Is there a place for children in an eco-conscious lifestyle?

At age 17, I walked down a small side street in my hometown, my fingers laced in my sister’s as we both wiped our tears with our free hands. I’d just told my sister that I’m gay, and it was an emotional moment. She helped me process how I would tell my parents, and then we talked about the future and what my adulthood would be like, neither of us knowing for sure how things would play out. Except for one thing:

“No,” I told her. “I don’t think I’ll ever have kids.”

Fast-forward six years and although I’m still childless, I’ve altered my “I’ll never have kids” statement to “I’ll never have kids that will have my DNA. ”In other words, if I decide to join the 72 percent of American adults who have children, I’ll adopt.

Nearly 80 million people are added to the earth’s population every year, increasing pressure on natural resources, wildlife, open space and the atmosphere. In the ongoing debate over global warming and the environment, population control has to be a focus of discussion.

A Global Family

With their three children and a dog, living in a house they built in South Central Los Angeles, Nic Nelson and his wife, Kathryn, appear to be the typical American family. How they got there is somewhat less typical.

Following an extremely difficult pregnancy with their eldest son, Nathaniel, now 15, the couple decided against more births. Yet more than a dozen years later they have two more children—one from foster care and another from adoption. These experiences have totally altered the couple’s views on family size, the environment and sustainable living.

“We’re talking about the morality of getting pregnant,” Nic says. “I frame everything in the context of looking at the bigger picture, the greater health of the globe. And in that case, fewer pregnancies and more adoptions is a good thing.”

Nic understands that some are wary of adoption, fearing that they couldn’t love another person’s progeny the way they would their own, but he perceives it as a lifetime bond, similar to the one made in marriage.

“You’re making a commitment to another human being, that’s all,” he says. “There are so many children in foster care or orphanages, in the United States and all over the world. Every child we adopt, we are adopting him or her out of the worst kind of poverty: the poverty of having no love, no family.”

Impact on the Earth

Every human being has an environmental footprint that varies depending on things like place of birth, diet and dozens of other daily choices. While it’s difficult to predict specifics, Mother Jones came up with some averages.

Right off the bat, a typical baby goes through 3,800 disposable diapers in the first 2.5 years. But that’s just the beginning. Over his or her lifetime, each child will produce approximately:

3.1 million pounds of CO2

22,828,508 pounds of water waste

16,372 pounds of yard waste

7,249 pounds of food waste

In addition, there’s the lifetime consumption of natural resources to be considered. For example, said child is likely to consume 1,654 chickens and 18,675 eggs, and use 1,870 barrels of petroleum. She or he will also go through approximately 150 gallons of water per day. Compared to switching off lights when we leave the room or not letting the water run while brushing our teeth, not adding another human to the planet clearly has a more significant impact.

Humanitarian Alternatives

Some people are convinced that not breeding is the only way to save the planet. The Voluntary Human Extinction Movement (VHEMT —pronounced “vehement”) considers voluntary extinction to be the humanitarian alternative to human disasters. “Each time another one of us decides to not add another one of us to the burgeoning billions already squatting on this ravaged planet,” their website cheerily pronounces, “another ray of hope shines through the gloom.”

Taking a more moderate view, this past year the Sierra Club launched the Population Justice Environmental Challenge, a nationwide campaign that aims to advance global reproductive health and sustainable development solutions, including universal access to voluntary family planning and comprehensive sex education. This coincided with the October release of A Pivotal Moment: Population, Justice and the Environmental Challenge, a book edited by Laurie Mazur, with contributions by leading demographers, environmentalists and reproductive health advocates.

“America’s rate of unintended pregnancies is higher than any other country,” Mazur contended. “Our environmental impact is influenced by two things: how many of us there are and how we choose to live our lives.”

The choice to have smaller families, said Mazur, is far from unanimous.

“I certainly know many people who have done that and admire them for doing so,” Mazur said. “But it’s still something that operates in a niche. We’re at a pivotal moment both environmentally and demographically; the decisions people make are going to make huge impacts.”

Mazur cited a study by Oregon State University researchers that concluded that in the United States, the carbon legacy and greenhouse gas impact of an extra child has an almost 20 times greater impact than some of the other environmentally sensitive practices people might employ their entire lives—things like driving a high mileage car, recycling, or using energy-efficient appliances and light bulbs.

Having a smaller family in the name of the environment is definitely a personal choice. Couples—and singles—need to arrive comfortably at the decision to adopt or have small families on their own, without pressure.

Our environmental future is up to us, as Mazur pointed out. We may not subscribe to the VHEMT philosophy of “May we live long and die out,” but responsible choices in the bedroom will have a direct and measurable effect on our collective future.

