Posts from — July 2007

Indian Farmer

I recently had the pleasure of reading a truly inspiring story entitled, “Sowing Hope” about an amazing humanitarian named Joseph Curiale who is doing tremendous work in India. After having viewed a disturbing piece back in March on CNN about the thousands of South Indian farmers who have committed suicide because of a 7 year drought and their mounting debts, Los Angeles’ own, Joe Curiale, made the commitment to make a difference.

Due to the drought, more than 150,000 farmers have died countrywide and the numbers only continue to grow. As Joe mentions on his blog, with the desperate situation, many farmers feel that suicide is their only escape, leaving their young widows vulnerable to harassment from moneylenders, “…some of whom charge up to 450% interest (annually) and often demand partial repayment by raping the widows… An Indian film director had told me of one village where the moneylender would rape the women right in front of their husbands, further pushing them to suicide…” [Read more →]

Zooey eco tee

Being green is simple with Zooey’s new line of tees. Collaborating with Love & Eight, Zooey, known for their wispy-thin, totally flattering shirts in vibrant colors, is going the way of other levitatingMonkey favorites (can you say Bono!?!): donating $2 for every tee sold to Healthy Child Healthy World (an organization that works to ensure that kids grow up in safe, clean environments).

The collection comes in three lovely shades: yellow, green or white. The simple graphics of the eye-pleasing line include: a leaf, the peace sign, the earth, a butterfly and encouraging messages like: “Think Green, Be Cool,” “The Earth Has a Fever, Be the Cure,” and “A World of Cool”. 100% organic (both materials and production), the hip tees are shipped in totally sustainable boxes.

Available online at shopbop.com.

Summer is in full swing and you’re skin knows it. Before you rush out to sample the joys of summer sun worship, make sure you are following a diet and a routine that will help keep your Pitta dosha in balance.

According to ayurveda, every individual is a unique combination of the three doshas: Vata, Pitta and Kapha. Vata is mainly air and space, Pitta fire and water and Kapha water and earth. These doshas govern the seasons of the year, with Pitta, the fire element, ruling the hot summer months. During the summer, even if you do not have a lot of Pitta in your make-up, you may find that you need to take steps [Read more →]

Morning Yoga

Growing up in an East Indian household, I took much of the beauty and the traditions of the Hindu culture for granted. From simple things like my mom’s freshly made naan, to the rich and colorful saris that she wore, to the classic literature of Rabindranath Tagore she enjoyed reading to me as she sipped on her steaming cup of chai — I never fully appreciated all that this rich country had to offer.From practical traditions like using honey instead of constantly seeking out over-the-counter cough relievers to practicing yoga regularly, I didn’t recognize the benefits until I moved away from it all.

Did you know, according to Ayurvedic medicine, honey can be used to improve eyesight, relieve coughs, sore throats, when combined with black pepper powder and ginger juice, it acts to relieve asthma, mixed with garlic – it has been known to reduce high blood pressure, taken with water and lemon juice, it helps to purify the blood and my favorite, [Read more →]

Monks of Sikkim

Sikkim a small, picturesque mountainous state in India. Bordering Nepal, China and Bhutan, offers a myriad of opportunities for trekking, mountain biking, mountaineering and yak safaris, with its lavish green mountain trails, extraordinary mountains and spectacular mountain rivers. In addition to its spectacular natural beauty, Sikkim also possesses a captivating cultural tradition and is home to large Nepali, Bhutia and Lepcha speaking communities. [Read more →]

Since the start of 2001, Paris has seen an increase in bicycle use of over 48%. July 15th, 2007 marked the starting point of a major transformation in the way people will travel around the French capital. With the setting up of Vélib, the world’s most ambitious program aimed at facilitating bicycle access — now thousands of bicycles are available from hundreds of stations close to major public transport hubs spread out across the city.

The membership fees of 29 euros/per year increase with each 1/2 hour added, the first one being free, rendering the ride virtually free if you consider a report from”L’observatoire des déplacements dans la capitale” dated from 2005 estimating the average ride to last for 25 minutes .

The system is accessible to ages 14 and up. At the stations, the computer terminals enable you to:
- obtain one-day and seven-day subscriptions
- recharge your account (long duration)
- obtain information ( particularly which other stations are nearby and whether they are available).

Once you have finished your journey, all you have to do is deposit the bicycle back at any Vélib station.

Enjoy the ride!

