"I saw how new ideas often travel from the margins and the shadows to the center, to the limelight where people — judges, presidents, prime ministers, international bodies — make decisions. If you don’t follow the sequence of events over years or decades, you can believe that these are the powerful handing down change, rather than see that change began outside and below, and grew until the powerful were obliged to ratify it."

—Rebecca Solnit, in a recent story in the New Statesman, on why hope and taking the long view are part of climate activism. We at Bluedot share Solnit’s conviction that we can’t afford despair, and that, with the midterm elections coming up, we must elect people who understand the urgency of climate change and are focused on solutions.

How many seabirds do microplastics kill annually?

Prioritizing seasonal and local ingredients gives you deliciously sustainable eating. On the eve of November, we couldn’t stop thinking about squash, soup, and other cozy, autumnal dishes.

We think Halloween, which presents many (well, at least some?) of us with the need to apply or remove our vampire makeup, is as good a time as any to feature skin-care favorites from among our Bluedot Collection. Want more? See our marketplace here.

The Bluedot Marketplace includes affiliate links. We may earn a commission when you purchase products through our links. 

October 29 is Take Back Day — when the DEA urges all of us to get rid of no-longer-needed prescription medications to help avoid misuse or overdoses. Do not flush or dump medications down the sink, where they find their way into waterways and, potentially, harm water creatures. If you miss Take Back Day, ask at your local pharmacy, or visit this site for other disposal locations. For more tips on Getting Rid of (Almost) Anything, check out Bluedot’s handy guide.