Pristine Planet

No Waste Lunch - a Green, Healthy and Money-Saving Alternative

2009-07-29T07:35:00.000-07:00

Packing a No Waste Lunch is healthy eco-friendly and more economical than buying prepackaged food. The average disposable “brown bag” lunch creates between 4–8 ounces of garbage everyday. That can add up to as much as 100 pounds per year! Not only do prepackaged and processed foods contain excess packaging, they are also up to 25% more expensive. And with the alarming increase of childhood obesity and diabetes, it’s more important than ever to teach healthy eating habits, especially when bringing your own lunch can save you money too.

A No Waste Lunch differs from the conventional brown bag by eliminating disposable paper and packaging. Everything is packed in reusable containers, disposable paper is replaced with cloth, and disposable cutlery is replaced with reusables.

As landfills across North America reach capacity, more and more schools are working to educate students on the importance of the other 3Rs: reduce, reuse recycle. And many are beginning to adopt No Waste Lunch programs, since lunch refuse is one of the leading sources of trash generated by schools.

The reduction of waste translates to savings in cleanup costs and a reduction in CO2 emissions. In California, the California Waste Free School (WFS) program has helped local schools to succeed in diverting over 6928.4 tons of material from local landfills, saving participating school districts approximately $413,518 to date. http://www.wastefreeschools.org/PDF/away_waste.pdf

The basic steps to waste reduction as outlined by WFS are simply translated:

1 Reduce the amount of disposable waste you pack
2 Pack Reusable products
3 Recycle anything you have left over

As families begin back to school preparations, now is the perfect time to incorporate No Waste lunch ideas to make a positive difference for your health, the planet and your wallet.

Easy Tips for a No Waste Lunch

1 Replace your disposable lunch bag with a reusable lunch tote. When half of the stuff we throw away each day comes from food waste and packaging, you’ll make a difference for your health and your wallet by switching to reusables.

2 Bring your drink in a BPA-free reusable bottle. It not only reduces waste, it promotes good health since you’re assured no toxins will leach into your drink. With an average savings of $200 per year over disposable water bottle costs, reusable bottles are a safe and sensible solution.

3 Eliminate disposable foils, plastics and bags by replacing them with reusable containers and sandwich wraps. Available in a variety of materials, reusable containers come in a variety of shapes and sizes to fit most any size lunch tote. Buying food in bulk is a great way to reduce packaging in general, and often saves money too.

4 Choose reusable cutlery as an alternative to disposable plastic, or bring your stainless steel cutlery from home. Reusable cutlery is available in a variety of sustainable materials. Stainless steel travels well when wrapped in a cloth napkin, just rewrap after use for easy cleanup at home.

5 Cloth Napkins are a money-saving, tree-free alternative to paper. You can green your kitchen and save an average of $40 per year by eliminating disposable plastics from your shopping list.

6 Insulated Thermos-type food and beverage containers keep foods and beverages at the right temperature, so the soup you made over the weekend will stay warm enough for lunch. You may also be surprised at the number of leftover meals that will suddenly become lunch options with the right travel containers.

For more information:
Elizabeth Borelli, Nubius Organics
Phone: 888-600-7004
Email: Elizabeth@nubiusorganics.com
Web Site: www.nubiusorganics.com

Green Remodeling

2009-07-20T09:48:00.000-07:00

Going green when remodeling can be a daunting task. It can also be an expensive one as well. But, there’s a great deal of satisfaction in using recycled, resourced and sustainable materials. The prices of these green construction finishes continue to drop as the demand increases. More often than not you’ll find that green remodeling comes with higher quality items that can lead to a better resale price for your home down the road. Pick wisely and you’ll help the environment, create a safer home for your family and benefit financially when it’s time to sell!

1. Sustainable flooring is a great way to get started when remodeling or building green. Bamboo and cork are two products that come from quickly renewable sources. Be careful with some bamboo as it tends to be a bit “soft”. Opt for edge grain and/or carbonized bamboo as these are as tough as regular hardwoods like oak and maple.

2. Carpet is now being made with recycled PET plastic. What a great idea! It’s also superior in quality because it is naturally stain resistant, stronger than traditional fabrics and nylons, moisture resistant and comes in vibrant colors that won’t fade over time. Mohawk makes their everSTRAND™ brand out of 100% recycled PET resins. The company uses three billion recycled plastic bottles every year! Don’t forget about the carpet pad while you are at it. Recycled plastic padding is also available. And, car tires are now being recycled into an amazingly resilient and comfy pad. Check out www.ecosurfaces.com for their ECOcomfort underlayment.

3. Recycled glass tile is a great way to create a custom look while using a material that would otherwise end up in our landfills. Sandhill Industries makes mosaics in 36 beautiful colors (www.sandhill.com/colorpalette.asp). Other manufacturers of recycled glass tiles are Aurora Glass, Bedrock Industries, Bonfire Glass Tile and Oceanside Glasstile Company.

4. No VOC (volatile organic compounds) paints are green and create healthier indoor air quality for you and your family. We like Green Planet Paints. These paints are made from natural earth clays and pigments without any petrochemicals. Since our indoor air can be up to 5 times more toxic than outdoor air, this is a smart and healthy choice. Other manufacturers including Benjamin Moore (Natura™ line) have come out with quality “No-VOC” paints. Keep in mind that under EPA guidelines, they can have up to 5 grams/liter and still be considered “No-VOC”.

5. Low VOC adhesives are also available for the construction process. These glues for framing, flooring, drywall and tiles will lower the chance of your indoor air being polluted with chemicals. Companies like Titebond® manufacture a whole line of low VOC adhesives.

6. Make sure to purchase Energy Star appliances when upgrading your kitchen or laundry room. These appliances use less energy and are more efficient at cooking, washing dishes and clothes, baking, and microwaving!

7. Green insulation? Yep, that’s right. There’s money savings here by reducing your energy bill and using a recycled material for your walls and attics. Cocoon Insulation makes a cellulose insulation made from 85% recycled paper products. This insulation is also healthier for us and the workers as it contains no asbestos or fiberglass. And, it can offer up to 26% better performance than traditional fiberglass batting at the same thickness! And now we even have insulation made from recycled blue jeans! You heard it right. Check out www.cottonfrombluetogreen.org to see how you can get involved. This insulation is also non-toxic and safe while using our resourced Levis®!

8. A tankless hot water heater is a green building device that will pay for itself in a short period of time. These water heaters create unlimited hot water by heating water quickly and efficiently only when you need it. They don’t continually run like your traditional gas or electric hot water storage units. This saves your energy bill and reduces the amount of greenhouse gases emitted. Now that’s a win-win scenario!

9. You can now build your deck or patio using recycled plastic lumber made from your old milk jugs. The added upfront cost is more than worth it in the saved maintenance expenses in the future. The recycled plastic lumber will not warp, crack or twist like wood. It requires no staining or sealing while being resistant to termites and other boring insects. The lumber is also used to make patio furniture that will outperform any other material, last a lifetime and is warm and comfortable to the touch - www.tuwa.com/site/sub_home_decor.html.

10. Porous pavers for your driveway help the environment by letting rain water seep into the soil. Under normal conditions the water runs down into the street carrying along with it chemicals and other toxic ingredients into our rivers and streams. The porous pavers allow the water to flow down into the soil as it would normally in nature. This helps recharge our aquifers, reduce flooding and the soil filters any contaminants naturally. K.B Industries even makes a porous paver with recycled rubber from automobile tires. Flexi-Pave is slip-resistant, flexible and available in many colors.

Other green building technologies are larger investments and take longer to see a return on your money. Solar panels, grey water retention and reuse, and geo-thermal HVAC are just some of the technologies that are the future of green construction. The higher quality of many of these green building products will save money in the long run by reducing future maintenance costs and extending their life expectancy. A small investment now can return dividends later on. And, we can reduce our impact on the environment at the same time!

A special thanks to Mathew Standish, President, http://www.tuwa.com/ for sharing this article.

Eco-friendly Lawn Care

2009-07-16T11:53:00.000-07:00

Eco-friendly living and your lawn care have much in common. Unfortunately, we use a lot of chemicals and water to have green yards at home here in the United States. In fact, more chemicals are sprayed on our home lawns than in the fields to grow our crops - 70 million tons of fertilizers and pesticides per year! We also use much of our water on our lawns. 30% of our water on the East coast and 60% of water on the West Coast is being consumed by our lawns! Green, healthy lawns can be grown with less water and chemicals if we take the time to understand the science of the soil:

1. Let your grass grow! Set your mower for 2.5 to 3.5 inches in height. The longer grass shades the weed seedlings to help prevent their growth and allows the grass roots to grow deeper in the soil. You’ll have less weeds and stronger grass. You may have to mow more often, but in no time you’ll see the difference. Stronger and longer grass roots mean you will…
2. Water your lawn less – yes, we said less not more. Watering your lawn t frequently feeds the weeds better than the grass. Less watering will help the grass develop deeper roots and the weeds don’t like to compete at lower levels. Water your lawn when the grass just starts to curl and avoid watering on a set schedule. When you do water, set a cup in the middle of the lawn. Water until you get ½” in the cup, wait 45 minutes and then water for another ½”. Water in the morning and you’ll lose less to evaporation. Your grass will love you and so will your water bill!
3. Grass needs nitrogen in the soil as its fertilizer. Weeds like nitrogen from the air. An abundance of weeds can indicate a low nitrogen-rich soil down below. Use a natural organic fertilizer that is time released. The Ringer brand has many types of all natural fertilizers. Look for natural ingredients like alfalfa, blood meal, and soybean meal.
4. Chemical lawn treatments kill our earthworms (and other microorganisms). Why is that so important? These critters aren’t just good to fish with, they also provide our soil with some of the best natural fertilizers – yep, worm poop! Eliminating the earthworm is robbing our soil of precious nutrients that don’t cost us a thing.
5. It’s all about the pH level stupid! Ok, this is one we probably don’t think about. The acidity level of our lawns is critical to a healthy yard. Test your lawn with a pH tester kit or have a professional do it for you. The proper pH level should be about 6.5. A number below this requires an application of lime and above 6.5 needs some sulfur.
6. Mow with a push mower like your grandfather used. These pushing type mowers finely cut the grass and create a mulching affect leaving the nutrient-rich clippings on the lawn. Did you know that gas powered mowers actually pollute the air up to 20 times more than our cars? So, if you don’t like pushing your way to shorter grass, try an electric mower and/or trimmer. Either way, these mowers require much less maintenance and will last longer than the foreign-oil gulpers!
7. The dandelion army is a good indicator that your lawn has a high pH level!
8. Corn gluten is a good natural weed preventer. Apply this natural byproduct of corn processing to your lawn in the early spring and again in the fall. The gluten kills weed seedlings and adds nitrogen to the soil.
9. Use Milky Spore to treat lawn grubs. This natural pesticide leaves all other microorganisms unharmed and is safe for pets and children.
10. Compost, compost, compost. Create a compost pile at your home or buy some compost from your local facility. Spread the compost evenly on your lawn. There’s nothing better than natural, nutrient-rich organic matter that would otherwise end up in our landfills. And, it’s a fun exercise for the whole family!

Two great resources for natural lawn care:

A. http://www.epa.gov/oppfead1/Publications/catalog/greenscaping.pdf

B.http://www.seattle.gov/util/stellent/groups/public/@spu/@csb/documents/webcontent/
naturalya_2003112617020011.pdf

A special thanks to Mathew Standish, President, http://www.tuwa.com/ for sharing this article.

10 Green Living Tips of the Month – Greening Your Home Through Energy Savings

2009-07-08T09:53:00.000-07:00

A green life doesn’t have to mean spending thousands of dollars on solar or changing our lifestyles drastically. We can actually live more green and save money at the same time through home energy conservation. How do we do that? It’s easy, reduce the amount of energy needed to heat your home in the winter, cool it in the summer, and power the lights all year. By using less energy you are reducing the amount of greenhouse gasses released into our atmosphere while lowering your utility bill. Green living that actually puts money back in your pocket! Let’s get started…

Tip #1 – Turn the light switches off when you aren’t in the room. We think this is probably the easiest way to live green. You will lower electricity bill and prolong the life of your light bulbs at the same time. Teach your kids to always flip the switch when they leave the room. Your pocket book will love you and so will mother earth!

Tip #2 – Switch out all of your light bulbs to CFL (compact florescent light) bulbs. CFL’s use 75% less electricity than standard filament bulbs. Yes, they do cost more but, CFL’s last up to ten times longer than their incandescent counterparts. If you can’t replace all of your bulbs, start with one room at a time. A house using CFL bulbs can reduce its electricity consumption up to 25%. That’s a lot of green!

Tip #3 – While we are on the subject of lighting, let’s talk about motion and light sensing activated devices. There are three overall automatic lighting options for you to choose from. First, light sensor activated lighting turns the bulb off when it’s light and on when it’s dark. Motion sensor lights will turn on the light when movement is detected near the fixture. And, finally the best of both worlds, a light that turns on when both darkness and motion are present. You can buy these sensors to fit in your existing light fixtures or a light fixture with the sensor built-in. We like the First Alert model #PIR 720R for indoor use and the American De Rosa #D2430 for exterior lights.

Tip #4 – Washing the dishes. The automatic dishwasher uses a lot of energy to clean your plates, cups, and forks. Run the dishwasher only when it’s full. You’ll also be saving water if you run the dishwasher less. But, that couldn’t possibly save much water, right? Try this, don’t rinse the dishes prior to putting them in the dishwasher and run it only when full – you could save over 7000 gallons of water each year!

Tip #5 – Speaking of hot water, our home water heaters require a large amount of electricity or natural gas to keep the water at our desired temperature. The standard hot water heater turns on and off constantly in order to do its duty, wasting energy along the way. Wrapping your water heater with an insulating blanket can reduce its energy consumption by 20%. These blankets slow the heat loss of the water, thus causing your water heater to run less frequently. Check with your local hardware store or home center. These blankets are very affordable and easy to install.

Tip #6 - Install a programmable thermostat…and use it. A programmable thermostat can reduce your utility bill up to 15% or more. Every 1 degree change over an eight hour period can equal a 1% savings. So, set the thermostat to 10 degrees cooler when you’re not at home during the winter, a 10% savings! Or, set it 5 degrees warmer in the summer when you aren’t around, a 5% savings! You can program most thermostats to operate around your work schedule, the weekends, evenings, and vacations. Most programmable thermostats will pay for themselves in energy savings within just a few months. Chances are you may already have one of these thermostats, but have you programmed it or do you just hit the up and down arrows? Gotcha! Spend a little time, program the unit, and you’ll enjoy lower energy bills all year long.