Whether you’re headed for a family Thanksgiving or a fall leaf tour, a 10-minute yoga break will minimize stress and keep you in balance

The idea of holiday travel implies frenetic activity. Movement. But in fact, we mostly sit while we’re getting from point A to point B in a car, bus, train or plane.

“Our bodies are not designed to sit for long periods of time,” says Linda Pushkin (pictured here), yoga teacher and co-owner of Inner Power Yoga in Calabasas. “The longer you sit, the more gravity compresses your spine. Because body and mind are connected, your whole being suffers. You feel stressed, jetlagged and sluggish.”

In response to her clients’ repeated post-travel complaints of tight backs and shoulders, stiff necks and legs, Pushkin adapted a series of yoga poses into a 15-minute yoga-to-go routine that can be done anywhere––even the cramped confines of an airplane. Rather than large movement, the exercises focus on correct breathing to release energy blockages, increase circulation, reduce stress and promote overall well-being.

“You’re never without choices,” Pushkin says. “All it takes is giving yourself 10-15 minutes during your journey to reconnect with your breath and body. You’ll regain your sense of balance and arrive ready for the day.”

Ujjai (Victorious Breath)

Body: Tones the respiratory system and increases body heat.

Emotions: Creates a tranquilizing, relaxing sensation, while renewing energy and concentration. Promotes inner focus and awareness.

In Ujjai breath you contract the throat muscles to produce a gentle hissing sound on the out-breath. The sound doesn’t have to be loud or audible. Narrowing the valve in your throat enables you to control, lengthen and deepen your breath, and the sound of the breath draws your attention inward and helps you stay centered in the moment.

Breathe in gently and hold your breath for a few seconds. On the exhale, let the air roll down the back of the throat, slow and controlled, as if making a “haaaa” noise with your mouth closed. As you control the pressure of the breath, the breath becomes very slow and even. Eventually lengthen your breath to make the exhale as long as possible. Focus on breathing this way throughout the exercises. If you lose your breath, stop all movement and come back to center.

Side Stretch

Body: Lengthens the neck, creates space in the shoulders and muscles of the upper torso, stimulates inner organs and the digestive system.

Emotions: Creates a sensation of space and inner freedom.

In a seated or standing position, breathe in as you reach your right arm toward the sky, palm turned toward your head. Reach as far as you can and lift up tall, allowing your shoulders to roll backward.

Bend your right elbow across your head, with the palm of your right hand reaching toward your left ear. On an out-breath, gently let your head sink to right, your chin toward your throat. Keep pulling the left shoulder away from your left ear and breathe into the space, opening between the neck and shoulder blade. Hold for eight breaths, then gently switch sides.

Eagle Pose

Body: Stretches the muscles across the shoulders and upper back.

Emotions: Focuses attention inward, away from outer stressors, creating a feeling of centeredness and peace.

From a seated position, breathe in as you raise your arms to shoulder height. On an out-breath, cross your right arm over your left, palms facing up. Now bend your elbows and bring the palms of your hands together, so that you hold your right thumb with your left hand.

On an in-breath, lift your elbows while drawing your shoulders down and back. Lift your chest and breathe steadily, feeling the space between your shoulder blades expand with every out-breath. Close your eyes and hold for eight breaths. Gently switch sides.

Pigeon Pose

Body: Increases flexibility in the hip joints, stretches the buttocks and the backs of the thighs, lengthens and massages lower back.

Emotions: Releases emotional tension and stress and promotes a feeling of inner confidence.

From a seated position, breathe in as you lengthen through the crown of your head. Gently pull your right knee into your chest, then rotate your leg outward and place your right foot just above your left knee. Take a moment to allow the right hip to relax open. Flex your right foot.

Leading with your chest, your navel tucked into your spine, gently bend forward over your crossed leg, breathing into your hips. Feel your sit bones relax and your lower back lengthen. Focus on drawing your chest beyond your knees. For a deeper stretch, reach your arms toward your left ankle (threading your right arm through the gap of the right crossed leg). Hold for eight breaths, then gently switch sides.

Forward Bend

Body: Aids digestion by massaging and stimulating the abdominals and internal organs, as well as the circulatory and respiratory system; creates length between the vertebrae of the spine; removes toxins from your body by reversing blood flow and discouraging blood clots.

Emotions: Fosters a sense of safety, promotes concentration and clarity.

From a seated position, breathe in as you extend the spine from your sit bones up toward the crown of your head.

On an out-breath gently fold forward from your hips. Let your head hang, your neck relax, and your arms surrender to gravity. Feel the stretch in the back of the thighs. Focus on drawing your chest beyond your knees. Hold for eight breaths.

