Daydream Paradise

How many of us dream of some day having our own little home in the woods? It might be amidst the majestic old growth of B.C. or the tropical and magical rainforest of, say, Costa Rica. But what if, the day your daydream comes true, there are no more forests? Your comfy little house wouldn’t find a home; at least, not in the ancient and endangered forests. Here’s a way to realize the dream and put confidence in the fact that, while you’re saving for your retirement, you’re also saving the very forests where you may want to live. Citizens Bank of Canada (Vancity’s online bank) is offering a very competitive four-per-cent RRSP (on a one-year fixed term deposit). And here’s the thrill: for every $100 you contribute, they’ll donate $1 to preserving old growth. Info: citizensbank.ca/Personal/Products/RRSP/AncientForests/.

Want to know more about socking away money, while promoting a softer footprint? Join SharedVISION for its Ethical Evening on Feb. 15

Spa From the Sea

Seaweed is big in France. Thalassotherapy (spa treatments with seaweed and salt water) is all the rage in Europe. Not just along the coast of Brittany and in Atlantic resorts such as Biarritz, but also in Ireland. So where, asks the savvy spa-goer, is the B.C. equivalent? Look no further than Sherina Jamal’s Ancient Secrets, a unique spa- and skin-care line that draws on the bounty of our natural environment to create luscious products that rival the best Europe has to offer. Ingredients include Canadian glacial clay (helps remove toxins, heal skin conditions, and reduce inflammation) and Pacific seaweeds (with vital micronutrients that revitalize tired skin), which make for a luxurious and local line. And the trip to Commercial Drive’s Flaming June Day Spa, where you can experience the treatments, is a bargain compared to a flight to Paris. Info: 604-253-8001 or ancientsecrets.ca.

Caffeine Consciousness

When you sip your morning cup, are you plagued by the thought that Third World farmers may have been exposed to DDT and are paid next to nothing? Even if you’re a simple hedonist focused on your quality caffeine fix, Ethical Bean is for you. Its organic, fair-trade, pesticide-free coffee is grown using traditional methods that, unlike big agro-business, do not cause soil erosion or harm human beings and wildlife. The company’s smaller footprint includes its new Vancouver “green” headquarters and compostable packaging for the coffee. In addition, the Festival and Family blends benefit the Vancouver Folk Music Festival and the Adoptive Families Association of B.C. Surprised that doing the right thing can taste so dark, rich, and full-bodied? Now you’ll never know if that post-latte buzz comes from the caffeine or your contented conscience. Info: ethicalbean.com.

Natural Glamour

Are you a closet fashionista with an environmental conscience? Do you cast longing, furtive glances at Vogue mag­azines you see in the recycling bin? Now you can have your haute couture and wear it too with Puraza Design. Inspired by the Okanagan Valley’s natural beauty when she moved there last year, founder Nicole Brown launched a line of eco-friendly hemp handbags, dyed naturally and adorned with delicate beadwork. The bags were so popular that she began creating earrings made of hemp thread, semi-precious stones and sterling silver. Now Brown is exploring new materials—such as recycled silver from negatives—and combining them with turquoise nuggets, faceted garnets and smooth blue apatite beads. Freshwater pearls and Swarovski crystals add a touch of glam. Available at Granville Island Organix, 604-681-4243.

Respect Your Bottom Dollar

It’s not just a yoga mat, it’s a yoga mat with a purpose. Lululemon is perhaps best known for its recognizable pants, which seem to have taken this city by storm by turning yoga wear into a socially acceptable form of clothing for everyday living. It’s what’s under your yoga-toned butt, however, that truly reveals the company’s ethos.At Lululemon, yoga is about interconnectedness: all beings and the environment must be treated with respect. With its Eco Yoga Mat, Lululemon has rolled up its philosophy into a nifty little package. Made out of non-toxic material (PVC- and chloride-free), the Eco Yoga Mat is recyclable, biodegradable, and naturally compostable. Info: 1-877-263-9300 or lululemon.com.

