Yes Men Give Dasani a Truthful Makeover

If more customers knew that Dasani water was simply municipal tap water – the same exact stuff that comes out of their own faucets at home – would they pay a premium for it? Probably not, as notorious eco-pranksters The Yes Men found out during a recent trip to Boston.

The Yes Men and “Coca-Cola spokespeople” unveiled a new, more truthful name and label for Dassani bottled water at a park and then spoke to people about whether they would buy it.

Check it out:

From The Phoenix:

The mock press conference, part of Boston-based Corporate Accountability International’s (CIA) Think Outside the Bottle campaign, protested Coca-Cola’s refusal to state Dasani’s origin — public water sources — on its labels, as Pepsi and Nestlé have done with their bottled-water brands.

“This is a classic case of deception,” said Mike Bonanno (a/k/a Igor Vamos), in town that day with main cohort Andy Bichlbaum (né Jacques Servin) for the opening of The Yes Men Fix the World at the Coolidge Corner Theatre. “They don’t want people to know that they’re drinking tap water because it’s pure profit. Basically, they’ve figured out such a great scam that they don’t want it to end.”

Check out the rest of their eco-pranks at TheYesMen.org.

Link [The Phoenix]

Man Who Stared at Goats Explains ‘Earth Army’

It seems too ludicrous to be real: a U.S. Army unit that sought to acquire and refine Jedi-like powers, and trained by attempting to kill goats through mind power alone. But the movie ‘The Men Who Stare at Goats’, starring George Clooney, Jeff Bridges, Ewan McGregor and Kevin Spacey, is based on actual events and people.

One of those people is retired U.S. Army Lt. Col. Jim Channon, who was the brains behind the loopy 1st Earth Battalion.

From Sign On San Diego:

Channon, who is loosely portrayed by a Dudelike Bridges, embarked on a two-year government-funded fact-finding mission that included naked hot tub encounters and yoga retreats so he could write a military manual in 1978 to help Army “Jedi” soldiers reach a higher spiritual plane. He envisioned a more Zenlike approach to combat, with troops wearing ginseng-equipped uniforms, offering symbolic flowers, cradling baby lambs in hostile territory and greeting enemies with “sparkly eyes.”

“If the ideas were instituted and they worked, we would be a far better world,” Heslov says. “Do I believe it could happen? Probably not. But I’ve got to give the military credit.”

Channon now lives on an “eco-homestead” in Hawaii and describes himself as a “global elder” and “mystic landcrafter” still pursuing creative ways to bring world peace. In a video posted on his Web site, firstearthbattalion.org, he takes the movie’s humor with a grain of salt and asserts that his out-of-the-box thinking for his “mythical battalion” wasn’t absurd.

“If soldiers are telepathic during a firefight, that would be very useful,” Channon explains at one point. He ends the video with his trademark “Go Planet!”

The movie definitely takes liberties with the story – director Grant Heslov figures about 65% is lifted from Jon Ronson’s non-fiction book of the same name – but fear not, Jim Channon is here to tell you the real story. His website contains all kinds of information about the 1st Earth Battalion, and he explains some of it below:

Read more at Sign On San Diego.

Link [Sign On San Diego]

Weird, Yet Awesome: Helmet Hummingbird Feeder

Hummingbirds are so fun to watch, with their colorful little wings that move so fast they’re a blur – but it can be hard to see them up close. One wacky new product allows you to see hummingbirds like you’ve never seen them before – an inch from your eyeballs.

From The Daily Mail:

A new helmet with a built-in bird feeder will allow wearers to get amazing face to face contact with nature.

The flighty birds hover in front of the wearer’s face for up to 30 seconds as they drink a sugar-water solution from between the eyes of the feeder mask.

The wearable hummingbird feeder is covered in images of red rhododendrons to further attract the birds and protects your eyes and face from being pecked.

Those who want to try out the gadget need to have patience. The mask is first placed over a can of paint for a few days to allow the birds to get used to it.

It’s one of those bizarre products that’s probably wholly unnecessary – but then again, doesn’t use up much more plastic than a regular hummingbird feeder and gets people in closer (MUCH closer!) contact with nature. And, that’s a good thing, right?

