Year of the Dragon – A Boost for our Economy?

Yesterday marked the start of the Chinese New Year and ushered in the year of the Dragon. It is believed that dragons bring about a change year, and usually from bad to good. In general, in the dragon years, the world economy does a little better, according to Chinese horoscope observers.

Bring it on!

This reminded me of another dragon story I read in this morning’s news. A Vancouver eatery is making headlines for introducing the world’s most expensive hot dog, The Dragon Dog. For $100 you can enjoy a deluxe hot dog infused with cognac, Kobe beef, fresh lobster and truffle oil. Is the economy that much better already?

If you ask me, a better way to spend $100 would be to equip 65 teachers or other whiteboard users with their own non-toxic, refillable marker so they’d never have to throw out another disposable marker again, or breathe in their nasty fumes.

Whether your preferences are more down-to-earth or more Dragon Dog style, here’s to a prosperous Year of the Dragon!

-The EcoSmart Team

Does Your Reality Look Like This?

Reality is merely an illusion, albeit a very persistent one.

AusPen eco-friendly markers at www.ecosmartworld.com

January 2012 Giveaway Draw!

Giveaway  Draw!

Where it pays to go green

 Welcome to EcoSmart’s giveaway program where your “Green” stories can get you great free eco-friendly products.  Each month we choose a theme, welcome your input, and have a draw, ranging each month from AusPen starter kits, to marker packs to accessories.

January Theme:  What change do you want to see in 2012? 

At EcoSmart Products, we think every little change adds up.

The burning discussion topic of this month’s AusPen giveaway draw is what change do you want to see in 2012? Think big, think small. 

Leave a comment, pop us an email (info@ecosmartworld.com), or let us know what you are wishing for or working towards on our Facebook page, and you’ll automatically be entered in our draw to win AusPen eco-friendly markers.

Please note some portion of your submission may be used by EcoSmart Products in promotional material.

POV: The Case of the Art Anti-Thief

Dear EcoSmart blog readers,

The only premise I have for bringing the following news story into our blog is that it can conceivably fall under the category of visual arts, education and the younger generation… but mostly it’s because I find the story fascinating!

In Poland, an art student snuck his own painting into a museum, and when the guard was not looking, hung it on the wall in one of the galleries!

Not wanting to wait decades for his art to be displayed in a museum, the ambitious art student (whose last name means ‘his own master’) wanted to make a statement about opening up museums to the younger generation of artists. 

And the reaction to the mystery art appearance? Not as dramatic as one might imagine: the piece was displayed for 3 days without the museum officials noticing. When it was finally taken down, it was then displayed in the museum cafe. The museum director says, aside from several security breaches, it was a “witty artistic happening”. (Huh?)

Painting by Andrzej Sobiepan

Dear EcoSmart blog readers: you are educators, students, brainstormers, artists, opinionists and more. What do you think?

• Is this just another indication of the younger generation’s need for immediate recognition/fame/gratification?
• Was this a suitable way to express a voice? A necessary breath of fresh air in a stuffy institution?
• Will the attention that this story received open the door for other stunts in similarly rarified spaces? Will it open the door to new opportunities for up-and-coming artists?

Drop us a line with your point of view!

As for the piece of art, it will soon be sold in Poland’s largest charity auction. You can read the full story here. 

Auld Lang Syne Resolutions

Happy New Year

from all of us at EcoSmart Products! 

Now how about those New Year’s resolutions? Is it true that they never stick? Just for Auld Lang Syne (old time’s sake), I looked back at my green new year’s resolutions from 2 years ago… and found out that they are all no-brainers in the 2012 context. Good news! You be the judge of whether my olde resolutions are just baby steps: 

1. Use a power strip to save energy from devices that are plugged in but not in use. (done)

2. Use re-useable shopping bags, and stop using plastic bags. (now you get the evil-eye if you require plastic bags!)

3. Switch to AusPen refillable, recyclable dry erase markers at work and school. (the biggest no brainer of all!)

4. Drink for free what bottled water companies are trying to sell me. (haven’t bought bottled water except in dire emergencies. I just bought a $6.90 bottle of water at Starbucks, which quenched that thirst for a loooong time) 

5.  Switch out my lightbulbs for efficient with compact fluorescent lightbulbs (CFLs). (now I see the light, and cringe at regular bulbs)

So now, what next? Drop us a line if you’d like to share your 2012 green New Year’s resolutions and help me update my list to the 2012 version.