Pee in the shower! Save the Atlantic rainforest!

And how can anyone say No to such a funny ad?



This ad is part of a new campaign created by Brazilian environmental group SOS Mata Atlantica, using humor to persuade people to reduce flushes.

SOS Mata Atlantica is a Brazilian non-profit private organization, with no political or religious affiliations, which works for the protection of the Atlantic Forest (Mata Atlantica), one of the richest sets of ecosystems in terms of biodiversity, and also considered one of the most threatened with extinction on the planet.

The group says if a household avoids one flush a day, it can save up to 4,380 liters (1,157 gallons) of water annually. SOS spokeswoman Adriana Kfouri told AP that the ad is "a way to be playful about a serious subject."

This is definitely a great ad and I'm only wondering how much it can help the Mata Atlantica, but I guess any step, no matter how small it is, can be helpful!

The organization website in English - http://www.sosma.org.br/english.html

The campaign's website - http://www.xixinobanho.org.br/

Yours,
Raz @ Eco-Libris

Eco-Libris: promoting green reading!

New tree planting world record!

The race is on! Only last month we reported here that Pakistan is holding the tree planting Guinness World Record. Well, not anymore. The new record holder is India!

Treehugger reported that volunteers in Dungarpur, India attempted on Wednesday to plant 600,000 trees in 24 hours. The last record from last month was was 541,176 trees planted in one day.

UNEP, which highlights this initiative with regards to its (seven) billion tree campaign, adds on its website the following details:

The volunteers will be planting Mango, Neem, Teak and Jatropha trees; all indigenous species that will eventually provide food, medicinal value and timber to the community.

Once planted, the trees will be 'adopted' by local villagers to ensure that they are watered and maintained. The after-care will be supervised by the Indian Forestry Service. The trees will also be registered under UNEP's Billion Tree Campaign, and will go a long way to helping it meet its target of 7 billion trees planted by December 2009.

Well, now we have to wait and see how much time the current record will hold. In any event, we hope it will be broken many more times, as no matter who holds it, we all profit from this race!

Yours,
Raz @ Eco-Libris

Eco-Libris: promoting green reading!

John Sanderson on the idea of carbon neutral paper and other green paper issues

Can a sheet of paper be carbon neutral? what does it actually mean? and what is more eco-friendly - internet publishing or printed paper?

John Sanderson, former environmental activist and now UPM's (one of the world's leading forest industry groups) global head of environmental market support is answering these interesting questions and others in an interview with Mark Rushton, Editor, Pulp & Paper International Magazine.

I like Sanderson's approach especially when it comes to defining the relationship between online publishing and paper printing and I believe the way he describes them as complimentary to each other will become more and more common in the near future.

You can read the full interview HERE.

Yours,
Raz @ Eco-Libris

Eco-Libris: promoting green printing!

Global Sky, a leading Philippines-based call center is partnering with Eco-Libris!

We're happy to announce on a new collaboration and a very unique one - we're partnering with Global Sky, a 300-seat Philippines based call center to plant 1 tree for every call center seat filled over the next year. Global Sky is expecting to plant more than 1,000 trees by the end of 2010.

Global Sky is not part of the book industry, but it is a growing company with many business customers (including Fortune 500 companies) who are using many tons of paper on regular basis. Hence our partnership is aimed no just at planting trees, which is an important act of its own, but also to inspire and influence Global Sky's customers to reduce their paper consumption and adopt greener practices when it comes to paper products.

And there's more. The initiative with Eco-Libris is a continuation of Global Sky's green initiative which features a 10% price discount for all clients who are undertaking similar environmentally focused efforts.

Here's a little more information about our new partner: Global Sky, Inc. is an award winning U.S. owned and managed high quality call center provider with 300 seats based in the Philippines. A Microsoft Approved Vendor and the Winner of 2 "Best of 118 Tracker" Awards, Global Sky counts among its clients Fortune 500 companies as well as progressive entrepreneurs and global executives.

For more information on Global Sky, please visit their website at www.global-sky.com. You can also read the press release on the collaboration here.

Yours,
Raz @ Eco-Libris

Eco-Libris: promoting green printing!

Green printing tip #10: Are you buying environmentally sound business cards?

Time goes so fast. It looks like we started this series of weekly green printing tips yesterday, but actually we're on the tenth week with tip number 10!

And this is also an opportunity to give our partner in this series, Greg Barber a big kudos for his endless efforts to bring you every week another great tip on green printing!

Today Greg is answering a question that is relevant for everyone and relates to a little piece of paper we all use - a business card.

Are you buying environmentally sound business cards?

Tip #10

That seems like a crazy question to many people who think they are printing environmentally. Now, take your business cards and check them out.

To be environmental, you should be using paper that is high in Post-Consumer Waste. 100% PCW is the best.

You should be using paper that is Processed Chlorine Free. Only 100% PCW paper can be 100% PCF.

The inks should be 100% non toxic toner for digital runs, and soy or vegetable based inks for offset runs. I would like you to use an environmental printing plant. FSC certified is preferable. You could ask if the printing plant is Green E certified. Do they use renewable energy, like Wind Power, or BioGas? Ask the plant to tell you the name of the paper. Not all papers are equal, environmentally.

Need to check with me? Call me at 973 224 1132. If I am busy, you can leave a message. I check emails 24/7.

Now, if you are afraid of the price, don't worry. We have a summer special through the end of September. Here are the details:

QTY: 500
Price: $45
Stock: 100% PCW
Bleaching: 100% Processed Chlorine Free
Green E: Yes
Inks: 100% non toxic toner
Paper name: Options PC 100, or Environment PC 100.
Timing: 7 days after approved files.

