- Emily Pilloton Discusses the Hippo Roller and other Designs for Humanity (Part One)
- Janine Benyus on Biomimicry in Design (Part Two)
- Janine Benyus on Biomimicry in Design (Part One)
- Andy Revkin - Climate in the Obama Age
- Fred Pearce - Confessions of An Eco-Sinner (Part Two)
- Fred Pearce - Confessions of An Eco-Sinner (Part One)
- Chris Goodall - Ten Techs to Save Our Butts (Part Two)
- Chris Goodall - Ten Techs to Save Our Butts (Part One)
Manuel said:
"This is great news! I hope all cities pass this into law.The practice of using plastic bags just to quickly dispose of them has been going on far t..." [read]
Jay Knecht said: "What are the performance stats for the Son of Max? ..." [read]
gazelle said: "@ Dallas: The book, and the supplementary videos in the "How It All Ends" youtube series, address this in detail, but I'll try to paraphrase:..." [read]
Barry said: "Kofi Annan has about as much of a clue about electric cars and developing countries as Ann Ann the Panda. He underestimates the ingenuity o..." [read]
JJ said: "Very cool. I didn't thought that biodesel might be our future fuel...." [read]
Derek said: ""I guarantee you this will spark huge debates around the world," she said. "We have to delve into this in a way that hasn't been done in a long tim..." [read]
Jay Knecht said: "What are the performance stats for the Son of Max? ..." [read]
gazelle said: "@ Dallas: The book, and the supplementary videos in the "How It All Ends" youtube series, address this in detail, but I'll try to paraphrase:..." [read]
Barry said: "Kofi Annan has about as much of a clue about electric cars and developing countries as Ann Ann the Panda. He underestimates the ingenuity o..." [read]
JJ said: "Very cool. I didn't thought that biodesel might be our future fuel...." [read]
Derek said: ""I guarantee you this will spark huge debates around the world," she said. "We have to delve into this in a way that hasn't been done in a long tim..." [read]
Entries for December 5, 2004 - December 11, 2004
Total this week: 52
Izze Sparkling Juice
by TreeHugger on 12.11.04
Good people make good soda. Izze people are good people. I love their soda. (Okay…their sparkling juice.) And I love their commitment to the community, global education, literacy, the arts, and the environment… oh… and to Treehugger. They were good enough to donate cases and cases of their sweet nectar for the Treehugger official launch party last week.
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Waiter! There’s dioxins in my soup.
by TreeHugger on 12.11.04
Doctors in the Ukraine have just confirmed that dioxins are the cause of the poisoning that has ravaged the skin and health of the presidential canidate, Viktor Yushchenko. They are not speculating on how he received such poisons into his body but did note that because dioxins are soluble they could be administered via “something like a cream soup.” Now, what does a possible political plot have to do with Treehugger? Well, the left photo is what Viktor looked like, before the poisoning, just a few months earlier. Greenpeace have been campaigning against dioxins for ages. As has MBDC’s William McDonough and Dr. Michael Braungart, who propose new forms of design to avoid their creation. Why? Because these chemicals are predominately a byproduct of human industry. And high exposure to them can increase risk of ......
WWOOFing
by TreeHugger on 12.11.04
See the world and eat great food. WWOOF stands for Willing Workers on Organic Farms or worldwide opportunities on organic farms.. The International WWOOF Association list the aims as being: to enable people to learn first-hand about organic growing techniques, enable town-dwellers to experience living and helping on a farm, help farmers make organic production a viable alternative and improve communications within the organic movement. This is real eco-travel. As a WWOOFer you can get no-cost board and food, where you’ll have an intimate opportunity to learn about local life in that host country, by living, and working, as a member of the household. ...
Fruition Bags - A postcript
by TreeHugger on 12.11.04
Further info on yesterday's post about those hard-to-recycle alumimnium, foil-lined, juice cartons being made into funky bags. A little of the story behind them — a women’s environmental co-op in the Philippines has so far gathered up over 1 million of them, given them a thorough clean and created the robust, waterproof bags. In various shapes and sizes. Their creativity supports the livelihood of more than 200 families. The Fiipino Department of Environment and Natural Resources has even appealed for citizens to support the venture, by collecting the cartons. Apparently over 50,000 are required for daily production, by the Kilus Foundation, who makes the bags, purses, wallets, slippers, belts and aprons. Basura is the name given to the line, being Fiipino for 'garbage' or 'waste'. Pricing ranges from $12-42 AUD. Available many places online, including ::Biome [by WM]...
