So the holidays have not even passed but they are upon us. What comes after is a celebration for beginning of the New Year and for some, the symbolic "turning of the page".

Photo by: Jimer

Many of us make New Year's resolutions. I hope that many of you are making some in regards to how best you can give back to our global community. I know for myself, next year I seek to further peace and preservation of the planet . I think in order to fully manifest resolutions for the New Year though we should first acknowledge and give ourselves a pat on the back for what we have done this year. Sometimes we don't realize the impact that we have had on even our own lives. I recommend writing a list out of all the initiatives you sought out to accomplish and did. Think hard and write down even the smallest of things as small in the aggregate adds up to something much larger. Take a moment to fully appreciate your efforts. A confidence will build inside of you and should empower you to change any feelings of not accomplishing tasks this past year into an energy that will allow you to do so in the next. Check out my list of things I've done in my Thoughts by Janine. I will also have posted a list of observations of what I have seen in the world this past year also in my Thoughts by Janine. To feel really inspired, write a list out of the accomplishments our local and global communities have achieved this year.

• Becoming Green from the Inside Out: Part 1: Teaching How to Care
• Becoming Green from the Inside Out (part II)
• Becoming Green from the Inside Out (Part III)
• Doing Your Part - Becoming Green from the Inside Out (IV)

Congratulations on a job well done this year and good luck and go green in the next!

Learn more about Janine at Green Wave Enterprises

Photo by: reya

I was recently in Boston with my boyfriend, Ken, for one of his/their (The Crystal Method) shows. Ken and I had gone out a day early to play tourist. We stayed at a Kimpton hotel called Nine Zero. Directly across the street lay the burial grounds for many of our old school patriots; Ben Franklin and Paul Revere to name a couple. We went to visit of course, although, we would have paid the famous cemetery a visit even if we weren't staying across the street. One of the first things I noticed however were the many plastic bags swirling around the grounds. I felt sad. I wondered why with all the students that must patronize the property no one would feel inspired to pick these bags up. As I was having this thought, I took notice of a squirrel that I had had some limited awareness of out of the corner of my eye who had been stuffing his mouth with leaves; he then ran into my direct view.  He had done that galloping, bouncing, arching thing squirrels do when they run. It had stopped at a plastic bag and started stuffing it into his mouth. Perhaps the squirrel thought it landed a big score -- the biggest leaf he ever saw.

Or maybe, the squirrel was used to eating plastic bags. It all happened so fast --if it were not horrifying it would be amazing at the speed that squirrel stuffed the bag into his mouth. What could one do but bear witness? I would have nothing on that squirrel had I tried to snatch it from him, those kids run fast. I am also fairly sure reasoning with the squirrel would have gotten me not far from nowhere. Animals eating our trash ... how can we possibly sleep at night knowing our convenient lifestyles kill so many things in this world --people, animals, children?

Yesterday I received my "Soup" from Surfrider, which is their weekly newsletter on what's a happening in the world in regards to water issues, pollution, their events and non-profit, and of course surfing. One of the articles was about an Australian crocodile that had died due to ingesting too many plastic bags.

How do we overcome our bad plastic habit?
 

1) Buy a reusable bag if you don't have one and if you do, buy one more (place it somewhere it may help you in case you forget or tend to forget your other one) 2) Instead of using the plastic bags for produce, you can also buy bio-mesh bags such as a "byo-bag" from coolhats.biz, a green living store such as Green and Greener, or a fish net-ish one from Whole Foods 3) Join Surfrider on today in their campaign against plastic. They, as well as the Heal the Bay group, will be handing out free reusable bags at the Country Mart in Malibu from 10am till 1pm. At 3:45 they march with the high school students of Santa Monica high to city hall to voice their stance on the absurdity of single use plastic bags. 4) Taking the Chico Bag Pledge of Love. Pledge of love. Because I share the vision of a society that cherishes Earth's precious natural resources, I pledge to eliminate the unnecessary use of sing use plastic and paper bags. From this day forward, I will consistently use and promote the use of reusable bags whenever possible and in doing so will influence others to do the same.

If you must take a plastic bag or you forget, out of bag habits (it happens) ...please recycle them! If your city does not recycle plastic bags, most Whole Foods do. Sometimes we can even get a few uses out of plastic bags we end up with by washing them by hand and drying them out. You can hang them on say a faucet or buy a contraption meant for such a purpose at again, a green living store.

Another word ... my favorite reusable bags right now are Chico Bags as they fold up into a ball the size of your hand and therefore can fit into your purse or on your keychain. Chico bags are made out of nylon, however, which does not break down. Hopefully you evolve out of tiring of material things quickly --if you do find yourself wanting to get rid of a nylon reusable bag, please send it to Chico Bag as they have a recycling program where they turn their old bags into rugs!

So as the holidays are here ... happy shopping --just do it right :)

Learn more about Janine at Green Wave Enterprises
 

I have a dream ... my dream is that we could walk into a store and not be wondering what the environmental impact of our product purchase would be. We could purchase something and feel secure that our purchase will not harm ourselves, our neighbors, our future generations, the quality of our Earth and all its inhabitants.


Photo by: iks.iks.iks

Such is not life in this current age. I just spent about ten minutes of my life trying to make a purchase of cat litter. Ken had brought home a new litter a few weeks ago. It's light, the company claims 5lbs is equivalent to 35. I see the value in that --lighter for landfills, the product is organic, or so they claim. I liked it except it tracks....I have been meaning to visit one of the three Greenopia guide rated pet shops on Ventura Blvd to purchase vegetarian food for my gatito grande (large and endearing cat) and for advice on the pet litter. I did not find myself in Studio City (Chow Bella Pet Spa), Tarzana (Pet Ex), or Woodland Hills (Natural Touch 4 Paws) ... no I was already at Ralphs cashing in Ken's coin stash, as directed from my bank, he must have been accumulating for the last ten years. So I spent ten minutes figuring out if I wanted to try Yesterday's News (made from old newspaper) or if I wanted to try the Perfect Litter again by Pet Ecology. The price difference was nearly $10 but and I know that Perfect Litter attaches to my cat and I find their puff granules around the house but ... I couldn't support Nestle in the end as I oppose some of their initiatives regarding buying water rights for private use. I like going to the boutique stores for this reason, they don't carry products they don't believe in and they are often knowledgeable about the products they carry.

