Blue Christmas ? Or is that Green ?

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas..... and this year since we had to replace our Christmas lights anyway we decided to go for the latest invention. LED lights. We wanted green ones but there were none to be found so we opted for blue. While most people have heard of LED's ( light emitting Diodes ) by now, you may not be a fan yet . I've heard comments like "the plastic looks cheap" ( true, when they're off, ) but who wants to admire them unlit anyway ? What's really great though is the amount of energy and money they will save ! according to the box, running 600 of the old fashioned outdoor lights ( the big glass ones ) for 6 hours a day, costs about
$ 31.30 for a month. running 600 LED ( light emitting Diodes ) lights for 6 hours a day for a month will only cost you about 45 cents ! a savings of $30.85 ! Not only that but because they last such a long time you won't be throwing them out anytime soon, & adding to our landfill waste problems. They won't break like the glass ones either , or burn little fingers as they stay cool to the touch. When the ones one our tree pack it in, we'll be trying out the new indoor mini LED lights too ! Happy December everyone !
Other Ideas for an environmentally friendly Christmas :

• buy a live tree & plant it next spring
• If you get a real tree, compost it or have it chipped instead of throwing it in the landfill, real trees are a renewable resource.
• string your tree with dried cranberries or popcorn, then leave it outside for the birds when Christmas is over. You can even compost the needles when they fall off or use as mulch ( unless you are in a fire interface area)
• recycle last years Christmas cards as this years gift tags.
• reuse bows & ribbons that are in good shape.
• use your talent & creativity...most people LOVE homemade gifts !
  

Cold & Flu Season is near

No, this bird doesn't have the flu, he was rescued last year, on the farm where I work , and made a full recovery from his fall. Cold & flu season is approaching though so I thought this would be a good time to refresh our memories on how to protect ourselves from those bugs !
It is totally personal preference as to whether or not you get a flu shot but I personally do not believe in them for my family. Go to this link if you want to know why I don't get flu shots http://www.mercola.com/2000/nov/26/flu_shots.htm but that doesn't mean you need to worry about getting the flu if you choose not to get the vaccine. A few common sense precautions will get rid of most of those germs or at least keep them from invading your space. Did you know that some viruses and bacteria can live from 20 minutes up to 2 hours or more on surfaces like tables, doorknobs, and desks. (Ansari, 1988; Scott and Bloomfield, 1989)
Nearly 22 million school days are lost annually due to the common cold alone. (CDC, 1996)
So what do you do ?

• Washing your hands often, with warm soapy water for at least 20 seconds will help protect you from germs, more than anything else !
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick. When you are sick, keep your distance from others to protect them from getting sick too.
  
• If possible, stay home from work, school, and errands when you are sick. You will help prevent others from catching your illness.
  
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. It may prevent those around you from getting sick.
  
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
  Germs are often spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth.
  
• Practice other good health habits.
  Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious food that give you a variety of vitamins.

Be Aware of Common Flu Symptoms
Influenza usually starts suddenly and may include the following symptoms:
Fever (usually high)
Headache
Tiredness (can be extreme)
Cough
Sore throat
Runny or stuffy nose
Body aches
Diarrhea and vomiting (more common among children than adults)
**Having these symptoms does not always mean that you have the flu. Many different illnesses, including the common cold, can have similar symptoms.** See your doctor for proper diagnosis of flu.

If you get the flu dispite your best efforts, get plenty of rest, drink a lot of liquids, and avoid using alcohol and tobacco. Never give aspirin to children or teenagers who have flu-like symptoms, particularly fever.

Your brain on sugar

It's that time again....Just after the sugar shock of Halloween and the hyper anticipation of the "Christmas gimmies." If the thought of your kid(s) ingesting even more sugar makes you want to climb a tree, here's some ammunition for the case against sugar.
I'm not suggesting we all go cold turkey on sugar but if we just start by thinking about how much sugar we , and our kids really do consume, try eliminating one thing at a time , and make better choices, we can go into the new year a little healthier, and feelin' fine !
If you want to skip the science, scroll to the bottom for a few simple thoughts on sugar.

