Archive for the ‘Outdoor + Environment’ Category
Copenhagen Transport
Found this over at one of my favorite blogs, Copenhagenize. Promotion of both cycling and public transportation is something all cities should strive for.
Plastic Can Be Beautiful
Plastic is plaguing the environment and our health, but in celebration of the big Ban the Bag event that we put on this Tuesday (which Portland’s mayor Sam Adams spoke at), I decided to put plastic to good use. A big event calls for big jewelry, so I knocked out a necklace and bracelet, proving that single-use plastics can be turned into something more worthwhile instead of merely being thrown away.
The above necklace is a plastic bag cut into strips and then knitted into three separate squares. The bracelet is cut from a plastic cup and then held together by silver wire.
Want to hel get the single-use plastic bag banned in Portland? Sign the petition!
JunkRide + Ban The Bag Event in Portland: Help in the Battle Against Plastic Pollution
Great event next week to educate about the evils of plastic pollution and work on getting the plastic bag banned in Portland.
What: The Portland Surfrider Chapter welcomes Anna Cummins from Algalita Marine Research Foundation and Dr. Marcus Erikson of JUNKride, an educational tour by bike from Vancouver B.C. to Tijuana, Mexico. The duo will highlight the voyage of JUNKraft, a recently completed trip from California to Hawaii on a raft made of garbage. In addition to JUNKride, Jessica Hamilton, Natural Resources Policy Advisor to Governor Ted Kulongoski, will present on the West Coast Governors Agreement to reduce the western seaboard’s impact on the oceans, with regard to marine debris. Entertainment by singer/songwriter Micah Wolf. Beer and wine will be available for purchase, with all proceeds going to benefit Portland Chapter Surfrider’s BAN THE BAG campaign to ban single-use plastic shopping bags in the greater Portland area.
When: Tuesday, April 21st, 2009. 6:30pm to 9:00pm.
Where: Keen Footwear, 926 NW 13th Ave #210, Portland, OR 97209
For more information on JUNKraft and JUNKride, visit www.junkraft.com. To keep up with Ban the Bag, follow them on Twitter.
Bikes Power People and Businesses
A little over a month ago I wrote a story called “Pedaling to Profit: The Upswing of Bike Powered Business.” It got picked up by the Huffington Post, and then today none other than Boing Boing decided to give it a mention. Needless to say, I’m stoked.
This can only mean one thing: bikes are hot. And if businesses are running their operations on two wheels, you can too. Even fair-weather cyclists no longer have an excuse, it’s finally spring! So pump up your wheels and take your classy ride out for a spin. Need help? Read this great article on Chelsea Green called “Spring Has Sprung: Now Get Off Your Fat Ass and Bike to Work.”
What can bike commuting do for you? Apparently:
* add over 2 years to their life expectancy
* have the general fitness and health of someone 10 years younger
* are 50% less likely to experience depression
Go get on it!
Swedish Design + Destination: Urnatur
Urnatur, which basically translates to “out of nature,” is a Swedish forest getaway, where visitors can stay in cabins and spend time re-connecting with nature. But it’s also a design firm that believes in the beauty and simplicity of nature and crafts incredible pieces that capture the pure essence of the natural world.
Why I Choose to Ride a Bike
This has been making its way around the internet for quite some time now, but after an overwhelming amount of news this week about the real threats of climate change, I’m even happier about my choice of bicycle over car.
Organic Designs From Danish Ferm LIVING
Danish based design group Ferm LIVING just released their spring 09 catalog and there are some intriguing organic designs.
Printed on 100% organic cotton, these tea towels scream nature. And bicycles. Both things that I love.
Environmental Art: Alistair Heseltine
Came across the work of Alistair Heseltine the other day at work. Based in British Columbia the sculptor works with natural elements to create his interesting, and at times magical, works of art.
Using nature as art is nothing new, but what I really like about his sculptures and designs are the distinct lines created from natural sources, like the tree above. He makes formations that teeter on the ledge between natural and man-made, making us think both about the art and the elements used to create it.
You can see more of Alistair’s work at his website.
H&M Spring 2009 Line Gets More Sustainable
The great thing about my job is that I get to do a lot of writing about sustainable design. But it’s mostly outdoor and travel related, which is why I maintain this site. Think about it: H&M and Wend don’t really mix. But the Swedish born company definitely deserves a mention for their incorporation of sustainable fabrics like organic cotton and recycled PET.
H&M has been using organic cotton for a few years now. In fact last year they used about 3,000 tons of organic cotton and this year plan on 4,500. This is however the first that I have heard of the company using recycled PET (basically recycled plastic bottles broken down into small chips and then spun until polyester fiber) in their clothes. And not only that, but they’re bringing in textile remnants and recycled cotton.
Thanks to Inhabitat for tipping me off!
[Photos: Inhabitat]
Paris Bike-share Program Vélib is Getting Even Bigger
It was revolutionary. Bike blogs, sustainability gurus and national news outlets all gave ample to time to Paris when the city launched its commendable Vélib bike-sharing program. A year and a half later, the existing fleet of bicycles is expanding, ready to take over the suburbs.
The program is so popular with Parisians that “Velib” was the 2nd most popular Google search. So with an additional 300 stations and 3,300 not renting a bicycle while touring Paris just won’t be an option, and ça, c’est super!
[Via Bike-sharing Blog]
blog.annabrones.com 