Rhoades Car - a quadcycle?
by TreeHugger on 12.10.04
We’ve done unusual bikes before. But this is something different again. Four wheels! Just like a car but without the motor, (they do offer 24V electric motors, if you wish) and said to handle the same. Check out those seats, huh. Comfy or what? They reckon the bike is easier to pedal than a traditional diamond framed bicycle and that it climbs hills like a demon. In the two person model shown here, either person or both can pedal the 36 speed gears. You can have it with a rear view mirror and a rainproof cargo box. Single person, ultility, sports and even a four person model on offer too. ::Rhoades Car [by WM]...
The Economist on Green Building and Swiss Re Tower
by TreeHugger on 12.10.04
Eco-Celeb: Teresa Heinz Kerry
by TreeHugger on 12.10.04
Phillip Jeffries natural wallcoverings
by TreeHugger on 12.10.04
Bring the outside in, by sticking it on your wall. Huge range of texture and shades, with some four hundred wallcoverings. Many of them from renewable sources. Take your pick of bamboo, raffia, rice papers, flax, cork, arrowroot, jute, and recycled paper. Designed for home or commericial use, many are washable and some are fire treated too. Sourced from Japan, Europe and the US. ::Phillip Jeffries [by WM]...
Saab 9-5 BioPower
by TreeHugger on 12.10.04
Recently announced was the expected 2005 arrival of an ethanol fuelled Saab 9-5. Apparently because ethanol is derived from renewable agricultural crops (which are carbon dioxide absorbing), this will equal out any CO2 emissions whilst driving the car. If true, this could make it greenhouse gas neutral. ...
How To - Gleaning
by TreeHugger on 12.10.04
Soft French accents and yellow subtitles. Another late night movie on the TV. But no, it wasn’t one of ‘those’ movies. This was the classic ”The Gleaners and I”. Gleaning refers to the collecting of items discarded by others. This documentary looks at the debris created by modern society and how what most might consider waste, is in reality of value to someone. Food left behind in fields after a harvest, or following street markets, through to household goods left on the street destined for landfill. Gleaners, Scavengers, Dumpster Divers: the human vultures, the carrion of our cities. And like their brethren of the savannah, what might seem like ugly, dirty work is actually an essential service. Cleaning up the places where we live. And that stuff sure does have value! Read about ......
Looolo Pillows and Blankets
by TreeHugger on 12.10.04
Our friend Design Sponge turned us on to these beautiful Looolo cushions, floor pillows, and blankets, which are so, so fine. Besides being incredibly soft and luxurious and looking totally modern and yet very casual, they are made entirely from organic materials—Canadian buckwheat, U.S.-grown cotton, Climatex felt and non-toxic Swiss yarns--that. And, when tossed out the window, Looolo products would completely biodegrade within one short year. Love the contradiction of the ruffled and “tattered” details as much as the totally refined looks. Via Design Sponge Via Metropolis ::Looolo [by MO]...
Plastica Recycled Record Vinyl Cuffs
by TreeHugger on 12.10.04
What comes around goes around, especially when it comes to records. So we can only assume that the crappy crooners whose unloved vinyl became these cool cuffs would rather have been reincarnated as a ladies’ adornment than sent out with trash and buried forever in the landfill. At $24, they’re a hit. Also available in black. Thanks Brian B! Via Pop Gadget ::Plastica [by MO]...
Salvaged Street Sign Drink Coasters
by TreeHugger on 12.10.04
Made from salvaged street signs in Providence, Rhode Island, the only thing these coasters ($65/set of 4) enforce now is good manners. Oh--and drinking with friends. A serving tray ($70) and platter ($360) are also available. Elsewares [by MO]...
Fruit Juice Box Bags
by TreeHugger on 12.10.04
Move over Juicy Couture, there's something fruitier in town. These cute tote bags are made from 100% fruit juice boxes. We can't attest to eco-ness of the rest of the materials, but it's definitely a great effort in the recycling department. Boxes chosen are totally random--you could get pineapples and oranges one day and guavas and passionfruit the next; it's all part of the fun, kids. $25 ::Uncommon goods [by MO]...
54Dean Georgie Table
by TreeHugger on 12. 9.04
Named for its famous inspiration, the Georgie table takes it cue from Herman Miller’s Nelson bench, designed by George Nelson. New York-based design firm 54Dean's interpretation combines interior storage and a visual airiness that’s created with sustainable bamboo boards and constructed using a unique method that greatly reduces waste. ::54Dean [by MO] ...
