Dentsu Inc. recently posted results of its latest Hit Product Recognition Survey, which asked over 1000 Japanese consumers to rate their most highly sought-after products for 2009. Dentsu is a Japanese advertising agency.
Hybrid vehicles came in at number one, while eco-saving appliances took the #5 spot. Electric vehicles were #8, and solar power systems grabbed #19.
Part Two of the above video is here.
The government is standing up and taking notice of Monsanto’s stranglehold on farmers by launching an antitrust investigation. While it is too early to say what the outcome of such an investigation might be, it is a relief for the many citizens and farmers who have been living under Monsanto’s boot for so long that the government is finally taking notice. Under the Bush administration, no such actions took place.
In the US, Monsanto is currently responsible for 93% of soybean seed sales and 80% of corn seed sales. Farmers are complaining about the steadily rising prices. In the recent movie Food, Inc, the producers interviewed a “seed washer” that was being sued by Monsanto for providing a service that allowed farmers to save their seed to plant the following spring.
While we’ve reported in this space before about how Obama’s appointed FDA chief was a former friend of Monsanto, his antitrust chief Christine Varney is talking tough about starting antitrust investigations that the Bush administration was reluctant to get into: “”We must change course,” she said. Hopefully the new charted course will have concrete actions as its goal; American farmers have been abused by Monsanto long enough.
If you have a mantel, that is. In my place, we hang them off of the ubiquitous Billy bookshelves. Want a sock that isn’t made by close to slave labour in China? Check these out for the most eco-friendly clementine and coal holders out there.
Wool Felt Appliqued Stockings
Made in Hungary by a women’s cooperative. This is their last year making them, so pick up some extra.
RikRak
Funky colours and designs adorn the stockings handmade by this Etsy Seller.
Amenity
Hemp and Organic Cotton Stockings. Not for smoking. Just for gifting.
Make Your Own
See the video above for more.
The Toronto Humane Society was raided today and management was led away in handcuffs under various charges, including animal cruelty and obstructing a police officer. The Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (OSPCA) brought the charges against the THS and are currently in the building treating animals that need it and euthanizing those who are too sick to live.
While the two organizations have been embattled for a number of years based on fundamental differences of opinion on how to treat sick and dying animals, today’s arrests will hopefully mean a better future for the over 1000 animals that were in the care of the Toronto Humane Society.
Oh, Nissan, are you really going to make us wait another whole year until we get to drive your green green goodness?
Apparently so. Once they are done with it, though, the 2011 Nissan Leaf promises to be the fully electric car that is ready to cater to the mass market, not just us inveterate greenies. The midsize hatchback with a 100 mile (160K for you Canucks and European types) range may look a bit clunky, but a CNET reviewer claims that in-person, it’s all good.
The lithium ion batteries for the car were developed in tandem by both Nissan and NEC. It goes on sale in December 2010, and the company is anticipating 20,000 pre-orders for the vehicle which it will build initially in Japan. My prediction for the New Year? 20,000 is too low, Nissan.
Kevin Hall and colleagues at the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases calculated the energy content of the food waste of the United States. This number has risen 50% since 1974.
Food waste accounts for 25% of fresh water consumption and for over 300 million barrels of oil consumption. Cutting food waste could significantly reduce harmful effects to the environment, in the opinion of the researchers cited in the article from Science Daily.
The bright orange blotches in the picture are minerals formed from microbe poop. This picture was taken in the lava cave known as Gruta do Carvão in São Miguel, one of the Portugese Azores. The ooze is comprised of mats of the refuse of microbes that live in the caves.
For more microbe poop pics, check out National Geographic’s feature on the nasty mineral formations.
If you are a mom or a dad, you know that baby blankets come in multiple sizes for multiple uses. Wouldn’t you rather swaddle your papoose in organic cotton? Here are a few products to help you do that.
Organic Receiving Blankets
These blankets by Pixel Organics come in a variety of colours and a comfy waffle knit.
Organic Printed Baby Blankets
These blankets come imprinted with various woodland scenes.
Robbie Adrian Luxury Organics
This company is appealing to both the luxury market and the organic market with its ruffled charmeuse baby blankets and others in the line. Featured in the YouTube video above.
An abandoned mine southeast of Reno has been found by the Environmental Protection Agency to be responsible for uranium contamination of local water wells. While the locals have charged that this had been the case for years, their accusations were finally given ground by the EPA in a new round of testing.
The locals of Yerington, Nevada have faced a consistent stone wall from area politicians, county officials and any other responsible individuals when confronting them with the uranium water problem. The most recent EPA finding will now mean that a cleanup effort must begin at the local mine and measures must be taken to keep the mine from further contaminating the water.
The holidays are approaching faster than you would think. What are you going to get for that special nerd in your life? How about something that will conserve power and make their gadgets run more efficiently? There’s a store for that, and it is called ThinkGeek. Here are just a few of their offerings:
Solar Powered Water Bottle Cap
Does your geek get into the great outdoors occasionally? If they do, this gadget will turn most commercially available water bottles into lanterns at night.
Kill-A-Watt Graphic Timer
This fully tricked out timer tells you just how efficient your appliances and gadgets are, as well as being fully programmable. If you don’t know what that means, don’t worry, your geek will.
PowerMonkey Portable Charger
There is nothing worse that could happen in life than the death of a nerd’s iPhone. NO.TH.ING. Gift them this backup and earn their eternal tech support/love.
For their full list of power-related and eco-friendly gadgets, see their site.