Description:
Happy Birthday: Eco-Libris is one year old!.. ''My Green Bookshelf'' with Karen Stewart and Howard Brown, the founders of Stewart+Brown.. New green campaign in Turkish schools will save 1.27 million trees a year!.. Green Options 2: The Nature Conservancy: 320,000 Acres of Forest Protected in Landmark Deal..
Contents:
Happy Birthday: Eco-Libris is one year old!
 I hope you all enjoyed a joyful 4th of July. We also had our own birthday celebration this week. Yes, Eco-Libris just turned one year old!
Wow. I can't believe a year passed since it all started..This was a very exciting year for all of us at Eco-Libris. We started one year ago with the vision of making reading more sustainable. We came with a lot of enthusiasm and big love for books and the environment. We wanted to establish a green company that will become an agent of change in the book industry. One year later I am proud to report that we have balanced out so far 50,005 books, which results in 65,586 new trees that are being planted with our planting partners in developing countries!
And what a busy year it was! Here's a reminder of some of main things that we had on the first year: - We worked with publishers such as Kedzie Press and BookHouse that wanted to green up titles they published by planting trees for each and every printed copy of them. We also established other collaborations with publishers like Process and Barefoot Books.
- We initiated our bookstores program that gives book buyers the opportunity to plant a tree for the book they just bought at the bookstore at the counter. We have now 22 bookstores in the program from the U.S., Canada and Ireland, including Strand Book Store (NY), Hue-Man Bookstore (NY), San Francisco State University (CA) and Black Bear Books (NC).
- We worked with many eco-conscious readers from all over the world that balanced out through our website the books they read or buy by planting trees.
- We collaborated with many authors that wanted to plant trees for their books and used our "One tree planted for this book” stickers (printed on recycled paper) when selling books directly from their website , or on book signing or launch events.
- We had a joint campaign with Raincoast Books, the Canadian publisher and distributor.
- We started a partership with Chegg, the textbook rental service that plant a tree for every textbook students rent with this great service.
- We initiated a collaboration with BookMooch, the online book swapping community, and did with them a great promotion of green books on Earth Day.
- We became a member of the Sustainable Business Network (SBN) of Greater Philadelphia.
- We worked hard to increase the awareness in the need of change in the book industry, through this blog, by offering resources on our website, interviews in the media, starting communication with local organizations of publishers and bookstores, joint work with literature events, participation in green fairs, and establishing connections with libraries, green organizations and companies and anyone who wanted to learn more why and how reading should be made more sustainable.
- And of course, we started this blog, that in time became an important source of news and views in the field of green reading. We prepared special green book guides, reviewed many green-themed books, covered many relevant issues, had special coverage on a report on he industry's footprint, started 'my green bookshelf' series and mainly had a lot of fun!
And what's next? we have a lot of of work in front of us! We are going to work harder on the second year to balance out more and more books and to bring the change we're looking after - make books greener and move towards sustainable reading!
I would like to take this opportunity and thank everyone involved in our efforts - from the dedicated eco-conscious readers that balance out their books with us, through our business partners that take action to support the environment all the way to our wonderful planting partners that are doing such a great job in planting the trees in developing countries.
And I'm happy to add a photo that is fresh from the oven. It just arrived from our planting partner AIR that worked last month on planting trees in Guatemala, some of them with the support of Eco-Libris, as you can see from the photo below that were provided to by AIR.  AIR volunteers plant trees that were purchased with the support of Eco-Libris in Itzapa, Guatemalla. The species planted are Pino Triste (Pseudotrobus); Fresno (Fraxinus Undei); Ilamo, aka Aliso (Alnus jourulensis); and Gravilea (Gravilea Robusta).
Yours,
Raz @ Eco-Libris
Eco-Libris: plant a tree for every book you read!
'My Green Bookshelf' with Karen Stewart and Howard Brown, the founders of Stewart+Brown
We're happy to present you with another green guest on our new series 'My Green Bookshelf', where we're taking a look at the reading habits of interesting people from the green world with special focus on their green reading. Actually, today you'll get two in the price of one :-) We are very excited to have with us today husband and wife duo, Karen Stewart and Howard Brown, the founders of the eco-fashion brand Stewart + Brown (http://www.stewartbrown.com/).
 In 2002 Karen and Howard, partners in life and work, realized their destiny; They gave birth to a baby girl named Hazel Stewart Brown and a baby brand named Stewart+Brown, which ever since was always at the cutting edge of eco fashion and style.
 Design for Karen and Howard is a passion and a way of life. Their professional journey stems from a union of creativity and purpose. Karen, a trained painter and New York native, and Howard, a graphic artist and Montana native, oversee every aspect of the product and brand themselves. Each Stewart+Brown collection, at an elemental level, is a fusion of experiences and insights filtered through their creative core and rendered into their own unique and personal aesthetic.
Howard Brown replied to our questionnaire on behalf of the couple.
When do you find the time to read? what are your favorite genres?
I read headlines and articles during the day but it's hard for me to find the time and focus to read novels. I read a lot about current events and global economics. I have a subscription to the New York Times Sunday edition and usually spend the Sunday mornings and the first part of the week to get through it.For leisure reading my favorite genres are non-fiction and biographies. I don't care for fiction and never have.
How many books do you have in your library at home?
A few thousand. Among other things, my wife and I collect vintage art and design books.
 What's your favorite green book?
I don't know if you would consider it a green book but I'm in the middle of Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan and it's the best book I've read in awhile.
Who is your favorite green author?
Not that he's green but I've been reading everything by Michael Pollan that I can get my hands on...he writes a column for the NYT online edition and various editorials for them as well. I also like Paul Hawken a lot.
What green books do you have in your library at home?
Way too many to name. Most of which I / we have not read.
Do you borrow books from friends? do you lend yours to others after you read them?
Yes and yes.
Are you registered to a library?
Yes.
If you had to go to a deserted island, what 3 books would you take with you?
I'd probably bring 3 books that had to do w/desert island survival - how to grow food, identify indigenous plants to eat, build shelters, etc. And also Robinson Crusoe.
What's your favorite bookstore?
E-books - for or against?
I've never experienced an e-book but I'm not sure why I'd be against them.
And just a reminder: as a small token of appreciation to our guest on the series, Eco-Libris will plant with its planting partners 50 new trees on behalf of each and every guest in the series!
