Eco-Libris blog

A Big Strategy by Peter J. Hughes and Kinga Monica is going green with Eco-Libris!

noreply@blogger.com (Raz Godelnik) — Sat, 26 May 2012 10:30:00 +0000

Last December we wrote here about a new interesting book - A Big Strategy by Peter J. Hughes and Kinga Monic. Now we have some more exciting news - the authors are collaborating with Eco-Libris to plant a tree for every copy sold! As you can see in the picture below you can also find our logo on the back cover of the book.

Here are some more details on A Big Strategy:
How many small actions and collective wisdom can change the world for the better.

A Big Strategy offers a framework for generating new answers to today's problems.

Everyday our world is changing; a worldwide financial crisis, emergency bank bail-outs and unemployment. Debt and food prices are surging. Scientists and economists predict environmental tipping points could lead to a convergence of many complex issues. The choices we make today shape and determine the outcome over the next decades.

With rapid restorative action we can change the conditions for the better. As fossil fuels start to become scarcer, we are moving towards a future powered more by renewable energy and the wise use of resources.

A Big Strategy looks to many sciences and ancient philosophies to discover what insights can be gleaned to help today replenish the planet. This book explores how an integrated approach can enhance our lives, community, local economy, environment all at the same time.

Through collective action we can generate enhanced leisure facilities and more opportunities in neighborhoods, achievable through instigating this highly advanced sustainable development formula. The benefits are multi-faceted and can be replicated, multiplying results that can start to create more optimism and hope for a brighter future.

For more details as well as for ordering a copy (it is available now in a paperback and ebook formats) visit Authors OnLine's website.

Yours,
Raz @ Eco-Libris

Eco-Libris: Plant a tree for every book you read!

Help Dream Traveler: Africa to meet its Kickstarter campaign's goal!

noreply@blogger.com (Raz Godelnik) — Fri, 25 May 2012 19:35:00 +0000

Last month we told you about a Kickstarter campaign of a great new book, Dream Traveler: Africa, the first book in the series of children's books entitled the Dream Traveler series, which is about connecting people with cultural awareness, travel, geography, imagination and creativity, as well as and also conscious living and a loving family. We also mentioned that if the required funding will be raised, it will also be used to plant a tree with Eco-Libris to green up the printed books!

The author Stacey Gates is looking to raise $7,000 on Kickstarter and she's almost there! With 8 days to go, 104 backers pledged to provide $6,290 to make this book happen. This means that the campaign is still $710 short and needs to get them in 8 days to get the money - just to remind you, according to Kickstarter rules, it's all or nothing: if you don't meet your goal you get nothing.

So let's try to help Stacey meet her goal either through contribution or just spreading the word about it. This is really a great book and we truly hope it will make it and receive the funding! You can learn more about the book and pledge at http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/936219362/dream-traveler-africa

Yours,
Raz @ Eco-Libris

Eco-Libris: Plant a tree for every book you read!

Top 100 book apps: Builda the Re-Bicycler by Midlandia Press

noreply@blogger.com (Raz Godelnik) — Fri, 25 May 2012 01:35:00 +0000

We believe in the digital future of books as a way to reduce eventually the footprint of books, which means we also believe in apps. Book apps are integral part of the digital age of books and we want to share with you some great book apps we find and thus we are assembling a list of the top 100 book apps.

In order to get into our list apps need to both book/ebook related and affordable - we choose only apps that are either free or cost less than $2.

So every week we update you with a new app on out list of top book apps. Today we're happy to introduce you an app that can actually be on our list of 100 green apps as well - it's an eco-conscious fable that will engage, educate, and inspire your young reader.

Our app today is Builda the Re-Bicycler by Midlandia Press. This app is for iPad and costs $1.99.

Here are more details about the Builda the Re-Bicycler app:

Builda the Re-Bicycler is an eco-conscious fable that will engage, educate, and inspire your young reader. The island of Midlandia is bicycle-crazy - but a problem seems to be piling up. When the town dump overflows with discarded bikes, Builda the factory owner springs into action. Can her plan to reduce, reuse, and recycle save the day?

With custom music, audio, and special effects, this digital book from Midlandia Press (creators of The Pirate Koostoe for the iPad) gives young readers an entertaining and educational experience they will want to relive again and again. To help develop early reading skills, each word of the story is highlighted as it is read. Combining vibrant illustrations, thoughtful storytelling, and various forms of interactivity, Builda the Re-Bicycler is a clever character-builder that will appeal to readers of all ages while encouraging social consciousness.

This digital book can be enjoyed in three modes:

• Read-to-me – listen to the narrated story with words highlighted as they are read
• Read-to-myself – read the story in its traditional form
• Auto-play – story is narrated, with automatic page turns. Perfect for younger children!

Additional features include:

• Detailed, colorful artwork
• All-original musical compositions
• Pages pan and zoom to guide the eye and accentuate the story
• Animation and interactive touch elements
• Hidden “Easter egg” elements
• Story narration by the author
• End-of-story discussion questions to encourage reader reflection

Builda the Re-Bicycler is part of the "Tales of Midlandia" series, a wonderful collection of humorous, enriching, and thought-provoking stories brought to you online and in print by Midlandia Press. Each story deals with universal concepts and social situations that are relatable to any young child or parent. From bullying to bad dreams, from table manners to temper tantrums—the Midlandians experience it all. The series debuted on the iPad with The Pirate Koostoe in December of 2011. With a cast of nearly thirty characters, more “Tales” are soon to follow…

Last book app - Chimps should be Chimps

You can check top 100 book apps at http://www.ecolibris.net/bookapps.asp. As you'll see, this list is in work, but we promise to update it every week until we'll have all 100 book apps.

You're also welcome to check our list of 100 green apps.

Yours,
Raz @ Eco-Libris

Eco-Libris: Plant a tree for every book you read!

