GM is hinting that they have developed a plug-in hybrid car that may hit the domestic market as early as 2010. The auto-maker may unveil their prototype at the North American International Auto Show, which opens in Detroit on January 7th.

Economist article

verē (“pronounced very”) is the brainchild of Kathy Moskal. Kathy previously applied her innovative skills at HUE, the highly successful, leg wear company, and is now creating a luxury line of chocolates, all of which are suitable for diabetics and some of which are suitable for vegans, (soy-based, entirely egg and dairy-free).

She owns and operates a Chelsea-based chocolate factory, and concocts her specialty confections from pesticide-free cocoa beans from the Ecuadorian Rainforest, certified to be sustainably-grown and responsibly harvested.

Having selected a potent Arriba, an heirloom varietal of cacao bean to form the base of her dark chocolate, she adds a proprietary blend of natural sweeteners — which is low-glycemic, and won’t cause one’s blood sugar to spike. The result is slightly bitter-tasting, yet rich, decadent and delicious.

With twice the antioxidants of standard dark chocolate, vere’s elegant line is both affordable and extensive — from bars, brownies and clusters — to tiles, truffles and wafers. Dip into this guilty pleasure…this vere good, food of the gods.
Click here for availability, and lookout for vere good ice cream on the horizon.

Looks like a Pilobolus/MoMix Dance Company event, but I call this photo, Oregonians Nude on Grass. With a population of 146,000 — Eugene, Oregon has instituted a 3-pronged effort to become carbon neutral in its buildings and operations, by 2020. This city should be the “poster boy” for all cities to offset its carbon dioxide emissions through improved: conservation, energy efficiency and spending on renewable forms of energy.

Local government and voters have figured out that supporting business and the environment are not diametrically opposed notions…that in order for the community to flourish, they must continue to figure out more ways for man and nature to co-exist. For more, check out ENN.

We all know how The Teen Years can wreak havoc on skin. For a flawless complexion Urban Cowgirl has concocted Tea Tree Oil Foundation, which battles breakouts, heals trouble spots, and glides on with a natural feel ($27.50).

Flirtsticks are a collection of sheer cream color in a stick — to be used as a blush, a contour stick, a touch of color on the eyelids and on the lips…toss in your saddle pocket for a touch-up while on-the-dusty trail ($25.90).

Yup, the tag line is Giddi-Up. Available in stores out west, naturally, and at www.urbancowgirl.com. Grab your lasso, and round up the goods.

The largest Italian utility company, Enel SpA, has announced plans to build wind farms in the U.S. and Canada. Enel said a 250 megawatt capacity wind farm will be built in Smoky Hills, Kansas, and a 27 megawatt plant in Newfoundland – reducing carbon emissions by 415,500 tons a year.
more here

Check out this portable Meditation Bench. Made from sustainable beech or ash hardwood, with a durable clear coat finish and foldable legs. Add a pillow & it makes a cool gift, ($67).

I was drifting from room to room while visiting greenhome, and I uncovered 2 other must haves…a hemp and flax shawl (in bilberry, $27).

And under Not Fun but Necessary, I decided to stop procrastinating and do something about cleaning my area rug and floor in the living room when I stumbled upon a couple of good cleaning solutions…green home.
Check out a product or two, and send us your thoughts. We’d love to know what you think.

Engineers at the University of Cambridge and MIT have a concept plane that’s designed to be a quiet aircraft, and burn less fuel than the current array of birds of flight. Doesn’t that sound good…comprehensive coverage from the BBC News website. bon voyage.

Little Guru, a line of socially conscious tees for boys and girls, are made from organic cotton with eco-friendly, low-impact dyes that are gentle on the skin. Yoga, Tribe and Culture and YouthAIDS (www.youthaids.org) have joined forces to spread the message of HIV/AIDS awareness to the world’s youth population. With the artistic talents of founder-designers James Wvinner and Carmena Su, Yoga, Tribe and Culture offers a limited edition organic cotton tank top to promote YouthAID’s ‘Off the Mat, Into World’ program. 35% of the sale of each tank top is donated to YouthAIDS.

All of YTC’s manufacturing, production and labor are done in the USA; everything is 100% fair trade, and they’re diligently working to make the move to 100% organic cotton.

YTC collaborates with Yoga Works, Jiva Mukti and Exhale Spa to create custom designs for their studios and special events, and designed the tank tees for Michael Franti’s Power to the Peaceful concert held earlier this year in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco.

The full line of men’s, women’s and children’s wear is available online at www.yogatribeandculture.com. Or checkout the list of retail and yoga studio outlets posted on their site. Kid tees $30; adult tees $40; look for the 10% discount for first-time, online buyers. Good Karma all around.

Despite carrying a rather “uneconomical” subtitle, Jay Weinstein’s book entitled The Ethical Gourmet is pleasantly full of great ideas and recipes for changing the way we buy and eat food. Weinstein encourages us all to reevaluate the true cost of our food citing that “4% of our national energy budget is used to grow food, while 10 to 13% is required to put it on our tables.” While mass produced food may lower costs to consumers, costs to the environment from trucking, packaging and distribution are massive. Thanks to Weinstein’s knowledge of the environment as well as fine cuisine (he’s a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America), he’s able to guide readers toward choosing foods that are environmentally friendly and ethically produced. Whet your appetite at www.randomhouse.com/author or amazon.com.