HAWMC Day 23, Health Activist Choice Day 2

Todays' challenge topic is, Health Activist Choice Day 2; Write about whatever you like.

Since yesterday was Earth Day I will keep with the "green" theme and look back at the accomplishments Earth Day has brought us throughout the years. An estimated one in 10 Americans took part in the first Earth Day, observed across the country on April 22, 1970. Earth Day was the brainchild of Wisconsin Sen. Gaylord Nelson. The first national Earth Day unified a growing public concern about environmental crises. In December 1970, President Richard Nixon created the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency by Executive Order as a federal response to growing environmental concerns. Since then Earth Day has brought about many changes.

Clean Water: Two short years after the formation of the EPA, Congress passed the Clean Water Act, a modification of the 1948 Federal Water Pollution Control Act, to regulate quality standards for surface waters and stop the discharges of pollutants into rivers, lakes and other waterways. 

Clean Air: A few weeks after the EPA was formed, Congress passed the Clean Air Act. Under the new law, the EPA was authorized to set limits on air pollutants like ozone and carbon monoxide, as well as to regulate emissions from factories, power plants and vehicles. State and regional agencies assumed responsibility for carrying out the Clean Air Act at the local level. With its new responsibilities, the EPA set numerous air quality regulations in motion, including controlling auto emissions and banning the use of DDT.

Waste Management: In 1976, the Federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act became law. Among other things, the law mandated that landfills be closely monitored and enacted America's hazardous waste management program. Since 1970, the U.S. recycling rate has grown from a mere 6.6 percent to 34.1 percent in 2010, according to the most recent EPA data available. Due to increased regulations and recycling, the number of landfills in America has also decreased dramatically, from nearly 8,000 in 1988 to 1,767 in 2002.

Increased Awareness: Since 1970, Earth Day has grown into a global celebration. An estimated 1 billion people in 180 countries participated in Earth Day in 2010. About 77 percent of Americans now say they worry about protecting the environment; this is up from 1970 when the percentage of citizens who cited cleaning up air and water as one of their top three political priorities was at 53 percent.

We have come a long way and accomplished many wonderful things since the first Earth Day in 1970, but we still have much to do. Now more than ever it is important for us to be conscious of our global footprint. Global Footprint Network estimates that approximately every nine months, we have demanded a level of services from nature equivalent to what the planet can provide for all of 2012, this date is Earth Overshoot Day. What exactly does this mean? We make up this deficit by depleting stocks of fish, trees and other resources, and by accumulating waste such as carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and oceans. We are now using the Earth’s resources at a rate that would take between 1.3 and 1.5 planets to sustainably support our current practices. The research shows us on track to require the resources of two Earths well before mid-century.

Even though Earth Day is over, it doesn't mean we should wait until next year's Earth Day before we do something to change. In the words of Albert Einstein, "those with the privilege to know, have a duty to act."

What did you do for Earth Day this year?  What practices have you made a part of your daily life?

posted by Allergy Free and Cheap Like Me! at 11:04 AM 0 comments

Healthy Crumbs Week: Mindful Monday: What's in Your Water?

Healthy Crumb: Mindful Monday

What’s in Your Water?

Did you know, according to the Environmental Working Group (EWG), testing  done by water utilities found there to be 315 pollutants in the tap water Americans drink daily. If that is not bad enough more than half of the chemicals detected are not subject to health or safety regulations and can be legally present in any amount in our tap water. The government has not set a single new drinking water standard since 2001. Because it has not, the EWG launched a 3-year project to create the largest drinking water quality database in existence. It contains 48,000 communities in 45 states and the District of Columbia. 

I was curious how my water stacked up. I live in a dry cabin, in Fairbanks, Alaska, meaning I don’t have running water. I was disappointed to find the company we haul our water from was not listed as being tested by the EWG. However, I was still curious to see how the town of Fairbanks local water utility stacked up as well as the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Here are my findings. 

