ISSUE 17: MAY/JUN 2011
GOOD GREEN GLAM!
FASHION:
SUMMER
SAFARI
BEAUTY: FEROCIOUS
COLOR
MEN WE LOVE:
Moby, Louie Psihoyos, John Paul Dejoria, Jeff Corwin, Gene Baur,Wayne Pacelle, Captain Paul Watson, and Steve Irwin
UNTAMED
WILD ADVENTURER:
SEBASTIAN COPELAND
WOMEN: Tippi Hedren,
Kristen Davis,Wendie Malick, Dr. Jane Goodall, and more!
THE WILDLIFE ISSUE
EDITOR IN CHIEF
ANNA GRIFFIN
DIRECTOR OF TRANSMEDIA & BUSINESS DEV. KAREN SNYDER WEBMASTER WOLFGANG KOVACEK CREATIVE DIRECTOR SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER EDITOR-AT-LARGE GUEST EDITOR
K.Y. SNYDER LUKE TRIMMINGS STARRE VARTAN POLLY WALTER & REBECCA MINK
FASHION DIRECTOR MICHELE LLANOS FASHION EDITOR SARAH GRIFFIN BERNS ASSISTANT FASHION EDITOR THUY NGUYEN BEAUTY DIRECTOR
EMMA PEZZACK
EUROPEAN EDITOR SASS BROWN FEATURES EDITOR BETH DOANE PHOTO EDITOR
EMILY PEREZ
EVENTS EDITOR
VICKI GODAL
NY EDITOR MEN WE LOVE EDITOR
JOHANNA BJÖRK NIKKI LIN
WOMEN OF THE WORLD EDITOR
NICOLE LANDERS
TAKE ACTION EDITOR
HEATHER CARTER
CONTRIBUTING EDITOR
ZEM JOAQUIN
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
GRETA EAGAN KEVIN GEORGE VICKI GODAL JOLENE HART MORGAN MCKEAN LEILANI MUNTER ALEX JAMIESON JOHNNY LANGENHEIM JACK LAGOMARSINO DOMENICA PETERSON
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER
JEFFREY FITERMAN JEN ROSENSTEIN PETER FOX
ASSISTANT PHOTOGRAPHER
BRIAN KROFCHICK JOE MERKINS DRU ERIN
KEY HAIR STYLIST
JUDD MINTER
CONTRIBUTING HAIR STYLIST
MARILYN COLE
KEY MAKE UP ARTIST
JULIANNE KAYE
CONTRIBUTING MAKE UP ARTIST CONTRIBUTING STYLIST MANICURIST
AKEMI YAGI ADEEL KHAN DEBBIE LEAVITT
COCO ECO MAGAZINEd is published by Coco Eco Magazine. a Copyright 2008-2011 Coco Eco Magazine. All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without the written permission of the Publisher.
EDITOR LETTER TO YOU BY ANNA GRIFFIN CONTRIBUTORS COCO ECO EDITOR LOVES:
FASHION
08 10 12
COVER STORY A WILD ADVENTURE: Sebastian Copeland Takes Us Into The Cold and Shares A Little of His Soul . . .
WOMEN OF THE WORLD
WILD BEAUTY
14
UNTAMED WOMEN
FUR: THE TRUTH
30 36 38 40
TAKE ACTION
Summer heats up with safari inspired pieces that are sexy, wild and wearable, whether you choose to travel to the Serengeti or the city…
NY EDITOR LOVES EUROPEAN EDITOR LOVES SPOTLIGHT ON FASHION: Mink Shoes
For vegan shoes that are better than leather, go with Mink
BEAUTY WALK ON THE WILD SIDE
Color! Some of us are afraid of it, some of us embrace it with gusto; no matter where you stand and what you think of it, you can wear it!
NO ANIMALS ALLOWED THE MANE EVENT MIND, BODY REBOOT CREAMY SKIN BEAUTY DIRECTOR LOVES SPOTLIGHT ON BEAUTY: L’UVALLA
L’uvalla treats the skin and the senses with its natural, sustainable, cruelty-free line of face and body care.
Tippi Hedren, Kristen Davis, Wendie Malick, Dr. Jane Goodall, Elizabeth Olsen, Neda DeMayo with Tatjana Patitz and Leilani Munter
WILD WAYS
MEN WE LOVE WILD MEN Moby, Louie Psihoyos, John Paul Dejoria, Jeff Corwin, Gene Baur, Wayne Pacelle, Captain Paul Watson, and Steve Irwin
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GO THE ECO-CHIC GUIDE TO BOULDER, COLORADO THREE ECO SAFARI VACATIONS
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80
88 90
98 110
LIFE HUNTING THE UNICORN DANGER! EXOTIC ANIMAL TRADE LOSING HABITAT, LOSING HOME FIGHT FOR DOLPHINS TO BE “BLESED” CORAL TRIANGLE ART, FILM & WILDERNESS
112 114 116 118 120 124 126
EVENTS 25TH GENESIS AWARDS INTO THE COLD PREMIERE GALA 25: FARM SANCTUARY CAPTAIN’S TOAST GYPSY 05 DISCARDED TO DIVINE
SHOPPING CONCIERGE GET IT ALL HERE!
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THE WILDLIFE ISSUE May/Jun 2011 / ISSUE 17
Editor-in-chief Anna Griffin, Sebastian Copeland and photographer Jen Rosenstein
LETTER TO YOU PHOTO CREDIT: Brian Krofchick
THE WILDLIFE ISSUE
Creating this stunningly beautifully issue of Coco Eco Mag has been both a great pleasure and extremely eye-opening. When we decided to do an edition dedicated to the more exotic creatures of the animal kingdom, it was alarming to learn how many are in danger. Whether the big cat family, apes, bears, elephants, horses or marine life, multiple species are facing extinction at an alarming rate. From poaching to habitat encroachment; the brutal and unnecessary slaughter of the Taiji dolphins, to the US government’s rounding up of wild horses; illegal trafficking of exotic animals (a $20 billion dollar industry), to the clubbing of baby seals for their pelts. The list goes on and on. We did also venture into more domestic territory as obviously we have major issues in our own back yard, starting with our factory farming system. The stories, people and organizations that crossed our path during production, made it impossible not to include, and of course as a sustainable fashion publication, it would be remiss of us not to mention the fur industry.
Journey of the Soul,” a gripping and intimate documentary of his expedition to the North Pole, he graciously shared with us details of his inspiring journey. If you haven’t seen the movie yet, I encourage you to do so, for it is a beautiful and intimate account of a vital part of our planet that has rarely been seen, and is rapidly slipping away. We are also thrilled to feature other noble and impassioned individuals including Moby, Kristin Davies, Wendie Malick, John Paul Dejoria, Captain Paul Watson, Jeff Corwin, Dame Jane Goodhall, Tippi Hedren, Tatjana Patitz, Wayne Pacelle, and Gene Baur. And of course, no conversation regarding wildlife would be complete without a posthumous acknowledgement to Steve Irwin, for pioneering the urgent message of animal conservation, and an understanding of this planet’s great creatures.
What has been incredibly uplifting are the people we have encountered that are committed in the fight to protect our planet and its species, and none more so than Sebastian Copeland. Having just released his DVD “Into the Cold: A
Sincerely,
8
Whilst the opportunity to go to some of the world’s more exotic locations to assist in animal conservation might be unlikely, we can choose to support efforts locally. For me, it begins with the many unwanted dogs sitting in pounds here in LA, and whether posting animals in need via my Facebook page, or doing a spontaneous rescue of a death-row dog (which I did for the first time recently), it is easy to do something. Something is better than nothing, and I encourage you to find your own personal way of making a difference, just because you can.
Anna Griffin Editor In Chief, Coco Eco Magazine
| COCO ECO MAGAZINE | May - June 2011
www.cocoecomag.com
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POLLY WALTER
SASS BROWN
EMMA PEZZACK
JEN ROSENSTEIN
A life-long animal welfare activist, Polly Walter has been vegan for 7 years, and vegetarian for 20. She loves baking cupcakes, shopping for cruelty-free shoes, and helping animals. Her website Veggywood. com covers all this plus vegan fashion, recipes, restaurant reviews, adoptable pets and the world famous “Vegan Shoe of the Day” feature. Polly lives in Los Angeles with her three cats Lucia, James and Calvin.
Sass Brown is the Resident Director for the Fashion Institute of Technology’s study abroad program in Florence, Italy. Originally from London, England, Sass established herself as a designer with her own signature collection selling in the UK and across Canada. As a researcher, writer and blogger, her area of expertise is eco fashion, in all of its different expressions, from slow design and heritage craft skills to recycle, reuse and new business models. Her book, Eco Fashion showcases eco fashion around the world.
With a background that spans around 20yrs working directly in the beauty and fashion industries and a burning passion for organic and natural beauty in particular, Emma Pezzack is a self-confessed organic glamazon and responsible hedonist. Having worked on both sides of the beauty business, her background on one hand encompasses sales, marketing and upper level management for major beauty firms such as Revlon & Schwarzkopf; on the other, it involved becoming a trained makeup artist and eventual Fashion Stylist/Creative Director.
Jen Rosenstein is a Los Angeles-based portrait, editorial, and documentary photographer represented by PRETTY BIRD. Her fascination with human nature projects itself through her portraiture, which confronts the onlooker with images that are undeniably honest and captures individual complexities. She’s currently photographing special commissioned projects, editorial and commercial assignments most recently the vents in the gulf oil disaster area while accompanying client, OILiNEX.
Guest Editor
www.veggywood.com facebook.com/veggywood http://twitter.com/veggywood
European Editor
www.ecofashiontalk.com
Beauty Director
www.organicbeautyview.com
Contributing Photographer
www.jenrosenstein.com
CONTRIBUTOR HIGHLIGHT
PETER J. FOX
KEVIN GEORGE
GRETA EAGAN
JOLENE HART
Based in the UK, Peter was first drawn to photography when his sister gave him a camera for being a page boy at her wedding when just 9 years old. He hasn’t put it down since. The photos seen in Coco Eco were shot in Ranthambhore National Park in Rajasthan India. Peter notes, “It was a truly magical journey and opened me up to the powers of mindfulness and being present in the moment . . .”
Kevin George is the founder of Articulate Design, a Brand Design Firm that designs and develops sustainable brand programs with companies such as Lexus, Donna Karan, and Stella McCartney. Kevin blogs for The Huffington Post on the subject of Sustainability and Community. His speaking engagements include Waterkeeper’s Annual Conference, Sustainable Brands Conference, Presidio School of Sustainable Management, Digital Detroit Conference, Siggraph and Digital Hollywood, to name a few.
Greta Eagan is a trendsetting entrepreneur with a conscience! A sustainable fashion expert, blogger and strategist- she helps build content in the digital space. Greta is the founder of FASHIONmeGREEN, a sustainable fashion awareness project and creative agency. She is also co-founder of the Sustainable Fashion Summit- NYC’s first eco-fashion conference.
Jolene Hart is a freelance writer with a passion for natural beauty and holistic health. As former beauty writer for In Style magazine, she has covered every aspect of the beauty industry from product breakthroughs to red carpet beauty to backstage trends at fashion week. She also spent time working in fashion at In Style and Self and reporting on celebrity news and events at People magazine and People Stylewatch.
Contributing Photographer
www.peterjfox.com
Contributing Writer
www.articulate-sf.com
Contributing Writer
www.fashionmegreen.com http://twitter.com/gretaeagan
Contributing Writer
www.jolenehart.com
ORGANIC GLAM BLUSHER This blusher is fabulous for illuminating the face to create a radiant complexion, and bring an instant flush to your cheeks. Containing Mica, and vitamins A, C and E, the Organic Glam Blusher is available in two bright hues, Peach and Pink. I’m feeling the peach. - $49.95 www.theorganicpharmacy.com
JOSIE MARAN ARGAN DAY + NIGHT CREAM
REN MOROCCAN ROSE OTTO BODY CREAM
ARGANICA RESTORATIVE ELIXIR
SCOTCH NATURALS NAIL POLISH
Formulated with Josie’s signature ingredient, Argan Oil, the doubleended jar features two ultra-nourishing formulas infused with her exclusive anti-aging complex, which hydrates, repairs and replenishes skin cells. Both the Day + Night Eye Creams are powered by Regu-Age, a proprietary botanical complex that treats the visible signs of aging and prevents future skin damage.
This gentle and nourishing body cream contains Damask Rose Oil blended with Coconut and Jojoba Oils, and Shea Butter to deeply condition your skin. Ramnose Sugar releases endorphins bringing a sense of comfort to skin, mind and soul, and leaving you soothed, soft, supple, and smelling beautiful. My new favorite.
With ingredients including 100% Organic hand-pressed Argan Oil, sustainably harvested Copaiba Oil, Organic Pomegranate and Chia seed CO2 extracts and therapeutic grade essential oils, Arganica has created a powerful all natural defense elixir against skin imperfections.
Scotch Naturals is a safe and ecofriendly alternative to conventional solvent-based polish. The revolutionary water-based formula nourishes and conditions nails, delivering long lasting, salon-quality color, and is free of toluene, dibutyl phthelate, formaldehyde, acetone, and heavy metals. Available in 17 stunning colors, but I’m loving Highland Fling.
- $68.00 www.sephora.com
- $44.00 www.renskincare.com
- $45.00 www.arganicaoil.com www.jpselects.com (June, 2011)
- $14.99 www.scotchnaturals.com
COCO ECO EDITOR LOVES My Spring Fling! CURATED by: Anna
MAKE LOVE NOT TRASH SAFARI COLLECTION Made of 100% Cotton canvas and printed with non-toxic inks, the Safari Wing Tote is my new favorite bag for spring. Perfect for weekend getaways, running to the gym, or just strolling down the street, this bag is an eco-chic must-have for any girl on the go. - $140.00 www.makelovenottrash.com www.jpselects.com (June, 2011)
Griffin
ANDREA GUTIERREZ SNAKE CUFF
L’UVALLA MILK CLEANSER
Fashioned from scrap leather from a book restorer in NYC, and embellished with a rose gold snake plated from recycled silver, this hand-made cuff is one of my favorite pieces and usually not far from my wrist.
This vegan cleanser removes dirt, oil, and makeup without stripping vital moisture from dry skin. Formulated with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant agents like Organic Wild Chamomile, Passionflower, Ginseng and Lotus Extract, it calms and soothes your skin while providing intense hydration. Free of parabens, synthetic preservatives, colors and fragrances, petrochemicals and other nasties, this will leave your skin rejuvenated and happy.
- $160.00 www.andreagutierrezjewelry.com www.jpselects.com (June, 2011)
- $27.99 www.luvalla.com www.jpselects.com (June, 2011)
COCO ECO |
FASHION!
Corset, OLIVER TOLENTINO www.olivertolentino.com Bikini bottom, MALIA MILLS www.maliamills.com Ring, CHARLES ALBERT www.charlesalbertlookbook.com Boots, CALLEEN CORDERO www.calleencordero.com 14 | COCO ECO MAGAZINE | May - June 2011
www.cocoecomag.com
WILD Beauty Summer heats up with safari inspired pieces that are sexy, wild and wearable, whether you choose to travel to the Serengeti or the city‌
PHOTOGRAPHY by: Emily Perez ASSISTED by: Hiram Fleites STORY by: Sarah Griffin Berns, Fashion Editor STYLED by: Adeel Khan MODEL: May Lindstrom at Next Models MAKE-UP by: Akemi Yagi HAIR by: Marilyn Cole
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| COCO ECO MAGAZINE | May - June 2011
www.cocoecomag.com
Top, WHITNEY EVE www.whitneyeve.myshopify.com Bikini bottom, LAUREN ELAINE www.lauren-elainedesigns.com Ring, CHARLES ALBERT www.charlesalbertlookbook.com Bracelets, DEVON LEIGH www.devonleighdesign.com Shoes, LARARE www.larare.fr Bag, STYLIST’S OWN
Broderie Anglaise dress, LOLITA JACA www.lolitajaca.com Jewelry, DEVON LEIGH www.devonleighdesign.com Belt, CALLEEN CORDERO www.calleencordero.com Boots, CRI DE COEUR www.cri-de-coeur.com
Bikini, MALIA MILLS www.maliamills.com Earrings and necklace, DEVON LEIGH www.devonleighdesign.com
Bikini, HAVE FAITH www.havefaith.com Necklace and cuff, DEVON LEIGH www.devonleighdesign.com
Dress, EMA SAVAHL www.emasavahl.com Cuff, CHARLES ALBERT www.charlesalbertlookbook.com Earrings, DEVON LEIGH www.devonleighdesign.com 22 | COCO ECO MAGAZINE | May - June 2011
www.cocoecomag.com
Dress, EMA SAVAHL www.emasavahl.com Earrings, DEVON LEIGH www.devonleighdesign.com 24 | COCO ECO MAGAZINE | May - June 2011
www.cocoecomag.com
Dress, ANNIE SEGAL FOR FRED SEGAL www.fredsegaloriginals.com Swimsuit, MALIA MILLS www.maliamills.com Earrings, VILMA KERE www.etsy.com Necklace, DEVON LEIGH www.devonleighdesign.com Boots, CALLEEN CORDERO www.calleencordero.com
Grey Romper, PETRO ZILLIA http://houseofpetrozillia.blogspot.com Cuff, CHARLES ALBERT www.charlesalbertlookbook.com Necklaces, DEVON LEIGH www.devonleighdesign.com Shoes, LARARE www.Larare.fr
Swimsuit, MALIA MILLS www.maliamills.com Earrings and necklace, DEVON LEIGH www.devonleighdesign.com
COCO ECO |
FASHION EXTRA!
30 in | aCOCO ECO MAGAZINE | May - June 2011 Fox cage on a fur farm
www.cocoecomag.com
FUR: the truth
WRITTEN by: Johanna Björk, Goodlifer.com PHOTOGRAPHY by: Nettverk for dyrs frihet /
Network for animal freedom
Remember back in the 90s, when a famous supermodels happily posed for PETA, proclaiming that they would rather go naked than wear fur? For most of that decade fur was, indeed, considered uncool and was rarely used by fashion-forward designers. Then, a few years ago, it was suddenly all the rage again. Many of the fall and winter collections this year seem to be built around candy-colored mink, fox, and other furs. The stars of that famous PETA campaign also seemed to have forgotten all about the promise they made. Cindy Crawford has since modeled in mink and Naomi Campbell in sable. In fact, of all those supermodels in the “Rather Go Naked Than Wear Fur” campaign only Christy Turlington has stayed away from pelts (although she did catch some heat for posing with leather goods in a Louis Vuitton campaign last year). What happened? The fur industry has worked hard to rebrand itself as a “natural” alternative to fast fashion, sometimes claiming that their wares are even FUR: THE TRUTH | Continued
FUR: THE TRUTH | Continued
ethical. Industry association Fur Commission USA (FCUSA) states: “The North American fur trade is a responsible industry based on the sustainable use of renewable resources. This is a principle that is promoted by conservation organizations around the world.” Their sustainability argument is based mainly on the fact that fur is biodegradable.That’s true, if it wasn’t for the heavily polluting chemicals used during the tanning process, which is done to all animal skins, not just colored ones (even though it sounds like it). Vegetable tanning has become more popular but is rarely done with furs since the tannins in the vegetable matter can cause discoloration. The claim that fur is a renewable resource is based on the assumption that animals will keep reproducing at a rate higher than nature can sustain. Since 80-85% of the world’s fur comes from farms, this argument does not apply to the majority. Furs that are sourced from the wild are badly regulated and we’ve already seen species like the sea mink become extinct because of its prized fur. At the end of last year, President Obama signed the Truth in Fur Labeling Act to require all real animal fur to be correctly labeled. The international fur industry has a label called Origin Assured (OA), launched in 2007. This label aims to assure customers that the animals have been treated humanely and that the product they’re buying is made using only fur from approved species, sourced from approved countries.