If you have any further questions following our tips, or you have a specific question you want us to address, please email us to info@ecolibris.net .

Links to the last three green printing tips:

Green Printing Tip #9 - What to look for when selecting a green printing vendor?

Green Printing Tip #8 - Does it cost more to print my book on recycled paper?

Green Printing Tip #7 - What is the best alternative if you can't afford to buy Seed paper?

You can find links to all the tips we published so far on our green printing tips page, which is part of our green printing tools & resources.

You can also find further valuable information on Greg Barber Company's website - http://www.gregbarberco.com.

Yours,
Raz @ Eco-Libris

Eco-Libris: promoting green printing

Monday's green books series: Food, Inc.

Today on our green book review we open our shopping bag and refrigerators and try to figure out how come food became such a problem in the last decades and what we can do about it!

Our book today is:

Food Inc.: A Participant Guide: How Industrial Food is Making Us Sicker, Fatter, and Poorer-And What You Can Do About It

Author: Karl Weber (editor)

Karl Weber is a writer and editor based in New York. He collaborated with Muhammad Yunus on his bestseller Creating a World Without Poverty, edited The Best of I. F. Stone, and, with Andrew W. Savitz, co-authored The Triple Bottom Line: How Today's Best-Run Companies Are Achieving Economic, Social, and Environmental Success— And How You Can Too.

Publisher: PublicAffairs

Published on: May 2009

What this book is about? (from the the publisher's website)

Food, Inc. is guaranteed to shake up our perceptions of what we eat. This powerful documentary deconstructing the corporate food industry in America was hailed by Entertainment Weekly as "more than a terrific movie—it's an important movie." Aided by expert commentators such as Michael Pollan and Eric Schlosser, the film poses questions such as: Where has my food come from, and who has processed it? What are the giant agribusinesses and what stake do they have in maintaining the status quo of food production and consumption? How can I feed my family healthy foods affordably?

Expanding on the film's themes, the book Food, Inc. will answer those questions through a series of challenging essays by leading experts and thinkers. This book will encourage those inspired by the film to learn more about the issues, and act to change the world.

What we think about it?
I am happy I saw the film Food, Inc. first as it gave me a good context and some background that I found helpful when reading the book. I think that no matter how much we're talking and debating about clean energy, food still remains the most interesting and fascinating issue in the green economy. This book is another proof of it.

The book, which is presenting 13 essays, includes some familiar names such as Erich Schlosser, Michael Pollan, Gary Hirshberg, Muhammad Yunus and others. But at the same time you'll find there essays of Arturo Rodrigez, President of United Farm Workers (UFW) and author Peter Pringle which are less known to the public (at least to me) when it comes to the debate on food issues.

This variety of authors as well as the variety of issues creates a comprehensive guide that covers all the main issues that influence and are influenced by the food industry. And we defenitely need such a comprehensive analysis to get a better understanding how a society (the Western society in general and the American society in particular) allows itself to get to this point where most of us eat food that is making us like the title says "sicker, fatter and poorer". It looks like only the tobacco industry managed to generate a more difficult riddle.

Food, Inc. does not have all the answers, but it's defenitely not just about pointing fingers at the problems, but also provides directions and alternatives to the status quo, such as the ones offered by Joel Salatin in his essay "Declare Your Independence."

The picture you get from the book is a very disturbing one, but it doesn't mean you can't read it and feel more optimistic. You definitely can. Actually if there is a reason to be optimistic about the future of the food industry it is the voices you hear on this book of some of the best minds around, who are all devoted to make sure our plates will be again a source of joy, but a real one this time.

Bottom Line: Go see the movie, then read the book and then go to buy your groceries. Actually, just like Michael Pollan suggested in his famous quote not to eat too much ("Eat food, not too much, mostly plants"), I would suggest to read this book in small portions. And not because it's not worthy to read it all at once - it certainly is. It's because I believe it's important to remember the book and its lessons every time we go to shop for food. I can assure you it won't spoil your appetite or your shopping experience - that's not the book's intention. What it will do is helping you to make knowledgeable and better choices once you're in the store, reminding you of the real world behind the packaging illusions you see on the shelves.

You can read more on Hungry For Change, Food Inc.'s blog - http://www.takepart.com/blog/tag/hungry-for-change/

If you're looking for other interesting green-themed books, you are invited to check out our green books page on our website's green resources section.

Yours,
Raz @ Eco-Libris

Eco-Libris: promoting green reading

A new children's book, "A Lion's Mane" is going green with Eco-Libris!

We're happy to update you on a new collaboration of Eco-Libris - This time we're working to green up a great new children's picture book "A Lion's Mane" by Navjot Kaur.

The publisher, Saffron Press, whose books seek innovative perspectives to challenge bias, is working with Eco-Libris to plant 625 trees for the book's first edition.

And not only that, but the book is also printed on 100% recycled paper to show their commitment to the environment. This combination means Saffran Press makes a very strong effort to make a positive impact on the environment with this great new book.

So what's this book is all about? here's some more information from the publisher's website:

In this beautifully illustrated story, young readers journey to cultures around the world to explore the meaning of the dastaar, or turban of the Sikhs. Allusive words placed within a vibrant red dastaar help promote our connections as global citizens and encourage dialogue around issues of identity and kinship. A Lion's Mane promises to be a staple on the shelves of all young visionaries.

And here's the book's trailer:
"A Lion's Mane" will be available for purchase through Saffron Press' site in August 2009. We will review the book on the blog in a couple of weeks so stay tuned. In the meantime you're welcome to join the book's Facebook fans page.

Yours,
Raz @ Eco-Libris

Eco-Libris: promoting green reading!