For a deep chest stretch, you can modify this exercise into a standing downward dog pushing up against a wall or fence. Focus on lifting your sit bones up and backward, pull your heart forward and gently sink into the stretch.

Spinal Twist

Body: Strengthens, releases, and decompresses the spine; improves circulation; massages inner organs; vitalizes nervous system.

Emotions: Creates a sense of joyfulness and awakening.

From a seated position, breathe in as you lengthen through your spine, then place the palm of your left hand just by the front edge of your seat.

On an out-breath twist from your torso to your right, pushing gently into your left arm and gazing over your right shoulder. Breathe into the twist, feeling the space between the vertebrae expand with every out-breath, in an upward corkscrew motion. Try to increase the twist on each out-breath, pressing away from your left foot and hand. Pull your left shoulder away from your left ear, but don’t strain. Breathe steadily and fluidly. Hold for eight breaths, then gently switch sides.

Relax The Face

Body: Releases facial tension, stimulates circulation, tones facial muscles.

Emotions: Calms nervous system, promotes relaxation and peace of mind.

Sitting up or folded forward, allow all the muscles of your face to surrender to gravity. Focus on softening your jaw, cheekbones, eyes, mouth and tongue. Open your mouth as wide as possible and stick out your tongue as far as it will go. Exhale forcefully.

Place your two index fingers on your third eye (space between the eyes) and massage it, then place your index fingers on your temples and massage softly. Exhale again.

Wrap It Up

As in the starting position, sit up tall, your navel tucked into your spine, the crown of your head lifted toward the sky, shoulders relaxed. Close your eyes and continue Ujaii breath for another 10 breaths, feeling the newly generated energy flood your body, rejuvenating and nourishing it for the rest of your journey.

Rarely do I see a hyped blockbuster on opening day. But in this case, the night before James Cameron’s Avatar officially opened in Los Angeles, my wife attended a midnight sneak preview. I was awake when Nadia floated home well past 3 a.m. I’d seen her float many times before, but this was a new kind of float. Her feet were firmly on the ground, eyes clear and laser focused. Her voice had that unique resonance I’ve come to expect after we’ve been through a life changing experience together. I was in a matinee the next day.

Though I hold deep respect for Mr. Cameron’s work, I can’t say I’ve never been a fan. That changed within the first ten minutes of Avatar. I must admit I didn’t expect the emotional depth and pure sensitivity that exuded from every 3D frame of this masterpiece. Yes, the technical accomplishments are groundbreaking, but it is the heart and purpose of Avatar that stunned me.

Because my path has led to environmental and socially conscious filmmaking, the last several years of my life have been blessed in ceremony with indigenous people, similar to the fictional Na’vi of Avatar. While their rituals vary from circle to circle, many of their prayers and prophecies are astonishingly similar. Divided by continents, without ever having read a Bible or a book, seen a television or used any form of modern communication device, they’ve miraculously received the same information.

How is this possible? They are simply connected to the source, call it what you wish. All of nature is in constant communication. As far as I can tell, it is only humans, particularly we Westerners, who have forgotten how to access our natural and unfiltered intelligence. Fortunately films like Avatar are helping to reawaken our senses.

Neytiri, main female character in Avatar, is the most powerful articulation of the goddess-warrior ever to make it to the big screen. She represents the divine feminine that resides in the heart of every woman, young and old. Even in digital form, she is the real deal—innocent, yet infinitely wise and intuitive; fierce, yet sensitive; and seriously sexy.

Jake represents the new man. He is both an infant and a warrior. Despite his handicap, he is fearless and unstoppable. Although he is unaware, Jake is not dumb. He is just wise enough, secure enough, and humble enough to learn from the divine Goddess. In doing so he evolves from crippled soldier to hero-warrior.

Disguised as a Hollywood blockbuster, Avatar is art imitating life to the highest and finest degree. The visual imagery, sound and script are literally encoded with ancient teachings. The message is bold and clear: To evolve beyond the level of thinking that created our current global issues, we must reconnect with our ancestral roots and reunite as one tribe.

Though told through a fantasy tale, Avatar it is based on a true story—our story. Regardless of who you are or where you come from, this message is specifically for you. It is a bold invitation—perhaps even an initiation—into higher and deeper experience of yourself and your world.

