07:00

Harry Potter and the Deathly Harrows reportedly saves 130,000 trees, according to Markets Initiative.

Kids & Sustainability

2007-07-17T21:02:00.000-07:00

One of the resources I'm compiling is a notebook related to some things in the context of sustainability that might be of interest to a generation with more at stake than we have -- our children. If anyone has something to add to my short list, please let me know. Thanks.

Life Cycle Management

2007-07-17T20:09:00.000-07:00

Every activity that a business performs has an impact - on a social, economic and environmental level. Often these impacts are not obvious or immediate, there are many that are hidden or indirect, that only appear when you take a more holistic view - essentially, when you take a step back and examine the complete life cycle of products and services. I've put a new link on the blog for those of you who are interested in which big companies incorporate LCM into their business models.

It's Windy In Lucas Valley

2007-07-16T15:54:00.000-07:00

So, I found myself wondering where all the wind-generated energy is...why we don't have more, etc. My brother pointed me to a nice summary published in the 7/9/07 edition of the WSJ:

"The race to build new sources of alternative energy from the wind is running into a formidable obstacle: not enough windmills.

In recent years, improved technology has made it possible to build bigger, more efficient windmills. That, combined with surging political support for renewable energy, has driven up demand. Now, makers can't keep up -- mostly because they can't get the parts they need fast enough.

Numerous wind-power projects from Virginia to California have been stalled due to the shortage. But for some renewable-energy companies in Europe, where wind power has been in vogue for almost two decades, the logjam is a lucrative opportunity. These firms anticipated a shortage of turbines and locked in orders with makers. They're now using their considerable buying power to gobble up smaller utilities in the U.S. that couldn't otherwise get their hands on turbines.

That was the case with Community Energy Inc., a company in Wayne, Pa. After trying for years to kick-start wind-power projects in the U.S., the company had built only two small wind farms; a third sat idle. Brent Alderfer, the founder and chief executive, said he had few problems acquiring the necessary permits and funding. But when it came to getting windmills, he faced a multiyear delay.

"We were like an airline sitting there and being told we had to wait three years to get our airplanes," he says.

In late 2005, Mr. Alderfer contacted Iberdrola SA, a Madrid-based utility that has emerged as one of the world's leaders in renewable energy. Six months later, Iberdrola purchased Community Energy for $40 million. Two months after that, technicians had outfitted the company's stillborn project with gleaming white turbines that started churning out enough clean electricity for about 6,500 homes.

"We couldn't have done this on our own -- not then, not in five years' time," says Mr. Alderfer.

Modern wind turbines are astonishingly complicated machines, containing more than 8,000 components and requiring special transformers to turn their spinning blades into electricity. Though commonly called windmills, they're technically wind turbines. Manufacturers depend on a network of component suppliers that, in turn, need years to ramp up production. That's created a bottleneck for the turbine makers.

Iberdrola's strategic advantage stems in part from a 3 billion euros, or $4.09 billion, bet it made last year to lock up most of the order book of Spanish turbine maker Gamesa SA -- the world's second largest -- through 2009. Iberdrola also holds a 24% equity stake in Gamesa.

In addition to Community Energy, Iberdrola snapped up two other small U.S. developers last year in Iowa and Virginia, both of which lacked the funding and the turbines to get going. Last month, it entered into a deal to buy its first regulated U.S. utility company, Energy East Corp., of Portland, Maine, for $4.58 billion, in part to take advantage of U.S. tax credits for wind.

Though still a relatively small force on the U.S. energy grid, wind power is on the rise as oil prices and environmental concerns soar. Governments from Beijing to Sacramento are showering the sector with subsidies in an effort to boost production of clean energy and reduce emissions of greenhouse-gases like carbon dioxide. Europe now plans to produce 20% of its energy from renewable sources by 2020, up from about 6% today, with wind power playing the leading role.

