I received an email from my girlfriend with the following link and a subject line of “so effing great”.

I was captured by the video too. I also noticed that the people in the video were from the Philippines, which happened to be where I am. So, I contacted the guy who started the program…

Long story short, Illac Diaz (founder guy) picked me up at a gas station in Manila the next morning at 7am. We headed to another project of his (than the linked video above), building a school of plastic bottles – oh, and along with a crew from Al Jazeera (their story will be aired in the next few days).

Here’s a link to check it out the school. It’s a fabulous idea for many reasons, however creating a space for kids to learn is the most important. I spoke to a council member of a nearby town who is considering building a bottle school – he said that the monthly morgage payment is $50.

To donate, learn more about the Liter of Light program click here – or go out and build your own school.

What’s made me reflect on my job is the following “note” that we received today at EO. It warms my heart, validates my efforts (and all of us here) and reminds me that a simple bottle of lotion can bring “sunshine” into someone’s life.

Hello!

A short note just to say {{{{{{ Thank You!! }}}}}

I have a medical condition which requires me to be on an extremely limited diet and my skin is symptomatic as well. It seems my body reacts adversely to nearly everything. I have however, discovered that I can use and enjoy your products – all your skin care products are amazing!

Thank you so much for opening up a soothing window filled with sunshine in my life! Please keep doing the wonderful job that you are! I’m recommending your products to everyone I know, including my doctor!

Have a great week!

Best Regards, Christine

…and if you don’t like your job, we’re hiring.

Article: http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/2011/03/workers-in-china-your-iphone-cost-us-our-health.html

I love my iPhone. Many of my family and friends own one too. I think that they are beautifully designed, innovative, user friendly and a joy to use. This news doesn’t make me want to give up my iPhone, however it feels like I just got a big scratch on the screen.

At EO, we’ve never used the terrible chemical that is claimed to be the culprit in this melee, n-hexane. We try not to have any harsh chemicals in our building, much less use them. We do this by choice and it’s not an easy task as many products don’t list their ingredients and you have to be very diligent to find them. Fortunately for me, there are 3 chemists on staff at EO who know a lot more about this stuff than I do. What I do have, is a passion to always question and demand ingredients and products to be more “green”, sustainable or preferably organic. It’s legal in the US to not list all ingredients in products, even though they are harsh, may have unknown effects or worse, known effects.

To me, this incident begs the questions, “What effects does manufacturing have on the health of the factory workers whose labor benefits the rest of us?” And, “Who is working to make sure that the price of a product does not include the good health of the people who make them, but does include thoughtful practices, good medical care and healthy working conditions?” Ultimately, it’s We the People who decide.

I deal with news like this to continue doing the best that I can do at EO (and in my life). To be responsible for my actions as though my kids make and use every product. I must ensure that all of our processes are done in an engaged and responsible manner so that every employee will be safe, our consumers will be safe and our planet will be safe.

The outdated objective of business – money, money, money – inherently drives expenses down to increase profits. This leads to beautiful looking products that don’t optimize their opportunity, use cheap foreign labor and expose us all to potential hazards.

Profit needs to include people and the earth, a triple bottom-line. Successful triple bottom line companies are driven by the board room, not the marketing department. I don’t know what the Apple board demands besides soaring stock prices, however it should include a safer workplace and greener earth.

I took this photo with my iPhone this morning:

I rescued my childhood dog from the pound, Max, who I named after the dog in the How the Grinch Stole Christmas (I did a better job than the Grinch). When we discovered that he was really a she, Max became Maxine (see attached photo). She passed away at 12 (that’s 61 in dog years) about a week before I moved to California, almost 25 years ago.  It was a new beginning for both of us; me, as a lifelong East Coast boy, and Maxine, who I hoped was in dog heaven, with endless chew toys and scratches behind her ears. You’ll see a photo of Max below.

When I became an expert on making healthy personal care products for humans, making similar products for dogs was a natural next step. I was particularly motivated because, although many of the products available for dogs like to use words like “natural” and “organic”, most of them just aren’t. And so, EO Dog was born.  We’re really proud of our foray into spreading the EO love to the dog world, and we think you’ll be happy too.  Take a look below for more information on how to make healthy choices for the snoring, opportunistic, snack-grabbing members of your household.  And no, we don’t mean Grandpa.

