environment

October 1, 2014 By Kelly Leave a Comment

I Am Proud Of My State, Bravo California! The First To Ban Plastic Bags

The Golden State makes environmental history!

I am one very proud Californian today! On Tuesday, California Governor Jerry Brown Signed legislation SB270 that will prohibit all pharmacies and grocery stores from offering single-use plastic bags beginning in July, 2015.

With this law in place, we’ll see less of this. A very good thing

A year later, in July 2016, liquor and convenience stores will have to follow suit. The law does not apply to department stores. California is the first state to do this! It truly is a victory. Plastic bags are just one of the many items harming wildlife and polluting beaches, parks, streams and oceans.

“Once again, California is leading the nation in environmental protection,” said Assemblymember Marc Levine. “This bill will protect our streams, waterways, and wildlife. I thank Governor Brown, Senate President pro Tempore Elect De León, and Senators Padilla and Lara for their leadership on this historic legislation.”

According to Mark Murray, executive director of Californians Against Waste California spends between $34 and $107 million dollars on plastic bag cleanup every year. SB270 also cuts costs for stores since they won’t be purchasing them anymore.

Plastic manufacturers are, of course, looking to have this overturned. Let’s not let that happen. Those who oppose this claim jobs will be lost but Murray says, “we’re seeing job growth in California at facilities that produce better alternatives.”

Stores will be required to offer recyclable paper bags. They’ll be able to charge 10 cents a bag so keep some reusables in your car, I’ve been doing this for years. There are many issues that need improvement here in California but this is a positive step in the right direction regarding our environment.

May 20, 2014 By Kelly Leave a Comment

Help EWG Defeat The Chemicals In Commerce Act

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, there are currently 1000 chemicals in use right now that should be tested for safety but have they? NO! This scary reality is compromising our safety and health. What's worse is that thousands more chemicals will be allowed in everyday products if the Chemicals in Commerce Act gets passed.

This act will NOT require companies to prove chemicals are safe before they are used in products we use everyday. It will allow more toxic chemicals in commerce with little or no safety testing. This is beyond absurd.

The House of Representatives will be voting on this as early as next week. We need to stop this so that thousands of untested chemicals don't hit the market. They should be taking measures to stop toxic chemicals from being used but instead are doing the opposite.

Please join me and help the Environmental Working Group convince the House of Representatives to oppose this act. Visit EWG, they have made it very easy for us to be heard.

April 22, 2014 By Kelly Leave a Comment

Celebrate Earth Day 2014 ~ 5 Things You Can Do To Be More Earth Friendly

20 million Americans held demonstrations across the country rallying for a healthy, sustainable environment on the first Earth Day in 1970 during the height of the flower child era. Earth Day founder, Gaylord Nelson, was inspired to do something after the devastation of the oil spill in Santa Barbara, California in 1969. The Earth Day Network works all year with over 22,000 partners and organizations to fight for a cleaner environment.

Photo courtesy of Alfie Nordman Photography

Lakes, rivers, trees, flowers, wild life, deep blue seas, billowy clouds, rolling green hills, the Seven Wonders and everything in between… there is a lot we can do to help keep this planet clean.

About 40% of landfill waste is paper. Let’s get that number down and recycle our paper! Every ton of paper we recycle, saves 17 trees, 7000 gallons of water, 380 gallons of oil
Turn off the water while brushing your teeth
Luxuriate in a bubble bath. It takes less water to fill a tub than a 10 minute shower which can use up to 50 gallons of water
We Americans toss 38 billion water bottles every year. It’s sooooo easy to use reusable bottles so just do it!
Clean green. Use products that do not contain harmful toxins to clean your home. Far healthier for the environment and your family

We still face many of the same environmental issues as we did on that first Earth Day. Some are far worse and others, such as global warming have not brought the devastation some predicted it would at this point in time. Even small things makes a difference. What do you do to help keep the earth beautiful?

August 12, 2013 By Kelly 1 Comment

When Should You Choose Organic?

To go organic or to not go organic. There are many benefits to buying organic. The majority of experts in the scientific community believe pesticides have adverse effects on health and on our environment. Babies and children are at even higher risk when exposed because their delicate systems are not fully developed.