An Electric Ride

If your favourite movie is a toss-up between Who Killed the Electric Car and Jean-Luc Godard’s Breathless, then E-Ride is your de rigueur choice for wheels. Indulge both your penchant for saving the environment and your Jean Seberg-on-a-scooter je ne sais quoi aesthetic with one of E-Ride’s electric bikes. Ranging from electric motor­cycles all the way down the vehicular food chain to electric skateboards, somewhere in the middle is the electric bicycle, which allows you the best of both worlds. You can pedal to your heart’s content, but if the hills get too steep, make use of the NiMH light battery and geared motor that will speed you to 80 km/h. Definitely a 2007 option for Jean, if only she hadn’t succumbed to the wiles of slimy men and dodgy CIA types. Info: e-ride.ca.

Vogue Lumber

Say the word “vogue” and most people think of high fashion or a Madonna song, not lumber. That is unless they are privy to Men’s Vogue and the Eco-Lumber Co-op. This innovative Vancouver-based lumber company has been featured in numerous publications and is quickly climbing the architectural ranks. For a start, the co-op’s Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)-certified cedar is part of the Ray Kappe-designed Living Homes project in Santa Monica, California, recently featured in Dwell, Modernism, LA Magazine, Business Week, and Men’s Vogue. Other projects currently underway include the Victoria Tube Station in London; Queens Botanical

Garden in Flushing, New York; and Sustainable Condo in Vancouver. Eco-Lumber is committed to tracking products from the forest, through the manufacturing process, and into customers’ hands, thus telling customers the story behind the wood that will eventually be built into their lives. Info: 604-278-4300 or ecolumber.ca.

An EPIC Production

While our water infrastructure and daily newspapers may have a long way to go before they reach that coveted “world class” status, Vancouver is definitely on the sustainability map. What better way to celebrate our growing green consciousness than with Vancouver’s first

Sustainable Living Expo? EPIC (Ethical Progressive Intelligent Consumer) will be held at Canada Place March 16-18 and aims to celebrate both producers and consumers committed to supporting a better world. Featured are guest speakers, innovators, and local companies, pushing the design edge from practical to sexy. If you fancy yourself an Eco-Einstein, check out EPIC’s video competition—in tandem with treehugger.com and Seventh Generation Inc.—for the best film that addresses conscious consumerism and climate change. First prize is $5,000, a jorg&olif city bike, and a pair of biodegradable shoes from John Fluevog. All entries must be received by Feb. 28. Details at epicvancouver.com/contest.cfm.

Baby Wants and Kneads
After a long day of burping and feeding, they need some R&R. No, we’re not talking about new moms; we’re talking about newborns. They may not spend their days doing housework and meeting impossible deadlines, but infants need some chill time, too. And what better way to bring peace and harmony to your baby’s body and soul than with a tender, loving massage. Of course, you don’t want to cause any friction-related rashes in the process. Might we suggest trying Ancient Touch for Modern Moms, a line of all-natural massage oils made by Mashala Baby Organics. Prepared by a mother of three living in Mission, these products are fortified with soothing herbs including Tulsi (Holy Basil). Just put a little dab on the hands before rubbing gently and your bundle of joy will be drooling like a …well, like a baby. For more info: mashalababyorganics.com or call 1-800-981-4MBO.

Curry in a Hurry
Do you ever find yourself ordering greasy pizza when you get home from work simply because you’re too tired to prepare an organic dinner from scratch? If you answered yes, you’re not alone. A recent poll revealed that three out of four SharedVISION writers are guilty of occasionally eating crap on the weekdays. That’s why, when we heard about Sensational Suppers, we knew we had to spread the word. Inspired by American models, this Vancouver-based company is a healthy meal preparation service. Simply book an appointment for a two-hour session at the SS facility (440 W. 2nd Ave.), pick at least six recipes (most have an organic option), and then proceed to the corresponding workstations, where you assemble your chosen entrees (approximately one month’s worth) into individual frozen containers. Then just freeze, heat, and eat. For more info: sensationalsuppers.com or call 604-632-3100.

Nanna’s Got a Brand New Bag
Everyone from rap queen Missy Elliot to tween sensation Hilary Duff to sitcom rerun Joey Lawrence has been seen sporting a Nanna purse. We won’t even hazard a guess as to what triggers a celebrity trend—nor do we care. But what we do care about is a locally based company that doesn’t use sweatshops, uses recycled materials, and keeps its prices reasonably low to make shopping with a social conscience doable for everyday women (products range from $15-$110). Although Nanna has an impressive fall line of dresses, pants, and tunics, the East Van clothier specializes in purses, cloth wallets, and diaper bags. Carried at more than a dozen stores in the Lower Mainland, these beautiful designs are worth checking out. For more info, visit nanna.ca or call 604-987-6103.