Cowgirl Creamery Organic Cheeses
by TreeHugger on 12. 9.04
Bay Area cowgirls Sue Conley and Peggy Smith aren’t so named for their steer-wrangling skills or their hankerin’ for the range. Really it’s more about the cows—or at least their milk—since milk makes cheese. The duo, who work out of a renovated barn (they get extra points for renovating instead creating new construction!) in Point Reyes Station, California, were formerly successful chefs. (Peggy even ran the kitchen Chez Panisse, made famous by organic-manic celbrechef Alice Waters). Now the two make cheeses from the pure, natural, organic milk produced by Straus a local dairy, win awards for their comestibles, and sell them off to local restaurants and shops, Cheese Club members ($14-420), and lucky Internet shoppers (about $37-65). Via Daily Candy ::Cowgirl Creamery [by MO]...
Scott Christensen Toro Tissue Ring
by TreeHugger on 12. 9.04
GreenHomeNYC Building Resources
by TreeHugger on 12. 9.04
LED Christmas Lights from Brookstone
by TreeHugger on 12. 9.04
We’ve all got a neighbor with a bit too much holiday spirit. This year, don’t let their super-duper Christmas spectacular cause brown-outs through the ‘hood. Tell your festive friends they can save energy and money by switching over to LED Christmas lights. They’re 255 times brighter than conventional LEDs, up to 90% more energy-efficient than incandescent lights, and stay cool to the touch even after hours of use. The lights are durable and weatherproof with a strong lens and no fragile filaments, and since each LED lasts up to 200,000 hours, nobody has to worry about trolling through the attic for extra fuses after swilling too much eggnog. Each strand is 24 feet long with 70 LED lights and can be used indoors or out. Multi-colored, $19.95; white $29.95 ::Brookstone [by MO]...
Waterless Urinal System
by TreeHugger on 12. 9.04
We recently reported on another waterless urinal that uses a recyclable cartridge and doesn't waste precious water. Seems the trend is being flushed out, as we've discovered yet another company with a similar product... ...
Freeplay Jonta human-powered light
by TreeHugger on 12. 9.04
There have been some enthused comments about a couple of our recent posts on Illumination devices (lightSpin & Nightstar) that reduce the need for heaps of disposable batteries. In light of that, thought it worthwhile to mention the upcoming Jonta from Freeplay. Significantly redesigned from their earlier torches (or flashlights, if you insist) this a has few tricks up its sleeve. Wind it for 30 seconds and get 10 mins worth of light. Wind it for 40 min and get a full 24 hours! (Now this is the light that needs to mate with a bicycle!). ...
Free Eco-Design PDF books
by TreeHugger on 12. 9.04
LCA, EE, PCR, EPR, VOCs, SBS, IAQ, PSS, FSC. Blah blah! Ecodesign jargon. Whilst acronyms might be boring, the ideas and concepts behind them can be fascinating. At TreeHugger, we’re about explaining the mysteries of such stuff, with useful examples. But if you can’t wait for us to get to each area, then dive deep into two recent, no-cost, digital books on the subject....
Eco-Celeb: Peter Garrett
by TreeHugger on 12. 9.04
Remember the anti-Exxon performance from the back of a truck in downtown NYC? The band was Midnight Oil. You might recall the peculiar dancing of the bald headed Peter Garrett, frontman for the band, for over 25 years. Peter resigned from the band 2 years ago, to pursue his passion for issues of social justice and the environment. Yesterday he was back in front of the microphone again. This time to made his maiden (first) speech to the Australian Parliament, having been elected last month, as a member of the Labor Party. In his speech he remarked "It is now well understood that humans ultimately depend on the health of the planet for their well-being. That recognition has produced a real change in thinking in recent times.” ...
Wenhai Ecolodge - China
by TreeHugger on 12. 9.04
Wanna see 15 species of rhododendron? 71 species of migratory birds. Maybe 30 endangered species? How about 75% of all Tibetan medicinal herbs? Get yourself to NW Yunnan Province. (near the border with India and Tibet) And more specifically to the Wenhai EcoLodge. Perched in a valley at 10,000ft (3,000m) it can only be reached by horse or foot - you’ll need to trek in. Sounding eco enough yet? Well, what if we said that energy is provided by mini hydro ......
