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Tiptheplanet is a project to create a green wiki website that encourages discussion and the generation of tips that benefit you and the planet. From tips for individuals about staying happy and healthy to tips for multi-national companies on how to limit their carbon footprints, all with accompanying explanations.

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Green Living Guide lists consumer products that I believe are environmentally friendly. I have chosen these products based solely on their reputation and credentials.

What the manufacturer, Natural Instinct, says about the product:

Many deodorants are packed with harsh chemicals and ingredients that clog your skin. Natural Instinct Deodorant is made from all natural ingredients that won’t just mask body odour instead it actually kills the bacteria that causes body odour.

Ingredients: Purified Water, and Crystal Mineral Salts.

via Natural Instinct

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Green Living Guide lists consumer products that I believe are environmentally friendly. I have chosen these products based solely on their reputation and credentials.

What the manufacturer, Remedica Australia, says about the product:

Allez.Allez! Certified Organic

THE ORIGINAL Neem Based—Citronella Free Personal Insect Repellent

Mosquito & Fly Personal Repellent No DEET, No Citronella, No Tea Tree

Our New Certified Organic Allez.Allez! is still Australia’s First All Natural Citronella Free personal insect repellent and Still Australia’s Best!

New Certified Organic Formula for Day or Night.

This Mighty Formula is guaranteed to keep mosquitoes away and not the person sleeping next to you! A dynamic, all natural and citronella free insect repellent that not only works, but is actually kind to the skin and suitable for all ages.

Based on Australian organic and trade Neem, which not only protects from mosquitoes and flies but as a therapeutic botanical in it’s own right, has been used for centuries by various Eastern and Asian cultures as a skin nourishing agent and healing tissue tonic.

Allez.Allez is deliberately citronella free, to avoid skin sensitisation and potential photo damage and because it is such a natural and gentle product on your skin, it can be applied to any part of the body including the face day or night. Allez.Allez has a naturally fresh, citrus spice scent incorporating ingredients such as Neem oil, Eucalyptus, Peppermint, Sweet Orange, Lavender and Clove in a light base of Australian organic hydrosols and Organic vegetals such as Black Sesame Seed and Macadamia Nut.

Allez.Allez is the result of extensive research into the synergistic effects of certain essential oil combinations to deter mosquitoes and flies. The formula has been “humid climate tested” in Malaysia and Indonesia.

via REMEDICa Australia – What’s New :: CERTIFIED ORGANIC Allez Allez Personal Insect Repellent Spray 100ml.

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As a young male I was a victim of this, left everything running but that was ok. Some important role models tried to drum certain things into me about turning these appliances off but still it wasn’t a big deal.

Now, grown up and moved out of home and working for an environmentally friendly company I have come to realize that it’s not just about turning these certain appliances off its more than that. That more happens to be the environment for now and for the future.

via Staff Blogs.

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Most of us know that we need to use fossil fuels to power our cars and houses (unless of course you use Solar Power), but many people are not aware that almost all non-organic foods use fossil fuels to help them grow. This is in the form of nitrogen based fertilisers as well as petroleum based pesticides. This has been one of the key reasons the global population has been able to expand so rapidly and remain fed over the last century. Further, as most food is also not eaten very close to where it is farmed, we also require additional fossil fuels to process, package, refrigerate and transport our foods.

Another interesting point that many people may not know, is that we are now at the point of “Peak Oil” – which basically means we have used up more oil than we have left, and most of that has been consumed within the last 50 years. Many industry experts predict that we are going to run out of oil by the end of this century.

Taking into account our reliance on fossil fuels to get food onto plates all around the world, in addition to the world’s ever-expanding population, you may be asking “What are we going to do when we have run out of oil?” Good question – although I think a better question would be: “What can we do to break this dependence right now?”

The good news in all this doom and gloom, is that there are many ways to break this dependence when it comes to food, and a lot of them are relatively easy:

· Buy as much organic produce as you can – yes it’s more expensive. But it’s also better for you. And when thinking about cost – ask yourself: What is our planet worth to you?

· Buy locally where possible – there are dozens of farmers markets in almost every city and town in the country which allow you to buy direct from local farmers and get great value for money

· Try and avoid heavily processed and packaged foods – especially those that come from overseas.

