Visit Olympic National Park

[Photo taken at Vancouver Aquarium]

[Photography by mape_s]

Learn more about Mountain Gorillas and how you can help protect them

By guest writer Caroline Smith of www.GetBarStools.com

Although more and more people are trying to make being green part of their daily lives, I would imagine the majority of them have never given green furniture much thought before. Furniture is not something you buy very often, but when the time comes to make a new purchase, how many of us know where to find eco-friendly furniture? I have been searching for environmentally-friendly bar stools recently, and would like to share what I’ve learned here.

First of all, what makes an item of furniture “green”? Like any
eco-friendly product, you will need to look at its environmental impact, taking into account its whole lifecycle from manufacture to disposal. This means finding out things such as whether it is made from a sustainable or recycled material, whether any adhesives and finishes used to make it are non-toxic, and what the manufacturer’s environmental policy is.

One of the essential things to check is that the furniture has a non-toxic,
zero-VOC finish. Off-gassing of conventional furniture, where VOCs
(volatile organic compounds) are released into the atmosphere over time, has
a negative impact on indoor air quality. Obviously, we all want the air in
our homes to be healthy (poor indoor air quality is associated with the
symptoms of sick building syndrome). Therefore, look for furniture with a
natural, eco-friendly finish. Look out for the Greenguard label, as this is
a clear sign that a product is “low-emitting”. With regards to bar stools,
Knoll carries a range that is Greenguard certified. As a company, Knoll has
played a key part in LEED certified projects and focuses on lifecycle
analysis within its business practices.

Another important environmental issue to consider is that the materials used
are from sustainable sources. Our planet’s ancient forests and the unique
eco-systems they support are under threat. It’s critical to check that any
wood product has not come from illegal logging. The FSC logo is the most
recognized symbol that shows a product is made from wood from a sustainable
source. The Italian furniture company Calligaris offers a selection of
FSC-approved bar stools. Calligaris has a clear commitment to environmental
sustainability in its raw materials supply policy for all its products.

The other company I’ve discovered that makes eco bar stools is Emeco.
Emeco’s aluminum bar stools are actually made from recycled soft drink cans!

It’s a natural progression that if you make the effort to recycle everyday, you
then buy things made from recycled materials when you can. As well as being
made from trash that could have ended up in landfill, these bar stools are
built to last *at least* 150 years. It’s good to see a company making
quality furniture that won’t fall apart in a couple of years, like much of
the cheap furniture widely available in our disposable society. Aluminum
does not off-gas either, so these stools are good in terms of healthier
indoor air quality too.

As I’ve found, there are many issues to look at when deciding how green an
item of furniture is. It’s encouraging to seeing leading furniture
companies taking positive steps towards a greener future. You can see more
information on the eco bar stools mentioned here by visiting Get Bar
Stools. I believe that as more people realize the importance of
our natural world, demand for greener furniture will increase and soon
eco-friendly options will become much easier to find.

I’ve had an epiphany.  Why not transform this blog into a dynamic combo of my 3 great loves in life: nature conservation, travel, and photography?

These 3 elements go together so incredibly well, each one supports the other 2 and so on.

Want some examples?

If you are a nature photographer you are probably obsessed (like me) with traveling to gorgeous locales to get your perfect shot. And you are also probably obsessed (again like me) with conserving and protecting all of those natural places and wildlife that you enjoy visiting.

Also photographs of endangered spaces and endangered animals help spur emotion and conservation support - so why not utilize peoples’ love of photos to help public awareness and increase donations to critical conservation programs and organizations?

And yet another way to help non-profits, zoos, wildlife sanctuaries, and parks is to travel to them!  Your travel dollars infuse the local economy and can even directly fund environmental programs.

So with this new focus as my guide and with my passion for environmental conservation, adventurous travel, and breathtaking photos, I aim to transform this website into the sanctuary for people who share this vision with me.

So are you an environmentalist, avid traveler, or outdoor photographer? Perhaps all three?

Then I welcome you to ProtectingOurEnvironment.com. This is the place where you and I can use our hobbies for change and our convictions to better this world as well as our own lives.

