WOW! Over board or on the right track?

http://freegan.info/

Please check out this website. I think you will be absolutely amazed at what you see. At first I chuckled, then as I read more I realized that these people are serious. They are not only serious, I personally believe they are on the right track.

I was perusing www.craiglist.com for some free furniture for my apartment. I came across a bed (my roomie needs one bad!) and the post made me smile. The bed was offered as is, but the poster expressed a great interest in the bed's future. Stating that if you pickup his bed you must promise to donate it and not throw it away when finished with it. I thought that was cool. Then I saw the link.

Basically, it is a group of people that consider themselves "freegans". (Derived from the words free and vegan). These are the people that I am sure you have heard about in the news that go dumpster diving at local restaurants and groceries to scoop out the food that is NOT bad and feed themselves and the cities homeless.

And it doesn't stop with the dumpsters. These people are organized. The also support squatters. Squatters are people that take abandoned buildings and trashy lots and convert them into housing, community centers for children, and beautiful gardens.

I think we could all take a little something from this. We do not all necessarily need to stop in our tracks and pick up this "stick it to the man" attitude, but I believe there is a lot to learn from these people. Even if it means the reading encourages you to donate as opposed to throwing away or shopping on craigslist as opposed to Ikea.

Let me know what you think!

http://freecycle.org/

http://www.epa.gov/jtr/comm/exchange.htm

These are just two other links that I found on their website that I thought were interesting....More to come later!!

AL GORE; CRAZY POLITICIAN OR VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENTAL SUPERMAN?


"An Inconvenient Truth". Strange from afar. Basically it is Al Gore with a power point slide show giving a speach about the state of our environment and global warming. I dont think critics are expecting people to be lined up for tickets. However, at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah earlier this year, Mr. Al recieved a huge standing O.

The movie is great. I netflixed it and saw it last night. I am going to probably buy it watch it a few more times. There is a ton of information in this film, not only about the state of our environment, but the state of the goverments opinion of the enviroment and where we are all headed. So fascinated with the film, I jumped right online to amazon.com and order the book and a couple of others with similar themes.

I was even thinking of writing Al and asking for a job. He is amazing. All these years of other politicians calling him crazy, well now we know why. He was standing up for the earth and against the big guys. Of course they are going to try and tear him down. In my opinion, the film really puts the Bush administration in it's place.

GO AL! Keep up the fight and run again some day. You sure have my vote!

PS: If you need a new staff member....you know where to find me!

How much could a plastic bag cost (the environment)?

The San Francisco Commission on the Environment says each super market or grocery plastic bag is costing the city of San Fran 17 cent per bag in disposal cost and environmental clean up. But just how do they get these numbers?

The commission estimates that super markets hand out around 50 million plastic grocery bags per year. 90 percent being plastic and 10 percent being paper. Here is the break down of cost:

Clearing of streams that are polluted and contaminated recycled and composted materials. 1.09 million or 2.2 cents per bag.

Collection and disposal. 3.6 million or 7.2 cents per bag

Street cleaning. 2.6 million or 5.2 cents per bag

Future landfill liability. 1.2 million or 2.4 cents per bag

Total cost per bag: $0.17

The proposal was to start charging shoppers a 17 cent fee for using the plastic and paper grocery bags, in hopes of deterring people from using them and bringing their own bags into the store to carry their groceries home in. This was proven in six other nations such as Australia, Ireland, Italy, and South Africa. Ireland reporting that plastic and paper bag use dropped by 90 percent within the first year.

Still, some people speculate that charging people will just not work. Noting that people will just pay the fee. The plan is not offering any incentive for bag return, as in bottle return. Other’s worry that low income people will be the ones to suffer.

Currently there is one grocery chain, Safeway has a bag return system in place. They now offer customers 1 cent for plastic and 3 cent for paper bags. However, even employees and spokes persons from Safeway report that the lack of exposure for the program reduces the amount of people actually participating.

So, what’s right and what is wrong? Obviously the plastic and paper bags are contributing dramatically to the demise of our environment. Should we rely on people to start conserving on their own, or does the government need to step in help to regulate and control the waste?

Either way, hopefully this article will make you more aware of what these cheaply produced, virtually un reusable bags cost our pocket books and our environment. Take your own bag and save yourself!

The Myth?

The Myth and the Cost of Recycling

Anybody read the book…"Eight Great Myth’s of Recycling" b y Daniel K. Benjamin? Well I have not. Not in it’s entirety anyways. I guess I just got too disgusted with it all. Basically the book points out eight (8) myths of recycling, contradicting the new "traditions" that motivate people to join the cause of recycling and return to their wasteful, traditional American lifestyles.
Here are the 8 myths: (including his contradicting statements that encourage non-earth conscience habits)

Our garbage will bury us.

