LOHAS? Naturalist? Watch Green Marketing Take Shape

The Green market is growing. That´s good news. The first professional marketing studies of the segment are being published. But as professionalism takes off, bad ideas might become the new standard.

Of the few facts about the Green market that can be determined with a degree of precision are its components. There´s a significant trend underway to allude to these as “Lifestyles Of Health And Sustainability“. LOHAS for short. In a recently released study of the LOHAS market by marketing research giant Nielsen and the Natural Marketing institute, LOHAS´ market size was put at $209 billion. This includes services as well as goods that are purchased by ´consumers who have a meaningful sense of environmental and social responsibility and incorporates those values into their purchase decisions.´

That is marketing speak for plain ole eco friendly shoppers. The data for the study goes all the way back to 2002. The two research houses have integrated various tools that the other made and are now offering in depth advice to companies looking to green up their production, especially consumer packaged goods (CPG) manufacturers and retailers looking for ideas on product development, positioning, pricing, communication and distribution.

LOHAS might seem like a rather clear cut market, but not everybody that shops green is classified in identically the same category as every other (green) shopper. NMI divides the market up into five groups. Apart from LOHAS, they classify naturalites, drifters, conventionals and unconcerneds.

FallingFruit.com features an interview with LOHAS Journal experts who have an interesting conversation which gives you a great idea about this market, whether you are a consumer or marketer. The radio show describes LOHAS as the largest market you´ve never heard about. But that´s either an exaggeration or it´s bound to change fast.

LOHAS is becoming a household item in investment circles and this is where the whole business begins to scare me. For instance, last year, the NMI collaborated with the investment community to launch the LOHAS index. This is a ranking of the top fifty most ethical companies. The list might surprise you; at the top is Microsoft. McDonald´s is in the ranking as well. Who are they kidding you might wonder. When the index was released the creators said that they had included direct consumer input when compiling the list. Consumers had been way less tolerant of companies´ social behavior than the financial analysts. But also way more ignorant, apparently, according to the finance experts. Nevertheless it still is hardly the list I would expect to see.

As the LOHAS market takes shape, it will be incremental to have independent bodies verify that what´s being earmarked as LOHAS actually stands the test.

Guide To Recycling Your Rainwater By Building A Pump Driven Irrigation System

This is a 3.5 minute guide to building a pumping system for irrigating your garden by recycling rain water. All you need is an underground tank, a bucket, a drill, a circular electric fan (the people in the video picked it up for $5 second hand), a cone shaped water pump (also very cheap in swap shops), and a punctured garden hose for the irrigation system.

You attach the restyled fan funnels under your roof gutters to catch the water, leading to an underground reservoir. When it’s the dry season, the pump driven irrigation system waters your garden!

GreenPeace Finally Gets HP To Commit To Reducing Toxic Materials

Greenpeace activists scored a victory recently when electronics manufacturer Hewlett Packard committed to a phase out plan for a range of hazardous chemicals in its products. The company was the first (and only) major IT producer to announce a genuinely green initiative at the recently held CeBIT fair in Hannover.

Greenpeace was present at the CeBIT fair, which is the world´s largest IT event and has been calling for companies to reduce the problem of toxic waste due to dumped non-biodegradable electronics and gadgets (also read my first blogpost about this).

HP’s policy change didn’t happen overnight and should not be seen as a direct result of Greenpeace´s action at the CeBIT fair only. “Back in 2003 we found that one of their computers contained particularly high amounts of a toxic chemical. Subsequently we confronted HP with the reality of their lack of action at their European headquarters, asked awkward questions when the HP boss visited China and finally turned up at their world headquarters in California with a special message for their staff”, Greenpeace reports on its website. The activists engaged the public at large in its “Greenpeace versus HP” showdown in 2005.

The activists say they’re laying down the gauntlet for the remaining companies that still mass produce using toxics. These include Acer, Apple, Dell, Fujitsu-Siemens, IBM, Lenovo, Panasonic, Siemens and Toshiba have so far failed to follow the industry leaders. Greenpeace first produced its ‘Guide to Greener Electronics’ in August 2006 and ranks companies annually. Current best performers are Sony Erickson and Samsun, which both score 7.7 out of 10 points.

