Corporate Social Responsibility

This site is an incredible source of info on corporate ethics and eco-friendliness. It can be overwhelming but their reports pertain to our daily lives as consumers. For example, here's an article/advertisement concerned with wasteful card-sending on Valentine's Day:
CSR: How Green is Your Love?

Plastic garbage patch in the ocean

Definitely Check this out!!
I know we mentioned in class one time the world of plastic there is underwater in one particular spot of the ocean. In this video, Capt. Charles Moore of the Algalita Marine Research Foundation discusses the main issues with plastic in relation to the ocean. I personally know that plastic bottle caps are not recyclable but there are thousands and millions of people that don't and the direct effects can be seen in this video. The use of plastic is already being discouraged in an effort to create a more environmentally friendly society but this video makes me think about how to get to the root of the problem?

Kamal Meattle on how to grow fresh air | Video on TED.com

Kamal Meattle on how to grow fresh air | Video on TED.com
This video is pretty cool because it tells us how to get cleaner fresher air indoors. It seems like it works kind of like an air filter but just naturally. It also explains why we see the areca palm often indoors in large office or county buildings.

Book for Inspiration

So, I have been looking into some book that talk about green innovations and design. I highly recommend this book. It is beautiful and has rich images of works by other artist. It was the sources of inspiration for my first project.

Green Design
by: Marcus Fairs

Did you know about all the types of acceptable plastic bags for recycling? I didn't know you could recycle cereal bags! Check it out:
http://www.plasticbagrecycling.org/plasticbag/s01_consumers.html

Also here are 2 blogs that have tips for reducing waste, both from couples who tried to create zero waste for an entire year.
The first is from New Zealand, so may have less relevance but they have great resources under "Rubbish-Free Guide" and "Links." Their blog doesn't seem to be working at the moment - ?
http://www.rubbishfreeyear.co.nz/index.php

This one is from a couple in Oregon. Again, good resources and links:
http://greengarbageproject.adammathiasdesign.com/

N55 (art collective)

N55 is a Copenhagen based art collective, begun in 1994. The members create work which is never copyrighted and free to everyone. Their site can be located here and their free manuals can be located here. Some examples of their work:
The Snail Shell System:

I love this because it reminds me of a useful, serious version of that Halliburton bubble costume from the Yes Men movie. If I could get a hitch and hook it up to my bicycle, I would bring it everywhere!
http://www.n55.dk/MANUALS/SNAIL_SHELL_SYSTEM/SSS.html

Another project by N55 relevant to ecology is called LAND:
"LAND is constructed from pieces of land in different places in the world. The various parts are added to LAND by persons who guarantee that anybody can stay in LAND and use it. Any person can initiate expansions of LAND. The geographical positions of LAND can be found in Manual for LAND. The manual is continuously updated at www.N55.dk/LAND.html. A current version can also be obtained by contacting N55." More information can be found here:
http://www.n55.dk/LAND.html

Cabott/Koppers/Beazer

We have discussed the Koppers Superfund, and I have been attending meetings hosted by Protect Gainesville Citizens for the past few weeks. It is clear to me that the site is a real concern, mostly related to the Plume as they call it, which is Arsenic contaminated groundwater that has penetrated the Hawthorn Layer. This deep soil and water contamination is not being addressed by the current cleanup plans being discussed. I encourage everyone to spend some time and do more research here:
Protect Gainesville Citizens is a non-profit organization devoted to the cleanup of the Gainesville, FL Cabott-Koppers site which is now owned by Beazer East. Wild Iris Books hosts the bi-weekly meetings for the group and is very excited at the possibility of having local artists represent this issue. They have proposed that we hold an event, an opening maybe, during the March art walk. This would be a great opportunity to interact with the public, perhaps in some performative, theatrical, or other non-traditional way. Thoughts?