Archived Articles

Recent Eco-Friendly News

 

ECOcentricbags.com - No More Bag Excuses!

If you love your reusable bags, as I do, but are looking for something a little more fashionable, look no further. Meet ECOcentric Bags! They are an online retailer of chic eco bags, shipping all over North America. They offer a huge variety of bags, from grocery to laptop bags to fasion bags made from recycled tires! Read more..

What the Frack?

Most people in the United States have never even heard of fracking, but for residents in Pennyslvannia, fracking is a like a slow motion horror show. Residents fear that fracking for gas will cause permanant harm to their forests, state parks and agricultural fields — in addition to their water and air.

 

Spring Time Means Baby Seals Get Whacked

Ahh, it's that time of year again, flowers from bulbs spring forth, the air starts to warm, and blood is all across the ice as baby seals get murdered. Protect seals - take the pledge to boycott Canadian Seafood.

 

 

Natural Sources of Iodine in your Food

As miniscule does of radiation arrive on the West Coast, many people are desperately looking for Iodine tablets. However, iodine may be consumed from many accessible food sources. See the following list...

Family vs. Plastic: An Epic Battle

Craig from Earthshade Natural Window Fashions shares his entertaining story about his family's battle against the use of plastics in everyday life. "Oh this is a fun one for our family!"

 

The Retire Ronald movement is coming to Vermont!
This Wednesday, February 9th, on the heels of new USDA dietary guidelines that link obesity to the consumption of fast food , a study finding children are more exposed to McDonald’s-style junk food marketing than ever, local activists with Corporate Accountability International, parents, and health professionals will be joining a national call for McDonald’s to retire Ronald McDonald and other target marketing to children.

Dead Birds - It was Murder!

Remember all those dead birds falling from the sky? Well, it turns out it wasn't the weather, or some weird weather occurence. It was murder!

 

 

Alaskan Habitat Designated for Polar Bears
In good news for polar bears, the Obama Administration has designated more than 187,000 square miles along the north coast of Alaska as “critical habitat” for the bears.

 

 

Eco Friendly Changes for the New Year

A fresh year, and a fresh start. Now is a great time to implement some eco-friendly habits, as well as refresh the old (good ones)!

 

Chocolate Chip Honey Cookies

Skip the white sugar, and try honey instead! These chewy wonders of sugary nature are perfect for the holidays. And, in a season when we are oversaturated with processed white sugar, these are a refreshingly sweet change.

 

Compostable Trash Bags
One thing is for certain, humans leave behind a trail of trash. Even the best of recyclers and composters have life debris. Now bagging up the kitchen trash, and excess yard waste can be a little less painful. Happyhippie readers can save an extra 20%.

Cardamom: A Favorite Fall Spice

Ready for something a little exotic this holiday season? Cinnamon and Ginger are staples of the season, but try Cardamom in a few recipes this year and you'll be pleasantly surprised.

 

It's Time for Fall Planting!

Here's a quick hit list of veggies to plant, if your climate allows. Fall is perfect for planting veggies that don't need lots of direct sunlight.

 

 

Home Composting

Little things often make the biggest difference, especially when it comes to protecting the environment. Composting is one small way to reduce waste in landfills and provide farmers and backyard gardeners with cheap fertilizer.

 

 

Getting Strong Vege Starters From Seeds

Growing your own vegetable transplants is relatively easy. All you need are a solid set of basics. Click here to get your seedlings healthy and ready to transplant!

 

Finally - You Can Recycle PET #5

As of January 2009, we were told that we could no longer recycle any plastics that were PET #5 or PET #6. All of a sudden, I was left with a giant bag of yogurt, sour cream and butter containers.

 

 

Alaska Governor Sarah Palin’s cruel aerial slaughter has suddenly escalated This week, Palin’s henchmen have killed 66 wolves, using helicopters, spotter planes and aerial gunners. To make matters even worse, Palin’s Board of Game has approved the use of poison gas and deadly snares to kill defenseless wolf pups and their families in and around their dens.

 

EPA takes first step toward climate change regs

The Environmental Protection Agency concluded Friday that greenhouse gases linked to climate change "endanger public health and welfare," setting the stage for regulating them under federal clean air laws.

