tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24011894615086405522024-03-04T20:44:19.949-08:00Erase Carbon FootprintLive Healthyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17161681627086932191noreply@blogger.comBlogger33125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2401189461508640552.post-55278542097832245692010-01-18T13:16:00.001-08:002010-01-18T13:16:50.441-08:00Going green - how do you know if a product is green?<p> If you want to help the environment and go green, here are some tips to get you started. Why go green at all? What exactly is green? How do you know which items to purchase? There are many people out there looking to cash in on the green fad. How to shop safely.<br /><br />So, do you really want to do your part? Do you want to help the environment, the economy and future generations? Everyone is <a href="http://www.ecocleaninggreen.com/">going green</a> these days and it's a good thing. It shows that people are becoming more conscious of their impact on the world around them. There are so many things that our society wastes. We waste food, water, building materials such as wood from trees and many many more. It's disgusting when you think about all of that money wasted. Think of the time that's wasted too. If you don't change the way you live and shop - you will be leaving the world in a terrible state for future generations.<br /><br />Do you want to go green? What exactly is going green? What exactly makes a product a green product? If you check the label or item description from the manufacturer - you should see no harmful chemical. All of the ingredients and materials should be easily found in the earth. They should be made using natural processes. Don't buy products that were made in a lab using all kinds of nasty substances. Going green means saying no to harmful toxins and unsafe chemicals in your home or workplace.<br /><br />Green products must be made using methods that are environmentally friendly. There's more to going green than just leaving out toxic chemicals. We must use methods to produce our goods and services that are sustainable. Think about some of the factories you have seen. They produce a lot of items. They also produce a lot of waste material. It seems like madness when you really think about it. There is <a href="http://www.biggesttickettowealth.com/executive_commission.aspx">absolutely no reason</a> to be spending more just to produce less. Don't let the big guys at the top play with your future, just so they can make a few quick dollars. Green products are products that are good for the earth, the economy and everyone on it. If this isn't true about a product that a manufacturer is offering - it's not green. Don't buy it!<br /><br />Go green and do your part for our environment. </p><div style="border: 1px solid lightblue; padding: 10px; background-color: rgb(227, 226, 226); width: 470px; text-align: left; margin-top: 40px; margin-bottom: 40px;"> Natures Organic Market has low prices on <a onmousedown="'return" href="http://naturesorganicmarket.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=2_109">organic toys</a>, <a onmousedown="'return" href="http://naturesorganicmarket.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=92_112">organic iced tea</a>, and more. </div>Live Healthyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17161681627086932191noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2401189461508640552.post-80122974578064432732009-11-03T15:39:00.001-08:002009-11-03T15:40:21.752-08:00More Milk Plus Organic MotherLove Increase Breast Milk for Breastfeeding Moms<object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/TzQJOZtXqfs&hl=en&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/TzQJOZtXqfs&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="344" width="425"></embed></object><br /><br /><a href="http://naturesorganicmarket.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=29_64&products_id=228">More Milk Plus</a> offers nursing mothers an organic supplement to increase breast milk supplyLive Healthyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17161681627086932191noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2401189461508640552.post-62670368337931804122009-10-13T14:45:00.000-07:002009-10-13T14:46:09.371-07:00Should I hire a community association management company to help organize my community?<p> The first question you need to ask does your Homeowner Association Board have extensive and practical experience in financial budgets, governance, community operations, and training for new board members. If you didn't immediately answer yes to each of those questions than a professional community association Management Company could be of service to your board. One more thing to consider is with your homeowner association board is not just do you have the experience, though do you have the time.<br /><br />Unless your homeowner association board is made of fulltime board members which it probably is not, you have other responsibilities to your own business or employment that take priority for your time. This is why hiring a community management company is so important. That way you have a fulltime staff working to run your community.<br /><br />One of the most beneficial items from using a professional community management team is operational budgets. The process of having a detailed and accurate budget for board members to make decisions from is crucial to community success. Since management companies with extensive experience have created many successful budgets the difference in accuracy is immense. With realistic budgets and planning your board members can feel confident that they are making the right decisions for their residents. Management services can guide board members through operational challenges that will arise no matter how detailed planning is. The biggest mistake most homeowner association boards make is a lack of a consistent communication process to updates and how the challenge will be solved.<br /><br />When all community processes are handled by trained fulltime staff your community can run smoothly and it makes you look good for your residents. The reality is that most home owners only notice their association board when there are issues. The best boards are the ones that the residents don't even think about.<br /><br />Have you ever been frustrated with new board members? Not that they are not bright and highly accomplished people, though they lack the experience of how your board and community works. Professional community management companies should have experience in how to train new board members into effective decision members that can contribute faster to their respected development.<br /><br />The part that most residents notice the most is the up keep around the properties. Making sure that every person or business responsible is delivering can be overwhelming. The most effective community management companies have systems in place to organic and manage each community to keep property values and impressions up.<br /><br />Just think if your homeowner association board is having any issues that professional community management could take care of. Less head aches and smoother management makes being on a association board more enjoyable and effective. </p><div style="border: 1px solid lightblue; padding: 10px; background-color: rgb(227, 226, 226); width: 470px; text-align: left; margin-top: 40px; margin-bottom: 40px;"> Parker Finch specializes in <a onmousedown="'return" href="http://www.parkerfinch.com/">professional community management</a> with <a onmousedown="'return" href="http://www.parkerfinch.com/24-Hour-Day-Access-to-Online-HOA-Services---Parker-Finch%7E33138%7E10879.htm">online resident services</a> for home owners. </div>Live Healthyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17161681627086932191noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2401189461508640552.post-18910268803890577092009-09-16T10:09:00.000-07:002009-09-16T10:12:08.369-07:00Why is Antarctica a fragile environmentAntarctica, being the last unexplored and unexploited continent on earth is largely untouched and not a contributor to the <a href="http://www.erasecarbonfootprint.com/global-warming.html">global warming</a>. Its harsh environment has remained unchanged through millenniums. It is considerably large, about double of Australia’s size, and is covered by a thick sheet of ice. The ice acts as a reflector which makes most of the sun’s heat bounce back leaving the continent cold (-57 deg Fahrenheit) The continent of Antarctica is home to a uniquely beautiful and harsh environment that makes it the coldest place on earth.