Certified organic produce is not grown with genetically modified seeds, fossil fuel or sewage-based fertilizers or manmade chemical pesticides. The same goes for certified organic meat and dairy and you can be assured the animals were not given antibiotics or genetically engineered bovine growth hormones. Organic farmers conserve water and soil, use renewable resources and do not irradiate their crops.

Research shows that we can lower our health risks by as much as 94% by choosing organic produce

There is no doubt about it, organic can be costly. Save some $$ by buying conventionally when it comes to what the Environmental Working Group [EWG] calls them The Clean 15: onions, sweet corn, pineapples, avocado, asparagus, frozen sweet peas, mangoes, eggplant, cantaloupe (although other sources say that cantaloupe has a dangerous amount of pesticides so this one’s up for debate), kiwi, cabbage, sweet potatoes, grapefruit & papaya. Tests show that after washing these fruits and vegetables they were least likely to have pesticide residue on the parts you eat.

I always buy organic when it comes to the The Dirty Dozen. The Dirty Dozen are 12+(there are a few ‘bonus’ items added) fruits and vegetables that still have high pesticide levels even after having been washed: apples (pesticides pool around the stem & drip down inside through the core), celery, strawberries (because they are low to the ground, farmers typically give them a lot more pesticide to ward off bugs), peaches, spinach, imported nectarines, grapes, hot & bell peppers (they have the largest amount), cucumbers (can have as many as 35 pesticides), cherry tomatoes, summer squash, spinach (it can drink in pesticides through its stalks), potatoes, snap peas and kale/collard greens. Lettuce, sweet bell peppers, and blueberries didn’t make the list this year but were on previous lists so I still try to buy those organic. Some argue that pesticides are used on organic crops as well. Yes, naturally occurring pesticides may be used but they are less harmful than most synthetic pesticides.

If ingesting pesticides along with your food doesn’t phase you, how about the humanity aspect? While earning poor wages, hard working crop workers on conventional farms are working in extremely unhealthy conditions as they are subjected to heavy pesticide exposure on a daily basis. Consumers can buy organic but this doesn’t solve the problem for farmers, farmworkers or the environment.

The harmful effects of fumigants drifting from farms into nearby neighborhoods, schools, daycare centers, etc. is another dilemma according to The Pesticide Action Network.

Equally important is choosing household cleaners and personal care products that are truly organic. Our skin absorbs up to 60% of what we put on it. The scalp, groin, and underarms absorb up to 100% so keep your products clean. Check ingredients. Many companies claim to be natural but they are not. One name you can trust to be 100% free of toxic chemicals is Pure Haven, the entire line is pure.

Visit your local farmer’s market. Many may not be certified organic farms but they grow their produce organically without toxic pesticides. Plus there is the added benefit of supporting local growers. And of course, an economical and convenient option is to grow your own. We just put in a lemon tree, we have some herbs and a strawberry plant but it’s not exactly flourishing so I’ll have to learn more about it. Do you have any tips on growing your own fruits and vegetables?

May 31, 2013 By Kelly Leave a Comment

Cell Phone Use And Radiation ~ Should We Be Concerned? Part I

Who among us doesn’t rely on our cell phones every single day? I was charging mine the other day, nearly forgot it as I was running out of the house and the thought occurred to me, how did we ever live without these things?! But how much radiation are we really being exposed to?

A report released from the Environmental Health Trust [EHT] says that governmental testing of cell phone radiation is highly inaccurate. “Unsurprising, biased and misleading,” is what EHT President, cancer epidemiologist, Devra Davis, PhD, MPHT says about a recent Danish study that underplayed the cancer risk from cell phone use.

The tests conducted by the Federal Communication Commission [FCC] are based on old science, old cell phone models and they do not take into consideration the increase of current cell phone use. Their tests are done on mannequins emulating a 220 pound man who is 6’2″ tall, this does not represent most of the population.

Not too worried about yourself? Think twice when it comes to your kids’ cell phone use. Children absorb radiation at a far higher rate than adults. Radiation goes 150% deeper into the head of a 10 year old child than it does an adult’s head; radiation goes even deeper into that of a 5 year old.