In the U.S., more wind power was installed last year than in any country in the world -- 2,454 megawatts, or more than the equivalent of two nuclear reactors. Despite the recent action, the U.S. still lags behind other countries that have spent decades nurturing wind power with subsidies and price supports. Germany has fewer wind resources -- breezy, wide-open spaces -- than the state of North Dakota, for instance, but has twice as much wind power as the entire U.S. Spain, with one-seventh the population of the U.S., has the same amount of wind power. Overall, only about 1% of power in the U.S. comes from wind.

The turbine shortage could have a significant impact on how quickly the industry can continue to grow in the near term, as well as on what shape it will take in the future. Just five manufacturers produce more than 80% of the world's wind turbines. A midsize, 1.5-megawatt turbine costs about $1.2 million.

Miguel Salis, the head of the Madrid-based Eolia, a fund that supplies financing and development know-how to small wind-farm developers, says, "The biggest restriction right now to wind power's growth -- everywhere, not just in the U.S. -- is the lack of turbines." He says that so many developers have "projects under way but can't get them completed, often because the turbine makers don't give them the time of day."

Makers need thousands of specially crafted parts, including gearboxes, blades and bearings, to build a turbine. Transformers vary depending on each country's electrical grid. And the type of turbine depends on the wind resources available: Relatively wind-poor Germany has always used larger turbines, while breezier Spain and China have based their growth on midsize turbines.

Vestas A/S of Denmark, the world's biggest turbine maker, says the supply problems are crimping its production capacity. The company produced about 880 megawatts of turbines in the first quarter, down from more than 1,000 megawatts in the fourth quarter of 2006. "We are no stronger than the last delivered component out of the 8,000 components," Ditlev Engel, Vestas chief executive told investors in May.

Turbine makers are trying to make up the difference. Vestas is hoarding components to keep production steady, at the expense of working capital. Others are buying companies that make components to bring production in-house.

Siemens Wind AG of Germany, a unit of Siemens AG, two years ago bought Winergy, the leading maker of gearboxes for turbines. Suzlon Energy Ltd. of India snapped up a series of smaller component companies. Then, last month, it paid $1.8 billion to buy rival turbine maker REPower Systems AG of Germany, which gave it access to a new set of component suppliers.

Because wind power was basically a cottage industry until recently, it was slow to develop a large group of professional manufacturers. Some turbine manufacturers, like Siemens Wind, are offshoots of large engineering groups. General Electric Co. bought Enron's wind division when the Houston company imploded. Gamesa started life half a century ago designing propeller blades for aircraft, and still makes most of its own blades.

In the U.S., there's another potential threat to growth -- erratic government support for wind power. Even though wind power has made technical strides recently, energy firms still rely on subsidies because it costs more to generate electricity with wind turbines than other power plants such as coal, natural gas or nuclear. Wind power requires intensive capital investment in a short period of time, and has added costs like upgrading transmission systems. According to the International Energy Agency in Paris, wind farms cost between four and 14 cents to generate a kilowatt hour; coal-fired plants cost between 2.5 and six cents.

Some 20 states now have price supports for wind-generated electricity, and there is a federal tax credit to encourage new wind-park development. But there is no federal requirement for utilities to buy green energy, as there is in the United Kingdom, Denmark and Germany. And the tax credit, started in 1992, depends on a biannual congressional approval. An effort to introduce federal support for wind power was shot down this month in the Senate.

The lack of a stable, long-term regulatory environment has created a wind-power roller coaster. Developers were never sure their projects would make economic sense a few years down the road if the regulatory climate changed. Foreign turbine manufacturers were reluctant to build factories in the U.S. Vestas scrapped plans for a U.S. factory three times because of uncertainty. This spring, it announced it would build a turbine plant in Windsor, Colo.

Today, states such as Iowa, Pennsylvania, Minnesota and Oregon have gone out of their way to lure foreign turbine makers. Suzlon is building a turbine plant in Minnesota. Siemens Wind and Acciona Energia SA of Spain both announced plans to open turbine factories in Iowa. Gamesa has three plants operating in Pennsylvania.

In a few years' time, those new factories could help ease the current bottleneck. But in the short term, the supply crunch has shaken the economics of wind power.