<br /><br />All this may soon change as the desire to explore and mine the <a href="http://erasecarbonfootprint.blogspot.com/2009/09/why-is-styrofoam-bad-for-environment.html">natural resources</a> of the planet is gaining momentum. Ever since the 1950s scientists have been setting up research stations and exploring the continent, often at huge personal risk. By late 1950s some twelve countries established their bases in Antarctica. The world sat up and took notice. The SCAR (Scientific Committee on Antarctica Research) was formed with the US, Norway, Chile, France, Argentina, U.K., Australia, Russia, New Zealand, South Africa, Japan, Belgium, as members. Poland and Germany joined later. The objective of this committee is to share the research and findings and also consider the issue of climate change.<br /><br />In 1980 however large deposits of valuable resources such as oil, coal and natural gas were discovered and this has led to a debate on whether to exploit these reserves or not. The debate is pertinent because Antarctica has a huge influence on the climate of the world and the slightest disturbance can have a huge, detrimental impact on the world climate. For example, if just the west Antarctica’s ice sheet melts, the sea level world wide could rise about 20 feet resulting in wide spread flooding in the coastal regions and devastation. It is a valid fear that any thoughtless tampering with the untouched Antarctic environment could lead to increasing the already upset environmental health of the world.<br /><br />In 1991 a 50 year moratorium was imposed on the use and exploitation of Antarctica’s natural resources, however there is a valid fear that economic and political pressures could lead to nations disregarding it. The global demand for energy keeps rising and this may lead to opening up of Antarctica for oil exploration. If so, the repercussions will be severe as it will cause chaos in the fragile environment of the world.Live Healthyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17161681627086932191noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2401189461508640552.post-14205715286005052272009-09-11T09:07:00.000-07:002009-09-11T09:09:35.666-07:00Why is Styrofoam bad for the environment?Styrofoam is getting bad press recently and justifiably so. We have all been informed, most emphatically; by environmentalists that Styrofoam does bad things to the planet. A lot of public relations exercises have been done by manufacturers about Styrofoam <a href="http://www.erasecarbonfootprint.com/articles-carbon-footprint/71-why-recycling-is-important.html">recycling</a> the efficacy of which is also suspect. <br /><br />First of all Styrofoam is not foam at all. It is a synthetic material formed by extruded polystyrene and is trademarked by the manufacturer, Dow Chemical Co. Polystyrene is used for protective <a href="http://erasecarbonfootprint.blogspot.com/2009/08/what-does-organic-label-really-mean.html">packaging of food</a> and also for packing non-durables like audio and video cassettes etc. Originally this was considered a wonderful invention in 1940s and put to varied uses because of its many qualities like superior insulating and buoyancy. <br /><br />However it has a lot of unfavorable qualities too, that are truly harmful to both the human health and the environment.<br /><br /> 1. Styrofoam has toxins which leach out of these containers into the edible food that are packaged. Polystyrene actually emits harmful things like Styrene and Benzene into the air and into the food that has been packed in such containers. When the food is eaten, these toxins affect the reproductive system of the consumer. Styrene then ends up getting stored in our fat cells, where they can accumulate to dangerous levels causing nervousness, fatigue, insomnia, depression and nervousness. Benzene causes cancer in humans. Now, due to more awareness, less of these products are used for packing edibles, but they are still used. The reason is that Styrofoam is cheaper than paper cups and containers. <br /><br />2. Styrofoam products are made with petroleum. Petroleum is a heavy pollutant; moreover this is a commodity that is getting scarce. This is another negative against using Styrofoam.<br /><br />3. The product is not biodegrade. It seems to last eternally. The reason is that the environment does not seem to harm it. Moreover, since it is light, the wind makes it fly away, and it floats on water. Over long periods of time, a great deal of this material has accumulated in our water bodies, affecting marine life.<br /><br />3. The Styrofoam that ends up in our garbage continues to live there indefinitely. Over time, animals end up eating it and it clogs their digestive systems. Since animals do get eaten by others and also by man, it directly and indirectly affects our health.<br /><br />4. Styrofoam is increasingly taking up space in our landfills. The landfills will eventually be breached, and since it does not break down and get recycled by the earth, this is a dangerous situation.<br /><br />5. Styrofoam manufacturing is done using hydrofluorocarbons or HFCs and more recently CFCs that contribute to global warming and deplete the ozone layer.Live Healthyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17161681627086932191noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2401189461508640552.post-38935925795840131182009-09-08T08:35:00.000-07:002009-09-08T08:37:25.286-07:00What is Carbon FootprintA lot has been said and discussed about the carbon footprint, and how we need to reduce our carbon footprint to save the planet. In order to do so we need to first understand what carbon footprint is. Carbon footprint refers to the emissions of carbon dioxide or green house gases we emit in the course of our daily activity. <br />Allow me to explain this. The carbon footprint that the person has on the environment can be calculated by the lifestyle of the person, his actions, his home and the level of emission of greenhouse gases that these things emit. These emissions of greenhouse gases are then measured and calculated to CO2 units, and figure reached by these calculations are the carbon footprint of the person.<br /><br />Actually, everything we do can add to our carbon footprint. Every breath we take also adds to our carbon footprint. This does not mean that we stop breathing!!! We can however start being careful and making corrections in our lifestyle. Small changes in our lifestyle can go a long way to reduce our carbon footprint.<br /><br />All our actions, driving a car, cooking food, energy consumption through one’s day and night produces carbon. The climate of earth is undergoing rapid changes that are not beneficial for the atmosphere and our well being. As per environmentalists, the carbon emissions produced by humans has caused our environment great harm. Polar ice caps have shrunk over the last hundred years or so, the climate is changing and the seasons have shifted. We are harming the planet.