So, imagine you’re sleeping. I mean really sleeping. Deep, awesome, post burger kind of sleep. And you wake up, and suddenly your whole apartment complex has turned into an oil refinery. That happened this week, to a very confused polar bear and her baby cub.

In Alaska’s north slope, a mama bear awoke from hibernation with her cub to find that the world around her had been transformed to a construction zone for and oil refinery (Read: environment destroying machine).  It’s these instances that remind us that we are, in every way, messing with our ecosystems. Polar bears have already been affected drastically from global warming. Due to the warmer temperatures, there are fewer areas of solidly frozen ocean; something that polar bears rely on to hunt. With more of their energy devoted to hunting, they have less time to focus on reproduction, and thus their population has dwindled.

Thankfully, once she was noticed, construction on the refinery ceased. One can only imagine her fear and bewilderment. If you would like to aid to the plight of the polar bear, there are several organizations you can make donations to. If you can’t afford to help in that way, do your best to save on gas, and reduce not only the effects of global warming, but the need for more refineries.

Today marks the last day of summer for those of us basking in the warmth of the northern hemisphere. And not a moment too soon for the people of Russia and most of the US where this summer’s warmth turned into a wave of blistering, deadly heat. Yet while the rest of the world roasted away and corral reefs were bleached into oblivion, here in California the summer never really arrived. We’ve had nothing but mild breezes and temperate sunshine, but the Indian Summer still lies in wait, poised for a late season attack.

So what’s all this aberrant meteorological prognostication have to do with the house of bamboo? Don’t worry, I’m getting to that. Just as soon as my morning typing fingers have a chance to thaw out. In the meantime, don’t let your defenses down, because this weekend looks likes it’s gonna be a hot one, and bamboo might actually be one of your best defense.

In addition to bamboo clothing’s cozy breathability and superior thermal regulating properties, the material also provides an excellent shield against the sun’s harmful UV rays. A number of independent studies have all confirmed that bamboo fabric can effectively block out more than 90 perfect of the sun’s ultra-violet radiation. This makes bamboo an ideal for babies, those with especially sensitive skin, and anyone concerned about the increasing rates of skin cancer associated with prolonged sun exposure.

We are consistently impressed by the number of customers who tell us that bamboo is one of the only fabrics they can wear because of various allergies, skin conditions and/or chemical sensitivities. Check UV-protection as just one more advantage of bamboo in a world facing severe climate changes.

Song of the Day: “Indian Summer” by The Doors