Image c/o: Kern, P. (2006) Rhythm is the Source of all Existence - An Interview with Percussionist Greg Ellis. Music Therapy Today (Online 1st October) Vol.VII (3) 701-706.

Greg Ellis’ music comes from a spiritual place deep within and defies global boundaries. On Kala Rupa literally translated as “time form” - Ellis re-creates the sacred music used by primitive tribes to meditate and transcend. KALA RUPA is a journey through various forms of rhythm and time, from ambient space to ecstatic drumming, exposing windows of transcendence.

“This is a collection of music that was composed around rhythm rather than the melody, allowing the tonal and emotional center of the music to be established by the percussion and rhythm. Once the rhythms were complete, I brought in the other musicians who helped to reveal the natural form of each piece. The musicians who took part in this project all have a deep respect for rhythm and the interplay of the melodic instruments with the percussion. Many times I abandoned my initial ideas as new elements - beats and instruments- were added. I didn’t want the music to be forced into any pre-conceived images I might have had and confining it to one reference point. That is why I decided to bypass conventional titles for any of the pieces. I want the listener to start in a neutral space of his or her own experience.”
- Greg Ellis

Fascinated with the therapeutic power of percussion, Ellis has used his talents as a drummer in his own band, Vas, and in various projects for film and stage. On Kala Rupa, his debut solo album, Ellis wants the listener to abandon any preconceived notions of what drums can do within the context of music. To that end, Ellis restricted accompaniment to atmospheric drones, and on two magnificent tracks, features chant like singing from his band mate Azam Ali. The result recasts drums as melodic stars in their own right, formidable yet contemplative.

From Barnes & Noble.com - “Kala Rupa is simply a sonic feast in the tradition of Peter Gabriel’s Passion.”

And from Amazon.com -
“…Ellis generates beguiling drum tapestries filled with potent grooves and melodic playing.”

Nuff said

Russell Simmons, the godfather of hip-hop at the helm of Rush Communications, a $300+ million conglomerate reaching beyond music to include clothing companies, arts, nonprofit organizations, and diamonds, who in the past has used street smarts and a bling bling Rolodex to achieve social and political goals ranging from overturning certain restrictive New York State drug laws to encouraging voter registration, has published a new self-help book, Do You!: 12 Laws to Access the Power in You to Achieve Happiness and Success. In it, he explains how readers can use yoga and Buddhism to find what he calls the “sweet spot”: one’s life’s work and mission. Simmons preaches about the practice of love and encourages readers to listen to their inner voice.

[youtube 9AKaV911uJA nolink]

New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine, left, shakes hands with former Vice President Al Gore at a ceremony to sign the Global Warming Response Act at Giants Stadium Friday, July 6, 2007. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)

On the eve of Live Earth (a series of concerts around the world drawing attention to global warming, including one at The Meadowlands), Gov. Jon S. Corzine signed the “Global Warming Response Act” into law.

On Friday, New Jersey became the third state in the nation to enact a comprehensive greenhouse gas reduction law Requiring the Garden State to significantly cut emissions of global-warming gases. California and Hawaii have adopted similar laws, and eight other states are considering them.

Passage of these laws can “inspire hope and build the enthusiasm necessary to get this crisis solved,” Al Gore, the former vice president turned environmental activist told an enthusiastic crowd of lawmakers and environmentalists who witnessed the bill signing. Under the new law, the Department of Environmental Protection will conduct an emissions inventory, and based on the results, devise a plan to monitor and reduce harmful emissions. The law mirrors an executive order Corzine issued in January. Emissions from fossil fuels, such as coal and gasoline, are believed by many scientists to be a leading cause of global warming.

The Live Earth concerts scheduled for Saturday were inspired and backed by Gore’s campaign to force global warming onto the international political agenda by generating a groundswell of public concern.

You’re invited to the Global ECO Trade and Fashion Show. What is it you ask? It’s a trade show connecting green buyers with conventional retailers interested in earth-friendly clothing designs, sustainable textiles, and eco-products. Eco is the acronym for environmentally conscious and organic. ECO’s invitation is for exhibitors from around the world that support sustainable lifestyles. Yeah, I thought that would peak your interest!

Where
Venetian Hotel, Grand Ballroom, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

When
August 26 - 29, held in conjunction with the ASAP Global Sourcing Show Great Location!

Why
To connect green and conventional buyers with eco and health suppliers and to explain to conventional retailers why to go green…in an extraordinarily fashionable way!