It's Simple.

Reference: www.facebook.com/giveashitaboutnature

Sustainable Choices for Your Everyday Decisions!

This is a great website created by the Stanford University SChool of Earth Science to help you make the sustainable choice in your day to day situations. 

Heres the link:

sustainablechoices.stanford.edu/?_notoolbar

Don't be ignorant. Get Educated. Get Involved. Stay Rooted.

Reference: Pjotr Theebe

Ban The Plastic!

Q: Why is plastic so bad?
A: Other than being made by one of the dirtiest forms of energy polluting our planet (Crude Oil), it isn't biodegradable. Meaning, its hanging out on earth longer than we are; it's contaminating and harming our local parks, beaches and animals that inhabit them.

Rooted Recommendation: Educate yourself, and reduce your use of plastics. Stray away from oversized packaging and new products made of mainly plastic. Cut plastic bottles out of your lifestyle and buy a reusable canteen! And recycle the plastics when you can!

References: Earthian (http://wipro-earthian.blogspot.com/)

Coachella 2012 Week 3

Week 3 brings us three more bands, all have their own well established fan base but we hope to broaden and cross those boarders this week. One has been a recent pop icon gaining great momentum in the recent years, one has recently reunited and has set up Coachella for their no doubt epic springboard, and the last has songs we all know but just don't realize it. Expand, express, and enjoy!

Feist

Genre: Pop/Indie Rock

 From Nova Scotia, Canada

Well as we're sure you all know, the beautiful, talented Feist has done it again. Her fourth album, Metals, is another reminder of how awesome she is as a singer as well as a songwriter, and we’d say it would be safe to assume an overall human being. Of the many great tracks off of her newest album, How Come You Never Go There is a prime example of her ability to create elegant yet catchy music that allows her to affect listeners from all walks of life and musical tastes. We remember when we first listened to the album we wanted to cry, but obviously couldn’t because we are men. We are saddened that Ryan will not be grazing the lush green desert grasses with us all for Coachella this year, but you can bet your sweet cheeks that the two of us will be catching her set at Bonnaroo this year. BOOM. And yes, we will be making our greatest attempt at catching her attention and trying to convince her to marry Ryan. Any advice you may have to offer him when we embark on this quest would be greatly appreciated. 

The video below features a song written by The Kinks, but we think its great and worth sharing. (Seriously though, help Ryan get her to fall in love with him. Thanks.)

http://www.listentofeist.com/ 

Madness

Genre: Pop/New Wave

From London, UK

The extent of my our relationship with this band only stretches to hearing the song in the video below frequently throughout our childhoods and Ryan acting like a total moron with his sister when it came on around the house. As we continue to explore more of their music and lesser known stuff, Ryan is becoming pretty jealous that he won’t be experiencing this set. He expect at least one of us to give him a phone call during this song. Who doesn’t like the 80s these days? Just go watch them, silly. This is once in a lifetime type stuff. If you need any persuading just look at them in the video!  Rad!

http://blog.madness.co.uk/ 

At the Drive-In

Genre: Post-Hardcore/Metalcore Emo

From El Paso, Texas

Do you like Mars Volta? Do you Sparta? Meet the mother, father, and legal guardian of those bands. Fans of At the Drive-In are getting ready for a weekend that most thought they'd never get. The band broke up in 2001 to a fan base that was ready and willing to support them for the years that anarchy, emotion, and rebellion ran high within them. When the band split up they became the well known Mars Volta and the lesser Sparta. With the reunion just within grasp for the thousands in attendance at the this years Coachella you can expect a good number of people loosing their minds, and who wouldn't if you'd been waiting ten years? One thing is for sure for fans and new comers, At the Drive-In is sure to put on a show not to be soon forgotten. Coachella will prove to be a launching pad for what should end up being an explosive year, whether good or bad no one can say. Either way we are perfectly content with sitting front row and watching the show!

http://atdimusic.com/ 

Coachella 2012 Week 2

We had some slight trouble getting week two up and running but its here and we are doubling up since week three will be here in no time. Check these guys out in the mean time!

Girls

Genre: Indie/Heart Rock

From San Francisco, CA

Ever since our first exposure to Girls a few years back, we had been frothing at the mouth for an opportunity to catch them live after over playing their debut album, Album, repeatedly at our house. The San Francisco based four-piece answered our prayers and graced north county with their presence at The Loft at UCSD, providing an intimate yet enthusiastic set to what seemed to be a crowd that filled the small club with anticipation and uncertainty of what they were about to experience. That night Girls provided an amazing set doused in their psychedelic style as Christopher Owens (guitar, vocals) mixed in his beautiful fifties-esque crooning ballads with the simple yet powerful sonic force of the rest of the band. After approaching them after the show, we made it clear to them that we enjoyed the show expecting little response. After around thirty minutes of sitting and talking to these humble and grateful gentlemen, I knew I was going to be a fan for very long time.  