The FCUSA, who represents mink farmers in 28 states and opposes any legislation at the state or federal level, because they argue that it would undermine their work, states that “the only method of euthanasia approved for mink by FCUSA is controlled atmosphere euthanasia using bottled gas, either pure carbon monoxide or carbon dioxide.” However, violations are constantly discovered, where fur farmers use cruel methods like electrocution, drowning, beating, poisoning, neckbreaking, strangling and sometimes even skinning the animals alive.
“Several European countries, including Italy, Sweden and the Netherlands have, or are in the process of, introducing legislation to ban fur farming, which is already outlawed in Austria, Croatia and the UK.”
The supply chain is monitored by an independent agency to ensure compliance with the country of origin’s ethics standards. This is where it gets murky. In the United States, for example, it is still legal in many states (except Colorado, California, Florida, Rhode Island, New Jersey, Massachusetts, and Washington state) for trappers to use steel-jaw traps.These have sharp spikes that clamp onto the animals leg and leaves them in agonizing pain until the trapper returns, often to stun the animal by beating and then sitting on it until it dies from the crushing weight. In fact, crushing is considered “humane killing” according to US guidelines, and is the favored method used by trappers since it does not damage the pelt. Most of the world’s pelts come from fur farms, where animals are often kept in cramped wire cages for their entire lives, in disease32
laden conditions similar to those of factory farmed animals.
I have some vintage furs that I wear with the excuse that since they are second hand the animals did not die for me. But is that really a valid statement? If I wear fur and make it look good (which I like to think that I do on occasion), aren’t I helping the whole fur industry along by being a walking billboard for their ethically questionable product? So what about fakes?
Research by the University of Michigan shows that the energy needed to produce a fur coat from farmed animals is 20 times larger than that needed to make a faux one, so there’s an upside. Sometimes fake fur looks so good that it seems real—and it may actually be! In China, it’s not uncommon for fur farmers to pass cheap off-cuts of cheaper
| COCO ECO MAGAZINE | May - June 2011
FUR: THE TRUTH | Continued www.cocoecomag.com
FUR: THE TRUTH | Continued
skins—like those from rabbits, cats and dogs— off as fake fur. So even though you think you are choosing the ethical route by wearing faux fur, you may unknowingly be donning the real thing! Several European countries, including Italy, Sweden and the Netherlands have, or are in the process of, introducing legislation to ban fur farming, which is already outlawed in Austria, Croatia and the UK. Switzerland has put such strict regulations in place that fur farming has become unprofitable. In 1989, West Hollywood passed a resolution proclaiming the city a “Cruelty Free Zone for Animals.” Soon, it may be the first city in the US to go fur free. “We have pledged to be a place that is free of cruelty to animals and we can no longer support the barbaric fur trade by selling the products of that cruelty in our city,” said West Hollywood City Council candidate and Fur Free WeHo campaign supporter John D’Amico.
Pelts for sale at fur trader market. PHOTO CREDIT: Let Ideas Compete
“This frivolous luxury can be stopped with consumer and civic action,” said campaign leader Ellen Lavinthal. “This will be another historic campaign showing the nation that West Hollywood is a leader in the protection of animal citizens.” In the report “The Ethical Case Against Fur Farming,” an international group of ethicists, philosophers and theologians led by the Rev. Professor Andrew Linzey, a member of the Faculty of Theology in the University of Oxford, states: “There is increasing evidence of a link between the abuse of animals and other forms of violence, notably against women and children. It is an increasingly viable assumption that a world in which abuse to animals goes unchecked is bound to be a less morally safe world for human beings.”
Caged minks
Maybe it is time we compost those fur coats once and for all? PETA www.peta.org
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| COCO ECO MAGAZINE | May - June 2011 Fox in a cage on a fur farm
www.cocoecomag.com
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SPOONK ACUPRESSURE MAT It may look scary, but the Spoonk mat is actually a great wellness tool! Made from all earth-friendly materials, it has 6,210 plastic spikes which stimulate nerve endings to increase blood circulation. Based on the ancient healing art of acupressure it helps relive muscle tension and pain, boosts energy levels, and provides a deep sense of calm and relaxation that helps us sleep better. - $79.00 www.spoonkspace.com
MINNETONKA CROSS BODY FRINGE SHOULDER BAG We’ll be seeing a lot of Minnetonka’s fringe moccasins and boots this summer, but why not invest in one of their equally hippie chic bags instead? With three layers of fringe and a long strap, this bag will easily go from day to night, and from beach to dinner. Made from soft supple suede leather, it’ll also last you a very long time. - $49.95 www.hippieshop.com
BRAIDED SWEDISH HASBEENS Maybe it’s because of nostalgia for the summers of my childhood, when the clogs came out as soon as the snow melted, but I am obsessed with Swedish Hasbeens. I’d wear anything they make. This summer I would love to run around town in these pretty yellow braided sky highs. - $287.00 www.swedishhasbeens.com
PEACE CORD BRACELET The Peace Cord bracelet is hand woven in Afghanistan, using authentic military materials. A collaboration between non-proftis ARZU STUDIO HOPE and Spirit of America, these bracelets create fair-wage artisan jobs and gives hope to hundreds of Afghan women. - $10.00 to $15.00 www.peacecord.org
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| COCO ECO MAGAZINE | May - June 2011
www.cocoecomag.com
NEWEDITOR YORK LOVES CURATED by: Johanna
Björk, Goodlifer.com
WATER BOBBLE Hopefully, we are all way past buying bottled water by now. The Water Bobble has a built-in filter, great for those times when you’re out all day or traveling and don’t have access to filtered water. Just fill the BPA-free bottle up with any old tap water, it filters as you drink! - $8.95 to $12.95 www.waterbobble.com
CROCHET SHORTS These white crochet shorts are part of H&M’s recently launched Conscious Collection. This summer, I will wear them with a DIY denim vest and clogs by Swedish Hasbeens. If you like ‘em to be tight (I do), buy one size smaller than you usually wear. - $29.95 www.hm.com
CRAZY SEXY DIET BY KRIS CARR Many of us underestimate the impact our diet has on our overall health. Let wellness warrior and cancer survivor Kris Carr inspire you to change your life and find your happy, confident sexy, radiant self. Her motto? “Make juice, not war.” - $15.89 www.amazon.com
KAHINA GIVING BEAUTY TONING MIST Keep your skin looking fresh with this bioactive complex, lightly scented with Moroccan desert rose and designed to replenish moisture throughout the day, calm skin irritation, add radiance and minimize pores. It combines nourishing, anti-oxidant rich water-based argan leaf extract with natural active ingredients like aloe vera, rose flower water, alfalfa seed extract, white tea extract, aspen bark extract, and willow bark extract. - $36.00 www.kahina-givingbeauty.com
RIBBON RECLAIM PROJECT BY MICHELLE LOWE-HOLDER Michelle Lowe-Holder’s ribbon reclaim Project is an accessories collection, with all the pieces entirely ethically produced and made in the UK. Inspiration is drawn from historic handcrafted details and produced from end of line and unwanted ribbons, and created utilizing traditional ribbon art. This piece is produced from end of line velvet ribbon on a hand crochet base. - £140.00 www.lowe-holder.com
PILLOW MIX JACKET BY MAYER. PEACE COLLECTION My new favorite Berlin label MAYER. Peace collection, by Christine Mayer is the fusion of fashion, charity and the transformation of recycled materials. The collection is made from reclaimed and recycled materials of unusual heritage such as flour sacks, tea towels and blankets. This jacket was beautifully tailored and pieced together from vintage and decorative pillow covers – you can just see the decorative lace at the hem. - €429.00 www.mayer-berlin.com
OPEN MOBIUS ARM SCULPTURE BY UTE DECKER This individually hand crafted arm sculpture is by German born artist and jeweler Ute Decker in collaboration with sculptor Benjamin Storch. Made with 100% sustainable, reclaimed and recycled silver, this piece is part of a larger collection of arm, neck and hand sculptures, made from fair trade gold and recycled silver, with grand, sweeping and sculptural forms.
FAUX SPONGE-CORAL NECKLACE BY UTE DECKER A favorite new find during London Fashion Week was London based jeweler, Ute Decker. This organic necklace was created from strands of fine orange leather, embedded with irregular faux sponge coral shapes. Each necklace is hand crafted in non-toxic bio resin, which is derived from sunflowers.
- £835.00 www.utedecker.com
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- £385.00 www.utedecker.com
www.cocoecomag.com
EUROPEAN FASHION EDITORLOVES CURATED by: Sass
FEATHER EARRINGS BY CHANTAL BERNSAU
QUILTED JACKET BY KM/A One of my favorite labels from the Milan Fashion Week earlier this year, was Viennese label, k/ma. Designed by Katha Harer and Michael Ellinger, k/ma is based in Vienna, and produces a unique collection from recycled and new materials. This jacket was made from scraps of 1960’s recycled parachutes, crazily stitched onto a base material, with organic wool fleece sandwiched between and heat shrunk to produce the quilted effect.
These delicate burnt orange feathers are delicately formed into feathered lilies, with beaded stamens and oxidized metal posts. With a background in floral therapy, Chantal Bernsau produces a unique collection of jewelry from non-traditional materials with talismanic symbolism, often rescued from fading native traditions. - $95.00 www.chantalbernsau.cl
- €550.00 www.kmamode.com
VEGETABLE TANNED LEAF BAG BY EL NATURALISTA Spanish company El Naturalista creates a collection of quirky, wearable shoes, boots and bags for men and women. This leaf shaped bag is made from vegetable tanned leather with recycled components, and traditional, hand stitching. Each item is produced with respect for the environment as well as mankind, and is inspired by their travels and exchange with indigenous cultures. - €189.00 www.elnaturalista.com/index.php/es
THISTLE NECKLACE BY TINCTORY British designer Eva Fulinova created this delicate hand crafted necklace made from naturally dyed pure silk, with hand smocking details, to simulate a delicate, feathery Scottish thistle. Each item is unique, hand made and inspired by the beauty of the natural world. - £75.00 http://tinctory.co.uk
Brown
COCO ECO |
SPOTLIGHT ON FASHION!
Mink
SHOES Are Better than Leather
WRITTEN by: Vicki
Godal
PHOTOGRAPHY provided by: Mink
Vegan shoe designer Rebecca Mink was four when she decided never to eat animals again. ”I’d been thinking about it when this kid at a barbeque told me that a hot dog was a dog. I decided that I wasn’t going to eat animals anymore, Mink says. “My Mom and Dad, meat and potatoes British, thought I was going to die. Sometimes I sat at the table for hours because I wouldn’t eat meat.” Fast forward to 2000, Mink, a Los Angeles model then wardrobe stylist, discovered something that changed her life. “I was unable to find a shoe that didn’t compromise animals,” Mink said. “I wanted high quality, beautiful shoes that weren’t made with animal products. There weren’t any.” Mink decided she would design vegan and non-animal shoes with the best shoemakers in the world, from sustainable resources like wood, rubber, cork and organic fabrics. Mink’s designs were inspired by and named after animals. Mink also designed recycled paper shoeboxes and bags. By changing the way shoes were made, Mink could save wildlife. “I made sketches and went to Italy. I wanted only Italian shoemakers to make my shoes,” Mink said. “I went to 16 Italian factories in a year and a half.” Mink had multiple issues. First, no one in the Italian shoe factories had ever been told that the way they made leather shoes was non-sustainable. “They work on a community energy. They have groups of people that they need to keep afloat. They saw this as something that affected that,” Mink said. SPOTLIGHT ON FASHION | Continued
SPOTLIGHT ON FASHION | Continued
Second, no one wanted to alter master techniques or materials. These methods were used in the world’s best shoes. Third, the concept of green never entered the conversation. “No one understood what I was doing or used the word green as it is today. No one, at those 16 shoe factories, was in line with my beliefs,” Mink said. “They got hot headed sometimes. I was trying to make them understand.” In 2003, Mink visited the shoe factory of fourth generation shoemakers, the Gambossi, who had created shoes for all the highest-end labels for over a century. “ The Gambossi family had recently sold their factory to Gucci and were moving into handmade specialty items,” Mink said. “I was home.”
so excited about these beautiful little works of art. I thought I was going to have a huge success,” Mink said. What Mink got was a huge challenge. “No one understood what I was doing or believed people would pay premium prices for nonleather shoes. Shoe buyers would buy the shoes for themselves, but their vendors at the high-end stores said they didn’t want a green product. I had to go through this process of connecting with buyers,” Mink continued.
“Shoe buyers would buy the shoes for themselves but their vendors at the high-end stores weren’t ready to buy a green product. They literally said they didn’t want green.”
Fortunately customers had found Mink’s vegan shoes online through her website, minkshoes. com. Over the last 10 years, the buyers finally caught up with Mink’s customers while Mink persevered, continuing her styling to fund Mink. “I kept making money and putting it back into my company. It was very slow growth, which was weird because my press had exploded.” Mink hit the streets of New York City and LA with small trickles of success. “I walked every inch of New York and hit all the shoe stores in Los Angeles. I got little stores to try it, gradually getting into some boutiques where I was able to sustain,” Mink said. “I knew where I wanted to be and where I didn’t want to be. I was so naïve, which was great. I never knew it would take this long.”
Mink showed them her shoe designs and as they began creating Mink’s first samples, an issue surfaced. “I realized that the adhesives that they had been But when the eco movement met fashion, using for 50 years were Mink was ready. “When fashion began to animal based. When I told change, I got excited because I’m not just here them we needed to come to make pretty shoes,” Mink said. “My goal is up with an alternative, they Rebecca Mink to change the industry by proving that a nonwere quite disappointed leather shoe is the same as a leather shoe. It’s in me,” Mink said. “I was a not necessary to use leather.” little nervous that I was going to lose them too.” Mink’s concept of competition is reflective of her beliefs. One comMost shoe adhesives are made from animal inpetitor uses almost exactly the same name, however to Mink it isn’t testinal material, which binds it together. If Mink a problem. “The more vegan shoes, the better. I embrace vegan shoe wanted an alternative adhesive for her vegan companies. I breakfast with them. I hang with them. I love being able shoes, she would have to create one. “They to connect with them and that we can be a community,” Mink said. weren’t interested in using a non-animal product “My focus is not to waste time on competition. I want Mink to be a glue, but I went through the process of creating lifestyle, creating a local community within the city that lives, rescues one that they would be happy with,” Mink said. “I and works in harmony with the wildlife.” made it from rubber plants that are both water soluble and durable. We tested it in comparison Mink’s newest designs represent the ape, buffalo, rhino, elephant and to the animal glue and it was better.” lion. To conclude, Mink said, “Its not just about hard work. It’s easy to work. Be creative, have stamina and never, never, never give up.” ** In 2004, Mink and the Gambossi family debuted MINK SHOES six vegan shoes formally launching Mink. “I was www.minkshoes.com
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Rebecca Mink with her collection
Mink Cardinal shoe
Mink Hen
COCO ECO |
BEAUTY!
W
Top, LLOYD KLEIN www.lloydklein.com Gloves, AMY ORTIZ www.tafriendly.com 44 | COCO ECO MAGAZINE | May - June 2011
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WALK
ON THE
WILD SIDE WRITTEN by: Emma
Pezzack, Beauty Director
Color! Some of us are afraid of it, some of us embrace it with gusto; no matter where you stand and what you think of it, you can wear it – it all comes down to how. We’re also a pretty savvy bunch when it comes to understanding what’s good and bad for us in our beauty products, but we also show you a bunch of beauty products that are vegan; the implications of which are bigger than you think. Finally, how to get lustable locks when the weather is battling you for the exact opposite… PHOTOGRAPHY by: Jeffrey Fiterman ASSISTED by: Dru Erin STORY by: Emma Pezzack, Beauty Director STYLED by: Adeel Khan MODEL: Melissa Graham, Nu Talent Agency MAKE UP by: Julianne Kaye HAIR by: Judd Minter MANICURE by: Debbie Leavitt for Sheswai Lacquer
COCO ECO BEAUTY | Continued
BLUE If you haven’t already, it’s time to get the blues! This is one of the strongest color palettes for spring/summer and far from being tacky and difficult to wear, these shades are modern, fresh and now. BARE ESCENTUALS SMOKY EYE TUTORIAL Not only do you get two perfectly complimentary colors, in case you’re not sure about how to wear blues, this comes with a set of simple instructions that show you. - $32.00 www.bareescentuals.com
NVEY ECO ORGANIC MASCARA – BLUE Make your eyes pop with this statement making shade that can be layered to create thick, conditioned lashes. - $25.00 www.dermstore.com
JANE IREDALE MYSTIKOL PENCIL BOX A clever set of five, 2-in-1 pencils including Lapis Lazuli, a vibrant blue on one end with ivory shimmer on the other, neatly housed in a chic box. - $90.00 www.shopjaneiredale.com
SUNCOAT MINERAL EYESHADOW POWDER – NAVY This 100% natural shadow is not only wearable, the packaging is super smart with a built in brush that sits neatly inside the recyclable container. - $14.98 www.luckyvitamin.com
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PRITI NYC NAIL POLISH – WEDGEWOOD
MEDUSA’S MAKEUP – MINERAL EYESHADOW
Newly launched for summer 2011, this is the perfect balance between turquoise and blue that will go with anything you’re brave enough to wear it with.
Something for everyone in this lineup of intensely pigmented, super bright, vegan mineral shadows in a handy compressed form instead of loose powder.
- $12.50 www.pritinyc.com
- $8.00 www.medusasmakeup.com
| COCO ECO MAGAZINE | May - June 2011
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Dress, NAVEN www.naven.net Necklace, CHARLES ALBERT www.charlesalbertlookbook.com
Top, NAVEN www.naven.net
yellow
COCO ECO BEAUTY | Continued
The color yellow is peerless when it comes to feel good and fun with the ability to enliven any occasion. From lemon to pale to the boldest brights, the trick to wearing this shade is to not take it too seriously…
JANE IREDALE ARTISTS EYES EYE SHADOW PALETTE
Six on-trend eye colors that defy creases & hot weather (including a hot yellow), all packaged in a black & gold faux alligator skin wallet. - $96.00 www.shopjaneiredale.com
SEPHORA COLLECTION FALSE LASHES L.A. MINERALS BRIGHT SHIMMER MINERAL EYE SHADOW – YELLOW SHOCK This not so mellow yellow is bold and modern and looks striking when worn as eyeliner with loads of lashes.