Answer: Our landfill capacities are increasing. The US can expectedly handle the consumption and disposal for the next 100 years.

So what happens after that? Are we only planning for the next 100 years?

Our garbage will poison us.

Answer: EPA acknowledges that the risk to humans from modern landfills is virtually nonexistent.

Packaging is the problem.

Answer: Modern packaging saves breakage and waste, reducing disposal requirements; advances in packing have drastically decreased the volume of a given package.

YEAH RIGHT. I just honestly can not believe this is a true statement. After all, we are all consumers and looks can not be THAT deceiving. I would need real numbers and proof to support this statement.

We must achieve trash independence?

Answer: Trade in trash raises our wealth as a nation by 4 billion a year.

This would also be the case, if not more with recycling. Not to mention the non
monetary benefits!

We squander irreplaceable resources when we don’t recycle.

Answer: Price controls the use of resources. Resources are used but remain available; human ingenuity is the reason.

Recycling always protects the environment.

Answer: The US Office of Technology Assessment stated that recycling changes the nature of pollution, sometimes increasing it and sometimes decreasing it.

Well I’ll be darned! Yes we are in a trial and error state at this point. In every sense of the word. You think people were worried about global warming 150 years ago. NO. There was no need. Our daily lives didn’t cause such things to happen. So just as we are constantly adjusting and coming of age as a industrial, technological society, we must also as a recycling nation. That doesn’t mean that our attempts are not worthy or should be stopped.

Recycling Saves Resources.

Answer: Municipal recycling programs waste resources.

This may be true. Instead of relying solely on the municipal governments help, let’s all be proactive. We can not rely only on these forms of government as backbone of support. And besides, it’s not only recycling, but also parking tickets, etc…..I do not have to list!

Without forced recycling mandates, there wouldn’t be recycling.

Answer: When the price is right, the private sector recycles, a phenomenon that is "as old as trash itself".

Recycling must be profitable. Unfortunately, it’s the only way. But so long as so few people recycle, the more of a niche recycle stay, the less profitable it is…..more to follow…..

So, here is how Benjamin sees it, with a little of my twist on it. I think it is just complete and utter crap. If we cared as much as he did, the earth would be in trouble. It’s a prime example of why the over weight man stays fat. He can make 100 excuses. He is naturally big boned, or obesity runs in his family, or he’s tried every diet scam…blah blah. Bottom line, you have to eat right and exercise to maintain a healthy weight and American and the World at Large must reduce, reuse and recycle to keep this world a beautiful place to live.

I have a great article that I have just recently read about the recycling, the changes in recycling, and the economics of recycling in the city of New York that I would love to share. Let me compile the data and I will post shortly.

Also soon to come….exactly how much do those pesky plastic shopping bags cost?

How often do we think about our impact?

Been a long time since a post has been added. Granted I am sure there are not tons of people, if even one that are refreshing their screens constantly waiting to see if anything has been added. I have neglected this blog. In the same way I am sure a lot of people could say I have personally neglected the earth.

My mom has a fond memory of me at the age of 7 or 8 telling her that God told me to recycle. Now, as many people know about me; I am not a religious person. Talking to and fro with God is not something anyone would imagine me doing. Heck, I dont remember even doing it. However, sometimes I wonder what exactly I meant at that young age. Where did I here the word recycle? Growing up in rural North Carolina, I know it wasnt posted on bill boards or in the news. It's still not a subject anyone talks about down there.

You know recycling is a hot topic. Saving this earth is something we should be talking about at dinner tables around the US nightly. We should here more about in the news, from our local and federal politicians, in our schools, from our churches, and local communities.

One thing I like to know more about is not just material recycling, but how bout material reduction. Recycling is costly in our wallets and to the earth's natural resources. As American's it's time to trim the fat! Cut back, people...(me too).

So if anyone out there reads my blog and has any useful information on reduction, please share. One thing that I vowe to find out more about and post here is the information reguarding cost of recycling. Many city and state governments are complaining about the ever increasing cost of recycling. Claiming it's just too expensive and that they can no longer help to fund public recycling centers or that the benefits are just not there. BULL! Again, I will find the info and start making this site happen with more detailed and factual information for people who want to know!

GLOBAL WARMING!?!?!

