tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-54124542293539380412024-03-12T20:05:48.520-04:00Eco-StepsSmall, easy "eco steps" we can all take to live better, be happier, save money and help the environment.Amy Considinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09436199214975707102noreply@blogger.comBlogger90125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5412454229353938041.post-10769581827050237572011-11-14T15:28:00.000-05:002011-11-14T15:28:30.361-05:00Buy Nothing Day: An Eco-Stepper's Answer to Black Friday<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><object class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="http://0.gvt0.com/vi/9y0UJryM_8Q/0.jpg" height="266" width="320"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/9y0UJryM_8Q&fs=1&source=uds" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/9y0UJryM_8Q&fs=1&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here it comes again... that day of post Thanksgiving, deal-getting, stuff-buying, early-bird-door-busting, trampling, gotta-have-it shopping. For many of us in the United States, that day is known as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Friday_(shopping)" target="_blank">Black Friday</a> - the biggest and busiest shopping day of the year when many retailers give shoppers the "best deals" possible for the Christmas holiday season. How can that be bad, right? Well, our spending and consuming have reallly put us in a financial bad place. The average <a href="http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1077/is_1_60/ai_n6272274/" target="_blank">American adult will rack up nearly $1000</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> on his or her credit card during the Christmas shopping season. For two adult households, that's $2000 in credit card debt. To use Annie Leonard's terms, our <a href="http://www.storyofstuff.org/movies-all/story-of-stuff/" target="_blank">Story of Stuff</a> has now become our <a href="http://www.storyofstuff.org/movies-all/story-of-broke/" target="_blank">Story of Broke</a>. The good news is, each of us has control over how much we spend. We can simply buy less. Luckily there is an answer to Black Friday. It's called <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buy_Nothing_Day" target="_blank"> Buy Nothing Day</a>. </div><br />
<a name='more'></a><a href="http://www.adbusters.org/campaigns/bnd" target="_blank">Buy Nothing Day</a> started back in 1992 by <a href="http://www.adbusters.org/campaigns/bnd" target="_blank">Adbusters</a> as a way to combat indiscriminate consumerism and to raise awareness of how much "stuff" we buy. It has since grown in popularity, although some may argue that point. Instead of shopping and buying more stuff on Black Friday, there are other money-free things we can do such as: <br />
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<ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Sleep in.</li>
<li>Read a book.</li>
<li>"<a href="http://eco-steps.blogspot.com/2009/11/slow-your-roll.html" target="_blank">Slow Your Roll</a>" and enjoy some extra time at home with family or friends.</li>
<li>Go for a nature walk.</li>
<li>Donate your time to a local charity.</li>
<li>Declutter your home and give some of your stuff to someone who really needs it. You can check out <a href="http://www.goodwill.org/" target="_blank">Goodwill</a>, <a href="http://www.salvationarmyusa.org/usn/www_usn_2.nsf" target="_blank">Salvation Army</a>, or <a href="http://www.voa.org/" target="_blank">Volunteers of America</a> to find locations near you.</li>
<li>Share some extra food with a local food pantry.</li>
<li>Any combination of the above!</li>
</ul>I am sure there are plenty of other good ideas. Please feel free to share them in the comments section. <br />
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Happy Thanksgiving!<br />
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</div>Amy Considinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09436199214975707102noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5412454229353938041.post-89893675448043880412011-09-06T13:40:00.003-04:002011-09-06T19:24:00.021-04:00Six Degrees of Separation: Eco-Steps Style<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4a/Six_degrees_of_separation.svg/220px-Six_degrees_of_separation.svg.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" nba="true" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4a/Six_degrees_of_separation.svg/220px-Six_degrees_of_separation.svg.png" /></a></div>Just as in "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Six_degrees_of_separation">six degrees of separation</a>" we are generally only six people away from just about everyone on the planet (including <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Six_Degrees_of_Kevin_Bacon">Kevin Bacon</a>). That means that the little things (or <a href="http://eco-steps.blogspot.com/">eco-steps</a>, even) we say and do have the potential to influence, well, everyone. Taking it one step further, think about <a href="http://www.facebook.com/">Facebook</a>, <a href="http://www.linkedin.com/">LinkedIn</a>, <a href="http://www.twitter.com/">Twitter</a>, and all of the other social media out there. We are all "friends" of friends, of friends of someone. Arguably, we are more interconnected now than in any other time in history and that this "togetherness" brings us all more power than we realize. I must say that I've gone back and forth on this whole social media concept. I've loved it, I've hated it, I have activated, deactivated, then reactivated accounts just to stay "in touch" or at least semi-tethered to modern society. Say or feel what you want about it, social media is here and becoming more entrenched in our way of life, which brings about the power and responsibility aspect. Since we are all interconnected (one way or another) we can use these social media tools to help share ideas and raise awareness about important issues. That's where Eco-Steps come in. Let's look at some examples.<br />
<a name='more'></a>Let's say that to reduce my consumption of paper products, I switch from using paper napkins to cloth napkins instead (with super-cool napkin rings, of course). At family gatherings or dinners, the cloth napkins get noticed and I take the opportunity to explain the environmental impact of paper napkins and why I switched. Maybe that idea will catch on with a family member, who will then reduce his / her consumption of paper napkins. If that person emails a friend, who posts on her Facebook status...who has 587 Facebook friends...many fewer paper napkins will be used, trees will be saved...you get the idea. <br />
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Another example: I have read that <a href="http://eco-steps.blogspot.com/2010/06/let-it-all-hang-out-why-line-drying-is.html">line-drying </a>can save money on electricity and that it's easier on your clothes so they last longer (another savings), so I decide to line-dry my clothes. I have a good experience with it, tell my friends-- who also try it. They like it, tell their friends (my friends of friends)... A little tidbit of info: Over its expected lifetime of 18 years, the average clothes dryer will cost you approximately $1,530 to operate. Net result: Energy savings, money savings, time savings.<br />
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Last one, I promise: One day I'm eating some "all natural" onion ring snacks and I end up with a terrible headache. I look at the ingredients, do a little investigative research and voila! I discover that these things are full of <a href="http://eco-steps.blogspot.com/2010/02/msg-by-any-other-name.html">MSG</a>. So I do a little more research, blog about it, tweet it, and post it on my Facebook page to share with others with the hope that it will help people be better informed about the ingredients in the food they buy.<br />
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So perhaps instead of six degrees of separation, we are all within six eco-steps of togetherness. Cheesy? Maybe. The point being that we each have the power to impact everyone within our "<a href="http://www.uthscsa.edu/gme/documents/Circles.pdf">circle of influence</a>" (meaning everyone in our social networks). Wouldn't it be nice if we all used that power for the greater good?<br />
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Please feel free to share your thoughts and ideas of how to best use social media to spread the word on taking little eco-steps that can add up to make a huge and positive impact for our environment, our health and our happiness. <br />
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More interesting reading: <a href="http://helpingpsychology.com/milgrims-small-world-experiment">Small World Experiment</a><br />
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</div>Amy Considinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09436199214975707102noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5412454229353938041.post-22375805322544515582011-08-19T11:50:00.000-04:002011-08-19T11:50:56.692-04:00Organics and Non-GMO Foods Delivered To Your Doorstep-- For Less!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td closure_uid_ya7u7z="579" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_23769.cfm" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="296px" qaa="true" src="http://www.organicconsumers.org/images/bytes/green-polka-dot-box.jpg" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" closure_uid_ya7u7z="456" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_23769.cfm"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">Join the OCA-Endorsed National Buying Club for Organic and Non-GMO Foods: The Green Polka Dot Box</span></strong></a> <div closure_uid_ya7u7z="540"></div><br />
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<div closure_uid_ya7u7z="601"><span closure_uid_ya7u7z="656" style="font-size: large;">Readers both near and far, please take the opportunity to check this out. It may be the newest, best way to get organic, <a href="http://eco-steps.blogspot.com/2010/10/how-to-avoid-gmo-bad-nasties.html">non-GMO</a> food and groceries for 30-50% less than retail prices. Definitely worth looking into to get the good stuff for less $$.</span> </div><div closure_uid_ya7u7z="601"><span style="font-size: large;"></span> </div><div closure_uid_ya7u7z="601"><span closure_uid_ya7u7z="697" style="font-size: large;">Click on the link above or below for more information:</span> </div><div closure_uid_ya7u7z="601"><span style="font-size: large;"></span> </div><div closure_uid_ya7u7z="601"><a href="http://www.greenpolkadotbox.com/customer/account/create"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">Green Polka Dot Box</span></strong></a> </div><div closure_uid_ya7u7z="601"><span style="font-size: large;"></span> </div><div closure_uid_ya7u7z="601"><span closure_uid_ya7u7z="657"><span style="font-size: large;">For further reading: </span><a href="http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_23735.cfm"><span style="font-size: large;">Whole Paycheck and Organic Food Deserts: The Challenge</span></a> </span></div><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
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</tbody></table><div closure_uid_ya7u7z="594" style="text-align: left;"></div></div>Amy Considinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09436199214975707102noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5412454229353938041.post-54277193892122573232011-08-10T16:38:00.000-04:002011-08-10T16:38:56.260-04:00Eco-Stepping from the Inside Out<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" closure_uid_qcvvme="359" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.erie.pa.us/images/summer-flower.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" naa="true" src="http://www.erie.pa.us/images/summer-flower.png" /></a></div><div closure_uid_mbg862="358"><div closure_uid_qcvvme="361"><div closure_uid_l4xnax="418">Hi and Happy August. Where is the summer going? I'm not really sure, but I know that it is flying by at lightning speed. Many of us live our lives at such a pace that we seemingly catch ourselves coming and going at the door and we don't take the opportunity to think about what is good for us. What ever happened to the "lazy days" of summer? (Did they ever really exist?) Which brings me to my topic of Eco-Stepping from the inside out. Many of my posts are about saving energy, money, and doing good things for the environment around us. This time I am focusing more on slowing down and taking time to reflect upon the environment within us. </div></div><a name='more'></a><div closure_uid_qcvvme="361"><br />
<div closure_uid_l4xnax="432">Of course, there are many ways to slow down, unwind, take stock, renew, recharge and refresh ourselves. I will mention a few here. And again, the idea is to take small "<a href="http://eco-steps.blogspot.com/">eco-steps</a>" to getting yourself happy and healthy from the inside out.</div></div><div closure_uid_qcvvme="361"> </div></div><div closure_uid_mbg862="358" closure_uid_qcvvme="377"><div closure_uid_l4xnax="431"><strong>Meditation:</strong> According to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditation">Wikipedia</a>, the operational definition of meditation refers to any of a family of practices in which the practitioner trains his or her <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mind" title="Mind"><span closure_uid_qcvvme="467" style="color: #0645ad;">mind</span></a> or self-induces a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consciousness#States_of_consciousness" title="Consciousness"><span closure_uid_qcvvme="463" style="color: #0645ad;">mode of consciousness</span></a> in order to realize some benefit. In fact, there may be up to 100 benefits of meditating, says one <a href="http://www.ineedmotivation.com/blog/2008/05/100-benefits-of-meditation/">site</a>. These include the obvious like increased relaxation, decreased heart rate, increased productivity, just to name a few. The following are some other sites to check out regarding the how-to's and benefits of meditiation:</div></div><div closure_uid_mbg862="358" closure_uid_qcvvme="377"><br />
</div><div closure_uid_mbg862="358" closure_uid_qcvvme="377"><a href="http://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/200304/the-benefits-meditation">http://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/200304/the-benefits-meditation</a></div><div closure_uid_mbg862="358" closure_uid_qcvvme="377"><br />
</div><div closure_uid_mbg862="358" closure_uid_qcvvme="553"><a href="http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2011/meditation-0505.html">http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2011/meditation-0505.html</a></div><div closure_uid_mbg862="358" closure_uid_qcvvme="553"></div><div closure_uid_mbg862="358" closure_uid_qcvvme="553"><a href="http://www.healthandyoga.com/html/meditation/objectives.html">http://www.healthandyoga.com/html/meditation/objectives.html</a></div><div closure_uid_l4xnax="368" closure_uid_mbg862="358" closure_uid_qcvvme="377"><br />
</div><div closure_uid_mbg862="358"><div closure_uid_qcvvme="378"><div closure_uid_l4xnax="371"><strong>Breathing Exercises:</strong> Can help reduce stress, anxiety, tension and anger, and can bring about a sense of calm and well-being. Here are some sites for some easy-to-do breathing exercises:</div><div closure_uid_l4xnax="371"><br />
</div><div closure_uid_l4xnax="371"><a href="http://cas.umkc.edu/casww/brethexr.htm">http://cas.umkc.edu/casww/brethexr.htm</a></div><div closure_uid_l4xnax="371"><br />
</div><div closure_uid_l4xnax="371"><a href="http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/ART00521/three-breathing-exercises.html">http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/ART00521/three-breathing-exercises.html</a></div><div closure_uid_l4xnax="371"><br />
</div><div closure_uid_l4xnax="371"><a href="http://health.howstuffworks.com/wellness/stress-management/breathing-exercises.htm">http://health.howstuffworks.com/wellness/stress-management/breathing-exercises.htm</a></div><div closure_uid_l4xnax="371"><br />
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</div><div closure_uid_l4xnax="371"><strong>Visualization Techniques:</strong> There is a school of thought that everything that we create, do, and accomplish begins in the mind. Visualization techniques can help to focus thoughts and channel creative energy and expand imagination. It can also be great fun! Below is a video (one of a series) on visualization that I thought was interesting:</div><div closure_uid_l4xnax="371"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/FW306K548UM?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div closure_uid_l4xnax="371"><br />