My article on Triple Pundit about the 7 companies that have just moved away from SFI

noreply@blogger.com (Raz Godelnik) — Fri, 18 May 2012 09:06:00 +0000

Here's an update on a new article I published yesterday on Triple Pundit with the latest news on the SFI forestry certification. This time it's about 7 companies, including Pitney Bowes, Ruby Tuesday, Phillips Van Heusen, and US Airways are taking action to avoid the use of the SFI label. It also includes a short interview with Aaron Sanger, Director of U.S. campaigns at ForestEthics.

The article is entitled '7 More Companies Reject SFI'. Here's the first part of the article:

When you see a headline about a new batch of companies moving away from something, you usually can bet it’s either APP, the paper company operating in Indonesia, or SFI, the forestry certification. This time it’s SFI, and the list is of seven companies, including Pitney Bowes, Ruby Tuesday, Phillips Van Heusen, and US Airways that are taking action to avoid the use of the SFI label. Ruby Tuesday, for example, has made a commitment to avoid any use or promotion of the SFI logo and name in conjunction with its brand, products or services, and US Airways has committed to avoid any use or promotion of the SFI logo or SFI certified products.

To read the full article go to http://www.triplepundit.com/2012/05/7-companies-moving-away-sfi-tipping-point-getting-closer/

Links to other articles I wrote for Triple Pundit can be found at http://www.triplepundit.com/author/raz-godelnik/

To read more on the fight between FSC and SFI, visit our website at http://www.ecolibris.net/SFI_or_FSC.asp

Yours,
Raz @ Eco-Libris

Eco-Libris: Plant trees for your books!

Poets and Writers Magazine is moving to use recycled paper

noreply@blogger.com (Raz Godelnik) — Fri, 11 May 2012 10:19:00 +0000

As you know magazines, just like books, have their own environmental issues and there's now a greater exploration of ways to reduce their carbon footprint, from using sustainable paper alternatives to eliminating the paper at all by moving to e-publishing. One of the examples for the former is Poets & Writers Magazine, an award-winning bimonthly published by the nonprofit organization Poets & Writers, Inc., which decided to use recycled paper.

In the 3-minute video below Suzanne Pettypiece, Managing Editor of Poets & Writers Magazine, shares how her magazine transitioned to a body stock that contains a minimum of 90% recycled content with 30% postconsumer content and a 10% postconsumer recycled cover stock that is FSC certified, choices that set it apart from other periodicals, over 97% of which still use virgin paper.

Before switching to environmentally friendly paper in 2008, Pettypiece was concerned, like many publishers, about quality. However, she notes that, since switching, "We haven't had any complaints from advertisers, photographers, or readers. It's a beautiful product."

For Poets & Writers Magazine, the move to recycled paper set in motion a larger commitment to sustainable business practices. Now staff members pitch in to do small things that have a larger impact, from creating a better recycling system to re-using office supplies and cutting down on waste.

Let's hope more magazines will follow suit!

Yours,
Raz @ Eco-Libris

Eco-Libris: Plant a tree for every book you read!

Recommended book on Kickstarter: SideWalk Ritual by Scott James

noreply@blogger.com (Raz Godelnik) — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 10:34:00 +0000

Kickstarter is a great place to fund interesting new products and projects, including books. Great books. So we decided we want to help spread the word on book projects we like on Kickstarter and every weekend we'll share one with you.

Today's Kickstarter book is Sidewalk Ritual by Scott James. Sidewalk Ritual the story of Richard, a twenty-six year old on a journey of self-discovery through the streets of San Francisco. He encounters girls, family, old friends, cupcake violence, sidewalk silence, and sex, drugs & rock and roll along the way to himself.

One tree will be planted with Eco-Libris for every copy printed!

Goal: $7,000

Pledged so far: $3,306 (41 backers)

Still missing: $3,694

Days left: 31 days (until May 29)

Here's a description of the book project:

What's the book about again?

It's the story of Richard, a twenty-six year old on a journey of self-discovery through the streets of San Francisco. He encounters girls, family, old friends, cupcake violence, sidewalk silence, and sex, drugs & rock and roll along the way to himself. For a story summary, check out the chapter by chapter outline.

Why did I write this book?

Because I had to. Writing is like breathing. This book was born last fall while I was in Shanghai where my wife was working. One afternoon it just hit me that I needed to stop thinking about it and start writing. I walked down the block, got a whiskey, and put the first outline on a napkin and the first sentences in my iPhone. A few days later on the flight back to San Francisco on my 34th birthday, I promised myself that by the time I turned 35 I would be a published author. So many novels have changed my life, and I want to add my two cents to that eternal conversation.

Why Social Publishing?

Because whenever I finish a good book, a book I like, I always say to myself, "I want more like that." Social publishing is one way to do that. You get more art and music about the characters and themes you just finished with. And I'm building inspiration into the process, trying to stoke that fire. I'm self-publishing to keep control over the timeline of this project and make sure everyone involved keeps the rights to their work. And I just get energized working with other talented people.

Where am I in the process?

I've written the first draft and done the first round of edits. Now, I need your help to hire a professional editor and pay for publishing costs.
Twelve artists and musicians have signed on to create art inspired by the book. Before I can move forward, I need the proceeds of this campaign to commission them.

How does your contribution help?

Editing and publishing costs
Materials and production costs for artists and musicians
Social Publishing process costs

Last Kickstarter recommendation - Yeti Leaves Home

Yours,
Raz @ Eco-Libris

Eco-Libris: Plant a tree for every book you read!

More trees? No thanks, Captain Planet!

noreply@blogger.com (Raz Godelnik) — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 01:26:00 +0000

If you haven't seen yet Don Cheadle as Captain Planet, this is your chance! I saw it (and Cheadle) first on the Sustainable Operations Summit in New York last week and thought it's funny as hell :)

Yours,
Raz @ Eco-Libris

Plant a tree for every book you read!

Want to celebrate Earth Day? Just say No to Amazon.com!

noreply@blogger.com (Raz Godelnik) — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 11:29:00 +0000

There are many ways to celebrate Earth Day and the merrier the better. We are celebrating it this year in a collaboration with Lulu in a special Earth Day contest, and we also participate in the Earth Day Network's A Billion of Acts of Green! campaign. But today we wanted to share with you another action which we believe is valuable, effective, important and appropriate for Earth Day:

Say NO to Amazon.com. In other words, don't buy there anything today.

