Often baby’s things can be reused in a different way to extend their life and usefulness. For instance, everyday necessities like baby wipe containers can be turned into nifty organizational tools that can be labeled and easily cleaned off. Whether round or rectangular shaped, they can be repurposed to fit where they are needed. Using them as portable carriers for pencils, paper, stickers or whatever favorite activity is preferred allows small hands to tote them around. Larger sizes are perfect for holding toys, craft and art supplies or essentials like first aid kits.

Lotion and bath bottles can have a second life as charging stations or for holding stationary, pencils, and office supplies. Other small items like jewelry and hair accessories can be kept in them, too. They can be decorated and even mounted where they are easily accessible.

Also, save things like portable changing pads and the inserts from diaper bags. Changing pad cushions can be repurposed for outdoor activities anytime impromptu seating is needed. These are usually fairly waterproof and wipe right off. Zippered bags that are no longer needed for holding changing supplies can be used for containing small toys, crayons and snacks.

Baby furniture is pricey and many times you might want to hang on to a piece for sentimental reasons, but don’t really need it for its intended use anymore. Cribs can be repurposed into just about anything the imagination can come up with. From turning them into toddler beds, headboards, bookshelves, mobile carts or even desks, transforming a crib can be a useful project. reGives has inspiring ideas for reusing baby cribs.

Changing tables are another object which outgrows their use in the nursery. They can be redone and used as dressers, shelves, workstations or children’s play furniture. They can even be put on casters and turned into a mobile cart for things like grilling, gardening or hobby supplies.

Infant clothing is one category that definitely has a quick turnaround, as babies seem to grow right out of them. If still in good condition baby clothes can be donated, sold at consignment shops and local or virtual garage sales. Clothes that hold special meaning can be placed in a shadowbox case to be displayed. Blankets or clothing that may be stained in spots can be turned into pillowcases, doll clothes or other useful fabrics.

Repurposing newborn items can be a smart option and a way to have some extended fun with them. By finding new uses, special pieces can be preserved and their practically can continue.

Image Source: reGives

Typically used for function and no so much for fashion, there is a new focus on these small fixtures.

The fashion savvy know that even the smallest details matter. This sense for style, combined with a new way of attaining materials, imparts a truly interesting way to fasten that won’t permit buttons to go unnoticed.

High end fashions incorporating dramatic buttons are prevailing ways to wear them as accessory pieces.

The following photograph from Studio Swine showcases them as eye catching additions. Their Button series was inspired by architectural elements.

However, bringing attention to the details isn’t only in the design.

Hoyan Ip, a designer with an uncommon eye, has found a new way to make buttons, and her embellishments definitely stand out. Taking the problematic issue of food waste and using it in her line called Bio-Trimmings, she actually makes buttons and other accessories from tossed out food.

Using a readily available resource, extremely unique creations are made which make the observer question whether or not they would be willing to wear an item constructed from the leftovers on dinner plates. The process may not be pretty, as it involves saving, blending and molding food scraps, but the end result does make it a little hard to believe what medium was used for manufacturing.

Destroying the boundaries between conventional fashion and recycling, this project is a thought provoking way to reuse while bringing attention to issues like global food insecurity.

Producing buttons is not just reserved for the fashion industry, though. Collecting and reusing buttons to create striking do-it-yourself designs is a great way to switch up an existing wardrobe or add intricate details to objects.

Crafting a Green World has compiled a few tutorials that have recycled button ideas. Techniques for making them from tree branches, paper and #6 plastics, as well as using fabric remnants to make covered buttons, are included.

Image Source: Hoyan Ip’s Bio Trimmings

An innovative and possibly revolutionary new method of utilizing solar power follows that law.

The problem with steam power is the inefficiency and waste associated with the initial boil of a liquid.

Traditional methods of boiling liquid are dependent on convection, a process involving both conduction (heat diffusion) and advection (heat transfer by bulk fluid flow) whereby heat is introduced to the material.

Slowly the temperature of the liquid increases from the heat application area to the other areas of the liquid. This is the method stove-top heating elements use, among a vast array of other heat sources.

However, researchers have discovered a method based on the use of metallic nanoparticles. Previous research on the potential uses of nanoparticles in solar power technologies has focused almost entirely on using them to increase the ability of fluids to conduct heat. There hadn’t been any research done on the abilities of nanoparticles mixed into fluids though, which is what the new research aimed to explore.