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</div><div closure_uid_mbg862="358"><div closure_uid_qcvvme="380"><div closure_uid_l4xnax="374"><strong>Wellness / Support Groups:</strong> These can run the gamut and can be as minimalistic or all-consuming depending on your preference. Any Internet search for wellness or support groups in your area will most likely yield many results. Two examples where you can go for wellness coaching / mentoring are listed below. </div><div closure_uid_l4xnax="374"><a href="http://www.thesharedjourney.com/welcome-3/"><strong>The Shared Journey</strong></a><strong>:</strong> A resource for life and gentle encouragement / coaching for parents (and non-parents too!)</div></div><div closure_uid_qcvvme="380"><br />
</div><div closure_uid_qcvvme="380"><a href="http://www.atlantamindbody.com/"><strong>Atlanta Mind Body</strong></a><strong>:</strong> A resource where you can reconnect with your inner healing wisdom. </div></div><div closure_uid_mbg862="358" closure_uid_qcvvme="419"><br />
</div><div closure_uid_mbg862="358"><div closure_uid_qcvvme="381"><div closure_uid_l4xnax="415"><strong>Doing Something Enjoyable:</strong> Sometimes the simplest things are the best, yet least obvious. Read a book, take an art class, exercise, see a movie. It doesn't much matter, so long as it is something for <u>YOU</u> to renew your spirit and recharge your internal batteries.</div><div closure_uid_l4xnax="415"><br />
</div><div closure_uid_l4xnax="415">Now that you have some ideas to <a href="http://eco-steps.blogspot.com/">eco-step</a> to a better you from the inside out, I encourage you to check out the sites I've posted above. I also invite you to offer additional suggestions for relaxing, regrouping and recharging in the comments section.</div></div></div></div>Amy Considinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09436199214975707102noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5412454229353938041.post-10256001900239400422011-07-08T13:04:00.000-04:002011-07-08T13:04:36.368-04:00Eco-Steps to Preventing Cancer<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.theecologist.org/siteimage/scale/300/2000/77561.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" m$="true" src="http://www.theecologist.org/siteimage/scale/300/2000/77561.jpg" /></a></div>Big title? Yep. Come with me for a moment on a little journey of "<strong>What ifs...</strong>"<br />
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<strong>What if...</strong>you could cure cancer? Even better, what if you could actually PREVENT it? That would be pretty huge, wouldn't it? Think about what that might mean for your life, the lives of your loved ones, and generations to come. Wow, it's pretty staggering to think about.<br />
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<strong>What if...</strong>I suggested, hinted or told you that you already have this ability? Would you think I'm crazy? Maybe. But, what if I'm not? <br />
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<strong>What if...each of us has the power to prevent cancer?</strong><br />
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Let's explore this together.<br />
<a name='more'></a>Firstly, what is cancer? There are many different types of cancer (cancer of this, that and the other thing), but plainly stated: <strong> <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0002267/">Cancer is the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in the body</a>.</strong> Fortunately, medical science has come a long way in the recent past with treatments, and cancer is far more survivable than it used to be. But for the most part, the very mention of the word "cancer" evokes fear and panic. Most of us know first-hand that fear when we hear the news that a loved one, or we, ourselves, has cancer. It's scary stuff-- fear of the unknown, medical procedures, tests, treatment, etc. <br />
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So, if cancer is the uncontrolled growth of cells in our body, shouldn't we have the ability to stop that? <br />
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Dr. David Servan-Schreiber discusses that possibility in his book <span id="btAsinTitle"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Anticancer-New-Way-Life/dp/0670021644/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1310140792&sr=1-1"><strong>Anticancer, A New Way of Life</strong></a>. Through his research and the discovery of his own cancer, Dr. David Servan-Schreiber discusses the possibility that we can, in fact, turn off the cancer genes in our body and stop them from growing. He proposes that we all have cancer cells in our bodies. Some get "turned on" or become activated while others lie dormant. </span><br />
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<span><strong>What if...</strong> Making small changes in what we eat (taking <a href="http://eco-steps.blogspot.com/">eco-steps</a>, if you will) can prevent those cancer cells from waking up?</span><br />
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<span><strong>What if...</strong> "The fight against cancer starts in the kitchen?" </span><span><strong>What if...</strong> it's really that simple??</span><br />
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<span>Of course, I am not minimizing the need for medical intervention, appropriate treatments and proper medical care. But the whole point would be to minimize or eliminate the need for them altogether. </span><br />
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<span>Below is a chart that lists some things to consider for an "anti-cancer" lifestyle: </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.theecologist.org/green_green_living/health_and_beauty/269374/cancer_and_how_to_avoid_it.html"><img border="0" height="640px" m$="true" src="http://theecologist.net-genie.co.uk/siteimage/scale/0/0/77558.gif" width="441px" /></a></div><br />
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<span>The whole point would be to consider making those small changes (or big) to our lives so that we can live happier, longer, healthier lives. We can share this information with our friends, coworkers, family and most importantly, our children.</span><br />
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<span>Here's a little more from Dr. Servan-Schreiber:</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/2lwiQm5QaTs?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br />
<span>Thanks for coming along on my <strong>What if...</strong> journey. I hope you enjoyed it and found it helpful, informative and at the very least, thought provoking. </span><br />
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<span><strong>What if...</strong> we could greatly reduce the incidences of cancer and people lived happier, healthier, longer and more vibrant lives? </span><br />
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<span><strong>What if...</strong> indeed.</span>Amy Considinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09436199214975707102noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5412454229353938041.post-5386851840856085192011-06-07T12:19:00.000-04:002011-06-07T12:19:09.456-04:00Repost: Everything I Ever Wanted to Know About Plastics, But was Afraid to Ask<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.readysetmom.com/.a/6a00d83451c9bc69e2014e88b6fdc2970d-800wi" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="204px" src="http://www.readysetmom.com/.a/6a00d83451c9bc69e2014e88b6fdc2970d-800wi" t8="true" width="320px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A repost from <a href="http://www.enviromom.com/">EnviroMom</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I recently finished reading the book, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Plastic-Toxic-Story-Susan-Freinkel/dp/054715240X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1307463435&sr=8-1">Plastic, A Toxic Love Story</a>, by Susan Freinkel. It was an eye opener for me. Plastic is something I've just not wanted to get into. Over the past few years, don't get me wrong, I've worked hard to eliminate many plastics from our lives. But its ubiquitousness can be exhausting. You find out on a regular basis how many far-fetched things have plastic in them. Metal food cans. Chewing gum, for crying out loud!</div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Plastic, A Toxic Love Story examines seven common plastic items: plastic lawn chair, comb, disposable lighter, grocery bag, IV bag, water bottle and Frisbee. And through that lens, taught me everything I want to know about plastics. I learned about the various resins, and why what works for a yogurt cup won't work for a fizzy-pop bottle. I learned that most credit and gift cards are made of PVC (boo! hiss! evil PVC!). As are IV bags. Gulp (note to self: try not to be hospitalized). I gained a grudging acceptance of the future of bioplastics. Quite simply, this book tells the interesting and engaging stories behind the lifecycles of these common plastic items, and the sometimes surprising ways humans and other animals interact with them. And accidentally become 'a little bit plastic.'</div><br />
<br />
If you are like me, and don't know much about plastics, and glaze over when talk of the chemical building blocks of plastics come up, this is the book for you. Do I sound like I'm doing a third grade book report speech? I hope so. One gripe: in the chapter on the plastic 'monobloc' chair I would have liked some pictures of the earlier plastic chairs designed by Panton and Starck (Louis Ghost). They were easy enough to Google, but still. Except for the cover, this book has no pictures. Overall, I enjoyed this book, and highly recommend it if you're just getting started on your understanding of the complex business of plastics.<br />
<br />
<br />
</div>Amy Considinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09436199214975707102noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5412454229353938041.post-71251500982597826902011-05-25T11:50:00.000-04:002011-05-25T11:50:38.991-04:00Eco-Friendly Picnicking<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://webpub.allegheny.edu/group/psichi/weblog/Picnic2008.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="268px" src="http://webpub.allegheny.edu/group/psichi/weblog/Picnic2008.gif" t8="true" width="320px" /></a></div>With the unofficial beginning of summer almost upon us in the US, many head out for picnics, cookouts, barbeques, and outdoor gatherings galore. <strong>It's a great time of year, for sure.</strong> <br />
<br />
<strong>However, there is a down side. Most of those picnics, etc., come with a lot of disposables-- plates, cups, utensils, napkins, etc., that end up in the trash, adding up over time to billions of tons of garbage polluting our planet. </strong><br />
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<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
According to the <a href="http://www.epa.gov/">EPA</a>, in 2003:<br />
<br />
<ul style="text-align: left;"><li style="text-align: left;">970 thousand tons of paper cups and plates were discarded. If we approximate 15 grams weight for each cup or plate, we get 64 billion paper cups and plates being thrown away every year in the US.</li>
<li style="text-align: left;"> 730 thousand tons of styrofoam and plastic plates and cups (710 thousand tons were styrofoam) were disposed. Using 10 grams weight for each cup or plate, we get 73 billion mostly styrofoam cups and plates being thrown away every year in the US.</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">A total of 3,810 thousand tons of plastic containers & bottles were thrown away. Using a generous number of 20 grams for each container, we get a number of 190 billion plastic containers & bottles being landfilled or incinerated every year.</li>
</ul><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><strong>The upside: We can change this trend. You and me. We can take little <a href="http://eco-steps.blogspot.com/">eco-steps</a> to keep these items out of our landfills.</strong><br />
<br />
As you head out for your Memorial Day cookouts, gatherings, picnics, what have you, please consider using <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/manufacturing/2008-12-25-biodegradable-plastic_N.htm">biodegradeable</a> plasticware or paper. If you can't find biodegradables, try looking for those that are made from recycled products. Better yet, go all out and treat yourself to "real" dishes and silverware. Sure it may take a little bit longer to wash those dishes, but just think how good you'll feel about keeping all of that garbage out of the landfills!<br />
<br />
Some additional resources and reading:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.cleanair.org/Waste/wasteFacts.html">Clean Air Council</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodegradable_plastic">Biodegradable Plastic</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://ssi.ucsd.edu/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=216:compelling-recycling-facts-from-earth-911&catid=8:newsflash&Itemid=20">Sustainability Solutions Institute</a><br />
<br />
</div>Amy Considinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09436199214975707102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5412454229353938041.post-6060935725533824062011-05-13T13:32:00.000-04:002011-05-13T13:32:26.880-04:00Plastic Pestilence<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4yuetsoln.com/images/vickyenter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" j8="true" src="http://4yuetsoln.com/images/vickyenter.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div>After doing my darndest to reduce my family's use of plastics when it comes to food storage, I must admit, I still have and use plastic food storage containers. Call it Tupperware, plasticware, Rubbermaid, Glad lock, take-a-longs, whatever you like. I bet most American households have some sort of plastic food storage products. And I would even feel fairly confident in stating that most of us probably have more than just a "few" pieces. <br />
<br />
(In fact, I have a suspicion that this stuff magically multiplies at night when nobody's looking-- lids begetting lids, running amok never again to be matched up with their bases!)<br />
<br />
But back to the issue at hand. Why do we use plastic for food storage? <br />
<a name='more'></a>The answer is simple really: Convenience. It's convenient to put last night's leftovers into plastic containers, put them into the fridge, then heat them up the next day or whenever for a tasty meal. Along with convenience comes cheap. It's far less expensive to use plastic food containers than say, glass, ceramic, or metal, or so it would seem. The initial cost up front is less, but if you buy them over and over again, those cheap costs add up.<br />
<br />
The flip side: But plastic is reusable. Yes! And part of Tupperware's whole theme is that it is intended to be reused over and over again, not recycled. Hence, you won't see one of those <a href="http://plasticrevolution.blogspot.com/2008/09/plastics-de-coded.html">plastic recycling codes</a> on the bottom. Reusable plastic does keep garbage out of the landfills, which is definitely a good thing. However, that's really only part of the story. <br />
<br />
Depending on the kind of plastic food storage containers you buy, you may be getting some extra unwanted ingredients with your warmed up leftovers! Even if the plastic is labeled as "microwave safe," you may be getting a good dose phthalates (pronounced Th-ah-lates) or BPA along with your food. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phthalate">Phthalates</a> are "plasticizers" and are used in a variety of household applications such as shower curtains, vinyl upholstery, adhesives, floor tiles, food containers and wrappers, and cleaning materials. They ware used to make goods more flexible and /or durable. However, phthalates are also <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endocrine_Disruptors">endocrine disruptors</a>, which means that they "interfere with the synthesis, secretion, transport, binding, action, or elimination of natural <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hormone" title="Hormone">hormones</a> in the body that are responsible for development, behavior, fertility, and maintenance of homeostasis (normal cell metabolism)."<br />
<br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bisphenol_A">BPA</a>, or Bisphenol A, is also another known endocrine disruptor found in some plastics. BPA is known to be estrogenic. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Estrogenic">Estrogenic</a> (think estrogen) means that BPA mimics and acts like female sex hormones in our bodies. There have been studies done that indicate that the increased use of plastics in our food supply may be contributing to early onset of puberty in young girls as well as having a negative impact on boys. In all fairness, some companies have taken care to make their plastic products BPA-free, but if you have some plastic food storage containers that have been hanging around awhile, you may want to consider getting rid of them.<br />