You're probably asking yourself why avoiding Amazon.com is a demonstration of a commitment to mother earth? The short answer is that while Amazon, one of the most successful companies in the world, had all the potential to become a force of good and a leader in the transition movement to a low-carbon economy, it has became just the opposite. Amazon has become an example for a company that only cares about the bottom line. Amazon doesn't seem to care too much about the environment nor to take into consideration stakeholders' environmental concerns.

Here are 5 examples that will show you what we exactly talk about:

1. Amazon got the worst grades on Greenpeace’s latest report How Clean is Your Cloud on the resources of energy it uses for its data centers. It received "F" for transparencey - "AWS [Amazon Web Services] has seen tremendous growth over the past year, but fails to disclose information on its environmental footprint at either a company-wide or facility level" and "F" for Renewable Energy Investment - Despite its significant size and resources, AWS does not appear to have made any purchases or investments in renewable electricity for its facilities. AWS is currently falling out of step with other major cloud companies who are putting in place a long-term business strategy that accounts for impacts the company will face due to climate change."

2. Amazon, unlike 70% of the S&P 500 companies, does not respond to the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) questionnaire, asking corporations to disclose their greenhouse gas emissions and climate-related risks.

3. Amazon opposed last year a shareholder resolution calling the company to prepare a report that will assess the impact of climate change on Amazon and make it public.

4. Amazon doesn't reply to any inquires from stakeholders like media or research groups about the carbon footprint of its no. 1 product -the Kindle.

5. Amazon is aggressively competing with small local businesses using its price comparison app ("evil app"), which was promoted last year with discounts for anyone who goes to brick and mortar retailers, but chooses to buy at Amazon.

If we can learn something from Amazon's behavior (see the example of “frustration-free packaging”), it is that Amazon only cares about something when its customers care about it. So I think there's no better day than Earth Day to start showing Amazon we care about the environment and society and prefer to use online retailers that also care about these issues and aren't ignoring them.

If Amazon will listen, and again, unfortunately it seems this is the only way to get Amazon to listen, it can still take the lead and become a driving force in the transition to a low-carbon economy. But to get there, we, the consumers, need to act first and make sure Amazon knows mother earth should be taken into consideration 365 days a year.

Happy Earth Day,
Raz @ Eco-Libris

Plant a tree for every book you read!

Better World Books presents their top 10 green books

noreply@blogger.com (Raz Godelnik) — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 16:56:00 +0000

With Earth Day right around the corner, the good folks at Better World Books thought it was a great time of year to release their top 10 green books:

1. Natural Capitalism

2. The Lorax

3. An Inconvenient Truth

4. Silent Spring

5. Moral Ground

6. The Better World Shopping Guide

7. Hot, Flat and Crowded 2.0

8. Farm City

9. The Responsibility Revolution

10. The Great Paper Caper

If you’re not familiar, Better World Books collects and sells books online to donate books and fund literacy initiatives worldwide. With more than 8 million new and used titles in stock, it’s a self-sustaining, triple-bottom-line company that creates social, economic and environmental value. To date, the company has raised over $10 million for libraries and literacy, and diverted millions of books from landfills. For more information please visit http://www.betterworldbooks.com/

Publish Post

Yours,
Raz @ Eco-Libris

Plant a tree for every book you read!

For Earth Day Contest, Lulu and Eco-Libris are planting a tree for every entry!

noreply@blogger.com (Raz Godelnik) — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 13:58:00 +0000

We want to update you on an exciting collaboration we have for Earth Day with Lulu, one of the leaders in self-publishing:

In honor of Earth Day, enter the Lulu Earth Day Contest on Facebook. This is a print sales contest for Lulu authors - submit your book to compete for most sales between April 18-April 25. Also, Lulu will plant a tree per contest entry up to 6,000 through Eco-Libris. Contest prizes include a Nook®, a Marketing Consultation ($475) and a Clarion Book Review ($350). Enter now!

Please check it out and if you're a Lulu author, enter the contest at http://www.facebook.com/Luludotcom/app_322805704439844

More about Lulu: Lulu.com is a one-stop shop where, with a few clicks of a button, authors, publishers, and businesses alike can publish their ideas in a book for free and sell it to customers all over the world through a growing network of retail markets – as a print book or eBook.

Creators keep full creative and copyright control, set their own price, and keep up to 90 percent of the profits whenever their work sells. Since 2002, Lulu has helped over 1.1 million creators in over 200 countries and territories publish their remarkable works, making Lulu.com the number one source for indie content on premier channels including Amazon.com, the iBookstore℠, and Barnes and Noble.

Yours,
Raz @ Eco-Libris

Plant a tree for every book you read!

Three children's books on the new Silly Gilly Gil Series are going green with Eco-Libris!

noreply@blogger.com (Raz Godelnik) — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 08:31:00 +0000

We are happy to update you on not one, but three new books coming from our partner, the Australian publisher Pick-a-WooWoo Publishers, as part of the new Silly Gilly Gil Series: Best Buddies, Bullying Hurts and Grandpa Harley's Funeral. Written by Abue (Donna Kuehl Frantz) and illustrated by Gabriel Evans, all of these wonderful children's books are going green with Eco-Libris and 300 trees are planted for the printed copies!

About the series: Gil, of the Silly Gilly Gil book series is an amazing boy. Regardless of where he is, what he is doing, or who he is with, Gil keeps his heart open. It is no different than his having brown skin...simply a part of who Gil is. Does that mean Gil is a perfect little angel? No way! He has real-life issues to deal with...divorced parents, a school bully, and the death of his grampa. But as Gil remains true to himself in each situation, those around him, both kids and adults, learn how to stay true to themselves as well.

