Elisa's Green Scene

Treehugger features Brilliant Earth

I've written about my engagement ring here before. It came from a San Francisco-based online-focused store called Brilliant Earth. They feature conflict-free diamonds from Canada (and apparently also now from Namibia), recycled gold and platinum and donate a portion of their proceeds to a charity focused on helping cleanup the mess that the blood diamond trade in Africa leaves behind.

I happened to get engaged, and we happened to find Brilliant Earth and design my ring, right around the time the movie Blood Diamond came out. Brilliant Earth was, understandably, in the press quite a bit for a little while, and they asked me if I would comment to media about why I chose them etc. Which I was glad to do. Ended up being quoted in both the LA Times and the SF Chronicle because of it.

Don't know why Brilliant Earth got on the radar again now, particularly, but I'm glad to see Treehugger cover them.

Also glad to see them focus on the recycled metals part of the BE offering...which is just as important, and probably has just as much impact, as the conflict-free diamonds.

I continue to maintain that eco-friendly and compassionate products have to function as well as the non- version, and they have to be as affordable. When such options exist...and when we send our consumer dollars consistently towards such options...thats when conscious shopping will go mainstream.

Me? Kind words for the Governator?

Yup, I've got some kind words for Arnold Schwarzenegger today.

Unlike some ridiculous Republican Governors who are grandstanding that they're going to turn down stimulus funds for their states because they have issues with the bill that was passed, Arnold has productively and constructively figured out something that sounds great to do with those funds. According to the Daily Green, Arnold is forming the California Green Corps to connect at-risk young adults with green jobs or the skills to get green jobs.

More about it:

This unique program will combine efforts from non-profits, foundations and businesses across the state. While the students are being trained they will continue their educations and they will volunteer in their neighborhoods; in fact, the program is part of California Volunteers. After being trained – the pilot program will last 20 months – students will be assisted in job placement. These students will be trained for green jobs such as installing solar panels, and producing wind turbines and cogeneration units.

Sounds like a win-win to me.

Meanwhile, I am truly curious to see how the Governors who actually do reject funding for their states are treated the next time they're up for re-election. Seems to me that most people will have a similar gut reaction that I had to their statements: Easy for you to say, Mr. or Ms. Governor, living off the State and facing plenty of opportunity once you're out of office. What about the rest of us without quite the fancy cushion and safety net you have????

What? Am I over-reacting? 

Attention architects, design students and all-around visionaries!

Want to try your hand at designing a city block?http://www.urbanrevision.com/competitions/revision-dallas

Oh, it has to be a totally sustainable urban community in the heart of Dallas.

Totally cool competition, more details here: Re:Vision DALLAS

From their web site:

This is more than something to aspire to. Re:Vision Dallas is real. The land is purchased. The Mayor of Dallas has granted his support. Thousands of hours have been devoted to setting up this competition. We’ve consulted experts like RMI. Led conceptual charettes with industry experts. Brainstormed with local officials on essential issues to consider. This block will happen.

Don't know if this is the first competition of its kind, but I do think it's a sign of the times and a signal about our future. I'm very curious how this goes.

You have until May 8th to submit...get your vision board ready!

A vegan travels overseas

I returned last week from a 10-day trip...6 days in South Africa, 1 day in London, and sadly about 3 days spent on travel itself.

It's hard to wrap my head around exactly how I want to answer the question "how was it?"

It was amazing, and one of those cliched once-in-a-lifetime experiences. And more than anything it was mentally engaging...not just because spending hours driving around the bushlands scouting for cool animals to go take photos of keeps you very focused and absorbed, but also mentally engaging, as in thought provoking. Thinking about the beauty of the lands, and the poverty of many of the people. The fascination we have with wildlife, and then the way most people think nothing of then eating that wildlife.

It highlighted for me that humans seem to have this mechanism for separating ourselves. Segmenting out thoughts, so that we don't get too bothered. Sometimes it seems like that's as much hard work as it is to be more conscious and try to act on that consciousness.

Still thinking about it all, but do have some links for y'all:

-If you want the links to where all of my photographs are, find them here

-I mused lightly about this whole "I love animals; I eat animals" conundrum here

-And you can learn about how I packed to make sure I didn't starve as a vegan going somewhere I wasn't sure even knew what a vegan was here  

Glad to be home, but really glad I went.

Tim Gunn is a compassionate fashionista

While I was away on the first real (and long) vacation I have taken in six years (more on that later) BlogHer was lucky enough to get to send one of our BeautyHacks bloggers to Fashion Week courtesy of American Express. Metalia got a whole lot of backstage and inside access.

I knew this was happening before I left for vacation, but what I didn't know was that Metalia was going to score an interview with my fashion hero: Project Runway's Tim Gunn...OMG OMG!!

That's thrilling enough ( as is his down-to-earth demeanor and advice) but then one of the commenters shared that Tim is not only anti-fur (which I knew, but just an all-around proponent of compassionate fashion (no leather, wool, fur, suede etc.) [You can see Tim narrate this video from PETA, but I warn you, it is extremely graphic. I could not watch more than a little bit, which had me absolutly horrified and sobbing. I decided since I already don't choose fur, leather suede, wool or even silk that it was OK for me to stop watching.]

More in text, not video, here from Care2.

I'm swooning even more for Tim Gunn than I was before!