European utility firms, meanwhile, are buying up U.S. energy firms. They say they believe growing consensus on the need to fight climate change will lead to a more stable regulatory framework for renewable energy.

Earlier this year, Portuguese utility Energias de Portugal SA, or EDP, paid about $2.7 billion for Horizon Wind Energy of Houston. Acciona Energia SA of Spain bought EcoEnergy LLC, a unit of the Morse Group in Freeport, Ill., last month; it plans to roll out about 1,500 megawatts of wind power in the Midwest over three years. And BP Alternative Energy, a division of U.K.-based BP PLC, snapped up Virginia-based Greenlight Energy Inc. last year for about $100 million.

European companies are estimated to own 20% of all the wind energy in the U.S., says Emerging Energy Research, a wind-power study group based in Cambridge, Mass.

American firms are now hustling to secure their own windmills to keep pace. Invenergy LLC, based in Chicago, signed a $1 billion deal with GE in May to get its hands on turbines to supply its ambitious development plan.

In some ways, wind power is a victim of its own success. Rising fossil-fuel prices and bigger and more sophisticated turbines have brought wind power closer than ever to being competitive on price with traditional power sources. Modern machines are 10 to 20 times the size of the windmills first installed in California in the 1980s. Bigger machines have exponentially changed the economics of wind power because they take better advantage of the wind and work more hours than the smaller, older machines.

That, in turn, has sparked a boom in demand for new wind-power projects world-wide. The U.S. has quadrupled its wind-power capacity since 2000. China, which had only 346 megawatts of wind power installed in 2000, now has 2,500 megawatts, and expects to catch up to the U.S. within three years. World-wide, wind capacity has increased from 17,800 megawatts in 2000 to 74,300 megawatts at the end of last year, according to the Global Wind Energy Council, a trade group.

Better technology and growing political support for clean energy should have made life easier for Community Energy's Mr. Alderfer. When he started his company in 1999, there were no commercial wind farms operating east of the Mississippi.

Instead, as wind power became more attractive, his job got tougher. After finishing their second wind farm, a modest 24-megawatt project in New Jersey, Community Energy executives realized that upcoming projects would have to be much larger in order to be economically feasible. Some would require as many as 100 new turbines. "The whole thing moved quickly beyond our ability to finance it," Mr. Alderfer says.

The U.S. wind industry was in one of its periodic booms. After two years with virtually no new wind power, federal tax credits were renewed for 2005 and 2006. Suddenly, wind farms were cropping up everywhere. Oil-rich but windswept Texas overtook California as the leading wind-power state.

Community Energy was trying to stay in the race. In late 2005, the company sought to outfit its latest wind farm, at Locust Ridge, Pa., but couldn't get the machines. Mr. Alderfer talked with GE, the biggest U.S. turbine maker, but was told he would have to pay deposits against delivery of turbines in 2008 or 2009. That would mean going back to Community Energy's private holders to ask them to stump up more money, which Mr. Alderfer was loath to do. Locust Ridge was put on hold again. "What are we going to do with this project?" he recalls thinking.

Then he decided to call Iberdrola, the Spanish utility. At the time, Iberdrola didn't yet have a beachhead in the U.S., and executives thought it was a potential gold mine. Wind energy in the U.S. "is like Europe was years ago," says Xavier Viteri, the 46-year old head of Iberdrola's renewable-energy business. "There's a lot of room for development there, and there is a lot of expertise here.""

ecotainerTM

2007-07-02T10:46:00.000-07:00

In a recent post by International Paper and Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, the authors ask us to consider this:

"Every year, Americans drink more than 100 billion cups of coffee. Of those, 14.4 billion are served in disposable paper cups— enough to wrap the earth 55 times if placed end-to-end! Those paper cups contain a plastic lining made from a petrochemical that would produce enough energy to heat 8,300 homes. That’s a town the size of Newtown, Connecticut."

The companies report that they've worked together to develop a cup that uses renewable resources. The ecotainer, designed for hot beverages, uses a liner manufactured from corn rather than petro chemicals. I'd agree with them -- the move is a start. But.