Not just for night, these lashes are latex and cruelty-free for maximum impact any time you feel the urge to go big, bold and sexy. - $8.00 www.urbandecay.com
- $8.95 www.laminerals.com
BAREMINERALS 100% NATURAL LIPGLOSS - SPRINKLES Sparkle and shine your way through summer with this shimmery, light gold lipgloss, while getting a big fix of antioxidants and lip drenching cupuacu butter. - $15.00 www.ulta.com
100% PURE FRUIT PIGMENTED TINTED MOISTURIZER WITH SPF20 - GOLDEN PEACH Making sure you wear sunscreen every day is essential but if the thought of applying yet another product to your face has you rolling your eyes, the simple solution is to use something 2-in-1. - $32.00 www.futurenatural.com
BUTTER LONDON 3 FREE NAIL POLISH – CHEEKY CHOPS Eliminate the dangerous toxins and ramp up the color factor with this fun, banana yellow that’s like a ray of sunshine. - $14.00 www.beauty.com
COCO ECO BEAUTY | Continued
Green The most modern way to wear green for summer is to pick a swooping eyeline, lashings of colored mascara, an all over color wash, or a dab of something sparkly in the centre of your eyelid – never all at once…
LOTUS ORGANICS EYESHADOW PALETTE – SMOKEY
LAVERA NATURAL EYESHADOW – FOREST GREEN
These microfine organic, pressed pigment colors are soft and creamy for super silky application and all-day wear. This is a great color selection, perfect for mixing and matching.
Organic rice powder and intense pigment are blended with organic flower essences & nourishing mineral oils. Makes a great eyeliner or eyeshadow.
- $20.00 www.lotuscosmeticsusa.com
- $16.95 www.lavera.com
ZOYA NAIL POLISH – APPLE
JANE IREDALE LIQUID GOLD EYELINER
Like green sunshine in a bottle, this new summer color from Zoya is guaranteed to brighten your day. Free of toxic chemicals and super long-wearing.
Gilt and gorgeous, this gold is the perfect compliment to green eyes and works beautifully when blended with green to add some sparkle & shine and not a trace of tacky.
- $8.00 www.futurenatural.com
- $20.00 www.shopjaneiredale.com
PHYSICIANS FORMULA ORGANIC WEAR 100% NATURAL ORIGIN JUMBO MASCARA
NEAL’S YARD ORGANIC MINERAL EYESHADOW – SAGE
Made entirely from 100% natural and organic ingredients, this lash enhancing formula builds dramatic volume and loads of length for when you want your summer peeps to pop.
Certified organic and full of antioxidant botanicals, this is a really pretty way to wear green all over your lids for summer.
- $9.95 www.physiciansformula.com
- $18.00 us.nyrorganic.com
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Jacket, NAVEN www.naven.com Nacklace, RANJANA KHAN www.ranjanakhan.com
COCO ECO |
BEAUTY EXTRA!
No Animals
Allowed
WRITTEN by: Emma
Pezzack
I’ll take a wild guess and say it’s probably not something you think about often when it comes to your beauty products, but the far-reaching implications of using vegan brands extends beyond your bathroom and into the sustainable (or not) fabric of our very existence. Gone are the days when vegan translated to fringe, and let’s face it, it was sometimes hard to relate to as a result; now it’s sexy, cool, modern and gorgeous! PAI CHAMOMILE & ROSEHIP SENSITIVE SKIN CREAM Well-known vegan Natalie Portman has declared she loves this cream and I’ll vouch for her sentiments having experienced it for myself. The entire collection is simple but extremely well conceived and chock full of ingredients that do work. - $38.00 www.paiskincare.com
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ECO LOGICAL SKIN CARE – FACE SPF 30 Sunscreen is an absolute must all year round but especially moving toward summer. This is new and improved version of Soleo is widely considered the gold standard of sunscreen & consistently ranked among the best in the world. - $13.99 www.futurenatural.com
BLISSOMA INTELLIGENT ENERGY CREAM The incredibly complex & smart formulation of this serum reads like a who’s who and what’s what of the beauty world – without the hefty price tag that would normally come with all that this brilliant cream delivers. One word: amazing. - $18.00 www.iriestar.com
MADARA FLOWER DUST SHIMMERING LOTION This newly launched collection is taking the US by storm with its blend of Baltic plants and herbs containing biologically active nutrients. This gives a very subtle shimmer that makes summer skin look radiant. - $38.95 www.futurenatural.com
ASTARA GREEN PAPAYA NUTRIENT MASK Think of this as spring-cleaning for your face; out with the old, in with the new, the fruit acids in this mask will have you glowing, smooth and fresh with one application. - $41.00 www.astaraskincare.com
REN MAXIMUM MOISTURE CONCENTRATE For those who like their moisturizer to pack a punch, the phospholipids and sodium hyaluronate in this deliver and draw moisture to skin, making it feel ultra supple, youthful and hydrated. - $60.00 www.renskincare.com
NO ANIMALS ALLOWED | Continued
TREAT LIP & CHEEK STAIN – RASPBERRY A candy kissed raspberry color that applies sheer & pretty. Just right for summer, with lip drenching emollients in abundance. - $18.00 www.treatbeauty.com
ONE LOVE ORGANICS – LOVE SPRINGS ETERNAL Nothing like a powerhouse skin oil to help get your glow on with the encroaching summer months and this one has customers absolutely raving about it. - $98.00 www.oneloveorganics.com
CANYON RANCH ELASTICITY BODY BALM The world famous spa retreat now has its own skincare collection, and as you’d expect it’s rich with high quality botanical oils, ceramides, and nutrients that revive and restore dry, summer skin. - $55.00 www.nordstrom.com
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PERSEPHENIE NANU LEI BATH – FIZZY MINERAL BATH POWDER Transport yourself to a tropical getaway with the heady island scent of Hawaiian Gardenia combined with organic cocoa butter for a truly sublime soak. - $46.00 www.persephenie.com
| COCO ECO MAGAZINE | May - June 2011
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COCO ECO |
BEAUTY EXTRA!
the MANE
EVENT
WRITTEN by: Emma
Whether
Pezzack
you
like
to
scrunch, toss, fluff, tame or twirl, summer always has its set of challenges when it comes to maintaining your crowning glory. Heat, sun, wind and humidity all take
Finally a collection from L’Oreal that is truly natural! This cream is perfect to tame unruly flyaways & frizzies whether caused by humidity or heat. - $4.99 www.target.com
KINKY CURLY SPIRAL SPRITZ A completely natural styling spray that enhances curls, kinks and waves for gorgeous beach babe hair. - $12.99 www.kinky-curly.com
BURTS BEES SUPER SHINY GRAPEFRUIT & SUGAR BEET SHAMPOO
look the fact that our hair
A delicious blend of sweet & tart, betaine (made from sugar beets), & marula oil combine with plant-based cleansers to condition, soften and improve manageability. - $8.00 www.burtsbees.com
needs as much TLC in the
INTELLIGENT NUTRIENTS – LEAVE-IN CONDITIONER
their toll and we often over-
hotter months as our skin. These products will give you shine, polish, and truly lustable locks.
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GARNIER FRUCTIS PURE CLEAN 24HR SMOOTHING CREAM
Developed by Horst Rechelbacher of Aveda fame, this feels amazing, smells amazing and leaves your hair super soft and shiny with a blend of antioxidant rich intellimune oil. Scrunch through at the beach after swimming or when spending time in the sun. - $29.00 www.futurenatural.com
AVEDA SMOOTH INFUSION GLOSSING STRAIGHTENER This Aveda stylist fave is a blend of natural cellulose & wheat proteins that set you up for all day straightening and shine. - $21.00 www.aveda.com
| COCO ECO MAGAZINE | May - June 2011
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PHOTOGRAPHY by: Jeffrey Fiterman ASSISTED by: Dru Erin STORY by: Emma Pezzack, Beauty Director STYLED by: Adeel Khan MODEL: Melissa Graham, Nu Talent Agency MAKE UP by: Julianne Kaye HAIR by: Judd Minter MANICURE by: Debbie Leavitt for Sheswai Lacquer
COCO ECO |
BEAUTY EXTRA!
Mind Body REBOOT WRITTEN by: Johanna Björk, PHOTOGRAPHY by: As Noted
Goodlifer.com
I’ve always been a healthy person, I worked out a lot, ate pretty well and never had any health problems. Still, at the end of last year, workload, stress and the busy city life had brought me to the worst shape of my life. About to hit the big 3-0, I also felt like my metabolism was abandoning me. I’ve never tried any diets or programs, simply because I don’t believe in them. This time, however, I felt like I needed some help. That’s when fate introduced me to mind/body coach Magen Banwart. After a brief chat, I decided to sign up for Banwart’s threeweek Best Body ReBoot program. The Best Body food protocol cut out all potential allergens for a few weeks—a basic elimination diet designed to remove as many toxins from my system as possible. Forbidden foods included chickpeas, corn, dairy, peanuts, shellfish, potatoes, tomatoes, eggplant, soy, sugar, wheat/gluten, rice and beans. I also did not have any coffee or alcohol and if I hadn’t been a vegetarian already I would’ve cut out meat as well. The three-week program involved not only a change of diet, but also an exercise regimen and a new way of thinking about how we choose to live in this world. I lost nearly ten pounds and over 3.5 inches off my waist, but, more importantly, I feel stronger, happier and have a lot more energy. I’ve gotten back into the groove of exercising and have also established some new habits that will continue to help me over time. Magen Banwart, 58 | COCO ECO MAGAZINE | May - June 2011 Best Body ReBoot Founder
www.cocoecomag.com
No matter how busy I am, I try to make time for exercise, mixing up my usual cardio with spinning and other forms of exercise. PHOTO CREDIT: Sara Beth Turner
Lemon water & green juice: Every morning I make a cup of warm lemon water.This restores the body’s alkalinity, which keeps your pH levels balanced and prevents you from running low on energy or experiencing problems like fatigue, stress and depression. Instead of scarfing down some cereal or a bagel, I have a freshly made green juice—with cucumber, celery, ginger, apple or pear, kale, spinach and/ or any kind of leafy green vegetables—for breakfast. I have so much energy now and don’t get hungry again until past noon. Eating mostly leafy greens and some form of lean protein like quinoa (for a non-vegetarian it could be chicken or turkey) for lunch during the week, means that I can afford to indulge a bit during weekends. The 80/20 rule is something that I aim to follow—eating well 80% of the time and allowing myself to indulge the other 20%. Avoid sugar, gluten and dairy: If you eliminate only three things from your diet, they should be sugar, wheat and dairy. Sugar causes inflammation, which in turn makes us age faster. Many people are sensitive to gluten, and it is a more common allergen than we think. Besides being a common allergen, dairy is highly acidic and throws off your pH balance. It can also contribute to heart disease and (counterintuitively) osteoporosis. No coffee (after noon): I gave up coffee for the whole three weeks. During the first caffeine-free days I had a constant, mind-numbing headache. Then, gradually, I felt more rested and noticed it was easier to wake up in the morning. I’ve started drinking coffee again (I am a New Yorker after all). But, I set two rules: no bad coffee and no coffee after noon. Making time to work out: It’s easy for all of us get caught up in the
Me, snorkling in Hawaii a few days after the ReBoot program ended. Nearly 10 pounds lighter and much happier. PHOTO CREDIT: Marc Alt.
vicious circle of too much work, excessive stress and fatigue. Working out gives you energy and makes you look and feel better and stronger.You owe it to yourself to take the time to exercise. Sweating it out in the sauna: Sweating is your body’s way of ridding itself of toxins, and the dry sauna is the best way to make you do that. Always remember to drink a lot of water. The Neti Pot & the body brush: I rigorously use the Neti Pot every day, it’s become part of my morning routine: clean face, brush teeth, rinse nose. Body brushing feels really good and gets rid of dead skin, which helps your body get rid of toxins more efficiently. Making time for meditation and breathing exercises: Making time to just be still, mindful and present is something we would all benefit from. Realizing that wellness is a journey, where every day matters: Being your best self is about what you do every day of your life. It’s now been three months since the ReBoot program and I’m still sticking with my newly formed good habits. I think I may even have lost a few more pounds!** GET THE FULL STORY ON: GOODLIFER.COM
www.goodlifer.com
COCO ECO |
BEAUTY EXTRA!
Creamy SKIN WRITTEN by: Alexandra
Jamieson,
Natural Foods Chef & Certified Holistic Health Counselor
PHOTOGRAPHY by: Johanna
Björk
An attractive accountant from Staten Island, Pam was in the best shape of her life.Training for several marathons had toned her muscles, but Pam’s skin was showing signs of trouble within. Small bumps on her cheeks and chin weren’t responding to expensive creams and cleansing treatments. Frustrated by her skin and other minor health concerns, Pam reached out for dietary advice. Joan, a single mother and full-time manager in Illinois, had been troubled by eczema since childhood. Dermatologists repeatedly told her that her diet had nothing to do with Joan’s sensitive skin, but years of prescription steroid creams didn’t control the irritating, embarrassing outbreaks. As their nutritional consultant, I advised Joan and Pam to try something no other healthcare professional had recommended: a dairy-free diet. Over the last 40 years, doctors and dermatologists alike have been convincing their patients that there was simply no scientific evidence linking diet with acne, eczema, and other skin disorders. Having learned in medical school that the connection between one’s diet and health woes is a myth, many practitioners continue to disregard their patients’ questions about food and recent studies that show otherwise. CREAMY SKIN | Continued
CREAMY SKIN | Continued
Why do dairy products cause acne, bumps, and eczema for so many women? And why do these dairy related skin problems seem to affect more women than men? The answers lie in chemistry and biology. Our fertile, feminine bodies go through the monthly ebb and flow cycle of hormonal shifts causing women’s skin to go through more changes than men. Birth control prescriptions, pregnancy, breastfeeding and menopause cause our hormones shift again, and it reads like a map of a roller coaster all over our faces. Dairy consumption has taken a meteoric rise in a few short decades. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, American cheese consumption has grown from an average of 11 pounds a year in the 1970s to today’s staggering 30+ pounds of cheese per person. Those cheeseburgers, triple cheese pizzas, and twice daily lattes are an undiagnosed cause of acne. Milk, butter, cheese, and yogurt come from cows that are artificially kept in a constant state of milk production through back-to-back pregnancies and growth hormones. Cow’s milk, like human milk, is intended to help a baby grow and mature. However, these two milks are entirely different in protein, fat, and hormonal content. According to endocrinologist Clark Grosvenor, cow’s milk can contain over fifty different hormones that are intended to help a baby cow grow quickly to become a massive bovine in a short amount of time.
connection between dairy and skin problems is a myth in its official literature. We’re not just damaging our skin health with our dairy heavy diets, either. While the self-image and health of countless afflicted women and men continues to be eroded by the antiquated policies of health care professionals, the health of wildlife habitats around the globe is equally affected and eroded by our consumption of dairy. Clearing land for agriculture and cattle is a root cause of global habitat destruction. Jungles and forests are leveled to grow feed crops for dairy cows, and grasslands are cleared to create pasture for grazing. Huge swaths of fragile prairie in the American west have been used for cattle grazing, contributing to the growing trend of desertification. In the U.S. alone, over 250 million acres of forest have been cleared in the last 300 years and converted to cropland for animal agriculture. The growing demand for dairy and other animal products is a direct cause of habitat destruction.
“Why do dairy products cause acne, bumps, and eczema for so many women? The answers lie in chemistry and biology.
Recent studies by Dr. Walter Willett, a professor of epidemiology and nutrition at Harvard, show a strong connection between acne and increased dairy consumption. The reasoning goes something like this: Acne is usually caused by an increase in testosterone and other typically male hormones. Milk from pregnant cows is hiding numerous powerful hormones that the human body then transforms into a more potent form of testosterone.
Canadian dermatologist Dr. F. W. Danby published a study in the medical journal Dermatology (February, 2005) that illustrated when humans drink non-human, animal milk, human oil producing glands are over stimulated, leading to increased sebum which clogs the inflamed and sensitive pores. The American Academy of Dermatology continues to ignore studies from around the world that show dairy, as well as other foods like sugar and chocolate, have an affect on human acne and skin disorders. Instead, the AAD bases its official stance on a few flawed studies from over 40 years ago, and continues to promote that the
After two weeks of dairy-free eating, Pam noticed that her skin was clearing up. Smooth, bump-free cheeks were a result of her small dietary changes, and her expensive creams were no longer necessary. Joan’s eczema vanished within a month of removing dairy from her menus. The itching and embarrassment were gone, and she experienced great physical and emotional relief after years of suffering. The simple solution for countless acne and eczema sufferers is simple: try a dairy-free diet for three weeks. The answer as to how you can make a difference and end the rampant loss of wildlife habitat is clear: avoid consuming dairy and opt out of the system destructive system completely. Your skin, and the animals, will thank you for it.**
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PRTTY PEAUSHUN
SHESWAI NAIL LACQUER – HONEYFOX
BALI JAMES – RITUAL PERFUME OIL
Raved about by Gwyneth Paltrow & Harpers Bazaar, the light reflecting and skin perfecting particles in this body lotion give skin a gorgeous flattering glow that will make your body look hot. Fast becoming a cult fave and with good reason. - $36.00 www.prttypeaushun.com
Beyonce, J Lo, Gwen Stefani & Katie Holmes; just some of the huge names Debbie Leavitt has ‘nailed’ as a master manicurist to the stars. She also has her own toxin-free nail polish collection, and while it may seem like these are a dime a dozen these days, what I especially love about this wearable collection, besides the fact that it’s chic and fresh, is that the caps are sustainably harvested from trees grown on local family owned tree farms. - $16.00 http://sheswai.com
I’ve just discover these amazing (and completely natural) perfume oils and not only am I completely seduced by this one in particular, I notice that like a spectacular pair of shoes, both men & women swoon whenever I wear it. - $45.00 www.balijames.com
BEAUTY DIRECTOR LOVES CURATED by: Emma
Pezzack
Just as the cooler seasons seem to springboard into summer in the blink of an eye, so it is with trying to keep up with some of the spectacular organic & natural product launches taking place, right now. Here are my picks for the latest items you’ll need to help you transition beautifully to HOT…
SAVON DE MARSEILLES VERBENA LIQUID SOAP
GO!SCREEN NATURAL BRUSH-ON POWDER SUNSCREEN
THE BODY DELI – COCONUT CREAM BODY SOUFFLE
This ultra stylish & iconic classic has a new face, and I’m mad for the Verbena Liquid Soap that kick starts my day faster than a double espresso, with it’s super zesty, lemony scent that declares itself – POW! And it comes in a new refill system; love it. - $28.00 www.futurenatural.com
Can’t stand that feeling of using sunscreen on your skin on top of the moisturizer you just used? You’ll be mad for this: broadspectrum sun protection in the form of a recyclable, retractable, refillable, easy-toapply mineral powder sunblock; no mess, no grease and 300+ applications. - $26.00 www.futurenatural.com
Described as “sinful”, I’d have to concur. If your idea of heaven would be to whip up the most delicious, understated dessert you could think of and could slather it on your body guilt-free and shamelessly, this is it. Light, fluffy, sublime… - $26.00 www.thebodydeli.com
COCO ECO |
SPOTLIGHT ON BEAUTY!