Some facts on sugar :

• Sugar can cause depression
• Sugar can suppress your immune system and impair your defenses against infectious disease.
• Sugar can cause can cause a rapid rise of adrenaline, hyperactivity, anxiety, difficulty concentrating, and crankiness in children.
• Sugar feeds cancer cells and has been connected with the development of cancer of the breast, ovaries, prostate, rectum, pancreas, biliary tract, lung, gallbladder and stomach cancers.
• Sugar can cause autoimmune diseases such as: arthritis, asthma, multiple sclerosis.
• Sugar greatly assists the uncontrolled growth of Candida Albicans (yeast infections)
• Sugar can reduce the learning capacity, adversely affect school children's grades and cause learning disorders.
• Sugar is an addictive substance.
• Sugar can worsen the symptoms of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
• In juvenile rehabilitation camps, when children were put on a low sugar diet, there was a 44 percent drop in antisocial behavior

Sugar can do so much more than this so to see all the facts view my references at : http://www.mercola.com/article/sugar/dangers_of_sugar.htm
sweet ideas :

• increase your protein intake, especially at your first meal of the day, try eggs more often, or even adding some peanut butter, or cheese to your toast instead of jam.
• switch from white to brown. Try sprouted, whole grain breads, long grain brown rice, whole grain cereals instead of cornflakes .
• read those labels, some of the foods that have sugar in them may surprise you !
• Do not replace sugar with artificial sweeteners. Try to get used to eating less sweet foods instead- drink water instead of juice, for example !
• Bake your Christmas goodies with as little sugar as possible- replace some or all of it with applesauce, pureed raisins or a little honey instead and most recipes turn out great ! If a recipe calls for 1 cup sugar, I use 1/4 cup of honey. The exception is of course , shortbread. sigh... can't be good all the time.
  

Cooler temps are setting in...

We have been busy getting ready for winter, even if the photgraphic evidence shows that Pierre does tend to sit down on the job when he has a chance - ha ha- and we have been stirring up plans for Halloween. Meanwhile, Mother Nature is busy outside stirring up a storm right now.
It is cold and wildly windy outside right now. I just got off the phone with my good friend O.M. and she reports that it is snowing in Chwk right now ! ( At least on the hill) so I guess we'll count ourselves lucky. All this weather reminds me that this is the time of year we need to really think about energy conservation, not just for the world at large, but for our own heating bills etc. So today, just a short list of ideas that we can all do to stay warm & keep our money in our own pockets ! Stay warm everyone !

• If you lower your thermostat 2-5 degrees, you can not only save aprox. 1,000 lbs of carbon dioxide emmissions but also up to 10 % on your heating bill !
• Wear a sweater to stay warmer when you lower the temp in your house !
• Clean or replace furnace filters or clean floor registers & dusty baseboard heaters for maximum efficiency & safety. This will also save aprox. 350 lbs of carbon dioxide emmissions / year !
• check windows & doors for drafts. replace old weather stripping & caulking to save even more on your heating bill & up to 1,700 lbs in emmissions / year.
• Use a timer to lower your thermostat after you go to sleep & raise it back before you wake up.

Too much Turkey ? How about some raw food ? !

