Ian Somerhalder Australia

Built of Barnwood Booms!

In just a couple of months, Bob Somerhalder went from unemployed house framer to owner of a hot new furniture and décor businesses on the Internet. With a single tweet from his famous younger brother, “Vampire Diaries” star Ian Somerhalder, orders come pouring in from as far away as Australia, Germany and the Middle East.
The CW antihero has a stake in the business and a portion of the proceeds goes to the Ian Somerhalder Foundation, which focuses on environmental and animal issues.
Having a famous brother who believes in his mission to recycle beautiful, old wood into quality furnishings certainly got the business off to a big start, said Somerhalder. But he credits his wife, Dena, with getting the ball rolling.

Bob Somerhalder recently opened a Built of Barnwood storefront in Bay St. Louis.

With the slowdown in home building, Somerhalder had time on his hands, which Dena put to good use. She had him build some picture frames and crosses for reasons that had nothing to do with vampires. She was so impressed with how the projects turned out, she urged him to make more to sell at local festivals.
“I told her not to be disappointed if we don’t sell any crosses,” said Somerhalder. “Now, that’s our biggest seller. I had to eat crow there.”
On April 21, they opened a Built of Barnwood storefront at Century Hall on South Second Street. At the same time, Somerhalder was working to master about 1,000 online orders and the social media that was new to him. When people have questions on their orders, he often finds it faster to call them.
“People are surprised when I call them back myself,” said Somerhalder. “This is a small, family-run business. We take the orders one by one.”
Truly a family project, Dena and the couple’s children, Peyton and Maggie, help build, pull nails from salvaged wood, sand and package products. Ian also enjoys building when his busy schedule allows him to visit, said Somerhalder.
“Whatever he makes, we’ll let him sign it and throw it up on eBay,” he said.
In addition to crosses and wall art, the Century Hall shop also carries custom tables, trays and candles. Somerhalder is planning to start building some Adirondack chairs when time allows.
“Everything here is recycled or can be recycled,” he said. “Even the concrete fleurs de lis are made of recycled concrete and the candles have refill kits.”

The crosses are made of pallet wood that would otherwise have gone to landfills or an incinerator, said Somerhalder. Most of the reclaimed barnwood comes from an old church in Covington that he salvaged years ago.
“I loved the character of the wood and always knew I would use it someday,” he said.

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So what are you waiting for? Head on over to Built of Barnwood and order your stunning piece of reclaimed wood.

Here is your chance to make a difference with CSG!

Its been all over the media lately, just how bad coal seam gas mining can be and how many of our farmers in Australia are suffering (or will) due to this form of mining. As more information comes to light, its not only our farmers (and us) that are going to suffer. One of Australia’s most famous natural wonder will also suffer from Coast Seam Gas Exploration.

In March, UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific & Cultural Organisation) made a special visit to Queensland to find out why the Australian Government was allowing such massive expansion of an environmentally harmful industry right in the middle of the World Heritage-listed Great Barrier Reef.

Some of the key environmental concerns that have been raised by many people from community members to UNESCO include:
• CSG (Coal Seam Gas) exploration is supposed to be ‘cleaner’ than traditional coal mining but it is still highly hazardous to the environment; its impacts go beyond just its C02 emissions because of the methods (including shale gas fracking) required for extraction. It is estimated that by 2030, there will be 40,000 coal seam gas wells in Queensland alone.

• The Mackay Conservation Group’s research suggests that at its peak, Queensland coal will be responsible for more than 12% of WORLD C02 EMISSIONS. Think about that for a moment.

• In the next five years, the sea-traffic moving through the Great Barrier Reef will increase massively – with more than 3,000 tankers a year inside the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. To enable these huge tankers to get into Queensland’s shallow ports, dredging will have to be done – endangering fish, turtle, and dugong populations

• The ground-water in the region has already been contaminated by waste-water leaching out of facilities – this impacts fish and bird life

• A plan to protect the nationally listed wetland that is near the Abbot Point CSG site was created, but very little funding has been provided to carry it out

• Very few biodiversity surveys have ever been completed in the region – this means that while there’s evidence of some rare and endangered species in the area, they are not protected because not enough has been done to clearly identify them.

Aussie Youth Content Coordinator, Cat and Aussie MOBSTIRR, Hope, got together recently to come up with a way to send a message to the Australian Government about this major environmental issue and it requires your help!!

Thats right, Australia needs all ISF supporters to help us to send a message to our Government telling them that it is NOT OK to expand CSG into the Great Barrier Reef.

To find out how you can help, head on over to ISF Youth.