Tip #7 – Insulation for your home. Most homes are sorely under insulated, especially in the attic. You remember high school science – heated air rises and cooler air lowers. Well, the heated air in the winter goes up and out mostly through our attics. Check your attic insulation thickness to estimate its R-value (thermal resistance). New homes are required to include a minimum R-30 insulation in the attic. There are several types of insulation material, but a good general rule is that you want at least 12” of the stuff up there. Anything less and you could be losing 50% more heat than is necessary. Hire a contractor to add insulation or do it yourself. While this is certainly a more costly way to conserve energy, the extra insulation will most likely pay for itself in just a few seasons. Another way to see if you have enough insulation in the attic is to look at your roof after a good snowfall. Does the snow melt quickly (one day or less)? Compare it to your neighbor’s roof, do they have snow on their roof and you don’t? If you answered yes to either of these questions, then you’re losing a lot of heat through the attic. Time to insulate!

Tip #8 – Speaking of heat loss, check your windows and doors for air gaps. These gaps allow heat to escape (and water to enter). A little over 20% of all heat loss goes out through the doors and windows of your home. Check to make sure the weather stripping is in good shape and that it runs all the way to the corners. A simple way to test for these gaps is to hold incense or a lit candle next to the area of concern. Pick a windy day and you may be surprised at the results. While you are at it, check other areas like around outlets or other exterior wall penetrations. It’s affordable and easy to install new weather stripping. And, the new spray foams do wonders around electric boxes and other wall gaps.

Tip #9 – Clothes drying 101. Clean out the lint screen every time you load the dryer. Also, make sure you don’t overload the dryer. Sounds a bit boring, but the savings is anything but – try 5% off your utility bill!

Tip #10 – Here’s one that will save you time as well. Cook with micro waves. Yep, the microwave is 3 to 5 times more energy efficient than a standard oven. So, if you spend $100.00 cooking meals in the oven, the same meals in a microwave could cost you only $20.00. Who said nuking was a bad thing?

A special thanks to Mathew Standish, President, http://www.tuwa.com/ for sharing this article.

Green Living at Home – Indoor Air Quality

2009-07-03T07:18:00.000-07:00

Green living is synonymous with healthy living. And, during the winter when we are hibernating in our homes, our indoor air quality is something to think about. Did you know that the air inside our homes can be ten times as toxic as outdoor air? The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) states that health effects from indoor air pollutants may be experienced soon after exposure or, possibly, years later. Asthma rates are on an alarming rise, affecting 20 million people in the US alone! Sadly, the largest growth rate of asthma cases has been in children under the age of five. Let’s take a look at the components commonly found in our indoor air and then we’ll suggest some ways to fight them.

The problem:

1. Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) – the term used to describe the emission of gases into the air. VOC’s include all kinds of chemicals which are released in the air from everyday household products like paint and wood finishes, furniture, cleaning agents, air fresheners and carpet to name a few. The effect to our health includes headaches, loss of coordination, nausea and damage to our liver, kidney and central nervous system. Some of these chemicals include formaldehyde, phthalates, benzene and perchlorothylene which are all known human carcinogens.

2. Mold – mold reproduces using spores which are invisible to the human eye. The health effects include nasal stuffiness, eye irritation, wheezing or skin irritation. Severe reactions include fever and shortness of breath. Small amounts of mold spores are present in almost every home’s air.

3. Radon – this colorless, odorless and tasteless gas is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the US. The gas is emitted from the ground and is a result of a natural process of uranium in the soil breaking down. It is found in all areas of the United States. Visit the EPA’s website for an interactive radon map of your state and county: www.epa.gov/radon/zonemap.html.

4. Smoke – secondhand smoke is particularly troublesome for children who are growing and developing. Because children have higher breathing rates than adults, their lungs are susceptible to the negative health effects of smoke. The result can be asthma, respiratory infection and ultimately lung cancer.

5. Pet dander – a little gross, but true; your pet’s dead skin flakes can be found in high concentrations in the air of homes with dogs and cats. These particles can cause allergic reactions and trigger asthma.

6. Dust mites – these tiny insects are invisible to the naked eye. Every home has them and they reside in pillows, mattresses, carpets, furniture fabric, clothes and even stuffed toys because they feed on our dead skin cells. The byproducts of these mites can cause asthma and allergic reactions, especially in children who have not had previous symptoms.

The solution:

VOC – store all paints and varnishes in the garage or away from the home. Use natural plant-based cleaning agents and solutions. Paint walls and woodwork with a natural no-VOC paint. Capture chemical particles in your air through specialized filters. These carbon filters absorb chemical compounds from the air and some also include zeolite, a porous mineral that helps with absorption of even the smallest particles.

Mold – mold spores thrive in moist conditions. Make sure any leaks around your home’s foundation, windows, doors and roof are repaired immediately. A crawlspace should have a layer of plastic over the ground to eliminate moisture rising from the soil. Keep bathrooms and laundry rooms well ventilated to prevent high humidity. Use a dehumidifier for moist areas of your home including basements. Make sure your attic is well insulated to prevent condensation. A quality HEPA air purifier should screen mold spores as small as .3 to .1 microns.

Radon – test your home for radon gas. You can get a test kit from most home improvement centers for around $10 which you then send to a lab which will cost about $30 for the results. Or, visit the EPA’s website for a list of every state’s agency that assists in radon testing as well as resources to fix your radon problems: www.epa.gov/iaq/whereyoulive.html. Most state health offices offer reduced pricing or free test kits. Radon levels above 4 pCi/L (picocuries per liter of air) should be addressed immediately.

Smoke – if you must smoke, consider using an air filter or purifier. Don’t smoke when children are present and provide some ventilation through an open window if possible. Never smoke in the car with children.

Pet dander – cleaning often will help prevent these particles from wandering from location to location. Use a spray cleaner (preferably a natural plant-based product) to moisten surfaces before wiping. This will keep the particles from becoming airborne again. Purchase quality furnace filters and change them often, especially in the winter (once a month at a minimum). Consider a reusable furnace filter. These filters can be washed frequently, will last a lifetime and will actually save you money over time. Have your furnace and ductwork cleaned by a professional annually. Limit pets to certain rooms and keep them off of the furniture and beds if possible.

Dust mites – wash your bed sheets and blankets often (once a week). Cover mattresses in dust-proof and/or removable covers. Use pillow covers that can be removed and washed with the sheets. Consider buying wool pillows and comforters that are more resistant to dust mites. Buy washable stuffed toys and keep them off of the bed. Vacuum the carpet AND furniture fabric frequently. Change vacuum filters at three-fourths full or sooner.

A special thanks to Mathew Standish, President, http://www.tuwa.com/ for sharing this article.

Garden Plants as Natural Pesticides

2009-06-18T14:25:00.000-07:00

The following plants act as natural pesticides:

Ants - mint, pansy, pennyroyal
Aphids - mint, garlic, chives, coriander, anise
Bean Leaf Beetle - potato, onion,turnip
Codling Moth - common oleander
Colorado Potato Bug - green beans, coriander, nasturtium
Cucumber Beetle - radish, pansy
Flea Beetle - garlic, onion, mint
Imported Cabbage Worm - mint, sage, rosemary, hyssop
Japanese Beetle - garlic, larkspur, tansy, rue, geranium
Leaf Hopper - geranium, petunia
Mice - onion
Root Knot Nematodes - French marigolds
Slugs prostrate - rosemary, wormwood
Spider Mites - garlic, cloves, chives
Squash Bug - radish, marigolds
Stink Bug - radish
Thrips - marigolds
Whitefly - marigolds, nasturtium

Economical and Green Father's Day Gift

2009-06-15T13:00:00.000-07:00

What to get dad for Father's day? Another tie he won't wear? A desktop pool table set? Here is an idea that would work with families with young children.
1. Take your kids on a nature walk-to give Dad some down time. Bring a bucket on your walk and collect rocks large and small. Don't pick too many rocks because you will have to carry them.
2. Wash off the rocks and let them air dry
3. Collect all of the old and broken crayons you have lying around the house. The more colors the better.
4. Place your rock on a cookie sheet covered with foil. Place the cookie sheet in your oven at 200 degrees. Leave them in there for 2 hours.
5. Remove the cookie sheet and place your rocks into a table covered with newspaper. Be careful the rocks are hot!!
6. Have your kids take the crayons and go over the surface of the rocks. The wax will melt and become one with the rocks. Kids can be creative and make patterns or pictures.
Depending on the size, the rocks can be used in the garden or as paperweights. They look great and last forever!! This is a economical green Father's day gift. Try it. Send us your pix.

Composting

2009-05-29T17:49:00.000-07:00

A good way to create fertilizer from items in your house and garden is to start a compost pile. I've read up on this and you don't have to have a compost bin. You can clear a small area in the shade away from a large tree and surround it with movable fencing. If you want to buy a bin, I'm sure all big box home improvement stores sell them. But you could make your own. Go to www.recyclesaintlouis.com for information on how to build a compost bin.

Here's how to make a compost pile:

1.Select a level area in your backyard with good water drainage-partially shaded is best.
2. Once your bin is in place (if you choose to use one), put a 4"to 6" layer dead plants, twigs or small branches on the bottom. (I have extra if you need them :) Remember, organic materials decompose without human intervention (great for lazy people like me), but to speed up the process, it is best to layer materials with equal amounts of greens (materials high in nitrogen such as grass clippings, non-woody plant trimming, and the remains of garden plants and browns (materials high in carbon such as dry brown weeds, dry brush or sawdust)

Maintaining your compost pile:

Keep your pile as damp as a well-wrung sponge. Add air to your pile every two to three weeks by poking holes through the compost pile with a broom handle or by loosening and turning it with a garden fork.
Following this instructions will yield a pile of rich compost in three to six months.

Pristine Planet Helps with Bike to Work Day

2009-05-13T17:00:00.000-07:00

We stopped by for a few hours to help our good friend KC, a bike advocate, organize the aid stations today. Jack in the Box (headquartered in San Diego) let the Bike to Work organizers use their corporate parking lot to coordinate the aid station handouts. (JBX also catered lunch. No sign of Jack though. Is he still in the hospital?) Aid Station volunteers picked up the necessities today so they will be prepared to man over 50 aid stations throughout San Diego county on Friday. Cliff Bar donated several boxes of organic energy bars.

Bike to work day is a great event and if you’re in San Diego and can ride on Friday be sure and check out the aid stations. There is lots of great schwag.

http://www.ridelink.org/EventsPromo/BiketoWorkDay.aspx

The Dirt on Household Cleaning Products

2009-04-13T18:33:00.000-07:00

Many people do their heavy cleaning this time year, being that Spring is a time of renewal and all that stuff. So I thought it would be interesting to find the dirt behind "green" cleaning products. As someone who has grown weary of large companies following fads just to gain customers, I found it interesting that Women and the Environment conducted an independent set of tests of so called environmentally friendly cleaning products. According to their tests, many of these products are not green in the true sense. Some ingredients are not even listed and many are harmful to people with asthma. With the growing number of findings suggesting that certain chemicals may be the cause of autism, Kawasaki's disease (cause professional carpet cleaner fumes) and of course asthma, I wonder when these companies are going to wake up and smell the lawsuit। My friend of over 20 years has a child with both autism and down syndrome, if we knew more of the ugly truth behind autism, she might not be locked in a sometimes sensory deprived/overloaded world। I have a feeling that ugly truth could be in our kitchen cabinets under the sink। Check it out। At least one of the company's results will probably surprise you.http://www.womenandenvironment.org/newsreports/media/News%20Item%202008/news_item.2008-10-21.8348650556/view?searchterm=dirt

The 6 Worst Fad Diets

2009-01-16T13:12:00.000-08:00

This blog was taken directly from www.newsweek.com.

I thought all Fad Diets were bad, but apparently these are the worst:

If you've visited a bookstore this month, you probably weren't able to avoid the giant pyramid of diet books that magically appears right after Jan. 1. Whether you find those titles inspiring or just guilt inducing, one thing is certain: many of them sound too good to be true. And often they are. These popular weight-loss fads usually aren't all that new, but they come around every year with new names—and maybe even a fresh celebrity connection. Here are the six basic diet trends, why they don't work and why they may even be unhealthy. You won't find these exact titles on a shelf near you, but hopefully you'll be able to recognize the gimmick when you see it no matter how it's been tarted up.

1. The Fat-Free DietThe theory: Eat whatever you want as long as it has no fat. If your diet contains no fat, you won't get fat.Reality check: While it's true that extra fat in your diet adds calories, just sticking to foods touted as fat free doesn't necessarily help. Supermarket shelves are crammed with products advertised as fat free that are loaded with sugar and empty calories and that offer little in the way of fiber, vitamins or minerals. Check product labels before you buy.

2. The Snack-Pack Diet The theory: Cookies and chips sorted into 100-calorie packs help limit the damage from an attack of the munchies.Reality check: The dozens of 100-calorie snack pack foods on the market now may offer a lower-calorie alternative, but few of them are truly healthy choices, and they aren't likely to be very filling or fiber rich, which can send you running for another bag or something less healthy. Rather than knocking back a 100-calorie bag of or , look for more nutritious alternatives, like half of a sandwich made with whole-wheat bread or a piece of fruit.

3. The Couch-Potato Diet The theory: Who needs exercise? You can lose weight without working out! Cutting back on calories is enough.Reality check: Who needs exercise? You do. Studies have shown that dieters who change what they eat and increase their regular activity are more likely to lose and keep weight off. Increasing activity has other health benefits as well, such as lowering your risk of heart disease, the leading killer of women. Even a brisk 20- to 30-minute walk most days of the week can make a big difference.

4. The Detox Plan The theory: You'll lose weight when you clean out your insides by downing a concoction made from orange juice and molasses or some other bizarre mix.Reality check: There's no evidence that purging your intestines of "toxins" makes you any healthier or more likely to lose weight. A high-fiber diet is all you really need.

5 . The Beef and Bacon Diet The theory: All protein, all the time, and don't worry too much about fat.Reality check: Cutting down on carbs, especially empty carbs like white flour and white rice, can help you lose weight, but a diet that contains large amounts of fatty meat simply isn't healthy. A better choice would be leaner proteins, like fish or chicken (grilled or broiled without the skin), plus five servings of fruit and vegetables, a serving or two of whole-grain carbs and some low-fat dairy.

6. The Twinkie Diet The theory: Calories are all that counts, so eat whatever you want, including nothing but , and you will lose weight as long as your total is under your daily limit.Reality check: Although calories do count, the source of those calories is important. If you eat only junk, your body will lose out on vital nutrients and that can have long-term consequences for your health. So watch those calories, and watch where they come from.
So instead of spending $25 on another book advocating one of the above approaches, try going back to basics.

The first, admittedly obvious, step is to eat less. You may not even be aware of how much or what you are eating. Keep a food journal for a few days. It will help pinpoint trouble spots. Studies have shown that writing down what you eat is one of the most effective ways to cut back and that dieters who do so tend to lose more weight than those who don't. One of the most helpful books out there on the psychology of why we eat is "Mindless Eating" () by , head of the . In addition to explaining the many reasons it's so easy to overeat in American culture, he offers tips that can help you reduce consumption more easily, like buying smaller plates or even just moving the candy dish a few feet farther from your desk.

