For The Love of Elephants

Posted on January 10, 2016 by lsdiaz03

The growth of mankind is damaging nature – our numbers are growing and so is our ignorance. Instead of being grateful to Mother Nature for the gift of life itself, an incredibly large number of people is consciously deciding to neglect the very real and very dangerous facts, and to simply continue with their destructive lifestyles.

This is one of those things where you can’t go back when you realize you’re making a mistake. If we keep this up, there won’t be a planet or the resources to help us bounce back. The first step towards our redemption should be learning to cohabitate peacefully with the wildlife that has as much right to roam the planet as we do, and doing our best to help preserve Earth’s diverse fauna.

Elephants are Going Extinct

For fifteen million years elephants have walked the Earth, but their numbers have been decreasing dramatically during the past couple of centuries. This fact isn’t just alarming, it is absolutely terrifying. Every fifteen minutes an elephant dies because of continuous ivory poaching. If we don’t act together on this problem now, there won’t be any elephants left by 2025.

Being a keystone species, elephants maintain a certain order in their ecosystem. The survival of many different animals and plants depends on this species, so with the loss of elephants we will also lose an entire ecosystem.

If this happens, the developing countries which are proud to be homes of these extraordinary animals will suffer the consequences as well.

David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust

Did you know that elephants have the very same cognitive behavior as humans? The can feel love and joy, and grieve for their losses and feel true fear.

Thanks to David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, over 190 infant orphans were saved and successfully reintegrated into wild herds. This trust was founded in 1977 by Dr. Dame Daphne Sheldrick, a widely famous naturalist. This was her effort to conserve the wildlife, honor her late husband and preserve a long family tradition of protecting the environment.

It took Daphne three decades to perfect the milk formula necessary for orphaned elephants to survive and grow healthy and strong, so that they could be released back into the wild. A lifetime worth of experience has enabled Dr. Sheldrick, her family and every member of their organization to take effective actions that result in successful elephant and rhino rescue and rehabilitation.

Support This Cause & Save Our Planet

The elephant extinction would cause a chain reaction and it would have a direct effect on other animal species and mankind as well. The fact is you don’t have to move to Africa in order to help – you can make your contribution from your home, office or while you’re having a cup of coffee.

J. Crew and their “Garments for Good” campaign in collaboration with David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust enabled all of us to conveniently help this cause by getting one of their t-shirts. This nonprofit organization forwards all their funds to charity.

Participate in the Orphan’s Project

There’s another way you can make your contribution to elephant and rhino rescue and rehabilitation project – by adopting an orphaned infant and becoming their foster parent. Once you become a part of this project, you will receive a fostering certificate and a photo of your orphan via e-mail, with all their info, e.g. where they were found and the description of their habitat.

The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust will keep you updated about the monthly highlights of your elephant, so you’ll be able to see their photos, track their development and be included in their rehabilitation. They will also keep you posted about the latest news on fresh arrivals and basically everything that’s going on.

Building a Better Future for Mankind & Wildlife

Putting our best effort into helping with this cause is just a beginning, but also a great starting point. This is the final hour, and we’re all still able to do something to help revitalize our planet. It’s the only one we have, and every single individual on it is equally responsible for helping build a better future by contributing to good causes like this one for generations to come.

Photos by: Arlene St. Hilaire

Outfit: Zara Jeans, Sisley Coat, Zara Booties, David Sheldrick Sweatshirt at J.Crew, Rebecca Minkhoff Bag

Gifts that Give Back: For Him

Posted on December 16, 2015 by lsdiaz03

Generous & Practical: 5 Awesome Gifts He’ll Love

Finding the perfect gift for someone special is always challenging. I have several practical ideas I’m sure every man in your life would appreciate, but there’s something more to my list of gifts than just being awesome. The holidays are the perfect time to help those less fortunate, and I can show you how to combine generosity and practicality.

State Backpack

A backpack that can never go out of style is something that every man needs. This one from the State collection is extremely practical – the large number of compartments allow you to carry quite a few items in one well-organized package. It can fit a 15” laptop, and it has a convenient number of side pockets.

For every backpack sold, State delivers another to a child in need. By making this purchase you’ll not only get a quality backpack for a special man in your life, but you’re also making a child out there really happy.