Eco-Celeb: Brad Pitt
by TreeHugger on 12. 8.04
Beddington Zero Energy Development
by TreeHugger on 12. 8.04
Spaceframe Sculpture Kit
by TreeHugger on 12. 8.04
Modular pieces made from recycled soda bottles make perfect building blocks for the tiniest architects to create oversized sculptures and forts. Designed by Scott Klinker for Offi, each piece is up to 40 inches long and has more structural integrity than "tape and sofa cushions," says Cameron Sinclair, who listed these as some of the grooviest new designs for 2004. $169 Via Fortune ::Offi [by MO]
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NightStar Human-Powered Flashlight
by TreeHugger on 12. 8.04
NightStar LED flashlights are sturdy and bright, but even better, they use the Faraday principle of electro-magentic induction to generate electricity. By simply shaking the tube of the gadget for 20-30 seconds, you get up to 5 minutes of continuous light; the entire device is rated for more than 100,000 hours of use. (That's one hour/day for 271 years, according to the Web site.) With no bulbs and no batteries, these babies are good to go in an emergency, or any time you need them. Thanks for the tip, Brad H! $39.95 ::Shakelight.com [by MO]...
Simo Lehtonen Snail Tray
by TreeHugger on 12. 8.04
Simple, sustainable, Scandanavian. Simo Lehtonen’s Snail tray is elegant and intuitive in shape and handmade from a single sheet of laminated walnut. It’s also sealed with organic oils to enhance the richness of the grain--and to provide intelligent, lasting beauty. $135 Available at MoMA stores. ::MoMA [by MO]...
Camper's Dream Ice Cream Maker
by TreeHugger on 12. 8.04
Hey campers! Santa must have heard you crying about the ice cream yo-yo only being available in Japan, for--lo and behold!--TreeHugger has discovered a comparable gadget that's available right here in the U.S. of A. for good little girls and boys. Just add ice and rock salt to one end and ingredients to the other, roll the ball around for 20 minutes (soccer, anyone?) and--hoohah!--homemade ice cream. $24.95; Call to order, or click here to find a store. ::REI [by MO]...
Sprout Home Oval Bowls and Platter
by TreeHugger on 12. 7.04
Hand-turned, hand-carved, and deemed "painfully cute" by our pal Grace at Design Sponge, these serving bowls and trays are made from renewable acacia wood and were inspired by river stones. The wood can be left unfinished, or can be polished with a food grade oil for serving. Via Design Sponge. Totally affordable at $6.50-33.50 ::Sprout Home [by MO]...
The Surfer's Path: A "100% Green" Magazine
by TreeHugger on 12. 7.04
Between bamboo surfboards and the Surfrider Foundation, it's no surprise that most surfers wish to leave the Earth cleaner than they found it, and finally, there's a magazine that feeds their needs. While most glossies eschew recycled paper and soy or vegetable inks in favor of cheaper and far more harmful options, The Surfer's Path accrues the extra expense simply to live a greener--and bluer--life. Filled with gorgeous photography, top-notch genre writing, and plenty of adventure, U.K.-based SP says it's simply applying common sense--without a healthy eco-system, their sport is doomed. Though the mag is 30 years old, it only recently bit the bullet and came over to the green side. We applaud them for it. $45/six issues. ::The Surfer's Path [by MO] ...
lightSpin Bicycle Light
by TreeHugger on 12. 7.04
If you’ve “been around the block a few times” you’re probably old enough to remember dynamo lights for bicycles. A superb concept, years ahead of environmental concerns — human powered illumination. No toxic filled batteries to throw away. But it did made cycling harder ... and dangerous. No pedalling - no lights. But now a Swiss inventor/manufacturer has put the thinking cap on and gone a few better. The lightSpin uses only minimal power to rotate; is claimed to offer an efficiency of 80%, compared to 30% of standard models (although some users figure reality is probably about 67%). And it has a metal-hydride backup battery, which offers 45 mins of light, if stopping at lots of traffic lights on the way home. The lightSpin charges this storage battery as well. Available in the UK for £70 from ::Orbit Cycles [by WM]...
Ecospecifier online database
by TreeHugger on 12. 7.04
Recently updated, this “knowledgebase” is a compendium of green building materials and products. It houses over 1,000 product listings, with full descriptions and environmental performance indicators. There are also plenty of essays, discussions, case studies, a glossary, technical guides, references and internet resources. That much stuff, in fact, that you need to be careful when entering, as you may not remember to come out to eat! Although the full site is available on subscription, much is still accessible as public domain too. Operated as joint venture between award wining architects and a world renowned University ecodesign unit. ::EcoSpecifier [by WM]...