<br />
When you heat up your food, or put your warm food in into a plastic food storage container, the oils and fats in the food bind with some of the plastic particles (phthalates and BPA, etc.), contaminating your food and ultimately your body! <br />
<br />
The moral of the story: Avoid using plastic containers when reheating your food or for storing hot or warm foods. Use glass or ceramic instead. <br />
<br />
Which, brings me to the next topic: What to do with all of this plastic? Do you give it away knowing that it is potentially harmful? Do you throw it away when you know that it will be in a landfill for eternity? It's an interesting dilemma for sure.<br />
<br />
</div>Amy Considinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09436199214975707102noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5412454229353938041.post-69652911368284235562011-05-10T16:03:00.000-04:002011-05-10T16:03:21.475-04:00Where Does Your Recycling Go?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Below is a short video for those of us who wonder where our recycling goes after it's picked up from the bins we set out on the curb every week. <br />
<br />
<br />
<div id="grabDiv1647687"><object align="middle" data="http://player.grabnetworks.com/swf/GrabOSMFPlayer.swf?id=1647687&content=vf597babbaab77135a0676147a8de2edbc8b23ac2" height="270" id="GrabPlayer1647687" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="480"><param name="quality" value="high"/><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"/><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"/><param name="menu" value="false"/><param name="movie" value="http://player.grabnetworks.com/swf/GrabOSMFPlayer.swf?id=1647687&content=vf597babbaab77135a0676147a8de2edbc8b23ac2"/></object></div><br />
<br />
I found this video encouraging in that recycling does give cardboard, cans, plastic and glass new life. Even more encouraging is that these products can have almost infinite reincarnations, keeping garbage out of the landfills.<br />
<br />
Some recycling statistics: <br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
<ul style="text-align: left;"><li>About one-third of an average dump is made up of packaging material!</li>
<li>On average, it costs $30 per ton to recycle trash, $50 to send it to the landfill, and $65 to $75 to incinerate it.</li>
<li>Plastic bags and other plastic garbage thrown into the ocean kill as many as 1,000,000 sea creatures every year!</li>
<li>By recycling one plastic bottle not only saves anywhere from 100 to 1000 years in the landfill but also saves the environment from the emissions in producing new bottles as well as the oil used to produce that bottle.</li>
<li><br />
Plastics in the U.S. are made primarily (70 percent) from domestic natural gas.</li>
</ul> <br />
<div style="text-align: left;">Read more about recycling on these fine sites (and be sure to recycle)!! It's a great <a href="http://eco-steps.blogspot.com/">Eco-Step</a> to a better tomorrow!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><a href="http://www.recycling-revolution.com/recycling-facts.html">Recycling Facts</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.environment-green.com/">Benefits of Recycling</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.epa.gov/osw/conserve/rrr/recycle.htm">Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://eco-steps.blogspot.com/2010/08/creative-uses-for-yogurt-cups-and-lids.html">Creative Uses for Yogurt Cups & Lids</a><br />
</div>Amy Considinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09436199214975707102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5412454229353938041.post-21038103536279479182011-04-28T14:39:00.000-04:002011-04-28T14:39:44.936-04:0042 Ways to Not Make Trash — by No Impact Man Colin Beavan<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip5UB16lclsLAv5Y1JwDcUz4-bwL8eHJOvW5R9bQlZPsMT1mujM7jT08PUqlQjRbepPT6X18TCmcxAYeGFVcTZeDtoisCX_80fFiW96n_Fe8XoRDYCIV7ACyQGQ7caeQDIrV5IkL5THgUr/s1600/earth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip5UB16lclsLAv5Y1JwDcUz4-bwL8eHJOvW5R9bQlZPsMT1mujM7jT08PUqlQjRbepPT6X18TCmcxAYeGFVcTZeDtoisCX_80fFiW96n_Fe8XoRDYCIV7ACyQGQ7caeQDIrV5IkL5THgUr/s320/earth.jpg" width="286px" /></a><br />
<br />
42 Ways to Not Make Trash — by No Impact Man Colin Beavan<br />
<br />
(A Timely Re-Post)<br />
<br />
Together with his family, Colin Beavan—aka No Impact Man—spent a year trying to live in the middle of New York City without having a negative impact on the environment. One of his first challenges: getting through everyday life without producing trash. Below are some of his favorite tips and tricks.<br />
<br />
No soda in cans (which means we’re probably less likely to get cancer from <a href="http://www.cspinet.org/reports/chemcuisine.htm#aspartame" jquery1304014193791="18" target="_blank">aspartame</a>).<br />
No water in plastic bottles (which means we get to keep our endocrines <a href="http://www.thegreenguide.com/doc/101/plastic" jquery1304014193791="19" target="_blank">undisrupted</a>).<br />
No coffee in disposable cups (which means we don’t suffer from the morning sluggishness that comes from <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/6422279.stm" jquery1304014193791="20" target="_blank">overnight caffeine withdrawal</a>).<br />
No throwaway plastic razors and blade cartridges (I’m staging the <a href="http://www.motherearthnews.com/DIY/1972-03-01/How-To-Use-A-Straight-Razor.aspx" jquery1304014193791="21" target="_blank">straightedge razor</a> comeback).<br />
Using <a href="http://www.lunapads.com/default.aspx?" jquery1304014193791="22" target="_blank">non-disposable</a> feminine-hygiene products that aren’t <a href="http://www.spotsite.org/village.html" jquery1304014193791="23" target="_blank">bad for women</a> and are good for the planet.<br />
No Indian food in throwaway takeout tubs.<br />
No Italian food in plastic throwaway tubs.<br />
No Chinese food in plastic throwaway tubs.<br />
Taking our own reusable containers to takeout joints (except that now we’re <a href="http://noimpactman.typepad.com/blog/2007/03/eating_local_vs.html" jquery1304014193791="24">eating local</a> so this tip is out for us).<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
Admitting that we sometimes miss Indian, Italian and Chinese takeout.<br />
Hopping on the scale and celebrating the loss of my 20-pound spare tire since I stopped eating bucketsful of Indian, Italian and Chinese takeout.<br />
<br />
Buying milk in returnable, reusable <a href="http://www.ronnybrook.com/site_new/home_start.html" jquery1304014193791="25" target="_blank">glass bottles</a>.<br />
Shopping for honey and pickled veggies and other goods in jars only from merchants who will take back the jars and reuse them.<br />
Returning egg and berry cartons to the vendors at the farmers’ market for reuse.<br />
Using neither paper nor plastic bags and bringing our own <a href="http://www.theorganicreport.com/pages/445_reusable_bags_tackle_plastic_bag_mess.cfm" jquery1304014193791="26" target="_blank">reusable bags</a> when grocery shopping.<br />
Canceling our magazine and newspaper subscriptions and reading online (you can still <a class="external-link" href="http://store.yesmagazine.org/donate" jquery1304014193791="27">make a donation</a> to support the media organizations you value).<br />
<br />
Putting an end to the <a href="http://noimpactman.typepad.com/blog/2007/05/stopping_the_ju.html" jquery1304014193791="29">junk mail tree killing</a>.<br />
Carrying my ultra-cool <a href="http://noimpactman.typepad.com/blog/2007/07/my-ultra-cool-r.html" jquery1304014193791="30">reusable cup</a> and <a href="http://noimpactman.typepad.com/blog/2007/07/my-ultra-cool-1.html" jquery1304014193791="31">water bottle</a> (which is a glass jar I diverted from the landfill and got for free).<br />
Carrying <a href="http://noimpactman.typepad.com/blog/2007/04/oh_no_here_come.html" jquery1304014193791="32">reusable cloths</a> for everything from blowing my nose to drying my hands to wrapping up a purchased bagel.<br />
Wiping my hands on my pants instead of using a paper towel when I forget my cloth.<br />
Politely asking restaurant servers to take away paper and plastic napkins, placemats, straws, cups and single-serving containers.<br />
Explaining to servers with a big smile that I am on a make-no-garbage kick.<br />
Leaving servers a big tip for dealing with my obsessive-compulsive, make-no-garbage nonsense, since they can’t take the big smile to the bank.<br />
Pretending McDonalds and Burger King and all their paper and plastic wrappers just don’t exist.<br />
Buying no candy bars, gum, lollypops or ice cream (not even Ben and Jerry’s peanut butter cup) that is individually packaged.<br />
Making my own <a href="http://noimpactman.typepad.com/blog/2007/04/help_i_need_to_.html" jquery1304014193791="33">household cleaners</a> to avoid all the throwaway plastic bottles.<br />
Using baking soda from a recyclable container to <a href="http://www.realsimple.com/realsimple/content/clean/0,21770,1030037,00.html" jquery1304014193791="34" target="_blank">brush my teeth</a>.<br />
Using baking soda for a <a href="http://www.realsimple.com/realsimple/content/clean/0,21770,1030037,00.html" jquery1304014193791="35" target="_blank">deodorant</a> to avoid the plastic containers that deodorant typically comes in (cheap and works well).<br />
Using baking soda for <a href="http://www.naturalfamilyonline.com/go/index.php/389/why-you-should-go-no-poo/" jquery1304014193791="36" target="_blank">shampoo</a> to avoid plastic shampoo bottles.<br />
<a class="external-link" href="http://store.yesmagazine.org/donate/become-dedicated-friend-no-impact-book" jquery1304014193791="37"></a><br />
<a href="http://www.lesecologycenter.org/composting_worms.html" jquery1304014193791="39" target="_blank">Keeping a worm bin</a> to compost our food scraps into nourishment that can be returned to the earth instead of toxins that seep from the landfills.<br />
Switching to real—meaning cloth—diapers which Isabella, before she was potty-trained, liked much better.<br />
Not buying anything disposable.<br />
Not buying anything in packaging (and count the money we save because that means pretty much buy nothing unless it’s second hand).<br />
Shopping for food only from the bulk bins and from the local farmer’s market where food is unpackaged and fresh.<br />
Forgetting about prepackaged, processed food of any description.<br />
Being happy that the result is that we get to <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/2814253.stm" jquery1304014193791="40" target="_blank">eat food instead of chemicals</a>.<br />
Giving our second-hand clothes away to <a href="http://www.housingworks.org/home_f.html" jquery1304014193791="41" target="_blank">Housing Works</a> or other charities.<br />
Offering products we no longer need on <a href="http://www.freecycle.org/" jquery1304014193791="42" target="_blank">Freecycle</a> instead of throwing them away.<br />
Collecting used paper from other people's trash and using the other side.<br />
Using old clothes for rags around the apartment instead of paper towels.<br />
Talking with humor about what we’re doing because making a little less trash is a concrete first step everyone can take that leads to more and more environmental consciousness.<br />
<br />
You can learn more at <a href="http://noimpactman.typepad.com/blog/">No Impact Man</a>. </div>Amy Considinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09436199214975707102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5412454229353938041.post-65492584623224364742011-04-13T11:59:00.000-04:002011-04-13T11:59:12.525-04:00Got Sole??<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.womansday.com/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/wd2/content/shelter/organizing-cleaning/how-to-recycle-old-shoes/779609-1-eng-US/How-to-Recycle-Old-Shoes_full_article_vertical.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="http://www.womansday.com/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/wd2/content/shelter/organizing-cleaning/how-to-recycle-old-shoes/779609-1-eng-US/How-to-Recycle-Old-Shoes_full_article_vertical.jpg" width="270" /></a></div>No, not the fish, although that could be tasty. What I'm talking about here are the soles on shoes. How many shoes do you have? How many do you need? Arguably, most of us probably have way too many shoes in our closets. Some we wear now and then, a few pairs of these, a couple of pairs of those in various colors, heel types, out-of-date styles, etc. Although I did a post last year entitled <a href="http://eco-steps.blogspot.com/2010/04/surrender-your-soles.html">Surrender your Soles</a> about donating shoes to those who are in need, a recent stop at my local <a href="http://www.goodwill.org/">Good Will</a> drop off location reminded me that it was probably time to take another inventory. The receiving attendant commented that Americans have way too many shoes (based on the fact that the previous donation was over 50 pairs-- from one woman!). Kudos to her for donating her shoes.<br />
<br />
Here's an interesting thought: Every year, between <a href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=8&ved=0CDoQFjAH&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.soles4souls.org%2Fnews%2F2011%2F04-12%2Fgo-green-with-soles4souls&ei=y8GlTdW1H6ST0QHq7L2HCQ&usg=AFQjCNFIW0PLlljf4xMvcJKaxAeK863dHg&sig2=_e14QLSzEsJLAAZ7qD5CoQ">100 and 300 million pairs</a> of shoes end up in landfills. What's worse is that these shoes take anywhere from 40 to 1000 years to break down, depending on what they're made from. <br />
<br />
Adding insult to injury, a quick Internet search indicates that nearly 300 million people are without shoes. No shoes. Period. Think about how your daily life would be different if you didn't have any shoes to wear, or anything to protect your feet.<br />
<br />
With <a href="http://www.earthday.org/">Earth Day</a> celebrating its 41st birthday on April 22nd, donating your gently used and rarely worn shoes to those in need is a great way to <a href="http://eco-steps.blogspot.com/">eco-step</a> your way to a greener tomorrow and to help your fellow humans. What a great way to show your Earth Day spirit!<br />
<br />
From personal experience, I can tell you that donating your shoes and spreading the word is not hard at all. Last year, I collected 57 pairs of shoes (from just my immediate family) and sent them to <a href="http://www.soles4souls.org/">Soles 4 Souls</a>. <br />
<br />
<br />
You can find the nearest Souls 4 Soles Drop off location here: <br />
<a href="http://www.soles4souls.org/about/locations.html">http://www.soles4souls.org/about/locations.html</a> <br />
<br />
Below are some other excellent places to donate your shoes: <br />
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<a href="http://www.goodwill.org/">Goodwill</a> <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.salvationarmy.org/">Salvation Army</a> <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.volunteersofamerica.org/">Volunteers of America </a><br />
<br />
I am sure there are others. If you know of another place to donate shoes, please share. <br />
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Happy Eco-Stepping and Happy Earth Day! <br />
</div>Amy Considinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09436199214975707102noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5412454229353938041.post-49007925328738978632011-03-15T09:34:00.001-04:002011-03-15T11:55:45.912-04:00Fabric Softener or Health and Environmental Menace?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.treehugger.com/downy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="174" q6="true" src="http://www.treehugger.com/downy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The other day I was in my local grocery store and I happened to pick up a bottle of fabric softener to check the ingredients. I am curious like that. While I have been known to make my own <a href="http://eco-steps.blogspot.com/2010/02/on-my-soapbox-fight-club-re-run-with.html">laundry soap</a> and <a href="http://eco-steps.blogspot.com/2010/06/let-it-all-hang-out-why-line-drying-is.html">hang my clothes outside</a> (or on bars over heat vents) to dry, I have to admit I like my clothes to smell nice and "clean." But what <em>IS</em> the smell of clean that comes from fabric softeners? What ingredients make up that blue, green, yellow or pink liquid that we pour into our washing machines, infuse into our clothes and then pump out into our septic systems, sewers and waterways?<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