So What Makes Washing Powder (Not) Eco Friendly?

The days of the washing board are long gone and while modern appliances have made the chore of clothes washing somewhat easier, they’ve also encouraged excesses in terms of the amount of water we use, energy we consume and chemicals we release into the environment. For some reason, the Australians are most gung ho on this issue. So this is a guest post by the Australian Michael Bloch who writes GreenLivingTips.com.

Laundry detergents tend to contain complex chemical cocktails made up surfactants, builders, bleaches, colorants, optical brighteners, fragrances and solvent ingredients. Many components are synthesized from crude oil and while the brand may claim biodegradability, breakdown can take some time; creating a buildup in waterways. Toxic substances such as carcinogens and other compounds that are deadly to aquatic life can also be produced during the degrading process or through interaction with other chemicals.

Components such as colorants really aren’t necessary - they are often just there to make them pleasing to the eye as you pour them out. Fragrances are of particular concern as companies often aren’t required to detail what these are comprised of.

Just about every supermarket these days offers “earth friendly” detergents and usually you’ll find they are quite a bit cheaper too due to the no-frills, low active chemical approach - yet they can be just as effective. The “extra cleaning power” you often see advertised for major brands usually means extra of the base chemicals, plus some other nasties thrown in; and the more is better approach really doesn’t apply to the average household washing needs - you’re just paying more for what is effectively only a byproduct of marketing. When shopping for detergent, compare chemical percentages - even between the earth friendly brands. Less of X ingredient doesn’t necessarily mean a poorer wash, but will likely mean less of a toll on the environment and your wallet.

In Australia, there’s an estimated 500 million household wash loads consuming 120,000 tonnes of chemicals per year. While the brand we use at home couldn’t be called totally green, the lower/lesser chemical formulation has proven effective and safe for our blackwater recycling system. If everyone used a similar brand; annual laundry detergent chemical consumption would plummet to 4,000 tonnes according to the detergent company’s web site. That’s an incredible 3000% reduction in chemical waste to achieve the same washing results - and at far less cost to the consumer.

Another ingredient to watch for in washing detergents are phosphates. While a naturally occurring substance, if too much phosphate is present in a body of water, it can spark the growth of algal blooms which can then have a suffocating or toxic effect on other aquatic life forms. Phosphate in laundry detergent really isn’t necessary, so avoid it altogether if possible.
If you need a bit of extra punch to your wash in terms of bleaching, consider adding a 1/2 cup of lemon juice to the rinse cycle and hang clothes outside to dry. By the way, a teaspoon of lemon juice thrown into your wash can also help your clothes to smell fresher! Other more environmentally friendly alternatives to brightening are a half cup of baking soda thrown into the wash, or half a cup of borax. Another big issue with detergents is the elaborate packaging and amount of water in the product, so opt for concentrates in recyclable packaging. There are also “uber-green” laundry detergents available that are entirely plant based - no synthetic chemicals; but expect to pay quite a bit more for those. On his own blog, Michael offers tips on pre-wash treatments, load size, water levels, cold water, greywater collection and drying.

The Ultimate Guide To Making Your Own Eco Friendly Washing Powder

The case for making your own washing powder is strong; it saves the environment and it saves money. Bar soap, the main ingredient in your home made washing detergent, is extremely compact and transporting it from A to B is way more energy efficient than dry commercial washing powder or the liquid equivalent. Why ship expensive boxes of washing detergent for miles if you can make your own washing detergent with a few simple ingredients for next to nothing?

If you decide to make your own detergent, do it the best way possible; phosphate free and make sure your soap consists of vegetable (not animal) derived fats. In a previous post, I wrote down a short make-your-own-washing-powder recipe in which the main ingredient was Sunlight Soap. I swear by Sunlight, but noticed that this soap is less regular in the US and Canada than it is in Europe. Unilever’s info pages don’t reveal anything about the bar soap, so you’ll have to shop around or contact the company directly.

Because so many people are interested in making their own washing powder for as little money as possible, I examined some alternatives in case you can’t find Sunlight bar soap.

