Recyled Plastic Laptop Sleeve

Just had to show off my lovely new custom laptop sleeve made from fused plastic bags by Bekah Worley. Not only is her work both beautiful and environmentally friendly, but it's really affordable too! Check out her blog Recycling Is Rad and see more of her stuff for sale on her Etsy page.

e-waste documentary

eDump is a documentary by Michael Zhao about the problem with electronic waste. It follows America's 2.6 million tons of annual e-waste as it travels to foreign countries for recycling and the pollution and health problems it causes along the way. This powerful short film can be watched in its entirety on Zhao's site HERE. Find out more about e-waste HERE.






Thanks Anne!

Give One, Get One

If you've been ogling the cute little affordable computers developed for the One Laptop Per Child Project, you've now got a rare opportunity to get your own (without having to be a needy child in a developing nation). Starting November 12th if you donate $399 to the project one laptop will be sent to a child in need and one will be sent to your child. Find out the details HERE.

The First Zero Emissions Computer

EcoGeek has a review of the Zonbu, the first zero-emissions computer. The small PC, which has no moving parts and runs on Linux seems to be a good choice for basic computer users. The one catch is that you are required to subscribe to their service for storing files online, since internal memory is limited (though they explain why this might not be a drawback). Read the full review here.

Computer Recycling Made Easy

The Computer Take Back Campaign has made a simple downloadable PDF of the latest information on recycling old computers for individual consumers. If you're ready upgrade grab this handy guide here (PDF updated March 07). And if you want to learn more about or join the campaign to encourage computer manufacturers to take more responsibility for the products they create visit the Computer Take Back site for details.

PeaceMaker the game.

Think you'd do a better job solving the problems in the Middle East? PeaceMaker, a new video game created by a former Israeli soldier, gives you the opportunity to try. Watch the gameplay trailer below or visit the site to play a demo.



Thanks Jen!

Greener Technology

Green Tech is a new online guide to sustainable technology from CNET. Articles include 25 Ways To Go Green, Earth Friendly Downloads, Online Tools for Staying Green, and more.

Thanks Cory!

Green Hosting

For the first time in many years I need to find a new web host for one of my websites and I decided to review the socially conscious options. Happily it turns out there are a lot of green hosting services these days. I've listed a bunch of folks I found below. The hard part now is deciding whom to use (which is definitely better than having no options at all).

FYI most hosts that call themselves green have offset their energy consumption with pollution credits (also called going "carbon neutral") via businesses like green-e; AISO is the one exception I've found so far.

• Acorn Host is woman owned.
• Affordable Internet Services Online has actual solar panels (which you can watch via webcam).
• DreamHost is a hugely popular mainstream hosting service that is employee owned.
• Sustainable Websites gives you access to green marketing articles.
• ThinkHost will plant a tree for you.

I still haven't decided where to go do if you have any recommendations for any of them them or know of any others to check out please share your thoughts.

UPDATE
Thanks to scoid who pointed us to Ecologee.net, which has already done the hard work for us. The site tracks hosts that are using actual renewable energy (not credits) and is working to create an entirely "green internet"!

Shut it down at midnight tonight.

Just a few more hours until Shutdown Day. Can you survive the day without turning on your computer? I'm going to try (assuming I don't have to do any work!).

UPDATE:
In case you were wondering I did manage to stay off the computer for 24 hours and it was lovely. I might need to do that every weekend!

Thanks Yoshi!

You know you're a successful blogger when...

You know you're a successful blogger when...Microsoft writes asking for your help! I received an email (reprinted below) asking me to promote their new socially conscious initiative. Basically if you use their version of Instant Messenger with a special code, a donation will be made to a charity each time you use it. This kind of instant, feel good activism, associated with using a commercial product is really the lowest rung on the ladder of social consciousness (if it's on the ladder at all). At best it's money the company has already allocated to charity that they are using for marketing purposes; at worst it allows consumers to feel like they're off the hook, since they've already "done their part." Believe me, we can't chat ourselves into a better world courtesy of a corporation. If Microsoft wants my opinion (which clearly they do since I'm SO influential) they should just give the money to the charities and then engage customers in real social action that doesn't involve marketing their products. But of course that's not why they're in business, and that's the point: Don't use social action as a marketing tool! And while I appreciate the sentiment of the letter (and the flattery certainly helps), why don't I feel like I can trust them? So Microsft, here's the question for you, is any publicity still good publicity?

Dear Noah,

People like you are among the most influential voices in our culture, reaching millions of people who share your commitment to important social causes. Because of your unique ability to reach this socially conscious audience, we’d like to tell you about a new initiative just introduced by Microsoft and some of the world’s most effective organizations dedicated to social causes.

It’s called the i’m Initiative, and it’s a collaboration between Windows Live™ Messenger and nine organizations dedicated to some of the worlds most urgent social issues. Every time users start a conversation using Windows Live Messenger, Microsoft shares a portion of the program’s advertising revenue with one of these cause organizations.

Each organization is guaranteed a minimum of $100,000, but there’s no limit to the size of the total donation they can get. The more i’m conversations you start, the more money goes to the causes. The sky’s the limit.

Visit http://im.live.com and check out the “Get Involved” section, you’ll find all kinds of ways you can be a part of this exciting movement – messaging points, website modules/buttons and more.

Please help us spread the word and encourage others to join the program. Together, we can show the world that small talk can make a big difference.

Thanks for your interest and support.

For more information and specific questions please contact Karin Muskopf at makeadifference@live.com