If you get a chance to check these guys out on your weekend baking in the sun, it will definitely be worth your while. They will play songs for you to dance to, hold someone  to, cry to, and reflect to. If you enjoy their set and happen to stumble upon them wandering around the festival grounds, tell them how much you enjoyed the show, and I can guarantee your praises will fall on very appreciative and deserving ears.

https://twitter.com/#!/GIRLSsf

Calvin Harris

Genre: Dance/House

From Scotland 

Since 2007 Calvin Harris has been hitting the dance, electro, and house genre hard. Mr. Harris' second album is what put him on the map with hits such as "I'm Not Alone", "You Used to Hold Me", and "Relax". As his popularity has grown he has come to work with artists such as Rhianna on her massive single "We Found Love" and even suspected work with Katy Perry. Harris' music is more felt than much else, his simple, repeating lyrics ingrain themselves into you whether you're dancing furiously or enjoying the spectacle from a far. We can't explain much, you just need to hear it!

http://www.calvinharris.co.uk/ 

The Head and the Heart

Genre: Folk/Indie Rock

From Seattle, WA

The Head and the Heart are quickly becoming one of our favorite bands. With huge influences from both The Beatles and Crosby, Still, Nash, and Young how could we not?! The three lead vocalist spin, swirl, and bounce off each other in beautiful harmony. The band is closest to a soft Mumford and Sons as I've seen. The ballads about leaving the past behind and forging new futures makes listening to this band a welcomed reprieve. The Head and the Heart will be a wonderful afternoon or dusk delight for anyone looking to relax and enjoy some folky inspiration. This group has a fine future ahead of them and Coachella is only the beginning.

https://twitter.com/headandtheheart 

Climate Change SIMPLY Explained

“All things are connected. Whatever befalls the earth, Befalls the sons of the earth. Man did not weave the web of life, He is merely a strand in it. Whatever he does to the web, He does to himself.” ― Chief Seattle

Climate change is such a heated and important issue today. This is a great video that explains the on-going process of climate change simply for everyone to understand.

Referenced from the Leadership Networks for Climate Change.

Coachella 2012 Week 1

As we get closer and closer to two of the most amazing weekends California will see this year, we have decided to go week by week and try to introduce you to some bands you may want to check out at this years Coachella Music Festival. Here's three awesome bands that you might want to try to fit into your sure to be packed schedule!

DAWES

Genre: Rock/Folk Rock

From Los Angeles, CA


We have had the priceless opportunity to see these guys play from San Diego to Los Angeles to Manchester, Tennesee. Its been one wild ride following a band that has been a defining example of great music made today. Their screaming folk rock and pure raw talent make their shows something that can't be missed. Once a few of the lyrics make their way to you its something that is not easily forgotten. It's been an honor to see these dudes climb to the top, watching them in an empty bar, to a packed venue, a side stage in the middle of summer, and now California's biggest festival, but its was seeing them on the T.V. in the checkout line at Albertson's that shocked me the most. This is one of many shows you'll see both of us right up front belting out every song like it is our last.  Don't miss this band, its something you'll want to catch.

 www.dawestheband.com

AWOLNATION

Genre: Electronic Rock

From Los Angeles, CA


We haven't had the privilege of seeing these fine gentlemen yet but one thing is for sure, they have been making a buzz since 2010 with the release of their first studio album Back From Earth. The band will fit in perfectly with a unique indie/electronic combo. Making tough, hard, passionate music riddled with the most recent hip-hop beats in a genre blending mash up defines Awolnation. The video to their addicting anthem "Sail" is below, make sure you have room you rock.

www.awolnationmusic.com

GIVERS

Genre: Indie Pop
From Lafayette, LA


GIVERS have been a small pleasure of ours for a couple years now. A small band that only had an EP up until last year, but one that enlisted me into their fan base like I didn't have a choice. Quite possibly the most energetic and fun band we have seen live in the past years. Seeing them on stage is not only listening to their indie pop dance filled crooning but also a show and collage of colors and lights. The atmosphere turns nothing short of lovely and if you look around you'll see it on every face within sight. If you are looking to smile, dance, and laugh this is where you'll want to be. Enjoy the teaser we've left below! 

www.giversband.com

M[eat] continued.

