Tag Archives: Products

3 Great posts, 2 Useful Resources, and Water

October 15, 2010 4:15 am \

How many times have you had a glass of water today without giving it a second thought?

Can you imagine for a moment what your life would be like if simply drinking a glass of water was potentially life-threatening?

That’s what life is like for almost a billion people on this planet.

Yes, unbelievably 1 out of 8 people do not have access to safe water.

And every week, nearly 38,000 children under the age of 5 die from unsafe drinking water and unhygienic living conditions.

But, you can change this.

As part of Blog Action Day 2010, I would like to ask you to consider making a donation – whatever you can manage – so children don’t have to die every day from unsafe drinking water.

Just hop on over to The Art of Non Conformity’s charity:water page to bring clean water to Ethiopia.   Or donate directly at the Blog Action Day donation page to water.org which says, “For only $25, you can give clean water to one person for a lifetime.”

Now, that’s what I call the power to make a difference.  Just follow those links to learn a whole lot more about the impacts of unclean water.  Thank you for reading this and thank you for caring.

Outstanding Posts

Here are just a few special posts that have recently stimulated my thinking or touched my heart.  I thought you might like them too.

  • Mindful Consumption and The World We Have at The New Pursuit – Is mindful consumption the magic bullet for turning around the environmental crisis? This beautifully written post discusses the practice of mindful consumption, the core concept in Thich Nhat Hanh’s new book The World We Have: A Buddhist Approach to Peace and Ecology.
  • The BridgeMaker: Alex Blackwell at The Bold Life – Choosing goodness – it’s so simply yet so extraordinary. This interview lifted me up. Alex says: “Life is short and happens quickly. We can either choose to be disappointed with what we have or we can choose to see the goodness in everything around us. I choose to see the goodness. I choose happiness. I choose love. And I hope others will, too.”  The article also has a link to Alex’s new and free e-book How to Love Consciously.
  • The Grid at Invisible Mikey – What can we learn from people who are dying?  Mike explores how “…we are animated by the electricity of our consciousness.” He says, “Many people pretend that living is something different and separate from dying.  To me living and dying walk hand in hand as best friends in permanent companionship.”

Useful Resources

Here are two new resources from people I respect and trust.  I’m not an affiliate for either program, just sharing resources that I’ve personally found helpful.

  • Getting Results the Agile Way by J.D. Meier, Sources of Insight – This personal results system for work and life is now available in print and soon to be available in PDF and Kindle formats.  I followed the 30 Days of Getting Results the Agile Way free online course in August. The results were fantastic, the program easy to follow, the approach inspiring and fun.  I highly recommend it if you are interested in meaningful results, fresh starts, flexibility, action rather than over-planning, and boundaries instead of burnout.  You can still read the book online for free, but many people prefer to have a print format.
  • Successful Blogging in 12 Simple Steps by Annabel Candy, Get in the Hot Spot – Successful Blogging in 12 Simple Steps is the easiest and fastest way to learn about blogging. It’s a self-study course you can follow at your own pace.  This e-book will be available on October 29th, but you can learn about it right now by following the link and reading the comprehensive information page.

I hope you enjoy these links and would love to hear your feedback on these articles and resources.

If you enjoyed this article, please share the link with others.  Thanks so much! Sandra

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Posted in: Eco-Friendly, Writing & Blogging \ Tagged: ,

Is Everett Bogue right?

August 9, 2010 8:16 am \
night-in-the-city-

With more than 50,000 monthly readers, Everett Bogue’s highly popular, blog, Far Beyond the Stars, focuses on minimalism — the art of living with less in order to experience a rich and full life that is not defined nor dominated by possessions.

In the context of minimalism, “less” generally means fewer possessions and fewer extraneous activities.  “Rich” means creating space and time to focus upon that which infuses your life with meaning.  This could be family, life experiences, writing, travel, learning, yoga, gardening, a minimalist business, or something else entirely depending upon your own definition.

In a recent article entitled “How You Can Actually Help With the Gulf Oil Spill (but probably won’t),” Everett boils down the cause of the oil spill to you and me (and him).

That’s right, he says the oil spill is our fault because we drive.

His four-point solution to overcoming oil dependency is simple, but even he feared his readers would find it controversial:

1. Stop driving now
2. Stop buying stuff now
3. Eat local now
4. Share this message

Is Everett right?

Is Everett just trying to scare us or be sensational? Do we need to go this far? How much do we really need to give up?  Do we need to stop driving our own car altogether?  Or even give up our car? What about flying? Do we need to stop buying stuff period?

When do we need to start?  Can we afford a 5 or 10 year gradual personal transition plan?  Is blogging, speaking, and dreaming green really hitting the target or just creating a different mode of consumerism?

I think it’s critical to ask tough questions like these, to dialogue about them with others, and to take the time to boldly assess and change our own lifestyle.

