Articles by Sarah K. Burkhalter

A super-enviro band

My friend Kevin loves the band Cloud Cult, and so, apparently, does everyone else. I haven't heard their music, because ... no, I have no good excuse. But I think they're my new favorite band. From their site:

All profits, after expenses, of Cloud Cult CD sales and performances are donated to environmental charity work.

Instead of creating new plastic, Cloud Cult's CD is packaged in cleaned reused jewel cases (the band painstakingly hand cleans thousands of cases for each CD release). These used jewel cases are donated by the box-load to Earthology Records from all over the nation.

Earthology is located on a small organic farm in Northern MN, is powered by geothermal power and wind energy (Windsense Project), and the recording studio is built from recycled and salvaged materials.

Cloud Cult CD inserts and print materials are on 100% postconsumer recycled paper and printed with nontoxic soy inks by a local family owned print shop.

Cloud Cult's CD shrink-wrap is not the industry standard toxic PVC. It is environmentally benign LDPE and is packaged by Goodwill Industries, a nonprofit focused on assisting handicapped individuals. Through its relationship with the University of IL, Earthology will soon be packaging all materials in a 100% earth-friendly shrink-wrap, made of nontoxic biodegradable corn cellulose.

Check them out.

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My two cents: I'm in the camp that high gas prices are a good thing, because then people presumably don't drive as much, which is less wearing on the environment than even the most eco-friendly vehicle. Obviously. But I don't currently have a car. If I did, I'm sure that concern for my pocketbook would bring me down off my high-and-mighty hill.

Side note: Isn't "pocketbook" a bit outdated? Who has a pocketbook anymore?