Things to consider when choosing dog-care products (and people products too).

1.       Is it colored? A colored product most likely means the addition of FD&C dyes.  These dyes are approved by the FDA for the Food, Pharmaceuticals, Cosmetics and Personal Care industry, BUT, the FDA does not test or formally approve products before they are released to the public.  Safety and consumer health is up to the manufacturer, who might be more motivated by profit margins than by their customers’ well-being.  And, FD & C colors are made from coal tar, a by-product of petroleum and a suspected carcinogen. Not good for any of us.

2.       Does the product smells like your grandmother? I loved my grandmother, but the cloud of eau de pretend-flowers around her, well, not so much.  Synthetic fragrances were very popular 50+ years ago (as they are today), so while these smells may bring back wonderful memories, they have been associated with allergies, dermatitis, respiratory distress and potential effects on the reproductive system.* And, because manufacturers are not required by the FDA to disclose their ingredients in synthetic fragrances, consumers are left in the dark on what they are really choosing.

3.      Is organic important to you? If you look for organic products to protect both your dog and our planet, be sure that the USDA-certified organic logo is included as well.  If not, then the product isn’t organic as defined by the USDA, the organic regulator. Many companies claim that their product is organic when it’s not, hence the need for government regulation. My personal position on this is if a company states “organic” on the front panel and they are not certified by the USDA, they are deliberately misleading consumers or are ignorant of the rules. In either case, I wouldn’t buy the product.

4.       Is Sodium Lauryl/Laureth Sulfate or Ammonium Lauryl or Laureth Sulfate in the product? These ingredients are harsh irritants and don’t belong on your pet, or you. Not healthy. Don’t buy.

5.       Is Paraben used as a preservative? According to the Environmental Working Group**, parabens may alter hormone levels and increase the risk for certain kinds of cancer.  They aren’t allowed in natural products for humans, so why they in are dog products?

6.        Take a minute to understand the way ingredients are labeled. Ingredients should be listed by their INCI name (International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients), a standardized system of ingredient names. This means that “renewable coconut-based cleansers” or “natural preservative”, may sound good, but can indicate the manufacturer is using Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Methyl Paraben or other unnecessary and toxic ingredients. Companies also claim that their formulas and ingredients are “proprietary” and “secret” – unfortunately for them, this is an outdated, “good ole boy” way of hiding nasty ingredients in products. When a product is claimed to be “natural”, the manufacturer must then prove this by listing the ingredients by standardized INCI names. There are many sources to find them; a good place to start is www.cosmeticsdatabase.com

7.       Who is ensuring a quality product?  Most companies have their products manufactured in third-party facilities, which means they have third-hand information on the integrity of their ingredients and formulas. I have been manufacturing products for 15 years and I can tell you that the interpretations of “natural” are very broad and often not very natural at all. I prefer to buy my food directly from the farmer and local whenever possible – and I prefer to buy my products from companies that make the products themselves – and yes I have a problem with water and apples coming from Fiji.

8.       Is the bottle made from recycled plastic AND is it recyclable? Using bottles made from recycled content that can be recycled again is an easy win. To me, this shows that the manufacturer’s commitment to protect the earth and support sustainability is a sincere one.

I hope that this is helpful. You, your dogs and our planet deserve products that are effective, safe and kind to our environment.   Now you know where to find them.

*Environmental Working Group – Artificial Fragrance:  http://www.ewg.org/reports/scentedsecrets

**Environment Working Group – Paraben:   http://www.ewg.org/chemindex/term/563

It reminds me of the development of the green movement. At first, there was horrible, dooming news about the devastation of the planet earth, the hole in the ozone, dying plant and animal species. The reports were so alarming and terrifying we had to cover our eyes. But over time, we were able to look and then—act!

We joined non-profits dedicated to saving the environment. We donated money. We lobbied elected officials and we spoke with our pocketbook, buying products that supported our values.