It was discovered that nanoparticles illuminated by light can quickly rise to temperatures about 212 degrees Fahrenheit, the boiling point of water. Steam forms around the nanoparticles, and the vapor escapes from the particle, floats to the top of the surface and escapes as steam. There is no heating element used, aside from the sun, and there is no waste associated with the heating, since the liquid essentially steams itself.

Paul Weiss, Ph.D., editor-in-chief of ACS Nano, the journal in which the new study was published, addressed the potential uses and benefits of solar-powered steam production.

The potential societal benefits are staggering. They include more energy-efficient distillation of alcohol, a new a highly practical strategy for desalination and water purification and compact solar-driven sources of steam for sterilization and sanitation in resource-poor locations said Weiss.

Other potential applications include cancer treatment, “laser-induced drug release,” and enhanced bio-imaging.

Solar power is on the edge of a revolution, not just for energy, but also for society. It will be very interesting to see what happens in the upcoming years.

However, some teas have medicinal properties and may be worth incorporating into your everyday diet.

Parsley Tea

Parsley tea displays healing properties for the liver and kidneys which are both important for detoxing all those nasties from the body. Great for eyes and wrinkles. Fights free radicals, high in iron also. Great for bladder infections and is said to combat cellulite.

Green Tea
Green tea has many health benefits. It is considered a miracle tea as it apparently reduces your risk of cancer. Packed full of anti-oxidants, specifically called polyphenols, that reduce free radicals from your system. Promotes heart health by lowering cholesterol levels. Touted as an anti-aging tea.

Black Tea
Black tea is very high in anti-oxidant properties similar to green tea. Known to prevent cancer growth, it boosts the immune system and fights against all sorts of diseases. Also beneficial for those who suffer from pneumonia, skin disorders and heart diseases.

Sage Tea
This tea, made directly from sage leaves, can fight gastro problems and keeps your nervous system healthy. It is said to be great for memory and wonderful when you have the flu or a cold as it helps with sore throats and coughs. Great at eliminating toxins from your body.

Celery Seed Tea
Can actually get rid of kidney stones! Strengthens kidneys, liver and treats arthritis, colds and flu and digestive problems. Great diuretic properties.

Ginger Tea
An all round tea with so many benefits. Great for clear skin. Reduces cholesterol and purifies the blood as well. Great when menstruating and for sufferers of arthritis as it has anti-inflammatory properties.

Liquorice Tea
Liquorice tea speeds the healing of stomach ulcers, aids in soothing viral liver inflammations and combats diarrhoea. Licorice tea fights boils, is good for treating headaches and sore throats.

Raspberry Leaf Tea
Sometimes called women’s tea as it has so many benefits for women. It naturally helps in reduction of weight without disturbing the metabolism of your body. The tea is good for reducing morning nausea as well. Great for pre-pregnancy and post pregnancy. Apparently helps with producing milk.

Lemon Balm Tea
This tea is great for indigestion and nausea. Alleviates migraines as well. Calms your nerves and anxiety. Apparently cold lemon balm tea bags can be beneficial for genital sores caused by the herpes simplex virus.

Rooibos
Naturally caffeine free, Rooibos contains high levels of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals as well as anti-aging properties. Rooibos tea has similar levels of polyphenols to green tea. It is anti-carcinogenic, anti-inflammatory and anti-viral.

Image source: www.wasara.us

Here is a humble tableware collection that is fully compostable and still, very elegant.

Conceived by top Japanese creative director, Shinichiro Ogata, Wasara is pure, textured and white. It’s also very warm and nice to the touch.

Made from a new mix of biodegradable composite materials that doesn’t include trees, the cups, plates, bowls and vases are made from a mix of agricultural waste including bamboo, reed pulp and bagasse.

Perfect for taking to a tea party or picnic at the park Wasara is extra light.

Designed to be fully compostable when finished with, it can be disposed of in an environmentally-friendly way.

Image source: www.wasara.us

Using compostable or biodegradable elements also saves on having to do a big wash up after a gathering, while avoiding the need for using nasty plastic containers that will take years and years to degrade, if they eventually do.

