Haiti would not be the first place you think about when trying to regain health and vitality. Ironically, working on my computer day in and day out in my pursuit to bring the world green health resources, was slowly deteriorating my health! I was eager to break out of the daily grind to lend a hand to the Natural Health program in Leogane, Haiti (now, one of the most devastated cities due to the recent earthquake).

What could this developing country possibly offer a sophisticated westerner such as myself?

1). SLOW down to speed up Health.

The director of the NEGES foundation reminded me before I left that “Haitians aren’t in a hurry.” It takes time to adjust to NOT feeling like you have to wake up at a certain hour, early in the morning and work vigorously through a daily 9-5 routine. My body and mind needed a couple of weeks of a slower pace of living. Haiti was the perfect place.

2). A technology DETOX.

Haiti definitely has cell phones, computers, TVs and the like, however the fast speed connections, flatscreens in every room of the house (or even in every house) and the ability to stay wired 24 hours a day is not prevalent. What a blessing in disguise! Although I am deeply infatuated with my MAC computer and enjoy the novelty of iPhone apps, I had a fantasy filled, secret love affair with waking up to the cry of roosters, spending my days on a small farm with chickens scurrying and chillaxin’ to great face-to-face conversations increasing my fluency in French.

3) The SUN is the best antidote.

Vitamin D deficiency is a huge problem in the U.S and has been implicated in perpetuating many conditions such as cancer, viral infections, depression etc. My body was screaming for natural light and rebelled at me constantly allowing a computer screen to block its path to delight in the Sun’s rays. For two whole weeks, I spent a total of 5 minutes on a computer and 15 minutes on a cell phone in exchange for free doses of sunlight while working outdoors. My body, mind and spirit came into full agreement that this was the smartest move I made since my pact to naturally heal the three of them several years ago.

4) Don’t forget ENJOYMENT & PEOPLE in your pursuit of Healthy Eating.

The observations of the French eating highly fattening foods without suffering from obesity or heart disease led to the theory of “The French Paradox.” The French paradox alludes to the fact that the enjoyment of food and slow eating can’t be left out of the equation of a healthy diet. While spending time in France’s former colonial conquest, I was able to spend several of my meal times eating with my newfound Haitian family (I admit that I am notorious for eating in a hurry and it is rare that I have the opportunity to dine with someone). This led me to write a poem entitled “Manger avec Moi” (translates to Eating with Me) that captured how the Haitians provided me with a deeper experience of Love & Health through our meal times together.

Scientists at the University of Colorado at Boulder have found that because of this, more greenhouse gasses will be left in the atmosphere.

Hu, along with ecology and evolutionary biology professor and CIRES Fellow Russell Monson, found that while the growing season was extended, it also lessened water availbility to forets in summer and fall. As a result, these trees could not effectively convert CO2 into biomass.

Because snow is more effective than rain in giving water to the forests, an increase in warmer weather downpours won’t make the difference if there is a lack of snow.

The team found that 60% of the water in the trees could be traced back to snowmelt. But as the snowmelt declines, the rate of carbon uptake follows.

The study also includes authors David Moore of King’s College London and Sean Burns of the National Center for Atmospheric Research and CU-Boulder.

CIRES is a joint institute of CU-Boulder and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Read more from their website cires.colorado.edu.

The study is to be published in the February edition of the journal Global Change Biology.

Source: Science Daily.

Image courtesy of rohan.sdsu.edu

As reported by The Rainforest Alliance:

Summer brings the promise of days spent puttering in the garden and evenings relaxing on the porch or patio with friends and family. You can enhance these satisfying moments by making sure your wooden garden furniture and tools come from responsibly managed, FSC-certified forests.

FSC-certified forests meet strict environmental and social criteria, and FSC-certified wood products can be traced all the way along the supply chain, giving consumers the reassurance that they are helping to conserve biodiversity and protect the rights and welfare of workers and communities.  Here are some FSC-certified options for an eco-conscious backyard:

1. Jensen Leisure Furniture, a high-end outdoor furniture manufacturer, is introducing a complete line of furniture made from the tropical hardwood Ipé that comes from forestlands in Bolivia certified by the Rainforest Alliance’s SmartWood program to FSC standards.  Learn more about their Wood for a World of Difference.

