Recycling - It All Comes Back To You

I don't think it's any secret that I have a passion for environmental stewardship. No act is too small to improve one's carbon footprint on the planet. Therefore, I am pleased to announce a local Recycling Awareness Event that will be held in my Treasure Valley, Idaho community on November 21, 2009.

Motivated by the AmericaRecyclesDay.org coalition, this grassroots Recycling Awareness event will be held at Silverhawk Realty in Fruitland, Idaho from 10 am to 2 pm. The event will focus on recycling resources in the Payette County area. There will be information available about the environmental and fiscal impacts on our community and planet, resulting from more aggressive recycling by everyone.

Silverhawk Realty has graciously offered to host the event, and Western Recycling will be there with some of their collection bins. There will be additional information about recycling options in the general area of Payette County.

America Recycles Day slogan this year is, "It all comes back to you". So, take the pledge and make a difference in our community and our future. It's a Win-Win for you and the planet!

LED Light bulb vs CFL Light bulb

Previously, I've posted about the environmental importance of phasing out the use of regular incandescent light bulbs and moving to more energy efficient CFL light bulbs. But, as progress marches on, so does the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of the LED light bulb.

Initially, an LED (light emitting diode) light, was most commonly a little red light that emitted from different products. It was often the illumination of time, but as time also marches on, so does the LED light bulb.

Now that technology has figured out how to 'cluster' the LED's to improve the quality of the focused light beam, they are becoming more advanced and not so cost-prohibitive. To compare the cost of the incandescent bulb, CFL light bulb and the LED light bulb, the folks over at Eartheasy.com have posted a great comparison chart.

Anyone can start the transition from regular incandescent light or CFL lighting, over to the LED light bulb, in small steps. One way to start and get paid for doing it, is to recycle your old Christmas light strings at Home Depot and receive a coupon towards Christmas LED light bulbs. Phillips is also offering a rebate through December 31, 2009, for the purchase of LED light bulbs, as well as CFL light bulbs.

Check out the comparison chart at Eartheasy.com for excellent information on the value of CFL light bulbs vs LED light bulbs. Even at a slightly higher cost up front, LED light bulbs overall, appear to be the long-term winner.

Great Green Auction Going On Now

One of the organizations that I continually feature on this blog, is Birth Defect Research for Children. They are an excellent resource for free birth defect information, parent networking & birth defect research through the National Birth Defect Registry.

Several companies, as well as my own Shaklee Distributorship, have donated items to Birth Defect Research for Children, for their Great Green Auction. I've focused on the Shaklee Baby Products for my contribution and would love it, if some of you would go to the auction site and place bids for mine or any of the great products offerred.

So what are you waiting for?...Bid Now! Place Your Bid. Whether you're looking for something unique for yourself, searching for a gift for a special someone, or looking to add a little adventure to your life, you're sure to find something in their auction catalog. Every bid helps support Birth Defect Research for Children.

Tell Your Friends. The success of this online auction depends on spreading the word to as many people as possible. They need your help. Please Refer a Friend and encourage them to participate so they don't miss a single moment of the fun and excitement.

View All Auction Items

Green Family Market companies donate nearly 150 "green"products
Birth Defect Research for Children started the Green Family Market so that families who visited our web site could find safer, organic, natural products to take care of their families, pets, homes and garden. These companies have generously donated products for this Great Green Auction. You can try products at a starting bid of one-half the retail costs.

Birth Defect Research for Children Has Been Helping Families Since 1982
BDRC provides families with specific birth defect information, parent matching services and referrals to support and resource organizations. We also sponsor the National Birth Defect Registry, a research project that collects data that can lead to birth defect prevention.

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Birth Defect Research for Children, Inc.
800 Celebration Ave. Suite 225 Celebration, FL 34747 Ph: 407-566-8304

Online Auctions and Fundraising
Copyright © 2003-2009. Birth Defect Research for Children, Inc. and cMarket, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

America Recycles Day on November 15th

Celebrating its 12th year, America Recycles Day (ARD), will be on November 15th. It's a day set aside to better inform people about the importance of recycling and buying recycled products.

