Economist Article Highlights the Ocean's Troubles

An online story in the Dec. 30th economist highlights the latest damages to our oceans, which have serious ramifications for now and the immediate future. They include:

• an increase in carbon dioxide on the ocean's surface, which harms marine life and can destabilize the entire marine system
• increased carbon dioxide also causing global warming, and with it melting glaciers and rising water levels that can threaten entire countries
• masses of discarded plastic that swirl in 2 distinct areas in the Pacific
• red tides and the deterioration of marine life

This is just the tip of the iceberg, so to speak. The articles states:

"Each of these changes is a catastrophe. Together they make for something much worse. Moreover, they are happening alarmingly fast—in decades, rather than the eons needed for fish and plants to adapt. Many are irreversible. It will take tens of thousands of years for ocean chemistry to return to a condition similar to its pre-industrial state of 200 years ago, says Britain’s most eminent body of scientists, the Royal Society. Many also fear that some changes are reaching thresholds after which further changes may accelerate uncontrollably. No one fully understands why the cod have not returned to the Grand Banks off Canada, even after 16 years of no fishing. No one quite knows why glaciers and ice shelves are melting so fast, or how a meltwater lake on the Greenland ice sheet covering six square kilometres could drain away in 24 hours, as it did in 2006. Such unexpected events make scientists nervous."

What about solutions? The article is weak on this, suggesting only abolishing fishing subsidies, for example, and establishing international fishing agreements. Little is addressed regarding the pollution issue, only highlighting the seriousness of the situation, and the fact that it will take another Hurricane Katrina and other events to shake politicians up.

So the question remains: what are we going to do about our oceans?

Eco-Organizing Your Office/Workspace

January is a great time to reorganize and refresh your workspace, whether it is a home office, or your office away from home. Sometimes, being away from the space and then coming back to it gives you fresh ideas for organizing. You might not have even realized how much clutter you had accumulated during the year, or how much trouble you have finding even the most basic items...where is that stapler again?

I'm a firm believe in clutter removal, and that we are all much more productive when we have our supplies, in-box, resource materials, and to do lists organized. So I recently reorganized to make sure that:
1. my supplies were close at hand
2. all my TO DO projects were in one folder, and that I had another folder for more long-term or future tasks
3. I posted items I needed to refer to often, like phone numbers and other reference info, on a small bulletin board I keep by my desk

I have also enjoyed reusing common household items that would otherwise be disgarded. For example:
1. Hold onto egg cartons! As pictured in the photo above, 2-3 cartons can be assembled and strung together to make a handy bulletin board. (Thank you to Thriftyfun.com for this cool idea.) I find them handy for storing and separating coins, and also for small office supplies like paper clips and rubber bands. This also works well with plastic egg cartons, but try to buy the paper ones.
2. I noticed that my replacement printer cartridges kept disappearing. Well, not really, but I kept them in a supply drawer and they got lost with other items. So I held onto an Oregon Chai tea box I had gotten over the holidays and found the cartridges fit perfectly, and now I always have them handy on my shelf.
3. I always enjoy fresh flowers for decoration, but of course they only last a few weeks and have to be tended to. So I found some great paper flower arrangements at a consignment shop recently, that were only a few dollars each, and I arranged them on my shelves to break up the space nicely and add color.
4. Who has extra books and not much room? Me! Instead of buying extra shelves for the books, I used the books themselves to hold other items for display, such as photos, notebooks, cd's, and other items.
5. One last tip- hold onto any pill containers you might have on hand from past medications you are done with. Just take the label off, clean and rinse, and they make great containers for smaller items like staples and stamps. You can also use them in the kitchen for spices, or sugar and salt refills.

Have any great re-use ideas? Let me know and I'll publish them here!

Introducing the Mustard Seed...C'est Moi

In honor of this special week of Thanksgiving, where we give thanks for all we have and celebrate with food - new foods, traditional foods, and even exotic foods, perhaps...I thought it appropriate to bring in my mustard seed post, in celebration of all things sustainable. This was originally used for a food blog in a different format, so I bring you the original in all its glory. Who knows? Maybe it will inspire you to whip up a little mustard sauce or some such concoction. And as is the case with most things I start writing about, I don't really appreciate how great they are until I'm finished.
So Happy Thanksgiving, and enjoy.

Please allow me to introduce myself. I am the mustard seed, and I come in two main types: brown- brassica juncea (pungent and heady) and yellow/white- brassica hirta (milder) the type most commonly used for the mustard you all use on your hot dogs and such. For Indian or Chinese dishes, brown seeds are what works best. The yellow is common for most dishes.

In ancient times, I originated in the northern hemisphere (they don’t know exactly where, it’s sad, really). Today, I am mainly imported from Canada, and next to peppercorn, am the #1 most popular spice in the U.S. , if I say so myself.