The second step is also pretty simple: get more exercise. One upside of the current economic downturn is that lots of gyms are offering discounts on membership. Take advantage of that.
For more diet and exercise tips, check out mypyramid.gov. It's a free government site with easy-to-use diet and exercise trackers.

Just a Thought...

2009-01-09T13:45:00.000-08:00

Do you feel like you are currently living up to your potential? What about your spouse? Are they?

Upon talking with some of the ladies at work today, I’ve realized that quite a few feel that their life has ended up nothing as they had hoped and planned it would twenty years ago.
Now, of course, at the age of twenty, most people don’t set high expectations and goals for themselves and actually achieve all of them without having setbacks. Life happens; people make mistakes, you to take detours and do what you can with what you have.

I’m not implying everyone is unhappy and wishes their life was something it isn’t. However, I do believe that there is a medium for most people. While it is possible to be content with your life, I also think that most have a natural passing thought here and there of, “If I only would have…” or “Why didn’t I just….”

With that being said, assuming you are one of those who has not fulfilled your every dream in life—are you currently living up to your potential? Have you learned from your past and are you currently doing everything you can do so that your life is as fulfilling as it could possibly be at the moment? Are you happy? Do you feel like your life thus far has had serious meaning with little regrets?

Let me know what you think, I’d love to hear your comments and opinions.

5 "REALLY" Last Minute Gift Ideas for Ethical Shoppers

2008-12-22T09:40:00.000-08:00

You’re a socially conscious shopper, there are just a handful of days left till Christmas, and like many people, you’ve still got some names left on your shopping list. If your gift recipients live farther than a stone’s throw away, getting packages mailed out in time for the holidays is no longer an option, unless you want to pay exorbitant expedited shipping costs. So what’s a socially conscious procrastinator to do? I went on an online adventure to find out, and discovered some great last minute gift ideas that don’t require checking your values at the door.

Idea #1: Give the Gift of Choice. If you’re unsure what to give someone, instant Online Gift Certificates are a great last minute gift idea. To stay true to your values, target Online Stores offering Fair Trade products. Fair Trade is an economic model where producers work in healthy, safe conditions, are paid fairly, and employ environmentally sustainable practices. Make sure that the store you choose sends gift certificates automatically, so they arrive via email just moments after you order them. That way, when you order a gift certificate ON Christmas day, it will arrive ON Christmas day. For those who prefer to have something physical to give your gift recipients, many sites have a nice gift certificate graphic you can print out. In lieu of that, just paste the logo and gift certificate details onto an eco-friendly card. You’ll find plenty of Online Stores offering Fair Trade products listed on the Fair Trade Federation website. Choose “Online Shopping” in their “Find Products” drop down menu. http://www.fairtradefederation.org/

Idea #2: Invest IN Others FOR Others. For those who are not familiar, Kiva is all about loans that change lives. On their website, individuals can invest in a specific entrepreneur in the developing world, empowering them to lift themselves out of poverty. Kiva has figured out how to get everyday folks to invest in the hopes and dreams of others with less opportunities and resources at their disposal. You don’t have to be rich to be a Kiva investor, and while one US dollar may not seem like much to you and I, it sure does go a long way in some other parts of the world. For last minute shoppers, Kiva offers gift certificates so you can invest in someone’s name. http://www.kiva.org/app.php?page=gift&action=giftPromotion

Idea #3: Open up a Can of Worms. What do a crocodile, school supplies and a can of worms have in common? Well, they are just three of the many ‘symbolic’ gifts you can purchase from Oxfam America Unwrapped. Here’s how it works: You purchase an item from their website, the card goes to your gift recipient, and the gift goes to those who need it. In case you’re wondering, when you buy gifts here, an email is sent to your gift recipients automatically, making this a solid last minute gift solution. Their offerings include treated mosquito nets and school uniforms, bicycles and veterinarian field kits, and that’s a mere sampling of what they offer. Just remember, the items you select represent a contribution toward Oxfam America's many programs and not an actual physical item. http://www.oxfamamericaunwrapped.com/home.php
Idea #4: You Can Never Have Too Many Trees! There are an impressive amount of organizations offering to plant a tree in someone’s name for you, and that number seems to be growing (no pun intended!) I look at this as a great stand-by gift when you can’t think of anything else to give, you’re down to your last hours before gift giving time, and you’ve got internet nearby. To save you the 3 minutes it will take you to Google your way to tree planting organizations, here are some I found:

http://www.treegreetings.com/: This website offers “the e-card that plants a tree.” The card plays music (and the website talks to you) but I must warn you; the music is a little new-agey, but hey, to each their own. They make up for it with a catchy order page: “It’s easy as 1,2 Tree.”
http://www.treesftf.org/: This organization claims to have planted 50 million trees around the world and counting! They offer customized tree planting certificates, but since they have a 7-10 day lead time for online orders, last minute gift givers should print out info from their website to craft it into a presentable gift.
http://www.friendsoftrees.org/: Friends of Trees will plant a native tree or an entire grove in honor of your gift recipient and send them a card to mark the occasion. They promise to process online orders within three working days, so if you’ve missed the deadline for holiday delivery they have a nice graphic online you can print out and use until the real certificate shows up. For the truly motivated, they also invite the public to take part in the action by joining in the actual planting.

Idea #5: Charity Clarity. First, the gift idea: donate to a charity in someone’s name. Not the most novel idea, but hey, what do you expect? It’s late and we’re desperate holiday shoppers! If you go this route, there are some things you can do to boost the thoughtfulness. First, find a charity that really speaks to the values and interests of your gift recipient. Take my Mom, for instance. She loves her dog Zorro, a cute little mutt she got from a local shelter. So donating to the shelter where she adopted her dog from would definitely win me some points. Though I haven’t checked yet (I’m a procrastinator too) I’ll bet I could make a simple phone call to the shelter, give them my credit card #, and donate over the phone. Then I’ll reach for my trusty pile of recycled paper and sketch out a makeshift card to represent the gift. The bottom line is, if you’re going to donate to charity in someone’s name, put a little thought into it and you’ll come out smelling like roses!

Idea #5.5: Better Late Than Never. If you’re not buying what I’m selling and the ideas above don’t appeal to you, then go online, buy whatever socially conscious gift your heart desires, and print its picture out onto some pretty recycled paper with a note that says “coming soon.”

Written by: Tex Dworkin
http://www.globalexchangestore.org/

A special thanks to Tex Dworkin, Global Exchange Director of Marketing, http://www.globalexchangestore.org/ for sharing this article.

Take Control of your Energy Use

2008-12-19T10:57:00.000-08:00

This article was taken dirctly from www.enn.com. Take a second to read this article, as it could end up saving you a lot of money per year!!!

How to Take Control of Your Energy Use, One Minute at a Time
RELATED ARTICLES

With the recent announcement of Obama's green team things are looking encouraging for massive change happening in terms of how our government interacts with and takes action on the pressing environmental issues

You might be wondering, how can I too make a difference? Or more immediately, how can I save money in these turbulent economic times?

The answer is all around you: Your computer you're reading this on, the light above you, and out in the kitchen, the refrigerator, your oven, and a host of other things. Each using electricity, many whether you have them switched on or not.

But how can you tell how much? How can you tell how much difference switching one thing out for another has? What keeping your lights off when you're not in the room does? Typically, it's been mostly a hindsight sort of thing, looking at your energy bill. And even then, you have no way of telling what's happening on an individual appliance basis.

Until now.

Greenbox is a system that allows you to know, per component, per minute, how much electricity is being used, at what cost, and in getting to know your usage patterns, it gives specific recommendations.

What sort of difference can this make? Greenbox puts it well when they say:
If 30% of us reduced our electricity usage by 20%, we would save over $8 billion per year on our energy bills, reduce emissions by 105 billion tons of carbon dioxide per year and avoid $10 billion in construction of new power plants. This is the equivalent of 35 coal fired power plants operating 24 hours per day.

No small impact. And from the sound of it, not terribly difficult to achieve. Really, most of it is just having greater awareness of what you use, and how you use it. They're not proposing people radically change the way they live. Though some would say this is the only way to make enough of an impact. And Greenbox could be used for that end as well.

How does GreenBox work? It's a web based interface that works on several different levels, from high level and broad to extremely fine grained. A wise move on their part, because not everybody assimilates and makes use of information the same way.

It ranges from pie charts showing what percentage of your use takes place during peak and non peak times, to what your carbon footprint is, complete with comparisons to, for example, the number of miles driven in a car to get those same emissions. And, giving useful context, it lets you compare your usage to a similar house, anonymously.

GreenBox is currently being tested both on the utility level and in home. If you're interested in knowing about when it becomes publicly available, gohere.

Readers: What other tools do you know of to help achieve greater personal energy efficiency? What practices beyond the usual do you do you do in your life that have proven effective? Any competitions you've had with friends/family/coworkers on being green?

Paul Smith is a sustainable business innovator, the founder of GreenSmith Consulting, and has an MBA in Sustainable Management from Presidio School of Management in San Francisco. His overarching talent is "bottom lining" complex ideas, in a way that is understandable and accessible to a variety of audiences, internal and external to a company.

www.getgreenbox.com

In "Eat Local" Movement, Cuba is Years Ahead...

2008-12-16T09:19:00.000-08:00

This article was taken directly from www.enn.com. A very informative, interesting 'green' website. Take a look!

In "eat local" movement, Cuba is years ahead....

HAVANA (Reuters) - After the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, Cuba planted thousands of urban cooperative gardens to offset reduced rations of imported food.
Now, in the wake of three hurricanes that wiped out 30 percent of Cuba's farm crops, the communist country is again turning to its urban gardens to keep its people properly fed.

"Our capacity for response is immediate because this is a cooperative," said Miguel Salcines, walking among rows of lettuce in the garden he heads in the Alamar suburb on the outskirts of Havana.

Salcines says he is hardly sleeping as his 160-member cooperative rushes to plant and harvest a variety of beets that takes just 25 days to grow, among other crops.

As he talks, dirt-stained men and women kneel along the furrows, planting and watering on land next to a complex of Soviet-style buildings. Machete-wielding men chop weeds and clear brush along the periphery of the field.

Around 15 percent of the world's food is grown in urban areas, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, a figure experts expect to increase as food prices rise, urban populations grow and environmental concerns mount.

Since they sell directly to their communities, city farms don't depend on transportation and are relatively immune to the volatility of fuel prices, advantages that are only now gaining traction as "eat local" movements in rich countries.

ROOFTOPS AND PARKING LOTS

In Cuba, urban gardens have bloomed in vacant lots, alongside parking lots, in the suburbs and even on city rooftops.
They sprang from a military plan for Cuba to be self-sufficient in case of war. They were broadened to the general public in response to a food crisis that followed the collapse of the Soviet Union, Cuba's biggest benefactor at the time.

They have proven extremely popular, occupying 35,000 hectares (86,000 acres) of land across the Caribbean island. Even before the hurricanes, they produced half of the leaf vegetables eaten in Cuba, which imports about 60 percent of its food.

"I don't say they have the capacity to produce enough food for the whole island, but for social and also agricultural reasons they are the most adequate response to a crisis," said Catherine Murphy, a U.S. sociologist who has studied Cuba's urban gardens.

GREEN PRODUCTIVITY

In Alamar, the members get a salary and share the garden's profits, so the more they grow, the more they earn. They make an average of about 950 pesos, or $42.75, per month, more than double the national average, Salcines said.
The co-op, which began in 1997, now produces more than 240 tons of vegetables annually on its 11 hectares (27 acres) of land, which is about the size of 13 soccer fields.
The gardens sell their produce directly to the community and, out of necessity, grow their crops organically.

"Urban agriculture is going to play a key role in guaranteeing the feeding of the people much more quickly than the traditional farms," said Richard Haep, Cuba coordinator for German aid group Welthungerhilfe, which has supported these kinds of projects since 1994.
When the Soviet Union fell apart, Cuba's supply of oil slowed to a trickle, hurting big state agricultural operations. Chemical fertilizers were replaced with mountains of manure, and beneficial insects were used instead of pesticides.

Unlike in developed countries, where organic products are more expensive, in Cuba they are affordable.

"We have taken organic agriculture to a social level," said Salcines.
Some experts fear that rising international food prices along with the destruction of the hurricanes will return Cuba to the path of agrochemicals. The government is planning to construct a fertilizer plant with its oil-rich ally Venezuela.

But Raul Castro, who replaced ailing brother Fidel Castro as president in February, has also borrowed ideas from the urban gardens as he implements reforms to cut the island's $2.5 billion in annual food imports, much of it from the United States.

Castro has decentralized farm decision-making and raised the prices that the state pays for agricultural products, which has increased milk production, for example, by almost 20 percent.
And, in September, the government began renting out unused state-owned lands to farmers and cooperatives, measures that met with approval of international aid groups.

"Decentralization and economic incentives. If those elements are expanded to the rest of the agricultural sector, the response will be the same," said Welthungerhilfe's Haep.

Buy Local vs. Fair Trade: An Ethical Shopper’s Dilemma

2008-12-04T09:20:00.000-08:00

Another gift giving season is upon us and it’s time to decide on a shopping strategy. In one ear you’re encouraged to shop locally, in the other ear you hear about the benefits of choosing Fair Trade gifts. So which strategy is best, and is one better than the other? To answer a question with a question, who says you have to choose? The ‘Buy Local’ and Fair Trade movements both have their benefits.

One way to honor the bumper sticker mantra “Think Globally Act Locally” is to support your local businesses. Why buy cheese from Europe when there’s a dairy farm down the road producing double creamy Gouda that will knock your socks off? Buying local refers to choosing locally made products and soliciting locally owned businesses, which have environmental and social benefits. Products made locally have a smaller carbon footprint than products shipped from overseas, and thus are less of a strain on the environment. Shoppers who buy locally travel less distances to shop, which also reduces the carbon footprint. Local businesses produce more income and jobs for local communities than large retail chains do, and are more likely to utilize local services, such as advertising and banking. Supporting local businesses preserves the economic diversity of our communities and the unique character of our neighborhoods.

Sounds great, right? But what about choosing Fair Trade, another moral purchasing strategy?

Fair Trade is an economic model that ensures products are made by producers who receive a living wage, work in healthy, safe conditions and in many cases, employ environmentally sustainable processes. Fair Trade also tackles the issue of child slavery by guaranteeing that there is no abuse of child labor.

In a world economy where globalization is king and profits are queen, small-scale producers are left without resources or hope for their future. Children are forced to work instead of receiving an education and local environments suffer from the ‘profits now’ mentality that damage environments for future generations. Fair Trade helps exploited producers escape from this vicious cycle of poverty. The Fair Trade system benefits over 800,000 Farmers organized into cooperatives and unions in 48 countries. Revenue from Fair Trade cooperatives is used on a variety of community projects, including training of producers in organic and sustainable farming techniques, building houses, schools and clinics and guaranteeing health care for the whole community.
So now it’s time to decide…buy local or Fair Trade? It’s important to note that choosing Fair Trade products can actually help your local merchants survive in this sluggish economy. Prices for cheap imports made in sweatshop factories outside of the US are usually so low that local merchants have difficulty competing on price. So during a time when consumers are looking to cut costs wherever possible, cheap knock offs made in sweatshops often outsell locally made products, even though the quality is drastically lower.