Book #1 on the series: Best Buddies

Gil's parents are divorced, so come the weekend, he goes to live with his dad at his dad's apartment. Only this time his dad's new girlfriend is there. Seeing his dad with Lizzy feels weird, as in bad. And besides, it seems like Lizard (as Gil thinks of her), wants he and his dad to stop doing all the fun things they usually do together. But when Gil senses that his dad is lying to him about something involving Lizard, his heart starts to hurt. Not knowing how to do it any other way, and even though he is afraid, Gil simply must open up and tell his dad the truth about what he is feeling.

100 trees are planted with Eco-Libris for Best Buddies! The book is available for sale on Amazon at http://amzn.to/HKsUtS

Book #2 on the series: Bullying Hurts

Lots of kids call Ziggy a bully. That's because he punches people on the playground when the teacher isn't looking. When kids want to know why Ziggy does that, Gil gives them his best guess, "Maybe Ziggy needs a friend." But Gil is in for a big surprise when, instead of bumping knuckles with Gil to be friends, Ziggy punches Gil on the arm again and again! Of course you will have to read the book to find out what Gil does next, but here's a clue: it's not the answer most adults would give, and it's a little bit scary, too.

100 trees are planted with Eco-Libris for Bulling Hurts! The book is available for sale on Amazon at http://amzn.to/HBGAG2

Book #3 on the series: Grampa Harley's Funeral

After Gil's grampa dies, he has to go to a big church party called a funeral. But when he gets in trouble for using his outside voice inside the church, Gil gets embarrassed and squeezes his eyes closed. That's when something incredible happens. He actually gets to be with his grampa and sit on his Harley and give him a humongous hug, just like always! Afterward, even though he's not sure if his mom and his gramma and his aunt believe it, Gil knows in his heart that what happened with his grampa was real.

100 trees are planted with Eco-Libris for Grampa Harley's Funeral! The book is available for sale on Amazon at http://amzn.to/HQL7YM

About the publisher: Based in Western Australia, Pick-a-WooWoo Publishers are publishers of Mind Body Spirit books for children. Their inspirational books are designed to help children connect with their intuition and inner guidance, develop their awareness skills and enhance their Mind, Body, Spirit connection. Their goal is to help children create a sense of strength and sense of belonging in this world by teaching them of their connection to everything in the web of life.

Other Pick-a-Woo-Woo titles that go green with Eco-Libris:

The Boy Who Was Born To Love Frogs
Angel Steps
Ocean's Calling
KC the Conscious Came

Archie Angel to the Rescue
The Star who Lost her Sparkle
Herbie and the Tune
A is for Asking

More information on these books and other titles published by Pick-a-Woo Woo can be found on their website - http://www.pickawoowoo.com

Yours,
Raz @ Eco-Libris

Plant a tree for every book you read!

Greg Barber invites you to join the NAMI walk on May 5th in NY

noreply@blogger.com (Raz Godelnik) — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 10:08:00 +0000

Our friend, Greg Barber is not only an expert eco-friendly printer, but also a caring person involved in community and charity activities that are aimed to promote important causes. One of them is the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), the nation's largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to improving the lives of individuals and families affected by mental illness.

Greg has become involved with NAMI through his own personal experience, as a father to Neil, who was diagnosed with schizophrenia. Greg, who created Neil's Wheels, an organization representing “courage, hope and community” and working to address the urgent and mounting issues of the homeless community and the need for continued research into mental health issues in support of improved treatments and hopefully a cure.

NAMI has an upcoming 3 mile walk in NY on May 5th to raise money for the organization, and we're happy to share with you Greg's call to participant in the event:

The NAMI Walk, National Alliance for Mental Illness, is on May 5th at 11-2PM. The Walk to raise money for NAMI is at Jones Beach, Field 5. The walk is 1.5 miles along the boardwalk and 1.5 miles back.

If you want to just sit and take in the day, please do. We just want your support for this worthy cause. The statistics say 1 in 4 have some form of Mental Illness, and NAMI helps the families that suffer from Mental Illness. My family is included.

We are hoping that you will donate $10 or higher to NAMI.

But, the most important thing is that you support their efforts. I have worked with NAMI for years and their help is fabulous. Please pass my email along.

If you donate $75, you get the new Documentary “Breaking The Silence” that features Manhasset Middle School in their efforts to help my son, Neil Barber, battle Schizophrenia. Neil was All County in both Lacrosse and Cross Country at Manhasset. He graduated in 1992.

The Documentary is 15 minutes long and includes Coach Bob Rule, Health Teacher, Jasmine Plaza, a classroom of Manhasset Students discussing Mental Illness and what they would do if it happened in their own families, and myself, Greg Barber, speaking at the NY Islanders Fund Raiser for Neil, and at several schools about my journey, as a Caretaker for Neil.

The link to sign up for the walk is on our Neils Wheels website. www.neilswheelsny.com

You can call me at 973 224 1132 (cell) for any question.

Please bring 3 cans of Food as well, if you come. We have Island Cares, Harry Chapin’s Foundation, collecting the food at the Sign in

Tables in the parking lot at Field 5. You can drive right up to us and give us your food, and then sign in, and walk under the tunnel to the WALK.

Thanks,

Greg Barber & Neil Barber
Coach Rule & Frank Bice
& Bob Buhmann
NWNY TEAM

Dream Traveler: Africa, a new children's book is looking for funding on Kickstarter

noreply@blogger.com (Raz Godelnik) — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 01:45:00 +0000

We are recommending here almost every week on a new interesting book that is looking for funding on Kickstarter. This week we have the pleasure to introduce you to the first book in the series of children's books entitled the Dream Traveler series, which is about connecting people with cultural awareness, travel, geography, imagination and creativity, as well as and also conscious living and a loving family.

We also have a special interest in this series. If the required funding will be raised, it will also be used to plant a tree with Eco-Libris to green up the printed books!

The series is written by Stacey Gates and illustrated by Ryan Wardlow. The first book that is looking for funding to get published is Dream Traveler: Africa.