<br /><br />We need to take steps to reduce our carbon footprint. An excellent way of doing this is to reduce our energy consumption. Switch off the TV when not in use, unplug our electrical gadgets or switch off power points when we are not using them. We can also switch of lights when we don’t need them. This is a good way to reduce our <a href="http://www.erasecarbonfootprint.com/">carbon footprint</a>.<br /><br />We can start reducing our carbon footprint by reducing our fuel consumption. One excellent way of doing it is to take public transport, or start a car pool. For short distances it is always a good idea to walk. It saves the gas bill and also helps reduce carbon footprint.<br /><br />Planting trees is a good way to reduce the <a href="http://erasecarbonfootprint.blogspot.com/2007/12/three-global-warming-prevention-tips.html">carbon emissions</a>. Trees help reducing the carbon in the atmosphere and are healthy for us.<br /><br />Small things like this go a long way to help us with carbon emissions.Live Healthyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17161681627086932191noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2401189461508640552.post-46586709224850423642009-09-01T14:23:00.000-07:002009-09-01T14:25:53.061-07:00Do you know your carbon footprintCarbon footprint is an issue that has been worrying environmentalists for quite some time, because due to greenhouse gas emissions the planet has become hotter, the polar ice caps have shrunk and there are more natural calamities. The truth is that we have impacted the earth’s climate in a very harmful way due to our living habits.<br /><br />There are two types of carbon footprints due to human activity;<br /><br />1. Primary carbon foot print which is the direct carbon emission done by a human being’s activity – such as fuel and energy consumption<br /><br />2. Secondary <a href="http://www.erasecarbonfootprint.com/">carbon footprint</a> which is the indirect carbon emissions, for instance if you prefer to buy and eat food products from overseas, it burns a lot of fuel to get to your table. It also relates to your fashion tastes, if you recycle or not, and even what you prefer to do in your free time.<br /><br />Food Preference also means that if you like to eat meat, you would have a larger carbon footprint since cooking of meat takes longer than cooking of organic vegetables. Processing meat also takes longer.<br /><br />Another significant feature of larger footprints is excessive buying of clothes and accessories, just to keep up with fashion.<br /><br />Hobbies can be environmentally beneficial or not, it depends on what you choose. If you would like to race automobiles or speed boat you are consuming more fuel and that will increase carbon emissions.<br /><br />It is imperative to know what your carbon footprint is so that one can take steps to reduce it. Reduction of carbon footprint is not difficult. Small insignificant changes in lifestyle and habits go a long way in reducing carbon footprint.<br /><br />The car you use, the distances you drive, your fuel consumption can be calculated. How you heat your home, the air-conditioning you use also emits carbon gases. So does the food and other stuff you buy. <br /><br />If you go online, you will find excellent ways to calculate your carbon footprint taking your lifestyle into account. To reduce your carbon footprint, you have to simply go back to a simpler lifestyle. You would need to start re-cycling, re-using and also returning to the environment by planting trees.<br /><br />The best part in all this effort would be that you will also save money. Eating food that you grow at home, reducing your fuel and energy consumption would mean that you will be spending less money. Cutting down on your clothes bill and keeping your needs simple makes a positive impact not only on the environment but also your budget.Live Healthyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17161681627086932191noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2401189461508640552.post-75112398321293339622009-08-30T14:40:00.000-07:002009-08-30T14:41:51.932-07:00What does the Organic Label Really Mean?<p> Thanks to the 'Organic' labels -the consumers can now spare themselves the trouble of going through the list of ingredients on a product's packet in order to decide whether it is organic or not. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has introduced a few national standards that need to be met before companies can use the term "organic" for their <a href="http://erasecarbonfootprint.blogspot.com/2009/08/how-does-organic-food-affect-your-body.html">food items</a>. Any product labeled 'Organic' assures that it is created without the use of artificial hormones, antibiotics, pesticides, bio energy, or irradiation. The farmers involved in the agriculture of organic foods are not only required to abide by certain water and soil conservation mechanisms, but also need to give a benign treatment to animals.<br /><br />The Definition of Organic<br /><br />It may be strange yet interesting to note that marking a food item as organic does not necessarily indicate that the food is healthful and nutritive. The USDA does not claim that food produced organically has more salubrious benefits than conventional food, but it does assure that such foods do not contain any pesticides or harmful chemicals. Therefore, the picky consumers, who pay a lot of heed to nutritional values of everything they eat, are still required to read labels attentively in order to decide how nutritious their diet is going to be. Another interpretation conveys that the term 'organic' does not mean 'natural.' All it means is that USDA has approved the food.<br /><br />USDA's Steps towards Creating Organic Foods<br /><br />These days, the USDA makes the use of state and private agencies in order to carry out inspections on food companies to certify them to market organic foods. However, all the farmers making less than $5000 through organic sales are exempted from the process of certification. They do however, have to comply with the latest standards of the government and be veracious about their claims for organic label. A fine, as large as $10,000, can be issued upon the companies and individuals, who try to label or sell a product, which does not meet the USDA standards.<br /><br />The Benefits of Organic Foods over Conventional Foods<br /><br />The best thing about organic foods is that they comprise of less amounts of minerals. Most of the other foods contain heavy metals, detrimental to our health in the end. These metals include aluminum, which is responsible for Alzheimer's disease; Mercury, which causes neurological damage; and lead, the mental implications of which are known to affect children's IQ adversely.<br /><br />Therefore, in a world where nothing can be trusted for complete purity, the consumption of foods, certified as organic can certainly define your path towards a healthier lifestyle. </p><hr /> Natures Organic Market offers high quality <a onmousedown="'return" href="http://naturesorganicmarket.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=37">organic skin care</a>, <a onmousedown="'return" href="http://naturesorganicmarket.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=58">organic coffee</a>, and more.Live Healthyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17161681627086932191noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2401189461508640552.post-70548359786219844782009-08-25T13:53:00.000-07:002009-08-25T13:55:06.630-07:00How Does Organic Food Affect Your Body<p> Present day health conscious people are attracted more towards natural living fundamental, which includes organic foods as well. But, why do people prefer organic foods instead of conventional foods? How does organic ingredients affect your body? Organic products actually are specially grown food products, rich in organic ingredients, inculcated deliberately. Diets rich in organic health items give natural and fresh dose to the body, as compared to the pesticide inflicted non-organic foods, generally available in the market. Sometimes, conventional foods contain genetically modified organisms (GMO).