Link [The Daily Mail]

Fat, Angry Captain Planet Goes to Copenhagen

What has Captain Planet been doing in all these long years since he was the earth’s premier protector? Apparently, he’s been breathing in a whole lot of nasty toxic air and feeding on the same plastic that’s killing all those albatross chicks. He’s pissed, and headed to Copenhagen to demand action.

“I can barely breathe this air and my stomach is full of plastic! It’s time for you guys to pull together and stop polluting the earth!”

This totally awesome cartoon was created by an Australian animator named Chris who calls himself ‘Lord Zorgatron’. He’s known as ‘SexualLobster’ on YouTube. Check out more of his work at GreasyMoose.com.

Link [GreasyMoose.com] via [Ecorazzi]

Slay Your Energy Vampires!

It’s Halloween, the day all the monsters come out of the woodwork – but don’t forget, your house is already full of vampires. Energy-sucking vampire electronics, to be precise. Not only do they pack unnecessary dollars onto your electric bill every month, they also waste tons of energy, forcing those polluting factories to work overtime.

It’s time to hunt them down and kill them – with this guide by Delta Carbon Offsets.

Here’s what you can do.

Make it a family exercise. Have the kids look in every nook and cranny – in each room, in the basement, in the garage, and make a list of every vampire module. Then determine what to do with each of them.
Some need to stay plugged in.

In certain cases, such as perhaps an alarm clock or clock radio, the appliance needs the power all the time. The power module is supplying the juice to allow the clock to run, or to keep its memory.
Some only need to be plugged in when you’re using them.

A lot of appliances only draw power from the module when they’re doing their assigned task, like audio components, stereo systems and certain small lamps, etc. These vampires can be contained easily. You can simply unplug them when you’re finished with them, or better yet, plug them into an outlet strip with a power switch, like this one.

Read the rest at Delta Carbon Offsets. Happy Halloween!

Link [DeltaCarbon.org]

South Park Eviscerates ‘Whale Whores’

The Sea Shepherds organization works hard to protect whales from slaughter all over the world, as documented on Animal Planet’s ‘Whale Wars’– but nobody is safe from Trey Parker and Matt Stone, who made the group the focus of yet another hilarious episode of South Park entitled ‘Whale Whores’.

Not even the Miami Dolphins are safe from Japanese hunters (decked out in traditional dress) and the “badass” Sea Shepherd crew comes to the rescue with amazingly effective methods like stinky butter bombs. Here’s part 1:

Some animal rights activists might be offended by the harsh lampooning (or should we say harpooning?) of Paul Watson, but don’t get the wrong idea – this episode isn’t sending the message that whaling is okay. It’s asking people to think about the fact that we’re upset by the idea of whales being killed, but don’t extend the same empathy to the animals we slaughter for food.

Watch the whole episode at SouthParkStudios.com.

Link [Ecorazzi]

British Robot Raps About Recycling

Nothing makes kids want to recycle like a rapping robot with a British accent. At least, that seems to be the thinking behind this weird and funny video of an educational presentation by The Housing Education Initiative – made just a little bit stranger by the robot’s sign-spinning backup dancer.

Hey, whatever works! Back in the dark ages when I was in school, recycling education consisted of falling asleep during a lecture. Robots make pretty much everything cooler.

Link [YouTube]

Eco Surgical Masks & More Bizarre Greenovations

The never-ending parade of amazingly strange “green” inventions continues even through the recession with bizarre inventions that will make you ask, “why?” Some are awesome – like reusable tote bags that turn into Mexican wrestling masks (WIN!) while others will have you scratching your head in confusion, like male floral fascinators.

Trendhunter has a great gallery of 30 weird eco innovations, some more earth-friendly than others. Here are some of our favorites:

We’ve all seen floral fascinators and hair accessories for women, but Nissa Quanstrom’s ‘Green Streets’ shoot turns the tables and lets men wear flowers on their faces as well.

By adding an image of a Mexican wrestler on the bag, the sack looks super-radical when filled. Now what happens when it is empty? The Eco Warrior Bag is the best reason to have a costume party! Put that bad boy on your head and you have a night of hilarity ahead of you.

Designed by Australian industrial designers Ben Landau and Brittany Veitch, each Bio-Accessory includes a living organism that is supposed to create a ‘mobile natural environment.’ The idea behind the Bio-Accessories is to have nature within an urban setting.

