Despite the best efforts of many eco-conscious individuals, families, organizations, and businesses, a new report by the Global Carbon Project says global emissions have jumped 20% in the last decade. Yikes! According to the study, one of the biggest continued contributors to the increase of CO2 in our atmosphere is developing nations, whose emissions percentages rise each year. (That doesn’t say developed nations in North America and western Europe are blame-free, though—their already-high CO2 levels have simply remained stable rather than decline.)

If you’ve been working hard to do it’s part in the fight against global warming, the study’s findings might feel discouraging. After all, if your family’s lifestyle changes—like making sure to recycle everything, eating less meat, or keeping the thermostat cooler in the winter and warmer in the summer–don’t seem to be making a difference, why bother? In fact, because the only way progress has ever been achieved in society is through persistence.

Instead of declaring the war on climate change un-winnable, take the opportunity to serve as an example and keep doing what you’re doing (and maybe consider even doing a little more!). The eventual result? A healthier world for our children and grandchildren.

-Marygrace, KIWI staff writer

In case you haven’t noticed, recycling is on the rise. In fact, the last twenty years have seen recycling programs spike in numbers from 1,000 to 10,000 in the United States alone! While we should pat ourselves on the backs for striving to keep more plastic, glass, paper, and aluminum out of landfills, we should also recognize that there’s more work to be done.

Enter America Recycles Day, an event seeking to spread awareness about why the eco-friendly practice is important—and how everyone can pitch in to do their part. Want to participate? Great! There’s plenty of ways to show your support, like attending a local America Recycles Day event, filling out a recycling pledge form, or simply letting others in your community know how they can recycle.

To learn more, check out americarecyclesday.org.

-Marygrace, KIWI staff writer

Unless you or your kid are in danger of being stung by one, you probably don’t care about bees all that much—but you should. Why? Since 2006, farmers and scientists have noticed huge disappearances of honeybee colonies in North America, Europe, and even Taiwan. And since bees play such an important role in the ecosystem (in addition to producing honey, they’re also responsible for pollinating many of our crops), colony collapse disorder (CCD) is significant.

Fortunately, Haagen-Dazs is working to make a difference. In the last two years, the ice cream maker (who relies on honeybees for many of it’s all-natural ingredients), has donated more than $500,000 towards solving the problem of CCD. And this week, they want to give even more. For every tweet made before midnight tomorrow that includes #HelpHoneyBees, Haagen-Dazs will donate $1 to CCD research that’s being performed at the University of California at Davis (donations are capped at $1,000 per day). Want to help? Get tweeting!

-Marygrace, KIWI staffer

Calling all 4th, 5th, and 6th graders! The Disney Planet Challenge is inviting classrooms and student environmental groups to learn more about science, conservation, and teamwork by creating an eco-conscious project portfolio. Register by December 18th at http://disney.go.com/PlanetChallenge, and submit your team’s portfolio by February 26th, 2010—then, the project will be evaluated according to it’s environmental relevance, community involvement, originality, and sustainability. Looking for some inspiration? The Disney Planet Challenge website features plenty of free eco-centric lesson plans and resources, plus examples of past portfolios.

-Marygrace, KIWI staffer

We recently talked to the Department of Homeland Security, and heard some really useful things about how families can be prepared if something scary should happen. For the next few days, we’ll be sharing the important information that parents need to know.

We’ve already discussed how families can be prepared by putting together an emergency kit and creating a family emergency plan. The final step? Be informed. By learning about the types of emergencies that could happen in your community, your family will better be able to prepare for one if it occurs. Additionally, you can find out what plans already exist at your place of work and your child’s school or daycare (and if there isn’t a plan, you can help put one into place!)

Other things you can do? Learn basic first aid or CPR skills (find classes at your local Red Cross)—and if your kid is old enough, have her learn, too. Another option to consider is to subscribe to local text message alert services, which can quickly and easily inform you of an emergency situation.

Want to find if your family is ready for an emergency? Check out whatsyourrq.org.

-Marygrace, KIWI staffer

We recently talked to the Department of Homeland Security, and heard some really useful things about how families can be prepared if something scary should happen. For the next few days, we’ll be sharing the important information that parents need to know.

After you’ve put together an emergency kit, the next step is to create a plan. In the event of an emergency, the most important thing is for family members to be able to contact each other and meet in a safe place. First, consider designating an out-of-town contact person that can communicate between separated family members (should something happen in your area, it may be easier to call long distance than across town, putting the contact person in a helpful center point for all of your family members). Then, make sure all family members have the out-of-town contact’s phone number, as well as a working cell phone or phone card with which to make calls. If your child is very young, you may want to practice with her the way to use a phone or phone card, plus make sure she knows how to use text messaging (texts may be more likely than calls to go through in an emergency, since phone lines could be tied up).

For more details about creating an emergency plan for your family, visit http://ready.adcouncil.org/beprepared/fep/index.jsp.

-Marygrace, KIWI staffer

We recently talked to the Department of Homeland Security, and heard some really useful things about how families can be prepared if something scary should happen. For the next few days, we’ll be sharing the important information that parents need to know.

“There’s no question that prepared parents are key to building a prepared nation.  DHS recognizes mothers and parents as key partners in our mission, and we are committed to providing the resources and information needed to help them be informed and prepared for all types of emergencies,” says department spokesperson Matt Chandler.