Goal: $7,000

Pledged so far: $2,035 (33 backers)

Still missing: $4,965

Days left: 50 days (until June 2)

About the project:

In the Dream Traveler series, a North American boy named Canyon manifests his way around the world through his dreams for a glimpse of how people live their lives in other countries. Readers will travel with him as he meets children who joyfully accept him into their lives and are just as curious and interested in him, as he is in them.

The books in the series are soulful tales of love and adventure for ages 4 and up. They bring about cultural awareness, encourage imagination and creativity, and through the illustrations, they exemplify environmental consciousness and health. Music, art and more are threaded throughout the stories as well.

Dream Traveler Africa

To grab the reader's attention, the story begins with Canyon returning from his first dream travel to Canada. He dives on his parent's bed shouting with laughter, "You'll never believe where I just came from!" He sums up his adventure.

For more information please visit Dream Traveler: Africa page on Kickstarter -

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/936219362/dream-traveler-africa

Last week's Kickstarter recommendation - Yeti Leaves Home

Yours,
Raz @ Eco-Libris

Eco-Libris: Plant a tree for every book you read!

A Happy and Green Passover from Eco-Libris!

noreply@blogger.com (Raz Godelnik) — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 09:50:00 +0000

Today is the time for the Passover Seder, which is a Jewish ritual held on the first night (and in some places also in the second night) of Passover, which is one of my favorite Jewish holidays.

The Seder is a family gathering, sitting together around the table, reading the Haggadah (he story of the Israelite exodus from Egypt), singing the holiday songs and eating the holiday's traditional food. President Obama will host a Seder at the White House for the fourth time (see photo below from the 2010 Seder at the White House and you can also check the White House Chefs' collection of recipes for Passover) and said he is looking forward to "a good bowl of matzo ball soup".

So how do you green your Seder? Yahoo! The Healthy Voyager had some great tips on BlogHer. Joe Laur had also some good recommendations on Greenopolis, Ann Bell Muzaurieta adds on the Daily Green tips and recipes to keep your Passover healthy and sustainable, and finally the Huddler's Green Home Community brings you on Yahoo! Green 10 good tips on how to have an eco-friendly and organic Seder.

I haven't found yet an Haggadah from recycled paper, but still there are other many steps you can take to make sure you celebrate the Passover in an eco-friendly style.

Enjoy your Seder and Happy Passover from all of us at Eco-Libris!

Raz @ Eco-Libris

Eco-Libris: Promoting sustainable reading!

The Hunger Games and green reading

noreply@blogger.com (Raz Godelnik) — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 09:20:00 +0000

"The Hunger Games" had a record box office opening, taking in $155 million in U.S. ticket sales over the last weekend and setting up what promises to be one of the biggest film franchises of this decade. The movie is based on the book The Hunger Games, the first novel in the Hunger Games trilogy written by Susan Collins.

The success of the movie helps boost the sales of the trilogy and Scholastic, the publisher of the Hunger Games Trilogy announced on Wednesday that there were 36.5 million copies of the bestselling trilogy in print, a 55 percent jump from the 23.5 million copies in print at the start of 2012.

Why I'm telling you all of this? Because I believe The Hunger Games phenomenon provides some important and valuable lessons for everyone who is interested in making books greener.

Let's start with a fact: According to Lisa Serra, Director of Paper Procurement at Scholastic, the hardcover copies of the three books in the series (The Hunger Games, Catching Fire, and Mockingjay) are printed on Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Chain of Custody-certified text stock containing 20 percent post-consumer fiber (source: Joshua Martin, Environmental Paper Network Director).

Now, let's move on to three assumptions:

1. If you are interested in reading one of the Hunger Games, most chances are that you don't find it too important what paper it is printed on - you won't look for another book if you will find out the trilogy is printed on 100 percent virgin paper, just like you won't buy it only because it's printed on 20 percent FSC-certified paper or even if it's 100 percent recycled paper. In other words: The sustainability level of the paper will not be a factor in your decision. Most chances are that you probably won't even think about it.

2. Those readers who will be concerned with the issue of the paper might consider reading the Hunger Games electronic version - the e-book costs just like the paperback ($5) and no paper is used at all. Couldn't it get any greener than that?

3. Scholastic probably knows that the fact it is using 20 percent FSC-certified paper doesn't really make a difference for the majority of readers. Most of them probably are not even aware to the fact that Scholastic is making this effort, or to the fact that after making significant progress toward its original targets for 2012, Scholastic decided to increase its 2012 goal from 30% FSC-certified paper to 35%.

As we already know a book is a unique product - it's not like toothpaste or a cleaning product where customers can switch to a competing product that is more sustainable and provide them a better value. If they want a certain book, they will just get it and there's no better example right now than the Hunger Games. Just think about yourself - would you avoid purchasing the Hunger Games just because it's printed on 80 percent virgin paper? Probably not.

You might be considering reading it on an e-reader or even going to the library to get a copy or e-copy of the book, but you certainly won't give it up for 'green' reasons per se.

So what lessons can we learn from the example of the Hunger Games and what actions can we take to apply them?

1. Readers will not be the drivers of change when it comes to printing books on a more sustainable paper (i.e. FSC-certified or recycled paper). Nevertheless, it is important to keep educating them about the impacts of paper, so even if it won't be a substantial factor in their decision making, they will still be aware of it.

2. Readers are moving to e-reading and many of them believe it is also a greener alternative since no paper is involved. It is important to make sure readers will know it's not always the case and be aware that e-reading also has its own footprint. It's also important to encourage readers to demand companies like Amazon to disclose the environmental impacts of the e-readers they sell.

3. Although readers might not be a major driver for change, publishers should make efforts to inform them on their efforts to green up their operations, especially when there is what to report on. Scholastic, for example, should try to make sure every reader of the Hunger Games in its paper version would know that the book is printed using 20 percent FSC-certified paper.

