Green Sexy

Lights Out for Earth Hour!

Greetings from a candlelit house!  Yes, we too are participating in Earth Hour, a "lights out" initiative originally conceived in March of 2007 in Sydney, Australia by the World Wildlife Fund.  That year most of the city shut off their lights and saved enough energy to equivalent to taking 48,000 cars off the road.  Not bad, eh?  Well, it gets even better---this year Earth Hour has gone global.  North American cities like Atlanta, Chicago, Phoenix, San Francisco, Ottawa, Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver have all signed on to the idea.  Other cities in Denmark, Australia, Columbia, Thailand, New Zealand, Ireland, the Philippines, Bolivia, Fiji, and Israel are also taking part. 

So, turn your lights off from 8-9 p.m. on Saturday, March 29th and do something good for the Earth!

Hey, Charlie Brown, It's the Great Pacific Garbage Patch

On Nightline's March 28th broadcast, I saw a story on the "Great Pacific Garbage Patch", which is the largest garbage dump in the world...in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.  The name is deceptive---there's actually two garbage patches. The Eastern Garbage Patch exists between California and Hawaii and is twice the size of Texas (And they said that it would be impossible to build a bridge from the mainland U.S. to Hawaii--- fools!). The Western Garbage Patch exists east of Japan and west of Hawaii. 

It is no surprise that the majority of the waste in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch is plastic.  Plastic accounts for 90 percent of the garbage in the ocean, and according to the UN Environmental Program, one square mile of ocean contains 46,000 pieces of floating plastic.  Discarded plastic products are consumed by various aquatic creatures and by waterfowl, causing the untimely death of many an animal.  Charles Moore, founder of the Algalita Marine Research Foundation, states that plastic does break down into smaller pieces, sometimes forming a kind of "sand" on many beaches.  What especially concerns Moore is that "The bigger chips turn to smaller chips...And we eventually get dust. Our concern is that this dust then goes to the molecular level and invades the entire food web in the ocean."  Now that is a prospect that is too frightening to consider!

Hopefully raising people's awareness of such atrocities as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch will begin to change the mindsets of the many people around the world who are unmindful of their "throwaway existence" and unbridled consumerism.  We can do with less, we can repurpose many plastic products in ingenious ways, and yes, we can certainly recycle.  It appears that this garbage dump will never be cleaned up, so let's try our best to not add to it.   

Antarctic Ice Shelf Collapses

A section of the Wilkins Ice Shelf the size of Chicago has broken off due to higher temperatures and the action of waves.  It seems that we're hearing about a lot of the Antarctic melting lately, doesn't it?  Scientists say that this breakup will not raise the sea level because the ice shelf is already floating in the ocean, but one concern is that fact that ice shelves hold back the advancement of glaciers.  If the ice shelf is not there to impede the progress of a glacier, then the glacier will fall into the ocean, thus raising sea levels worldwide. Scientists say that temperatures in the Antarctic region have risen several degrees in the past 50 years, causing the breakup of other ice shelves.  The Wilkins Ice Shelf is expected to experience further breakups in the future. 

If this trend continues, we'll all be going for a swim soon.  I'm going to work on developing gills in the meantime.

Whale Wars

Animal Planet will air a program entitled Whale Wars this fall.  Whale Wars is about Sea Shepherd Conservation Society's members' efforts to interfere with Japanese whaling expeditions.  In one episode, members toss rancid butter onto the deck of a Japanese whaling vessel to make the decks slippery and to spoil the whale meat and two even boarded the vessel, creating an international incident.  The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society's actions are not always condoned by other conservation organizations; The International Whaling Commission, a society that protects whales, has been critical of Sea Shepherd's dangerous actions. 

The show is one-sided---there's no attempt made to get the Japanese side of the story, but how can one possibly justify whaling in the modern world?  What, are we trying to get oil from their blubber to light our lamps at night?  It is true that there are many fish in the sea, so concentrate on catching fish, not whales, which are highly-intelligent mammals!  Do I condone Sea Shepherd's radical tactics that they employ in the defense of whales?  If their actions help bring an end to whaling, then yes. 

