Preservation · Eco-Chick

Browsing all posts tagged with preservation

UN Eco Conferences

Pardon my absence the last few weeks, but this month has been an unbelievably busy one in the green arena here. Bonn, Germany’s former capital city and the current seat of many NGOs and UN divisions has seen back-to-back conferences and I’ve been inundated trying to keep up with the conference happenings.

First, we had the UN Conference on Biodiversity – something that seemed really exciting at the time, with delegates from nearly 200 countries gathering to decide on ways to conserve habitats, develop across-the-board rules on GMO food, and find ways to prevent the extinction of endangered species.
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biodiversity, conservation, Germany, kyoto protocol, preservation

Augusta and Elliott

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by Kimberly Jordan Allen · 04/14/07

My paternal grandmother, Leslie, called the West Indies home from 1948 until she died. We had a house in Antigua, with an open courtyard, that sat right on the beach. When I was little, in the seventies, and Leslie was dying, we spent time down there and I first met her dear friend Amos Morrill and his three kids who took care of me as we played on the beach. Amos, originally a New Yorker, still lives in the Caribbean where he has worked in textiles and furnishings for over sixty years. Creating an island aesthetic of bright batiks in tropical hues, Amos’ fabrics were adored by everyone who had the pleasure of visiting his store, The Coco Shop. I grew up spending time with Amos and always loved his incredible stories and his vivacious charm that are both mirrored in his clothing and furnishings. We would swim in his salt water pool, watching the sunset, as Amos shared tales of the amazing islands he so loved and his concerns regarding their preservation.

Amos, now in his mid-eighties, has written and illustrated a children’s book called Augusta and Elliott. Augusta and Elliott are fish that live in a cluttered Caribbean Sea. They have made it their mission to clean up and try to save the ocean. This simple storybook is filled with colorful drawings to tell the tale. Without harping on negativity, the fish throw a party to drum up support and start implementing change.

The message of the book is clear: to bring awareness to oceanic pollution and how the human world has made a dramatic impact on the sea. The last few pages of the book are for coloring, which children always enjoy. This would be a great gift for anyone with kids. Amos would love to know that future generations will be more conscious of the fragile nature of our ecosystems and our need to minimize human impact. Thanks Amos.

Amazon, book, car, children, clothing, eating, fabric, fabrics, farm, fish, fur, Home, kids, party, Pollution, preservation, rum, water

Aid to Artisans Awards

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by Summer Rayne Oakes · 10/28/06

Christina Kim of Dosa was one of the winners that rocked the ATA Awards

I headed over to the ATA Awards the other day hosted at ABC Carpet and Home with the League of Artisan ladies (Benita et. al) and Michela from Interrupcion to celebrate a little fair trade for the “noveau riche,” as Benita would like to say. ATA “celebrates the achievements of individuals and groups who have changed the handmade world through their talents and determination.” This year’s honorees include:

ed Muehling
Extraordinary jewelry and product designer
ATA Lifetime Visionary Award

Christina Kim
Founder of inventive artisan-based fashion house, Dosa
Innovation in Craft Award

Barbara Tober
Philanthropist, artisan investor, chair Board of Governors of New York’s Museum of Art & Design
Preservation of Craft Award

Edric Ong
Sarawak-based textile specialist, designer, cultural preservationist
Artisan Advocate Award

…but this African blackwood necklace and a spiral bracelet (not shown here) by Federico de Vera’s was one of my favorites

Africa, awards, car, design, designer, Fair Trade, Fashion, Hair, Handmade, Home, Jewelry, Mozambique, preservation, wood

Denim Revolution: Organic + Ohhh-My-Butt- Looks-So- Good Jeans

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by Summer Rayne Oakes · 03/24/06

That’s what it is about girls, right? Jeans that make our asses look good while being good to the planet…It’s also nice to see that responsbile denim companies using organic cotton, less toxic to non-toxic dyes, and fair trade standards are popping up all around the globe. In my many travels around town, I’ve heard of a number of other potential start-up lines and brands that are tossing around the organic cotton idea…a Central America company, big retailer…hmmm, will keep you posted on who does it and when.

Certified Jean (Washington-based)
Del Forte (California-based)
Hug (UK-based)
KohZo (Switzerland-based)
Kuyichi (Netherlands-based)
Loomstate (NY-based)

Other notables, include:

Sugar Cane Jeans (NJ-based)

cotton, denim, dyes, Eco-Chick, Fair Trade, jeans, Organic, organic cotton, preservation, sugar, travel

Head of the Interior heads for the Exterior: Gale Norton Resigns

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by Kimberly Jordan Allen · 03/15/06

Last week U.S. Interior Secretary Gale A. Norton resigned amidst rumblings of scandal regarding purported connections between her department and disgraced former lobbyist Jack Abramoff. Many environmentalists applauded her departure due to her appalling record for supporting corporate interests and being unable to bridge the ever-expanding gap between big business and environmental advocacy.

While financial incentives encouraged private investment in land preservation and generated praise from The Nature Conservancy, Norton’s record is largely one of exploitation and promoting Right-Wing interests. Famous for opening Yellowstone to snowmobiles, her enthusiasm to open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to drilling, and stripping protections for the Endangered Species Act, Norton’s conservative pandering will not be missed.

Of course, Bush will probably look for another James Watt clone, but perhaps his current realization of our ‘addiction to oil’ will encourage him to look for an individual whose interests align more with environmental ideals and sustainability than the almighty dollar. Doubtful.