• Efforts seem to ramp-up as news coverage increases…BP Scrambles to Cap Flow as Oil Closes in on Marsh – reuters
• I wish he’d said this at his Inauguration…Obama: Time to End ‘Cozy’ Ties With Oil - msnbc
• I wouldn’t get overly excited…Where’s the Oil? Model Suggests Much May be Gone – myway
• Sorry all you Creationists…Study Finds All Species Evolved From Single Cell – natgeo
• Say, what? Kevin Costner Helps Fight Oil Spill With Oil Extraction Machine – wdsu new orleans
• Why do most people have an aversion to snakes? Fragmented Forests Could be Boon to Snakes, Bad for Birds – livescience
• Can we find someone to turn water into fish?  Israel Bans Fishing in Sea of Galilee – aol news

If you’re someone who spends a lot of time doing edgey outdoor stuff, off-grid, this may be a device perfectly suited for keeping you out of trouble.  The solar-powered Eton Scorpion is a combo emergency gadget, that has many attributes – it’s a Digital AM/FM radio (it also monitors NOAA Weather Bands), an LED flashlight, a cellphone charger and can be powered by it’s large solar panel or hand-cranked when the sun isn’t cooperating.

Sturdily constructed for all those extreme situations you put yourself in, the Scorpion will readily clip to your backpack, belt loop, or MacGruber utility belt.

Will run you around $50
via: slashgear

Later this year, I’ll be heading south to Mexico’s Riviera Maya, and I’d be lying if I didn’t say that the greenhouse-to-table dining of El Dorado Royale wasn’t luring me from my originally-booked escape.

The spa resort, which is one of eight area properties by Karisma, is an adults-only getaway that boasts a “gourmet inclusive” experience, courtesy of the hotel’s new 14-room, 70,000-square-foot greenhouse.  Yes, I said 70,000 square feet. Now in its fourth harvest, the expansive greenhouse produces an array of organic herbs and vegetables used at El Dorado Royale and its sister properties. It’s part of the “greenhouse-to-table” initiative undertaken by Karisma, similar to the popular farm-to-table restaurants that have sprouted in urban hubs cross the nation.

The idea is simple: fresh, local, sustainable food within (more…)

It’s time for our spin around the ecosphere – here’s a tidy collection of eco savvy fashion standouts. Remember — love what you buy, and buy only what you need.

Get ready to hit the beach in eco style — NYC-based Kaight has some sweet new arrivals — Kelly B. swimsuits of bamboo, organic cotton & Spandex with nylon lining, all made in the USA. If you’re in the neighborhood, stop in and try on a pair of Melissa‘s – I picked up a pair last year, they’re nice & comfy.  Also great for strolling around town this summer — Loomstate’s carmel shorts and adorable Marques halter dress.

(above) I could always use a little extra support – especially the kind that keeps me cool, dry and confident when doing yoga.  Ibex Outdoor Clothing offers support bras made of ultra-soft Merino wool (and a touch of Spandex for stretchability).  Wool’s microbial properties keeps those nasty odors at bay while it absorbs skin’s moisture — really!  Find @ ibex.com.

(above) Everybody loves a cool and comfy organic hoodie.  This one’s custom-made from organic soy.  By Isla New York, ($90) @ supermarquethq.

(above)  Autonomie‘s collection of vegan, Fair Trade-certified organic cotton, naturally dyed handbags. Feel good knowing that your purchase helps sustain families in rural Peru; these are finely hand knit by a co-op of mothers in need. Sensibly priced from $35-$60.

(above) Baby needs a new pair of shoes! It’s never to soon to take eco baby steps – these upcycled denim unisex booties also feature a recycled yellow bandanna lining. One of a kind. $20 @ BobkaBaby’s etsy shop

Related:  want more?  eco fashion roundup 5/7/10

That’s it for now…Here’s to a great, low carbon impact weekend!

The power-hungry iPhone is always in need of more juice, so why not tap-into the sun’s power?  To meet that demand iPhone and iPod accessories maker Dexim has intro’d the P-Flip solar charger, a solar charging dock that can sit on your desk or outside your pup tent, (we presume it charges faster outdoors).

The P-Flip is designed to provide power to iPhone 3G/3GS phones and iPod touch 2G/3G.  It appears a little thicker than the usual slide-on ‘skin’ charger – though it is foldable, portable and rechargeable.  The battery charges with a mini-USB to USB 2.0 cable, so you can connect it to your computer, car charger, or your own Apple USB power adapter.  It folds up to a very compact size, so it’s convenient to take on trips.

It comes with a 2000mAh Lithium Polymer battery that provides an estimated 8 hours talk time, 15 hours video gaming or 60 hours of music listening; and the whole deal is Apple certified.

Other iPhone solar chargers to consider:  Genesis Sunblazer which should be out this summer, and Novothink’s Surge.

The P-Flip goes for $79.95 @ richardsolo.com via: macworld

In this down economy it seems like everybody’s got their hand out, looking for a wad of good old fashioned green.  As far as we’re concerned some non-profits, like Grist.org, are more worthy than others.

With a Save the Endangered Eco Journalist campaign launching today, see why now’s the time to show you care.  Give $100 between now and May 28 and be entered in drawing to win one of 15 Nau Lightbeam Jackets, for men and women, a $175 value.  Or just drop a check to Grist, 710 Second Avenue, Suite 860, Seattle, WA  98104.  For every $100 donation received, Grist will receive a $100 matching donation.

Designer Brandon Perhacs makes these versatile eco fashion accessories out of 100% merino wool felt.  The bracelets feature a hidden rare-earth magnetic clasp.

The bright and lightweight cuffs come in 3 vibrant colors – each matched with charcoal gray – and are reversible to show either the color or gray.  The shapes can be worn pushed in or out, giving the wearer 4 different looks.

$40 @ the lichen web shop

In the year 2015, one million electric vehicles are expected to quietly cruise off of dealership lots, according to recent forecasts by Frost & Sullivan. But a new survey reveals that 40 percent of car buys are still iffy when it comes to pure electric cars. According to the survey by Cars.com, more than one-third of consumers said they’d be willing to consider an EV when purchasing their next car, despite being unsure of the technology, while a quarter of U.S. respondents reported sticking to a traditional gasoline, diesel or hybrid ride.

Which gender is taking the lead in the acceptance of new, greener tech?  As it turns out, men are nearly twice as likely to purchase an electric car. And when it comes to age, the (more…)

This could be big.  The mandate to eliminate energy guzzling incandescent bulbs from our homes has prompted the development of new energy saving LED bulbs – which contain none of the dangerous mercury present in compact fluorescent bulbs.

Philips Electronics yesterday unveiled its new 12 watt EnduraLED light bulb, the industry’s first LED replacement for a 60 watt incandescent light bulb at the Lightfair International tradeshow.  The product could mark important breakthrough in the use of LED lighting technology in everyday applications.  Consumers will now have an LED alternative to the most commonly used incandescent bulb, which will deliver up to 80% energy savings and last 25 times longer than its century-old predecessor.

The significance of developing an LED equivalent to the 60 watt incandescent bulb has been recognized by many international organizations, including the U.S. Department of Energy.  The EnduraLED exceeds all Energy Star specifications for a 60 watt bulb and uses only 12 watts of power while delivering an industry benchmark of 806 lumens.

Every year more than 425 million 60-watt incandescent light bulbs are sold in the United States, representing approximately 50% of the domestic incandescent light bulb market.  According to calculations by Philips, this LED replacement has the potential to save 32.6 terawatt-hours of electricity in one year, enough to power the lights of 16.7 million U.S. households or 14.4% of the total number of households in the entire US.  (more…)