 

Cursed with Aging Skin and Zits - So Not Fair

I am 38, and see the fine lines and the smile cracks gracing my face. I don't mind the smattering of little wrinkles, but it's the ongoing occassional zit breakout that makes me protest. At what age does a person stop having acne?

 

Fish Watch List: Eat for Sustainability
Did you know a simple dining choice can help preserve ocean life and your own health? Help prevent overfishing by eating fish that are not on the 'watch' list. With the new 'fish watch' guide from the Monterrey Aquarium, you can easily educate yourself and others about the importance of choosing seafood from sustainable, environmentally responsible fisheries and fish farms.

 

Waiting to Inhale Graestone, a forum poster at Happyhippie.com, attended the free screening of Waiting to Inhale at the San Diego Central Library. The number of folks that showed up for the free screening of Waiting to Inhale filled up the theater, and staff had to put up several extra rows of chairs to accommodate the overflow, with others yet in the hallway outside peeking over shoulders to see in.

Getting Around the Peanut Butter Recall
Even though peanut butter, by itself, is still OK to eat, the overall peanut butter recall has everyone recoiling from buying anything peanut related. However, Americans eat on average 3.3 pounds of peanut butter a year, so many of us are starting to have withdrawals.

 

Sarah Palin is a Murderer: Governor Palin speaks of ‘science’ supporting her aerial killing program, but in spite of numerous requests, they have never produced anything even resembling reasonable scientific justification. Literally hundreds of wildlife scientists have repeatedly condemned her program and she has not once provided any evidence to refute their charges that what she is doing is unscientific.

Hooked Productions Gets Us Hooked on Bamboo
I was a relatively good kid, and never complained about much. I played in the dirt, sang at the top of my lungs, and had a generally carefree kid-a-riffic experience. However, there's one thing that stands out in the brain-database of bad memories.

 

Obama begins reversing Bush climate policies
President Barack Obama began reversing the climate policies of the Bush administration on Monday, clearing the way for new rules to force auto makers to produce more fuel-efficient and less polluting cars.

 

Barack Obama sworn in as U.S. president, calls for 'remaking of America' Americans need to embrace a "new era of responsibility" to remake the United States in the face of military, economic and domestic challenges, U.S. President Barack Obama said Tuesday in his inauguration address.

 

California Governor to Ditch Environmental Protection

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, desperate to improve a worsening budget crisis, demands that long-standing environmental protections be removed in an effort to conserve cash in the debt-ridden state.

 

Save Small Business From the CPSIA A new law was quietly passed by Congress that will almost certainly put many eco-friendly companies out of busines within the next few months. It is an ill-conceived "child safety" law aimed at Chinese imports containing lead in its intention, but hastily written and passed with no consideration whatsoever for the American handcrafter or entrepreneur who makes one-of-a-kind products using components purchased in their local American fabric stores, lumber yards or craft shops.

Natural Remedies for Winter Hair

If your hair is starting to feel dry, and you can see the breakage on the end, now is a great time to moisturize your locks with natural ingredients found in your home. Let honey, olive oil and avocado fix up those weathered locks in no time.

 

'Green' Most Over-Used Word in 2008 The school children from Lake Superior State University have issued their 34th annual List of Words to Be Banished from the Queen's English for Mis-use, Over-use and General Uselessness. "Green" and "going green" received the most nominations. For those of us who are in the eco-friendly, (whisper) 'Green' business, this news came to be somewhat of a blow.

 

The Birds and The Bees: Not What They Used to Be

The populations of popular farmland birds have plummeted to their lowest ever figures in Britain while at the same time the number of bumble bees is also in decline.

 

Global Warming: Point Of No Return?
A new study completed by a team of U.S., Norwegian and German researchers may now provide some clues. Behind the complex language and impenetrable calculations upon which the study is based, however, is a frightening possibility: climate change in the Arctic could already have reached the point of no return.

 

BPA - Just not in Plastic Bottles

11/6/08 - BPA (Bishphenol A) is not just lurking in those plastic bottles and plastic wrap. Canned foods are thought to be the predominate route of BPA exposure. Numerous studies support this fact, including an investigation of BPA exposures for 257 young children in North Carolina and Ohio day care centers.