Slick Sliding Sustainably
Whether you’re a hardcore snowboarder who lives to shred down double-black diamond runs or a retired baby boomer who enjoys cross-country skiing through the outback, the hills are no place for environmental pollutants. Ski wax is no exception: the stuff rubs off your gear onto the snow, eventually reaching our water supply. The ski and snowboarding industry haven’t been quick to address the issue. That’s why the wacky waxorcists at Hillbilly Wax-Works took matters into their own hands. The B.C.-based company has created the first non-toxic, biodegradable formula made from renewable materials. Currently, they offer five different polishes, each one custom-made for specific types of powder. So, depending on which local peak is your favourite, Hillbilly guarantees a smooth ride. Available at Mountain Equipment Co-op stores, mec.ca

Hairdos and Don’ts
At first, we couldn’t understand why the good folks at Curelle kept making such a big deal about how they don’t use grapefruit in any of their all-natural hair products. After all, the big, juicy, seeded delight seems like an innocent enough additive for shampoo and conditioner, right? Wrong. It turns out our beloved citrus fruit is often paired with active chemicals such as ammonium chloride and diphenol hydroxybenzene—something most hair products that boast grapefruit seed extract as a main ingre­dient fail to mention on the label. Suddenly, the thought of lathering our luscious locks in grapefruit seed wasn’t so appealing. Don’t get us wrong, we still love the tarty-tasting fruit. We just don’t like mixing our carcin­ogens with our citric acids. E-mail info@curelle.com.

E-Waste Not, Want Not
The term “techno trash” may sound like an ear-shatteringly bad genre of music. But it’s actually referring to the electronic junk that’s piling up in our landfills. In fact, e-waste is one of the fastest growing environmental problems in the world. It’s estimated that Canadians alone generated 67,000 tonnes worth of computer refuse last year.
That’s a lot of crashed hard drives—not to mention plastic, glass, metal, lead, and mercury. So, if you’re one of the many who found a better, faster IT accessory waiting for you under the Christmas tree, whatever you do, don’t throw your obsolete beast of a PC in the garbage. Bring it to Techno Trash Recycling, where a zero-waste “de-manufacturing” system ensures that every square inch of your system (including that mammoth monitor you’ve grown to hate) is sorted and re-used. Visit technotrashrecycling.com or call 604-942-7415 for a drop-off location near you.

Lucky Fungus
With the Chinese Year of the Pig upon us, it’s time to welcome it in accordingly, with luck—and all things red. According to tradition, the rosy colour drives away bad luck, so paint your door in scarlet tones and eat Red Reishi mushrooms. Embedded in Asian culture for centuries, the Reishi is exalted as a symbol of divinity, longevity, and good fortune. The feisty fungus is highly valued for its numerous health benefits, including increased energy and focus, reduced stress, and improved sleep. Scientists in the west have proven these magic mushrooms from Japan are powerful antioxidants that enhance the immune system and protect against heart disease, diabetes, and certain cancers. Primarily sold in concentrated-essence capsules or tablets (prices range from $65 to $188 for a two-month supply), Japanese Red Reishi products are available at your local health food store. For more infor­mation: call 1-866-573-4744 or reishi.com.

Better Bottom Line
It’s no big secret that Vancouver is starting to get a rep in the fashion industry as a city that supports its socially sustainable clothing designers. So the last thing Lower Mainland fashionistas want to do is cinch in their fair-trade dresses with belts made in an Indonesian sweatshop. Now, they don’t have to. Hotbox Accessories (2560 Main St.) is a specialty boutique that carries everything from purses and jewelry to this season’s must-have: tweed caps. Shopping bags are made from biodegradable materials and approximately 75 per cent of Hotbox’s merchandise is locally produced; the remaining 25 per cent is guaranteed to have been manufactured in accordance with fair-labour practices. So, for example, you can pick up some organic cotton novelty ginch with the words “eat organic” on the front without worrying about the envir­onmental or social cost. For more info, call 604-871-0095.