—Mikki Willis

Founder, Elevate Film Festival

Yoga is an excellent complement to most sports, thanks to its focus on balance, flexibility and strength. Maybe that’s why recreational retreats nowadays are incorporating the 5,000-year old practice as a part of their vacation packages. If you’re looking for an activity-oriented trip where you can unroll your mat with likeminded yogis, consider these upcoming getaways:

Yoga and Cross Country/Skate Ski Retreat, Mazama, WA Cross-country skiing and its sister sport, skate skiing, are two highly aerobic and wildly exhilarating winter workouts. And Mazama—which boasts a half million acres of virgin timberland—is an incredible place to enjoy spectacular beauty while cruising the snowy trails. During this adventure, retreat leader Melina Meza teaches morning yoga (rather vigorous) and afternoon classes (more relaxed) in a style she calls “seasonal vinyasa.” Depending on the time of year, she says, “people eat different foods, wear different clothes and make other changes to stay healthy; your yoga flow should change, too.” You have the option of staying at the Mazama Country Inn, where meals are included, or renting your own cabin and cooking as you wish. February 12-15. Price varies depending on lodging. 206.579.7220, MelinaMeza.com.

Yoga and Snowboard (or Downhill Ski) Retreat, Telluride, CO or Mammoth Prefer swooshing downhill in the Rockies or the Sierras? Join Adventure Yoga Retreats this winter. Each day begins with a vinyasa flow practice taught by Ted McDonald, owner of Point Dume Yoga in Malibu. After fueling up with breakfast, head to the snowcapped mountains for as much boarding or skiing as your heart desires. Evenings offer the chance to wind down with a restorative yoga session before drifting off to sleep.

In Telluride you’ll stay at the Peaks Resort and Golden Door Spa. Mammoth’s retreat is held at Convict Lake Resort. Telluride: February 3-7. $1295 per person ($1550 after 12/18). Mammoth: February 25-28. $575 per person ($675 after 1/6). 310.455.6681, AdventureYoga Retreats.com.

Touch the Earth and Yoga in Nature, Big Sur If you haven’t been to Treebones Resort in Big Sur, you must go. With an organic garden, chlorine-free pool and 16 adorable yurts perched on the edge of the Pacific, it’s the perfect escape for Angelenos. To kick off the New Year, Treebones is hosting two earth-oriented retreats, (plus a third, Artful Journaling in Nature, scheduled for late February). Touch the Earth incorporates yoga into days that are otherwise devoted to instructional sessions on garden preparation, the plant life cycle, and of course, plenty of opportunities to get your  hands into the earth. Yoga in Nature is more active, with abundant sun salutations, afternoon sessions and evening chakra dancing. During free time take advantage of Treebones eco-adventures, such as hiking through redwood forests or sea kayaking in San Simeon Cove. Touch the Earth: January 25-27. $350 per person, double occupancy, $450 per person single occupancy. Yoga in Nature: February 22-24. $425 per person, double occupancy, $500 per person, single occupancy. 877.424.4787, TreebonesResort.com.

Surf Retreats, Maui, Hawaii Learning to surf in Southern California means braving the cold ocean. With SwellWomen’s weeklong Surf Retreats in Maui, you can forget the wetsuit and  pack only a bikini for paddling around warmer parts of the Pacific. Surfing lessons start each morning at 8am with a follow-up yoga class. In the afternoon you can opt to participate in an excursion or spend your free time lounging by the pool. Wind down the day with a sunset surf session. Cuisine is prepared by a private chef—think fresh seafood and organic vegetables—and guests stay on a private stretch of Ka’anapali Beach. Various dates April–August (men are welcome the weeks of May 2 and August 15). $2,895 per person double occupancy, $3,495 per person single occupancy. 1.800.399.MAUI, SwellWomen.com.

Athleta Wine Country Adventure Rrunk Diding—er, I mean, drunk riding—is never a good idea, but there is a lot more in store than wine tasting at this Sonoma Valley women cyclers retreat. Morning yoga is followed by a winding ride along the Pacific Ocean. Plus, there’s trail running, hiking and African dance. You can sign up for a massage, write poetry, or learn about olive oil making. Meals are cooked from scratch and lodging is at The Bishop’s Ranch in Healdsburg. All fitness levels welcome. April 25-30. $1,695 per person, 303.545.9295, Womens Quest.com.

Cowgirl Yoga, Bozeman, MT Many young girls dream of owning a horse. Instead, most get stuck with a toy stick pony. Now you can fulfill your childhood fantasy of riding through open country in the state where The Horse Whisperer was filmed. Big Sky Yoga Retreats in Bozeman, Montana is run by Yoga Works-trained instructor Margaret Burns Vap. Offered in the summers, her five-day Cowgirl Yoga packages “explore the link between yoga and riding.” Lunches come from the Community Food Co-op or the town’s eco-friendly Sola Café, while dinners are held at various area restaurants. You’ll sleep at the Gallatin Gateway Inn, but be sure to wander outside at night and gaze heavenward. Montana is called Big Sky Country for good reason. June 6-11 or July 11-16. $2,750 per person for double occupancy; additional cost for single occupancy. 406.587.2390, BigSkyYogaRetreats.com.