Japanese wood design company Sasaki Kogei has created stunning, eco-friendly wooden guns. The gun is a replica of a Smith and Wesson model 2 Army gun. The company also offers another eco-friendly wooden guns including the 357 Korutopaison.

Check out the other 26 weird inventions over at TrendHunter.

Link [TrendHunter]

Skunk Whisperer Frees Skunk from Peanut Butter Jar

Peanut butter is irresistible to skunks, says ‘Skunk Whisperer’ (yes – really) Ned Bruha, who was called on the scene after a newspaper delivery woman spotted a skunk with his head stuck in a jar of the tasty goo.

There is officially a ‘whisperer’ for everything.

Your life simply wouldn’t have been complete without seeing a skunk with a peanut butter jar on its head. You’re welcome.

Link [Buzzfeed]

Vote for Dorothee to be the Next Green ‘It’ Girl!

Who’s the next green ‘it’ girl? Project Green Search is looking for the woman who wants to be an advocate for the environment, animal welfare, fair trade, and human rights. The next green ‘it’ girl is a model, spokesperson, host, brand ambassador and all around green model citizen, for progressive, sustainable, ethical companies, from fashion & beauty to cars & computers.

We know just the girl… our own Dorothee Royal-Hedinger, sustainable food advocate and co-founder of OrganicNation.tv! Dorothee is more than just a (ridiculously) pretty face – she’s got brains and passion for sustainability in spades, just the qualities that a well-rounded green ‘it’ girl should have.

Please vote for Dorothee so she can continue her work in spreading the message of sustainability.

“The more I learn about sustainability and organic food, the more I realize that being eco-conscious can’t stop at the dinner table. For our health and for the health of the planet, we all need to make eco-friendly choices when purchasing things like beauty products and clothing.

I’ve realized that fashion has the power to make a difference because of the joy and interest it brings people who might not normally be exposed to environmental issues. It’s been such a pleasure working with leaders in eco-fashion that I have to admit, I’m hooked! I would be proud to continue fostering environmental awareness in young consumers through something as fun as fashion.

As a “green” model, I would aim to show that being green means being hip, confident and conscious about what we consume, but most of all I would enjoy celebrating healthy food, healthy clothing and healthy bodies!”

-Dorothee

Voting is really easy, and every single vote counts… just click this link & select 5 stars under her photo, and leave a note at the bottom of the page if you like. Hurry – voting ends tomorrow!

Link [Project Green Search]

The Invisible Man: Liu Bolin’s Amazing Camouflage Art

What if humans could blend into the environment as effortlessly as some animals can? A photography series by Beijing-based artist Liu Bolin called ‘Camouflage’ explores a fascinating way to do this, without the use of camo print: painting human subjects so that they disappear into a background.

Bolin painstakingly paints his subjects’ faces, hair, hands, clothing and shoes to match a chosen setting, taking up to ten hours per shoot to get it just right. In some photos, like the two shown above, it really takes a moment to spot the people in the photos. Often, passersby can’t even tell that they’re there.

Of the series, the artist says, “In my photography, historical statues, costumes and architecture become symbols of that which confines us. I am expressing the desire to break through these structures. I portray subjects that seem to disappear into these structures and become transparent. The subject is released from social constructs and he is free.”

Link [ArtInfo.com] + [Design Boom]

Vote for Your Favorite Drive Smarter Challenge Video!

Have you ever wanted to be a film critic? Now’s your chance! It’s time to vote for your favorite video from among ten finalists in the Drive Smarter Video Contest launched by The Alliance to Save Energy. Your vote can help determine who wins the $5000 grand prize and three other exciting prizes!

The entrants took highly creative approaches to illustrate driving and vehicle maintenance tips that save money and increase fuel efficiency. There’s the smart, chatty GPS system that inspires flirting… a carpool with back-seat smooching… a broken-heartened, guitar-strumming, singing cowboy with his truck named Earl…

Public voting on 10 short videos aimed at helping to drive smarter, reduce their gas consumption and drive fewer miles has already begun and continues until Monday, October 19, 11:59 PM (EDT). To rate the videos, visit the Drive Smarter Challenge video contest website: http://drivesmarterchallenge.org/contest.  Videos are just two minutes or shorter, and you can return to the site if you don’t finish rating all 10 in one sitting.

Every video is completely different, and we enjoyed rating our favorites.  Now it’s your turn!

