If you know us at all then you know we are extremely passionate about keeping toxins out of skincare! There is actually a bill out there now that can help protect all of us against toxic chemicals in our skincare. Please take one minute to send this email off to your local representative. It is so easy – all you have to do is fill out this tiny form – your name, address and zip code! The effects are long lasting and who wants cancer causing chemicals in your skincare anyway? Just click on the link below for the full scoop and to send in your support for the bill to pass. Act Now – http://org2.democracyinaction.org/o/5500/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=3621 Here is the full story via Campaign for Safe Cosmetics : Federal Legislation. No parabens, laurel sulfates, phthalates, petrochemicals (mineral oil, paraffin, 1,4 dioxane just to name a few), pesticides, propylene glycols or any of their many derivatives should ever be added to skincare.. No irradiated herbs, GMO’s, soy, wheat, synthetic fragrance, urea, EDTA, artificial colors, alkoxylated amides (such as TEA, DEA, MEA and MIPA) mercury, placenta, lead acetate, hydroquinone, synthetic emollients (such as PEG compounds), synthetic alcohols, silicones, artificial colors or synthetic preservatives.
Blog Written by Golden Path Alchemy Skincare, a GenGreen Certified Business

by Kathi King

Last month, Santa Barbara kicked off a new comprehensive, voluntary reusable bag program called “Where’s Your Bag.” The program aims to educate the public about the negative environmental effects of plastic and paper single-use bags and to promote the use of reusable shopping bags. “Where’s Your Bag” is part of a community-wide effort to provide a solutions-based approach to serious environmental and pollution issues.

by Beth Doane

You’re probably wondering how soup consumption could have a profound impact on our environment. This concept fascinated me so much that I have been studying for months how the demand for one item can wreak absolute havoc on our planet.

Our global shark population has been drastically decreasing because sharks are being killed and de-finned by the million to make the increasingly popular shark fin soup. This soup was once regarded as a Chinese delicacy, and is now consumed by millions across Asia daily. Sadly, the increase in popularity of the soup has resulted in a devastating increase in shark fishing.

More than 100 million sharks are killed around the world every year, and nearly every single species of shark has shown a global decline of at least 50%. The process is both brutal and disturbing as it shows frightening links to how one product can create such a global mess.

Sharks are caught, their fins quickly sliced off—and then comes the real horror—they are then thrown back into the ocean, still alive, until they slowly die on the ocean floor.

Since shark fishing is legal in international waters, it has become excruciatingly difficult to regulate and control.  For example environmental groups report that in Caribbean waters—an area in desperate need of protection—a single government boat is all that patrols the vast expanse of water just a few times a year.

One of the most terrifying aspects of shark fishing is the significant impact it will have on our planet and our lives. As each organism in every one of our planets diverse environments is intrinsically connected, it becomes clear that when we destroy just one plant or animal in an ecosystem, such as trees in the Amazon or sharks in the ocean, the whole world will feel the effects.

Living in the United States, far from the Amazon or the ocean floor, it is hard to imagine the tremendous impact the destruction of a single species can have but as these effects become so much more widespread and dangerous they also become more visible, closer to home.

For example, research, conducted by marine biologist Julia Baum, shows how the depletion of sharks has affected the people of North Carolina. Every year since 2004, at least one scallop fishery has closed in North Carolina. What do sharks have to do with scallop farms? Sharks are one of the top predators in the marine ecosystem. As their population has decreased, the population of sharks’ prey has increased immensely. Cownose Reys prey on scallops. Without sharks to keep the Cownose population in check, the scallop population has decreased to such an extent that many of the scallop farms have been forced to close.

So how does that affect the people of North Carolina? When the scallop farms close hundreds of workers are left jobless. The local economy suffers from the loss of an important market.

Science has proven that when our marine systems undergo vast change, everything around them will eventually collapse. Sadly, this is also exactly what happened with the Cod industry in 1990s due to over fishing. This human induced crisis cost billions of dollars to correct and today we are still seeing the negative results of our actions.

The real issue here is that we have to learn from situations like this and create ways to educate consumers and ourselves so that we don’t cause the demise of our own existence.