You're welcome to check out other guests we had on 'My Green Bookshelf':
New green campaign in Turkish schools will save 1.27 million trees a year!
 Green news from Turkey. The Turkish newspaper, Today's Zaman, reported on a new new book exchange campaign launched by the Ministry of Education that will be aimed at "saving millions of trees, protecting the environment and contributing to the country’s economy."
Every year 155 million books are distributed by the Ministry to students in Turkey. Most of these books, according to the article, are thrown into the trash at the end of the year. The cost of these books to the Turkish public is more than USD 800 million annually.
The Turkish Ministry of Education understood like many others that going green is a win-win deal - benefiting the environment and saving in costs. So it changed the concept from a distribution plan to an exchange project, where books will be given to students temporarily and they will be returned at the end of the educational term. The Ministry expects to save more than 1.27 million trees every year with this project. It also estimates that it will save USD 110 million annually (50% of the paper used to publish textbooks is imported, costing $750 million annually).
This is a great move and I congratulate the Turkish Ministry of Education for it. I was also very happy to read in the article that according to the Turkish Ministry, Germany, Austria, the US, Canada, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, England, France, Hungary, Italy, Spain, Japan, Korea and China were applying the same or a similar method at their schools. It makes so much sense (and similar in many ways to the renting concept of our friends and partners at Chegg), not to mention the educational added-value for the young students!
Yours,
Raz @ Eco-Libris
Green Options 2: The Nature Conservancy: 320,000 Acres of Forest Protected in Landmark Deal
Usually we republish every Tuesday one post from Green Options, but today we make an exception and republish two. The reason is a very important announcement of the Nature Conservancy on one of the most significant conservation sales in history. We wanted to bring you the full announcement with all the details, and we thank Jonathon D. Colman for approving to reprint his post that was originally posted on PlanetSave on June 30. Eco-Libris congratulate the Nature Conservancy for this remarkable deal and we hope to see many more acres of forestlands being preserved with their help!
Few places on Earth are as untouched as the "Crown of the Continent" — a 10-million-acre expanse of mountains, valleys and prairies in Montana and Canada. The area has sustained all the same species — including grizzlies, lynx, moose and bull trout — for at least 200 years.
Now — in one of the most significant conservation sales in history — The Nature Conservancy and The Trust for Public Land have preserved 320,000 acres of forestlands in western Montana that provide valuable habitat for species in the Crown of the Continent.
"There hasn't been an animal extinction here since Lewis and Clark encountered it in the early 19th century," explains Kat Imhoff, the Conservancy's state director in Montana. "It's the only such ecosystem in the Lower 48 states."
The deal is part of the Conservancy’s large-scale efforts to protect forestlands around the world — the majority of which are working forests supplying sustainably harvested timber.
Over the past five years, the Conservancy has protected 3.5 million acres of forestlands — at a time when nearly one-half of Earth’s original forest cover is gone and global deforestation rates continue to rise.
'A Landmark Conservation Project' That Also Benefits People
The initiative — known as the Montana Legacy Project — helps more than nature. Crucial to the deal are its benefits to people, including:
- Maintaining the forests in sustainable timber management — keeping jobs in Montana and maintaining local businesses.
- Promoting continued public access to these lands for fishing, hiking and other recreational pursuits.
- Helping to curtail a growing trend nationwide — the conversion of timberlands into residential developments.
"This is a landmark conservation project that will benefit the environment and help to maintain strong local businesses," says Imhoff.
Stopping Habitat and Landscape Fragmentation
The land is being sold to the Conservancy and The Trust for Public Land by Plum Creek Timber Company, the largest private landowner in the United States and owner of 1.2 million acres of forestlands in Montana.
In recent years, a downturn in the timber industry has led companies such as Plum Creek and International Paper to divest their holdings and sell their land — much of which has been bought by developers and subdivided into smaller parcels, fragmenting large landscapes.
The lands covered in the agreement include multiple parcels spread across western Montana, primarily in Swan Valley and areas surrounding Missoula.
Together, these lands provide crucial pathways for wide-ranging animals such as grizzly bears and wolverines to feed, breed and rear their young. The area also includes some of the most popular recreation lands in the western United States.
Under the Montana Legacy Project, the purchased lands will be transferred into a mixture of private, state and federal ownership, allowing sustainable timber harvesting for Plum Creek for up to 15 years.
Conservation easements will restrict subdivision and home development on the vast majority of lands sold into private ownership. And maintaining public access for recreation will be a top priority. Neither the Conservancy nor The Trust for Public Land will retain long-term ownership of any lands.
The Farm Bill's Role
Funding for the $510 million purchase could come from several private and public sources—including a new Qualified Conservation Forestry Bonds program that was included in the recently passed federal Farm Bill.
The bonds were designed to help fund the purchase of ecologically important lands that are adjacent to existing U.S. Forest Service owned-lands. The purchased lands would eventually be conveyed to the Forest Service. Funding for the purchase is also being sought from other sources, including the state of Montana, private philanthropists and investors.
This would be the first forest-protection effort to receive these newly designated bonds, which were championed by U.S. Senator Max Baucus of Montana.
"This project is a once-in-a lifetime opportunity to protect these lands for our families and future generations," said Montana Senator Max Baucus, who helped facilitate the agreement.
"It will keep jobs in Montana, help maintain our communities and our working forests, and preserve public access for hunting and fishing. This will be the most significant land conservation project in the state's history, by far, and I'm proud to be part of it."
Green Options: Sustainable Living Rule #2: Have FUN
As part of Eco-Libris' ongoing content partnership with Green Options Media, we feature a post that was originally published by Caroline Savery on June 30 on Sustainablog. Today's post includes useful advice for those who wish to to live sustainably.
If the revolution isn't fun, you're doing it wrong.
I often wonder what people imagine when they hear I'm trying to live environmentally sustainably for three months. Do they picture me living in a tree, hunting rabbits and eating grass? Do they think "oh, I could never do that for myself," or do they think I'm lying?
Sure, establishing and maintaining a sustainable lifestyle goes against the grain. It can be draining, and it may not be possible to implement the chosen lifestyle modifications in your expected timeframe, which can be discouraging.
 But to innovate a way of living that is in keeping with your ideals can be the most empowering thing you ever do. Sustainable living is creative--it will always require imagination and a good dose of gumption. It gets you "out there," doing new and radical things that you may have never thought you would do. That, my friends, is living!