This is the ultimate guide:
Before I launch into a Step-by-Step explanation, first this; there are two ways to get your soap bars liquified. Some people ‘cook’ the soap. In my view, this is totally not necessary. Soap does not melt! The trick is simply to get it liquified by soaking it and that doesn’t require hot water at all. You’d even be better advised to use your microwave for this. There are some cool videos on YouTube demonstrating this process. But honestly, all you need is a grating rasp and a bit of patience. Or if you want to use your kitchen blender, some people recommend it too.

What you need for the full recipe:
*A bar of soap (for types of soap, see STEP one).
*Washing soda (four or five spoonfuls). Washing Soda, or SAL Soda, is sodium carbonate decahydrate. It’s a mineral. It fights grease, stains, but more importantly; it softens water. Click here to find out more about its environmental credentials (as well as eco info about borax).
*Environmental bleach. Click here to find the eco bleaches available on the market.)
*Vinegar (half a cup) Use the cheapest type you can get. Reduce the amount or change brands if you find it’s smelly. I only use vinegar to reduce soap residue in the machine.
*Salt (Big soupspoonful). Does the same as vinegar but without the smell. If you still smell the vinegar after your washing has dried (often the case in ’soft’ water areas), just use salt only.
*A big bowl (you will understand that it should not be the same one you used for cleaning the toilet/the outside/the floors)
*A rasp or cheese grate (alternatively a kitchen blender)
*Around two gallons of water (7 litres)
*A 12-inch diameter siff
*A whisk

STEP one - Choose your soap. You need a big bar of eco friendly (ie bio degradable) soap of around 300 grams to make 2 gallons of washing detergent. Consider using the ecological soap you already use for your hands and ask your retailer if there’s a laundry bar version. If you can’t find one, shop around for pure Castile Soap which is made of coconut oils (visit my shop) to for a store locater or to buy it online). Alternatively buy soap that it is made only of vegetable based fats/oils and sodium hydroxide. This usually will be ecologically friendly. For more information about ecologically sound soaps, check out Castile Soap’s information.

If you find these are too expensive or are just trying the method only, opt for these alternatives:
*Fels Naptha (a laundry soap). It’s a good solution for US people. It contains no phosphates, which is the most important criterium.
*Zote. A laundry bar soap, which costs very little. Also available in the US and Canada. It is similar to Sunlight soap, costs 65 cents, and also comes in large, often hand-breakable, bars. If the soap bar is heavier than 300 grams, just adjust the water quantity and also add more washing soda and or borax. For this recipe you can do with a bit less than one big bar (or you can just add some more water to the mixture at the very end).

STEP two – Get a big bowl of water and grate the soap in it, stirring occasionally, so the grated soap doesn’t lump into one big bal but rather becomes a kind of lumpy stew. Let this sit for a week. After the week is over, throw the mixture through a siff, push through the lumps with the back of a spoon so it dissolves into a smooth sludge. Use enough water but no more than one gallon at this stage (2.3 litre) and move onto STEP three.

If you insist on using hot water to ‘melt’ the soap;
Some people insist on heating the liquid. This goes quicker and also the method allows you to judge the amount of sludge/residue that builds up from the soap you use. In my opinion this is a total waste of energy. Whenever I switch soap types, I simply check my washing machine to see if a lot of residue (undesirable) builds up. But if you had a grandmother who always did this and it makes you feel better to play slave over a hot stove, then be my guest. This is what you do; Grate your soap. Take a limited amount of water (around four cups), bring this to just below boiling point and add the soap into the water. Don’t lump it all in at once, because the effect of your grating will be totally ruined. Slowly sprinkle the soap in and use a whisk to whittle the mixture firmly. The better you whisk the stew, the quicker the soap will liquify. When you’ve done this, turn off the heat and continue with STEP three.

STEP three - The mixture is almost complete. Now you need to add washing soda, salt and vinegar. The latter ingredient is optional, but vinegar (choose a transparent type) softens the washing and keeps colors bright. Salt is also optional, but it also works miracles for your colors. Add these ingredients, stir extremely well and then you’re almost done. The only thing you need to do now is to dilute the mixture to two gallons (around 7 litres) with water. This should leave you with a washing liquid of similar concentration as normal (commercial) washing detergents, but you can play around with the ratios of water per bar of soap as you test your concoction.