<br /><br />Problems associated with non-organic foods The following problems are commonly associated with non-organic products:<br /><br />Low energy Levels<br /><br />Low libido<br /><br />Low motivation levels<br /><br />Low metabolism <a href="http://erasecarbonfootprint.blogspot.com/2009/04/what-is-organic-farming-and-is-it.html">Benefits of organic foods</a> for the body Organic items provide not only mental and emotional benefits, but also the physical ones. Therefore, organic foods are fulfilling mentally, physically, and psychologically. Organic products do not contain toxins such as pesticides, antibiotics, additives, and nitrates that are mostly present in non-organic foods. According to an article in the Journal of Applied Nutrition, organic foods are nearly the best ones in the terms of nutritional quality.<br /><br />Nutrients content of organic foods<br /><br />Haves: Some of the rich nutrients, largely available in organic health items are:<br /><br />Chromium - A micro-nutrient, found less in conventional food. Its deficiency may cause diabetes and atherosclerosis in adults.<br /><br />Selenium - An antioxidant micro-nutrient, which protects from cancer, heart disease, and environmental chemical<br /><br />Calcium - A mineral required for strong bones and teethes<br /><br />Boron - This trace element prevents osteoporosis<br /><br />Lithium - Good for the treatment of certain level of depression<br /><br />Magnesium - Decreases the death rate, caused due to heart attacks and eases the symptoms of PMS<br /><br />Vitamins - They are necessary for the body in limited supply for its proper functions and its protection against toxins. Vitamins A, B, C (antioxidant), and beta carotene (immunity booster & prevents lung cancer) are found well in organic foods<br /><br />Have Nots: According to the researchers, organic foods contain less level of minerals, especially the following heavy metals:<br /><br />Aluminum - Is responsible for the development of Alzheimer's disease<br /><br />Lead - Has mental implications and can adversely affect children's IQ<br /><br />Mercury - It causes neurological damage<br /><br />Therefore, consuming organic produce is certainly a good idea and promise for good health and long lives, provided you follow the right diet patterns coupled with regular exercising! Organic products have health benefits for you and for the environment that makes long term differences. </p><hr /> Natures Organic Market offers discount prices on <a onmousedown="'return" href="http://www.naturesorganicmarket.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=2">organic baby clothes</a>, <a onmousedown="'return" href="http://www.naturesorganicmarket.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=58">organic coffee</a>, and more.Live Healthyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17161681627086932191noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2401189461508640552.post-80434858210574733262009-04-13T15:51:00.000-07:002009-04-13T15:52:49.595-07:00What is Organic Farming and is it Important<p> Organic farming is a broad concept with extreme application. It is well appreciated on a large scale by the people as now with the help of it they can easily grow their own food. If you have a little bit of free time with you then you need not to face any kind of problem. You can prepare and serve good quality delicious food by doing organic farming at your home.<br /><br />It is not true that organic farming is <a href="http://www.saveontans.com/">practiced</a> at a small scale only. By having a trip of farming sector you can easily understand how much vast this sector actually is. This is not the case some time before. Few years back it was not a highly thriving and demanding sector but now the case has totally changed. It is now not limited to a small scale industry as day by day more corporate sectors are taking interest in this field. Large corporate farming is taking keen interest in the concept of organic farming. Continuous research is going on to find out the way by which huge fields of a single crop can be grown. No one can deny the fact that in the process of organic farming, pests are believed to be the major threat. Due to harmful impact on the biodiversity unnatural pesticides are not much preferred to use.<br /><br />If you are going for the natural pesticides for controlling the pests then it is certainly an eco friendly approach but believed to be much expensive in contrast to unnatural ones. Some time before, due to expensive nature they were not much preferred in the process of organic farming. After the entrance of large scale industries with huge budget this can be achieved now very easily. Natural pesticides can be a good option when it is about the large scale organic farming but if you are going for it at your home or at a small scale in a separate piece of land then it is advisable to look for any other good option. This is because like other kinds of farming organic farming also requires the process of sowing, cultivating and harvesting. If you do not have proper arrangement of water for the purpose of irrigation then you require depending largely on the rain water. If you are concluding the process of organic farming at your home then irrigation is not a big issue but even at a small scale proper arrangement of water is very essential. If you do not have a huge budget with you then it can be a difficult work for you. You require investing a good amount on purchase of seeds, irrigation, fertilizers, harvesting, etc.<br /><br />There is much debate till now on the use of unnatural pesticides in the process of organic farming. Several environmentalists and consumer protection organization have claimed that the use of unnatural pesticides not only damage the environment but also have an adverse impact on the quality of food. For killing the insects and pests these pesticides are used but they are not considered helpful after sometime. It is so because these insects as well as the pests easily get adapted to the effects of the chemicals <a href="http://indoor-tan.blogspot.com/">involved in them</a> and so these pesticides looses their worth. Sooner or later it damages the health of the final consumer who without knowing consumes a large amount of lethal chemicals and synthesized materials along with the natural food. Thus it is injurious for the health of the human being as well.<br /><br />Thus there are several ways by which you can have your favorite vegetables as well as fruits and that too with the help of inorganic as well as organic farming. As there are several pros as well as cons of both it is up to you to decide the one that is best for you. You can make use of organic farming to turn your dreams into reality and the best part is it is already benefiting millions of people so you are not at all required to worry for it as well. </p><hr /> NaturesOrganicMarket.com offers discount prices on <a href="http://www.naturesorganicmarket.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=2">organic baby clothes</a>, <a href="http://www.naturesorganicmarket.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=58">organic coffee</a>, and more.Live Healthyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17161681627086932191noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2401189461508640552.post-60566171111802110662009-01-08T15:09:00.000-08:002009-01-08T15:11:16.226-08:00When Mother Nature Fires BackCATASTROPHIC LOSSES -MOTHER NATURE<br /><br />The people who lost their <a href="http://stores.ebay.com/naturesorganicmarket?refid=store">homes</a> in the recent California fires are suffering from multiple catastrophic losses. These losses are sudden, senseless, unexpected and unjust. The survivors are left with a special set of problems, and the mourning period is prolonged, pending legal mandates, insurance or FEMA assistance. Frequently the anger stage is extended until financial and legal issues have been resolved.