Coffee Crisis.

I sit here sippin on the one drink I have every morning - with out fail. It got me to thinking, who do I support by drinking this and what am I saying with that support. Right now I have a generic joe - one that is just getting me through finals week because I ran out of my usual. My usual being Sleepy Monk. An organic, fair trade coffee roaster in Cannon Beach. I support them because I know them, I know what they are about and how/where/when they get their beans. I watch them roast them. I know the precise job they do from start to finish - I trust them. Yet the joe I drink right now ... oh gosh I have no idea who they are, what they are doing, and what I am even drinking--- a little uneasy.. So that got me researching.

Check this out.

Then that got me to thinking.. who owns what?

Then that brought me to here... Nestle is what? and owns WHO!

Then I thought.. with all of these labels.. what does it all mean? Shade Grown--that's good right? Well if you had the same questions.. look at this!

If any of you are like myself.. I'll pay a high price for a good cup of coffee. But is it worth it? You tell me. (I'm a little disturbed a Starbucks blend made it...)

uhh Woah.

So with searching again to get my mind off the subject of surfing - I took a look around at what other people around me have been blogging about. Take a look at this video.

I mean come on! Wow. This is an amazing play on words and a very thought out push back to the assumption of our generation. As I was listening to the poem, I was confused with why anyone would ever stamp their believe on telling their kids that work is more important. Than I realized how amazing this piece of work really is!

AARP put together a campaign called Divided We Fail. So yes this video is great but does it really sync with what AARP is trying to do? I honestly don't know.. any thoughts from those few sporadic bloggers who have nothing better to do than to stumble across academic blogs such as this one.

Surfing on the mind

It is so close to spring break for me.. just a tad over 24 hours and I am a free bird! So of course surfing is on my mind -- I can't help it! So this is what I stumbled through - - again on the brink of Patagonia.

DRIFT.

I have worked at a surf shop for over eight years and it's about time there is a refresh button in the mix. I know how things work, the politics and BS that happens -- it's about time a shop stands transparent in what they are doing and how great is it that they are doing some pretty epic things.

I'm not sure how I can get involved in this ... but this right here.. taking images and writing about those who care and are making a change in this world -- welp you got my job right there. The four years of college wrapped up in an image, a story, a mix between contrast and comfort. Drift, take me with you.

"We are sick when the ocean is sick" - check out the video at the bottom of this page.

Being a surf instructor for all of the eight years I have worked at the surf shop as made me an activist from just the love of the water and when the comment is made about the health of the ocean being the health of those who have an intimate relationship with it. That couldn't be more on point.  Count me in!

and it just keeps on going.

From link to link.. all starting with the laziness of watching T.V -- this is what I have stumbled upon.

The Conservacion Patagonica

This is so crazy. It seems as if every site I go on that has anything to do with Patagonia... I am won over and I just wish one day I can be involved in a company like this. The sponsors they are with, the products they produce and the projects they fund---groovy!

This image is from their "Urgent Threats" link and this image is visualizing the threat of Chile's most amazing river. Want to learn more about this one? Check it.

Patagonia!

So duh that last post brought me to look farther into the company. And no surprise.. can I work there?

Check out their footprint chronicles.

This is a site that lets you track the footprint of specific products that Patagonia offers.


Are you inspired enough yet.. well check out their freedom to roam stuff.

Okay really.. this company is killing me.. every time I switch back to post some more "info" to the blog, I get caught up in a new campaign they are pushing. I could easily just copy and past all the  info and fun stuff I am finding on this site but really what is the use in that.. check this stuff out!

Members Project

Wow. I was watching t.v. as I was looking for things to post on this blog and this is what commercial came on as I was sifting through the crap of the internet. Take a look at this video.


So now that you have looked at it.. and if you haven't.. GO BACK! and now look at this one.

This man is inspiring, he is the owner of Patagonia and it makes you just love in the product all over again - if you haven't all ready.

This project is all about getting in there and making a choice to help out the world we all love to play in.

You Don't Have to Be Irish to be Green.

So here it is... you heard it right.. you don't have to be Irish to be Green.

What this article is all about...

Patrick Kipalu, conflict-area environmental scholar
Deval Patrick, Governor of Massachusetts
Dr. Ruth Patrick, environmental research pioneer
Patrick Harry, grassroots horticulturist
Patrick Noonan, Founder, The Conservation Fund

 Each name I have posted has a corresponding link to explain who they are and what they are doing.

Think Sustainibility

I have found myself literally googling sustainable thinking, designing, eating, working, and everything that has to do with simply living. I have literally been googling how to think sustainable and this is where it has landed me..