A Gift With Wings (and Heart)
There was a time when getting 15 chickens to Croatia was a logistical nightmare. Not anymore. Thanks to Ten Thousand Villages, a non-profit, fair-trade organization, getting livestock to someone oversees has never been easier. All you have to do is choose which life-sustaining farm animal you’d like to purchase and which developing country you’d like to donate it to. It’s part of the Living Gift program, which also supplies impoverished African preschoolers with writing materials, struggling communities with trees, and starving artisans with art supplies. Of course, you can donate any of these life-altering presents directly, but the point is to purchase it on behalf someone else who, in return, gets a rundown of how their gift is improving another person’s life. It’s a win-win for everyone, and a hell of a lot better than giving that scarf that they’ll probably end up exchanging anyway. For more info: TenThousandVillages.ca.

Huge Little Steps
This one we love. A great present to a loved one or to oneself, Change the World for Ten Bucks is a slim book that’s big on action. Created by We Are What We Do, a non-profit global movement working to inspire actions of kindness, compassion, and consciousness, Change The World contains 50 small, inexpensive suggestions for making a better world. Some are practical (turn off unnecessary lights), some sentimental (write to someone who inspired you, complete with supplied postcard), and some are such good ideas they should be adopted into law (let at least one car in on every journey). All are, in their own little way, hugely brilliant. Pick up a copy at all good book stores or visit wearewhatwedo.ca for more info.

Take It From The Mayans
By now, most of us have clued into the fact that trying to stop the signs of aging by going under the knife can backfire on you big time—Priscilla Presley, case in point. And it’s not just the ladies paying through the nose (figuratively and literally) to look young again. Did anyone see Kenny “Peeled and Processed” Rogers on American Idol last year? So what’s the solution? For starters, stop looking to Hollywood for anti-aging solutions, and start looking to Mother Earth. That’s exactly what the good folks at LaVigne Organic Skincare did. Most of their war-on-wrinkle products (prices ranging from $15 to $144 US) feature tepezcohuite, a regenerative, detoxifying, bacteria-fighting agent derived from Mexico’s ‘skin tree.’ The Mayans used it on their faces for more than ten centuries and hey, they never look a day over 1000. Natural alternatives like this B.C.-based line may not be a magical solution, but at least you won’t look like you belong in a Hollywood freak show. For more info, visit lavigneorganics.com.

For Your Favourite Little Girl: The Body Song
Maybe she’s your granddaughter, niece, or your own kid. However she shows up in your life, here’s a gift that imparts meaning, values, and unbridled fun for her animated and imagi­native self. The Body Song is a six-minute CD (not long but it packs punch!) that educates and empowers three-to-six-year-old girls to “name without shame” all parts of their bodies. The lyrics, both playful and strong, encourage girls to feel pride, ownership, and healthy boundaries regarding their bodies . . . all in a developmentally appropriate manner in a medium that is pure joy for kids—music. The Body Song is the brainchild of Vancouverite Anita Roberts, founder of SAFETEEN (safeteen.ca) and parent of three. Singer Yve Narlock and two little friends warble the lyrics. To order the $12 CD, email safeteen@telus.net.

Let the Good Vines Flow
With B.C. renowned as a hot spot for both wine and organic farming, it’s no wonder that this season, when the vino will most undoubtedly be flowing, organic B.C. wines will be arriving at many a dinner party. Aside from the obvious benefits of organic wine (reduced pesticides, non-GM grapes), organic wine also adds an interesting conversation piece to any dinner party. Lotusland Vineyards (lotuslandvineyards.com) is an organic, homegrown affair, as are Summerhill Estate Winery (summerhill.bc.ca) and Hainle Vineyards (hainle.com). Available at your local liquor store or wine merchant, for under $20 a bottle. Visit certifiedorganic.bc.ca for info on the certi­fication process.