The rest of the cup is still paper. Does it come from sustainably-managed trees? Does the fact of combining the new liner with the paper impede recycling?

Message in a Bottle

2007-07-02T09:08:00.000-07:00

Awhile back, I posted 5 reasons why bottled water is objectively bad. This morning, I came across an article in the July 2007 issue of Fast Company. Author Charles Fishman recites some startling information, including:

in 2006 Americans spent $15 billion on bottled water; in 2007 that number should reach $16 billion;
each week, we transport within the United States around 1 billion bottles of water in trucks, ships & trains;
1 out of 6 people in the world have no safe, dependable source of drinking water;
if you bought and drank a bottle of Evian, you could refill that bottle once a day for 10 years, 5 months and 21 days with San Francisco tap water before that water would cost $1.35;
24% of the bottled water we buy is simply municipal water repackaged by Coke and Pepsi.

I agree with Fishman's conclusion that bottled water is not a benign indulgence, but instead is grounded on social, economic and environmental inequities.

Buying Into The Green Movement

2007-07-01T09:26:00.000-07:00

Here's today's NYT story. The author, Alex Williams, quotes Worldchanging Alex Steffen: “There is a very common mind-set right now which holds that all that we’re going to need to do to avert the large-scale planetary catastrophes upon us is make slightly different shopping decisions,” said Alex Steffen, the executive editor of Worldchanging.com, a Web site devoted to sustainability issues."

Steffen, on the other hand, today explains that Williams misunderstood him: "Actually, as i told Alex Williams, I believe something quite different: that the genuine solution is not a matter of consumer choice at all. There is no combination of purchasing decisions which will make the current affluent American lifestyle sustainable. You can't shop your way to sustainability, as I've put it before. On a planet running up against so severe a set of deadlines -- global warming, the extinction crisis, the poverty crisis, etc. -- prosperity as currently delivered is frankly immoral, even when purchased with an eco-chic package. That doesn't mean that I think prosperity itself is wrong. Quite the opposite. Nor do I think we could talk people out of wanting prosperity if we tried -- heck, I hope for a generous amount of prosperity myself, one day. But we need to redesign prosperity, using innovation, new thinking and new technologies to render it sustainable. And here's the essential break between lite green and bright green thinking: the reality is that the changes we must make are systemic changes. They involve large-scale transformations in the ways we plan our cities, manufacture goods, grow food, transport ourselves, and generate energy. They involve new international regulatory regimes, corporate strategies, industrial standards, tax systems and trading markets. If we want to change the world, we need to forge ourselves into the kinds of citizens who can effectively demand such things. Dire practicality demands that we reject the privatization of responsibility. None of us can make this great transformation happen alone, and it removes pressure from our leaders to take needed steps when some suggest that the changes that need to be made in the world start with our personal choices. They don't."

New Releases From Green Wineries (Part 3)

2007-06-30T16:22:00.000-07:00

SUSTAINABLE -- Bethel Heights Pinot Noir Williamette Valley Casteel Reserve 2004; Domaine Serene Pinot Noir Williamette Valley Evenstad Reserve 2004; Joseph Phelps Syrah Napa Valley 2003; Schramsberg Brut Blanc de Noirs Napa-Mendocino-Sonoma Counties 2003; Beringer Chardonnay Napa Valley Sbragla Limited-Release 2005; Dumol Viognier Russian River Valley lia 2005; Goldeneye Pinot Noir Anderson Valley 2004; Ponzi Pinot Noir Williamette Valley 2004; Argyle Blanc de Blanca Dundee Hills Knudsen Vineyard Julia Lee's Block 1998; Peter Michael Chardonnay Sonoma County Belle Cote 2005; Clos Du Bois Chardonnay Russian River Valley Calcaire 2005; Domaine Drouhin Pinot Noir Williamette Valley 2004; Ridge Zinfandel Dry Creek Valley Lytton Springs 2005; Rodney Strong Chardonnay Chalk Hill Reserve 2004; Willakenzie Pinot Gris Oregon 2005; Benton-Lane Pinot Gris Williamette Valley 2006

