There is a direct correlation between access to voluntary family planning, women’s empowerment and environmental sustainability. And though the official delegates to last week’s “Earth Summit” tried to water it down, thousands of grassroots activists (left) made it one of the biggest issues to rock Rio+20, as the event was also called. Why? Because ensuring […]
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How about a Goal instead of a Resolution – Like Shifting $1,000 to Greener Products and Services
I’d like to applaud you if you’re making 2011 New Year’s Resolutions to live a greener life, I really would. But how many “resolutions” have you made over the years? And – be honest, now – how many have you actually kept? The truth is,resolutions are as easy to abandon as they are to embrace. […]
Ten “Buy/Don’t Buy” Rules for Green Shopping
Make green shopping easier this holiday season by following the ten straightforward rules below. 1) Don’t buy anything that requires a throwaway battery. Batteries leak cadmium, lead and other heavy metals when they’re thrown away. They usually come wrapped in plastic and cardboard, creating more trash as soon as you buy them. Plus, you have to keep […]
She Put $1,000 of Her Money Where Her (Eco) Mouth Is
It’s easy to say you want to do something to protect the planet. Actually doing it is another matter altogether – unless you’re Fredia Banks. Not only did this Washington, D.C. resident launch a non-profit organization to promote sustainability in the nation’s capital. She took our One in a Million challenge to show people how spending […]
What Does “Natural” Mean?
Dictionary.com defines natural as “not artificial” or “having undergone little or no processing and containing no chemical additives.” When I think of “natural” I think of things “as Nature made them” – a tree, a flower, an apple, a bunch of carrots. I can recognize natural products in more or less their original form and can usually figure out […]
Big Green Declaration for Change Says It’s Time for a New Biz Model
There is a silver lining in the economic meltdown and environmental crises we face. These twin ‘evils’ have created an unprecedented opportunity to throw out old business models in favor of new approaches that will redefine prosperity in terms of health and wellness, work-life balance, and environmental protection. For decades, “old business” advocates successfully argued […]
Why I Believe in the Power of the Purse
This month’s Green Moms Carnival topic is “I believe…” I am taking the opportunity to reiterate why I created Big Green Purse, a campaign to motivate women especially to channel their spending power into social and environmental change. It is because I believe… * the fastest, most effective way to stop polluters is by pressuring them in […]
GrandMa Shifts Almost $20,000 to Green Goods; Saves $400/yr just on lighting
If you’re one of those people who want to “go green” but think they can’t afford it, meet Sue H. of Dewitt, Virginia. This “One in a Million” grandmother of two has found that shifting her spending to products and services that offer the greatest environmental benefit actually saves her money – especially when it comes to […]