Nama-Stay Retreat, Wherever You Are, USA You don’t have to travel to another location for an exercise and yoga retreat. Throw a staycation in the comfort of your own home. Jane Clarke’s book Bodyfoods for Busy People (McBooks Press) describes how to host your own 48-hour home spa retreat. With morning walks in the great outdoors, nourishing meals, and pampering yourself with plenty of rest, herbal teas and aromatherapy, you can feel nurtured and reenergized without ever packing a suitcase.

— by Jenny Rough

In myriad cultures and for countless generations, birds have been considered divine messengers. Flying between heaven and earth at a high vantage point, birds naturally appear to be able to see the big picture of any given situation. Observed closely, it’s apparent that their flying patterns foretell seasonal and meteorological shifts; simply by noticing their appearance, presence or behavior, humans can glean helpful information, or messages. Paying attention to bird omens could even be compared to Rorschach tests: What a bird seems to be telling you about your life might be exactly what your subconscious most wants your conscious mind to know.

With all due respect to Alfred Hitchcock’s filmmaking, it’s better if we assume the worldview common to nature-based religions that all aspects of nature, whether they appear to be or not, are coexisting in harmonious oneness. So birds, animals, stars, planets, plants and weather, can be perceived as dear friends and loving messengers. In other words, crows don’t portend ill fortune unless we choose to believe that they do. This puts the wheel of destiny behind us, rather than forcing us into the precarious backseat of fate.

And so, keeping in mind that all of nature is conspiring for our spiritual evolution and our highest good, you might to begin to notice the pigeons loitering around your patio, the dove gently cooing out your office window, or the hawk suddenly appearing in a tree near the 405 while you’re stuck in five-mile-an-hour traffic. It may be that they’ve sailed down from heaven to communicate something very important to you.

Below you’ll find a short list of Los Angeles birds, along with some modern and traditional interpretations of the metaphysical significance of each. You can use these descriptions as a jumping-off point for your do-it-yourself auguries, but it’s also a good idea to relax and gently align your intuition with the bird’s energy to see if you can get a feeling for what he or she would like you to know. (But be careful if you’re on the 405!)

Hummingbird
Hummingbirds symbolize joy, appearing in the form of a healthy balance of romance, vibrant energy and harmonious success. The hummingbird’s message is often “follow your bliss.” Two hummingbirds peacefully coexisting can be harbingers of a positive new romance or business partnership.

Crow
An aura of mystery surrounds the crow, and a crow sighting that feels significant in some way indicates that walking between the worlds of the known and the unknown will be helpful to you at this time. Many Native American cultures have a name for God or the Infinite that translates as “the great mystery,” or “the great holy mystery.” Time, death, the afterlife and the subconscious are aspects of this mystery. The crow asks us to explore these things, rather than fear them; to surrender to them and be inspired by their unfathomable depths.

Seagull
Seagulls move between the realm of air, which symbolizes ideas and conscious thought, and the realm of water, which symbolizes emotions and intuition. They can therefore help us with our creativity, which is born from a marriage of these two realms. They are also very good at finding food and surviving, and so they bring messages of encouragement and support to those for whom money or basic daily needs are an issue, especially creative people.

Pigeon
Pigeon messages are often about being both confident and humble at the same time. Pigeons are not flashy or boastful, but they’re brilliant. For example, they have an amazing ability to find and travel to exact locations. This is why their message might also be about accuracy, efficiency and/or travel. You probably know they’ve been used as message carriers (like Harry Potter’s owl) during various historical periods, and years ago, New Yorkers used to raise them on their roofs for this purpose. Their ability to return to any given place makes them symbolic of returning home, or honoring the place one was raised or considers home.

Dove
The dove, as we all know, is a universal symbol of peace. Doves also represent mothering or being mothered, so if the dove flies into your life, you might want to examine your relationship with your mother or children, or your feelings about motherhood. It’s said that the cry of a dove can help you open your heart and uncover buried emotions. The way you interpret or hear the sound mirrors the truth of your emotional state.

Hawk
The hawk asks us to be honest with ourselves and to do the inner work necessary to move forward in our lives in a positive and constructive way. This can feel scary, as inner work usually requires us to confront our so-called demons. But be brave, be grateful for the hawk’s message, and be assured that you are more than equipped to handle any issues or challenges that may arise.