2. Nothing brightens a garden like the melodic sounds of song birds.  Birdwatchers can now buy bird houses made from FSC-certified wood.  Modern Birdhouses (www.modernbirdhouses.com) tout sleek architectural designs and are hand-made from teak that is FSC-certified by the Rainforest Alliance.

3. For teak furniture lovers who want to do right by the environment, Forest World (www.forestworld.com) offers a variety of quality hardwood garden furniture certified by the Rainforest Alliance’s SmartWood program. They also offer indoor furniture and FSC-certified wood for decking and flooring.

4. Savvy gardeners dig FSC-certified garden forks and spades at Smith & Hawken (www.smithandhawken.com).  They offer over 14 different gardening tools, which are rust-resistant and made with carbon steel heads.

5. In addition to planting a lush landscape, home gardeners should consider planting trees, which not only help to shade and beautify a yard, but capture carbon dioxide, control soil erosion and provide habitat for wildlife.

The Rainforest Alliance, a nonprofit international conservation organization, was instrumental in the founding of the FSC in 1993.  It is the world’s leading certifier of forestlands to FSC standards, which is considered the gold standard of well-managed forest certification.  The Rainforest Alliance has certified over 123,668,660 acres (50,027,673 ha) in 63 countries worldwide.

The Rainforest Alliance works to conserve biodiversity and ensure sustainable livelihoods by transforming land-use practices, business practices and consumer behavior. For more information, visit www.rainforest-alliance.org.

Image: Marabol Forest Concession, Santa Cruz, Bolivia; courtesy of Brave Duck Productions

Despite the economic downturn, they’ve been growing. And paraphrasing their success in the last year just won’t do it justice. We’ve been given permission to post their latest press release hailing their growth. Kudos to the Rainforest Alliance and all of their initiatives! (Anything in bold is our addition – just drawing you to the fine details!)

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Thanks to consumer choices and business’ response and foresight, Rainforest Alliance certification of forest and farmlands grew by 23 percent during 2008. Today, through both forestry and agriculture programs, more than 131 million acres (52 million hectares) are managed sustainably, thus benefitting landowners, communities and the environment, up from 107 million acres at the end of 2007.

“Mainstream businesses are realizing that sustainability is part of the triple bottom line,” said Rainforest Alliance president Tensie Whelan. “In order to compete, they’re investing in sustainable options that will help serve their businesses in the long-term. In turn, their positive commitments are spurring more on-the-ground conservation efforts.”

In forestry, the Rainforest Alliance’s SmartWood program certifies forest land to Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) standards, considered the gold standard of forest management. SmartWood’s certified land increased 22 percent from 2007 to currently cover nearly 130 million acres (52 million hectares). The Rainforest Alliance currently certifies forest lands in 64 countries and accounts for nearly half of all FSC-certified acres throughout the world. In late December, the Rainforest Alliance reached an impressive milestone, certifying the largest-ever forest management group, which is when multiple landowners are certified under one certificate, to FSC standards with over 40,000 privately-owned forest parcels.

Forestry-related businesses in the supply chain, such as furniture makers, paper manufacturers, printers and more, are receiving FSC Chain-of-Custody certification in order to market the FSC seal on their products. SmartWood Chain-of-Custody certificates have gone up from 1,840 certificates to 2,458 in the last year.

The Rainforest Alliance’s forestry program is also helping a number of industry leaders reach their sustainability goals within their supply chains. Companies involved include: Staples, Coca-Cola, Jensen Leisure Furniture, Willamette Valley Vineyards, Marks & Spencer, Unilever, Anderson Flooring, Century Furniture, ABC Carpet & Home and Gibson.

In agriculture, Rainforest Alliance Certified™ farmland increased 57 percent in the last year to nearly 1.5 million acres (598,000 hectares). In just one year, the number of certified farms increased from 25,640 to 31,156. Added to the list of countries containing certified farms were Vietnam and Jamaica, where coffee farms are certified, and India and Argentina, where certified tea estates now sell to Unilever. In addition to staple tropical crops like coffee, bananas, tea and cocoa, new crops such as grapes, açai and chestnuts were added in 2008.