Whichever you decide, the good news is that the ‘Buy Local’ and Fair Trade movements both have tremendous benefits. They support environmentally sustainable solutions, and layers of middlemen are left out of each economic model, helping to ensure that a fair percentage of profits actually reach the producers. Fair Trade and locally made products are often handcrafted with care, resulting in a higher quality product than the mass-produced sweatshop products available in big box stores, and in both cases, the preservation of cultural heritage is a by-product of doing business.

If you’re married to the idea of buying locally, remember that some items are not grown locally, like cocoa. Cocoa trees are only grown in tropical regions of Africa, Asia, South and Central America. So if you’re looking for socially conscious chocolate in the US, consider chocolate made locally with Fair Trade Certified cocoa. That way, you can support your local chocolate maker AND Fair Trade cocoa producers around the world.

Beyond chocolate, there are lots of other instances where products from the Fair Trade and Buy Local movements are harmoniously combined to create special products all their own. One example is from Handmade Expressions, a sourcing partner for socially and environmentally responsible products based in Austin, Texas. They sell their handmade copper alloy bells to local artists who incorporate the ethically produced crafts into their artwork that is then sold locally.
Some proponents of the buy local movement consider choosing Fair Trade products an ethical challenge because products imported to the US have a bigger carbon footprint than locally produced products. In an op-ed piece for Western M, Steve Brooks, the acting head of Oxfam Cymru points out that “if everyone in the United Kingdom switched one 100W light bulb to a low energy equivalent, CO² emissions would be reduced in one year by 4.7 times the amount saved by boycotting fresh fruit and vegetables from sub-Saharan Africa.” If this is true, then perhaps the carbon footprint issue is not such a big deal after all. If you’re not buying that, and you’re shopping for a coffee lover, consider Grounds for Change, the first coffee roaster in the nation to complete the rigorous third-party certification process necessary to obtain the CarbonFree® Certified Product label. To get a product certified CarbonFree®, a company must submit the item to a third-party process that formally scrutinizes the carbon emissions associated with every step in production from the country of origin to your cup.

Whether you choose local or Fair Trade products or a combination of the two this holiday, what’s most important is to shift your spending from mass produced products made in sweatshops to ethically produced products. According to the US Census Bureau of the Department of Commerce, US retail e-commerce sales reached $29.3 billion in the fourth quarter of 2006, and e-commerce sales accounted for just 2.8% of total retail sales, so you do the math. That’s a lot of dough! Wal-Mart alone reported $340 billion of sales revenue back in their 2006 financial report. Yet the Fair Trade Federation, the US’s network of Fair Trade businesses, reported $160+ million in total member sales in 2006, a tiny crumb compared to the overall US retail pie. If just 5% of US Wal-Mart customers shift their spending to Fair Trade products this holiday season, imagine the positive impact it could have on our environment and producers’ lives?

In November 2008 a McNeil/Lehrer report estimated US retail spending at 55 billion dollars. How much of that spending is on ethically produced products is up to you, so this holiday, remember that it’s not about buying more, but rather buying differently, and every dollar you spend is a statement about how you want this world to be.

A special thanks to Tex Dworkin, Global Exchange Director of Marketing, http://www.globalexchangestore.org/ for sharing this article.

Resources
Buy Local:
http://www.globalexchange.org/campaigns/buylocal/
http://www.buylocalday.org/index.php

Fair Trade:
http://www.fairtradefederation.org/
http://www.fairtraderesourcenetwork.org/
http://www.transfairusa.org/
http://www.globalexchange.org/campaigns/fairtrade/cocoa/retailers.html

Is a Safe Haven Really a Safe Haven, or Could it Cause More Harm?

2008-11-21T13:50:00.000-08:00

Okay--this article was taken directly from www.msnbc.com. I put it on this blog spot to hopefully generate some conversation and I would love to hear your opinion on this subject.

Have you all heard about the"Save Haven" law that Nebraska has recently passed?

After reading the article please let me know what you think. Specifically, I'm interesting in hearing if you think the law actually provides a safe haven for unwanted children or if you feel that it just compounds the current problem and the potential problems the children may face.

LINCOLN, Neb. - Nebraska lawmakers on Friday gave final approval to adding a 30-day age limit to the state's safe-haven law.
The original safe-haven law was intended to prevent newborns from being dumped in trash bins or worse. Every state has such a law, but Nebraska's is the only one that lacks an age limit.
Since July, 35 children have been abandoned at state hospitals — many of them preteens or teenagers as old as 17.

Gov. Dave Heineman later signed the bill into law. The age limit will go into effect at 12:01 a.m. Saturday and Nebraska will then join 13 other states with a 30-day age cap.
Five of the abandoned children have been from other states, including from as far away as Florida and Michigan.

Lawmakers also vowed to make sure families can get help in a crisis.
Six state senators formed a task force Thursday that promises to hand the Legislature proposals by the time it reconvenes in January.

Over the next 40 days, they'll work with child welfare experts, mental health specialists, hospital officials and others.

'Crisis with older children'"What surfaced was not really what we had intended ... we have a crisis with older children," said Sen. Arnie Stuthman, who introduced the safe-haven bill that was approved earlier this year.

Lawmakers, health officials, child welfare experts and even parents who abandoned their children under the law say it shows a lack of services for families in crisis, and a difficulty in obtaining what services exist.
.
State officials disagree. Todd Landry, who oversees child and family services for the state, told a legislative committee earlier this week that some of the children were unnecessarily abandoned and that none was in immediate danger of being harmed.

Sen. Joel Johnson, chairman of the Health and Human Services Committee, has said he expects his committee to also make recommendations to the Legislature.

Among Johnson's suggestions is that the state help make up for the lack of psychiatrists by training other professional health care providers to better handle problems brought to light by use of the safe-haven law.

Smoking Teens

2008-11-17T13:45:00.000-08:00

This article was taken directly from cnn.com. I found it interesting and thought how many of you readers who smoke started as a teen or have a teenager at home who smokes.

FAIRFAX COUNTY, Virginia (CNN) -- It was just after 7 a.m. and Cassie Graham was lighting up her second cigarette of the morning.

Cassie Graham, a 17-year-old high school senior, joined a school support group to help her quit smoking.

A school bus passed her parked car, a sign that that it was time for the 17-year-old high school senior from Fairfax County, Virginia, to stop smoking and head to class.

If Graham has her way, that will be the last time she ever lights up.
"It's getting pretty bad," said Graham who started smoking at age 15. "It used to be fun and now I have to smoke. I know that it's not normal to smoke all the time, and I have to find some way to quit."

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 20 percent of high school students smoked cigarettes last year. Smoking rates among ninth- to 12th-graders have remained stable for the past five years.

"When I see a young kid smoking, it's just so frustrating because I actually know the power of tobacco to cause disease," said Dr. Otis Brawley, chief medical officer for the American Cancer Society.

Nearly half of all adults in the United States who suffer from emphysema and 40 percent with chronic bronchitis are smokers, the CDC reports.

More than 430,000 Americans die each year from smoking-related causes, the American Lung Association estimates.

While researchers have a good idea how to help adults kick the habit, little information is available on what to do to assist teenage smokers.

"It's really hard for somebody who is a teenager in high school to stop smoking, even if they wanted to stop smoking," Brawley said.

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Consumer Tips: How to quit smoking

Peer pressure can be tremendous among young smokers, he said. What's more, Brawley noted, it may be difficult for a teenager to seek help from a doctor or counselor without a parent's knowledge.

Smoking cessation drugs, patches, gum and lozenges are not approved by the Food and Drug Administration for anyone under 18.

So what's left to help a teen kick the habit? Support groups.
Cassie Graham signed up for a 10-week smoking-cessation class held during one of her free periods at Robinson Secondary School in Fairfax County.

"I'm not of legal age to smoke," Cassie said. "So I was kind of skeptical at first, like 'Am I going to get in trouble for going to this class?'"

Samuel Wagner, a substance abuse counselor at the school, didn't discount Graham's concerns about showing up for the session.

"It's very gutsy," he said, "because students do have that fear that if they come to this group, all we're doing is rounding them up to get them busted."

Wagner, along with school counselor, Tami Marcheski, sat down with five students who've signed up for the support group called Not-on-Tobacco or N-O-T.

The American Lung Association designed the program a decade ago for regular smokers, ages 14 to 19, who want to quit.

Marcheski called the success rate at her school outstanding. "Thirty-seven percent of kids have quit and 60 percent reduced the number of cigarettes smoked," she said.
This particular session was called "quit day."

Cassie and her classmates talked openly about their reasons for wanting to quit. Almost everyone mentioned health concerns and the expense of the habit.

David Thomas, 18, added "I want to smell better. I won't have to use cans and cans of Axe. I can work out longer and I don't have to worry about carrying mints around."

Lia Pisa-Relli said she started smoking when she was 12. Now at the age of 17, she worries that she has a lot of breathing problems. "I want to be able to run. I can't even run up the stairs. I can't even walk up two flights of stairs. It's pretty bad."

Health Library
MayoClinic.com: Family health
MayoClinic.com: Chantix: New stop smoking medication to help you quit

The counselors spoke with the teens about how to handle nicotine withdrawal symptoms. They passed out lollypops and stress balls to take their mind off cravings. They urged the students to lean on one another and their families for support.

Their final exercise of the day was to write down their concerns and fears about quitting on note cards.

Cassie read her comments aloud to the group: "One of my biggest concerns was that I wouldn't be able to quit, but now I know if I just stick to it and actually try hard to quit then I'll be able to."

She and her classmates crumpled up the cards and tossed them in the trash as if they were throwing away a bad habit.

Cassie's final words in class: "I can quit now."

Does He Have What It Takes (In Your Opninon)?

2008-11-07T12:43:00.000-08:00

I know this is going to sound like the biggest open-ended question of all time but really, I’m curious. This year’s Presidential Election was one for the history books for obvious reasons—but what swayed your vote?

Did you choose to vote for one candidate over the other because of your desire for the promised change in our economy, or because of your passion for equality and the woman’s right to choose? Did you decided to vote for the candidate whose views on foreign policy or the sanctity of life most reflect your own?

I think most Americans have their opinions sprinkled on just about every major topic the former candidates addressed, but also have issues that touch their hearts and are passionate about. So, as questioned previously—what are yours?

What are the core issues you are concerned about, and do you believe that the man elected for the highest office in this great nation will be able to protect and nurture your hopes for a better tomorrow?

This blog is not intended to bash anyone by name, or to get reader’s hot and bothered. It’s just to get a better perspective on your views and what you feel are requirements that make a great leader.

Doctors prescribing placebos??

2008-10-31T11:18:00.001-07:00

I was cruising around for blog ideas when I ran across this interesting article on doctors prescribing placebos. It struck my interest, and I'd really like to hear your opinion on this concept. I copied this article directly from www.cnn.com.

By Elizabeth Cohen CNN Medical Correspondent

(CNN) -- When Dr. Danielle Ofri first read the headlines, she was horrified: Doctors were prescribing placebos to their patients instead of real medicine. How awful, she thought. How deceptive.

Study: Doctors are prescribing placebos, such as vitamins, antibiotics, pain-killers and sedatives to patients

But then, as Ofri read on, she thought, "Wait a second. By the definitions of this study, I've prescribed placebos."

Ofri, an assistant professor of medicine at New York University Medical School, says when patients complain about being tired, for example, she'll sometimes suggest they take a multivitamin, even though there's no proof they work against fatigue.

"First, I'll do the million-dollar workup on the patient," Ofri says. "I check them out for anemia, diabetes, cancer, asthma, depression, and other sorts of other things. When I can't find anything wrong, I'll explain vitamins have worked for some of my patients, and there's no downside. I don't think that's being deceptive."

Last week's study on placebos published in the British Medical Journal has sparked debate: What precisely is a placebo, and might you, the patient, actually in some cases benefit from one? Watch more about doctors prescribing placebos »

Placebos, it turns out, are in the eye of the beholder. Dr. Ezekiel Emmanuel, one of the study authors and director of the department of bioethics at the National Institutes of Health, says it's unethical for a doctor to suggest a medication that hasn't been proven to work. Other doctors say it's OK -- and sometimes beneficial -- to prescribe something that hasn't been shown to work in studies, as long as it's not harmful.

Perhaps, they reason, the treatment -- say a vitamin, or an aspirin -- could have a physiological effect not yet found in studies. Or maybe a treatment will have "a placebo effect," meaning it will make you feel better just because you have confidence it will make you feel better.

So how would you even know if your doctor's prescribing you a placebo? And should you take it? "Not all placebos are created equal," says Dr. Christiane Northrup. Below are four placebos that the NIH study found are commonly prescribed, with advice on questions to ask about each of them.

Vitamins
Vitamins have several proven purposes. "If you're a young woman about to become pregnant, it's important you take folate. And Vitamin B12 is necessary to prevent certain medical conditions like anemia," Emanuel says.
Beyond a few solid examples like these, some doctors think vitamins might help for certain conditions, such as fatigue, while others think they don't.
The solution: Ask your doctor if the vitamin has been proven to help your problem. If it hasn't, ask her if she has any reason to think it will work (perhaps, as with Ofri, she's had anecdotal success among her patients). Finally, ask if there's any downside to taking the vitamin, then make your decision.

Over-the-counter painkillers
You've heard of the saying "take two aspirin and call me in the morning"? The most commonly prescribed placebo in Emanuel's study was over-the-counter analgesics, such as aspirin.

Health Library
MayoClinic.com: Health Library
In Emanuel's view, these doctors were prescribing aspirin without any reason other than that that it might elicit the "placebo effect."
But Northrup disagrees. "Why would an over-the-counter analgesic be a placebo? Aspirin's a powerful anti-inflammatory, and inflammation is an important part of many diseases."
The advice here is similar to the advice with vitamins. If your doctor suggests you take aspirin for what ails you, ask if there's any proof the aspirin will work. Even if there is proof, ask if the pain reliever could harm you in any way.

Antibiotics
Everyone agrees there are cases where doctors prescribe antibiotics when they shouldn't, often because the patient insists on them.
In the NIH study, 13 percent of doctors reported using antibiotics as placebos. "Antibiotics for a viral illness may be dangerous, and it's not a good idea," Emanuel says. "If your doctor prescribes an antibiotic, ask if you actually have a bacterial infection."
Ofri adds there's not always a clear answer to that question. "If I had a patient who's had bronchitis for two weeks, it's probably because of a virus. But it's not out of the realm of reasonableness that it could be bacterial," She says it can tough to detect bacterial infections when someone has bronchitis, so sometimes she'll prescribe an antibiotic.