One <a href="http://www.enotes.com/how-products-encyclopedia/fabric-softener">source</a> indicates that fabric softeners work by "depositing lubricating chemicals on the fabric that make it feel softer, reduce static cling, and impart a fresh fragrance." Lubricating chemicals? Really? <br />
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<a href="http://www.national-toxic-encephalopathy-foundation.org/fsoft.pdf">Another study</a> found that fabric softeners often contain chemicals such as benzyl acetate, formaldehyde, camphor, chloroform, ethyl acetate, pentane, linalool and limonene. And, according to the Allergy and Environmental Health Association, both liquid and dryer sheet fabric softeners are “the most <a href="http://www.care2.com/greenliving/6-natural-alternatives-to-toxic-fabric-softeners.html#">toxic product produced</a> for daily household use.” <br />
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My friends over at <a href="http://treehugger.com/">Treehugger.com</a> discovered that some fabric softeners actually contain <a href="http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008/11/vegan-alert-animal-fat-in-downy.php#">rendered animal fat</a> mixed with ammonium chloride to give clothes and towels that snuggly soft feeling. Hmm... rendered animal fat. Sounds cozy, doesn't it?<br />
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I don't know about you, but I don't want any of that stuff on my clothes, towels, sheets or on my skin. Yuck!<br />
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Luckily, fabric softeners are completely optional. We've become conditioned to believe that our clothes aren't clean unless we use these chemical concoctions. (Effective marketing, no?) In the spirit of <a href="http://eco-steps.blogspot.com/">eco-steps</a>, there are natural, less toxic and less expensive options for softening clothes. Here are a few ideas:<br />
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Add a 1/2 cup of baking soda to the water in your washing machine and let it dissolve prior to adding your clothes.<br />
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Add 1 cup of <a href="http://www.care2.com/greenliving/23-ingenious-uses-for-white-vinegar.html">white vinegar</a> instead of fabric softener. The vinegar will erase any traces of laundry detergent or soap and the smell will dissipate when the clothes are dry. (I use this method and my clothes never smell like vinegar). <br />
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<a href="http://www.seventhgeneration.com/Fabric-Softener">Seventh Generation</a> makes an all natural fabric softener if you don't want to go the vinegar or baking soda route. <br />
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Aside from the toxic chemical polution aspect of fabric softeners, let's take a look at the dollars and sense of it. (Yes, I used the wrong word on purpose). I did a little investigative shopping and compared a gallon of fabric softener with a gallon of white vinegar, which can be used as a natural . Here's what I found:<br />
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A gallon of fabric softener cost $8.38 USD.<br />
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A gallon of store brand white vinegar cost $2.29 USD. <br />
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The white vinegar is roughly 1/3 the cost of the fabric softener. <br />
(Again, this is one example, prices may vary, etc.). <br />
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So arguably, using natural fabric softeneners is better for you, the environment <u>and</u> your wallet. A complete win-win! I encourage you to check your fabric softener labels and do your homework when it comes to any of the products you use in your home. These are the things we use everyday. Making small changes (<a href="http://eco-steps.blogspot.com/">eco-steps</a>) to what we buy and use really can add up to make a difference.<br />
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I am sure there are other options out there for naturally softening clothes. Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section.</div>Amy Considinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09436199214975707102noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5412454229353938041.post-78047563392777170312011-03-08T09:28:00.001-05:002011-03-08T14:25:31.288-05:00Eco-Stepping with Community Supported Agriculture<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://foodsfordiabetics.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/fruits_vegetables.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" q6="true" src="http://foodsfordiabetics.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/fruits_vegetables.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><a href="http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/d/dan_seals/id_really_love_to_see_you_tonight.html">"Hello, yeah, it's been a while. Not much, how about you?" </a><br />
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Okay, so now that you're in a '70's kind of mood, let's talk about Community Supported Agriculture or CSAs. Community Supported What?<br />
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According to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Community_supported_agriculture">Wikipedia</a>, community-supported agriculture (in Canada Community Shared Agriculture) (CSA) is a socio-economic model of agriculture and food distribution. A CSA consists of a community of individuals who pledge support to a farming operation where the growers and consumers share the risks and benefits of food production. CSAs usually consist of a system of weekly delivery or pick-up of vegetables and fruit, in a vegetable box scheme, and sometimes includes dairy products and meat.<br />
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Still feeling the 70's or even the 60's? Maybe even a little hippie-ish? Let's press on with a little history. <br />
Community-supported agriculture began in the early 1960s in Germany, Switzerland and Japan as a response to concerns about food safety and the urbanization of agricultural land. That may sound like long, long ago and far, far away, but recent news has indicated otherwise. <br />
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At present, world food prices have skyrocketed with no real end in sight. And with <a href="http://eco-steps.blogspot.com/2010/08/small-actions-big-results.html#more">June of 2010</a> being the hottest on record, the BP oil disaster in the Gulf of Mexico, flooding in Pakistan, and drought and wild fires in Russia, I think it's time that everyone start paying a little closer attention. <br />
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Additionally in March of 2011, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) <a href="http://www.fao.org/worldfoodsituation/wfs-home/foodpricesindex/en/">Food Price Index</a> (FFPI) rose for the eighth consecutive month, averaging 236 points in February 2011, up 2.2 percent from January and the highest since January 1990, with dairy products and cereals (grains) climbing the most. It would seem that globally, we are on the edge of what has been called "<a href="http://www.earth-policy.org/plan_b_updates/2011/update90">The Great Food Crisis of 2011</a>." <br />
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Well, all of that sure sounds scary and complicated. But in the spirit of <a href="http://eco-steps.blogspot.com/2009/10/small-eco-steps-to-live-better-preserve.html">eco-steps</a>, we (you and me, our neighbors, friends, etc.) can help do something about it. Instead buying food from far across the globe-- or the average of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Food_miles">1500-2000 miles</a> away, we could check out our local CSA scene. The benefits are many including:<br />
<ul><li>Access to seasonal fresh fruits and veggies and sometimes meat, dairy and eggs. Many use <a href="http://www.organicconsumers.org/organic/organics101.cfm">organic</a> practices even if they are not certified. </li>
<li>Keeping your dollars in your local economy. For every $100 spent at a chain store, only $13 stays in the community. For every $100 spent locally, $45 remains in the community.</li>
<li>Reducing the <a href="http://www.carbonfootprint.com/calculator.aspx">carbon footprint</a> of your food. Factoid: A typical carrot has to travel 1,838 miles to reach your dinner table. No wonder they end up limp and lifeless in your fridge! They're tired!!</li>
<li>Connecting to your community and deepening your roots (pun intended).</li>
<li>Improving your <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Food_security">food security</a> by simplifying the food supply chain.</li>
</ul>You can learn more about your local CSAs at <a href="http://www.localharvest.org/csa/">Local Harvest</a>. Local Harvest also lists farms and farmer's markets-- another option for fresh produce, meats and dairy.<br />
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Going local isn't just for adults. Kids are really getting into the concept of eating fresh, locally grown food. After all, they are our future. So it's important that they get started out on the right path! You can check out one youngster's journey at <a href="http://veggiesgocrunch.blogspot.com/">Veggies Go Crunch!</a> <br />
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Have you already joined a CSA? What have your experiences been? Do you have suggestions or can you add to the list of benefits? Or, are you a newbie and have questions? We'd love to hear from you! <br />
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Please add your thoughts to the comments section below!</div>Amy Considinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09436199214975707102noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5412454229353938041.post-15943849440136135702010-10-26T19:51:00.001-04:002010-10-26T20:02:17.643-04:00What do GMOs Have to do With World Hunger?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://cdn.picapp.com/ftp/Images/0289/1dd16086-5fa6-4a75-a8ee-589ec7dd2af4.jpg?adImageId=12676684&imageId=292581" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://cdn.picapp.com/ftp/Images/0289/1dd16086-5fa6-4a75-a8ee-589ec7dd2af4.jpg?adImageId=12676684&imageId=292581" width="320" /></a></div>The objective of this part of the <a href="http://cchronicle.com/2010/10/21-days-for-world-hunger/" target="_blank">21 day World Hunger</a> series has been to shed light on the dangers or potential health risks of genetically modified foods in our food supply. Under the guise of mass production to feed the world's hungry, Big Agra has artificially and genetically altered staple crops like corn and soybeans. And while this seems to be a noble cause, the introduction of genetically modified organisms or GMOs into our food supply may have far-reaching negative consequences. Given the mounting research indicating that more testing and studying needs to be done before we unleash these foods into the global food chain, we need to start asking some very important questions.<img alt="" class="mceWPmore mceItemNoResize" src="http://cchronicle.com/wp-includes/js/tinymce/plugins/wordpress/img/trans.gif" title="More..." /><br />
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1) Is it really fair to subject starving or undernourished people to possibly more health risks by feeding them GMOs?<br />
2) Big Agra GMO crops decimate the soil and environment through the use of pesticides and should Big Agra companies like Monsanto be allowed to rape and pillage both the earth and its people?<br />
3) Should Big Agra be given the green light to continue to corner the market on GM seeds?<br />
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I think the resounding answer here is NO!<br />
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As mentioned on my article on Day 9 of the World Hunger series, <a href="http://cchronicle.com/2010/10/world-hunger-from-gmo-chemistry-set-to-table/" target="_blank">From GMO Chemistry Set to Table</a>, the attempts of Big Agra companies like <a href="http://www.monsanto.com/" target="_blank">Monsanto</a>, <a href="http://www2.dupont.com/DuPont_Home/en_US/index.html" target="_blank">DuPont</a>, <a href="http://www.basf.com/group/corporate/en/" target="_blank">BASF</a>, <a href="http://www.bayerus.com/Main_Home.aspx" target="_blank">Bayer</a>, and <a href="http://www2.syngenta.com/en/index.html" target="_blank">Syngenta</a> and a handful of others have resulted in a "<a href="http://ucsusa.org/food_and_agriculture/science_and_impacts/science/failure-to-yield.html" target="_blank">Failure to Yield</a>."<br />
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I'll say it again: <b>FAILURE TO YIELD</b>.<br />
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Which means that the basic premise of using genetically modified food to grow more, faster, and better to solve the world's hunger problems has failed-- and huge. Not only has Big Agra failed to solve the world's hunger problem, it has put farmers out of business and millions and millions of our lives us at risk-- not to mention the environmental impact. The constantly emerging GMO-related health issues since 1996 are a leading indicator that Big Agra and their GMOs are clearly not the answer to world hunger.<br />
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But, before we get to possible solutions, let's dispel some myths. According to the <a href="http://www.foodfirst.org/pubs/backgrdrs/1998/s98v5n3.html" target="_blank">Institute for Food & Development Policy</a>, there are several myths surrounding world hunger. <b>One of the most common myths is that there are just too many people:</b><br />
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<i>Birth rates are falling rapidly worldwide as remaining regions of the Third World begin the demographic transition—when birth rates drop in response to an earlier decline in death rates. Although rapid population growth remains a serious concern in many countries, nowhere does population density explain hunger. For every Bangladesh, a densely populated and hungry country, we find a Nigeria, Brazil or Bolivia, where abundant food resources coexist with hunger. Costa Rica, with only half of Honduras' cropped acres per person, boasts a life expectancy—one indicator of nutrition —11 years longer than that of Honduras and close to that of developed countries. Rapid population growth is not the root cause of hunger. Like hunger itself, it results from underlying inequities that deprive people, especially poor women, of economic opportunity and security. </i><br />
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<b>Another popular myth is that there is just not enough food to go around:</b><br />
<i>Abundance, not scarcity, best describes the world's food supply. Enough wheat, rice and other grains are produced to provide every human being with 3,500 calories a day. That doesn't even count many other commonly eaten foods - vegetables, beans, nuts, root crops, fruits, grass-fed meats, and fish. Enough food is available to provide at least 4.3 pounds of food per person a day worldwide: two and half pounds of grain, beans and nuts, about a pound of fruits and vegetables, and nearly another pound of meat, milk and eggs-enough to make most people fat! The problem is that many people are too poor to buy readily available food. Even most "hungry countries" have enough food for all their people right now. Many are net exporters of food and other agricultural products.</i><br />
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Okay, so what<i> is </i>the solution? I don't believe there is one simple answer and I don't claim to have it. And as mentioned on Day 9 of this series, it is <a href="https://www.msu.edu/%7Ehowardp/foodsystem.html" target="_blank">complex.</a><br />
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Some of my fellow<i> Conducive Chronicle</i> writers are specially exploring solutions to world hunger. You can read the research on urban farming, seed sharing and other solutions by clicking this <a href="http://cchronicle.com/2010/10/21-days-for-world-hunger/" target="_blank">link</a>.<br />
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Perhaps the solution lies with us. You and me. And our friends, neighbors, social groups, etc. Here are some ideas:<br />
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<b>1) We can eat less. </b> Really. This may touch a nerve, but a quick look around will tell you that most of us eat plenty more than we need. In the U.S., the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diet_and_obesity" target="_blank">average daily caloric availability</a> (food available to us to eat) is over 3600 calories. That's about 1200 more than an "average" adult needs to sustain.<br />