New Releases From Green Wineries (Part 2)

2007-06-30T16:19:00.000-07:00

ORGANIC -- Spottswoods Cabernet Sauvignon St. Helena Family Estate Grown 2003; Saglin Chardonnay Rutherford 2005; Turley Zinfandel Napa Valley Turley Estate 2005; Rubicon Estate Rubicon Rutherford 2002; Bonterra Syrah Mendocino County 2003

Young Filmmakers

2007-06-27T19:40:00.000-07:00

Listen Up! is looking for filmmakers between 13 - 19 years old to tell personal stories about teenagers who've made it their business to learn about the environment around them and what they're doing about it. 2 questions -- (1) how do you and your community interact with the environment? and (2) is there a better way?

Joint BioEnergy Institute

2007-06-26T22:31:00.000-07:00

A group led by the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory will build and operate a $125 million biofuels research center, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. The Energy Department project is slated to receive $25 million annually for the next five years to support high-tech chemistry breakthroughs to produce clean-burning fuels made from plant fibers. One of the center's divisions will research new plants to create a source of farmed, renewable carbon. A second will focus on enzymes that transform plant cellulose into sugar. A third will develop biofuels and more energy-rich fuels. The fourth will support the 3 research lines and the biofuels industry in general.

Forbes -- "A Toxic Problem For Business?"

2007-06-26T18:04:00.000-07:00

Mark Gunther reports that potential risks of toxic chemicals in everyday products has become one of the most complex and controversial issues confronting businesses. Gunther observes, among other things, that Johnson & Johnson has agreed to initiate a stakeholder dialogue with the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics.

New Releases From Green Wineries (Part 1)

2007-06-26T17:48:00.000-07:00

BIODYNAMIC: (1) Cayuse -- Syrah Walla Walla Valley Bionic Frog 2004; (2) Bergstrom -- Pinot Noir Dundee Hills Bergstrom Vineyard 2005; (3) Araujo -- Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley Eisele Vineyard 2003; (4) Benziger -- Tribute Sonoma Mountain 2003; (5) Brick House -- Chardonnay Williamette Valley 2005; (6) Grgich Hills -- Zinfandel Napa Valley Miljenko's Old Vines 2003; (7) Ceago Vinegarden -- Sauvignon Blanc Mendocino Kathleen's Vineyard 2004.

Cork Furniture

2007-06-26T14:20:00.000-07:00

Blowing up the bottle stopper, Portugal's Bleach Design reinvents the old mainstay of cork design into an environmentally friendly stool. It's equally at home indoors and outdoors and it's minimal lines and textured surface add a modern dose of naturalism to either venue. These sell at the A plus R store for $390.

More Than 25% Of Energy Consumed In Sweden During 2004 Came From Renewable Sources

2007-06-26T14:09:00.000-07:00

I saw the statistic in yesterday's National Geographic Magazine article titled "Alcohol, Feces, Carcassas Fuel 'Green' Vehicles In Sweden." The article discusses how Sweden uses confiscated illegally-smuggled alcohol.

Greenwashing Exemplified

2007-06-26T13:58:00.000-07:00

The New York Times recently published an article titled "At Home Depot, How Green Is That Chainsaw?" The article depicts the response that Home Depot received to its note to manufacturers inviting them to pitch the reasons why their products should be included in the Eco Options marketing campaign. Home Depot's Ron Jarvis, who oversees the Eco Options campaign, is quoted as follows: "Most of what you see today in the green movement is voodoo marketing." I'd have to agree with him.

Senate Passes Energy Bill

2007-06-25T09:24:00.000-07:00

On June 21, the Senate passed the energy bill by a Yea-Nea vote of 65-27, including a compromise version (SA 1792) of CAFE legislation that increases new light-duty vehicle fleetwide fuel economy from 25 mpg to an average 35 mpg by 2020, but that eliminates the mandatory 4% per year increase thereafter that had been part of the original proposal.

Prefab Green

2007-06-25T09:18:00.000-07:00

Treehugger published the book review of Michelle Kaufman's Prefab Green. The link's in the reader and here.