The first thing parents can do? Create an emergency kit. This should include basic items like water, non-perishable food (a 3-day supply is probably enough), batteries, a flashlight, first aid kit, and a battery-powered radio. Other items to consider adding could include copies of important family documents, cash, sleeping bags or blankets, extra clothing, personal hygiene items, and food for your pet. Finally, after taking care of the essentials, be sure to consider any unique needs that can also be added to the kit: Does anyone in your family take prescription medication, for instance? Does someone wear glasses or contact lenses?

For more details about creating an emergency kit for your family, visit www.ready.gov/america/getakit/.

-Marygrace, KIWI staffer

Our friends at HAPPYBABY have been chosen as one of three finalists (and the only woman-owned company!)  in the Shine A Light contest sponsored by Amex and NBC Universal.  HAPPYBABY was nominated for pioneering healthy, eco-friendly foods for babies and toddlers, plus their commitment to customer service, and their dedication to improving local and global communities everywhere through education. What’s more, their partnership with the heroic non-profit, Project Peanut Butter, enables each product sold by HAPPYBABY to feed a starving child in Africa for an entire day.

A vote for HAPPYBABY as the Shine A Light winner is a vote for healthy and happy babies everywhere. To learn more information and cast your ballot, click here.

We’re not sure whether it’s the economy, a greater interest in eco-conscious living, or both, but the popularity of swapping has grown by leaps and bounds over the last few years. Exchanging clothes, books, toys, and other goods with friends, family, or other community members is a great way to save money and reduce consumption, but specialty swapping sites are where you’re likely to find the biggest selection. Some of our favorites:

• Bookmooch.com. If the library doesn’t have the book you or your kid is looking for, try this site, which allows users to browse through tons of books that other people want to get rid of. You can also use the site to clear off some space on your bookshelf, too, by listing titles your family wants to give away.
• Dignswap.com. This site bills itself as a clothes swap mecca for fashionistas–so there’s tons of clothes, shoes, and accessories for women. But there’s also plenty of kids clothes and accessories, too!
• Toystotrade.com. We’re thinking the name of this site might be a misnomer, because there’s more here than just toys. Toys to Trade also helps families share cribs, strollers, and even movies.
• Swapitgreen.com. Swap it Green is an online, point-based yard sale. Users earn points for offering up goods ranging from watches to CDs, and spend points to grab up items from other people.

Have a favorite swapping site? Share it with us in the comments!

-Marygrace, KIWI staffer

As part of our recognition of Organic Harvest Month, KIWI is celebrating pioneers of the organic movement by sharing their inspiring stories, plus their thoughts on healthy, sustainable food.

Annie’s Homegrown

In 1989, Annie Whithey, a mom of 2, set out to create a healthier version of mac and cheese, one that was free of artificial additives, preservatives, and colors. Along the way, she founded the company that bears her name—and does so much more than make dinner and snack time healthier.

From its early days making just mac and chees, Annie’s Homegrown has sought to be “a socially responsible business that gave back to the community and did things in an unconventional way—all-natural, and with a commitment to the environment,” says Annie’s CEO John Foraker, who works at the forefront, receiving product ideas and feedback from Annie at her Connecticut farmhouse. “Annie’s was built to be everything mainstream companies weren’t. Whatever Kraft would do, Annie’s would work to do the opposite.”

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Even with all the talk about organic gardens and farmers markets, we didn’t see this one coming! The White House will undergo a number of renovations to improve waste and energy efficiency in an effort to become LEED-certified. Think the building is way too old to be renovated? Not so, says Rick Fedrizzi, CEO and President of the U.S. Green Building Council, who says that “LEED certification of the White House is absolutely possible and viable.”

Upcoming changes to the building will include:

• Implementing computerized energy management systems
• Automatic light sensors that turn off when a room is empty
• Low flow water valves
• Paints and sealers with low or no VOCs
• Window films to lower UV rays and save energy

Read more at Sierra Club Green Home.

-Marygrace, KIWI Staffer

Last month, we discussed the importance of water conservation, plus a way for families to determine if they might be using too much water. If you took the water footprint test and found your result to be less than desirable, don’t worry! The online magazine, GOOD, has created a handy chart that shows there are plenty of tiny changes you can make that have the potential to add up to big water savings, resulting in a greener planet and a lower water bill. Some of our favorites?

• You’ll save up to 16 gallons of water by using a dishwasher instead of hand-washing dishes. (You’ll also save some time cleaning up after a meal, and save your hands from feeling too dry!)
• You’ll save about 33 gallons of water by nixing soda for…a glass of water! (You’ll also create less trash, save money on grocery bills, and save on the headache from dealing with kids on a sugar rush!)
• You’ll save about 600 gallons of water by serving salad for dinner instead of hamburgers. (You’ll also save money on grocery bills and get your family to eat a ton of vitamins and nutrients!)

How does your family save water? Let us know in the comments!

-Marygrace, KIWI Staffer

As part of our recognition of Organic Harvest Month, KIWI is celebrating pioneers of the organic movement by sharing their inspiring stories, plus their thoughts on healthy, sustainable food.

Seeds of Change

If you’ve ever bitten into a perfectly ripe, heirloom tomato that was so delicious you wondered who to thank for it, here’s your answer: Seeds of Change. Since its inception in 1989, the company has been driven by a singular mission: To promote biodiversity and sustainable, organic agriculture.