My two months of sustainable living so far have been rocky. Sometimes I don't eat as many calories as I should in one day. I will skip meals--not because I'm trying to lose weight, but because the sustainable food choices aren't accessible enough to me, either because I don't feel like biking for an hour to get some produce, or I don't have the time to cook, etc. Sometimes it feels like a chore to live environmentally sustainably.
But it always felt like a chore to go to work every morning, too. It felt like a chore to pay bills, a chore to clean my house. Overall, I feel significantly freer now than I ever have before. And slowly but surely, I am replacing old unsustainable routines with new ones, and settling into them. My life has frequently felt unstable over the past two months, due to many factors. I dug up my old lifestyle and it's been hard... until I am now beginning to lay the foundation for a new life.
Here's something I must stress about living sustainably: if you're not having any fun, stop doing it! (Don't worry, I make this mistake all the time.) Your health must absolutely come before some vague goal of environmental perfection. You will never be perfect, but then again... that should never be a goal. Resolve, instead, to be exactly you.
A truly sustainable lifestyle incorporates what is environmentally sustainable AND what is personally essential for you to be happy. A sustainable lifestyle means:
You must get out of the house. It's easy to get stuck in one mindset, or on one project, and feel it impossible to see a solution. Be careful not to hole up with your green project--include the community in designing it. Trade skills--if you want help building a solar shower, ask your neighbors or friends in exchange for a favor to them. Mutual aid is more than just empowering--it is essential! Connect, organize, live!
You must spend time with your friends. If they want to meet at a bar, go ahead--simply don't drink (or ask for a local brew), and eat before you go. A better option would be to stay in--so don't be shy to suggest it. Explain why you'd rather know where you food and liquor are coming from, and invite them to spend time at your place. That way you can provide a smorgasbord of tasty local and organic treats, all while boozing it up with a locally or HOME brewed beer (in Pittsburgh, check out the East End Brewery or the Church Brew Works.) Once your pals see what totally awesome green projects you are working on, they'll likely be willing to help!
You must include activities that enrich your life. This past weekend I spent hours exchanging songs with a new friend, then made a creative dinner with available ingredients. The next day I went to a fundraiser brunch made from redeemed foods, and after that I biked to an activist organizing meeting. Have you ever tried growing your own food before? Why not? Try it! Have you ever tried building your own solar cooker before? Give it a go! Living is learning.
You must be willing to be patient. Maybe your friend is having a difficult emotional time right now, and needs you more than your new water heater does. Maybe you need to give yourself a day to just sit, and process some of the inner changes associated with reorganizing your life and priorities. Don't push yourself like I did to create a sustainable lifestyle within a strict deadline. Simply commit to growing towards what you truly believe in, and away from participating in what you don't. Commit to learning and reading as much as you can.
Despite the tumult, I'd be lying if I said that these past two months haven't been profoundly transforming. My future possibilities are broader than ever before. There is little left that I think I can't do, and plenty more that I think I would like to do. I feel... fulfilled.
Join me!
Monday's Green Books series: Seven Wonders for a Cool Planet (and a giveaway of one copy)
 After a short break of one week, we're back with Monday's green books series, and today I have the pleasure to review a very interesting book that will show you how you can help solving global warming with few things you probably already have or use at home.
Eric Sorensen and the staff of Sightline Institute who wrote the book chose carefully seven items (or wonders as they call them): bicycle, condom, ceiling fan, clothesline, real tomato, library book and microchip. What's the idea behind it? they explain: "This book is an ode to seven everyday devices you probably already own or use, which are so powerful, elegant, and in most cases simple, that they are and always have been friends of the climate (and also of your pocketbook, neighbors, health, and children). It's a reminder of everything that's right about our lives, not everything that's wrong."
The idea behind these items/wonders is not only to discuss their own advantages, but also the concepts behind them and how we can implement them in other forms in our daily life. Take for example the library book (did you think I'll choose another wonder as an example? :-)
The library book is a symbol of efficiency in many ways - one copy is being used by hundreds and sometime thousands of people - according to the book, the average North American library lends out 100,000 books a year, but buys fewer than 5,000 books. Because less books are needed to be printed, the library is saving a huge amounts of CO2 emissions, or for those who are in favor of figures - 250 tones of greenhouse gas emissions every year.
The concept that is meant to be emphasized here is of reusing - making the most out everything we already have. It doesn't mean you only have to share it in a system similar to libraries, although I see it as the highest possibility in the hierarchy of options. You can also sell old furniture on Craigslist, rent a movie on Netflix, or buy a vintage jeans at a local vintage clothing store.
As the book mentions 'reuse' is a greener strategy than 'recycle' even though it doesn't get the same spotlight. It gives an example that "to produce a book of 100% recycled paper , a paper mill uses about 60% of the energy and generates half the solid wasted and one third the greenhouse gases, and95% of the effluent of a mill producing the average U.S. book. To produce "100% reused" library books, paper mills uses zero energy and generate zero pollution per new reader since reuse bypassed the porduction stage altogether."
I really enjoyed the fresh and unique look the book takes at the fight against global warming and how the answer does not necessarily have to rely on billions of dollars R&D budgets to find alternative fuel, but can also start with the simple stuff we have at home. I have six out of seven at home (sorry, but no clothesline is available where I live, though I used to have it in many of the apartments I lived in and I really liked it), so I feel quite equipped for the fight, although I need to fix my bicycle and the sooner the better!
But this is not a final list and I'm sure other items you have at home can fit this list as well. And this is actually today's challenge with a reward on its side - we'll be giving away the review copy we received from Sierra Club to the best idea for an eighth wonder that matches the description of "an ordinary thing, that, with widespread use, can have an extraordinary impact on the fight against global warming".
All you need to do is to add a comment with your idea. We'll choose from all the comments we'll receive to this post by Saturday (7/5/08), 12 p.m. EST the one we like the most and send the happy winner the review copy of the book.
How it's printed: in the U.S.A on New Leaf Ecobook 50 acid-free paper, which contains minimum of 50% post-consumer waste, processed chlorine free. Of the balance, 25% is FSC certified to contain no old-growth trees to be pulped totally chlorine free.
Yours,
Raz @ Eco-Libris
The green version of YouTube
 YouTube is one of these sites where I can spend hours on hours. So much good stuff there...But what about a green YouTube that will be only dedicated to eco-clips? well, finally it is here - Eco-Tube: the place to look for Eco videos about the world.
