Plastic Bag Ban Bad for Environment?
January 31, 2008
Posted by CindyC in : Communities , 4 comments
A local headline caught my eye on Wednesday.
Recycling Group: Oakland Plastic Bag Ban Hurts the Environment
Say what?
Apparently a group calling themselves The Coalition to Support Plastic Bag Recycling is suing to overturn the Oakland’s city law that prohibits large retailers (greater than $1 million in revenues) from using nonbiodegradable plastic bags. The Coalition claims that people will confuse compostable with regular plastic bags and this confusion will cause inefficiencies in the recycling progress. The Coalition also claims that Oakland did not do comprehensive impact studies prior to law passage and that more paper bag use can be more damaging. The plastic bag ban was supposed to take effect in February but now has been delayed pending the suit’s outcome.
Let’s take a step back here. First, although the idea of recycling is a nice one, the reality is less than ONE PERCENT of plastic bags are recycled and 100 BILLION of them are thrown away each year (1). These bags are littering our streets and sitting in landfills NOT biodegrading. Second, the paper or plastic argument is a futile one as neither side will ever concede. Nothing suggests people will use more paper bags when reusable options are now more popular and available. Whole Foods actually handed out free reusable bags when it announced its voluntary plan to eliminate plastic bag use by Earth Day 2008.
Lastly, let’s ask who is behind the Coalition to Support Plastic Bag Recycling. That would be plastic bag manufacturers and recyclers. Apparently, the Coalition filed this suit as a “preemptive strike” against other cities looking to follow San Francisco’s plastic ban. Last year, they successfully bullied city of Fairfax to make their plastic ban a voluntary one. Oakland vows to fight this suit and believes the ban is the right for any progressive city. (2)
For those Oakland readers out there, please use your canvas or reusable bags with pride and show them that this time bullies won’t win!
CindyC at Organicpicks
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Source:
(1) World Watch
(2) Complete story found at SfGate.com
Copyright 2007 Organicpicks
We all need a pinch of inspiration
January 30, 2008
Posted by CindyW in : For Kids , 1 comment so far
Inspiration (n). 1. Stimulation of the mind or emotions to a high level of activity or feeling. 2. One that moves the intellect or emotions or prompts action or invention…
Believing in the causes, many of us endeavor to live greener lives, despite of all the bad news from the global warming front and the blatant inaction (or rather anti-action) by our own government. We talk to each other, encourage and learn from each other. Then we go back to our homes and try to do the right thing. But even the heartiest among us need a pinch of inspiration now and then.
Inspiration is by definition an abstract concept. It may be words, images, voices, acts, events or other forms of stimulation of the mind or emotion. We cannot force inspiration, but when it happens upon us, it drives us to do the right things despite of ourselves, it elevates us to find the strength that we did not know we had, and it makes us yearn for our better selves.
Recently the seemingly non-stop Californian rain has forced us indoors more than usual. And for once I am glad, because in the last two weeks, I, together with my family, found unexpected inspiration in two children/family movies. You heard it right, children’s movies – Duma and Fly Away Home, both directed by the brilliant Carroll Ballard. Never heard of them? Apparently the media “power” decided a while ago that children could only absorb and be entertained by animated films with clichés, shallow jokes, and cheap snippets of moral lessons.
In a review for Duma, L.A. Times stated, “In a sane world, there would be dancing in the streets at the arrival of a film as magical and entertaining as Carroll Ballard’s “Duma.” Television and radio advertising would trumpet its arrival, and audiences nationwide would be streaming to theaters to see it. Sadly, we do not live in that world.”
In any case, Duma was about a young boy (Xan) becoming a man during a journey to return Duma (Swahili for “cheetah”) back to the wild. The adventure spoke of heart-breaking loss and grief, the indescribable majesty and harshness of nature, friendship and loyalty, and most importantly, the strength and wisdom in himself Xan gradually found and learned to trust. The vast green-gold South African plains and the cheetah that moves like lightening are in themselves great treats. I whole-heartedly agree with one of the reviewers:“ (Duma) is an adventure tale with lots of danger and suspense, made in a way that doesn’t abuse children’s emotions or underestimate their intelligence. Needless to say, adults are likely to enjoy it just as much, if not more.”