Using your eco friendly washing detergent: Use 1 to 1.3 cups (not more) for each load of washing. Mix in the borax only at this point and due it according to the instructions on the package. A good alternative to bleach is the use of half a lemon in white washes; it bleaches perfectly. Having said that, it IS a good idea to use bleach from time to time. Click here to read about the health hazards involved in not using bleach in your washings.

Cost savings: There is no reason not to go environmentally friendly on your washing. People claim that the cheapest (non-eco friendly) washing detergent at Costco sells at $12 for a big bucket. That’s less than 0.10 cents a wash load. My method is probably as cheap or cheaper and ecologically sound.

Another cost saving tip: If you are into cost efficiency in your washing consider soaking your laundry overnight in a bowl of cold water with a few spoonfuls of washing detergent. If you do this, you can reduce the amount of washing detergent for your washing drastically. Also, you will be able to lower the washing temperature. This way, you save on detergent and energy.

Alternative Eco Detergents: Don’t feel like making your own detergent, but still want to wash 100% eco friendly? Go and check out local organic food stores. Prices of good products are around $20 per gallon. Castile Soaps offers a liquid form of olive based oils that’s suitable for laundry use. Check it out here. My favorite regular environmentally friendly washing powder (available anywhere in the world) is Ecover. Unilever launched a liquid Sunlight Soap that is 100% phosphate free in 2006. Check the company’s product page to see if you can buy it anywhere.

A Review Of Specialized Carbon Footprint Calculators

Carbon Footprint calculators have been around for a while, but they are increasingly specialising. Since the beginning of this year at least five new tools have been launched, including a wine carbon footprint calculator.

The latest of the batch is a Ho2conserve.org’s tool (click on the icon in the right bar for the link). The great thing about the tool is that it allows you to calculate your footprint wherever you are in the world. My own water footprint is 414 cubic meters a year. That is well below the average person. The calculations are also based on what food you eat. Do not confuse this with your food carbon footprint. Of the 414 cubic meters I use, the bulk of it, 368 cubic meters, is linked to the food I purchase. The Ho2conserve.org website explains the high number. “[The calculator] takes into account not only the water used in your home, but also the water that is used to produce the food you choose to eat and the products you buy”, the website’s introduction text reads. “Your water footprint also includes other factors such as the water used to cool the power plants that provide your electricity”. That makes sense.

Another nifty device, especially for people living in the UK, is Google’s new Carbon Footprint Project. It combines personal information with data on climate change in the whole of the country. The project enables you to calculate your carbon footprint, track personalised carbon-reducing actions and compare footprints or actions to other people’s. I don’t live in the UK but I have just found the device in my iGoogle gadgets page. You have to change your countries settings to the UK however if you live outside of this country.

If you have never used a general carbon footprint calculator (one that calculates your Co2 emissions in kilograms on the basis of your energy usage) or have done so long ago, give them another go because there have been many improvements. It is advisable to consult your energy supplier’s web pages because most companies now offer calculators and many link them to your direct usage numbers. In case you don’t find anything, you can always compare the scores on about three different carbon calculators to get the most dependable results.

Business and industry are increasingly ofsetting carbon emissions too. A New Zealand wine growers association launched an international calculator which indicates the greenhouse gas emissions of any given vineyard.

The online business sector is also jumping on the bandwagon, offering programs which claim to support tree planting activities. Only today, the Wall Street Journal blog reported that the FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) might start to certify this immaterial goods-based business in the future.

Going Green Gets Us Out Of The Middle East And Puts Billions Back Into American Workers’ Pockets

Guest Post from Nettleton, MS – Oil prices are through the roof and it’s costing us dearly. We empty our pockets in order to line those of the oil barons in the Middle East and elsewhere, and as we do so our dependence on their crude oil continues to deepen at an alarming rate due to our consumption habits.

This need not be the case because America has the technology and the natural resources to break this reliance on the Middle East. In fact doing so has several other significant benefits. Firstly, by purchasing American fuel we can stimulate the economy by keeping our US dollars in US pockets, but perhaps the most attractive aspect is the green issue; for the fuel in question is renewable plant and/or animal fat-based biodiesel.

