What’s in a day?
When a day is designated a special day, the intention is to honor the theme of it.  On our annual calendar there are some holidays that have turned into a hoopla, diverting us from the original intent.  Often we witness a kind of build up that requires planning and promotion, parties and events, sales and give-aways. Unfortunately, it leads to driving, picnicking, carbon emissions and trash.  We now have special days dedicated to nature, days that inherently and logically call for an occasion to slow us down.

Earth Day was last month and I stayed in my PJs all day and took a break.  I gave the earth a break by not stepping on it.  A pseudo off-the-grid performance where I read, wrote, made art, and foraged in my own fridge while in my robe and slippers.  My plan includes treading increasingly lighter by reaching beyond one day. (“National Pajama Week” is something I can support.)

This month bring us World Ocean Day (June 8th.)  World Ocean Day is a call to action for the protection of our oceans.  I already have started preparing for it.  I will by watching these two videos again:
Video one
Video two
Next, I will visit the Fake Plastic Fish website to begin the “Show Us Your (Plastic) Trash Challenge.”
My husband and I will be recording an entire week of the plastic garbage we create.  Learning about Beth’s (creator of Fake Plastic Fish) adventure in changing her habits shocks us into noticing all the plastic and to begin doing something about it.  Fake Plastic Fish is a tool that guides us from a “not so good” place to one that is better.  The site is a map made from experience to help us to begin removing plastic from our lives, and proving it can be done.

Days devoted to nature are opportunities to enact what “honoring” actually is, rather than falling prey to a pre-existing model of consuming.  As I look at the coming months I see many days to celebrate by slowing down.  I see many “pajama days” in my future.

Photo: “Plasticless” oil on canvas dedicated to twitter.com/plasticless
You can also follow Beth twitter.com/fakeplasticfish

We all know that Obama is a passionate supporter of alternative energy and other green initiatives, and he also believes in teaching our youth about environmental education, so what better way for him to help spread the green word than to instill eco programs in school?

Well, this has already happened in many colleges around the U.S., and the classes are not only preparing students for the future “2 million green jobs that will be created in the next 2 years,” but they’re also educating open minds about the role they will play in the future of the planet.

Here are a few green colleges, from all around the U.S. that offer eco friendly programs:

1. University of Portland (Portland, OR) – University sustainability includes a small on-campus organic garden called the Student Led Unity Program (SLUG) where students grow plants and food for themselves and the dining hall. The school is also hoping to purchase a biodiesel generator to convert kitchen grease to fuel for on-campus vehicles and buildings.

2. University of Maryland (College Park, MD) – Has a Campus Sustainability program that offers a Sustainability Speakers Series and multiple research centers on-campus devoted to solving environmental problems.

3. Tufts University (Medford, MA) – Has an Office of Sustainability which oversees the Tufts Climate Change Initiative. Students can join the Get Clean – Power It Green campaign, where for only $15 they can support Massachusetts wind power and earn matching grants for renewable energy projects on campus, in the town of Medford, as well as supporting energy efficiency projects in low-income communities around Massachusetts.

4. Evergreen State College (Olympia, WA) – Has its own composting facility on an organic farm that takes scraps from student housing, throws in some worms to break down the food, and then uses the finished compost as a nutrient-rich soil additive.

5. Kettering University (Flint, MI) - Its Center for Fuel Cell Systems & Powertrain Integration offers entire programs devoted to the research and development of fuel cell technology systems.

6. Ripon College (Ripon, WI) – Started the Velorution, which is a combination of vélo (which means bicycle in French) and revolution. President David C. Joyce is an avid cyclist, so he purchased 200 brand new Trek mountain bikes to urge freshmen to ride on campus instead of bringing their car.

7. University of Colorado (Boulder, CO) – Started the “Ralphie’s Green Stampede” zero-waste and carbon-reduction program at Folsom Footbal Field to compost and recycle almost all food and drink containers. The college will offset their carbon emissions by purchasing carbon credits from the Colorado Carbon Fund and White-Wave Foods.

8. Washington College (Chestertown, MD) – The Center for Environment and Society fosters sustainability on campus through recycling, composting and more. Students are encouraged to sign a “Green Pledge” to reduce their impact on the environment, and there’s even a George Goes Green blog that touches on green tips, personal stories and other green topics.

9. Berea College (Berea, KY) – Has its own Ecovillage that uses Ecological Machines to purify and reuse wastewater.

10. Northland College (Ashland, WI) – Located near Lake Superior, Northland College considers itself “Visionary by Nature” and combines liberal arts with environmental studies to prepare students for challenges in the future.

These are just a few of the thousands of colleges and college programs that are starting to concentrate on the environment.

Hopefully, with the promises that Obama made, we’ll soon find every college in the U.S. with a green program.

About the Author:
Trish Smith is a copywriter for Green Student U, a blog-style site that introduces today’s students to a wide variety of global environmental issues by recognizing college campus green initiatives and personal success stories, as well as how the world is being shaped by environmental reform.

For just over a year I’ve been a member of the Gedling Fairtrade Group involved in campaigning for Fairtrade and working towards Fairtrade Town status for Gedling Borough.

23rd February 2009 sees the beginning of Fairtrade Fortnight, a time to celebrate and shout about Fairtrade even more than usual. The Gedling Fairtrade Group has lots of plans for the fortnight, including a glamorous fashion show and we’re fortunate enough to have the support of 3 fashion marketing students from the famous Nottingham Trent University’s School of Art & Design.

These 3 motivated students are all specialising in ethical fashion for their final dissertations. This is their choice but when I met them I wondered whether there are whole courses dedicated to ethical fashion. If so, just imagine what education could do to the industry, producing designers, makers and marketers with a sound understanding of the social and environmental impacts of their trade and a drive to make it better.

So of course my next port of call was Google, I thought that if I found at least a little information about ethical fashion courses then I could share it here and it may be useful for potential students. I honestly had no idea what I would find but I was genuinely (and pleasantly) surprised…

University for the Creative Arts (UK)
MA Ethical Fashion (in Epsom, Surrey)
This was the first MA in the UK in ethical fashion. It focuses on the business side of fashion, including consumerism, the supply chain, recycling and marketing of ethics in fashion.

London College of Fashion (UK)
Developing an Ethical Fashion Brand and
Developing an Ethical Footwear or Accessories Brand
These are one day courses providing introductions to understanding sustainability, developing a green supply chain, impacts of legislation and the future of ethical fashion.

MA Fashion and the Environment
Aimed at recent graduates and industry professionals this course is about looking forward and considering sustainable fashion development.

The Ethical Fashion Forum
Fashion Business Workshops
The EFF organises a number of workshops for those interested in entering the business of ethical fashion

Chelsea College of Art & Design (UK)
Textiles Environment Design (TED)
This research project looks at the role designers can play in creating textiles which have a reduced impact on the environment.

Fashioning an Ethical Industry
Staff and Student Workshops
This ‘Labour Behind the Label Project’ provides tutor and student courses which focus on themes related to working conditions and workers’ rights in garment manufacture.

The Higher Education Academy (UK)
Teaching Ethical Fashion
This was a conference which took place in April and although it has passed I though it was still worth a mention, just in case it takes place again next year. This event was for tutors and educators teaching ethical issues on fashion related courses.

I’m sure there are many more courses, workshops and seminars in the UK and overseas. If you know of more ethical fashion courses get in touch and we can share them here on GGG.

I’ve just read an item of news on the New Consumer website which is something we may already be aware of but is such an important issue to raise again and again. That is the additional effects that climate change has on women and girls in developing countries like Kenya.

The news item ‘Climate Change Devastating Women’s Lives‘ reiterates the harsh reality that whilst climate change affects all members of such poor communities, there are added, knock-on social issues for the women and girls in these communities. Some of the issues are:

• Women and girls (some as young as seven) who are tasked with fetching water are now having to walk triple the distance than they previously did to find it.
• Women are having to turn to prostitution because they are struggling to feed their families.
• Girls spending more time walking for water are missing out on vital education, women have less time to care for their families.
• Women and girls, exhausted from walking long distances, are vulnerable to rape and risk of HIV infection.

How could anyone read these facts and ignore the devastation that climate change causes? For the sake of making a few changes to our lifestyles it doesn’t seem much of a sacrifice knowing what these women have to go through every day does it?

The full New Consumer report comes from information via Esther Musili, Kenyan Aid worker, who is speaking alongside Foreign Secretary David Miliband on September 23 at a meeting at the Labour Party Conference. Let’s hope the politicians sit up and listen to her.

