Basic concept (is the GOP listening?) – art should inspire.  Down in Miami, The Cracking Art Group and Italy’s Galleria Ca d’Oro have collaborated on a series of art installations that feature 45 pink snails created from recycled plastic.  Their latest exhibit is designed to get the conversation started about recycling.  The snails will take up residency at a variety of Miami locations starting today, through January 3rd.

Part of the global REgeneration Art Project, the snails are the latest massive installation (and first in the U.S.) of animal figures created by a group of European artists known as the Cracking Art Group.

The group has been working since its inception in 1983 to impact the art world and society through their focus on strong social and environmental issues communicated by their “revolutionary and innovative use of different plastic materials that evoke a strict relationship between natural life and artificial reality.”

via: SUNfiltered photos: The Cracking Art Group

• (pictured above) Does this qualify as upcycling? Art of War: Naval Mines Become Furniture – aol news
• This Could Cause Some Confusion Over at Fox News…Global Warming Could Cool Down Northern Temps in Winter – sciencedaily
• Before they dismantle the EPA and gut pollution regulations, the GOP might want to see which way the wind’s blowing. Toyota Lays Out Big Green-Car Push with Hybrids, EVs – reuters
• Hard economic times make for bad decision-making. Canadian Senate Kills Climate Bill – bbc
• What is the deal with Japan? Battle Lines Emerge in Bluefin Tuna Battle – yahoo! news
• Buy local from a small producer…Chicken Abuse Alleged at Largest Egg Producer – msnbc

Here’s a retrofitted exercise bike that could potentially trim both your expanding waistline and your pudgy electric bill.

The visCycle let’s you generate electricity whilst you pedal – that’s 50 – 150 watts per typical workout.  Re-Source Fitness‘ plugOutt technology allows gym owners and home gym enthusiasts to just plug the bike into a wall outlet and to offset electricity use.  You’ll have to check with your local utility to see if you can sell power back to them.  Might help an off-gridder with strong thighs to power a couple of lights, plus their phone, stereo or laptop.

“Big-box stores,” those uber convenient one-stop-shopping meccas like Wal-Mart and Target, are an independent retailer’s nightmare. With one fell swoop, they can easily swipe once-dedicated locavores with the lure of unbeatable prices. And while most eco-minded shoppers wouldn’t dare step inside for a weekly grocery run, there are some instances when even the best of us are enticed by their sizable selections, doorbuster pricing and row upon row of no-wait checkouts. If you’ve fallen prey, take note. Even in the most dire of situations, there are some products you just shouldn’t buy at big-box outlets… or any other store, in that case.

Books and DVDs
The fresh paper smell of a new book is undoubtedly appealing. But why dole out the cash for a new product when you can recycle and keep your pocket change at the same time? Websites like Swap.com and BookMooch.com (above pic) make trading media easy and cut down considerably on the energy required to manufacture new products. For DVDs, check RedBox machines on your way out the door to rent the latest releases, or better yet, order them from home using Netflix or your digital cable service.

Gift Cards
The turn-style displays at the supermarket certainly are convenient, seeing as you’re already there and all, but there’s a better way to do it. We promise. Try giving a “good card” (above), that allows giftees to choose a charity to donate to, or buy a Give Card that allows you to tack on extra cash for charitable giving.

Bottled Water
This is one of my biggest pet peeves. Even my greener friends will fall back on the bottled water bandwagon when hosting a party or get together. Skip it. Fill one or two refrigerated water filters like Pur‘s to the top and let guests use washable glassware. It’s classier anyhow! When it’s just you, rely on reusable bottles from brands like Sigg and WaterGeeks or BPA-free bottles like these rated by Good Housekeeping.

Plastic Baggies
I’ve lived without buying Ziploc products for a few years now. It’s amazing how easy it is to use reusable glass or stainless storage containers instead, (Maureen loves the selection at Healthykitchen.com.) For toting sandwiches to work, I rely on Preserve‘s line of BPA-free, recycled (and recyclable) containers, (photo above). And for snacks like popcorn and banana chips, we like the array of earth-friendly options at reuseit.com.