Ah, Thanksgiving.... all that turkey, stuffing, pumpkin pie and whipped cream...yummy ! Wait, here comes the sleepiness, bloated bellies.... too full ! The Thanksgiving dinner is great but I can't imagine eating like that everyday. The typical North American diet however is way too loaded with processed food, sugar, pasturized dairy products, "enriched" bread made from highly processed flour, caffine etc.These types of food are low in enzymes & some of them also make the body more acidic.( we absorb oxygen & nutrients better & detoxify ourselves easier, when our bodies are less acidic ) Enzymes, though hardly given any attention, are VERY important. they are the critters in the cells of all living plants & animals . enzymes not only help us digest our food ( like the tonne of pumpkin pie we ate ) but they also help us with our other body functions as well. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enzymes Raw food- that is, unrefined, uncooked, fresh, organic food, is rich in enzymes & oxygen, which make us healthy & give us higher energy & improved moods. Enzymes enemy is heat. Cooking or heating food past about 120 degrees kills the enzymes. Our own bodies can make a lot of the enzymes we need, but the process of making our own enzymes takes time & energy away from us, that could be put to better uses, like healing, maintanance & repair. We also aren't able to manufacture as many of our own enzymes when we get older so it makes sense to try adding a little more raw food to our diets. Be sure to check out my new recipe for a cool new way to add some raw food to those turkey leftovers !

Warmer Weather, Colder Weather..wazzup ?!

DID YOU KNOW ?
50 % of garbage in landfills could have been composted or recycled ?
We've all heard of Global warming. That we need to "reduce our Greenhouse gas ( GHG)emissions" we should burn less fossil fuels, do our part to "protect the Ozone Layer " and so on, but what the heck does it all mean in plain English ?
First the Ozone Layer - A lovely little layer of molecules way out in the Stratosphere that protects us from too much of the sun's radiation. The thinner it is, the more nasty UV rays that get to us down here on Earth. More sunburns people ! Not only that but it can cause disruptions in the marine animals habitat, in the food chain, reduced crop yields, etc. Not good.
so what can we do to reduce the depletion of the ozone layer ?
Theres a lot of scientific mumbo jumbo to get right into it but CFC's ( Chlorofluorocarbons ) are what most of us may have heard of. They are used in the manufacture of aerosol sprays,( hair spray etc) blowing agents for foams and packing materials, as solvents, and as refrigerants( freon, etc ) Although non essential use of CFC's is banned in many countries, it can take CFC's 15 years to get to the stratosphere and another decade to react with the Ozone , destroying up to 100,000 ozone molecules in that time.
We can however....Avoid purchasing products containing ozone-depleting substances. ( use a nice organic gel instead of hairspray ladies ) For a list of substances to avoid, see http://www.checnet.org/HealtheHouse/education/articles-detail.asp?Main_ID=650
Also, insist that the refrigerator repairman uses CFC recovery when repairing old appliances and recycling equipment when servicing your refrigerator or freezer.
And what about Global Warming ?
To make a long story short, Carbon dioxide and other gases ( Greenhouse gases) warm Earths surface by trapping heat from the sun, in our atmosphere. ( our own little greenhouse) A very good thing, because it keeps our planet habitable. However, by burning fossil fuels such as coal, gas and oil and clearing forests we have dramatically increased the amount of carbon dioxide in the Earth’s atmosphere and temperatures are rising because the layer of gases is getting too thick, trapping too much heat . Ever step into a greenhouse on a hot summer day ? A little too tropical for me ! So what can we do ?
So many little things that take a little more planning but not much effort. The best part is many of them save you money too ! Most Green house gas ( GHG) emissions from homes come from the fossil fuels burned to make electricity & heat. If you use energy more efficiently at home, you will reduce your emissions and lower your energy bills by more than 30 % in some cases ! A big bonus for you !. Remember the simple things too, like turning down the thermostat a degree or two & wearing a sweater instead, or how about drying your clothes on a line whenever weather permits ? ( you can buy those nice portable , fold up ones for apartment dwellers ! )
Also, since agriculture is responsible for about 1/5 of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions, you can reduce emissions just by watching what you eat. ( like buying locally grown food ,which reduces trucking ( gas, oil and $$) & refrigeration as well as plastic packaging ( plastic is made with petroleum ) With the weather turning cooler, one way to reduce emmissions is to be sure your home is properly insulated. Caulking and weather-stripping can reduce carbon dioxide emmissions by 1,700 pounds per year ! You can also save an average of 2,400 lbs of carbon dioxide a year by recycling just 1/2 of your household garbage. Earth 911 can help you find recycling in your area. Remember all those commercials last year about the "One Tonne Challenge" ? This is what it's all about ! I challenge you ! Let me know what you are doing to reduce your emmissions !