If you're still wrestling with the "Well, what about people's livelihoods?" argument to whaling, then watch this video from my previous post "Japanese Whaling---Killing a Mother and Calf" and then tell me what you think! 

Nationals Stadium---An Eco-Friendly Ballpark?

I'm not much of a baseball fan, but I must admit that I was totally stoked to find out that the Washington Nationals are building a stadium, aptly named Nationals Stadium (slated to open on March 30th, 2008), that is striving "to be the first major stadium in the United States accredited as a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System™ certified ballpark." 

According to an April 2008 Fastcompany.com article, the stadium will feature many Earth-friendly features such as energy-efficient field lighting, a "6,317-square-foot green roof over a concession area (that) is planted with about 1,200 drought-resistant sedums", and a revolutionary waste-water system that filters out organic debris and, according to engineers, "water that has gone through the system is cleaner than the water in the nearby Anacostia River."  In addition, the stadium comes complete with an "in-house recycling center is equipped with four 34-cubic-yard dumpster-compactors, big enough to handle the glass, metal, and plastic recyclables generated during one three-day home stand."

This development will set an industry standard that will definitely affect the building practices of stadiums to come.  Heck, come spring/summer 2008, you may just find me rooting on the Nationals (even if it's just to be able to glimpse their awesome green stadium!). 

The Washington Nationals building and playing in a LEED-certified stadium?  Now that's one Green Sexy play!

Seven Deadly Sins---Sort Of...

In a recent USA Today article entitled "Is Sin Dead?", Pope Benedict XVI declared that the modern world "is losing the notion of sin".  The article counters the Pope's argument by citing a poll conducted in August of 2007 in which Americans sound off about what they consider to be sins.  Typical sins like adultery, drug use, honesty issues, abortion, homosexuality (still?!?), and the like show up on near the top of the list.  A sign that times are changing is reflected in the fact that racism is number 2 on the list, right below adultery!

Anyway, "doing things as a consumer that harm the environment" ranked at 41% on the list, right between "Sexual thoughts about someone you are not married to" and "Smoking marijuana".  Hey---not bad.  Our consciousness about the environment has risen astronomically since Al Gore's award-winning documentary An Inconvenient Truth, and this seemingly unrelated poll reflects this positive change. 

So, environmentalists---you've come a long way, baby!

The Diaper Dilemma

Any new parent will testify that the bottom line increases once you introduce a new member to the family.   One big drain on the budget of new parents is diapers.  On average it takes about 30 months to potty-train a child.  In that time span, a child goes through roughly 6,700 disposable diapers, which is equivalent to $2,400 (Washingtonpost.com). 

Cost aside, there are other issues related to disposable diapers---health issues.  According to the Real Diaper Association, disposable diapers contain trace amounts of dioxin, a toxic byproduct of the paper bleaching process.  Dioxin is a carcinogenic chemical, listed by the EPA as the most toxic of all cancer-linked chemicals (of course, this chemical is banned by many countries, but not by the United States).  Disposable diapers also contain the toxic pollutant Tributyl-tin, a toxic pollutant that causes hormonal issues in humans and animals.  Sodium polyacrylate, a type of super absorbent polymer, is also used in disposable diapers, and is similar to the absorbent polymers banned from tampons in the 1980s because of they increased the risk of toxic shock syndrome. 

Disposable diapers are also have a detrimental effect on the environment.   According to EPA estimates, 3.3 million tons of diapers end up in landfills each year---that's 18 billion diapers!  Holy Crap!  According to the Children's Health Environmental Coalition (CHEC), "Proper use of disposables includes dumping fecal matter into the toilet before putting the soiled diaper in the trash. In practice, however, most parents don’t take that extra step. The smell and bacteria can create public health hazards. Fecal matter also carries live viruses that could potentially be released into the environment through leaking landfills." 

Parents could help both their bottom lines and the environment by using washable and reusable diapers.  Whereas millions of tons of disposable diapers end up in landfills, a reusable diaper can be reused between 100 to 150 times, and then reused again as rags!  One option for reusable diapers is the kind offered  by gDiapers, which consists of a washable cotton outer pant and a flushable or compostable insert.  Another option is the Tiny Tush Trim Organic Diaper by Heavenly Organic, which offers a reusable waterproof shell that you wrap around the organic cotton diaper, which has a highly-absorbent and removable cotton liner that can absorb up to 16 ounces of liquid! 