10/21/08 Tips on how to have a Green Halloween

Crisp air, crunchy leaves and smiley jackolaterns greet us when we start our day, which means Halloween is almost here. The tradition is fun and exciting, but often the 'peripherals' of Halloween can lead to loads of unecessary trash that will inevitably just add more load to our landfills.

 

10/21/08 Beluga Whales: Good News!

We just got life-saving news for the last 375 beluga whales of Alaska's Cook Inlet. A note from the NRDC on the government's decision to give the endangered Beluga whales a reprieve.

 

10/14/08 Solar Tax Credits Extended In what promises to be a huge boost for the solar industry, the extension of the solar tax credit bundled into the recent $700 billion financial rescue package will create thousands of new clean-tech jobs while slashing the cost of solar panels for homeowners and businesses.

 

10/12/08 Hawaii Goes Solar

Hawaii signed into law a bill that requires all single-family homes built after Jan. 1, 2010, be equipped with solar or other energy-efficient hot-water systems. The mandate is the first of its kind for any state.

 

10/6/08 Starbucks Wasting More Than 6 Million Gallons of Water a Day American coffee giant Starbucks became the target of conservationists today after an investigation by the U.K. newspaper The Sun estimated that the company wasted up to 6 million gallons of water every day, enough to quell the thirst of a small African nation.

 

9/29/08 Hurricane Ike and BioFuels

Texas biodiesel producer GreenHunter Energy says that hurricane damage to it's gulf coast refinery — currently the largest in the nation — will take it out of production for 6 to 8 weeks.

 

9/29/08 Eco-Friendly Sale Ok, not to toot our own horn (toot)..but have you SEEN the growing list of Eco-Friendly Coupons? Support small businesses, save the planet and save some money too. Click here for the current list of Eco Coupon Codes.

9/22/08 India Going Green The popularity eco-friendly'green buildings' with their own water harvesting and solar power systems is catching on in India and the high price is no deterrent. By 2010, there may be about 1,000 green buildings, with over one billion sq ft to come up all over India.

 

9/12/08 - Barack Obama Visits Biodiesel Plant Presidential Candidate Affirms Commitment to Energy Independence and Green Jobs with Acceptance Speech and Launching his Fall Campaign at Pennsylvania Biodiesel. Sen. Barack Obama made one of his first stops as the official standard bearer of his party, to tour a Pennsylvania Biodiesel, a plant located in Monaca, just outside Pittsburgh.

 

9/12/08 - Sarah Palin's Wolf Killing Record
As governor of Alaska, Sarah Palin proposed paying a $150 bounty for the severed left foreleg of each dead wolf. She has championed aerial gunning of wolves and bears and approved a $400,000 state-funded campaign to promote this awful practice.

9/3/08 - Could Stinkweed be the Future of Biofuel?

Most people pull stinkweed from their gardens, but researchers are now planting acres of it in an experimental biofuel test. Could a weed related to the brussel sprout be a new viable type of biofuel?

 

8/29/08 - Update: Sally Foster Takes Steps to Be Green

Last year, Happyhippie.com blasted the Sally Foster company for not offering environmentally choices for their school fundraising program. The company has responded by taking steps to be green. Read the updated article to see what the company has done, and then visit the site to congratulate them, and encourage them to continue on this path.

8/25/08 Heading Back to School – 10 Green Tips for a Greener School Year It’s about that time of year again. In the next few weeks, children all over the country will return to school, and that means parents and kids alike will be in droves looking for their school supplies and clothing. The following is a list of a few things you can do and items you can purchase to start the school year off on a greener note.

8/20/08 Help defend the Endangered Species Act

The Interior Department has announced plans to undermine the Endangered Species Act by putting the responsibility of wildlife protection in the hands of federal agencies with little or no interest in protecting wildlife. The proposal would eliminate many current safeguards, including the routine scientific review of any agency action that may pose a threat to federally protected wildlife.

8/13/08 What is this Pickens Plan Anyway?

While many billionaires are enjoying retirement on a super-sized yacht in the Caribbean, T. Boone Pickens is doubling down at the age of 80. Over the last three decades, investors who have followed his lead have made millions.

