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15th October 2009
It’s Difficult to Be Green as a New Mom
When I started this website/blog, it was to focus on environmental awareness and global warming/climate change. I’ve since travelled to Antarctica so I could see climate change first-hand. I journeyed with others who were interested in climate change, along with some who just wanted another feather in their cap for having seen all the continents before they died. I was shocked by what I observed in Antarctica.
I came back and went to see Al Gore a year ago, while pregnant, on climate change initiatives. I’ve blogged about many things that were green. I gasped as I observed coffee-goers at Starbucks and Panera throw out plastic cups. I learned about electric and hybrid cars. I’ve participated in some green events. I had passion for the environment and how to effect change in our future. And then I had a baby, heh heh.
So, wonder how much green I have in my life with a baby?
Today (it’s almost over, but this was the first chance I had to blog tonight) was Blog Action Day - Climate Change
To be entirely green with a newborn, I’d nurse all the time instead of twice a day, recycle and wash those super poopy diapers, never use plastic, and if I dared to use plastic, I’d recycle every single time, and of course, I’d try to re-use those glass bottles for something. But the fact is, within a few weeks of total exhaustion beyond belief that only mothers can understand, you begin to slip as a green mom. I never envisioned this would be my cupboard.
My cupboard of baby food, no longer the green extremistMore will be posted to this but to meet the deadline of 11:59 p.m. 11/15/09 Blog Action Day, I’m publishing a half-complete blog.
My cupboard wouldn’t be filled with this type of ingredient at all - tiny single-use plastic containers that are the epitome of wastefulness and consumerism. But the fact is, as a working mom, business owner, I barely have time to do a load of laundry, much less get all the cleaning done in the kitchen. I steamed spinach tonight for Melina. By the time it was ready, Melina was done with her chicken and applesauce and about ready to catapult out of her high-chair. I have the baby food mill that my dear friend Alicia got for us. I’ve used it lovingly about ten times, if that, in nearly a year. It’s simply easier and faster to buy those horrible plastic containers.
The first few months I stacked up the plastic recycling until it was overflowing so many places I’d trip over a bag waiting to go to the recycle facility down the road. I admit, I stopped recycling entirely for a few months after Melina was born, despite the mass quantities of plastic consumption. But I just couldn’t do it all as a new mom.
Now, I’m back to recycling and have been for a while. I admit, I still occasionally fudge. But, I do try to be green. If I could affect change on a grander level, I’d just get Starbucks and Panera to recycle on site, in every store they have throughout the United States.
In the meantime, this is my recycling, and I’m determined to take it in tomorrow, or maybe Saturday, or maybe I’ll get that done Sunday. I’m tired, are you?
My Whole Foods bag of recycling - and way too many plastic containers11th July 2009
BPA in Plastics - Dangerous For Baby But Not For You?
If I didn’t have a baby, I wouldn’t have known about the risk of BPA in plastic. I noticed that Medela bottles, and all of its breastfeeding supplies were BPA free. Everything breastfeeding-related that the baby would come in contact with, or I would and then in turn, give to her, was BPA-free. I didn’t know much about BPA, and wondered why other baby bottles weren’t BPA-free.
Within weeks to possibly two months, I noticed more products were becoming BPA-free. For example, Playtex bottles were BPA free but not the liners that you’d put in the nursers. Well, that didn’t make sense, did it? But sure enough, within a few more weeks, Playtex drop-in liners were also BPA free.
BPA free nurser, but not the liners
Liners purchased late 2008
BPA free drop-in Playtex bottle nurser liners
Purchased February-March 2009So then I began to wonder about the plastic formula bottles, containers, baby food, pacifiers, teethers. Why weren’t they BPA free?
And what about all the plastics we have in our lives? Water bottles are just the beginning. When you go to the grocery store - any food or drink item of ANY kind that is in a plastic container - is it BPA free? Does it say its BPA free? It’s become a bit of a marketing phenom - if a baby product is BPA free, moms are buying it, and thus it’s clearly labelled like you see the box above.
I’m not an expert on BPA, but check out TreeHugger’s site on what they say about BPA in plastics, water bottles, etc.
TreeHugger’s article on plastic water bottles, specifically sports water bottles
An excerpt from TreeHugger.com’s article linked above
7 Ways to beat BPA, in order of Importance:
1. Ditch the clear plastic baby bottles, right now. All the research that says there are problems point at the effect of the estrogen-like BPA on children as being the most significant.
2. Tin cans are often lined in plastic BPA and sit around a long time; get rid of older tin cans, particularly if they contain tomatoes and other acidic fruits.
