Blog: Green Forests, Cool Planet

Last summer, artist Barbara Hashimoto asked a small business in Chicago to start collecting its junk mail. After 12 months of shredding, Hashimoto amassed more than 3,000 cubic feet of shredded material, all delivered by the U.S. Postal Service to this one small business.

Hashimoto’s labor-intensive process inspired a series of sculptures, installations, performances and collaborations (watch the video!) performed in Los Angeles and Chicago. The Chicago Arts District now sponsors Hashimoto’s junk mail exhibits. Come watch the process anytime through 45-foot floor-to-ceiling storefront windows. For night-time strolls, the exhibition is lit up. And mark your calendars now for the Junk Mail holiday reception in December!

We are inspired by this artist’s creativity, and her efforts to use art to bring to life the mind-boggling issues associated with junk mail. If you’re in the Chicago area, check it out and let us know what you think. Personally, I thought heaping shredded junk mail on top of the piano player while he plays classical music (it’s in the video) is fabulous!

~ Debbie

When 25,000 people marched through Golden Gate Park in San Francisco last week and raised $4.5 million for AIDS Walk Foundation, to fight and prevent this disease, the front-page news was the Green Walkers program.

Green Walkers opted not to receive any printed or mailed materials — and refused the printed materials typically handed out at such events. Walkers also recycled and composted.

The next AIDS Walk is in my hometown of Los Angeles, on October 19, 2008. 41pounds.org is proud to partner with AIDS Walk Los Angeles, to encourage its Green Walkers to not only reduce paper generated during the fundraising process, but also to stop their household junk mail. And, 41pounds.org will donate $15 to AIDS Walk Los Angeles each time someone signs up to stop their junk mail and selects AIDS Walk Los Angeles.

It’s exciting to see what’s possible when we collaborate — finding creative ways to reach common goals!

~ Debbie

Summer is almost here! On June 8th hundreds of communities around the globe will celebrate the 16th annual World Ocean Day.

World Ocean Day is an opportunity to celebrate our world ocean and our personal connection to the sea. This year’s theme is “helping our climate/helping our ocean,” with a special focus on coral reefs. It is a chance to raise awareness on a worldwide scale about the major impact climate change is already having — and will continue to have — on the ocean and humanity, and the simple actions we can all take to reduce our CO2 emissions, halt climate change, and preserve our children’s ocean legacy.

Our partner, The Ocean Project, is working closely with the World Ocean Network, to coordinate events and activities with aquariums, zoos, museums, conservation organizations, universities, schools, and businesses. Together they are also working to have the United Nations officially designate World Ocean Day as June 8th each year.

Please take time to do something good for our ocean: Sign the petition today and visit www.worldoceanday.org to become involved in the celebration…or go to the beach and take a swim!

~ Debbie

Exciting news from 41pounds.org partner Focus the Nation! On January 31, Focus the Nation is spearheading a national teach-in that will engage millions of students and citizens with political leaders and decision makers about global warming solutions. The teach-in enables each school — faculty, students and staff — to put aside business as usual and turn its attention to this crucial issue. I’m looking forward to hearing what all these bright young minds come up with!

Focus the Nation is tapping into the power and energy of students to spearhead Global Warming Solutions for America — a powerful educational initiative involving over a thousand colleges, universities, high schools, middle schools, faith groups, civic organizations and businesses all over the country. You can find out more about the program or make a direct donation on their website. This is a great way to bring forth ideas and energy to address global warming!

~ Debbie