L’uvalla
Natural Beauty WRITTEN by: Jolene Hart PHOTOGRAPHY by: L’uvalla
If you’ve ever looked at a product and thought of a compelling way to improve it, you’ll identify with the birth of L’uvalla, a line of natural, vegan and sustainably-produced skin care. For most of us, nothing ever comes of that fleeting moment of insight. But for Yuval Selik, his wife Alla Korot and current CEO of L’uvalla Jeanna Bonds, the desire to create a cleaner, more effective, more environmentallyfriendly line of skin care led to a two-year journey of research and development, and to the start of L’uvalla in 2007. “For us it was not important to create a skin care line just for the sake of creating another skin care line,” says Selik. “We wanted to create a skin care collection that was so unique in the market place that it rises above the rest of the products that are available.” One of L’uvalla’s signature ingredients, the lotus flower, reflects the uniqueness of the entire line. You’ll find this exotic ingredient, an anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, skin-softening extract from the 2,000 year-old lotus plant, in every L’uvalla product. The line also relies heavily on Fair Trade argan oil, the healing, skin-nourishing Moroccan oil rich in essential fatty acids and vitamin E. Both ingredients 66
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are harvested sustainably, under L’uvalla pledge of sustainability ‘from seed to shelf.’ Take a look at the ingredient label on any of L’uvalla’s products, and you’ll find a list of natural and organic, cold-pressed oils and essential oils that are both reparative and protective for the skin. “It was important for us to create a product that was extremely effective and high in nutritive properties for the skin,” says Selik. “This can only be achieved by using first cold pressed or steam distilled oils and extracts.” L’uvalla products are organized into two skintype-specific regimens, one for normal, dry and mature skin, and the other for normal, combination and oily skin. Dry skin types will especially love the gentle makeup-removing moisture of the Hydrating Milk Cleanser, and oily types will go wild for the Eucalyptus Toner, which works to reduce pore size with eucalyptus and sage- and without the over-drying effects of alcohol. Beyond the skin benefits, an important aspect of L’uvalla products is aromatherapy. From the rose geranium-scented Foaming Facial Cleanser to the fresh Orange Toner and the Eye/Lip Wrinkle Cream and its ylang ylang essence, each step in the L’uvalla skin care regimen is a treat for the senses. “Our hope is that your daily L’uvalla experience will give you the opportunity to shut out all the noise of life and rise above the murkiness of daily stress to connect to the beauty that is within you,” says L’uvalla’s website. Many L’uvalla users say that’s just what drew them to the line. As L’uvalla’s founders intended, the line is made without para-
bens, synthetic ingredients (including preservatives, colors and fragrances) and petrochemicals. L’uvalla’s products are PETA-approved and bear the Cosmetique Bio seal that assures that each product is at least 95% natural (in L’uvalla’s case, 100% natural), with 95% of plant materials sourced from organic agriculture. Each product is backed by the 100% LUV IT guarantee that allows for the return of any L’uvalla product purchased from luvalla.com within 45 days, should you be dissatisfied. Though L’uvalla fans, including celebrities like Molly Sims, Nicole Miller and Summer Rayne Oaks, will say that you absolutely won’t be. A brand so deeply rooted in luv, er…love- for skin, the earth, animals and nature- is the ideal that L’uvalla’s founders aspired to years ago. Today L’uvalla thrives in an environmentally and socially-conscious balance that makes it a brand worth trying. And there’s more to come. L’uvalla will release six new products in the coming months. Details will be posted on the brand’s Facebook page.** LUVALLA
www.luvalla.com
USE THE CODE “COCO20” AT THE CHECKOUT BETWEEN MAY 15TH AND MAY 29TH AND RECEIVE 20% OFF! LUVALLA FAN PAGE
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COCO ECO |
COVER STORY!
68 | SEBASTIAN’S COCO ECO MAGAZINE | May - June 2011 Jacket, OWN
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WILD
ADVENTURER:
Sebastian Copeland TAKES US INTO THE COLD AND SHARES A LITTLE OF HIS SOUL . . .
WRITTEN by: Anna Griffin, Editor-In-Chief PHOTOGRAPHY by: Jen Rosenstein
I first meet Sebastian Copeland at the Earth Day screening of his documentary “Into the Cold: A Journey Of the Soul.” Immediately I am struck by his humble and down to earth demeanor, which belies his rugged, handsome looks, adventurous and fearless spirit, award-winning status as a photographer and filmmaker, respected eco pedigree, and the A-list Hollywood crowd he calls his friends.
PHOTOGRAPHY by: Jen Rosenstein ASSISTED by: Brian Krofchick and Joe Merkins STYLED by: Adeel Khan MAKE-UP & HAIR by: Julianne Kaye
Having shunned the fast, glamorous life of a successful commercial director and celebrity photographer, Sebastian has switched gears to embark on fearless, global adventures of the soul, infusing his mega-watt talent in creating gripping documentaries and stunning stills, in an effort to draw attention to our ever-decreasing planet. An author, environmental COVER STORY | Continued
COVER STORY | Continued
advocate and international speaker on climate change for over a decade, Sebastian also sits on the Board of Directors for Global Green, and has been featured on television and radio (Larry King Live, Current TV, NPR), as well as addressing audiences at the UN, the World Affairs Council, and the General Assembly on climate in front of President Gorbachev. Most recently, he traversed the extensive ice flats of Greenland on a kite skiing expedition to further raise awareness of global warming. The adventure lasted 44 days and earned his expedition the new kite skiing distance World Record by covering the longest distance in a 24-hour period: 595 kilometers. Extreme athleticism and a passion for the planet are clearly where this man’s heart resides, as was evident by his 2009 mission to the North Pole. Sebastian’s quest was to commemorate the centennial of Admiral Robert Peary’s 1909 expedition, draw attention to climate change, and find some peace within himself. With his expedition partner, Keith Heger, he set off on a 400-mile journey on foot to the pole, filming their adventure in an effort to capture the beauty of the melting Arctic ice desert. The resulting footage became Sebastian’s acclaimed documentary, which debuted at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2010, and is a stunning and moving account of his journey “Into the Cold.”
SC: No, there never was. The reason why is because when you go down a cubby hole you are committing not to look back, just to go forward, and I don’t consider that to be extraordinary. In my estimation, I think it’s within reach of many people. I don’t really consider myself in any way a superman or super human. I’m an athlete but a lot of people are athletic. Sure there is a physical training and conditioning aspect to it, and there is a certain threshold of athleticism, but it’s 20 percent physical and 80 percent mental. The mental is about committing to it and seeing it through and in that respect I am not anymore special than anyone else. I just decided to go ahead and do it.
“There was only one time I felt afraid and it was when I fell through the ice... I was definitely shaken falling in water right up to my neck.”
COCO ECO MAG: Tell us about your expedition to the North Pole. SEBASTIAN COPELAND: I had wanted to do the trip for a number of years but waited to use the centennial to frame it within the context of contrast, of how it was at the Pole 100 years ago and how it is today. From a climate message perspective, it was an easy way to communicate. We did a 35 day trip, traveled the last 5 degrees which is about 300 nautical miles, but because of the drift, it tacked on an extra 100 miles. It’s truly a very unique experience in polar travel because traveling on sea ice is unlike any other experience. Unlike Antarctica or Greenland, you only have a few ft of ice beneath you, and beyond that 10-14,000 ft of ocean. There’s a lot of motion of the ice and fracturing, open water, pressure ridges and all sorts of terrain challenges. It’s considered a very tough expedition because there’s an unlikelihood you’ll get a safe exit if things go wrong. Everything is always shifting and moving at the North Pole because you’re not on solid ground. You’re basically walking on 70
frozen sea. CEM: Was there ever a moment when you doubted yourself or the ability to complete the expedition?
CEM: Were there ever times when you were afraid? SC: There was only one time I felt afraid and it was when I fell through the ice. You find yourself having to cross bodies of water sometimes and it can be quite thin. When water freezes in that environment, it rubberizes. It flexes which is a little unnerving but you do it, and when it’s not quite frozen enough you fall through. Admittedly that was the one time I was definitely shaken, falling in water right up to my neck. The minute you come out the water starts to freeze on your body very quickly so you have to get out and get down to your skivvies, and change very quickly. Your adrenaline is certainly in action and
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PHOTO CREDIT: Into the Cold
COVER STORY | Continued
that’s what helps you get going, but that moment when the ice gives from below your feet and you start to sink into the Arctic water is definitely a Kodak moment. It definitely shakes you to the core. CEM: What are some of the challenges you faced?’ SC: Unlike 100 years ago, you no longer can walk back from the North Pole to land because the ice breaks too quickly. The melt season is really accelerated, the spring period comes very quickly and everything breaks up, so it is impossible to get back to land safely. There is a floating base station called Barneo, which is about two degrees south of the North Pole. When you’re doing a crossing they come and pick you up at the Pole and fly you out, but the station closes on April 26th, so if you do not make that date, it’s much more complicated and possibly very dangerous not to rely on them. In order to reach the Pole in time you sometimes have to drop some of the weight that you have. Food and supplies, and they are heavy.The bottom line is we let go of a little too much food and were operating on the last ten days on very limited rations, which was tough. It was tough to be hungry out there.
ty, efficient and great, but there is always an adjustment when you re-enter reality, society, and you get encumbered with all that nature of reality in general. We spend so much time being cluttered with information overload, saturation of telecommunication, social media, noise pollution, overwork, and all those different things. When you walk into a blank canvas like the Polar regions, where your sensory perceptions are reduced to quite a limited spectrum, it gives you a lot of time to self examine. CEM: What goes through your mind when walking those long hours in silence?
What’s interesting about venturing out on long trips like that is that you have the opportunity to remake the world and remake yourself in many ways.
CEM: Tell us about your personal journey. Did you find yourself? SC: Did I find myself? Yeah I think so. What’s interesting about venturing out on long trips like that is that you have the opportunity to remake the world and remake yourself in many ways. When you operate in a vacuum, it’s very easy to reinvent everything and make it look really pret74
SC: Well I think you examine your failures and successes. I spend a lot of time meditating. I am a Buddhist so I spend a lot of time chanting when I’m on the ice. It’s a good time to recite mantras ad infinitum. I am not a very disciplined Buddhist in the sense that I have a really tough time meditating and quieting my mind in the context of the work environment, so I make up for it on those trips. CEM: How did you feel when you actually got to the North Pole?
SC: Well the North Pole is really a fleeting moment because it is a static point at the bottom of the ocean, and on top of that everything is floating and always in motion as a result of it. The moment you actually reach the North Pole where the GPS numbers line up to zeros, it really only happens for one brief instant, and after that no more. There’s a great sense of gratification but it’s also very ephemeral because it’s immediately gone. And there’s something nice about that as well. The realization of all this effort, months of training and preparation, and all of a sudden it’s over. That’s a good metaphor for life itself because life is fleeting. You can’t hang onto moments. You just have to live those moments as they happen. The other aspect of it is you reach the North Pole and it’s still bloody cold. There’s not a team of journalists, or cheering friends, family and fans, or anything like that. That’s what sort of interesting about the whole experience. It’s quite humbling really. In your mind, it’s such a big deal to get there, and then in the end it’s just your experience. So it’s all those things together. When you get to the North Pole you get a great sense of accomplishment, and then you
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PHOTO CREDIT: Into the Cold
78 | COCO ECOInto MAGAZINE PHOTO CREDIT: the Cold| May - June 2011
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COVER STORY | Continued
realize that the accomplishment came and went. The nice thing about making a film is it’s a great way to capitalize on the moment and stretch that time, and be able to share it with other people. If I didn’t have it on film, it would just be a distant memory. I get to relive it as well every time I see it. CEM: What does it mean to you that with the acceleration of the ice melting, man will be unable to go to the Pole on foot within 100 years? SC: It’s a statement of our lack of comprehension of what’s going on globally with climate, and the anthropogenic footprint on climate. Things are changing at accelerated rates, and things are exponentially consequential. What it means from an emotional perspective, is what’s been in place for 3 million years or more is simply not going to be there during the warmer months, making this type of journey impossible within our lifetime. Something of that nature should really make us ponder and stop, but sadly it doesn’t really do that. The reason it doesn’t is that the North Pole is so far away, and abstract, and it’s so inhospitable that it feels like a different planet, but it’s not. It’s very much our planet and very close to us, and more importantly has a relationship to our existence that is of great importance. It’s effects will be felt by us in just a matter of time, and if you want to see what’s going on globally in the next 20-30 years, you need look no further than the Poles because those are the early indicators.
SC: The first thing I would love is for audiences to be connected with the beauty of our planet, because ultimately I see that as mostly my role. To encourage people to find that connection with the world that they inhabit, and understand that it is a beautiful planet. And secondly as humans, to recognize that we are only as strong as our planet that supports us. My role as I see it is to help people fall in love with this world. I think it’s a first and very necessary step. It has to be an emotional connection to it, and beauty generates emotion. All of it is in jeopardy right now.The air that we breathe and the ocean’s that feed us. It’s a real time of a call to action, and I hope that the film helps in that direction. CEM: What’s your next big adventure?
The moment you actually reach the North Pole where the GPS numbers line up to zeros, it really only happens for one brief instant, and after that no more.
CEM: What would you like to see happen as a result of “Into the Cold?”
SC: Immediately, my next big adventure is marriage and hopefully a child pretty soon. And I’m getting ready to go to Antarctica in November for the South Pole Centennial. CEM: Are you going to film it? “Into the Cold: Part Two”? SC: “Into the Cold: Colder!” That’s going to be a trans-continental crossing and will be the longest unsupported crossing of Antarctica at 85 days. And after that I am going to focus on creating a global show that will take in ten years of Polar traveling; photographs and film and education tools, all brought together, into a show that will help people have a great understanding of the role of ice, and hopefully be inspired by its beauty.
As I leave our sunset shoot in the canyons of Hollywood, I wonder how one could possibly top the experience of walking to the North Pole in their lifetime. However, after spending an afternoon with Sebastian, I have no doubt that he will.The sky’s the limit for this impassioned explorer, and lucky for us, he’ll bring his camera!** INTO THE COLD www.intothecold.org SEBASTIAN COPELAND ADVENTURE www.sebastiancopelandadventures.com
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WOMEN OF THE WORLD!
KRISTEN DAVIS 80 | COCO ECO MAGAZINE | May - June 2011
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UNTAMED
WOMEN WRITTEN by: Nicole Landers with Jack Lagomarsino PHOTOGRAPHY provided by: Each Featured Individual
Kristen Davis, Sex and the City Sweetheart and proponent of animal rights worldwide has developed a love for the giants of the Serengeti. Her interest was spurred by a 2001 visit to Kenya and Campi ya Kanzi, home of The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust which provides orphan elephants with full time surrogate parents who feed, love, sleep and eat with the gentle giants. Taking care of a pet is never easy, or cheap. First you need the bed, then the toys, the food, the leash and the medications. Finding time during your wildly busy day to feed, comb, walk, and play with the little critter- it can be a bit much! Now imagine that your little bundle of joy weighed more than your suburban did and cost you $650/day to take care of? Oh, and you have a dozen of them. While there, a runaway baby elephant led Kristen and her group on a chase across the desert, a multi day search that ended in a vast “lava flow”, a patch of blackened volcanic rocks that make transportation near impossible. It was here that they found the 250lb baby that was hungry, thirsty and aggressive. With patience, water and a tad bit of experience, the group was able to subdue the nervous escapee and return him to the Trust. Kristin later adopted the runaway as well. “Elephants are truly amazing animals and they need our protection” said Kristin, who is gravely concerned after a reversal in Ivory illegalization has reinstated a demand for elephant tusks. The attention she has called to the harsh realities of orphaned and wild elephants has earned her recently to receive The Wyler Award, The Humane Society’s most prestigious at the Genesis Award Gala. Kristin stresses that Americans- the world’s #1 consumer of ivory- understand the impact of their decisions and urges us to do our part in smothering the ivory trade. www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org
UNTAMED WOMEN | Continued
UNTAMED WOMEN | Continued
DR. JANE GOODALL
It was in 1960 that Dr. Jane Goodall first arrived in what is now Tanzania, a 26 year old with little more a blank notepad, and a piercingly curious mind. Without preconceptions and equipped with seemingly inexhaustible patience, she took a unobstructed look into the life of the chimpanzee, a course of study that has claimed her ever since.