<b>2) Choose organic foods over GMO foods.</b> (see <a href="http://cchronicle.com/2010/10/21-days-for-world-hunger-day-11-how-to-avoid-the-gmo-bad-nasties/" target="_blank">How to Avoid the GMO Bad Nasties</a>).<br />
<b>3) We can waste less.</b> We really could feed the world's hungry with the food we waste. According to anthropologist <a href="http://www.abc.net.au/rn/scienceshow/stories/2004/1256017.htm" target="_blank">Dr. Timothy Jones</a>, the United States throws away just about half of the food it produces. HALF.<br />
<b>4) Give to local food banks.</b> <a href="http://feedingamerica.org/foodbank-results.aspx" target="_blank">Feeding America</a> has provides a search tool to help you search to find your nearest food bank to donate food to those who are hungry. In 2008, <a href="http://www.frac.org/html/hunger_in_the_us/hunger_index.html" target="_blank">there were 49.1 million people</a> in the U.S. living in food insecure households. 16.7 million of them were children. So hunger isn't necessarily far away, it's all around us.<br />
<b>5) Urge our elected officials to get on board and actually DO something</b> to 1) stop Big Agra from poisoning us all with their GMOs and 2) engage the geo-political food system to help get food where it <u>needs</u> to go-- not to whomever has the most money or lobbying power. Check them out here:<br />
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<a href="http://cchronicle.com/wp-admin/www.house.gov/" target="_blank">U.S House of Representatives</a><br />
<a href="http://cchronicle.com/wp-admin/www.senate.gov/" target="_blank">U.S. Senate</a><br />
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<b>21 Days for World Hunger</b><br />
<a href="http://cchronicle.com/2010/10/21-days-for-world-hunger/" target="_blank">Day 1</a><br />
<a href="http://cchronicle.com/2010/10/focus-on-hunger-interview-with-vandana-shiva/" target="_blank">Day 2 Focus on Hunger: Interview with Vandana Shiva</a><br />
<a href="http://cchronicle.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=18361&action=edit&message=6" target="_blank">Day 3 Cambodia: Portrait of Hunger</a><br />
<a href="http://cchronicle.com/2010/10/a-mindful-approach-to-food-fosters-compassion-for-the-worlds-hungry/" target="_blank">Day 4 A Mindful Approach to Food Fosters Compassion for the World's Hungry</a><br />
<a href="http://cchronicle.com/2010/10/how-does-mindful-farming-help-solve-world-hunger/" target="_blank">Day 5 How Does Mindful Farming Help Solve World Hunger</a><br />
<a href="http://cchronicle.com/2010/10/sustainable-vegan-farming-practices-empower-the-worlds-hungry/" target="_blank">Day 6 Sustainable Vegan Farming Practices Empower the World's Hungry</a><br />
<a href="http://cchronicle.com/2010/10/food-deserts-and-urban-farm-markets/" target="_blank">Day 7 Food Deserts and Urban Farm Markets</a><br />
<a href="http://cchronicle.com/2010/10/vandana-shiva-and-the-navdanya-farmers-network/" target="_blank">Day 8 Vandana Shiva and the Navdanya Farmers Network</a><br />
<a href="http://cchronicle.com/2010/10/world-hunger-from-gmo-chemistry-set-to-table/" target="_blank">Day 9 World Hunger: From GMO Chemistry Set to Table?</a><br />
<a href="http://cchronicle.com/2010/10/the-generational-consequences-of-gmos/" target="_blank">Day 10 The Generational Consequences of GMOs</a><br />
Consider purchasing a <i>World Hunger: Be the Solution Tee</i>. Proceeds from the shirt will go to Navdanya, the <a href="http://www.smallplanetinstitute.org/" target="_blank">Small Planet Institute Fund</a> the <a href="http://www.ifundafrica.org/" target="_blank">International Fund for Africa</a>. All tees are sweat free and available in organic cotton. To see the selection of World Hunger tees at Conducive’s Humanitarian & Human Rights Tee store, click <a href="http://conducivetee.spreadshirt.com/world-hunger-solution-C74842/" target="_blank">here</a>.Amy Considinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09436199214975707102noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5412454229353938041.post-87138009766803675692010-10-22T20:53:00.001-04:002010-10-26T20:01:55.948-04:00How to Avoid the GMO Bad Nasties<div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter" height="300" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ea/USDA_organic_seal.svg/500px-USDA_organic_seal.svg.png" width="300" /></div>Today is my third day of exploring GMO and world hunger, as part of <i>Conducive Chronicle</i>’s <a href="http://cchronicle.com/2010/10/21-days-for-world-hunger/" target="_blank">21 days for Hunger</a>. GMO food has been used as a solution for world hunger, but I will discuss some of the problems of this approach.<br />
With such a high percentage of foods containing GMOs in some way, shape or form, you may be asking yourself how you can possibly avoid what I'll call the GMO Bad Nasties. And with <a href="http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2007/08/02/genetically-modified-organisms-are-a-looming-threat.aspx" target="_blank">over 70% of the food in grocery stores today containing some sort of GMO</a>, admittedly this is a tough one. Luckily, there is a way. One of the best ways to avoid GMOs is to go <a href="http://www.foodmatters.tv/_webapp/Organics" target="_blank">organic</a>.<br />
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<i>"Organic produce is labeled organic when it has been grown, raised, harvested and packaged without the use of harmful chemicals, such as fertilizers, pesticides, insecticides, growth hormones or antibiotics. Organic also means the produce has not been genetically modified. Organic means that the food has been certified organic foods." (<a href="http://www.foodmatters.tv/_webapp/Organics" target="_blank">Food Matters</a>)</i><br />
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As you might imagine, there has been some controversy over organic foods. Some tout that organics are more nutritious than their conventionally grown or raised counterparts. Others think that organic foods are for rich people or yuppies because in general, organic food does cost more in the grocery store. But I think that most would be hard-pressed to argue against the notion that organic foods have an advantage over conventionally grown produce or meat because they are free from chemicals, pesticides, and genetic altering that is in the majority of food we buy and consume. And, what is that <u>true</u> cost? Is it a trip (or several) to the doctor's office? Is it over-the-counter allergy medication or antibiotics? Is it lost time at work? Is it social stigma? Those are hard to quantify. From personal experience, my quest to go organic, local, and GMO-free whenever possible has raised a few eyebrows and even a few voices in my extended family. But I whole-heatedly submit to you that it is totally worth it. Why? Because roughly <a href="http://www.treehugger.com/files/2009/09/why-gmo-foods-have-failed.php" target="_blank">75% of processed foods contain neurotoxins</a>. I don't want to eat them and I sure as heck don't want my kids to eat that stuff either! Through sometimes animated (even heated) conversations with family members and friends, light is shed on the "why's" of our food choices. Ultimately, awareness is raised and maybe, just maybe, they *think* about buying organics the next time they head to the grocery store. Better yet, they do. (And they have -- and it's working!!)<br />
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But enough about my own personal journey with organics. Back to business.<br />
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<a href="http://www.thepeoplesvoice.org/TPV3/media/blogs/blog//NGP%20logo.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" class="alignright" height="119" src="http://www.thepeoplesvoice.org/TPV3/media/blogs/blog//NGP%20logo.jpg" width="260" /></a>As luck would have it, October has been declared "<a href="http://www.thepeoplesvoice.org/TPV3/Voices.php/2010/10/06/october-is-non-gmo-month-10-10-10-is-non" target="_blank">Non GMO month</a>." Folks over at the <a href="http://www.rodale.com/genetically-modified-organisms-foods" target="_blank">Rodale Institute</a> wanted to see what it would be like to go totally GMO free, or at least try. You can read about their experiences here at the <a href="http://www.rodale.com/rodalecom-gmo-free-challenge" target="_blank">Rodale.com GMO-Free Challenge</a>. And a challenge it has been. Again, unless a food is certified organic or has been verified as GMO-free, there is bound to be some form of genetically modified component in it. <br />
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In another such attempt to go GMO-free (or more specifically, going free of Monsanto), April Davila at YES! magazine tried to go GMO-free for a month. In her article, <a href="http://www.yesmagazine.org/planet/a-month-without-monsanto" target="_blank">A Month Without Monsanto</a>, she chronicles her experiences as she attempted to completely avoid food with genetically modified ingredients.<br />
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Bringing it all home, the best way to avoid the GMO Bad Nasties is to go organic. While organics are currently a bit more expensive in some cases, there are some things you should always try to get organic whenever possible. They've been nicknamed "<a href="http://eco-steps.blogspot.com/2009/12/dirty-dozen.html" target="_blank">The Dirty Dozen</a>" as the conventionally-grown fruits and veggies having the highest number and concentrations of pesticides.<br />
They are:<br />
<div>(The number in parentheses indicates the number of pesticides on conventionally grown fruit).</div><div></div><div>1) Apples (93)</div><div>2) Bell Peppers (83)</div><div>3) Celery (82)</div><div>4) Cherries (73)</div><div>5) Imported Grapes (66)</div><div>6) Nectarines (81)</div><div>7) Peaches (100)</div><div>8 ) Pears (63)</div><div>9) Potatoes (56)</div><div>10) Raspberries (46)</div><div>11) Spinach (58)</div><div>12) Strawberries (80)</div><div></div>In addition to pesticide and GMO-free fruits and veggies, aim for grass-fed and/or free-range meat.<br />
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Along with participating in your local CSAs, farmer's markets and growing your own food, here are a couple other resources to help you to steer clear of GMOs:<br />
<a href="http://www.nongmoshoppingguide.com/" target="_blank">The Non GMO Shopping Guide</a><br />
<a href="http://www.nongmoproject.org/consumers/search-participating-products/print-shopping-guide/" target="_blank">The Non GMO Project Shopping Guide</a> (They even have an App for that!)<br />
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Yet another way to avoid the GMO Bad Nasties is to check the codes on your food at the grocery store:<br />
If the Price Look-Up code (PLU) is 5 digits and begins with an 8, then it a Genetically Modified Organism.<br />
If the PLU is 4 digits, even if it contains a symbol at the beginning, then it is not a GMO.<br />
Next Up: What GMOs have to do with World Hunger.<br />
<b>21 Days for World Hunger</b><br />
<a href="http://cchronicle.com/2010/10/21-days-for-world-hunger/" target="_blank">Day 1</a><br />
<a href="http://cchronicle.com/2010/10/focus-on-hunger-interview-with-vandana-shiva/" target="_blank">Day 2 Focus on Hunger: Interview with Vandana Shiva</a><br />
<a href="http://cchronicle.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=18361&action=edit&message=6" target="_blank">Day 3 Cambodia: Portrait of Hunger</a><br />
<a href="http://cchronicle.com/2010/10/a-mindful-approach-to-food-fosters-compassion-for-the-worlds-hungry/" target="_blank">Day 4 A Mindful Approach to Food Fosters Compassion for the World's Hungry</a><br />
<a href="http://cchronicle.com/2010/10/how-does-mindful-farming-help-solve-world-hunger/" target="_blank">Day 5 How Does Mindful Farming Help Solve World Hunger</a><br />
<a href="http://cchronicle.com/2010/10/sustainable-vegan-farming-practices-empower-the-worlds-hungry/" target="_blank">Day 6 Sustainable Vegan Farming Practices Empower the World's Hungry</a><br />
<a href="http://cchronicle.com/2010/10/food-deserts-and-urban-farm-markets/" target="_blank">Day 7 Food Deserts and Urban Farm Markets</a><br />
<a href="http://cchronicle.com/2010/10/vandana-shiva-and-the-navdanya-farmers-network/" target="_blank">Day 8 Vandana Shiva and the Navdanya Farmers Network</a><br />
<a href="http://cchronicle.com/2010/10/world-hunger-from-gmo-chemistry-set-to-table/" target="_blank">Day 9 World Hunger: From GMO Chemistry Set to Table?</a><br />
<a href="http://cchronicle.com/2010/10/the-generational-consequences-of-gmos/" target="_blank">Day 10 The Generational Consequences of GMOs</a><br />
Consider purchasing a <i>World Hunger: Be the Solution Tee</i>. Proceeds from the shirt will go to Navdanya, the <a href="http://www.smallplanetinstitute.org/" target="_blank">Small Planet Institute Fund</a> the <a href="http://www.ifundafrica.org/" target="_blank">International Fund for Africa</a>. All tees are sweat free and available in organic cotton. To see the selection of World Hunger tees at Conducive’s Humanitarian & Human Rights Tee store, click <a href="http://conducivetee.spreadshirt.com/world-hunger-solution-C74842/" target="_blank">here</a>.Amy Considinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09436199214975707102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5412454229353938041.post-23535564156979707762010-10-21T19:34:00.001-04:002010-10-22T12:18:04.938-04:00The Generational Consequences of GMOs<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://cchronicle.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/rats-and-mice-medical-school-laboratory4-e1287103720973.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://cchronicle.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/rats-and-mice-medical-school-laboratory4-e1287103720973.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Today is my second day of exploring GMO and world hunger, as part of <i>Conducive Chronicle</i>’s <a href="http://cchronicle.com/2010/10/21-days-for-world-hunger/" target="_blank">21 days for Hunger</a>. GMO food has been used as a solution for world hunger, but I will discuss some of the problems of this approach.<br />
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When the DNA of a plant or organism has been changed, it has become genetically modified organism, or a GMO. Small or even tiny changes in a plant's genetic structure can have a significant impact on its properties. That may not seem like a big deal for plants, or even animals, but when it comes to humans, the stakes get a little higher. Just the slightest change in our DNA can have can have disastrous effects and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chromosome_abnormality" target="_blank">chromosomal anomalies</a> like Down Syndrome or Fragile X Syndrome.<br />
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The most common foods GMO foods consumed in North America are corn, soy, canola, and cottonseed oil. So what does it mean to us if we eat genetically modified food? What does the altered DNA of a plant or animal do to our own DNA? What are the long-term effects?<br />
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There have been numerous studies that have indicated that consuming genetically modified foods is risky at best. I will call out a few of them but any Internet search may yield some unpleasantly surprising and numerous results.<br />
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<img alt="" class="mceWPmore mceItemNoResize" src="http://cchronicle.com/wp-includes/js/tinymce/plugins/wordpress/img/trans.gif" title="More..." /><b>Lower fertility rates, sterilization and higher infant mortality rates.</b><br />
Earlier this year, <a href="http://english.ruvr.ru/2010/04/16/6524765.html" target="_blank">Russian researchers</a> found that GMO food reduced fertility and even caused sterilization in second and third generations of hamsters. That's pretty disturbing when you think about what kind of implications that may have for humans. But that's not the worst part. Some very odd characteristics began to emerge after exposure to genetically modified food.<br />
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"Another surprise was discovered by scientists in hamsters of the third generation. Hair grew in the mouth of the animals that took part in the experiment. It’s unclear why this happened. The researchers cannot understand why a programme of destruction is launched when animals take GMO foodstuffs. They say that this can be neutralized only by stopping to eat these foods. "<br />
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After this study, the Russian scientists suggested imposing a ban on genetically modified foods, as did their counterparts in France and Austria.<br />
