According to WorldWatch.org, US Women spend approximately 8 billion
dollars annually on cosmetics.  Undeniably, as women, we are driven to want to look beautiful but at what cost to our physical, mental and emotional health?  Well, if we continue to blindly purchase the "hottest" and "trendiest" cosmetics, body, and bath products (pushed on us by millions and millions of advertising dollars annually) without looking at the labels, we could unwittingly be putting ourselves into harms way. 

The powerhouse cosmetics industry would rather we just leave it alone! As you and I increase our awareness of harmful ingredients in skin care products, the Cosmetic, Toiletry and Fragrance Association which is designed to sell products, will counter any concerns about any potentially negative health effects of their members' products. So as with any consumer product category, my advice is simple: Let the buyer beware.

I think we all agree that as a nation we are generally improving in our knowledge about the connection between the foods we eat and the state of our health. We read food labels and are making wiser choices. Now let's get more specific; I want to encourage you to not only read the ingredient labels on foods but on products we put on our skin as well. I want us to become smart consumers in all areas of our consumer lives.  Especially now when every dollar counts and bettering ourselves emotionally and physically counts even more. Step up your efforts to educate yourself about common and uncommon ingredients and their effects on the body. 

I have attacked my beauty stash and initially felt sad as so many beloved items were dropped into the trash but thanks to my dedicated, hardworking friends at the Environmental Working Group, I've been enlightened to do more.  It just makes sense. I have learned that some ingredients (or words in the ingredients) to avoid are:
• DMDM hydantoin and Imidazolidinyl urea (toxic contaminants)
• Fragrance and dyes (allergies, cancer, nervous system)
• Methylchloroisothiazolinone and Methylisothiazolinone (allergies, nervous system)
• Paraben (hormone effects)
• "PEG" and "-eth" (toxic contaminants)
• Sodium lautyl or laureth sulfate (skin damage, toxic contaminants)
• Triclosan and triclocarban (thyroid and environmental concerns)
• Triethanolamine (TEA) (allergies, toxic contaminants)

And some products to avoid are:
• Hair dyes containing ammonia, peroxide, p-phenylenediamine, diaminobenzene (all dark permanent hair dyes) Let me tell you, I am mourning my old hair dye regimen...but with cancer an experience I would not like to repeat, I defer to the less toxic route these days.
• Liquid hand soaps with triclosan
• Nail polish and removers with formaldehyde
• Skin lighteners with hydroquinone

If we don't read our labels and make educated and smart decisions with our purchasing power, we will not see our best interests served in the cosmetics, food and retail industries.  The less toxic solutions are all out there, we just need to create the demand and have the supply follow, not the other way around.

For more information about toxic ingredients please visit:

www.safecosmetics.org
www.cosmeticsdatabase.com
www.ewg.org

One month gas prices are through the roof forcing most of us to reevaluate our driving habits, the next they're at unbelievable lows!  What gives? I'm actually glad that the all too recent skyrocketed prices forced us all to step back and realize how much we over-rely on gas. When you think about it, what else would have forced us to evaluate our consumption as a nation and readjust our reliance; we were hit right where it hurts, in our wallets.  The cool news is, according to Transportation Secretary, Mary Peters, we are changing our driving habits, doing with less gas despite the drop in prices as of late.

Naturally, mass transit is seeing a boost in commuter usage which has its obvious environmental advantages.  Remember that soccer mom who shouted an affirmative "way to go Emme!" as she passed me in her SUV while I was waiting at my local bus stop?  Well, I'm not such a lone rider these days as noticeably more have joined the relaxing, "enviro-friendly way" into Manhattan.  I still swear by it, when the bus is on time!

We can make a huge impact on minimizing the depletion of our resources if we continue to change.  What we are learning is that merely living within our means without overextending ourselves has the potential to make a noticeable dent in conservation as well as our wallets. As a nation, we need to embrace with open arms what else we can do to help get out of the environmentally unfriendly situation we have gotten ourselves into, not to mention the financial crisis at hand.

Doesn't it strike you as oddly coincidental that conserving our money in these tough economic times has a corresponding positive effect on Mother Nature? In a way, we are interestingly enough being forced to treat her more kindly. Well maybe everything happens for a reason and maybe there are no such things as coincidences.    It's really up to you to choose what you want to believe, but I am encouraged by the change that is happening, lets keep it coming!

In order to raise our game and reverse the effects of the last eight environmentally neglectful years, President-elect Obama has assigned a well balanced and highly accomplished group of environmentally powerful individuals.  Personally, I'm thankful the list doesn't include any eco-radicals because a lot needs to get done in a short amount of time so there's no time to waste!    Like never before, the United States will need long lasting change, not the same kind of feel-good change we all chanted about during the election, but get-down-and-dirty change that affects each and every one of us professionally and personally. How-we-conduct-our-daily-lives-on-this-earth kind of change. There is no turning back, no living in denial, no passing the buck, no pushing our air, water, climate change, carbon emissions, mercury emissions, pollution or red tides to the bottom of our agenda.

Obama's picks, Environmental Regulators Nancy Sutley, Lisa P. Jackson and Carol Browner have all been there, seen it all and have been highly successful in their own accomplished careers.  To top it off, add in Nobel Prize scientist, Stephen Chu, to boot!  This administration finally promises to remove the blinders into the world of science.  Now real facts can see the light of day and not be buried under yards of bureaucratic paperwork.

Barak Obama has a formidable task ahead; where change, real change may sound good, achieving it is an entirely different story.  My only suggestion is to keep it simple so we all can get on board and do our part in creating a shift.  There are bills to pass, regulations to uniformly make, infrastructures to assemble and follow ups to do in order to support our president elect's mission of creating less carbon emission and minimizing our carbon footprint.  That in itself is a Herculean task, especially in a country unaccustomed to cutting back and doing with less.  If what is presented to us is complicated and chock full of legal jargon, we will not only miss the boat, but it will be caught up in the Washington system and never see the light of day in our homes, communities, or environment.

Getting moms on board will create an army of eco-change in itself! Many moms are trying to figure out their first move environmentally; whether in the home, the office, or the community and often times are disillusioned by the negativity that is often associated with the green movement.  "Going green is expensive", "Being environmental means living like Daniel Boone", and "The end is near, nothing we can do will help" comes from the old, more fear based way of talking about where we stand ecologically.  We just want to hear the facts so that we can initiate impactful changes.

So does boiling it down have to be so drastic all at once?  Information in bite size pieces through national PSA's and a user friendly community style website packed with environmentally friendly information and tips can be more manageable while our babies cry, toddlers squabble and dinner miraculously makes its way to the table. Not that we can't handle complex issues, most certainly we can, we just happen to be juggling a lot and would appreciate some out of the box thinking on our behalf. Go directly to the people, encourage spouses to take on some of the responsibility, expect employers to step up and hold them accountable, engage school administrators in the quest, and expect local municipalities to lead the way. Perhaps a challenge or even a competition between similar size towns to see who can best step up?  Help us engage our kids, husbands, neighbors and school systems to create toxic free environments in which to grow and prosper.

