October 2007 | On Our Radar
How to Recycle Everything
In an effort to be the most eco-conscious kid on your block, you’ve no doubt found yourself standing with some kit or caboodle in your hand, staring at it vacantly, wondering whether it is reuseable, recyclable, take-backable, compostable, or, sadly, bound for that bin grimly labeled garbage. To demystify the process, if only a little, we took to the web and compiled this shortlist of some of the more interesting ideas we discovered for dealing with your post-consumer waste.
Sex Toy Recycling: All The Buzz
Oh, yes, you can. Major companies in the U.S., like Sony, are now creating “take-back” programs so that consumers can send their old, obsolete electronics back to the manufacturer — with the goal of taking in as many products as they send out. Well, because remote control helicopters and Wiis aren’t the only electronics people play with in their free time, LoveHoney, a UK based purveyor of adult toys, has started the “world’s first sex toy recycling scheme” for their line of Rabbit vibrators. Their offer is simple: send your old one back, get half off on a brand new one. Perhaps the sexiest part of all is that for every vibrator returned, LoveHoney makes a donation to a green charity (lovehoney.co.uk/rabbit-amnesty).
When In Doubt, Drop Trough
In our Jetson-esque future, perhaps it will be possible to toss all of our kaput products into a magical machine (made from recycled sex toys and the like, of course) and have them pop back out, good as new. Until then, we’ll have to settle for the likes these two websites from across the pond. Recyclethis.co.uk and Compostthis.co.uk are helpful hubs for recycling/reusing and composting questions and solutions. Just type in your latest post-consumer conundrum, press send, and watch the practical, creative and often downright ingenious ideas roll in. Recent suggestions have included using old yoga mats (which are made from unrecyclable polyvinyl chorlide, or PVC) for working under your car, or, if you’re already carfree, using them to kneel on in the garden; using old USB memory sticks as plant labels; and rinsing out old potato chip bags to reuse as media storage. As for compostables, there’s plenty you probably haven’t thought of, including human hair and pee — yes, pee — as they’re both great sources of nitrogen. So next time you’re in the garden, feel free.
— Eric Larson
World Music
When in Rome, it’s often said, do as the Romans do. But in the case of Roman orchestra Orchestra di Piazza Vittorio, this age-old adage does not apply. That’s because the group is comprised entirely of immigrants to Italy: twenty-some musicians, from 11 different countries and four continents, playing 15 unrelated instruments and speaking eight languages between them.
The documentary film The Orchestra of Piazza Vittorio follows the group from its beginnings, as Romans Agostino Ferrente and Mario Tronco assemble the orchestra from occupants of “The Esquilino” district, an ancient neighborhood where over 60 ethnicities have created a mini-Babel within Rome. Tunisians, Italians, Brazileños, Cubans, Hungarians, Ecuadorians, Senegalese and more come together to create a whole greater than the sum of its parts. Each plays a different instrument, known and loved from their native country. Some are highly educated and well-to-do, others poor and struggling to get by. Some have escaped oppressive regimes; others are fleeing the past and working to start anew. But together, they prove that art, faith and love can surpass all nationalities, ethnicities and ideologies.
Now, if the rest of the world could do as these Romans do, we could all create beautiful music together.
Join Orchestra di Piazza Vittorio for a “cineconcert” (screening plus live performance by the orchestra) on 10/11 at American Cinematheque at the Egyptian Theatre, 7:30 pm, 323.466.3456 (egyptiantheatre.com). A cocktail reception will follow the concert.
— Lucinda Michele Knapp
Worldwide Wellness
While America might not have the world’s greatest health care, other corners of the globe have no health care at all.
After learning about the dire health needs of children at the Manjushree Vidyapith Orphanage in Tawang, India, LA-based doctor Natalie Nevins knew she had to take action. But a simple charitable donation didn’t seem like enough.
“I wasn’t sure how people would react — a lot ask why I didn’t just work with other humanitarian aid organizations,” says Dr. Nevins, who runs the Amrit Davaa Wellness Center in Hollywood’s Golden Bridge Yoga Center. “Most other organizations ask for a six month commitment, and most doctors can’t do that — but they can do a week or two.”
Two weeks is exactly the amount of time Nevins’ newly created humanitarian aid nonprofit, the Amrit Davaa World Health Organization, will be spending at Manjushree Vidyapith Orphanage. While there, Nevins and co plan not only to provide aid and wellness education themselves, but also to collaborate with area shamans and physicians to help them continue efforts long after the group has returned stateside. Affirms Nevins, “You could do a trip, but that’s just a drop in the bucket. It has to be something that makes a difference for every generation that follows.”
While conditions at the orphanage may have been the catalyst for its conception, Amrit Davaa intends to work closer to home with underprivileged children and their families in LA. But the trip to India is the first step, and to make that happen, Golden Bridge is hosting a fundraising yoga marathon October 13th and 14th. If yoga’s not your thing, but your still moved to lend a hand, make a donation at amritdavaaworld.com. It’s a little step that could make a big difference.
— Carly Milne
Don’t Just Get Mad… Get Active
Many of us haven’t touched a paintbrush since 3rd grade art class, but after a long week spent working for the man, a little creative outlet is good for the soul and could even be used to help others. Tap into creativity with these artsy volunteer opportunities.
Inside Out Community Arts is on the lookout for spoken word artists, hip-hop dancers, graffiti artists or anyone with an artistic eye to help at-risk youth create art and performances about issues in their lives and communities. insideoutca.org
This one’s for the film buffs. American Film Institute needs folks to help out with all sorts of fun stuff like assisting with premieres, parties, ticket sales, video production and more at the 2007 AFI Fest in November. afi.com
Venice Arts seeks artist-mentors in the fields of photography, animation, graphic arts and filmmaking to mentor low-income youth in a series of 10-week-long classes. venice-arts.org
Unearth your knitting needles from your basket of craft supplies because Roze Room Hospice wants your help whipping up cozy blankets, fuzzy knit booties and snuggly caps for terminally ill patients. rozeroomhospice.org
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