Climate Culture
All Stories
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New electric bike spiffy but spendy
The Pi electric bicycle from Electrobike is engineered with cradle-to-cradle design, assembled in California almost entirely from local components, can go 25 miles in motor-only mode before being plugged in, has a recyclable battery, and produces zero emissions, natch. Intrigued? It can soon be yours for a mere $7,500!
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Umbra on kids’ birthday parties
Dear Umbra, I have a wonderful daughter who is just about to turn 5. She is currently the only grandchild and niece to our families, and therefore has everything she needs (still less than many kids we know, but plenty). Therein lies my dilemma: I don’t want the plastic detritus and clutter that come along […]
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An illustration and explanation of today’s tainted toys
Seems you can’t turn around these days without hearing about some trusted toy being yanked from the shelves. (Dora, we hardly knew ya!) If you want to keep on top of the latest recalls, check out the Consumer Product Safety Commission database or BabyCenter’s product recall finder. Meanwhile, we offer a graphic cheat sheet below, […]
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Where to turn when you’re sick of disposable doodads
Block to basics. Photo: iStockphoto Keeping up with Ken and Barbie got you down? Check out these companies invested in making eco-friendlier playthings for your little ones. (And read about one mother’s no-crap crusade.) Dwelling These soft, handmade toys are created by a women’s knitting collective in Kenya, under the guidance of a nonprofit that […]
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Can a crusade against crap toys ever succeed?
Is it just me, or is anyone else sick of fairies? Because personally I am sick to hell of wee folk and their tiresome fantasy ilk — unicorns with rainbow horns, mermaids with cotton-candy hair, and tarty princesses. Oh, I’m especially sick of the princesses. Is there some unwritten law that princesses have to dress […]
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Getting kids unwired
Well, it’s Week Two here at Brood Awakenings, and we’re shifting our focus from babies to big kids. I’ll start by elevating this question from last week that got a bit lost in the comments section: I’d love to hear tips about how to keep kids unwired. Don’t get me wrong, I love me some […]
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An interview with green pediatrician Alan Greene
If you were to give a check-up to Alan Greene, eco-pediatrician extraordinaire, you just might diagnose him with ASHD — Attention Surplus Hyperproductivity Disorder. It isn’t a real disorder, of course. But whatever Greene’s got — whatever blend of vim and vision allows him to stay at the cutting edge of environmentalism and e-medicine while […]
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Umbra on green laundry detergents
Dear Umbra, What are the “green” high-efficiency detergents for washers? Thanks,Marilyn Dearest Marilyn, A perfect question for parenting fortnight. Children have such tiny clothing that you wouldn’t think it would add up to an increase in laundry volume. Until you saw the proof. Too bad keeping them naked (cuuuute!) and periodically hosing them off is […]
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From Population to PETA
From Russia with lust Hot and bothered about its dwindling population, a Russian region recently gave women a half-day off work for patriotic sex; liaisons ending in perfectly timed babies may be rewarded with a brand new SUV. We’d make some privileged snark about overpopulation and emissions, but time off for getting laid? We’re sold. […]
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A few of our favorite parenting and health links
It’s possible to say a lot in a two-week series on parenting and health, but it ain’t possible to say it all. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of sites we’re finding pretty dang helpful and entertaining. They tell the rest of the story, and they’ll keep telling new stories after our series is over. […]