There are many ways we can get involved and make a difference. For example, log on to the web site listed below and learn about the petition and movement to put an end to shark fishing. As consumers we need to unite and let corporations, merchants, and traders know that we won’t tolerate further destructive practices. Also check out the brilliant film ‘End of the Line’ which outlines in great detail the plight of our oceans and marine ecosystems globally.

More Info at http://endoftheline.com

Also Visit: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/endsharkfinning

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About the author: Beth Doane is a fashion designer and consultant focusing on eco-conscious product development and marketing. She founded and designed the internationally acclaimed Rain Tee collection and Andira International.

by Beth Doane

Many people have asked me why I have personally stopped buying and wearing leather products and I really think the reasoning is so simple once the facts are known. So, to help us all get up to speed on the issues we have laid out the basics here.

Saying no to leather products is not just a statement against animal cruelty, its a statement about our need to be conscious of what we consume for the sake of our planet. Here are eight reasons why:

1. The process of leather production has devastating results.  Not only does it inflict unnecessary and often cruel suffering upon millions of innocent animals but the chemicals used to treat leather are often toxic and can leach into our water-systems and even onto our skin.

2. Most animals slaughtered for their skins endure the horrors of factory farming. Factory farms are mass production facilities for animal products, and like any product it’s all about how much, how fast and how cheap. These facilities are notorious for animal overcrowding, un-anaesthetised castration, branding and tail-docking as well as dehorning.  Ironically many of these animals are used solely for their skin, wasting the rest of the animal.

3. Not only does the leather process cause intense animal suffering, it also causes mass damage to the environment. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), factory farms are the biggest sources of river, lake and stream pollution.  The farms are also the biggest users of water and almost half of the water consumed in the U.S. is used to raise livestock for food and leather.

4. Another major concern with leather production is the output of waste and chemicals that result from the process. A report by the U.S. Senate Agricultural Committee, released in 1997, revealed that livestock raised for food and leather produce 130 times as much excrement waste as the entire human population in the U.S. That’s a lot of crap!

5. Unlike the human population, there are no waste-treatment systems used for our nations livestock. This means that because of the concentration of this “poo” we get ridiculous cases of pollution, human illness and even death in areas where livestock operations are concentrated.

6. Tanneries (leather making factories) treat animal skins with a number of minerals and chemicals that can have dangerous and even carcinogenic results.  For example, the EPA has stated that all waste containing chromium is hazardous. Chromium is just one of many mineral salts used on leather to keep them from biodegrading. So, when we buy a pair of leather shoes or a handbag, these chemicals are in contact with our skin and we have no way of knowing just what levels of chromium were used.

7. It’s obvious that livestock production within the U.S. poses an array of complicated issues but the cattle industry abroad is just as terrifying. Overseas there is often less regulation of animal safety or humane treatment than here in the USA and a report recently released by Greenpeace explores how the cattle industry in Brazil is slaughtering not just cows but also the Amazon in order to meet the high demands for leather and livestock.

8. As the demand for leather continues to rise, more of our world’s most delicate ecosystems will be cleared to create grazing space for the cattle. (See “How Cows kill Rain Forests.”) Brazil has also become the fourth largest emitter of greenhouse gasses as a result of the deforestation process-and of course cows. Coincidence? We don’t think so.

To make matters worse, the Brazilian government is financing further expansion of the cattle industry, which will likely result in the continued deforestation of the Amazon.

These are just some of the reasons it is vital for consumers to be aware of what we are really supporting when we purchase leather.  If consumers continue to accept the status quo, the destruction of our Earth’s most important source of climate control, the Amazon, will continue; the inhumane and heavily under regulated treatment of animals will continue; and the massive consumption of vital resources by livestock farms will continue.

What Can We Do?

As we always want to stay focus on the positive and be pro-active, there is plenty we can each do to help.
Take action now!

1. Remember to purchase the faux leather and vegan products that are available because true fashion should never be cruel.

2. Visit the Greenpeace Web site and demand change from the companies using leather from the Amazon to create their products.

Here in the U.S., four states – Arizona, Oregon, California, and Colorado – have already enacted farm animal cruelty legislation. Write to your legislators and demand action in your state!

Without the support of us as consumers, companies will never be inspired or forced to change their practices. The power is truly in the hands of the people–so wear what you believe in!

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About the author: Beth Doane is a fashion designer and consultant focusing on eco-conscious product development and marketing. She founded and designed the internationally acclaimed Rain Tee collection and Andira International.

