Let’s face it, the world is a difficult place to live in, and we all could use a little kindness now and again.  Whether it comes in the form of a hug from a loved one, a driver letting you into his lane during rush hour traffic, or a smile from a stranger on the sidewalk, everyone can appreciate life’s small pleasures and acts of selflessness.

Next time you are in the mood to show the world that you care for its inhabitants, grab a couple of frosty brews for your friends or co-workers and offer to pop the caps with your Beers Not Bombs bottle opener.  The key chain opener is made from Peace Bronze, an alloy fabricated with scrap metal taken from dismantled nuclear weapons systems.   Take a stand for peace by showing some goodwill and love for your fellow man by spreading some joy with an oat soda and the intriguing back story detailing the fascinating history of your BNB opener.

From the 1940′s through the 1980′s, huge quantities of copper were mined in Montana for the expressed purpose of being used in the massive network of cabling connecting nuclear missile silos across the upper Midwest.  During the Clinton Administration, many miles of these cables were decommissioned through the process of disarmament.  The San Luis Obispo company that fabricates Peace Bronze into bottle openers and jewelry, From War to Peace, excavated huge sections of the gigantic wires and used the copper to create necklaces, earrings, and bottle openers.   The metal is not, and never has been radioactive.  The 95% copper mix has been certified safe by the U.S. Government, Iowa metal recyclers, and the From War to Peace lab.

As if sharing a beer with friends was not enough of an excuse to come by Bambu Batu and pick up a BNB opener or stylish t-shirt, perhaps the knowledge that 20% of the profits from your purchase will be donated to social justice organizations might spur you into action!  Choose from three trendy models designed by SLO jeweler, Jason Main.  Make your Happy Hour a peaceful one and proliferate some merriment with beers, not bombs.

Time again to wish your special sweetheart a Happy Valentine’s Day. Potentially a great day for the world to come together and lavish one another with hugs and kisses and glittering displays of affection. Yet, all too often, this hearty holiday becomes a high-pressure situation in which doe-eyed darlings feel obliged to shop recklessly for over-packaged sweets, under-valued trinkets, short-lived bouquets, and pretty much anything in the shape of a heart.

Okay, I’m not a hum bugger. I don’t have problems with people expressing their love through material means and boosting the economy for a day. I would however, like to see it done with a little bit more regard for the planet. Yes, you can speak from the heart without sacrificing your soul. And yes, your love for that special someone can be extended to show your compassion for all humankind.

It’s 2011 already, and we know we have options. We know there’s a difference between fair trade chocolate and the kind harvested by kids in west Africa. We know there’s difference between blood diamonds, and the socially responsible jewelry that isn’t funding military juntas in the third world. We know we have choices, and we know we can make a difference.

So here are eight ways you can spoil your cutie, and avoid spoiling the planet:

1) This one may be fairly obvious, but if you have to buy a card, buy one made on recycled paper. Or better yet, send an E-Card. No paper involved.

2) If you’re going to give the gift of chocolate, please make sure it’s fair trade and organically grown.

3) Jewelry? You want jewelry, but you don’t want to spend a fortune? We’ve got that. Jewelry made from recycled parts of nuclear weapons.

4) Instead of buying a gift for someone, wrapped in packaging, that they might ultimately just throw out, considering planting a tree in their name. It will last a lot longer than roses, and give off more oxygen, too!

5) If you go out to dinner, make it a place that specializes in locally grown and organic food.

6) Lighting candles? Go for the o. As an alternative to traditional petroleum-derived paraffin wax, organic soy-based candles are now widely available at places like Bambu Batu.

7) Buy locally, organically grown flowers. Ask your local florist – the more requests they get, the sooner they will make the switch. And if you’re sending flowers faraway, don’t rely on some national delivery service. Use your resources to find a florist in that area by yourself. Chances are you’ll get better service and better prices when you order direct.

Instead of buying conventional, commercial perfume — often a cocktail of toluene, aldehydes and benzene derivatives — why not do a little more leg work to track down some scents worth savoring.
There are some incredible, all-natural essential oils out there these days. Kinder to the nose and gentler to the skin.

Well, there you are. Green and red can go together after all. See you soon for your last minute expressions of all-encompassing love!

If someone approached you one day and asked, “Would you wear a nuclear weapon around your neck?” your answer would likely be no. If they told you, however, that it was a symbol of peace, constructed OUT OF a dismantled (and no longer radio active… we know that because Jason has a Geiger Counter) weapon of mass destruction, would your answer change?

Start thinking about it, because it’s happening. Peace Bronze is the first company ever to reconstruct disassembled nuclear weapon systems into not just jewelry, but jewelry proudly bearing the many different representations of peace. The material actually comes from the underground cabling that would have sent the launch signal to the missiles.

What’s more, this project, while funded by a non Slocal, is being manned by our home town folks. The necklaces will be out in stores, Bambu Batu included, very soon. So if you see it around, give it a glance. You could very well be the first one on your block to own one. If you prefer to go straight to the source, they have a website where you can have a one-of-a-kind necklace or set of earrings put together.

A bit about the peace symbol: This symbol of human compassion and pacifism was conceived in 1958. It is a blended semaphore (or flag signal) of the letters ‘n’ and ‘d’, literally standing for nuclear disarmament. Peace Bronze takes that significance to an entirely new level. Not to mention, it’s cute jewelry.

Song of the day: Give Peace A Chance – The Plastic Ono Band