Yogurt, Yoghurt, Yougurt....yo, Gert !

Yummy, yummy, yogurt, is it even fair that it's good for you too ?!
Well, thank goodness it is because I eat it nearly every day ! Whether it's eaten at breakfast, in a smoothie, with your dinner or dessert, it's good for you ! Yipee ! Okay, that's the good news....the bad news is I'm not really talking about the fruit filled, sugar laden ( and sometimes aspartame & splenda filled) pink confection most people think of when yogurt is mentioned, no, no, no, I'm talking about, plain, white, unflavored, no sugar yogurt. But fear not, there is hope...it can be delicious. So, what's so good about it ? Well I'm glad you asked...
Yogurt is a fermented milk product, made from any milk, be it cow, goat , camel or what have you and has been a staple food in the middle east, and parts of Asia & southeastern Europe since ancient times. It is regualrly used in Greek, Syrian & Indian cooking and is often diluted with water & honey, as a beverage. (an aquired taste ) It's close realtive, Kefir is also gaining ground here in the west, and also good for you, although it contains femented yeast so anyone with sensitivities should be aware of this. Yogurt contains beneficial bacterias ( Lactobacillus Bulgaricus, Lactobacillus acidophilus, and streptococuss Thermophilus - and no, yogurt cannot cause strep throat )
These ferment, thicken & cause the milk sugar ( Lactose) to turn to lactic acid, making it easier for your body to digest. This is great way for those of us who are lactose intolerant to get some dairy product, and 1/2 cup of plain yogurt has about 15 % of your daily recommended calcium intake ! It's also great to replenish your normal intestinal flora after you've had a round of antibiotics ( which of course kill both the good & the bad bacteria ) Research shows that yogurt helps guard the intestines against carcinogens, and helps stave off yeast infections too ( the sugar laden yogurt won't help much, as yeast lives off sugar )
So, how do you get used to eating plain yogurt & incorporate it into your food menu ? You can slowly get used to it by eating it with fresh fruit & a tiny bit of honey & cinnamon, then slowly reduce the honey. I eat this for breakie with hemp seeds & such on it . Yum.
You can also use it in place of sour cream, buttermilk, mayo,cream, & milk in recipes. When baking with yogurt, add 1/2 tsp. baking soda/ cup of yogurt. Here's even more incentive....
1 cup plain yogurt = aprox 150 calories
1 cup mayonaise = aprox 1500 calories
Be sure to check out the yogurt recipes in my recipe link. Bon Apetite !