I am a staunch supporter of recycling and do a decent job at it personally, but I know that I can do much more. So, I've taken the ARD Pledge on the America Recycles Day website to try and ramp up my recycling habits.

It's a No Brainer, that recycling keeps the landfills from filling up so quickly. But, in addition to that, it encourages people and businesses to find alternative uses to their trash. Either by reusing the products as they are, or re-purposing them into other products.

Please go to the America Recycles Day website and take the Pledge to start and/or improve your recycling habits. There are a lot more things that each of us can do, to turn our trash into treasures!

Petition To Campbell's Soup To Remove BPA

Change.org has put together an online petition, asking Campbell's Soups to remove BPA (Bisphenol A), from their products. I've signed the petition, after just learning about the recent Consumers Reports investigation.

As mentioned on Change.org's site, the food processing world is in a tailspin after a shocking new series of tests. Released just this week, Consumer Reports revealed that many leading brands of canned foods contain Bisphenol A (BPA)—a toxic chemical linked to health risks including reproductive abnormalities, neurological effects, heightened risk of breast and prostate cancers, diabetes, heart disease and other health problems.

Consumer Reports found that major canned food companies including Campbell’s Soup are using cans that leach Bisphenol A (BPA) into food. This petition to Campbell's Soup, may be a way for them to set the example for other food processing companies.

Please click on the "Take Action" widget in the right column, to let your voice be heard.

Consumer Reports Tests For BPA

In Consumer Reports upcoming December publication, they have released results of some independent studies that they completed on BPA in food products. They found that there are still some food products that contain significant trace amounts of BPA in them.

There is ongoing debate about what are safe amounts of ingested BPA. The Federal guidelines state that a "safe upper limit" of daily exposure is at 50 micrograms of BPA per kilogram of body weight. This information is based on studies done back in the 1980s. But, there have been numerous more recent students done, that lead to more detrimental findings for living beings.

The Consumer Reports results are posted for their subscribers review. Being a long-time Consumer Reports advocate and subscriber, I am sharing a snapshot to a portion of their findings. For a complete report, please check out their site for more information at http://www.consumerreports.org/.

Here's a portion of the Consumer Reports finding on the products that they tested for BPA:

"We found that the average amounts of BPA in tested products varied widely; most items showed levels from trace amounts to about 32 parts per billion. Products in that range included canned corn, chili, tomato sauce, and corned beef.
The highest levels of BPA in our tests were found in the canned green beans and canned soup. In Progresso Vegetable Soup, the levels of BPA ranged from 67 to 134 ppb. In Campbell's Condensed Chicken Noodle Soup, the levels of BPA ranged from 54.5 to 102 ppb. Canned Del Monte Fresh Cut Green Beans Blue Lake had BPA levels ranging from 35.9 ppb to 191 ppb, the highest amount for a single sample in our test. Since we didn't test other canned green beans or soups, we don't know if this is typical of those products.
A 165-pound adult eating one serving of canned green beans from our sample, which averaged 123.5 ppb, could ingest about 0.2 micrograms of BPA per kilogram of body weight per day, about 80 times higher than our experts' recommended daily upper limit. And children eating multiple servings per day of canned foods with BPA levels comparable to the ones we found in some tested products could get a dose of BPA approaching levels that have caused adverse effects in several animal studies.
Given the significance of BPA exposure for infants and young children, we tested samples of Similac Advance Infant Formula and Nestlé Juicy Juice All Natural 100% Apple Juice. Samples of the Similac liquid concentrate in a can averaged 9 ppb of BPA, but there was no measurable level in the powdered version. Samples of the Nestlé Juicy Juice in a can averaged 9.7 ppb BPA, but there were no measurable levels in the samples of the same product packaged in juice boxes."

