Stop Trader Joe's From Selling Red Listed Fish

http://traitorjoe.com/telegram.htm?gclid=CKX98vS1iJ0CFSFRagodkFiFaw

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species:

http://www.iucnredlist.org/

Zero Waste Video

http://www.ecocycle.org/zerowastevideo/index.cfm

The Garbage Patch Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tnUjTHB1lvM

Where To Recycle That Soy Milk Container

Here's an interesting article from Fair Weather Vegan:

Where To Recycle That Soy Milk Container

So San Francisco has made its municipal composting program mandatory, but it still hasn't filled all the lacunae in its older, more important recycling program.  One of these is the paper/plastic composite boxes, also called tetrapaks, that are increasingly used for nut milks, soups, and stocks.  SF is in a particularly embarrassing position regarding these high-use items because much of Northern California does collect them as part of their recycling programs.  Here is the manufacturers' list of cities nationwide which recycle cartons.  The individual recycling info for your city would also be a good place to look if you're not listed.  San Franciscans can plan to save boxes for their next trip to Oakland or the Peninsula. 

http://ftlouie.typepad.com/fat_louie/2009/06/where-to-recycle-that-soy-milk-container.html

The Whale Said "Thank You"

My friend and colleague Jade just passed on an email to me about a whale that I thought was pretty remarkable:

The Whale Said "Thank You"


      If you read a recent front page story of the SF Chronicle, you would have read about a female humpback whale who had become entangled in a spider web of crab traps and lines. She was weighted down by hundreds of pounds of traps that caused her to struggle to stay afloat. She also had hundreds of yards of line rope wrapped around her body, her tail, her torso, a line tugging in her mouth.
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>                             A fisherman spotted her just east of the   Farallon Islands  (outside the Golden Gate ) and radioed an environmental group for help.
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>                             Within a few hours, the rescue team arrived and determined that she was so bad off, the only way to save her was to dive in and untangle her.
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>                             They worked for hours with curved knives and eventually freed her.
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>                             When she was free, the divers say she swam in what seemed like joyous circles.
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>                             She then came back to each and every diver, one at a time, and nudged them, pushed them gently around ~she was thanking them. Some said it was the most incredibly beautiful experience of their lives.
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>                             The guy who cut the rope out of her mouth said her eyes were
>                             following him the whole time, and he will never be the same.
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>                             May you, and all those you love, be so blessed and fortunate to be surrounded by people who will help you get untangled from the things that are binding  you.
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>                             And , may you always know the joy of giving and receiving gratitude.
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>                             I pass this on to you, my friends, in the same spirit
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>                       --
>                       All the best Gr8Scott aka old blksmth

Outside Lands

I recently attended the Outside Lands Festival over the weekend in Golden Gate Park. It was inspiring to see how much effort they put towards being sustainable. From the farmer's market, to the solar powered cell phone charger stations, to the waste stations being monitored by volunteers, they really did a rock star job.

I really love how music, fashion, and entertainment industries are showing the public that this is cool, but most of all necessary.

To check out more:

http://www.sfoutsidelands.com/festival/greening.php

Pledge to Mother Earth

As I woke up this morning, I was thinking about my trip to Indian Canyon. This was a life changing event.

My professor, Melissa Nelson, took us to visit Anne-Marie Sayers, an Ohlone Elder, at her home in Indian Canyon for the Native American Philosophy and Religion class at SFSU one semester.

The most important part of this day was being inside their Sweat Lodge, a place where they hold ceremonies. (Note: we did not participate in a Sweat Lodge ceremony, we were graciously invited into the sweat lodge by Anne-Marie to make a pledge. The ceremonies are not for tourists). We were encouraged to make a tobacco offering and give a pledge to Mother Earth, either audibly to the group or silently in our hearts. My pledge was to continue my work with composting and waste diversion, and to make others aware of opportunities to help the environment.

As I lay in bed, I realized that I was doing this everyday and that the impact of that trip began influencing my actions in a very powerful way.

So, this is dedicated to Anne-Marie Sayers for her strength, perseverance, and radiant beauty. I would also like to thank Melissa Nelson for her passion, her wonderful ability to create understanding, and for opening up the opportunity for us to experience Indian Canyon.

To learn more about the Sweat Lodge ceremonies at Indian Canyon:

http://www.indiancanyonvillage.org/SweatLodge.htm

To hear Anne-Marie speak:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8040290680520747381

Check Out Epic Expo in Vancouver and Dubai

http://www.epicexpo.com/

The Story of Stuff

http://www.storyofstuff.com/