When I think of summer, I have this picture of long lazy days by the water,  listening for the distant voices of my children while I wander off into a great book,  quietly stepping into some new ways of thinking or sharing in the stories of life that change us just by hearing them.   Ana Freud said  “Sex is something we do, sexuality is who we are.”  What better time than the brief interludes of warm sunny days to ponder the mystery of intimacy,  with fresh insights and revelations to bring increased clarity to how we live our sexuality as well as fun and passion to what we do with the people we love most.

Understanding ourselves as sexual beings and building a language to explore who we are in these mysterious places is a large task.  For some people, the taboo of adding language to sexual acts keeps them silent and unfulfilled.   Even for me,  the loveologist that sells love products and can say the words “oral sex” to perfect strangers,  I can often find myself silent with my husband,  lacking the know how and the courage to describe my fantasies or describe the kind of touch that most moves me.

When I received my copy of “Getting the Sex You Want” by my friend Tammy Nelson, the director of the Center for Healing and Recovery and Passionate Partnerships  I was both  curious and a little skeptical.     Based on the couples therapy work she has been doing at her office in Connecticut, Tammy offers up some well known techniques and strategies for building the communication skills to connect with your partner.   The communications method, which is based on the work of Harville Hendrix’s work “Getting the Love You Want” felt a bit contrived at first, but she quickly demonstrates how basic communication skills applied to our intimate lives has the power to revolutionize what you are doing in the bedroom and quickly spills over into the rest of your relationship.

One example she shared of a husband who had so much shame about masturbation (and don’t we all share a bit of that…) experienced such a huge relief when he was finally able to talk about his needs of sharing the experience in their sex life together   The book was full of examples  and exercises to try by yourself or with your partner that demonstrated how a shared and agreed upon method of communicating about sex could easily turn into inspiring new found abilities to express sexual needs and desires.  I was so impressed with the book that I tried the technique myself later that week.   Things that I had never thought of saying to my husband suddenly seemed possible.

The first question that anyone going to a sex therapist asks is “Am I normal?”  This question and the fear of what it might mean if we deviate from normal in our sexuality can control our lives and our relationships.  Another book that has recently come across my desk ,  Tantra for Erotic Empowerment (by Michaels and Johnson) is an active workbook of sexual self discovery.  The books premise that giving and extending permission to experience ourselves as sexual beings without fear of shame or rejection is truly the ground work for profound change and acceptance in the entire relationship.

While I don’t have that much personal experience with Tantra practices,  I would say that anyone who is learning to love their partner in a long term relationship is bound  to encounter where the physical and spiritual worlds meet in lovemaking.   Understanding  our sexuality in the context of our human nature normalizes as well as sanctify this most mysterious form of human communication.  Unlike many books written about tantric practices, which can get really esoteric,  this one provides a clear map for the beginner as well as deeper insights for the tantric practioner.   Even if all the content is not for you, there are enough thought provoking exercises to keep the book interesting long after the sun sets.

If you haven’t already read a review about Bonk by Mary Roach, let me say that there is nothing quite like actual sex history to wake you up to the wide and and amazing world of human sexuality.   She is a meticulous researcher and has a genuine sense of humor that alleviates any embarrassment you might be feeling about reading about the extremely checkered history that our discomfort with our sexuality has created through the centuries.  It will probably help you feel better about the places you are still stuck, and if you ever wondered where some of the far out porn fantasies came from- read sex history.   Even if you don’t want to own this book, reserve it at your local library.  Some fun fact from the book will spur some exciting discussion at your next barbeque.

Here’s to a summer memorable for how we all learn to love more and show it in ways that will keep you connected long into winter.

I’ve read a lot of books and I do mean A LOT on living green, being green, and doing green; and I’ve come to the point where I’ve almost stopped reading them because after a while you realize they are quite redundant of each other.

So when Go Rich, Live Green by David Bach with Hilary Rosner showed up in my mailbox I was instantly intrigued.  There is this assumption out there that being green is costly, in fact a couple of DJs on a local radio station here in my city were joking one morning on how the grocery store chain Whole Foods should be renamed Whole Paycheck! 

 The author David Bach is no eco-guru but he does know money!  So he combined his business savvy with top environmentalist Hilary Rosner and now we have 50 Simple Ways to Save the Earth (and Get Rich Trying)!  Something we tree-huggers have been trying to tell people for years.

The book is a list of easy to read tips that I will admit most eco-warriors already know and if you haven’t been living under a rock lately then you too are probably familiar with some of his ideas.  But the difference between David and Hilary’s book is that they present the what, the why, and most importantly the how!  Most books just tell you global warming is after us and go “be green” without explaining in non-scientific terms the why and the how.