 

8/06/08 Eco Friendly School Supplies I just received the list of required school supplies for my daughter, and was thrilled to see that there are some easy eco-friendly options this year.If you're in the same boat, and want to green-up the school essentials list, check out these great online stores that sell earth friendly products. The best part - no standing in crazy long lines at the store, fighting over lunchpail designs.

 

8/05/08 Saving a Tree is Easier Than You Think

The average office worker, according to the World Wildlife Fund, uses more than 10,000 sheets of paper. That's about 1.2 trees per person, per year. Yikes.

 

7/31/08 Massive Arctic Ice Shelf Breaks Off

Two chunks of ice together measuring 20sqkm have broken off an Arctic ice shelf, the biggest breakup of Arctic ice in three years, Canadian officials announced.

 

7/27/08 Mama Rose's Naturals: Small Business Promotes Natural Baby Care

Rosetta Thuresson, owner and founder of Mama Rose's Naturals, shares valuable insight on running a small environmentally friendly business, and the importnance of using natural products on babies.

 

7/22/08 Migrant Laborers Dying in Severe Heat Alternet is connecting the dots, and has noticed an alarming trend. Migrant workers are dropping like flies in 100+ degree heat and few seem to care. With even more extreme heat on it's way in California's central valley, there could be a surge in farm worker deaths, unless there is stronger enforcement of labor laws designed to prevent heat related deaths.

 

7/17/08 The Many Uses of a Lemon When life gives you lemons, make lemonade, and then use every last bit for even more lemony goodness. From insect repellent, cleanser to pickled lemons, check out these ideas to keep your lemon tree busy.

 

7/16/08 First US Town Powered Solely by Wind Rock Port, Mo., has an unusual crop: wind turbines. The four turbines that supply electricity to the small town of 1,300 residents make it the first community in the United States to operate solely on wind power.

 

7/10/08 Antarctic ice Breaking Up Quickly New evidence has emerged that a large plate of floating ice shelf attached to Antarctica is breaking up, in a troubling sign of global warming, the European Space Agency (ESA) said on Thursday.

 

7/7/08 Kitchen Composting The idea of kitchen composting sounds like a smelly and difficult concept to many people. However, with the stainless steel kitchen composter, saving table scraps for composting is a breeze and completely odorless.

 

How to Tie Dye Shirts - Instructional Video

by Cowboy Hippie at the Happyhippie.com Forum Happy Hippie thanks Cowboy Hippy for his awesome instructional video on how to make beautiful Tie Dye creations.

 

6/10/08 Eco Friendly Wedding Ideas

Whether you are planning your own wedding, or simply looking for some ideas for a friend, here are some easy things to do in order to have an environmentally friendly wedding. From the invitation, to the wedding favors, it's not only easy, but often cost effective.

6/2/08 Does Organic Baby Clothing Really Make a Difference?

When a baby is born, they are instantly bombarded with environmental chemicals. Organic clothing is particularly important for infants and children, as their bodies are more sensitive to the health risks posed from chemicals and pesticides.

5/21/08 Is Organic Food Healthier for You?

Organic foods are healthier food you if you just look at the obvious: pesticides. Your chances of getting pesticide residues are much less with organic food. But what about the nutritional content of the actual food?

 

5/2/08 Natural Pest Control Ideas

I found that hand-picking every insect on my plants is not only time-consuming, but basically impossible.Here's some useful info I have found online to help gardeners ward off pest, and enjoy an all-natural garden this spring/summer.

 

7/6/08 China Still Battling Green Sea of Algae

In China's Olympic co-host city Qingdao, a full one third of the sea is covered by a massive algae bloom that locals fear will harm the city's image during the Games.

 

7/6/08 Olympians could die from China's air pollution

A bold, but not so far fetched prediction has been made. China is so toxic, that Olympicans could die.

 

6/27/08 Oil in the Everglades The state of Florida signalled plans to purchase 187,000 acres of farmland to be converted into reservoirs and marshes, to hopefully save the thirsty Everglades. But is there a more insidious plan at work?

6/14/08 McCain: Drill for Oil at Home Instead of pushing new fuel alternatives, McCain called yesterday for an end to the federal ban on offshore oil drilling, offering an aggressive response to high gasoline prices and immediately drawing the ire of environmental groups that the presumptive Republican presidential nominee has courted for months.