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Throughout September, we’re showing our support for healthy, organic food. Here are 9 fun ways for you to join in!

1. Visit one of the many natural and organic food festivals and fairs that are occurring across the country this month.
2. Support the Organic Consumers Association by writing a letter to your local paper spreading the word about the importance of organic farming and organic foods.
3. Host a potluck dinner for your family and friends using seasonal, organic foods.
4. Take organics beyond the kitchen and seek out organic pet food, personal care products, clothing, and cleaning supplies.
5. Learn more about what goes into your food before it hits the table by reading books that discuss the importance of natural, organic foods. Try Michael Pollan’s In Defense of Food or, for kids, Ready, Set, Go Organic! by Kelley Ann Lovelace.
6. Each week, sample a different organic chocolate bar with your family. At the end of the month, decide which one you liked best!
7. Show support for the organic movement by volunteering or donating to a local organic gardening program.
8. Help kids have fun while they learn about the importance of organics with the “Help Us Grow the Organic Harvest” coloring book from the Organic Trade Association. Call the OTA at 413-774-7511 to place an order.
9. Let others know about Organic Harvest Month by bringing an organic treat to your workplace, place of worship, book club, or your child’s classroom. Take an organic fruit and cheese plate or homemade baked good made with organic ingredients.

For more about the importance of organics, plus recipes, shopping tips, and more, check out kiwimagonline.com/harvest.

Publix has just made shopping for healthy products a little easier. The grocery chain recently created a shelf tag system for many store-brand and national items that denotes whether or not a product is organic, made with organic ingredients, or natural/earth-friendly.

Seeking to simplify your shopping experience, the program was designed to allow consumers to determine whether or not a product fits their needs simply by glancing at the tag, rather than having to decipher labels, ingredients, or marketing claims. Organic products must contain at least 95% organic ingredients, while products made with organic ingredients must be 70%-94% organic. Natural or earth-friendly products are those that have been minimally-processed and manufactured in an environmentally-friendly way, and contain no natural ingredients.

To learn more about the system, plus see what the tags look like, check out Publix.com.

-Marygrace, KIWI Staffer

You’d never want to miss your daughter’s role in the school play or your son’s winning touchdown on Friday night football, right? Why not re-live these special moments while helping out the environment at the same time by greening your photography. Some tips to please your family photo album and the planet:

• Use rechargeable batteries. Digital cameras go through batteries quicker than you might expect. Fortunately, many models are switching to  rechargeable batteries. Not quite in the market for a new camera? Try Sanyo eneloop Rechargeable Batteries, which come pre-charged and can be used up to a 1,000 times.

• Be picky with your prints. Kids do grow up too fast–but do we really need a photo with closed eyes or with a blurry blob of a dog? Instead of printing the less-than-stellar prints, share all your photos on websites like Flickr or Picasa Web Albums and upload all the photos you want. Both websites allow you to email friends and family your photo albums, where they can pick out their favorite pics to print.

• Recycle old equipment. Want to upgrade to a better camera? Sell your old one on Ebay or donate old printers, cameras or scanners to a local school or church. Many recycle centers also have drop boxes for electronics for proper disposal.

• Use recycled photo paper. One of the biggest problems is that most of the photo paper available is non-recyclable. Post-consumer recycled paper is becoming more widely available. Try GreenPix by Red River paper in photo matte finish.

-Liz, KIWI Intern

I was lucky that where I grew up in Texas, that I could just walk down the road to school. But for those who have to travel long distances to school or work, using the car can be an unfortunate necessity. With greenhouse gases and pollution  on the rise, carpooling is also a need. Web users now have access to save fuel and also make friends by being partnered to local carpools in their areas with eRideShare. Recommended by Yahoo, eRideShare allows users to search and place listings for carpools both for work and school. With more than 15,000 available, there are more than enough rides to share.

-Liz, KIWI Intern

Yesterday afternoon, my husband (who found out when he went to take a shower and was unable to do so) called to tell me the water had temporarily been shut off in our apartment building. I told him it wasn’t that big a deal, and that he could just take a shower later that night after the water came back. A short while later, I arrived home and, without thinking, went to make myself a cup of tea. No water! I forgot again and a few minutes later, tried to wash my hands. Still–nothing coming out of the sink! My husband, meanwhile, was still sitting on the couch with a towel wrapped around his waist, waiting to take his shower.

The point of this story? Fresh water is a very precious resource, and most of us in this part of the world take it for granted.

Created by the Water Footprint Network, Waterfootprint.org was designed to help people determine the amount of water they use on a daily basis. (Sound familiar? It’s very similar to the carbon footprint concept, whereby people figure out how much CO2 they’re emitting into the atmosphere.)

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The next time you’re thinking of sending someone a bouquet of flowers, support a non-profit at the same time by choosing Flowers for Good. The line comes from Organic Bouquet, an earth-friendly flower company that offers sustainbly-grown, mail-order bouqets and arrangements.

As a part of Organic Bouquet’s larger mission to promote environmental and social responsibility, the Flowers for Good program was established to help non-profits by donating 5% of each purchase to the organizations. What’s more, there’s a wide range of non-profits from which you can choose to support, including The Nature Conservancy, The Humane Society, and The American Lung Association. They’ve got everything from roses to calla lilies, so check it out!

