Celebrating Vegan Earth Day
June 21, 2009 by The Dove · Leave a Comment
From celebrity speakers and must-see movies to live music and gourmet food, Vegan Earth Day was celebrated in grand style on longest day of the year today-summer solstice.
The solar-powered event, held in Los Angeles, attracted vegans, as well as those curious about the lifestyle. Veganism omits meat and dairy from the diet (as well as leather products from the wardrobe) and is generally adopted because of its outstanding health benefits, its respect for animals and the positive impact it has on the planet.
Guest speakers included Earthlings’ Shaun Monson, “Peace Mom” Cindy Sheehan, heart specialist Dr Caldwell Esselstyn, professional triathlete Rip Esselstyn, award-winning actor Marianna Tosca, actor Chris DeRose and others.
The Green Dove ventured out for some sunny vitamin D, delicious vegan fare and tons of education.
Sunshine, nature, good food and great entertainment. Who could ask for more?
Loads of educational films and speakers to see.
Fueling up with vege power.
The plates say it all.
Who could resist?
Gourmet vegan food served up from the Bodhi Tree, Huntington Beach.
Who said vegan food is boring?
Keeping up with the latest in animal news.
Dogs and cats up for adoption.
The Earthlings booth.
Earthlings' Shaun Monson speaks to the crowd about the Joaquin Phoenix-narrated film.
A radio station for all things vegan: goveganradio.com
Animal rescue.
Recycling close at hand.
Shoes don't have to be made from leather: The Vegan Collection.
A rescued rabbit.
Women Unclear on Global Warming Causes: Survey
Results from the America’s first national Womens Survey on Energy & the Environment show that women want the country to move to clean energy sources-but they dont completely understand the electricity sources used today, the impact of electricity on clean air and what causes global warming.
(Editor’s note: The number one cause of global warming is the raising and production of livestock.)
The nationally representative survey of 801 women 18 years or older, commissioned by Women Impacting Public Policy (WIPP) in collaboration with the Womens Council on Energy and the Environment (WCEE), shows women want the United States to move toward clean energy sources, and more than half (57%) are even willing to pay $30 more per month for it.
“Women have a huge stake in our nations energy future and can play a vital role in moving our country toward clean sources of electricity, such as wind, solar and nuclear, that do not pollute the air we breathe or contribute to global warming,” said Barbara Kasoff, president of WIPP. “With so much resting on the energy and environment policy decisions we make today, every womans voice counts now more than ever.”
The survey also shows:
77 percent of women take primary or equal responsibility for paying their electricity bills, including 9-in-10 (91 percent) of unmarried women and 7 in 10 (70 percent) of married women.
Virtually all women (97 percent) are conserving electricity, and they are doing so through a broad range of steps such as lowering thermostats; turning off lights and appliances when not in use; purchasing energy-saving fluorescent light bulbs; keeping their homes cooler in winter; and installing energy-efficient appliances, doors, windows, or insulation.
91 percent of women, including 86 percent of married women, play a dominant or equal role in conserving electricity at home.
When it comes to the countrys energy policy, twice as many women (43 percent) cite moving to clean energy over any other issue (reliability or affordability of electricity) as their most important goal.
Women are enthusiastic about solar and wind energy, both clean energy sources: 90 percent and 89 percent, respectively think they should play a very or somewhat important role in our countrys energy future.
The report also found women are unclear about electricitys effect on the environment. Electricity-generating power plants are the biggest cause of global warming in this country, more than cars and trucks or any other source. However, only seven percent of women are aware of this. So while women believe clean energy is very important, they do not completely understand the connection between electricity and the deterioration of our environment.
The World’s Greenest Museum
June 18, 2009 by The Dove · Leave a Comment
From a living roof to the natural lighting and ventilation system, the new California Academy of Sciences has implemented sustainable building practices that work in unison with nature — environmentally sensitive practices that are very much in tune with its mission to explore, explain and protect the natural world.
The San Francisco-based Academy is home to an aquarium, planetarium, natural history museum, as well as world-class research and education programs.
Founded on the heels of the gold rush in 1853, it is the oldest scientific institution west of the Mississippi River, says Director of Exhibits and Programming Chris Andrews (below), who has been with the Academy since 2005.
“Its early members conducted the first comprehensive survey of the states flora and fauna. Over the past 156 years, its scientists have explored some of the most remote places on earth, from deep ocean trenches off the coast of the GalĂ
LA Film Festival Screens Green
June 17, 2009 by The Dove · Leave a Comment
The Los Angeles Film Festival opens tomorrow (June 18) in Westwood Village, and is set to screen five green and environmentally-themed films, No Impact Man, The Cove, Big River Man, The Last Beekeeper; and Bananas!