 

6/14/08 The Buzz About Earth 2100

ABC News 'Earth 2100', set to broadcast this September, makes Al Gore's 'Inconvenient Truth' look like an episode of Barney and Friends.

5/23/08 Eclipse Spa: Sexy Man Lotion & Woody Soap

When Anne Keefe, from Eclipse Spa, offered to send some Sexy Man Lotion and Woody Soap, I said ‘sign me up.’ I then informed Mr. Happy Hippie that he’d be my guinea pig for some tantalizing sounding products.

 

5/31/08 Google: Use the Internet, Save the World?

If I could put a little super hero cape on Google's logo, I would. Always innovative, Google is creating an online system that will tie the world together with an emergency response system, so to speak.

 

5/29/08 Mobil Exxon Exec Calls Environmental Movement "Cute"

Despite a court challenge by environmental organizations this month to stop the $8-billion Kearl oilsands project in Alberta, Canada, Mr. Tillerson, the Exxon Mobil CEO brazenly admits he expects little delay.

5/28/08 Peace panties to frighten Myanmar junta

Canadian women have launched a Panties for Peace! campaign to send their undergarments to the Myanmar military junta to frighten it into ending suppression.

 

5/14/08 - Polar Bears Finally Given Threatened Species Status

The Interior Department has decided to protect the polar bear as a threatened species because of the decline in Arctic sea ice from global warming, officials said Wednesday.

5/3/08 Make your own Spring Beanie Hat

Is there still a nip in the air where you are, but want to wear fresh spring colors? Make your own Spring Beanie Hat - it's easy, and by making it yourself, you get exactly what you want!

 

5/15/08 - What is BPA and Why You Should Be Concerned

Bisphenol A, commonly used in plastics and polyesters, has become controversial because it mimics estrogen and thus could induce unhealthy hormonal responses.

 

5/8/08 - Hawaiian Body Products: Take a Tropical Vacation at Home Happyhippie.com recently reviewed some scrumptious body products by Ola - Hawaiian Body Products. Hawaiian Body Products is a family run company with roots deep in Hawai'i. Their Ola Bath, Body and Spa Products combine natural and organic ingredients that have been used for thousands of years to detoxify, purify, rejuvenate and replenish the skin.

 

5/4/08 - Green Algae as Fuel
Pond scum may soon save the world, and desert land may soon become the newest landscape for bio-fuel. The industry? Growing green algae in an enclosed, sustainable enivironment and making it into fuel.

 

5/8/08 - Clueless Africa Set to Murder Elephants

South Africa announced it will start killing elephants to reduce 'their burgeoning numbers', ending a 13-year ban and possibly setting a precedent for other African nations.

 

5/2/08 Die Green - Earth Friendly Funerals

For some recycling, and becoming energy efficient is not enough in life. The new hotness is not only treading lightly on the earth, but leaving a small ‘footprint’ on the earth in death.

 

4/27/08 - BLOG: Reusable Bags: Retrain Yourself

Over the past six months, I have had to retrain myself. Get of the car, grab my purse, enter the grocery store, oops...go back to the car, and grab my reusable bags. Besides the obvious environmental benefits, there are other perks for bringing my own reusable shopping bags.

4/25/08 Rice Shortage Hits San Francisco

A global rice shortage that has forced China and Vietnam to curb overseas sales of the food staple has reached the San Francisco Bay Area, home of one of the largest concentrations of Asian-Americans in the U.S. Stores, restaurants and food banks report dwindling supplies, and retail prices are rising.

4/26/08 - BLOG: The BioFuel Conspiracy -

Science does not back corn ethanol as a green solution. The process is not only inefficient, but it takes food producing farm land and reduces the human food supply, thus driving us the cost of food. Bio-fuel is NOT the eco-friendly solution being touted by the Bush Administration.

4/22/08 10 Easy Things to do TODAY to Save the Earth

Happy Earth Day! For those who are new to Happyhippie.com, welcome! Here are some super simple, painless tips to make your environmental healthier. Heck, you may even save a little cash.