Thankfully this holiday season was one that connected Americans together, not one that pulled us apart.  Most of us did with less but made it special; we cut back and reused a bit more. Many of us pot lucked, watched movies together at home, and lent a hand to others in need. Something had to give and Mother Nature is seeking to correct herself. So be it: this is our first step toward the creation of balance at home and no matter the issue, it always starts at home.  So bring it on Dream Team.  Help us do our part and our very best to learn, grow and become more environmentally aware for ourselves and future generations to come!

Happy New Year!

No time to exercise? Well think again! Ok, so you may be a little sweaty, dirty, or tired at work but what better way to get the day started with some fresh air and get paid to do so? It warms my heart to see the Bikes Commuters Act be introduced to corporate America. Companies are jumping on the bandwagon offering employees monetary and other incentives to bike to work and in turn, the Bikes Commuters Act will give companies a tax credit of up to $20 per month per cycling employee beginning in January.   Employees have been biking to work for centuries in other countries so the idea should not be extremely radical, however slow change is lasting change so let's hope it sticks for good on our own turf!  

In New York City, commuter cycling increased by 35% between 2007 and 2008, according to a 2008 report by the city's Department of Transportation.   In Minneapolis, the number of bike commuters increased by 49% between 2006 and 2007, according to the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey. Needless to say, this is a great step forward and hats off to companies such as Discovery Communications, Clif Bar, Lockheed Martin, New Resource Bank and others, who are already providing employee incentives.

Every day we are presented with opportunities for change and with today's uncertain times, now may be the moment to say, "What the heck!" and get reacquainted with your trusty old bike.  Your heart will thank you and your boss could too! Most importantly the impact on the environment would be phenomenal. Let's ease our reliance on gasoline. Allow yourself to enjoy the process; you never know how you'll respond when you ask yourself, "what else can I change while I'm at it?"

Be gutsy and go for it!

Source: usatoday.com
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2008-11-30-bikecommuting_N.htm

Early last year, I had no understanding about the important impact that growing, buying and eating organically could have on my health or the health of everyone for that matter. Then, a year later, armed with some powerful knowledge from personal experience, I couldn't contain it any longer and felt compelled to use my voice to assist the movement forward! As a result, Simply Green with Emme was born.  I am sharing my personal evolution into this organic green space as a lead in to the importance of Ripe for Revolution, the Organic Solution.  This week I participated in the launch of a powerful collaborative campaign between the 60 year old Rodale Institute (www.rodaleinstitute.org) and the relatively new Organic Center (www.organic-center.org). Ripe for Revolution, the Organic Solution is a partnership involving research and educational leadership in the field of organics and it deserves having us take notice.
 
Through research and education, this unique partnership sets out to promote organic farming and its benefits. Rodale's 30 year research study on organic vs. conventional farming in conjunction with The Organic Center's mission to advance verifiable scientific research pertaining to the health and environmental benefits of organic foods, offers fantastic results that are being clearly communicated to the public.   During this hugely successful evening, interested professionals and business leaders as well as the world press were in attendance. We all walked away armed with powerful findings that will impact the way we currently produce, buy and consume food:

• The average American child is exposed daily to five pesticides in their food and drinking water. (Rodale Institute)
• If organic farming methods were practiced on all the planet's food-growing land, it would be the equivalent taking more than 1.5 billion cars off the road (the Organic Center)
• Farms in developing countries that use organic techniques produce an average of 79% more than farms that don't (Rodale Institute)
• Our antioxidant intake would increase by 30% if we were to choose organic produce and vegetables (the Organic Center) and eleven important nutrients were on average 25% higher in organic foods than conventional foods.
• Analysis of one of the nation's oldest farm research plots in Illinois shows that, contrary to long-held beliefs, chemical fertilizers do not improve the soil. (Rodale Institute)
• Organic farming increases the quality of the soil and improves the water holding capacity of the land which in turn creates less runoff into our lakes, streams and drinking water, leaving more topsoil and nutrients available to grow our food. (Rodale Institute)

As J.I. Rodale, a pioneer in the organic movement, once said, "good soil=good food=healthy people," so keep it simple.  We can enormously improve our lives without cutting edge technology, big investment, or even big business. It all comes down to the soil and how we treat it and we have the research findings for support.  But instead, we are subject to outright lies concerning the highly toxic chemicals found in our food and soil that in turn is not only compromising our land, but making so many of us deathly sick. What we need now is to have our government (including the FDA) embrace the findings and act upon them.

There is no better time than now to learn more about the organic revolution that is sweeping our country. Let's do ourselves a favor and not pass up this opportunity.  And don't forget that small change is lasting change: grow organically in your apartment window box or on a sunny strip of land in your back yard, buy organic at the supermarket whenever you can, ask your child's school to build an organic garden, better yet offer to spearhead the project, or regularly eat organically at home.  It all adds up and makes a difference. (Personally, my dream is to see organic enthusiast Michelle Obama create and build her own organic garden on one of the 17 acres at the White House! Now that would be a positive statement that would be a lesson for all!) By making some changes, we can join this revolution and create a healthy and ecologically self-sustainable life for generations to come! 

What a fantastic age of innovation!  Despite the current economic downturn, and more likely because of it, bright minds are shaking the trees for new ways to grab the attention of the green conscious consumer.  Whether it's tugging at our collective environmental conscience, or playing on the idea that parents will do and buy just about anything for their children, marketers are finding that as consumers we want our next purchase to count in more ways than one.  Keep your eyes peeled: we will soon see the crème de là crème of imagery and a creative outpouring of marketing strategy like we've never before seen.   With overcrowded retail selling space, limitless online shopping opportunities, and fewer and fewer shoppers, those who succeed will be the ones actually listening to the consumer by creating a shift away from the old "gotta-have it" mentality of anything goes, to a more thought provoking process of consumer supply and demand.

What better place than the baby industry to be so creative and proactive?  Especially when new parents are taking a better look at how their infants and young children are being impacted by the toxic and often hazardous environments in which they sleep, play and grow.  Little did we know years ago that sucking the coating on certain plastic toys, food containers and baby bottles can cause cancer, brain damage, memory loss and learning disabilities! "Not for my child!" we say in unison. 

So finally some health and environment conscious companies are offering products that don't have the harmful components that so many of the products of yesteryear are now found to have. Companies such as Seventh Generation's Wee Generation (in collaboration with Rickshaw Bagworks, the design firm IDEO, and Healthy Child Healthy World) have developed a diaper bag that is PVC-free and constructed from 100% post-consumer recycled plastic bottles. Organically Grown now has in stores the softest and most yummy organic cotton baby layette sets, and Burt's Bees Baby Bee brand has all natural ingredients in their diaper creams and powders. And that's just to name a few!