Together let’s discover the amazing beauty of this world and help those that protect it.

[Photography by digitalART2]

[Photography by digitalART2]

I stumbled across these gorgeous photographs today of the Amur Leopard and just had to share.  This Russian leopard is critically endangered with only 35 to 45 left in the wild.

You can learn more about this beautiful animal through the following pages and organizations:

Wikipedia’s Amur Leopard page

ALTA Amur Leopard Conservation

WWF’s Amur Leopard page

I just saw a video trailer on YouTube for a new series from the History Channel - Expedition Africa.  It looks super cool and I wanted to share the video with you.  The series starts May 31st.

More from the History Channel:

On May 31st, the television event of the summer begins! Twenty miles off the coast of eastern Africa, four modern-day explorers are sailing toward the unknown, the deep interior of Tanzania. They’ll travel over 900 miles through African terrain that is as stunning as it is fraught with danger. Using only a compass and basic maps, they will attempt to recapture the spirit of one of the worlds most remarkable adventures—journalist Henry Morton Stanleys perilous 1871 journey to find Dr. David Livingstone. This is not a competition or a game. It’s a real life adventure. Join other fans on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/History , follow us on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/History_Daily and visit the official site http://www.history.com/expedition for info, games and more.

I wanted to write something really profound today, but my fiance Jason beat me to it.  He wrote a short but inspiring post on our new sister site, Fish Eyed View, about celebrating today as Endangered Species Day.

Here’s the post…

Endangered Species Pictures: The Fishing Cat

By Bob Folkart, Guest Author

Earth Day, 2009 has passed. The popularity of the organic lifestyle or green living has traveled far and has reached international proportions. However, are we missing a major green component?

The green lifestyle has become a new way of life for politicians, celebrities and consumers. In fact, support for protecting our climate and environment has become an international bandwagon that continues traveling throughout the US and the world.

As a result of increased green product sales and strong media support, the green bandwagon continues to tour our planet. However, the definition of green living has been revised for several years by green industry organizations to include social responsibility. Many of us are unaware that green living is connected to social responsibility, yet the green bandwagon continues its journey past Earth Day 2009 with much of the public uninformed.

Where did this concept of social responsibility come from? How do we define and describe it? How do we apply it in the course of our daily lives? Although they are both commendable, what is the real connection between social responsibility and our environment in the first place? As we answer these questions and remove the familiar green wrapping, we’ll find the spiritual soul of the green movement.

Every green company that submits a membership application to Green America must provide evidence of meeting standards of environmental and social responsibility. If they pass this screening process, they become a member of the “Green Business Network” and receive the prestigious Green America “Seal of Approval for People and Planet”. This level of commitment for “people and planet” is recognized by the green industry and by knowledgeable green consumers searching for a reliable green company.

The concept of “green social responsibility” evolved from organizations that support the green industry and the public. They include the Organic Trade Association (www.ota.com), Green America (www.coopamerica.org) and several others. These organizations provide a great deal of consumer information through online resources such as the “Organic Pages Online” the “O’Mama Report” (OTA), “The National Green Pages” and “The Green American” (Green America).

Social responsibility can apply to social justice, including fair wages and working conditions. It is best defined as our willingness to “assume responsibility for others”. In addition to supporting workers, this phrase frequently refers to “charitable giving”. Charity implies deeds of compassion such as volunteering in a soup kitchen, donating financial support for environmental preservation or simply providing a few words of encouragement to someone in need.

Why are many people and the media unaware that green speaks to social responsibility? Despite the efforts to inform consumers by the organizations mentioned earlier, it appears the message is not being received. Perhaps part of the problem is that many hear the message but don’t see the connection between the two.

So what is the connection between social responsibility and a green lifestyle. The answer relates to who we are and how we set our priorities. Are we willing to sacrifice our personal needs for the sake of helping the environment or others in need? This is the essence of a green lifestyle. Green living connects with social responsibility because they both develop from the same source regarding right and wrong.