Link [Drive Smarter Challenge]

Ig Nobel Award Winners Include Gas Mask Bra, Panda Poo

Some research is just so strange, so goofy, that according to Harvard University, it just shouldn’t be repeated. Harvard-based journal Annals of Improbable Research hands out the ‘Ig Nobel’ awards every year, timed to coincide with the real Nobel awards.

This year’s Ig Nobels included a couple of green concepts that may or may not deserve the dubious distinction – a bra made of two gas masks, and a panda poop-based trash additive.

From The Guardian:

Public health prize

Awarded to Elena Bodnar of Hinsdale, Illinois, for patenting a bra that, in an emergency, can be converted into a pair of gas masks, one for the owner and one for a needy bystander. “It was inspired by the Chernobyl nuclear accident,” said Bodnar, who is originally from Ukraine. “This way, the mask is always readily available.”

Biology prize

Fumiaki Taguchi, Song Guofu and Zhang Guanglei of Kitasato University graduate school of medical sciences in Japan share the prize for demonstrating that kitchen waste can be reduced by more than 90% by using bacteria extracted from giant panda excrement. Taguchi suspected panda faeces must contain bacteria capable of breaking down even the hardiest of foods because of the bear’s vast consumption of bamboo.

Is it just us, or does the panda poop concept actually sound like a great idea? People need to get over this fear of poop, because damned if it hasn’t proven to be incredibly versatile for a range of eco-friendly products and technology lately. And hey, at least the gas mask bra is dual purpose.

The whole list of Ig Nobel prizes is worth a look – for example, the Literature Prize was awarded to the entire police force of Ireland for repeatedly issuing citations to “Mr. Prawo Jazdy”, a ‘name’ that is actually the words “driver’s license” in Polish.

Link [The Guardian]

Ellen Page Likes Shoveling Goat Shit

It’s not often that pretty young Hollywood actresses admit to something weird like enjoying the act of shoveling goat manure. But, Ellen Page isn’t a typical Hollywood actress.

The ‘Juno’ and ‘Whip It’ star told USA Today that she discovered just how relaxing goat shit shoveling can be while taking a break from the spotlight.

“I went to Oregon to study permaculture and lived in an eco-village for a month outside Eugene. It’s called Lost Valley. It was amazing and exactly what I needed.”

“You’re learning how to live in a holistic way with the cycles of the Earth. At one point I was digging goat manure and putting it into a wheelbarrow, and while shovelling it, I just went, ‘Oh, my God, this is exactly what I want to be doing right now.’”

Page definitely seems a lot more down-to-earth than peers like Lindsay Lohan, and you won’t find her hawking nasty spray tan or crashing somebody else’s Maserati any time soon.

“I’m not a fancy person. I love small spaces. I like tiny cars. I don’t buy things, aside from music and books. I don’t get loads f attention and maybe it’s because I’m kind of boring. I don’t think I’m boring, but I have different interests. I don’t go out much, not because I’m hiding but because I’m not a big drinker. I go out and have a good time, I go to concerts and stuff.”

Page stars as roller girl “Babe Ruthless” in Drew Barrymore’s directorial debut ‘Whip It’, which is in theaters now.

Link [Digital Spy]
Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

Matt Damon’s Clean Water PSA Freakout

Does Matt Damon secretly have a wicked temper? The Bostonite has been captured on camera giving a verbal ass-kicking to environmentalist and actor Adrian Grenier while filming a PSA for clean water organization OneXOne as Grenier’s fellow Entourage star Jeremy Pervert Piven looks on.

Damon is set to appear in a cameo on Entourage next week promoting OneXOne, which is his real-life charity. Here’s the scoop, from US Magazine via Ecorazzi:

“The joke is that Matt is very passionate about his charity — almost in a stalkerish kind of way,” Adrian Grenier, who plays movie star Vince, said. “Vince becomes intimated by his intensity. He ends up bullying Vince into giving much more than he should.”

Costar Emmanuelle Chriqui, who plays Sloan, added: “Matt gets Vince to make a massive donation. He’s like, ‘Bro – whip out your checkbook!’”

So, of course it’s just promotional for Damon’s appearance on Entourage. But, it’s still funny to see this notorious ‘nice guy’ drop the F-bomb a dozen times in a two-minute clip!

