| In This Issue |
| What I Learned from My Dog |
| Real Green Goods Gets 5-Paw Rating |
| Environmental Update |
| Plastic Update |
| And The Good News Is... |
| Latest Toy Testing for Lead, PVC, Etc. |
| Recommended Winter Reading |
| RGG Events |
Friday December 4th is Midnight Merriment in Downtown, Concord, NH - Pedestrian traffic only on Main Street, 5:30 - midnight! Real Green Goods will stay open for the festivities and holiday shoppers. Come inside for warmth and holiday brew.
Main St. Concord, Inc.
Dec. 7th is the launch of the United Nations Climate Change Conference.
Official Website
Dec. 7, 6:30pm, at the City Council Chambers, 37 Green St., Concord. The Bicycle Subcommittee of the City's Transportation Policy Advisory Committee (TPAC-Bike) will launch the planning effort with a public planning process for a safer and more bicycle friendly city for bike commuting and recreation. Craig Tufts or Nicholas Coates Central New Hampshire Regional Planning Commission
CNHRPC
Dec. 8th, Green Drinks, sponsored by Green Concord 6-8 pm, Barley House, Concord, NH.
Dec. 11th-14th, Green Living Series, presented by Green Concord, will be showing The Cove for its December environmental film.
Red River Theatres
RGG Events |
| New At RGG! |
Online:
Bamboo Christmas Ornaments
RGG Online
Bamboo Dish Drying Rack
RGG Online
Unfinished Toy Cars
RGG Online
Thornblossom Arghand Soap is back!
RGG Online
Stainless Steel Bowl
RGG Online
Insulated Klean Kanteens will be available by Tuesday, the 8th, or earlier.
RGG Online
In-Store: (and feel free to give us a call)
Back by popular demand, Organic Cherry Pit Therapy Pillows to heat up that conform to your neck or other sore muscles.
Natural Gourd Ornaments in new shapes and sizes.
Winter styles of Organic Cottonfield turtlenecks and other long sleeved clothing.
New styles of African Basket purses.
New exquisite "Hybrid" Cork/Bamboo cutting boards.
More stainless steel - bowls, single layer tiffins, insulated tiffins and small, heavy-duty dishes.
To add to our collection of over 15 environmental films to borrow for FREE, we have recently obtained the hit movie, Food, Inc. "Everyone should see Food, Inc." - Washington Post
Food, Inc.
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| Green Tip |
Have a Green Christmas!
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,
December - Here before you knew it, and not enough days in the month. So much is happening this month: the holidays, the parties, the gifts...the stress, the cold, the darkness. And in the environmental arena, a world gathering that could possibly determine humanity's future.
December is also a time of renewal, when the northern hemisphere reliably makes the turn from the longest day of the year and guarantees us the return of a warmer sun (at exactly 12:47 pm, Dec. 21st). Humans have been celebrating the Winter Solstice for thousands of years represented by newness, birth, death, rebirth, light, and the returning seasons.
Know that what you do or don't do in the next month won't have any bearing on the big picture - the sun will come back, the seasons will continue and there is a New Year coming. Create the season you wish to have.
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What I Learned from My Dog
Shared Thoughts from Deborah de Moulpied
My dearest pet, my dog Koho, died in October. Koho was old, 15 1/2 years old. My children don't remember life without him. Koho had a great life - open spaces,  freedom, guaranteed good food, water and a warm place to sleep. I gladly provided all this and more. After all, there is a certain level of care for our pets that is expected in our society. Our pets depend upon us for these basic needs (and some expect and get way more than basic needs, and we gladly provide that too).
The morning of Koho's death, two young foxes appeared in the back field and played for over 30 minutes. They were exquisite, small fluffy and beautiful like my dog. They chased each other like red torpedoes through the grass, dug holes for moles and had the chutzpah to come right onto the patio. It struck me that Koho's back field was being reclaimed by the new canines on the block. Talk about the circle of life!
As I watched one of the foxes dig in my flower bed (and can they dig fast!), I was glad that they weren't digging in anything harmful; for instance, I don't use any poisons for moles or mice. (70% of owls have one rat poison in their livers Environmental Health News) I wondered where they might find clean water; certainly not the road run-off, pesticide filled catch puddles.
Then it struck me. How should the care for my dog's health, safety and basic needs be any different than the foxes in my field? Do I not have an obligation to provide clean water and food for them too? (this is metaphorical remember) How is it that we do so much for our pets but don't have that same level of respect extended to other animals? Don't all creatures (that includes us) deserve the basics - clean air, water and food?
We humans are responsible for the current crisis - the dirtiest, most contaminated water, air and food in the history of the planet. And no one but we humans can right this wrong. All creatures, big and small, breathe the air we pollute, the water we dirty and the food we taint.
Koho's death made me realize that I was not just my Pet's Keeper - that I was, in a way, the Keeper of all living creatures and beings. He reminded me that caring for all who depend upon us is pretty important stuff.
Koho's timely death has renewed my focus to do all I can to improve the environment. I feel an urgency with the coming Copenhagen Meeting. I am inspired by the spirit of the Holiday season. With the coming of the New Year, we have a chance to resolve to dedicate more time and effort for making this world a better place for all. This I learned from my dear dog Koho, the last of his many gifts.
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Real Green Goods Gets 5-Paw Rating
Our exclusive Organic Wool Pet Bed was recently written up in Tuft's Catnip News and received their highest product rating - 5 Paws! And we are proud.
RGG Online
Finnegan, looking for safe and healthy pet toys at Real Green Goods
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Environmental Update
Every 20 minutes another species goes extinct on earth, and humans are to blame.
LA Times
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Plastic Update
Real VS. Artificial Christmas Tree - Buyer Beware
Should you buy a real Christmas tree as 29 million families do, or an artificial tree? Which is the greener choice for the environment? Real trees require shipping, pesticides, and often end up in a landfill. However, most artificial trees contain lead and PVC, are usually made in China and require long-distance shipping adding to fuel costs, in addition to being made from oil-derived, unsustainable materials. At the very least, wash your hands after handling electrical cords or artificial trees.
Read more: The Daily Green
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And The Good News Is...
 The first of the new monthly Green Film Series shown at the Red River Theatres, in Concord, NH, was a sold-out success! 30 people had to be turned away from 'No Impact Man' which showed to a full-house and was followed by a panel discussion. Next up: The Cove, Dec. 11th.
Red River Theatres
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| Latest Toy Testing For Lead, PVC, Etc.
Healthystuff.org - Toy Testing
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Great Green Link
"100 Great Green Blogs for Students" (great for non-students too).
Online Universities
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Recommended Winter Reading
- Al Gore's new book, Our Choice, on creating a greener future with a plan to solve the climate crisis.
Our Choice
- The Transition Handbook, by Rob Hopkins, is a helpful guide for communities who are concerned about Peak Oil and Climate Change.
Transition Culture
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OPEN HOURS REMINDER
- Monday through Wednesday: 10 am to 6 pm
- Thursday through Saturday: 10 am to 7 pm
- Sunday hours remain the same: Noon to 5 pm
HOLIDAY HOURS at Real Green Goods
- Christmas Eve Dec. 24th closing at 5 pm.
- New Year's Eve Dec. 31st closing at 3 pm.
Thank you for reading and for caring about the environment. Have a Green Day!™
Sincerely,
All of us from Real Green Goods |
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