The number of dedicated green products for baby has exploded in the market place. They not only promote health and eco friendly practices that benefit the environment, most of the products look, smell, and feel great.  All of these attributes enhance customer loyalty and other brands are now looking for a foothold in the green consumer market. Needless to say, when it comes to product purchases, for our children's sake, we need to choose wisely and stay on top of it all.  Someone has to!  Our Children and our Future depend on us! 
 
www.weegeneration.com
www.healthychildhealthyworld.org
www.organicallygrown.com
www.burtsbees.com

I've been traveling by mass transit lately.  It's been calling out my name- environmentally speaking. Don't get me wrong, I love the luxury of riding in my car- zip zap into the city; but more and more frequently I find myself running, jumping and hailing the bus that takes me from my small downtown stop  right into the Port Authority in New York City. And the benefits are even more than just environmental!  While traveling with the masses I get caught up on emails, write thank you notes, grab cat naps (with my phone alarm set to prevent oversleeping), or permit myself some good old fashioned day dreaming.  Riding the commuter bus has never felt so good!

Same goes for the NYC subway system.  Certainly it's not something I am unfamiliar with:  I've used it off and on over the last 20 years, but not until recently have I REALLY used it.  Armed with my ipod in one hand and a laminated map in the other, I go from uptown to downtown without missing appointments or making excuses due to traffic. I have it down.  Except for the occasional express vs. local train snafu when I miss a stop and have to double back and start again, it's one fast ride from point a to point b, and it definitely beats jumping into a cab, fighting traffic and spending what I would spend on a lunch. 

Yet the truly refined transit approach is the NYC bus system.  Now that's style and a completely different animal all together.  NYC bus riders are different compared to the subway crowd:  a little older and more gentile if you get what I mean.  Whereas the underground bustles with a younger, more energetic type than their bus level gray topped counter parts.  Each mode offers an important service for all people, despite age or transit preference; it's mass transit built to suit.  When I have the time and have already worked out, being carted around above ground on the bus actually makes me feel luxurious!

But the best of all mass transportation in the city is the one of self-propelled walking. I know I share this passion with millions of New Yorkers when we put on great walking shoes, throw on a warm sweater or coat and get to appointments all day long on foot.  My cheeks are rosy and don't need makeup, my body feels strong and used after a long day, and nothing feels better than a long hot bath after a day running around.

And to top it off and for the fun of it, when a storm blows into town, don't be surprised if you see me (along with a few other snow fanatics) cross county skiing down Madison Avenue!

Pray for snow and happy commuting!

Expect more physical evidence and shocking scientific data to start popping up regarding increased greenhouse gases and above normal water levels which will prompt the  environment to beg us (especially as Americans) to change our ways. Additionally, there is a growing ground swell of institutions and organizations that are gathering data and presenting it in more digestible ways for all who are taking global warming seriously.  To top it off, research started as far back as ten years ago is now coming to fruition and the data is blatantly before us. Mother Nature will not be denied.

The evidence is anecdotal as well. Just last week my daughter and her dad were hiking in and around the trails of the Palisades next to the Hudson River as we have done many times over the past 18 years.  When they returned to the parking lot, the tide was coming in and the water was filling the parking lot in a way we have never before seen. Though there was not a cloud in the sky or even a passing boat, the entire lot and snack stand was being flooded by rushing water. Everyone in the area was in disbelief over what they were witnessing. Fluke or a sign of the times? 

Newly released research funded by NASA found that nitrogen trifluoride is packing a power punch in our atmosphere.  Until recently, nitrogen triflouride was considered an insignificant gas with low impact on global warming. However, now we are finding that it traps heat 17,000 times more efficiently than carbon dioxide and is increasing in our atmosphere by 11%. Yikes!  Because of its once believed lower global emissions, a few years back, nitrogen trifluoride replaced the highly publicized perfluorocarbons used in the manufacturing process of crystal flat screen tv's and microcircuits (in computer systems). We now know this is untrue.

No longer can we sit back and say global warming is not a problem.  How much more do we need as evidence; a global catastrophe of even a grander scale? By sea, our oceans are becoming so acidic that hundreds of animal species are becoming extinct yearly and a third of our fish have been wiped out. By land, the severity of our storms, the melting of the global glaciers and melting ice caps is downright frightening. I'd say that's quite enough physical evidence. 

As Americans, we need to ask manufacturers to revisit day to day operations, encourage and support new clean and environmentally friendly technology which can bring jobs back onto our own soil, and reevaluate our daily lifestyle in order to turn this around.  We can do with less, so what if we are being forced to do so? What a wonderful opportunity to take this financial crisis we're in and turn it around for good.   Together, let's take a stand and reflect on how each and every one of our actions affects the environment around us.  To refuse to do so is pure ignorance.
 
To increase your knowledge on this important issue please visit my sources:
NASA research: http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2008/oct/HQ_08-268_Greenhouse_gas.html
American Geophyscial Union www.agu.org
Nitrogen trifluoride: http://www.livescience.com/environment/
Oceans: http://www.oceana.org/climate/impacts/acid-oceans/

Canada is on the verge of taking a bold step where no other nation has gone before. They will classify the chemical BPA (the synthetic sex hormone found in plastic baby bottles, water bottles and other food packaging) as a toxic substance. 

It shocks and dumbfounds me that the FDA (a US federal agency mandated to protect us from harmful toxins in our food and drinking water) continues to claim that BPA is safe, even after 100 peer-reviewed studies have proven otherwise.  EWG research has found that BPA is linked to "cancer, brain and nervous system malfunctions, behavioral problems, reproductive system damage, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and other serious illnesses".  Even studies by the US government's National Toxicology Program, which is regulated by the FDA, show that "BPA may present some risk to fetuses and infants" and has called for further research.

Now what is going on here?  We are being duped people; the wool is being pulled over our eyes time and time again and it's time we stop acting like herded sheep, entrusting our health to those who care more about not rocking the boat and fattening their wallets via a sea of chemicals.   We must always question the source and purity of the foods we consume, especially when it comes to baby products, personal care products, bottled drinking water and food. If we don't, it could literally cost us our lives.

No wonder so many children are increasingly being diagnosed with peculiar cancers and autoimmune disorders.  The BPA plastics that we use at every turn are not only robbing our children's birthright to a healthy beginning, but we are continually chiseling away at our future's health.  If we want to be strong, we need to act quickly and be heard.  Leave apathy at the door on this one, it's that important.  As a nation we are getting sicker year by year and we don't have to just stand by and allow it to happen.

Good job Canada for stepping up!  Thank you for being our role model against toxic exposure and consumption. Let's follow Canada's lead and demand that the highest quality standards are being met by our own local, state and federal agencies. By pushing for accountability, we will see remarkable changes take place.

You can start by visiting www.fda.gov and searching BPA through their search engine.  After reading their multiple articles, please share your thoughts with them by clicking on the "Contact the FDA" link. They can't know how we feel about this important issue if we don't tell them. Use your voice and while you're at it encourage your friends to do the same.  Our voices Do matter!   

