Faces of Astarte "Beauty is not of the Face, Beauty is a Light in the Heart" ~Khalil Gibran

Non-Profit & For Profit Activism are interdependent to make real change. My first time in the headquarters of the New York Public Interest Research Group or NYPIRG was profound. I was amazed that there was a whole floor of working paid activists – passion with grounded feet making a difference daily on issues such as the environment, energy, consumer protection, homelessness, higher education, health, social justice and more. I thought “Oh! There is a place for people like me and it’s called NYPIRG“. Grateful and honored to have worked along side the best there.

An incredibly profound occurrence in light of the “economic situation” last week was the Natural Products Expo in Boston MA, seeing a convention center full of 1,300 natural product companies (Supplements, Personal Care, Clothes, to Renewable Dinnerware from fallen palm leaves) and 26,000 participants!

The Boston Convention Center is a wonderful facility; their staff helpful and pleasant and we packed it! This personal/planetary health conscious commerce convocation of products and people reinforced what the polls indicate: the natural products industry is growing, 9.8% in ’07 with $62 billion in sales.

To me this indicates that even in recession “the people” are willing to create what is needed – voting with dollars, another vital form of activism, we claim the future through life affirming purchases now.

Consumers want purchases that are also productive:
• Protect the planet renew raw materials; there is no overdraft protection for these
• Product quality and efficacy which means it is nutrient rich internally or topically
• Provide a fair wage to those putting their life energy into the creation of their purchase.
Gone are the days of ignorance is bliss – we have the knowledge that all of us from planet to person are connected and what is reaped is what is sown, no matter the distance.

Speaking of distance – conference organizers (Natural Products Association, New Hope Media) implemented a creative mass transit incentive with a reimbursement of $100.00. Rickshaws were a fun carbon-free mobility option and of course this method, and walking, were the quicker ways to navigate dense city traffic.

Other creative Green Efforts include: Recycling, One Site Paperless Press Room, Green Energy Tags, & The Green Exhibitor Program. The Massachusetts Convention Center Authority implement Green Practices daily!

Presenters & Workshops are such an important part of the coming together, there were so many that I can only share those I experienced:

• An empowering Keynote Address on coming home to our essential goodness was given by Frances Moore Lappé, author of the best seller Diet for a Small Planet, her newest book Getting a Grip: Clarity, Creativity and Courage in a World Gone Mad.

• Women in Naturals, a support for women in the natural products industry, sponsored Kris Carr, author/filmmaker/and cancer cowgirl, shared her moving experience of how lifestyle impacts our health for ill or good. Kris’s rare cancer is in remission using diet & alternative therapies.

• Organic standards and personal care products are my passion so it is no surprise that I attended the workshop: The Future of Organic Standards for Personal Care Products. My colleague and Organic Beauty Expert, Mary Beth Janssen has written a very comprehensive piece on organic standards in Organic Spa Magazine great piece Mary Beth!

Looking up the word Recession I see a variety of meanings

• Economics: a period of an economic contraction
• Noun: a return of ownership to a former possessor
• Or my own … Recess – time to play during the slump – have some fun. Fun never depends on money just taking time for it.

Thank you Natural Products Association and New Hope Media!

OH and SAVE THE DATE!!! Next year’s Natural Products Expo is September 23-26, 2009 also at Boston Convention & Exhibition Center! HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!

christine