ELIZABETH OLSEN
ELIZABETH OLSEN
Elizabeth Olsen, long time creative talent and designer has identified the negative impact the clothing and accessory industry, $1.5 billion strong, has made on our environment and has pledged to do something about it. Elizabeth’s “cruelty free” products use entirely alternative, sustainable and renewable plant-based and manmade, non-animal materials. Totally vegan. While some foodies quiver around the “V” word in fear of compromised taste, Elizabeth sacrifices nothing in the way of design or functionality in the production of her products. Protecting animals and the environment have been serious concerns for Elizabeth since childhood when she sensed “something was wrong with human’s relationship to animals” Experience representing multinationals like Nike, Universal and IBM has afforded Elizabeth the ability to formulate wide reaching and impactful messages and an abundance of media attention serves as testament. With designs fit for reoccurring appearances in Vogue, and a cause important enough for write ups in the Wall Street Journal, Olsen Haus is exciting consumers while raising awareness with a business model for what Olson calls “the transition to the new world”**
Dr. Goodall provided us with our first perspective on Chimp behavior and communication, and has remained the source by which we develop our knowledge and opinions surrounding the Chimp family. She has outlined the startling similarities with anecdotes that remind us of our own, building a community of love around the subjects she is so passionate about. Telling stories about William, the funny one, who “once stole a blanket, dragged it up the hillside, then draped it over his head and felt around him like a child who has been blindfolded” gets people involved and builds a sense of relativity, begging the question- are we really so different? This kind of attention is invaluable when promoting activism and has been by Dr. Goodall brilliantly. Jane tells tales of Fifi and Goblin, Gremlin and Sparrow, Sandi and the now famous David Greybeard, her first real connection and most dedicated teacher. It was he who “opened for (her) the door into a magical new world—the world of the wild chimpanzees of Gombe” as his “calm acceptance of (her) presence helped the others to realize that, after all, (She) was not so terrifying as they had thought.” Dr. Goodall makes it easy to connect with these animals, relate to their realities and respect their intelligence. Now only available for biannual trips to the Gombi, Dr. Goodall has focused more and more on education in areas able to impact the Chimps. The Jane Goodall Foundation aims to “contribute to the preservation of great apes and their habitats by combining conservation with education and promote sustainability to create a worldwide network of young people who care deeply for their human community, animals and their environment.”** www.janegoodall.org
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DR. JANE GOODALL
WENDIE MALICK
WENDIE MALICK Making appearances in at least five different television shows and films in any given year is an incredible feat. Wendie Mallick, actress and activist, has done so for the past 23 years now. With such a busy on screen agenda, one would imagine it difficult to remain focused on the pressing issues of our time, but just as impressive as her IMDB page is her do-good resume. Already aligned with The Humane Society, an internationally recognized animal rights organization, Wendie became involved with Farm Sanctuary in their efforts to pass New Jersey anti-veal legislation. “It’s time for a big fat wakeup call, we all need to consume more consciously. For far too long we have lived large at the expense of our fellow critters and the world we share,” states Wendie. Farm Sanctuary, which had its first rescue back in 1986, takes a more aggressive approach against animal cruelty by setting its sights on the “systematic abolition of livestock agriculture.” This is quite the claim. A nation built on golden arches might scoff and disregard such aspirations as idealistic, and ignore the organizations bravado but, you know what? Farm Sanctuary is gaining ground, and fast! More impressive and important than the popularity the organization has garnered are the results they have achieved- changes in state and local policy, influence on restaurateurs and distributors and a heavy impact on the social climate surrounding livestock treatment and animal rights.** www.farmsanctuary.org
LEILANI MUNTER PHOTO CREDIT: CRAIG DAVIDSON
LEILANI MUNTER
What do you get when you cross a race car driver with a vegetarian and animal rights activist? How about putting that hybrid in the body of a supermodel who happens to have a degree in biology? Leilani Munter, the racecar-drivingsuper-genius-eco-goddess mentioned above has been an environmental activist for as long as she can remember. Leilani walks the walk and better yet, she drives it home. While most Racecar drivers would slap a promotion for Snuggies on their hood if it led to more sponsorship dollars, Leilani refuses all investors unless they are eco friendly and can prove it. Her determination to put green under the social spotlight has garnered quite the buzz. Glamour Magazine just recently named her an “Eco Hero.” In 2010, Discovery’s Planet Green named her the #1 Eco Athlete, beating out Mr. Lance Armstrong, a guy who has proven pretty hard to beat. Most recently she has pointed her interests towards Ric O’Barry’s Save Japan Dolphins foundation. SaveJapanDolphins.org, is a campaign conducted by the International Marine Mammal Project of Earth Island Institute to put an end to the Japanese drive fishery slaughter of dolphin.** http://leilanimunter.com
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UNTAMED WOMEN | Continued
TIPPI HEDREN From the big screen, to the great outdoors, this drama queen has devoted her energies to the well being and protection of the king of the jungle… and all of his buddies, of course. Tippi Hedren the ever-elegant model and actress-turned-altruist whose “remarkable” onscreen ability floored the great Alfred Hitchcock, fell in love with wild animals on-set in Africa in 1969. Despite her undeniable acting potential, described by Hitchcock himself as a “dormant volcano, one day to erupt”, her uncommon and indiscriminate compassion for animals gushed forth after an unlikely encounter, something that would lead her past silver screen triumphs and result in immeasurable good. The use and abuse of animals in the film industry and near demise of big cats amongst game traders was something that Tippi experienced first hand and knew she had to do something about. While prior involvement with various humanitarian organizations made obvious her deep concern with the human condition, an encounter with a “mellow lion” in 1969 switched her focus to the rights of those without a voice. That turned into rescuing great cats, lions and tigers bred and born in the U.S. to be sold as pets or for financial gain. An active Board member of several wildlife conservation endeavors, Tippi’s true labor of love has taken form in The Roar Foundation/The Shambala Preserve, founded in 1983 outside of Los Angeles where she assures a high quality of life for over sixty big cats. For nearly 30 years Shambala Preserve has afforded abandoned, abused and unwanted animals with a loving home where they are provided the best in human, medical, and emotional care and food. Though her on-screen success it has resulted in Golden Globes, life time achievement awards at home and abroad, presidential medals and acclaimed as a “woman of vision” by Women in Film and Video, it is the title of “Den Mom” that she accepts most proudly.** www.shambala.org
TIPPI HEDREN PHOTO CREDIT: BILL DOW
UNTAMED WOMEN | Continued
NEDA DEMAYO WITH TATJANA PATITZ
Neda DeMayo, founder and president of Return to Freedom, a non profit organization determined to preserve the “freedom, diversity and habitat of America’s wild horses”, watched in “anguish” as Cowboys on TV chased down helpless stallions, and made them their own. Unable to recall a time when she didn’t love horses (her first word was horsey!) Neda’s love affair with equines accelerated at the young age of four when she first started riding. After years of horse back competition, Neda decided to pursue a career in acting and moved out to Los Angeles. In 1990 she caught wind that there were still wild horses in the United States, a sparkle shadowed by the fact that they were depleting quite rapidly. It was time to act. After extensive study with various natural horsemen and thoroughly developing her commitment to preserving what is left of our open spaces, natural resources and wildlife”, Neda founded Return To Freedom (RTF). With over 200 wild horses roaming the organization’s sanctuary, special attention is paid to the herding nature of equines and unlike other sanctuaries, RTF works to rescue entire family bands. The group focuses on the education of youth groups in hopes that a new generation of altruists and activists, wise to the depletion of natural ecosystems and habitats and the consequences for our animal families will spur a shift in policy. A third area emphasized by DeMayo’s incentive is the conservation of the diverse biological groups represented by the American Wild Horse. Preserving this ancestry is essential in the reversal of wild horse decline and proposed expansion of “one of our nation’s most treasured resources” states Neda. Over four years ago German born supermodel Tatjana Patiitz who graced over 130 covers in her time was seeking to do a documentary on Wild Mustangs and stumbled upon RTF. Nature, animals and the planet have been Tatjana’s passion since she was a child. Needing to do something to save this fading species she fell in love with with Neda & RTF. Now one of her closest friends the two are on a mission. The most rewarding thing, Tatjana shares, “ Has been bringing light to the issues and working with the animals.” In the 90’s she received a Humanitarian Award from PETA. “It is a wonderful feeling when you see a shift in conciousness to make this a healthier kinder planet.” Next up is the establishment of an American Wild Horse Conservancy, a large scale wildlife and habitat conservancy that will reassert the American wild horse as a recognized wildlife species.** www.returntofreedom.org
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TATJANA PATITZ
COCO ECO |
TAKE ACTION!
Wild Ways WRITTEN by: Heather Carter PHOTOGRAPHY provided by: As
Noted
The relationship between mankind and wildlife is as complex and contradictory as it is long standing. We are so fascinated with the untamed and exotic beauty of these creatures that we kill them. Hundreds of wildlife species are on the endangered list mainly due to altered habitats, global warming and hunting. All of which can be credited to the human race. It is a question of ethics, how evolved are we that we bludgeon innocent animals for financial gain as a product of fueling the insatiable greed of people? It begs the question, whose ways are more wild – the animals, or the humans slaughtering them? Fighting to change these wild ways PETA is the largest nonprofit animal rights organization in the world, with more than 2 million members and supporters worldwide. One of PETA’s biggest and most recent campaigns targets Canada’s government-funded commercial seal slaughter. PETA’s Danielle Katz explained to Coco Eco, “Every year, the Canadian government allows sealers to bludgeon and shoot hundreds of thousands of baby seals for their fur. Most of these seals are under 3 months of age.” 88
Killing seals for their fur and trading a life for an item of clothing hardly seems like a fair bargain. PETA is fighting to bring an end to this annual massacre through celebrity support, advertisements, demonstrations, and other public outreach efforts. International outrage against the seal slaughter is loud and clear. Celebrities such as Ke$ha, Iggy Pop, Sarah McLachlan, Kelly Osborne, Holly Madison, Steve-O, and Pamela Anderson, among others, have joined PETA in calling for a permanent end to this cruel massacre with their “the Club Scene in Canada Sucks” campaign. World leaders including President Barack Obama and Vladimir Putin have spoken out against the slaughter of baby seals, and the U.S, Mexico and, more recently, the E.U. have all banned seal imports, although the Canadian government is spending an estimated $10 million to challenge the E.U. ban. Making this issue even more senseless is that the slaughter costs taxpayers millions more to support than it actually earns. A study in 2010 at Canada’s University of Guelph found that ending the commercial slaughter would save Canada at least $7 million each year. The country spends millions in taxpayer money propping up this dying industry, even though income from the slaughter accounts for less than one-percent of Newfoundland’s economy. The seal slaughter will continue unless people take action to stop it. Every person, no matter where you live, has the opportunity to make a difference for seals and other animals slated to be killed for their skins. Sea shepherd is also an organization that is working intensely to save seals and other marine life. Established in 1977, Sea Shepherd Conservation Society (SSCS) is an international non-profit, ma-
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Royal Bengal Tiger PHOTO CREDIT: World Wildlife Federation
rine wildlife conservation organization. Captain Paul Watson is the Founder and President of the organization, and leads his eclectic crew members from around the world into taking action literally by sailing the high seas in defense of endangered marine species. Currently Sea Shepherd is campaigning for whales, sharks, seals and dolphins.
scientists, naturalists, and business and political leaders joined together to save our Earth’s wildlife from extinction. The organization they founded—World Wildlife Fund (WWF)—has since grown into the world’s leading conservation organization.
Another leader in safeguarding wildlife is the International Fund for Animal Welfare. Founded in 1969, IFAW saves animals in crisis around the world. With projects in more than 40 countries, IFAW rescues individual animals, works to prevent cruelty to animals, and advocates for the protection of wildlife and habitats. One of the largest campaigns IFAW is currently working on is saving the world’s remaining elephants by eliminating the ivory trade, protecting the species from poachers, and expanding protected rangelands for elephants.
WWF is fighting to save Tigers with a campaign that enlisted the support of activist and Hollywood A-lister Leonardo DiCaprio. Tigers are facing extinction due to deforestation and illegal trade leaving as few as 3,200 left in the wild. WWF aims to double the amount of Tigers by 2022 which will mark the next Year of the Tiger.
“The future for elephants is remarkably fragile,” said Fred O’Regan, IFAW President explained to Coco Eco. “As more and more forest and grasslands in Africa and Asia are cleared and developed to meet human needs, elephants are losing their wild range. And despite an international ban on ivory trade, poachers are still killing elephants for their tusks, which are carved into ivory trinkets. Every piece of ivory comes from a dead elephant. We are committed to safeguarding habitat, training and equipping anti-poaching rangers, promoting peaceful solutions to human-elephant conflict, and rescuing orphaned or injured elephants, giving them a second chance at life in the wild.” This year will mark the 50th anniversary for the World Wildlife Fund. It was half a century ago that a small group of concerned
Without social demand there would be no supply, anyone feeding into the demand has blood on their hands. If we do not take action now then generations to come will live in a world slowly devoid of wildlife, be the catalyst for change today and help put a stop to these wild ways!** CANADA’S SHAME www.CanadasShame.com SEA SHEPHERD www.seashepherd.org SAVE TIGERS NOW www.savetigersnow.org INTERNATIONAL FUND FOR ANIMAL WELFARE www.ifaw.org
COCO ECO |
MEN WE LOVE!
CAPT PAUL WATSON
Barbara Veiga 90 PHOTO | COCOCREDIT: ECO MAGAZINE | May - June 2011
www.cocoecomag.com
MEN of the WILD Capt. Paul Watson, Gene Baur, Moby, Wayne Pacelle, Louie Psihoyos, Steve Irwin, Jeff Corwin, & John Paul Dejoria
WRITTEN by: Nikki Lin PHOTOGRAPHY by: As Noted
Take a walk with us into the wild as Coco Eco profiles our favorite men in wildlife conservation and animal rights. From a true pirate of the seas, to a multi-platinum musician, from a documentarian to a hair stylist, the men featured here come from all walks of life. They make our list of Wild Men because they have each exuberantly brought about positive change toward animal welfare by changing hearts and minds through their individual pursuits and shining example.
MEN WE LOVE | Continued
MEN WE LOVE | Continued
CAPT PAUL WATSON A true pirate of the sea, Greenpeace Co-Founder Captain Paul Watson sits at the helm of the world’s most active marine non-profit organization, Sea Shepherd Conservation Society. Watson is widely regarded and respected by conservationists and lawmakers alike for protecting wildlife against would be hunters and traders by insistent force if necessary. He has commanded over 200 primarily offshore voyages in storms, ice packs, through canals and treacherous currents, and dangerous confrontations. Working with a somewhat dangerous methodology, Watson reasons that it is a matter of necessity; “We have all the laws, treaties and regulations we need to protect our ocean. We simply lack the enforcement. Bureaucracy and corruption are the two biggest obstacles to protecting our oceans. Captain Watson also shared his concern with Coco Eco for the diminishing biodiversity in our oceans. People simply have no idea how fragile our marine eco-systems are and how dependent we are upon healthy oceans for our survival. Watson seems to echo the voice of some of his fellow Wild Men in this issue in that marine life is a significant and declining component of our eco-system and ultimate survival. Currently, Sea Shepherd operates a fleet of three active ships: the Steve Irwin, the Bob Barker and the Gojira. The Steve Irwin and the Bob Barker will be defending Bluefin tuna from poachers in the Mediterranean Sea in June and then moving to the North Atlantic to defend pilot whales from the whalers in the Danish Faeroe Islands. The Bob Barker will be doing anti-poaching patrols in the territorial waters of Palau under an agreement with the government of the Republic of Palau. www.seashepherd.org
GENE BAUR PHOTO CREDIT: Derek Goodwin
GENE BAUR Gene Baur is president and co-founder of Farm Sanctuary, a prevalent farm animal protection organization working against the effects of factory farming and animal cruelty. Currently, Farm Sanctuary operates two shelters a 175-acre farm in upstate New York and a 300acre farm in Northern California. These shelters rescue, rehabilitate and provide lifelong care for hundreds of animals who have been rescued from stockyards, factory farms, and slaughterhouses. Baur has conducted hundreds of visits to farms, stockyards, and slaughterhouses to document conditions and has testified in court and before local, state and federal legislative bodies. As an effect, Baur has initiated groundbreaking legal enforcement and legislative action to prevent farm animal abuse. As a supporter of veganism, Baur explains the reasoning, “Government policies have incentivized industrial animal farming operations and short term profits at the expense of our health, humanity and long term sustainability. By eating whole plant foods, instead of animals, and by supporting anti-factory farming legislation, citizens can make a difference.” This year Farm Sanctuary celebrates 25 years of providing sunny, green pastures for rescued animals to find haven and also providing a resource for visitors to learn about the effects of factory farming and the significance of our lifestyle and dietary choices. In an effort to raise awareness across a larger audience, Baur told Coco Eco that Farm Sanctuary will be hosting dozens of educational events at both locations in honor of their two and half decades. www.farmsanctuary.org
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MOBY Just days before the widely anticipated release of his new album Destroyed, multi-platinum musician Moby touched bases with Coco Eco Magazine to raise awareness about the deleterious effects of the factory farming industry. Over the years, Moby has been able to use his massive influence as a DJ, singer-songwriter and musician to promote veganism and moreover the importance of rethinking our life choices in consideration of factory farming methods, our planet’s declining resources and our own health. Moby and leading food policy expert Miyun Park have co-authored a book titled “Gristle: From Factory Farms to Food Safety (Thinking Twice about the Meat We Eat)”, providing an array of perspectives on the animal agriculture industry. With this publication Moby and Park enable a cohesive argument against meat consumptions outlining concerns of a broad range of groups including animal welfare advocacy, science, environmental sustainability and farming. “I’ve been a vegan for 26 years now and my original reason for becoming vegan was a simple desire to not be involved in any practice or process that contributes to the suffering of animals. As time has passed I’ve become interested in the health and environmental benefits of veganism.” Moby has supported veganism publicly and has developed a website (mobygratis.com) for independent filmmakers and other artists, driving any proceeds generated to the Humane Society. “Simply, I want to do what small things I can to try and attenuate the amount of suffering on the planet.” Moby encourages a change through awareness to improve our carbon footprint and planetary health. “I truly believe that at some point we’ll live in a world wherein animals are not harmed for human purposes. it might take a while, but we’ll get there.” www.moby.com www.mobygratis.com
MOBY PHOTO CREDIT: Sunny Khalsa
MEN WE LOVE | Continued
LOUIE PSIHOYOS PHOTO CREDIT: Lyle Owerko
WAYNE PACELLE PHOTO CREDIT: Michelle Riley
WAYNE PACELLE Wayne Pacelle is a man of unwavering resolve and dedication to the welfare of animals. Currently, he is the President and CEO of the Humane Society of the United States, the largest animal advocacy organization in the nation. With a membership of 11 million, Pacelle has also established significant influence on public policy which affects animals at risk in enterprises such as fur trade, puppy mills and inhumane factory farming methods to name just a few. By keeping such a large segment of our population engaged, Pacelle has succeeded in forming concerted efforts towards a wide number of issues. Pacelle has recently published a book focusing on the age-old relationship between humans and animals titled The Bond. In the book, Pacelle points out the disparaging juxtaposition between the many expressions of the human-animal bond in our modern day as opposed to the many examples that the bond has been severed, namely widespread cruelty to animals for capital gain. By examining these inconsistencies, Pacelle calls for the creation of a humane economy. “We must sync up our commerce with our values. We can achieve a high quality of life and robust economic activity without leaving a trail of animal victims in the process.” www.humanesociety.org 94
LOUIE PSIHOYOS Through his career Louie Psihoyos has committed himself to telling the story of our natural world with his camera lens. As a child he wanted to become an oceanographer and later went onto study photojournalism. He is now regarded with high esteem as one of the top photographers in the world, and more recently an Oscar winning documentary film director for his work on the acclaimed documentary The Cove. Psihoyos spent nearly two decades working with National Geographic capturing marvelous life across the globe with beautiful stills. As a licensed scuba-diver he became increasingly concerned with threats to our marine life and the decline to our planet’s water. In 2005 Psihoyos co-founded the non-profit Oceanic Preservation Society (OPS). In 2009 OPS filmed their first project, a documentary which claimed an Oscar. The Cove was an expose of dolphin slaughter in Taiji, Japan by which Psihoyos and his team made their first steps towards effecting change. Currently, Psihoyos and his team are working on their next project with what he describes as The holy grail of underwater cameraswhich OPS custom-built. Psihoyos explained the project to Coco Eco, “The burning of fossil fuels is literally changing the chemistry of the oceans now and we are dissolving the coral reefs. There is no collection of jewelry in the world that rivals the beauty of a pristine coral reef. The colors and diversity of incredible life sometimes has literally taken my breath away. However what really stops my heart, and should every other human, is that we may lose all the coral reefs in the next few decades due to acidification.” www.opsociety.org
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STEVE IRWIN Coco Eco had to include one of our dearest Wild Men in a special tribute for our wildlife issue, the late Steve Irwin. Nicknamed after his television series The Crocodile Hunter, this friendly Aussie became famous for wrestling crocs alongside his beautiful co-host and wife Terri. In 1970, Irwin’s parents founded the Beerwah Reptile and Fauna Park, a two acre wildlife park filled with salt water Crocodiles, Tiger Snakes, Kangaroos and Lace Monitors amongst other creatures. Steve and Terri went onto take over management of the park which was later renamed Australia Zoo. Throughout his rise to fame, Irwin remained a passionate conservationist and believed in promoting environmentalism by sharing his love of wildlife with the world. By purchasing large tracts of land in Australia, Irwin was able to further his efforts. There is also a living, breathing memorial to Steve in the form of a 135,000 hectare nature reserve in North Queensland called the Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve. He also founded the Steve Irwin Conservation Foundation which was later renamed to Australia Zoo Wildlife Warriors Worldwideas an independent charity. Steve Irwin also founded the International Crocodile Rescue as well as the Lyn Irwin Memorial Fund in honor of his mother. Just before his untimely death in Australia’s Great Barrier Reef during filming, Irwin had been looking into work with the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society. Irwin’s memory lives on in the hearts of many as a man who fearlessly embraced wildlife and shared its wonder and mystery. With a charming spirit and wry sense of humor he won our hearts, and by his efforts to educate and conserve our endangered species he has left a legacy. Steve Irwin Day falls on November 15th, an annual and international day of celebration of the life and legacy of the original Wildlife Warrior. The celebrations at Australia Zoo focus on all of the things Steve was passionate about; family, wildlife conservation and fun. STEVE IRWIN PROVIDED BY: Australia Zoo
www.australiazoo.com.au MEN WE LOVE | Continued
MEN WE LOVE | Continued
JOHN PAUL DEJORIA The story of John Paul Dejoria’s great success in establishing and expanding companies such as John Paul Mitchell Systems and Patron Spirits is well known. Coco Eco takes a look at the untold story of his efforts to protect our animal life. Philanthropic contributions towards animal welfare and efforts at raising awareness accent the brilliant career of one of Coco Eco’s favorite wild men.