After finishing Duma with teary eyes and bubbling love, we had to find other films directed by Ballard. When the rain kept us inside a bit more last weekend and “forced” us to watch “Fly Away Home”, we were all too willing to oblige. 13-year-old Amy lost her mother in a car accident and had to live with her estranged sculptor father whom she could barely remember. In the desolate yet beautiful land of Ontario, she accidentally became a “mama goose” to a flock of newborn geese. Against all odds and with the help from dad, Amy taught and led the geese along a migratory route from Ontario to North Carolina. Through the process, Amy gained unyielding confidence in herself and opened to new possibilities. Yes, she flew with the geese.
Both of my girls ( 5&1/2 and 3) were enthralled with the movies, especially Fly Away Home. They could not tell me the specific reasons, but they begged me to buy a copy so they could “watch it again and again and again”.
But I know why the movies were so riveting to them as they were to me. It was that deep nourishing connection the hero/heroin found between their young souls and the animals in nature. It was the innocent and relentless belief that everything was possible. It was the surprising and delightful realization of their inner strength and wisdom.
It was that pinch of inspiration we all need, now and then.
Now, I can go back to trying to do the right thing.
CindyW at Organicpicks
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Copyright 2007 Organicpicks
Going back to solid basics
January 29, 2008
Posted by CindyW in : Fresh Look , 5 comments
I don’t know what about the bottled shampoos, bath gels and lotions that draws me to them. Perhaps it is the pictures on the bottles that trick me into visualizing the warmth of early summer, the gurgling clear brooks, or the crisp air of an autumn morning. Or perhaps it is the descriptions on the labels – honey lemon, chocolate peppermint, peach crème. Yum, yum, yum. I am drawn to them like a moth to a flame.
The tragic consequence is that I have accumulated many bottles of half-used bath gels, shampoos, lotions and potions. Somehow I must have convinced myself that it’s okay because these are all “natural” products. My husband jokingly told me that one of my new year’s resolutions should be limiting lotion bottles to five at any given time. And for once he was right.
I don’t know the statistics on how many bottles of shampoo, conditioner, bath gel, liquid soap, toner, cleanser, and lotion are sold every year in the U.S or worldwide. I strongly suspect that I am not unique in finding a couple of dozens of these bottles around the house. They amount to millions of bottles every year bought, half-used and tossed into the landfill.
Seeing bottles everywhere, I decided to switch to bar soaps a month ago – for hand wash, body wash, and hair wash. There are already a few positive side effects:
- Drastically cut down the plastic bottles used
- Solid soap bars are like the Energizer bunny – they just keep going and going, ¼ of the cost compared to liquid soap
- Shorter grocery trips – no more ogling and smelling every bottle of something on the shelves
I have also learned a couple of tips so far:
- Get a soap dish with a lid. Close the lid in the shower. Otherwise shower water unnecessarily washes away the soap.
- Shampoo bar options are not great yet. I have been able to find Burt’s Bees baby bath and shampoo bar and Lush shampoo bars (Beth, thanks for the reminder). I have really low maintenance hair, so they have worked for me. But they many not be suitable for everyone.
Yesterday, CindyC wrote what green changes worked and did not work for her so far. The switch back to solid soaps has been very easy, painless, and financially wise for me.
Next step: solid lotion. Hmmm, any suggestions or recommendations?
CindyW at Organicpicks
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Some Green Journal Reflections
January 28, 2008
Posted by CindyC in : Green Journal , 2 comments
Since my inaugural Green Journal entry, I have tried a variety of life style changes to lessen my impact on our planet. Some were larger than others (in time and cost) and some were easier than others (in effort and compliance). So in the beginning of 2008, I looked back in effort to discover what worked and what I need to do better.