We have all heard the term Global Warming, right? Well I certainly have, but never really understood what it all meant. You hear all the time, threats of Global Warming and the effects it has on our weather patterns. Events like Katrina and the Sunami being blamed on Global Warming. Is that a bunch of hokis pokis from hair brained scientist trying to scare us all into riding our bikes or walking more often? Who knows?

The other night I watched a wonderful documentary narrated by Alanis Morrisette and produced by the BBC on Glocal Warming. What an eye opener that was for me. I had no idea the effects of Global Warming were so obvious. Melting glaciers at unpresidented rates, rising tides, extreme droughts in the midwest. This stuff is a reality! Our daily lifestyle of the hustle and bustle certainly is impacting, not only the future, but our lives today. To top it off, the US is THE leading contributor to Global Warming, releasing almost a third of the total CO2 that causes Global Warming.

But, as an American, what can I do? I am supposed to retreat and hibernate in the hills, living like a cave man (woman) on the land? Are we all supposed to just disregard the amazing industrial technology our forefathers discovered. Dishonor them for their accomplishments? Blame them for the mess we are in now?

I dont think life has to be that dramatic, but I do believe we owe it to ourselves, to our neighboring nations, and our future population to start trying to make a difference! Below is a list of things we can do daily to help! Get involved!

• Ride a BIKE, walk, or use mass transit
• If you MUST drive, organize your route to limit unnecessary driving
• Turn off the LIGHTS!
• Shut down your computer when not in use.
• Get your school, church, employer involved by implementing a check system to be sure unused lights and equipment are always turned off when not in use.
• Reduse, Reuse, and Recycle! Think of ways to reuse or reduse the amount of disposable paper, plastics, glass, etc. The less that must be produced or disposed of, the less energy used.

Remember also, the most important thing you can do is to educate yourself on the issues that are out there. Get involved in the local politics of it. Demand a change from all of those around you. After all it is your health, your futures health!

MOVING AND RECYCLING

RECYCLING TIPS FOR YOUR MOVE

1. Chose a moving company that offers free box pickup and recycled packaging materials. I have a sudjestion:
www.voltrelocation.com

2. If you must purchase new boxes, be sure to buy corrugated boxes with the highest recyclable material content.

3. Recycle your boxes after you have unpacked.

4. Instead of using sheets of packing paper, collect and use old news papers.

5. Be sure to properly dispose of all non-recyclable items including household cleaners, paints, automotive supplies, and other hazardous materials.

6. Use recycled latex paint for household projects.

7. Have a yard sale or donate to local charities unwanted clothes, books, toys, etc.



Hope these help. If you have any more ideas, be sure to post!

USE BOXES FOR SALE???

Hey I found a really really cool link. Not only does it give some great tips on how to recycle everyday, but the stuff they come up with is really cool! A trash can out of an old computer monitor. It's kinda shabby chiche for the generation X! Check it out!!!

http://www.lifehacker.com/software/recycling/

MAKE EVERY DAY EARTH DAY!

HERE ARE SOME EVERYDAY THINGS YOU CAN DO TO HELP MOTHER EARTH:

1. Buy some plain white paper, tissues and paper towels. Dyed paper pollutes.
   
2. Instead of ammonia-based cleaners, use vinegar and water or baking soda and water.
   
3. Walk or ride a bike instead of using a car for short trips.
   
4. Reuse your grocery bags or buy a canvas bag you can carry your groceries in.
   
5. Use mulch and natural ground cover in gardens to contain moisture and conserve water use.
   
6. Turn off the lights in rooms you are not using.
   
7. Buy rechargeable batteries.
   
8. Reduce your use of aluminum foil and plastic wraps, or avoid them completely by using plastic containers. You can also reuse those glass jars that you would normally recycle.
   
9. Water lawns at night to eliminate evaporation.
   
10. Repair leaks and drips as soon as they occur. A moderate drip wastes two gallons of water or more per hour.
    
11. Do not put oil and gasoline into the sewer system or on the ground.
    
12. Recycle your aluminum and tin cans, glass, plastic and paper
    
13. Before you purchase an item that will be used only occasionally, try renting or borrowing it from a neighbor, relative, friend etc.

REMEMBER, EVERY LITTLE BIT HELPS! MORE TO COME.

THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT!

The Start of a New Era

Well, everyone else is doing this blog thing, so we thought we would just jump in head first as well. We have NO idea what we are doing, so please bear with us through our learning process. We really want to start by linking in with some other sites out there dedicated to spreading the word of conservation and recycling. As we are going through this "building" process, throw us a help line if you know of any great links! Thanks everyone and GO GREEN!