Investing In Green Technologies.
Vab Media is a sustainable entrepreneur. We care about investing in green technology companies and sustainable alternative energy companies. *We have personally invested in companies such as Stans Energy and Molycorp which are focused on developing properties containing Rare Earth Elements (REEs), Uranium, and Associated Metals. China exports a substantial amount of unusual earth components.
Sadly, the volume of rare earth aspects isn’t limitless, and the supply will likely diminish. It may possibly be advantageous to make investments in uncommon earth elements, generally simply because new technological innovation relies on them. Green technology units, iPhones, iPads, tablets, and TVs are developed with unusual earth components. Picture optics and rechargeable batteries are also dependent on rare earth metals. As the quantity of rare earth aspects decreases, their cost will expand. Modern day technology will retain on attracting individuals, so men and women will undoubtedly carry on on purchasing it.
There are numerous uncommon earth components: molybdenum, platinum, lithium, thorium, zirconium, neodymium, iridium, rubidium, osmium, manganese, palladium, and many others. Lithium might be the most renowned amongst new technologies. Virtually all of our cell phone batteries rely on this steel. Some people say that mining for these green technologies is not completely green, however, this article goes into more details about the need to mine these rare earth metals in order to propel renewable energy resource technologies.
We love educating people about conserving energy and resources. One of the benefits of running an internet media company, is going green by not wasting tons of paper. We cut down on our carbon foot print by not having to drive every where, but instead meet and work with our clients via internet applications. We believe in moving our world forward by investing and using “green” products. That is why we volunteer each year at Green Festivals San Francisco. We started a Youtube Channel campaign called InvestGreen to raise awareness about changing America’s energy policies and ending our dependence on foreign oil. No worthy causes or changes happen overnight, but with the power of people and networking anything is possible.
*Disclaimer: We are not stock brokers and we are not making stock recommendations.
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Responsible shopping in Portland, Oregon
Since I’m in Portland for the holidays, I wanted to buy myself a few things that would help me look a little more presentable for New Year’s Eve. I wanted to say good-bye in style. So I went shopping. I forgot my foundation and other make-up at home, so I decided to go out and buy myself some powder, which I don’t own. I left Urban Outfitters to wander around the Nob Hill district and came upon Pharmaca Integrative Pharmacy, a natural pharmacy, and decided to buy Zuzu luxe dual powder foundation, which happens to have organic ingredients and is vegan friendly. Unlike the MAC foundation I have at home, it didn’t break my face out and did seem to absorb the oil on my face.
After we ate at a Mcmenamins, we left the boys at the bar to continue shopping. But everything was closed. The only shop open was Brooklyn Industries. I bought an awesome and inexpensive pair of skinny jeans that fit great. I was hoping that I had just shopped at a socially and environmentally responsible retailer, so I decided to do the research on the company online. I found out that most of their stores are powered by green power, with most using 100% National Wind power. They also collaborate with music, art, and environmental awareness community organizations. The owners also maintain close relationships with the factories that manufacture their products in China in which they discuss employee pay, work hours, and benefits.
Take home point: although I wasn’t sure if I had shopped responsibly, I made sure to buy from small establishments that I had not heard of, in order to support the local economy. Hopefully, I’ll have enough money left to buy myself a nice New Year’s Eve sweater.
Read MoreEntrepreneurs empowering communities in developing nations
During his speech titled “Accelerating the Green Economy ” at San Francisco’s Green Festival last month, Dr. Kevin Danaher, Global Exchange co-founder, spoke of the triple bottom line. The triple bottom line takes into account more than the traditional measures of a corporation’s success; it involves the organization’s social and environmental values.
As I went around talking to the exhibitors, I found that they themselves became more educated, socially conscious, and innovative as a result of the products they discovered along their travels. They aim to improve the standard of retail around the world by supporting communities and empowering small businesses worldwide.
Kuna Prints by Mama Shaman, by far the funkiest shoes at Green Festival, supports a community of Kuna matriarch crafters in Colombia. The traditional Kuna dress known as Mola were of interest to Natalia Swanson, a Colombian-born San Francisco native, who upon walking down the street with the shoes made from the Mola would be bombarded with request such as “let me buy them from you! Take them off, I want them!” The shoes are made with all vegan materials; Natalia and her husband live a vegan lifestyle. Kuna Prints supports a community that would otherwise not have many sources of income, Natalia explained. The couple has been in business for about two and a half years. When asked what kind of shoes she sells the most, she replied, “The Mary Janes. Everyone wants them.”