· Buy what is in season – if you’re buying fruit or vegetables that are out of season, then you can assume they’ve been transported into the country from overseas. As humans we need to stop expecting that we can have WHATEVER we want WHENEVER we want it and go back to thinking about foods as seasonal.

· Ideally – grow your own food – and grow some for friends and family if you can.

· Start a conversation – chat to your friends and colleagues about the many benefits of going organic.

We are incredibly lucky to be living in an era with so much choice, and choice can be a wonderful thing. But as the only guardians of the planet, I feel we have a responsibility to understand the impact our choices have, and to then choose accordingly. If you’re reading this – then you’re off to a good start!

Until next time,
Danin

For further reading on the above topics, you can find many interesting books and DVD’s at www.todae.com.au. Some to look out for are: The End of Suburbia DVD, Crude, Hungry Planet and Eating Fossil Fuels.

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What’s so great about vinegar? Besides being effective, vinegar is cheap and widely available. It is nontoxic and lasts for a very long time without losing strength. It does not pollute land, air, or water, and it doesn’t combust. It’s much safer to have under your sink than bleach, ammonia, or other toxic cleaning products. Many folks also swear by the benefits of apple cider vinegar.

In the spirit of green cleaning, green thrift, and green creativity, we put together this list of alternative uses for vinegar. Add your own in the comments

via Eight smart uses for vinegar | Yahoo Green.

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Mowing without Gas
Buy dad an electric lawn mower to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.  These mowers produce less than one percent of the smog-contributing carbon monoxide that gas mowers put out.  The average electric mower is also considerably quieter than its gas equivalent, and 10-year operating costs are less than half those of gas mowers, making up for the higher initial cost.

Material-free Gifts
Some of the greenest gifts require no wrapping!  Get dad some concert tickets or a membership to the gym this father’s day.  You can get certificates to Netflix or iTunes or even hand-make a gift certificate for home-cooked meals or household chores.

Eco-Boots for Dad
Get dad eco-friendly hiking boots this June.  Made with recycled PET plastic and recycled rubber, Timberland’s “Earthkeepers” need fewer raw materials, leaving a smaller footprint – well, off the mountain, at least.

Brew-Your-Own-Organic-Beer Kit
Brewing your own beer cuts down on wasteful packaging associated with store-bought beer.  In 2005, aluminum beer and soft drink cans accounted for 1.4 million tons of waste.  Why not use a reusable glass at home? Brewing your own beer curbs pollution created by long-distance transport of beer and allows you to choose healthier, eco-friendly organic brewing ingredients.

Source:  Greenyour.com, thegreenguide.com

It’s summer BBQ season again, and 60 million households are expected to fire up the grill over every holiday weekend this summer. Together, they’re expected to release about 225,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide. As large as this number is, it doesn’t take into account the fact that lots of us will be taking advantage of sunny weather throughout the summer and grilling on other occasions, too.

via It’s Easy Being Green: Six Ways to Green Your BBQ.

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At Huffington Post, T. Boone Pickens sings the praises of the green economy:

“Right now there are wind farms and manufacturing facilities in 48 out of 50 states. While our country is fighting its way out of a recession, this industry and others in the burgeoning green economy are bright spots, creating permanent, good-paying jobs, putting people to work, and helping America cement its status as a global leader in the energy industry.”

Conservatives on Capitol Hill are claiming the green economy won’t create jobs, but that is simply false.

According to the Center for American Progress:

According to the Center for American Progress: “Spending $100 billion within the domestic oil industry would create only about 542,000 jobs in the United States. A green infrastructure investment program would create nearly four times more jobs than spending the same amount of money on oil energy resources. And again, spending on oil offers no benefits in transitioning the U.S. economy toward a low-carbon future, while perpetuating the economic and national security vulnerabilities by continuing to rely on oil for the lifeblood of our economy.”

and

“China’s leaders are investing $12.6 million every hour to green their economy… This massive stimulus plan will spend over 3 percent of China’s 2008 gross domestic product annually in 2009 and 2010 on green investments-more than six times America’s green stimulus spending as a percentage of our respective economies. This is about $12.6 million every hour over the next two years.”

Gardenate is intended to make it easier to keep your kitchen garden growing and producing. Each month the home page lists what you can plant now in your climate zone, and what to prepare for next month.

A secret to productive gardening is to plant regularly – plant something every day if possible in suitable climates.

via About Gardenate – Garden calendar and reminders.

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