<br /><br />Mother Nature<br /><br />The awesome power of nature can be overwhelming. Human beings are at the mercy of the natural elements and activity on our planet: wildfires, tornadoes, earthquakes, hurricanes, tsunamis, floods, avalanches and volcanic eruptions claim many lives every year. Sometimes entire communities have been wiped out due to a natural disaster. The tsunamis in Southeast Asia in December of 2004 killed 230,000 people in a dozen countries. Many more died later of hunger, and the recovery effort to rebuild the survivors’ lives and communities continues. Many people affected by this natural disaster are still without critical infrastructure like roads, power, drainage, and vegetation.<br /><br />Hurricane Katrina, a category five hurricane, hit New Orleans and the Gulf Coast in August 2005 with a vengeance, leaving nearly two thousand dead, thousands more homeless, and an estimated $84 billion dollars in damage.<br /><br />The whole country rallied by donating blood and sending money, clothes, and food to help the relief efforts, but those who lost loved ones have no one to blame and must grieve for those who died. Survivors experienced multiple losses: their homes, clothes, and personal possessions, many of which are irreplaceable – family <a href="http://canyoneering-adventure.blogspot.com/">photos</a> and paperwork, for example.<br /><br />Fortunately, with modern technology we sometimes have enough forewarning to evacuate, as the dreaded event gets close. But this is only true of some disasters, and only possible in developed countries.<br /><br />These events may also cause sudden, unexpected deaths of people and pets, and the grieving process must be done after the fact and after the loss. There will be many others who have gone through the experience with you, so you will have a common experience of loss and you may be able to comfort each other. But for your individual loss, you will feel your own personal pain, and will need to grieve and heal yourself in your own way.<br /><br />The Trauma of Victimization<br /><br />Initially people are grateful to survive, to be alive and quickly conclude that what they have lost are just “things.” When it is an act of nature there is no one to blame. But it is different if it is proven that an arsonist set the fire. Then grief will be focused on the perpetrator of the crime. Relatives of victims suffer too. The shock leaves everyone in a state of psychological disruption and disorganization, unable to think clearly or to make decisions. They will feel overwhelmed and devastated by the shock their loss and the emotional pain caused will last for a long time. As they pick through the ashes they will remember what they can’t replace, photos, collections, collectibles, art work, keepsakes and other things that they were attached to. Difficult decisions will need to be made—about rebuilding or moving. Financial devastation will be an issue for many who had no insurance or were underinsured.<br /><br />They can't understand why this happened to them. It is senseless. Their lives may be shattered in a variety of ways. There may be other losses like a pet that couldn’t be rescued, or perhaps a physical injury is involved. People often suffer post-traumatic stress after such losses and seeking counseling is a good thing to do. Victims will grieve for multiple losses.<br /><br />If a criminal act is involved then anger will be focused on the legal system. Victim rights groups believe that education of the public about how the criminal justice system works is critical. This can be a long frustrating process with no compensation at the end of the road, if the person is indigent. A perpetrator who is arrested may get out on bail, have his trial delayed for over a year, and may go through several years of costly appeals before his final punishment is carried out.<br /><br />Healing grief is related how many losses suffered and how you are able to put your life back together. There is no right or wrong way to grieve, it is a process of emotional healing and unique to every individual. Such a big loss will put stress on your relationships. Be patient and gentle with yourself and with family members.<br /><br />------------------------<br /><br />This article was written by Nancy O'Connor Ph.D.. She worked as a Psychotherapist for 23 years and was the Director of the Grief and Loss Center in Tucson, Arizona for 12 years . She is the author of the best selling book Letting Go With Love: The Grieving Process and How to Grow Up When You're Grown Up: Achieving Balance in Adulthood. How To Talk To Your Doctor. Her books may be reviewed and purchased at http://www.lamariposapress.comLive Healthyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17161681627086932191noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2401189461508640552.post-58455917221860042772008-12-18T13:14:00.001-08:002008-12-18T13:14:34.230-08:00Organic Coffee with Great Taste Produced with Eco Safe Farming Techniques<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/CxlJXcrdSsk&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/CxlJXcrdSsk&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Live Healthyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17161681627086932191noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2401189461508640552.post-26448544733808784962008-12-11T19:13:00.000-08:002008-12-11T19:14:43.743-08:00Laundry Detergent - Harmful to the EnvironmentThe chemicals found in laundry detergents are nothing short of alarming. With the world turning her eyes to creating a safer, <a href="http://www.naturesorganicmarket.com/">greener environment</a>, it is no wonder that consumers are becoming savvy, looking for safer and better alternatives to traditional cleaners and products.<br /><br />Laundry detergents are no exception to the mysterious world of vague labels and ingredients, leaving the consumer unaware of the potential harmful effects it may have on herself, her family, or the environment.<br /><br />Specifically, there are certain toxins present in laundry detergents that take particular aim at the environment. Linear alkyl sodium sulfonates (LAS) are more commonly listed as 'anionic surfactants' on detergent labels. They are one of the more common surfactants found in laundry detergents. They are a synthetic product.<br /><br />As they are manufactured, cancer causing or carcinogenic toxins, as well as reproductive toxins are released into the environment. Benzene is one such toxin, and if this were not detrimental enough, these also biodegrade very slowly.<br /><br />Another harmful chemical that is frequently found in laundry detergents are phosphates. Used to remove hard-water minerals and as a preventive measure to keep dirt from settling onto clothes while being washed. Overall, they are used to make detergents more effective.<br /><br />However, their negative impact on the environment is monumental. After their release into the environment, they can actually activate growth in marine plants. This can result in unbalanced ecosystems, forcing a lot of environmental changes that are not positive.<br /><br />Since phosphates are so problematic, a lot of states have banned or limited their use. Some detergents even advertise their low or nonexistent phosphate level.<br /><br />In essence, safer alternatives for the environment need to be utilized. Laundry detergents that contain these harmful products need to be altered or perhaps a new method of washing clothes can be implemented.<br /><br />Since much of these products do not openly delineate the kind of harmful ingredients it uses, it may be difficult for the consumer to know just how detrimental they are to them and the environment.