One study shows that the bone marrow of a child absorbs 10 times the amount of radiation as an adult. The radiation “limits” allowed by governmental studies pertain to adult men not children. It’s cause for concern, particularly for kids who have their own cell phone or for kids who frequently use their parent’s cell phones for games and web surfing. EHT points out that some countries ban children from using cell phones because of the health risk.

Scientists at the World Health Organization [WHO] believe that cell phones are carcinogenic. ABC News reported that WHO conducted a world wide study revealing that just 30 minutes a day of cell phone use for 10 years increased the risk of a rare brain tumor by 40%.

Be sure to check out part II is this series which includes cell phone safety tips.

April 22, 2013 By Kelly Leave a Comment

Celebrate Earth Day 2013 ~ 5 Things You Can Do To Be More Earth Friendly

The first Earth Day was during the height of the flower child era in 1970 when 20 million Americans held demonstrations across the country rallying for a healthy, sustainable environment. The devastation of the oil spill in Santa Barbara, California in 1969 gave Earth Day founder, Gaylord Nelson, the inspiration. The Earth Day Network works all year with over 22,000 partners and organizations to fight for a cleaner environment.

Celebrate this beautiful planet we inhabit… the flowers, trees, lakes, deep seas, billowy clouds, rolling green hills, the Seven Wonders and everything in between by making a few changes that will help keep it clean.

You don’t need a PhD in environmental science to live a greener life. Some simple steps will make a difference:

Photo by Alfie Nordman Photography

Shut the lights off when you leave a room
Don’t leave the water running when you brush your teeth
Purchase local food
Use reusable bags when you shop
Recycle. It’s one of the easiest things that a person can do to be more earth friendly

In his vintage news broadcast covering the first Earth Day, Walter Conkrite sites environmental issues we still face today. Some are worse and others, such as global warming have not brought the devastation some predicted it would at this point in time.

Many scientists believe global warming is a myth, that the earth experiences natural climate changes regardless of human impact. What is your opinion on the subject?

As this video states, even the tiniest things matter. What small things do you do to help make a difference?

April 12, 2013 By Kelly Leave a Comment

BPA Is The New Nicotine

There has been more bad news about Bisphenol A (BPA) than just about any other substance over the last few years but some people still are unaware of just how hazardous it is. Several studies have sited the dangers of BPA and it’s harmful effects on our health even at low doses. It imitates estrogen so it disrupts our endocrine system and messes with our hormones. It’s been associated with breast and prostate cancer, heart disease, premature puberty, neurological problems in infants, male sexual dysfunction, miscarriage, fertility problems, obesity, liver abnormalities and diabetes.

Even the American Medical Association (AMA) has reported that it officially recognizes BPA as an endocrine-disrupting agent and they are prompting manufacturers to warn consumers by clearly labeling products containing it. They were also quick to back the decision to ban the sale of products that contain BPA for babies.

It’s widely known that BPA is used in plastic but it might surprise you to find out that it is also in receipts and dollar bills among other things. Yep, just by touching those items your body is absorbing it. Lovely. It also leaches into food inside of cans because the inner lining of canned foods contains BPA. It gets into our food even without being heated.

It’s frustrating to believe you are making a healthy dinner for your family only to serve up the cancer causing compound. An interesting study was conducted last year by Silent Spring Institute and the Breast Cancer Fund. They found that when families ate fresh foods and avoided food in cans and food packaged in plastic for 3 days their BPA levels dropped on average by a whopping 60 percent! Canada no longer allows manufacturers to use it, it’s time for us to do the same.

There are alternatives, Janelle Sorensen, freelance environmentalist and former CCO, Healthy Child, Healthy World says, “Eden Foods uses a safer material and has agreed to make their ‘trade secrets’ public. The key to successful change is finding feasible alternatives. We have those in hand so with sustained consumer pressure, it shouldn’t be too long before we see the end of BPA used in food and beverage products.” I buy Eden Foods almost exclusively when buying canned foods because of this. The Breast Cancer Fund launched their ‘Cans Not Cancer’ campaign to urge manufacturers to uses a safer alternative in the lining of canned foods. Eden Foods does it why can’t everyone else?!