Sales of Rainforest Alliance Certified coffee in 2008 totaled 62,296 metric tons, or over one million bags, and sales of cocoa from certified farms grew from an estimated $4.5 million to $16.75 million in the last year. Since the beginning of 2008, the Rainforest Alliance Certified seal has been popping up all over the world on coffee, tea, cocoa and fruit products. In the United States, products from Rainforest Alliance Certified farms are now available in Best Western hotels, Costco, Wal-Mart and even at Sea World, and on brands like Lipton Tea and Lipton PureLeaf, POMx Iced Coffee, Newman’s Own Organics, Dayka & Hackett grapes, Arthur’s Juices, Kopali Organics and Whole Foods’ 365 Orange Juice. Further north in Canada, the frog appears in department store giant Zellers, and on Nabob coffee and select Red Rose and Salada teas. In Europe in 2008, the Rainforest Alliance Certified seal emerged on brands like Costa Coffee, Kenco, Suchard hot chocolate, Subway, Flavia, Wayne’s Coffee, Panos and can now be ordered on British Airways. In Australia, Aussies can buy Rainforest Alliance Certified goods at McDonald’s and McCafé, Gloria Jean’s, Bravo Coffee, Cookie Man and Aramac Foods. Brands like Tokyo Allied Coffee, Lotte’s Ecochoco Foresta chocolates, Key Coffee, UCC coffee, and Chiquita bananas and pineapples are now appearing with the seal in Japan. The frog has also hopped over to Singapore and China, on coffee cups served at MIX coffee shops.

The Rainforest Alliance’s sustainable tourism activities have increased by 43 percent since 2007, as the number of businesses working with the program increased from 300 to 429. The Rainforest Alliance also teamed up with the United Nations Foundation, United Nations World Tourism Organization and the United Nations Environment Programme to launch the Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria in October 2008. These criteria will be the minimum standard that any tourism business should aspire to in order to protect and sustain the world’s natural and cultural resources, while ensuring tourism meets its potential as a tool for poverty alleviation. The 37 criteria will help harmonize certification systems, codes of conduct, and sets of best practices around the globe and will be relevant to lodging and tour operators of all sizes and in all locations, across the industry.

In 2008, the organization’s climate initiative also validated its first carbon offset project to the Climate, Community & Biodiversity Standards in Indonesia. The Rainforest Alliance has validated and verified forest carbon projects in the United States, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, England, Chile, Argentina, Brazil, Venezuela and Indonesia, and is currently working with projects in over 20 countries.

In the past year, the organization and staff members were recognized for numerous honors, including Top Small Workplace by Winning Workplaces and The Wall Street Journal. President Tensie Whelan was named was named to Ethisphere magazine’s list of the 100 Most Influential People in Business Ethics 2008 and Chief of Agriculture Chris Wille was named one of Ethical Corporation’s 10 Ethical Leaders of 2008. The organization also launched its first Picture Sustainability Contest with FujiFilm and became a “Trust Provider” on WorldofGood.com by eBay, an online spot for socially conscious shopping.

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For more information about The Rainforest Alliance, click here.

Image: Hoyo del Hielo cloud forest, Sierra Gorda, Mexico; courtesy of Rainforest Alliance

Books are everywhere, but we don’t really think twice about the (often non-recycled) materials used to develop them.

That’s where Eco-Libris comes in. Their mission is to spread the word to take part in their  goal: to plant one tree for every book you read.

Reading books affects the environment, however, to solve the problem we just don’t stop reading books. Eco-Libris is well on their way to developing the alternative: striving to create reading more sustainable. Their current goal is to do this through “giving back”a half a million books by the end of 2009.
A little confused? Here’s how it works: First, visit their website at www.ecolibris.net. Next, decide on an amount of books you want to “balance”. You pay for your amount (conveniently through their website), and a tree is planted for each of the books.

In order to get this done, Eco-Libris works with many organizations in developing countries, and ensure that the trees provide a significant value for the communities and the environment wherever they are planted. In turn, you receive an Eco-Libris sticker for the cover of your books – and the great feeling of giving back to the source.

A concept that helps you become a part of the solution, each tree makes a positive impact on global warming by reducing carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere. It also helps the communities, provides home for animals, and fights the destruction of rainforests.  With the addition of trees comes education, crop improvment, food (from fruit trees), and other factors that help the community.

Their planting partners include  Sustainable Harvest International (SHI)
RIPPLE Africa, and The Alliance for International Reforestation (AIR).