David Sheldrick Wildlife Sweatshirt

One of my fave items! This sweatshirt is made out of cotton, which makes it incredibly comfy. It can also be machine-washed, so it doesn’t require any special care – I’m sure that any man would appreciate that fact.

You should also know that it has an illustration of Eddie by Hugo Guinness on it. Eddie was an orphan elephant who was saved by the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, hand raised and released back into the wild. She was one of over 190 elephants that were saved by this trust. The complete net of every purchase goes directly to this cause.

Conscious Step Socks

I don’t know about you, but almost every man I know has trouble finding one whole matching pair of socks. You should introduce them to Conscious Step. My husband is obsessed and looks forward to getting them every year.

The logic behind these socks is easy. I mean why get “normal” everyday socks when you can get a fun pair that was made to help fund the world’s most important causes, like providing clean drinking water, ending famine, saving trees, fighting HIV and improving education worldwide. Conscious Step socks are quite extraordinary, don’t you think?

Feed Projects-Adventorous Kit

Men, unlike most women, somehow forget to take their essentials with them, and perhaps the reason behind it is that they don’t own their own kit. In order to help that special man in your life have a much more relaxed and convenient trip, my suggestion is to get them a practical FEED kit. The thing that makes this kit so special is the fact that making one purchase provides 15 school meals to children worldwide.

Veja-Most Ethical Sneakers

We all know that men like their sneakers and really can’t get enough of them. The company Veja is setting an example for other brands. Just to name a few of their accomplishments-Veja uses rubber from the amazon and organic cotton, they employ over 300 families and provide them with a competitive salary, and finally to cut cost for their costumers, Veja does not advertise. A few weeks ago I wrote a detailed post on this brand (yes, I’m obsessed) -please read about it here. It’s an amazing gift for everyone that likes sneakers (every man in the world, really).

The Coolest Sneakers

Posted on November 10, 2015 by lsdiaz03

Veja, a brand that we can safely say is changing the way we think about sneakers, is a producer of high quality fair trade footwear and accessories made from organic materials. The company works closely with small producers in Brazil and France, so that it can have full control over the materials being used in the production process.

In 2004, founders Sébastien Kopp and Ghislain Morillion built a successful brand, while at the same time raising awareness of the importance of using ecological materials, and inspired many aspiring entrepreneurs to do the same. Simple, sophisticated and at the same time sporty, these sneakers are something special indeed.

Simple, minimalist design

When buying footwear, bags and wallets, the first thing we look at are the aesthetics. The bag and sneakers have to match our overall style and suit our fashion sense. The Veja brand provides us with a minimalistic design that is suitable for every style, and will meet the standards of even the pickiest fashionista.

Organic cotton

Veja is famous for purchasing cotton from 320 small producers who grow cotton under agro-ecology principles. These producers are actually families of small-scale farmers that have around 1 hectare of land on average. Together they form ADEC, the Association of Growers in Northeast Brazil. All of Veja’s cotton sneakers and accessories are made of organic cotton, which is free of agrichemicals and pesticides.

Rubber from the Amazon

As the Amazon is the only place in the world where rubber trees grow in the wild, and Veja uses that rubber to make high quality soles for their sneakers. They work with 60 families of Seringueiros, or rubber tappers. They use a process called FDL (Folha Desfumada Liquida, i.e. Liquid Smoked Sheet), which enables them to transform latex into rubber sheets. This process is brilliant and eco-friendly, as there is no additional industrial processing involved.

Ecological Leather

The most fascinating thing about Veja products made of leather, is that the brand has control over the entire leather supply chain. Moreover, what many people don’t know is that they tan their leather with vegetable oils extracted from the Acacia tree. Heavy metals are usually used in the tanning process, but Veja has taken care of our planet by using only chromium, which drastically decreases water pollution.

Veja takes care of our environment

The key priority of Veja is to reduce CO2. All of their products are transported by boat in order to decrease emissions and energy use.Also, they use recycled and recyclable cardboard when making packaging.

Any outfit, any occasion

There are so many different options to choose from that you won’t know which pair to buy first. Simple and minimalistic, but still different from anything else you have worn before. While the sneakers are not meant for black tie events, they are a perfect casual wear item for virtually any other occasion.