I’m a fact girl – I like facts, statistics, and references and I assume most writers do too.  This book has them; that’s probably the most useful stuff I got from the book along with chapter 10, tip 43-Invest Green.

Everyone is looking for that get rich quick book , well here you go and it doesn’t hurt that you can save the planet while you’re at it!

Enjoying an eco-lifestyle means living greener in all areas of your life. You may be taking environmentally friendly steps at home, but are you also doing it at work?

People spend almost 90% of their lives indoors, and for those people who work inside that equates to about 40 or more hours at your desk, office or cubicle. Whether you’re a student interning at a major corporation, a marketing associate making phone calls all day or an office assistant handling paperwork, you’re going to spend a majority of your time in one place all day.

So don’t you want your work space to be eco-friendly and energy efficient? It can be if you make some simple changes in your life.

1. Computer Conservation
For many people with desk jobs the computer is absolutely necessary to get things done. It is estimated that people waste over $1 billion in electricity every year just in computer use! To help conserve energy for your computer you can:

• Invest in an energy-saving computer, monitor and printer
• Switch to energy-saving settings
• Turn off your computer whenever you’re not using it
• Set it to sleep mode when you are away for short periods of time

2. Paperless is More
Do you really have to print out every email and handout? You can reduce paper waste by going paperless wherever possible. You can try to:

• Keep copies of important emails, files, manuals and more on your computer
• Don’t get any extra catalogues or magazines mailed to your office
• Get your check directly deposited instead of a waiting for a hard copy
• Send company updates through email instead of on paper
• Review any documents online instead of printing them out

3. Prioritize Your Paper Use
If you do use paper on a daily basis then you can make eco-friendly paper choices. Here are some things you can do:

• Buy recycled and chlorine-free paper
• Try paper made from organic products like bamboo, cotton or hemp
• Print on both sides of the paper
• Shred old paper to use as packing material
• Save and reuse old boxes
• Use old sheets of paper for scrap paper or note-taking

4. Recycle
There are many things in your office that you can recycle. If you don’t have a recycling station at work, start one on your own! You can get a few bins and post recycling guidelines above them. Some of them may include recycling:

• Paper products like copy paper, envelopes, magazines, etc.
• Cardboard boxes from shipped supplies
• Soda cans and plastic bottles
• Aluminum foil
• Plastic bags
• Ink cartridges

5. The Power of the Printer
The printer is one of the most used office items. Every day it cranks out tons of important faxes, emails and other documents. Here are some ways you make your printer use greener:

• Try not to print in color
• Use a printer that does double-sided copying
• Print in draft mode
• Use old paper with extra space to print small documents
• Recycle ink and toner cartridges

6. Air You Can Bare
It’s already bad enough that you have to worry about air pollution every time you walk outside, but it’s also a big priority when you work inside. Here are some ways that you can maintain a healthy air flow in your office:

• Use non-toxic cleaning products
• Open your windows to increase air flow
• Don’t smoke in or near the office
• Never bring any type of aerosol can to work
• Use an air purifier to get rid of contaminants

7. Travel with Care
The first part of your work day starts with you getting to work, and for many people that means driving. Cars emit tons of carbon dioxide gases into the air, contributing to global warming. Here are some things you can do for a green ride:

• Join a ride share group
• Take the train, bus or subway
• Ride a bike or walk if you live close enough
• Invest in a green car like a hybrid
• Reduce your travel by working from home whenever possible

8. Green Your Desk…Literally
Get a plant and place it on or near your desk. Or, even better, buy plants for all of your neighbors. They will not only see this as a friendly gesture, but they’ll also have cleaner air to breathe! Plants absorb indoor air pollution and increase the flow of oxygen, so get a green accessory to compliment your desk!

9. Food For Thought
Everyone looks forward to their lunch break. If you manage to save money by not going out to eat every day then you probably pack your lunch. You can follow these lunch tips to have healthier eating habits:

• Pack your lunch in a reusable lunch bag or box
• If you bring your lunch in a paper or plastic bag, reuse or recycle them
• Use plastic containers and silverware that can be washed and used again
• Switch to organic food and drinks
• Drink from the fountain or a water filtration system instead of brining water bottles
• Recycle your soda cans, bottles and aluminum foil
• Use a washable napkin instead of paper towels
• Walk to a lunch eatery if you forgot to pack it

10. Spread the Word
The best way to stay involved in the green scene at work is to get others involved. Share your practices and wisdom with your boss and coworkers. You can do this by:

• Encouraging the office to join or start a recycling program
• Purchasing company carbon credits
• Buying eco-friendly office products
• Setting up a carpool calendar
• Getting everyone to pack their lunch and eat together

Your work environment has a great impact on your personal and professional happiness and your emotional stability. If you enjoy how greening your life makes you feel, then there’s no better place to keep the tradition alive than at work!