For only $5, you can “give back” five books. The result? Five trees are planted. A large impact for such a small cost. And don’t forget – you get a snazzy sticker for your book, and can spread the word.
Regardless if you’re an individual or an organization, Eco-Libris makes it really simple to get involved, and for authors, publishers, book club members, or anyone else associated with books, they offer partnerships.

For more information, visit: Eco-Libris.

LaserMonks, of course.

Fr. Bernard McCoy first created LaserMonks seven years ago to provide a lower-cost alternative to ink supplies that were “sinfully high”, after discovering that mark-ups were teetering up to 2000%.

Their monastery needed a form of income, and because they dedicate themselves to charitable work, they were at a point where they were looking into various new forms to fuel their finances. After starting with ink and toner, they gradually expanded their goods to select, sustainable options.

Their newest addition is their Soy-Based toner, just adding to the positive results that have already surfaced from their growing success.

They describe the toners and inks as an environmental breakthrough. “Made from renewable, environmentally-friendly soybeans, SoyPrint™ toner allows you to print greener without sacrificing cost, quality or page yield,” they describe on their website. “Every conventional petroleum-based toner cartridge replaced with SoyPrint™ represents up to two liters of oil saved, and prevents the release of harmful volatile organic compounds (VOCs).”

Soy-ink printed paper is also easier to be recycled, as the grinding process does not use as much energy, and therefore, costs (both to the economy, the individual, and the environment).

In addition, all proceeds from the sale of their products benefit the Global Releaf Project, a part of American Forest, which provides education and executes program that help individuals and organizations to improve the environment by planting and caring for trees.

Visit lasermonks.com for more info about their soy-based ink solutions, but also take a moment to explore their other sustainable options, all of which are a win-win-win situation: for you, for them, and for the planet.

Image and information courtesy of LaserMonks.com

Trees in Trust is a giving opportunity that dedicates a piece of forest to the recipients. Whether for a gift, a memorial, or simply for yourself or your business, it is a satisfying and sustainable form of giving and a great way to do your part to  protect the environment.

The trees don’t belong to you (or the recipient of the gift), but instead are held in your name by a non-profit charitable land-trust. Canada-based, the organization has woodland in Ontario, Saskatchewan, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island.

Where your woodland is located it based on the amount you date. The smallest donation is a more than reasonable $30. With this, you receive 280 square feet of forest, a certificate, and access to an on-line map showing you where exactly your trees are.

For a little more ($300), a sixth of an acre of trees is set in your name. This sixth can capture 430kg of CO2 per year, which is 6% of your annual CO2 production. For $1500, you receive the whole acre. Both of these values are eligible for tax receipts in Canada. 5% of the donation goes towards processing fees, with the remainder straight to the trusts.

There are four different trusts that Trees in Trust works with. Ontario Nature, The Nature Trust of New Brunswick, the Island Nature Trust and Meewasin Valley Authority.

The typical tree produces about 360 pounds of oxygen every year. Two trees can supply the average person’s oxygen needs. Trees in Trust, then, is like giving back to what we consume from the environment – a true pay it forward.

For more information about the trusts, visit their websites:
Prince Edward Island: islandnaturetrust.ca
New Brunswick: naturetrust.nb.ca
Ontario: ontarionature.org
Saskatchewan: meewasin.com

and visit: Trees in Trust

Image courtesy of Trees in Trust.

Biodynamic®

Biodynamic® farming is free of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers, similar to organic farming. The difference, though, is a Biodynamic® farm is managed as a living organism. This type of farming emphasizes balancing holistic development and interrelationship of the soil, plants, animals as a closed, self-nourishing system.

For more information: Demeter-USA

Cage-free

Cage-free animals are exempt from cages, but that doesn’t mean they are necessarily in better surroundings – they still might be in cramped corners with many other animals.

EcoLogo

The EcoLogo is managed by TerraChoice Environmental Marketing, Inc., and has been in play since 1988. With this label, it ensures that products meet various eco-standards, having a lower impact than similar products. Criteria is product-specific, but include areas such as energy, recyclable material, and hazardous substances, and are assessed across all stages of their development.