As a nation we might predominantly use gasoline-engine vehicles for personal use, but our freight and shipping industry is wholly diesel based. Factor in the diesel needed to power most generators, construction equipment and industrial heating, and it becomes clear that we use a vast amount of diesel per annum, and it is this market that alternative fuels and energy specialist, Dr. Richard Craven, believes is crucial in our breaking free of Middle Eastern oil dependence.

“Diesel fuel accounts for over 40 billion gallons of petroleum consumed in the US each year – and that figure is for highway transportation use alone,” says Dr. Craven. “That is over 100 billion dollars a year. So you can multiply that figure by at least five when you take into account the other diesel users. There is absolutely no reason why we should be paying that sum to a Middle Eastern company for fuel, when it is readily available from companies here in America.”

Dr. Craven has spent over 15 years at the forefront of chemical research and development, with emphasis on environmentally friendly fuels and alternative energy solutions during the past decade. He is a recognized authority in the field and is also the spokesperson for Universal Bioenergy, a Mississippi-based biodiesel manufacturer. While he acknowledges that an increase in the usage of biodiesel would profit Universal Bioenergy, he is quick to point out that the benefits for other companies and industries, not to mention the positive environmental aspects, far outstrip those of the biofuel manufacturers.

“The benefits to the environment are substantial,” Dr. Craven explains. “We’ve all seen a truck pull away from the lights in a huge cloud of black smoke, well with biodiesel that is greatly reduced. It essentially contains no sulfur, so it reduces acid rain caused by regular diesel exhaust emissions which contain sulfur. Biodiesel also produces far smaller carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and other hydrocarbon emissions. And of course because you’re growing more plants from which to manufacture the fuel, there is more vegetation to consume these remaining carbon emissions anyway. It’s a closed-loop which is great news for the environment.”

This ‘green’ side to biodiesel doesn’t just impact the environment, but is a tremendous stimulant to the economy. Biodiesel is manufactured from vegetable oils – American farmers’ crops – and animal fats/greases. Some of the plants used for producing biodiesel ‘feedstocks’ can grow in areas not suitable for ‘edible foodstock’ plants, therefore farmers and co-operatives can utilize formerly unused land with which to generate increased revenues. Additionally, many of these alternative feedstock crops available for biodiesel production can produce more than twice the oil yield of edible foodstock crops – which in turn leads to increased productivity and increased revenues for the American agricultural industry and its associated service industries.

Perhaps biodiesel’s ace in the hole is that it is a 100% renewable fuel. “Crude oil is running out, and when anything goes into short supply, its price increases,” observes Dr. Craven. “As this happens, biodiesel will become even more cost-effective for users. There are already tax breaks for green fuel companies and they usually pass on their savings to the consumers via price cuts. As productivity increases, this trend will increase also.”

It is such an elegant and simple solution – certainly not rocket science. Although, with the advances in technology that Dr. Craven and his peers are spearheading, perhaps biodiesel will be used as the rocket fuel of the future. But wherever it leads, the opportunity to decrease our spending in the Middle East, increase our own economy, and make another step forward with environmentalism should be embraced.

Mississippi based Universal Bioenergy is a biofuel manufacturer at the forefront of the green technologies revolution. Biodiesel is made from vegetable oil, or animal fat; it is biodegradable, non-toxic, and typically produces up to 78% less net carbon dioxide emissions than petroleum-based diesel fuel. Biodiesel is used to power cars, buses, trucks, construction equipment, locomotives, boats, generators, and is also used as heating oil. Universal Bioenergy’s refinery is one of the most economical, efficient, and compactly designed plants in the United States with a smaller footprint than typical plants for the same production capacity. Universal’s unique manufacturing process requires less time and less energy to yield a fuel of high quality and effectiveness. For the Universal Bioenergy’s website click here.

bio: This article was published by Dr. Richard Craven is the national spokesperson for Universal Bioenergy. Much of his career has been spent in the chemical research and development of environmentally friendly fuels and alternative energy. Dr. Craven worked as lead chemical researcher and developer at Antek Research Inc. – a non-profit research firm specializing in environmental issues, including optimizing biodiesel processes.