 

4/20/08 Flowers are Losing Their Scent

Pollution is dulling the scent of flowers and impeding some of the most basic processes of nature, disrupting insect life and imperilling food supplies, a new study suggests.

 

4/19/08 Buying From Small Businesses

It's often far easier to run down to a big box store, and do the weekly shopping. However, the experience is often dull, and not personal. In a recession economy, it's more important than ever to purchase goods from small business.

 

4/16/08 Green Building: Easier Than You Think

Some residential builders, and even weekend home warriors are still in denial about Green Building. Common myths about green building often dissuade a builder from going that route, but we are here to dispell the rumors.

 

 

4/15/08 Potatoes: Antidote to World Hunger?

As wheat and rice prices surge, the humble potato -- long derided as a boring tuber prone to making you fat -- is being rediscovered as a nutritious crop that could cheaply feed an increasingly hungry world.

4/10/08 Have you Had Your Chocolate Today?

Since well before its introduction to western consumers in the sixteenth century, cocoa and its most popular derivative chocolate have long been used as therapeutic and medicinal remedies.

4/7/08 The Tibet killings that Fueled Olympic torch protests

The campaigners are protesting against China's human rights record and its crackdown on pro-independence activists in Tibet.

 

3/31/08 Google steps up eco-activism, will help flood Capitol switchboard

A group of environmental activists has enlisted Google to help flood the congressional switchboard with one million phone calls on Earth Day urging lawmakers to enact eco-friendly measures.

3/14/08 China Asks Nepal to Ban Mount Everest Hikes, Riots Ensue China has asked Nepal to keep climbers off Mount Everest this spring, a move that would prevent pro-Tibetan protests when the Olympic torch is carried to the summit of the world's highest mountain, Nepalese officials said Friday.

310/08 - Recycle or go to Hell

Failing to recycle plastic bags could find you spending eternity in Hell, the Vatican said after drawing up a list of seven deadly sins for our times.

 

3/7/08 - Indian Kashmir to Poison 100,000 Dogs Authorities in Indian Kashmir have begun poisoning stray dogs in an anti-rabies drive that aims to kill some 100,000 dogs in the region's main city, officials said Thursday. Animal rights activists vowed to go to court to stop the slaughter planned by Srinagar city, saying it is an illegal and cruel solution to a problem that could be better addressed with other methods.

3/3/08 - The Great Bag is a Great Thing Happyhippie.com recently received a resuable handmade shopper bag created by 'The Great Bag' by Grace, in the San Bernadino mountains. We were sent a plain, natural unbleached muslin, that was a light off-white color. Tammy, of The Great Bag company, had also given instructions to decorate the bag to personalize it. I was outright giddy with this art assignment.

2/27/08 - Earth Friendly Cleaning a Snap with EcoDiscoveries HappyHippie.com's PeaceFrog reviews environmentally-friendly cleaning products from EcoDiscoveries. EcoDiscoveries touts that they have designed the industry's most effective and safest line of enzyme and plant-based liquid cleaners for you, your family, and the environment (indoors and out).

2/26/08 - Doomsday Vault to Protect Earth's Seeds Let's hope there is never a need, but just in case the earth has a major 'doomsday' event, Norway has a deep remote vault in an Arctic mountain, designed to protect the world's seeds from global catastrophe.

 

2/25/08 - Going Broke Saving the Earth In the age of Pricey Hybrids and Organic Cotton designer wear, is being eco-friendly just a new hip trend for the uber-rich? The original earth lovin' mamas and papas are starting to feel the squeeze, as a new breed of wealthy eco-warriors take center stage. Looking at the heart of it, environmental issues are not really moral issues, they are economic issues wearing a disguise.

2/22/08 - Gray wolves to lose endangered status Gray wolves will be fair game for hunters in parts of the northern Rocky Mountains after federal officials announced Thursday that they would be taken off the endangered species list. Environmental groups were dismayed by the decision, calling it shortsighted and a political concession to ranching and hunting interests.

2/19/08 - Corntainers and Tooth Soap: Smart Eco-Friendly Inventions Although The Greater Green owner, Joanna Livieratos, hand picks and reviews each natural item available in her online store, she was kind enough to send Happyhippie some exciting products to review. Shipped in eco-friendly recycled packaging, we unwrapped the mystery box to discover a water bottle 'made from corn', and a little packet of soap shavings called, 'Tooth Savior Soap'. What to review first, as both were so intriguing!

