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Aleppo Soap: Dermatology Throughout the Ages

Fri, 14 Aug 2009 11:05:00 +0000

A secret stemming from an old tradition, and passed on from generation to generation, Aleppo soap has an international reputation. A natural product with numerous dermatologic applications, it can be used for the face, the body, and hair, or for washing delicate fabrics. Created in Aleppo, Syria it was the first hard soap in history.

Arnica: taking care of body and soul

Mon, 3 Aug 2009 10:37:00 +0000

A proven remedy, arnica can cure physical and spiritual bruises. The flower grows on the mountaintops of Markstein and Guebwiller. Threatened by intensive farming and global warming, its merits risk being lost. Strict rules regarding its harvest are helping it survive, and continue to benefit The International Pharmacopoeia.

Local ad sites help reduce waste in time of crisis

Fri, 31 Jul 2009 13:52:00 +0000

The benefits of purchasing items from fellow internet users through local ad sites like eBay, Amazon and Craiglist are actually more numerous than you might think. For starters, the seller gets to rid himself of old items while earning some money, whereas the buyer can find what they’re looking for for cheap. What’s more, buying items online from other users is beneficial to the environment because it turns what would have otherwise become waste into something of use. As the saying goes, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure!

Charge your phone thanks to sunshine!

Wed, 15 Jul 2009 14:49:00 +0000

Is renewable energy our future? While it is still a little early to tell, many developpers are already betting on it. Whether they are meant to keep us warm, give us light, transport us or help us communicate, technological inventions using renewable energies are sprouting up everywhere, and some may very well become indispensable to daily life in the near future.

When out in the sun, opt for the natural sunblocks instead!

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 11:10:00 +0000

Once again this summer millions of people will hit the sandy beaches to enjoy the sun’s rays. While basking under the sun for hours isn’t healthy for our skin, avoiding it altogether is out of the question. Simply choose the right sun screens and follow some tips to keep cool and you’re all set to go!

The health benefits of green tea

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 14:10:00 +0000

A recent German study has highlighted the therapeutic power of green tea in the fight against AIDS. If the results are confirmed, it will be added to the long list of the many virtues of green tea. But what benefits does green tea have on our health, exactly?

Biopiracy: Is the profit worth it?

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 11:44:00 +0000

The craze surrounding bio products masks shameful practices. In the competition for novelty, cosmetic companies are resorting to deception. To find the miracle ingredient that will excite us ignorant customers, some do not hesitate to appropriate the traditions necessary for the survival of indigenous people. This dishonest practice carries a name: biopiracy.

The traditional uses of argan oil

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 09:24:00 +0000

Moroccan women have always used argan oil both in traditional cooking and for cosmetic purposes. Derived from the kernels of the endemic argan tree, this oil rich in vitamin E is known for its nourishing properties and nutritious qualities. This natural product has maintained a band of loyal followers.

Bertrand’s “Home” to be Released on Earth Day

Fri, 5 Jun 2009 10:24:00 +0000

Yann-Arthus Bertrand’s new film “Home” will be available in theaters, on television, on DVD, and on the internet for free across the world on Earth day, June 5.

The film is a cinematic rendition of Bertand’s internationally bestselling book The Earth From Above, which consists of 500,000 photos taken from an aerial perspective in over 100 countries.

“I’ve been nurturing this film for more than 15 years,” said Bertrand. “What I saw and learned as I flew over the Earth has changed me forever. I want to share what I’ve sensed throughout these journeys.”

The film calls for a new sort of awareness about the environment, in which humans realize that “It isn’t the 50 percent of forest that has disappeared that’s important, but the 50 percent that’s left,” in the words of Bertrand.

The movie is a non-profit initiative. Proceeds will go to Bertrand’s charity organization GoodPlanet, which fights for environmental protection.

Translated into 23 languages, the film’s message is simple: “We know that the solutions are there today. We all have the power to change. So what are we waiting for?”

Watch the trailer for Yann Arthus Bertrand's Home:

Watch the complete movie here

Green Cars: Volvo starts production of rechargeable hybrid cars

Thu, 4 Jun 2009 11:42:00 +0000

Wishing to enter the market for cars with low CO2 emissions, Swedish automobile developer Volvo initially launched their hybrid model entitled “Classic”. However, Volvo is now teaming up with another Swedish company Vattenfall, the fifth largest European producer of electricity, to produce a new kind of environmental vehicle: a plug-in hybrid that runs on both gas and electricity.

Sodium bicarbonate: the versatile and environmentally friendly miracle

Wed, 13 May 2009 09:59:00 +0000

Did you know that there is a product that can be used for cleaning, polishing, gardening, cooking and more? It might seem amazing that one single chemical compound can perform all these functions but such a product really exists. It is the humble sodium bicarbonate (or baking soda). An inexpensive multi-purpose white powder that is not only biodegradable but also good for the environment as well as for your health!