I joined Eco-Tube's Facebook group lately and found out that Eco-Tube "is covering every aspect of Eco issues facing the human race the website has over 700 films. I’m trying to inform, entertain and educate using films and also promote relevant products which help reduce your impact on the planet."
The videos are divided on Eco-Tube by topics, such as energy, act, news, gaia and fun. I found many interesting informative videos there, but my favorites are the fun clips. I think it's important to show that even a serious and important issue as the environment can be presented in a way that will make you laugh (and hopefully think..). They have even an Eco-Porn video on the fun section! Here's another example:
BEN AND JERRY CLIMATE COLLEGE VIDEO APPLICATION
So check it out (http://www.eco-tube.com/) and if you have some green videos of your on, upload them and share them with the world!
BookRabbit: the new generation of online bookstores
 Springwise is a great resource for innovative ideas in the book world. Few books ago I read there about WEbook. Last week they brought to my attention an innovative combo of online bookstore and community I didn't know about - BookRabbit.
So what's so special about it? well, firstly that's probably the only one that allows readers to upload photos of their own bookshelves (if you're only interested in bookshelves, check out the great site Your Shelves! - http://yourhomelibrary.wordpress.com/, or of course our series 'my green bookshelf').
 But it's more than just the opportunity to check out other people's bookshelves. BookRabbit explain it on their website : "BookRabbit is an online bookshop that dynamically connects readers, authors and publishers through the books they own. Using BookRabbit, readers can share their passion for books, make recommendations to other readers as well as creating their own personal bookcase and catalogues online – anything from medieval falconry, through bestsellers, to educational publications for schools. BookRabbit has a simple aim – to claim back book selling and book buying, enabling readers to discover the right books for them."
So how you can interact with fellow readers on BookRabbit? well, there are many options. You can join an ongoing discussion like 'books for rainy days?' or 'books by models?' or start a new one. You can take a look a people's bookshelves, see what books are there and if you like what you see, you can send them a friend request. You can review a book, or read others' reviews, create your own categories for books, share recommendations and much more.
BookRabbit (http://www.bookrabbit.com/), which was founded by Kieron Smith and went through its public launch last month, is also a bookstore. They have more than 4m books on sale, and even more important they decided to offer the best prices on the top 100,000 titles, so they are cheaper than Amazon for these books. And they also offer free delivery within the UK.
BookRabbit is what I see as the online bookstore 2.0, combining two powerful lit applications of the digital age that so far went on different routes and never met - the online bookstore and online bookish communities/networks.
Book readers love to communicate and interact, whether it's on Facebook, Bookmooch, blogs, or other online platforms. BookRabbit understands that as an online bookstore, it makes sense to provide them with such a platform in-house, giving them useful and innovative tools to interact with each other. This way there's a much better chance that the next purchase of these readers (and it seems that many of them are avid readers) will eventually take place on the website.
I like BookRabbit's concept very much - firstly, they provide innovative interaction tools and not just copy others (kudos on the bookshelf idea!). Second, they have a real bold pledge that it's not easy at all to keep ("every week we check our prices against the top 100,000 books on Amazon UK to make sure we're cheaper"). They understand that with all the competitors out there, it's not enough to provide readers with cool platform and useful interaction tools, and count on their good will, but you also need to provide them with competitive pricing that will be compelling to their pockets.
I don't know if they'll grow to become the next Amazon (or Amazon 2.0), and I am not sure at all if that's their goal. But I am positive that they will become a model for the next generation of online bookstores (not the only one, but an important one) and we're going to see in the near future many that will try to follow them and create their version of BookRabbit.
Yours,
Raz @ Eco-Libris
Eco-Libris: plant a tree for every book you read!
How about a unique green birthday gift?
 What's the connection between actor Chris O'Donnell, bicyclist Greg LeMond, actor and singer Chris Isaak and basketball player Hal Greer?
They were all born on June 26! If you're also celebrating your birthday today - happy birthday to you too!
We love birthdays and therefore we're happy to remind you of the option to celebrate a birthday of friends, family members, colleagues and anyone you care about with Eco-Libris!
Eco-Libris is offering you now to plant trees to balance out the books of your loved ones who celebrate their birthday. Not only that new trees will be planted to balance out their books, but they will also receive our stickers with a beautiful birthday card made of recycled paper. And we also try to keep it affordable - the added charge for the birthday card is only $1.5.
All you need to do is to choose how many of the birthday person's books you want to balance out on our special birthday gift page, change the shipping address on the payment page to the address of the gift receiver and we will take care of the rest!
This is also a great green add-on if you're buying a book as a gift for the birthday person, especially if you're buying her or him a green book.
The birthday cards we send are made by Doodle Greetings (see picture above of one of their cards). Not only these cards come with a beautiful design, but they are also eco-friendly - printed on 100% post-consumer recycled paper and are made chlorine-free and acid free. Sounds like a good fit with Eco-Libris stickers!
And of course, if it's your birthday and you want to give yourself a green present - get yourself a nice green book and plant a tree for it with us!
Yours,
Raz @ Eco-Libris
Eco-Libris: plant a tree for every book you read!
A summer of green reading in Chicago
 The Chicago Tribune reported earlier this month (and thanks to Treehugger for the update) that Chicago's Mayor Richard Daley announced on a summer reading program with a green focus, named "Read Green, Live Green" program.
The program, which will run until the beginning of August, includes, according to the Tribune, a series of discussion groups aimed at celebrating nature and the threats against it. The program will be offering books, reading tours and performances for adults and children on environmental issues including climate change, energy and farming.
Children and adults will be able to explore the environment with a good read during the summer at any of the 79 Chicago Public Library branches.
 Participating children will read, report on books of their choosing and have fun with green programs and projects. Children will receive a sticker for their book log for each book read, win book prizes and earn a Read Green, Live Green t-shirt by reading lots of books!The list of events for children can be found here - http://www.chipublib.org/dir_documents/SRP08_Kidsa.pdf. Adults and teens will enjoy a unique combination of great books, author appearances, tours, performances and fun “green” workshops and events designed especially for adults and teens. You can check out the full list of events on this link - http://www.chipublib.org/dir_documents/srpa_08a.pdf.