Eco-tip - 'Forest Friendly' timber for modelling
by TreeHugger on 12. 7.04
We've obviously been promoting the virtue of goods made with environmentally responsible materials. But what about the stuff that is used to craft the models and prototyes that lead to the final product? Thought we’d start the search with a simple one. Balsa. Which is, believe it or not, a deciduous hardwood. Yet, it is one of the lightest timbers known. Hence, its popularity for model making and kite-building. The abundance of air cells in its structure have also made it a fav for insulation and the construction of rafts. A huge plus for modelmakers, designers and hobbyists is that it can be cut with a good old X-acto knife. ...
Paper Vase from Lekkerhome
by TreeHugger on 12. 7.04
Hand crafted from recycled 'design magazines'. How apt! Each one is unique. And chances are you’d want to arrange flowers in such a vase, (organic flowers, of course) so the inside is coated to make it waterproof. We happened upon this vase a while ago and it was $95 from Lekkerhome. They source them from The Netherlands. While not now on their main site, the order page at least still works. ::Lekkerhome [by WM]...
Eco-Celeb: Severn Cullis-Suzuki
by TreeHugger on 12. 7.04
Environmental causes have been a lifelong concern for Severn Cullis-Suzuki, who’s lectured even corporate giant Nike on the dangers of neglecting the earth. Her “internet-based think-tank”, The Skyfish Project, encourages thought and discussion about green matters. But the main point of the website, she says in a Collage interview, is to turn the energy of conversation into action. She’s a member of Kofi Annan’s Special Advisory Panel and has been named or adopted into three British Columbian First Nations—sounds like some major votes of confidence to us! ::The Skyfish Project [by KK]...
M-house: The Trailer for the Tasteful
by TreeHugger on 12. 7.04
Architecture for Humanity Design Contest Finalists
by TreeHugger on 12. 7.04
Last week, Architecture for Humanity, the non-profit organization that was founded by Cameron Sinclair in 1999 to promote architectural and design solutions to global, social and humanitarian crises, announced the nine finalists in its most recent contest, an open international competition that challenged designers to create the perfect sporting field and facility in Somkhele, South Africa, an area with one of the highest rates of HIV/AIDS in the world.
Design teams were asked to employ sustainable or local building materials and were to specify local labor to realize their design. Many of the finalists also specified recycled and local materials—one even implemented wind-generated power. Use of the roof for shade, ventilation, and rainwater collection was also a popular technique, as is the case with the project seen here, ... ...
New Earth Textiles by Lucia Cassa with Terratex Wool
by TreeHugger on 12. 7.04
The New Earth collection of residential upholstery textiles by Lucia Cassa for Mayer Fabrics incorporates the latest from mover and shaker Terratex, a division of Interface, which is entirely devoted to creating earth-friendly fabrics. The textiles are made from environmentally friendly, compostable wools and, like all Terratex textiles, is made from 100% recyclable or renewable material, manufactured using increasingly sustainable processes, made to meet or exceed industry standards for quality and performance, and recyclable or compostable at the end of it's useful life…...
Pod Shelters
by TreeHugger on 12. 6.04
Inspired by the Dymaxion vision of TH hero Bucky Fuller, Pod temporary shelters are easy to put together and take apart, contain only a few simple parts, and almost anyone—including those not so good at math—can put them together. They’re great fun in either urban or rural settings, or could be used as emergency shelters. Additionally, Pods utilize an integrated panel design which eliminates the use of separate frame and cover; make air flow and insulation a part of the functional panel design; use low-cost, recycled, and recyclable materials; can produce a variety of structures with a minimum of parts; and are extremely strong, yet lightweight and inexpensive......
MetaMorf Clima Outdoor Furniture
by TreeHugger on 12. 6.04
Clima outdoor furniture by MetaMorf Design takes a modern approach to classic Adirondack-style furniture. Made from recycled plastic, these playful, colorful chairs are durable in all climates and require very little maintenance. Available in red, yellow, light-gray, white, forest green, or custom colors, they could brighten up even the outdoorsiest of settings. Call or e-mail for pricing and to order. ::MetaMorf Design [by MO]...