 A site that tells me how to think in a sustainable way. Not saying that this is a bad site but really is there a necessity in a site that reminds me to put air in my tires? THINK.


Sustainable Thinking is not only a philosophy, it’s a community.
(Now that is a thought I can deal with reading about... but really...the duh moments are starting to kill me.

Oil in Ecuador

The past weeks of school was littered with presentations and a few stuck out to me - especially one on the oil issues in Ecuador. I searched to find a link to more info from the group, but I came up empty. So keep your eyes out for an updated link once I find it.

But until then...
This is the opening quote on a website I found that has the best info about this ish.

“Our health has been damaged seriously by the contamination caused by Texaco. Many people in our community now have red stains on their skin and others have been vomiting and fainting. Some little children have died because their parents did not know they should not drink the river water.” 

This was the website that the group exposed. Take a look and get uncomfortable with this issue!

Take a look at the videos about the film Crude.

kashi.kashi.kashi.

So for the past few weeks I have been diving deep with this company for a class project. Kashi is a company that most people are aware of but few really know who they are, what they are about and what they are doing. Check it out - Kashi. Not only is Kashi totally rockin in their own product but their outreach through sponsorships are groovy. Check out the Sundance Channel.

In the Sundance Channel partnership the Kashi company decided to not only expose the stories of some people they see as "agents of change" but tell the stories of those who are helping out keeping our bodies sustainable and refreshed.

World Cup!

Look at this! Not to mention the "recycled" shirts at the 2010 Olympics by the Coca Cola employees.  We will be seeing this on a HUGE scale at the World Cup. Nike has taken hold of this opportunity and is behind these recycled shirts.

Check this article out.

The most amazing part to this all. Isn't just the jersey's worn by those teams supported by Nike but the fans as well. . . "Environmentally savvy soccer lovers will also have the chance to check out Nike's shirts--the brand is using 13 million plastic bottles to produce jerseys for fans. All in all, Nike's initiative will stop 254,000 kg of polyester waste from being dumped in landfills."

The technology that Nike has taken hold of of isn't anything new. Patagonia has cornered this technology with their fleeces first produced in 1993. Just an additional reading and maybe a post for another time is this. What Patagonia is doing...

Now this is just funny.

http://www.polluterharmony.com/

Check this out and really think about it. This is great. "Let us do the dirty work". I came across this when just digging around the green peace website. With such a frustrating topic - humor is a fun new and refreshing attitude on such a dark issue.


I found this section of an article I found about the online "Dating" on this site... check it

"Meanwhile, the Supreme Court opened the floodgates (in President Obama’s words) with the Citizens United decision.  Corporations are just like people, says the nation’s highest court, so why shouldn’t they have a matchmaking service to find their true love?"

All about Augmented Reality

Esquire has jumped on the train. Let this be a blog to poke at some ideas, questions and concerns.

What is Augmented Reality? AR) is a term for a live direct or indirect view of a physical real-world environment whose elements are merged with (or augmented by) virtual computer-generated imagery- creating a mixed reality. The augmentation is conventionally in real - time and in semantic context with environmental elements, such as sports scores on TV during a match. 

 Some of you might remember the movie Stranger Than Fiction - a movie that puts a spin on what I think was the start of augmented reality hitting the big time. It is such a trend within the geek world, it's all over the news feeds, twitter updates and blogs. Not saying it's a new thing, Hollywood has been doing this thing for years, but now its a little more affordable and can be done with anyone's PC or Mac.

Augmented reality has hit kids books, magazines and the auto world. Check out what BMW is up to. If you click on the video on the right corner of the page you will see how the mechanics benefit from this newly exposed technology.

Of course there would be iphone apps my personal favorite would be the car finder. How many times could I have used that!

University Walks Green

Gowns go green. The University of Oregon has decided to put the green action into their graduates of 2010. The new gowns and caps will be made from natural wood fibers. Supposedly even the packages can be recycled ;)

What does this mean? Because they are made out of recycled wood.... what are the main benefits? Do the gowns and caps cost more? Is this a publicity stunt or is this for real - for real reason...

Power Down

So with the previous post comes the inspiration for this one. Power Down For The Planet!

Okay so what is this all about you ask? If you read the previous post you know that there are some gadgets out there that will help you power down your plugs but for those who don't want to spend the extra 50-60 bucks, just unplug!

Take a look at this stat.

Just skipping around on the site you will find crazy statements like, you could save up to $60 bucks a year if you power down your computer. Statements like this... do you take as an inspiration or a lack of truth. .