So it looks like this is going to be a (hot) summer of green reading in Chicago, and hopefully many adults and children will go to Lake Michigan with a green-themed book they picked at a nearby library under their arm (or in their reusable bag..). I must say this initiative is really cool and it's great to see the city and its public library working together for having more Chicagoans reading about nature, the environment and other relevant issues. Kudos to Mayor Daley for this one!
I definitely hope that mayors with green agenda, such as Mayor Newsom of San Francisco and others, to join him and make the summer of 2009 the summer of green reading (ain't sound too catchy like 'the summer of love', but we can work on the name..).
Yours,
Raz @ Eco-Libris
Green Options - Ecopreneurs: We Must Be the Change
As part of Eco-Libris' ongoing content partnership with Green Options Media, we feature a post that was originally published by Megan Prusynski on June 20 on Ecopreneurist. Today's post is about the role of green business in changing the world.
 As going green becomes more and more popular, it seems that everyone is jumping on the bandwagon. Consumers want more sustainable options for all their needs, and companies are beginning to listen. Or are they?
Maybe I'm just a little paranoid, but I don't tend to trust the megalithic corporations that have so much power and wealth today. So while I see many ad campaigns touting green promises and hear of many large corporations changing their ways, as much as I want to believe them, I have my doubts that many of these companies are truly committed to sustainability. The very nature of our economy leads companies to focus solely on profit and their own growth, at the expense of people and the environment.
Like it or not, we are a society dominated by corporate interests. Of the 100 largest economies, 51 are corporations; the other 49 are countries. Industry (and its lobbies) has an enormous sway on politics, public policy, the economy, our lives, and of course, the earth. As powerful forces in the world, companies are going to have to lead the shift to sustainability. Getting companies to do the right thing no matter what its effect on their bottom line is going to take a major paradigm shift. It's time for change, and we certainly can't count on the government to do anything very quickly, so we need business to lead the way.
As socially conscious business owners and ecopreneurs, we need to listen to Gandhi's famous words and "be the change we wish to see in the world." It's time to take the reigns, define sustainability for our companies and boldly pursue it. We can set our own standards if we have to, and then go above and beyond them. We can bring ideas like true cost economics and the triple bottom line to the forefront of business thinking and practice. We can share sustainable ideas that have worked for us with other business owners. We can invest in making our businesses more sustainable and ethical, and we can find ways to make a living at the same time. We can support other sustainable businesses we believe in and purchase fair-trade, organic, sustainably made products. We can market our goods and services by telling the truth about being green, instead of greenwashing. We can run our businesses the way that all businesses should be run: with integrity, responsibility, human dignity, and sustainability.
We can change the world if only we believe that we can. And given the influence businesses have, it's up to us to create this change. I'm not just talking about switching to recycled office paper, although that's certainly a good start. The stakes are high and we need massive change to steer us on a path towards sustainability. We'll have to rethink the way we do business, change minds, and transform society's priorities. If anyone can pioneer this change, it's those with entrepreneurial spirit and good hearts.
Calling all conscious ecopreneurs: the time for change is now. It starts with us. Let's be the change.
Read more about sustainable business:
Kayona Ebony Brown, author of "Tenth Letter", is collaborating with Eco-Libris
 Eco-Libris is proud to collaborate with authors who wants to go green. Author Kayona Ebony Brown is such an author: For every copy sold of her new book 'Tenth Letter', a tree will be planted with Eco-Libris.
We also want to invite you to her signing in Washington DC this week. Every sold book in this event will be be given not only with the author's autograph, but also with our sticker saying "One tree planted for this book" will be given with every sold copy.
Here are details on the book and the book signing event:
Through an intense story of sex, lies, and cheating set in Washington, DC (no, it's not about the presidency),"Tenth Letter" gently offers therapeutic tactics for establishing successful relationships. It's the mark of a new genre: Self-help Urban Fiction and author Kayona Ebony Brown's vivid urban landscape and the characters that color her streets pulls you into the grind that is the contemporary young adult and leaves you with a more polished definition of what it means to love.
 Come meet Kayona, pick up an autographed copy of Tenth Letter, and share your stories of falling in and out of love at the DC Bookman Book Signing Thursday, June 26th just outside the L'Enfant Plaza Metro in Washington, DC from 3-6pm.
Until then, catch up with her and her characters at www.TenthLetterNovel.com. Just as her novel enriches our spiritual community, purchasing the novel enriches our physical community – for every book sold Eco-Libris will plant a tree. I was curious to know more about Kayona's passion about the environment and sent her few questions about it. Here are her replies:
What's the connection between an author of a novel and the environment? Some say that you are a product of your environment. As a writer, I think that phrase should be taken literally; the more I consider what's good for the environment (the earth around me), the more I will consider what's good for me personally - from what I eat to how I live. As a product myself, I prefer a non-toxic, pure and clean environment, and as result, the writings I produce will come out the same.
Do you see also your company (Brown'sTone Industries), with its innovative vision, going green? and if so, why it is important to you and to your company to be involved environmental efforts?
Through small efforts everyday, I am personally becoming more considerate of the earth, so as I expand my company, I will also expand the way we do business by eventually converting to green - from the products we use in-house to the products we produce and sell. Part of my company's overall mission is to entertain, inspire, and educate.
We plan to lead in many ways by example, and exercising environmentally conscious practices is a message we want to pass on to our patrons, partners and competitors. It is important to help pioneer these great habits in the entertainment industry, which, I think may often overlook it. Do you have any environmental message to your readers that you would like to share with us?
My message would be: start small. The thought of 'going green' is an overwhelming lifestyle change for most people, but every little bit helps. I started first by doing a little research to see what things I was comfortable with doing. One was: turning off the water while brushing my teeth or cleaning dishes. Second thing was: thinking about what I wanted before opening the refrigerator, so I wouldn't stand there for five minutes with it open.
One other small thing that I also do is try to patronize companies that are green. For instance, I drink Silk soymilk which uses wind energy to produce the product. By patronizing them, I feel like I'm doing a little something.
Do you see yourself writing on environmental issues in the future?
I've already begun to include environmentally conscious characters into some of my current projects. It's my way of getting a message across without blatantly forcing a message onto my audience.
Thank you, Kayona! And if you're in DC this Thursday, don't miss the opportunity to meet her at the DC Bookman Book Signing just outside the L'Enfant Plaza Metro, from 3-6pm.