By Beth Doane

The illegal trafficking of drugs, arms, children, and woman have often been the focus of tragic and revealing documentaries and news articles around the world, but ironically the cruel truths of animal trafficking have yet to share the same spotlight.

More than 38 million wild animals are captured annually in Brazil alone and the illegal trafficking of wildlife globally generates more than 25 billion in sales every year.

While some wildlife trade is legal and regulated, more than one-third of this trade is done illegally, without any concern of serious reprimand from authorities.

The jungles of Central and South America provide the majority of wildlife that is shipped overseas with the two main countries of import being the United States and Europe. In Spain for example, the demand for exotic species is so strong that collectors will pay anywhere from 500 to one million dollars for a large Amazonian macaw, which are classified as a highly endangered species.

Other severely endangered snakes, tropical birds, butterflies and even monkeys are examples of the in-demand animals being sold as pets and for use in the production of clothing, furniture, and other goods globally.

The journey from one side of the ocean to the other is often cruel and terrifying for the animals. In order to disguise the illegal ‘merchandise’, traffickers will commonly inflict abuse to the animals to ensure a quiet trip. Toucans and other birds will have their beaks taped shut and their eyes drugged or perforated so that they will not sing in reaction to the light. These drugged parrots and monkeys may be stuffed into suitcases or stockings, or crammed into hidden compartments of luggage.

Because of these conditions, more than 90% of these animals die in transit to their final destination.

Though cruel and tragic, animal trafficking seems worlds away to most Americans. Well, think again.
In my home state of Ohio, the sale of exotic animals takes place quite often.  A short drive down the interstate highway and one can easily find an auction where they can bid on and purchase a unique pet. Monkeys, macaws, and even baby tigers contained in small cat carriers, are just some of the exotic wildlife that your everyday Ohioan can take home for keeps.

For the most part, these sales are legal. Private owners supply animals to the sellers.  The animals come with a veterinary certificate and are looked at by government inspectors.  However, once the exotic animal is sold, the new owner has sole control.  There is no regulation of exotic pet ownership here in the Buckeye state, and in most states for that matter.

In many cases, this leads to devastating results, as the new owners often lack the knowledge and resources to properly care for the wild animal. A number of cases have been reported of serious injuries as the result of an escaped exotic pet, such as a python or tiger.

Whether it’s happening an ocean away, or just down the highway, the inhumane sale of wildlife needs to end.  Not only is it cruel and abusive, but it creates devastating long-term effects on some of our world’s more delicate and critically endangered eco-systems.

There are many ways to help animals that have been trafficked and abused-the best of which is to simply become educated and educate others on the horrific truth of the industry so that people globally can realize what they are truly supporting when they purchase a wild animal.  Also, charities like Merazonia, which is located in the Ecuadorian jungle town of Mera, are powerful organizations that rescue and rehabilitate trafficked Amazonian wildlife before they leave their homeland. Help rescue or adopt a trafficked animal.

They also have volunteer programs where you can work with the animals daily throughout their stages of recovery. I truly believe that through education and action, there can always be change.

. . .

About the author: Beth Doane is a fashion designer and consultant focusing on eco-conscious product development and marketing. She founded and designed the internationally acclaimed Rain Tee collection and Andira International.

I recently traveled to San Francisco and like many other large cities in the US and in other parts of the world I used their brilliant public transit infrastructure. As I zoomed to the airport aboard the BART, avoiding traffic, admiring the landscape, and catching up on my email made possible with their free public rail wi-fi, I had to stop and think – why has Colorado not jumped on this high speed train?

I know that there are measures on the table to assess whether or not it is a feasible idea to get a light rail system up to the mountains for all of the ski enthusiasts, but how about the one missing from the middle of I-25? As long as there is snow, people will come here to ski, with or with out a traffic free ride to the lifts. But imagine how many more people would choose Fort Collins to start their business, or how many people that work in Denver would opt to live in Fort Collins if we just had a train that could take us from here to there.