First up, Golden Heart Utilities: Fairbanks, Alaska: 13 different contaminates were detected. 8 chemicals exceeded health guidelines while no chemicals where over the legal limit. The chemicals found included, Barium (Industrial Pollutants), Chromium (Industrial Pollutant), Bromochloromethane (Industrial Pollutant), Dibromoacetic Acid, Bromochloroacetic Acid, Arsenic (which is an agricultural, industrial, sprawl and urban pollutant by pesticides, fertilizer, factory farms, road runoff, lawn pesticides, and human waste.) Dicholoracetic Acid, Trichloroacetic Acid, Total haloacetic acids (HAAs), Chloroform, Bromodichloromethane, Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), (the last six are all from water treatment and distribution byproducts, i.e.: pipes and fixtures, treatment chemicals and byproducts) and Benzene (Industrial Pollutant, sprawl and urban pollutant). The EPA has not established a maximum legal limit in tap-water for both Bromochloromethane, and Bromochloroacetic acid. They also had one EPA violation in monitoring.

Next up, the University of Alaska, Fairbanks, Alaska: 16 different contaminants were found, 10 chemicals were over the health guidelines and 3 chemicals where over the health standard LEGAL limits. The chemicals found where, Trihalomethanes, chloroform, arsenic (these first three being the ones over the legal limit), bromodichloromethane, haloacetic acids (HAAs), dubrinicgkirinetgabem dichloroacetic acid, benzene, trichloroacetic acid, bromoform, monochloroacetic acid, nitrate, monbromoacetic acid, dichlorobenzene, dibromoacetic acid and xylenes. They also had 9 EPA violations, 5 in MCL and treatment, 2 in reporting and 2 in monitoring. 

Was I happy with what I found? No, not really. At first I thought well, these two sources don’t really affect me since we get our water from another source. But the more I thought about it the more I started to consider different scenarios. For example, I don’t usually drink water from the tap while I am out and about in the town of Fairbanks at drinking fountains etc. but, I do order water an awful lot when I go to restaurants and if they are using tap water, well, I guess now I know what I’m drinking! Also, I use the gym at the University of Alaska Fairbanks to both work-out at and shower (since I live in a dry cabin), so I both drink and bathe with the water provided from them. I wonder how much I am ingesting by showering, it's been found that 60% of what we put on our skin gets absorbed into our bloodstream, that must count for water too, right?  No, now that I think about it, I am not happy at ALL!

So what can we do? There are a few things we can all do to help minimize our exposure to these chemicals through our water. One easy way is to use a water filter in our homes. There are many kinds, from ones that fasten right to the sink facet, to a filtered pitcher you keep in your fridge, to a newer refrigerator with a filtered water dispenser built right in. Choose a filter that is certified to remove contaminants found in your water. To find the best filters go to  www.ewg.org/tap-water/getwaterfilter. There are many different kinds of filters but the most common type of filter is a carbon filter (pitcher or sink mounted). Carbon filters are affordable and reduce many common water contaminants, like lead and byproducts of the disinfection process used to treat municipal tap water. You can also choose a whole house filter, which filters water as it enters the house for a wide range of uses including, tooth-brushing, showering, and other uses missed by just a standard kitchen filter. Whichever filter you choose make sure you change your filter on time. Old filters aren’t safe, they can harbor bacteria and let contaminants through. 

When you are on the go, carry stainless steel or other BPA-free bottles. Don’t reuse bottled water bottles. The plastic can harbor bacteria and break down to release plastics chemicals. Hard plastic bottles (#7 plastic) can leach a harmful plastics chemical called bisphenol A (BPA) into water.

A note on bottled water, you can read the bottle label, but you still won’t know if the water is pure and natural, or just processed, polluted, packaged tap water. EWG found 38 contaminants in 10 popular brands. Many popular brands are nothing more than bottled tap water, tainted with the same pollutants.  The huge growth of the bottled water market has increased the nation’s solid waste stream with vast amounts of plastic, causing phenomenon's like the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, if you haven't heard of it, please read about it in my previous blog post here, everyone needs to be aware of what is happening in our oceans!