4. Publishers should think of their efforts to make their books more sustainable in terms of stakeholder engagement. Right now it looks like their best shot to generate both tangible and intangible rewards out of these efforts. Just think about the RAN campaign against publishers printing on linked to Indonesian rainforest destruction (Scholastic by the way was among RAN's recommended publishers) or the trouble Gibson Guitars got into when they were accused in violating the Lacey Act, and you can see how stakeholder engagement provide a great monetary incentive to shift to FSC-certified any recycled paper.

5. We still don't have the best answers to the question how to make reading more sustainable - technology provides hope and stakeholder engagement provide incentives, but it's still not enough to drive a change fast enough. Trees are still been cut in an unsustainable way and we know it can be avoided. We just need to keep figuring out how. Any ideas?

Please feel free to share add your comments and thoughts!

Yours,

Raz @ Eco-Libris

Eco-Libris: Plant trees for your books!

Our planting partner RIPPLE Africa presents the Kandoli Forest Conservation Project in Malawi

noreply@blogger.com (Raz Godelnik) — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 15:17:00 +0000

Our friends at RIPPLE Africa, an organization that is working in Malawi and is also a planting partner of Eco-Libris have just released a very interesting video on their efforts to conserve 130 square kilometers of forest in the Kandoli Hills in northern Nkhata Bay District, Malawi.

We invite you to watch the video and learn about the important work RIPPLE Africa is doing in Malawi in collaboration with local communities, generating substantial environmental and social benefits.

To learn more about RIPPLE Africa please visit their website - http://www.rippleafrica.org/

Yours,
Raz @ Eco-Libris

Eco-Libris: Plant trees for your books!

How green is your iPad? Should you still check it with Mike Daisey?

noreply@blogger.com (Raz Godelnik) — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 01:43:00 +0000

This was a good week for Apple. The company announced that
it has sold three million of its new iPad, and Mike Daisey, one of the people who became a major critical voice against Apple was caught lying to the radio show This American Life about his investigative trip to China.

I wrote yesterday on Triple Pundit about the latest findings about Daisey and what we can learn from this story. Here's the first paragraph of the article (Does It Matter if Mike Daisey Lied to This American Life about Apple in China?):

Ira Glass, the host of This American Life (TAL) had unpleasant news for his listeners last Friday. He has found out that Mike Daisey’s story about Apple in China, which TAL broadcast in January, contained significant fabrications. “We can’t vouch for its truth and therefore we’re retracting the story,” Glass said. This was certainly a humiliating moment for Glass and his show’s staff that pride on their high standards of journalism. The news is especially painful, given that this story was one of their most popular with over a million people downloading and streaming it to date. Add to that the role this show had in creating a tipping point in the public’s attitude towards Apple’s practices and you can understand why Glass is so sorry for having Daisey on his show in the first place.

Bottom line: the social dimension of the manufacturing phase of the iPad, as well as other products of Apple (and also the Kindle by the way) still seem far from being sustainable or even satisfactory, no matter if Daisey is accurate in 100 percent or not. In any event, it's recommended to wait for the completion of the audit made now by the FLA, which hopefully will provide us with an objective analysis about the situation at Foxconn.

Links to other articles I wrote for Triple Pundit can be found at http://www.triplepundit.com/author/raz-godelnik/

More resources on how green is the iPad can be found on our website at www.ecolibris.net/ipad.asp

Yours,
Raz @ Eco-Libris

Eco-Libris: Plant trees for your books!

A children’s bookstore is looking for funding on Kickstarter

noreply@blogger.com (Raz Godelnik) — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 09:00:00 +0000

GalleyCat reported last week on an interesting funding effort on Kickstarter - this time it's a children's bookstore. According to the report, children’s books illustrator Richard Christie is looking to raise $22,750 on Kickstarter to makeover his children’s bookstore, Gas-Art Gifts. The term “gas” is an acronym for “Gregarious Art Statements.”

So far Richard has $3,470 in pledges from 61 backers with 10 more days to go. It means that he still needs to raise $19,280 to meet his goal, or he won't receive any of this money. Here's a further description of his project followed by the video he put on Kickstarter:

We come to kickstarter because this children's and young teens' book store, needs a new look. this is an opportunity for you to make children's literacy as valued as the newest pair of sneakers. We desire a trendy looking store that puts literature along with tangible- handmade art on sleek pedestals and modern shelves.

With your support we can bring a passion for history and culture to teens and parents who may have never thought about these things.

The store will feature autographed children's books and handmade products at a reasonable price. Additionally the mall's management is fine with bringing in creative friends to do weekend long intensive workshops. It would be a fulfillment of a dream for us to teach the community to stop buying back their own culture from corporations. Most of the expensive items they wait in a line for, can easily be made or personalized with their own creativity. I miss the days when kids would buy a brand, then paint it, tear it, sew it and redesign it in to their own expression.

Workshops teaching book-binding,painting,t-shirt production,silk screening, even computer and cell phone cover design painting will be offered. I will have something to teach any aspiring art student or curious craft enthusiast.

You can check it out at http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1052202997/a-childrens-book-store-makeover

Yours,
Raz @ Eco-Libris

Eco-Libris: Plant trees for your books!

Greenwashing the Lorax? Check my article on Triple Pundit about the use of the Lorax for commercial purposes

noreply@blogger.com (Raz Godelnik) — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 22:28:00 +0000

Here's an update on an article I published today on Triple Pundit on what looks to be a cynical use by corporations of a great children's book with an environmental message: The Lorax by Dr. Seuss. It deals with the 70 sponsorships the Lorax movie has and focuses especially on the use Mazda is doing of the Lorax to promote its new SUV.

The article is entitled 'Lorax Tie-ins Go Overboard: Is it Greenwashing?'. Here's the first part of the article:

41 years after Dr. Seuss wrote this story, the Lorax is back, this time on the big screen as an animated 3-D musical comedy film. The movie is already a big hit, grossing more than $125 million in its first two weeks. According to Box Office Mojo, this is the second best opening for a movie concerned with environmental issues after Avatar. Yet, as some critics would claim, it should not be considered a “green” movie at all, given its massive use for commercial purposes.