Boise, ID Got The Word Out For 350 !

What a wonderful time we had on October 24th, the International Day of Climate Change! A very small, but passionate group, gathered at the Boise Centre On The Grove during the Saturday Market. Their purpose: To share with as many people as they could, that Climate Change and Global Warming are REAL issues.

Tyrel Trainor organized this grass roots group to come together last Saturday, at the Saturday Market in Boise, ID. And without his bold step, the rest of the group wouldn't of had a central point to meet and organize this small but effectual reach out.

Thabata Regiani, a wonderful graphic designer, and a Lead Activist for Greenpeace, lent her talent and skills to the event. Not only did she design our easy-read handout flyer, but she was out on the front lines talking to everyone she could on Saturday.

The group had it's obstacles, a failing 10x10 canopy that's on it's way to recycle & canopy heaven. But, the weather held beautifully and we were inspired throughout the whole event by our local Scottish bagpipers and dancers.

The supply of handouts was almost completely given away at the end of four hours and numerous people stopped to exchange their ideas about preventing Global Warming. It was definitely worth our time, and we're ready to get out there again, very soon!

My Take On Global Warming Vs Global Cooling

I've spent a few hours online today, reading articles, reports, commentaries and such, on the issue of Global Warming verses Global Cooling. Obviously, I wasn't able to even put a tiny dent into all the information available, but I really endeavored to look at articles on both sides of the debate. And so now, I'd like to summarize for you, a little of what I learned today and will follow up with another post about the debate over the upcoming Climate Treaty conference that will be held in Copenhagen, in December.

First of all, the naysayers in the belief of Global Warming and Climate Change, are definitely vocal! But, what I found to be interesting, is that many of these vocal "experts" that believe in the "global warming hoax", cross referenced each other quite a bit. All well and good, but many of them weren't experts, they were just people with opinions against Global Warming.

They do readily cite the writings of one or two global warming skeptics and put all of their eggs into just those baskets. Along with the alleged political issues that they espouse, I found most of their proponents to be more emotional and cause related, than being based on scientific facts.

I believe that the discussion and debate raised recently from the Global Cooling proponents, comes out of a recent NASA report that says there as been cooling on the planet since 1998. That information appears accurate, BUT, there aren't mentions to the overall pattern of warming and cooling trends, in years preceding 1998. You see, these trends apparently run in "8-year trend lines", and they have variables. Sometimes the variables are small, sometimes large, sometimes significant, and sometimes not so significant. But, overall, the "trends" have continued to move up higher on the annual global-mean GISTEMP temperature record.

The sources that I gleaned this information from, were based on scientific studies and people who have an education and employment history, in biological and environmental issues. All of their sources were linked back to other credible scientific sources, opposed to the other side of the fence.

True, a scientist or expert, I'm not. But, what I am, is a concerned contributor and inhabitant to planet Earth, and I love Her dearly. I want only the best decisions made in Her behalf. Therefore, I will continue to share what I can, with whomever will listen.

Final Exam - Boise Make A Stand for 350!

Join us at Boise Centre On The Grove, Saturday, October 24th, from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm.

We are a group of people from around the planet—young and old, scientists and writers and activists—who have one thing in common. We know the most important number on Earth: 350. And we know how to use that number to finally get global action on the worst crisis humans have ever faced. But we can only do it if you help.

A year ago, our greatest climatologist—NASA’s James Hansen—and his team produced a landmark series of studies. They showed that if we let the amount of carbon in the atmosphere top 350 parts per million, we can’t have a planet “similar to the one on which civilization developed and to which life on earth is adapted.”

The bad news is we’re already past that number—we’re at 390 parts per million, which is why the Arctic is melting, why drought is spreading across the planet, why people are already dying from diseases like dengue fever and malaria occurring in places where they’ve never been seen before.The good news: that number gives us a target to aim for. When the world’s leaders meet in Copenhagen in December to reach agreement on a new climate treaty, we need them to go farther than they’ve planned to go: we need to make sure they’ll pay attention to the latest science and put forward a plan that gets us back to safety.

