Act: Green & Natural Living
You're already inspired and excited about changing the world, now it's time to get out and do something! In the articles below you'll find hundreds of ways to implement small changes that make a big difference on the planet.
Get the answers: learn the How's and Why's here. If you need further advice, check out the Resources section for websites, blogs and articles, as well as the EvG Store to shop for products.
"The activist is not the man who says the river is dirty. The activist is the man who cleans up the river." ~ Ross Perot
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Guide to Small Reusable Shopping Bags For Produce & Bulk Items (video)
By now, most people at least know that they should bring their own reusable shopping bag to the grocery store. This prevents waste from plastic and paper shopping bags, which get at best a few uses after returning from the store. However, one eco trend that hasn't quite caught on yet is reusable produce and bulk bags - every day thousands of shoppers use the provided small, thin plastic or biodegradable bags at the market without even realizing there's an alternative, and they usually end up in the landfills. Good thing there's a fantastic option: reusable produce bags made from cotton, canvas, or related plastic! Skip to the bottom for the video.
Why & How to Leave Go Daddy (or Boycott them) & Find an Elephant-Friendly Domain/Website Host
If you've been watching the news and/or following social media trends, you've likely heard about the Go Daddy scandal. In summary, Bob Parsons, the CEO of the most popular domain name and website host company, killed an elephant in Africa and bragged about it on his blog. Animal activists are outraged, many people are alarmed, and lots of Go Daddy customers are closing their accounts - including myself.
Giveaway: Beautiful Eco Home Goods from DSC
Win a pretty glass water bottle and a cool DIY kit for your home!
I'm thrilled to share this giveaway, brought to you by my friends at Digital Shopping Channel (aka DSC). We shot a few videos together, including recipes, mindful living tips and products reviews, which are rolling out on their website and YouTube channel.
DSC will be sending one lucky person two natural home products featured in the videos: a water bottle from Aquasana (featured in this juicing video) and a DIY air plant terrarium from Makers Kit (featured in this meditation video).
Learn more about DSC in the following video and then enter to win the products below!
Here's how to enter the giveaway:
a Rafflecopter giveawayGiveaway ends on Monday, August 8th at 6pm PST. One winner will be chosen to receive both products, through a random drawing using the Rafflecopter widget above. Best of luck to you!!
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CLOSED Giveaway: 2 Bamboo Toothbrushes
Congrats to Goldie, Stephany, Miranda, Savannah and Alyssa!
Cutting back on plastic is one of the best ways to be eco-friendly, yet it's hard for people to do since so many of the products in our lives are made from it. Fortunately there are some companies making it easier on us, like Brush With Bamboo. The friendly team behind this brand makes fantastic toothbrushes with biodegradable bamboo handles and BPA-free soft bristles, which are sold in compostable packaging. Since these are always a big hit when I mention them on Facebook I thought a giveaway was in order!
CLOSED Giveaway: Music Amplifier and Phone Stand Made from Bamboo!
Music is one of the finer things in life - it is rare that I make it through a day without listening to a few songs at home. I love using my iPhone and iPad for this, as they're portable and faster to navigate than my computer. One downside of mobile devices is the low audio levels, which leave a lot to be desired and ruin the mood when you want to bump up the jams. This is why I was thrilled to be introduced to the Bamboo Amplifier from Loudbasstard - this neat looking contraption boosts the sound of any mobile device without electricity or batteries! Sound like something you'd like to play around with? Enter to win one below, along with a chance at a stand for your mobile device! Congrats to the winners of this contest!
How To Use Your Mobile Phone For Good
Yesterday I reflected on the days before cell phones and wondered how I did without the GPS in my iPhone. Or the instant access to my email. And Facebook. Remember when you could only use those things on the computer? And how about when you needed a seperate device to take photos and videos - heck, there were years when the only camera I had was disposable! I sound a bit like an old lady right now... Of course now that most people have high tech mobile phones life seems so much easier and faster - it takes seconds to communicate with others from around the world. Sure, there are many times when these devices distract us from staying present and participating in the real, live world, but overall you can make quite an impact on your life and that of others.
Green Cleaning Products
If you're reading this chances are you pay close attention to your lifestyle, especially when it comes to food. You're likely passionate about buying and preparing healthy and cruelty-free meals because it makes you feel good inside and out. You're being extra selective about what goes into your kitchen cabinets, but what about what's underneath and on your sink and in the laundry room? The products you use to wash your dishes, clean your clothes, and scrub your household surfaces have a big impact on your health. Their ingredients can get on your skin and into your lungs through the air, thus it's very important to use all natural, non-toxic brands. Plus, as an eco-vegan you'll want to make sure the products are plant-friendly and cruelty-free, right?
Why Sell or Recycle Your Cell Phone, and How To Do It
We live in face paced world that is obsessed with technology. Most of us, in the US at least, are eager to get our hands on the latest and greatest gadgets, even if the model we currently own is in perfectly fine condition. Though I have the same compulsion, I work hard to restrain myself - example, I've been lusting after the iPhone 5 but my 4S serves me well (enough). As you'll see in this video, I waited through many generations of Apple mobile devices before I upgraded (and even felt a little guilty for buying a new one). So what did I do with my first generation iPhone and previous cell phones? I sold them through a recycling program - it was easy, I made a little money, and I felt great about doing so, and you can too.
Eco Nuts Laundry Soap (video)
I'm always on the hunt for non-toxic, eco-friendly products that aren't packaged in plastic, so I was thrilled to discover Eco Nuts. These dried berries are a very natural (and fun) way to wash laundry. They are organic, fragrence-free, hypo allergenic, biodegradable and reusable (use them up to 10 times!), plus they come in entirely plastic-free packaging! I've used them several times in my apartment building's standard washing machine (they work in HE/front loading machines too) and the results continue to amaze me. "You'd be nuts to use any other soap!"
Where to Eat & Shop Vegan in London & The Rest of UK
I'll begin with Corinne's advice - she sent me a very detailed email. Here's what she had to say: