Last week I stumbled upon an amazing video from a TED talk, that my friend David showed me.
A little glimpse into our very near future of how we can and will interact with the world around us. Prana Mistry’s invention is very intriguing and raises some thoughtful questions:

• Could this really be a free open source technology for all of us to use?
• Will this better our lives by freeing us from the confines of our computer and desk?
• At what point is human integration with technology taken too far?
• What happens if this technology is purchased by the government or used for evil?

What do you Think?

Today I would like to talk a little about how we can help leave a positive footprint on our planet when building new structures. As humans it is in our very nature to consume. We want to have nice things, to built a life, to own a home… and who am I to disagree.  I think we are going to keep acting like humans, but if we can shift our mindset and put our efforts towards better options we will start to create a better world.  And perhaps decrease our impacts on this planet enough to survive and live on a vibrant happy planet.

Below are some helpful things to consider and hopefully implement before building a house or office.

• Choose Efficient Appliances powered by Energy from Renewable Resources.  Choosing efficient appliances, air conditioners and computers can make a big difference in energy use and carbon emissions from power plants.
• Do Not Use Rainforest Timber.  Our rainforest are dimensioning at a shockingly rapid rate. Click the link to learn about other timber options.
• Reduce & Recycle Construction Waste. Packaging, new material scraps and old materials and debris all constitute potentially recoverable materials.
• Breath Healthily with low V.O.C. in your home. Having clean and pure air is important to healthy living for all of us.
• Grow Food Forest Using Permaculture. Food forests take the idea of growing food like it would naturally grow in the forest, but they are designed and managed ecosystems that are very rich in biodiversity and productivity.

Thank you for your time.

- Rustin Coburn

Today was the first day of 2012…although you will be reading this on Jan 2nd, the first Monday of a brand new year. I spent today contemplating this last year of life and how so much has changed and shifted.
There were a lot of wise words and truth to Tyler’s last post…. and I will say that for me 2011 was the beggest year of change I have ever experienced.

The year cumulated in a wild 10,000 person party in the heart of Denver last night. The night started on a wild adventure with my friend Ryan Lorenz.
The tattered streets of a windblown Denver, sneaking into the  Decadence party with VIP arm bands, the visual lights of a party made for the moon, and the throbbing mobs of anticipation.

Backstage with Abella, looking over the pulsating crowds, I began to realize that my entire night… and maybe entire life… was rushing from one place to another to get things done. Schedules, rules, deadlines, expectations, accomplishments, failures, meetings, dates, adventures. While I have deeply enjoyed and learned from all of it, the simple truth is that this moment is what we live for. We keep trying to get some where…where is that? When maybe all we really need to do, is be present and in tune with the vibrations of the world….and the vibrations of ourselves.

The night ended with a four hour conversation with Abella and Ryan in the small warmth of my car, parked in an alley lot. The after parties raged on, but all we needed was a little warmth, three bottles of water and good conversation. The moments when you get to be in tune with yourself and the people around you are rare. Ask those difficult questions.
Listen.
Really listen to what is said….instead of waiting for your turn to talk.
This entire planet is made up of magnetic vibrations all the way down to the composition of an atom. If we want to find a better way to live….
Happy.
Sustainable.

Let go of the anger and the fear. What is it there for? Stop for a moment and feel what is around you. No one is judging you but yourself. So stop and just be.
It sounds crazy I know, but just try listening to the vibrations around you and make some positive change out of it.

There was something different in the air today in Denver. A genuine happiness. A present moment.
Welcome 2012… lets see what you got!

- Rustin Coburn

Happy Holidays Everyone!!!
Over the last month the US has spent over $40 billion on Holiday Shopping.
We are not gonna stop shopping, but I thought it would be cool to show some inspiring Videos from American Made Manufacturers.
Find more at FUCK YEAH MADE IN USA
***

Pointer Brand from Cumberland Marketing on Vimeo.

Defy Bags: Old Materials. New Ideas. from Jerry Rig on Vimeo.

Tellason from Vertical Online on Vimeo.

I think it is a sign of the very near future to see a growing economy like China surpass the U.S. in total clean energy investments and technology advancements. U.S. based think tank Third Way  says China has surpassed the United States as the top nation in total clean energy investments, attractiveness for renewable energy investment and overall patents filed since 2010.

“Our country is sitting on the sidelines as the equivalent of 16 percent of our GDP is up for grabs,” says Joshua Freed, Third Way Vice President for the Clean Energy Program.

Freed and his co-authors say China is adopting policies to slowly gain ground against the US in the areas of finance and innovation, particularly in clean energy. The report shows China has the highest public market financing in the clean energy sector, while the United States ranked third in total clean energy investment in 2010, behind China and Germany. In 2008, the United States ranked first.

Hopefully this creates the awareness and motivation for the US and other countries to step up their game.
China is the fastest growing economy in the world, and I personally find it encouraging to see that a big reason for this is the innovation and big picture thinking towards finding solutions to sustainable living on this planet.
Why do you think?

For more information and reading:
http://www.renewableenergyfocus.com/

One of the most important marine and ecological issues facing our planet is the rapidly diminishing sea-life population.
This post is about a very important organization named PangeaSeed that raises money and awareness to fight these issues
PangeaSeed’s mission is to contribute to the protection of sharks and the preservation of our oceans by taking responsible action, increasing public awareness, and providing education that encourages environmental activism and sustainable consumption choices.

They have also done a series of incredible art shows, which soon will be coming to Denver…

PangeaSeed hosted its third annual not-for-profit art exhibition entitled Sink or Swim, taking place in Tokyo, July 16 — 22, 2011. The show offers viewers new perspectives on the widely misunderstood and demonized shark.  Tokyo Sink or Swim featured never-before-seen artwork from over 40 artists from Japan and around the globe, such as Dave Kinsey, Yoh Nagao, Brad Klausen, and Jim Phillips.

The series of events showcased the issues surrounding shark finning in Asia and other parts of the world, where the majority of these sharks are killed only for their fins to satisfy an unsustainable appetite for shark fin soup. In the cruel practice known as “finning,” the shark is hooked and brought aboard the boat where its fins are then cut off and the still alive but limbless animal is tossed back into the sea to drown.

With each minute that passes close to 200 sharks are killed, adding up to an astonishing 80 million deaths each year. In the spring of 2010, the Food and Agriculture of the United Nations reported that if we continue to consumer seafood at the current dangerous and unsustainable levels, our oceans’ fish will be gone by 2048.

What does it really mean to give back? If you asked ten people they might all give you different answers: To help your local schools and the children of the future, donating to non-profits, recycling, to be politically active, tithing and church offerings, planting trees, and so on. These are all valuable ways to make a difference in peoples lives and help protect this planet. For me, this concept is about contributing to our planet more then we take. This is a very difficult task to undertake if you choose to live and work in a thriving metropolis like Denver. However it is still our responsibility as humans to really take care of our planet that is clearly starting to suffer from our perpetual consumption of its resources. Even if Companies and individuals who can find a way to have a Zero Carbon Footprint will help tremendously.

Today I would like to feature a company who has internalized the concept of giving back into the ethos of their entire brand. Acciona is a leader in building and supporting sustainable life on this planet and focuses it energy on Infrastructure, Clean Energy, and Water (Global Leader in Reverse Osmosis). Acciona ranks number one on the Dow Jones “Sustainability Index”, and employees over 30,000 people in 32 countries to help build a better tomorrow.

Please take a minute to check out their website and learn about a few of the global efforts being made for a sustainable future on this planet.

Several people I know in Denver, including myself,  use a bike as the main mode of transport. There’s lot of obvious benefits–it’s good for the environment, better for our health, and our calves are the envy of the town (well….probably  not the last one). It also is one of the best and long lasting options for sustainable transportation. Plus, it is just a lot of fun…. as showcased in the video Empire…

Empire is a film about people having fun riding track bikes and fixed gears in the city. The final teaser was released last year…check it out:

And for you two-wheelin’ Denverites…if you have not checked out  Loops yet, then I recommend you heading over to Crema Coffee House on a Tuesday around 7pm, and set off into the night for a 15-20 mile ride through Denver with a couple stops along the way. What could be more fun?

- Rustin Coburn

As a clothing company owner I almost always felt obligated to update my wardrobe every season, when our new line would be released. But as someone who has always been a minimalist and had an issue with over-consummation this has been a very difficult internal battle.
Why get into fashion then you may ask? … good question, seems silly but I guess I really enjoy how dynamic and functional the creative process can be. I love the business side of it, and I love the challenge of creating products that can somehow give back or have a closed-loop life cycle.

The book Cradle to Cradle does a great job of explaining what a truly sustainable product should be, which in theory could replenish the earth through its lifecycle or could be perpetually recycled, and  yield benefits that enhance all life. Unfortunately most of our products are still on a one-way trip to a land fill.
Being ethical and working towards creating sustainable products  is not easy and can often be very expensive at first. However new solution’s are being developed and worked on every day. Take for example this fun and wonderful example of recycling old denim into installation, which is becoming more and more common. Even Gap created a whole campaign to recycle your old denim and receive discounts on new denim.

However, is this really sustainable? Where does the denim go after it is installation for houses?
Are there products that we make that can actually live inside a closed-loop? Cradle-to-cradle design, offers a framework in which the effective, regenerative cycles of nature provide models for wholly positive human design. Over the past decade, the cradle-to-cradle framework has evolved steadily from theory to practice. In the world of industry it is creating a new conception of materials and material flows. In a cradle-to-cradle economy, cities are the principal home and source of technical nutrition—the place where metals are forged, polymers synthesized, and tractors, computers, and windmills designed and manufactured.
It is exciting to see this change happening, but we have to continue to push ourselves to be creative and learn new ways to give back more then we take.
Some examples of companies creating products that do just that:
Climatex
Zeftron

Thank you for your time,

Rustin Coburn