The LOHASIAN

African Farmers Reap Benefits From Europe's Organic Food Market

2010-04-12T14:56:00.005-04:00

African farmers are making more money producing organically grown crops for European markets, where demand for healthier food is growing.Nearly 5,000 farmers in Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Ghana, Senegal, and Sierra Leone are exporting organically-grown produce to Europe, after gaining organic and fair-trade certification with help from the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).The program

Anti Bacterial Chemical in Household Soap Under Investigation for Associated Health Risks

2010-04-09T22:13:00.006-04:00

The Wall Street Journal recently reported that several studies of Triclosan, a chemical used in antibacterial soaps, have sparked enough concern to warrant a safety review by the Food and Drug Administration. Bacteria may develop resistance to antibiotics as a result of its use, according to several studies. And in animals, triclosan has been shown to disrupt the endocrine system, which produces

Inside Eastern Europe's Organic Food Boom

2010-04-08T09:15:00.006-04:00

Some Eastern European countries now have twice as much agricultural land turned over to organic farming as those in Western Europe, and experts are predicting a bright future for the industry in the former communist bloc.Christof Arndt, project coordinator at the Dresden-based EkoConnect non- profit group promoting organic agriculture in Eastern Europe, told IPS: "The last few years have seen

Teen Star Selena Gomez Shows Her "Eco-Style," Launching Eco-Fashion Line For Kmart

2010-04-06T07:28:00.006-04:00

Teen star Selena Gomez is showing green style with her new eco-friendly collection of clothing set to hit K-Mart this coming July 15th. The collection, to be called Dream Out Loud, will be created in partnership with Generra designer Tom Melillo and fashion businesswoman Sandra Campos. It will include dresses, floral tops, jeans, skirts, jackets, and accessories like hats and scarves .Even more

The Growth of Green Building in Tough Economic Times

2010-03-29T10:13:00.003-04:00

While U.S. unemployment figures remained steady at 9.7% for February, the rate for construction workers rose to 27.1%, up from 24.1% a year ago, underscoring the continuing difficulties in this important sector of the economy.Interestingly, the basket of green building stocks in Canaccord Adam's Green Building Index are up 10.1% for the year, outperforming the 2.1% rise for the S&P 500 Index and

"Meet the Greens.org" The Cool Site for Cool Eco Curious Kids

2010-03-23T09:29:00.005-04:00

For the budding environmentalist or that special kid who just wants to learn more about issues that impact our planet, Meet the Greens is a great place to start. Using cartoons, games, puzzles and blogs, kids are introduced to green ideas they can use in their own lives. We just love this site and so will you...check them out at MeetTheGreens.org !!

Retail Giant H&M Go's Green With Organic Skincare and Clothing Line

2010-03-23T08:59:00.004-04:00

trends + business + politicsThe trendy H&M retailer is getting hip to sustainability, as increasingly consumers demand Eco-friendly choices. The retail giant will roll out its first skincare products line made with organic ingredients this month. This follows hard on the heels of the retailer’s foray into Eco friendly garments using (mostly) organic materials.If these scrubs and soaps are indeed

Creating Chemical Free Kids

2010-03-19T23:44:00.002-04:00

--body + mind + spirit--Organic food is especially important for children because children face unique hazards from pesticide exposure. Pound for pound, children eat more food, drink more water and juices, and breathe more air than adults, and thus they take in more pesticides relative to their body weight. Their developing organ systems make children more sensitive than adults to exposure to

Quebec Shipping Container House: A Study in Chic, Affordable & Eco-Friendly Housing

2009-12-08T10:41:00.007-05:00

I suppose the phrases "shipping container" and "great design" don't really work together in the minds of the average consumer...but once you get sight of these beautiful creations/recreations in architectural design and building - you just might change your mind.Welcome to the shipping container house in Quebec. The home was a labor of love by a couple intent on reducing the amount of wood that

Climate Scientist Accused of "Cooking the Books" - Inside Climategate 2009

2009-12-07T09:47:00.006-05:00

Saudi Arabia told global warming talks on Monday that trust in climate science had been "shaken" by leaked emails among experts (including over 1,000 e-mail messages, and another 2,500 or so computer files, many of which are still being analyzed) and called for an international probe. The allegation could possibly stand to rattle the foundation and reputations of global warming experts. In the

Sarah Palin..Eco Fashion Model?

2009-12-04T07:17:00.003-05:00

What do you do when your eco-conscious clothing gets popularized by ... Sarah Palin?Many eco-fashion companies can only dream of getting on the cover of mainstream national magazines — but for eco-ethical New Zealand sportswear company Icebreaker, that dream came true in the strangest, oiliest of ways when the latest Newsweek magazine featured Sarah Palin in Icebreaker’s Long-Sleeve Chase

New Study Confirms Health Benefits of Meditation

2009-12-04T07:12:00.002-05:00

Meditation is no longer just for the groovy folk. A just published study in the American Journal of Hypertension suggests the practice may bring cardiovascular and mental-health benefits. The research, conducted at American University in Washington, followed 298 students, half of whom practiced transcendental meditation for 20 minutes once or twice daily over three months and half of whom did not

Broken Promises at Promiseland Livestock Lead to Withdrawl of Organic Certification

2009-12-04T07:01:00.005-05:00

Promiseland Livestock will lose its organic certification for four years unless it appeals a ruling issued last month because the company kept inadequate records and refused to let USDA inspectors review the records it did have.The U.S. Department of Agriculture filed a formal complaint against Promiseland in 2008 and accused it of a number of violations of organic standards, including using