I have realized today that until I have an iPhone, I will keep a Greenopia guide in my car.

Product purchase is so important as we sustain companies through our purchase of their products. With the holidays upon us we have a choice in what we choose to buy people, and what we let them buy us. I have already received gifts I was instructed to open early. Although sweet, I have a heavy heart feeling like I don't want anymore products unless they are in alignment with my greenie ideals. So this is where I'm at and perhaps you can do the same.



1) Buy from Gaiam! They are a huge online retailer for conscious companies. If we are going to have big companies let's have more like Gaiam so buy from them! Let's direct our friends and family there as well!



2) Red Envelope and Uncommon Goods are magazine / online retailers. Both have recycled, organic, or fair trade options. If you have discerning friends and family that want to buy from a more boutique-ish company have them visit these two companies. Just place emphasis that you only want gifts if they are created in a sustainable way meaning organically, or by reuse with recycled products, or that are created from fair sweat not sweat shops.



3) Investigate any Eco gift bonanza's going on in your area. For L.A. you can visit http://yourdailythread.com/ or http://www.gotogreenla.com/ to check out the calendar of events. If you are in another city, just investigate the alternative media you have available to you ... publications like City Beat, Free Yoga or Spiritual publications ...



4) Buy from companies affiliated with either Co-op America (soon to be Green America at the beginning of the New Year) or companies affiliated with 1% for the Planet. There is a new company called "Revenge is ...." that sells products that help the planet and then they distribute monies to non-profits similar to 1% for the Planet.



5) Buy memberships with non-profit organizations such as Co-op America, Surfrider Foundation, PETA ...whatever floats your boat or whichever you think would most appeal to the person your are buying for. To make more of an impact, research a non-profit that your giftee would have interest in. When their membership expires they may have incentive to renew it themselves and maybe get more involved --you could spawn inspiration in others!

As far as getting gifts you don't want ... I haven't figured this one out completely yet. I know for sure I receive promo lipsticks as stocking stuffers. I will let you know what I decide, for right now I am creating a bag I will figure out what to do with later. I think the best thing to do is before it gets too late, SPEAK UP NOW! Let's tell people where to buy for us, or maybe even not to buy for us if we are trying to make a commitment toward simplicity. Black Friday being last week, it may already be too late but at least you give people the option to return items now. They may even be thankful you exposed them to a new gift giving resource. The more people buy green now the faster the demand for such products will grow and naturally push out the harmful products. This year I'm dreaming of a green existence and I hope you join me in helping make that a reality for all.

Much love to you all! Happy holiday season. Shop. Spread cheer, compassion, awareness and peace :)

Learn more about Janine.

This is the time of year we have allocated to ourselves on a national level to remind us to give thanks and appreciation for all we have and all there is to come. For all of you that visit this site, you should give yourself thanks for doing your part in making the world a better place through your choices to support a sustainable future and honor the world around you. Thank yourself for seeing, appreciating, and revering nature.


Photo by: Ming Chai

I have a few tips on how to build such reverence.

1) Recognize and indulge in every moment you have where you have the chance to pamper and honor yourself and your larger self, our environment. Take moments to reflect. We have what seems like less time in each day, but don't fall into the trap of thinking you have less time and so give no time for yourself. It's more important now to give time to yourself.

2) Dance! Although I feel breathing and tuning in are great, at this time of year when the days are short, I feel like we need to create more energy for ourselves at times. Get up from what you're doing every once in a while, find something you are appreciative of, and dance for it. It feels good to move. It's feels good to create a ritual of spontaneous appreciation. If we take time and care for ourselves, we also give back care to the world in that we will have more of ourselves to give.

3) Sing! Get up in the morning, be cheery. Sing in the shower. Take a break from your thoughts and let loose. Appreciate the moment, appreciate yourself, appreciate the world.

4) Join the Gratitude experiment. It starts on November 27th. For 42 days you will receive uplifting messages that help you tune into gratitude on a daily basis if you feel you are having a hard time cultivating it for yourself. You can sign up here: www.WorldGratitude.com/join.html

5) Build a little altar or temple of appreciation and make it green. You will have a chance to express creativity and possibly learn something you didn't know about possible materials that you can later share with others. Here's a large example in Thailand employing the concept of REUSE, using glass bottles: http://forum.xcitefun.net/wat-pa-maha-kaew-temple-of-million-bottles-bangkok-thailand-t13763.html

Just remember by honoring yourself you cultivate honor for the rest of the world.

Learn more about Janine.

So today is the day. Get out there and vote people. I have to admit I am Obama all the way and it's not because I am a life long Democrat. I actually grew up in a conservative household always given the choice however to make my mind up for myself whether it was in regards to politics, religion, or what I wanted to eat for dinner. Although I was given this liberty to think for myself, I found myself with conservative leanings probably up until a few years ago.


Photo by: jmtimages

I am still not a Democrat today however, I find myself having a very hard time identifying with the current GOP candidates mainly due to environmental issues. Sure I have my boyfriends's band's Obama track in my head (www.thecrystalmethod.com --it's a free download) however, this is truly about what each candidate is standing for not who. In all fairness if it had to do with character, I feel John McCain seems like a nice old man. More...