No Impact Man documents environmentalist Colin Beavan who embarks on a green living experiment by attempting to have as little negative environmental impact as possible for a year-including: no takeout, no taxis, and no toilet paper.
The Cove centers around Richard OBarry, dolphin trainer for televisions beloved Flipper, and photographer turned filmmaker Louie Psihoyos. The pair lead the audience on a suspenseful voyage of discovery in this activist documentary. OBarry has long been convinced of the cruelty of domesticating these highly intelligent animals and feels responsibility for the growth of an economy of sea parks and swim-along programs.
Big River Man, tells the story of an out-of-shape-beer-drinking Slovenian man and his journey swimming the Amazon River.
The Last Beekeeper takes a close look at the struggles of three American beekeepers as they deal with the devastating effects of economic and ecological change when a mysterious illness among bees threatens insects and businesses.
Bananas! is a documentary revealing the human cost of banana cultivation by chronicling the case of Nicaraguan laborers, represented by L.A. attorney Juan Dominguez, against the companies who they believe poisoned them. Between the films completion and its screening at this years Festival, critical new elements of the case have come to light. What happens when a story continues to evolve after the shooting stops? This case study and screening will explore the relationship between documentary filmmaking, objective and subjective point of view, as well as the rights and responsibilities of activist filmmaking.
For further information on these films and to purchase tickets, head to the Los Angeles Film Festival website.
Stay tuned for reviews on The Green Dove.
Celebrate & Sweat on 4th of July
June 16, 2009 by The Dove · Leave a Comment
If you plan to be in Los Angeles this Fourth of July, celebrate your independence by experiencing a native American Indian Sweat Lodge, hosted by Reiki Master and EFT practitioner, Patti Penn.
An important ritual used by Native American Indians, a sweat lodge is a ceremonial sauna to purify the mind, body & soul. The Lodge symbolizes the womb of Grandmother Earth and the heated stones represent her body supporting life. The fire is used to heat the rocks on the outside of the tar-pit (like an igloo) and represent the perpetual light. Once these stones are brought into the lodge the water is poured upon them to create hissing steam, which permeates the air, creating a hot, humid atmosphere as the creative force of the universe is being activated.
“For me, this beautiful ceremony recognizes the trilogy of how our thoughts manifesting our well-being as well as the physical releasing of chemical manipulation in our water, food and air,” Patti says. “We will be addressing your “Pursuit of Happiness” in this sweat. What is will look like? What you need to release to be happy? What is happiness to you?“
All four elements of earth, fire, water and air combined with ancestors energies creates an atmosphere of intense release as participants sit in the pitch dark. This represents human ignorance, as you are unable to distract yourself from yourself.
“Yes, you get to sit in your own stuff,” Patti says.
There are four main rounds in ceremony, as the flap to the tar-pit is opened on three occasions allowing in more hot stones the heat will build. Round one involved calling in the sacred energies and our ancestors to sweat with. Prayers are then offered one-by-one for healing, transformation, expansion, clarity, courage, wisdom or blessing. The second round is an offering of prayers for others within the world, family, our friends, children or pets.
“The third round is known as our give away round whereby we release all our “stuff” that limits, impedes, holds us back; this is done in unison as we do not need to listen to each others ‘stuff’,” Patti says. “I will lead chants in between rounds to connect through sacred sound and focus our distracted energy as each round begins.”
Patti says the final round thanks all the 22 energies invoked to assist in the healing by recognizing “we are those energies and honoring them within ourselves”.
“This intense sense of community shares our energy to release and heal, as the power within all of us is stronger than the power within one of us. Each round offers new test of endurance of the heat, your feelings and yourself as a celebration of your spirit”
For more information see www.pause.me.uk/s_sweat.asp or to book, email Patti at contact@reiki-eft.com
Speak Out, Organize & Teach says Tanna
June 15, 2009 by The Dove · Leave a Comment
Actress, surfer and passionate earth-lover Tanna Frederick knows there’s more to being a celebrity than the red carpet. The flame-haired star of Irene in Time, who once declared to her parents that she wanted to be a garbage collector to pick up other people’s trash, is using her platform to get her environmental messages out to the masses.