Sedatives
In the study, 13 percent of doctors also said they'd prescribed a sedative as a placebo.
This is the only "placebo" our doctors agreed on: Sedatives can be addictive, and you want to take them only if you have a condition, such as an anxiety disorder, where they're clearly indicated.

"If your doctor prescribes you a sedative, ask them why, and ask if there's some other treatment, something that's not addictive, that you could do instead," Northrup says.
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Contaminated Chocolate Coins?

2008-10-24T13:21:00.000-07:00

Like most office environments, my coworkers and I enjoy sharing emails. Some of the "fwds" are of the funny nature, some are inspiring and others are a serious messages meant to serve as a 'heads up' type of forewarning.

I usually skim over them and promptly click delete. It's not that I don't appreciate my coworker's thoughtfulness by keeping me in mind when sending the mass email. I just don't believe half of the information on these forwards.

They seem to be more of urban legend type of infromation: Watch out when you pump gas because a rapist may hop into your back seat..or never put your finger in a coin return because people have been placing HIV injected needles in them, just waiting for you to place your finger on the tip.

Even as a mom of a 4 1/2 year old, I don't take everything I read to be literal. The world wide web is a infinate place for an infinate number of authors to post whatever information they like, and although some may think we can never be too careful, I on the other hand think it's a waste of time to live in paranoia and fear.

However, today I received an email that got my attention. It was an email that was "verified" by http://www.snopes.com/, which if I understand correctly, is the ultimate online rumor verifier, right?

Anyway, it stated Sherwood's Milk Chocolate Pirate's Gold Coins (Halloween candy imported from China) is unsafe and contains melamine, which is is an organic base and a trimer of cyanamide, with a 1,3,5-triazine skeleton. Like cyanamide, it contains 66% nitrogen by mass and, if mixed with resins, has fire retardant properties due to its release of nitrogen gas when burned or charred, and has several other industrial uses.

Two questions: What is your opinion on the Chinese imports that have been found contaminated over the recent years? Do you believe this 'warning' and will you avoid the chocolate coins just to be safe?

Until Next Week,
Kelly

Spooktacular Ideas

2008-10-17T10:39:00.000-07:00

With Halloween fast approaching, our weekly blog will be that of an interactive conversation, asking our readers to provide your tips and ideas, likes and dislikes, and traditions for this spooky holiday.

Do you have a favorite meal you like to prepare for your family? Do you always hand out the same home-made treats and dress up for your co-workers? Or… do you turn off your porch light because you prefer not to participate and cringe when you go to bed hoping the neighborhood kids don’t throw toilet paper in your trees?

If you don't have children or are indifferent to Halloween as an adult, maybe you have a fond memory from childhood you would like to share, or a story of something you have experienced as an adult. We look forward to hearing from everyone!

Breast Cancer Awareness Month in Full Force...

2008-10-09T12:40:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone!

For those who may not be aware, October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. While we were researching material post an insightful blog relating to Breast Cancer, we were contacted by a representative at bizymoms.com.

Please see below the attached newsletter that was forwarded to us. We hope each of you, male or female find it as informative as we did.

October - The Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Breast Cancer is a topic of renowned interest in today’s society, mostly due to the more frequent occurrence of this deathly disease in recent times. Due to this same reason, many healthcare related organizations actively participate in awareness programs about this important subject, in the hope of encouraging early detection of breast cancer, upon which the treatment process is proven to be more positive.

The month of October is considered the official month for the awareness of Breast Cancer, mainly due to the wide range of campaigns being organized by many prominent breast cancer charities around the world. The main objectives of these organizations is to increase the awareness of breast cancer, improve chances of early detection, raise funds for breast cancer research, improve treatment options and provide support for affected families.

National Breast Cancer Awareness Month (NBCAM) organization is the core organization which partners many foundations in the various sectors such as public services, healthcare organizations and government agencies for the cause of breast cancer awareness, while providing the services of an up-to-date resource center (both online and live) all year through. You can visit their website on http://nbcam.org/ for increasing your awareness on breast cancer. It is a great source of information and solace to many patients, survivors, as well as caregivers, relatives and other breast cancer activist groups.

The main focus of NBCAMs awareness programmes on breast cancer is to improve basic public knowledge, improve and provide access to treatment and detection options and encourage early detection by educating women about the importance of practicing regular self-breast exams and conducting annual mammograms.

As you all know or would have observed, one method of cancer awareness is through the popularization of wearing colored ribbons, a unique concept introduced for the purpose of stimulating active participation for the cause. Pink is the color for breast cancer! http://www.pinkforoctober.com/ is another awareness campaign on breast cancer, focusing on online awareness, with the theme color of breast cancer as their slogan.

Many breast cancer survivors have become active participants in awareness programs on breast cancer, with organizations such as ‘Susan G. Komen for the Cure’ cms.komen.org/komen/index.htm dedicated to the cause of breast cancer cure. Former First Lady Betty Ford is another such activist in the movement of breast cancer awareness, and is one of the first ‘breast cancer survivor public figures’ to raise consciousness on the subject through the media, along with her daughter Susan Ford Bales. Her contribution helped create a substantial impact on many awareness campaigns thereafter.

www.bizymoms.com/cares/breastcancer/ is another novel cause dedicated towards breast cancer awareness, providing an online resource particularly for work at home and stay at home moms on this deathly disease.

You too can play your role in supporting breast cancer patients, survivors and potential candidates, by creating awareness amongst your community.

Summery: October is the month of breast cancer awareness, with many public sector, healthcare and government organizations actively participate in awareness campaigns on improving public knowledge, encouraging early detection, increasing treatment options by funding research and providing support to patients, their families and survivors. Bizymoms too will be playing their role in this noble cause, through their new cares section on breast cancer at www.bizymoms.com/cares/breastcancer/ which provides an online resource for work at home and stay at home moms to provide them a wealth of knowledge on the deathly diseases known as breast cancer and a chance to join Bizymoms in fighting it where you can make donation to the Breast Cancer Action organization or Nation Breast Cancer Foundation.

Chicken Soup for the Panda's Soul???

2008-10-03T12:37:00.000-07:00

I ran across the following article and found it interesting. Who would have thought?!

This article was found on CNN.com/Health: http://tinyurl.com/3hrszs

BEIJING, China (AP) -- Everyone needs some chicken soup for the soul -- even pandas.

Pandas in the Wuhan Zoo have been fed chicken soup in addition to bamboo for fatigue.

The Wuhan Zoo in central China has been feeding its two pandas home-cooked chicken soup twice in a month to reduce stress and give them a nutritional boost, a zoo official said Friday.

He Zhihua said 3-year-old Xiwang and Weiwei -- literally meaning "Hope" and "Greatness" -- were tired and suffering from a little shock since the start Monday of the weeklong National Day holiday, one of the biggest travel seasons of the year.

On Wednesday, up to 30,000 people swarmed the zoo and about 1,000 tourists packed the panda enclosure, shouting to get the animals' attention, He said. The pandas paced restlessly.

"They had been getting less sleep, and they had to run around more," he said. "We felt it would be good to give them the soup because they were fatigued and had a bit of a shock."

Reflecting the Chinese tradition of drinking slow-cooked chicken soup for health, the zookeepers boiled roosters in water overnight and added a pinch of salt to the concentrated stock.

The pandas were served 2.2 pounds (1 kilogram) of soup in giant dishes, in addition to their regular diet of bamboo, milk and buns, He said.

It was a hit.

"They drank it all like they drank their milk. They loved it," he said.

Pandas' diets usually consist mostly of bamboo, but they also can eat meat and He said in the wild they sometimes catch insects and small birds.

Xiwang and Weiwei arrived at the Wuhan Zoo in June from the Wolong Nature Reserve in neighboring Sichuan province. The facility relocated most of its pandas after being damaged by a 7.9 magnitude earthquake on May 12.

The pair were first fed chicken soup on September 28 to help them brave the upcoming cold weather.

"Autumn is coming and we wanted them to have some more nutrition. It will be easier for them to pass the winter," He said. "We just wanted to see whether they liked the soup and whether it's good for their strength and whether they would have stomach problems."

When none appeared, the broth was served for a second time this week.

He said Dudu, another panda at the zoo, lived on milk and ground meat in the last 10 years of his life because his teeth could no longer tear at tough bamboo stalks. He died in 1999.

The giant panda is an unofficial national symbol of China. Only about 1,600 pandas live in the wild, mostly in Sichuan. An additional 180 have been bred in captivity, many of them at Wolong, and scores have been loaned or given to zoos abroad, with the revenues helping fund conservation programs.

Tour De Poway Bike Ride - Sunday, October 5th, 2008

2008-10-01T12:36:00.000-07:00

Pristine Planet will be handling the recycling for the Tour De Poway Bike Ride this weekend. Join us if you’re in SoCal!

Mesothelioma Awareness

2008-09-26T12:27:00.000-07:00

We were very recently contacted by a representative of The Mesothelioma and Asbestos Awareness Center. After learning a little more about Mesothelioma aka “Asbestos Cancer” and how important it is to be educated on the disease, we felt compelled to post some information for our readers. The information below was provided by www.maacenter.org

What is Mesonthelioma?

Malignant mesothelioma, also known as mesothelioma cancer is a fatal cancer that affects the lining of the lung (pleura), the lining of the abdominal cavity (peritoneum), and the lining of the heart (pericardium). The most common form of mesothelioma is pleural mesothelioma. Pericardial mesothelioma and peritoneal mesothelioma are less frequent, but still account for approximately 30% of cases. The main cause of mesothelioma is exposure to asbestos, although other factors such as smoking may result in additional complications. For more detailed information on mesothelioma, browse our website and fill out our form for a free book and detailed packet that you or your loved one can read at home.

Mesothelioma Treatment Options

Mesothelioma treatment should be a patient's primary concern upon diagnosis. Throughout our site, you'll find lists of mesothelioma hospitals and mesothelioma treatment centers. You'll also find information about mesothelioma doctors such as Dr. Sugarbaker, an expert in emerging mesothelioma treatment. New Mesothelioma drugs and mesothelioma treatments, such as Alimta® are being used to fight mesothelioma lung cancer. A mesothelioma biopsy is often used to determine if a loved one is affected. If you or a loved one may be facing the reality that mesothelioma cancer treatment is necessary, fill out our form to receive the latest treatment options and mesothelioma clinical trials information.

Asbestos and Mesothelioma

Asbestos cancer, also known as mesothelioma is caused by asbestos exposure, typically found in particular asbestos jobsites. Mesothelioma found in those working at particular jobsites such as shipyards can quite often be easily traced to the asbestos products that were present in these locations. For instance, a navy veteran diagnosed with mesothelioma could have worked at Brooklyn Navy Yard outside New York or Todd Shipyards of New York City or California where they came into contact with various products containing asbestos. We have an extensive listing of mesothelioma shipyards and mesothelioma jobsites within our site.

Mesothelioma Symptoms

Mesothelioma is a unique disease in that symptoms do not usually manifest themselves until anywhere from 20 to 50 years after exposure to asbestos. For patients and doctors, this is the most frustrating aspect of the disease. The latency period of mesothelioma is lengthy, making the disease undiagnosable until its later stages when symptoms finally begin to appear and little can be done to slow the progress of the disease.

Recognizing Symptoms

Just like any other disease, the symptoms of mesothelioma vary from case to case and with the severity of the illness. The type of mesothelioma - whether pleural, peritoneal, or pericardial - also determines what the symptoms might be. Often times, the general overall health of the individual, as well as his/her age, may also play a role in how the patient is affected by the disease and which symptoms are most bothersome.One of the most difficult problems with diagnosing mesothelioma and connecting the symptoms with the disease is the fact that so many of the symptoms - both individually and in tandem - can easily be mistaken for other more common diseases like flu, pneumonia, bronchitis, heart disease, and others. A doctor well versed in mesothelioma treatment will take time to investigate a patient's history and hopefully connect past exposure to asbestos with the symptoms. Patients, however, can do their part as well. Anyone that was ever exposed to asbestos, even if it was decades ago, should inform their doctor of the exposure. That information will not only aid the doctor in diagnosis but will also help eliminate the need for many costly and uncomfortable tests that may be ordered while fishing for a diagnosis.Tests are being developed that will help diagnose mesothelioma at an earlier stage, even before the most common symptoms appear. It is hoped that these tests will aid in treating the disease before it reaches its most advanced stages.

The Symptoms

As was stated previously, symptoms of mesothelioma can vary, but the most common general symptoms are:• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing • Coughing • Pain in chest or abdomen • Fluid in the chest, lungs, or abdomen • Weight loss • Loss of appetite • Inability to sleep • Husky voice • Difficulty swallowing It is the first two symptoms that generally bring a patient to the doctor's office. Both difficulty breathing and persistent coughing are caused by the lung's inability to expand properly due to tumors in the pleural region. The growing tumors cause the pleura, pericardium, or peritoneum to expand, thus allow fluid to enter. That generally causes pain - acute to severe - in the affected regions, such as the chest or abdomen. Breathing difficulties also make it hard to sleep and often result in loss of appetite and, eventually, weight loss. Depending on the type of mesothelioma diagnosed - pleural, pericardial, or peritoneal - symptoms might vary from the above, which pertain mostly to pleural mesothelioma, the most common form of the disease.Common symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma might include:

• Abdominal pain, acute to severe
• Swelling of the abdominal region due to fluid accumulation
• Breathing difficulties
• Loss of appetite resulting in weight loss
• Bowel obstruction
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Weakness
• Fever
• Anemia Common symptoms of pericardial mesothelioma might include:
• Chest pain, ranging from uncomfortable to severe
• Shortness of breath
• Heart palpitations
• Persistent coughing
• Extreme fatigue after minimal activity or exertion

Because the three types of the disease are similar but centered in different parts of the body, the patient is likely to have symptoms that overlap. For example, nearly all meso patients suffer from shortness of breath and fatigue, but the pain may be more apparent in the abdominal/stomach area for peritoneal patients and in the chest for those with pleural or pericardial mesothelioma.

Ascertaining a Diagnosis

If a doctor recognizes symptoms as indicative of mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease, such as asbestosis, the patient will be asked to undergo several tests. Most doctors begin by ordering a conventional x-ray in order to get a closer look at the chest or abdomen. What appears on this x-ray will be the first indication of whether or not the doctor should continue pursuing his suspected diagnosis and order additional tests.If mesothelioma is still suspected after the x-ray, an MRI or CT scan will most likely be in order. These sophisticated imaging processes allow an even closer look at organs such as the lungs or abdomen. A blood test may be ordered as well because such tests can measure the levels of specific proteins, which might aid in the diagnosis.However, because other more common diseases, such as benign asbestos-related pleural disease, can have very similar appearances on imaging studies, a tissue biopsy is usually recommended and is often the final test that leads to an accurate diagnosis.

We hope you all take the opportunity to educate yourselves on this terrible disease and bring awareness to your loved ones as well.

Until Next Week,
Kelly

Obama Vs. McCain....Who's Like You?

