Monthly Slow News Summary: March 2011

Slow Design:

• Architecture For Humanity's reconstruction work in northeastern Japan will use Slow Architecture principles, local expertise, and environmentally- and culturally-appropriate designs already in their libraries from Japanese architects: http://architectureforhumanity.org/programs/2011-sendai-earthquake-and-tsunami
• American mid-century modern industrial designer Russel Wright as a forerunner of the Slow movement: http://irene-turner.com/2011/03/russel-wright/

Slow Fashion:

• Bamboo fabric is sustainable, right? Turns out it's not quite that simple: http://ecosalon.com/bamboo-eco-friendly-or-greenwash/ ...and the same is true of soy and eucalyptus fibre: http://www.nowtoronto.com/lifestyle/ecoholic.cfm?content=179632
• Livia Firth's red carpet gown by designer Gary Harvey, upcycled from 11 gowns from the same period as her talented husband's movie, was the talk of the eco-fashion blogosphere. The best photos of the gorgeous dress are here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/livia-giuggioli/livia-firth-oscars-dress_b_830782.html#248532  If you're inspired to try a similar project, this panel skirt tutorial would be a great place to start - but you may want to make sure you're not upcycling pieces with any historic value lest you find yourself at the centre of controversy: http://coutureallure.blogspot.com/2011/03/livia-firths-oscar-gown-green-triumph.html
• Actress Emma Watson, fresh off her collaboration with People Tree, will design an organic clothing line with Alberta Ferretti: http://www.fibre2fashion.com/news/fashion-news/newsdetails.aspx?news_id=96558
• At Project 333, a great post on how a fashion diet makes room for other changes in your life:  http://www.theproject333.com/2011/03/11/boulder-in-a-pond/
• Vintage fashion is slow fashion: http://www.slowfashioned.com/archives/1932
• An interview with One Dress Protest's Kristy Powell: http://www.allofusrevolution.com/2011/one-girl-one-dress-one-year-an-interview/
• An amazing app that can turn your drawing into a made-to-order dress: http://www.ecouterre.com/continuum-an-app-that-turns-any-drawing-into-a-bespoke-dress/

Slow Travel:

• A Slow Festival, on Easter weekend in Sedgefield, South Africa, part of the Cittaslow movement: http://www.slowfestival.co.za/
• There's now a Green Map for travellers to London (PDF): http://www.greentraveller.co.uk/files/green-london.pdf
• This year's Paris Fair has a Slow theme: http://www.foiredeparis.fr/COMMUN/Les-actualites-de-la-Foire-de-Paris

Sustainability:

• We throw away twice as much water annually in the form of uneaten food as we use for washing & drinking: http://j.mp/hANgBu
• An amazing and depressing map of climate change injustice: http://bit.ly/dUYYSb
• The decline of honey bees now a global problem, according to a United Nations report: http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/nature/decline-of-honey-bees-now-a-global-phenomenon-says-united-nations-2237541.html
• The 11/3/11 earthquake and tsunami in Japan had the unintended consequences of educating the public about radiation and reigniting debates about nuclear power which will probably go on for the next couple of years. As one Tokyo-based tweeter wryly observed, these days it seems like everyone is a nuclear physicist with an opinion to share... In case you didn't hear, that fallout map that was making the rounds is a fake, taking potassium iodide when you don't need to can make you sick, and climate change may be influencing geological events (for real).

Slow Living:

• BoingBoing profiled Brooklyn's fantastic Fixers Collective: http://www.boingboing.net/2011/03/22/fixers-collective-pe.html
• The more secure you feel, the less you value your stuff, says a study published in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/03/110303111615.htm
• Time Management as a tool for Slow Living: http://www.create-the-good-life.com/making_time.html
• An Australian anti-speeding campaign uses the Slow Movement to encourage safe driving:  http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/breaking/9023454/driver-urged-to-try-life-in-slow-lane/
• http://www.theeconomicsofhappiness.org/ is a fantastic documentary on the true value of happiness.
• This evening at 8:30pm is Earth Hour. While the Guardian reminded us that only plucking the low-hanging fruit can be fruitless, and GOOD and TriplePundit joined many others in criticizing the lack of meaningful change the gesture makes, my young family will still be participating, for the teachable moment and the reminder to live slowly that it provides.