Actually Do Something

Climate Change: 99 Second Opinions?

2011-10-19T12:15:00.000-07:00

Watch this. And then call your congressman. Climate Change is real, and it's not going away.

Seven Planet Mindful Media | Castor & Pollux

2011-02-10T15:49:00.001-08:00

Sick of feeding your dog or cat with food that creeps you out? No more "Mechanically separated chicken". No more gross fillers and other ingredients that don't add any health to your pet's diet.

Castor & Pollux is a Portland based company that makes organic, healthy food for your pet. Visit Seven Planet stores or check out www.sevenplanet.com to see more about the products, and to purchase!

Seven Planet Mindful Media | Cleanwell

2011-02-10T15:31:00.000-08:00

DJ and Summer Widmer of Seven Planet profile Cleanwell, a line of cleaning products made from natural ingredients. These products have no harsh chemicals, and are allergy-free. Environmentally safe, Cleanwell is a great company. Visit www.sevenplanet.com for more information, and to purchase!

Seven Planet Mindful Media | Preserve

2011-02-10T15:25:00.000-08:00

Another video from Seven Planet showcasing cool, ecologically smart products.
This week's product is Preserve, a line of homeware made from 100% recycled plastic.

Using Nature's Genius in Architecture

2011-02-10T15:23:00.000-08:00

Now here's some inspiring talk of utilizing nature's genius to further human achievement. Can you imagine a solar project that is simultaneously providing clean energy and re-growing lost Saharan forests? Incredible!

Seven Planet Mindful Media | Alchemy Goods

2011-02-09T14:04:00.000-08:00

Ask Starbucks for a Real Cup.

2010-10-05T12:00:00.000-07:00

There are those of us in the Pacific Northwest that can drink great coffee for years without ever setting foot in Starbucks. Not that it's bad coffee, but there are a hell of a lot of great local options.

For those that are in coffee-deprived parts of the country, the choices might not be so vast.

Here's a simple tip for those that do visit Starbucks on a regular basis. Ask for a real ceramic mug or cup! As someone that has worked behind-the-scenes, Starbucks stocks a number of these, but won't use them unless you ask. And instead of having a 20 minute cup of coffee served in one (or sometimes two!) cups that are immediately thrown out, the ceramic mug will save paper, save energy, and save landfill space.

It's that easy.

Microbeads: Plastic down the drain. Literally.

2010-10-04T15:32:00.000-07:00

Packed with mini bits of plastic!

Ahh, exfoliation in the morning. It feels nice, huh? A bit of mild abrasion on your face will help remove dead skin cells.

What you might not know is that a lot of these cleansers are packed with tiny plastic beads, called "micro beads" or something of the sort. And while they might exfoliate, they also get flushed down the drain by the thousands, flowing into our water system, and eventually being ingested by bird life and fish life.

For a lot more (disturbing) information on the subject, click here.

And for smarter choices for your skin, there are a lot of great cleansers like St. Ives that use exfoliants like walnut shells instead of plastic.

A better cleanser, using natural exfoliants.

STOP Idling your Car!

2010-09-28T12:05:00.000-07:00

For those of us who don't have a Prius, or a car with auto-engine shutoff, letting your car idle is a fantastic way to waste gas, pollute the air and add to the noise of our environment.

The Consumer Energy Center, a non-profit from the California Energy Commission states:

If you're in a drive-through restaurant/business line or waiting for someone and you'll be parked and sitting for 10 seconds or longer... turn off your car's engine.

So, a 10 second rule. It's easy, simple, and if everyone started doing this, we'd save millions of tons of CO2 from going into our atmosphere every year.

Use a Broom.

2010-09-07T13:45:00.000-07:00

The sparkly, ridiculous ads showcasing Swiffer® would make you think that cleaning your house needs a regularly refilled "Floor System". Not True.

Believe it or not, a broom does a wonderful job of sweeping dust, dirt, hair, and stray peanuts into a pile. Which you then put into the garbage. It requires no batteries, lasts a decade, and certainly does not need a box of refills, which the Swiffer most certainly does. And have you actually used one of these systems? They're pretty terrible.

In an age of new gadgetry, one way of Actually Doing Something is to simplify. Do what you know, and keep it straightforward. The broom has been around for hundreds of years, costs $10-20, and is the transportation system of choice for witches and wizards alike. Sweep on.

Re-use the Simple Stuff

2010-09-03T15:31:00.000-07:00

All of you know the benefits of reusing, recycling, and using less. Why then, do we often fail to reuse the simplest stuff?

Take Ziploc bags, for instance. They're made from virgin petroleum, and have a shelf life of forever. The sad thing is that most people go through them like they're only as long-lasting as the cheese or sandwich or you-know-what that they hold!

Why not reuse your Ziplocs? Put a bit of liquid soap in them, splash them clean, turn them inside out to dry. Done. Fresh. New. You've just taken a small step towards Actually Doing Something. And the earth thanks you for it.

BIKE!

2010-09-03T15:10:00.001-07:00

Bikes are the future. They are silent, pollution-free, and small, allowing for every person on the globe to have one.

Now, don't get me wrong, electric cars are cool, and "now", and futuristic, but in terms of the "killer app", the bicycle is the ticket.

And just because bikes have been around for over 100 years doesn't mean they have to be stale looking, or boring.

Oh yeah, this thing!

2010-08-01T19:05:00.001-07:00

Ahh...the magic of the internet.

Starting blogs and then promptly forgetting and abandoning them. It's what we do, isn't it?

Well, upon rediscovering this web-relic, I am happy to say there is some life in the tunnel. Wait for it.......

In Gestation

2010-01-06T11:37:00.000-08:00

There are ideas brewing. Ideas for a website that helps everyday people, like you, like me, make a difference for the planet. Yeah, I know, sounds corny. But frankly, we need to start acting.

Acting like we care about this enormous mess called Climate Change. Acting like we have ethical bones in our bodies. Acting with simple, yet effective lifestyle changes.

I purchased the domain www.ActuallyDoSomething.com and I am thrilled it was available to me.

I am currently working on the site. I hope it's going to be a hit. Stay tuned.