Earth Hour on March 29th...

Something big is happening tomorrow, March 29th at 8PM... There's a huge global event taking place tomorrow night. I know it's late notice, but it's really just that important. By now you're aware that I'm extremely committed to keeping our planet in an ever-increasing state of harmony through health, vibrancy and abundance, which is why I've committed myself and my business to being green and asked you to do the same. Now I'm asking you to step up to the plate tomorrow night... So here's the scoop. It's called Earth Hour, and it's so simple to participate, yet it's powerful beyond imagination. You won't even believe the impact you'll make. How? By turning off all lights for just one hour tomorrow night, Saturday, March 29, starting at 8PM (your local time). That's right, for just one hour. This event was created by the World Wildlife Fund in Sydney, Australia in 2007... and the impact it created was so huge that it's blossomed to a global event within only a year. Last year, it reduced Sydney's energy consumption by a whopping 10.2% for one hour, which is the equivalent of taking 48,000 cars off the road for a year! Well, they're doing the same thing tomorrow night, but this time it's global and with many more millions of people around the world involved. Imagine the impact! Please join me in bringing harmony to the earth tomorrow night. Go ahead, turn out those lights! For more information about Earth Hour and what you can do, watch the video below or visit www.earthhour.org. To your continued wealth and happiness, James Arthur Ray President/CEO James Ray International P.S. In case you missed it, Harmonic Wealth is coming...

Spring Cleaning Part I

Yesterday was the first day of spring and as we are all accustomed to, this is the time for new beginnings. It's always exciting to see what we can clean out, get rid of, and start anew. Because "Spring Cleaning" is such a popular ritual these days, I've compiled some earth-friendly tips when participating in this renewing activity. Air fresheners, bleach, and other chemical cleaners; believe it or not, these contribute to a large amount of indoor air pollution because the chemicals in these products release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) through evaporation. Even though you may believe that you are disinfecting your home, you're actually creating a toxic breathing environment, especially if your windows are closed. Vinegar, specifically white vinegar, is nature's magic liquid. This wonderful item can be used to clean just about anything: windows, kitchen floors, sinks, and carpet. If you add some baking soda to the vinegar, you'll create a paste for an effective "scrubbing" effect. A couple quick recipes provided: Spray bottle: mix in 1 cup white vinegar with 1 cup water. Use this to dissolve dirt, soap scum, and hard water deposits. Stronger effect: use undiluted vinegar for things like the inside of a toilet. Use 1 cup for your laundry rinse cycle to replace commercial fabric softener. Natural fiber sponges and rags (you know that collection of t-shirts that never get worn?); these are great reusable resources instead of using paper towels or any other one-time use materials. Air fresheners. Big no-no because it can cause respiratory irritation. Instead use fresh flowers... you can't get more natural than that! Buying cleaning products-choose those that are biodegradable, non-toxic, phosphate-free, and chlorine-free.

St. Patrick's Day

What a perfect day to go all out with green (festively and environmentally!). There are only three days until this really fun celebration and I know you will be scouting for green activities, shopping for green and maybe even drink green beer. Whatever you do to celebrate, and even if you don't, I've provided some tips on how you can be green on such a green day! Just like any other holiday, there is an increase in "stuff" used for trinkets, cards, toys, activities, etc. Remember to keep it green (environmentally) by using recycled materials and reuse materials. I don't mean to kill the buzz... no pun intended, but even though green beer is simply made by adding food coloring, this is a food additive that is on the whole not natural or good for your body. It's also important to be green on the inside, so maybe you can make this a day when you start an awesome habit-> eating and drinking green. That means consuming vegetables, fruits, and anything that comes in its most natural state. Buy plants for your home or office. This will liven up your spirit and give you a sense that you are still connected to the earth. If you don't have the time to maintain your plants, buy bamboo. They are so easy to take care of and they last forever, not really, but they last a really long time. All you do is add water and... add water. If you have children, what a great weekend to bond with them by participating in green activities, such as planting a tree or doing some gardening together. It is just about spring time, so there's no better time than now to get involved. I hope you all take this information to heart and do some good for yourself and for your global home.

Fashion Sense

Wabi-sabi. Most often seen in Japanese tradition, this phrase embodies that which is simple, rustic, and perfect because of imperfections. Not surprisingly, these qualities are conspicuous in organic fashion, especially in bamboo and hemp clothing. If you have any hang-ups about contributing to a healthy environment through these avenues, another viable option is organic cotton. As you know, cotton is one of the most common fibers used in textile production to date. As a consumer you can help grow the demand for the organic cotton industry by purchasing clothes, sheets, etc. made from organic cotton. I know I know, you're probably thinking, "But that stuff probably doesn't look cool." Not so! There are so many "fashionable" AND organically made clothes that you can choose from. To get started, go to www.thegreenloop.com. In addition to clothing, this site provides other items from different companies who rely on organic resources. They're not just "granola," they're fashionable too. When you make these purchases, you support friendly farming practices; no use of insecticides, pesticides, herbicides, or chemical fertilizers. You save the earth some pain and the farmers from potential chemical poisoning; there are actual cases of death via pesticide poisoning. Educate yourself a little on the benefits of organic cotton by going here www.sustainablecotton.org. It's always cool to be granola... or you could go wabi-sabi too!