Wasara tableware replaces plastic and also wood pulp disposables while accentuating every dish you serve by adding an ephemeral aura.

Talking about its practicality, this tableware is suitable for cold and hot foods. It is oil and water-resistant and can be stored in the fridge and is super flexible and microwave-safe.

Designed from organic lines it fits comfortably in your hands but yet it is sturdy.

Wasara tableware is responsibly manufactured near the source of its raw materials and its factory recently achieved an ISO 9001 and 14001 certification.

The company has also designed disposable and compostable bamboo cutlery to go with the Wasara collection and they are in talks relating to producing them in biog badges, to be used as airline tableware in the future.

Disposable tableware should be used in counted occasions and not on a daily basis, of course. But if there is a special occasion that deserves this elegant tableware, biodegradable is a better choice than plastic!

When green spaces include organic urban gardens, people have the opportunity to produce food locally, which reduces carbon emissions associated with food transport as well as the negative environmental impacts of packaging and pesticide use. However, research has shown that green spaces provide benefits that go far beyond environmental sustainability.

Social benefits of green spaces include increasing a sense of community, reducing crime, and providing opportunities for public recreation. In addition, green spaces can have a profound effect on public health.

Green spaces promote physical activity and other healthy behaviours that prevent obesity and illness. For example, children who participate in community or school gardening projects eat more fruits and vegetables. Spending time in green spaces or even just having green views can reduce stress, anxiety, depression, and the risk of illness, as well as speeding the healing process after illness or injury.

Green spaces can also provide academic benefits. Students who have the opportunity to participate in outdoor environmental education programs tend to be more engaged and motivated, and they perform better on standardized tests. Young people who spend time learning in green spaces have fewer behavioral issues and attend classes more regularly.

Green spaces bring many economic benefits to a region as well. Cities with lots of green spaces are more likely to attract and retain businesses and skilled workers, and property values increase near parks and other green spaces as well. Green areas also attract more tourists, and therefore more tourist dollars. In addition, they create employment for those who directly maintain them, as well as supporting businesses that supply the equipment required to do so.

Sources
GreenSpace, Blue Sky, Green Space: Understanding the Contribution Parks and Green Spaces Can Make to Improving People’s Lives, Full Report, 2011.
Louv, R., Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder, Chapel Hill, NC: Algonquin Books, 2005.
National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF), Fact Sheet: Children’s Health and Nature, Washington, DC: NEEF, 2010.
State Education & Environment Roundtable (SEER), California Student Assessment Project: The Effects of Environment-Based Education on Student Achievement, Poway, CA: SEER, 2000.

Legal pluralism is not uncommon in many countries which were once colonies of western powers.

In an era where colonisation was the norm, colonial masters introduced new cultures, lifestyle, and laws to the lands in which they sought to have influence.

Swaziland is no different from the many African countries with legal pluralism. There are so- called “western courts” where common law and statutory law is administered by state appointed judicial officers.

Then there are traditional structures where Swazi customary law is administered by chiefs appointed by a complex Royal order which is beyond the scope of this article to discuss.

The result is that there are two sets of laws which may at any time find application over identical legal matters. It is important to note that customary law is not just a simple set of rigid rules, but it is a system developed over time from rich historic foundations, and it has been able to survive and keep pace with modernisation.

In a bid to combat climate change and environmental degradation, the global community is in the process of making alterations to policies and legal frameworks. Traditional structures and customary law, as institutions catering to a certain group of the population, should not be left out of the race against climate change. What is therefore necessary is making sure that traditional courts have the capacity to understand and deal with issues pertaining to climate change and preservation of environmental integrity.

Customary law must also be developed to recognise that all activity that has an impact on the environment should be regulated in an equitable and reasonable manner. What must be emphasised is that many cultural and traditional social events may no longer be possible if nothing is done about the looming threat of water shortage, extinction of animal and plant species, desertification, and other effects of uncontrolled human activity.

It would be erroneous to conclude that traditional structures are irrelevant in African communities, as many people still opt to seek recourse from customary law. It is thus vital that even in the context of legal protection of our natural environment, customary law should also be developed to regulate human activity.

But if your electric vehicle is small enough, using solar energy to power it means that you’re fueling it for free, forever. One such contender for a super-green urban commuting vehicle is this personal Solar Electric Scooter.