<br /><br />Avoiding such products that contain anionic surfactants or linear alkyl sodium sulfonates, and phosphates is a move in the right direction.<br /><br />Better alternatives are on the horizon for those who want to make a transition from the traditional way of washing clothes to a newer, safer method. The cause for concern with laundry detergents and other chemically driven <a href="http://auctions.liveleantoday.com/auctions/auctions.cfm">products</a> like it is real, but becoming informed of the hazards can aid in making a change for the better.<br /><br />------------------------<br /><br />Take a stand against environmentally harmful laundry detergents, find the best alternative at http://www.magneticlaundrysecrets.comLive Healthyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17161681627086932191noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2401189461508640552.post-81726398292230258252008-11-11T15:32:00.000-08:002008-11-11T15:33:28.803-08:00Lower Stress While Driving<p> Have you ever noticed how stressed you get behind the wheel of a car. We get upset when the person in front of us is driving to slow, traffic is backed up, a car cuts us off, or wishing the kids in the back would settle down. As we know <a href="http://www.naturesorganicmarket.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=66_71&products_id=229">stress</a> causes many of the health problems we face today. Just think how a reduction in your stress while driving will make you healthier, especially when you think how many times we drive everyday.<br /><br />bmwIf you live in an area similar to my parents in South Dakota you may be thinking to yourself what stress while driving. This article is for the rest of the world that has to deal with traffic, road construction, and more learner permit drivers than we know what to do with. The average person spends 1.5 hours a day behind the wheel of a car. Since we are not going to being spending this time exercising we can learn to lower our stress and improve our health while we drive.<br /><br />The first secret to lower your stress while driving is to identify what cause you stress while behind the wheel. Most people have some daily event that causes their stress levels to rise. For some it is when they are stuck in traffic, getting cut off, changing lanes, or bad weather. These stresses are usually caused by fear that you may not be aware of. For instance when you hit gridlock in traffic is it really the traffic that upsets you or the fact that you are going to be late. You may find though you get upset at the traffic that it is really an underlining issue that causes your stress. The more you understand what causes you stress behind the wheel the better you can make a better choice to distress while driving.<br /><br />I used to train a psychiatrist who talked about that one of the most common syptoms she would treat was road anxiety. She helped these people by having them eat a candy bar on their way home from work when they were the most stressed. What she didn’t know was that the reason people are so irritable on the way home from work comes a lack of proper eating habits. You body wants 5 small meals a day when it doesn’t get it your body finds unhealthy ways to get energy. In the case of our rush hour drivers, because they typically eat 3 meals or less, they have low blood sugar while driving home which causes them to be quickly go to anxiety and rage. You will find as your blood sugar is stable from eating throughout the day, your stress levels reduce substantially.<br /><br />Tips for Better Stress Free Driving<br /><br />1. Start your trip earlier: It will always take longer than you think to get some where, especially if you live in a big city. Most people’s <a href="http://www.nutritionsportsupplement.com/">stress rises</a> because they didn’t give themselves enough time reach their destination if things don’t go perfectly. If you start early than you won’t be as bothered when traffic situations happen.<br /><br />2. Relax while driving: Use the time while driving to unwind and reflect about your day. If you have a lengthy commute home spend the time being alone with yourself instead of racing to get home as fast as you can to only have plenty of stuff do once you get their. You have an opportunity to take a few minutes out of the rat race while you drive home.<br /><br />3. Be courteous: We all hate it when someone cuts us off though I can’t throw the first stone from never cutting people off myself. A person once told me that how would you feel if that person was rushing a dying person to the hospital and that if they make it on time the person would survive. Every time I see a person driving dangerously I wish them well and hope that their need to drive fast has benefit for them. This works the same during accidents which if you live in Phoenix is an everyday occurrence. What calms me down is I truly hope the people are ok. Though I don’t like traffic slowing down, I don’t people hurt either. I find I lose my anger when I think of the poor people who are having it worse than my delay home. </p><hr /> Shop.liveleantoday.com offers the latest <a href="http://shop.liveleantoday.com/department/ephedrine-diet-pills-10133.cfm">diet ephedrine pill</a> and <a href="http://shop.liveleantoday.com/department/muscle-pump-arginine-10059.cfm">nitric oxide supplement</a> at discount prices.Live Healthyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17161681627086932191noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2401189461508640552.post-9042002446960271562008-10-28T15:57:00.001-07:002008-10-28T15:59:33.798-07:00What is Organic Coffee and how is it Grown<p> Organic is a new word used in the context of coffee, tea, cocoa and other food materials in recent times around local shops and super markets. Every year the word is being used by buying public more than the previous year and its use is growing year after year resulting in higher sale proportion of tea or coffee marked as 100% <a href="http://modern-organic.blogspot.com/">organically grown</a>.<br /><br />What is organically grown?<br /><br />To simply put it, organic farming methods leave least or no harmful impact on the surrounding environment. Organic agricultural production systems are mostly traditional methods evolved through learning from nature. In the organic farming methods no synthetic chemical fertilizer or pesticide is used. So that organic production means natural, pure and healthy.<br /><br />How coffee grows in nature<br /><br />The coffee plant does not need much direct sun light and so it grows under the shade of large trees. The ground is never sprayed with any chemical insecticide or fertilizer and so the ground water remains pure and uncontaminated. From the canopy of trees leaves fall steadily and the ground is covered by fallen leaves layer on layer. The layers of fallen leaves work as a blanket and protect the moisture of the ground. The moisture in <a href="http://www.authorityseo.com/">turn help</a> the process of compost to turn the bottom layers of leaves into natural manure to nourish the land.<br /><br />The thick foliage of shade trees over the coffee bushes house many varieties of birds and also attracts the migratory birds. The birds live on small insects and pests. So they work as natural pest controllers and keep the coffee plants healthy.<br /><br />The coffee that grows in the shade of other local trees become original and pure in taste and flavor Organic Coffee.<br /><br />The proposed plantation site is selected carefully. And if the site was being used to grow some other crop using chemical fertilizer or chemical insecticides, then a minimum period of three years are given as conversion years for the proposed site to get over the effects of the harmful chemicals.