2/13/08 - Ancient Hemp Snuffed By Polyester: This History of Hemp Our ancestors were pretty smart eco-folks. Did you know that hemp is one of the earliest cultivated plants known, and ancient Asians used hemp to make clothes, shoes, ropes, and an early form of paper over 10,000 years ago?

2/13/08 - Got a Headache? Try these natural remedies. Headaches can be alleviated by cold compresses, baths, accupressure and relaxation tecniques.

2/11 /08 - Dolphin On Rye? Japanese Dolphin Hunting What sounds barbaric to western countries, is a casual day of fishing in Japan. The Japanese governement allows 20,000 dolphins to be killed a year in the fishing industry. It is widely known that dolphins are extremely intelligent mammals, that are self-aware, show humor, and even respond to human emotion, as if emotion travels in water on waves by saving humans in peril.

2/8/08- What is Ted Turner Doing with All That Land? CNN founder Ted Turner, the largest private landowner in Nebraska and the United States and the nation's largest bison rancher, has a lofty goal. According to a CNN interview, Ted Turner would like to reach 2 million acres nationwide before he dies — about 40,000 acres more than he currently owns.

2/4/08- What do you do with a sick cow? Feed it to the kids, of course! The Humane Society has discovered that cattle that are too sick to walk, are dragged off to slaughter. In spite of claims that downers were being eliminated from the food supply, downed animals may be falling through the cracks as a result of poor oversight, anemic enforcement, and a loophole created by inconsistent agency regulations

1/28/08- The Hullabaloo Over Bamboo: A Closer Look at Eco-Friendly Bamboo Clothing About a year ago, I had the honor of finding bamboo sheets in a funky, boutique store. Now at first, I had visions of a woody, rough fabric that would crunch all night - and worse yet, I could imagine having nightmares about hungry Pandas munching on my bedding.

1/24/08- Al Gore: We're Doomed Whether you love the man, or think he's a quack, one can not dispute Al Gore's solid commitment and passion in publicizing Global Warming. Today, Al Gore said that climate change is occurring far more rapidly than even the worst predictions of the UN's Nobel Prize-winning scientific panel on climate change. Happyhippie.com staff said to be looking at property high up in the mountain tops.

1/23/08- Affirm Aware: Affirmations are Fashionable - Kathryn Haydn-Hays, the owner of California based Affirm-Aware, said that her company produced spiritual/positive products that are also green, socially responsible, sweatshop-free and people first. Whew! My brain rattled around my skull like a bouncy ball - so many of my favorite terms and beliefs wrapped into one product - do tell me what this is!

 

1/22/08- No More Plastic Bags at Whole Foods This April 22, on Earth Day, Whole Foods is making a strong environmental statement by no longer offering plastic bags. That means roughly 100 million plastic bags will be kept out of the environment between that date and the end of 2008, the company says.

 

1/17/08- Amazon Deforestation Accelerates Deforestation of the Amazon has surged in recent months and is likely to rise in 2008 for the first time in four years, a senior Brazilian government scientist said on Wednesday. The rise raises questions over Brazil's assertion that its environmental policies are effectively protecting the world's biggest rain forest, whose destruction is a major source of carbon emissions that drive global warming.

1/15/08- Product Review: Treasures of Mother Earth - Handmade Soaps and Candles Happyhippie.com was thrilled to review Treasures of Mother Earth, parent company to Soaps of Mother Earth and Candles of Mother Earth. Ronda, owner and handmade soap and candle creator extraodinaire, sent us a selection of soaps, lotions, bath salt, and a candle to test.

1/14/08- Virgin Atlantic To Test Biofuel in Flight Virgin Atlantic said Monday that it would conduct a demonstration flight next month of one of its Boeing 747 jets using biofuel - the first airborne test of a renewable fuel by a commercial jet.

 

1/13/08- Bald Eagles Die at Alaska Fish Processing Plant At least 19 bald eagles died Friday after gorging themselves on a truck full of fish waste outside a processing plant. Fifty or more eagles swarmed into the truck, whose retractable fabric cover was open and became too soiled to fly or clean themselves.