LINK UP
June 13, 2009 by The Dove · Leave a Comment
We are continually updating our Link Up directory with international green events and general green sites of interest. If you have an event or site you feel fits The Green Dove mission, and you’d like to have it listed here, email the editor at editor@thegreendove.com
Annual Green Awareness Events
Clean Up the World Weekend – www.cleanuptheworld.org/en
International Coastal Clean-up – www.oceanconservancy.org
International Composting Awareness Week – www.compostweek.com.au
International Day of Peace – www.internationaldayofpeace.org
International Day of the World’s Indigenous People – www.un.org/events/indigenous
International Mountain Day – www.fao.org/mnts/intl_mountain_day_en.asp
World Car Free Day – www.worldcarfree.net/wcfd
World Vegetarian Month – www.salagram.net/veg19html
International Walk to School Month – www.iwalktoschool.org
World Walk to Work Day – www.walk.com.au/WTW
World Water Monitoring Day - www.worldwatermonitoringday.org
Film Festivals
Artivist Film Festival – www.artivists.org
Big Sky Documentary Film Festival - www.bigskyfilmfest.org
Cinemambiente Environmental Film Festival - www.cinemambiente.it
Cinevegas Green Film Series – www.cinevegas.com/green
Earth Dance: The Short Attention Span Environmental Film Fest - www.earthdancefilms.com
Earth Vision Environmental Film & Video Festival – www.earthdancefilms.com
Eco Vision Festival – www.ecovisionfestival.com
Finger Lakes Environmental Film Festival – www.ithaca.edu/fleff
Global Green Indigenous Film Festival – www.ntec.org/filmfestival.htm
Global Visions Film Festival - www.globalvisionsfestival.com
Green Film Forum - www.dcenvironmentalfilmfest.org
Green Lifestyle Film Festival – www.greenlifestylefilmfestival.com
Green Reel Film Festival - www.greenreelfilmfestival.com
Hazel Wolf Environmental Film Festival - www.hazelfilm.org
International Wildlife Film Festival – www.wildlifefilms.org
Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival - www.jhfestival.org
Marin Environmental Film Festival - www.marinenvironmentalfilmfestival.org
Planet in Focus – www.planetinfocus.org
Princeton Environmental Film Festival – www.princetonlibrary.org/peff
Reduction Festival - www.reductionfestival.org
Rodos Ecofilms International Festival – www.ecofilms.gr
UnderCurrents: Beyond TV – www.undercurrents.org/beyondtv
Vermont International Film Festival – www.vtiff.org
Wild and Scenic Environmental Film Festival - www.wildandscenicfilmfestival.org
Wildscreen Film Festival – www.wildscreen.org.uk
Wild Spaces Environmental Film Festival - www.wildspaces.wild.net.au
World Community Film Festival – www.worldcommunity.ca/wc_film.html
World Population and Video Festival – www.wpfvf.com
Green Directories
Be Green: Australia’s most comprehensive source of environmentally-friendly information – www.begreen.com.au
Natural Therapists
Cynthia Morgan, certified hypnotherapist: A sought-after board certified LA-based hypnotherapist, Cynthia is known as a spiritual teacher by her extensive clientele – www.cynthiamorgan.us
Patti Penn, Reiki Master & EFT practitioner: – www.pause.me.uk
Sites Promoting Action
Just Do One: a site that asks: “what if every one just did one thing to make the world more livable?” – www.justdoone.org
I Take the Vow: “The Alliance for a New Humanity believe that if a critical mass of people commit to a vow for non violence in their thoughts, speech and actions, the world would be transformed,” Deepak Chopra – www.itakethevow.com
You’re Already Hypnotized: A Guide to Waking Up
June 12, 2009 by The Dove · Leave a Comment
By Cynthia Morgan
Ever wonder why you cant seem to make the changes you want to make no matter how hard you try? Its because youre hypnotized. Everyone is. You just dont realize it-thats the power of hypnosis. You dont need to be hypnotized in order to change; you need to be de-hypnotized.
The Lazy Environmentalist Indeed
June 10, 2009 by The Dove · 4 Comments
By Shannon Dunn
As I settled in for the evening to watch a preview copy of Sundance Channels soon-to-be-aired The Lazy Environmentalist, I was looking forward to learning how its easy to be green-that we can all do it, once equipped with the know how.
My excitement turned to disappointment part way through the first episode, which is set to air on June 16, as the shows host, environmental entrepreneur Josh Dorfman, forgot to mention an important fact to the family he had gone to help: their excessive meat consumption is one of the major reasons our planet is being destroyed.
Live Simply and Naturally
June 9, 2009 by The Dove · Leave a Comment
By Leo Babauta
A lot of the complexity in our lives come when we try to keep up certain appearances. A simpler, happier life can be achieved when we drop those appearances and just live naturally, without pretense or artfulness.
