Earth Friendly Shopping

These are just too cure for words! OhGeez Organic Cotton Baby clothes are made with the softest, purest organic cotton we have ever seen. The feel is luxurious and cuddly. Conventional cotton agriculture uses more insecticides than any other crop.

In addition the harm that these pesticides do to the environment and the agricultural workers who farm the cotton, pesticide residue can stay in the clothes and have occasionally have caused allergic reactions.

The 100% pure organic cotton used in OhGeez Organic Baby Clothes is pure, natural, and very soft.

Our immediate favorite was the Organic Cotton Infant Gown Set. Available in Natural, Coco, or Sage, this adorable set includes a hat and mittens. When we first opened one up, every woman in the office did an immediate “awwwe” The gown has a drawstring for an old fashioned look, and easy diaper change.

We also love the organic cotton infant receiving blanket. The blankets are double layered with an amazing heavy weight flannel on one side and super soft medium weight jersey. Also available in natural, cocoa, or sage, these blankets measure 36″ x 36″. They are bigger than many receiving blankets for easy swaddling.

And last, we have the organic cotton wash cloths. These took us by surprise. We are so used to terry cloth wash cloths, that we had our doubts when we first saw these. Then we took some home and tried them. These wash cloths are layered with heavy weight flannel and thermal. The flannel is perfect for washing babies delicate new skin, and the texture of the thermal is perfect for older children and adults. Super soft and luxurious, the organic cotton wash cloths are 11″ x 11″.

OhGeez Organic Cotton Baby Clothes get a definite thumbs up from us. make terrific, Earth Friendly Baby Shower Gifts.

organic cotton baby clothes

Yesterday, I wrote about the report  put out by 23 groups, including the The Cornucopia Institute,  “Wal-Mart’s Sustainability Initiative: A Civil Society Critique.”   

Now the crux of the report is that Wal-Mart’s high profile sustainability initiative is little more than a public relations ploy, and that the very nature of Wal-Mart’s business practices are anti-sustainability.

So I found it amusing today when I read Thomas Friedman’s Op-Ed titled “Lead, Follow, or Move Aside”.  In it, he claims that China is going through a phase on the climate-energy issue that he calls the “The Wal-Mart environmental moment.”

He describes the Wal-Mart environmental moment this way

…starts with the C.E.O. adopting a green branding strategy as a purely defensive, public relations, marketing move. Then an accident happens — someone in the shipping department takes it seriously and comes up with a new way to package the latest product and saves $100,000. This gets the attention of the C.E.O., who turns to his P.R. adviser and says, “Well, isn’t that interesting? Get me a sustainability expert. Let’s do this some more.”

The company then hires a sustainability officer, and he starts showing how green design, manufacturing and materials can save money in other areas. Then the really smart C.E.O.’s realize they have to become their own C.E.O. — chief energy officer — and they start demanding that energy efficiency become core to everything the company does, from how its employees travel to how its products are manufactured.

He notes that China is now finally starting to consider the effect of their emissions on world, and might be considering doing something about it.  But that one of the key issues is that there isn’t enough leadership and example from the U.S.   That if we showed leadership, instead of “the obfuscations of the Bush team, it would have a huge impact on China and only trigger more innovation in America.”

Good environmental stewardship is good for the economy.

Friedman continues

Mr. Bush will be convening his climate photo op — oops, I mean “conference” — in Washington tomorrow, which will include Chinese and Indian officials. But, as Rob Watson, the C.E.O. of EcoTech International, which works on environmental issues in China put it: “The Chinese are not going to take anything we say seriously if we don’t set an example ourselves.”

David Moskovitz, who directs the Regulatory Assistance Project, a nonprofit that helps promote green policies in China, was even more blunt: “The most frequent and difficult question we get in China with every policy initiative we put forward is: ‘If it is so good, why aren’t you doing it?’ It’s hard to answer — and somewhat embarrassing. So we point to good examples that some American states, or cities, or companies are implementing — but not to the federal government. We can’t point to America.”

I have hated Friedman’s stance on the war.  The Friedman unit has become one of the biggest and saddest jokes of all time.  But, credit where it is due, he has always been right on the environment, and on our need to develop renewable sources of energy.

23 groups, including:  The Cornucopia Institute, Corporate Ethics International, Dogwood Alliance,  and  Global Exchange issued a report titled. “Wal-Mart’s Sustainability Initiative: A Civil Society Critique.”   

The report comes as Wal-Mart prepares to release its sustainability report.

Two years ago, Wal-Mart president H. Lee Scott announced a bold initiative to turn the ompany green.   There were commitments in seven product areas “organics, seafood, shrimp, forest products, cypress mulch, product packaging, and toxic chemicals — as well as sections on global warming and Wal-Mart’s international business practice”

The report is highly critical of Wal-Mart business practices.  Some key quotes

 Wal-Mart has used its massive political clout to support an anti-sustainability agenda in the U.S. Congress, the report reveals. According to report contributor Corporate Ethics International, two-thirds of Wal-Mart’s PAC campaign contributions in the last election went to candidates who earned failing grades from the League of Conservation Voters. “Wal-Mart claims to be a leader in the battle against global warming, yet it’s one of the largest contributors to politicians with the worst records on global warming,” says Michael Marx, Corporate Ethics International’s Executive Director.

<snip>

Ultimately, the report asks: “Can a company claim to be “sustainable” when it drives down wages, refuses wages to some 20,000 minors working in its Mexican stores, pays unsustainably low prices to its suppliers (leading to sweatshop conditions), drives local stores and markets out of business, and disregards the wishes of the communities where it establishes its stores?”