About the Author:
Trish Smith is a copywriter for Green Student U, a blog-style site that introduces today’s students to a wide variety of global environmental issues by recognizing college campus green initiatives and personal success stories, as well as how the world is being shaped by environmental reform.

Moving on and off campus after a stressful semester is never fun. The idea of lugging tons of boxes, spending hours cleaning your old dorm or apartment and driving miles away from school with a jam-packed car, only to do it all again next semester, is more than enough to make the average student cringe.

Not only is it not fun to move, but it’s also very harmful to the environment. You accumulate excess waste from throwing out old possessions and packing boxes, and you release carbon dioxide into the air making several trips in your car to get everything home.

If you practice living green there are several steps that you can take to make your moving experience less stressful and more eco-friendly.

Give to a Good Cause
College students acquire more stuff in their tiny living space than most average people do in a lifetime, and when it’s time to move it takes triple the effort just to get everything packed! Here are some green ways to lighten the load:

• Donate – You can donate any items that you don’t use to a thrift store such as Goodwill Industries or the Salvation Army, who will sell your items to raise money for good causes. You reduce your carbon footprint because many of these places pick up your items from your front door.
• Sell – You can sell your stuff online through such sites as eBay and Craigslist. By doing this you not only get some extra money, but you also get to reduce paper waste because everything is done online. You can also have a yard sale (if you live in a house), which also saves you from spending gas money and driving to a new location.
• Recycle – Don’t forget that many items you may want to throw away, including old notebooks, metal tins and computers, can be recycled.

Post-Consumer Packing
Cardboard boxes are the standard way to pack up your items. Even though they are recyclable, an even better way to reduce your paper waste is to use an eco-friendly recycled container.

The people at Earth Friendly Moving created the RecoPack, which is a series of stackable moving containers made from plastic containers that were salvaged from U.S. landfills. You can rent them for $1 a week, and the Earth Friendly team will drop them off and pick them up for you!

Get a Helping Hand
If you need help moving you can always hire a moving company. I don’t mean the kind of company that releases tons of greenhouse gases in the air with their huge tractor-trailer trucks, but an eco-friendly moving company. A company like Go Green Moving uses biofuel to power its trucks and earth-friendly moving pads made from recycled cotton.

A Green Clean is a Great Clean
Once everything is packed up and shipped out, you still have one more thing to do: you get to clean up the messy spills and dirty corners. The best way to do this is to use eco-friendly cleaning products that are made of all-natural and organic ingredients. These are safe to use because they don’t release any toxic fumes and won’t irritate your skin. Some great places to get these products are Heather’s Natural & Organic Cleaning Products and Simple Green.

Moving may not be a fun experience, but it can be a green experience that will help you reduce your carbon footprint and save the environment’s natural resources. It just takes a little time and effort!

About the Author:
Trish Smith is a copywriter for Green Student U, a blog-style site that introduces today’s students to a wide variety of global environmental issues by recognizing college campus green initiatives and personal success stories, as well as how the world is being shaped by environmental reform.

It’s not hard to see why college students are notorious for accumulating tons of trash both in and out of their dorm rooms. There wasn’t a week that went by when I was in college that I didn’t see fast-food containers, packets of ketchup, empty paper towel rolls, soda cans, half-empty bags of Doritos, plastic CD wrappers or Chinese take-out containers lying in random piles in someone’s room.

It not only proves that college students will take anything for free from the cafeteria, but they’ll also spend money on things that they don’t even need! And the more junk that they take or buy, the more trash that will accumulate. That’s exactly why a proper waste management and recycling program needs to be implemented on campuses across the nation.

Now it may seem cliché, but the old “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” term can be applied to waste management and garbage removal practices in your very dorm room. If you follow these easy tips then you can have a waste-free dorm that is sure to impress and influence others around you.