Just slow down for a moment and you can you hear the collective groan and occasional sob from our ever expanding toxic environment.  Just when the masses had finally begun to think twice about our dependence on oil and the real need to create alternate fuel efficient systems and just when composting was no longer a word that prompts us to use the dictionary to determine the definition, and just when individuals, schools, and businesses had begun to embrace a renew, reuse and recycle mantra, the bottom fell out of the financial markets.   Man, just when we had admitted the need to get our compulsive over spending issues in check! The recent buckle down progress was a necessity for people struggling to put food on the table, but for others, the time could not be better to follow through on a renewed commitment to the conservation movement.

There is no way to hide the current state of affairs;  it's time to get past the do nothing and worry stages. By tightening our financial corsets and following the “green” brick road, we can help stabilize our future.  There could be no better time to shift the way we spend our money toward more self-sustainable industries that support the environment rather than tear it down and deplete it.  There are well tested game plans available if you are open to changing your lifestyle.  (See the websites below.) Can it be easy?  Maybe, maybe not.  How much you are willing to give up and how fast you are willing to change is really the determining factor, but it will definitely be far less painful than the repercussions of doing nothing. People will change when the pain of not changing is greater than the change itself. The time has come to fully embrace the concept of conservation in all areas of life. Conserving cash for basic living expenses and adopting a no frills existence for couple of years will certainly help ride the storm of this horrendous mess.

This is a hard blog to write, but one that was coming for a long time. Quick fixes are a thing of the past.  We have outdone ourselves and are now paying the price for the song-and-a-prayer mentality that we all bought into.  Let’s face it America, we're spoiled and it's not pretty.

Buy local, grow a garden, and support local businesses in any way you can. Shift your spending to help protect the planet.  Knowing you are not alone in this may take the sting of "doing without" less of a harsh reality and more of a collective journey. Some level of healing may even be achieved by acquiring less and making more healthful choices. Let’s clothes swap, invest in a windmill, lower our thermostats and wear lots of layers for warmth this winter. Let’s skip the impulse to buy, buy, buy. Walk more, drive less, and smile as if you're enjoying it all.  If we step outside of ourselves and accept responsibility for what we have gotten ourselves into here and create a conscious shift for change, there is nothing that can stop us.  Good creates good.  Green creates wealth of mind, body and spirit. 

Today is a new day.  It’s time to embrace a greater good, for ourselves, for our children and for their children to come.  If we don't do it, who will?

Please take a few minutes to check out a few of the websites which have greatly helped me:

www.biggreenpurse.com

www.earth911.org

www.greenerchoices.org

Now is the perfect time to embrace the “renew, reuse and recycle” movement in order to conserve.  There really is no way around it.  We have no choice but to hold back, budget, "do without", curb our appetites and hunker down for the sake of the financial crisis we all are facing.  Despite the very scary reality, we can find a bright side if we look deep enough: we have the opportunity to help those less fortunate by clearing out all of that "stuff" that’s really awesome but that we no longer need and hand it right over to those who are really feeling the panic of the punch.  Now, more than ever, will your second hand gems be appreciated by new proprietors. You may even be enticed to push it even further to see where else you might conserve.  Can you carpool more frequently? Become more innovative with leftovers instead of tossing them? Compost your veggies? Clothes shop out of necessity not boredom? Donate your time to a soup kitchen or shelter?

We can also conserve our own hard earned cash by cooking in more.  I bet most of us could benefit from eating in a bit more often.  Watch FoodTV for some ideas if you’re being held back by a lack of innovation. What will blow you away is the amount of money you will save by adjusting your lifestyle here and there, with minimal effort. You may not go back once you see how nutritious, economical and good for you a home cooked meal can be!

It really boils down simply… going through tough times will lead to one of two things: pull a family together or tear them apart.  What distinguishes one from the other is gratitude.  Gratitude for what one has, what one has to offer and what one does with it. What better time to step up and answer both the call of the environmental movement to conserve and the call for dignity, grace and generosity from a nation facing job insecurity, weak investment institutions and uncertain times?
 
Let’s choose to pull together and be proud to be American!

Hold on for a real doozie...did you know that Hummer owners in Texas and Alaska among other states have been given tax breaks for owning the large gas guzzling cars? What the heck is going on here?  Have I missed something as I struggle through the current gas crisis and the most recent explosion of information about our current state of environmental affairs?

Dumbfounded after hearing about this during a casual conversation in Texas, I immediately researched to find out if this could possibly be true, and if so, which loop hole this snuck through. Well, wouldn't you know it, until about a year ago, Luxury SUV buyers were able to take advantage of an obscure glitch in a 1970's tax code that was designed to benefit small farmers and self employed workers when buying heavy farm machinery and trucks by exempting them from paying the luxury car tax that was in effect at the time.  The intent of the exemption makes sense right? But the real news is about the abuse of the exemption by high end SUV purchasers. 

I could go on but the point here is...
We need to make important well informed decisions today for tomorrow. And we need to look at the cost effectiveness of those decisions. What may appear to be a money saver up front, may end up costing much more in the end. Please for the sake of our future, our children, let's force ourselves to adjust our need for immediate gratification in favor of a cleaner, more life affirming lifestyle. Turning a blind eye or convincing ourselves that it is someone else’s problem, will not help our grandchildren and future generations.
Buy or lease a hybrid when you next need a new car.  At least read up on the issue before you make your decision on what to purchase.

You won’t regret it. Better yet, your future will thank you!

Now that school is getting into full swing again, do you have concerns about what the USDA provides children through various school lunch and milk programs as well as federally assisted nutritional programs? Well we should and now there is a forum. Parents, school officials and other concerned individuals are gathering together to express themselves at "Listening Sessions" being held across the country as the USDA prepares for the 2009 reauthorization of the Child Nutrition Program.   With the national success of the program, action groups are now pushing for more disclosure and input on what is being fed to our nation's children.

There are several issues that will likely be raised and might pique your interest to take action:

• Parental consent before serving genetically modified food;
• Preference for grass-fed meats from small, sustainable farms;
• Elimination of hormones, antibiotics, and steroids from school food;
• Increased use of fresh, locally grown produce;
• Affirmative action on behalf of family farms & ranches;
• Junk foods removed from schools;
• Stop using school nutrition to push the unpopular National Animal ID System (NAIS) ("an expensive and unnecessary federal program that requires owners of livestock to tag animals with electronic tracking devices. The intrusive monitoring system amounts to nothing more than a tax on livestock owners, allowing the federal government access to detailed information about their private property." Congressman Ron Paul-R -Parental Rights in Food Choice

This is your chance to be heard!  Add your two cents about the lack of nutrition and levels of toxicity in our children's food! The remaining sessions will be:

Chicago, IL     FNS Midwest Regional Office
GSA Conference Center Room 331
77 West Jackson Blvd.  20th Floor
Chicago, IL  60604-3507         Sept. 10, 2008
1 pm - 4 pm
For more information, call 312-353-1044

Denver, CO      The Colorado History Museum
1300 Broadway
Denver, CO 80203        Sept. 11, 2008
9 am - 1 pm
For more information, call 303-844-0300

If you are unable to attend either session, you can still submit your concerns and /or general comments about the program management to the Food and Nutrition Service.
Please visit http://www.fns.usda.gov/cga/Sessions/default.htm or write to them at:
Food & Nutrition Service
3101 Park Center Drive
Alexandria, VA 22302

Change does not happen through complacency, it happens when enough people come together, use their voices and push the mass to lean one way or the other.  How can we step up for all kids when it comes to having the healthy and nutritious foods necessary to live and grow? We can express our opinions through our votes, but also simply by using our voices!