Yours,
Raz @ Eco-Libris
The Galaxy Bookshop in Vermont joins Eco-Libris bookstores program
 Eco-Libris is coming to Vermont! I am happy to announce that The Galaxy Bookshop in Hardwick, VT is joining the Eco-Libris bookstores program.
Customers at The Galaxy Bookshop will have the opportunity to pay $1 to plant a tree to balance each book they purchase in the store. They will also receive an Eco-Libris sticker (made of recycled paper) at the counter for each book they balance out, saying 'One tree planted for this book'.
Here's a little bit about The Galaxy Bookshop:
Linda Ramsdell opened The Galaxy Bookshop in the old Firehouse Building (which now houses G.R.A.C.E.) back in 1988, with a starting inventory of about 50 books. After spending time in two different locations on Main Street, Linda enlisted the help of many good friends who, with a number of grocery carts, "Moved The Galaxy in the Year of Hale-Bopp" to its current home on 7 Mill Street in Hardwick.
Now the store is housed in a former bank building, and they still have a large vault in the middle of the store, as well as a drive-through window that people occasionally use for picking up books. Cool!
 Galaxy is a general bookstore with a generous selection of books by Vermont authors. Their reading series, which runs April through November, showcases Vermont authors. This summer, They've hosted/will be hosting David Goodman, Leland Kinsey, Jennifer McMahon, Reeve Lindbergh, Madeleine Kunin, Archer Mayor, and others.
Yours, Raz @ Eco-Libris
Author Michael Kleiner on Mt. Airy Authors Day tomorrow in Philadelpia
 Michael Kleiner is the author of the book "Beyond the Cold: An American's Warm Portrait of Norway" and a fellow SBN member. He is going to take part tomorrow (June 21) in Mt. Airy Authors Day at Lovett Memorial Library in Philadelpia.
Michael will discuss his book and also offer copies for sale, each and every one of them with our sticker on, demonstrating the fact that one tree is planted for each copy. We asked Michael to provide us with further details on the event and his book.
On June 21, Michael Kleiner will be among three authors at Mt. Airy Authors Day at Lovett Memorial Library, 6945 Germantown Avenue, Philadelpia, discussing his book Beyond the Cold: An American's Warm Portrait of Norway.
Readers have found Beyond the Cold to be much more than a travel book. Beyond the Cold traces the development of Michael's affinity and passion for Norway, its people and culture although he is not of Norwegian descent. It begins when he spent a year in Norway with my family at age 11 in 1969-70 (attending a Norwegian school) and his return trips as an adult. The book is unusual in that it is told through a child's eyes and memories and an adult perspective.
Among his adult trips was to attend the International Summer School at the University of Oslo with 500 students from 70 countries, returning to speak at the 50th anniversary of the Summer School and his honeymoon. As he has found a second home and family in Norway, Beyond the Cold shows the value of travel and multicultural experience, and a country that is more than cold weather.
The book has received many positive reviews including Fjell og Vidde, Norway?s largest outdoors magazine, The Norseman, and the newsletter of the Sons of Norway on Long Island, NY.
The book may be purchased at Buy Books on the Web (http://www.buybooksontheweb.com), Infinity Publishing's online bookstore, or call 877.BUY.BOOK or 610.941.9999.
Slides of the country will be shown, including travels above the Arctic Circle.
Event details:
Saturday, June 21st 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Three local authors with a global and historical perspective appearing at the following times:
1:15 Lori L. Tharps: Kinky Gazpacho: Life, Love and Spain
2:30 Elizabeth Farmer Jarvis: Mount Airy
3:45 Michale Kleiner: Beyond the Cold: An American's Warm Portrait of Norway Adreess: Lovett Memorial Library, 6945 Germantown Avenue Phone: (215) 685-2095
You're all invited!
Raz @ Eco-Libris
Deforestation data is avialable now on Google Earth
 Google Earth is pretty cool. I have to admit I don't use it much, but when I do I enjoy it so much - navigating all over the world with my mouse. I can do it for hours.. And now you can not only navigate your way all over the planet with it, but also receive data on deforestation around the world.
Thanks to Treehugger, I learned about this important new feature created by David Tryse. He explains it on his website: "This KML shows deforestation data from a number of sources for different countries, including a live ticker for each country. The world has lost close to half of its forests already today, and the continued high pace of deforestation contributes greatly to climate change and the loss of biodiversity."
I tried it and it's really amazing. Very user-friendly and so informative. I tried to check for example Malawi, where we work with RIPPLE Africa to plant trees, and found out that "Malawi has lost 100% of it's original forests. None of its old forests today remain in an intact frontier-forest state. The total change in forest cover between 1990 and 2005 was -12.7% (-34.5% for primary forests, -15% for all natural forests)."
The problem with deforestation (like with so other environmental problems) is that we don't see it on daily basis, unless we live in an area suffering from it. And unfortunately, we care less about the things we don't see, or tend not to pay attention to them as we should have. I believe that the availability of this data on Google Earth can actually significantly increase the awareness to the problems of deforestation. And hopefully more awareness will be translated to more action and to less and less trees that are cut down. So thank you David for this important service!
So how do you install it? firstly, if you haven't downloaded yet Google Earth, go to http://earth.google.com/ and download it. If you did, just click here to download the file and you're all set!
Yours, Raz @ Eco-Libris
'My Green Bookshelf' with Sophie Young, founder of g=9.8
Two weeks ago we started with a new series 'My Green Bookshelf', where we're taking a look at the reading habits of interesting people from the green world with special focus on their green reading.
As a small token of appreciation to our guest on the series, Eco-Libris will plant with its planting partners 50 new trees on behalf of each and every participant!
Today we are very excited to have with us a special guest from France: Sophie Young, the founder of g=9.8 (http://www.g98.fr/).
 g=9.8 is an organic lingerie and loungewear brand g=9.8 offers a unique combination of seductive ecology: naturally sensual, combined with the velvety touch of pine fiber. Yes, all the sexy items manufactured by g=9.8 are made from a fiber originating in the branches of white pine (the pine trees used to produce this material are grown specifically for this use and new ones are replanted to replace ones used for production). Production is made locally in France.
 Sophie graduated in 1995 from the University of Architecture in Paris. Her work focused on the creation of a recycling site in the center of Paris, visited as a museum. In 2005, after several years working in architecture, she founded g=9.8 in order to create a line of underwear respectful of eco-principles, such as minimizing the water consumption in the industrial production, eco-packaging, waste recycling and eco-marketing.