March 22, 2013 By Kelly Leave a Comment

World Water Day 2013

We shower, wash our cars, water our plants, do our dishes, drench our lawns, drink our 8 glasses… it is very easy to take water for granted. We can’t live without it yet 783 million people on this planet do not have access to safe, clean drinking water.

A child dies every 20 seconds from a water-related illness

Today is World Water Day when we bring awareness to this global crisis and support those suffering every single day deprived of clean water and adequate sanitation. 90% of the nearly 2 million deaths caused by diarrheal diseases each year from lack of proper sanitation are in children under the age of 5. It’s a problem even here in the United States, 8% of us do not have access to clean drinking water. We need to raise awareness today and every day. WaterDay.org would like everyone to post photos via Instagram with the hashtag #waterday in support of the cause. You can also help by donating and spreading the word, tweet this and post it to Facebook.

“The crisis of our diminishing water resources is just as severe (if less obviously immediate) as any wartime crisis we have ever faced. Our survival is just as much at stake as it was at the time of Pearl Harbor, or the Argonne, or Gettysburg, or Saratoga”

~Jim Wright, U.S. Representative, The Coming Water Famine, 1966

February 25, 2013 By Kelly 16 Comments

When In Doubt, Recycle

Our trash bin is rarely full but our recycle bin is busting at the seams nearly every week. I’m always asking my neighbor if I can put our overflow of recyclables in his bin. Most people don’t realize that lots of stuff that we toss in the garbage can be recycled. They just throw things away because they either assume it cannot be recycled or they just don’t bother. In fact, more than 75 % of waste is recyclable, but only about 30 % of it actually gets recycled!

Glass jars, newspaper, magazines, cardboard, cans, some of this stuff is obvious but people still neglect to fill their recycle bins each week. Someone once told me that they don’t recycle because there is no room for a bin under their kitchen sink. Seriously?!! Make room. The mud room, the laundry room, the bathroom, garage anywhere! Recycling is probably the easiest thing that a person can do to live a greener existence.

Even that clear, hard plastic packaging used for toys and other goods can be recycled as can shipping boxes, department store bags, tissue paper and some types of wrapping paper. Milk cartons and those liquid cartons that contain juice, egg nog and broth can be recycled as well. Those containers have a high grade fiber so they work well in paper mills.

My kids and I went on a tour of our local landfill. Not exactly a trip to Legoland but it was interesting, the boys had fun and we learned a lot. Our guide told us, when in doubt, recycle. She said if you’re not sure whether or not an item is recyclable throw it in the recycle bin because they sort through everything anyway. Not every municipality is run the same but you can call yours with questions. Certain items like tires, electronics, carpeting, appliances, paint, etc. are not always easy to recycle because you usually have to find a drop off center but it can be done, just go online for information on your area. Just do what you can, every little bit helps.

“We can help educate our families and communities about the importance of recycling for our environment, and how each of us can make a difference for a better world by recycling”
-Robert Alan Silverstein

February 21, 2013 By Kelly Leave a Comment

Healthy Child Healthy World… When Did You Wake up?

Healthy Child Healthy World is a valuable resource for creating a healthy, safe home and life. Thanks to them, millions are waking up to the risks that toxic chemicals pose. James and Nancy Chuda founded this wonderful organization after learning that the cancer that ended the life of their 4 year old daughter was most likely caused by a pesticide that Nancy was exposed to during her pregnancy.

Part of their mission is to bring awareness of toxic risks to parents and to encourage healthier lifestyle choices. I am extremely impressed by this organization, the work they do is so important. I am passionate about living a healthy, toxic-free lifestyle so I love how they have truly empowered and enlightened the public and helped change things for the better. But it’s an ongoing uphill battle, this short video will give you an idea of what they are trying to accomplish. I hope you’ll join me in spreading the word by tweeting this, posting it on your Facebook wall and sending it to your friends and family.

I woke up about 7 years ago when I was pregnant with my youngest. I hit the snooze button at first but I’m wide awake now. When did you wake up?