Fair Trade Certified

TransFair Canada is a non-profit certification and public education organization promoting fair trade. These items can include items such as food, personal care, clothing and gifts. The focus on Fair Trade is primarily social justice, such as fair wages for

workers, no sweatshops, good working conditions, and improved social services. More often than not, they also focus on eco-friendly production practices.

Forest Stewardship Council Certified

Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is an internationally known non-profit organization that works to prevent illegal exploitation, poor management, and degradation and

destruction of forests. This label is found on wood products, such as flooring and furniture, and paper products. The label ensures that standards are met, such as complying with their laws, respecting indigenous peoples’ rights, reducing eco-impact, and sharing the benefits from the forest.

Free-range

Free-range animals have access to open outdoor spaces, referring to livestock and domestic poultry.

Grass-fed

Grass-fed farming uses cage-free and free-range ideas:  raises livestock in open areas so they are free to roam. In addition, they often are primarily fed grasses and plants, and often hormone and antibiotic free, although there are no guidelines.

Made in Canada, but….

Made in Canada, on the other hand, is literally when the final product was assembled in Canada. The sentence is usually followed with a qualifying statement, such as “Made in Canada from imported ingredients”, if only the final production step was completed in Canada. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency regulates this.

Marine Stewardship Council Certified

The Marine Stewardship Council is an international non-profit organization that focuses on  certifying and labeling sustainable seafood, including fresh, frozen, and processed products. This labeling ensures that fish stocks aren’t exploited, fisheries are properly managed, all laws are met, and the eco-impact of the fishery is at a minimum.
For more information:

Organic/Certified Organic

We see it all of the time, but do we know what it really means? The term “organic” or “certified organic” appears on everything from bananas to toothpaste, but what does it tell us about the product?
Basically, organic products are developed to meet a set of regulations to the specific country or region. In Canada (starting June 30, 2009), the Organics Product Regulations come into effect. This means that the product’s content must be at least 95% organic. In addition, ingredients cannot be genetically modified, animals (if applicable) must be raised naturally, and no antibiotics and hormones can be used. The products will be labeled Canada Organic and “Biologique Canada”.
In the U.S., there are similar guidelines put in place by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Organic products are minimally 95% organic. If labeled “USDA 100% Organic”, then they are completely organic.  Foods labeled “Made with Organic Ingredients” are certified and must contain at least 70% organic ingredients and cannot be made with radiation.

Product of Canada

When 98% or more of the major ingredients, processing and labour used for the food is in Canada, it can be claimed as a Product of Canada

Sustainable Agriculture Labels

Sustainable farming aims to practice farming by reducing or eliminating the use of chemicals, as well as  by nurturing the soil using natural methods. A sustainable agriculture label is a step up from simple reduction of pesticide use. Some programs focus on other aspects also, such as the maintenance of original ecosystems (like the Rainforest Alliance) or sustainable communities (like the Food Alliance)

Images courtesy of each organization’s official website

This results in the destruction of rainforests and acceleration of climate warming.
The study was an international collaboration of 68 scientists from 13 countries. Oliver Philips, the head researcher and tropical ecology professor from the University of Leeds, explained that the Amazon forest lends its hand in slowing down climate change. If the drought keeps up, however, carbon dioxide levels will rise even faster.

What does that mean for our environment? “Deeper cuts in emissions will be required to stabilize our climate,” Philips points out.

Normally, the rainforest absorbs approximately 2 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide. For the last 25 years or so, it has consistency absorbed about 1/5 of global fossil fuel emissions. However, scientists involved in the study used a significant drought in 2005 to their advantage. An unusual Amazon drought showed  an exceptional warming, which gave them a sense of what could happen in the future if the ocean continues to warm as predicted, and more dry seasons appear. This drought reversed decades of previous carbon absorption.

Under the conventional circumstances, the drought caused additioanl carbon dioxide to release into the atmosphere – nearly 5 billion extra tonnes worth.

Their records, then, showed that tree death rates increased. “Because the region is so vast, even small ecological effects can scale-up to a large impact on the planet’s carbon cycle,” explained Professor Phillips. Some types of trees, like palm trees, were more vulnerable.

Because the Amazon accounts for more than half of  the world’s rainforest, this was a significant finding. If repeated, Amazon droughts will accelerate climate warming and make future droughts even more damaging.

Source and image: Sciencedaily.com