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In addition, Jeffrey Smith, author of <a href="http://www.seedsofdeception.com/Public/SeedsofDeception/index.cfm" target="_blank">Seeds of Deception</a> and <a href="http://www.geneticroulette.com/" target="_blank">Genetic Roulette</a> has called out <a href="http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2007/08/01/genetically-modified-organisms-%20are-a-looming-threat.aspx%29." target="_blank">65 GMO-related health risks</a> including:<br />
• Offspring of rats fed GM soy showed a five-fold increase in mortality, lower birth weights, and the inability to reproduce<br />
• Male mice fed GM soy had damaged young sperm cells<br />
• The embryo offspring of GM soy-fed mice had altered DNA functioning<br />
• Several US farmers reported sterility or fertility problems among pigs and cows fed on GM corn varieties<br />
• Investigators in India have documented fertility problems, abortions, premature births, and other serious health issues, including deaths, among buffaloes fed GM cottonseed products<br />
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<b>Increase in "syndrome" diseases like Fibromyalgia.</b><br />
In 2009, the <a href="http://www.care2.com/c2c/groups/disc.html?gpp=8992&pst=1073607" target="_blank">American Academy of Environmental Medicine (AAEM)</a> called for a moratorium on genetically modified foods.<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">"Multiple animal studies have shown that GM foods cause damage to various organ systems in the body. With this mounting evidence, it is imperative to have a moratorium on GM foods for the safety of our patients' and the public's health," said Dr. Amy Dean, PR chair and Board Member of AAEM. "Physicians are probably seeing the effects in their patients, but need to know how to ask the right questions," said Dr. Jennifer Armstrong, President of AAEM.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><b>Increased Incidences of the "Four A's": Allergies, Asthma, Autism and ADD -- especially in children</b>.<br />
In an article on a <a href="http://www.usda.gov/open/ideas.nsf/0/8CF8FB9BD0FDC291862576C5005E909A?opendocument" target="_blank">USDA website</a>, Raymond Brandl makes a connection between food allergies and genetically modified food:<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i>"I’ve discovered that one out of every three U.S. kids currently suffers from allergies, asthma, ADHD, or autism and that the number of children with peanut allergies actually doubled between 1997 to 2002."</i></div>Interesting statistic-- especially since GMOs made their way onto our food scene in 1996. Coincidence? Maybe not. The evidence of the negative impact of GMOs on our long-term health and well-being is mounting.<br />
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The <a href="http://www.saynotogmos.org/scientific_studies.htm" target="_blank">Say No to GMOs</a> website lists a host of scientific studies-- all of which strongly indicate that consuming genetically modified foods is just not good for us. Period. Most of them conclude that the human body does not fully digest the proteins or bacteria in the genetically modified foods. And some suggest that the altered combinations of DNA in food can cause new pathogens which can wreak havoc on our immune and digestive systems.<br />
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Next up: How to Avoid the GMO Bad Nasties<br />
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<b>21 Days for World Hunger</b><br />
<a href="http://cchronicle.com/2010/10/21-days-for-world-hunger/" target="_blank">Day 1</a><br />
<a href="http://cchronicle.com/2010/10/focus-on-hunger-interview-with-vandana-shiva/" target="_blank">Day 2 Focus on Hunger: Interview with Vandana Shiva</a><br />
<a href="http://cchronicle.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=18361&action=edit&message=6" target="_blank">Day 3 Cambodia: Portrait of Hunger</a><br />
<a href="http://cchronicle.com/2010/10/a-mindful-approach-to-food-fosters-compassion-for-the-worlds-hungry/" target="_blank">Day 4 A Mindful Approach to Food Fosters Compassion for the World's Hungry</a><br />
<a href="http://cchronicle.com/2010/10/how-does-mindful-farming-help-solve-world-hunger/" target="_blank">Day 5 How Does Mindful Farming Help Solve World Hunger</a><br />
<a href="http://cchronicle.com/2010/10/sustainable-vegan-farming-practices-empower-the-worlds-hungry/" target="_blank">Day 6 Sustainable Vegan Farming Practices Empower the World's Hungry</a><br />
<a href="http://cchronicle.com/2010/10/food-deserts-and-urban-farm-markets/" target="_blank">Day 7 Food Deserts and Urban Farm Markets</a><br />
<a href="http://cchronicle.com/2010/10/vandana-shiva-and-the-navdanya-farmers-network/" target="_blank">Day 8 Vandana Shiva and the Navdanya Farmers Network</a><br />
<a href="http://cchronicle.com/2010/10/world-hunger-from-gmo-chemistry-set-to-table/" target="_blank">Day 9 World Hunger: From GMO Chemistry Set to Table?</a><br />
<a href="http://cchronicle.com/2010/10/the-generational-consequences-of-gmos/" target="_blank">Day 10 The Generational Consequences of GMOs</a><br />
Consider purchasing a <i>World Hunger: Be the Solution Tee</i>. Proceeds from the shirt will go to Navdanya, the <a href="http://www.smallplanetinstitute.org/" target="_blank">Small Planet Institute Fund</a> the <a href="http://www.ifundafrica.org/" target="_blank">International Fund for Africa</a>. All tees are sweat free and available in organic cotton. To see the selection of World Hunger tees at Conducive’s Humanitarian & Human Rights Tee store, click <a href="http://conducivetee.spreadshirt.com/world-hunger-solution-C74842/" target="_blank">here</a>.Amy Considinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09436199214975707102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5412454229353938041.post-2476023111421127182010-10-20T21:10:00.000-04:002010-10-20T21:10:37.389-04:00From GMO Chemistry Set to Table?<div style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><b>: </b><br />
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<a href="http://www.seedsofdeception.com/images/database/450.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" class="alignright" height="320" src="http://www.seedsofdeception.com/images/database/450.png" width="127" /></a>First and foremost, I am very honored and humbled to be taking part in this worthy project of raising awareness and generating solutions to end world hunger. For 21 Days 5 <i>Conducive Chronicle</i> writers will be eating a diet similar to the almost 1 million of the world's hungry and presenting research on the topic. And a very special thanks goes out to <a href="http://cchronicle.com/author/kenda-swartz-pepper/" target="_blank">Kenda Swartz Pepper</a>, whose idea this was, and to the talented and motivated writers with whom I am collaborating.<br />
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I was inspired to join this project because the more I read and learn about the world's food supply, food politics and how food is produced and distributed, the more I am convinced that everyone should know where our food comes from and what's in it. It is a very <a href="https://www.msu.edu/%7Ehowardp/foodsystem.html" target="_blank">complex system</a> and should not be taken at face value from what we see and buy at our supermarket or grocery store shelves. As we go about our daily lives, many (if not most) of us are unaware of the choices made by large corporations that affect what and how we eat. And essentially many of us are sleepwalking as we fill up our grocery carts.<br />
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The focus of my portion of the 21 Days for World Hunger series will be to raise awareness of large food producing corporations known as "Big Agra" and the prevalence of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in our every day food supply. It is my belief that in the pursuit of low cost mass production and large profits, these Big Agra corporations have literally poisoned us with unnecessary chemicals, hormones and bacteria -- leading to many of our current societal illnesses and diseases. And perhaps these are things we should not be spreading to the rest of the world. <span style="color: navy; font-size: x-small;"> </span><br />
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</span>So, how do corporations and politics, food production and distribution tie in with world hunger? As previously mentioned, it's complex. While there are many "experts" who point the finger at overpopulation for the reason that <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/09/14/world.hunger/?hpt=Sbin" target="_blank">nearly one billion</a> people in the world go hungry, I submit that the root cause lies within inherently flawed production and distribution systems. According to an UTNE Reader article entitled <a href="http://www.utne.com/Environment/Starvation-Food-Shortage-Inequity-Politics-Poor.aspx" target="_blank">The Rich Get Richer, The Poor Go Hungry</a>:<br />
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<span style="color: navy; font-size: x-small;"> </span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i>Inequity and politics, not food shortages, were at the root of almost all famines in the 20th century. Brazil, for example, exported $20 billion worth of food in 2002, while millions of its people went hungry. During Ethiopian famines in the 1980s, the country also exported food. Many of even the poorest nations can feed themselves—or </i><i>could in a society with fairer allocation of resources.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">This is where the "Big Agra" corporations like <a href="http://www.monsanto.com/" target="_blank">Monsanto</a>, <a href="http://www2.dupont.com/DuPont_Home/en_US/index.html" target="_blank">DuPont</a>, <a href="http://www.basf.com/group/corporate/en/" target="_blank">BASF</a>, <a href="http://www.bayerus.com/Main_Home.aspx" target="_blank">Bayer</a>, and <a href="http://www2.syngenta.com/en/index.html" target="_blank">Syngenta</a> come in. Their answer to world hunger, and the seemingly logical next step is to produce more. Grow more wheat. Raise more cattle. Quicker, faster, cheaper... better? These Big Agra companies, which are, incidentally, also chemical and pharmaceutical companies, use GMOs (Genetically Modified Organisms) and GE (Genetic Engineering) to allegedly produce higher yields on crops and food production.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Okay. So what? Seems reasonable, right? More people = more mouths to feed = more food to produce. Well... maybe. Let's take a closer look at what a GMO is. According to <a href="http://www.responsibletechnology.org/" target="_blank">The Institute for Responsible Technology</a>:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) are the result of laboratory processes which artificially insert foreign genes into the DNA of food crops or animals. Those genes may come from</i><i> bacteria, viruses, insects, animals or even humans. Although banned by food manufacturers in Europe and elsewhere, the FDA does not require any safety evaluations. Most Americans say they would not eat GMOs if labeled, but the U.S. does not require labeling. GMOs are not safe, but have been in the food supply since 1996 and are now present in the vast majority of processed foods in the U.S. </i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i> </i><b><span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;"> </span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;">Yummy! Doesn't that sound just downright delicious?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Unless you've been eating strictly certified organic foods and organically-raised grass-fed meat, chickens, etc., you've been eating this stuff since 1996. YIKES!! But how bad is it?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div>The <a href="http://www.responsibletechnology.org/GMFree/GMODangers/GMOsinFood/index.cfm" target="_blank">Institute for Responsible Technology</a> summarizes the crops, foods and food ingredients have been genetically modified as of May, 2010:<br />
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<b>Currently Commercialized GM Crops in the</b> <b>U.S.</b> <br />
(Number in parentheses represents the estimated percentage that is genetically modified.)<br />
Soy(91%) Cotton(71%) Canola (88%) Corn(85%) Sugar Beets (90%) Hawaiian papaya (more than 50%) Alfalfa (at Supreme Court), Zucchini and Yellow Squash (small amount) Tobacco (Quest® brand)<br />
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<b>Other Sources of GMOs:</b><br />
• Dairy products from cows injected with the GM hormone rbGH<br />
• Food additives, enzymes, flavorings, and processing agents, including the sweetener aspartame (NutraSweet®) and rennet used to make hard cheeses<br />
• Meat, eggs, and dairy products from animals that have eaten GM feed<br />
• Honey and bee pollen that may have GM sources of pollen<br />
• Contamination or pollination caused by GM seeds or pollen<br />
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<div style="text-align: left;">Yeah, GMOs are pretty much everywhere. Unfortunately, the whole premise behind the development and use of GMOs to create higher yield and pesticide-resistant crops to solve the world's hunger problem has been debunked. In their report <a href="http://ucsusa.org/food_and_agriculture/science_and_impacts/science/failure-to-yield.html" target="_blank">Failure to Yield</a>, the Union of Concerned Scientists evaluated the performance of genetically engineered crops. And the results? Here's the biggie:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i>Despite 20 years of research and 13 years of commercialization, genetic engineering has failed to significantly increase U.S. crop yields.</i></b></div><br />
<b>21 Days for World Hunger</b><br />
<a href="http://cchronicle.com/2010/10/21-days-for-world-hunger/" target="_blank">Day 1</a><br />
<a href="http://cchronicle.com/2010/10/focus-on-hunger-interview-with-vandana-shiva/" target="_blank">Day 2 Focus on Hunger: Interview with Vandana Shiva</a><br />
<a href="http://cchronicle.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=18361&action=edit&message=6" target="_blank">Day 3 Cambodia: Portrait of Hunger</a><br />
<a href="http://cchronicle.com/2010/10/a-mindful-approach-to-food-fosters-compassion-for-the-worlds-hungry/" target="_blank">Day 4 A Mindful Approach to Food Fosters Compassion for the World's Hungry</a><br />
<a href="http://cchronicle.com/2010/10/how-does-mindful-farming-help-solve-world-hunger/" target="_blank">Day 5 How Does Mindful Farming Help Solve World Hunger</a><br />
<a href="http://cchronicle.com/2010/10/sustainable-vegan-farming-practices-empower-the-worlds-hungry/" target="_blank">Day 6 Sustainable Vegan Farming Practices Empower the World's Hungry</a><br />
Consider purchasing a <i>World Hunger: Be the Solution Tee</i>. Proceeds from the shirt will go to Navdanya, the <a href="http://www.smallplanetinstitute.org/" target="_blank">Small Planet Institute Fund</a> the <a href="http://www.ifundafrica.org/" target="_blank">International Fund for Africa</a>. All tees are sweat free and available in organic cotton. To see the selection of World Hunger tees at Conducive’s Humanitarian & Human Rights Tee store, click <a href="http://conducivetee.spreadshirt.com/world-hunger-solution-C74842/" target="_blank">here</a>.Amy Considinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09436199214975707102noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5412454229353938041.post-66608400138347710632010-10-12T19:46:00.000-04:002010-10-12T19:46:18.885-04:00World Hunger Project<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As promised, I will be re-posting portions of the "21 Days for World Hunger" series from <a href="http://cchronicle.com/">Conducive Chronicle</a>. I strongly encourage you to read, share and absorb all that it will has to offer.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://view.picapp.com/pictures.photo/image/289375/hand-time/hand-time.jpg?size=500&imageId=289375" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://view.picapp.com/pictures.photo/image/289375/hand-time/hand-time.jpg?size=500&imageId=289375" width="226" /></a></div><span class="post-meta alignleft">Written on October 11, 2010 at 1:29 PM by <a href="http://cchronicle.com/author/kenda-swartz-pepper/" title="Posts by Kenda Swartz Pepper">Kenda Swartz Pepper</a></span> <br />
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925 million people. 21 days. 5 writers. Joining forces and uniting voices to help those living with hunger. Together we embark on a journey to learn, share, explore, write and make whatever effort we can to help reduce the global catastrophic crisis of world hunger. <br />
