Eco-Bling

Not to be cliche but diamonds are always really exciting to us GITNP ladies, however we all want to avoid the karmic price of wearing a huge rock on your finger (or ears or neck...) that cost a young child in Africa their hand or arm. In addition to the social concerns (which are sickening--please educate yourself on the issue if you haven't already) of precious gems and metals, there are also environmental concerns. The mining of gold, for instance, can have adverse affects on the environment such as polluted drinking water, toxic chemicals in the air and destroying natural habitiats and wildlife. Most consumers don't know where the gold in their products comes from, or how it is mined. Gold mining is a dirty industry: it can displace communities, contaminate drinking water, hurt workers, and destroy pristine environments.-Nodirtygold.org
Every ounce of gold produced results in 30 tons of mine waste- brilliantearth.com

Now calm down. This issue is not relegating you to a life of puca shell necklaces and hippie moon rings. Their are some wonderful resources for responsibly mined and produced gems and precious metals. Firstly Tiffany's (sigh,we heart Tiffany's, and tiffany blue) has a blanket environmental and socially responsible guarantee on all our their products. Companies from JCPenney to Van Cleef and Arpel have committed to start to using only safely mined and produced gold (for a complete list of companies read more.) There are many companies that offer conflict free diamonds which are often mined in Canada.

What to look for when shopping for jewllery-
The seal of The Council for Responsible Jewllery Practices which is a non profit company with this objective: "Our objective is to promote responsible ethical, social and environmental practices throughout the diamond¹ and gold² jewellery supply chain, from mine to retail.". All these companies are members.

Ask to see their seal of approval that the diamonds and gold they sell are responsibly procured. For more information read this buyer guide from Amnesty International.

Another idea is share to the blood diamonds and dirty gold that already exist in your family. Pass them on or have them remade into new shapes and updated styles instead of purchasing new jewelry.

But just so we're clear (boyfriends, husbands, etc)...we still want jewelry...just make sure its the socio and eco-friendly kind!

Do you have any good links to eco-friendly jewelery? Share them with everyone in our comments sections. Happy shopping!

p.s. What about the Kimberly Process? It's a voluntary program, that still has many cracks but has obviously done a lot of good in terms of identifying the origin of rough diamonds. You can also read more about conflict diamonds and The Kimberly Process Certification Scheme here

Heal the Bay

I (Lydia) recently read some literature on Heal the Bay thanks to the call from my favorite ocean loving family of eco-fighters the Sloan's. Max Sloan is organizing donations for the annuale "Bring Back the Beach" dinner and auction and my food company Apples & Onions is donating a Farmer's Market cooking class to the auction help raise money for the wonderful cause of keeping the Santa Monica Bay from being a dumping ground for trash.

The health and safety of our oceans is paramount to the cause against climate change and even if you don't live close to an ocean you can practice these tips below to help preserve your local water sources like the lakes, reservoirs and rivers in your area.

Heal The Bay- Easy Tips to keep the Ocean clean

Even if you live miles from the beach, there are many ways that you can help. Check out these top 10 suggestions and start healing the Bay today!

