Dutch the service dog is saved!

You may remember the news last February when the service dog Dutch that had been beaten by his former owner, was sentenced to be euthanized this month. Now there’s great news:  he’s been reprieved!

Unique program helps restore coral reefs off Florida

The Coral Restoration Foundation is helping to restore the reefs off the Florida coast

The coral reefs in our oceans are in trouble. Increasing ocean acidification and pollution are causing serious damage to these once seemingly ageless structures. But with the help of marine scientists at Key Largo’s world-renowned nonprofit Coral Restoration Foundation (CRF) and its coral restoration workshops, divers from around the world are helping transplant nursery corals into an offshore coral nursery.

Pura Kiki – the safer alternative to plastic for babies

As demand for green products continues to increase, you’d think this would translate across every industry. But if you take a deeper look into the personal and baby bottle industry, a dark secret emerges. Almost all the baby and adult water bottles out there contain plastic – either as lids or with a plastic collar around the lid.

One brand stands above the crowd.

West Marine’s Green Product of the Year Competition is open

West Marine, the nation’s fifth largest specialty retailer of boating supplies and accessories, has announced the opening of its fifth annual Green Product of the Year Award. Entries are being accepted from the U.S., including the District of Columbia, as well as Puerto Rico and Canada (excluding the province of Quebec).

What do you do for the planet?

photo by Ninja M., Flickr

How would you answer these important questions?

It’s 3:23 in the morning and I’m awake.

because my great great grandchildren won’t let me sleep.

My great great grandchildren ask me in dreams:

What did you do while the planet was plundered?

What did you do when the earth was unraveling?

Surely you did something … when the seasons started failing?

As the mammals, reptiles, birds were all dying?

Did you fill the streets with protest when democracy was stolen?

What did you do?

Take a look at the video

Is there more that you can do to make a difference?

Stay safe and be seen with the Solar Bike Light

A shared road between drivers and bikers makes taking extra safety precautions a must, especially after sunset. Drivers have a tough time seeing bicycle riders and reflective decals may not be enough.

Solarrific, a manufacturer of solar and dynamo (hand cranking) powered products and innovative devices, has created the Solar Bike Light Kit, an easy-to-use system that may be the ultimate in nighttime safety for bikers.

A leader in sustainability – Staples recycles 350 million cartridges

It’s one thing to say you’re at the top of the sustainability chain. Staples Inc. “walks the walk”. The world’s largest office supply company and second largest internet retailer announced yesterday that since 2005 it has recycled 350 million ink and toner cartridges. That’s an average of over 60 million cartridges per year in the past three years.

Oregon’s governor signs ban on GMO canola growth in Willamette Valley

Governor John Kitzhaber (D-OR) signed into law a bill that banned the growth of genetically modified canola (rapeseed) for commercial production on Thursday, August 15th.  The new law prohibits growing the GMO crop within the three million acre Willamette Valley Protected District, one of the world’s pre-eminent vegetable seed producing regions, until 2019.

System now in place to recycle artificial turf

Artificial turf, used instead of real grass for a growing number of playing fields, has at its end of life been sent to landfills.  The reason is that this kind of turf is comprised of a mixture of polyethylene, polypropylene and polyurethane, though some can use materials like nylon or polyester. While the plastic in turf field systems can usually be recycled on its own, it is difficult for recyclers separate the plastics from the sand and rubber infill.

But leave it to enterprising and creative thinkers to come up with a solution.

Keep produce fresh longer with Debbie Meyer Green Bags

Debbie Meyer Green Bags can really help you cut food waste

Keeping with our newest and growing tradition, Americans throw out a good 25 percent of the produce we buy. Whether it’s overripe bananas or unattractive scuzzy lettuce, the result is unappetizing looking food you don’t want to touch, much less eat.

You’ve seen the TV commercials about this simple innovative solution. It’s not my usual new-to-market type, but it’s definitely one that works.

Debbie Meyer Green Bags™ are plastic bags that absorb and remove ethylene, the main culprit that causes produce to go bad. These bags contain zeolite, an aluminum silicate mineral that absorbs gases like CO2 and helps control the humidity that surrounds your produce.