Category — Play

I spent this past weekend in the lovely city of Chicago at the Naturally Healthy Children’s Expo. I met lots of great, new (and some seasoned) green parents and, of course, adorable kids! We gave away lots of magazines and KIWI Care Packages. It was a great time. There are many reasons, like the NHCE, why the Windy City is our Pick of the Week.

• City Hall has a 20,300-square-foot rooftop garden.
• The city has 2.5 million-square-feet of green roofs planned or already in use.
• They host a Green Festival. Next year’s fest is in May!
• On the city’s website, has a Center for Green Technology that is set up to help business and home owners learn about green technology.
• Chicago’s Green City Market, the Windy City’s sustainable farmer’s market.
• Chicago’s architecture is getting a green makeover.
• They even have a guide for building green roofs!

Need we say more? Chicago is a great city, but when you add in their green initiatives, it really soars!
Chicago’s City Hall before the garden (pictured above).
Chicago’s City Hall after its great green makeover.

We all wish we could be a super hero from time to time. (Captain Planet anyone?) That’s what makes this video from Sienna Miller and Global Cool extra funny.

Just a little laughter to end our summer holidays and start Autumn off right! Not only is it funny, it’s environmentally friendly. We should all try and be environmental super heroes, but we’ll keep our underwear on the inside, thanks!

Welcome back to work and school!

This week KIWI has decided to focus our pick on a organization that has been given a bad name by certain members– the NFL!

Lately a lot of focus dealing with the NFL has been on Michael Vick (ick!) and his involvement with dogfighting. While this is not a matter to be taken lightly at all, I thought maybe it was time to check up on all the good the NFL is doing. In today’s world, there is so much focus on the bad news, KIWI likes to bring light on the good!

Under the large umbrella of the NFL exists the NFL Charities. Within this organization, they have many programs ranging from youth to health programs. One of their programs includes the youth orientated “What Moves U” health and fitness program. Designed to help fight child obesity, the program includes the following:

1. An in-school activity kit created for teachers, by teachers, which includes curriculum-based activity sheets, program–specific learning materials.
2. School promotional materials.
3. An interactive fitness-focused website for children.
4. A national public awareness campaign that will include television, radio, print, movie cinema PSAs, and community outreach events through NFL teams and American Heart Association division.

And undoubtedly, my (and KIWI’S as well) favorite program existing in the NFL is the Philadelphia Eagles’ Go Green Program (E-A-G-L-E-S EAGLES!). I first heard of the The Go Green initative while walking in Franklin Square in Philadelphia. I looked up and saw a sign that read, “In just one week of recycling, we can each save 17 trees.” I thought, “Oh that’s nice.” And I really thought nothing of it.

But the Eagles are backing up these signs with some serious action. The Birds are reimbursing employees who purchase wind energy through PECO Wind and New Jersey Clean Power Energy Programs (the first NFL organization to do so). The program also includes:

1. A donation of $125,000 to Treevitalize, to restore tree cover in Philly.
2. A “Go Green” Energy Calculator located on their site (pictured above).
3. A hardcore recycling program at Lincoln Financial Field.
4. Renewable energy project with the Saint Louis Rams to offset game-related carbon emissions.
5. Providing close to 200 shrubs and trees to spruce up the same Franklin Square where their lovely tip signs are located.

So, in honor of all the good things coming out of the NFL, KIWI would like to thank the NFL for doing their part for the youth of today and, especially the Eagles for helping the youth of tomorrow. Go EAGLES! I mean… =)

-Stacey

My favorite television show is The Office. My favorite night of television is easily the NBC Thursday Night line-up or “Comedy Night Done Right” as they coined it. Which is why I was really excited to hear NBC Universal is going completely green for a week.

From the article, “We will have every single one of our prime-time shows with storylines themed to green with our characters … being agents of change and being proactive, positive, green members of our going-green society,” said Ben Silverman, co-chairman of NBC Entertainment. Every show is getting an eco makeover, including Sunday Night Football, Deal or No Deal, 30 Rock, and many others. Even the late shows are getting in on the act.

And green themed storylines? Can you imagine Michael Scott spouting environmental advice– that’s comedic gold right there! I am almost giggling with anticipation!

In the words of the funny John Krasinski aka Jim from The Office, “We’re a paper company. We’re going to get hammered.”

So hooray for the Peacock! We here at Kiwi, personally cannot wait until “Green is Universal” appears on our home television sets!

To read more about it, click here.