Myths and Truths about Soy

Soy, how's it goin' ?
One of the most widely farmed and most controversial foods right now seems to be Soy, so I'd like to take on this topic today. Many people , including manywell meaning health professionals, natural food employees etc are still on the Soy bandwagon, and yet there is growing evidence that Soy is not all it's cracked up to be. My research has lead me away from the soy train and so today I'd like to share some of the myths and truths of Soy that I have learned of. Then you can judge for yourselves if you are a fan or not, of Soy.
Myth: Soy has been used for thousands of years
Truth: Soy was first used as a food during the late Chou dynasty (1134-246 BC) after the Chinese learned to ferment soy beans to make foods like tempeh & tamari.
Myth: Asians consume large amounts of soy .
Truth: Soy consumption in Japan and China averages about 2 teaspoons / day. Asians consume fermented soy in small amounts as a condiment, not as a replacement for animal foods.
Myth: Modern soy foods have the same benefits as traditionally fermented soy.
Truth: Most modern soy foods aren't fermented to neutralize toxins in soybeans, and are processed in a way that increases levels of carcinogens.
Myth: Soy is a complete protein.
Truth: Like all legumes, soy beans are deficient in sulfur-containing amino acids . In addition, modern processing denatures fragile lysine.
Myth: Fermented soy foods provide vitamin B12 in vegetarian diets.
Truth: The compound that resembles vitamin B12 in soy not only can't be used by the human bodybut soy also causes the body to require more B12
Myth: Soy formula is safe & healthy for babies.
Truth: Soy foods inhibit protein digestion and affect the proper functioning of the pancreas. In test animals, diets high in trypsin inhibitors led to stunted growth and pancreatic disorders. Soy foods also increase the body's requirement for vitamin D, needed for strong bones and normal growth. Phytic acid in soy food sreduces availabilty of iron and zinc which are needed for the development of the brain and nervous system. Soy also lacks cholesterol, which is also essential for brain and nervous system development . Large doses of phytoestrogens in soy formula have been implicated in premature sexual development in girls and delayed development in boys.
Myth: Soy can prevent osteoporosis.
Truth: Soy can cause deficiencies in calcium and vitamin D, both needed for healthy bones. Calcium from bone broths and vitamin D from seafood, lard and organ meats prevent osteoporosis in Asian countries—not soy foods.
Myth: soy protects against many types of cancer.
Truth: A British government report concluded that there is little evidence that soy foods protect against breast cancer or any other forms of cancer. In fact, soy may result in an increased risk of cancer.
Myth: Soy protects against heart disease.
Truth: In some people, soy foods will lower cholesterol, but there is no proof that lowering cholesterol improves one's risk of having heart disease.
Myth: Soy estrogens are good for you.
Truth: Soy estrogens are phyto-endocrine disrupters. They can prevent ovulation and stimulate the growth of cancer cells. Eating as little as 4 tablespoons of soy / day may even result in hypothyroidism with symptoms of fatigue, constipation and weight gain
Myth: Soy beans are good for the environment.
Truth: Most soy beans grown in the USA are genetically modified so that farmers can use large amounts of herbicides.
Myth: Soy beans are good for 'Third world countries' in need of food.
Truth: In third world countries, soybean crops replace their traditional crops and transfer the profit from processing, from the local people to huge, multinational corporations
To find out more about Soy, check out www.westonaprice.org
I'd also like to say thanks to everyone for your questions & suggestions...I'll try to get to them all as soon as I can. Next time...the benefits of yogurt !

Organic - part 2

Just like catching your own fish, fresh is best !

Okay, I'm back at it again people ! It's been 'one of those weeks' but I am finally able to get to the computer to do my little part in the name of good health, etc, etc. So last time I wrote a bit about who the organic consumers are ( you know, us, the edumacated, sophistimacated types...)
now I'd like to give you a few of the cold, hard facts, but first, a couple fun & interesting dates for your calendar....
This Saturday: Sept. 16th is International Day for Preservation of the Ozone Layer ( so think about how you can reduce your greenhouse gas emissions )
Next Thursday: Sept 21 is Peace One day - An International day to recognize non-violence
Next Sat: Sept. 23 Fall Equinox
ORGANIC FACTS
What is organic?
'Organic refers to the way agricultural products—food and fiber—are grown and processed. Organic food production is based on a system of farming that maintains and replenishes soil fertility without the use of toxic and persistent pesticides and fertilizers. Organic foods are minimally processed without artificial ingredients, preservatives, or irradiation to maintain the integrity of the food.' www.ota.com