Photo courtesy of Heidi Hennig Arno
On their first trip to buy precious stones such as quartz and garnet in Nepal in 2005, Cameron Grace McGowan and Willie Nielson, the founders of Crystalline Dream, noticed that many impoverished children were living on the streets and decided they needed to help out in some way. They decided to become involved with the Helpless Colony Orphanage, located on the outskirts of Kathmandu, where impoverished families migrate in hopes of finding a place with opportunity. They’ve also begun to collaborate with Stones for Change. Stones for Change is a relatively new organization that hopes to change the current standards of mining by benefiting communities of artisanal miners. Their efforts will make it so that everyone can feel better about the jewelry being purchased knowing that it was acquired from fair trade sources.
Cameron and Willie with the kids from Helpless Colony Orphanage
Crystalline Dream’s biggest seller, Himalayan Quartz, is mined from inside a mountain named Ganesh Himal III, which stands at 24,373 feet tall. In order for the quartz to keep its energy intact, the quartz is hand mined – no machinery or blasting is used in the process. However, when they first started to buy from the local miners, Cameron and Willie noticed that the quartz stones were chipped at the points. They then took it upon themselves to educate the miners as well as pay them higher wages when they took care of the quartz in the proper manner, so as to conserve the energy and avoid chipping at the points, which makes for a more valuable crystal. Chipping was soon avoided by packing the stones with moss to protect them from banging into one another through the miners three-day trek down the mountain.
With tourism down due to the civil war in Nepal, purchasing stones from the local miners helps the community flourish. Whereas once there may have been a scarcity of food or warm clothing, the people of the community no longer have to worry about how they will obtain such necessities. In fact, one of these families was able to send one of their kids to study in Malaysia, something that would have been unattainable without the profits from mining quartz.
What these entrepreneurs have in common is that they are not only conscious of the effects of the earth, but of the communities that become empowered and developed by their businesses. The entire weekend was infused with motivational speeches bringing light to the positive messages brought forth by these new businesses: collaborate to bring about change, support organizations by spreading the word, educate each other, and make business more accountable.
Read MoreCreative Upcycling at SF Greenfestival '09
Future plans for waste reduction and the re-use of materials were prominent themes in Mayor Gavin Newsom’s speech at San Francisco’s Green Festival. He also boasted of San Francisco’s success in reducing “greenhouse gas emissions to 5% below 1990 levels in 2008” and spoke of San Francisco’s Fats, oils and grease program, or “Grease Cycle Program,” which picks up grease from restaurants and hotels to make biodiesel.
Upcycling reduces waste and eliminates the need for fresh raw materials and resources by re-using materials. This contributes to a reduction in the energy required to manufacture new products. In an attempt to reduce waste, re-use products, or use biodegradable materials, the following entrepreneurs have embraced upcycling in several creative ways.
An alternative to paper towels, “Skoy cloth, is as absorbent as using 15 sheets of good-quality paper towels at once,” claim the owners, Michelle and Karen. When Michelle lived in Europe, she discovered a product that was similar to Skoy cloth. When she moved back to the U.S., she wasn’t able to find anything as good; that’s when she and Karen came up with the idea. They also wanted to manufacture the cloths in an environmentally responsible manner; 100% biodegradable, the cloths are made from wood-based cellulose pulp and cotton. Skoy means ‘Just for fun’ in Swedish, perfectly suitable for the cute designs and friendly messages on the cloths. I tried one out and I have to admit, it’s definitely absorbent; no wet residue!
From all the extra clothing collected by Goodwill came about Madrone Berries. Jenny Allen uses post-consumer recycled sweaters to make scarves, skirts, elf slippers, and daisy headbands. The patchwork present in her clothing is indicative of the creativity needed to re-use materials so that they don’t end up in landfills. Jenny sees Madrone Berries developing into a grass-roots, membership-based franchise for those interested in producing their own line of regenerated clothing under the Madrone Berries name; where members will have access to patterns and material. Jenny Allen wishes to keep the production of her creations local and sweat-shop free.
No trees were harmed to make these notebooks. A better solution to paper, Nepalese Paper, a company that has been around for thirteen years is fair-trade and eco-conscious. Nepalese paper is hand made by women in Nepal from the trimmings of the Lokta Bush, a quickly regenerating plant that grows in Nepal. In addition, the store sells scarves from sari fabric trimmings. Purchasing a notebook from here saved me from having to travel out of the festival for a pad of paper; it was great for writing all my notes from the interviews.
In order to meet deadlines for reducing waste and creating green jobs, we must raise the bar in our communities and become committed to achieve these goals. As Michaelangelo put it, and which Mayor Newsom quoted, “The biggest risk is not that we aim too high and miss it, it’s that we aim too low and reach it.”