-Marygrace, KIWI Staffer

Kimberly-Clark Corporation, the maker of Kleenex, Scott, and Cottenelle brand tissues and toilet paper, has revised it’s production standards in an effort to be more environmentally responsible. The manufacturer says that by the end of 2011, 40% of their North American tissue fiber will either be recycled or Forest Stewardship Council certified. This step is part of Kimberly-Clark’s larger goal of obtaining 100% of their tissue fiber products from sustainable sources.

The move came about through a relationship with Greenpeace, whereby the two will work together to promote forest conservation, responsible forest management, and the use of recycled fiber. Through this, old-growth forests and the wildlife habitat within them will be better protected.

That’s nothing to sneeze at!

-Marygrace, KIWI Staffer

Recycling may not be super exciting, but it is super important. Getting your little ones enthusiastic about recycling their bottles, cans, and paper goods will not only reduce your family’s landfill load–it will also help them build good eco-conscious habits for life. Encourage the practice by keeping it easy and fun with some of these ideas:

• Make recycling rules clear. Keep a list of what is and isn’t recyclable in a prominent spot, such as the refrigerator or a bulletin board. You can also use different colored bins for different items, like blue for paper items and yellow for glass, to help little ones remember what goes where.
• Try some friendly competition. Encourage each family member to see how many items he or she can recycle in a week, or how few items end up in the trash. Take it a step further by creating a neighborhood recycling competition!
• Do some research. As a family, learn about the new things that are made out of recycled material, and try to identify them on your daily outings. For instance, you can point out a playground made of plastic lumber that may have come from old water bottles.
• Find incentives. Find out if RecycleBank or another similar program that rewards recyclers exists in your area. Coupons for free ice cream just from sorting your trash? Sounds like fun!
• Be a good role model. OK, it won’t make recycling more fun, but make sure to practice what you preach!

-Marygrace, KIWI Staffer

If you are in the Long Island area this weekend, please come bring your kiddies to the East End Green Fest in Mattituck, NY! This festival takes place on August 1st and 2nd on Strawberry Fairgrounds 10am-6pm.  Featuring live music on more than 10 solar stages, local foods, seminars, fun events, and natural and sustainable products, this is a wonderful activity for the whole gang.  Adults tickets are $3 and kids 12 and under are FREE! KIWI will be there so come by, grab a magazine and some goodies! We will see you there!

-Brittany, KIWI Staff and Green Fest fan

Many people, along with cities are making efforts for the future to be greener.  The Natural Defense Resources Council has a “Smarter Cities” project in which they choose cities based upon criteria including air quality, green space, and quality of life.  From this criteria, they have created a list of ten cities that they see putting forward social responsibility and to be leaders in the green effort.

Seattle is tackling climate change by distributing energy efficient kits to residents and have been working with local businesses to promise to lower their emissions.  San Francisco has organic gardens throughout the city as well as an active recycling and composting programs.  Portland is making their buildings “greener” and using space effectively.  Oakland is creating green training programs and has doubled the amount of farmers markets and locally grown foods.  San Jose has a Clean Teach strategy for many solar businesses as well as doubling the number of jobs in the “green” field.  They are also raising conservation efforts.  Austin is building homes in energy efficient ways and is planning to build a “smart grid” in which they can recycle energy.  Sacramento residents mainly take public transportation and have recently voted to build a high speed rail system connecting cities across the state of California.  Wind is now one of Boston’s top three fuel resources as an alternative to coal and other nonrenewable energy sources.   Boston also has a great transportation system as well as a bicycling system.  Denver practices water conservation and has succeeded in doing so by dramatically reducing their waste and the city also offers beautiful parks, mountains, and many green areas.  Finally, Chicago is a world leader in green architecture.  The city is home to the first green skyscraper and houses more LEED projects than any other city in the country.

Now you know what the future holds.  Take these examples as motivation to make your city greener!

Brittany, KIWI Staff and Chicago fan

Go the extra mile to be kind on Saturday, August 8th for The Great Kindness Challenge. Created by Kids for Peace, an international nonprofit organization dedicated to uplifting the world through love and action, the event seeks to engage over one million children worldwide to participate in as many acts of kindness as possible throughout the day in an effort to foster a lifelong commitment of service to others and the planet.

Looking for some ways to spread the love? Here are ten of our favorite activities from The Great Kindness Challenge Checklist:

1. Take a treat to your local firefighters
2. Push someone on a swing
3. Leave a flower on someone’s doorstep
4. Feed the birds
5. Bring a teddy bear to a child in the hospital
6. Donate something to an animal shelter
7. Read a book to a younger child
8. Wash a neighbor’s car
9. Pick up ten pieces of trash on the beach
10. Compliment 5 people

What are some of your family’s favorite R.A.O.Ks?

-Marygrace, KIWI Staffer

Wal-Mart, one of the nation’s largest retailers, is in the process of developing a comprehensive system to measure the level of sustainability for every product it sells. While it will take another year or two before consumers begin seeing sustainability labels on products, this is certainly an impressive step towards helping the public make informed purchasing decisions regarding earth-friendly products. What’s more, Wal-Mart’s sheer massiveness means that its green initiatives (as opposed to those undertaken by a smaller company, for instance) will likely have a direct effect on numerous mainstream companies and manufacturers, most of which need their products to comply with Wal-Mart’s standards (other ginormous companies including Proctor & Gamble, General Mills, Tyson, and Unilever have already expressed interest in partnering for the effort).