2008-09-19T12:03:00.000-07:00

With all of the media attention on the 2009 Presidential Election Campaign, hopefuls John McCain and Barack Obama’s stances on environmental issues has sparked many discussions. Ideally, Americans would responsibly educate themselves on the candidates, but not everyone has the time or opportunity to do so.

We thought it would be helpful to provide excerpts from the presidential candidate’s websites regarding their plans for our country’s future regarding environmental issues. If anyone wants to start a discussion, please feel free. This post is not intended to sway your support from one candidate to another, but to educate those who have not had the opportunity to research.
_____________________________________

These excerpts were taken directly from Barack Obama’s website: http://www.barackobama.com/

New Energy for America

The Obama-Biden comprehensive New Energy for America plan will:

• Provide short-term relief to American families facing pain at the pump
• Help create five million new jobs by strategically investing $150 billion over the next ten years to catalyze private efforts to build a clean energy future.
• Within 10 years save more oil than we currently import from the Middle East and Venezuela combined.
• Put 1 million Plug-In Hybrid cars -- cars that can get up to 150 miles per gallon -- on the road by 2015, cars that we will work to make sure are built here in America.
• Ensure 10 percent of our electricity comes from renewable sources by 2012, and 25 percent by 2025.
• Implement an economy-wide cap-and-trade program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 80 percent by 2050.

ENERGY PLAN OVERVIEW:

Provide Short-term Relief to American Families
• Enact a Windfall Profits Tax to Provide a $1,000 Emergency Energy Rebate to American Families.
• Crack Down on Excessive Energy Speculation.
• Swap Oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to Cut Prices.
Eliminate Our Current Imports from the Middle East and Venezuela within 10 Years
• Increase Fuel Economy Standards.
• Get 1 Million Plug-In Hybrid Cars on the Road by 2015.
• Create a New $7,000 Tax Credit for Purchasing Advanced Vehicles.
• Establish a National Low Carbon Fuel Standard.
• A “Use it or Lose It” Approach to Existing Oil and Gas Leases.
• Promote the Responsible Domestic Production of Oil and Natural Gas.
Create Millions of New Green Jobs
• Ensure 10 percent of Our Electricity Comes from Renewable Sources by 2012, and 25 percent by 2025.
• Deploy the Cheapest, Cleanest, Fastest Energy Source – Energy Efficiency.
• Weatherize One Million Homes Annually.
• Develop and Deploy Clean Coal Technology.
• Prioritize the Construction of the Alaska Natural Gas Pipeline.
Reduce our Greenhouse Gas Emissions 80 Percent by 2050
• Implement an economy-wide cap-and-trade program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 80 percent by 2050.
• Make the U.S. a Leader on Climate Change.

The following excerpts were taken directly from John McCain’s website: http://www.johnmccain.com/

Our nation's future security and prosperity depends on the next President making the hard choices that will break our nation's strategic dependence on foreign sources of energy and will ensure our economic prosperity by meeting tomorrow's demands for a clean portfolio. John McCain has made the necessary choices - producing more power, pushing technology to help free our transportation sector from its use of foreign oil, cleaning up our air and addressing climate change, and ensuring that Americans have dependable energy sources. John McCain will lead the effort to develop advanced transportation technologies and alternative fuels to promote energy independence and cut off the flow of oil wealth to repressive dictatorships like Iran.

Expanding Domestic Oil And Natural Gas Exploration And Production

John McCain Will Commit Our Country To Expanding Domestic Oil Exploration. The current federal moratorium on drilling in the Outer Continental Shelf stands in the way of energy exploration and production. John McCain believes it is time for the federal government to lift these restrictions and to put our own reserves to use. There is no easier or more direct way to prove to the world that we will no longer be subject to the whims of others than to expand our production capabilities. We have trillions of dollars worth of oil and gas reserves in the U.S. at a time we are exporting hundreds of billions of dollars a year overseas to buy energy. This is the largest transfer of wealth in the history of mankind. We should keep more of our dollars here in the U.S., lessen our foreign dependency, increase our domestic supplies, and reduce our trade deficit - 41% of which is due to oil imports. John McCain proposes to cooperate with the states and the Department of Defense in the decisions to develop these resources.

John McCain Believes In Promoting And Expanding The Use Of Our Domestic Supplies Of Natural Gas. When people are hurting, and struggling to afford gasoline, food, and other necessities, common sense requires that we draw upon America's own vast reserves of oil and natural gas. Within the United States we have tremendous reserves of natural gas. The Outer Continental Shelf alone contains 77 trillion cubic feet of recoverable natural gas. It is time that we capitalize on these significant resources and build the infrastructure needed to transport this important component of electricity generation and transportation fuel around the country.

Taking Action Now To Break Our Dependency On Foreign Oil By Reforming Our Transportation Sector

The Nation Cannot Reduce Its Dependency On Oil Unless We Change How We Power Our Transportation Sector.

John McCain's Clean Car Challenge. John McCain will issue a Clean Car Challenge to the automakers of America, in the form of a single and substantial tax credit for the consumer based on the reduction of carbon emissions. He will commit a $5,000 tax credit for each and every customer who buys a zero carbon emission car, encouraging automakers to be first on the market with these cars in order to capitalize on the consumer incentives. For other vehicles, a graduated tax credit will apply so that the lower the carbon emissions, the higher the tax credit.

John McCain Will Propose A $300 Million Prize To Improve Battery Technology For Full Commercial Development Of Plug-In Hybrid And Fully Electric Automobiles. A $300 million prize should be awarded for the development of a battery package that has the size, capacity, cost and power to leapfrog the commercially available plug-in hybrids or electric cars. That battery should deliver a power source at 30 percent of the current costs. At $300 million, the prize is one dollar for every man, woman and child in this country - and a small price to pay for breaking our dependence on oil.

John McCain Supports Flex-Fuel Vehicles (FFVs) And Believes They Should Play A Greater Role In Our Transportation Sector. In just three years, Brazil went from new cars sales that were about 5 percent FFVs to over 70 percent of new vehicles that were FFVs. American automakers have committed to make 50 percent of their cars FFVs by 2012. John McCain calls on automakers to make a more rapid and complete switch to FFVs.

John McCain Believes Alcohol-Based Fuels Hold Great Promise As Both An Alternative To Gasoline And As A Means of Expanding Consumers' Choices. Some choices such as ethanol are on the market right now. The second generation of alcohol-based fuels like cellulosic ethanol, which won't compete with food crops, are showing great potential.

Today, Isolationist Tariffs And Wasteful Special Interest Subsidies Are Not Moving Us Toward An Energy Solution. We need to level the playing field and eliminate mandates, subsidies, tariffs and price supports that focus exclusively on corn-based ethanol and prevent the development of market-based solutions which would provide us with better options for our fuel needs.

John McCain Will Effectively Enforce Existing CAFE Standards. John McCain has long supported CAFE standards - the mileage requirements that automobile manufacturers' cars must meet. Some carmakers ignore these standards, pay a small financial penalty, and add it to the price of their cars. John McCain believes that the penalties for not following these standards must be effective enough to compel all carmakers to produce fuel-efficient vehicles.

Investing In Clean, Alternative Sources Of Energy

John McCain Believes That The U.S. Must Become A Leader In A New International Green Economy. Green jobs and green technology will be vital to our economic future. There is no reason that the U.S. should not be a leader in developing and deploying these new technologies.

John McCain Will Commit $2 Billion Annually To Advancing Clean Coal Technologies. Coal produces the majority of our electricity today. Some believe that marketing viable clean coal technologies could be over 15 years away. John McCain believes that this is too long to wait, and we need to commit significant federal resources to the science, research and development that advance this critical technology. Once commercialized, the U.S. can then export these technologies to countries like China that are committed to using their coal - creating new American jobs and allowing the U.S. to play a greater role in the international green economy.

John McCain Will Put His Administration On Track To Construct 45 New Nuclear Power Plants By 2030 With The Ultimate Goal Of Eventually Constructing 100 New Plants. Nuclear power is a proven, zero-emission source of energy, and it is time we recommit to advancing our use of nuclear power. Currently, nuclear power produces 20% of our power, but the U.S. has not started construction on a new nuclear power plant in over 30 years. China, India and Russia have goals of building a combined total of over 100 new plants and we should be able to do the same. It is also critical that the U.S. be able to build the components for these plants and reactors within our country so that we are not dependent on foreign suppliers with long wait times to move forward with our nuclear plans.

John McCain Will Establish A Permanent Tax Credit Equal To 10 Percent Of Wages Spent On R&D. This reform will simplify the tax code, reward activity in the U.S., and make us more competitive with other countries. A permanent credit will provide an incentive to innovate and remove uncertainty. At a time when our companies need to be more competitive, we need to provide a permanent incentive to innovate, and remove the uncertainty now hanging over businesses as they make R&D investment decisions.

John McCain Will Encourage The Market For Alternative, Low Carbon Fuels Such As Wind, Hydro And Solar Power. According to the Department of Energy, wind could provide as much as one-fifth of electricity by 2030. The U.S. solar energy industry continued its double-digit annual growth rate in 2006. To develop these and other sources of renewable energy will require that we rationalize the current patchwork of temporary tax credits that provide commercial feasibility. John McCain believes in an even-handed system of tax credits that will remain in place until the market transforms sufficiently to the point where renewable energy no longer merits the taxpayers' dollars.

Promoting Energy Efficiency

John McCain Will Make Greening The Federal Government A Priority Of His Administration. The federal government is the largest electricity consumer on earth and occupies 3.3 billion square feet of space worldwide. It provides an enormous opportunity to lead by example. By applying a higher efficiency standard to new buildings leased or purchased or retrofitting existing buildings, we can save taxpayers substantial money in energy costs, and move the construction market in the direction of green technology.

John McCain Will Move The United States Toward Electricity Grid And Metering Improvements To Save Energy. John McCain will work to reduce red tape to allow a serious investment to upgrade our national grid to meet the demands of the 21st century - which will include a capacity to charge the electric cars that will one day fill the roads and highways of America. And to save both money and electrical power for our people and businesses, we will also need to deploy SmartMeter technologies. These new meters give customers a more precise picture of their overall energy consumption, and over time will encourage a more cost-efficient use of power.
________________________________________

Addressing Speculative Pricing Of Oil

John McCain Believes We Must Understand The Role Speculation Is Playing In Our Soaring Energy Prices. Congress already has investigations underway to examine this kind of wagering in our energy markets, unrelated to any kind of productive commerce, because it can distort the market, drive prices beyond rational limits, and put the investments and pensions of millions of Americans at risk. John McCain believes that where we find abuses, they need to be swiftly punished. To make sure it never happens again, we must reform the laws and regulations governing the oil futures market, so that they are just as clear and effective as the rules applied to stocks, bonds, and other financial instruments.

John McCain Does Not Support A Windfall Profits Tax. A windfall profits tax on the oil companies will ultimately result in increasing our dependence on foreign oil and hinder investment in domestic exploration. Jimmy Carter put a windfall profits tax in to place with little to no useful results.

Pristine Planet wants to know your opinion....

Until next week,
Kelly

Tips and Recipes for Homemade Cleaning Solutions and Household Irritations

2008-09-12T11:50:00.000-07:00

Below is a collection of a few homemade, non-toxic cleaning formulas that can be used for just about anything in your home. We've also posted a few tips/recipes for normal household irritations such as flies, smelly sneakers and pesky rodents.

Most are enexpensive and safe for children (with a few exceptions that are clearly noted). One great thing about these recipes is that most of the products needed are those we already have in our home.

*BAKING SODA (sodium bicarbonate): An all-purpose, non-toxic cleaner. Cleans, deodorizes, removes stains and softens fabrics.

*BORAX (sodium borate): A natural mineral that kills mold and bacteria. An alternative to bleach, it deodorizes, removes stains and boosts the cleaning power of soap. Please note safety precautions at the bottom of this page.

CASTILE and VEGETABLE OIL BASED SOAPS: Cleans everything

CORNSTARCH: Starches clothes, absorbs oil and grease

HERBS and ESSENTIAL OILS: For disinfecting and fragrance

LEMON JUICE: Cuts through grease and removes perspiration and other stains from clothing.A bleach alternative.

SALT (sodium chloride): An abrasive

TOOTHPASTE A mild abrasive

VINEGAR (acetic acid): Cuts grease, removes stains and is an excellent water softener.

WASHING SODA (sodium carbonate): Cleans clothes, softens water, cuts grease and disinfects. Increases the cleaning power of soap.

Hints:
To save time and money, make your cleaners in advance and buy the ingredients in bulk for cost savings and to avoid excess packaging..
Make large batches of the recipes and store them in reusable airtight plastic containers and spray bottles. Using a pretty spray bottle or container makes cleaning days more fun and pleasant.
Label all of your ingredients and keep them out of reach of children. While most of these all natural cleaners are not poisonous, some can be harmful or even fatal if swallowed by children or pets. See specific safety precautions at the bottom of this page.
Add your favorite essential oils or herbs to any of these formulas for fragrance

Air Fresheners/Deodorizers:
1) Place cloves, cinnamon sticks, allspice or other favorite scented spice in a pot of water , simmer for 1-2 hours
2) Put a few slices of leftover orange or lemon rinds in a pot of water, simmer for 1-2 hours
3) Place baking soda in an open container of your choice. Good for closets, refrigerators and other small enclosed spaces
4) 2-3 slices of white bread absorbs refrigerator odors
5) Place lemon slices in an open bowl in the kitchen
6) Lemon and baking soda spray:
Dissolve baking soda in 2 cups hot water, add lemon juice, pour into spray bottle, spray into air as air freshener
7) Place unscented kitty litter placed in bowls to absorb room odors
8) Vinegar in a cup or bowl rids rooms of odors
9) Charcoal placed in a bowl rids rooms of odors
10) Simply light a match for a few moments or burn a candle (scented or unscented). The flame from either will "eat-up" bad smelling gases in the air
11) Pour vanilla extract into a shallow dish and set in an out of the way place
12) Spin-Fresh Bathroom Deodorizer
Add a couple of drops of your favorite essential oil to the inside of the cardboard toilet tissue roll. With each turn, fragrance is released into the room.

All Purpose Cleaners:
1) Vinegar and Salt. Mix together for a good surface cleaner.
2) Baking Soda. Dissolve 4 tablespoons baking soda in 1 quart warm water for a general cleaner.
3) Baking soda on a damp sponge. Baking soda cleans and deodorizes all kitchen and bathroom surfaces.
4) Use liquid castile soap and baking soda or Borax in different ratios. Use a little soap and soda/borax with lots of water on floors, walls and counters. Use more soap, soda/Borax for tubs sinks, cat boxes, anything that can be well rinsed.
5) For a general, all-purpose cleaner, try a paste made from baking soda and water or mix salt and water with a little vinegar.
6) 3 tbsp. vinegar, 1/2 tsp. washing soda, 1/2 tsp. vegetable oil based liquid soap, 2 cups hot water. Mix ingredients in spray bottle or bucket. Apply and wipe clean.