What a sad day it was when our female USA Olympic cyclists, adorned with air masks, arrived in Beijing only to be quickly silenced about their opposition to the atrocious air quality issue that haunted the games.  Ok, the visual might have been a little daunting, but when you think about it, the situation was begging for someone to step up and take a stand. You know the elephant in the room syndrome!

The whole incident was brushed under the table as an "oops, we didn't mean anything by it, folks!"  Is what they voiced through their actions so strong that it penetrated the frail political embrace that the Olympic committee has in China?  What a shame to disallow the cyclists from protesting what they believe is an Olympian’s basic right to have the cleanest air possible in order to perform at the optimal levels for which they have trained their entire lives!

You would think that's their right, right?  Not only were their actions brushed off as idiosyncratic, but the cyclists were asked to water down the motive for their actions and apologize.  Something just doesn’t seem right here. What’s wrong with what they did? Athletes need clean air to breathe so why didn’t the Olympic committee advocate for the rights of the Olympians?  Why is there a disconnect?

I am dying to hear the cyclist's real story, aren't you? I am constantly reminded of how proud I am to be an American.  Thank God we have athletes who take advantage of their right to be heard.  Sometimes actions speak louder than words, so let’s all listen.
Go USA!

I am most encouraged by the recent news stories about colleges and universities around the country that will be taking a green step for mankind with the start of the new academic year.

There are several new ideas that will be implemented on various campuses including online check in instead of paper forms, reusable laminated maps and campus information posted around campus instead of paper handouts, recycled paper in the administrative and departmental offices, organic fiber and recycled plastic bags at the bookstore, and prominently designated recycling areas throughout campus.

Kudos to all of the participating campuses for not only encouraging a new way of thinking, but developing the future of innovation with our thinkers of tomorrow. And the effort doesn’t end there because the school supply shopping list also looks greener than ever: notebooks made of recycled paper, Energy Star rated computers and accessories, compact fluorescent bulbs, environmentally friendly cleaning products, organic bedding and towels, and mom's old dishes, cutlery, and mugs.

It is definitely a different back-to-school theme this year, and we should all be proud of it.
Many colleges committed to taking responsibility for their carbon footprint are posting reminders to turn off lights when leaving a room, turn off water when brushing teeth, installing solar panels, composting, and growing vegetable gardens for use by dining services.  Active communities of like minded environmentally conscious students are growing exponentially on college campuses across the country.

Bravo to the higher educational institutions that are taking important steps to welcome every freshman into a new community of responsible world citizens. And bravo to the new students who are accepting the challenge to better the environment one person at a time.  Welcome small change in anyway you can, get involved and have fun in the process! What you do today will have an incredible impact on us all tomorrow!

This summer I vowed to get creative in order to minimize my daily energy waste and when it came to my air conditioning needs, I got down and dirty!  Ah, to do without the constant flow of cool air when the temperature gets above 85 degrees (with high humidity)…especially when visualizing all the a/c units in neighboring homes.  Yes, I wanted to take the leap and make a difference even if it hit me outside my comfort zone. 
Over the winter I began to use less and less heat and now I’ve severely reduced my a/c consumption. And you know what?  It isn't as hard as you might think especially since I’m the proud owner of an original 1950's attic fan that’s humming away this moment as I type!  I have lived in my home since 1997 and before now rarely used this enormous fan which was installed out of necessity by the original owner.  Funny while today we are making great strides in technology, it’s refreshing to remember where we once were and take a step back toward simplicity. I did turn the a/c unit on for a party I had and on five of the most awful dog days of summer, but generally, the attic fan has cooled us quite sufficiently on the hot days. The benefits not only have a positive effect on the environment, but my checkbook is happy and my health this summer was free and clear of summer colds and sinus infections because my lungs were not being dried out from the cool air flowing over me while I sleep.
So I have succumbed to mindfully cooling myself off in the summer.  Until I move to a location where there are balmy breezes and low humidity all day long, I will utilize modern technology but with a mindful heart.  Little steps lead to enormous change!

If you’re inspired to make some changes in order to cool your home more efficiently, visit http://aceee.org/consumerguide/cooling.htm for some great tips from the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy.

Really, I am in such a quandary about what to do with the containers that are piling up in my kitchen and elsewhere around my house as a result of my emphatic daily renewing and reusing efforts.  I am basically a neat person but the effects of my efforts are beginning to pile up not only in my packed garage but in my kitchen.…not to mention the realization about how much cream cheese I consume, jelly I eat, and take out dinners I've had!  I’m drowning in juice jugs, pesto jars and you name it; the mound is even growing under my breakfast table because the garage's recycling shelf is all filled up.

I wouldn't dream of throwing these opportunities to reuse away, nor would I want to deal with the green guilt, if I did.  I have enough on my plate and am entirely too busy to add the burden of guilt for not doing my job in the recycling area.  I have the green bug in it's most basic and elementary state and I won’t shake it, I've even begun to compost.  And you know why?  It just plain makes me feel good. Not only am I noticing a major reduction in my weekly garbage, I feel great that my juice pulp, egg shells, garden trimmings, dinner scraps and more are going back into the lifecycle and that next year my garden will be even greater with a better yield, thanks to the organic compost pile in the corner of my garden.

But I digress from the mess in my kitchen which simultaneously overwhelms me and inspires me to continue on.   I want a neat kitchen, but also I can not turn a blind eye to the fact that the  glass and plastic containers I come across can be used over and over again in so many ways!  I am now even making my daughter a no-waste lunch. I pack a cloth napkin,  her sandwich and carrots and apples in reusable plastic containers instead of disposable plastic wrap, and she loves to be responsible for bringing them home for reuse. I become more creative every day; I use small glass jars as vases for little flowers, paint storage,  buttons, paper clips, etc…you get my drift!

But how to manage the  glass towers waiting to be filled with ingenious goodies that are now teetering all over my house!  In a cosmic-laugh kind of way, perhaps there is something Zen taking place as the untidiness is teaching me the same lessons learned from the kids movie Kung Fu Panda, but I am not getting it.  So I would love to read your ideas and suggestions on how you manage to successfully balance the world of consumerism and conservancy in a calm way without making a mountain out of a mole hill.

