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Ecuadorians Follow Lead of U.S. Communities, California charges ahead

Today, the people of Ecuador voted to recognize the
inalienable rights belonging to ecosystems in their new constitution. A
set of groundbreaking articles that transform the status of nature from
mere property to a rights-bearing entity are now incorporated into the
national charter. Ecuador, one of the world’s most biodiverse places,
has set a precedent for other nations who have struggled against
multinational corporations’ exploitation, which has turned ecosystems
and whole communities into sacrifice zones. The world watches as Ecuador
takes its first step into what many people believe is the legal unknown.

The inspiration for today’s remarkable achievement comes from
municipalities across the United States where rural communities have
already developed and adopted Rights of Nature ordinances, first
developed by the Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund (CELDF).
Ecuador’s Constitutional Assembly asked CELDF to suggest Rights of
Nature language for their draft constitution, based on the
municipalities in Pennsylvania, Virginia, and New Hampshire that have
taken the lead nationally and globally.

Global Exchange rights-based organizer, Shannon Biggs, who partners with
CELDF to assist communities in passing these new laws, is blazing new
ground in California: “Ecuador and U.S. communities=97from Santa Cruz,
California to rural Pennsylvania=97are passing laws that assert the rights
of nature to be wild, and boldly changing the way we protect the
environment.” Biggs is organizing with Monterey, Nevada City and Santa
Cruz, which are among the first California communities working to pass
local laws to change not only nature’s legal status nature, but also its
culture.

Local Nevada City, California concerned resident Debra Weistar: “For 150
years, the entire Sierra Nevada mountain range has been exploited for
profit. There is still a “gold rush” mentality here that implies that
there are riches in these hills for the taking. Ecuador is leading the
way on a national level, and it has created momentum that may evolve
into a movement. I can follow and emulate that model to help my own
community.”

Local Monterey organizer Elsa Dooling: “In our community on the Central
Coast of California we have enormous, highly valuable natural resources
that are supposedly being protected under current regulations. The
Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary says our coastal waters are
protected, yet not only are large commercial farms pouring hundreds of
millions of pounds of toxic pesticides into our air, water and soil, but
so are our cities and counties. If our community was able to stand up
and say the natural habitat of the Bay has rights=97true and recognized
rights=97we’d be able to legally go after the polluters for violations and
stop the assault that is killing our fragile coastal ecosystem.”

States Biggs: “Slaves were once also considered property under the law.
We needed to write new law in order to change the cultural
understanding, the cultural climate. This is the kind of change
represented by these local efforts, and now Ecuador. We need many more
communities to stand up for the environment in the places where they
live.” Across the U.S., communities are making demands for a new system
that prioritizes environmental health over corporate profits.

For more information visit: Rights-based Organizing

I am proud to share this with you all! Scott Boboltz HBInnovations International, LLC 517-347-2224

LANSING, MICHIGAN – KTM Industries announces the launch of the world’s first biodegradable insulated shipping container for perishable products, the Green Cell Foam^TM shipping cooler.The Green Cell Foam shipping cooler is the choice for discerning companies to protect perishable products during shipping and demonstrate environmental stewardship. This cornstarch-based shipping cooler provides a true ecological alternative to synthetic foams such as polystyrene without sacrificing performance.

“We are very excited about the market potential of this new product line”, says Tim Colonnese, President and CEO of KTM. “Millions of non-degradable foam insulated shippers are used one time to protect perishable products – especially for food and drug shipments – and discarded every year. We believe this is a terrible waste and unnecessary expense that can be avoided by using the Green Cell Foam shipping cooler.” Colonnese adds, “Traditional foams have been developed to last for hundreds – if not thousands – of years. They’re not biodegradable or sustainable. And there’s the mismatch: the material is used for a brief time – sometimes for only days – and then thrown away, where it will last for centuries. It doesn’t make any sense.”

KTM decided to do something about it and asked a local engineering firm, HBInnovations International, LLC (Okemos, Michigan) to help them design and develop a competitive and cost effective insulated shipping container to be used for single use shipping applications. “This is an amazing material” states Scott Boboltz, President of HBInnovations. “The physical properties of Green Cell are similar to that of expanded polystyrene, but with the important environmental benefits. The insulation values, cushioning properties, and ease of manufacturing make this material very competitive.It offers exceptional insulation for dry ice, gel ice, and wet ice perishable shipping.Upon disposal, rather than sending synthetic foam coolers to the landfill, Green Cell Foam coolers can be composted, where it fully biodegrades in less than 60 days. I would place Green Cell Foam at the top of the list when designing for sustainability.”