Parrot
Thanks to the cunning escape artistry of their forbears, there are many varieties of parrots in Los Angeles. In my neighborhood encounters with the parrot can bring supportive blessings to immigrants and other non-natives, as well as encouraging messages of freedom to those of us who have formerly been oppressed by captivity in any form. The parrots of Los Angeles remind us that regardless of our past or present challenges, we can thrive, find freedom, express our uniqueness and soar.

Tess Whitehurst is a Los Angeles-based feng shui consultant. Her first book, Magical Housekeeping, will be published by Llewellyn Worldwide next year. Visit her at tesswhitehurst.com or email her at tesswhitehurst@yahoo.com.

One way of keeping money in the community is to create an alternative system of currency

In 1932, while the world struggled through the Great Depression, a small Austrian town tried an economic experiment. To stimulate the local economy, leadership in Wörgl created its own local currency, or scrip, known in German as freigeld (literally, free money).

Based on the thinking of Silvio Gesell, an early 20th-century social activist and economist, the new currency was novel in that it depreciated monthly, which increased the pace of its circulation. Rapid currency circulation goosed the economy, putting residents back to work. Advocates of local alternative currency systems explain that what’s really happening with this sort of currency “velocity” is real reinvestment in the local community.

The “Miracle of Wörgl” seemed to be serving that community well and was interchangeable with official state currency, but the Austrian National Bank, concerned over a perceived threat to its money-printing monopoly, shut down the experiment after just 13 months.

Nearly 80 years later, as economic malaise lingers throughout the United States, the Wörgl saga is inspiring local currency supporters seeking to unlock underutilized resources that might mitigate financial tsunami cycles and create a more independent economic model.

Complementary Currencies

The first question might be, is that legal? It is. Creating and using a local currency—sometimes called complementary currency, in that it “complements,” but doesn’t replace, a national currency—will not unleash the dogs of the U.S. Treasury, as long as it isn’t coin and doesn’t look like U.S. currency. Well before the Wörgl experiment, local currencies were common, and there are hundreds of more recent examples, from Canada’s Vancouver Island to San Luis Obispo, Calif., and Totnes, U.K. In a less formal way, barters take place all the time, albeit not transferable via a common coin of the realm.

In 1991 a group in Ithaca, New York, created a currency, the Ithaca Hour, to promote local economic independence and community reliance. Its name was intended to convey the idea that currency is both a means of exchange and a representation of someone’s time spent laboring. At that time, $10 was the average hourly wage in the county, so an Hour was worth $10 U.S. With more than 100,000 bills circulating, Ithaca Hours continue offering an alternative medium of exchange used by 900 businesses and health care providers.

In the Massachusetts Berkshires, another local currency project took off in 2006 with the support of the E. F. Schumacher Society, a kind of alternative economic think tank. Named for a British economist who advocated decentralization, the society studies how local currencies work. More than 2.5 million BerkShares have been issued, with about 150,000 now circulating. Accepted at 385 area businesses, BerkShares are colorfully illustrated with historic Berkshire figures and other artwork by regional artists, further emphasizing localness. Offered through 13 branches of five local banks, 100 BerkShares are equivalent to $100 U.S., but can be purchased with $95 U.S. Thus, users receive a 5 percent discount at local businesses that accept the currency.

The alternative Massachusetts currency has received more attention from communities nationwide since the current economic downturn, according to Sarah Hearn of BerkShares. “Increasingly, communities are looking to find citizen-based solutions to economic instability, and rightly identify local currencies, like BerkShares, as elegant tools for growing more sustainable local economies,” notes Hearn.

Commitment to keeping dollars local may be enough of a driver to create a community currency. Even small shifts in market share to local businesses can create economic activity and employment gains, studies have shown. One analysis found buying from local merchants rather than chain businesses results in three times as much money staying in the community.

In nearby Ojai a working group has been established to brainstorm ways to increase area economic opportunities, and potentially create a local currency. Further north, the college town of Davis also is studying developing an alternative currency, Davis Dollars, and Eureka trades Humboldt Community Currency (CC). The Humboldt Community Currency Exchange Project suggests that participating goods and services providers accept payment half in CC and half in U.S. currency. One Humboldt CC equals one U.S. dollar.

Sustaining Planet and Economy

Here in Los Angeles, the Green Business Networking group, formed in 2005 when a small group of local business leaders began meeting informally to discuss ways of working together to advance sustainability and wellness ideas and businesses, is exploring the feasibility of a complementary currency for the greater L.A. region.

“I’m motivated to work with money and  business exchange to drive sustainability,” explains cofounder and certified financial planner Gregory Wendt, who is also director of sustainable investing for Enright Premier Wealth Advisors, Inc., an established registered investment advisory firm based in Southern California. “We need to change the way we work with money.”

