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Rapa Nui's Eco Tourism


Few places in the world are as remote, mysterious and ethereal as Rapa Nui – better known to us as Easter Island.

Rising from the sea 3,600 km west of Chile, this volcanic island is steeped in history. European explorers arrived in 1722 AD to claim first discovery, little realizing they were a thousand years too late. It’s generally agreed that 4th Century Polynesians created the island’s archaeological remains, after enduring a staggering sea journey of over 1,500km eastwards. Today, it’s temperate, breathtakingly gorgeous and as enigmatic as its famous moai (carved stone heads).

One thing it isn’t

Canadians Losing Their Bottle: Toronto Bans Plastic

You may have noticed the word “change” being bandied around in recent months. It’s one of the keywords of sustainable living. We’re all creatures designed for change, which is why we don’t cope well with sedentary, stagnant habits (or “modern life”, if you’re feeling cynical). But with the word comes a certain responsibility. 

Change is certainly in the air in Toronto, which has just slapped a ban on plastic water bottle sales by 2011. Furthermore, from June 2009 a 5 cent charge will be placed on every plastic supermarket bag – …

Save the Angel Oak!


Sometimes development is necessary; increasingly, we’re seeing sustainable examples. Yet at in some unfortunate cases, it’s controversial to say the least. We’ve all seen bulldozers lay waste to once pristine wooded areas in our countries and communities. The latest “People vs. Developers” case is centered on the ancient Angel Oak of John’s Island, South Carolina. The Angel Oak is the oldest living tree east of the Rockies – it is over 1,500 years old. It is truly a sight to behold.

Granted, no one wants to cut down the Angel Oak itself, but in order …

Higher Education Is Getting Smarter

Biking just got more attractive. The Biddeford campus of the University of New England has created a new program to provide free bikes (complete with lock and helmet) or Zipcar usage to Freshmen who leave their cars at home. Because of recent campus construction, many parking spaces were lost and UNE wanted a better solution than simply to lay down more asphalt.

UNE has also expanded shuttle service and offered taxi vouchers for students of the Portland campus. Response has been positive and the university is considering expanding the program. …

Interview with Susan Dix Lyons of Clinica Verde, a Model for Eco-Oriented Community Health Care

I recently spoke with Susan Dix Lyons, visionary and founder of Clinica Verde, a holistic, community-oriented medical clinic in Nicaragua. Their mission is to serve the local poor with excellent health care and nutritional counseling in sustainably designed buildings with organic gardens. Clinica Verde is still in the fundraising process, but hopes to break ground in 2009. This project could become the prototype for sustainable, community-oriented clinics around the world.

EcoSalon: What prompted the creation of Clínica Verde?

Susan Dix Lyons: I founded Clínica Verde in April of 2007, …

Our Love of Olive Oil May Destroy the Mediterranean


Olive oil has won the world over with its beneficial, heart healthy monounsaturated fat and distinct flavor. But in order to meet with the huge demand for this wondrous oil, some pretty aggressive agricultural practices are destroying Mediterranean ecosystems.

Parts of Italy, Greece, Spain and Portugal are being densely packed with olive trees, heavily irrigated and treated with chemical fertilizers to meet with high consumer demand. Soil erosion is becoming a big problem and desertification could be coming soon. Spain, which has suffered from years of drought, uses 80% of its water to grow olives.  …

Tainted Chocolate: Say It Ain't So!

Unfortunately China’s tainted milk scare isn’t stopping with just the tainted milk: some Chinese-made milk chocolate products are sitting on international shelves, and they may be tainted, too.
The milk in question has been laced with melamine, an industrial chemical unlawfully mixed with the milk to “boost” protein levels. Melamine is actually quite toxic and has caused kidney stones in children.
There have been recalls both for many varieties of Cadbury’s chocolates and all White Rabbit chocolates. White Rabbit is a popular brand in China but is imported …

Gargantuan Groceries Starting to Shrink?


Personally, I prefer my grocery stores boutique style. I like a smaller store stocked with high-quality items. I don’t need 20 varieties of ketchup to choose from ““ just give me a few organic choices, thanks.

Many grocery stores are beginning to follow this trend. Safeway, Whole Foods and even Wal-Mart are opening smaller stores to satisfy customers that don’t want to wander the aisles of a gigantic warehouse looking for that one little snack. Sometimes you just want to grab something and get out the door.

Maybe this trend will slowly take us back to …

Classified Tips on a Good Green Deal

When you’re searching online for a good green deal, where do you go first?
The two behemoths of the online classifieds world are Craigslist and eBay. Their continent-cracking size isn’t always a good thing – sifting out the eco-friendly from the not-so-much can turn into one of the labors of Hercules. Luckily these sites have corners that are greening up nicely, such as eBay’s World of Good – but in the main, you’re on your own.
Alternatives? Here are a couple we’ve spotted.

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