Welcome to day one of twenty-one days for world hunger. We hope that you too, in your own way, will join us on this journey.<br />
When I was a kid, my parents harped on me to eat everything on my plate, because <em>children in Ethiopia were starving</em>. I must confess that even though I <em>felt</em> for all those kids, I didn’t really make the connection. While I rarely had a problem finishing my plate, on liver and lima beans night I didn’t have much compassion for those starving kids. That dinner was invariably and surreptitiously fed to the dog. While I may have gone to bed with the slightest tinge of hunger on those particular nights, I always knew there would be a meal the next morning. Now in 2010 I am a different person and the world is a different place. Now it is well known there are children all over the world – even in our communities – who are living with hunger. Now the notion of wasting food feels nearly criminal to me. Now I see how the food choices I make impact not only my own health and well-being but also the health and well-being of hungry children.<br />
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Read on here: <a href="http://cchronicle.com/2010/10/21-days-for-world-hunger/">21 Days for World Hunger</a>Amy Considinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09436199214975707102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5412454229353938041.post-89633281170974251942010-09-27T14:13:00.000-04:002010-09-27T14:13:32.439-04:00Eco-Steps to End World Hunger<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.conducivetees.com/shirts/small/women-s-world-hunger.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://0.tqn.com/d/freebies/1/7/3/K/playfulsquirrel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://0.tqn.com/d/freebies/1/7/3/K/playfulsquirrel.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>September has been a busy month. The kids are back in school, Fall is in the air (in most places) and many people are getting into what I call "squirrel mode" of gathering food and prepping for the winter months ahead. But what if you didn't have enough food? Many people don't. In fact, just shy of 1 billion people around the world do not have enough to eat. The <a href="http://www.fao.org/">Food and Agriculture Organization</a> and the <a href="http://www.wfp.org/">World Food Programme </a>estimate that <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/09/14/world.hunger/index.html?iref=allsearch">925 million </a>people go hungry every day.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>925 million people is more than three times the population of the United States. You might be thinking "That's a lotta people! What could <b><i>I </i></b>possibly do to help?" <br />
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Well, there are a lot of things you can do. But perhaps the first and most important thing is to be aware that this problem exists. <br />
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Next, you could pick one small thing, or take one <a href="http://eco-steps.blogspot.com/">eco-step</a> up to and including the obvious choice of donating money to a charitable organization that fights hunger. But it doesn't have to be money. One person action adds up to one family, one group, one community, one city. Many people doing many small things can add up to have a tremendous impact.<br />
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For example, earlier this year, <a href="http://cchronicle.com/2010/03/souljourn-for-the-mind-spirit-and-earth-21-days-for-world-hunger/">Kenda Swartz Pepper</a> and <a href="http://cchronicle.com/2010/05/the-voracious-vegan-goes-hungry-day-1-hungry-for-a-cause/">Natasha Burge</a> conducted their own personal experiments and wrote about what is like to go hungry. I strongly encourage you to check these stories out. They are informative, compelling and give us a closer look into what it would really be like to go hungry and still try to have productive, "normal" daily lives. Luckily, we will be hearing from Kenda and Natasha again, along with others, beginning in early October. I will be joining these talented writers from <a href="http://cchronicle.com/">Conducive Chronicle</a> for a 21-day journey to look at the problem of world hunger from many different perspectives. I will be keeping you up-to-date on the series and will be re-posting them or linking them here on Eco-Steps.<br />
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You can check out more at Conducive Chronicle's <a href="http://cchronicle.com/2010/08/world-hunger-whats-your-solution/">World Hunger -- Be the Solution</a>. Or you can become a fan on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#%21/pages/World-Hunger-Be-the-Solution/154897284525497?ref=sgm">Facebook </a>to learn more about what you can do to help fight it.<br />
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For additional reading: <br />
<a href="http://www.foodfirst.org/en/pubs/backgrdrs/1998/s98v5n3.html">12 Myths About Hunger</a><br />
<a href="http://www.utne.com/Environment/Food-Waste-Farmers-Feed-the-World.aspx">Waste Not, Want Not</a><br />
<a href="http://www.utne.com/article.aspx?id=2147487874">The Rich Get Richer, The Poor Go Hungry</a>Amy Considinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09436199214975707102noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5412454229353938041.post-6607283102990174662010-09-08T13:03:00.000-04:002010-09-08T13:03:41.303-04:00A Month Without Monsanto: What Does it Take to Avoid the GMO Giant?<div class="articleSubheadline"> <span class="" id="parent-fieldname-subheadline"> April Dávila wondered what it would take to cut the GMO giant out of her family’s life. She found that it was far more entrenched than she’d ever realized. </span> </div><div class="visualClear"><!-- --></div><div class="documentActions"><br />
</div><div class="articleByline"> by <span class="articleAuthor">April Dávila</span> </div><div class="articleDate">posted Aug 24, 2010</div><div style="clear: both;"> </div><dl class="image-right captioned"><dt style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Crop dusting, photo by Roger Smith" height="165" src="http://www.yesmagazine.org/planet/images/crop-dusting-photo-by-roger-smith/image_preview" title="Crop dusting, photo by Roger Smith" width="220" /></dt>
<dd class="image-caption" style="width: 220px;"> <div class="image-credit"> <div class="discreet">Photo by <a class="external-link" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/rogersmith/871335892/">Roger Smith</a></div></div></dd></dl>In January of this year, while procrastinating on Facebook, I followed a link to an article reporting on evidence that there may be health effects associated with consuming <a class="internal-link" href="http://www.yesmagazine.org/issues/food-for-everyone/3360" title="A Farmer Rounds Up Monsanto">Monsanto</a>’s genetically modified (GM) corn. Clicking on that link was one of those moments on which I look back and laugh. I had no idea how my life was about to change.<br />
<h3>Monsanto’s Reach </h3>The article I stumbled onto concerned a study done in 2009 by a group of French scientists investigating the safety of genetically modified food. Their results, as published in the <a class="external-link" href="http://www.biolsci.org/v05p0706.htm">International Journal of Biological Sciences</a>, pointed toward kidney and liver damage in rats fed GM corn.<br />
I began to research where exactly Monsanto corn appeared in my family’s diet. With a little online sleuthing, I learned that in addition to producing the genetically modified corn, Monsanto produces several other genetically modified crops such as soy, sugar beets, and cotton. Many of these crops form the foundation of our diets: 70 to 80 percent of American processed foods contain genetically engineered ingredients, according to the Grocery Manufacturers of America. A large percentage of the cotton in our clothes and homes begins in Monsanto's labs.<br />
<div class="pullquote">By day two of my attempt to remove Monsanto from my life, I realized I was in way over my head.</div>Probing a little deeper, I was surprised to learn that a company specializing in genetically modified plant crops also had an enormous influence on <a class="internal-link" href="http://www.yesmagazine.org/issues/climate-solutions/the-solution-on-our-dinner-plates" title="The Solution on our Dinner Plates">America’s meat industry</a>. Sixty percent of genetically modified corn goes to feed America’s beef cattle. Additionally, Monsanto’s recombinant bovine growth hormone (rBGH) is used to increase milk production in many dairy cows.<br />
<h3>Tracing Foods Back to their Source</h3>I decided to see if I could go the entire month of March without consuming any Monsanto products. I committed to an all organic, vegan diet, and reluctantly invested in a small organic cotton wardrobe. It was an experiment born of curiosity: I wanted to know just how deeply my life was influenced by Monsanto, a company I knew little about before that click of my mouse in January.<br />
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<div align="right" class="callout"><a class="internal-link" href="http://www.yesmagazine.org/issues/food-for-everyone/the-city-that-ended-hunger" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="The City that Ended Hunger"><img alt="Belo Horizonte 1" class="image-right" src="http://www.yesmagazine.org/for-teachers/images/truedemocracy.jpg/image_tile" />The City That Ended Hunger</a> </div><div align="right" class="callout">Belo Horizonte, Brazil did—and it wasn't that hard.</div><br />
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By day two of my attempt to remove Monsanto from my life, I realized I was in way over my head. For the past 10 years Monsanto has bought up seed companies around the globe. They now own a majority of the seed lines in America, including a large percentage of organic seeds. For everyday purposes, a Monsanto seed that is grown organically is still organic, but in my attempt to avoid Monsanto, I was left without any easy way of knowing what foods fit my experiment. I retreated to subsisting on wild-caught fish while I dug deep to try to figure out where exactly my foods came from.<br />
With the help of sustainable food advocate <a class="external-link" href="http://cassiegruensteinconsulting.tumblr.com/">Cassie Gruenstein</a>, I got in touch with dozens of health food stores and manufacturers to ask where they sourced their products. I spent hours at the farmers’ market asking farmers what seed companies they bought from, googling on my iPhone before making purchases. It took several weeks, but I slowly built a somewhat normal Monsanto-free existence.<br />
<div class="pullquote">There is no easy way to avoid Monsanto. It requires talking with the person who grew your food—every ingredient of every bite.</div>Unfortunately, with the exception of a few national brands (check out Annie’s, Inc. Massa Organics, and Lundberg Farms for a good start), there is no easy way to avoid Monsanto. It requires talking with the person who grew your food—every ingredient of every bite.<br />
<h3>Good First Steps</h3>While it’s extremely difficult to entirely avoid Monsanto, there are some basic guidelines that anyone can use to minimize the genetically modified organisms in their lives.<br />
<ol><li>Avoid processed foods. In particular, eliminate High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS) from your diet and be sure to read labels. HFCS appears in everything from sodas to wheat bread.</li>
<li>Consider going vegetarian, limiting your meat consumption, or buying grass-fed varieties. Over 60 percent of genetically modified corn goes to feed cattle on polluting concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) in America. </li>
<li>Buy organic dairy products to make sure animals weren't given Monsanto’s recombinant bovine growth hormone.</li>
<li>Buy organic cotton when you can. Monsanto is a major player in the cotton industry. Even though cotton makes up only 2.5 percent of the world’s crops, it is doused with 16 percent of the world’s pesticides. Cotton pesticides, most of which are listed as “extremely hazardous” by the World Health Organization, turn up regularly in water sources around the globe.</li>
</ol>What most amazed me during my month without Monsanto was the influence that one corporation had in my daily life—without me knowing anything about it. Once I started looking, Monsanto was everywhere. Once I started making the effort to avoid it, I found something else that surprised me: the confidence that comes from really knowing what I’m eating.<br />
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Find out more: <a href="http://www.yesmagazine.org/planet/a-month-without-monsanto">A Month Without Monsanto: What Does it Take to Avoid the GMO Giant?</a>Amy Considinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09436199214975707102noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5412454229353938041.post-2903105987474856842010-09-01T08:00:00.007-04:002010-09-01T08:00:08.426-04:00Oh Say Can You See?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://scavenging.files.wordpress.com/2009/08/designer-eyeglasses-702155.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://scavenging.files.wordpress.com/2009/08/designer-eyeglasses-702155.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Okay, so maybe the title is a bit cheesy, but recently I've been turned onto something that maybe many of you already know about: Getting your glasses on line-- on the cheap! As many of us know, eye wear can be expensive, and can really add up if you have kids who have or need glasses.<br />
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If you've had a recent eye exam and have a prescription in hand, you can save yourself boatloads of money by getting your spectacles on line and avoid the 500% markup on something that has no business costing so much.<br />
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Thanks (again) to my cousin Gen, of <a href="http://eco-steps.blogspot.com/2009/10/fight-club-make-your-own-laundry-soap.html">Fight Club</a> fame, for enlightening me on the existence of Internet eye wear providers. It seems that this may be catching on and that it's a timely topic! While researching for this post, I came across this article: <br />
<h1 style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://www.alternet.org/economy/148024/wow_--_the_eyewear_industry_is_an_incredible_ripoff,_but_there_are_alternatives/?page=entire"><span style="font-size: small;">Wow -- the Eyewear Industry Is an Incredible Ripoff, But There Are Alternatives</span></a></h1>So, instead of rewriting what I probably couldn't have said any better, I encourage you to read it.<br />
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If you don't care to do that and want to do your own investigating, you can Google "cheap glasses" or "online eyewear" and many of the popular sites will come up.<br />
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I have personally seen the products from <a href="http://www.zennioptical.com/">Zenni Optical</a> and <a href="http://www.goggles4u.com/">Goggles4U</a>. They are stylish, high quality and really nobody would ever know that they cost a mere fraction of what you'd get from a boutique eye wear retailer. <br />
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I will be ordering my next pair online and will let you know how it goes. If you've had an online eye wear purchase experience (good or bad), please let me know how it went for you in the comments section.<br />
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And to bring this full circle, when you are done with your glasses or are updating to a new pair, please consider recycling them. According to the <a href="http://www.who.int/bulletin/releases/NFM0609.pdf">World Health Organization</a>, approximately 150 million people in the world are in need of eyeglasses. You can help by donating your old specs. Read more here: <a href="http://www.ehow.com/how_9169_recycle-eyeglasses.html#ixzz0yCb41U00" style="color: #003399;">How to Recycle Eyeglasses | eHow.com</a> or here: <a href="http://earth911.com/recycling/household/eyeglasses/tips-for-recycling-eyeglasses/">earth911</a>.<br />