3. Don’t use your polycarbonate bottle for hot drinks.
4. Polycarbonate bottles get crazed and cracked as they get older; that increases surface area. Get rid of old ones.
5. Replace your Polycarbonate bottle with a Sigg, Kleen Kanteen, or the new BPA free Camelbak, particularly if pregnant or pre-pubescent.
6. Replace jugs where water sits around a long time, like Brita knockoffs. (Brita says they are BPA free)
7. Stop using jugged water cooler water, get a filter and cooler that uses city water. It is a big jug so there probably isn’t much of a problem, but why are you drinking bottled water anyways?Don’t worry about polycarbonates in non-food related products like CDs and DVDs. but keep them out of babies’ mouths. (TreeHugger.com).
So, as of today, I noticed that teethers, pacifiers and more plastic products in the baby aisle at Kroger are BPA-free.
I also noticed that a baby drink product, called FirstJuice, was in BPA-free plastic.
What about bottled water that you drink, foods contained in plastic - is it BPA free?
Even of more interest is to see the viral video that’s a hit on the Web - from Evian Bottled Water. They used over 70 babies to film their new viral hit.
Here’s my question - did the producers realize that Evian plastic water bottles contain BPA and there is particular concern about its affect on children and infants? Will Evian, who has been associated with “pure” water as a brandname, be the first water bottle manufacturer to become BPA free? Their slogan, Live Young, is particularly ironic considering we may link this to breast cancer and thus, they might die young. Sound extreme? How many women do you know with breast cancer, or who have had breast cancer?
BPA is known to have estrogen-like affects - from what I’m reading - concerns about babies, children, possibilities of breast cancer in women, and other problems.
So, don’t take the risk. Don’t take the FDA word on it - that plastic is fine. If there is enough research to cause baby product manufacturers to phase out BPA in plastics, shouldn’t you do the same? Don’t buy products with BPA in it - or that don’t say BPA-free.
Isn’t what we put into this little mouth important? As important as she is, what you put into your mouth matters just as much.
Melina in 2009Do it for your health and hers too.
Postscript:
Links regarding BPA in water bottles and other plastics products, including baby products
Marshall Democrat - News - re Water Bottles & BPA
Katie Couric on Bottled Water vs Tap WaterSorry, comments are closed due to amount of spam, and despite AKISMET spam key in Wordpress - still getting several a day to moderate -
22nd April 2009
Earth Day - A Look at How We Could Learn from Birds & Their Ability to Reduce, Reuse & Recycle
I’ve always had a thing for wild birds - not in my house - but outside, feeding from a birdfeeder hanging from a tree. I love to listen to the sounds on dog walks - I can identify most birds by hearing them, before I see them. The benefits of not walking with an iPod while walking the dog over the years.
My favorite bird? A goldfinch? Why? Two reasons: they eat upside down (or can), and they have a cool flight pattern - if you watch them in the skies they look like they’re on a roller coaster, and as they come down the “hill” in the roller coaster, they sound like they’re giggling. Watch and listen for these finches, or better yet, hang a goldfinch feeder in your yard, and get some neijer seed and they’ll be attracted to your yard.
From http://www.iwrc-online.org/kids/Facts/Birds/goldfinch2.htmSo, while goldfinches are my absolute favorite birds, I like to feed wild birds including cardinals, robins, any finch, and any bird of color that adds some life to my yard. I plant wild flowers and perennials to attract birds. On occasion, I have had a bird nest in my yard, in a hanging plant. This year, however, I have a bird nesting in a rather unusual place. She is nesting in a forsythia wreath hanging on my front screen door.
Last week, on the morning Mom & Dad left, I noted something looked a bit odd on my screen door. From my vantage point from within the house, I could see something looked different on the wreath. I just couldn’t determine why. I continued to stare at it while I talked on the phone with someone. But then all of a sudden, two birds came up and landed in the wreath. I realized they were building a nest.
Excited, I went up to the nest after they flew away. I looked at the ingredients of the nest and was excited to see Bentley’s cat hair hanging off the nest in a glob of fur. I saw human hair neatly stitched into the nest in what seemed specific places. I saw different types of bush material woven into the nest, including some prickly stuff - thought that was kinda cool - which might be thistle? The nest got thicker and deeper in the next several days (they take about 8 days to build a nest).
