| In This Issue |
Carbon Is Forever |
Holiday Gifts |
Plastics Update |
A Holiday Reminder |
| RGG Events |
- This Friday December 5th is Midnight Merriment, and YES, we'll be open 'til Midnight! (Isn't that the point?) Pedestrian traffic only! North Main Street will be closed to vehicle traffic from Pleasant Street to Center Street for festivities including caroling, horse-drawn sleigh rides, and the warmth and hospitality of locally owned Main Street businesses. Come inside and join us at RGG, sample organic cookies and a warm holiday brew of organic tea, and celebrate the holiday season. Visit the Main Street Concord Website for more details of events and ceremonies during Midnight Merriment.
- As you stroll along Main Street during the month of December, take notice of the white candle lights placed in all of the downtown windows. These "Hospice Lights of Life Celebration" have been placed there courtesy of the Concord Regional Visiting Nurse Association in honor of lives past.
- The "Dream It. Do It. Challenge" has a deadline of Dec. 31st. Do you know an environmentally-friendly youth who would like to improve the environment along with a chance to be on MTV? Find out how to take part at MTV
- This Saturday, Dec. 6th: NH Sustainable Energy's Home Energy Conference in Durham at UNH, NHSEA
- Local Environmental Activism -Sunday, December 7 at 1:00 pm. An organizational
meeting about New Hampshire kicking the coal habit and investing in sustainable energy will be held at:The Clubhouse at The Fells: 1 Fells Drive, Amherst, NH 03031
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| New At RGG! |
- Back by popular demand from Zimbabwe are a collection of giraffes, geckos, and other charming critters made from recycled soda cans. Built to last, these whimsical beauties are simply irresistible, each radiating a unique character that will be sure to put a smile on your face! RGG has teamed up with the First Congregational Church of Concord who helps out their sister church in Africa where desperate hardship confronts their daily lives. The main portion of the proceeds will be returned to the parishioners of their sister church, the Mbare Church in Harare, Zimbabwe.
- Found exclusively at RGG and made locally are neck rolls, small pillows, and energy-saving door draft stoppers. Not just any ordinary door draft stopper or neck roll, these high quality, durable items are hand crafted from hemp and filled with fresh balsam hand-gathered from the local woods in Maine. We are always glad to further promote the use of durable, resourceful hemp. And as for the balsam, you have never smelled anything better...
- Just in time for the holiday season, a new and absolutely delicious organic chocolate bar now compliments our beloved Art Bar. Made in a factory powered with solar power, the Grenada Chocolate Bar uses all organic ingredients to make some of the best tasting chocolate you will ever experience! This luxury chocolate will be available only through December for gift giving.
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| Green Tip |
When it comes to wrapping, Remember the 3 R's:
Reduce - the amount of packaging or wrapping used
Reuse - anything you can get your hands on
Recycle - everything!
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Dear Reader,
The economy continues to top the news and cause trouble during what should be a joyous time of year, while the environment has been taking a dangerous back seat. Not to minimize the seriousness of the economic crisis, but we may need a reminder that the environment is also in need of everyone's continued attention.
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Carbon Is Forever
What can we do?
At first glance, it seems plausible that by simply reducing CO2 emissions, atmospheric CO2 will eventually come down. A troubling report about the persistence of CO2 and its predicted longevity in the atmosphere, Carbon is Forever suggests that the actual time required for CO2 concentrations to decrease will take much longer than originally thought. How long will this take? The real answer, unfortunately, is even to the point of never. This is not good news.
Weather patterns continue to break records and species are going Thaw: How Humans Are Changing the next 100,000 Years of Earth's Climate by David Archer. Princeton Review is considered the latest and best CO2 and climate change book available - another example of the experts warning us that the climate is changing faster than most models predicted and that we need to take greater action - fast.
That's where you come in. Adjusting to the precarious economic situation and being green(er) need to go hand in hand. Reducing your CO2 emissions often means being more energy efficient which saves you money. While the reduction in oil prices is a welcomed change, the need for energy conservation has never been greater. Purchasing products with a higher recycled content and/or that have been produced by renewable energy all contribute to reducing CO2 emissions. You can check up on how companies are doing with regard to their global warming initiatives at Climate Counts so you can "vote" with your hard earned dollars.
So please remember the world that surrounds you. Make your actions count. Make your money count.
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Holiday Gifts
Have a Green Christmas!
- We have a great selection of safe, hand crafted toys and games for the holiday season, most of which are wooden.
- From our neighbors in Vermont come a variety of unfinished Maple Landmark toys and games for all ages including Mancala, cribbage, brain teasers, and a nifty little "hybrid" car.
- We have beautiful heirloom type wooden baby rattles and toys from Mossy Creek made in the U.S.
- Our Fair Trade 100% Alpaca wool finger puppets are a hit with both kids and adults.
- A great practical gift for yourself or others is Maggie's organic cotton socks and tights and organic wool socks.
- We carry Pear Tree Studio precious dolls and animals made from recycled sweaters right here in New Hampshire. We love stories like that!
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Plastics Update: Canned foods and soft drink cans
In our continuing efforts to remain current with new updates here at RGG, we often find ourselves being the bearer of bad news and the following is no exception. While everyone's attention has certainly been grabbed with the news that BPA is leaching from baby formula containers and some other  plastics, public awareness lags behind regarding the fact that a more widespread contamination of our general food supply is also occurring from this endocrine disrupting chemical. What has yet to be as widely publicized is the fact that the linings of canned foods AND soft drink cans also leach the endocrine disruptor BPA. That's right, the chemical BPA leaches right out into the contents of your canned foods and soft drink beverages!
- Consider storing your beverages in a glass or stainless steel container, RGG Glassware and RGG Stainless Steel Water Bottles. We also have glass storage containers available in our store.
- As always, good advice is to buy local, buy whole unprocessed foods, and know your source.
- For more reading on BPA leaching into canned foods and soda cans, go to The Green Guide
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A Holiday Reminder
Shoppers Beware
- As conscientious consumers and with the impending deadline of February 17, 2009 for the new TV standard taking effect, we need to be aware of the illegal export of our waste which includes our old TV e-waste. For recycling locations nearest you, Earth 911
- If you need to replace your old TV, which new TV is more environmentally-friendly: LCD or plasma? If power consumption is guiding your decision, then LCD is the way to go. To help make an informed decision on this complex issue, read more at GMagazine or Professors House
- Following the trail of toxic e-waste, a "60 Minutes" camera crew filmed the illegal path of a U.S. shipment of computer monitors and other e-waste all the way to China. View The Video and Read More about e-waste.
- Go to Consumer Reports - Greener Choices for more information on both greener buying and greener recycling.
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HOLIDAY HOURS at Real Green Goods
- Christmas Eve Dec. 24th closing at 5 pm.
- New Year's Eve Dec. 31st closing at 3 pm.
- Winter Hours begin Jan. 2nd:
- Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Sunday hours remain the same, Noon to 5 p.m.
- Closed Christmas and News Year's Day.
Happy Greener New Year! When you make that New Year's Resolution, won't you please consider including the environment?
Thank you for reading and for caring about the environment. A special thank you to all our caring customers who have supported us through these roller coaster times. We cherish all the wonderful new people we have met in 2008 and look forward to 2009. And, as we say at Real Green Goods, Have a Green Day!™
Sincerely,
All of us from Real Green Goods
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