• Chromium is a micronutrient that is low in Western diets. Its deficiency is associated with the onset of adult diabetes and atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries). Chromium was found to be higher in organic foods by an average of 78 %.
• Selenium is one of the antioxidant nutrients that protects us from damage by environmental chemicals. It is protective against cancers and heart disease. It was found to be an average of 390 % higher in organic foods.
• Calcium, needed for strong bones, averaged 63% higher in organics.
• Boron, which has been shown to help prevent osteoporosis (along with calcium) averaged 70% more.
• Lithium, which is used to treat certain types of depression, was 188 % higher.
• Magnesium, which reduces mortality from heart attacks, keeps muscles from spasming, and eases the symptoms of PMS, averaged 138 % more.
• Aluminum has been implicated for years in the development of Alzheimer's disease. It's content in organic food averaged 40% less that in commercial foods.
• Lead toxicity, which has been in the new a lot lately, can adversely affect our children's' IQ. It averaged 29% lower in organic foods.
• Mercury, which can cause neurologic damage, averaged 25% lower in organic foods. www.lookwayup.com
• Organic products meet stringent standards
  Organic certification is the public’s assurance that products have been grown and handled according to strict procedures without persistent toxic chemical inputs.
  Organic food tastes great!
  It’s common sense – well-balanced soils produce strong, healthy plants that become nourishing food for people and animals.
  Organic production reduces health risks
  Many EPA-approved pesticides were registered long before extensive research linked these chemicals to cancer and other diseases. Organic agriculture is one way to prevent any more of these chemicals from getting into the air, earth and water that sustain us.
  Organic farms respect our water resources
  The elimination of polluting chemicals and nitrogen leaching, done in combination with soil building, protects and conserves water resources.
  Organic farmers build healthy soil
  Soil is the foundation of the food chain. The primary focus of organic farming is to use practices that build healthy soils.
  Organic farmers work in harmony with nature
  Organic agricultural respects the balance demanded of a healthy ecosystem: wildlife is encouraged by including forage crops in rotation and by retaining fence rows, wetlands, and other natural areas.
  Organic farming helps keep rural communities healthy
  USDA reported that in 1997, half of U.S. farm production came from only 2% of farms. Organic agriculture can be a lifeline for small farms because it offers an alternative market where sellers can command fair prices for crops. www.ota.com

Okay, I could go on & on but you get the idea. Before I go for this time I'll also leave you with these thoughts....remember, everything on Earth was always organic until a couple decades ago ! This is NOT a new concept !

Next blog.... Myths and Truths about soy !

Why choose Organic

My mission statements of late have been "Every time we eat, we vote..."-J.Salatin- and " If my Great, Great Grandma wouldn't recognize it as food, it probably isn't" so on that note & in keeping with the challenge I presented to you in the last blog, ( Thanks for your e mails by the way - keep it up !) why should we choose organic products ? I've heard some sad untruths about organics lately so I thought I'd provide you with some statistics & facts so you can make an informed choice for yourself. I'll start with an overview of who the organic shoppers are. These are taken from www.agric.gov.ab.ca in case anyone is interested. Next blog, the stats on why organic is healthier.
HOW MANY CANADIANS EAT ORGANIC ?
-71 % have tried organic food
WHO ARE THE REGULAR BUYERS ?
-60 % are female
-30 % are from BC
-1/3 of the household have children
-consumers of organic food are more likely to be more educated ( in any age group)
- Over 1/2 of the consumers in Canada are from Vancouver, Edmonton and Calgary
TRAITS & VALUES OF THE CANADIAN CONSUMER
-More educated & sophisticated (hey, it's a fact !)
-pursuers of higher quality of life
-optimistic but well grounded in reality
-pursuers of wellness & environmentalism
-believe health means not only looking good, but also a balance of body, mind & soul
-want to purchase from socially responsible companies
- more likely to be independant thinkers
Over & out !