So here’s the plan. On October 24, we are inviting everyone in the Treasure Valley to help us make that the most important number visible to everyone. People in more than 1000 communities around the globe have already announced plans—they’ll be school children planting 350 trees in Bangledesh, scientists hanging banners saying 350 on the statues on Easter Island, 350 scuba divers diving underwater at the Great Barrier Reef, and a thousand more creative actions like these. At each event, people will gather for a big group photo that somehow depicts 350--and upload that photo to the web 350.org. As actions take place around the world, we'll link all the pictures together electronically via the web--by the end of the day, we'll have a powerful visual petition linking together the entire planet that we can deliver to the media and world leaders.

So far more than 100 nations are taking part—it's shaping up to be to be the biggest day of grassroots action on global warming ever. Come one, come all, bring your church, mosque or synagogue to your local bicylce group. People want to help, especially if they see the chance for something that might actually matter. This is even more important than changing your lightbulb—this is your chance to help change the way the whole world operates. October 24 comes six weeks before those crucial UN meetings in Copenhagen. It’s a great chance to take a stand—maybe the last great chance, given what the scientists tell us about the momentum of global warming.

But it can only happen with the help of a global movement—and it's starting to bubble up everywhere. Farmers in Cameroon, students in China, even World Cup skiers have already helped spread the word about 350. Churches have rung their bells 350 times; Buddhist monks have formed a huge 350 with their bodies against the backdrop of Himalayas. 350 translates across every boundary of language and culture. It's clear and direct, cutting through the static and laying down a firm scientific line.

This is like a final exam for human beings. Can we muster the courage, the commitment, and the creativity to set this earth on a steady course before it's too late? October 24 will be the joyful, powerful day when we prove it's possible.
For more information contact: Tyrel Trainor @ tstrainor@gmail.com or Liz Amason @ amason.liz@gmail.com.
Additional information about this global event can be viewed at http://www.350.org/

Blog Action Day To Fight Global Warming

Were you aware that today is Blog Action Day and do you know what it's all about? Well, I'd like to share with you, in case you don't.

Today, October 15, 2009, bloggers around the world are uniting by writing blog posts to raise awareness about environmental issues. Specifically, we want to put it out in front of every person, in every corner of the planet, that climate change and global warming are forces that must be reckoned with.

Scientists, environmentalists and politicians have already acknowledged the issue of global warming. But, what is still up for debate, is what extent will Global Warming really have on the planet and our quality of life.

To address the issues of Climate Change and Global Warming, there will be UN Climate negotiations in Copenhagen, this coming December. Non-governmental organizations, delegates and businesses from every nation will meet to finalize a climate change agreement. But, there are concerns, that these decision-makers may not lay out a stringent enough agreement. Thus, allowing negative climate issues to increase faster than the positive steps being taken, to combat it.

In preparation for this upcoming landmark meeting, there will be events all over the world on October 24th, which is 6 weeks prior to the UN Climate Negotiations in Copenhagen. In conjunction with United Nations Day, it will be a international day to address climate action. Communities around the world will be holding rallies to let their leaders know what kind of action they need to take on climate change.

There isn't a better time than right now, to become educated and be heard about these potentially catastrophic issues for us and our planet. October 24th is just a little over a week away, so the time is now. Find a local event in your community, which will be participating in the International Day of Climate Action. I've also listed below some websites for you to check for more information about climate change. Please don't hesitate to seek out even more info from the never-ending database of knowledge, via the internet.

Once you've located an October 24th event in your area, please make a commitment to be there. And, let us know where you'll be and what you've learned. The action we choose to take, may very well influence the environment that our children's children will be left with.

350.org
Act For Climate Justice
United Nations