To read the full article go to http://www.triplepundit.com/2012/03/companies-lorax-greenwash/

Links to other articles I wrote for Triple Pundit can be found at http://www.triplepundit.com/author/raz-godelnik/

Yours,
Raz @ Eco-Libris

Eco-Libris: Plant trees for your books!

100 green apps - VeganYumYum Mobile

noreply@blogger.com (Raz Godelnik) — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 18:44:00 +0000

We are creating a list of the top 100 apps that will help you go green as part of our effort to promote a more sustainable lifestyle. Apps become an integral part of our life and a valuable tool and we believe we should also take advantage of them when it comes go greening up our life.

Every week we bring you a new app from the 100 green apps list, and today we're happy to introduce an app with great vegan recipes.

Our app is VeganYumYum Mobile from VeganYumYum. This app is for iPhone and iPad and is free.

Here are more details about VeganYumYum App:

VeganYumYum Mobile lets you search, view, and organize all your favorite recipes from the award-winning food blog, VeganYumYum.com.

Here you can see VeganYumYum on Martha Stewart:

You can check top 100 green apps at http://www.ecolibris.net/greenapps.asp. As you'll see, this list is in work, but we promise to update it every week until we'll have all 100 green apps.

Last week's green app - inBloom.

Yours,
Raz @ Eco-Libris

Eco-Libris: Plant a tree for every book you read!

How green is the New iPad?

noreply@blogger.com (Raz Godelnik) — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 17:23:00 +0000

The New iPad was revealed this week by Apple and as always made a lot of buzz. So much was written about each and every specification of the new iPad model and it looks like the perfect timing to ask the question that is most important to us - how green or eco-friendly the New iPad is?

Exactly one year ago (March 9, 2011) I asked the same question about the iPad 2 in an article on TriplePundit entitled 'How Green is the iPad 2?'. I developed there a model based on 3 criteria that was supposed to help figuring out. Here's a reminder of this model:

An upgraded device could be valued as a green upgrade if it meets the following three requirements:

1. It includes at least five significant improvements to the previous model.

2. It improves the environmental and social impacts of the previous model by at least 20%.

3. The company releasing the new model sets up a goal of reusing or recycling at least 95% of the old models when replaced with the new model.

Now, let's see if the New iPad meet these criteria:

1. 5 significant improvements comparing to the previous model

Let's look at a comparison that was published on Huffington Post between the New iPad and iPad 2 (you can click on the infographic to see it in full size):

So what do we have here? Better resolution, better storage capacity, and that's it. So maximum of 2 improvements you call significant. Bottom line: Apple doesn't meet the first criteria.

2. At least 20% improvement in the environmental and social impacts of the previous model

We still need to wait and see as Apple didn't publish yet the carbon footprint of the New iPad. My guestimation is that the improvement in the carbon footprint will be in the range of 10-20 percent, but again, we'll have to wait and see. With regards to the social footprint, I guess any new improvements that will come out as a result of the Fair Labor Association's audit will be implemented in the manufacturing lines of all the iPad models so the New iPad doesn't really change anything.

Bottom line: the jury is still out.

3. Setting up a goal by Apple of reusing or recycling at least 95% of the old models when replaced with the new model.

Apple hasn't said anything about such a goal and it's quite clear this issue is not on its agenda, at least not the New iPad release's agenda.

Bottom line: Apple does not meet this criteria.

As you can see of the three criteria, Apple might be able to meet one at best. Therefore we can conclude that while the New iPad might be pretty, worth the money and even cool, it is certainly not green. Hopefully with the next iPad (iPad 4?), Apple will do a better job when it comes to makes its devices more sustainable.

For more information on how green is the iPad visit our iPad webpage at http://www.ecolibris.net/ipad.asp

Yours,
Raz @ Eco-Libris

Eco-Libris: Plant a tree for every book you read!

Recommended book on Kickstarter: Yeti Leaves Home

noreply@blogger.com (Raz Godelnik) — Sun, 04 Mar 2012 12:10:00 +0000

Goal: $5,000

Pledged so far: $1,227 (32 backers)

Still missing: $3,773

Days left: 28 days (until April 1)

Here's a description of the project:

What’s the project low-down?

Yeti Leaves Home” is a self-published, hand-illustrated storybook. It is a book for kids, adult versions of kids, and parents to read to their kids.

At some point in our lives, the place and people we grew up with are not ours to call home anymore. “Yeti Leaves Home” tells the tale of one young Yeti's travels, as he sets out to make a new home for himself. The book also relates to those moments in children’s lives when the act of growing up requires their independence and confidence. Join Yeti through his many trials and triumphs and share the joy of all the friends he meets along the way. Will Yeti find a place to call his own?

Why do you need my pledge?

Donations for this project will be put towards the printing costs of the book. $4000 of the Kickstarter funds raised will go towards a beautiful, full-color, hardbound, square format book printed on high-quality matte paper. The remainder of the budget will go towards production, packaging and shipping of the rewards to our supporters!

The Story So Far

The book is halfway done! The original illustrations from the book will be exhibited at Practical Art Gallery in Phoenix, Arizona for the month of May. It is our goal to have the book printed in time for the opening reception on Friday May 11th 2012.

Last week's Kickstarter recommendation - Ballad of a Bottom Feeder- A love story

Yours,
Raz @ Eco-Libris

Eco-Libris: Plant a tree for every book you read!

Paige Wolf, author of Spit That Out! is going on a mini book tour!

noreply@blogger.com (Raz Godelnik) — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 19:52:00 +0000

Spit That Out!, a book by Paige Wolf is one of my favorite books. Not only a tree is planted with Eco-Libris for each sold copy, but it is also a valuable book with great advice to parents, or as Babble.com described it - a must read for eco-concerned parents.

And now the author Paige Wolf is having a mini book tour, which is a great opportunity to meet her and learn more about the book and get a signed copy if you live in or nearby Philly, NY or Spring Lake Heights, N.J.