Toothpaste Made In China Not Safe

2007-06-22T08:43:00.000-07:00

14 China-made brands of toothpaste are not safe to use because they contain an engine coolant ingredient. Here's the link to a 6/22 story in The New Straits Times.

Best & Worst Sunscreens

2007-06-21T13:29:00.000-07:00

EWG assembled a list. Products by L'Oreal, B. Kamins and Neutrogena rank at the top of the worst list. Products by Badger, Peter Thomas Roth and Sun Spray are among the best.

Don't Drink Bottled Water

2007-06-20T14:41:00.000-07:00

The Lighter Footstep lists 5 reasons why: (1) bottled water isn't good value; (2) bottled water is no healthier than tap water; (3) bottled water means garbage; (4) bottled water means less attention to public systems; and (5) bottled water means the corporatization of water. Here's the link to the article.

Environmentally Friendly (Wine) Labels

2007-06-20T14:12:00.000-07:00

Use of the term "organic" is regulated by the federal government. Federal standards prohibit the use of synthetic pesticides, herbicides, fungicides and the use of chemical- or sewage sludge-based fertilizers on or around crops. Certifying agencies must be USDA-accredited.

The term "sustainable" does not have a legal definition, but refers to a range of agricultural practices that are ecologically sound, economically viable and socially responsible. Sustainable farmers can choose what works best for their property and generally recycle, conserve energy and water and use renewable resources when possible. They might choose to use cover crops and compost to add nutrients to soil. They might control pests with native birds and beneficial insects. And, if they need chemicals, they'll choose the least toxic option. Regional and local certifying bodies exist.

"Biodynamic" is also not legally defined. Some say there are 4 key principles. All organic waste must be recycled. A diverse population of predator and prey animals, birds and insects must be encouraged to maintain ecosystem balance. Preparations such as diluted treatments and composts made from herbs, minerals and manures are applied to the land to promote crop fertility and control pests. Finally, landowners must recognize the interrelationships among everything on the farm and understand that nothing is optional and all is in pari passu. The Demeter Association is the international biodynamics certifying body.

Disposing Of Carpet

2007-06-19T14:27:00.000-07:00

The GreenHomeGuide posted one designer's response to a question about where to dispose of carpet the environmentally sound way. Here's the link to the question and Cynthia Phakos' answer. It's work a look, even if only to see some of the startling data she recites.

Climate Counts

2007-06-19T09:33:00.000-07:00

A new non-profit group, Climate Counts, reportedly wants consumers to consider a company's record in adding to or curbing climate change when they make purchasing decisions. Here's the link to the site.

Big Ideas For A Small Planet

2007-06-15T11:29:00.000-07:00

This link to the Sundance Channel takes you to a page where you can see videos some of the interesting things kids are involved with in the context of environmental and other projects.

New & Easier Environmental Working Group Database

2007-06-05T11:02:00.000-07:00

It's a huge improvement over the old site, for anyone who's interested in discovering what many cosmetic/body care product manufacturers don't say about ingredient safety. Here's the link.

Urban Gardening

2007-06-04T20:41:00.000-07:00

I stumbled on this site during the last few days. It contains a lot of information for those who love city life yet would like to reconnect with nature...whether through green roofs or other.

The Livestock's Been Fed

2007-06-02T00:34:00.000-07:00

What's a farmer to do with the extra hay? Grass bioenergy is an option. Check out this site that Jan found. Thanks Jan!!

Which would you rather eat: sustainable food or poison from China?

2007-05-31T15:47:00.001-07:00

Seems like we have a choice, but it means paying attention to where our food comes from, how it got to us and who was involved in the process. Check the Reader article "Principle 18: Sustainable Food" against "Poison used in China is found in U.S.-made animal feed", also in the Reader.

Eco-tecture

2007-05-20T11:24:00.000-07:00

Today's NYT Magazine has several interesting articles, including "Why Are They Greener Than We Are?" "They" are Europeans, of course. There's also an interview by Deborah Solomon with William McDonough, "Calling Mr. Green."