So Darn Appealing
With knitting becoming ever more popular with style-conscious twentysomethings (male and female) and, let’s face it, never having really gone out of style for grandmas and ladies with 50 cats, perhaps it’s a good time to look at why it’s so darn appealing. The Art of Knitting is a new instructional DVD that shows not only how to knit and purl, but also how the act of knitting can be good for your mental and physical well-being. Studies have shown that knitting helps with everything from high blood pressure to quitting smoking, and some health experts have even likened the benefits to those of gentle yoga. The Art of Knitting features instruction from Vogue Knitting’s Carla Scott, knitter-to-the-stars Jennifer Wenger, swimwear designer Ashley Paige, Getty Museum educator Zhenya Gershman, and others. Pick it up at Michaels Craft Store, knitting outlets, or through theartofknitting.com.

A Good Night’s Stay
Travelling for business can be a bit of a soulless experience. When it starts out, the idea of glamorously globe-trotting around the world is alluring, but the practical realities of being away from home set in soon enough. Vancouver’s Metropolitan Hotel is offering a chance for its most loyal business and corporate clients to experience both comfort and goodness over this holiday season. Through March 31, the hotel will give select clients the chance to donate money to the charity of their choice. Under the Room for Charity program, the Met will donate the entire value of one night’s stay to the guest’s chosen charity. All that, a comfy bed, and a chance to eat Thomas Haas’ amazing chocolate desserts downstairs at Diva, the hotel’s restaurant. This is one invitation you’ll want to wrangle. For more information, please call 604-687-1122 or metropolitan.com/vanc.

Powerful Pin-Ups
We’re not normally in the business of promoting calendar girls—after all, there isn’t a huge crossover readership between SharedVision and Maxim. But we’re making an exception just this once ’cause it’s for a good cause. Vancouver-based photographer Suzette Amaya, of Samaya Photography, is putting out her third annual First Nations calendar. The first was the 2005 VanEast Urban First Nations Spirit Calendar; in 2006, it was the B.C. Aboriginal Distinguished Men edition; and now it’s all about the ladies. Featuring models from all sectors of Aboriginal life, including artists, activists, and academics, the 2007 B.C. Aboriginal Female Calendar sets out to blast negative stereotypes and promote confidence within the local Aboriginal community. So we ask you: what better way to keep track of important dates and holidays than with this time-managing (and silicone-free) gift? For more info: samaya.ca or call 604-889-8615.

Giving and Getting
Just in time for the holiday season comes GiftTrap, a social-conscience board game that looks at our culture of gift giving and what types of treats are really appropriate for our loved ones. More a conversation piece than an actual win or lose game, GiftTrap asks players to lay out a series of gift cards (Anger Management Classes, Six Weeks Paid Leave to volunteer, Reunion With An Old Friend, a Nose Job) and aim, through conversation and knowledge of other players, to both collect gifts they’d theoretically love to receive and also to please other players with experiences they’d love. The winner, if there is one, is the person who excels at both giving and getting, but really, all players win with the spirited discussion that results in talking about desired life experiences. Visit gifttrap.com to purchase and to learn about the game links to the international Right To Play charitable foundation.

Pets With Good Taste
When we first saw the title of Andi Brown’s new book, The Whole Pet Diet our first thought was “what kind of monster eats their whole pet?” Luckily, the book is not about snacking on Fido but, rather, an eight-week guide to getting your dog or cat healthy and on its way to a long life full of snuggles and rolls in the grass. Brown, director of Halo, a Florida company specializing in holistic pet care, has penned a guide that covers grooming, recreation, and, most importantly, diet, including a host of alarming facts about the dubious ingredients in commercial pet food. The book, published by Celestial Arts in Toronto, is available at tenspeed.com

Soul Saviours
Canada doesn’t have a great track record when it comes to documenting our pop- cultural history. We may be great at coming- of- age- on- the- Prairies- tales or gazing perplexedly at the two solitudes, but more proletarian pursuits tend to be ignored when Canada Council grants are handed out. Local musician, DJ, and producer Kevin Howes is on a mission to change this. For the past three years, Howes has been documenting the forgotten soul and reggae music legends that played in Canada in the ’60s—a long, arduous process that involved tracking down dozens of musicians who had long since abandoned their craft. Howes and his partners at Light In The Attic Records have unearthed some truly genius music from the scrap heap of history, including re-issues of albums by Canadians Wayne McGhie, Noel Ellis, and Jackie Mittoo. Most notable is the compilation From Jamaica to Toronto, a brilliant, multi-artist album that features classic-but-forgotten songs from Canada’s rich West Indian Music community. The re-issues are available in all discerning record stores. Howes and Co. are planning a documentary and a travelling revue of these neglected legends, so grab a copy before hysteria hits and they sell out. For more info on the Canadian Sound Heritage Project, visit lightintheattic.net/releases/jamaicatotoronto/