What worked for me
Switching to energy efficient lighting:
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We’ve pretty much finished our switch from incandescent to CFL bulbs. It took a good part of the year to switch (as I actually waited for the old ones to burn out) but we did it. I stocked up whenever I saw a sale, especially the reflector ones, to make the initial investment even more economical. The only lights that remain incandescent are my bathroom lights. Because my fixtures are closed and work in high humidity, CFLs did not work well. I did experience several early burnouts so I also have a CFL bouquet like CindyW. I put this action on my success list because I can estimate the impact in energy reduction and it’s easy to do – just switch and go.
Gardening Naturally:
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When we re-landscaped our yard last year, I never thought we would never finish. Even before the manual labor of digging, tilly and planting, there was plenty of research and planning. My husband and I enjoyed gardening but are no means masters. It was an eye opening experience to learn about natural soil prep, companion planting and pesticide free protection. Admittedly, while in search of natural pest protection products, I did eye those fast-acting bug killers. But the idea of my child and pet playing around toxic chemicals put me back on the right path. It was hard work but it was an effort that will pay back year after year.
Frequenting Farmers’ Markets
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One of my earlier changes, this remains one of my favorites. Understanding where my food comes from, who grows it and what is seasonal directly impacts the environment and our health. The farmers’ market is now a weekend destination for my family. My daughter loves to help pick the produce and my husband always finds something new to try. The grocery stores’ selection just can’t compete with the likes of organic, locally grown berries pick that morning. Even in winter, there are surprises to be had – like local kiwis. We are now eating healthier and with greater variety than we used to, while spending less.
What I REALLY need to improve
Reducing my plastic consumption:
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Although I avoid plastic toys, bring my own bags and reuse whenever possible, I still feel it’s not enough. I still find plastic take-out boxes and various sorts of excess packaging in my trash – all non-compostable or biodegradable. I need to do a better job in selecting vendors and stores that minimize waste.
Reuse more:
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I tried a variety of crafts and reuse ideas last year but as I got busy, I found myself slipping back to bad habits: rather than going to the library, I would run to the bookstore; instead of using creative wrapping or reuse gift tags, I bought new ones; little daily habits that are hard to break. To help me do better, I’ve enlisted my daughter’s help. She is my official Reuse Monitor and being 5 years old, she loves to correct Mommy’s bad habits.
I’m sure there are plenty of other things that I need to work on but I figure I will start off modest and add as I go. And if you have green changes that you would like to share, I’d love to hear them!
Read some previous Green Journal entries
CindyC at Organicpicks
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Copyright 2007 Organicpicks
Green Changes Make Green Cents
January 25, 2008
Posted by CindyC in : Opinions & Thoughts , add a comment
This week, the results of a recent poll show that the majority of Americans believe local “green” efforts make economic sense through creation of new jobs and entrance of new businesses.
The poll showed that more than half of those surveyed believe local government should make environmentally friendly changes, even if individuals have to make significant lifestyle changes. Similar support is shown for using public transit, if it was easily accessible from home and work. Most encouraging, more than two-thirds of respondents are already practicing water conservation habits. The results seem to confirm many of the local changes we observed over the past months, including Styrofoam bans, community solar initiatives and new green businesses.
Interestingly, the message from leaders attending the World Economic Forum in Davos is less optimistic. Although there are a record number of sessions on global warming, the market turmoil seemed to dominate the minds of leaders. In face of recession fears, environmental advocates warn against shift in focus or delays in action. “We know on the basis of our reports that climate change, if unmitigated, can have serious implications for the economic well-being of human society,” warned Dr. Pauchuri, chairman of the IPCC.
At the end of this tumultuous market week, I can fully appreciate the temptation to go back to “business as usual.” But is short term profit really worth causing further peril to our planet? I sincerely hope not.