The Environmental Price of Smoking Bans

2009-06-01T12:12:00.003-04:00

Here's a question for you: Are smoking bans a good for our planet? Your first response, assuming you're not a smoker, is uh - of course! Well, not so fast.Indoor smoking bans are actually wreaking havoc on our environment. Smokers are flocking outdoors and leaving cigarette buts on sidewalks. The filter of the cigarette is made out of condensed cellulose acetate that is thinner than sewing

Holistic Warfare:Killing Colds and Flues...Naturally

2009-06-01T11:14:00.011-04:00

I got ill this weekend - terribly, horribly, knock you on your back ill. It's an interesting phenomena that any ailment seems to arrive immediately following my Saturday morning chiropractic adjustment, my chiropractor calls it "release care" ...meaning releasing of whatever it is that is already in your system. I suppose that it didn't (or did, depending how you look at it) help that I decided

WHO Demands More Graphic Anti-Smoking Campaigns for World No Tobacco Day 2009

2009-05-29T11:56:00.010-04:00

WHO today urged governments to require that all tobacco packages include pictorial warnings to show the sickness and suffering caused by tobacco use.WHO's call to action comes on the eve of World No Tobacco Day, 31 May. This year’s campaign focuses on decreasing tobacco use by increasing public awareness of its dangers.Studies reveal that even among people who believe tobacco is harmful, few

Ancient Origins of Birthdays...and Reflections on Mine (Less Ancient)

2009-05-27T10:46:00.005-04:00

Today is my birthday - again. It's a funny event filled with dichotomies; it comes every year marking an end to one year and a beginning to another. On the one hand the "big day" begs for reflection, while on the other demands new benchmarks...it's "a whole lot" while ultimately being a day no different then any other (equally as precious and no more divine).Days of playing "pin the tail on the

Curing Asthma Naturally... and Other Lessons in Breathing

2009-05-26T10:36:00.005-04:00

In August of 2008 year my then two and a half year old son was admitted to the hospital in respiratory distress. Horror is the only word to describe the experience of watching ones own child gasping for breath. The day started innocently enough; breakfast, laughter, playtime, mom leaves to run errands as dad stays on to play with kids in the August sun. By late afternoon, upon my return, my

Endangered Species Day....Through The Eyes of Charles Darwin

2009-05-21T13:32:00.003-04:00

--Feature Column: "Sustainable Soul w/Rebecca Hecking"--Note to the reader: 2009 marks the 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Darwin. Last Friday was Endangered Species Day, and it seems appropriate to mark that occasion by reflecting on the man who helped us envision ourselves as one branch on the greater tree of all life. "There is grandeur in this view of life...from so simple a

The Climate Project Summit Opens Uniting Al Gore With World's Experts On Climate Change

2009-05-15T08:38:00.004-04:00

The Climate Project (TCP), an international non-profit founded by former Vice President Al Gore with a mission to increase public awareness of the climate crisis at a grassroots level worldwide. The TCP opened its North American Summit in Nashville yesterday.During the three day event, Gore is addressing more than 500 attendees as well as conducting a three hour training workshop. Dr. Rajendra K

Africa's Deepening Food Crises: An Urgent Call for Agricultural Reform & Green Economy Solutions

2009-05-15T08:26:00.006-04:00

With Africa’s population set to rise by an additional one billion people over the next four decades, the continent risks being plunged into a deepening food crisis without urgent changes to the management of its natural resources, warned a new United Nations UNEP report.Agricultural yields in Africa have already fallen in some cases by up to 50 per cent as a result of invasive pests, land

Coke Creates Eco-Friendly Bottle Made of Plants...Targeting LOHAS Consumer

2009-05-14T10:58:00.000-04:00

You know times are changing when giants like Coke are creating vitamin infused soda and now developing plant derived bottles (that is 30% plant derived). The company announced today that it has developed a new plastic bottle that is partly made from sugar cane and molasses," raising the bar in the battle for the most environmentally friendly packaging." Coke will test the new bottle in North

United Nations & "The Billion Tree Campaign": 7 Billion New Trees Inspire Global Climate Change

2009-05-14T10:57:00.007-04:00

Ahead of World Environment Day, celebrated globally on 5 June, the United Nations today announced an ambitious tree-planting target in a bid to push governments into reaching agreement on a climate change pact in Copenhagen this December.The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) has appealed to the world to help its effort to plant seven billion trees by the end of the year, coinciding with the UN

West Virgina Coal Association Markets Dirty Little Tones (Environmentally That Is)

2009-05-13T13:47:00.008-04:00

--fashion + travel + music--Can a ring tone be bad for the environment ? Hard to imagine, but if the West Virginia Coal Association finds success with it new catchy ring tone...it just might be.Just have a read of these lyrics!"West Virginia coal gonna take you on a ride,Gonna take you to the city to the shore and countryside,Gonna let you work your magic and your power and your pride,West

UNESCO Launches Library Honoring Global Cultures

2009-05-13T13:11:00.006-04:00

In a bid to celebrate the world’s myriad cultures, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and dozens of partner institutions have launched the World Digital Library, a Web site featuring cultural materials from libraries and archives worldwide, free of charge. The new Library, known as WDL, will function in seven languages – Arabic, Chinese, English, French