Quality for the whole family

High quality, comfortable and beautifully designed, these sneakers are a great choice for the whole family. Except for the men’s and women’s wear models, they also come in children’s sizes. If you still have no idea what to buy your kids for Christmas, maybe it’s time to think about a nice pair of eco-friendly sneakers.

Beautifully Crafted Models

Veja’s products are crafted in factories in Rio Grande Do Soul, Brazil. What makes the factories special are the workers who constantly strive to improve the manufacturing process. The company takes good care of the workers, and provides them with various perks and good salaries. Products are made well only when they are made by happy workers.

No advertising

This is one of the rare brands that doesn’t advertise its products, but uses the extra money to perfect their production chain. There is certainly competition, but Veja believes in people who will actually read something about the products before they buy them. When looking at products on their website, you get detailed information about each model. With just one click , you will get an extensive description of a product, including the organizations and designers involved in launching it.

Reflection of a style and attitude

Wearing Veja products is certainly a matter of both style and attitude. Knowing all the materials, and where they came from, allows you to make an informed decision. If you are concerned with reducing pollution and saving our planet, you will certainly love this brand.

The point isn’t to stop buying quality products, but to focus on brands which that offer high quality, while being sustainable. This way we can raise awareness, and make other brands turn to more eco-friendly and sustainable methods, while looking good and feeling comfortable at the same time.

Every Drop Matters, Every Second Counts

Posted on October 23, 2015 by lsdiaz03

We often forget that there are many people less fortunate than us. This isn’t something you need to feel guilty about – it’s in human nature to allow our minds to be preoccupied with everyday troubles like our jobs, home chores and our social life. However, some global issues can’t wait for us to have time but instead need to be dealt with right now. Let me tell you how this watch (yes, watch…as in the thing you wear around your wrist that tells the time) is saving lives!!

Fight for Basic Humans Rights

Just try to imagine how you would feel if you were thirsty all the time and you couldn’t take a refreshing shower or pour yourself a cup of delicious coffee. It’s even hard to imagine, isn’t it? Well, developing countries deal with such problems on daily basis – every day mothers send their thirsty children to schools that don’t have safe drinking water. Water is a basic human right, and not a single being on our planet should be left without it.

Running Out of Time & Water

Unsafe water and unhygienic living conditions are the cause of over 90% of the 30,000 deaths that happen every week – and that number only covers children under the age of five. If we act on this horrifying fact and help distribute clean water and improve hygiene conditions, together we can prevent over 3.6% of the world’s disease problem.

Potters for Peace

Side by side with NGO, RDIC.org, Local Cambodian Ceramic Factory and Reputable Chinese Manufacturers through Alibaba, TUK wants to put an end to this. A brilliant solution that’s beneficial in many different areas has appeared – according to a UNICEF study in Cambodia, ceramic filters made for pots are light, relatively inexpensive, easily portable, chemical free and highly efficient.

For $15 we have managed to fit in a ceramic filter, 11 liter filter pot, 35 liter water storage and a cleaning kit. The whole pot and everything included can last up to around 5 years, and filters should be changed after up to two years. The pots are manufactured locally, so the Cambodians themselves are working on their production – Marc Hall is the one responsible for providing safe working conditions, great pay and health benefits for his employees.

Sophistication, Simplified

Did you know that TUK is actually a Cambodian world for water? Our story actually begins with Kelsey Braun who founded TUK Watches with Shelby Bissen in 2015. After spending time in developing countries, she personally experienced what it’s like to be out of drinking water. This experience changed her and allowed her to get a better perspective on life.

After she met Shelby Bissan, they found a way to bring a sense of urgency closer to the minds of people in first world countries. By creating a simple, but sophisticated watch design, made out of leather bands and stainless steel clasps, the TUK team combined serious global problems with fashion – because every second counts.

Join their cause on Kickstarter from October 15^th to November 24^th and help them collect $22,000, so they can run their first production. Help make the world a better place.

Get Wasted at Sweetgreen

Posted on September 25, 2015 by lsdiaz03

Sweetgreen started a campaign this summer called “Get Wasted”, which raises awareness about how much healthy food we waste every day. The goal is to stop people from wasting nutritious and healthy parts of vegetables and actually use them in meals.