Round 2

Hi again & first off, thanks to everyone for all your great feedback on this new blog !
Some of you had really good ideas - keep em comin' .
I'm updating sooner, rather than later as it's shaping up to be an incredibly busy week.
Our house will be busting at the seams with company for the next week or so, so I've been washing bedding & doing some cleaning today. ( Yes, my cleaners are biodegradable, and I hung everything on the line to dry. See, I practice what I preach people !)
I had some interesting feedback from someone who has at this point in their life, a desire for info on all things baby related ( She's expecting baby # 2 ). There are more choices than ever when it comes to baby & childrens products but the 2 best I can think of right now are not only good for the environment, they are safer for the child also. If you do nothing else I'd say feed your baby only organic food & use organic soap & skin care products on your baby. Regular products have dozens of chemicals and lets face it, our skin is our protection from the world but it also absorbs whatever we put on it, into our body.Then our liver , which recognizes these as the toxins they really are, has to work extra hard to get rid of them. This actually is important for all of us, but even more so for little ones. I figure it's the same as food. If I can't pronounce it, I don't want it in my kid. Why do the powers that be approve these nastys ? I speculate that if something harms you slowly enough, it's hard to prove so the almighty dollar wins again $$ .The other thing I can suggest is cloth diapers. I used cloth at home, disposables on outings, for both my boys. I didn't know too much about environmental issues back then, but it was more economical that's for sure ! In fact, the first disposables only came onto the market in the 60's and yet the landfills are overflowing with them as they take forever to decompose. The fact is that...
In the first two years, the average baby will require between 5000 to 7000 diapers, and over four million disposable diapers end up in landfills, in Canada every day.
Disposable diapers in landfills prevent water from soaking to the ground. Even when using disposable diapers, the contents should be emptied into the toilet so that the waste can be properly treated. Disposable diapers also encourage babies to potty train faster than disposables, because with disposable diapers, the babies seldom feel any wetness or discomfort.
Disposables also contain chemicals like chlorine bleach, that come into contact with delicate skin & can cause irritation(diaper rash) .
For those of us who are past our baby rearing days... I'll get back on track next time but in the meanwhile I'd like to challenge you all to choose one organic or natural product instead of a mainstream one when you next go shopping . You deserve it !

Where to start ?

Well here it is, our latest adventure in the blogging world...We decided to do a blog that would venture off into different directions ( depending on whatever issues catch our eye at the moment) and hopefully it will be interesting, as well as helpful. Last week we went to see the Movie " An Inconvenient Truth" It provided some very eye opening statistics about exactly what we are doing to our planet, so that's what I'll start out with . If anyone has any comments on this or other subjects they'd like me to research, drop me a line....but for today....

Global warming, pollution, toxins etc are scary things and most people would rather deny or put off doing something about them. Truly, it's much easier to just not think about these things, but if each one of us doesn't at least try to step up to the plate & do our part we are in for some really drastic changes to the world our kids inherit, whether we admit it or not. Scientists have concluded that if global warming continues, we can expect that...

-Ocean levels could rise by over 20 ft. with the loss of shelf ice in Greenland and Antarctica. changing our coast lines forever !

-Heat waves will be more frequent and more intense.
-Droughts and wildfires will occur more often.
-The Arctic Ocean could be ice free in summer by 2050.
-More than a million species could be extinct by 2050.

It sounds scary BUT we can each make a difference without much sacrifice to our way of life if we choose too. We just each have to make the commitment to choose the health of our planet. Really people, since it's the only planet we can live on, what other choice is there ?
So, what can we do ?

• Replace regular light bulbs with compact fluorescent light bulbs (cfl). CFLs use 60% less energy than regular bulbs. This simple switch will save about 300 pounds of carbon dioxide a year. If every family made the switch, we’d reduce carbon dioxide by more than 90 billion pounds
• Use a clothesline instead of a dryer whenever possible.You can save 700 lbs. of carbon dioxide when you air dry your clothes for 6 months out of the year. ( and they smell great too ! )
• Turning off your TV, DVD player, stereo, and computer when you’re not using them will save thousands of pounds of carbon dioxide a year.

There are so many more things we can do that are virtually painless, so why not make a start everyone. For more ideas see the link to " An Inconvenient Truth" (where I got these from ) or wait until my next blog. Over & out people.