Loftcube
by TreeHugger on 12. 6.04
Julia Butterfly Hill: Activism is Patriotism
by TreeHugger on 12. 6.04
Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day Cleaning Products
by TreeHugger on 12. 6.04
Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day products meet their moniker with smashing accuracy. Aromatherapeutic and uncomplicated, they contain essential oils that have naturally occurring, hard-working yet gentle cleaning agents, in scents such as lavender, geranium, and lemon verbena. Cruelty-free and never tested on animals, Mrs. Meyer’s products contain only biodegradable ingredients with recyclable packaging. Dish and hand soaps, all-purpose and glass cleaner, kitchen spray, bath scrub, stainless steel and carpet cleaner, wood cream, laundry detergent, fabric softener, stain remover, and even ironing spray (sorry Mrs. Meyer, we may be a bit lazy for that) are all available at prices comparable to their counterparts made with nasty chemicals. Plus, we love the retro-modern packaging. Use them with a dust-free cleaning cloth for even better results. About $4.99-11.99. Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day [by MO]...
Thank you to all of our Tipsters!
by TreeHugger on 12. 6.04
Despite the fact that the Voltaic Solar backpack has gone to the very worthy Miss Michele Weingeist, TreeHugger would like to thank each and every one of our readers who has sent in tips, especially Nick, David, Brian, Regine, Cameron, Jalopnik, Gizmodo and everyone else who has sent the hot 411 our way. We love you all (gush, gush)! And please, do keep ‘em coming, we dig hearing what you guys have to say and what you’re learning about that’s just beyond our radar. And hey—you never know what our Web master’s got up his sleeve…there could always be another solar backpack-type prize just around the corner. –Team TH ...
Top Five - Organic soft toys
by TreeHugger on 12. 6.04
So, maybe you haven't yet found a Toy Library nearby and and are still on the hunt for a green baby gift. Hopefully this selection of cuddlesome critters will fit the bill. Made with organic fibres they eschrew the many toxins found in most kid's toys. A baby's skin is said to be ten times thinner than an adults, so it more readily absorbs external chemicals. And conventional cotton uses a plethora of synthetic chemicals, from fertilisers to pesticides, herbicides, insecticides and defoliants. Have a peek at these gentler options. [by WM]...
Queens Gallery Luxor Pancake Lamp
by TreeHugger on 12. 6.04
We did promise to show more recycled glass products. Lo and behold! Made by Utrecht based Dutch ‘Queens Gallery’ artisans, these desk lamps are formed from recycled glass and acrylic, seemingly with the assistance of some pigments and water. An intriguing result nevertheless.(With other wall fittings and shades also available) Custom lighting can be made to order. $500. Available in the US from ::Lekkerhome [by WM]...
Shiva-Tech Hemp Skateboards
by TreeHugger on 12. 6.04
Ages ago we discussed a company that made bamboo surfboards and skateboards. Now here comes a band of bro’s making ‘em outta hemp. This new weave for the skateboard deck apparently provides better ‘pop’ and increased durability. Details are a bit sparse at this stage but they have well and truly taken to industrial cannabis sativa - also offering hemp/wool beanies and hemp blend T-shirts, as part of their software lineup :: Shiva-tech [by WM]...
Intermediate Technology - the other IT
by TreeHugger on 12. 6.04
The news from Sudan seems woeful. "Someone should do something”, is a common refrain. Well, the Intermediate Technology Development Group are. ITDG, founded nearly 40 years ago, by the radical economist EF Schumacher (author of the brilliant Small is Beautiful) has a unique approach to development. In tune with the words of another important thinker, Albert Einstein,"It is appallingly obvious that our technology exceeds our humanity" – they don't start with mechanical gizmos. But with people. ...
Bruce Sterling’s Take on Fab Labs: From Goop to Goods
by TreeHugger on 12. 5.04
In the most recent issue of Wired mag, uber Viridian Bruce Sterling writes about fabrication laboratories, or “fab labs”, mini mobile manufacturing systems. A fab lab is a tiny factory that works digital-style and the latest version uses three Linux PCs, a laser cutter, a combination 3-D scanner and drill, a numerically controlled X-Acto knife, and a handful of RISC chips to work its magic—cranking out basic solid objects and now, at MIT, even electronic devices like radios......
Soylab Soy Wax Candles
by TreeHugger on 12. 5.04
Handmade in Brooklyn, Soylab soy wax candles are adorable and good for your home. Unlike parafin wax, from which most candles that endanger indoor air quality are made, soy wax burns soot-free and is non-toxic and non-carcinogenic. And also unlike paraffin, a by-product of gasoline manufacturing, Soylab's soy wax helps support people who till the earth, i.e. all-natural soybean farmers. Plus, we love that groovy beaker that puts the "lab" in Soylab. In six delicious scents. $14 ::Buy Olympia [by MO]...

