For those who just can't bring themselves to wash soiled diapers, there are some environmentally-viable options.  Seventh Generation offers Chlorine-Free Baby Diapers that are gentle on a baby's skin and on the environment.  Or even more revolutionary, how about having your baby go "diaper free"?  According to parenting expert Ann Pleshette Murphy, more than 4,000 parents have joined a social networking group called DiaperFreeBaby.org, that is dedicated to their pursuit.  How do these parents manage to achieve this?  Through "elimination communication", parents try to read their baby's signals and try to get the child to the toilet before they unload their loads.  With babies going through 10 diapers a day, a parent trying this method needs to be hyper-vigilant and have a lot of time on their hands for childrearing!

Whatever you decide on, moving away from using disposable diapers is good for the family's bottom line, the child's "bottom line" and reducing our effect on the environment.

Economic Stimulus Act- Wasting Money Right Off the Bat!

Hello, my fellow Americans.

No doubt by now you've received the IRS mailing informing you that the United States Congress and yours truly ("W"), have signed into law the Economic Stimulus Act of 2008.  That's right folks, even though we're hemorrhaging money funding two wars in two countries and are in a sizable trade deficit with China, we the government have decided, in all our beneficence, to give you this handout.  So, just like I previously encouraged you in times of national crisis---shop, shop, shop---do your American duty and wastefully purchase impulse items that will stimulate the economy in the short run, but ultimately become landfill fodder in the end.  No better way to exercise your freedom than to engage in slavish consumerism to fill the empty void in your soul where true hope of a safer and more compassionate world used to be! 

And please disregard the fact that it cost $42 million dollars to mail this superfluous letter to 130 million American households---a letter that informs you that all you have to do is file a 2007 tax return to receive your stimulus check (You may call me "Captain Obvious", but I think it's a great public relations move!).  Also disregard criticism from fellow Republicans like Senator Tom Coburn who said, "Congress should be ashamed of itself for approving a 'stimulus' bill that included funding for this wasteful mailing."  Furthermore, disregard the fact that we have wasted a great amount of paper on these letters. Finally, don't pay much mind to the fact that instead of frivolously blowing their stimulus check on useless crap, a good majority of Americans intend to use this money to pay down their stifling credit card debt, which won't give the economy the "feel-good" payoff that I'm looking for to boost my paltry approval rating.

Hey, I'm just a simple guy, like you (only totally privileged socially and economically).  I'm not the type of guy who uses big words...or even the correct usage of words, big or small.  Nor am I the type to rouse the American public with inspiring words and hopeful messages (I'll leave that to Barack Obama).  No, all I can do is ask you to spend your hard-earned money on luxury items you cannot really afford.  But hey, as you fall into a pit of debt due to overspending, you'll become part of the true American Experience and add to our staggering National Debt!

God bless you, and God bless America.

George W. Bush

Pharmaceuticals With a Twist of Lemon, Please!

That's what I usually ask my waitress for when I order a water when dining out, don't you?

In a disturbing report, an Associated Press probe found traces of various pharmaceuticals in the drinking water of at least 41 million Americans!  These pharmaceuticals range from common drugs like acetaminophen or ibuprofen to more serious fare like antibiotics, mood-stabilizers and sex hormones! The human body cannot assimilate all of the medicine it intakes, so the rest gets flushed away and into reservoirs,rivers and lakes, and after being treated and filtered, down the hatch and into our bodies!  Other ways these drugs get into our drinking water is through people flushing outdated prescription and over-the-counter drugs and through the waste products of livestock, who are often times injected with a form of anabolic steroids intended to "pump them up" for the market.  These livestock waste products seep into the earth and into the groundwater. 