There are the obvious benefits like less pollution and less road maintenance, but what about the little things like, being more productive by being able to work while in transit, saving significant money on gas, and less weather related travel delays. I could make a list 50 miles long of all of the benefits.
It makes me wonder how a country as advanced as the US is in so many ways is so far behind when it comes to our rail systems. In many train stations across Europe people have access to bike rental as soon as they depart the train. I long for the day that I could jump on a train headed to Boulder for a meeting during rush hour, make it there in 30 minutes, while working on my presentation along the way, get out at the station and onto a bike for a quick refreshing 10 minute ride to the location of my meeting, and still get home in time for dinner by 7pm. Sanity preserved, exercise accomplished, money and energy conserved, all in all a very well improved meeting process than the way they play out today.

With Colorado becoming more and more of a breading ground for innovative green companies, the more relevant it becomes that we find more ways to connect and support each other sustainably for continued growth. It was a blow when homegrown AVA Solar, now Abound Solar, chose Longmont over Fort Collins for their factory location. Who knows, had there been a train that went straight down the middle of I-25, maybe it could have played a roll in keeping them closer. I can understand why they chose to hang their hats there (aside from zoning and construction issues) as another company in the environmental space, I spend almost three days a week driving to Denver or Boulder for work meetings. When it comes to being able to reach a larger pool of well qualified employees and potential clients, and necessary service providers, (like lawyers and accountants) positioning themselves somewhere in the middle of the triangle of commerce we have here in Colorado makes perfect sense.

I’m convinced the only way a mass transit rail system will ever become a reality is if more people here in Northern Colorado ask for it, and loudly. The powers that be in Denver are not nearly as concerned about how to get to Fort Collins as we are to get to them to grow our businesses.

So whether you are a Northern Colorado resident without a car, but still needs to get to the airport, a business looking to expand your client base, or a simply an environmentalist that would like to see fewer cars on the road – it going to be up to us to speak up to help make rail a reality.

Charisse McAuliffe

Now drinking your morning O.J. can do more than just provide a boost of Vitamin C.

Cool Earth, a UK based international organization working to halt climate change, teamed up with the beverage giant to raise awareness of their “Rescue the Rainforest” campaign- an effort specifically aimed at protecting the Ashaninka Corridor in Peru.

Here’s how it works:

Every time you enter the code from a special edition Tropicana product, 100 square feet of rain forest will be purchased and saved. In this way it is hoped the campaign will save thousands of acres of endangered rain forest which are being cleared at an alarming rate.

On average, an area roughly the size of Los Angeles disappears every month to create farmland for crops such as soya or palm oil, or for cattle ranching.

Tropicana’s partnership with Cool Earth will help secure land that could otherwise be sold to loggers and ranchers and could be cut down within the next 18 months.

Working with partners throughout the Amazon, Cool Earth is protecting forest in Brazil, Ecuador and Peru once held by forest harvesters and loggers. They put the land in a local trust, and help to protect it around the clock to keep the carbon where it belongs.

According to a representative, Tropicana is committed to helping the environment and has even started monitoring its own carbon footprint in an effort to find better ways to reduce the carbon footprint for its products.

More information on the “Rescue the Rainforest” campaign can be found at www.tropicanarainforest.com or by following @tropicanatrees on Twitter.

Now if only Tropicana offered organic orange juice….

The birth of the modern day environmental movement began on April 22, 1970 when a U.S. Senator from Wisconsin named Gaylord Nelson organized the first nationwide environmental protest. Little did he know at the time that for the next 39 years on April 22, environmentalists from around the world would come together to focus on Mother Earth as we celebrate Earth day.

In 1970 Americans, were using leaded gas in their sedans powered by V8 engines. Factories were exhausting absurd amounts of pollution into the air without any ramifications or even the fear of getting bad press, in fact air pollution was commonly accepted as the smell of prosperity.

This was all about to change.

On that fateful day 39 years ago, 20 million Americans took to the streets, parks, on college campuses and in auditoriums to make their voices be heard that they wanted a healthier environment.  In the past there were different groups that fought separately against things like oil spills and toxic dumps, loss of wilderness and extinction problems, but on this one day they all united and the light bulb turned on for them. Working together and in support of each others causes would be the key to making the level of change that was needed occur.

On that day a rare political alignment was achieved, both Republicans and Democrats were in support of the same issues. Business tycoons and labor unions agreed with one another, US citizens both rich and poor, city dwellers and farmers recognized the issues with the environment as being larger than their differences, and choose to work together. This led to the creation of the United States Environmental Protection Agency and in turn the passage of the Clean Air, Clean Water, and Endangered Species acts. In the years to follow Senator Nelson would be awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his role as the founder of Earth day.

