More Hip Than Hippie #184 - Dirty Gold

Many of us wear a gold ring as a symbol of love. But we don't love the 20 tons of mine waste generated to produce that one gold ring. The production of gold jewelry is often harmful to the environment and to the communities nearby. The Hipsters dig up the dirt on gold mining, and find a mother lode of ideas for consumers. Also, Dori dictates a letter to Ford Motor Company, and Val offsets her carbon.

Beer and Chocolate:

Beer: Dark, malty Lava Rock Porter from Dick's Brewing Co. in Centralia, WA. And yes, we made fun of the name like a couple of 12-year-olds.

Chocolate: Another amazing offering from Caffe Acapella. The Cappuccino Connoisseur is a flavorful bar of velvety chocolate lust dipped in milky espresso desire. We need a cold shower.

Hip News and Finds

Finds:

• Groovy. Party like a Rockstar with lovely drink charms cut from old vinyl records. They come in a set of 6 colorful stars.
• Red is the new green. Wrap your holiday gifts in natural ribbon. Soy-based inks provide the rich red hue, and water-based adhesives hold it together. The ribbon is also biodegradable, so unlike Santa, it won't be around forever.

 

Hip News

• Selling short. Lawmakers are putting climate legislation on hold as they try to stabilize the economy. They can only handle one meltdown at a time.
• Hot Wheels. As more SUV owners default on their car loans, they're turning to arson for answers. The rest can't afford enough gas to start a fire.

Teenie Weenie Greenie™

Let nature inn! Consider putting up a feeder or house for your furry and feathered friends this winter. Loss of habitat may put on pressure for survival during harsh weather. Help a critter out!

Dirty Gold

Many of us wear a gold ring as a symbol of love. But we don't love the 20 tons of mine waste generated to produce that one gold ring. The production of gold jewelry is often harmful to the environment and to the communities nearby. Dori and Val dig up the dirt on gold mining, and find a mother lode of ideas for consumers.

• Gold Diggers. Mines are often located in environmentally sensitive areas. Local people and wildlife suffer the consequences.
• Gold standard. The "No Dirty Gold" campaign established these Golden Rules for more responsible gold mining.
• Glittering. Wal-Mart and Tiffany are trying to clean up the gold industry.
• Tarnished. Other retailers don't seem too concerned about it. (C'mon, Target!)
• Gold dust. Shop for antique or vintage jewelry instead of new gold. Support jewelers like GreenKarat and Brilliant Earth, who recycle and reuse old pieces.

Listener E-mails Got any golden ideas for the show? Send an e-mail to hip@greenfeet.com. And remember to post articles, links and nuggets of wisdom at our MHTH forum!

• Liz in Wisconsin has much to share. First, is this greenwashing? Second, cold brew coffee in a pasta sauce jar! Third, great tips to reuse an Altoids tin. Thanks, and we'll post your pomegranate recipe on the forum!
• Kevin in Illinois wants to defend himself from those "new carpet" fumes. Open the windows wide, or better yet, look for an eco-friendly brand of carpet.
• Lisa in Wisconsin shared an article about pint-size Eco-Police making parents proud and/or crazy.
• Julie in Arizona is now having green nightmares about wasting water! She'd also like a coupon from Greenfeet. OK, 2 words: Newsletter & Twitter.
• Vanessa in Israel wants to talk with other Hipsters outside the US to share green info. You got it: international listeners, let us know where you are, and we'll set up a spot for you on the forum! By the way Vanessa, tell your hubby that fish pedicures are now illegal in Washington.

Show the world you're More Hip Than Hippie! Grab some merch for holiday gift-giving! Follow us on Twitter: GrnDiva and MoreHipDori, at your service! It's a new month, so don't forget to vote for us at podcastalley.com and podcastpickle.com. Send us a voice message at our Skype address "morehip" or +1.530.554.2605. Don't have Skype? Get it - it's free! More Hip Than Hippie is sponsored by Greenfeet.com