"The time for action is now," President Bush said from the Rose Garden as he announced that he was lifting a presidential moratorium on off-shore drilling. We are no doubt in an energy crisis and the time is now but why are we inclined to go backward instead of moving forward? Now is the time to listen to what's brewing on a grassroots level here in the USA and join world leaders in energy innovation to create jobs. There are many brilliant thinkers capable of creating jobs in and around the energy industry but the major players must stop denying their corporate responsibility.

This is the perfect time to promote innovation. It’s out there but, unfortunately, the innovators and industries that are trying desperately to support these new ideas are not connected to the right people. If they were, committees would have already been combing the marketplace for the most energy efficient and job-producing opportunities. Decisions about energy and our politically-controlled and slowly-diminishing oil reserves would have already been made in an effort to secure the energy supply for future generations, rather than hoarding and raping the land for short-term gain. Strong words I agree, but what is it going to take? Now more than ever, for the sake of our children and the environment in which they will live, our voices for change need to be heard. It is our responsibility to elect representatives who have track records that show out-of-the-box thinking when it comes to the environment.

We all need to get on board and vote for the strongest green candidate in this election. Wake up America, we are losing (perhaps have already lost) our footing as the Land of the Free and Home of the Brave. We are at a critical tipping point so let’s turn it around and make our land a place of pride and of great opportunity for years to come!

Who would have thought that air-quality issues would ever be an issue at an Olympic venue? But in fact, there looms a huge smog problem front and center during this year's Summer Olympics in Beijing, China. Right up to this week (and counting), the International Olympic Committee (IOC) is wondering if Beijing, the mega city that boasts 17 million people (many of whom, having left their farms, commute into the city for a chance for better pay and a better life), will follow through on its commitment for improved city air quality in time for the games. (Now the IOC has concerns about this?)

The plan was to enforce time restrictions on smog-producing traffic and factory emissions for the two months leading up to the games. But this proposal, which promised uncertain results at best, appears to be an insufficient solution. That a more comprehensive and definitive plan was not in place prior to the IOC granting the 2008 Games to Beijing baffles me. Obviously, it's far too late now, as the final details are falling into place and many athletes have begun their trek to Beijing for pre-Olympic acclimation training. Knowing that these world-class athletes train and compete most of their lives, often with the goal of achieving elite-level status and the opportunity to represent their countries in the prestigious Olympic Games, you would think that choosing the most optimal location would be a priority for the IOC. In the current scenario, there are no guarantees, and it appears that there are no checks and balances, just a promise and a prayer.

This is truly a lost opportunity for Beijing to secure its place on the global map as a visible mega city leader of clean air quality, self-sustainable industry and innovative organic farming. What a shame the cost of not doing so is so high and affects so many.

Let the Games begin!

While on vacation recently, my daughter and I decided we needed some relief from the sun, so we snuck away for an afternoon film about a trash compactor. I was hesitant, though, wondering of all things, what Hollywood would come up with next. However I was completely charmed! Two hours later and despite the fact that the first half of the film is silent, I didn't want it to end. My heart was touched as I was thrown into the world of WALL-E, a futuristic glimpse at a passionate, dutiful, savior-of-the-last-green-thing-on-the-planet trash compactor who was the last one on earth left to clean up the humans' mess. To say the least, I was riveted!

An Eery Similarity

Hats off to Pixar! Kids and adults alike were thrown messages that were easily digested. I pondered and used my imagination without being beaten over the head to "get it." From the looks of it in that theatre, we were all drawn in and taken away to a world that, interestingly enough, was not too far away from where we live today: personal high-tech devices in overdrive; fewer and fewer personal connections giving way to TV watching; epidemic nutritional concerns fueled by fast food at every meal; robot-like powerful and omnipresent characters; an environment (or lack thereof) in peril; computers running the world; and so on. Eerily, the similarities between film and real life continued to match up.

WALL-E grabbed me with his commitment to save the last bit of green life at all costs, even if his motivation was for the love of his life. During a skirmish between good and evil and when given the choice to save himself or the green plant, WALL-E chose to save the planet for the sake of humanity. Such selflessness is endearing in a character that doesn’t even have a real heart. The environment, incredible waste, choices we make in the name of love, lack of mindfulness, and standing up for something meaningful are just a few of the general themes fueling this sweet yet sadly reflective tale.

Time to Reboot

I walked away with a refreshed commitment to the environment. I will remind myself to walk or bike ride instead of driving the car to the store, and to run back into the house for my reusable cloth grocery bags when I forget them. I want to make these small efforts and more before our environmental problems spin further out of control. I hate needing to learn a lesson more than once. Do we need a major catastrophe or apocalypse as in WALL-E to change our current behavior?

For further validation, ask a child about the film and really listen to the response. When we were leaving the theater, my 6-year-old said, "We've really got to do something, Mom!" "You are absolutely right!" I replied emphatically. Since then, I have noticed a piqued awareness on her part. She has dutifully reminded me to turn off my car when idling for under a minute, turn off the water immediately when washing dishes and brushing teeth, and to roll down the car windows instead of turning on the AC. She and her friends are thinking, so why can't we?  What is going to take to wake us up? 

Without question, WALL-E is a must-see for those who need a reboot in order to reset their innate green button!

PLUS: See what iVillagers are saying about the movie!

A Food Fight of Epic Proportions
Before making a purchase at the market, do you ever stop to think about how it was grown or what quality assurances are in place? Well, I certainly have. Can it really be true that big business gets away with making record profits even at the cost of the consumer's health? How could this be?

Ever since my cancer diagnosis last year, I’ve been doing a lot of thinking, listening and reading about all of this. Most recently, after a conversation with concerned mom Robyn O’Brien (AllergyKids.com), who's fighting to make food safer for our children and families, I was left slack-jawed by the information I was hearing. Here’s a mother of four allergy-ridden children who is right smack dab in the middle of a food fight of epic proportions that's only getting messier.

Demanding Disclosure
We really need to take control of this formidable situation. We should be reading more labels, demanding more complete disclosure, refusing to buy products that don't measure up, and discussing the "possible" contamination of our food supply for the gains of big business. Food is becoming less of a nutritional substance and more of a fabrication of what we once thought food was. Instead of fortifying us, it is often tearing us down, rendering our families sick—very sick.  

So why are children developing autism, cancer and autoimmune disorders in record numbers? Scratch beneath the surface, and I bet you’ll be led right back to food and environmental conditions.  

What can help? Eating clean, fresh, nutritious, non-chemically treated food. But not everyone can afford to “go organic” as the cost of food—especially chemical-free food—has skyrocketed. However, eating some organic is better than none, and why not drink RBGH-free milk products, for extra bonus points! One suggestion to keep the costs down is to figure out which foods you eat most frequently and make those your organic choices. Think of this investment as additional health insurance. In the long run, it can prove worth the additional expense when you save on a slew of medical bills!