Rand Waddoups, Wal-Mart’s senior director of business strategy and sustainability, has some encouraging words, explaining that he hopes the new index will allow consumers to gain an understanding of the entire life process of a product–and determine whether or not that process is truly an earth-friendly one. Further, he voiced concern over the issue of greenwashing, and stated that it’s Wal-Mart’s hope to educate customers in seeing through such ploys to make informed decision when it comes to buying sustainable products.

I know a lot of people have mixed feelings about Wal-Mart, so tell me, what do you think about this move? Will it encourage you to shop at their stores if currently, you don’t?

-Marygrace, KIWI Staffer

Walking is one of the best things you can do for your health as well as the environment. While a study in Washington state found that on average, people living in pedestrian-friendly areas weigh about 7 pounds less than people living in areas that aren’t so pedestrian-friendly, walking also emits zero pollution into the atmosphere. What’s more, walking is good for the community–it’s been shown to increase social interaction as well as help local businesses thrive.

How walkable is your area? Visit WalkScore.com and type in your home address to find out. The website ranks the walkability of over 2,000 U.S. neighborhood according to a number of criteria, including the existance of a discernable town center, parks and public space, pedestrian-centric design, and nearby schools and workplaces. Hopefully, your community shows up as super foot-friendly–but if not, you can take action! Click here to learn more about the 2009 Transportation Bill, which you can support in order to appropriate more government funding for safe walking streets.

-Marygrace, KIWI Staffer

As a parent, you jump through hoops to find the safest cribs, carriers, strollers, and changing tables for your little bundle of joy, but unfortunately, these items don’t usually come with ingredient labels. Many child products are made with fire retardants, which contain toxic chemicals called polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). Exposure to PBDEs have been linked to health problems including cancer, birth defects, hyperactivity, and reproductive disorders.

Last month, the California Senate proposed a bill to ban fire retardant chemicals on kids’ products. California is currently the only state in the nation that requires these items be fire retarded. Unfortunately, the cheapest way for manufacturers to comply with this law is to make all products according to California standards. So whether that baby crib is going to New Jersey or to California, it’s going to contain fire retardants.

If the bill passes in California, it’s likely that manufacturers will stop adding the fire retardants to products, making the whole nation a bit safer.

Won’t the ban on fire retardants mean that kids will be in danger of fire? Not exactly. Even if a fire retardant product were to catch fire, it’s still not fireproof; the retardant only offers six to 12 seconds of flame resistance. Still, if you feel more comfortable buying a fireproof product, go the natural route. Many baby mattresses are made with wool, which is naturally fire retardant, and there are also products made with naturally flame resistant cotton fibers.

-Stephanie Hacker, editorial intern

Ice cream trucks are a hallmark of summer, but what about a fresh produce truck? The Veggie Van is just that, brought to the people of central Ohio through The Greener Grocer, a food market that seeks to promote local and artisanal products from small-scale farmers.

A sort of farmer’s market on wheels, The Veggie Van delivers fresh, sustainably-grown local produce to Ohio communities. In keeping with their mission to spread food justice, The Veggie Van accepts food stamps, as well as works in collaboration with Local Matters, a not-for-profit dedicated to increasing the availability of fresh, local foods to central Ohio residents.

What a cool concept! When you think about it from the angle of a ice cream truck, we love how The Veggie Van offers healthy snack options–biting into a perfectly red, ripe strawberry beats a sno-cone any day. What’s more, it’s well-known that lower-income areas often have less access to fresh fruits and vegetables, so the fact that The Veggie Van is seeking to address this issue in an innovative way is really commendable!

My only question: Does it run on veggie oil, too?

-Marygrace, KIWI Staffer

Are you (or do you know) a mom who’s made an exceptional effort to create a healthier environment for children and families? Healthy Child Healthy World, a non-profit seeking to inspire parents to protect young children from harmful chemicals, will hold their annual benefit gala this October, where the organization will recognize one enthusiastic, health-minded mom for her work.

To nominate yourself or someone you know, share the extraordinary story! Submissions will be accepted until August 15th.

-Marygrace, KIWI Staffer

I’m not going to lie–on some of those sweltering summer days, air conditioning can be a great thing. However, I try to reserve my use of the AC, whether at home, work, or in the car, to times when its really necessary. It saves money on gas and energy bills, and makes a significant cut in my CO2 emissions. During the times when its hot, but not unbearably so, I try to rely on other means of cooling off. Here are some of my favorite methods–what about you? Does your family frequently choose greener alternatives to air conditioning?

• Whether preventing overheating while exercising outdoors or trying to cool off inside, try an icy wrap. Place a row of ice cubes in the center of a bandana or other cloth, roll up, and wrap around your neck. Keep the tie in the front and the ice cubes on the back of your neck.
• Essential peppermint oil is sort of like the natural version of Vick’s Vap-o-Rub in the sense that its super cooling. Dab a bit on your wrists or neck for instant heat relief.
• It might seem counterintuitive, but eating spicy food can really help you cool off. Think about very warm places like Thailand, India, and Mexico–each country’s traditional cuisine involves tons of heat in the form of different types of peppers. Spicy food increases perspiration, in turn allowing the body to cool off.
• Practice meditative breathing. Shitali pranayama is an ancient technique used by Indian yogis to cool off, but its easy enough for anyone to do. Prepare by sitting cross-legged and inhaling a few times through the nose, then roll your tongue and stick it out. Inhale through the roll of your tongue and exhale through your nose multiple times for a quick cooling effect.

