sustainable style foundation*

Just ran across Republic of Tea's newest tea "Man Kind Tea" which is both a solution (in the sense that green tea has been shown to reduce slow and/or reduce the risk of prostate cancer) and fundraiser for the Prostrate Cancer Foundation. They also have a line of Sip for the Cure teas and other products. A tea company into sustainability putting their money where their mouth is, very impressed.

Whoa! Just ran across this amazing fashion show put on in Madrid called Moda Sin Toxicos. Actualy, saw a quick report on our local news in Seattle. Basically, a group of top Spanish designers got together to raise awareness about the toxic chemicals used in the fashion industry. The 16 designers who participated in the show were: gatha Ruiz de la Prada, Anke Schlder, Antonio Pernas, Carlos Dez, Carmen March, David Delfn, Hannibal Laguna, Ion Fiz, Jocomomola, Josep Abril, Juana Martn, Juanjo Oliva, La casita de Wendy, Locking Shocking, Luxoir and Txell Miras. Chemicals which the designers took steps to avoid using include the most hazardous substances commonly used in the textile sector: lead, nickel, chromium IV, aryl amines, phthalates and formaldehyde. I know that many companies like Nike and Timberline have been phasing many of these chemicals out for some time. Good to see the high fashion crowd taking notice too.

I just attended the Baingridge Graduate Institute's graduation ceremeny last weekend on the invitation of one of my favorite people in the world, Barbara Lawrence, a BGI graduate and member of the Suquamish Tribe. I pretty much was in happy tears throughout the whole event. BGI offers an MBA focused on sustainability that is out of this world amazing! I know the founders, Gifford and Libba Pinchot, and a several of the faculty, including Lorinda Rowledge and Jill Bamburg, through several sustainability circles in Seattle. Graduation was hard/emotional enough for me going to the UW where throusands graduated at the same time. At BGI, with a class of 30 or so, I can't even imagine how hard it must be to leave the institute, your fellow students and faculty. Folks just get to be such good friends. My friend Barbara was asked to give the invocation and I must say she did an outstanding job for her first time. She chose to take the opportunity to show gratitude to the many people, ideas and inspirations that brought BGI into existence. I was teary and inspired through the whole thing and was very surprised and honored to accept a gift on behalf of all the messengers in the sustainability movement.

I've said it before and I'll say it many times more I'm sure. Current TV is the coolest thing on television these days. I get addicted everytime I turn it on. I could spend the whole weekend watching pods on everyhing under the sun. Just watched pods on journalism in Iraq, pop-culture christians in Philidelphia and Hotel Chelsea. Best part is the pods are produced by pretty much anyone and everyone, folks from all walks of life.