I have been around a while, I get around, and I’ve been thrown around a lot-- in a good way. The French have been tossing me into their dishes since 800 AD to spice up their meat, and the Spanish explorers took me along with them in the 1400’s to help mark their route. Pope John XXII was so fond of me, he created a new position at the Vatican, “mustard maker to the Pope.” That’s “Grand Moutardier du Pape,” to you. I also have a reputation for being an aphrodisiac, but hey, what happens in the kitchen stays in the kitchen. There’s a famous parable about me that says “good things come in small packages,” and I’m here to attest to that. I’m famous for my great healthy properties, like increasing circulation, helping digestion and respiration, and helping with skin disorders when I am in powder form, not to mention warding off evil spirits – that was for the Egyptians. I told you, I get around.

You can use me whole as a seasoning for salad dressings, meat and poultry dishes, chutneys, soups, and stews. My good friend Bobby Flay has an excellent coriander and mustard seed chicken recipe, in which I am sautéed in a skillet along with white wine and coriander. Delicious. The drama really starts when you crush me. Use a blender, spice grinder, or mortar and pestle (I like this best, it feels more holistic), and mix me with a cold liquid such as water and vinegar to make a mustard paste. You can also add other ingredients such as shallots ,honey, and herbs, to flavor me. If you’re not making mustard, you can also use me as a paste or powder (just leave out the liquids) to add delicious flavor to any dish.

Here’s the rub. Dry, I don’t really taste or smell like anything. Toasted, I have a nutty flavor and aroma. Crushed, that’s when my oils come out and I am hot and tangy to the tongue, with slightly horseradishy overtones.

So there you have the scoop. Have a good eco-holiday, and hey, don’t let anyone tell you you can’t cut the mustard.

Sunrise Advisors Homepage Guidance Validated In Best Legal and Investment Practices

From our reading and field research, we hope to have mutually value-added interactions with the Sustainable Business Practice Group at the law firm of Hanson Bridgett. We have rarely seen as "to the point" and value-added reporting on the effective convergence of strategic marketing, legal, and financial considerations for the kind of clients with whom we at Sunrise Advisors (literally) seek sustainable relationships.

We thank, praise, and fully credit (and give attribution for the "knowledge capital" that follows) the San Francisco-based (also with Silicon Valley office) Hanson Bridgett, from their Sustainable Business News -- an E-zine for Sustainable Practices.

HANSON BRIDGETT SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS PRACTICE GROUP

Client in Focus: Investors' Circle

The growth of the green economy has created a new type of entrepreneur—one that resonates well with the members of Investors' Circle. Not only are these entrepreneurs motivated to make a difference, but what they make and how they make it can be just as revolutionary. Consider:

* A beverage maker claims that for every two servings you drink per day, you help protect about one acre of rainforest a year (Guayaki).
* A manufacturer of eco-friendly plant food not only made of waste, but packaged in waste, as well (TerraCycle).
* An organic meat producer who designed a simple company label on her home computer and set out on a mission to "eat well, save the earth, and the small farms on it" (Wholesome Harvest).
* A manufacturer that uses 100% recycled glass in its products, thereby diverting hundreds of tons of glass from landfills each year (IceStone).

The entrepreneurs who started these companies were not just driven by profit. They had a vision for protecting the environment and promoting sustainability. They also had the help of Investors' Circle, a group of investors who shared their vision.

Investors' Circle is one of the largest angel groups in the United States. The group uses private capital to promote the transition to a sustainable economy, a goal consistent with Hanson Bridgett's mission to foster the growth of the sustainable business movement overall. Since its inception in 1992, Investors' Circle has helped bring over $130 million to more than 200 companies and small funds that address social and environmental issues. Their network is composed primarily of angel investors, professional venture capitalists, foundations and family offices.

Members of Investors' Circle invest in five categories: Energy & Environment, Food & Organics, Education & Media, Health & Wellness, and Community & International Development. The group hosts national venture fairs where companies come to "present their case for capital," according to Woody Tasch, Chairman. To date, 480 companies have presented at their venture fairs and 200 have received capital.

For more information about Investors' Circle or their upcoming Fall Conference, November 10-12 in Boston, please visit www.investorscircle.net.

Our Role
Hanson Bridgett attorneys have formed some of the leading investment funds in this space and represent these investment funds in the sustainability area on an ongoing basis. In addition, we have been a proud sponsor of the Investors' Circle Conference and have served as judges in the selection of early stage companies and small funds that are featured at the Conference. As a firm, we have embraced sustainable principles and are always looking for ways to do more—for ourselves, our legal practice, our clients, and the entire sustainable business community. Hanson Bridgett is the only law firm in the nation certified as a B Corp and we are green certified by the City of San Francisco.

Attorney Profiles
Scott Smith understands how investors can have an effect on more than the bottom line. "I saw first-hand how large scale efforts by entrepreneurs and companies could have a positive effect on social and economic issues within communities that needed the investments most," said Scott, a corporate attorney at Hanson Bridgett who works with Investors' Circle.