Here are more details on the upcoming book tour from the author Paige Wolf:

March is shaping up to be a mini-book tour for Spit That Out! As I visit a few wonderful places in Philly, New Jersey, and New York. First, I'll be speaking to Philly Mompreneurs March 1st, at 7:30 p.m., at Ali's Wagon, 2017 Fairmount Ave. I'm honored to be a part of the Eat, Drink and Be Mommy series at the Museum of Motherhood in New York City. On Friday, March 2 from 1-3p.m., I'll be signing books at this groundbreaking new space with a mission to support and celebrate all mothers.

I'll also be doing a book signing at Nature's Corner in Spring Lake Heights, N.J. on Sunday, March 25, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. If you live near Monmouth County, this is a great opportunity to check out this amazing natural foods market.

Paige Wolf, Green Living Expert Media Reel from paige wolf on Vimeo.

For more details on the book please visit http://www.spitthatoutthebook.com/buy.php

Yours,
Raz @ Eco-Libris

Eco-Libris: Plant a tree for every book you read!

Top 100 book apps: Chimps Should Be Chimps Storybook

noreply@blogger.com (Raz Godelnik) — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 00:27:00 +0000

We believe in the digital future of books as a way to reduce eventually the footprint of books, which means we also believe in apps. Book apps are integral part of the digital age of books and we want to share with you some great book apps we find and thus we are assembling a list of the top 100 book apps.

In order to get into our list apps need to both book/ebook related and affordable - we choose only apps that are either free or cost less than $2.

So every week we update you with a new app on out list of top book apps. Today we're happy to introduce you a special app for kids that comes directly from the zoo!

Our app today is Chimps Should Be Chimps by the Lincoln Park Zoo’s Project ChimpCARE and Manning Productions. This app is for iPad and is free.

Here are more details about the Chimps Should Be Chimps Storybook app:

Chimps Should Be Chimps is a FREE iPad interactive storybook presented by Lincoln Park Zoo’s Project ChimpCARE and Manning Productions. Check out the trailer and behind-the-scenes videos at www.chimpsshouldbechimps.com.

Meet Poe and Lulu, the zoo’s oldest chimp and his granddaughter. Curious Lulu knows Poe didn’t always live in the zoo -- what was life like when he was a tyke? As Poe traces his history, he reveals the hidden hardships of his childhood in entertainment and shares the joy he finds in his new home. The story celebrates the delights of swinging, climbing trees, being with family, and following Poe’s motto: above all, chimps should be chimps.

Features include:
⋆ Explore 16 vibrant, full-page illustrations and a rich, rhyming story
⋆ Tap to uncover secret surprises and sound effects
⋆ Collect all ten Chimp Facts hidden inside the zoo
⋆ Jump straight to your favorite scene from the “Pick a Page” menu
⋆ View the full collection of Chimp Facts at a glance
⋆ Learn more about Project ChimpCARE and the story’s background in “About the App”

Visit www.chimpsshouldbechimps.com to watch videos, learn more about Project ChimpCARE, read our behind-the-scenes blog, or contact us with questions or support requests.

The Story Behind the Story:

Chimps Should Be Chimps is intended to entertain, engage and educate. Recent studies show that seeing chimps dressed up for movies and advertisements gives people the wrong impression that wild chimpanzee populations are healthy and safe. To make matters worse, chimpanzee “actors” are often separated from their mothers at a young age, mistreated on set and abandoned once they are too old to control. Our primary goal is to raise awareness of the problematic issues surrounding chimpanzees in entertainment. We hope to explore these complex issues in an age-appropriate way while shaping a lifelong respect for these fascinating, endangered animals.

“The inspiration from the book came from trying to talk to my own kids about chimpanzees. The story aims to relate how chimpanzees deserve to be free from these antiquated practices of being dressed up for human amusement. But perhaps just as importantly, it conveys to kids the importance of being yourself and believing in what comes naturally to you.”
-- Steve Ross, Director of Project ChimpCARE

Please note that Chimps Should Be Chimps is designed as a read-aloud experience for parents and children to share. Read-to-Me mode is not available at this time.

Last book app - Free Books

You can check top 100 book apps at http://www.ecolibris.net/bookapps.asp. As you'll see, this list is in work, but we promise to update it every week until we'll have all 100 book apps.

You're also welcome to check our list of 100 green apps.

Yours,
Raz @ Eco-Libris

Eco-Libris: Plant a tree for every book you read!

Fast Company magazine is sharing its experience in moving to recycled paper

noreply@blogger.com (Raz Godelnik) — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 03:30:00 +0000

Fast Company apparently is now not only one of the most interesting business magazines, but also a greener magazine, using recycled paper (yes, they're still printing the magazine...).

Here's an interesting video clip with Fast Company's Managing Editor, Allegra Lagani, who shares how Fast Company transitioned to recycled paper and the obstacles and opportunities she discovered during this journey.

Here are some more details from Better Paper Project:

Allegra commented, "Sustainability is one of the core areas that Fast Company focuses on, so in order to practice what we preach, we need to use recycled paper." Their decision to use recycled paper sets Fast Company apart from over 97% of the magazine industry that still uses virgin paper.

The process of switching to recycled paper taught Fast Company that the myths about recycled paper being lower quality than virgin paper are no longer true. As Allegra said, "I think a lot of the limitations are from years ago before the world of recycled paper had been explored."

Frank Locantore, the Director of Green America's Better Paper Project said, "Fast Company sets a terrific example for the rest of the magazine industry. Sustainable publishing is an integral part of twenty-first century publishing."

If the entire North American magazine industry included a minimum of 30 percent post-consumer recycled paper in their publications, we would save over 10 million trees, 7 billion gallons of wastewater and over 1.5 billion pounds of CO2 (the equivalent of removing over 160,000 cars from the road).

"Fast Company: Obstacles and Opportunities" is an excellent resource for publishing industry executives to learn how major titles, like Fast Company, have overcome minor obstacles in order to use recycled paper and distinguish itself as a responsible and sustainable publication.

Yours,
Raz @ Eco-Libris

Eco-Libris: Plant a tree for every book you read!