Are you ready to go back to school? Make sure you have everything you need! Like an eco-friendly backpack from Patagonia, a new cell from Fairphone, and of course plenty of notebooks from Decomposition.
Notebooks by Decomposition
These notebooks at Decomposition are made with recycled paper and eco-friendly soy ink!
Plastic is made from oil drilled from the ground creating pollution. Recycled plastic is still ending up in landfills and our oceans. We can make sure our purchases are not contributing to the destruction of Earth by choosing non-plastic materials. Start with these sturdy stainless steel lunch boxes!
A family used to get a phone for their home and still have it when their kids grew up and moved out. Lets stop with the constant cell phone purchases when a marginal change has been made from year to year. Instead, go with the Fairphone cell! No more relying on phone companies and third-party repair shops for constant basic repairs. This long-lasting straightforward design can even be fixed by its owner – with help from Fairphone if a repair is ever needed.
Patagonia is a long standing staple for many homes. Get your eco-friendly backpack here and it can double for any other fun activities you have planned for the school year!
We have been searching for plant-based compostable shoes for years. Finally, here they are! Comfortable shoes that will not end up in a landfill at the end of their life cycle. These eco-friendly kicks can be buried right in the ground to join mother nature again.
Protect your eyes with eco-friendly sunglasses. These fabulous styles are made from recycled materials. When their lifetime is up, they can be sent to TerraCycle to recycle again!
This LGBTQ+ team is helping save the planet! They collect good quality ugly tomatoes that are normally thrown away by large food factories to make delicious vegan sauces and spreads!
This is a pop-up eatery that provides a safe space for trans-identifying people of color. Formerly located solely in Oakland, CA, they have closed their store to travel the nation with their unique combination of Asian and Latinx comfort foods. Let’s hope you get a chance to try ’em out!
We are excited to present a cook book with savory Middle Eastern recipes that are vegan! Veganistan: A Vegan Tour of the Middle East & Beyond is by Sally Butcher. It is interesting that the author of a vegan cook book would have the last name “Butcher.” One could only imagine what childhood anecdotes she may have about her name growing up. Her photo with wild red hair and punk-rock fashion juxtapose a calm and reflective demeanor, gives a bit of insight into the character that developed Veganistan. An outward explorative nature, may explain the subtitle “the Middle East & Beyond.” While the choice to share vegan meals often is a result of an analytical thought process – of which her photograph hints at.
The tantalizing photographs of the vegan food Sally Butcher shares in her cook book, Veganistan, range from scrumptious rice dishes, delicious cabbage stew, yummy staples like falafel and mouth watering desserts such as Sweet potato cake. When you make a dish, let us know how you like it – send a photo! We would love to hear what you think!
(Happy International Womens Month / International Womens Day! Read to end for highlighted lady-owned business.)
There have been quite a few articles and commentary on the tension that has emerged between some vegans and indigenous people. There are those who identify as vegan, who have been attempting to shame indigenous communities for their use of animals. It would be important to first state that most vegans are not likely to agree with this approach. Even so, it has become a trending topic of dispute.
So let us weigh in on the conversation. Although we are obviously advocating a vegan lifestyle with this website, the first thought that came to mind was – “Why is anyone attempting to further dictate the actions of indigenous people in Abya Yala (aka: America) on their own land?”
We believe the focus of non-indigenous people who are vegan should remain firmly on the largest perpetrators of deaths of other beings. This would mean actively working on reducing the suffering of beings in slaughter houses, promoting vegan meals to the main stream, and advertising more eco-friendly and morally sound material use – like cactus leather instead of the skin of beings.
Marginalized communities should not be the target of vegan activism before large corporations are fully addressed and mainstream habits completely changed. This misplaced attention reminds me of some environmental activists who briefly attempted to shame impoverished people in African countries for burning tires for warmth instead of fully focusing on the far greater pollution of western countries.
Yes, at some point…far in the future…non-indigenous vegans may choose to respectfully offer vegan meal ideas and vegan material ideas to indigenous communities. However, it will probably be more effective when these ideas are introduced by the vegan indigenous people that already exist. Yes, there are indigenous vegans. There are also many indigenous communities that eat a primarily vegan diet already.
Due to this conversation, for International Womens Month, we would like to highlight the indigenous founder, Tina Archuleta, of the vegan restaurant – Itality – in New Mexico. She is using native vegetables, fruits and grains to make wonderful vegan indigenous food. She hopes to improve the health of the community and re-connect with de-colonized traditional meals.
There are currently states in Abya Yala (original name of USA/the Americas) attempting to remove history of people from Alkebulan (original name of Africa) from the school curriculum. Well, here are just a few of the many contributions – important and fun – from African-American scientists, engineers, and more!
Materials used in some of the products below may not be vegan.
Alfred L. Cralle
In 1897, Alfred L. Cralle patented the ice cream scoop.
While you’re at it, get some vegan ice cream here.
Percy Julian
In 1923 Percy Julian completed his schooling at Harvard University with a master’s in chemistry. Many scientists were attempting to find a more efficient way to produce cortisone – as it had been found to be effective in soothing inflamed joints. At the time, they were killing 15,000 oxen to produce the bile used for the treatment of just one patient. It was Julian who discovered a way to synthesize cortisone from soybeans instead.
Frederick McKinley Jones
1930s Frederick McKinleyJonescreated refridgeration equipment and has more than 40 patents. He named one the Thermo King. He invented refridgeration units for homes, trucks, trains, and planes. “His work also contributed to the preservation of blood and medicine, proving to be particularly useful during WWII. In 1991, he became the first African American to receive the National Medal of Technology.”
Get one of the most eco-friendly refridgerators, like the Liebherr MRB 3000, here.
Gladys West
Gladys West was born in 1930. She is the mathematician and programmer who’s mathematically accurate model of Earth was used as “the foundation for the creation of the Global Positioning System (GPS).”
1956 Mary Kenner patented the toilet paper holder, sanitary belt, sanitary pad, and walker. She has the most patents of any African-American lady inventor.
Get an eco-friendly (no plastic) bamboo toilet paper holder here.
Get eco-friendly 100% organic cotton re-usable sanitary pads (light, heavy, and overnight) here.
In 1980, Valerie Thomas invented 3D technology. She patented it under the name – illusion transmitter – while working for NASA. Here invention is still used by NASA today. It is also used to make 3D TVs and 3D movies. We may not be able to use her invention the way NASA does, but luckily we can set up a 3D entertainment system at home to enjoy some movies offered in 3D!
In the early 1980’s, while working at IBM, Mark Dean and a colleague created the technology that allows computers to interact with printers. Need a computer and a printer? Get them here:
Here are a couple of the most eco-friendly laptops available:
In 1973 Dr. Patricia Bath (deceased 2019) created a new and improved surgery technique to remove cataracts – increasing the number of those with improved healthy sight.
Materials used in some of the products above may not be vegan.
SOURCES
Alfred Cralle. African American Registry. (2023) https://aaregistry.org/story/alfred-cralle-inventor-born/.
Jean-Philippe, M. and Burnett, J. 15 African-American Inventors to Remember This Black History Month and Beyond. Oprah Daily. (Jan 19, 2023). https://www.oprahdaily.com/life/work-money/g30877473/african-american-inventors/.
Miller, A. 28 DOBE- Day 17: Marie Van Brittan Brown, Keeping You Safe At Home. (February 17, 2018). https://www.blackexcellence.com/28-dobe-day-17-marie-van-brittan-brown/.