Why You Should Buy A Bio Diesel Kit

Guest Post:
Bio diesel kits help you to produce bio diesel from waste vegetable oils easily. There are number of bio diesel kits available in the market that can produce 1 gallon to 300 gallons of bio diesel. So what do you need to look out for? Report by Muna wa Wanjiru, who has been researching and reporting on biodiesel for years.

The bio diesel kits normally consist of bio diesel processing equipments and sometimes it may also have dry wash equipments. Bio diesel kits are easy to install and there will no assembly work here. You need not require the help of any electrician to install. The reasons why you require buying bio diesel kits are as follows:

The first reason is to save costs. Instead of buying bio diesel processing equipment separately, the bio diesel kits are cost effective and some manufacturers are providing 10 % discount also. The second reason is that before buying the bio diesel kits you can buy the bio diesel starter kits first. The bio diesel starter kits can produce 4 gallons of clean bio diesel. If you feel comfortable in producing bio diesel then you can invest more in buying bio diesel kits.

The main aim of bio diesel kits is that they can convert the waste cooking oil into clean bio diesel. Among many other bio diesel kits available in the market you can select the closed kits for enhanced safety.

The freedom fueler bio diesel kits help you to produce bio diesel from any vegetable oil easily. You just require less than 60 minutes time o use your hand in getting 40 gallons of fuel. The mixing of methanol can be done by the built in mechanism in the kits. The bio diesel kits also contain safety kits like gloves, dust masks etc. the methanol pump in the bio diesel kits will never cause pouring or splashing. They are safe. They have built in mint washing system which helps in washing the bio diesel easily.

Evolution bio diesel provides variety of bio diesel kits that can produce small to large batches of bio diesel. It contains various tools to convert vegetable oil to bio diesel. Such bio diesel can be used in any diesel vehicles with little or no modifications. The bio diesel kits contain either semi automated or fully automated equipments. The fully automated equipments can process the bio diesel without the labor requirement. It processes, cleans and washes the equipment automatically.

The bio diesel processor kits are simple to operate. You can use them to produce bio diesel easily. They are based on the water heater system. The processor kits include all fittings, pumps, valves etc the only thing you have to do is to add a water heater and plumbing valve for ventilation. You can also get the wash tank kits for washing bio diesel.

Bio diesel conversion test kits help you to check whether the reactions are correct. These handy kits will help you to check the complete reactions. They are easy to install and use. There are water test kits also to check the water levels in the feed stocks. Before purchasing any bio diesel kits you must check carefully and should try to produce small batches of bio diesel first.

For More Information on Bio Diesel Kits, including a detailed guide on making your own bio diesel, visit Muna wa Wanjiru’s Bio Diesel Kits site.

Setting Your Lunar Clock

A spherical chunk of rock circles the Earth with a gravitational energy force that affects every aspect of Earth’s life, including your own internal clock. Every 28 days the Moon rotates around the Earth causing the tides to change, hiding the sun’s rays at times, and causing mental and spiritual mood changes within each person. Ashira, the author of various books about Pagan issues is a guest writer on the blog today, explaining how the moon affects us.

To understand how the lunar clock works, we need to know the cycles the moon travels in. There are five different cycles that the moon goes through each 28 days. The New Moon happens for one day. That day falls between the Waning Moon and the Waxing Moon. The Waning Moon is roughly 14 days in length. This is when the moon goes from Full Moon to a New Moon. The Waxing Moon is also roughly 14 days in length and is the period between the New Moon and the Full Moon. The Full Moon is also for one day. The three days prior to the Full Moon (part of the Waxing Moon) has a much stronger energy pull as well as the Full Moon day. These days don’t add up to exactly 28 days as sometimes either the Waning Moon or the Waxing Moon take a bit shorter time frames to cycle through.

The Phases
Within each of these cycles of Waxing, New, Waning, and Full there are phases that each of these cycles go through. A New Moon can not actually be seen in the sky no matter how late you go outside to look for it. This is sometimes referred to as the Dark Moon. As the moon shifts into the Waxing Moon cycle you will begin to see a sliver appear until it grows into The Full Moon. When the Waxing Moon begins its cycle it is sometimes referred to as the Crescent Moon. One way to tell the difference between a Waxing and Waning Moon is which side the dark side appears on. When the Moon is Waxing the dark side will be to your left and the Waxing Moonlight will shine to the right. A Waxing Moon will be seen in the sky for only short period as the sunsets.