http://www.shawcreekbirdsupply.com/american_goldfinch_info.htm - Nest building
The female builds the nest in late summer up to 30 feet off the ground in the terminal branches of a bush or tree. Nest building occurs in 10 to 40 minute spurts, during which material is brought to the site and laid down. There may be periods of hours or days when nothing is added. The average interval between the start of the nest and the laying of the first egg is eight days.The female strips fibers from dead trees, weeds, and vines and utilizes catkins as well as grass to construct the outer shell of the nest. She sometimes dismantles the nests of other birds to use the materials in her own nest. She reinforces the rim of the nest with bark bound by sticky spider silk and caterpillar webs. The nest is lined with plant down from thistles, milkweed, and cattails.The male often accompanies the female on flights for nesting materials. He may carry some materials back, but leaves the actual construction of the nest to the female. He perches nearby, singing and calling to his mate. At the first sign of danger the male or female will whistle sweet or call bearbee, bearbee, bee, bearbee.And she began to sleep on the nest at night, which means I guess that she has laid her eggs. They incubate for 10-14 days, depending on the source you consult on the Web….
The only concern I have about this, is that it’s the front door, and I have a dog I let out that way. We’ve tried to limit our entrances and exits, and know we’ll soon need to curtail all exits that way. Babies should arrive in less than two weeks, according to what I’ve read tonight.
I began talking to the mailman about birds’ nests and he said he collected them. He was always amazed to see the materials they’d find laying around, trash, cigarette butts, hair, plant materials - and how they stitched it into the nest. I’ve always respected a bird’s ability to survive cold winters here in Ohio, as little as they are, but they really do have a lot we can learn from. While they suffer from our abuse of the planet, they really have the reduce, reuse and recycle concept down well.
Reduce - they have small humble abodes for their young
Reuse - they reuse things laying around in nature, whether they’re supposed to be there or not (trash NOT)
Recycle - without fancy chemical recycling plants, they recycle plant material, trash material, human & animal material for integration within their homes
I’ll work to post some pictures of my bird nest in the wreath - but here are some photos of other goldfinch nests found on the Web tonight.
By the way, baby wild birds need to eat every 15 to 20 minutes during daylight. Okay, so feeding Melina in the first eight weeks every 1-2 hours seems like nothing, huh?
Want to attract the American Goldfinch to your yard? Here are some tips on what goldfinches look for:
http://www.wildbirdsforever.com/goldfnch.html - reference to how they build their nests, usually near water and food, and that they create a bowl like nest, with plant as the base material
http://www.iwrc-online.org/kids/Facts/Birds/goldfinch2.htm - very nice reference - talks about being near thistle - which is what I think I saw in the plant nest - nest in forked branches - like my forsythia wreath - it has forked branches in it (albeit fake).
http://www.audubon.org/bird/boa/F15_G8a.html
So on Earth Day, don’t forget to take your recycling in, reuse something, and reduce your intake of plastic. Take a walk and listen to the birds sing, nest and feed. And enjoy this beautiful Earth we live on - and take care of her. I think it’s only fitting that last year, I blogged for ten months about a fertility journey. It’s great to know, that after having Melina in November, that the fertility journey continues around me - right at my front door. I think that’s good karma.
3rd September 2008
Pitbull Palin Packs Powerful Punch as GOP VP Candidate Tonight 3 replies
Wow! Holy cannolis! Did you get the privilege of watching GOP VP Candidate, Sarah Palin, on TV tonight?
Courtesy: Cnn.comI wanted to watch this woman, as a maverick, as a mom to be, as a hard-hitting, tough cookie to see what she had to say. I did not know much about her, other than the skeletons in the closet that the media made her out to have. She didn’t sidestep any media issue brought up (her family, her accomplishments, who she might have alienated in her goals to have a slimmer government budget), or her goals in laying pipeline for natural gas. She clearly addressed each issue with a feisty tone in her voice, looked straight into the camera, and fought back.
I imagine there were a few unsettled stomachs in the audience as she held nothing back. I imagine there are certainly more than just a few people she continues to piss off - as most mavericks do just that. Ew - can you imagine the Democratic fever tonight to fight back? Ouch. I imagine there are some special interest groups that don’t care for her either. Ouch. But mavericks and change leaders often get things done, despite having a few people along the way that don’t care for them. It takes a lot of energy to be a maverick. It takes courage, chutzpah, risk, and the willingness to stand alone on a topic at times. But if the end result is achieved and it serves “the greater good”, then a maverick might think it was worth it, as others might in the long run.
I have one issue to bring up though - her energy and environmental statements. I’ll gladly hear why we should do more with natural gas, but nuclear, drilling for oil, and clean coal? Clean coal? Is there such a thing? Wind and solar power needs to be addressed more clearly, more rapidly as clean solutions. What are you planning to do? Drill into wildlife reserves, at what risks, at what environmental cost? I’m not sure I like rhetoric about environment, but I’d like to know specifically what McCain/Palin plan to do with drilling, natural gas, and cleaner solutions for producing energy - and I’m not convinced AEP.com (my former employer where I tested positive for morphine from eating poppy seed bread back in 1996 and lost my job, regained it, only to lose it again on another odd un-founded charge) can produce clean energy in the near future. I have seen AEP in the news recently with respect to the energy crisis, and producing clean energy and whether or not wind power can be distributed.