Live (Healthy) Like A Celebrity
To be frank, we’re a tiny bit suspicious when anyone styles himself as a “celebrity health guru.” But a quick glance through the latest book by Joshi, health advisor to stars such as Gwyneth Paltrow and Cate Blanchett, puts our fears at ease. Entitled Joshi’s Holistic Life Plan: How to be Happy, Healthy, Radiant—For the Rest of Your Life (Mobius, $29.95), the easy-to-read, beautifully illustrated book offers advice on eating, exercise, and mindfulness, including a four-week program for making over your general health. There are recipes, exercises, and challenges for the reader, as well as words of encouragement. After just a week following Joshi’s plan, we didn’t look any more like Gwyneth, but we did feel better—like the best version of ourselves. Joshi’s book is available at all major bookstores.

Loreena, Loreena
Fans of Canada’s first lady of Celtic music, Loreena McKennitt, have been waiting a long time for a new studio album. Although the ethereal songstress has released a number of live albums in the past decade, we haven’t heard an album of new works since 1997. As followers of McKennitt’s career are aware, the singer and pianist had her world fall apart in 1998 when her fiancé, Ronald Rees, died while on a sailing trip with his brother and a family friend. McKennitt took a long break to grieve but is back with An Ancient Muse, an album of new songs set for release this month. Continuing McKennitt’s long love affair with world music, Muse explores Celtic, Greek, and Byzantine myth, using obscure instruments such as the oud, lyra, Swedish keyed fiddle, and viols da gamba to flesh out the lush soundscapes that have brought her acclaim. The album hits stores Nov. 21—not a moment too soon.

Unleash Your Inner Organic Gourmet
Time was, an organic, locally sourced dining experience in Vancouver was second in rarity only to a tasty, organic, locally sourced organic experience in Vancouver. Luckily, a lot has changed in the past decade, and eco-conscious organic dining out is now easy to find at any price, from the luxe Bishop’s to the quick snack counter at some of our favorite grocery stores. One newish hotspot is Aurora Bistro, on the flourishing Main Street strip and offering the best in local food and wine. While the menu is not 100 per cent local (some foodstuffs, such as lemons and salt, are extremely difficult to source in B.C.), the bistro–headed by award-winning chef Jeff Van Geest—strives to go homegrown, ethical, and organic whenever possible, serving up such delights as Nicola Valley Bison Carpaccio, Queen Charlotte Halibut, and Fanny Bay Oysters. The wine list is equally impressive, with a host of B.C. wines that will win over the most discerning oenophile. All this is delivered with style to spare, lavish, attentive service and hip, urban ambience. For more info, visit aurorabistro.ca or call 604-873-9944. Aurora is at 2420 Main Street; reservations recommended.

Warm and Fuzzy Cars
While we’re all aware of the environmental impact of automobiles, and anyone with even a modicum of forethought has realized the evils of Humm-vees and gas-guzzling SUVs, many of us may not think about the less obvious side-effects of the auto industry: auto dealerships. These giant palaces of motor worship have sustainability issues quite apart from fossil fuels, including keeping those showrooms air-conditioned or heated, and dealing with the water waste that comes from keeping everything shiny and looking new. BMW Auto West, in Richmond, is taking the initiative on this front with a new eco-minded dealership opening Spring 2007. Construction on the 1.5-hectare lot broke ground earlier this fall and includes installation of a geothermal heating and cooling system that uses Earth’s natural properties to moderate indoor temperatures and a recycling system that re-uses some 90 per cent of car-wash water. In addition, the dealership will feature a green-roof system and sustainable landscaping. Looky-loos and green-architecture enthusiasts can check out all the details at autowest.bmw.ca.