-Marygrace, KIWI Staffer

While driving down the shore, I often return home to find my car dirtier than before I left! The moist, sticky ocean air keeps all the dirt and dead bugs stuck to my white car. I always opt to wash the car myself at home until I came across this article.

While most believe they are helping preserve water by doing it themselves, it is actually better to go to a car wash. The typical do-it-yourself car wash at home is wasting almost 140 gallons of water according to the International Carwash Association while a professional car wash location wastes half of that energy. At home car washes also usually take place on non-elevated land allowing all the chemicals and toxins you use to travel into local waterways. For those who really enjoy doing it themselves, there are waterless solutions to washing your car. A few well-known brands are Lucky Earth Waterless Car Wash, Eco-Touch Waterless Car Wash, Freedom Waterless Car Wash, and Dri Wash N’ Guard Waterless Car Wash. Give these options a try and help conserve!

Brittany, KIWI Staff and clean freak

With the weekend festivities ahead, what better time than this to introduce the latest– “green” fireworks. In order for fireworks to burn, a chemical known as potassium perchlorate is used as the oxygen. This chemical is a pollutant and can be quite hazardous to the environment. Researchers have been developing nitrogen-rich formulas that burn cleaner and with less smoke in their aftermath. These more earth-friendly fireworks have already been used at concerts, circuses, and other events. While these “green” fireworks are less pollutant and hazardous on our environment, they can be costly compared to conventional fireworks. Researchers are now facing the biggest challenge- how to market them. As we find out more on how this story progresses, we will keep our KIWI readers afloat! Have a safe holiday weekend and enjoy the fireworks (they MAY be “green!”)

Brittany, KIWI Staff and beach-goer

With such a successful first year behind them, New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg along with NYC DOT Janette Sadik-Khan have decided to keep this wonderful initiative going. Last August, for three consecutive Saturdays with over 50,000 in attendance, 7 miles of the New York City area was closed down allowing families to enjoy free activities and plenty of room to ride bikes, jog, and enjoy the beautiful summer days without the usual traffic. Summer Streets 2009 promises to be even better with 13 additional locations and over 1500 free activities for all to enjoy. Join in on the fun August 8th, 15th, and 22nd from 7AM-1PM. To learn more about this initiative as well as tips and activities, check out Summer Streets 2009.

-Brittany, KIWI Staff and fitness guru

Congratulations to KIWI-staffer and blog guru, Marygrace Stergakos, who was married this past weekend to Sam Taylor.

All of us at KIWI wish Mr. and Mrs. Taylor a life filled with happiness!

Looking for a fun family activity for a hot summer’s day? Make scrumptious homemade ice cream-in-a-bag with your kids. Not only will it beat the heat, it’s a great activity for a play date! All it takes is a little milk, vanilla, sugar, salt, ice and 15 minutes. Add your own twist with fresh fruit, candy, or sprinkles and whip cream on top.

Ingredients:
½ cup organic milk
½ tsp. organic vanilla extract
1 ½ tbsp. organic sugar (or to taste)
6 tbsp. rock salt
Ice

Supplies:
1 quart-sized plastic bag
1 gallon-sized plastic bag

Preparation:
1. Pour the milk, vanilla, and sugar in the quart-sized bag. Make sure it’s sealed tight, so salty water won’t get in it!
2. Fill the gallon-sized bag with ice and add the salt.
3. Place the quart bag into the gallon bag and seal tight.
4. Now for the fun part! Set a timer and tell your little tike to shake the bag as fast as he can for 10 minutes. Don’t be afraid to get creative with this part: “I combined it with a trampoline one time and asked my kids how many bounces it takes to become ice cream,” said Lynn Brunelle, kids’-science-book author and mother of two.
5. Remove the smaller bag from the ice, and wipe it down so you don’t get salt in your ice cream. Scoop out your cold treat and enjoy!

*Tip: The bag will get very cold, so wrap it in a towel or have your child wear gloves.

Serves 1

—Stephanie Hacker

Recently, there’s been a lot of buzz regarding San Francisco’s pending recycling legislation, which would make the practice (as well as composting) mandatory in the progressive California city. Today, SF mayor Gavin Newsom announced that he will be signing the bill into law, making it the first of its kind that will require residents to recycle, plus businesses to compost their food scraps. The new law is part of San Francisco’s larger goal to achieve zero-waste status by 2020.

The fine for not recycling? Up to $1,000.

While most people see recycling and composting as a good thing, some are uncomfortable with such a  law, fearing that legislation like this will only snowball. Will people start being fined if they don’t feed their children organic food, for instance? If they drive their car instead of walking, bicycling, or using public transportation? (more…)

In an effort to help consumers learn about the chemicals often lurking in conventionally-grown food, The Pesticide Action Network recently launched WhatsOnMyFood.com, a website that seeks to spread awareness of the harmful effects of pesticides on our health and environment.

Synthetic pesticides play a huge role in conventional farming practices, and have been implicated as a cause for range  a range of illnesses including autism and Parkinson’s disease. PAN is committed to working towards the reduction of pesticide use, as well as collaborating with partner companies to voice their collective opposition against the use of chemicals in our food.