Big Change
So what then? How can we bring our food back to the way it was a half-century ago? Well, big changes have to occur. Perhaps we need to separate the Food and Drug Administration into two agencies in order to ensure a secure line of checks and balances between the food industry and the drug industry. One should not feed off of the other. Any way you slice it, changes need to be made, and it all begins with a discussion and an acknowledgment of the problem.

To learn more, check out the movie The Future of Food, by Deborah Koons Garcia (2004).

Also on iVillage:

• Get the most bang for your buck when shopping organic
• Find out what iVillagers are doing to cut costs at the grocery store
• Learn how to eat to avoid pesticides
• What buying organic really means—and why it's worth it
• The best clean foods for your family

It's ridiculous! Why has it taken me so long to commit to riding my bike more consistently to the store, the gym, my daughter’s school, and our local pool? I’ve always done it on occasion, but I am embarrassed about how mindless I've been. 

Knowing that small steps can lead to big and lasting change, it’s better late than never. For those of you who are scratching your heads in reaction to the current astronomical gas prices and the poignant realization of our over-reliance on the slick black stuff, it’s time to get the bicycle out from the back of the garage, pump up your tires, and make use of a fantastic alternate mode of local transportation.

It is definitely my time to step up my commitment to traveling locally by bicycle... but did I have to feel the increased need on the hottest days of the year thus far?! And when I get a passionate idea in my head, there’s no stopping me; I just do what I need to do, sweat and all. So my daughter and I have been gallivanting around town on my bike with the child extender and crocodile horn, encouraging each other to go faster and taking turns singing. We enjoy our time peddling together, have made it fun and have learned that if you go fast enough, you can catch a breeze, no matter how humid it may be. Gifts present themselves when you least expect them!

Happy peddling!

With the rising demand for ethanol and other biofuels in wealthy countries, including the U.S. and Great Britain, and the demand for a more protein-rich diet in developing countries like China, the world is struggling to cope with the enormity of the shift in supply and demand that has gradually been taking place over the past five years. Soaring world food prices have ignited protests and killings in Haiti and prompted violent outbursts in bread lines throughout Egypt. Worldwide international aid is scrambling to help poorer nations cope with the skyrocketing food prices that are now the result of low food reserves, higher energy prices and grain crops being converted to biofuel.

The effects of our living without regard to our gross amount of food waste and fuel consumption is finally catching up with us. Until we address accountability of our actions and realize that what we do over “here” affects people over “there,” the food/fuel crisis will continue to spiral out of control, taking us right down with it into poverty and malnutrition. Can that really happen? Let’s not test the water.

The good news is that because it is a situation we’ve created, we are the ones who can turn it around! It’s time we pick up the slack, tighten our belts and hunker down to some honest soul-searching by asking, “What is my part in all of this, and how can I make a difference?”

So here are some of the things I’ve come up with:

• First, whether making choices as a nation or as individuals, let’s remember Sir Isaac Newton’s theory of “every action has an equal and opposite reaction.”


• When it comes to buying food, make sure we buy only what we need in order to reduce spoilage waste.


• Globally, nations that supply the world with grain need to stop driving prices up by hoarding their reserves.


• Let’s support our local farmers with gusto! Farmers who are not government-subsidized need to stay in business in order to help ease the food burden as a whole.


• Globally, grand-scale assistance for small farmers in developing countries needs to be enacted to make sure they have seeds and fertilizer in order to expand production.


• Check in with the businesses and local establishments that you patronize to encourage them to recycle if they are not already doing so. And don’t forget the local schools! I am surprised at how few establishments in my hometown recycle, but I’m working on it. Remember that the adage “the squeaky wheel gets the oil” holds true, so keep at it!


• Last but not least, read all you can to educate yourself about biofuels and the current world hunger crisis. The two are related, and something’s got to give. Make it a priority to educate yourself and act on this important issue.

As a part of your research, you might want to check out WorldBank.org.

So as I continued to sit in stand-still traffic for more than an hour, and after a lovely conversation with the gal in the car behind me about an essential oil that takes away the sting of insect bites, I tuned the radio to NPR, which was doing a segment on gas consumption of all things! I listened intently, learning that not only are Western countries consuming more and more resources, but Third World countries are also consuming more. In India, China and Africa, more and more people are leaving their countryside lifestyles to get jobs in nearby cities, turning in their bikes for fuel-burning cars. The standard of living is increasing globally, and the world is feeling the effects of diminishing resources from the shift of supply and demand.

I do believe things happen for a reason, and for me, being a captive audience really forced me to listen and take notice. The timing could not have been more perfect, and I was listening.

We are fortunate to be living during a time of great opportunity, but we don’t always take full advantage of it. Let’s shift out of the current gotta-have-it-NOW mindset to a what-can-I-do-with-what-I-have thinking, and even carry it over into our businesses. My gym, for example, is thinking out of the box, now offering membership discounts for getting there on foot or by bike. What a great incentive idea! And from there, I’m sure more ideas will flow.

Story of Stuff

I have a new friend who lives on an island in Norway that is government-subsidized to explore and research new and different ways to live more environmentally sound and aware. She and her neighbors take the environment very seriously, and she shared a powerful video with me. I want you to watch it and absorb it. It takes 20 minutes, but I assure you, it will be well worth your time. Share it with your family, friends, email list, corporations, and municipality and government officials. 

And please remember to leave guilt at the door. It does nothing but tear us down. Allow the video to prompt you to take a more proactive approach by doing your part to chisel away day in and day out, no matter how big or small the effort. Just as long as you do something, REGULARLY.  

Check out StoryofStuff.com and let me know what you think!

As I reflected on my last blog about global warming, I decided that because the issue is so vital, I need to reinforce it today. But where to begin? I am led to a problem that has definitely hampered the implementation of the green movement: It’s difficult to make a difference when you don’t understand or feel personally connected to the issue.

Of course we all know the buzz words associated with global warming: gas emissions, toxic waste, recycling and so on. We also know that we need to respond to the growing crisis of the earth’s depleting natural resources that we rely on so heavily to sustain us in our increasingly complicated lives. But both are big concepts, and we sometimes fail to personally connect. There are innumerable articles and blogs (including my own) that address learning how to conserve, improving the environment, and going green. We offer examples and advice for do-it-yourselfers and even recommend businesses that specialize in helping us live a greener life, practically doing it for us! So let’s not allow ourselves to become too far removed from the issues, problems and consequences, and let’s start by really appreciating the very beautiful world that we are trying to save! Day in and day out, as we travel the fast-paced consumer lane of life, we feel immune to natural disasters that hit, twirl and shake the world, always “there” and never “here.”

Change—real change—takes place because we believe so deeply in something that we acknowledge the threat that, unless we act, it will likely go away. Until the pain of not changing pushes us, we won’t change.

