Ode's co-founder and Editor-in-Chief Jurriaan Kamp was fortunate enough to moderate a panel on Fortune 500 companies embracing sustainability at the annual LOHAS (Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability) Forum happening this week in Boulder, Colorado. The panel had representatives from Walmart, Coca Cola and the Mohawk group answering questions about the steps their companies are taking in the transition toward sustainability.

“We haven’t been sustainable for a long time, but we have a vision to be zero-waste. It’s a lofty vision, but it’s there.” said Candace Taylor, Walmart’s Director of Strategy and Sustainability.   Read more...

As a child growing up in New York City, singer Chloe Temtchine’s parents took her to visit Harlem’s Hale House on a regular basis. Six-year old Chloe brought clothes and toys to the sick children, spent time with them, and formed an early sense of compassion that continues today, with her involvement in Musicians On Call, Life Beat, Dewitt Nursing Home and elsewhere.   Read more...

I recently read a quote that equated switching off cell phone chargers to bailing out the Titanic with a teaspoon. While I understand that the simple act of unplugging a cell phone charger is going to save a negligible amount of electricity, I tend to look at these acts on an environmental fitness scale.

For example, you can’t expect someone who has never worked out a day in his or her life to jump off the couch and run a marathon. The people who are now unplugging their cell phone chargers didn’t even know that the ship was sinking a year ago - so even in that there is progress.   Read more...

Green singles and members of the natural dating community have a new home online: EcoDater.com. EcoDater is an eco-friendly online dating site for green single men and women who care about living a natural, holistic lifestyle. Members include environmentalists, vegans and vegetarians, organic farmers, outdoor enthusiasts, yoga practitioners, adventure singles, activists and much more.

"EcoDater.com is a very open-minded place," says Ryel Kestano, EcoDater founder. "We believe in building a community one person at a time, giving each person the resources to share passions, interests, or musings. We created EcoDater because it represents the best of what we see and experience in this world - community, connectivity, friendship, and a respect for the natural life."   Read more...

Three years ago when I was working as a bi-lingual bi-cultural therapist in a middle school, many mothers came to me to ask if I knew of a job they could do in order to help their families become more self-sufficient. It was very frustrating that only once in a while I could help one or two women, usually with a job they were not excited about. For many years as an artist and a psychotherapist I have worked with low income communities in collaborative projects where people helped and supported each other, and felt good about the art they were making. Out of these experiences grew the Si/See Project.

I got together with five Latino women who were interested in my idea and its mission and the project got underway. The mission of Si/See is to bridge cultural diversity, improve standards of living while being environmentally sensitive, and encourage connection through art. Rug hooking, a North American craft, has been the inspiration and foundation of the project. Latino woman who are also known for their colorful handcrafted work are introduced to rug hooking traditions and are encouraged to incorporate what they learn with their own sense of artistic knowledge and traditions.   Read more...

On June 23rd a remarkable album, eight years in the making, will be released. Listen is a collection of 15 original songs, written by children who stutter, and recorded by iconic artists including Carly Simon, Daryl Hall & John Oates, Duncan Sheik, John Forte, Mandy Patinkin and many others. In addition, Jon Bon Jovi donated the use of his studio, so that his state-of-the-art facility could support the recording process. Superstars from the worlds of pop, rock, R&B, Broadway, hip-hop and more joined together to contribute their time and talents to a cause bigger than stuttering - a call for compassion and acceptance, and for respect of one-another’s differences.   Read more...

My friend Sue is a Master Gardener, and the large patches of earth circling her home near Banks, Oregon, reflect that. Every time I visit her we take a leisurely turn around the garden. She points out new starts and interesting things she’s learned; pruning a little here, pulling a weed there. I ask about this or that and just generally gawk at the beauty she’s created.

This Sunday I saw for the very first time a pink poppy. I didn’t even know they existed. I am not a Master Gardener, as you may have guessed. I am, however, a bit of a photographer; so I immediately had to take a photo of this anomaly. I delighted for several minutes in this new find. Not only did I learn something new (which I love to do) while reveling in the splendor of Sue’s garden; but I also opened another window of possibility in my mind.   Read more...

The French side of the tiny Caribbean island nation of St. Martin (87 km2) is addressing its environmental problems in a novel way. On May 12, they held a swearing in ceremony for its newly formed environmental enforcers.

These environmental agents from the Brigade de l’Environment and Direction de l’Environment will have powers similar to those of police officers to issue fines for any offenses committed anywhere on the French side that are deemed detrimental to the environment.   Read more...

In his latest weekly address, President Obama says health care reform must no longer mean “reform that throws good money after bad habits”.

A wide array of interest groups that have lined up against Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) hope President Obama’s commitment to eradicating health care reform bad habits extends to the nation’s de facto investment in genetically modified crops which have been linked to 65 health risks and long-term health care costs.   Read more...

Life is so very interesting how it twists and turns, allows our thoughts to manifest in mysterious ways. A passing thought can create a whole world of its own. I just wanted to share a little about that world that we all share and encourage everyone to not only be knowledgeable about how this time and space works, but to apply that knowledge for the greater good.

2009 seems to be a tipping point as we approach the 12/21/12 shift and I find it amazing how so many global peace projects have found their way into the consciousness of man, culminating at what seems to be a pinnacle peak of need at this time of war and economic shake-downs. As one tip of the scale loosens it's grip, the other reaches out to fill the void. I fully believe we are at that point where we as a team fully realize that we are all connected, and by knowing this, reach out with our hearts and minds and unify in peace.   Read more...