JEFF CORWIN PROVIDED BY: Jeff Corwin MEN WE LOVE | Continued
JEFF CORWIN Long before he was an Emmy winning wildlife biologist, Jeff Corwin became a conservationist in his teenage years realizing the needs to save our ecological resources and endangered species. Corwin is best known for his television series The Jeff Corwin Experience on Animal Planet. amongst countless other shows such as Giant Monsters, Extreme Cuisine with Jeff Corwin and Jeff Corwin Unleashed. All of these television shows examine a broad group of animalia with Jeff ’s expeditions covering almost every location on the globe. Corwin went on to work with Anderson Cooper and Sanjay Gupta on Planet in Peril, a series for CNN. Corwin decided to take his journalistic pursuits up a notch by joining MSNBC as their Wildlife & Science Expert. More recently, Corwin has joined the online platform with Jeff Corwin Connect, which may very well be one of the most effective websites for causes. Upon entering the site, users are presented with a bevy of options to learn more about endangered species, threats to our eco-system and for finding direct avenues to support virtually every species of wildlife. Corwin has authored a number of books on his work, the latest being 100 Heartbeats: The Race to Save Earth’s Most Endangered Species. States Corwin, “the greatest challenge for conservation today is a sense of apathy or a sense of weakness. When people feel they don’t have power they don’t have accountability or a sensibility. Knowledge is power and with power comes responsibility. Whether we are millionaires, billionaires or even little children - we all have a stake.” www.jeffcorwinconnect.com
Dejoria has been a recipient of awards from PETA and the Anti-Vivisection Society for breaking ground with the first major line of salon products not tested on animals. John Paul is also an avid supporter of Last Chance for Animals in addition to the World Wildlife Federation, the Humane Society, ASPCA and countless other organizations. DeJoria also works with the California Wildlife Association which aides injured wildlife and various local animal shelters. Dejoria was instrumental in strategizing the well known PSA first aired on Larry King Live featuring actor and friend Pierce Brosnan for the International Fund for Animal Welfare, effectively calling Obama on the carpet for his whaling policies. The buzz they created on Capitol Hill could not be ignored. Last year, John Paul and his daughter joined Sea Shepherd on a mission to protect baby seals from clubbing and skinning for their pelts and supposed aphrodisiac properties. Dejoria told Coco Eco that during a stand-off with hunters they physically formed a barrier between their opposers and the baby seals with Dejoria stating “If you club these baby harp seals you will have to club me and my daughter first.” With the billionaire tycoon and his young daughter’s help an estimated 100,000 baby seals were saved during that expedition. His belief is that “we have the privilege while we are alive of taking care of and preserving the entire planet. It’s part of our rent for being on the planet earth.” www.paulmitchell.com
JOHN PAUL DEJORIA PROVIDED BY: John Paul Mitchell Systems
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ECO CHIC CTY GUIDE!
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ECO CHIC
GUIDE to...
Boulder WRITTEN by: Greta Eagan
Boulder Colorado has always been a ‘green scene’ and with the influx of tech startups and New York City transplants, this hippie town has gone from granola to eco-luxe. It seems as though Boulder has grown into it’s collegiate standing, attracting the environmentally elite and a few media savvy creatives to boot. The result is conscious living at its best with sustainable restaurants, non-toxic salons, protected open space trails and outdoor shopping malls.
ECO CHIC CITY GUIDE | Continued
STAY! THE ST JULIEN HOTEL Situated at the base of the Flatirons, the hotel is holistically inclined to preserve a global commitment to minimize its environmental impact. With an eco-initiative called The Zero Waste Commitment, the St Julien actively seeks to protect Boulder’s surrounding beauty. As part of that commitment, they send no more than 3.3 tons of trash to the landfill per month.The St Julien is also home to the annual LOHAS (lifestyle of heath and sustainability) conference. Offering luxury accommodation and amenities, try the Mountain Mojito spa treatment, where the fresh mint is grown in their very own garden.** 900 Walnut Street Boulder, CO 80302 PH: (720) 406-9696 www.stjulien.com
THE BOULDERADO A true Boulder institution that supports the history and evolution of the community. The Boulderado is one of Boulder’s oldest hotels and the first luxury establishment to grace the Flatirons. Donating continually to local community initiatives as well as gifting used furniture and excess food, the Boulderado is a longtime favorite that keeps on giving. Their eco efforts are visible throughout the hotel, from their natural products, the green in-house dry cleaner, all the way to flowers in your room which are provided by a sustainable nursery. The Boulderado is a beautiful balance between tradition and innovation. ** 2115 13th Street, Boulder, CO 80302-4801 PH: (303) 442-4344 www.boulderado.com
Photo Provided by THE BOULDERADO
Photo ST JULIEN HOTEL Photo Provided by ST JULIEN HOTEL 100 |Provided COCObyECO MAGAZINE | May - June 2011
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ECO CHIC CITY GUIDE | Continued
SHOP!
Photo Provided by MOMENTUM
Photo Provided by COMMON THREADS
Photo Provided by E BELLA
MOMENTUM
COMMON THREADS
E BELLA
The place to pick up a gift knowing that everyday purchases have the power to create lasting social change. Momentum has become the local gift store dedicated to the fair trade business model which places people and sustainability at the heart of every business decision. From India to Zimbabwe, an assortment of unique treasures are consciously selected and presented, benefiting both the maker and receiver. **
Upscale resale at its best! Dedicated to the circulation of high fashion that never goes out of style, Common Threads is the go-to place for second life cycle designer clothing. Importing fashion pieces from all over Colorado, including Vail and Aspen, Common Threads has developed a cult following. From Chloe bags, Catharine Malandrino dresses and Prada shoes- Common Threads weeds out only the best of the best in resale for a well-curated shopping experience. **
The best place for ‘home away from home’ accessories. Known for their socially sourced rugs and pillows from Peru, e Bella offers soft home furnishing with an eco-edge. Impeccable design and consulting services for full blown eco-makeovers, while offering smaller accenting details. Also, be sure to sift through their rack of local eco-designer, CarolAnn Wachter for high fashion pieces at a high moral standard. **
1625 Pearl Street, Boulder, CO 80302 (303) 440-7744 www.ourmomentum.com
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2707 Spruce Street, Boulder, CO 80302-3809 (303) 449-5431 www.commonthreadsboulder.com
2304 Pine Street, Boulder, CO 80302-4609 (303) 442-6226 www.ebelladesigns.com
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SHOP! HARLEQUIN GARDENS A local integrative nursery operating in Boulder for 20 years, Harlequin Gardens is a cornerstone in promoting sustainable living. Drop by to learn about their approach to promoting natural diversity through plants, and devise your own way of participating in sustainable living by growing your own food or designing a self sustaining yard. ** 4795 26th Street, Boulder, CO 80301-1657 (303) 939-9403 www.harlequinsgardens.com Photo Provided by HARLEQUIN GARDENS
ECO ELLIE’S Eco Ellie’s. Eco Ellie’s allows you to step into the world of everything green, where living an environmentally sustainable life becomes easier. With awesomely stylish green, organic, natural and eco-friendly products, ellie’s is your one-stop shop for everything eco-friendly. “We believe there are better and more alternative ways to build, renovate, and live a healthy lifestyle.” Find Eco Ellie’s online for affordable alternatives. ** 2525 Arapahoe Avenue, Boulder, CO 80302 (303) 952-1004 www.ecoellies.com
GOLDMINE VINTAGE If you are on the hunt for fabulous vintage, search no further! Goldmine Vintage lives up to its name. With an assortment of tops, dresses, tees, jackets, hats, wigs and shoes, all organized by color and style, Goldmine Vintage is the gem it promises to be. Don’t expect lofty vintage prices either. Goldmine keeps their prices in check and their pieces accessible. A definite stop-off during your stroll down Pearl Street Mall. ** 1123 Pearl Street, Boulder, CO 80302-5103 (303) 447-0065 www.goldminevintage.com Photo Provided by GOLDMINE VINTAGE
Photo Provided by TECO ELLIE’S
ECO CHIC CITY GUIDE | Continued
EAT! CAFE AION Chef Dakota Soifer describes his cafe as a tribute to the local tapas taverns in Spain and Italy. They keenly aspire to cultivate the tradition of a simple yet beautiful merenda offering. “We gather our ingredients from farmers, ranchers and fishmongers we know and admire, and we draw upon the time-honored practices of the osteria and tapas bar as we cook for our friends and neighbors.” The locals joint where the fresh food comes from the farm just seven blocks down the street.** 1235 Pennsylvania Avenue # A, Boulder, CO 80302-7007 PH: (303) 993-8131 www.cafeaion.com
BRASSERIE TEN TEN Notorious for their oysters and fries, the Brasserie Ten Ten is a local hangout.They are an active eco-citizen through the extensive use of single stream recycling. Their fryer oil is reused to fuel alternative fuel engines and grease trap maintenance. It is a good thing they make use of the excess oil, because the food is so good, it is the only thing left on the plate!** 1011 Walnut Street, Boulder, CO 80302-5181 PH: (303) 998-1010 www.brasserietenten.com
TEE & CAKES Photo Provided by BRASSERIE TEN TEN
Tee & Cakes is an eco-conscious bakery and to help do their part, they compost all of their coffee grinds and food, some of which goes to Lost World Farms – a local farm. Tee & Cakes also purchases a share of the farm to use its products in their bakery as well. Offering compostable coffee cups and recycling bins, you can complete the loop when you’ve finished off one of their delectable treats. ** 1932 14th Street, Boulder, CO 80302-5302 PH: (720) 406-7548 www.teeandcakes.com
Photo BRASSERIE TEN TEN Photo Credit BRIAN WOOD 104 |Provided COCObyECO MAGAZINE | May - June 2011
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THE PINYON The new hot spot! The Pinyon offers a unique rendition of American cuisine with an innovative take on traditional cooking methods using fine local produce and respecting the legacy of our shared culinary heritage. Paying homage to Colorado cuisine, their breads and cheeses are crafted using local artisans and techniques. Their sense of care, craft and responsibility is celebrated and enjoyed.** 1710 Pearl Street, Boulder, CO 80302 PH: (720) 306-8248 www.thepinyon.com
THE KITCHEN A farm to table eatery with a mission to bring together the community. “We believe in connecting people through food to a sense of place, time and each other.” Boasting both a foodie and eco reputation, The Kitchen sources locally, composts leftovers, recycles and is powered by wind. Join them from 3-5pm for ‘Community Hour’ and learn why they are a Boulderite staple. ** 1039 Pearl Street, Boulder, CO 80302 PH: (303) 544-5973 www.thekitchencafe.com
PEKOE SIP HOUSE Pekoe Sip House. Pekoe Sip Houses are contemporary purveyors of fine teas and coffee who seek to tread lightly by using local, organic, and sustainable products whenever possible. In their own words, “We seek to create a place to sip, relax, and enjoy quality local products that enrich people’s everyday lives.” Enjoy both indoor and outdoor seating in the heart of North Boulder. House favorite: the matte latte.**
Photo Credit BRIAN WOOD
2500 30th Street, Boulder, CO 80301 PH: (303) 444-4207 www.pekoesiphouse.com
Photo Provided by THE PINYON
Photo Provided by THE KITCHEN
ECO CHIC CITY GUIDE | Continued
INDULGE! TEN20 With episodes of Gossip Girl playing in the background while sipping on a cosmo and having your nails done, ten20 has brought a little piece of the big city straight to a small town. They offer ‘3 Free’ choices, including Zoya Nail Polish. They also carry natural and organic skin care and beauty lines such as Pangea Organics and Kala bath soap. The perfect spot to unwind and indulge, naturally. ** 2005 Pearl Street, Boulder, CO 80302-4429 PH: (720) 565-1020 www.ten20.tv
TWIG SALON AND SPA
Photo Credit JEN OLSON
Twig Salon strives to stay at the cutting edge of today’s always-evolving trends and fashions through constant education-oriented employee development, training, and evaluation. Dedicated to natural beauty- from products to practices- Twig offsets over 50% of their electricity by purchasing renewable energy credits from Boulder-based, Renewable Choice Energy. They also recycle all of their foils and color tubes. Stop in for a truly conscious experience that’ll leave you feeling beautiful, inside and out. ** 1831 Pearl Street, Boulder, CO 80302 PH: (303) 447-0880 www.twighairsalon.com
VOODOO HAIR LOUNGE The salon with soul! Voodoo Hair Lounge’s furniture is made out of locally sourced beetle kill pine which gives the salon a unique and stylish ambiance. Their product lines are clean and green, including Kevin Murphy, Unite Eurotherapy, DevaCurl, and Shankara skin care. This is the place to have your all- natural facial with their well known and sought after esthetician. ** At work on the next design of jewelry. Photo Provided by LOVE HEALS Photo Credit JEN OLSON
1537 Pearl Street, Boulder, CO 80302 PH: (303) 449-4453 www.boulderhairsalon.com
PANGEA ORGANICS Based out of Boulder, Pangea Organics is changing the beauty world one product at a time. Their bodycare is as honest as it is organic- meaning, everything IN their products will always be listed ON them so you know exactly what you’re purchasing and putting on your body. No petrochemicals or parabens, GMOs or other synthetic or harmful ingredients. Pangea Organics is a truly non-toxic choice with a commitment to sustaining a beautiful Earth for generations to come. ** 6880 Winchester Cr, Boulder, CO 80301 PH: (877) 679-5854 www.pangeaorganics.com
Photo Provided by VOODOO HAIR LOUNGE 106
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ECO CHIC CITY GUIDE | Continued
EXPLORE! FIREFLY HANDMADE FAIR Firefly Handmade eats, sleeps and breathes handmade. As a series of seasonal markets their goal is to curate makers, bring them together, encourage collaboration, promote local economy, entice a greener buyer, and tell a story. The best place to snatch up an original gift and support a local artisan, as well as mix and mingle with the best of ‘em. ** www.fireflyhandmade.com
Photo Provided by OPEN SPACE PARK
TOUR THE CELESTIAL SEASONING FACTORY Just outside of downtown Boulder, is the famous Celestial Seasonings Tea factory. See how their teas are blended, packaged and shipped, then enjoy free samples of every tea they make and discover their gallery of original artwork from their famous tea boxes.They boast local production and ethical trade practices with their growers. Make sure to pop into the peppermint room- it is an experience of a lifetime. ** 4600 Sleepytime Drive, Boulder, CO 80301-3284 (303) 530-5300 www.celestialseasonings.com
OPEN SPACE PARK Boulder is committed to preserving its open space. Across the county (and much of Colorado for that matter) you’ll find Open Space Parks with maintained hiking, biking, horseback riding and running trails. A local favorite, where you can see everyone one from the University of Colorado running team, Ironman triathletes and dog-walkers enjoying the open space, expansive views and fresh air. ** www.bouldercounty.org Photo Provided by FARMER’S MARKET
BOULDER FARMERS’ MARKET The Boulder County Farmers’ Market takes pride in bringing you locally grown vegetables, meats, fruits, flowers, plants, gourmet cheeses and wines sold by the farmers that produce them. While you’re purchasing your fresh vegetables and fruits (many of them organically grown) enjoy tasty treats from a local bakery or a meal created by local chefs. Shopping for your weekly produce has never been so delicious! ** www.boulderfarmers.org
Provided FARMER’S MARKET 108 Photo | COCO ECObyMAGAZINE | May - June 2011
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COCO ECO |
TRAVEL EXTRA!
Three Eco Safari
Vacations
WRITTEN by: Starre Vartan PHOTOGRAPHY provided by: As
Noted
No matter how famous–or ordinary–one is, almost all of us, from movie stars to your mailman can agree that an African safari is a the trip of a lifetime. The opportunity to see lions, tigers, giraffes, hippos, gazelles and oryx, not to mention scores of birds and incredible vistas is one that not everyone gets to experience, and those who do never fail to be blown away. (Have you heard anyone do anything but gush once they’ve been on safari? No, me either!) If one is putting in the time and money to be a part of an upcoming safari, you want to do it right, and these three camps are shining examples of responsible – but still fabulous – African travel.
ECO SAFARI ADVENTURE
The Earth Organization’s Eco Safari Adventure is located on the former private hunting grounds of King Shaka, “…the legendary warrior who created the Zulu empire and famously defeated the British,” according to their website. During apartheid, a Dutch family turned it into a hunting lodge and the local elephants were eliminated – many other local animals were also hunted to near-extinction. In 1998 Thula Thula, as the location is known, was transformed yet again, into a sustainable eco tourism lodge with the help of the local Zulu tribe. Elephants were reintroduced, and since changing hands local animals and plants have rebounded. Stay in your choice of cabins, a traditional lodge, or off-the-ground tents, and participate in The Earth Organization’s rural school and orphanage initiatives. **
ECO SAFARI ADVENTURE www.ecosafariafrica.com
SHAMWARI GAME RESERVE
The Shamwari Game Reserve is located in eastern South Africa, and is home to the “Big Five”: elephant, rhino, buffalo, lion and leopard (and many more animals) on a private game reserve. There are seven different lodges to choose from, including Eagle’s Crag, which is quite modern and includes a pool, spa and cocktail bar, while Bushman’s River lodge is a former Victorian homestead that is set up for families or groups to visit. Sarili Lodge was built with ecofriendly materials (like a thatch roof) and features traditional African farmhouse décor. A special “Kids on Safari” tour takes kids on a ride just for them to see the big animals through children’s eyes. ** SHAMWARI GAME RESERVE www.shamwari.com
PORONI GAMEWATCHERS SAFARI
The Poroni Gamewatchers Safari established the first conservancy on land owned by the Masai people of Kenya, and the group has continued to work with the locals, expanding into two more areas since, for a total of over 40,000 acres now set aside for wild animals (formerly, cattle had been overgrazed in these areas; ever since, plants, and then native animals have returned). Not only has this change benefitted the flora and fauna, but also the Masai people, who earn a sustainable income from tourism. The Poroni camps are made up of tented campsites that are purposefully kept small so visitors will have a lighter footprint and also so the experience is kept intimate. Solar power and eco friendly cooking mean you can see the sights of the African plains – without destroying it in the process. ** PORONI GAMEWATCHERS SAFARI www.porini.com
COCO ECO |
LIFE!