Founded in 2007, they have been fighting for healthy and organic diet, and with their dishes they have been contributing this cause for years. Not only are their organic ingredients are carefully chosen from local farmers but their core values include thinking sustainably, which encourages other people to become more aware of our environment and its needs.

Are you aware how much food you throw out?

Every year, a great amount of food ends up in the dumpster, and we don’t think for a second about how much food we are wasting, and how much money we are throwing out. As Dan Baber says: “our culture wastes, because we can afford to waste.” But, is it really a good choice? What are we achieving by that?

Dan Barber’s wastED salad that will change the way you think

Chef Dan Barber put all food waste in one bowl and surprised a lot of people. The wastED salad has become popular all around the world, and more and more people are supporting the cause via social media. This salad will be available on all Sweetgreen’s locations-go try it out!

This salad contains: carrot ribbons, broccoli leaf, romaine heart, roasted kale stems, roasted broccoli stalks and cabbage cores, roasted bread butts, arugula, shaved parmesan, spicy sunflower seeds and pesto vinaigrette. Inspired by Blue Hill Chef Dan Barber’s wastED campaign, Sweetgreen recognized the need to take some further steps and encourage people to become aware of their environment and food they’re wasting on a daily basis.

Make an impact and make a change

People need to finally realize that their opinion and decisions do change the world and influence our community. Think of what you include in your diet every day, and see if it is really as healthy as everything that our agriculture offers.

“The choices we make every day about what we eat, where it comes from, and how it was raised have powerful consequences on the health of individuals, communities and the planet.” – Sweetgreen

Top 5 Sustainable Wine Companies

Posted on September 12, 2015 by lsdiaz03

Sustainability is the word of our age. No matter what kind of industry you’re in or what type of business you do, this is something you need to strive towards to – either you’re going green or you’re going extinct. Economic, social and environmental elements put heavy pressure on companies to go through this transition and develop healthy standards that will be enforced from now on.

Being that wine is a luxury product, the wine industry counts on marketing to provide enough resources for maintaining successful companies that are also sustainable. On the other hand, wine comes from agriculture and it’s only natural for its production to be – well – natural. Sustainable leaders in the industry are constantly finding new ways to further develop organic production, and work on innovations when it comes to packaging, biodynamics and all other aspects of wine production.

Otherwise, wine dependent regions will suffer the consequences; if production is stagnating or contributing to the decrease in the overall quality of life on the planet, the profits will plummet. Some companies are more successful than others with this matter, and they set an example that should be followed and admired.

Ampelos Cellars

There are three different certifications that wine companies work really hard to get. The first one marks sustainability in practice, the second one is about being organic all the way, and the third one symbolizes achievements in the field of bio-dynamics. Guess who got all three of them? Ampelos Cellars are a highly socially responsible company – if you have a winery and you want to go green, they are the role model you should look up to. They completely gave up on using bottled water, and their cover crop are fava beans, sweet peas and homes for friendly insects, so they don’t disturb the ecosystem. There’s one more fact that will explain why they are the leading eco winery – they utilize solar power.

Silvertap

Here’s an interesting idea – why serve wine from bottles when you can cut down glass expenses and serve it directly from a keg? Besides, we all know that just one bottle is rarely enough, which is why getting a keg is a much better idea. Sure, this idea is quite practical, but actually applying it within the wine industry may not be the greatest move – the industry is all about sophistication, and kegs don’t really give that impression, do they? No matter the case, Silvertap still decided to go through with this project and their daring move was widely accepted and appreciated by the green community.

Alma Rosa

In order to reduce glass production, the Alma Rosa team decided to employ a standard bottle mold for all wines they make, which directly decreases the waste. Maintaining high standards when it comes to quality, but still deciding to give up a significant factor in this industry, namely aesthetics, seems like a winning combo when a wine company wants to go green. However, this is not all they did – their wineries use only green farming techniques. There’s no such thing as doing enough when it comes to environmental issues.

Frei Brothers

Their continual efforts to cut down on glass usage as much as possible really make them stand out in a sea of similar companies, but the fact their corks are made only out of tree bark is another big plus. Frei Brothers admirers might be the luckiest among all – fans who show support for their efforts to save the environment receive various gifts.