Jatropha: Miracle or Mirage?

Thu, 7 May 2009 12:23:00 +0000

Formerly hailed as the potential key to poverty alleviation, the euphoria surrounding the so-called miracle shrub jatropha is steadily subsiding. The toxic plant, whose seeds contain on average 35% oil that can be used in biofuels, was thought to have been a cash crop for small-scale farmers in the developing world, even in inhospitable climates and poor soils.

Study Shows Plastic Containers Contaminate Water

Thu, 23 Apr 2009 15:29:00 +0000

After being criticized for its carbon footprint, bottled water is back on the chopping block. This time, a study from Goethe University in Frankfurt, Germany claims that plastic containers contaminate drinking water.

A $5 Solution to Poverty and Climate Change

Thu, 23 Apr 2009 13:07:00 +0000

Often the simplest solutions are the best—meaning cheapest and most sustainable. Nowhere is that more true than in the poverty-stricken continent of Africa, where grand schemes for poverty reduction have gone to die for over half a century. While World Bank executives mull over models, and the United Nations Environment Programme wades through bureaucracy, entrepreneurs like John Bohmer on the ground have more freedom of movement and thought, and they are bringing the continent to life project by project.

Ben & Jerry’s Tasty Take on Fair Trade

Thu, 16 Apr 2009 09:39:00 +0000

Chocolate Macadamia sounds like another decadent way to spend an evening parked on a couch watching a romantic comedy, but the folks at Ben & Jerry’s have made it a way to promote a “fair deal” for the agricultural sector of the developing world.

Sears' Green Suits Hit Stores in May

Fri, 3 Apr 2009 14:32:00 +0000

Sears has recently partnered with Teijin, the US arm of the storied Japanese chemical company, to announce the release of a new environmentally friendly suit, just in time for fathers’ day.

“Positive Consumerism” on the Rise, Reports French Consulting Agency

Mon, 30 Mar 2009 14:54:00 +0000

Companies are not the only sources of sustainable development. Increasingly, consumers are ranking sustainability higher on their list of priorities when buying products.

Huntsmen and Genencore Introduce Eco-Friendly Bleach

Mon, 30 Mar 2009 14:47:00 +0000

A joint venture between Huntsman Textile Effects and Genencore, a subsidiary of Denmark-based Danisco, came to fruition earlier this month with the announcement of Gentle Power BleachTM.

The product is not for household use; rather it is to be used industrially by the textile processing companies. As cotton is transformed from its crude state into the finished products we wear, the crop must be cleaned of impurities and bleached white before dying.

The new product allows for bleaching at lower temperatures (65°C instead of the 95°C for traditional bleaches), decreasing pretreatment damage, increasing durability, and brighter shades of color, according to Huntsmen and Genencore.

Genencore developed the crucial enzyme for the product, while Huntsman and will market and sell it.

The US cotton trade association, Cotton Incorporated, has indicated its support for the product.

“This is a breakthrough in technology,” said Mary Ankeny, a lead engineer at Cotton Inc.

Honda Launches “World’s First Affordable Hybrid”

Thu, 26 Mar 2009 12:34:00 +0000

With the recent launch of its new 2010 Insight hybrid model, Honda hopes to help consumers battle two of today’s most pressing issues, the economy and the environment. At a sliver short of $20,000, the Honda Insight will be sharing the road with the Ford Fusion ($27,000) and the Toyota Prius ($22,000).

The car has already tested at over 65 miles per gallon (which translates to an EPA-estimated 43mpg in real cities in real life), and includes eco-friendly features that provide feedback for drivers. The Eco Assist system changes the background color of the speedometer (green for good, blue for slow down), while ECON mode makes the car accelerate slower and ease off the gas engine quicker.

According to Honda, the electric motor not only gets the car moving after stopping, but also powers the car all by itself "when driving on a flat surface at steady speed in the low 30 mph range.”

There is a trade-off, however. The Insight costs a few thousand less than the Prius, but it is also smaller than its competitor by 2.5 inches in height and length. Toyota’s hybrid also retains the fuel efficiency crown at 50mpg.

Although Toyoto jumped into hybrids first and currently owns over 70% of the market, the Insight looks to break new ground with its affordability.

The Honda Insight goes on sale April 22, 2009—Earth Day.

Land Rover’s New Green Image: Makeover or Makeup?

Wed, 18 Mar 2009 12:32:00 +0000

Amidst slumping sales of their Land Rover models, executives at Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) are seeking to revitalize the image of their 4x4s. They are hopeful that a combination of innovation and government support can help.