Without the oil spill shake up, it might be easy to miss the far-reaching implications of our current level of oil use and just go on living the status quo. Being green is in vogue, but it doesn’t necessarily equate with reducing consumerism. Is there a danger of making a few eco-friendly changes, feeling self-satisfied, but still continuing in the same old oil consuming groove?

The green experts agree

The green experts align with Everett’s view.  In an article at Treehugger,  Matthew McDermott says that it’s not a question of whether we want to use less oil, but rather that “we will be using less oil in the future, whether by choice, by supply shortages, or a combination of these.”  It appears that the idea of free choice may be a momentary illusion.

Since 71%  of oil goes to transportation—transporting ourselves and the goods and foods we purchase, there’s no question that a radical reduction in driving and travel are required in a new green world.  Matthew goes on to say that  “…when it comes down to it, creating more communities where the average person’s daily needs are met on foot, on non-motorized vehicle and via public transportation, is the most critical piece of using less oil.”

This is the crucial message that is taking root in me:  the biggest gains will come from a significant reduction in transportation – my own driving and flying and the transportation of goods that I buy. And yours too.  We can make a difference, but only if we take significant steps.

Everett’s solution is for everyone to move to a city where they can walk or take public transportation. While the idea is good in principle, it may not be realistic for everyone to suddenly move to a city. There’s not enough space for one thing. However, we can apply the same logic underneath the idea wherever we live by driving less—a lot less—and shopping locally.  We can also begin redesigning our communities to function with more regional practicality.

For example, I live in a pristine environment and have no intention of moving into a city filled with environmental pollutants.  Instead, I work at home, keep my driving to a minimum and, as much as possible, access resources within a five mild radius of my home.  I’m fortunate to have a chiropractor, physical therapist, plumber, car mechanic, farmer’s market, yoga and meditation courses, small gift shop,  garage sales, and a community center in close proximity.  These are conscious choices.

Sustainability dovetails with mindfulness—as learned via meditation—because it always comes down to being awake and aware with each and every choice I make, day in and day out.  This is not the era to live on automatic or follow our well worn comfortable patterns of existence.

Other views of sustainable living

As you can probably tell, I’m fascinated by the question of sustainable living—what it looks like and how to get there.  In another excellent article, Lynn Fang discusses the definition of sustainability from an ecological perspective and gives tips for how to live in a more sustainable way.

Raam Dev paints a beautiful, but different picture of sustainability as he explores the highest reaches of Nepal—a region and a people not yet fully spoiled by unsustainable, needless consumption.

“The fertile mountains were covered in fields of rice, corn, pumpkins, and potatoes. Tiny homes dotted the landscape. Rivers, fed by the monsoon rains, gushed down the hills creating an abundance of waterfalls and streams. This was the real Nepal. A country where the people had learned to embrace the land and respect it, where they had accepted hardship as a way of life and where the Earth had given them health and abundance in return; a place where sustainability was a way of life.”

Questions for reflection and discussion:

Do you agree with Everett? Is the answer so simple?  Are you up for it?   How far do you think we need to go?

You might also like:

If you liked this article, please share the link with others.  Thanks very much! Sandra

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Posted in: Eco-Friendly, Personal Development \ Tagged: , , , , ,

The Safe Cosmetics Act of 2010

August 2, 2010 3:43 pm \
The Story of Cosmetics

The Story of Cosmetics

The U. S. cosmetics industry is all riled up.  I wonder why they don’t like the Safe Cosmetics Act of 2010?  And, they really don’t like Annie Leonard’s terrific video The Story of Cosmetics.

In fact, the Personal Care Products Council has even issued a statement calling the video a “repugnant and absurd…shockumentary.”

Obviously, the video is not to be missed!

Just click on the link above to hear all about the lead in your lipstick, petrochemicals in your shampoo, and the phthalates in perfume and fragrance.

Yes, hundreds of chemicals in the cosmetics and personal care products you and I use every single day.  Neurotoxins, carcinogens, hormone disrupters, and more as explained by the Environmental Working Group:

“According to EWG’s research, 22 percent of all personal care products, including children’s products, may contain a cancer-causing ingredient, 1,4-Dioxane, and 60 percent of sunscreens contain oxybenzone, a potential hormone disruptor. Other studies have raised alarms about lead in lipstick, secret chemicals in fragrance and preservatives in personal care products.”

Now this is not news to me because I know a number of people who have varioius physical reactions when exposed to the chemicals in cosmetics, fragrance, and cleaning products ranging from mild to severe.  Some  have even developed serious multiple chemical sensitivity or environmental illness.

The numbers are adding up and the medical establishment can no longer blow off chemical sensitivity as psychogenic.  In fact, there’s now scientific research tracing the causes of chemical sensitivity to toxic chemicals.  Furthermore, women are up in arms about the dramatic rise in chronic disease among children and the explosion of allergies and asthma in the young.

