Today is the global event Earth Hour. 8:30 pm in whatever time zone you are in, people are encouraged to turn out their lights for one hour. National landmarks around the world have their spotlights turned off and all goes dark for one quiet hour.
This event began just a few years ago by a handful of people who wanted to do something to make a difference.
Here is the official website, and below are links to photos and more articles.
http://www.myearthhour.org/
Yahoo article on today's Earth Hour
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/climatewarmingearthhour;_ylt=AsR.jDj5MpVzvZgfFiKiyGaaK8MA
Yahoo photos of Earth Hour
http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/Earth-Hour/ss/events/sc/032710earthhour
Vegas does Earth Hour
http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2009/mar/28/live-blog-las-vegas-gets-ready-go-unplugged-earth-/
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Monday, March 22, 2010
CD Cases
I've been cleaning a bit because I am moving in a few weeks. As I'm going through years of... well... junk, I have been filling my paper recycling bin numerous times, and dropping off car loads of clothes to thrift stores.
I came across a few boxes and crates of cd jewel cases from my music obsession. I found on one website that they are un-recyclable [please correct me if I'm wrong] because of the plastic they are made of.
The internet is full of good ideas on how to recycle these cd cases, but my favorite is to give the empty cases to local bands so they can sell their music without spending money on new cd cases.
Other ideas I've seen.
Post on Freecycle and give to others that may need them.
Make a calendar - give your friends some too!
Add a magnet to the back and turn them into a fridge photo magnet.
Please add your own!
I came across a few boxes and crates of cd jewel cases from my music obsession. I found on one website that they are un-recyclable [please correct me if I'm wrong] because of the plastic they are made of.
The internet is full of good ideas on how to recycle these cd cases, but my favorite is to give the empty cases to local bands so they can sell their music without spending money on new cd cases.
Other ideas I've seen.
Post on Freecycle and give to others that may need them.
Make a calendar - give your friends some too!
Add a magnet to the back and turn them into a fridge photo magnet.
Please add your own!
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Lazy Snow Day
You just walked from your car to the store, wandered the store for almost an hour pushing your cart around, and then pushed the cart to your car. But those last few steps to push the cart back to the cart corral are just too much.
Monday, March 1, 2010
Oh Canada!
For those of you who watched the Winter Olympics may have noticed that the medals were a bit unique looking.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
#5
A number of cities and towns do not recycle #5 labeled plastics. This company has made it easier to recycle #5's, by setting up "Gimme 5" stations at select Whole Food stores. You can also mail them your plastics - toothbrush handles and yogurt lids - for free!
The company then turns your #5's into toothbrushes and other products!
The company then turns your #5's into toothbrushes and other products!
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Flush away!
I thought I would pass along some very pertinent information I received in a monthly newsletter from a holistic nurse.
The holidays are officially over. For me it means putting away decorations and donating unused items to the local thrift store. As I go through my home I also make sure to check the medicine cabinet. Any medicine that has expired of any unused prescriptions will go.
The problem is we have been told in the past to flush medicine down the toilet. A study found 24 major metropolitan areas to have contaminated drinking water. This is affecting 41 million Americans.
So what types of drugs are we exposed to? The most common are antibiotics, anti-seizure medicine, mood stabilizers and sex hormones or birth control pills. Flushing is the only part of the problem. The ingested medicines are excreted through urine and feces. Sewage treatment facilities can not remove pharmaceutical waste. They are simply passed on to us and the rest of the environment$.
What can we do? Obviously we can't tell people to stop taking their medicine. Bottled water isn't necessarily the answer since 25% comes from the tap.
The EPA has advised everyone to stop flushing unused prescriptions and non-prescription medications.
Home filtering systems will decrease some of the medicine in your tap, but it has to be reverse osmosis or an activated charcoal system.
So what do we do with expired or unused medicine? Mix the medicine with coffee grounds or kitty litter and place in a seal-able bag or can. Check with your local pharmacy to see if they have a take-back program. Be informed, contact your local water authority and find out what they are doing about this situation.
Hopefully if we all stop flushing and pouring our medicine down the drain we can decrease the amount we are exposed to. Do your part.
Newsletter posted with permission. Visit this link to view her site.
The holidays are officially over. For me it means putting away decorations and donating unused items to the local thrift store. As I go through my home I also make sure to check the medicine cabinet. Any medicine that has expired of any unused prescriptions will go.
The problem is we have been told in the past to flush medicine down the toilet. A study found 24 major metropolitan areas to have contaminated drinking water. This is affecting 41 million Americans.
So what types of drugs are we exposed to? The most common are antibiotics, anti-seizure medicine, mood stabilizers and sex hormones or birth control pills. Flushing is the only part of the problem. The ingested medicines are excreted through urine and feces. Sewage treatment facilities can not remove pharmaceutical waste. They are simply passed on to us and the rest of the environment$.
What can we do? Obviously we can't tell people to stop taking their medicine. Bottled water isn't necessarily the answer since 25% comes from the tap.
The EPA has advised everyone to stop flushing unused prescriptions and non-prescription medications.
Home filtering systems will decrease some of the medicine in your tap, but it has to be reverse osmosis or an activated charcoal system.
So what do we do with expired or unused medicine? Mix the medicine with coffee grounds or kitty litter and place in a seal-able bag or can. Check with your local pharmacy to see if they have a take-back program. Be informed, contact your local water authority and find out what they are doing about this situation.
Hopefully if we all stop flushing and pouring our medicine down the drain we can decrease the amount we are exposed to. Do your part.
Newsletter posted with permission. Visit this link to view her site.
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Holiday Ideas: Christmas Dinner
Whoever cooks up your holiday meal probably gets sick of being in the kitchen by the time dinner is served. When it comes time to cleaning, some people opt for paper plates so they can throw them away and get back to spending time with the family.
This year, try to get the entire family involved. Yes, this will create a stir of complaints from anyone 20 and below [heck, maybe from everyone!], but set a kitchen timer for 7 minutes and have a tag-team type system. Seven minutes isn't full torture, but it is enough time for each team to get a few things done!
This year, try to get the entire family involved. Yes, this will create a stir of complaints from anyone 20 and below [heck, maybe from everyone!], but set a kitchen timer for 7 minutes and have a tag-team type system. Seven minutes isn't full torture, but it is enough time for each team to get a few things done!
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Pesticides in your food-TAKE ACTION by Dec 31.
By December 31st, Pesticide Action Network of North America is asking you to go to their website and speak out about Monsanto to the Department of Justice. If you Google Monsanto you'll notice there are more negative sites than positive... the word 'unethical' appearing several times.
Some of the sites get a little technical with their bio-chemistry lingo, but browse the sites before you send your email.
Thank you for this link, readers !
Some of the sites get a little technical with their bio-chemistry lingo, but browse the sites before you send your email.
Thank you for this link, readers !
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Monday, December 14, 2009
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