Disinfectants:
1) Regular cleaning with plain soap and hot water will kill some bacteria.
2) Borax has long been recognized for its disinfectant and deodorizing properties. Mix 1/2 cup Borax into 1 gallon hot water or undiluted vinegar and clean with this solution.
3) Mix a half-cup of borax with 1 gallon hot water. Add a few sprigs of fresh thyme, rosemary or lavender. Steep for 10 minutes, strain and cool. Or add essential fragrant oils instead of fresh herbs. Store in a plastic spray bottle.
4) 2 tablespoons borax, 1/4 cup lemon juice, 2 cups hot water. Combine the borax and lemon juice with the water in a spray bottle. Use as you would any commercial all-purpose cleaner.
5) Isopropyl Alcohol is an excellent disinfectant. Sponge on and allow todry. Use in a well-ventilated area and wear gloves.

Glass Cleaners:
Windows and Mirrors:
1) Use undiluted vinegar in a spray bottle or
2) Equal parts vinegar and water in a spray bottle or
3) 1/2 lemon juice and 2 cups water in a spray bottle or
4) 1/2 cup vinegar or lemon juice, 2 cups water, 1/4 teaspoon vegetable oil based soap (such as Murphy's Oil Soap)
5) Mix 1/2 cup cornstarch with 2 quarts warm water. Apply with sponge then wipe with absorbent cloth or towel. Do not wash windows or glass when sun is on them or if they are warm. This causes the solution to dry too quickly creating unwanted streaks.
6) No-Streak Glass Cleaner: 1/4 cup white vinegar, 1 tablespoon cornstarch, 1 quart warm water
Mix the ingredients and apply with a sponge or pour into spray bottle and spray on. Wipe dry with crumpled newspaper, buff to a shine. (Use crumpled newspaper instead of paper towels for lint-free results.
7) Rubbing alcohol is effective in place of glass cleaner.

Scouring Powders:
1) Use a non-chlorine scouring powder such as Bon Ami
2) Baking Soda or Dry Table Salt. These are mild abrasives and can be used as an alternative to chlorine scouring powders. Simply put either baking soda or salt on a sponge or the surface, scour and rinse.

Non-Abrasive Soft Scrubber:
1/4 cup borax
Vegetable-oil based liquid soap (such as Murphys Oil Soap)
1/2 teaspoon lemon oil
In a bowl, mix the borax with enough soap to form a creamy paste. Add lemon oil and blend well. Scoop a small amount of the mixture onto a sponge, wash the surface, then rinse well.

Bathroom Cleaners:
Toilet Bowl Cleaners:
1) Baking Soda and Vinegar: Sprinkle baking soda into the bowl, then squirt with vinegar and scour with a toilet brush. Cleans and deodorizes.
2) Borax and Lemon Juice. For removing a stubborn stain, like toilet bowl ring, mix enough borax and lemon juice into a paste cover the ring. Flush toilet to wet the sides, then rub on paste. Let sit for 2 hours and scrub thoroughly. For less stubborn toilet bowl rings, sprinkle baking soda around the rim and scrub with a toilet brush.
3)1 cup borax, 1/2 cup white vinegar. Flush to wet the sides of the bowl. Sprinkle the borax around the toilet bowl, then spray with vinegar. Leave for several hours or overnight before scrubbing with a toilet brush.
4) Denture tablets are an excellent substitute for toilet cleaner. Drop two tablets into the bowl and clean as you would with toilet cleaner.
5) Liquid castile soap and baking soda or Borax, scrub with a toilet brush.

Drain Cleaner:
For slow drains, use this drain cleaner once a week to keep drains fresh and clog-free.
1/2 cup baking soda
1 cup white vinegar
1 gallon boiling water
1/2 a used lemon
Pour baking soda down drain/disposal, followed by vinegar. Allow the mixture to foam for several minutes before flushing the drain with boiling water.

Tub And Tile Cleaners:
1) Baking Soda. Sprinkle baking soda like you would scouring powder. Rub with a damp sponge. Rinse thoroughly.
2) Vinegar and Baking Soda. To remove film buildup on bathtubs, apply vinegar full-strength to a sponge and wipe. Next, use baking soda as you would scouring powder. Rub with a damp sponge and rinse thoroughly with clean water.
3) Vinegar. Vinegar removes most dirt without scrubbing and doesn't leave a film. Use 1/4 cup (or more) vinegar to 1 gallon water.
4) Baking Soda. To clean grout, put 3 cups baking soda into a medium-sized bowl and add 1 cup warm water. Mix into a smooth paste and scrub into grout with a sponge or toothbrush. Rinse thoroughly and dispose of leftover paste when finished.
5) Rub the area to be cleaned with half a lemon dipped in borax. Rinse well, and dry with soft cloth.

Porcelain Cleaner:
Cream of Tartar. To clean porcelain surfaces, rub with cream of tartar sprinkled on a damp cloth.

Plumbing Fixtures:
1) To clean stainless steel, chrome, fiberglass, ceramic, porcelain or enamel fixtures, dissolve 2 tbsp baking soda in 1 qt of water. Wipe on fixtures then rinse.
2) Vinegar and Paper Towels. Hard lime deposits around faucets can be softened for easy removal by covering the deposits with vinegar-soaked paper towels. Leave the paper towels on for about one hour before cleaning. Leaves chrome clean and shiny.

Shower Heads:
1) Metal Shower Heads:
To remove deposits which may be clogging your metal shower head, combine 1/2 cup white vinegar and one quart water. Then completely submerge the shower head and boil 15 minutes.
2) Plastic Shower Heads:
Combine 1 pint white vinegar and 1 pint hot water. Completely submerge the shower head and soak for about one hour.

Rust Stain and Hard Water Deposit Remover:
Apply full-strength vinegar or lemon juice and let stand until spot disappears, rinse. Repeat if necessary.

Mildew Remover:
Dissolve half-cup vinegar with half-cup borax in warm water.

Lime Deposits:
White vinegar

Kitchen Cleaners:
Oven Cleaners:
1) The first step is prevention. Put a sheet of aluminum foil on the floor of the oven, underneath but not touching the heating element.
2) Clean up the spill as soon as it occurs.
3) While the oven is still warm, sprinkle salt or baking soda on the spill. If the spill is completely dry, wet the spill lightly before sprinkling on salt. When the oven cools, scrape away the spill and wash the area clean.
4) Baking soda, water; salt; vegetable oil-based liquid soap. Sprinkle water on oven bottom. Cover with baking soda. Let sit overnight. Wipe off and apply liquid soap with scouring pad. Rinse.
5) Retard grease buildup in your oven by dampening your cleaning rag in vinegar and water before wiping out your oven.
6) Sprinkle/spray water followed by a layer of baking soda. Rub gently with a very fine steel wool pad for tough spots. Wipe off scum with dry paper towels or sponge. Rinse well and wipe dry.
7) 2 tablespoons vegetable oil-based liquid soap, 2 tablespoons borax: Mix the soap and borax in a spray bottle. Fill the bottle with hot water and shake well. Spray on oven and leave for 20 minutes. Scrub off.
8) LAST RESORT ONLY: Fill a small glass bowl with 1/2 cup full-strength ammonia, place in oven and close. Let stand overnight, then wipe loosened dirt with paper towels or newspapers. If necessary, rub surfaces with an abrasive, such as fine steel wool, then wash with warm soapy water and rinse. Repeat process if necessary. Provide plenty of fresh air and wear gloves.

Refrigerators:
1) To clean exterior and interior walls, dissolve 2 tbs. baking soda in 1 qt warm water and wipe all surfaces. For stubborn spots, rub with baking soda paste. Be sure to rinse with a clean, wet cloth. (This works well on other enamel-finished appliances as well.)
2) To clean interior fixtures, such as vegetable bins and shelves, wash in hot soapy water, rinse well and dry.

Counter Tops/Kitchen Surfaces:
Fragrant Kitchen Rinse
Use any of the following essential oils, alone or in a combination pleasing to you. Add 4 drops of oil to each pint of water. Pour into a spray bottle, store away cool dark place. Use as a final rinse after cleaning kitchen surfaces.
Eucalyptus
Pine
Lavender
Cypress
Lemon
Lemongrass
Lime
Thyme
Grapefruit
Orange
Wintergreen
Rosemary
Sage

Pots and Pans:
1) Burned, and crusted on foods; Soak or boil a solution of 2 tbs. baking soda per qt of water in each pan. Let stand until particles are loosened, then wash as usual. Use a mild or moderate abrasive if necessary.
2) To clean a greasy pan easily, add 1 or 2 teaspoons of baking soda to the water in which it is soaking.

Copper pan cleaner:
Sprinkle surface of pans with coarse salt. Rub salt into stains with the cut half of a fresh lemon.

No-Stick Cookware:
To remove stains from non-stick surfaces, pour a solution of 1 cup water, 2 tbs. baking soda into a pan, simmer 5 to 10 minutes. Do not allow mixture to boil or to boil over the side of the pan. Wash in hot soapy water, rinse and dry. Apply a light coating of cooking oil.

Baking Dishes - Enamel, Ceramic or Glass:
Soak in hot soapy water, then scour with salt or baking soda and rinse thoroughly.

Dishes:
1) Use liquid or powdered soap instead of detergents - which are petroleum-based. In dishwashers, use equal parts borax and washing soda.
2) Use Baking soda and liquid soap

Drinking Glasses:
1) Occasionally soak drinking glasses in a solution of vinegar and water to really get them clean. Makes them sparkle!
2) When a quick dip for crystal glassware is needed, prepare a solution of baking soda in tepid-cool water (l level teaspoon to a quart) and brush with a soft toothbrush. Very good for glass coffee makers and thermos jugs too.

Spot-free Dishwasher Rinse:
Add 1 cup of white vinegar to the rinse compartment of your automatic dishwasher. Wash dishes as usual.

Coffee/Tea Stains:
To remove coffee stains from cups or counters, rub with baking soda paste.

Drain Opener and Garbage Disposal Cleaner:
For slow drains, use this drain cleaner once a week to keep drains fresh and clog-free.
1/2 to 1 cup baking soda
1 cup white vinegar
1 gallon boiling water
1/2 a used lemon
Pour baking soda down drain/disposal, followed by vinegar. Allow the mixture to foam for several minutes before flushing the drain with boiling water.

Garbage Disposal:
To eliminate garbage disposal odors and clean and sharpen blades, grind ice and used lemon and/or orange rinds until pulverized.

Kitchen Safety: Fire
1) Emergency fire extinguisher: if a greasy pan catches on fire, turn the heat off and try to cover the pan. Sprinkle powdered baking soda over the fire. (Fill a large coffee can with baking soda and keep it near the stove.
2) An oven fire is easily extinguished by closing the door after shutting off the heat.)

Carpets/Upholstery:
1) A great non-toxic carpet stain remover is club soda. Soak spot immediately with soda and blot until the stain is gone.
2) Pet Urine on Carpets: Dab area with toweling to absorb as much as possible, wash spot with liquid dish detergent, and rinse with 1/2 cup vinegar diluted in 1 qt warm water. Lay towels or paper towels over the spot and weight down to absorb excess moisture. Let stand 4 to 6 hours, then remove toweling, brush up nap and allow to dry completely. Use an electric fan to speed drying.
3) Red wine stains can be removed from carpet by rubbing baking soda in and vacuuming.
4) Sprinkle cornstarch onto carpet, vacuum.
5) To remove grease spots from carpets, first sop up the liquid with a sponge, then rub a liberal amount of baking soda into the spot. Let it absorb overnight. Next day, remove the excess and vacuum the area.
6) To remove grease spots from carpets, first absorb excess with a sponge, then rub a liberal amount of corn starch into the spot. Let sit overnight, then vacuum.
7) Dry cornstarch sprinkled on rug and vacuumed.

8) Carpet Fresher
4 cups baking soda or cornstarch
35 drops Eucalyptus essential oil
30 drops Lavender essential oil
25 drops Rosewood essential oil
or any combination of your favorite essentail oils
Measure 4 cups of baking soda into a bowl, add essential oils. Break up any clumps that form, stir until well mixed. Before vacuuming sprinkle powder from a shaker type can or jar. Let it sit on the carpet for about 15 minutes then vacuum.

9) Herbal Carpet Freshener
1 cup baking soda, 1/2 cup lavender flowers
Crush the lavender flowers to release their scent. Mix well with baking soda and sprinkle liberally on carpets. Vacuum after 30 minutes.

10) Sprinkle baking soda on carpets before vacuuming for a natural rug deodorizer

Furniture Polish and Scratch Covers:
1) This polish should to be made fresh each time you use it.

1 lemon
1 teaspoon olive oil
1 teaspoon water
Extract the juice from the lemon. Mix with oil and water.
Apply a thin coat on your wood surface and let sit for five minutes. Use a soft cloth to buff to a deep shine.

2) Use 3 parts light mineral oil and 1 part olive oil and a drop of lemon juice.
3) Use a little olive or lemon oil and some beeswax.
4) Hide wood scratches by rubbing with the meat of a walnut.
5) Use a soft cloth and wipe with a bit of mayonnaise.
6) Rub furniture with a cloth dipped in cool tea.
7) Mix 2 parts olive oil with 1 part lemon juice. Apply mixture to furniture with a soft cloth and wipe it dry.
8) 1/8 cup linseed oil, 1/8 cup vinegar, 1/4 cup lemon juice. Mix ingredients, using soft cloth, rub into wood.
9) To remove water stains on wood furniture, dab white toothpaste onto stain. Allow the paste to dry and then gently buff off with a soft cloth.

Floor Cleaners:
1) A pencil eraser removes heel marks from a floor.
2) For greasy, no-wax floors:

1 cup vinegar
1/4 cup washing soda
1 tablespoon vegetable oil-based liquid soap
2 gallons hot water
Combine all ingredients, stirring well to dissolve the washing soda. Mop as usual.

Metal Cleaners:
Silver:
1) Use toothpaste instead of toxic silver cleaner to clean and brighten even your best silver. Use an old soft bristled toothbrush and warm water.
2) Rub with a paste of baking soda and water.
3) To magnetize tarnish away, soak silver in salted water in an aluminum container; then wipe clean.
4) Soak in boiling water, baking soda, salt, and a piece of aluminum foil.
5) When a quick dip for silverware is needed, prepare a solution of baking soda in tepid-cool water (l level teaspoon to a quart) and
brush with a soft toothbrush.
Brass:
1) Mix equal parts salt and flour with a little vinegar, then rub.
Chrome:
1) Rub with undiluted vinegar.
Copper:
1) Rub with lemon juice and salt, or hot vinegar and salt.
Stainless Steel:
1) Rub with a paste of baking soda and water.

Automotive Cleaners and Care:
Windshield Wiper Frost Free Fluid
Mix 3 parts vinegar to 1 part water and coat the car windows with this
solution. This vinegar and water combination will keep windshields ice and frost-free.

Car Soap:
1/4 cup vegetable oil based liquid soap, and hot water. Mix in pail. Wash your car on the lawn instead of your driveway to reduce runoff to the street or storm sewer.