ISF Animal Sanctuary Information

As most of you already know, Ian and his foundation, ISF, have been working on plans for an animal sanctuary that will create a safe haven for all the outcasted animals that have been neglected, mistreated and ultimately misunderstood.

Today, ISF has posted the following article in regards to the sanctuary:

Some may see the potential in an abused animal as ending at the animal’s personal rehabilitation. In our eyes, this is just the beginning. What if ISF provided opportunities for these misfits creatures to continue their emotional journey alongside others who were hurting from a life filled with dejection. Through the art of compassion, the continuously devastating issue of bullying in our country could be approached in an intensely impactful manner that encourages healthy relationships. We know in our hearts that animals and bullies share common emotional baggage. For example, an abused and neglected pitbull has the power to transform a school bully into a compassionate leader with a shift in benevolent consciousness. While both the dog and the bully are refused the opportunity to demonstrate their true potential within their daily lives, a healing and educational journey side by side has the power to manifest massive changes in perspective. We will bring the bruised together as a family to learn just how unique–and just very the same–we all are…and how if we unite…we are NOT the outcasted, we ARE the UNSTOPPABLE. We believe in the understanding that all living creatures deserve dignity, love, compassion and the right to life. If you support this understanding as well, and you see the potential in bringing together kids and bullies into an environment where their hearts can grow and flourish, we need your support to make this happen. Please help us create the funds necessary to establish this haven. We plan to responsibly raise 5 million dollars towards this goal–we promise to keep you informed on the amount we raise. Let’s be the fit for the misfits!

If you wish to help raise much needed funds for the you can donate directly via ISF. Every little bit counts and they all add up to create the much needed amount of $5 million. So head on over and donate!! You could be helping save the life of not only one animal but also helping stop the ongoing problem of bullying in our environment.

Ian on Chelsey Lately

Ian recently stopped by the set of Chelsey Lately to speak about the Vampire Diaries Season Finale. Check out the interview below:

Ian Somerhalder and GQ seek true gentlemen

GQ along with Ketel One vodka is on the search for for the true gentleman, looking for guys with “an idea, inspiration or endeavor that will raise society’s behavioral bar.”

GQ’s “A Gentleman’s Call” campaign is trying to instigate a shift in consciousness by “championing the lifestyle of the modern gentleman,” so it’s no surprise that they’ve enlisted the services of some of our favorite gentlemen — in particular, “Vampire Diaries” star Ian Somerhalder. Somerhalder, who is not only an actor but an activist, is joined by actor Carlos Ponce and co-founder and CEO of the Movember Foundation, Adam Garone.

So if you think that you (or your partner)have a noble, gentleman-worthy idea — be it philanthropic or entrepreneurial — check outAGentlemansCall.com. Ketel One and GQ could hook you up with $100,000 to help you get started with changing the world.

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Ian is Named a UN Ambassador!!

A huge congratulations to Ian for being named a United Nations Ambassador! This year, Ian will join Gisele Bündchen and Don Cheadle — who both share the Goodwill Ambassador title — as a host of World Environment Day. As a longtime campaigner for eco-friendly initiatives, Ian will help host World Environment Day (WED) on 5 June (12) as his first official task in his new role.

Ian will be encouraging fans to get involved in environmental activities, such as neighborhood clean-ups, walking to work or planting trees and hopefully break the record for highest number of activities registered.

You can get involved by entering by June 30. Doing this could win you a fuel-efficient KIA Rio, not to mention make a positive impact on the world. Brazil is hosting the challenge this year, and WED is celebrating its 40-year anniversary.

The WED’s site offers some suggestions for how you can involved: “Organize a neighborhood clean-up, stop using plastic bags and get your community to do the same, plant a tree or better yet organize a collective tree planting effort, walk to work, start a recycling drive… the possibilities are endless.”

“When you do your part for the environment, everyone wins,” Ian says in a video promoting the event. Last year, more of Gisele’s fans signed up for events than Don’s, but considering the amount of Twitter followers Ian has, we’d say he’s going to give them a run for their money. If you want to register your event, click over to WED’s website.

Ian Somerhalder joins Gisele Bündchen & Don Cheadle for the World Environment Day challenge 2012

Last year Gisele Bündchen beat Don Cheadle to rally the most green activities, but who will win this year? This year Ian Somerhalder joins the fun. Check the World Environment Day challenge at http://www.wedchallenge.orgto take part and do your bit for the environment

Ian & Nina talk about IS Foundation at the “Influence Affair”

Ian Somerhalder Spotlights Environmental Issues With Foundation (Video)

Ian dropped by the THR cover lounge to chat about his organization and explain why the youth is key to environmental change. Check it out below:

VIDEO: IAN SOMERHALDER JOINS GISELE BUNDCHEN TO REV UP ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION