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Since last week was Earth Day, it is natural to wonder how much progress our world has made to be a more eco-friendly planet.
According to the official Earth Day website, this past year was the most successful yet. There were several events world wide that gathered millions of people.
One of the biggest events which took place all over the United States, the Green Apple Festival, had free performances by famous musicians in eight cities across the country. Some of the prominent artists that performed were The Roots & Friends, Los Lonely Boys, OAR,and several others.
For those who could not attend any of the festivals nation-wide because of college classes, there may have been events on your campus. Locally, University of Arizona held a Sustainability fair with exhibits and vendors.
The best way to make the public more aware of how they can impact our environment is by promiting awareness and fundraising. These are two things that my eco-friendly newspaper, The CatScan tries to do every semester.
The important thing about being eco-friendly is making an effort to reduce the consumption of disposable products.For us, the biggest contribution we make is by having The CatScan online to eradicate the use of paper all together. This way we can promote awareness and sustain the environment at the same time.
The EarthDay Network offers a list of tips for fundraising more eco-friendly and fundraisers that help the environment:
*Use recycled paper when creating handbills or posters.
*If you are going to sell products to raise money, make sure you know where the product is made and that they are created by people in human conditions.
*Reduce the consumption of junk food so that we can reduce the number of diseases,bacteria, and health problems.
Alternative Fundraisers that Help The Environment:
*Book fairs
*Coffee, chocolate, and fair trade product sales
*Printer cartridge/ Cell phone recycling
Implementing these tips into your life can help the earth and at the least, make you more conscious of how you are contributing or hurting our environment. I know that writing for CatScan this past semester has definitely made me more aware. I have a new sense of guilt when I am wasteful that I never had before.
Although, this is my last blog and I will not be able to remind all of you to be conscious, I hope that I have inspired you to think about the Earth on your own. Don't wait for EarthDay every year to become active. Act now and go green.
Men and women alike who enjoy luxurious skin products agree that L'occitane is more of an experience than just a brand. From the moment you enter the store, your nose is delighted with the French scents that make the expensive products justifiable. Most would agree that the luxurious wrapping on every item product whether it is $8or $80 is the icing on the cake, but those people only think that is the best part because they are unaware that it is naturally safe for the environment.
L'occitane products are made from plant products with the exception of the beehive line. L'occitane uses plant oils instead of mineral oils, which are not nearly as natural. All of their products are tested under medical supervision and have not been tested on animal products in the past 30 years.
L'occitane shopper, Nicole Kavanuagh agrees that L'occitane is worth the money and happy that it is good for the environment.
"I care about the quality of the product I am putting on my face. I love L'occitaine products and feel a little prestige to owning it", said Kavanaugh.
I agree with Kavanaugh that there is something prestigous about L'occitane. Two years ago, when I visited the Four Seasons Resort in Scottsdale, I was delighted to find the L'occitane lotions and soaps as amenities in the room. Now that I am writing for the CatScan and just found out about their natural and organic nature, I not only appreciate those amenities as a luxury item, but a contribution on a grand scale to purchase organically.
Throughout my blog this semester, I have been encouraging people to stay at hotels that use eco friendly methods. However, even I never thought about how beneficial earth friendly amenities were. Think about it with me. If there are 300 rooms,occupied every night and have the amenities replaced every day, that is 108,000pairs of the lotion and soap that are being purchased instead of products that are harmful.
L'occitane is an example of a company that has mainstreamed their product without changing their main values:
authenticity
simplicity
sensory pleasure
respect for people and the planet
I am changed after learning about this company and will continue to make eco- friendly purchases directly at stores, and indirectly, by staying at hotels that are trying to make a difference.
If you have been searching for that perfectly eco friendly vacation, look no further. The Isle of Eigg, located in Scotland has been a fully sustainable island since 1997.
In the dark ages, this island was part of the Pictish Kingdom. After various kingdoms and reigns, it eventually became a recreational and sporting estate in the early 1900s’. After WWII, the Isle of Eigg was not really profitable anymore and it went through various owners until the islanders and partners of the Isle of Eigg Heritage Trust bought it over 10 years ago.
According to the Christian Science Monitor, all the electricity on the island is made locally. The electricity is made up of a combination of:
Solar panels
Wind turbines
Hydroelectric generator
The islanders are allowed a certain ration of electricity. If they exceed the amount, then they are required to pay $40 to get it turned back on.
To get to the Isle of Eigg, visitors must take a ferry boat. In fact, no vehicles are allowed on the island except for visitors or tradesman that have a disability permit. All of the accommodations are either in farmhouses, cottages, or camping grounds.
Once you are here, there are plenty things to do although bird watching is the premiere activity. With over 196 species, it is enough to keep any visitor occupied for their entire stay. May and Early June are considered the best times to bird watch. The official Isle of Eigg website shows which birds can be seen in various months throughout the entire year.
This island has also been called the “Island of Flowers”. There are over 500 higher plantlife species and a byophite list of over 300 species.
After 10 years of trying to get the entire island on green power, the dream had come to life. The island with 45 houses, 20 businesses, and six community buildings on entirely green power is quite the site to see. So, pack your bags for an exciting green vacation.