CindyC at Organicpicks
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Copyright 2007 Organicpicks
What to do with a basket of burnt out CFLs
January 24, 2008
Posted by CindyW in : Opinions & Thoughts , 3 comments
My 3 year old asked me the other day, “mommy, are those your Easter eggs?” She was referring to a small basket of burnt out Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs in our garage.
That’s the result of collecting defect and burnt out CFL bulbs from my house and a couple of neighbors’ houses for two years. I guess it’s time to dispose them. According to the government energy star program and CFL bulb manufacturers, “CFLs contain a very small amount of mercury sealed within the glass tubing - an average of 5 milligrams”. By comparison, the old fashioned mercury thermometers have about 500 milligrams of mercury. Still as more and more households change to CFL bulbs, the cumulative mercury can be substantial. EPA reported last week that US “sales in 2007 totaled approximately 290 million (CFL) bulbs.” Those bulbs amount to 3,190 pounds of mercury. If they are disposed inappropriately, they can contaminate our air and our ground water.
EPA is working with CFL manufacturers and major U.S. retailers to expand recycling and disposal options. My guess is that it will take a while for these options to become reality. Some states permit households to put used or broken CFLs in the garbage (huh?!), but in California, all fluorescent lights (including CFLs) must be taken to a waste management facility. In reality, only 2 out of 1000 bulbs are actually recycled. Before EPA works out its program, here are a few options:
- Earth 911 is your best bet to find where you can take your CFL bulbs. I enter my zip code and it shows that within 5 miles of my house, 8 stores and waste management facilities will take back CFL bulbs. Unfortunately not all areas have as many options. For instance, my in-laws live in Winston-Salem, NC. No CFL-take-back facilities show up on Earth 911.
- You can also search EPA website to find CFL recycling programs near you, though the information can be somewhat spotty.
- IKEA stores in general take back light bulbs, fluorescent, CFL, or regular bulbs. Check with your local IKEA stores.
- Call your local municipal or county solid waste management facility to find whether they take back CFLs.
- If all options fail, horde the CFL bulbs like plastic Easter eggs until there are options around you. Fortunately CFLs generally have very long life. For 2 years, I have only had 1 burnt out bulb.
Related posts:
Household battery recycle
The “Wife test” on CFLs
CindyW at Organicpicks
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Copyright 2007 Organicpicks
To travel or not to travel
January 23, 2008
Posted by CindyW in : Opinions & Thoughts , 3 comments
Lately I seem to have more questions than answer. Last week, I wondered about to speak up or not to speak up. This week, a much thornier question begged my attention - to travel or not to travel.
My husband and I have always been the kind of people that like to roam – traveling, domestically or internationally, has shaped our opinions and world view over the years. We very much like to teach our children to be world travelers (not tourists) from an early age. When our older daughter hit 5, we decided that every year, we would spend a month traveling with them. Instead of constant new outfits and toys, the travel experience will be our gift to them. Luckily they are not old enough to ask for a different gift yet.
However the inconvenient truth has demanded me to explore the environmental impact of our travel plans – how much CO2 will our family of four generate by traveling 12,000 miles round trip by plane? 6,000 miles are fairly standard for international travel. The result is no less than shocking: With the 4 of us, we generate an amount of CO2 that is equivalent to two whole years of driving an average American car, at 12,000 miles per year. This is just according to one calculation. Due to the inaccuracy of most carbon calculators, the results can vary greatly.
Now I almost wish that I did not do the quick research. The little knowledge, distorted as it maybe, puts me in a serious predicament. Knowing how resource intensive long-haul flights are, do we still go with the plan to travel every year? Should we lock ourselves up in the house and experience the world via our modem? Are there comprises somewhere in between?
