My cousins visited me from Atlanta last week. The first thing they noticed when we headed towards the water was that it was really filthy. I was a bit embarrassed since it isn’t really like this all the time. We are lucky enough to have the park service clean the area on a daily basis, but sometimes, depending on the weekend or if there’s a holiday, what washes up on shore is really disgusting.

This, however, isn’t the case in most beaches and lakes. They are filled with plastic, and we don’t even know it. It’s all about convenience… It’s pretty obvious that we are killing ourselves for convenience. We drive to most places instead of walk, we hate to move and rather clap things on and off, remote control this and that, and plastic for everything. Why is this? I figure it’s because we don’t have to wash it, store it, refill it, or carry it when we’re done; all we have to do is toss it out. Easy peasy, right? Well that’s BS people, ’cause convenience is actually going to kill us and everything else on our planet.

What can we do? Well, empower yourself! Learn how you can prevent further damage to our planet. Every time you’re going to throw something out, think about where it WILL end up. Is there a chance it can end up floating in the ocean or forever in a landfill? Recycle and reuse. And help! The next Baynanza Beach Cleanup in Miami is Saturday, April 18th, 2009. Click here for the different locations where you can volunteer.

You can also find great ways to help by contacting your city’s environmental resource or volunteer offices.

Emotional P.S. I visited the local mall (which I don’t do often) this past week, and noticed that not only parents, but the younger generation (the kids’), are mostly overweight - It’s crazy. It’s obvious that these families love convenience and engage in the same activities together: fast food, TV, Nintendo, driving, sitting… The age of convenience sucks!

Saturday - March 28th - 8:30-9:30pm - millions of people will demonstrate concern for our planet by turning out their lights for one hour

Earth Hour is upon us…60 minutes to demonstrate your commitment to climate change. One hour to join millions of people across the globe and express a collective concern about the future health of our planet.

Join us as we turn everything off, still our minds, and feel our precious planet under our feet. OR…we can all get giddy dancing naked in a Japanese garden…it’s up to you.

Whatever you do, it’s a beautiful moment to share with your family, your friends and your children, because ultimately, this isn’t only about climate change, this is especially for the children of this planet (and I don’t need to explain why).

Though Earth Hour is for a serious cause, there is absolutely no reason you can’t have fun in the dark. If you don’t know how you can possibly get by for an hour without having power running, here are a few fun and naughty things you can do:

Before Earth Hour, make sure to have your candles, lanterns and torches ready…(Torches for backyard and beaches ONLY! Not inside the house PLEASE) *All of these can be done with clothes or in the buff.

1. Get out those yoga mats, IT’S YOGA TIME!

2. Quiet your mind and meditate, chant, pray and bless friends, family, our planet, the universe…(heck, go as far as blessing the black hole…I think you have time.)

3. Have a nice quiet dinner with your family, your honey, your friends…(of course, make sure to have everything prepared beforehand)

4. Go out to the beach and chill under the stars (unless it’s pouring rain, then you WILL literally chill under the stars - that’s cool!). For you winos, this is a perfect opportunity for you to have a beach blanket wine party (though it’s always winetime for you guys - you know who you are).

5. How many of you have been to inspiration point lately? Here’s your chance to get naked and make some love happen…or not. But get NAKED anyway, it’s fun! (though I realize that after the beach blanket wine party, that will probably happen naturally. If so, bring the party indoors please.)

6. Dance and sing alone or with friends - have an acoustic party, man!

7. Go swimming in nature or your backyard (I’m keeping it clean for this post, but YOU can do it dirty-style!)

8. Get a massage from a friend or lover, or if you’re lucky enough to know a masseuse, arrange it to happen during Earth Hour. (Happy endings optional)

9. Take a jog or stroll, and don’t forget the leash. Your pets will love that you haven’t forgottem about them.

10. If you don’t/can’t/won’t do any of the nine things I just mentioned, by golly just take a nap.

Earth Hour reminds us that by working together, we can make a positive impact in the fight against climate change. I am so fortunate to be here to take part in this movement and make a difference. And it’s so simple, people. It’s so simple.

Join us, in darkness…
SATURDAY, MARCH 28TH, 8:30PM - 9:30PM!

For more info, visit EarthHourUS.org
Watch a wonderful Earth Hour clip here.

What do you get when you mix a little love with printing, and a little science with…well, green love? That would be ONE fabulous eco-friendly print shop called Squeegee Science. (Why am I thinking of The Bee Gees and co. singing Put A Little Love In Your Heart?)

People have been asking me about eco-friendly printing lately, and luckily, one of our EarthGirlz mentioned Squeegee Science to me. This eco-friendly screen printing lab located in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, absolutely loves what they do and it shows. Their customer service is on point and they pride themselves on it, saying they actually enjoy dealing with customers (pretty rare in the printing industry).

Some printing companies have added a bit of eco-friendly propaganda in order to attract the more earth-conscious customer, but Squeegee Science is ALL ABOUT being environmentally conscious. These guys have done their research and that is what sets them apart from the rest.

The founder is Brett Wilkin, a guy who’s always searching for better, more earth-friendly methods to printing. His team at Squeegee Science call themselves “scientists in the art of screen printing” because when they are working, their shop is not a shop, but instead, a “laboratory”–mixing some good ol’ love, a bit of art, and of course, some sustainable inks and chemicals and *poof* just like that, you’re delivered some eco-fabulous goods (with a big love smile to top it off).

So if you have to get some printing done and you want to feel reaaaaaaally good about yourself in the process, it’s simle…call the folks at Squeegee Science. And tell them you love our planet and appreciate how they’ve raised the bar as a “responsible” print shop, AND THAT is why they’re getting your business.

This is real, people! So forward this along AFTER READING/WATCHING to all concerned people on your mailing lists…AND call your House and Senate representatives today.

Here is an article explaining how all the legal pieces of the puzzle fit together:http://educate-yourself.org/cn/cohen-coleseedscriminalize20mar09.shtml

More commentary: http://www.fanstory.com/displaystory.jsp?id=265089

Here is the full text of S. 425: http://www.opencongress.org/bill/111-s425/text

Here is the full text of H.R. 875: http://www.opencongress.org/bill/111-h875/text

Go to www.house.gov/writerep and enter your zip code to get your congress rep information and how to contact them. Call their offices and let them know your views on S. 425 and H.R. 875.

This link provides a list of the U.S. senators and their contact information.

LET’S STOP THE MADNESS, PEOPLE! God forbid we be forced to ONLY use Monsanto seeds (like they have already done in other countries).