Still in very early discussion stages with interested regional businesses and individuals for a process that might take two to three years, Wendt envisions a regional currency that would find its initial footing in the green business community. While it’s too early to know how the currency would be backed or how actual mechanics might function, Wendt anticipates the currency taking shape through evolving discussions and a series of community gatherings that identify and address issues.

Hollis Doherty, a student of the Wörgl experiment, shares Wendt’s enthusiasm for establishing a local currency. After stumbling across the Austrian story, Doherty was “galvanized about the idea of creating a local currency,” so much so that the L.A. resident traveled to Austria and the Unterguggenberger Institute. Named for the Wörgl mayor who implemented the 1932 currency plan for his town, the think tank promotes the idea of alternative mechanisms for exchange.

Now an associate with the Unterguggen-berger Institute, Doherty finds the idea of new thought for how money is viewed to be a transformative topic, with the potential for huge social impact.

“My focus is on a currency that includes more people in the economy, one that is more abundant for more people, and favors exchange over hoarding by the few,” Doherty says. “The Institute would say there is no perfect system, but they do say it’s healthier if more than one medium of exchange is available.”

Hopefully an alternative currency would help to buffer Los Angeles in the event of a future economic downturn, regardless of what happens in Sacramento or Washington, D.C.

“It will be a very regional effort that promotes a thriving economy for the L.A. region, driven by locally owned businesses and local farms committed to sustainable business practices,” says Wendt. “What’s most important is that this be a catalyst for change.”

—L.A. writer Maria Fotopoulos is partial to the U.S. dollar, but open to a new green currency.

Audi woos green consumers with luxury and fuel efficiency

By Corey Scholibo

With Main Street still not recovered from the recession that swept the country in early 2009, ostentation has taken a backseat to more earthy values—at least in some circles. Whereas “old American luxury” was epitomized by McMansions, yachts and gas-guzzling SUVs, an Audi rep explains, the “new luxury” will be a more “progressive luxury,” with smaller homes and cars (an Audi in this scenario, of course), “a sense of Zen” and “new-age values.” There will be no shortage of people wealthy enough to afford luxury cars, Audi believes, but consumers will be spending their cash on brands that don’t scream, “Look at me.” Perhaps more importantly, their purchases will be dictated, or at least informed, by a sense of global responsibility.

Eclipsed by Lexus, BMW and Mercedes, Audi is an also-ran for the luxury crown and until now has been a non-contender in the eco market. However there is an understated elegance to Audi that lends itself to a more utilitarian, post-real estate boom aesthetic. Increasing their market share means appealing to the green-conscious contingent, but Audi has gone about it in a way that seems strange to American consumers. While rivals have been rolling out hybrids and promoting plug-ins, Audi’s short-term solution for the environment is distinctly low-tech: diesel.

“When American’s think of diesel they think of big rigs and trucks,” says Chas Murphy, product manager for Audi of America, “they don’t see the clean diesel that we see in Europe.” Audi is manufactured in Germany where, like the rest of that continent, the more efficient diesel has been widely available for years. Diesel engines don’t get us off fossil fuels, but they use less fuel to achieve the same amount of energy (on average, about 30 percent better fuel efficiency than gasoline), and the engine life is nearly double that of a traditional gasoline engine. Old diesel engines were louder, smellier and pricier than gas-fueled vehicles, so although a shift was attempted in the 1980s, following the gas shortages of the previous decade, diesel never caught on.

Since that time vast improvements have been made to the diesel engine, and it was Audi that introduced the first TDI version in 1989. TDI stands for Turbo Direct Injection, and refers to the way in which the fuel is delivered to the engine—directly, at very high pressure. This system increases performance and cuts down on emissions because the pressure atomizes the particles associated with combustion, lowering the residue and therefore the emissions.

“It wasn’t a conscious decision to choose one over the other, hybrids versus diesel,” explains Murphy, “but we were leaders in TDI, and if anyone could introduce it to the United States, it would be us.”

Weighing the Options

While he doesn’t think of it as an end game, John O’Dell at Edmunds, the popular consumer car site, thinks diesel in the near term cannot be overlooked. “Diesel can be, particularly with the fuel standards and the new NOx filtrating systems, every bit as green, and possibly more so than a hybrid.”

All engines emit NOx, or nitrous oxide, a greenhouse gas, though diesel engines emit more. However, in the Audi filtrating system the gases pass through filters and oxidizers that convert the nitrous oxides into simple nitrogen and water, reducing NOx emissions by 90 percent.