Link [Ecorazzi]

Add an Upcycled Whip to Your Green Sex Tool Kit

Did you hear? Synthetic, chemical-laden sex aids are out in favor of eco-friendly choices that are healthier for you and healthier for the planet. Hopefully you’ve already given your sex tool kit an eco-makeover with wind-up vibrators, biodegradable condoms and organic lube. Now, you can even add an upcycled whip to your trunk of treasures.

Etsy seller TheInnerWorks turns bicycle inner tubes into “light and extra-stingy eco-floggers” with knotted, fine 12-inch-long tails.

This flogger is made entirely from upcycled and repurposed bicycle tubes that have been discarded and have found a new life in these creations! Each flogger shows subtle signs of these rough-and-tumble past lives- whether slight raised numbers on the rubber or white manufacturers’ marks. These floggers are made without the use of glues or tape, so there’s nothing to crack or get sticky with time.

They’ve even got a recycled inner tube and chain garter, if you’re into that sort of thing. Meow!

Link [TheInnerWorks Etsy]

Current Green’s Weird Green Video Film Festival

There are plenty of bizarre green videos out there – from ‘Magic Marvelous Compost Bin’ to the Kate Moss paper doll video we featured last week – and Current Green wants to bring them all together for a fabulous film festival of weirdness.

Among the videos nominated for the festival are cheeky rap song ‘In My Prius’, ‘Due to Global Warming, Hell Freezes Over’ and ‘Eco Boy’. Watch Eco Boy kick the evil Pollutor in the balls right here:

Got a weird green video you want to nominate? Head over to Current Green, and check out the rest of the videos while you’re there.

Link [Current Green]

Astronomers Pinpoint World’s Best Stargazing Site

Ever wonder where in the world humans have the absolute best view of all the stars in the sky? Astronomers say they’ve found it – the coldest, driest, calmest place on earth, which is expected to yield images three times sharper than any ever taken from the ground.

A research team used data from satellites, ground stations and climate models to determine the factors that can affect astronomy, like cloud cover, sky brightness, water vapor and wind speeds.

From Science Daily:

The researchers pinpointed a site, known simply as Ridge A, that is 4,053m high up on the Antarctic Plateau. It is not only particularly remote but extremely cold and dry. The study revealed that Ridge A has an average winter temperature of minus 70ºC and that the water content of the entire atmosphere there is sometimes less than the thickness of a human hair.

It is also extremely calm, which means that there is very little of the atmospheric turbulence elsewhere that makes stars appear to twinkle: “It’s so calm that there’s almost no wind or weather there at all,” says Dr Will Saunders, of the Anglo-Australian Observatory and visiting professor to UNSW, who led the study.

“The astronomical images taken at Ridge A should be at least three times sharper than at the best sites currently used by astronomers,” says Dr Saunders. “Because the sky there is so much darker and drier, it means that a modestly-sized telescope there would be as powerful as the largest telescopes anywhere else on earth.”

It doesn’t look like much – just a wide swath of frigid, snow-covered land – but putting an observatory here could provide some stunning images. And, there’s nothing like a really clear view of the stars to make you appreciate the vastness of the universe.

Link [Science Daily]
Photo credit: Flickr user Coda

Futurama’s Leela is an EcoFeminist Hero, Sort of

Ecofeminism, civil disobedience for environmental causes, galactic golf and species extinction: all of this and more is featured on ‘Into the Wild Green Yonder’, the last of a series of straight-to-DVD Futurama movies.

Central to the story is a group of pink-wearing eco-feminists riding around in a ‘Vagiroscope’ battling to save an asteroid of primitive life forms from destruction by a businessman who has created the biggest game of (supremely environmentally unfriendly) miniature golf ever played.

Here’s a quick clip:

Futurama	Weeknights, 9p/8c
Into the Wild Green Yonder – Eco-Feminists
www.comedycentral.com
Joke of the Day Stand-Up Comedy Free Online Games

If you missed ‘Into the Wild Green Yonder’ when it played on Sunday night and you’re too lazy to Netflix it, it’ll be replaying this Wednesday, September 2nd, at 7pm EST on Comedy Central.

But wait, there’s more! Previous green-themed Futurama episodes include ‘The Problem with Popplers’, ‘A Taste of Freedom’     and ‘The Birdbot of Ice-Catraz’, and they even covered poo power.

Link [Comedy Central]

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