1. Keep your Litter out of the Gutter!
   Keep trash, yard trimmings, and other litter off the street and out of the storm drains so they don’t end up in the ocean. Clean up after your dog, cat, or horse to keep the waste out of the storm drain and away from your favorite beach. Report full catch basins to the Dept. of Public Works: LA City: (800) 974- 9794 LA County: (800) 303- 0003
2. Don’t Be a Drip
   Overwatering is wasteful and moves trash and toxins to the ocean. Conserving water also helps the sewage treatment plant do a better job. Turn off the faucet when you don’t need it. Fix leaky pipes and install low- flow shower heads and toilets
3. Hold on to Your Balloons
   Released helium balloons eventually pop and fall back to land, ending up in the ocean where animals mistake them for food. Always pop balloons and put them in the trash.
4. Beware of Six- Pack Rings
   Avoid burying them, or cut them up before you throw them out. Marine animals choke on garbage and get tangled in trash. Unlike people, birds and fish don’t have hands to remove items caught around their necks.
5. Go Non-Toxic!
   Avoid buying products like liquid drain openers. Use pesticides as little as possible and look for non- toxic alternatives. Use compost instead of chemical fertilizers. If you must use harsh chemical products, bring them to authorized household hazardous waste drop-off centers. For locations near you, call (800) CLEAN-UP.
6. Sack the Plastic Bags
   Instead of taking plastic bags at the grocery store, bring your own bag. Plastic bags create loads of unnecessary litter; they are easily blown by the wind, and they often end up in the ocean. Plastic takes hundreds of years to biodegrade, and creates hazards for marine life and other wildlife.
7. Make a Clean Sweep
   Use a broom, not a hose, to clean sidewalks and driveways. Watering the driveway won’t make it grow! Sweep trash into a dustpan, not the gutter, and use the garden clippings as mulch to fertilize your yard.
8. Recycle Used Motor Oil
   You can recycle your used motor oil at gas stations, auto parts stores, and garages. Never pour it down the drain, in the gutter, or on the ground. Motor oil is extremely toxic.
9. Go to a Car Wash
   Most car washes recycle their water. If you clean your car at home, wash it on the lawn. Use a bucket to conserve water and use biodegradable soap.
10. Become a part of Heal the Bay
    By volunteering or becoming a member, you’ll help us continue to protect the Santa Monica Bay and all of California’s coastal waters.
    
    • Donate
    • Become a member
    • Volunteer - Join a beach or community cleanup, or help out at our offices or at our events
    • Educate - Help spread the word through our education programs
    • Buy and wear cool Heal the Bay stuff!

And our favorite advice from Heal the Bay.... got to the car wash, it's good for the environment and your manicure!
If you would like to attend the dinner or donate to the auction click here!

Walking is the New Driving

By guest contributer Stacey Harman

Since greenisthenewpink.org hit the scene over a year ago, I have tried my best to incorporate “green” ways of living into my lifestyle…

I changed out all my BAD light bulbs for Eco-friendly bulbs. I started recycling, or at least reusing everything and anything I could. I unplug my cell phone chargers during the day like a good little girl. I shut down my computer when I’m not using it. I get my books from the library instead of buying new every time. I never had air conditioning to begin with so that was a non-issue. I do laundry at odd hours of the night. I drink tap water (God help me if my unborn children arrive with an extra arm or one lonely ear). And I cut back to four squares of Charmin when wiping. I figured this was the least I could do.

However…if all that sounds too difficult, yet you still want to reduce your carbon footprint (I still have no idea what that means, but it’s fun to say), if you really want to make a difference, there is one more thing you can do. It’s so simple and yet it will make a huge impact. Are you ready…?

WALK!

That’s right. You heard me…start walking. You learned the ancient art of walking when you were just one year old. You’ve been doing it for as long as you can remember, but right around 16 you learned to DRIVE (ooh - bad word, bad word) and if you’re anything like me, driving became the norm.

School was a hop, skip and a jump away but I insisted on driving my little ‘94 Hyundai back and forth everyday. Plus, if I took the long way to school, I could pass by my crush, Brian’s house, pretending I just happened to be in the neighborhood (something stalkers do). I had no idea driving two blocks here and three blocks there was actually releasing harmful toxins into the air.

If only I knew then what I know now…

DRIVING 3 miles produces roughly 1.0 KG of CO2.

Walking still sound like a drag? Maybe saving the Earth isn’t enough incentive to drive less and start walking. Here’s a little bonus incentive…

You’re getting fat. That’s right. I said it…FAT.

WALKING 3 miles burns roughly 300 calories.

• Walking the mile to the nearest Whole Foods can and WILL help you to lose those 20 aggravating pounds you’ve put on since college
  

• Walking to your favorite bar (which is undoubtedly in your own neighborhood anyway) will not only reduce your carbon footprint (heehee – I said it again), but also, stop you from “one-eyeing” it on the way home which is not only dangerous, but illegal.
  

• And here’s another brilliant idea…WALK to the gym, Fatty. I was driving to my gym everyday when finally it dawned on me…My gym is only 1.3 miles from my house. That’s 130 calories each way if I walk. My 30 minutes of cardio combined with walking the 2.6 mile round trip may just be the perfect combination for reducing my thunder thighs and saving the Earth all at once

Do your part…Save the Earth…WALK.

-Stacey is a writer who lives in Los Angeles