Read MoreNourishing the body, SF Green Festival ’09
Photo by Amber Blankenship
At the 8th annual Green Festival in San Francisco this year, I noticed that each company has its own approach to environmental sustainability. Where one company’s focus lies in sourcing the most natural ingredients for their product lines, others may also focus on social causes, or on reducing waste.
Nick Kelly, founder of Kaia Foods educated me and reminded me of the “radical transparency” which Joey Shepp listed as a consumer “want” during his “Social Media and Sustainability” speech. Kaia Foods wants to disclose what’s in their raw, organic oatmeal. Their passion for educating consumers on proper nutrition is the motivation behind the brand. The company believes in bringing minimally processed food to the market; the philosophy “Keep it Simple.” Nick preaches on the benefits of eating fewer calories; contending that the practice may extend your life span. In addition to promoting a wholesome diet, Kaia foods donates 1% to the Hunger Project and the UN Food Program.
While Kaia Foods strives to educate consumers about the benefits of eating raw, unprocessed, natural foods, the family producing Inesscents products seek to feed and heal your skin. They have been operating for 10 years, out of Ashland, Oregon, solar infusing calendula flowers and working with homeopathic doctors to create a series of natural body care products that nourish and cure the skin. “Why intoxicate your body with ingredients that are used as preservatives in lotions? Your skin needs to breathe and it can only do so if you allow it to eliminate the toxins by not clogging your skins’ pores with unnatural ingredients,” explains Tsadae Neway. For example, their African Black Soap, fairly-traded from Ghana, contains no animal fats or chemicals, and is best for treating rashes, acne, ringworm, eczema, and dandruff. As a certified B Corporation, the business has received high ratings in leadership, which emphasizes the company’s accountability and transparency as far as its efforts in sourcing from organic and fair trade producers.
For a chocolate manufacturer, competition is vast. Yet, Earth Source Organics operations manager, Adam, claims that the secret to their “Righteously Raw” chocolate bars is that they’re more than just raw chocolate bars. The raw cocoa surrounds a super-food filling, which consists of either Goji Berries that are known to improve circulation and vision, Acai berries, rich in Omega 3, 6, and 9, or Maca root, for energy and vitality. Earth Source Organics works on their recipes for a period of about 3-4 years to perfect and attain the final, customer-approved flavor. They’re also environmentally conscious. Righteously Raw chocolate bars are packaged in soy-ink printed recycled paper.
As a consumer, it was my curiosity to engage these companies to find out what made them environmentally or socially conscious. I was glad to find that transparency is something they embrace, as well as education and finding the most natural and healthy ingredients for their consumers.
Read MoreShark fin soup
I was talking to a friend of mine this weekend who went to a wedding in New York City that served Shark Fin soup.
She understands that it’s not conscious toward the sharks, but she says the Asian culture has been eating shark fin soup as a delicacy for so long, that it’s hard to change.
It’s not only wrong to take the fins off a shark but to toss the shark back into the ocean so that it dies when it tries to swim without fins is a calamity. The sharks are left motionless and unable to acquire oxygen necessary for movement.
What’s worse is that they are sold for so much, have no flavor, and may be hazardous to your health because of the mercury they contain.
Shark populations have decreased by 80% since the 1970s due to overfishing, according to the Ocean Conservancy.
Please visit the Ocean Conservancy. to find out how you can help. It’s worth it. I’d like to see a shark, living in the ocean, undisturbed, even if it is a huge predator to other marine life. We are its biggest predator. It’s not fair.
Weeks after Coastal Cleanup…FAIL
I was enraged while walking by the San Lorenzo River in Santa Cruz a couple of days ago. Why are there plastic bottles and bags floating on the river? Didn’t we clean this up a few weeks ago? Are people this inconsiderate?
Maybe we need to have big signs near beaches and rivers telling people how harmful it is for sea life and fresh water life when they dump things inconsiderately. Something like “When you dump trash in this river, you will poison or choke the animals in this area.” Maybe we should also have some other signs that read “The more plastic you acquire and dump, the more you have contributed to waste and pollution.”
There is way too much information on the internet for people to continue being ignorant about the way they dump waste. It is hard to change your habits, but everyone can change.
One thing that gets dumped ALOT are cigarette butts. Cigarette butts are found all over the place, I remember picking up a bunch while doing the Coastal Cleanup in September. Cigarette butts are not bio-degradeable. They pollute the soil, and the pollutants may leech into the river below, thereby contaminating the water so many animals live in. Ignorance regarding the effects of waste should not be taken lightly.