Case in point: the average American child receives more than five “servings” of chemical residues in their food and water each day, according to WhatsOnMyFood?. Further, the website allows you to search by food or pesticide to learn what’s potentially hiding in your meal. It also offers ways for concerned parents and families to take action in the fight against the use of these hazardous materials.

As for us? We’re going organic whenever possible. What about your family?

-Brittany, KIWI Staffer

Our sun-loving crew compiled a list of the best summer-related content KIWI has to offer. Whether you’re into surfing, nature walks, gardening, or cooking, you’ll find plenty of ways to have fun all summer while being kind to the planet. Read all about it at kiwimagonline.com/summerfun.

Whether it was time spent at the local animal shelter, reading to sick children, or preparing meals in a soup kitchen, I always leave my time spent volunteering with a real sense of optimism. This might seem counter-intuitive–after all, I’m sometimes exposing myself to some pretty upsetting situations. However, giving back always makes me feel like something that really needed doing was done, and fills me with a sense of empowerment that it was within my capacity to do it.

Volunteering is one of the best ways to instill in our children a sense of social responsibility and compassion. Fortunately, there are countless ways to give back no matter what your family’s interests, especially during the summertime when schedules tend to be a little more open. You can check out Volunteermatch.org to find opportunities in your community, or consider some of these family-friendly options.

1. Elect to take part in an Adopt-A-Grandparent program at a local nursing home or assisted living facility. Better yet, find out if any of the residents have summer birthdays, and throw a giant birthday bash complete with balloons, simple party games, fun music, and from-scratch cupcakes.
2. Hold an all-natural lemonade stand where you know you’ll get lots of thirsty customers (maybe a local baseball field or community pool?). Donate all proceeds to your favorite charity.
3. Make fun kits complete with coloring books, non-toxic markers or crayons, stickers, playing cards, puzzles, and pocket novels, then deliver them as a family to patients at a nearby children’s hospital.
4. Wake up early one morning and head over to your local park with a supply of trash bags. Have a competition to see which family member can find the most litter.
5. Special Olympics games occur throughout the summer in nearly every state, and volunteers of all ages are needed to make the events happen. To find one near you, click here.

Does your family have a regular volunteering outlet? How has it helped everyone grow and learn?

-Marygrace, KIWI Staff Writer

According to a recent study published in journal Climatic Change, the color white could significantly offset CO2 emissions, playing a role in the combat against global warming. Using white paint or  materials for the roofs of city buildings is just one facet of what scientists call geo-engineering, or a positive manipulation of the Earth’s environment.

How does it work? Think about your clothing choices on a hot, sunny day. Donning a black t-shirt will make you feel a lot hotter than if you wore a white one. The relationship between color and heat absorption works the same for buildings. Roofs currently make up 20-25% of urban surfaces, with most of them being black or near-black. The dark color absorbs vast amount of heat and so causes buildings to warm up faster, translating to higher energy use in the form of air conditioning. By switching to white roofs, which reflects rather than absorbs heat, we can offset 24 billion tons of CO2. According to scientists, that’s like taking all of the world’s cars off the road for 10 years!

-Marygrace, KIWI Staff Writer

Swimming pools are summer vacation icons. Whether it was playing Marco Polo with my eyes closed, psyching myself up to jump off the high dive, or waiting through the agony of adult swim, as soon as I get a whiff of that chlorine smell, I immediately think back to those gloriously hot, sunny days. Unfortunately, while the smell of chlorine conjures up some pretty sweet nostalgia, the stuff certainly isn’t doing anything for my health. As a chemical bleaching agent that is actually toxic in large doses, chlorine can pose a real health risk to swimmers big and small.

Although chlorine has been used since the 1920’s to keep pools clean,  chlorinated water has been found to irritate the eyes and skin, as well as trigger asthma. When the stuff interacts with the dirt and sweat on our bodies, it forms a harmful chemical called trichloramine, which a 2003 Belgian study found in high concentrations in blood samples of children who frequently swim in pools.

(more…)

If you’re in the Philadelphia area, help Heart Gallery Philadelphia promote adoption awareness on June 20th with its Fourth Annual Gala exhibit. On display at the Please Touch Museum during the month of July, the exhibit features portraits of 30 foster children awaiting adoption in the Philadelphia area. The Heart Gallery seeks for the exhibit to raise awareness for the need of adoptive families through providing a face and voice to some of the children in the area looking for their “forever family.”

To learn more, visit heartgalleryphiladelphia.org.

-Marygrace, KIWI Staff Writer

While you might not be able to control every snack your little ones eat, you can control the snack’s environmental impact, thanks to TerraCycle.  The company  keeps non-recyclable packaging like cookie wrappers and drink pouches out of landfills by turning them into cool, re-purposed items like kites or backpacks, and has recently partnered with snack giants Frito-Lay and Mars.

The program works when consumers form Chip Bag Brigades to collect used chip bags. They hope to keep more than 5 million bags out of landfills, and what’s more, for each one TerraCycle receives, Frito-Lay will donate two cents to charity. There are currently 1,000 chip bag collection sites, with more in the works.  To learn more about the program, as well as how to start your own Chip Bag Brigade, click here!

-Marygrace, KIWI Staff Writer and recycling enthusiast

If you (or your kids) are dreaming of sleeping in dorms, eating in cafeterias, or going to school with thousands of more students than you could imagine while in high school; then, we want to make sure your college experience is as green as can be. Sustainability on college campuses is on the rise, but how eco-friendly is your dream school? Good news: our 2008 Green College Report is available online. Even better, we just launched our online survey for colleges and universities to apply to enter our 2009 Green College Report. We’ll be featuring this report in our September/October 2009 issue of KIWI Magazine in addition to providing you with our complete online version.