It was in 1990 when a group of environmental leaders enlisted Denis Hayes, one of the original organizers of the 1970 protest, to take the Earth day mission to the global stage.  April 22, 1990 resulted in a monumental shift for the world. On that day there were over 200 million people mobilized in 141 countries. People across the globe woke up to the realization that we all may battle in war and we may differ in religious views, and not speak the same languages, but we all have one crucial thing in common, we have but one planet we all call home. After that specific Earth day celebration in 1990, the concept of recycling became an activity that households and businesses around the world would come to do adopt and accept as status quo. This event also helped pave the way for the 1992 United Nations Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro.

Ten years later and with the approach of the millennium, Hayes decided to spearhead the next monumental campaign. Earth Day 2000 would focus on global warming and clean energy. That April 22, the world awoke to festivities similar to the original Earth Day in 1970, combined with the international grass root effort of the 1990 event and now the power of the Internet to assist them in linking activist all over the planet. That year there were over 5,000 environmental groups around the world participating, reaching out to hundreds of millions of people throughout 184 countries.

Earth Day 2000 sent the message clearly to the powers that be, two things; global warming could no longer be ignored, and decisive action for clean energy would have to be pushed to the forefront.

Today the fight for a cleaner, more sustainable global environment continues. This is a battle that each of us wage every day. We are fighting it when we drag our filled recycling bins to our curbsides, and when we give our neighbors a ride to work. When we bring our own mug into the coffee shop, or we choose to pick up the piece of trash left behind on the sidewalk by someone before us.  We have come a long way in the last 39 years, but yet there is still much work to be done.

On April 22nd, 2009, we took time to come together, celebrate what we have accomplished and educate about what still needs to be done. We must empower and motivate everyone from our next generations to rouge nations with the gift of consciousness and hope for the future.

By Charisse McAuliffe, Founder and CEO of GenGreen LLC

Photo credit: EPA History Office

All year long we challenge each other to live greener by taking time to try out a different activity or behavior. Some changes are harder than others, and some can require more time, effort or money that some of us have to spare at one time or another.

In the spirit of making this Earth Month as painless as possible, below are some ideas for ways to show your support for the Earth that are cheap and easy!

Get some air!

Attend (or host) an Earth Day awareness event, party, festival or project in your community! Nothing feels better than the sun on your back and good people all around you, talking about saving the planet. Search the GenGreenLife.com event calendar for an event happening in your state. If you know of a cool event that’s not listed, let us know!

Plant a tree!

It sounds cliche, I know, but this is one of the oldest and best Earth Day projects. If you join the Arbor Day Foundation (membership starts at $10) they’ll send you up to 10 trees that grow well where you live…for FREE! Plant one for every member of your family and start a tradition as well as shrink your carbon footprint! Check it out here.

Take a hike!

Even in the most metropolitan areas, a little bit of nature is never far away…why not use Earth Day as an excuse to get out there and enjoy it?! Find a local conservation group, outdoor club, or environmental learning center that hosts field trips or other programs and take the whole family along! Or visit a nearby state or national park and explore all on your own!

Show your library some love!

Newspapers, and magazines use a lot of paper and are here today, recycled tomorrow. New books are pricey and also spend a lot of time gathering dust after the first read. Why not reduce, reuse, recycle and dust off your library card instead? And if you don’t have a current library card in your town, now’s a perfect time to sign up for one.

Photo credit: Sacramento365.com

On April 9th, GenGreen LLC was among a prestigious class of over 60 businesses to achieve Silver Partner status in the Fort Collins Climate Wise program!

Climate Wise is a voluntary, city-run program that is dedicated to helping local business and the environment. Through environmental assessments and creative solutions, the City of Fort Collins Climate Wise Team helps businesses tackle modern-day business challenges that impact bottom lines and the quality of life in Fort Collins.

Besides reporting data to Climate Wise annually, attending climate related meetings and green business seminars, Silver Partners are required to implement and report one new climate related initiative at their place of business.

To learn more about the Climate Wise program, visit: www.fcgov.com/climatewise