So now are you curious to find out what’s in your water?

Go to www.ewg.org/tap-water/whats-in-yourwater to find out how your local water stacks up.

posted by Allergy Free and Cheap Like Me! at 6:00 AM 3 comments

Celebrate Arbor Day 2011

Arbor Day 2011 is held on April 29th this year. Arbor Day is a nationally celebrated observance that encourages tree planting and care.  Arbor Day began in 1872, prompted by the lack of trees in Nebraska. A pioneer named J. Sterling Morton proposed a tree-planting holiday named Arbor Day. It is estimated that one million trees were planted in Nebraska on the first Arbor Day. Due to J. Sterling Morton’s initial efforts, this day is now celebrated nationwide and in many other countries as well.

Why are trees such an important part of our lives that they deserve a national celebrated day of their own? For many reasons!  Trees improve our environment by increasing air and water quality, conserving energy, helping to control storm water and sequestering carbon. Trees increase property values, create wildlife habitat, and add beauty to any landscape. Arbor Day is a day to celebrate the importance of trees in our lives!

How can you celebrate Arbor Day? How about something that’s simple, inexpensive and good for all? By becoming a member of the Arbor Day Foundation and pledging as little as $10 you will be gifted with 10 trees that grow well in your vicinity http://www.arborday.org/shopping/memberships/memberships.cfm. Or, if you wish, you can also choose to have the trees sent to someone else. Another great option is to have the Arbor Day Foundation plant 10 trees in your honor in a forest in need. Our nation’s forests provide wood, habitat, clean air, and drinking water for millions of us. Your honorary trees will help preserve these precious resources for this and future generations.

You can also send FREE e-cards to your friends and family for Arbor Day. Check out all the different card options at http://www.arborday.org/cards/index.cfm.

Or if you don't have a green thumb, get your family out and enjoy the outdoors to celebrate Arbor Day! Go for a hike, bike ride, or even a picnic outdoors! Fresh air and exercise do a body good!

Happy Arbor Day!

posted by Allergy Free and Cheap Like Me! at 4:35 PM 0 comments

Easy Natural Easter Egg Dyeing

As Easter Sunday is fast approaching it's time agin to dye Easter eggs! This year why not skip the pre-packaged dyes and make your own natural dyes! The prep time for making your own egg dye takes a little extra time but the results are so beautiful and a lot more natural not to mention much safer for you and your family to eat! And the best part is you probably already have most of the supplies in your pantry!

Follow these directions to prepare your dye in four beautiful natural colors!

PINK

1 15-ounce jar beets

1 cup water

1 teaspoon vinegar

Bring beets and water to boil, let simmer for 5 minutes. Pour through a colander into a bowl to retain the liquid. Cook, then stir in vinegar. 

YELLOW

1 tablespoon turmeric or curry powder

2 cups water

Bring spice and water to a boil, let simmer for 5 minutes. Cool.

GREEN

1 cup water

3 chlorophyll capsules (available at vitamin or health food stores)

Bring water to a boil, the remove from heat. Open up the capsules and stir the contents into the water. Cool 

BLUE

2 cups frozen blueberries

2 cups water

1 teaspoon vinegar

Bring blueberries and water to a boil, let simmer for 5 minutes. Pour through a colander into a to retain the liquid. Cool, then stir in vinegar. 

It will take about 5 to 15 minutes depending on how deep you want the colors for the dye to set. Remember you can wrap eggs with rubber bands or decorate them with stickers and peel them off after dyeing to leave beautiful white designs behind. 

posted by Allergy Free and Cheap Like Me! at 5:43 PM 1 comments

Earth Day 2011

Earth Day is this Friday April 22nd! What are you doing to celebrate?