Sophie, as you can see from her replies to our questionnaire below, is not just an innovative creator of sexy eco-friendly lingerie, but also a passionate reader.
When do you find the time to read? what are your favorite genres?
I read at night, every so often. Usually, I read a book I like in 3 or 4 times.
My choice varies and is eclectic. I like biographies. I gobble up good mangas, some are excellent history books (in particular the Gen series, by Keiji Nakazawa, a Hiroshima survivor who tells his story and agony). I read lots of books on world war II (books by Primo Levi, among others).
Nevertheless, my favourite book is '84 Charing Cross Road' by Helene Hanff, a work that cannot be classified. I also liked 'Sex and the City' by Candace Bushnell ! I already read it two times.
 How many books do you have in your library at home?
I cannot say, but I have a linear shelving of nearly 10 meters with lots of architecture books, and quite a lot of mangas. I lent the other books I like and thus they are no longer in my library.
Photo: A small part of Sophie's home library
Who is your favorite green author?
Pierre Rabhi, but to be honest every history books are green references to me. They show how daily life was in the past and especially they tell us about the rhythm of life, which is, to me, the cornerstone of sustainable development.
What green books do you have in your library at home?
'Pourquoi j’ai mangé mon père' by Roy Lewis, a few architecture books about nomadic settlement or green buildings for instance, such as the book written by the architect Glenn Murcutt.
Many mangas about the rhythm of life in the past, like for instance 'Seton' by Jiro taniguchi or 'La bicyclette rouge' by Kim Dong HWA, a Korean manga writer. Recently I liked 'Into the Wild' by Jon Krakauer.
Do you borrow books from friends? do you lend yours to others after you read them?
I lend the books I liked to others but they never come back to me, except the ones I only lend to my closest relatives. I buy or borrow books.
Are you registered to a library?
I am registered to a library but I only go to the children library near my house. Adult libraries have become impersonal media libraries, and I don’t really like to go there, I prefer a book I have heard about.
If you had to go to a deserted island, what 3 books would you take with you?
1. '84 Charing Cross Road' by Helene Hanff,
·2. a book I have not read yet but that I really want to discover. For example '80 hommes pour changer le monde' by Mathieu Le roux and Sylvain Darnil.
3. and maybe the biography of Nelson Mandela which I have not read yet (your previous interviewee really enjoyed it!)
What's your favorite bookstore?
All of them. There are two bookstores I really like, I always go in if I walk past them.
Entre les Lignes - 110 rue St Dominique 75007 PARIS
In the museum of the arts décoratifs ( fashion museum in the LOUVRE) in Paris -107, rue de Rivoli 75001 PARIS
Chantelivre (adults and children’s bookstore) - 13 r Sèvres 75006 PARIS 01 45 48 87 90
E-books - for or against?
E-books are not user-friendly neither in the desert, nor in a garden, and nor in the evening in one’s bed, so for now I do not need them.
Yours,
Raz @ Eco-Libris
Eco-Libris: plant a tree for every book you read!
* photos of Sophie Young and the g=9.8 lingerie are courtesy of Sophie Young.
Green Options: Seven Eco-friendly Options for Less Junky Junk Food
As part of Eco-Libris' ongoing content partnership with Green Options Media, we feature a post that was originally published by Sharon Troy on June 5 on Eat.Drink.Better. Today's post is not about a green lit topic, but it is about an important issue that bothers many eco-conscious readers who like to bite something while reading: what are the best eco-friendly and tasty alternatives to junk food? (my favorite? definitely the Mojo Bars!)
 I confess: as much as I wish I could say every meal I eat is as healthy as my quinoa and kale salad, sometimes I just have a craving for junk food. Ya know?
When I first went vegetarian seven years ago I quickly realized how easy it was to replace meat with junk food. After all, I'd sacrificed so much my giving up chicken that I should reward myself with donuts, right? They're vegetarian! And so are potato chips, and candy bars, and french fries...
But not only are these instant gratification foods loaded with calories, sodium, and often trans fats, but they're not particularly eco-friendly. Consider even "healthy" choices like Nabisco's 100 Calorie Packs of Oreos, Chips Ahoy, and the like. All come individually wrapped, and I've made it clear how I feel about overpackaging.
So what's an eco-conscious consumer to do when you just want a quick bite? I've done you the favor of sampling some of the finest junk foods my co-op had to offer. (The things you do for research.) Consider some of these alternatives:
Instead of Oreos/Chips Ahoy, etc., Try Annie's Bunny Graham FriendsAt only 130 calories per serving, Bunny Grahams rival the aforementioned snack packs, but without the wasteful packaging; the boxes are 100% recycled. They're 75% organic and according to Annie's, contain "no icky additives or pesky preservatives." I can also certify that they are 100% yummy.
Instead of Doritos, Try Rice ChipsI promise this isn't one of those tricks, like when people got all into rice cakes in the 80's and tried to convince you they didn't taste like styrofoam. These Rice Chips from Lundberg Family Farms are the real delicious deal. They come in a variety of flavors, but my favorite, and the most Dorito-esque are the Pico de Gallo chips. (They also offer a Nacho Cheese variety which isn't vegan so I haven't tried it.) The family company uses organic rice and has a long history of sustainable farming.
Instead of Pop Tarts, Try Nature's Path Organic Toaster PastriesThey're about the same in nutritional content as the Kellogg's treat you may remember from your youth, but made from organic ingredients. And while you won't find varieties like "Hot Fudge Sundae" and "Smores," they do offer Cherry Pomegranate and other flavors that are actually found in nature. varieties. Nature's Path also uses "Green Certificates" to produce their products, which according to their website come from "100% new green electricity." Check out their cereals, granola bars, and other products as well.
Instead of Cheddar Crackers, Try Eco-Planet Organic CrackersWhen I recently tried this dairy-free cheddar flavored snack cracker I was excited but skeptical. Eco-Planet delivered though, and while it's been years since I've eaten a Goldfish cracker or Cheez-It, I'd say these pass pretty well. They're educational too! The crackers are shaped like suns, earths, wind turbines and electric cars and offer info about alternative energy. The company is 100% wind powered.