Ecological Footprint

2007-05-18T18:32:00.000-07:00

I stumbled on this quiz. I actually tested more favorably than average in the area I live, but still use around 5 times more acreage than I should.

Eco-friendly Kitchen Counters

2007-05-17T15:48:00.000-07:00

I put a link to a new notebook I'm building -- "Eco-friendly Kitchen Counters". There are a few links within the notebook to sources for recycled glass, end-grain bamboo, recycled paper, sustainable wood and reecycled aluminum.

Recycled glass counters are made from colorful recycled glass mixed into a cement, concrete, or resin base. Counters can be integrally colored or stained for more variation and color coordination with cabinetry or painted surfaces. It's green because it diverts used glass from the waste stream. The cement in some counters is mixed with fly ash, a waste product of coal-burning that would otherwise end up in landfills; this reduces greenhouse gas-producing cement manufacturing.

End-grain bamboo counters are basically chopping blocks made of slender rectangles of end-grain bamboo glued into panels. It's a substitute for wood because its fast growth makes it more renewable. Low off-gassing glues don't harm indoor air quality.

Recycled paper counters are made with recycled paper in a resin base and are available in a variety of thicknesses and colors. They're heat and stain resistant. They're considered green because they use postconsumer recycled paper certified by the Forest Stewardship Counsel, and nonpetroleum, formaldehyde-free resins.

Sustainable wood counters are butcher-block counters, some from reclaimed or recycled lumber, others from sustainably harvested tree species. These are considered green because using reclaimed wood reduces the need for harvesting new trees. Moreover, recycled old-growth lumber often has tighter grain and better quality.

Some recycled aluminum counters are made from postindustrial scrap aluminum in polymeric resin. These are considered green because, not only do they utilize scrap, they can be recycled at the end of their useful life.

NY Home Receives LEED Certification

2007-05-17T10:40:00.000-07:00

A home outside Syracuse, New York reportedly received a Gold LEED Certification in the LEED pilot program. Here's a link to the article.

Prefab/Modular -- Mikano

2007-05-15T09:49:00.000-07:00

I stumbled on this site. Farnsworth?

Green Quiz

2007-05-14T21:05:00.000-07:00

From the Sundance Channel. Here's the result of my test.

Wal-Mart Slapped For Misleading Organic Consumers

2007-05-09T17:34:00.000-07:00

Somehow, I'm not surprised be the article.In a letter to Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., based in Bentonville, Arkansas, the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection stated they'd found numerous instances of conventional food products improperly labeled as organic by the retail chain

Zero Carbon House

2007-05-09T15:56:00.000-07:00

Ok. I've been building and rebuilding the Notebookz I've linked to when I stumble on the Zero Carbon House. It's reportedly a low energy demonstration project, designed to be self sustaining in 3 years.

Ethos Water & Corporate Responsibility

2007-05-09T12:46:00.000-07:00

I stumbled on this, and am not sure whether it's real but it makes you think twice about a company's claims to be helping the underprivileged.

McGraw-Hill Construction Announces Release of its Greening of Corporate America SmartMarket Report

2007-05-09T10:41:00.000-07:00

Based on research provided to MH by Siemens -- including a poll of mostly CEOs and CFOs on sustainability and green building issues, there appears to be growing recognition that it makes economic sense to embrace sustainability (including green building) in corporate practices. The Report itself isn't free, but here's a link to the Building Online piece.

Alternative Energy Fund Newly Listed On NYSE

2007-05-09T10:18:00.000-07:00

For you investors interested in alternative energy, New York-based investment adviser Van Eck Global today launched Market Vectors-Global Alternative Energy ETF , a new exchange-traded fund (ETF), listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) The ticker is GEX. Here's the link to the press release.

Condominium Design From Munich

2007-05-08T14:20:00.000-07:00

Richard Horden, a professor at Technical University of Munich, designed a self-sustaining micro compact home. It's all about living more with less. Here's the link to the article in 4-27-07 Wired.