Colonnese believes the new product line will attract a wide industry segment, from gourmet foods to biotechnology. “That’s why we encourage companies to use, and consumers to ask for, Green Cell Foam, especially in single-use packaging applications. Green Cell Foam provides the necessary protection during shipping, and can be easily and safely discarded in a wide range of modes: composted, recycled with corrugate, dissolved and even burned. Short-term use and short-term life – that’s a match we can all live with.”

ABOUT KTM INDUSTRIES – KTM Industries is the exclusive producer of Green Cell Foam products in North America. Green Cell Foam is environmentally-friendly packaging foam, manufactured from US-grown, non-genetically modified cornstarch. It is 98% biobased and 100% recyclable as per ASTM D-6400 – a distinctly “green” alternative to more traditional packaging foams. To learn more about KTM and Green Cell Foam, please contact:

Tim Colonnes President and CEO
5597 West Grand River Ave. Lansing, MI 48906
Toll Free: 1-877-938-6738
Phone: 1-517-703-9140 Fax: 1-517-703-9150
Website: www.greencellfoam.com

To know that one has a divine right to live in abundance means that one has a respect for nature’s supply. Usually those who have become abundance conscious are also environmentally conscious. With respect to nature, many who have aligned themselves with universal laws strive to incorporate every aspect of their lives with abundance principles and concepts.

Consequently, as we become more conscious, we understand that money is a seed and in many ways we are responsible for where we plant our seeds. It is only wise to search for investment options that reinforce our beliefs and lifestyle.

Environmentally sound investments are more available this century than ever before. Such investments are known as Social Funds. Social Funds made its debut on Wall Street in the 1970′s and has been soaring ever since. Years ago there was concern with these funds ability to be profitable. But with growing technological advancements and an ever increasing interest in the age of spiritual and environmental consciousness, socially conscious investing has proven to be not only profitable, but consciously probable.

From investing in solar panels to buying fuel efficient cars, living a green lifestyle has never been more attractive. Due to increasing popularity with becoming environmentally conscious, one is not labeled as a weird tree hugger with too much time on their hands. Instead, taking care of Mother Earth has been championed by influential celebrities, well respected politicians, and altruistic business leaders.

With the flow of wealth and consciousness beginning to take root and manifest in many, there has been a growing concern among conscious green and holistic individuals regarding the atrocities that may have been funded using their money. Individuals who once invested, through stocks and mutual funds, for example, in companies that have been responsible for damaging the earth (i.e. alcohol, tobacco) and abusing its people (cruel labor) are now conscious and aware of their prior investments. Those living a conscious, abundant, and green lifestyle are appalled that their dollars have contributed to situations that do not match their personal values.

According to The Social Investment Forum, an environmentally friendly organization made up of like minded investors, estimates that 10 percent of all investments are made with social values in mind. The forum also counts 151 socially responsible mutual funds with assets of more than $148 billion, up from $111 billion in 2001; an outstanding increase from its humble, yet highly influential beginnings.

Many who are environmentally and socially conscious gain the greatest return on their investments knowing that their money hasn’t supported or had any type of horrid effect on nature, its people, and the community at large. These types of investors have seen the bigger picture and realize that the end results yield the highest return.

But still there are those individuals who don’t quite yet feel comfortable trading their conventional stocks for socially conscious funds. One shouldn’t beat themselves up. Start slowly. Begin to use the profits of conventional investing to further your socially conscious agenda. Use the funds to reinvest in your causes by:

1. Becoming a “Green” Angel Investor. By supporting start-up/ environmentally conscious organizations, in time nature and its people will begin to feel the positive trickle effects of these worthwhile efforts.

2. Independently invest in organizations that advocate social change. Become involved and rally around organizations which lobby and challenge congress to create “greener” laws.

3. Diversify your investment portfolio by having more Social Funds than Conventional Funds.

Spirituality and morally, if you take care of nature, nature will in turn take care of you. It is never too late to discover spiritual and universal laws that will guide you into creating the life that one desires. Trust in and align yourself with the Laws of Nature and you will soon see that living green will yield much green, spiritually and financially.

Roslyn Randle is an accomplished writer. Create a life of continuous wealth and flow. Visit Abundance Training 101: The Universal Law of Abundance at http://universalclass.com/i/crn/14056.htm . Also learn how to Lose Weight While Becoming A Wellness Coach at http://universalclass.com/i/crn/9478.htm
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