No one knows for sure what effect long term exposure to small traces of pharmaceuticals will have on the human body, but some studies have found "that small amounts of medication have affected human embryonic kidney cells, human blood cells and human breast cancer cells. The cancer cells proliferated too quickly; the kidney cells grew too slowly; and the blood cells showed biological activity associated with inflammation."  Furthermore, studies on wildlife have discovered that pharmaceuticals can feminize male fish and negatively affect vital creatures like earthworms and zooplankton.

Now understand, the amounts found were measured in parts per billion or trillion, so it's not like you have to go on some crazy bottled-water binge or anything.  In fact, bottled water is often times just tap water wrapped up all nice and pretty in a wasteful little plastic package.  Well, how about water filtration systems?  Sorry, Charlie---they do not filter out pharmaceuticals. 

As usual, we are the cause of our own problems.  According to IMS Health and The Nielson Co., "Over the past five years, the number of U.S. prescriptions rose 12 percent to a record 3.7 billion, while nonprescription drug purchases held steady around 3.3 billion..."  Y'know all those snazzy commercials we see on television that promote drugs that will have a euphoric effect on our lives and cure all our problems and ailments---I think they have a lot to do with this recent trend.  They always seem to end with some actor stating "I'll ask my doctor."  Ah, the power of suggestion: "Hey doc, what exactly does Cialis do again?  Oh, really?  Um...heh...no thanks." 

It is also an undeniable fact that people are, very much thanks to pharmaceuticals, living much longer than they used to.  With a huge ever-aging baby-boomer population comes huge prescription drug sales.   

Now, we can't exactly tell grandma to lay off the drugs, so what can we all do to try to reduce the drugs in our drinking water?  Here's some food for thought:

1.  Eat livestock products from animals that were fed only organic feed and were not injected with hormones or antibiotics.  The more profitable it becomes for livestock farmers to go organic, the less drug-riddled runoff we'll have polluting our water.

2.  Try (gasp) homeopathic remedies or at least take a less conventional route when treating simple ailments.  Every sniffle doesn't require antibiotics.  Try drinking more fluids and relaxing a bit.  Every muscle ache doesn't require acetaminophen or ibuprofen---get a massage, either from the one you love or from a licensed massage therapist.  Etc, etc, etc.

3.  Be a rabble-rouser and get in the ears of your local Water Authority and question them regarding their filtration and purification practices to know exactly what's in your local drinking water.  Treatment plants that add chlorine to clean the water often times make some pharmaceuticals more toxic.  Does your local treatment plant use chlorine?  Heck---call Erin Brockovich!

The way I see it, this is just one more piece of evidence that we're not slowly making a descent to hell---we're hurtling there with ever-increasing speed.  Ironic, isn't it---the very drugs that we use to enhance our quality of life, are, in small and nearly undetectable doses, a factor that is potentially destroying our quality of life at the same time.

Well... on that note, raise a glass and say "Cheers!"

Recycle and Read More Easily!

I feel as if I'm having an Andy Rooney-type moment here...I'm going to talk about magazine ads.

If there's anything that drives me crazy about magazines, it's cologne ads with the stinky sample.  I know they're supposed to smell "good", but all they make me want to do is sneeze.  Whenever I find one of these in a magazine I've purchased, I rip it right out and plop it in the recycling bin.  Another thing that always gets recycled are those stiff subscription cards. 

Today I received the April 2008 edition of BestLife Magazine, which is a publication created by the editors of Men's Health Magazine.  This magazine was a bonus that came with my Men's Health subscription, so I was intrigued as to what I would be getting.  Turns out, just like most magazines nowadays, I got about 2/3 content and 1/3 (or more) advertisements.  So, true to form, I leafed through the magazine and tore out two cologne ads and removed all of the subscription cards.  Just then I had a thought---why stop now?  I leafed through the magazine, tearing out all 2-sided ads---from Cadillac to Nordstrom, Polo to Viagra---until I had 16 pages of useless capitalist drivel to line my recycling bin with.  Now I have a magazine that will be less cluttered, thus easier to read, and ultimately quicker to recycle since I'll probably get through it faster. 

So, my advice to you, reader, is to tear out those silly ads, recycle them and enjoy the actual content of the magazine, which is what you bought it for in the first place.

Andy Rooney---eat your heart out!