Food for thought.        

    Put your imaginative cap on and envision for a moment that your county has up to thirty farms each privately owned and maintained by families. Picture the differences in your surroundings. The vast space, the green blur of grass, trees and shrubs. Now think about the impact such a change would play within your community. If each county was agriculturally self-sufficient, there would be an obligation to uphold certain standards of quality in order to keep local customers satisfied. Farming practices would not be kept secret and the farmer, a once-upon-a-time celebrated figure, would unify people through nutritious food grown within the bounds of your own neighborhood.

     The multitude of these tiny economies was the reality of America before the mass consolidation of recent years turning small-scale farms into the four meat processing tycoons of today: Tyson, JBS, Cargill, and National Beef. These food manufacturing moguls now dominate the industry controlling over 80 percent of all beef slaughtering. The focus of these large meat-processing plants is no longer to produce quality products, but to sell goods cheaply and quickly. While meat is getting less expensive, what exactly are paying for? 

Hidden health costs

     With enormous restructuring, the meat industry has suffered serious consequences. Cows are pooled together in such close quarters that massive feedlots and slaughterhouses are vulnerable to bacterial contamination causing widespread food contamination. Every year there is approximately 76 million reported cases of food borne illnesses in the United States alone. Tainted meat gets past the system and even when detected rarely are there consequences because of the cozy relations between the meat industry and key lawmakers on Capitol Hill. Meanwhile defective food winds up on our plates and we unknowingly serve loved ones Chicken cacciatore (a.k.a diarrhea with stomach cramps and a side of nausea).  

      In addition to the scary possibility of food related illnesses, antibiotic resistance is another concern within the modern meat market. Anywhere from 50-70 percent of the antibiotics used in this country are used on livestock. These antibiotics are primarily used to increase growth rate in order to cater to the populations demand for cheap large cuts of meat. Today, not only are we ingesting more meat but we are also consuming the drugs administered to the animals during their short lives. The main concern with antibiotic use, however, has more to do with the body’s natural tendency to build up immunity. Over periods of time, just like humans, animals begin to develop a defense against these antibiotics and begin retaining certain strains of bacteria. These “super-germs” are especially troubling because normal treatments and medicine may or may not be strong enough to combat with these new and resilient bugs. 

Friends in Washington

         It seems the meat industry cares more about cashing-in at the expense of public health than about producing quality products. These large meat corporations have been getting away with murder with the help from powerful organizations in Washington like American Meat Institute and National Meat Association. These protective regulators and lobbyists prevent the implementation of many new health laws and safety initiatives backed by the Health Department. For example, in 1995 after the Jack in the Box E. coli outbreak that infected about 700 people, the meat industry was able to delay any new regulations for up to two years effectively killing the measure. Thus, leaving intact the same inspection system since the early 1900’s in the days when Upton Sinclair wrote the novel The Jungle. It’s also common knowledge that many state representatives accept payment from these powerful meat organizations in return for their support on measures that benefit the meat industry.

“It is difficult to get a man to understand something when his salary depends on his not understanding it.” 

- Upton Sinclair

Environmental degradation

      The unethical behavior of large meat corporations goes beyond public health and extends into the very land that supports their practices. The manner in which livestock is raised not only effects human health, but can have a lasting impression on the environment. Certain factory farming methods such as overuse of machinery and the mishandling of chemicals, largely contributed to global warming and are responsible for an estimated 18 percent of greenhouse gas emissions. In addition to air pollution, the over-application of pesticides and fertilizers gets into our water supply and contaminates local lakes and streams. Farming is one of the largest potential source for water pollution killing fish and disturbing precious aquatic life. It is estimated about 35,000 miles of rivers in 22 states have been contaminated due to excrement getting into our groundwater. Poor farming practices not only effect the quality of our air and water, but also causes soil erosion, land degradation, as well as loss of biodiversity. 

     Despite all that is wrong with industrial farming, don’t despair! There are things you can do to protect yourself and the world you love. First, be conscious and vote with your wallet. Buy grass-fed, USDA-certified meat and think of the extra dollars spent as support to all the farmers who care more about their customers than their wallet. Also, try instilling “Meatless Mondays” to lower the demand for meat while taking power and money away from corrupt meat industries. Supply and demand 101! 

Anything is possible with the passion for change. 

Over and out,

Brittany Lawrence

To shop with awareness visit the link below

http://www.eatwild.com/products/index.html