Reduce…

• Your lunch trash by using a washable bag or lunchbox instead of paper or plastic bags (Check out my post on How to Green Your Lunch)
• Post-it note or scrap paper piles by writing reminders on a wipe board
• Paper use by printing on both sides of the paper or sending documents through email
• The items you take from the dining hall or fast-food restaurants (if you don’t need 12 packets of sugar or 10 tubs of barbeque sauce, don’t get it!)
• Printer ink cartridge consumption by proofreading and spell-checking papers before you print them out
• Unnecessary trash by buying items with little or no packaging
• The germs in your room by using environmentally-safe cleaning products
• The amount of money you spend (and receipts you accumulate) by borrowing items whenever possible!

Reuse…

• A bandanna or washable napkin instead of paper towels
• Food boxes and plastic containers to store personal items
• A thermal mug when you go out to get coffee
• Plastic silverware in your dorm room by washing it after every use
• Plastic grocery bags for lunch if you don’t have a washable lunchbox
• Binders, computer disks, file folders and notebooks
• Handkerchiefs instead of tissues
• Cloth rags to clean up spills rather than using paper towels

Recycle…

• #1 and #2 plastic items
• Cardboard boxes
• Magazines and newspapers
• Aluminum cans
• Glass bottles
• Cell phones
• Computers
• Ink cartridges
• White and color paper
• Batteries

It really isn’t hard to follow proper waste management and recycling practices. All college students have some sort of unique routine, whether it’s drinking a cup of coffee every morning before class or playing guitar before they go to bed, so if you make eco-friendly waste management your routine, you’ll actually be doing something good for you, your neighbors and the entire campus!

About the Author:
Trish Smith is a copywriter for Green Student U, a blog-style site that introduces today’s students to a wide variety of global environmental issues by recognizing college campus green initiatives and personal success stories, as well as how the world is being shaped by environmental reform.

College students are addicted to a LOT of things, from playing video console games and chatting online into the wee hours of the night to downloading music and ordering from the Wendy’s Super Value Menu at 2 a.m. Every student has his or her own unique addiction, but one thing that I realized was that probably 4 out of 5 people I knew did share one common dependency: caffeine.

I would say that soda was pretty high at the top of the caffeine list, but it could not compete with the wide-awake goodness that coffee offers. Whether you drank it on your way to an early class or brewed a whole pot to keep you awake for an all-night study session, coffee became the buddy that was always by your side.

Go for Organic
Since coffee is such an important staple for college students, the brand that you purchase should also be a top priority. I know that many students are on a tight budget, and it doesn’t leave much room for extra spending money. But if you have your own coffeepot and brew coffee every morning or night like I did, and you know that you’re going to be spending money on a pound every other week anyways, then why not go organic?

Organic means that the product you are buying was grown with no pesticides, fertilizers or other harmful additives. So, organic coffee comes from coffee beans that were grown using renewable and environmentally-friendly practices. You can read more about organic coffee at the Organic Trade Association website.

Eco-Friendly Brands
Now I have nothing against huge coffee corporations like Starbucks or Caribou Coffee, but I think that smaller family-owned organic coffee companies can offer good, or even better, coffee products than the more popular brands. Plus, many of these smaller companies grow the coffee right on their home land and sell it locally to keep their family business alive.

Almost all of these companies promote sustainable growing practices, and some even donate a portion of their funds to eco-friendly organizations.

Here are a few organic coffee companies that I discovered, as well as some things that they do to help protect the environment:

• Bean Trees – Works with the NRDC (National Resources Defense Council), whose mission is to stop corporate companies from destroying clean air and water.
• Café Bom Dia- Uses recycled shipping pallets to reduce carbon footprint.
• Café Mam – Member of the Northwest Shade Coffee Campaign of the Seattle Audubon Society, which promotes the preservation of healthy forest habitats.
• Elan Organic Coffees – Supports programs like Coffee Kids and Cup for Education, which help to improve the lives of coffee farmers’ children.
• Jim’s Organic Coffee – Joined with Sterling Planet and the EPA to become 100% powered by renewable energy.

Coffee may not be great for your health, but it’s evident that college students, and half of the world, drinks it every day anyways. So why not support society’s caffeine addiction by buying a brand that tastes great and helps the environment?

About the Author:
Trish Smith is a copywriter for Green Student U, a blog-style site that introduces today’s students to a wide variety of global environmental issues by recognizing college campus green initiatives and personal success stories, as well as how the world is being shaped by environmental reform.