One click led to another, I stumbled upon a post by the well-known No Impact Man – The problem of air travel, which raises environmental issues of air travel. The post has generated uncommon number of comments, most of which seem to fall into two camps. Camp #1: air travel is immoral, so discover the beauty of your backyard instead; Camp #2: air travel maybe resource intensive, the outcome may be worth the cost. I have to say that my immediate inclination aligns with Camp #2. My environmental value system and world view are direct results from seeing unspeakable natural beauty in different corners of the world and living with people whose simple lives shame mine.
90% of the coral reefs are either dead or dying. It is a horrifying fact to anyone, but it is particularly emotional and personal to people who have dove in the ocean and watched the abundant lives sustained by the coral reefs. Supporters of ANWR drilling will have you believe that it is a barren land where oil should be extracted. But people who have witnessed the sheer magnificence of Artic National Wildlife Refuge often have a personal mission to protect it. Crawling through miserable Bolivian mines and speaking with miners whose life expectancy were not more than 40 can turn your perspective on politics in Andes countries upside down. Many would argue you can get all this from the media. But many people, including I can attest that seeing makes a world of difference.
However should how I see the world and perhaps how my children see the world warrant our squandering natural resources and contributing to climate change? Forced to answer that, I’d say no. But honestly it is an extremely begrudging no. In a recent study in UK, 40% teenage respondents “said that they had bought locally produced food. However only 4% said that they had consciously decided not to take an air flight for environmental reasons.” Okay, I am not alone in my selfish desire to travel.
While I vehemently object to the heavy-handed moral overtone of many comments to No Impact Man’s post, I am rethinking what this all means to my own travel plans and our dreams of bringing our children into the world travel fold. A friend suggests that we should take off for two years and see the world by trains, buses and sail boats. Even if it works out financially and logistically, I doubt it is a duplicable model for most families. Advocating for alternative travel systems – more bullet trains, better fuel efficiency, bigger planes and fewer flights? Great ideas, though we know it takes decades to change such systems.
Meanwhile I don’t have an answer yet. If you do, I wanna know.
Related posts:
To speak up or not to speak up
Travel green the agritourismo way
CindyW at Organicpicks
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Copyright 2007 Organicpicks
Kiwis add flavor and color to winter
January 22, 2008
Posted by CindyW in : Fresh Look , 2 comments
Somebody will be furious with me, but I will say it anyway.
Honestly, Dark Days Eat Local Challenge is not much of a challenge for people who live in Northern California, since the mild weather here is suitable for growing all sorts of fruit and vegetables through out the year. This was brought home to me when I stared into our bag of 40 kiwis freshly purchased at our local farmer’s market this weekend.
Since my insane family seems to live on this fruit in the winter, I dug around for some kiwi facts and would like to share some here,
Apparently the kiwifruit originated in China and was known as the Chinese gooseberry. At the turn of the 20th century, the first seeds were brought out of China by missionaries to New Zealand. New Zealand fruit growers then renamed it for their national bird and cultivated it further. Several plants were sent to the Chico Plant Introduction Station in California and exist to this date (1).
The first commercial kiwi vines were planted in California in the 1930’s, but kiwis didn’t become a popular consumer item until the early 1960’s when they were put on supermarket shelves as “exotic fruit”.
In a normal year, the kiwi season in Northern California runs from November to May. My kids quickly latched on to kiwis after they ate apples, pears and oranges for two months.
Nutritionally, kiwis are gems. At 50 calories per average fruit, it packs in a lot of vitamins and fiber. It provides a rich source of vitamin C. By weight, its potassium is almost the same as a banana. It also contains vitamins A and E. I don’t like the fuzzy texture of the skin. But if you do, the skin is a good source of flavonoid antioxidants.
Odd facts 1: Kiwi plants are relatively free from problems. But there is an odd problem - the trunks have a catnip-like aroma which cats love to rub against.
Odd facts 2: Though kiwi-strawberry is a popular flavor combination, their growing seasons overlap at most a couple of weeks, even in California. Kiwi season ends right around the time strawberries come into their full juicy glory.