This is what we can do with the nuclear and greater tragedy in Japan. Yes, it is frightening. But we can and we must act. We can send money, we can send prayers, we can lobby elected officials to protect against the threat of nuclear radiation in the United States.

I am currently looking for organizations in Japan to donate to. They need to be grass roots and directly related to the people. Please share any names of organizations, links or other information that you feel will be helpful. Also, please share what you will do to help?

The below photograph is of Mr. Yamazaki, our Japanese distributor. He is “camping” out at the Narita Airport in Tokyo, the night of the earthquake. He was on a trip to visit EO at the Natural Products Expo last weekend. He made it, although delayed. We’ve had a wonderful relationship with Mr. Yamazaki, as well as many stores and people in Japan for 8+ years. Our thoughts and prayers go out to them.

The following is from Mr. Yamazaki:

On the date, March 11^th, Japan time, I was at the Narita airport to visit the United States.

While waiting for the checking in, the quake occurred but it was felt small so the people didn’t take it seriously.

As it became bigger, man was just being rocked up and down but nothing else, after a loud rumbling of the earth.

To make the matters worse, it lasted for a few minutes. That was just a scene from hell, away beyond expression.

When it weakened, the Narita airport announced an evacuation from all of the buildings and made people gather at the parking lots for safety.

Beneath cold sky, people were just praying for its end.

On that day, approx. 10,000 passengers stayed the whole night at the airport, with a bottle of water and a cracker rationings, since all the public transportations stopped. There were battles to get a sleeping bag, blanket and even card board to stay warm under the cutting cold wind.

There was no telephone communication with family members, any enough food / drink, not enough bed clothes. All people could do was struggle with a sense of fear.

Approx. 12 hours after dawn, the airport announced the embarkation under a number of continuing powerful aftershock conditions.

Even though me and my family luckily could stay alive, it’s very much heartbreaking for all our fellow people who got killed and disaster victims.

So, like a good entrepreneur, I waited four months to order and receive two apple trees from www.treesofantiquity.com - White Pearmain (the oldest known english apple tree) and Cox Orange Pippin (an excellent dessert apple). They are perfect for the San Francisco climate zone and will yield me the apples I desire. I planted them in to pots, pruned them back so they will grow out like a fan – taking into account the little space that I have. Now all I need to do is water them and wait…..

I recently watched a movie and video that’s worth a viewing by you that may help you with being yourself and bringing out the good.

I Am – is a documentary movie that brings you through conversations based on the questions What’s wrong with the world? and What can we do about it?  http://iamthedoc.com/

David Wilcock talks about the universe, our soul and how we are all related. It’s a 4 part YouTube video that will definitely  take you where you’ve never been before.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cEyqT2_ricA&feature=relmfu

In many parts of the world, taking a bath is a tradition for wellness – for the body and mind. The ancient Romans created elaborate baths and rituals. Everyone has heard of Turkish baths. The Japanese and Koreans are also known for their customs around bathing.

Bathing is still very beneficial. The most obvious reason to bathe is to clean yourself. However secondly, and most important to me, is to slow down and relax – to feel the hot water penetrate my body, to enjoy the peacefulness and close my eyes, most often with a smile on my face.

You’ll notice that on our Bath products we have an image of a Lotus Flower. Like bathing, the lotus flower has many meanings. The ancient Egyptians believed that it symbolized the sun and rebirth. In Buddhism, it represents the purity of mind, body and speech – rising above the waters of desire and attachment. In Hinduism, the lotus flower symbolizes beauty, prosperity, fertility, eternity, purity and divinity. All these sound good to me.

So, who are you? Make a statement. Take ownership in what you believe in. Create the change that you desire.

If you want to believe in something, believe in yourself. There is a big energetic difference between ” I believe I can create change” versus “I hope I can create change”. If it’s tough for you to go all the way with yourself, believe in a little luck too.

The first step is yours to take. You hold the key to the lock on your truth. It’s very simple and you will be surprised at what you can achieve.

Here’s an article for you to read about Hope:

http://www.orionmagazine.org/index.php/articles/article/170/