HUNTING the
UNICORN RHINO POACHING CRISIS IN AFRICA
WRITTEN by: Polly Walter PHOTOGRAPHY provided by: Martin
Harvey / WWF-Canon
When Marco Polo passed through Indonesia in the 13th century he believed he had finally discovered the illusive one horned animal of European legend…the unicorn. But unlike the luminous creatures popular in art and folklore, Polo was surprised to find that his unicorn had “hair like that of a buffalo, feet like those of an elephant, and a horn in the middle of the forehead, which is black and very thick”. Of course today we know Marco Polo was speaking not of a mythical unicorn, but of the rhinoceros. He was most likely describing the Javan Rhino, once widespread over Asia, India, and China. Currently there are less than 40 alive in the world, sad evidence of what conservation groups are calling the worst poaching crisis in decades. With an ounce-for-ounce value equal to gold on the black market, Rhino horn is an unfortunate ingredient of traditional Chinese medicine, touted as a cure for everything from colds to cancer. Not one of these claims has ever been supported by scientific evidence, and in fact the horns are mainly made up of keratin, the same material as human hair and nails. South Afri-
ca and neighboring Zimbabwe are responsible for 95 percent of the poaching trade. Another receptive market for poachers is Yemen, where rhino horn is used for decorative dagger handles. But the most notable increase in demand may be in Vietnam, where experts believe only 3 to 5 of Marco Polo’s discovery, the Javan Rhino, are left in the entire country. Rhino horn can fetch up to $40,000 per kilogram in Vietnam and up to $60,000 in China. According to South African national park officials, an all time high of 333 rhinos were illegally killed there last year. This includes 10 animals on the “critically endangered” list, and is nearly triple 2009. South African is home to more rhinos than any country in the world, approximately 21,000, and they constitute a major tourist attraction. The largest population exists in Kruger National Park, a popular safari destination bordered by Zimbabwe and Mozambique. Although considered the benchmark of South African conservation, the park lost 146 of the rhinos killed last year. The devastating losses in Africa have prompted conservationists to urge greater international cooperation. At the beginning of March, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service met with rhino experts from around the world in South Africa to address strategies to combat the crisis. Attendees included the World Wildlife Fund, and Save the Rhino International. Discussions ranged from stronger penalties for rhino-related crimes to an increase in funding to develop new technologies in the flight against poachers. A common misconception is the image of a poacher as a bushman with a wooden spear. In fact, today’s poachers are part of sophisticated criminal organizations that use night-vision equipment, silencers, assault rifles, and helicopters to hunt rhinos at night while
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avoiding detection by park rangers. Nothing points more to the lucrative reality of the trade – this is equipment African wildlife officials can’t even afford. “This is not typical poaching,” says Dr. Joseph Okori, World Wildlife Fund African Rhino Program Manager. “The criminal syndicates operating in South Africa are highly organized and use advanced technologies. They are very well coordinated.” Foot soldiers, recruited from local communities, are drawn in by the promise of endless riches for hunting down the rhinos – when in reality it is only the ringleaders who profit. Experts have suggested another devastating reason for the exponential increase in rhino poaching over the past year: crime syndicates are stockpiling horns in anticipation of the species’ extinction. However, even in the face of this troubling and ultimately disheartening reality, local and national governments are fighting back. In Nepal, the government has sanctioned a multi-million dollar budget to stop the targeting of rhinos in Chitwan National Park. It involves increased army presence in the park and “shoot on sight” permission against poachers. The park will also be training their rangers in the use of GPS devices to modernize tracking of the animals, and displaying “My Horn is Not Medicine” posters in key areas. 2011 started off with the arrest of a notorious gang responsible for killing at least 6 rhinos in the park. They are expected to receive strong sentences in the coming months. Efforts in Kenya include expansion of an electric fence that after 21 years of construction, now encircles the entire Aberdare mountain range. Stretching 8,000 miles and built mainly of recycled plastic, it is the longest and most technologically advanced fence being used to resolve wildlife conflict in Africa. The enclosed area is now con-
sidered the most secure ecosystem in the entire country, and stands as a monument to Kenya’s efforts to combat poaching. In Kruger National Park itself, the South African military has started paroling the borders. So far this year 64 poachers have been arrested, while 2010 only saw the arrest of 162 the entire year. Starting this month the South African National Defense Force will be lending much-needed surveillance equipment to the rangers. So, what can we do, thousands of miles away from the bloodshed? Be aware, and give what you can. You’d be surprised the difference a few dollars makes towards supporting the rangers who risk their lives every day to protect threatened wildlife. Many of the park rangers in Africa have blogs, and they are simply awe-inspiring. I urge you to check out the following sites for more information and personal stories straight from the rangers: MaraTriangle.org (Kenya), Wildlifedirect.org, and Gorillacd.org (Congo).** RHINO CONSERVATION www.rhinoconservation.org INTERNATIONAL RHINO FOUNDATION www.rhinos-irf.org
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LIFE!
DANGER! EXOTIC ANIMAL TRADE WRITTEN by: Starre Vartan PHOTOGRAPHY by: Peter J.
Fox
A chimp attacks and maims a neighbor. A tiger finally cracks and mauls its trainer; these are the headlining stories of exotic animals living outside their natural habitats, but they aren’t the only ones. There are thousands of untold tales of birds of prey, lions, elephants, wolves and other wild animals who are sold as ‘pets’ after being taken from the wild. Because what motivates most illegal animal sales is pure and simple, and has nothing to do with what’s good for the animals, or for people. It’s just greed. But like many of the human/ animal problems currently debated in our society, even though the original motivations for smuggling animals may be simple (profit), the keeping of the animals long term is often motivated by emotional attachment from human to animal. Even when conditions are obviously less than ideal for an animal, and even maybe unhealthy, the people might be blinded by their affection – literally loving the animal to death. In most exotic pet situations, human beings don’t mean to do the harm they do, which complicates solutions to this problem. But the simplest solution is to avoid buying an exotic animals in the first place. Disease transmission is one of the most significant reasons to stay away from exotic animals. According to the ASPCA, “In addition to salmonella and herpes B, just a few of the diseases we can contract from exotic animals kept as pets are chlamydia, giardia, hepatitis A, rabies, ringworm, tuberculosis, and scabies.” And that’s not even counting the thousands of injuries a year caused to humans by exotic animals from bites and scratches. Because wild animals haven’t acclimated to living with human beings over thousands of years (and 114
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been bred to be less aggressive) like domesticated animals are, the likelihood that they will attack, due to stress, or just unexpected situations, is very high. It’s also almost impossible to reproduce an exotic animal’s native habitat, so it’s difficult to make a healthy home for them. Recreating the large areas that many animals need to survive healthfully is unlikely in any city or town. “Many species of monkeys, birds, and wildcats often travel several miles in a single day. There’s no way a walk on a leash through the park will cut it,” the ASPCA warns on their website. Food is another issue; somehow acquiring the variety of fresh foods that a wild animal would find in its hunting and/or gathering at your local supermarket is likely impossible – and likely to be extremely expensive. But the biggest reason to avoid exotic animals is to protect their continued existence. By way of example, there are fewer than 3,200 wild tigers left, according to the World Wildlife Fund, yet there are some people who think they should keep them for their own personal amusement, even in apartments and suburban houses. Tigers need acres of land to live on; is it any wonder that a crowded tiger would attack even humans known to him after years of the stress of being unable to roam and run? Great apes are another species that are popular exotic pets – and that popularity is directly related to their decreasing numbers. Orangutans, gorillas, chimps and bonobos are the closest wild relatives to human beings, and it is because of their human-like traits that many people think they will make wonderful, amusing pets. But even the smallest of these animals, chimpanzees, are five times stronger than
the average human, and so can easily hurt human beings if provoked. Not only can they hurt people, but these apes are all endangered, some critically so, in part due to the bush meat trade, but in part also to the live pet trade. The most popular exotic pets aren’t tigers and chimps though, they are the smaller mammals, amphibians and birds like kinkajous, boa constrictors, poison dart frogs and raccoons. But just because they are smaller doesn’t mean their needs are less, or that they will be easier to feed, house or help if they get ill. Most veterinarians are unfamiliar with how to treat exotics, and so a simple sickness caused by a caged environment or an inappropriate snack can turn deadly quickly. The bottom line is that if you truly love animals, including exotics like those mentioned above, you will work to make sure that their original homes – their native habitats – are protected and healthy for them to live in. Donating money, volunteering, or engaging in responsible eco tourism are much more positive, effective ways to see and help the animals you love. Keeping a green iguana, black panther, gray parrot or flying squirrel in a cage so you can play with them isn’t about making a better life for the animal you ostensibly love, it’s about what is likely a fleeting desire or curiosity on your part. Don’t make an animal suffer for your whims. **
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Habitat AND LOSING Home WRITTEN by: Morgan McKean PHOTOGRAPHY provided by: World
Wildlife Fund
They’re our neighbors in the “web of life”, yet we rarely see them.They have lived undisturbed in their habitats long before many of our homes were ever built. To most of us, they only exist in photographs, movies and in our children’s imagination, and soon, if we continue to act oblivious to our responsibility to care for them and the environments in which they live, these images may be all we have left. When human beings disturb a naturally balanced ecosystem, we tend to loose sight of the fact that we are somehow affecting all other functioning parts of that ecosystem. This disruption usually leads to the decline of an area and eventually, one or more of the animals that once called that place home becomes endangered or extinct. For instance, our beautiful Giant Pandas are suffering habitat destruction and fragmentation do to human activities such as farming, logging, mining and hydropower development. While local people have shared the remote areas where pandas live, using the natural resources of the forest for fuel and timber for years, as the population grows, it continues to add more pressure to an already overburdened ecosystem, making the environment unsustainable. Additionally, pandas are fast losing their primary food resource, bamboo due to logging and other human activity. While the Chinese government banned logging in the panda’s habitat in 1998, and cre116
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ated a number of established reserves in the panda’s habitat range, there has been little in the way of effective enforcement. As such, the ecological integrity of these areas has continued to decline as a result of illegal logging and poaching, greatly effecting the panda’s ability to survive. Then there’s the Royal Bengal tiger, with it’s majestic stance, golden yellow coat and stripes black as night. Classified as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, the Bengal tiger population is estimated at less than 2,500 individuals with a decreasing trend. A new study by the World Wildlife Federation, and other partner organizations, has found that the Sundarbans Mangrove, the tiger’s natural habitat, could shrink up to 96% by the year 2070, meaning this unique place could disappear before the end of this century. “If we don’t take steps to address the impacts of climate change on the Sundarbans, the only way its tigers will survive this century is with scuba gear,” says Colby Loucks, WWF’s deputy director of conservation science. Like the mangrove forest of the Sundarbans, the sea-ice of the Polar Bear is one of the habitats most immediately threatened due to global warming. While many people correctly assume that the polar bear spends much of its life at sea, it still uses the Arctic ice to harvest food and otherwise make a living. Exacerbating the issues of the lost hunting ground is the decline in the polar bear’s main prey, seals. Polar bears are known to go hungry for extended periods of time, which results in cannibalistic behavior. The reduction in ice beds near productive areas to their food further affects their nutritional health, reproduction rate and ability to survive.
It is critical than to act now to curb greenhouse gas emissions and find alternatives to fossil fuels if we are going to save polar bears and avoid the worst impacts of global warming. Due to illegal hunting and pet trade, habitat loss and disease, the beautiful and complex Africa Great Apes are fighting to survive. If road building, mining camps, and other infrastructure developments continue at their current pace, less than 10% of the remaining habitat of the great apes will be left in tact by 2030. In addition to the struggle to survive against our human activity and loss of habitat, Great apes also struggle with diseases such as Ebola. Urgent action is required to develop plans to stop the habitat loss of all earth’s creatures, for what effects them impacts us all. So what can you do to help our majestic and treasured species of the world? Beyond watching how your own lifestyle choices impact climate change through greenhouse gas effects, you can contact organizations like the World Wildlife Fund. They offer educational information and ways to put your time and resources to support those who are on the frontline fighting to save these animals and their habitats.** WORLD WILDLIFE FUND www.WorldwildlifeFund.org
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LIFE!
FIGHT for
DOLPHINS MY JOURNEY TO THE VILLAGE OF TAIJI
WRITTEN by: Leilani Münter PHOTOGRAPHY provided by: Leilani
Münter
Occasionally in our lives, an experience is powerful enough that it changes you forever and you can never go back to being the person you were before. For myself, one of those moments was watching the Oscar winning documentary The Cove. The first words I said when it was over were to my husband, “We have to go to Taiji and help Ric (O’Barry) end this.” Since then I’ve been to Taiji twice to document what is happening to dolphins there and remind the world that the slaughter hasn’t ended. The experiences I had in Taiji broke my heart and a piece of me is always there at the cove, where so much blood has been spilled. Since I returned, not a day goes by that I don’t wonder what is happening there and if the dolphins are safe or not. Within minutes of arriving on my first trip to Taiji, myself and other activists were confronted 118
by the local police who took down passport numbers and instructed us not to interfere with the dolphin hunters. The next day a man with loud speakers attached to his truck began driving around Taiji, playing a message in English which had too many expletives to repeat here. But the message was clear: The Cove is full of lies. We are angry. Get out of our town. You are not welcome here. I had dolphin hunters get in my face, scream at me and make obscene gestures. One memorable encounter occurred at a small restaurant in a nearby village, where the dolphin hunters sitting nearby began telling me I should order whale and dolphin meat for dinner. We were greatly outnumbered and it was enough for my male companion to feel threatened enough to leave the restaurant before there was a physical altercation. I got hate e-mails from dolphin hunters, although much of it I could not read. One of the dolphin hunters began sending me messages via twitter. His profile photo was a dolphin with its head cut off. But like most female race car drivers, I have a pretty thick skin. So as soon as I could, I returned to Taiji. On my second trip to Taiji, I had the nightmare experience of witnessing two dolphin slaughters. During the first, I watched twenty beautiful dolphins, who I had filmed swimming in the ocean the day before, driven into the cove in the early morning. A couple hours later, they came out as lifeless dead bodies. I have seen The Cove many times, I’ve held screenings at my home and at colleges. But nothing could have prepared me to witness it in person. You want to jump in the water and get between the knives
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Capturing Dolphins in the Cove
and the dolphins - but you can’t. There are police, media, the Coast Guard, and angry dolphin hunters there to stop you. So you stand there and take photos, feeling completely helpless. I was able to sneak my camera under the door of the slaughterhouse where the hunters had made the mistake of not closing one of their doors all the way. I took some very gruesome photos of the beautiful dolphins being chopped up into little pieces. On International Save Japan Dolphins day demonstrations were happening at Japanese embassies all over the world but we were there in Taiji where all this controversy was focused. Fellow Save Japan Dolphins volunteer Greg Hauswirth and myself released red roses into the cove to honor the thousands of dolphins who had lost their lives there. Immediately after, the police required we remove the roses from the water. Stepping into the water was strange, because although it was turquoise in color, for me it always looks bloody. But one rose drifted out to sea and I like to think that it made it’s way to a pod of wild dolphins. I hope they know there are those of us who are fighting for their lives. The experience of the second slaughter was even worse because I watched the entire dolphin drive. Greg and I found a cliff where we could film the dolphin hunters driving the dolphins from the ocean towards the cove.The dolphins fought for their lives for many hours and we went through the emotional roller coaster of seeing them get away, only to be caught again. It was heart wrenching.
Dolphin slaughter house
Before we left, a few other activists and I picked up stones from the beach adjacent to the Cove. We each decided to take one stone back to our homes so that every time we see the stone, it will serve as a reminder of the dolphins we left behind in Taiji. One day, when the slaughter comes to an end, we will all go back to the cove and return our stones to the water... but not until the cove, and the dolphins, can finally rest in peace. Editors Note: On June 21, Leilani has organized a benefit screening of The Cove at Rafael Film Center in San Rafael, California. Attendees include activist Ric O’Barry, director Louie Psihoyos, and a performance by Leilani’s brother-in-law Bob Weir, singer and guitarist from the Grateful Dead. All the proceeds go to Save Japan Dolphins to continue their fight for the dolphins.** LEILANI MÜNTER www.leilanimunter.com SAVE JAPAN DOLPHINS www.savejapandolphins.org
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TO BE
“Blesed” WRITTEN by: Beth Doane PHOTOGRAPHY provided by: Katherine
Connor
When London native Katherine Connor embarked on a journey to Asia, she had no idea it would change her life forever, and become the place she would settle, marry a local, and save one of the most endangered species on the planet. Her journey and groundbreaking work to save Asia’s elephants have inspired thousands of people all over the world, earned her international recognition, and a soon-to-be aired television series. It all started with a baby elephant named Boon Lott. Katherine met Boon Lott unexpectedly early in her travels while volunteering at an elephant hospital. Boon Lott (which means “survivor” in Thai) was only six-months old when his owner decided to sell him to a tourist establishment and force his mother into grueling illegal logging. Knowing Boon Lott would die from being taken from his mother too soon and to prevent the mother/child separation, Katherine launched an international fundraising campaign and successfully raised the money needed to rescue him. She also negotiated an agreement with the owner to allow the mother to remain with her baby until he was old enough to survive on his own. Sadly, shortly after this victory, little Boon Lott, already malnourished from mistreatment and a premature birth, suffered a horrible fall that left his hind legs paralyzed. Katherine immediately consulted experts from across Thailand to give their opinions, but all 120 | COCO | May - June 2011 Katherine ConnorECO withMAGAZINE a rescued elephant
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agreed that the baby would die within days. Katherine had no funds left to save him but, determined to try, she raised enough money by herself for a hydrotherapy pool and discovered an equine sling that was imported from the United States, modifying it for Boon Lott so that he might learn to walk again. Katherine slept beside him every night and administered a range of alternative treatments including acupuncture, electrotherapy, traditional Thai massage, and aromatherapy in hopes of aiding his recovery. Tragically, even with all her time, funds, and love Boon Lott suffered another fatal fall. On June 26, 2004, with Katherine holding him as she had for the past 14 months, Boon Lott’s heart stopped beating. As a testament to Boon Lott’s courage, Katherine went on to establish BLES – Boon Lott’s Elephant Sanctuary – a thriving and world renowned elephant refuge in his memory to help save the thousands of other elephants that face a similar fate because of abuse, neglect and poaching. A hundred years ago there were an estimated 100,000 Asian elephants in Thailand alone and yet today, their numbers have declined to less than 5,000. Katherine knows that without major intervention wild elephants will become extinct and today in many Asian countries, like Thailand, the tourist industry there remains a major threat.
Elephant camps cater to tourists and use elephants irresponsibly, forcing them to provide rides in adverse weather or to perform gymnastic displays for “entertainment.” They are also used to beg from tourists. Drugging is common, the hours of work are exhausting and cruel, their diet is poor, and road accidents are frequent. Calves are often prematurely separated from their mothers, with a life expectancy reduced to as little as five years, and baby elephants are one of the newest and most popular attractions for tourism. Also, to meet the demand, forced breeding under harsh conditions often occurs. Determined to raise awareness and rescue elephants like Boon Lott, Katherine single-handedly has raised more funding to secure enough money to purchase land and establish BLES as a nonprofit organization with charity status. Located off the beaten track in the rural village of Baan Tuek in northern Thailand, BLES is now home to a variety of rescued animals, including eight dogs, six cats, two cows and thirteen elephants. Each of her elephants has their own story, most filled with heart wrenching abuse, neglect and pain, but every one now has a happy TO BE “BLESED” | Continued
TO BE “BLESED” | Continued
ending. You can read each of their histories here: Elephant Sanctuary. The paradise Katherine has created is open to the public for visits and is situated on hundreds of acres of forested land that encourages the elephants to interact in a safe and natural environment. BLES has also embarked on other programs such as intensive tree planting to reforest the elephants’ natural habitat and offers housing for guests designed and built by local craftsman using sustainable materials. Guests at BLES are involved in all aspects of Sanctuary life and activities may include collecting elephant food from the jungle, walking the elephants to grazing grounds, scrubbing and washing the elephants, walking the elephants to swim in their river, shopping in local markets, visiting local temples, hiking with the mahouts to recover the elephants from release sites, planting trees, and even receiving a blessing from a village elder. You can learn more on their website and all the animals at BLES are open to be adopted virtually by clicking on the link below. You can see the sanctuary animals there and support one by simply entering the name of your chosen animal in the “Adopt an Animal” link.