One Hope Wine

This traditional Napa Valley vineyard really cares about their home. One Hope winery has a beautiful vision to co-exist with nature around it, and save it from all possible factors that might cause damage. After all, nature is the one responsible for this delicious beverage, and this kind of gift needs to be appreciated. Their efforts to cut back on glass production and lower overall water and energy consumption are at an enviable level. Maintaining the product quality their fans are used to and still constantly introducing new eco-friendly innovations to their winery really is an example for everyone to follow. Also check out their foundation for details on how each wine you purchase gives back. One Hope Foundation at http://www.onehopefoundation.org.

There’s so much more to wine than a simple glass that embellishes your meal. Behind each bottle, there’s a journey – each wine house nurtures their well–hidden recipes, they love and nurture each grape, they make sure you’re provided with a top quality product, and they do their best to protect our planet. So, the next time you’re trying to decide between two brands, maybe you should do some research and allow the deciding factor to be whether they are eco-friendly or not. It will taste better when you know that someone devoted and caring made it.

Jessica Alba’s The Honest Company – A Business Built on Good Value

Posted on September 9, 2015 by lsdiaz03

Jessica Alba launched The Honest Company some years back, and faced quite a few worried looks when she pitched her idea and asked for funding. In essence, the idea was a simple and morally correct one – creating, household, beauty and hygiene products using natural ingredients that don’t put anyone’s health at risk, and being incredibly open about what goes into the products.

A high level of transparency, going so far as to make even the containers transparent, combined with what seemed to be a genuine concern for the wellbeing and happiness of the consumers, and just a pinch of movie star charisma, have proven to be an incredibly potent recipe for success.

The Honest Company is now valued at around $1.7 billion, which just goes to show that putting the customer first and focusing on quality can actually work out quite well for entrepreneurs. So, what is this company all about, and why is there such a huge hype surrounding it?

The People in Charge Really Believe in What They Are Doing

The first thing you notice about this company is that it’s not just something a movie star invested in because it looked like a business venture that would make him or her even richer. Jessica Alba has been outspoken about her concerns that too many modern products are loaded with toxic chemicals. Ever since she launched the company she has worked hard on promoting a healthier lifestyle and urging people to pay more attention to what they put on and into their bodies and the bodies of their family. She is a mother of two, and her co founder Christopher Gavigan a father of three, so you know they are not just trying to use clever marketing ploys when they talk about raising healthy and strong children, and protecting your family.

The Company’s Inspiring Mission Statement and Philanthropic Work

The easiest way to know for sure whether a company is just jumping on the latest bandwagon and pulling your heartstrings with one hand while the other reaches for the wallet, or if they truly want to make a difference and give back to the community is to pay attention to their charity work. Those that talk the talk, but don’t walk the walk will make some donations here and there, but the true philanthropists with good moral values will constantly strive to make a difference. The Honest Company invests a portion of the proceeds from every purchase into helping the community in several different ways:

Putting healthy food choices in schools
Educating people on proper nutrition
Funding research and training that ensures the health of developing infants up to the age of three
Putting safer cleaning products in schools
Funding the education of ambitious young minds

This company’s mission is to ensure the proper development of babies and young children, help improve the health and wellbeing of growing bodies and ensuring that the new generations get the support they need to grow into productive members of society. These are goals that everyone can get behind.

Elegant Design and High Quality Standards

Even if we ignore Miss Alba’s movie star fame, the transparent approach and their philosophy and philanthropic approach, the products can speak for themselves. The containers are simple and elegant, featuring transparent packaging with a detailed ingredients list and calming colors. Putting natural ingredients and carefully avoiding potentially dangerous chemicals isn’t just a neat marketing gimmick – as hundreds of positive reviews, and customers raving about the products on social media can attest to, their stuff really works.

Not only do the products work as advertised, but they are offered in creative little bundles and the customers can sign up to receive monthly packages. This hassle free online shopping model, combined with clearly visible results are the things that made The Honest Company so successful.

They don’t offer products, they offer a lifestyle

When all’s said and done, we come to the very essence of the matter – these people offer a lifestyle and a better future, not mere products. This kind of talk alienates some people who’ve become jaded from years of being exposed to companies that try to paint a pretty picture while making some incredibly shade moves under everyone’s noses, but there are still plenty of good people in the world. Companies like these are run by such people, and if more passionate entrepreneurs followed in their footsteps this would be a much better world to live in.

Post Witten By: Vladimir Zivanovic

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