Green Cotton

Here’s to a wonderful start of 2009! This weeks news from our eco-fashionista blogger friends:

+ Alternative Consumer discusses PeaceKeeper Cause-metics, which provides certified organic beauty goods and donates all after-tax profits.

+ Eco-Chick’s editors share their Green New Year’s Resolutions.

+ Fashion, Evolved features ZAUM’s newest line of eco-friendly handbags.

+ GreenGirls.tv has a great ‘how to’ video on turning your old sweater into a sporty dress with jacket.

+ Victoria Everman shares an interview with Juliene Ebner, founder of Philadelphia’s first eco-friendly salon & spa.

+ Green Cotton lists the Green Festivals’ top 10 green books for 2009.

Green Festivals, sponsored by Coop America (now Green America) has put together its list of good green books from 2008- to be read in 2009. These books are available at Better World Books(http://www.betterworld.com)  under the Green Festivals list.

1. Hot, Flat and Crowded - by Thomas Friedman. A perfect follow up to the widely successful The World is Flat—a must read.

2. Hope on a Tightrope by Cornel West. The New York Times best-selling author of Race Matters and Democracy Matters - and for those who missed Dr. Cornel West’s powerful talk in San Francisco . . .

3. Natural Capitalism - A roadmap for understanding how the world economy will change over the next decade.”In this groundbreaking blueprint for a new economy, three leading business visionaries explain how the world is on the verge of a new industrial revolution.”

4. The Green Collar Economy - Van Jones doesn’t talk about it, he IS about it.”In The Green Collar Economy, acclaimed activist and political advisor Van Jones delivers a real solution that both rescues our economy and saves the environment.”

5. Cradle to Cradle - by William McDonough, Michael Braungart. So entrenched in the mission that it isn’t even made of paper; it’s waterproof and biodegradable. McDonough also spoke at DC Green Fest in October 2008.

6. Exposed :The Toxic Chemistry of Everyday Products and What’s at Stake for America Power. By Mark Shapiro. If you knew what was in your favorite products, you might think twice…This is my personal next read.

7. The Thrive Diet by Brenda Brazier. The Whole Food Way to Lose Weight, reduce Stress and Stay Healthy for Life. You’ll find out how to save money and eat foods that that will help you physically AND mentally.

8. The Green Parent by Jenn Savedge. While some might suggest that this is an oxymoron, especially if you are a parent, Jenn proves otherwise, with this kid-friendly guide to environmentally friendly living.

9. Go Green, Live Rich by David Bach and Hillary Rosner. 50 Simple Ways to Save the Earth and Get Rich Trying. Apparently, going green can actually save you serious cash.

10. My Stroke of Insight – by Jill Bolt Taylor. A brain scientists personal journey. An amazing story about a brain scientist and her journey to recovery after a massive stroke.

Personally, I would also add Green is the New Black by Tasmin Blanchard.

So why buy on Better World Books as opposed to Amazon or elsewhere?

Better World Books (BWB) gives 10% of all purchases to support the continued efforts of the Green Festival. For those of you who have attended one of these, you know how amazing they are. To run an event like that costs a lot more than the $5 - 15 that you pay to enter for the whole weekend. Supporting organizations such as this, help to fuel the green community to keep on creating innovative products, books, ideas, food and services.

In addition, BWB has raised $5.2 million dollars for global literacy through its sales.

Let us know what your favorites are — what is missing from this list of green books for 2009?

Check out the latest from our team of eco-chic bloggers:

Alternative Consumer shows sustainability is sexy in naughty & nice eco-undies.

Green Grechen looks at the myth that eco-friendly means wallet un-friendly.

Fig+Sage features an exclusive interview with brand new Organic Beauty Magazine’s Editor-in-Chief.

Victoria Everman displays small, sustainable wedding favors in preparation for her upcoming nuptials.

Green Cotton wants you to be carbon neutral for a day, thanks to Brighter Planet’s new campaign.

Wondering what to give someone for the holidays? Tired of all the stuff piling up with no more space to put it? Down in the dumps over the economy without much extra cash to spend on gifts?

Well, Brighter Planet has just the solution for you: Give the gift of carbon neutrality for ONE DAY to someone you care about by offsetting all the carbon he or she would typically emit. Brighter Planet has calculated that the average American emits 136 pounds of carbon dioxide each day. Where does this come from?

• About 36 pounds come from driving, flying, and other travel.
• Another 22 pounds come from heating, cooling, and powering our homes.
• The final 78 pounds come from producing, transporting, and disposing of all the stuff we buy, and from shared services like schools and street lights.
• 136 pounds would fill 5,000 balloons — imagine releasing that every day!

For every participant, Brighter Planet will donate 136 pounds of offsets — the equivalent of one day’s worth of CO2 emissions (based on the estimated average American footprint of 24.78 tons).

Help Brighter Planet reach their goal by giving away 5,000 One Day gifts and offset 680,000 pounds of CO2. We’re close, but could use your continued support to get there. Click here to send a gift: http://oneday.brighterplanet.com/users/3844/passes/public/94J-U6Y.

To learn more about Brighter Planet and their carbon offsets, visit here.

A new site has started, Worldchristmastree.com to promote and share Christmas trees worldwide (indoors and out) while pledging to save the forests by donating 80% of all proceeds to the World Land Trust.

The World Land Trust is an international conservation charity (Reg. No. 1001291), based in Halesworth, UK. Founded in 1989 as the World Land Trust (formerly World Wide Land Conservation Trust) has been working to preserve the world’s most biologically important and threatened lands, and has helped purchase and protect over 375,000 acres of habitats rich in wildlife, in Asia, Central and South America and the UK.

Click on their interactive google map and see the largest Christmas Tree in Europe (also featured top) to small tropical trees decorated in Vietnam. Upload your own tree and be a part of the movement to re-invest in preserving forests worldwide.

For what typically is not a very “green” holiday, here is a very easy way to contribute to something worthwhile by simply uploading an image of your tree online. The other neat aspect of this site is that promotes cross-cultural sharing of one communal aspect of the coming holiday season: the Christmas Tree.