The first Earth Day was celebrated on April 22, 1970 and has been celebrated every year since. Earth day was founded by Senator Gaylord Nelson, after years of being frustrated that the environment was a "non-issue" in politics. 20 million people took to the streets that first day, vastly exceeding even the most optimistic expectations. Republicans, Democrats, school children, college students, labor unions, housewives, doctors, religious leaders, bankers, retirees, farmers and everyone in between participated in thousands of local marches, rallies, parades, protests and other events. The first Earth Day was deemed a blazing success. The event was front-page news almost everywhere, and coverage was overwhelmingly positive. The event cemented in people's minds the importance of environmental issues as a community concern and an international political priority. Earth Day has since expanded to reach almost every country on earth, attracting around a billion participants per year!

So what can you do to participate in Earth Day 2011? Earth Day events are being held throughout the world and range from large scale actions such as the San Francisco Earth Day Festival to small scale events organized by community members -information on local events can be found at: http://act.earthday.org/events/. In addition to the Earth Day events being held around the globe, people who are eager to participate can pledge "an act of green" as part of Earth Day's "A Billion Acts of Green" campaign. Pledges range from donating money to simply picking up trash or using re-usable shopping bags - for more information on the campaign visit http://act.earthday.org/ .

To help get you in the Earth Day spirit here are a few freebies for you to enjoy this year on Earth Day. 

• Origins is offering a FREE Full Size Cleanser on Earth Day when you fill out this form and take in your current cleanser container empty or full to trade for the Origins full size Checks and Balances or A Perfect World (Value $18!!)
• Don’t Forget the Starbucks FREE Coffee or Tea offer!! Bring in a travel cup at Starbucks and receive a free coffee or tea.
• Disney Store is offering a free Reusable shopping bag! When you bring in 5 plastic grocery bags to recycle with them. Limit (1) bag per guest while supplies last. In store only.
• Saturday April 23rd Lowe's is giving away a million trees, visit your local Lowe's to get one!
• National Parks Week! April 16-24, 2011. Get out and discover something new about your 394 national parks. This year’s focus, Healthy Parks, Healthy People, highlights the connection between human and environmental health and the vital role America’s national parks play in both. Whether your prefer a 20-mile backcountry hike in Yosemite or a leisurely stroll around Philadelphia’s Independence Hall, moving outside is good for you and offers a chance to explore. During National Parks Week entrance to all parks is FREE!  So get out there and get to know your National Parks!

Happy Earth Day!

posted by Allergy Free and Cheap Like Me! at 5:15 PM 0 comments

Cashless Man

"Cashless Man" – Lives without Money for a Year!

Here is a great blog post I ran across the other day. It is about a man named Mark Boyle who lives without money. He decided to give up money for a year. I like the way this guy thinks. His message of connecting with what we consume is key to changing our ways in every aspect of our lives. It’s refreshing and inspiring to read about what he has given up and how it has affected his life. Please take a quick minute to read about him and his experiences.

This is a link to his original blog post.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/green-living-blog/2009/oct/28/live-without-money

Also here is a link to his blog post responding to a few comments he received from his first post. Very interesting!

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/green-living-blog/2009/nov/02/cashless-man-responds

I will end with my favorite quote from his response blog post. "Paul McCartney once said: "If slaughterhouses had glass walls, we'd all be vegetarians". Well, if people could see the state of war-torn Iraq, we'd all be cyclists." -Mark Boyle.

What do you think about what he is doing?  Do you agree? Disagree? Please comment below!

Mark Boyle is the founder of the Freeconomy Community. http://www.justfortheloveofit.org/

posted by Allergy Free and Cheap Like Me! at 5:30 PM 0 comments

Earth Overshoot Day

Earth Overshoot Day: On Saturday, We Exceed Nature's Budget

Have you heard?  Humanity is going into debt this Saturday, August 21, 2010. Every thing we collectively do past this date depletes environmental capital, putting us into ecological debt. In other words humanity is using resources beyond the capacity of the planet to sustainable regenerate them.  Humanity now uses 150% of the resources the Earth can generate annually.