100 Calorie Packs
I’m in marketing myself, so I give major props to the savvy company that came up with 100-calorie packaging. For mindless munching, it makes total sense, but I simply cannot understand why anyone would pay extra to have their food divvied up for themselves when they could just pack it individually themselves and save all of that waste. Check the nutrition label when you get home and then take the two extra minutes needed to pack up 100-calorie portions yourself in organic cotton snack bags from reuseit.com – (tip: store your snacks in a glass container so that they’re kept air-tight until used).

Making great looking, sustainable home furnishings is what Tom Raffield is all about.  Raffield creates his languidly curved pieces via a unique manufacturing process that utilizes steam bending as the main form of production. It’s a low energy, low waste method of manufacturing that uses no toxic chemicals – just water.

Whenever possible, he uses local timber sourced from FSC-Certified renewable sources, reducing transportation and shipping costs. The raw material for his wooden products is harvested from sustainably managed woodlands where more trees are planted than cut down. Wood is either unseasoned, green or air dried timber (the alternative is kiln dried, an energy intensive process). The wood waste is taken to the local smoke house and used to cure locally caught fresh mackerel and salmon – I know from personal experience – this is tasty stuff.

Each piece is hand crafted and will last over a lifetime.

If you love nature-based makeup and products, here’s a list of must-haves (many of which are available at Sephora) for your natural makeup collection:

1.  Makeup Bag – Everyone needs a place to put all their makeup, if you don’t have a makeup bag made from organic cotton or recycled materials, DON’T go out and buy one, just use any old makeup bag you already have (since buying more just generates more waste). I like ecoTools’ Alicia Silverstone Bag.

2.  Moisturizer – After cleansing, prep skin with a natural moisturizer such as Caudalie Vinosource Quenching Sorbet-Crème. It’s important to moisturize and protect your skin everyday, especially in the winter when skin is more prone to become dry.

3.  Sun Block – I think applying sun block (along with moisturizer) is one of the most important steps for everyday beauty. Make sure you get a sun block with a minimum SPF of 15. Lavanila The Healthy Sun Screen SPF 40 is 100% natural and has added benefits for your skin.

4.  Foundation – In order to achieve the look of flawless skin, apply foundation. Bare Escentuals bareMinerals foundation is best selling, has an added SPF and covers up imperfections – trust me, it works.

5.  Blush – make your cheeks rosy by applying some blush. Josie Maran Blush adds a beautiful, healthy glow to cheeks. (more…)

Ever peek through a keyhole? These recycled and salvaged antique door plates are reshaped, refinished and given a new patina.  Thus transformed they become edgy eco-fashion accessories.  A cute vintage owl button adds a nice touch to the Keyhole Owl Cuff pictured here. (more…)

• Watering hole dispute gets ugly…Rare Photos: Crocodile Attacks Elephant – natgeo
• At our watering hole…High Grain Prices a Welcome Surprise for Farmers – npr
• Carmakers Gearing up for Mass Market Electric Vehicles – reuters
• I bet $5 there’s less ice…How’s Antarctica Faring? Scientists Fly Over Ice Cap to Find Out – msnbc
• Hungry planet…New Species of Carnivorous Plant Discovered in Cambodia – sciencedaily
• Does she realize that to do this you have to actually…you know…farm? Gwyneth Paltrow Dreams of Becoming an Organic Farmer – ecorazzi
• The first rockers…Neanderthals Lived Fast, Died Young – livescience

Photo credit: Martin Nyfeler + National Geographic

Mitsubishi’s i MiEV (innovative electric vehicle) has finally made its way to the U.S.

The tiny, eco-friendly car has been on sale in Japan for more than a year and is slowly making its way across the pond with a release in Europe late this year, followed by its entry into the North American market in fall 2011. The U.S. version of the rounded four-seater has been stretched a bit to accommodate America’s notoriously loaded grocery shopping trips (it runs about a foot longer) – and a pinch more headroom for taller folks. The car will make its official debut on Wednesday at the Los Angeles Auto Show, but we’ve gotten a sneak peek at the new styling.

According to the Japanese automaker, the i-MiEV can travel (more…)