Instead of Snickers Bars, Try Mojo BarsThe Clif Bar folks are at it again. Their new Mojo Bars are more oriented towards habitual snackers, like myself than mountain bikers. They've got a variety of sweet, salty, and nutty flavors made with 70% organic ingredients. The company also uses biodiesel for shipping.
Instead of McDonald's Fries, Try Alexia Oven CrinklesIt's no news flash that McDonald's french fries are bad for you. There's more grease in there than potato! The most eco-friendly option of course, is to make some good ol' oven fries yourself. But if you don't have the time, pop some of Alexia's all organic frozen fries in the oven. Their original recipe has only 120 calories per serving. For something a little more sophisticated, try their rosemary oven fries.
Instead of Pre-Packaged Foods, Try the Bulk Foods AisleIt's not just for grains and beans. You may be surprised to find snack chips, pretzels and candy there. Also stock up on nuts and dried fruit. Try making your own custom trail mix. Find more tips on buying from the bulk aisle here.
Got a guilty pleasure that's not on the list? Let me know, and I'll try to track down a greener version of it.
Monday's Green Books: Oil on the Brain by Lisa Margonelli
 Oil? Yes, oil! Some of you must have read or heard about peak oil, and wonder what will happen when the wells run dry. Others may shake your fists instinctively at the oil companies, or roll your eyes in amazement and disgust whenever another piece of news about the industry's long, sad and cruel saga unfolds in yet another third world oil state.
But what does this really mean? How does oil really gets from the oil state to your car's gas tank? And how do all pieces of the puzzle fit together to create this mess we call (U.S American, suburban) automobile culture?
Enter investigative journalist Lisa Margonelli's Oil on the Brain – Petroleum's Long Strange Trip to your Tank. In the spirit of similar recent “natural histories”, such as Michael Pollen's The Omnivore’s Dilemma or its big screen counterpart King Corn, both telling the complex stories of staple food commodities, Margonelli weaves the complex tale of Oil.
What a fun read! So fun I got the local Seattle environmental book club I recently joined to read it at their next meeting! The quirkiness begins in the title, with its tongue-in-cheek play on the old "war on drugs" slogan. The subtitle (Petroleum's Long Strange Trip to your Tank) is yet another blatant yet apt California-centric Grateful Dead reference to the famous “what a strange long trip it's been” line from Truckin'. And indeed Margonelli's strange tale begins at the gas pump in her local independent San Francisco gas station, where she spends a couple of shifts as an observer. Did you know that some independent gas stations make more money selling bottled water and snacks than selling gas? Kind of gives a spin to the irritation at the high prices. That is one of the first tidbits of new information that will help us begin to make sense of the mess we call the oil economy.
The next stop is a day with the gas tanker, and then from the dispatcher and all the way to the Los Angeles refinery and the East Texas oil field. The pieces of the puzzle slowly fall into place, and the stories and histories of each segment of the industry are told with an eye for the weird, funny and significant.
The picture that emerges illustrates one aspect of one of Margonelli's key arguments. While the US maintains an active international policy, treating oil as a strategic resource, it domestically treats oil as yet another commodity. To paraphrase Frank Herbert, the policy is that “the oil must flow” and the results are total reliance of a culture on this unregulated commodity. While oil prices have doubled in recent years, consumption dropped only 4%.
And here's another key point– oil has hidden costs, always did. Even when it was 97c a gallon, someone was paying the price. Maybe it was a farmer in Texas, when he had to let an oil speculator put a drill in his back yard for measly compensation, because the law favors the drillers, and mineral rights take precedent over the rights of property owners. Maybe these are the communities that sprawled around the refineries, with their ubiquitous burning gas flares, paying with their health, needing health care that everyone else pays for with their taxes.
Margonelli's travelogue continues internationally, to countries that are producers of oil: Venezuela, Chad, Iran, and Nigeria. Each joined the oil economy as producers at different times and faces different challenges. In each there is a part of the population and economy as a whole that bears the vast “hidden” costs of gas at the pump. The cost of corruption is local poverty, sometimes in the exact places where the oil was found. The community bears the social cost of human rights violations, and the health costs of all sorts of environmental pollution.
But to know all of the above you did not necessarily need to read this book. What makes it unique and different from your run of the mill finger pointing rant are the stories and the people. Like Aresu, a female Iranian journalist who was Margonelli's sly accomplice in Iran, helping her navigate the bureaucracy and get access to key people to meet and interview, and arranged a rare visit as a woman to a Persian gulf oil rig. Another interesting figure is Herb Richards, the man “who created the business of selling self-serve gasoline in Northern California and much of the west”.
So grab this one for a fun environmental read. Get your book club to discuss it, and check out the official flash website with the funky chart.
Title: Oil on the Brain – Petroleum's Long Strange Trip to your Tank.
Author: Lisa Margonelli
Publisher: Nan A. Talese (original) / Broadway Books (reprint)
Published on: January 2007/ January 2008
Pages: 352
Official Website: http://www.oilonthebrain.com/
Here is also a more recent Lisa Margnoelli article in The Atlantic on recycled steam.
Eylon @ Eco-Libris
Plant a Tree for every Book you Read!
The podcast Litopia After Dark with Raz Godelnik is now online
 Last Friday I had the pleasure to be the special guest on Litopia After Dark, the Litopia Writers' podcast. This is a great lit podcast hosted by Peter Cox, and I really enjoyed the opportunity to take part in it.
The podcast is now available online at http://podcast.litopia.com/?p=57, and I invite you all to hear it (to do so, just scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on the 'play' sign).
Yours,
Raz @ Eco-Libris
Eco-Libris: plant a tree for every book you read!
Volume Two of Torpedo is available now (with our stickers!)
 We wrote few months ago on our collaboration with Falcon vs. Monkey, Falcon Wins, a Melbourne-based independent publishing company that is publishing Torpedo, a printed fiction quarterly, available exclusively through their site (that way they can give 50% of the very modest cover price to the contributors, who thus earn royalties for their work every quarter).
We want to update you that Volume Two of Torpedo has now been released and is available for purchase on falconvsmonkey.com. Like with volume One, also Volume Two of Torpedo will be balanced out with Eco-Libris: for every copy to be purchased, a new tree will be planted and the buyer will also receive Eco-Libris sticker.
The following genii are featured on Volume Two: Rod Hunt on cover duties; Kelly de Meyer & Ricky Butler on illustration det |