Do You Know The Secret?
Ageless wisdom meets cutting-edge Internet distribution system and that equals phenomenon. In a remarkable unmarketing marketing campaign, a full-length feature film, The Secret, is gaining grass roots velocity faster than you can say, “change your thinking; change your life.” The slickly produced 90-minute film weaves together modern-day motivational speakers with some of history’s most important thinkers: Albert Einstein, Thomas Edison, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Winston Churchill. The result is insight for creating your perfect life, based on implementing a belief called Law of Attraction. Buddha might have said it best: “All that we are is the result of what we have thought.” A family-owned Australian company is marketing the 90-minute film, which can be seen for $4.95US per view at whatisthesecret.tv or a DVD purchase of $29.95. What is it that you want to create in your ideal life?

Hope And (Gift-Giving) Glory
As much as it may make some of us shudder, this month is when many people start to think about the holiday season and buying gifts. To the rescue comes Pivot Legal Society, a local, non-profit group that helps provide legal counsel for persons on the Downtown Eastside. Pivot is holding a fundraising auction Nov. 9, featuring unique, socially conscious gifts available by live and silent bidding. The Society’s goal is to raise $20,000 for assisting homeless and disenfranchised persons in Vancouver. Speaking of socially conscious gifts, Pivot launches its fourth consecutive Hope In The Shadows calendar and exhibit of photographs by residents of the Downtown Eastside. Hundreds of people line up to receive free black-and-white cameras and take photos that reflect hope and positivity in their community. Visit pivotlegal.org for more info on the auction and calendar project. To donate auction items, e-mail auction@pivotfoundation.org or leave a message for Lisa Werring at 604-696-1322.

The Dalai Lama Meets The Dalai Mama
Of the thousands of pictures taken while His Holiness visited Vancouver, this has to be one of our favourites—caught by photographer Robert Scales. Vancouver event planner Lorinda Earl, seven months along, was volunteering at GM Place, where a capacity crowd of 13,000 had gathered to hear the Dalai Lama on Sept. 9. Lorinda was behind the scenes, helping out with logistics, when His Holiness finished his talk and was being ushered out to a waiting car. Surrounded, Lorinda says, by a sea of black-suited men and a couple of Mounties, the Dalai Lama saw her beaming face on the sidelines. He broke through, came over, and clasped her hands. Delighted by his attention, Lorinda mused, “You’re the Dalai Lama, I’m the Dalai Mama!” And then hiked up her shirt to reveal her bowed belly. In yet another endearing spontaneous response for which the Buddhist monk is known, he gave a robust “Ooooh” and bent down to put his ear to the listening post. “It must have been a full 10 seconds that he listened,” says Lorinda, who cherishes the moment and calls it her “belly blessing.”

Labels You Can Read
Taking a gander at the ingredients list of your lotion, shampoo, and conditioner may be enough to spur you into signing up for an organic chemistry class. How else can you make sense of all those multi-syllabic words? Ditch the class. The Environmental Working Group has an interactive website where you enter the ingredients of your favourite products and get explanations of the chemicals—the good, the bad, and the ugly. Check out ewg.org/reports/skindeep. Can you believe that many chemicals added to body care products are known or suspected of causing cancer or birth defects? (It’s true.) Here’s another idea: stick to companies that don’t put chemical glop in their products. Vancouver-based Ferlow Botanicals is an example of a product line that is committed to purity. The main ingredients are herbs with health-supporting properties. Great for sensitive skin and for people who are allergic to fragrance. Ferlow products are available only through professional health-and-wellness practitioners. Check ferlowbotanicals.com to find one close to you.

Mom, What’s Dystopia?
What’s smaller than an iPod and bigger than a humpback whale? Answer: the range of tech-no-geekery available to kids these days, with an eye on creating a sustainable future. Put those video-gaming skills to use; take computer programming and watch-dismantling out of your basement and into the future! Future Tech Wednesdays are here, offering kids a chance for “creating and innovating” with techno-gadgetry, from sail cars and solar cars to future energy sources. These include Wave Energy devices and a Stirling Engine, “a device that runs simply from the heat of a human hand.” Cool! Marpole-Oakridge Community Centre and Silbury School, 10 consecutive Wednesdays from Sept. 27-Nov. 29. Contact Karen at Silbury School, 604-261-1361.