1/10/08 -The $2500 - Check out the Tata Ok, the name of the car cracks me up, however the cost and gas mileage on this little bugger will make everyone take a serious look.Tata Motors unveiled it's $2,500 Nano with much ado - and with the theme to "2001: A Space Odyssey" blaring in the background - in New Dehli.

 

12/24/07 Endangered Australian Animal Series: The Endangered Numbat One of the most ecologically most dangerous things to do is tamper with an animal’s ecosystem. The ramifications of doing so can have irreversible effects. Australia, which has animals that are found no where else in the world, is at risk of losing the Numbat due to environment tinkering.

 

12/19/07 - Eco-boat is People Powered: Literally The fastest eco boat on the planet will attempt to break the round the world speed record using fuel made from human fat. Pete Bethune, the New Zealand skipper of Earthrace, said the attempt to circumnavigate the globe would begin from Valencia in Spain on March 1 next year.

 

12/1407 - Indigenous people see signs global warming Indigenous people, including Canadian Inuit and Indian leaders, are emerging as some of the top stars of the Bali climate-change conference. From the Arctic to the South Pacific islands, indigenous people said they are among the first to suffer the worst effects of global warming.

 

12/11/07 - Endangered: Beluga Whale or White Whale Beluga whales are one of the most fascinating creatures on the planet and their playful nature is one of their most enduring qualities about them. The Belugas are a testament to the fact that what we do in our lives has a direct effect on an animal even way up in the Artic.

 

12/9/07 - Practical Green Gifts Practical gifts do not necessarily have to be boring gifts. Granted, if you give your significant other a toaster on Valentine's Day, you may be in for a world of hurt. However, it's often the practical gifts that are used the most and appreciated. Here are some practical gift ideas, that are not only earth friendly, but show that you really care.

 

12/7/07 - Teaching Kids to be Green
Each year, Americans generate millions of tons of waste...call it garbage, refuse, or trash…it's the waste we produce in our homes and communities. Although many cities have extensive recycling programs, almost 60% of what is thrown out in a garbage can, may be recycled.

 

12/4/07 - The 2007 Eco-Clothing Gift Guide Here are our picks for this year's eco-friendly clothing gift guide. Organic and hemp clothing can sometimes be pricey, but we feel we did a good job in highlighting items this year that are a good value, especially for the benefit of the earth. Most retailers are offering sales, free shipping deals, or an additional discount as well.

 

12/1/07 - Today is World AIDS Day Health activists around the globe are using Saturday's annual observance of World AIDS Day to focus attention on efforts to combat the pandemic.The U.N.-sponsored Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria says it has provided drugs for nearly 1.5 million people living with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.

11/30/07 - Former Midnight Oil rocker named Australia's environment minister For 25 years Peter Garrett was the frontman of Midnight Oil, an Australian rock band known for its raucously loud music and protest songs about social and environmental issues. Then the bald 6ft 6in singer hung up his microphone, disbanded the group and exchanged his rock star clothes for the sombre suits of a politician.

11/28/07 - Biofuel Potential in Africa International experts will convene in Burkina Faso for three days this week to discuss the prospects for biofuel production in Africa, conference organisers said Monday. The talks which open on Tuesday will bring together more than 300 specialists from Africa, Europe and the Americas to evaluate Africa's potential to produce biofuels -- while assessing the environmental, economic and social impacts of biofuel production.

 11/25/07 - Where are the Chinook Salmon? There was a time just 20 years ago that you could go to the major rivers in the Pacific Northwest and see Chinook salmon jumping for miles and miles. Just 40 years ago you could literally stick you hand in the river and it would be a matter of minute you could pluck one out of the river. Chinook Salmon stocks have now dried up and now on the endangered species list.

11/24/07 - Some Green Building Not So Friendly To Birds The soaring glass windows in Emory's Mathematics and Science Center reflect the woodsy view, confusing hapless birds who smash into it at full speed. The building killed 60 birds in the first year," said Wegner, Emory's chief environmental officer. "It was the wall of death."

 

Click for more archived Happyhippie News...