Click here to join our 2009 list.

– Stephanie, KIWI staff and believer that every college and university can practice sustainability

This Mother’s Day, don’t forget the mamma that takes care of us all—the earth! Give your family a nudge in the green direction to seek out a Mother’s Day gift that shows their love for you and the planet.

Go With Organic Blooms. Point your family toward local farmers’ markets for pretty daffodils, peonies, and ranunculus, which are all in season during May. They can also seek arrangements at orangicbouquet.com.

Wrap Yourself in Silk. If your trusty flannel bathrobe is starting to look shabby, a new silk one will make every night feel like an at-home spa. Check out VivaTerra’s floral, kimono-style robe.

Make it Sweet. Tell your family you’ll be willing to share if they give you a sweet treat this Mother’s Day. Try an organic chocolate sampler from Dagoba, which practices full-circle sustainability in their growing, buying, and manufacturing processes, or a handmade vegan cookie sampler from organic, fair-trade baker Liz Lovely.

Take a Spa Day. Sometimes, the best gift is a little rest and relaxation, so make sure your family knows the name of your favorite holistic spa. A soothing massage, cleansing facial, and tranquil environment will leave you feeling refreshed, rejuvenated, and ready to dive back into the crazy world of mommyhood.

Get Reading. Sharing a mom-themed bedtime story with your little ones is the perfect way to top off this family-filled day. Here are some books to get your started:

• Mama’s Kiss by Jane Yolen. If someone blows you a kiss and you don’t catch it, where does it go? Follow a little girl as she chases momma’s missed kiss all over the place and finally catches it. The illustrations are perfect, showing a fluttering, flittering, elusive kiss.
• LIFE with Mother by The Editors of Life Magazine. Honestly, some books should simply come with a complimentary box of tissues. Life Magazine has compiled a gorgeous photo tribute to moms around the world. The photos in both color and black and white are incredibly touching. They depict the intense bond of mother and child. A few famous faces appear, but this is every mom’s story.
• Mommy, Mama, and Me (board book) by Lesléa Newman (Tricycle Press). This sweet little board book takes a look at a family which has two moms and the happy style of play and love that each mother has. The illustrations are simple and perfectly accompany the text.

It took a while, but spring arrived in full force last week in the Northeast.  From Saturday to Tuesday, we had nothing but sunshine, with temperatures reaching nearly 90 degrees for four straight days!  Of course, after being holed up inside for what felt like the longest winter ever, I jumped at the chance to spend endless amounts of time outside–more specifically, taking nature walks!

Nature walks are a fun, easy way to connect with your environment because its all about observation.  After strolling through the woods for a little while, your thoughts start to melt away, and you catch yourself focusing on nothing and everything at the same time.  I say nothing because all of life’s situations, concerns, dates, and deadlines simply fall off the radar while your senses become fully present in nature.  You feel the sun on your back, hear the rustle of your footsteps (and likely, of animals scurrying), smell the freshness of the forest, and see all of the wonderous plant and animal life.

This weekend, gather your family together for a walk through the woods.  Enjoy each other’s company, and enjoy the vibrancy that becomes apparent in our planet’s offerings when you are fully engaged in nature.

Marygrace, KIWI intern and nature walk enthusiast

Cinco de Mayo (5th of May) commemorates the Mexican victory over the French on May 5, 1862 in Puebla. It is recognized around the world as a celebration of Mexican heritage and culture. For dinner tonight, create an authentic Mexican dish that’s mindful of the Earth. Try our Tofu and Cheese Quesadillas. Got your own delicious recipe? Post in a comment below.

Feliz Cinco de Mayo!

– Stephanie, KIWI staff and lover of tofu and cheese quesadillas

Living near Denver, Colorado? If so, the place to be this weekend is the Green Festival at the Colorado Convention Center (700 14th Street Denver, CO 80202) on Saturday May 2nd from 10am - 7pm and Sunday May 3rd from 11am - 6pm.

“Having just hosted the greenest national political convention ever, we think Denver is a natural site for the Green Festival in May 2009 and are excited to host this successful event. Denver is proud to be creating safe, healthy, sustainable communities and a strong local economy by raising awareness, sharing best practices and collaborating on greening initiatives. The Green Festival is a terrific place to trade success stories, brainstorm innovative new ideas and learn about the newest technologies and services.”

– Denver Mayor John W. Hickenlooper, a geologist turned brewpub pioneer who had never run for political office, elected Mayor of Denver in 2003 and reelected in 2007.

Stop by our KIWI Magazine booth Booth #1213 to say “hi”! Green Festival is a joint project of Global Exchange and Green America.

– Stephanie, KIWI staff and green festivaling all weekend in Denver

Earth Day gives us a moment of reflection on ourselves and the environment. This year, make a green resolution. Here’s mine: I want to cook at home with lots of veggies at least 5x per week (if not more). We are joining a CSA so hopefully this will be easy (fingers crossed).

Do you have a green resolution? We want to hear so post it in a comment below. And so do our friends at Whole Foods Market. Post a comment on their blog to win a $25 gift card and a FEED 100 bag.

– Stephanie, KIWI staff and celebrating Earth Day every day