Global Footprint Network explains it like so:

The fact that we are using (or "spending" natural capital) faster than it can replenish is similar to having expenditures that continually exceed income. In planetary terms, the results of our ecological overspending are becoming more clear by the day. Climate change - a result of carbon being emitted faster than it can be reabsorbed by the forests and seas - is the most obvious and arguably pressing result. But there are others as well: shrinking forests, species loss, fisheries collapse and freshwater stress to name a few. "If you spent your entire annual income in nine months, you would probably be extremely concerned," said Global Footprint Network President Mathis Wackernagel. "The situation is no less dire when it comes to our ecological budget. Climate change, biodiversity loss, deforestation, water and food shortages--these are all clear signs that we can no longer finance our consumption on credit. Nature is foreclosing."

What do you think should we be concerned?

Website: www.footprintnetwork.org/earthovershootday

posted by Allergy Free and Cheap Like Me! at 1:32 PM 0 comments

The Life of a Plastic Bag

Here is something that might bring a smile to your face about something serious and very near and dear to my heart, the plastic bag and ultimately the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Heal the Bay released this “mockumentary” narrated by Academy Award winning actor Jeremy Irons which follows the travels of “one of the most clever and illustrious creatures: the plastic bag. 

All kidding aside, the Environmental Protection Agency estimated 3,960,000 tons of plastic bags, sack and wraps were produced in 2008. Of those, 3,570,000 tons (90%) were discarded. It is estimated that an average individual uses around 130 plastic bags per year. And, if you haven’t heard about the Great Pacific Garbage Patch read my blog post about it here.

posted by Allergy Free and Cheap Like Me! at 1:07 PM 0 comments

The Great Pacific Garbage Patch

A swirling sea of plastic bags, bottles and other debris is growing in the North Pacific, and now another one has been found in the Atlantic.  How does it get there?

Not all garbage ends up at the dump. A river, sewer or beach can't catch everything the rain washes away, either. In fact, Earth's largest landfill isn't on land at all.

The Great Pacific Garbage Patch stretches for hundreds of miles across the North Pacific Ocean, forming a nebulous, floating junk yard at sea. It's the poster child for a worldwide problem: plastic that begins in human hands yet ends up in the ocean, often inside animals' stomachs or around their necks. This marine debris has sloshed into the public spotlight recently, thanks to growing media coverage as well as scientists and explorers who are increasingly visiting the North Pacific to see plastic pollution in action.

The garbage patch is said to be twice the size of Texas, other reports say it’s the size of France.  Whatever the size, what we do know for sure is it is mostly made up of plastic. Unlike most other trash, plastic isn't biodegradable — i.e., the microbes that break down other substances don't recognize plastic as food, leaving it to float there forever. Sunlight does eventually "photodegrade" the bonds in plastic polymers, reducing it to smaller and smaller pieces, but that just makes matters worse. The plastic still never goes away; it just becomes microscopic and may be eaten by tiny marine organisms, entering the food chain.

What’s one thing YOU can do to prevent this giant garbage patch from getting any bigger? Use reusable grocery bags instead of plastic ones! All stores have them now or you can even get your own designer style ones. You only need a few and you can use them over and over again! It’s something that is so easy but really makes a HUGE difference. Another thing, take one day and note every time you use something made out of plastic, whether it is your shampoo bottle in the morning or the plastic container your food came in at lunch…note everything throughout your day. The amount of plastic you use in a day might just surprise you and the first step to reducing that amount is really being aware of just how much you use! 

posted by Allergy Free and Cheap Like Me! at 4:12 PM 0 comments

How Much Water Do You Use?

I just ran across this short, great video that paints the picture well: our daily water use, what you can do, and how it really adds up!

posted by Allergy Free and Cheap Like Me! at 3:49 PM 0 comments