So here’s an idea for the Memorial Day weekend that commemorates the many who have made the ultimate sacrifice in order to preserve the freedoms of our beautiful country: Why don't we dust off our old camping gear, campfire grills, hammocks and pocket knives, and reconnect with our beautiful green earth? If you’ve never camped or haven’t in years, now’s the time to start. There's no need to travel far—just get out there and enjoy! Who knows? Experiencing the overwhelming awe of morning dew or a starry night, or even witnessing the last sunburst before a multicolored sunset, could spark a new personal commitment to preservation and conservation.

I assure you that once you expose yourself to camping and the great outdoors, all that is going on in this world will matter more to you. Then going green won’t be only for "those greenies from the '70s," but will include you, me and everyone around us!

So I offer a heartfelt thank-you to all of you who have served (and of course those of you who are currently serving) our country. Let’s do our part in preserving the land that has so courageously been protected for us. Happy Holiday!

With the tremendous loss of life related to the tumultuous weather and natural disasters that have struck around the world over the last two weeks, I feel the need to take a moment to just let it all sink in. In the last couple of weeks the world has experienced:

• An earthquake that registered 7.9 in Eastern Sichuan, China, and has resulted in an estimated death toll of 50,000 (AP News)
• A tidal surge from Cyclone Nargis, with winds that reached as high as 121 mph, hit Myanmar, killing 62,000 to 100,000 people and leaving more than 1 million people homeless
• A tornado that blazed through Missouri and Oklahoma at 170 mph and killed 23 people, adding to the abnormally high annual death rate due to tornadoes (AP News)

Naturally, the world has always experienced natural disasters; we expect hurricanes and tornadoes to hit at this time of year and well into the summer. But the intensity, overwhelming devastation and increased frequency of these events has prompted scientists to ask why.

One reason is clearly evident: global warming.

According to National Geographic News, experts say our mountain glaciers are melting faster than ever; Mount Kilimanjaro’s glaciers are melting so quickly that the mountain lost nearly a quarter of its ice from 2000 to 2006. And according to StopGlobalWarming.org, leading science journals report that atmospheric greenhouse gases have reached levels not seen for millions of years, and that species are vanishing as a result of climate change. They also report of extreme weather events, long-term droughts and rising sea levels.

So let's stop and let this all soak in. Take the time to learn all we can about global warming and its effect on the environment. Commit to do our part by not adding to greenhouse gas emissions. And above all, let's never think it's somebody else’s problem. It’s up to us. The time is now to make a change!

To learn more about global warming and how to lower your carbon emissions, visit StopGlobalWarming.org.

Do you think global warming is a factor in the string of natural
disasters and extreme weather events in recent weeks?

• Yes.
• No.
• Maybe—there's not enough evidence to know for sure.

Why is it that we recycle during the week, but at a party, everything gets tossed into one big garbage bag? Is it that we fear inconveniencing our guests, don't want to seem too earthy, or just don’t think twice in the rush of things? I bet many hosts would welcome recycling help with all the other tasks they need to tend to at party time. So if I see the pile of plastic and/or glass mounding high among the rest of the trash, I often offer to help separate them quickly. I find my small efforts are usually very much appreciated. I don’t want to imply that you should start washing your host’s plastic plates for reuse if he or she says, "Oh, just throw it all in there." Just offer your help initially to plant the seed, and then leave it alone if the response is not favorable.

But yes, it's in these situations that we especially need to separate plastic, paper, aluminum, glass and so on.  This is the time when consumption is higher than normal, and therefore lots of recyclables are mindlessly discarded. The environment will benefit just as much as our children from the consistency of our actions. Better yet, how about forgoing the recycling bin altogether at party time by using the “real stuff” that can be washed and reused? What a fabulous party setting it would be with fabric tablecloths and napkins, and real dishes, flatware and glasswear; it could be stunning!

Okay, I know… talk about inconvenient. But if we don’t make a change now, we will most definitely be inconvenienced in the long run. It’s time to dust off the glasswear and china. And if you still opt for plastic all around, why not throw it in the sink, wash it up and have it available for your next party? So before your next celebration, ask yourself what your party plan will be and follow through. Your guests may appreciate it more than you know!

I had the pleasure of attending and speaking at the NJ Global Green Expo at Liberty State Park last weekend.  Despite the rain on Sunday, the turnout was good for its inaugural year. I met so many resourceful and dedicated people over the course of the three days. I both laughed and was brought to tears by the presentations, but the best part was learning about the environment from top naturalists, doctors and activists, including Dr. Sylvia Earle, Ted Danson, Jeff Corwin and Ed Begley Jr. to name a few. I got the chance to connect with leaders in the New Jersey alternative energy industries and learned that innovation is rapidly evolving and will present many exciting projects that are just around the corner.

However, the research and findings about our current green situation is not good, no matter how you slice it. The following are a few facts that left an impression on me:

• As a result of over-fishing and lack of regulation, one third of our fish have been eliminated from our seas.
• Swordfish continues to be a threatening source of toxic mercury in our diets, but it is not the only fish we need to be wary of.
• According to the EPA, one out of every six women of childbearing age in the United States may have blood mercury concentrations high enough to damage a developing fetus. 
• If, as Americans, we continue at our current rate of daily product and resource consumption, we will need three more worlds of resources to fulfill the demand. 

I left the Global Green Expo with this: I need to buy less, conserve more and leave some for others who need it. I am committed to living a simpler and more sustainable life today. I hope you will join me!

For more information, please do as I have and check out the Oceana Web site (protecting the world’s oceans) at Oceana.org.

Like any movement, you have to expect a few unusual, out-of-the-box ideas to pop up from time to time. Well, here's one from Electrical Contractor Magazine (www.ecmag.com) that I thought was innovative and inspirational enough to share.

It doesn’t surprise me that there is growing interest in capturing kinetic energy to generate alternative power for other needs. Kinetic energy is the energy of motion (from moving muscle for example), and it makes sense in this day and age of "green." So the researchers at Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, British Columbia, have done just that—they can capture energy from the movement of a person's knee! Max Donelan, head researcher on the project, is developing the technology for the common market. One minute of walking will generate 10 minutes of cell phone power or could power GPS locators, motorize prosthetic joints or an implanted drug pump. Their first use, however, is for producing power for artificial limbs. It's being compared similarly to hybrid cars, which can produce electricity from braking.

Personally, I am very happy to hear about this story. For a few years now I have been saying to my spin class instructors and gym owners that all of us in spin class should have our bikes hooked up to a grid that would collect all of our hard work, effort and tremendous energy output in order to run the lights, hot tubs and juice bar throughout the day at the gym. Just imagine how much money could be saved! If gyms were set up with a “Gymenergy” © system, everyone taking part in the capture of kinetic energy could potentially benefit from reduced-cost memberships, day passes or other perks depending on how many minutes were logged on a treadmill or step machine or in a spin classes per week. Not to mention the potential for the gym to actually make money on the energy it creates by selling the electricity back to the electric company.

It definitely could put a new twist on one's workout, that's for sure! Innovative times indeed.