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Image Credit: http://scavenging.files.wordpress.com/2009/08/designer-eyeglasses-702155.jpgAmy Considinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09436199214975707102noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5412454229353938041.post-37477988586913629192010-08-31T11:11:00.001-04:002010-08-31T11:16:12.110-04:00Stubble Free Sustainability<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1a/Wikiraz.jpg/220px-Wikiraz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="190" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1a/Wikiraz.jpg/220px-Wikiraz.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Legs, armpits, beards, "other" places... Most adults in modern Western society shave <i>something</i> on our bodies to remove unwanted hair. And according to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Razor">Wikipedia</a>, we've been shaving in some way, shape, or form for a long time-- since the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bronze_Age">Bronze Age</a>. <br />
In 1895, the concept of the safety razor was conceived by <a href="http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/blrazor.htm">King C. Gillette</a> and the arduous (or artful) task of shaving was revolutionized. Then came along Schick, Bic, and then the electric shavers all to add to the list of modern conveniences. And, well, you know the rest. Or do you? What about all of those single-use plastic disposable razors that we use once or twice, then pitch into the garbage and landfills to remain in perpetuity? <br />
<a name='more'></a>In our haste for ease and convenience of a cheap, clean and smooth shave, we've created a bigger problem: huge amounts of waste. The EPA estimates that over <a href="http://www.epa.gov/superfund/students/clas_act/haz-ed/ff06.pdf">2 billion disposable razors</a> end up in landfills in the United States every year. 2 billion!! Disposable razors may not take up that much room on their own, but 2 billion of them sure do year after year. Plus, they're a non-biodegradable, petroleum-based product. Ouch. Even worse. So what can we do to make this better? We can take small, simple <a href="http://eco-steps.blogspot.com/">eco-steps</a> and lighten our load on the planet just by changing the kind of razor we use.<br />
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There are companies out there that are already on to this. <a href="http://www.preserveproducts.com/products/personalcare.html">Preserve</a> is a company that produces 100% recycled plastic razors (and toothbrushes-- <a href="http://environment.about.com/od/earthtalkcolumns/a/toothbrush.htm">50 million pounds</a> of them end up in landfills every year!). <br />
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<a href="http://www.entrepreneur.com/tradejournals/article/132525303.html#">Consider this</a>: When manufacturers use recycled plastics, not only do they conserve the oil and natural gas that would be used to make virgin plastics, they also <a class="kLink" href="http://www.entrepreneur.com/tradejournals/article/132525303.html#" id="KonaLink5" style="position: static; text-decoration: underline ! important;" target="undefined"><span style="color: green; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 400; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: 1px solid green; color: green; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 400; position: relative;">save </span><span class="kLink" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: 1px solid green; color: green; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 400; position: relative;">energy </span></span></a>- typically 88% less energy is used to make recycled plastic than to make virgin plastic (Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality).<br />
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Or, to reduce your razor carbon footprint, you could use a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Safety_razor">safety razor</a>, or consider using razors with disposable blades, as shown in the picture above. Just about all of the major razor manufacturers make them.<br />
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Here are some additional links to check out as well:<br />
<ul><li><a href="http://mindfulmomma.typepad.com/mindful_momma/2008/01/eco-shave.html">Mindful Momma - Eco-Shave</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.righteousrestyle.com/2007/11/eco-neurosis.html">Righteous (re)Style - Eco-neurosis: Shaving or Waxing?</a></li>
<li><a href="http://eco-chick.com/2008/01/09/beards-are-the-new-hotness/">Eco-chick - Beards Are the New Hotness</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.ecojoes.com/razor-saves-money-and-da-earth/">Eco Joe's - Save Money and the Environment with Immortal Razors</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-ym-spending-1104nov04,0,1966153.story">ChicagoTribune.com - Extending life of razor blades leaves users dry</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.shavingstuff.com/">Shaving Stuff</a> A shave-centric weblog for men and women</li>
</ul><br />
Topic Credit: <a href="http://tsotd.com/">http://tsotd.com/</a><br />
Image Credit: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Wikiraz.jpg">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Wikiraz.jpg </a>Amy Considinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09436199214975707102noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5412454229353938041.post-20843649460671664492010-08-20T08:00:00.001-04:002010-08-20T08:00:08.050-04:00Behold the Power of Borax!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.naturalhealthsupply.com/catalog/20-mule-team-borax.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.naturalhealthsupply.com/catalog/20-mule-team-borax.jpg" width="233" /></a></div>Being the <a href="http://eco-steps.blogspot.com/">eco-stepper</a> that I am, I am always looking for all natural, non-toxic and inexpensive ways to clean my house, do laundry, freshen the air and all that goes with housework. Since I have tried Borax in my <a href="http://eco-steps.blogspot.com/2009/10/fight-club-make-your-own-laundry-soap.html">homemade laundry soap</a> and dishwasher powder, I am learning that it's actually quite the handy product to have on hand. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borax">Wikipedia</a> explains the many uses of Borax, far beyond those most would consider for every day household chores. To pare it down a bit, here are some interesting uses for Borax:<br />
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<a name='more'></a>As submitted by <a href="http://www.tiphero.com/tips_3080_?utm_source=Money-Saving+Tips+Newsletter+DL&utm_campaign=9e35f4cc6d-TH_NL_90a_08_19_2010&utm_medium=email">Kira at TipHero.com</a>: <br />
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<span class="tip_text">Borax, or "the miracle mineral," has long been hailed as a natural solution for just about everything in the home. This substance is naturally occurring, eco-friendly and is mostly used as a cleaning agent. Its uses, however, are many and varied. <br />
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Make sure to heed this safety warning when using Borax:<br />
<blockquote><i>Just because borax is natural, that doesn't mean it's harmless. You should always use gloves when handling it and keep it out of reach of children and pets. While safe in the diluted solutions, borax could be very harmful to children and pets if ingested.</i></blockquote>Check out some of the uses you can put Borax to, courtesy of DIY Life:<br />
<ul><li>Remove rust by mixing 1 cup of borax with 2 cups of warm water and a tablespoon of lemon juice.</li>
<li>Clean a soiled mattress by mixing together a cup of borax and 2 cups of warm water and applying the paste directly to the affected area. Sprinkle damp area with a bit more borax and rub thoroughly. Vacuum area, then finish it off with a vinegar and water solution. Let this dry and repeat if necessary.</li>
<li>Make an all-purpose cleaner using 2 tablespoons of borax mixed with 2 cups hot water in a spray bottle.</li>
<li>Make your own dishwasher detergent by mixing 1 tablespoon borax and 1 tablespoon baking soda.</li>
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Check out how you can use Borax for pest control, deodorizing and more over at <a class="link_intip" href="http://www.diylife.com/2010/08/12/25-household-uses-for-borax/" target="blank">25 Household Uses for Borax</a>.</span><br />
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<span class="tip_text">For more ideas on how to save money and live greener, check out <a href="http://tiphero.com/">TipHero.com</a>! </span><br />
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</tbody></table>Amy Considinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09436199214975707102noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5412454229353938041.post-80437829959105149902010-08-17T10:12:00.000-04:002010-08-17T10:12:50.218-04:00Voluntary Simplicity: Outwardly Simple, Inwardly Rich<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.motherearthnews.com/uploadedImages/articles/online_articles/2010-07-01/voluntarysimplicity.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.motherearthnews.com/uploadedImages/articles/online_articles/2010-07-01/voluntarysimplicity.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"> (Title Borrowed From: <a href="http://www.motherearthnews.com/nature-community/voluntarily-simplicity-elgin-xe0hir.aspx?utm_content=08.16.10+HE&utm_campaign=HE&utm_source=iPost&utm_medium=email&page=3">Voluntary Simplicity: Outwardly Simple, Inwardly Rich) </a></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.motherearthnews.com/">Mother Earth News</a></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: inherit;">Lately, it seems that there are several recurring themes in the quest to live a fuller, more purpose-driven life <u>AND</u> be kind to Mother Earth at the same time by being less materialistic and less "stuff-focused." One of these themes is Voluntary Simplicity. It can be described many ways-- frugal, authentic, minimalist, and a whole host of other adjectives that fall under the umbrella of taking "<a href="http://eco-steps.blogspot.com/">eco-steps</a>" to living better, being happier and helping the environment. And while many may think that choosing to live a simpler, less complicated life means "giving up" or "going without," there is plenty of evidence out there to support the exact opposite. </div><a name='more'></a><br />
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</div><div style="font-family: inherit;">As quoted in Mother Earth News: </div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><em>The following is an excerpt from</em> Voluntary Simplicity<em> by Duane Elgin (HarperCollins Publishers, 2010). Hailed by the</em> Wall Street Journal<em> as the “bible” of the simplicity movement, Elgin’s hopeful, artistic manifesto challenges misconceptions about simplistic living, proving that simplicity leads to balance and happiness, not to regression and poverty. This excerpt is from Chapter 4, “Living Simply.”</em></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"> </div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: inherit;">I read this exerpt and thought it was excellent so I am passing it along to you. I hope you enjoy it.</div><div style="font-family: inherit;"></div><div class="article-headline"> <h1 style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.motherearthnews.com/nature-community/voluntarily-simplicity-elgin-xe0hir.aspx?utm_content=08.16.10+HE&utm_campaign=HE&utm_source=iPost&utm_medium=email"><span style="font-size: small;">Voluntary Simplicity: Outwardly Simple, Inwardly Rich</span></a></h1><div style="font-family: inherit;"><em>"Simplicity is not about a life of poverty, but a life of purpose. By embracing an existence characterized by ecological awareness, frugal consumption and personal growth, we can change our lives — and, in the process, change the world."</em></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><em></em></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><em></em><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><em>So if you read this (and I highly recommend it), and you want to learn more, here are a few links from my post "<a href="http://eco-steps.blogspot.com/2010/07/wanna-have-more-use-less.html">Wanna Have More? Use Less</a>"</em></span><em> </em></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: inherit;">Leo Babauta: <a href="http://zenhabits.net/">http://zenhabits.net/</a><br />
David Damron: <a href="http://theminimalistpath.com/">http://theminimalistpath.com/</a><br />
Everett Bogue: <a href="http://www.evbogue.com/">http://www.evbogue.com/</a></div><div style="font-family: inherit;">Mary Jaksch : <a href="http://goodlifezen.com/">http://goodlifezen.com/</a></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: inherit;"></div><div style="font-family: inherit;">You can also check out their books as well (see sidebar).</div><br />
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</div>Amy Considinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09436199214975707102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5412454229353938041.post-53973815845304263442010-08-12T13:40:00.000-04:002010-08-12T13:40:07.808-04:00Small Actions, Big Results<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXQLdISlGOaCcddMWSjLVOn-IhthuMx6ALCSMzpoN_JG9zeIkFUXAgIdyY_LMG4Rwg6L1QwFa07fCJxPqPEaX9BEWtW2Ea74w-MPmBg7mZPftbDBW2TMj8jzJB04bnPHQXIjlT_Yoy_G2K/s1600/red-continents-glowing-globe.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXQLdISlGOaCcddMWSjLVOn-IhthuMx6ALCSMzpoN_JG9zeIkFUXAgIdyY_LMG4Rwg6L1QwFa07fCJxPqPEaX9BEWtW2Ea74w-MPmBg7mZPftbDBW2TMj8jzJB04bnPHQXIjlT_Yoy_G2K/s320/red-continents-glowing-globe.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
In the spirit of <a href="http://eco-steps.blogspot.com/">eco-steps</a>, there are many seemingly small, easy things we can all do that can add up to have a collectively large impact on our health, our lives and our environment. But maybe there aren't enough of us doing them. And maybe we could all do a little bit more. I think both statements are true. With <a href="http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2010/20100715_globalstats.html">June of 2010</a> being the hottest on record, and terrible things like the <a href="http://www.sierraclub.org/oilspill/map/">BP oil disaster </a>in the Gulf of Mexico, <a href="http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/NaturalHazards/view.php?id=45162">flooding in Pakistan</a>, and <a href="http://www1.voanews.com/english/news/Russia-Reports-25-Percent-Grain-Losses-from-Drought-Fires-100535969.html">drought and wild fires in Russia</a>, I think it's time that everyone start paying a little closer attention.<br />
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In his book, <a href="http://www.earthpolicy.org/index.php?/books/pb4">Plan B 4.0: Mobilizing to Save Civilization</a>, Lester R. Brown of the <a href="http://www.earthpolicy.org/">Earth Policy Institute</a> skillfully brings to the forefront the interconnected global issues of poverty, food insecurity, population growth and natural resource exploitation. And while this may seem like gloom and doom (and much of it is-- and much our own doing), Dr. Brown offers some clever and practical solutions. <br />
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The basic answer is that we must DO SOMETHING and QUICKLY. We must mobilize, as he says, and begin changing the way we do things. Otherwise, we can expect more of the disasters, hardships and crises mentioned at the beginning of this post. <a href="http://www.earthpolicy.org/images/uploads/book_files/pb4ch10.pdf">Chapter 10</a> details the massive systemic changes that need to rapidly take place, but it also details the smaller, more manageable things (<a href="http://eco-steps.blogspot.com/">eco-steps</a>, if you will) that you and I can do to make a difference and help turn things around and be part of the solution. <br />
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So I encourage you to<b> <a href="http://www.earthpolicy.org/index.php?/books/pb4/pb4_table_of_contents">download his book</a> (it's free!)</b> and read it, share it with your friends, family, neighbors, even people you don't like all that much. I would also encourage you to share it with your governmental representatives, wherever you may live. <br />
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If you live in the U.S., the following are the links to contact your <a href="http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/index.html">Congressional Representatives</a> and your <a href="http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm">U.S. Senators</a>. <br />
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We have to start paying attention. We have to start doing something to change our course. <br />
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“Never doubt that a small group of concerned citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” -- Margaret Mead<br />
<h1></h1>Amy Considinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09436199214975707102noreply@blogger.com4