I want to know more about these issues - but I do appreciate a smart, talented, well-spoken, feisty woman who chooses to charge through public service which can’t be easy to say the least. I was undecided until tonight, but I’ve edged closer to McCain/Palin as a result of this woman’s speech. I’m not there yet, but closer. You still have to prove some environmental concerns to me, and we have to know more about Iraq and what we plan to do there - but I’m anxious to learn more. Thanks, Gov. Palin, GOP VP Candidate for adding some tangible excitement to this race. Last night’s convention coverage was a bore - but tonight - wow - you packed it in - and all I can say to that, is “Go Get ‘Em Girl!”
29th August 2008
T. Boone Pickens - An Inspiration at 80 Years Old
I want to meet T. Boone Pickens - in fact, I want to work with this man. As a pregnant woman nearing seven months pregnancy, as a blogger, as an environmental advocate, as a search marketing expert, as an entrepreneur who is interested in wind power, and solar energy and alternative fuel solutions, I want to meet him. But as an entrepreneur even moreso, I want to know what I can do to get more involved in developing wind power solutions. While I certainly have a lot on my plate with being a business owner, and having a child in the next three months - if I could choose my next accomplishment in life, it would be to start a wind power generation project, or to be involved in a partnership with such initiatives.
So how does T. Boone Pickens fit into this interest? You’ve probably seen his energy ads. You might have even Googled this guy, wondering who the heck he is. And, you might have seen him grace a few magazine covers. You might have checked out his website, www.pickensplan.com, per the ads, or even ‘friended’ him on Facebook. The more I read about this person, the more I’m impressed. He is 80 years old, and driven by the desire to impact significant change not just in his own life, but in business, international economics and in the environment. Not to mention, he knows how to make a few million or billion dollars for that matter.
As a 40-year old woman having her first child, wondering about the future for herself and child, it’s inspiring to know that there are people in life that never quit trying to change the world - even at the age of 80! Learn more by visiting the sites above.
I have to get some sleep - and take care of baby girl Melina right now - but I continue to learn more about wind power, development and Pickens - thanks for the inspiration.
6th July 2008
Silverback Gorillas Have It Rougher Than You Think
Silverback gorillas have it rough in the Congo. Dian Fossey brought awareness to the plight of the silverback gorilla 30 years ago. Her story was told in Gorillas in the Mist, where Sigourney Weaver portrayed her life and demise. I watched this movie a few months ago for the nth time. I’ve watched it several times, but for some reason this movie always brings me to tears every time I watch it. Her work continues through The Gorilla Fund, and through other wildlife efforts.
Tonight, a repeat episode by Anderson Cooper on 60 Minutes was featured, with an update about how the park rangers in Congo have not had access to the silverback gorillas for over three months now. The fate of 200 silverback gorillas is not known. Several gorillas had been shot, execution style, two of which were mothers. So what’s the reason for killing these gorillas? In Dian’s story, gorilla parts were taken by poachers for illegal sale in the market. Others might go to zoos, for up to $5,000 or more. What about in this area - why are they killing silverback gorillas?
It’s for charcoal - believe it or not. Locals go into the forest, previously protected by the park rangers, and burn ancient trees for charcoal, which is then used to cook food. If silverbacks are in the area, perhaps fear of the gorillas initiates the desire to kill them. Orphaned gorillas were left behind. One baby gorilla was found clinging to her mom’s corpse. Vetinarians are still trying to revive these orphans to replace the mother’s milk.
The Dian Fossey Website - Congo Crisis Update
Story featured on MSNBC - where two silverbacks were killed in 2007
UK Telegraph reference to story on silverback gorillas
See Wildlife Direct for updates on the gorillas in Congo
Why should you care about the silverback gorilla? There are only 700 or so left in the world. Imagine that 200 or so are in the park in Congo where rangers have not been able to protect for three or more months. Ten had been killed when CBS first featured the story in December 2007.
For blog updates - visit the WildlifeDirect Gorillas page
I guess the story was recently aired on NatGeo, however, here is the link referencing the premiere of the gorilla story.
I’ll continue to follow this story online.
20th April 2008
Earth Day 2008 - Highlight Dolphin Slaughter in Japan
Earth Day 2008 - what are you doing for Earth Day? I personally believe that we should no longer have just one day dedicated to the Earth in today’s Green-Aware & environmentally conscious society. Green living is becoming a lifestyle, where we are constantly learning more about what’s changing in the environment.