When the Moon has grown to a perfect circular disk it is known as the Full Moon. It will rise almost precisely as the sun is setting and will slip from view almost at the same time as the sun rises. It is the easiest of all Moon cycles to pick out. A Waning Moon is when the Full Moon decreases in size back down to a New Moon. For about three days prior and three days after, the Moon will still appear to be full. However, if you are observant you will be able to see the slight changes as they happen each evening. The Moon will begin to disappear on the right side and be bright on the left. The complete opposite of the Waxing Moon.

Telling the difference in the sky
An easy way to remember the cycles is when the Moon is getting fatter it is Waxing and when it is shrinking it is a Waning Moon. Why is this important to know? Each phase of the moon has a different gravitational pull and just as those different energy forces affect the tides and they do affect you. You can find more eetails about new age lunar cycles here.

To contact Ashira R email ashirarhapsody at yahoo dot com or send feedback to her ideamarketers.com page.

Where To Find Best Methods For Green Living? In Consumerism Studies!

Projects outlining individual green strategies are created non stop these days. And that’s great. Because ecologically sound living ultimately all comes down to day-to-day decisions by individuals. And even though consumerism is what damages the earth most, it is exactly here that you find the best information for strategic choices.

“What would it be like to try to live a no impact lifestyle? Is it possible? Could it catch on? Is living this way more fun or less fun? More satisfying or less satisfying? Harder or easier? Is it worthwhile or senseless? Are we all doomed or is there hope?”These are all questions Colin Beavan asks on his Noimpactman blog. He’s a New Yorker who threw his family in at the deep end by embarking on a documented one-year attempt at living the no impact life.

The fact that answers to his questions can not be classified as ‘instant common knowledge’ shows where ‘normal’ individuals are in their thinking. Yet Beavan writes from a feeling of impatience with ’senators and the CEOs to change the way we treat the world’. It’s taking too long, Beavan says, adding that the project is a protest against his ‘highly-principled, lowly-actioned former self’.

It is bizarre, but consumerism itself provides much needed pointers. “Shopping, that traditionally most narcissistic of consumer actions, may actually lead us to civically reengage”, says Alex Steffen, executive director at WorldChanging.com, a Seattle-based organization that ‘works from the simple premise that the tools, models and ideas for building a better future only need to be connected’. “We’ve got to lobby for better regulatory policies, investment in responsible companies, boycott bad players, destroy or reinforce companies’ brands and influence the media,” Steffen believes. On a global scale, this message appears to be best understood by US shoppers. Elsewhere in the world, individuals are beginning to group together too. New consumer based peer buying initiatives are sprouting up around the globe.

Analyzing the prerequisites of the consumer intention economy Trendwatching, a Dutch consultancy in Amsterdam, says that “it all comes down to letting consumers make their buying intentions known and inviting one or multiple suppliers to bid for their business.” It’s as simple as that. Yet the implications of consumers’ changed buying patterns are huge. Doc Searls, an Intention Economy specialist at Linux Magazine believes “the Intention Economy is built around truly open markets, not a collection of silos. In the Intention Economy, customers don’t have to fly from silo to silo, collecting deal info (and unavoidable hype). In the Intention Economy, the buyer notifies the market of the intent to buy, and sellers compete for the buyer’s purchase.”

Trendwatching spotted a ‘growing number of intermediaries helping individual consumers to get a quote or offer based on their intentions’. But most initiatives that are intermediated by so called ‘information brokers’ focus on only one product/category such as airline tickets, real estate or banking services, the consultancy says. To find the appropriate site individual buying of series of ordinary products is still virtually uncharted territory.

Just how prepared established companies are to cave in to consumer demands to change polluting production methods isn’t clear as yet. There might be no ‘logic’ in companies’ meeting consumer demand to create for instance a no impact lifestyle, but if alternative models are successful, they might have no choice.