Odd fact 3: Do people really have to invent a specialized utensil for each food? Kiwi spoon, huh? How about use your everyday spoon (2).
Anyway, enjoy kiwis (sans the kiwi spoon of course) this winter, especially if you live in northern California!
CindyW at Organicpicks
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1. http://www.crfg.org/pubs/ff/kiwifruit.html
2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kiwifruit
Copyright 2007 Organicpicks
Green Journal: Kids Making a Difference
January 21, 2008
Posted by CindyC in : Green Journal , 1 comment so far
More and more, we see parents and schools teaching their children about the environment and the planet on which they live. So I was particularly happy to read about some local school children making a measurable impact on their community.
Back in February of last year, Ms. Wong’s third grade class from Foster City Elementary School walked to City Hall to air their environmental concerns in front of city council members. The class had been discussing and studying the issue of climate change. Rather than just keeping it within the classroom, these third graders used their research and came up with a list of suggestions (for change) for the city officials. Some of their suggestions included encouraging more car pooling, have more bike to work or school days, reduce fees for solar installations in homes and do more recycling.
At least one of these suggestions caught the interest of the council. Foster City, at the time, had one of the highest solar panel fees in the county, at $800 a permit. Since then, the city has completely eliminated the fee, in effort to encourage more solar power use.
Last week, these (now) fourth graders were presented with an award to recognize their efforts and encourage more civic activity. I’m pretty sure I wasn’t creating lists for change back when I was in third grade. But I sure am glad this current generation is starting earlier than mine.
original story from SF Examiner
CindyC at Organicpicks
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Calling cool kids and cool parents
January 18, 2008
Posted by CindyW in : Fresh Look , add a comment
Our friends at Progressive Kid recently published a wonderful book – A Hot planet needs cook kids. Thanks for sending me a copy, Sarah and Julie! Aside from running an online green retail, they focused their energy on writing this informative book for kids. Bill McKibben gave the book a thumb up: “What’s so dangerous about global warming is that it leaves many people feeling hopeless, as if nothing they could do would matter. This book makes it clear that that’s not the case. It shows young people how they are able to help.”
I read the small book in one sitting last weekend and learned and relearned quite a few fascinating facts. Anyone remember exactly what “thermohaline circulation” is? How about all the layers in soil – humus, topsoil, eluviation layer, subsoil, regolith and bedrock? Seventy three pages later, I have re-acquired the knowledge picked up when I was a 10 year old – the intended audience of the book.
Often, “people against nature” is the framework through which we see our relationship with the environment, humans being an integral part of nature somehow cast aside. With a concise but very clear approach, this book re-adjusts the framework to “people in nature”. A Hot Planet steps through the living elements in our eco-system and the stress they are undergoing right now. Reading the book, I remembered that my friend Jamie once said, “every time we destroy a part of the living eco-system, a piece of our humanity dies with it.”
At places the facts do become depressing and urgent. Were I a 12 year old, I’d get furious with adults around me - What have you been doing to my future? I thought you’d known better. I’d want my parents to read this book with me and then read it again. The book then devotes the second half to real actions – what people are doing and what a young reader can do (other than yelling at your parents). Some actions require adults to take the lead, such as “junk your junk mail” and “shop at farmers’ market”; others can easily be done by kids themselves – play outside, not just in the virtual world (why can’t that be on my to-do list?), turn off water while brushing your teeth, recycle bottles and cans, and many more.
I also really appreciate the mini-stories of eco-heroes: Rachel Carson, Wangari Maathai, and Pablo Fajardo, for example. They demonstrate to the kids that what they do matter and that they too can become heroes.
I am excited to share this book with the kids around me. Written for a 10+ year old, it is too advanced for my children. So next stop for this book – my 12-year old niece, whose parents are advanced consumers at the post-doctoral level (hey, I get to say this because they are family :)). Look for a real review from a pre-teen soon.
CindyW at Organicpicks
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Copyright 2007 Organicpicks
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