When Carbon Is Currency

2007-05-06T17:51:00.000-07:00

The NYT published an article today discussing the fact that 10 states have joined to create the first mandatory carbon cap-and-trade program in the US. Here's the link.

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change -- Summary

2007-05-05T11:43:00.000-07:00

The IPCC recently published a 35 page summary of a huge study saying the world must significantly cut emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases by sharply improving energy efficiency in buildings, vehicles and even kitchen appliances; shifting from fossil fuels to nuclear, wind, solar and other renewable energy sources; saving forests as "carbon sinks"; capping agricultural emissions, and taking many other steps. Here's the link to the summary.

Greener Apple

2007-05-05T10:06:00.000-07:00

Steve Jobs' open letter outlines Apple's environmental policies, including plans for removing toxic chemicals from the company's products. Here's the link.

Poison-Free Lawn

2007-05-01T12:25:00.000-07:00

I hate my lawn. But, it may as well be poison-free. Here's a link to an article in GreenHomeGuide by landscape architect Sherri Osaka.

Earth911 Kids

2007-04-27T17:24:00.000-07:00

Here's the link.

Some Plaintiffs' Lawyers Will Represent Anyone

2007-04-21T19:59:00.000-07:00

...even Don Imus. In my opinion, the Business Week article, "Imus Hires a Legal Heavyweight," depicts the despicable. I wonder who's been injured.

Grassroots Educational Training in DC for Students

2007-04-20T10:41:00.000-07:00

Seventh Generation and Greenpeace are teaming up again to provide 200
students with an all-expenses-paid (including travel) week of
grassroots educational training in Washington, D.C. Students may
apply here.

Change It is a great opportunity for students that you work with to
learn the skills and tools they need to become effective leaders.
Students will emerge from the program ready to engage in the efforts
to prevent global warming and address the most critical issues facing
their generation.

Please take a brief moment to let students that you work with know
about this exciting summer training program. All expenses, including
travel, room and board, and the training program itself, will be
covered entirely by the program.

Sustainable Cosmetics

2007-04-20T09:36:00.001-07:00

Is there such a thing as Sustainable Cosmetics?
Come find out.

Teens for Safe Cosmetics
Project: Prom

Join Teens for Safe Cosmetics as they rally on Union Square to make an important statement about our right to health and seek a ban on toxic chemicals. All generations are invited to join Teens for Safe Cosmetics to fight for their right to a healthier future.

Tuesday, April 24th • 4-6:30pm Union Square, San Fransico, CA

Watch the You Tube Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2B8FDo7rU0

For more info visit:
www.projectprom07.com
http://projectprom.blogspot.com/

To educate about health hazards
To fight for laws that protect us
To ban toxic chemicals and demand safer products

Attire:
Prom attire: to focus attention on Prom, when teens use plenty of products
Combat Boots: the symbol of our battle against toxic chemicals

Teens for Safe Cosmetics is a campaign led by a group of dynamic and passionate young women working to raise awareness about cancer causing chemicals in cosmetics and personal care products. The goals are to educate their peers and community members about the risks associated with the products they use 24/7 and to affect policy change. The teen campaign members played a significant role in the unprecedented passage of the Safe Cosmetics Act of 2005 (SB484) signed by the Governor of California in October 2005.

Notebooks

2007-04-11T08:20:00.000-07:00

You may have noticed the Links on this site to "Notebooks". The Notebooks are works in process that I've begun, using iLeonardo's "Notebookz" product. Notebookz are both easy to use AND can be shared and added to by anyone (preferably persons sharing the same intent on a particular notebook label). In this way, Notebookz fosters community sharing of useful internet research in an easily manageable Notebook. Anyone can register with iLeonardo for free and add their favorite sites to any of the existing Notebooks that I've already linked to and the many more in process. I encourage anyone who is interested in contributing their knowledge to the Notebooks (for all to see and share) to register with iLeonardo and add any useful sites to them. Send me an email and I'll send the notebook URLs for ease of reference on iLeonardo's site.

"Green" Countertops

2007-04-09T15:46:00.000-07:00

Check out Eric's 5 countertop material picks here.