African elephants are also facing severe challenges in the wild
Katherine’s life is filled with miracles just like BLES is every day. Despite her own heartaches, financial stress and running a charity in a foreign country without government support, Katherine and BLES are flourishing. She hopes to see you all very soon at BLES as the elephants and other rescues are waiting to meet you. It may just change your life and theirs.** BLES www.blesele.org
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COCO ECO |
LIFE!
CORAL TRIANGLE WRITTEN by: Johnny Langenheim PHOTOGRAPHY provided by: James
Morgan
It’s 2060 and you’re telling your grandchildren what it was like to dive a living coral reef – a real one in the open ocean, teeming with fish. They’re rapt, because they’ve only ever seen coral on film, or as preserved samples in aquariums. This might sound like an outlandish scenario, but it’s one that many scientists believe we may be facing. Coral ecosystems are as fragile as they are fertile. They contain ¼ of all marine life on our planet and provide spawning aggregation sites that help populate the rest of our oceans. Yet they could be extinct within decades, as rising water temperatures and unsustainable fisheries take their toll. When you consider just how significant coral is in populating our oceans, it’s ironic that the world’s richest reef system is still largely unknown to most people. Yet we’re talking about a bioregion that’s half the size of the United States, passes through six countries (the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, PNG, Solomon Islands and East Timor), and harbors more marine species than anywhere else on the planet. Forget the 124
Caribbean or even the Great Barrier Reef, when it comes to species abundance and sheer scale, nothing comes close to the Coral Triangle. There is a land-based bioregion that shares many characteristics with this singular marine environment, however. It is similarly rich in biodiversity, crosses the territories of nine countries, supports countless livelihoods and, like the Coral Triangle, is under grave threat. You’ve probably heard of it – it’s called the Amazon. If its jungles are the lungs of the earth, then the Coral Triangle is the wellspring of the oceans. There are single reefs here that contain more species than the entire Caribbean. What’s more, scientists believe that the reefs of Raja Ampat, off the coast of West Papua – widely regarded as the biodiversity bull’s eye of the seas – are highly resistant to coral bleaching. Corals are animal, not vegetable of course. Tiny creatures known as polyps feed on plankton and excrete calcium carbonate deposits, which over millennia grow to form the magical coral gardens we know today. Bleaching is a stress response to increases in temperature, where coral polyps expel certain algae they rely on to stay healthy, revealing their white skeletons. It seems that the reefs in Papua are far more resilient to fluctuations in temperature and so better able to withstand the impacts of global climate change. But climate is just part of the problem. The Coral Triangle currently supports the livelihoods of 120 million people as well as satisfying much of the world’s appetite for seafood. And much like the Amazon, it is buckling under human pressure. From a human perspective, the Coral Triangle is highly resource rich, supporting industries
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Bajau boy swims with pet shark
worth billions of dollars from tuna and live reef fisheries to tourism services. Sadly, in most areas, these industries are far from sustainable. Besides destructive yet legitimate fishing methods like bottom trawling – literally scraping the seabed and seeing what comes up – less conventional approaches are also popular in the Coral Triangle. Through the eighties and nineties, homemade bombs were the preferred choice amongst many fishermen.These require nothing more than a glass bottle, a box of matches, some fertilizer, and a little ingenuity to build. It can take thousands of years for a reef to grow, but only seconds to destroy it. Cyanide Fishing is another popular practice, connected principally to the live fish trade, an industry worth upward of US$800 million a year. Reef species like Grouper are highly prized by consumers in Hong Kong and Mainland China, who’ll pay upwards of US$100 a kilo – so long as it’s alive and in a tank. Cyanide is simply the most efficient way of catching Grouper without killing them – divers squirt the poison into the reef, stunning the fish so they can be easily caught. A quick injection of tetracycline – a powerful antibiotic – usually keeps it alive, so it can be served up to diners, few of whom have any idea of how their fish was caught or where it came from. Fortunately, some things are changing for the better in the Coral Triangle. All six governments have signed up to the Coral Triangle Initiative, which is aimed at developing conservation strategies and sustainable business practices. With the help of N.G.O’s like WWF, The Nature Conservancy and Conservation International, a growing network of Marine Protected Areas is being sustained. Fishing
Jetty and coral Kri Eco Resort
communities are being supported to use more artisanal fishing methods and young people are being educated about the ecosystems they inhabit. Until recently, stories from the Coral Triangle have been few and far between. But that’s about to change. The Coral Triangles Communication Platform is a dynamic website featuring film, photography and writing relating to the bioregion – from professionally produced content, to the rarely heard voices of local people. Users will be able to learn about and support a wide variety of campaigns and projects. There is even a travel portal, bringing together responsible tourism operators from across the Coral Triangle. The site goes live this summer and will be a key tool in establishing the Coral Triangle as an icon of the natural world comparable to the Amazon. And hopefully helping to ensure it doesn’t become a mere memory. ** THE CORAL TRIANGLE www.thecoraltriangle.com
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LIFE!
Art, Film &
Wilderness WRITTEN by: Kevin George PHOTOGRAPHY provided by: Chris
Jordan and Jacques Nortier (c) National Geographic Entertainment
Walking into the lobby of the David Brower Center I noticed a large black canvas, five feet square. I felt pulled in, and slowed to study artist Chris Jordan’s painting, “Year of the Tiger, 2010.” As I read the artist’s statement, “Year of the Tiger, 2010 Depicts 3200 toy tigers equal to the estimated number of tigers remaining on Earth…., ” I leaned forward, taking a closer look. Revealed to me were tiny tigers painted around the painting’s frame. I continued reading, “The space in the middle would hold 40,000 of these tigers, equal to the global tiger population in 1970.” What?! I felt shock in my body realizing this artwork was not a study of spot color, but rather this giant black void represents the population of tigers remaining on our planet today vs. the population of tigers that have disappeared since 1970! I was so moved by this piece, that I decided to contact Chris. My first question to Chris was, “What inspired you to create this piece? “I became deeply aware of mass consumption that began eight years ago. Most of the activism that I’ve seen is about identifying a problem, then identifying what we can do about it…there’s a chasm between knowing about a problem and doing something about it….I think the gap is about is a lack of feeling (emotion) about the issue.” Chris hits on an important point. If we do not feel the issue or problem, how do we relate to it? And if we do not relate to it, chances are we disengage from it, and end up living our lives without a worry about it. 126
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Dereck and Beverly Joubert on location in Botswana for The Last Lions
Can art and film help us to feel the problem of our diminishing wilderness? Can we begin to overcome this chasm and connect with impactful issues and problems? Chris continued, “Art is about helping us feel what we feel. I believe that’s when humans act, when we feel something. We do not act just when we know there is a problem, but when we feel something, when we get angry enough, or when we get sad enough. Perhaps the most motivating feeling of all is the feeling of love.” Curious to learn more about the relationship between art, emotion and action, I spoke with Derek and Beverly Joubert, National Geographic Explorers. The Joubert’s have been filming big cats for 20 years. In their lifetime alone, they have witnessed the population of lions decrease from 450,000 to the 20,000 remaining today. In the last two years alone, the lion population has dropped by an estimated 4,000. Realizing that the lions were predicted to be extinct in 10 years time Derek and Beverly founded the Big Cats Initiative in 2009. States Beverly Joubert, “This is urgent, and we really need to pay attention to the situation right now.” So, this year, the couple launched their latest film entitled, “The Last Lions” with the idea of emotionally connecting the viewer to the problem. Personally saddened by the shocking depletion of these beautiful cats, I asked the couple how they went about creating emotion in this film. Beverly said, “We allowed the audience to engulf itself in the story of one individual lion. The emotions that come out in the film through the lioness’ drama were equally the emotions we were feeling. We felt their pain.”
Year of the Tiger, 2010, by artist Chris Jordan
When asked what impact they are seeing the film has on viewers they Beverly replied, “People are unaware that there is a problem with these big cats. So, the first level for audiences is shock.” Dereck added, “The second level, which is actually more interesting for us, is a sort of burbling under outrage at the end of the film.” “The Last Lions” will reach over one million people in theaters, has raised over $1 million dollars, and through a mobile texting campaign forecast to raise another million dollars. The Jouberts believe there is a major shift in humanity right now, and see people are caring much more. They believe we were getting very close to the tipping point for endangered species. What is at stake here is bigger than our loss of wilderness. As Derek Joubert said “I think that we all have a sense of wildness in us, and when that disappears, you do get a sense that there’s nothing left.” Stories expressed through art and film can help us bridge chasms by connecting our emotions with this precious natural world. Our fear, anger and love stand to propel us into effective action. Now I feel a bit of hope.** CHRIS JORDAN www.chrisjordan.com THE LAST LIONS http://movies.nationalgeographic.com/movies/last-lions
COCO ECO |
EVENTS!
25TH ANNIVERSARY
GENESIS AWARDS WRITTEN by: Vicki Godal PHOTOGRAPHY by: Tim Long,
Long Photography
The Humane Society 25th Anniversary Genesis Awards honored entertainment and news programs for their animal protection themes at the Los Angeles’ Hyatt Regency, Century Plaza, recently. Airing on Animal Planet in May, the annual awards recognized celebrities like Wyler Award winner Kristin Davis for her attention to orphaned African elephants. Comedy Central’s “The Colbert Report” won the Sid Caesar Comedy Award for satirizing bullfighters. True Blood won Outstanding Dramatic Series highlighting dogfighting. “The Oprah Winfrey Show” won the Outstanding Talk Show award for covering Japan’s dolphin slaughter, elephant ivory poaching and pet overpopulation. DreamWorks Animation’s “How To Train Your Dragon” received Outstanding Feature Film while “The Elephant in the Living Room’s” exotic pet ownership theme won Outstanding Feature Documentary. ** THE HUMANE SOCIETY www.humanesociety.org/genesis
Wyler Award winner, Kristin Davis at the Genesis 128 | COCO ECO MAGAZINE | May - June 2011 Awards 25
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Charlotte Ross and Dusty at the Genesis Awards 25
Owain Yeoman and Amanda Righetti at the Genesis Awards 25
Leona Lewis and Michael Vartan
Olivia Munn and Simon Helberg
Director, James Cameron with wife SuzyHelfer Amis Atticus Shaffer and Tricia
COCO ECO |
EVENTS!
Into the Cold PREMIERE
WRITTEN by: Vicki Godal PHOTOGRAPHY provided by: Into
The Cold
On Earth Day 2011, director Sebastion Copeland premiered his film “Into the Cold: A Journey Of The Soul” at The Soho House in Hollywood. “Into the Cold” tracks the 400 mile journey of two men, on foot, to the North Pole withstanding minus 50-degree F temperature averages. The men walked to shoot previously unattainable and unbelievable North Pole footage. According to Copeland, “Under current conditions, this expedition will be impossible in 100 years.” In attendance at this important film premiere were Mia Maestro, Maggie Grace, Stephen Dorff, Lisa Edelstein, Julia Jones, Esai Morales, Izabella Miko, Cheryl Tiegs and Julian Sands. Copeland has dedicated a portion of profits from the film to Global Green USA and The SEDNA Foundation.** INTO THE COLD www.intothecold.org 130
Director Sebastion Copeland and actor Stephen Dorff | COCO ECO MAGAZINE | May - June 2011 www.cocoecomag.com
Into the Cold Premiere, Director Sebastion Copeland
Sebastian Copeland and Esai Morales
Sebastian Copeland and Mia Maestro
COCO ECO |
EVENTS!
FARM SANCTUARY 25th Anniversary Gala Launch Party
WRITTEN by: Vicki Godal PHOTOGRAPHY provided by: Drew
Paonessa
Farm Sanctuary honored their 25th anniversary with pride on April 23rd with a special Gala Launch Party in Los Angeles, followed by a star-studded Gala on May 14th in NYC. Gala Launch Party hosts, actress Jennifer Coolidge and musician, DJ Moby spoke to attending guests in support of Farm Sanctuary’s critical work while “The Biggest Loser’s” Bob Harper described his lifelong transition to veganism from his childhood on a cattle farm in Tennessee.
Gene Baur, Actress Jennifer Coolidge, and musician Moby at Farm Sanctuary
Farm Sanctuary 25th Anniversary Gala in New York was heavily attended by a loyal following of active celebrity supporters including Carol Liefer, Wendie Malick, Nellie McKay, Loretta Swit, Fred Willard, and Rory Freedman. Farm Sanctuary combats factory farming abuses while inspiring change in the way society views and treats farm animals.** FARM SANCTUARY www.farmsanctuary.org
Coco Eco Editor-in-Chief Anna Griffin
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Party host James Costa and “The Biggest www.cocoecomag.com Loser’s” Bob Harper
COCO ECO |
EVENTS!
Captain’s TOAST
WRITTEN by: Vicki Godal PHOTOGRAPHY provided by: Sea
Shepherd
Sea Shepherd’s Captain Paul Watson was honored at Green + Vine in the Residences at the W, Hollywood in April. The celebration highlighted the recent cancellation of another annual Japanese whale hunt. The Japanese directly blame Sea Shepherds continued presence beside the whalers as being the cause. Captain Watson hosts Animal Planet’s, “Whale Wars “ series that drew Discovery’s largest audience ever when it debuted in 2008. The series follows the Sea Shepherd’s continued efforts to save our ocean life. Watson’s led Sea Shepherds for 31 years, protecting the oceans and their inhabitants. According to Watson, “80% of our oxygen comes from the ocean. If we kill the oceans, we kill ourselves.”** SEA SHEPHERD www.seashepherd.org
Captain Paul Watson and Sea Shepherd representative
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Lauren Greasley | COCO ECO MAGAZINE | May - June 2011
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Captain Paul Watson among friends
Daphne Zuniga, David Mleczko, Coco Eco Editor-In-Chief, Anna Griffin and host Nicole Landers
Captain Paul Watson, Don Cheadle, Bradford Rand and guest
Mario Van Peebles and Captain Paul Watson
COCO ECO |
EVENTS!
Gypsy 05 HEADLINING LA STYLE FASHION WEEK WRITTEN by: Vicki Godal PHOTOGRAPHY provided by: Gypsy
05
The Gypsy ’05 Fall Collection debuted at LA’s historic Vibiana in April, quickly becoming the main attraction of “Style Fashion Week,” the highly acclaimed showcase of LA Fashion Week. Gypsy 05 launched in 2005, the brainchild of eco-designer siblings, Osi and Dotan Shoham. Continually integrating nature into their inspirations, in 2009 Gypsy 05’ became the first all solar-powered dying, printing and manufacturing facility in Los Angeles. Soft, casually romantic, flowing styles in pastels and earth tones, greens, blues, and purples with lightweight and sustainably natural fabrics is the Gypsy 05 Fall look. According to Dotan Shoham, “People feel very connected to our clothing, not only because it’s so easy to wear, but because of our efforts to protect the planet.”** GYPSY 05 www.gypsy05.com
Gypsy Designers Osi & Dotan| May Shoham 136 | 05’ COCO ECO MAGAZINE - June 2011
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Luke Tipple
Gypsy 05’ Fall Collection
COCO ECO |
EVENTS!
Discarded to
DIVINE WRITTEN by: Domenica
Peterson Chief Visionary Officer, Global Action Through Fashion PHOTOGRAPHY by: Drew Altizer Photography
This April in San Francisco 150 stunning recycled fashions were auctioned at the annual Discarded to Divine event, raising $80,000 for the charity St.Vincent de Paul Society. Over 600 people showed up to support the cause at what has become a staple event in San Francisco fashion. Discarded to Divine, founded in 2005 by Sally Rosen, gives new life to worn and stained clothing received at St. Vincent de Paul. Fashion designers and students turn discarded items into beautiful new apparel, jewelry, and home goods that are auctioned to raise funds for those suffering from homelessness, poverty, addiction and domestic violence. Designers certainly go to town for the event, from unraveling sweaters and re-knitting the yarn into fabulous new knitwear to ombré dying old fabric for exquisite gradated effects. Noteworthy was the transformation of a women’s blazer to an elegant grey pea coat with houndstooth trim by Janice Paredes. Another particularly stunning piece was Melissa Panages’ gold opera coat and skirt with a gold tank made of discarded microchips! Discarded to Divine inspires a special creativity and inventiveness, asking designers to create with what many consider to be trash.** DISCARDED TO DIVINE www.discardedtodivine.org Designed by Miranda Caroligne, the dress is titled “Caroligne.” This long cream dress makes a statement with a convertible hood. 138 | COCO ECO MAGAZINE | May - June 2011
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Event co-chairs Lisa Salamone and Bette McKenzie pose with flowers post-runway show
Gown, designed by Cari Borja, is titled “Galatea at Twilight.”
Catherine Gariepy, Paige Sprincin, Lindsey Noren smile in the silent auction room
Outfit, designed by Melissa Panages, is titled “When the West Was Won.” Gold opera coat with matching skirt and microchip knit-top.
Dress, designed by Wesley Ito, is titled “Tablecloth Dress.” A blue and white printed Director, tablecloth hasCameron been with transJames formed into a fun flirtywife strapless party Suzy Amis dress with yellow accents.
COCO ECO |
SHOPPING!
COCO ECO
SHOPPING CONCIERGE
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Corset, OLIVER TOLENTINO www.olivertolentino.com Bikini bottom, MALIA MILLS www.maliamills.com Ring, CHARLES ALBERT www.charlesalbertlookbook.com Boots, CALLEEN CORDERO www.calleencordero.com
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Top, WHITNEY EVE www.whitneyeve.myshopify.com Bikini bottom, LAUREN ELAINE www.lauren-elainedesigns.com Ring, CHARLES ALBERT www.charlesalbertlookbook.com Bracelets, DEVON LEIGH www.devonleighdesign.com Shoes, LARARE www.larare.fr Bag, STYLIST’S OWN
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Broderie Anglaise dress, LOLITA JACA www.lolitajaca.com Jewelry, DEVON LEIGH www.devonleighdesign.com Belt, CALLEEN CORDERO www.calleencordero.com Boots, CRI DE COEUR www.cri-de-coeur.com
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Bikini, MALIA MILLS www.maliamills.com Earrings and necklace, DEVON LEIGH www.devonleighdesign.com
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Bikini, HAVE FAITH www.havefaith.com Necklace and cuff, DEVON LEIGH www.devonleighdesign.com
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Dress, EMA SAVAHLwww.emasavahl.com Cuff, CHARLES ALBERT www.charlesalbertlookbook.com Earrings, DEVON LEIGH www.devonleighdesign.com
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Dress, EMA SAVAHL www.emasavahl.com Earrings, DEVON LEIGH www.devonleighdesign.com
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Dress, ANNIE SEGAL FOR FRED SEGAL www.fredsegaloriginals.com Swimsuit, MALIA MILLS www.maliamills.com Earrings, VILMA KERE www.etsy.com Necklace, DEVON LEIGH www.devonleighdesign.com Boots, CALLEEN CORDERO www.calleencordero.com
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Grey Romper, PETRO ZILLIA http://houseofpetrozillia.blogspot.com Cuff, CHARLES ALBERT www.charlesalbertlookbook.com Necklaces, DEVON LEIGH www.devonleighdesign.com Shoes, LARARE www.Larare.fr
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Swimsuit, MALIA MILLS www.maliamills.com Earrings and necklace, DEVON LEIGH www.devonleighdesign.com
| COCO ECO MAGAZINE | May - June 2011
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