A green or greener lifestyle is based on deeds or acts of compassion towards our planet and its inhabitants. Our thoughts and feelings govern our deeds and actions. When our thoughts are positive it leads to feelings of compassion, hope, and courage. What is the source for our thoughts and feelings? They all come from our spirit. A positive spirit is the soul of the green movement. It generates our conscience about right and wrong and drives us to make personal sacrifices for what we believe is right. It is the source of our concern about the environment and others in need. It allows us to give of ourselves and minimize our own needs. It provides us with compassion for our planet and enables us to assume responsibility for other “passengers on spaceship Earth”.

Bob Folkart is Vice-President of Live Life Organics, a company focused on inspiring a positive lifestyle encouraging personal triumph and responsibility for our planet and fellow man. They provide positive messages on their organic apparel, such as “Be Compassionate…True Beauty, promoting positive thinking and a committment to the Earth and its inhabitants. Additionally, every article of their eco-friendly, organc cotton clothing carries a hangtag that can be planted in the earth to recycle and grow into wildflowers celebrating the environment and the beauty of life on Earth. Live life Organics is Green America Approved providing 100% organic cotton apparel using water based inks and low impact dyes. To view these organic products, go to:

http://www.livelifeorganics.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bob_Folkart
http://EzineArticles.com/?Is-Something-Missing-From-the-Green-Movement?&id=2302301

I’m totally obsessed with tea. And actually the only beverages I drink are either tea or water. So I’m always on the lookout for delicious new tea blends and companies that supply organic versions of my favorite refreshment.

While recently searching for companies that sold organic teas, I noticed online that there are a lot of people looking for the best places to order organic teas online, especially in bulk. So I thought I’d do some research and share with you what I found. I certainly had a lot of fun in the process (Hmmm, maybe I like tea a little too much? haha)

Anyways, while looking through pages of information about tea companies, I realized that there’s really not that many that offer organic, fair-trade teas. For some reason I expected there to be many more than I found, but no such luck.

However, I did find one company in particular that really stuck out in terms of tea quality, tea assortment, and mission statement.  The Numi Organic Tea Company is absolutely my favorite.

For me, its not just about the tea.  Yes, I want delicious blends and a variety of options, but I also want to support a company that’s mission embodies environmental responsibility.  Numi definitely fits the bill.

Here’s some cool facts about the company (then I’ll get into the organic tea I promise!)…

From Numi Organic Tea ‘The Purest Tea on the Planet’

We strive to have a positive impact on our global community and partner with tea gardens committed to Organic and Fair Labor Practices. This guarantees that workers receive a fair wage and safe working conditions leading to an improved quality of life. We also work with local organizations that employ adults with disabilities, turning disabilities into possibilities.

Numi Organic Tea is a leader in the natural & specialty tea category, committed to global consciousness and sustainability in its packaging and business practices. By supporting organic agriculture, paying an above average wage and buying tea through fair trade co-ops, Numi’s organic tea business has provided health care, free housing or land on which to build and farm as well as a chemical and pesticide-free work environment.

As Numi is an organic tea company, all raw tea and herb materials are 100% biodegradable. All materials are fully utilized in the production process and are transported in reusable cardboard cartons. Numi recycles all plastic wrap, cardboard and wood materials that are used in conjunction with the transportation and storage of products. Furthermore, there are no byproducts or waste generated in the production process. Numi is constantly examining ways to reduce waste in production and operating processes.

Ok ok, on to the tea…

Numi has a large variety of options with a variety of teas available in either tea bags, in bulk, or in small loose leave packets.  There are also many gifts for tea lovers, wholesale options, and even the infamous ‘flowering tea.’

Tea Bags:

Puerh Tea
Black Tea
Green Tea
White Tea
Herbal Tea

Loose Tea in Bulk (available in 4 oz or 16 oz bags):

Puerh Tea
Oolong Tea
Black Tea
White Tea
Green Tea
Herbal Tea
Iced Tea

Ok, I think I’ve rambled on enough. Visit Numi Organic Tea and explore for yourself why I love their tea so much!

What’s your favorite organic tea? Please feel free to leave your comment below!