Last weekend I watched 11th Hour, hosted by Leonardo DiCaprio, on Time Warner’s cable pay-per-view. I learned about a lot of environmental activists, who have been significantly contributing to one aspect or another including Hardy Jones.
Hardy Jones has contributed over 20 or so years tracking dolphin slaughter. It’s rather disturbing to watch this and hear what’s being done on various Asian shores - it reminds me of the century-old story about ocean shores where whaling occurred, including Deception Island in Antarctica (where I visited in December 2007) where whale bones and old fishing boat remains lay scattered about. You can watch Matt Damon hosting the dolphin slaughter story, on YouTube - it’s disturbing enough to get a birth date confirmation button before you watch the video.Learn more about Hardy Jones’ commitment to documenting dolphin massacre in Japan through www.Bluevoice.org.
You have to watch the video on YouTube though - it’s sad to see how they trap the dolphins - by the way, they capture the young and pretty ones first to go to aquariums where they can get several thousand dollars - so say NO to zoos and acquariums on your next family vacation. Instead, contribute to keeping the dolphins in the wild where they belong.
The slaughter that you see is not unlike the media attention killing helpless seal pups 20 some years ago. I remember watching that when I was a teenager. Hardy Jones captured the techniques on video the Japanese use to slaughter these dolphins. They scare them by banging metal bars on their boats - the sounds cause the dolphins to flee in an area where they can’t escape. One by one, they are then slaughtered, in front of each other. It is not like deep sea fishing where you catch a few at a time - it’s catching hundreds or more at a time.
Attempt to embed YouTube video not yet successful - having Stephanie look into it (www.nextsteph.com) to see if she can figure it out. In the meantime, use the http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzuSULcqgxQ.
11th November 2007
Antarctica Cruise Facts : December 2007
Have You Ever Been to Antarctica?
I’d like to hear from you about your experience - please post comments belowIt’s less than a month before I depart for Antarctica and I am so incredibly excited. The numbers of interested, fascinated, and in awe colleagues are growing. “It’s the trip of a lifetime” is the most common remark, followed by “awfully expensive, isn’t it?, and how do you get there?”
On cost, it’s not cheap getting to Antarctica but for those of us who had parents or friends who went to Alaska, this doesn’t seem that much more expensive. I’ve heard of people spending nearly $10k for an Alaskan cruise and excursions, and as much as $50k to go on safari in Africa, so if you’re wondering how much it costs to get to Antarctica, read on:
Abercrombie & Kent’s Antarctica Cruise - single occupancy rates - $7500 by the time you pay for the B cabin, which is second to A cabins, including port charges and insurance. This does not include mandatory evacuation insurance, or airfare and hotel back and forth to Argentina. Double occupancy could be as much as $15k by the time you add in port charges and insurance.
I was able to use 100,000 frequent flyer miles to fly to Argentina, so it’s only costing around $300 for airfare. If I had booked with Abercrombie & Kent (A&K)’s adventure cruise, it would have cost around $600 or so for the airfare. I’m not sure if the Hyatt hotel before we depart from Argentina is included or not. I’ll have to check on that and come back to that one.
Some are asking how do I get to Antarctica? I fly from Chicago to Miami to Buenos Aires, Argentina.
From Buenos Aires, I’ll have one day to rest and catch my breath. Then I fly very, very early from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia, Argentina, from where the Abercrombie & Kent Antarctica cruise will depart (see map below). I’ve learned about the infamous Drake Passage which is the next part of the voyage, and perhaps harder than being in Antarctica itself, depending on which part of Drake you get. I will continue to post more on this throughout the coming days.
6th May 2007
Eagle Chick Hatches
Eagle Chick Hatches - The Nature Conservancy
I have a million things to do today, or at least a few things I should be doing right now, including grading OSU MKTG 754 mid-terms. I’m out on my deck, having just washed it clean, and facing a large stack of mid-terms to finish grading today. As always, I’m looking for something else to do in order to further procrastinate from grading. Alas, order organic flowers from Organicbouquet.com. This leads me to The Nature Conservancy’s website, which enables me to watch an eagle and her chick live, through their webcam. As if I have nothing else better to do…..
This is great news for the Santa Cruz Island ecosystem. This is the second year in a row that eagles have hatched on their own. Last year, the eagles successfully laid and naturally hatched the first egg in over 50 years. DDT was released by chemical companies into the ocean, through the sewer system, until it was banned in the 1970s. To learn more about this historical environmental project, visit the Nature Conservancy’s website.