<br /><br />After the conversion years coffee bushes are planted along with local shade trees. Care is given equally to the coffee bushes and shade trees and effort is put in to leave bird population to grow undisturbed.<br /><br />The fallen leaves are left undisturbed to convert into manure to nourish the land and keep it fertile. The bird population effectively controls the pests and harmful insect and protects the coffee bushes. And finally for decaffeinating, approved processes are employed including the Swiss Water process. The coffee thus produced is organic coffee.<br /><br />Organic vs. commercial production<br /><br />Organic production methods along with producing coffee intend to protect environment. In this process of growing coffee, more and more trees are grown due to that local biodiversity is achieved. In this method, soil fertility and nutrients are sustained. No chemical pollution is created to harm the human health.<br /><br />In contrast in commercial profit oriented method of growing coffee, the trees are felled and the cumulative effect is deforestation. Deforestation leads to soil erosion and severe depletion. The commercial grower cuts trees to allow direct sun light which increases production. As there are no birds to control pests and due to the absence of trees and its natural manure, farmers are forced to use chemical fertilizers and pesticides severely harming the environment.<br /><br />Organic coffee - lifeline of future<br /><br />Organic production process is eco friendly and helps to repair the environment spoilt by the greedy profit oriented approach of commercial growers of coffee through growing more and more shade trees.<br /><br />Protecting environment locally helps to enhance the eco system. Rejuvenation and eco system alone can help the planet from disaster and help to sustain life on this planet.<br /><br />Organic coffee is our responsibility, almost a human duty and life line to healthy future of mankind. </p><hr /> Naturesorganicmarket.com offers low prices on <a href="http://www.naturesorganicmarket.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=58">organic coffee</a>, <a href="http://www.naturesorganicmarket.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=2">organic baby clothes</a>, and more.Live Healthyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17161681627086932191noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2401189461508640552.post-70020249537588556012008-09-11T16:06:00.000-07:002008-09-11T16:07:59.202-07:00How Do I Know If My Product is Organic<p> What is organic food? The term is becoming more popular. In the United States for a product to claim that it is 100% organic is has to produced following legally regulated guidelines and be subject to strict testing. Typically to because of the detail involve to get the ultra healthy organic food it costs more than the fertilizer and pesticide rich alternatives.<br /><br />The term organic means that the <a href="http://muscle-lean.blogspot.com/">food was produced</a> without the use of conventional pesticides, synthetic fertilizers or sewage, and that no artificial additives to included in the process. When the term organic relates to animals like beef, the animals are free of antibiotics and growth hormones given typically to make the animals bigger.<br /><br />In the beginning the only place to get organic food was from your local farmers market. Not any more. Now, family run farms are being over taken by commercial operations that produce still 100% organic food faster and meet the new demand for the products. The United States has grown by 17-20% in organic food sales in the last few years. You can now get organic products from online retailers to Wal-Mart.<br /><br />In the United States, companies have to pass tough testing and regulations to call their products organic. The term certified organic means that the USDA has certified that the product in question is actually 100% organic. A farmer commercial or family run must apply for their certification. Not all organic food is certified. <a href="http://www.ephedraleaves.com/">Food products</a> can be organic and just not have gone through the approval process to be certified.<br /><br />With the every increasing demand for organic products, more and more products are finding their way into becoming organic. Now, coffee, ice cream, and ketchup can all be found with organic labels and ingredients. There is now an overwhelming change from the overly processed foods that line our grocery stores to more all natural products.<br /><br />The term all natural is not govern, so the only way to know a product is organic is to get it from a trusted source or grown it yourself. The ladder probably isn't going to happen for most of us. All natural products are not necessarily bad. They are just not going through the certification process to be considered 100% organic.<br /><br />Looks for the organic label from your trusted places you buy your products. You will have to make the decision on the products that might be 70% or 35% organic. For some products that is as good as it gets for the time being. With the demand high more and more products will start becoming organic. They have to. </p><hr /> Natures Organic Market has low prices on <a href="http://www.naturesorganicmarket.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=2">organic baby clothes</a>, <a href="http://www.naturesorganicmarket.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=29_30">organic protein bars</a>, and more.Live Healthyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17161681627086932191noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2401189461508640552.post-12936275846229302722008-08-09T22:48:00.000-07:002008-08-09T22:50:24.581-07:00Organic Baby Clothes - Cute Infant Playing<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/MwsjR3mrfu4&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/MwsjR3mrfu4&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Live Healthyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17161681627086932191noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2401189461508640552.post-40634801629171515692008-08-09T15:24:00.000-07:002008-08-09T15:25:47.997-07:00Greater Green Living by Shopping OnlineUnited States of America (Press Release) August 9, 2008 -- Our addiction to oil has two major issues. First, with the ever increasing rise in gas prices people are having trouble having enough money for basic living expenses. Second, car emissions send tons of CO2 into the atmosphere, which is one of the leading causes of global warming. A new unlikely people are fighting back is by doing their shopping online.<br /><br />Natures Organic Market has found that many of their customers are now shopping online due to the energy crunch. As people want to live more "Green," they are looking for all ways that they can cut back on the energy their require for daily activities. Shopping online makes it convenient to get the things you want. It is better on greenhouse gases for one delivery truck drive carrying 500 packages, then 500 separate people all get in their cars and go to the store.<br /><br />The best part is that shopping online also saves money. Products are typically cheaper online as they don't have to pay for brick and motor stores. So, before we go any farther you will typically save money just shopping online. Second, if you have been watching your money at the pump melt away, then you understand the total savings in dollars and sense for getting your purchases delivered to you.<br /><br />As more people are going to Green Living it only makes sense to get your organic products online. The carbon footprint of hosting a webpage pails in comparison to the energy required to keep a large store open for 12 hours a day.<br /><br />Overall shopping online saves money, lowers greenhouse emissions, and lowers the total carbon footprint of purchasing items.