Read MoreBaking and moderation
While baking with my friend, trying to come up with an awesome recipe to make a profit from, I asked her “If it was not necessary to gain nutrition from what you ate, would you eat sweets all day?”
“Hell yea, she said.”
But my friend runs and works out, so she enjoys sweets, but she also enjoys staying healthy. As long as we are not overloading on things, we could enjoy many things. Everything in moderation.
Given that I feel the need to constantly throw in an environmental concern, I want to stress the importance of all those things that could eliminate waste. For instance, wouldn’t it be better if we could just go and refill our bottles of soap, be it to wash dishes, clothes, or our bodies, with the bottles we already have? We could make it convenient, just drop off your bottle, let the person behind the counter know what you want, and when you’re finished shopping for everything else, you just go by and pick up your soaps.
Too many plastics being used and dumped. One major one is the reduction in water bottle movement. In fact, I went ahead and signed myself up for the filter for good pledge. Water is free! Let’s keep it that way and keep the bottles from the landfill! So if you can’t reuse, reduce, and recycle!
Algae as a biofuel
Algae, or seaweed, range from single cell to multi-cellular organisms. Recently, the interest has been in the type of liquid fat (oil) that can be extracted from certain species. Algae takes its energy from the sun and converts carbon dioxide to oxygen in a process called photosynthesis.
Several obstacles need to be taken into account with this new biofuel: a different way for the algae to collect sunlight; several ways to extract the lipid that are cost efficient; more political support.
It seems as though the political arena doesn’t see renewable energies as a viable source right now because many of the technologies are not established and it would be difficult to depend on something that is not reliable, since we live in a world of instant gratification. However, it also makes sense that huge oil companies continue to lobby their cause, since their pockets can only get fatter, in spite of the benefits renewable energy sources like algae may bring. The electronic cars were certainly closed down by big oil.
In order to extract a large amount of lipid, large amounts of algae are grown in photobioreactors, a closed vessel, that integrates a light source needed for photosynthesis. I’ve read of algae that can be grown in plastic bags that would float close to the ocean’s surface. The ocean’s waves would help to circulate the air and water inside the bags, thus eliminating the need for bioreactors to pump carbon dioxide into the bags. I’ve also read of technologies that would increase the amount of biomass produced, thus increasing the amount of lipid (oil) extracted from the algae. Different technologies, all competing for the most cost efficient and stable method.
It seems every company has a different angle. Which technology will end up being the most stable, the most efficient, have the least environmental impact?
Read MoreA bleak present
I had a nightmare last night. I was in the future, I think, and I was running away. I couldn’t be caught because I wasn’t a local inhabitant. It was a bleak future, one where even computers couldn’t be used. They were out by the trash. One where owning a piece of land was one of the few things that would allow you to keep your life; a place where the fish was inedible, despite its abundance.
Maybe this nightmare isn’t so far off. I recently spoke to someone who used to work for the oil industry in Britain. He thinks ‘green’ initiatives are just delaying the doom. We’re making progress, but, is it fast enough? Will our efforts repair all the damage and chaos?
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, nearly half of the nation’s waters are unsafe for fishing and swimming. There have been over 20,000 oil and chemical spills in the United States every year since 1991. The federal government has declared over 1200 “SuperFund sites,” EPA’s program to identify, investigate, and clean up uncontrolled or abandoned hazardous waste sites throughout the United States.
On the other side of the planet, the livelihood of the inhabitants along the Niger Delta is being destroyed. The purchase of these lands by oil companies results in the installation of pipelines which cause deforestation and water pollution. One of the solutions to decrease poverty in Africa would be for oil companies to leave and restore the mangroves, which provide income via fishing and serve as a protective barrier for the inhabitants against storms and coastal erosion.
It doesn’t help that the big oil companies are persuading their employees to rally on their behalf, i.e.: Energy citizens. As much as we try to move forward with green initiatives and a reduction in energy, too many people presently depend on the living that working for oil provides and on the fuel that feeds our cars’ tanks. Fortunately, renewable energy may generate many more jobs than traditional energy creates. According to the Solar Energy Industries Association, more jobs can be created within the renewable energy field than those created for the same investment in the oil and coal industries.
What can we do? For one, we can cut down our energy consumption by taking public transportation, installing energy efficient appliances, building with eco-friendly materials. We can also educate others and volunteer to clean the coast or help other environmentally friendly organizations. Finally, if you’re an investor, begin investing in renewable energy technologies.
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