“Also, it depends on how far back the food chain you want to go,” O’Dell elaborates. “Look at the nickel mining of hybrid batteries, for instance; and you still burn gasoline in a gas-electric hybrid. It is only when you get to fuel cell that you get rid of the on-board consumption of a petroleum-based or biofuel, and people forget about that.”

Though Audi isn’t downplaying the future of hybrid—Murphy says we can expect to see hybrid and electric vehicles from Audi in the next two years—what the company is maintaining is that hybrids are not the only way to go. “For instance, there is a distinct weight advantage diesel engines have over hybrids,” says Murphy. “Most hybrids have to have two full power trains, one for each system, and that adds to the overall weight of the vehicle,” which increases fuel consumption. Audi’s new R8 sports car is made entirely from aluminum, and lightweight aluminum body parts are standard components in many of the company’s other cars.

Fuel Efficiency Factors

Hybrids have seen their market share jump since gas prices rose last year, but many hybrid models have been add-ons to previously existing lines of SUVs and large passenger vehicles, so while their fuel efficiency has been increased, they’re still being surpassed by smaller non-hybrids. Additionally, life expectancy concerns about the production and disposal of hybrid batteries, some of which are made from lead and nickel, have also caused many consumers to hesitate. The concept of a hybrid goes far in assuaging the conscience of the eco-conscious consumer, but as Murphy points out, “You can get to efficiency in a lot of different ways.”

To that end Audi is introducing their all new A3 TDI, a passenger sedan that will get 42 miles per gallon on the highway, comparable to many hybrids currently on the market, and impressive even to Paul Scott, vice president and co-founder of Plug In America, a nonprofit that promotes and advocates for plug-in cars. While Scott says he doesn’t want to encourage people to buy any car without a plug on the end of it, he admits that choice is pretty limited, citing only the $109,000 Tesla Roadster as an option for consumers at the moment. Plug-ins also have to draw their power from somewhere, and it’s not always renewable sources like wind and solar. Though Scott encourages people to wait a couple more years till more plug-ins are on the market—Nissan will debut the zero-emission Leaf in 2010, but a full eight-hour charge will buy only 100 miles in range—he understands that the idea is not practical for everyone and why diesel has become a bridge fuel.

“I like Audis. I like their cars, their styling, and switching to anything that improves efficiency is a good thing,” Scott concedes. “I will take a minor improvement.”

Of course there are several determining factors in a car’s fuel efficiency that are actually in the hands of drivers, and the new Audi helps drivers to get there. The optional side assist feature, a small light in the side view mirrors that comes on when someone is in the driver’s blind spot, prevents unnecessary braking and traffic interruption. “[Traffic] is like a river flowing,” explains Jae Min, chief designer at Audi Design Center California. “The goal is to keep everyone moving along smoothly with few interruptions.” Additional cameras for backing up and to help prevent quick braking are intended to cut down on the overall need to re-accelerate, not only for the driver but also for surrounding vehicles.

The Bigger Green Picture

Audi is making big efforts to be a greener manufacturer. They’ve sunk $7.5 million into the newly created Audi Environmental Foundation, which they hope will take their efforts beyond the world of automobiles; have pledged to cut emissions 20 percent by 2012; and ship cars as much as possible by rail.

They’ve also cut down on C02 use in the construction and manufacturing phase. Scrap metal being sent to recycle is crushed into tiny cubes, so that subcontracted transporters will use less fuel (and reduce fuel costs in the bargain, a saving that brings no financial gain to Audi).

All of their paints are water based, and contain no lead and minimal solvent; and using robots to apply the solvent saves 10 percent on solvent emissions per vehicle. The air is extracted after painting to create a thermal burn-off process, and the heat is used in the drying ovens. Audi does not use chromium, a toxic chemical traditionally employed in leather tanning, and is a leader in LED lighting, which is available inside and out for all of their vehicles. More than 90 percent of the waste produced by its plants is recycled, and the cars themselves are 100 percent recyclable. For their new A4 they created a process called SiCon, a system for shredding vehicle components and separating/refining them into materials that can be used as secondary raw materials in things like fluff for seats and insulation. Glass components are made into sand.

Many of these practices are not necessarily distinct from those of other car manufacturers, but for a smaller car maker that is seeing growth, even during the recession, they are important. In addition, BMW recently started promoting its diesel models in the United States, a sign of consensus on the diesel question.

Nevertheless, the company unveiled a new electric sports car concept at the Frankfurt auto show in September, and is introducing a hybrid version of the Q5 SUV in 2011. Neither hybrids nor diesel are the long-term solution, but until technology catches up with us, Audi’s betting their efficient, high-end performance vehicle will be a more satisfying solution for some savvy consumers.

—L.A. journalist Corey Scholibo can’t wait for plug-in cars.