Car Wax:
1 cup linseed oil, 4 tbsp. caranuba wax (available at automotive stores), 2 tbsp. beeswax, and 1/2 cup vinegar. Put ingredients in top half of a double boiler or saucepan. Heat slowly until wax has melted. Stir, and pour into a heat resistant container. After wax has solidified, rub it on the car with a lint-free cloth. Saturate a corner of a cotton rag with vinegar and polish the wax to a deep shine.

Miscellaneous Cleaners:

Candles/Wax:
Sponge with a piece of cotton dipped in rubbing alcohol.

Decals/Gummed Labels/Price Tag Remover:
Use vinegar. To remove non-slip appliques and strips from bathtubs, saturate a cloth or sponge and squeeze hot vinegar over decals. Vinegar also removes stick-on hooks from painted walls. Saturate a cloth or sponge with vinegar and squeeze the liquid behind the hook so that the vinegar comes in contact with the adhesive. In addition, vinegar can be used to remove price labels and other decals from glass, wood, and china. Paint the label or decal with several coats of white vinegar. Give the vinegar time to soak in and after several minutes the decal can be rubbed off. (NOTE: Use these methods only on washable surfaces and washable paint)

Grease Cutters:
1) Use lemon juice, vinegar, or sprinkle with borax and scrub with scrub brush.
2) 1/2 tsp. washing soda, 1/2 tsp. vegetable oil-based liquid soap, 3 tbsp. vinegar, and 2 cups hot water. Mix in spray bottle, spray and scrub, wipe clean.

Paint Brushes:
Soften hard paintbrushes in hot vinegar for a few minutes. Then wash paintbrush in soap and warm water and let dry.

Rust Remover:
1) To remove rust from tin-ware, rub with a peeled potato dipped in a mild abrasive such as baking soda or salt.
2) Aluminum Foil. Briskly scrub rust spots on car bumpers with a piece of crumpled aluminum foil, shiny side up.

Shoe Polish/Care/Deodorizer:
1) Cold Pressed Nut Oil, Olive Oil, Walnut Oil, or Beeswax: Apply oil/wax to leather then buff with a chamois cloth to a shine.
2) Lemon Juice. Good for black or tan leather shoes. Follow by buffing with a soft cloth.
3) Vinegar; Remove water stains on leather by rubbing with a cloth dipped in a vinegar and water solution.
4) Petroleum Jelly. A dab of petroleum jelly rubbed into patent leather gives a glistening shine and prevents cracking in the winter.
5) Vinegar. To shine patent leather, moisten a soft cloth with white vinegar and wipe clean all patent leather articles. The color of the leather may be slightly changed.
6) Art-Gum Eraser and Sandpaper or Emery Board.
Dirt marks on suede can be rubbed out with an art-gum eraser. Then buff very lightly an emery board.
7) Add a shine by polishing it with the inside of a banana peel, then buff.

Shoe/Sneaker Deodorizer:
6 Tbsp Cornstarch
3 Tbsp Baking Soda
20 drops Rosemary essential oil
20 drops Tea Tree essential oil
5 drops Lemon essential oil
5 drops Clove essential oil
Mix all, then put 1-2 Tablespoon in each shoe/sneaker and rub it in. Allow the powder to sit in the shoe overnight.

Stain and Spot Removers:
1) Concrete Grease Spot Remover: To remove grease from concrete flooring sprinkle dry cement over grease. Allow it to absorb the grease, then sweep up.
2) Ink Stains: Use a non-aerosol hair spray to remove ink stains.

Tar Remover:
Food grade linseed oil. Wet rag with linseed oil and rub hard

Vinyl Cleaner:
1 tsp. to 1/4 cup washing soda, and 1 cup boiling water. Dissolve the washing soda in the boiling water. Apply with sponge, wipe off with a damp cloth.

Wallpaper Cleaner:
1) Roll up a piece of white bread and use it to "erase" marks on wallpaper

Insects/Rodents:

Fleas and Ticks
Wash pets with castile soap and water, dry thoroughly, apply an herbal rinse made by adding 1/2 cup fresh or dried rosemary to a quart of boiling water (steep for 20 minutes, strain and cool. Spray or sponge onto pets hair, massage into skin. Let air dry, do NOT towel dry as this removes the residue of the rosemary.

Roaches:
1) Mix equal parts boric acid with flour , sprinkle around cracks and crevices or
2) Mix equal parts boric acid with sugar, sprinkle around cracks and crevices or
3) Mix equal parts boric acid with corn meal, sprinkle around cracks and crevices or
4) Diatomaceous earth (pure silica): sprinkle around flours, cracks and crevices or
5) Cucumber peels: set out on counter tops overnight to repel roaches or
6) Mix Borax with a little brown sugar and flour and sprinkle behind appliances, under sink, and in corners. Cockroaches carry the mixture back to their nests or

7) Heloise's Famous Roach Recipe:
1/4 cup shortening
1/8 cup sugar
8 oz. boric acid
1/2 cup flour
Ample water to form a dough

Mix all, form small balls of dough and set out in open plastic sandwich bags (to retain moisture longer, when hardened, replace with new dough)

CAUTION: Boric Acid and borax can be toxic to small children and pets, keep well out of their reach and inform other household members of the whereabouts and purpose of the borax and boric acid dough and/or powders. Always refer to safety precautions on the package.

Flies:
Shoo-Fly Potpourri
2 cups lavender flowers
1 cup rosemary
1 cup southernwood
1/2 cup spearmint
1/2 cup santolina
1/4 cup pennyroyal
1/4 cup tansy
1/4 cup mugwort
1/4 cup cedarwood chips
10 yellow tulips
3 Tbsp orris root

Moths:
Use cedar chips, shredded newspapers, lavender flowers...moths don't like the smell.

Mice:
1) Buy a "Have-a-Heart" mouse trap, catch the little guys alive and unharmed and set them free far from your or anyones else's home
2) Keep a cat/cats to deter mice from even thinking about taking up residence
3) Keep things clean! No food left out for the little guys to eat. Food, after all, is why they entered your home to begin with. They are not there to disgust you or make your life miserable, they just want something to eat! Don't oblige them.

For more information, visit the source: http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Prairie/8088/clngrn.html

If any of you have found these recipes to be useful, we would love to hear your feedback, along with any additional recipes or tips you may have.

Until next week,
Kelly

A Guest Blog

2008-09-10T11:47:00.000-07:00

Keeping Our Planet Pristine – The Argument for Organic Products

Taking care of our planet is something that is on everyone’s mind these days. Each day, consumers are looking for ways they can do their part to help the environment, while still living a satisfying life. There are many ways we can achieve this goal, but for most people, it’s about changing lifestyle. This means that we are changing the very core of who we are, right down to what we buy and where we shop. Below are some of the biggest reasons you should buy organic and sustainable goods.

Organic products use no harsh chemicals. If for no other reason than this one, you should look into purchasing organic. Many agricultural commodities that we use every day are the biggest source of environmental damage. In the process of cultivating everything from food to cotton, harsh chemicals are polluting our soil, ground water, and our tributaries and oceans from runoff. Organic products are grown without chemical fertilizers or pesticides, so they make no negative impact on the planet.

Organic products help increase air quality. An essential function of plants is their ability to consume carbon dioxide, while emitting oxygen. Of course, we humans do the exact opposite. Just as a sick person can spread disease, so can plants grown in contaminated soil. Organically grown items are doing more for our air quality by putting more oxygen back into our atmosphere, while sparing us the extra pollutants. Additionally, crop dusters aren’t used at organic farms, which decreases the amount of chemicals put directly in the air for the sake of industry.

Organic products keep consumers healthier. Healthier consumers live longer. Buying and consuming products that contain no chemicals or harsh unnatural additives will help to increase your life span. Why would you even consider buying unnatural products coated in carcinogenic chemicals and pesticides to put in or on your body? Most people who don’t buy organic haven’t truly considered the ramifications of supporting businesses that are willing to poison them to keep making money.

Organic products help keep our environmental impact to a minimum, all while helping maintain an ethical method of doing business. There is no reason for us to continue supporting practices that harm us as human beings. We will always need to buy things as consumers, but putting money in the hands of those who want to help makes much more sense than giving it to those who have contributed so much to the damage we are now trying to repair.

This post was contributed by Heather Johnson, who writes on the subject of green and organic shopping. She invites your feedback at heatherjohnson2323 at gmail dot com.

A Little Bit Goes a Long Way.....

2008-08-26T11:44:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone!

Listed below are a handful of “Did You Know” facts. Some may shock or concern you, but we hope each will inspire you. Most folks don’t realize that it takes very little effort to actually change the course of direction our planet is headed. Some believe that the environmental issues we are facing are too vast--almost not worth the trouble of attempting to tackle.

We believe each individual can make a difference and we also believe it is our responsibility to do our part. With every move we make, we are someway affecting the Earth and leaving our legacy. One idea we live by is simply asking ourselves “How do you want to go down in history”?

Did you know……

•Americans throw away 25 billion Styrofoam coffee cups every year, and 2.5 million plastic beverage bottles every hour.

•Americans throw away about 40 billion soft drink cans and bottles every year. Placed end to end, they would reach to the moon and back nearly 20 times.

•If you throw away 2 aluminum cans, you waste more energy than 1,000,000,000 (one billion) of the world's poorest people use a day.

•About one third of what an average American throws out is packaging.

•More than 1,000,000,000 (one billion) trees are used to make disposable diapers every year.

•The average American makes about 3.5 pounds of trash a day.

•In a year, the average American uses as much wood in the form of paper as the average resident of the developing world burns as fuel.

•About 110 million Americans live in areas with levels of air pollutants the federal government considers to be harmful.

•Since there is little oxygen underground, where we bury our garbage, to help bacteria eat the garbage, almost nothing happens to it. Scientists have dug into landfills and found ears of corn still intact after 20 years, and newspapers still readable after 30.

•The amount of wood and paper we throw away each year is enough to heat 50 million homes for 20 years.

•Each gallon of gas used by a car contributes about 19 pounds of CO2 into the atmosphere. For a single car driving 1,000 miles a month, that adds up to 120 tons of CO2 a year.

•Using recycled paper for one print run of the Sunday edition of the New York Times would save 75,000 trees.

•By turning the heat down, Americans could save more than 500,000 barrels of oil each day--that's over 21,000,000 gallons.

•Each year, 40 million acres of tropical rainforests--an area larger than the state of California--are destroyed through logging or burning.

•Only 10 percent of the 35,000 pesticides introduced since 1945 have been tested for their effects on people.

•The typical American home uses about 300 gallons of water a day.

•99.5 percent of all fresh water on Earth is in icecaps and glaciers.

•Americans dump 16 tons of sewage into their waters--every minute of every day.

•Although water covers two-thirds of the surface of the Earth, all the fresh water in lakes, streams, and rivers represents only one-hundredth of the Earth's total water.

•Each year, 1 million sea birds, 100,000 marine mammals, and 50,000 fur seals are killed as the result of eating or being strangled in plastic.

•Eighty-four percent of a typical household's waste--including food scraps, yard waste, paper, cardboard, cans, and bottles--can be recycled.

•It takes only one-twentieth as much raw materials to grow grains, fruits, and vegetables as it does to raise animals for meat.

•A 1/32" leak in a faucet can waste up to 6,000 gallons of water a month, or 72,000 gallons a year.

•America's refrigerators use about 7 percent of the nation's total electricity consumption--the output of about 25 large power plants.

•By turning the heat down, Americans could save more than 500,000 barrels of oil each day--that's over 21,000,000 gallons.

•A single quart of motor oil, if disposed of improperly, can contaminate up to two million gallons of fresh water.

•Making a new can from scratch uses the uses the energy equal to half a can of gasoline.

•In one minute, 50 acres of rainforest are destroyed.

•On average, a person in the US uses energy two times more than a person in Japan or West Germany does, and 50 times more than a person in India.

•About 90% of the energy used in lighting a standard (incandescent) light bulb is lost as heat.

•Air conditioning uses 10 times more energy than a fan; therefore, it creates 10 times the pollutants.

•It takes half the output of the Alaskan pipeline to heat the air that escapes from all the homes in the US during a year.

•Cars and pick-up trucks are responsible for about 20% of the carbon dioxide released into the air.

•There are about 500 million automobiles on the planet, burning an average of 2 gallons of fuel a day. Each gallon releases 20 pounds of carbon dioxide into the air.

•About 80% of our trash goes to landfills, 10% is incinerated, and 10% is recycled.

We would love to hear your feedback on this posting. Let us know if any of these facts took you by surprise, or what you do in way of helping the environment, giving viewers helpful tips of your own.

Until next week,
Kelly

Once a Week but Never Weakly ...

2008-08-13T11:28:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone!

Welcome back! (Maybe you should be saying that to us—it’s been a while!) I’d like to introduce myself as Kelly, the newest addition to the PristinePlanet.com team. I am very excited to take on the role as the Social Networking Director and have a solid, broad vision on where we will attempt to expand Pristine Planet.com in terms of publicity. We believe it to be a positive decision that we also touch base with our valued visitors and implement our first official weekly blog.

We want to begin by saying, “Thank You”. For the Pristine Planet Merchants, our gratitude is not only for being members of Pristine Planet.com but more importantly, we sincerely appreciate knowing our vision of “paying it forward” is not in vain. It has been a highly successful first half of the year and we trust that the same has been for you.

In the recent months, we have been extremely busy making adjustments to our site and the customer service department to accommodate the rise in the number of new merchant accounts as well as increased traffic. We feel extremely fortunate to be able to provide an outlet to those interested in making their products available to consumers who are attempting to lighten their “carbon footprint” on this magnificent but fragile planet we live.

We have made it a top priority to use a portion of our energy to plunge into the social networking movement. We have recently become members of various social networks in hopes to bring more awareness to the green options available to consumers.

A few of the things you may have noticed include the fun facts displayed as you glide your mouse around the homepage, the expansion of the product categories, and the new search and sort tools within each category. We also added new icons to denote Merchant blogs, coupons, and sale items. A pair of scissors now denotes coupons , blogs are denoted with a cartoon dialog box , and any product on sale includes the red tag icon . Our new sale page will help shoppers find products on sale by a particular category, merchant or tag.

We feel fortunate to have recently been mentioned in a few high profile websites such as Forbes.com and Us News and World Report in their articles on resources for green living. PristinePlanet.com was also mentioned as a resource in the Gorgeously Green book (http://www.gorgeouslygreen.com/) that was featured on Oprah’s Earth Day 2008 show. David Bach and Hillary Rosner also mentioned us as a resource in the book Go Green Live Rich.

We also are extremely proud to sponsor a running team for the Gor-Tex Trans Rockies Run under the name PristinePlanet.com. You can check out their personal blogs and progress on These Are My Feet.

It is our optimistic hope that all of the recent exposure Pristine Planet.com has received has caused a ripple effect; helping our merchants see their vision of a better today and greater tomorrow, expand into something grand.

Until next week,
Kelly