On the site it also offers tips to help cut the energy -- even if you aren't powering down.
So here's the deal. Do something. Act now. If you don't want to get the newest gadget to power down for you - then do it yourself. Unplug those appliances you don't need throughout the day and realize how easy it is to save some cash.

Belkin: Surge Protection

Don't stand by - conserve.

http://www.belkin.com/conserve/

My thoughts. Okay yes - duh - conserve. It was a total eye opener talk today, in regards to this one. I've thought about that.. the amount of energy I let flow out the outlets with the entertainment center, computer, clocks, idocks, toaster, coffee maker - - but it hasn't made it much past the simple thought of how much energy I'm losing. Not until now.

Some questions I have for Belkin... can you adapt a traditional cord surge to the "conserve" to attach more electronics?

Creative thinking when adapting to "work stations" -- with the work station timer!

100 places

Today we had the joy of listening to Kevin Tuerff of EnviroMedia. The next few posts will definitely be taken from his thoughts today. I was so captivated. First this one stuck.

Take a look. 100 places to remember before they disappear

I mean WOAH!

Not only will you visually see the 100 places you must not miss out on but also throughout the site you will see that there are solutions as well. 100 solutions

Joss Stone.. wow how inspiring "Look after the earth that you have been given."

Look after it - it's a gift! It's all info we have thought about but how refreshing. I mean how refreshing!

I want this book. Not only for the message and the support but for the amazing images it has captured.

Eco Friendly Surf

Okay come on. With all of this green washing in companies going around you would hope to be able to trust some sectors. With that I would hope to be able to trust the surfing realm. First of all let me give you a little history of the surf board.

First. There was Balsa and other solid wood boards. Then came fiber glass, the all time classic components and not too far after Epoxy hit the scene. As of lately hollow boards have been popular and the search for a more economic and eco friendly materials. FireWire Surfboards have been all the craze and this is my attempt to understand why.

Firewire is using a form of epoxy resin and an EPS foam (which is supposed to be better than the leading foam used in most fiber glass boards).

http://www.firewiresurfboards.com/technology.php?techid=tech#tech09

Their Argument :

Firewire Surfboards use epoxy resin and EPS foam, materials that are exponentially less harmful than traditional surfboard materials. Over a 5–year lifespan, including the construction process, a traditional PU surfboard releases 50 times more Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC’s) than a Firewire surfboard. In recognition of this, Firewire Surfboards won the coveted EuroSIMA Environmental Product of the Year Award in 2005.

BS?:

I'm not sure how I want to weigh this argument. Yes - I agree some components of fiberglass boards are horrid BUT the ultimate turn around of the boards are drastic. A fiberglass board can last you many years beyond an epoxy pop out. I say a "pop out" because epoxy boards (FireWire) are made by a machine. They are produced in Asia and shipped back to the U.S. Not all boards are and not all fiberglass boards aren't - but FireWire they are. They have a "shaper" that has now been called a "designer" and they aren't assembling everything over seas.

It's Simple.

With a few other projects going around in my head it has landed my web searches onto the components of shoes and just how "sustainable" shoes are - or aren't. The components that use hard rubber, synthetics, and other harsh substances that do not biodegreate for thousands of years was for some reason an eye opener for me.

I was encouraged by the company Simple and what they are doing for their products. http://www.simpleshoes.com/info/index.aspx?g=info

We have carried them in the surf shop I work at for a few years and I have bought them with great love for their product but now I really understand why we support them. Check it out.


Since 1991 here is what they have been up to and working towards!

PSP

PSP has been on my mind. What's that you ask? Personal Sustainability Project< meaning take care of yourself and sustain your mind, body, and soul before you can begin to trickle that onto the world.

http://www.strategyforsustainability.com

The link above is by far the main reason why I have been so captivated by all of this. We had the opportunity to read Adam Werbach's book and PSP's were implemented for Wal-Mart as they approached the challenge to change their economic footprint. It's an aspect that everyone has thought of. Of course you need to work on yourself before you can really live your goal but to put this idea into a corporate company like Wal-Mart and for this to be almost as polar from anything you would assume Wal-Mart to stand for was a difficult idea for me to wrap my head around. At first I just saw this as a publicity stunt, something to hush the critics of the company. The more you peel back the layers the more you see that
this is real, it's a lifestyle lived from the bottom to the top.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_FrmlVG_Mw&feature=related

It's a matter of not joining the enemy but trying to understand that they have a foot print. They are here and they aren't going any where. America has chosen to support them no matter if you can think beyond the minds of the NW - America supports them.

