Travel & Nature

Photo via Brian Gratwicke

Does the intelligence of an animal factor in on your decision whether or not to eat them? Many people consider pigs to be incredibly intelligent, but they're still mostly factory farmed in often abhorrent conditions. Scientists are pushing for dolphins and other cetaceans to have non-human person status, complete with inalienable rights. But they're still hunted every year as a fish stock, as the documentary The Cove has highlighted. And what about cephalopods, a.k.a. octopuses and squid, which are known to be highly intelligent -- solving puzzles, using tools, and even predicting the outcome of soccer games? If you knew that they were self-aware the same as humans are, would you decide to stop eating them?

Design & Architecture

All images from Push House

In much of the world, hemp is thought of as a useful building material; Warren recently showed us an interesting house from Australia and it is common in the UK. But in America, it is still the butt of hippie jokes; Matt Hickman of the Mother Nature Networks describes a new house in Asheville, North Carolina with references to Tommy Chong and describes the interior: "there's not a blacklight poster, hanging spider plant, or crumpled up Cheetos bag in sight." Discovery News says "Put aside old visions of burlap-like shirts that belong with hacky sacks." Even the owner tells CNN ""We heard that we could have a really great neighborhood party if it ever caught on fire."

It's a shame that everyone is focusing on that, because it is just one interesting product in a fascinating house that is full of surprises.

Culture & Celebrity

Image via Elephant Journal

We've had an influx of iPhone apps based on the Gulf oil spill, and many of them also donate proceeds to helping clean-up efforts. So what makes Puff Puff: Gulf Spill any different? It's still an app about the life post oil disaster and it donates 30% of net proceeds to ecosystem restoration in the Gulf of Mexico. But perhaps the important feature that sets it apart is that the game pulls players under water into a world battered by oil exploration. Players get to experience what it's like for fish living among drilling, spilled oil, unmanned robotic vehicles and so forth...at least on a cartoon level.

Design & Architecture

Image credit: Brondell Simple Flush

Dual-flush toilets have always been popular here on TreeHugger. After all, it seems insane to use the same amount of drinking water to flush your number ones as your number twos. (It actually seems insane to use drinking water at all, but that's another story.) But rather than just advocating ripping out your old fixture—we've always been keen on adapting your old throne. From the Aquanotion TwoFlush retrofit kit to a DIY free dual flush toilet-hack, there are plenty of options out there. But the Simple Flush retrofit from Brondell—the same folks who brought us an eco-friendly toilet seat and bidet— looks like a particularly smart choice. Here's why.

Travel & Nature

Photo via The Daily Mail

The ocean's whales are some of the Earth's most massive and majestic animals, reaching sizes of up to 80 feet long and 150 tons. As the targets of centuries of whaling, they have a violent history -- and are still recovering from an industry that depleted their numbers substantially.

But while whales can be aggressive at times, they are more often gentle, curious creatures -- and likely to check out foreign objects in the water, including boats and photographers.

Cars & Transportation

Photo credit by batega via flickr.

In its early days, Barcelona's Bicing seemed like an unparalleled success. With 400 stations and 3,000 of the squat, burly red-and-white bikes stationed around the city, Bicing quickly became part of Barcelona's big city atmosphere and was enthusiastically received by inhabitants.

But after five years, something scary started to happen, in addition to the vandalism and abandonment that plagued Bicing and other big programs...ridership started to decline.

Fashion & Beauty

Image courtesy of PACT.

I love PACT underwear. Not only do they have a philanthropic twist -- past collections have supported non-profits like Oceana and Global Green USA -- but their design is playful and fun -- the way panties should be. Today, Pact unveiled their latest organic underwear collaboration with Creative Growth, an art program for persons with disabilities; ten percent of proceeds will be donated to support the artists who inspired the prints. Click through for more photos of PACT's men's and women's undergarments -- and cute bums, too.

Food & Health

Image from my luscious backyard

Fancy exotic bouquets are losing their bloom. Flying in flowers from around the world is expensive in terms of money and the environmental impact. Some florists this summer are starting to use local flowers for their bouquets: as in picked from neighbourhood gardens.

Now florists are turning gardens into mini-flower farms for their small businesses; renting or trading space in neighbouring gardens for flower beds. Part of the success comes from a change in attitude: before neat and perfect bouquets were stylish. Now the wild, english country garden look is in.