The Solar Electric Scooter is said to have a top speed of 15 mph, a range of 20 miles per charge, and a charge time of from 2 to 8 hours. The deck of the scooter has solar cells that power a 36V/15 Ah lithium ion battery, which can also be either removed for charging, or charged via house current while in the scooter.

This little machine can go from 0-15 mph in under 4 seconds, and carry a maximum load of about 300 lbs, so it’s not a little toy, but it’s small enough to thread its way through urban streets or find a parking spot for. And because it’s a scooter, it doesn’t require a license, registration, or insurance for it, which makes it much cheaper to maintain than an electric car.

Granted, this isn’t really a good fit for couples or families, but for solo runs to work or school, it could be the easiest, cheapest, and greenest way of getting a solar vehicle.

Right now, Solar Electric Scooter is available for pre-order for $1500 USD. See their website for more info.

The drive to replace excess concrete to green up city spaces has inspired and fueled their crusade.

Located in Portland, Oregon, the nonprofit organization attempts to enrich existing dull pavement plots and to promote more aesthetically pleasing spaces. Their idea is that living in the city does not have to mean giving up green areas.

It is against human nature to be constantly disconnected with outdoor surroundings, and bringing life back into urban spaces that are overabundant with concrete backdrops is a valuable way to put unused, stark sections of land to work.

With the help of volunteers, the group began their first task in 2008 and turned a large parking lot into a woodland garden. The organization continues to partner with schools, corporations and individual clients to re-design areas and create new, eco minded zones.

Cleaning up portions of unused concrete slabs and changing them into green areas benefits communities as well as the environment. Instead of asphalt based plots, nature inspired designs help with things like controlling rainwater runoff, providing agricultural products and cleaner air spaces. Flat synthetic surfaces like concrete hold more water pollution than natural materials, and when combined with neglect and discarded waste, contaminated rainwater overflow leaks throughout surrounding places.

The group also promotes community service by hosting instructive events and offering resources and advice that help others green up paved spaces including funding information, building codes and even how to care for the land after asphalt removal. Their efforts also include consulting with new building projects to reduce the use of unneeded pavement from the start in order to incorporate living areas in the building plans.

In addition to the environmental benefits actions like the Depave group provides by balancing out the concrete with the living, there are also direct psychological advantages to having access to natural surroundings. Research overwhelmingly shows that time spent outdoors in vegetative expanses, instead of unnatural areas can have many positive effects.

Ridding spaces of surplus concrete plots can help neighborhoods in countless ways. Responsible design includes thinking of ways to balance out actual construction requirements with human needs, too. Providing structures that perform as well as spaces that rejuvenate are smart and much needed developments.

Depave stated that to date they have removed over 94,000 square feet of concrete, and have plans for taking on more.

The Tricorder, that ubiquitous piece of equipment from the show Star Trek, allowed instant assessment of the state of health (or illness, as the case may be), in the form of a handheld gadget, and with the launch of the Scanadu Scout, you may soon be able to have your own medical grade wireless body sensor.

The Scout is capable of accurately measuring heart rate, temperature, blood pressure, respiratory rate, ECG, oximetry, and more, with just a 10 second scan of the patient’s forehead. The data is then transmitted via Bluetooth to a smartphone, where it can be displayed and saved for tracking or analysis.

“Your body’s information where it belongs: in your hands. Share it with your doctor and others to take health conversations – and discoveries – to a new level. Learn ways that different people, locations, activities, foods, beverages, and medicines affect your body. Sick or well. Discover connections. Watch trends. Spot side effects. Catch problems early. And track them. Get healthier.”

For the life-loggers, the health conscious, athletes, or anyone who wants to own their own health data, this sensor system could enable a whole new level of tracking for personal use, but for remote areas, and places without easy access to medical care, it could be a potent tool in the hands of first responders that could save lives.

This little piece of the future is not yet a “medical grade” or medical device, but with the proper backing and number of participants for data gathering and research with the Scanadu Scout could eventually turn out a device that will meet with FDA approval.

In an overwhelming show of support, funders of the project at Indiegogo have blown past the initial goal of raising $100,000, and are well on their way to tripling that, with a full month left to go on the campaign.