Rose Garden Goes Gold

In discussion with my roommate we started asking what buildings were "green" and why they were .. prompted some very fun talks and research.

http://cleanoregon.com/2010/01/26/rose-garden-goes-gold/

In this article I found a lot of passion in the city of Portland and the measures people are taking to continue the drive to be one of the cleanest/greenest cities in the country. With the Rose Garden going gold it rises a bar that the city must begin to reach. The Blazers as well as the Rose Garden in itself is a proud aspect to Portlanders and I think not only will this be a great thing for the city but a challenge to it's locals.

THE BIGGEST IMPACTS to me.
- the post game compost and recycle
- purchasing compost able contents (from garbage bags to cups)

WHY?
- these are huge aspects of the Rose Garden, outside of public transportation - - these people are thinking outside of the box!
- they are putting the responsibility on themselves as well as the community - - a team effort to create a change!

IMPRESSED!
- recognizing that what you have done is a big impact but accepting the reality its an onward battle is key.

What is LEED all about? Check it.. http://www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CMSPageID=1988

Car Shopping

In light of my personal life, car shopping has been on my brain - thus opening a door to white cars are economically savvy and what cars are just puffing exhaust. Do you buy a car that gets better gas mileage? Is that really the only thing you have to worry about? Do you support American made cars, does that do the trick? Do you look at the longevity of the car, how much money will you be pouring into it after market? Where are the parts made, what are they made of? What is the greenest car? What company do I want to support? Who's brand do I want to parade around? Do I buy a new car? A used car? Just ride my bike... All of these questions are questions I have been asking myself this past week and questions I'm sure aren't new to many.

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

Above is a link to a video of the "Top 5 Green Cars" (in 2009).

I couldn't help but think while I was watching the cars that were highlighted in the video - what was the criteria? Why were these cars names but not others that have the same specs. Many Toyota cars were never mentions, as well as Honda. Why aren't these mentioned?

I feel as if the cars mentioned were based on gas mileage only? Well compared to what?

http://www.greencar.com/

This is a link to the company who supports the above video.

Green Washing. Let's talk about it.

First day of class and we were well into diving in the subject of "green washing". A lot of this blog's content will revert back into this theme of "green washing", so I thought it was best to start off with a post of the truth behind the term.

Green Washing: (green’wash’, -wôsh’) – verb: the act of misleading consumers regarding the environmental practices of a company or the environmental benefits of a product or service.
                          (starting to get it a little bit more... green washing = bad)

Green washing has it's own list of sins, things to watch out for and be aware of. They highlight the main places that companies will try and pull the blinds with. Check it out. It's crazy interesting
http://sinsofgreenwashing.org/findings/greenwashing-report-2009/ 

Linking through the site of sins of green washing, with an amazing amount of great information. I ran across links to help you through every decision that has to do with deterring from a green washing company, and how to not to become one yourself.

http://sinsofgreenwashing.org/take-action/useful-resources/

This link will list so many endless possibilities. Have fun and let's learn all about Green Washing!

With thanks to http://sinsofgreenwashing.org/ you can pretty much find most of what I'm tell'n ya. Less enticing of course.

Landor visuals on green things.

http://www.landor.com/index.cfm?do=thinking.article&storyid=749&bhcp=1

These first graphs brought some intriguing thoughts. When someone first mentions how green a country or company is, I initially think about how environmental conscience they are. In this research done by Landor you see that not only are counties and companies concerned about the environment but also the economy. It was interesting to me to realize what countries cared more about the economics of their will being verse the environment of their world.

"For example, consumers in Brazil, China, and India report being more inclined to seek out green products and to favor companies they consider green, while their counterparts in France, Germany, the U.S., and U.K. are less inclined to do so."

The ideas in these graphs aren't new but the thoughts they provoke were in a different light in my opinion. The influential voices for buying a product vary in each country and the trust found in T.V. versus a professor fluctuates in each country. 

Green Brand Strategies

Welcome. Are you excited? I'm stoked! This term we are taking a big bite off of the subject of green brands. What does that mean? Elephant and a rhino. Will we trudge through it together and end up with a better understanding of what green and sustainability means  - you know it! So far we have been overloaded with content to keep up with, ideas to struggle with, and projects to conquer. Get ready to dive into this term with me. Brace your brain for an overload of images, ideas and content. We have been challenged to keep a blog with regular weekly, daily, morrisonion'ly updated posts. Let's do it. I'm ready to own it Deb.

" ah f*%*# it, or let me own it"

                          - Deb.