And what we need to do about it.

http://www.break.com/index/tough-to-argue.html

I think it is worth watching the video, but then do like he says.  Work out the possibilities yourself.   

EO Liquid Sanitizer and Sanitizing Wipes - Available at Kate’s Caring Gifts

Cold and Flu Season is almost upon us.  There are millions of germs out there trying to hitch a ride on your hands, and spread disease.  A recent study of families with at least one child in day care found that families who put  a hand sanitizer in the “bathroom, kitchen, and baby’s room and used it  before preparing food, and after using the toilet or changing diapers, experienced a 59% reduction in the spread of gastrointestinal bugs” compared to the control group.

Not all sanitizers are the same!!

Washing your hands with vigorously with soap and water for 20 seconds is still an effective way to reduce the spread of disease.   

Sanitizers make a great addition or a convenient alternative when washing your hands isn’t practical. But not all sanitizers are the same.  Many chemical based antibacterial products use triclosan, a known carcinogen which has been linked to an increase in allergic reactions.  Others use alcohol, but not all have enough.  Studies have shown that in order to be effective,  alcohol based sanitizers need to have a concentration of AT LEAST 60% alcohol.    

BUT there are stilll differences even among sanitizers with 60% alcohol.  Many have the alcohol mixed with cheap, synthetic fragrances and other bases. That’s why we love EO.  Sanitizers from EO combine the effectiveness of 62% organic alcohol  with pure organic essential oils and absolutely NO synthetic chemicals!

Stay healthy – Stay safe.

From the Washington Post, with hat tip to A Siegal on Daily Kos,

  At the brand-new T.C. Williams High in Alexandria, a modern “green” school, students say the environmentally friendly design has led to a serious lifestyle change: They can’t doze in class anymore because sunlight pours in from practically every angle.

…classroom ceilings are sloped to disperse light more efficiently, giving the space a futuristic feel. A rooftop garden over the cafeteria reduces the amount of heat the building absorbs.

Later in the article there is a quote from US Green Building Council

 ”These schools create a healthy and productive educational environment. And they save huge amounts of money over the lifetime of a school,” said Rachel Gutter of the building council. “What if I said: ‘Let’s build a school. It’s going to increase test scores. It’s going to increase your teacher retention. It’s going to be a more comfortable and healthy environment. And by the way, I am going to save you $100,000 a year.’ “

This goes right with what we have been saying for some time.  Living an environmental lifestyle has multiple benefits.  It is healthier, feels better, and ultimately saves money too

At LAST! – Natural and VEGAN Skincare for Men! In these past few years, we have seen lots of natural lotions, bubble baths, and other natural body care products for women. But what can you get the natural MAN in your life? Now there is an answer! Nonie of Beverly Hills has created a couple of wonderful shaving products. HIS Natural Shaving Cream contains tea tree and grapefruit seed extract, to soften your beard and protect your skin. HIS natural After Shave is Light and Citrusy, It refreshes the skin and tightens pores without burning or stinging. Naturally Antibiotic. Both are created with total respect for the Earth. No synthetic products, no animal testing. Available at Kate’s Caring Gifts.

“healthy ingredient skincare”

We love this stuff!  Robin’s of Maine starts with certified organic, fair trade cocoa, uses dairy from local Maine Dairies. and other ingredients to create unique, delicious sauces.  They are outstanding on ice cream, fresh fruit, or even on simple pound cake.   We had been using it on ice cream and other things for a few weeks, when  Kate came home from a farmers market with a pallet of fresh, organic strawberries.  We heated a little of the sauce in the microwave, poured it over the strawberries and found instant chocolate bliss.  Kate loved the Ginger Pear Sauce, while I opted for the Tropical Dark.  Our kids couldn’t get enough of it.    This has definitely become one of our favorite desserts. 

Robin’s Fair Trade Organic Chocolate Sauce is available in three incredible flavors.   Ginger Pear, Orange Spice, and Tropical Dark.  Find them at Kate’s Caring Gifts.

This is frightening.   From The Guardian  with a Hat Tip to Darksyde at DKOS

The Arctic ice cap has collapsed at an unprecedented rate this summer and levels of sea ice in the region now stand at record lows, scientists have announced.

Experts say they are “stunned” by the loss of ice, with an area almost twice as big as the UK disappearing in the last week alone.

So much ice has melted this summer that the Northwest passage across the top of Canada is fully navigable, and observers say the Northeast passage along Russia’s Arctic coast could open later this month. 

As Darksyde Points out  we don”t know what this is going to mean. It is possible that the process will accelerate, but short term predictions are difficult to make.  Still

The fact is we have no experience with this phenomenon. The Arctic Ice Cap isn’t just older than recorded human history, it’s probably much older than anatomically modern humans, and it likely spans a good chunk of relatively recent hominid evolution:  We evolved during a period of repeating glaciations on a planet with a permanent ice-covered North Pole.  But while H. sapiens will undoubtedly survive the demise of that ice-cap, the effect of those tumbling, melting dominoes on our globally intertwined civilization, and on the massive, growing ocean of human flesh now smothering the planet in greenhouse gases, may be a disaster of epic proportion. 

This is one cool gift for kids. The King Eider Duck Arctic Habitat Toy set is an amazing and environmentally sensitive gift.  In addition to the bath toy, made from phthalate-free plastic with recycled content.  The gift set includes an Arctic Habitat educational coloring book, and a My Arctic 1-2-3 Counting book.  This toy is everything: educational, fun, and Earth Friendly.  We couldn’t ask for more.  The whole set is packaged in a drip dry 100% cotton eco-bag. Available for $22.95 from Kate’s Caring Gifts.