The Safe Cosmetics Act of 2010 (HR 5786) in a nutshell

According to the Story of Stuff blog,

“The Safe Cosmetics Act of 2010 also would require all ingredients in a cosmetic product to be listed on the product’s label and would give the Secretary of Health and Human Services two years to develop a list of prohibited or restricted ingredients.”

The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics says:

“The Safe Cosmetics Act of 2010, introduced by U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky with Rep. Edward Markey and Rep. Tammy Baldwin, is a huge moment for consumers, parents and environmental health advocates: for the first time in 70 years, we have a real chance to pass national legislation that would eliminate harmful chemicals from the products women, men and children put on their bodies every day.”

Everyone’s talking about the Story of Cosmetics

Everyone’s talking about Annie Leonard’s video, the Safe Cosmetics Act of 2010, and their own problems with the unnatural ingredients in cosmetics.

Lead in lipstick!

Beth Terry at Fake Plastic Fish recounts the effects of sitting next to the wrong person on an airplane.

“Flying home from Maryland on Saturday, I sat next to a really cute guy. Unfortunately, the plane was completely full, so I couldn’t switch seats to get away from him. Well, not him. He was cute. But his Axe cologne, or whatever heinous product he was wearing, made my eyes water, nose itch, throat close up, and left me with a throbbing headache.

I reached for a handkerchief to cover my nose, but sadly my very helpful dad had tossed in a Bounce dryer sheet when he did my laundry, and my hanky just made me sneeze even more.”

This could suddenly happen to you one day, too.  As Beth goes on to explain, you become more and more sensitized with repeated exposure to environmental chemicals like those found in your everyday personal care and cleaning products.  One day, you just wake up and start sneezing when you pick up a pile of laundry washed in standard detergent and fabric softener.  The symptoms can then multiply like wildfire. While some people develop acute and chronic reactions to the toxic chemicals themselves, others may never know that these same noxious toxins contributed to the onset of cancer, autoimmune disease, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, or another disorder.

Petrol Essences

At Upcycled Love, Lynn Fang, scientist by day and blogger by night, describes her personal investigation into toxins in her personal care items starting with the sodium lauryl sulfate (a major skin irritant) and parabens (which have estrogen-like effects) in her shampoo and conditioner. Lynn offers two important tips for becoming a smarter shopping in the cosmetics and personal care department.  She also lists non-toxic alternatives in her article.

What can you do?

The Safe Cosmetics Act of 2010 presents an unprecedented opportunity to speak out for safe ingredients in your cosmetics and personal care products.  For your own safety and the safety of your children, please consider taking the following steps.

1. Educate yourself and your family.

  • Learn about the effects of toxins in our everyday products on children at Healthy Child, Healthy World.
  • Watch The Story of Cosmetics video by Annie Leonard (link above) and follow The Story of Stuff blog.
  • Watch The Story Behind Cosmetics by the Environmental Working Group (different video, same topic) and read the Environmental Working Group’s blog to stay abreast of the most potent news about environmental toxins and public health.
  • Visit Fake Plastic Fish and Upcycled Love (links above) to read about what ordinary women like you and me are finding out about their cosmetics and what they’re doing about it.

2. Vote with your dollars. Use the EWG’s Skin Deep Cosmetics Safety Data Base to evaluate the safety of a cosmetic or personal care product product before you purchase it. Refuse popular products like Herbal Essences and Pantene Pro that contain potentially dangerous chemicals.

3. Support the Cosmetics Safety Act of 2010. Let Congress know that you support the Cosmetics Safety Act of 2010. Visit the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics website to sign a letter to your Member of Congress. Make sure your voice is heard.

4.  Share the links. Share the links to the two videos—the Story of Cosmetics and the Story Behind Cosmetics—via your social networks like Facebook and Twitter.  Thanks to people like you and me, more than 50,000 people viewed the Story of Cosmetics on July 21 alone. Let’s keep the ball rolling.

5. Blog about it. If you have a blog, blog about the potential dangers contained in our personal care products, the Safe Cosmetics Act of 2010, and share the links in this article.

6. Throw a Story of Cosmetics and the Story Behind Cosmetics Viewing Party and dialogue with your friends.

I’m very excited about this monumental step forward to raise public awareness about the dangers of environmental chemicals in our everyday products. Thank you to U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky, who introduced the Safe Cosmetics Act of 2010. Thank you to all the audacious women who are getting the cosmetic industry all riled up.

As Annie Leonard says, “Toxins In, Toxins Out.” Together, we can help take toxic chemicals off the shelf.

What do you think about toxic chemicals in cosmetics?

If you liked this article, please share the link.  Thank you!  Sandra

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Posted in: Eco-Friendly, Health & Wellness \ Tagged: , , , , , , ,