Protect The Surf, Dude
Ah, surfing. For the uninitiated, it conjures up the sights and sounds of the Beach Boys (maybe the Red Hot Chili Peppers), muscle cars and VW vans, and the movie Fast Times At Ridgemont High. It may surprise many to know, however, that not only does the B.C. West Coast offer some of the best surfing in the hemisphere, but surfers worldwide are at the forefront of grassroots environmental advocacy, cleanup, and education. Surfrider is a U.S.-based organization, with international links such as its B.C. chapter, which is leading the way for community awareness of coastline ecosystems. Formed in Malibu, Calif., in 1984, the organization has more than 50,000 members in the U.S. alone, and counts surfers, swimmers, divers, bodyboarders, kayakers, and beach enthusiasts among its supporters. From school programs to grassroots lobbying campaigns, Surfrider is concerned with coastal preservation, clean water, and beach access. Recent successes include helping retain a moratorium on oil and gas exploration at Virginia Beach, Calif., and stopping gold mining at beaches in Washington State. So mount up, dudes, and ride the wave to, like, cleaner surf. Contact surfridercanada.org

Tell Them To Ram It!
So you’ve just finished watching Al Gore’s film, The Inconvenient Truth, and excitedly tell a friend about your desire to curb your poor environmental habits, only to have them respond with a comment like: “You eco-freaks would have us all going back to living in mud huts.” Well, thanks to Meror Krayenhoff, president of SIREwall Inc., now you can tell them they’re right! SIREwall stands for Stabilized Insulated Rammed Earth, which features building technology that is both safe and environmentally friendly. Based on an ancient building method, earth with 10 per cent cement is loaded and tamped into forms that are later removed. The result, proven in award-winning buildings, is wall construction that provides good air quality, economy, energy efficiency, durability, fire and earthquake resistance, and design flexibility. The Salt Spring Island-based company is linked to BOSA, a builders’ association that uses rammed-earth methods. Visit sirewall.com for more info.

Chewin’ The Fat
If you saw Blake Edwards’ classic satire S.O.B., you might remember Dr. Irving Finegarten, played by Robert Preston, the Hollywood doctor making day and night house calls to deliver vitamin B12 shots to the frantic film producer/protagonist. Not all of us are so favoured as to have a doctor on call with pep shots. However, a local company called Vitalis may fit the bill. Stephanie Hodges and Meghan Hanrahan are registered holistic nutritionists. Realizing people are “confused, disheartened, and anxious” about choosing a healthy diet, the two will storm into your workplace to get everyone hip on all things healthy and nutritious. Featuring a series of workshops called ‘Re-defining Nutrition,’ their October workshop is called ‘Recipe for Transition,’ which runs October 21 from 2- 4 pm at the Canadian School of Natural Nutrition. To register contact 778-227-1856.

Healing From The Inside
With yoga popularity reaching a fever pitch these days, options abound for folks looking for a good body workout: Bikram’s, Power Yoga, Yogilates, to name a few. While there’s nothing wrong with that, it’s possible to neglect the spiritual side of the practice and the power it has to heal us from within. New Zealand-raised Kelly Mercer learned the healing benefits of yoga when, in 2001, she was diagnosed with endometriosis—a disease that requires frequent surgery and can damage the reproductive organs. Through yoga and meditation, Mercer has been symptom-free for two years. With that as her inspiration, she founded Pura Luna, a lifestyle company that incorporates yoga and spiritual guidance as a path to healing from within. Mercer works holistically and usually individually, to treat everyone from anorexics to chronic-anxiety sufferers; yoga forms just part of her client’s journey to wellness. For testimonials and more info, visit puraluna.com or call 778-829-5862.

Random Acts
The World Kindness Concert is a yearly Vancouver musical celebration in honour of—you guessed it—world kindness. And we all certainly could use more of that (who have you smiled and nodded at lately?). This year’s concert is at the Vancouver East Cultural Centre Oct. 23 and 24, with a rousing lineup of performers. Check out the program and get your tickets at worldkindnessconcert.com. Attention: there will be no kind-o-meters on the premises, but it helps if you’d like to elevate kindness to a higher level. While the musical celebration will undoubtedly make you come away smiling, whistling, or exhibiting other positive brainwave reactions, there is a higher calling. Proceeds from the $30 tickets go toward a campaign developed for kids to raise awareness of how kind acts can create positive global change (go to kindacts.net). How much kinder can you get than that?