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The United States EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) released a statement on October 6, 2010 to announce its award of 1.5 million in grants to 14 organizations in 11 states and the District of Columbia to fund environmental education efforts.EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson commented that “every American community relies on clean air, water and land for their environmental and economic health. We want to help expand awareness on how they can get involved in environmental protection and these grants will help communities across the country show how a clean environment starts at home.”We applaud the agency for recognizing that efforts do indeed “start at home” even if the issues ultimately end up being as far-reaching as climate change and water quality.

Formed in the United States in 2001, the Green Party has ten key values that deserve a closer look.1. GRASSROOTS DEMOCRACY Every human being deserves a say in the decisions that affect their lives and not be subject to the will of another.2. SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITY All persons should have the rights and opportunity to benefit equally from the resources afforded us by society and the environment.3. ECOLOGICAL WISDOM Human societies must operate with the understanding that we are part of nature, not separate from nature.4. NON-VIOLENCE It is essential that we develop effective alternatives to society’s current patterns of violence. We will work to demilitarize, and eliminate weapons of mass destruction, without being naive about the intentions of other governments.5. DECENTRALIZATION Centralization of wealth and power contributes to (more…)

Eco-friendly principles are the perfect complement to a healthy lifestyle. Even though summer is now passed the focus to stay fit and keep our planet fit should never be too far out of anyone’s mindset. Check out our tips below for developing a workout program with minimal environmental impact.Get outside You could drive to the gym, run on a treadmill, watch TV and breath air-conditioned air, but electrically powered exercise machines require a lot of energy to operate – not to mention the power consumed by indoor lighting, TVs, heating and cooling systems, computers, etc. By taking your workout outdoors, the only energy you consume is what you ate for breakfast. Plus, you’ll connect with the natural world and your community. If you must hit the gym, opt for public transit, bicycle or foot power to get you there.Work out at home If outdoor exercise is not an option, try working out at home using equipment that requires you to generate the power, such as dumbbells, tubing, kettle bells, jump ropes and self-powered cardio machines like spinning bikes and rowing machines. Shop for eco-friendly fitness products such as yoga mats made of natural rubber and bags made of hemp. Check out and craigslist to buy or swap used (more…)

The arrival of spring means fresh leaves, fresh air, and freshly cleaned homes for many an individual; but the turning leaves of autumn can evoke the same urge to get things clean and settled for the upcoming winter. Sadly, many of the conventional cleaning products we grew up with are petroleum-based and full of colorants, perfumes and toxic VOCs – risking not only our own health, but that of the environment. The hazardous chemicals in conventional cleaning products contribute to indoor air pollution in many homes and damage the environment by contaminating our groundwater, lakes and oceans. There are plenty of natural products on the market to help you keep your house clean and healthy without toxic side effects and we encourage you to check them out and incorporate their use whenever possible. And if you’re looking to escape from commercially made products, a few ingredients from your kitchen cupboards will also (more…)

Check out the shelves of your local supermarket or the bar of any restaurant and you’re likely to find water from all over the world. It might look and taste pure enough but the appeal ends there. For a start, bottled water is indistinguishable from tap water. In many cases, it is even derived from municipal tap water and filtered which is why PepsiCo agreed to add the words “public water source” to the label of Aquafina. Worse, shipping the stuff causes unnecessary environmental damage. Refrigeration wastes even more energy. And, of course, millions of plastic bottles end up in landfills. The regulations governing the quality of public water supplies are far stricter than (more…)