Jonathan Storper works with Hanson Bridgett's sustainable business clients. He believes that representing these clients fits in well with his own values of social responsibility. Jonathan has volunteered extensively with the Investor's Circle—and this experience enables him to better serve his sustainable business clients.

Copyright © 2008 Hanson Bridgett LLP

The above has been sent as a service by the law firm of Hanson Bridgett. The content enclosed is not intended to provide legal advice or to create an attorney-client relationship.

New Video! Slow Food Nation Food Pavilion

All around us, 50,000 people (give or take) were tasting, sipping, smelling, talking about food, and listening to ideas about food (no to industrialization, yes to eco-friendly), all surrounding the first ever Slow Food Nation festival. The Food Pavilion recognized most of the major sustainable food categories, including specifically designed pavilions highlighting fish, charcuterie, honey, cheese, bread, chocolate, coffee, tea, and wines and beers.

"There are consequences to the decisions we make everyday about what we eat. If we support the people who take care of the land, cook the food ourselves, and come back to the table, we will discover a delicious way of life," said Slow Food Nation's founder and renowned chef, Alice Waters, in a USA Today article from August 28.

The Slow Food International Movement was launched by Carlo Petrini in 1986, who protested fast food chains pushing out small family restaurants in Rome.

If you would like to get more involved in this issue, see the following links of interest:

slowfood.com
sustainabletable.org
eatwellguide.org
foodroutes.org
foodandwaterwatch.org

New Giveaway Announcement! Eco Camera Bag!

Here's the deal. When we were at Eco Tuesday, (see previous blog and video) we got these great camera bags from a company called Lowepro. We thought they were cool. So even though it was really late and we were a tad tired, we were so excited that we analyzed them on the way home, and took note of the fact that they were so eco it was amazing. Here's the product description:

Terraclime 30 is a soft-sided, protective, multi-purpose pouch designed expressly for the eco-conscious, fashion-savvy consumer. It reduces environmental impact by virtue of its materials—over 95% recycled. All of the fabric is 100% post-consumer Cyclepet®: recycled 16 oz. PET bottles turned into sturdy, water-and-abrasion-resistant material (3.5 bottles in Terraclime 30). Features include memory card pocket, adjustable/detachable shoulder strap, belt loop, and double-loop hook closure (made of plastic regrind to help reduce waste). Multi-purpose styling makes it easy to carry compact point-and-shoot cameras as well as small personal electronics and gear. A portion of the proceeds from each bag goes to Polar Bear International (PBI) to help in efforts to save polar bear habitats from the impact of climate change.

So we decided in light of the polar bear issue and other factors, we really should share the joy, so we have 2 bags to give away. To be eligible, you must be a subscriber both to this blog, sunriseadvisors.blogspot.com, and the carrie freelance e-newsletter, which you can sign up with on the home page for carriefreelance.com, you'll see, it's a Constant Contact kind of thing. All current and new subscribers as of December 31, 2008 will be eligible. Good luck to the winners! And hey, if you send us your photos with the camera bags featured in the photo, we will publish them on our blogs, etc.

Just a quick note on who we are:

Sunrise Advisors: eco consulting, small business services for sustainable businesses, including communications, marketing, coaching, income generation, etc.
Carrie Freelance: writing, editing, pr coaching, e-newsletters, web site content, content management solutions
Carrie's newsletter features guest interviews, movie and book reviews, online discoveries, and other interesting items, including why I love food and hate waiting on line.

New Video - Eco Tuesday and Guest Speakers Sheryl O'Loughlin, founder of Nest Naturals

Sunrise Advisors (www.nonprofitsunrise.com), a client of Carrie Freelance, attended their first ever Eco Tuesday event in San Francisco the other night, a networking event that brings together leaders in green business. The event typically features a guest speaker, and then an inspired "let's make a circle," where all participants have one minute or less to say what they are passionate about regarding sustainability. I said my passion was in writing and communicating about sustainable issues, as part of the Sunrise mission! It was quite an interesting group, everyone from design and marketing firms, to independent consultants, accountants, recent college graduates, teachers, and of course, eco entrepreneurs.

The guest speaker, Sheryl O'Loughlin, was amazing. In fact, she was one of the best speakers I ever heard, as she described having moved from being one of the top execs at Clif Bar, to founding her own company, Nest Naturals, (20 million in venture capital) which brings sustainable foods together under one roof. She talked about everything from venture capital, to learning about packaging, to sourcing food, to going from inspiration to funding and the realization of a dream. She got a standing ovation and rousing applause, and what really came through was her dedication to sustainability and her honesty and integrity as she talked about the challenge of staying true to oneself in the face of business dilemmas.

The video includes segments of her fantastic speech, as well as a promo for the new eco camera bag giveaway we are launching. See details in the video and the next blog post to come for more details!