<br /><br /><div style="margin: 5px;"><strong>For more information:</strong></div><br /><div>Visit our website: <a href="http://www.naturesorganicmarket.com/" target="_blank" title="Greater Green Living by Shopping Online">http://www.naturesorganicmarket.com</a></div>Live Healthyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17161681627086932191noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2401189461508640552.post-58999103269644661752008-08-01T19:50:00.000-07:002008-08-01T19:54:31.198-07:00The Diaspora of FoodStephen Brooks is the co-founder of Kopali Organics and a correspondent for Planet Green’s G Word .<br /><br />Isn’t it crazy to think that everything we eat or use that <a href="http://www.greensproducts.com/">comes from plants</a> at one time grew completely wild? That’s right, rice, corn, beans, cotton, oranges, tomatoes… everything came from somewhere on the earth and grew there wild. It’s somewhat hard to believe.<br /><br />Then, in the past several thousand years, humans selected the ones they liked best and found most useful and began selecting the best varieties of each. For example, I have this friend down in Costa Rica that recently planted 2000 rambutan trees (they are like a hairy lychee). He waited for four years until they all began to bear fruit and tasted the fruit from all of them. He selected the five trees he thought had the best fruit and then cut down 1,995 of them. He then grafted from those five best trees and refilled the plantation with the selected varieties. This type of plant selection went on all over the world and civilizations improved their favorite foods and plants. These different varieties of plants were selected for many reasons, ranging from the fewest seeds to the sweetest pulp, from the fluffiest cotton bunches to the brightest colored oranges. Varieties were selected for a whole range of reasons. Today, unfortunately, one of the most important traits plant growers strive for is shelf life, which is often more important than even taste.<br /><br />The word diaspora means the dispersion or migration from a country or region and usually refers to the leaving of an ethnic group from their homeland. Here we are talking about different plants, their geographical origins and how and why they moved around the world. The most common movements happened as cultures began spreading to different areas of the world, during which time they often brought their favorite plants with them. Its interesting as well as fun to go on plant walks in port towns where it is evident that sailors from all over the world have briefly stopped in and spread seeds of their favorite foods. Let’s follow a few great examples of this movement.<br /><br />The ancient Polynesians over 1000 years ago would set sail out into the open ocean on their long canoes seeking out new lands. Along with the necessities needed on the journey, such as food and fresh water, they would always pack shoots, roots, cuttings and seeds of plants for food, cordage, medicine, fabric, containers and all of life's vital needs. This included food bearing plants such as taro, banana, coconut and breadfruit, bamboo for building, turmeric and noni for healing, and kava kava for recreational use. Their relationship with these plants was deep. Bringing them along made inhabiting these far away lands more hospitable.<br /><br />Another interesting example of plant diaspora is in the many plants that moved with the African slaves into the Caribbean Islands and eastern coast of Central America. In Costa Rica, for example, as you descend into the Caribbean lowlands from San Jose, the people are mostly descendants of Jamaica and Barbados and the plants and markets are full of foods brought with the slave trade from Africa via the Caribbean and then brought them to Costa Rica. These plants include such delights as breadfruit, ackee and tropical yams. They are rarely seen in other parts of Costa Rica outside of this region. Captain William Bligh, on his famous voyage of the “Bounty”, brought many of these foods to the Caribbean islands, with the intent of being able to feed slaves cheapily and easily.<br /><br />Ackee.JPG<br /><br />Like the fascinating movement of people and cultures around the world and their indoctrination into new lands, foods also go through trials in their new locales. Some have thrived and spread quickly into the landscape, and others would perish and not survive in these new conditions. It is a fun exercise to follow plants back to their origin and learn about their journeys and introductions into new lands. You can start with coffee and its birthplace in……….. Ethiopia. ☺<br /><br /><br />Stephen Brooks is a jungle tropical fruit farmer in Costa Rica, the co-founder of Kopali Organics and is the Food Field Reporter on Planet Green's G Word.Live Healthyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17161681627086932191noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2401189461508640552.post-8020474273377504252008-07-11T09:25:00.000-07:002008-07-11T09:27:17.149-07:00Couple rethinks carbon footprint with green party favors<p>Some of us learn to live with our contradictions. We might talk corporate responsibility but still shop at Wal-Mart. Or worry about global warming but leave every light on.</p><p>While there's no substitute for more conscious living, you can reduce the impact of some of your bad practices.</p><p>That thought came to Ryan Legg and Meredith Nelson after they had planned, by their own descriptions, a rather environmentally unfriendly wedding.</p><p>Committed environmentalists, they try to <a href="http://www.nutritionsportsupplement.com/">live by their principles</a>. They buy local foods, take public transport, don't use air conditioning and keep their home a chilly 65 degrees in winter.</p><p>But this was their contradiction: They wanted a traditional wedding — church ceremony, country-club reception, the works. They knew many of the 165 guests would drive three to five hours to get to the wedding. That's a lot of exhaust to pump into the atmosphere.</p><p>Plus they were serving steak and chicken, though fish would have used four times fewer carbon emissions to produce. And they wanted cut flowers on the tables, though potted plants would have been renewable.</p><p>They were feeling guilty, even with the hydrangeas and peonies coming from local growers. Then, as Legg put it, "We went, "Wait a minute. We should do something good for the environment!' "</p><p>They could, they realized, lessen their environmental faux pas by tallying up the energy expended in each guest's car or plane trip, hotel stay and meals, and from the wedding itself. Once they had a "carbon equivalent," they could buy an equal number of "carbon offsets" to be invested in renewable-energy projects such as wind farms and solar installations.</p><p>The concept is known as carbon trading, and it's the same principle behind the U.N. Kyoto Protocol treaty, which sets limits on each country's carbon emissions. Carbon dioxide is believed to be the No. 1 human-induced cause of global warming.</p><p>Countries buy credits in return for exceeding their limits.</p><p>The United States pulled out of the treaty before it took effect in 2005. But mitigating greenhouse gases can be done at the individual level, too. Each person has a <a href="http://www.erasecarbonfootprint.com/">carbon footprint</a>, representing the amount of carbon dioxide we put into the atmosphere by using fossil fuels such as oil or coal to drive, fly or heat homes. Even the things we buy contribute because of the energy required to create and transport them. You can calculate your carbon footprint using the Web site they did, <a href="http://www.terrapass.com/" target="_blank">www.TerraPass.com</a>.</p><p>The couple arrived at a carbon equivalent of 27,000 pounds. So they bought an equivalent amount of carbon offsets, which cost under $200. Cards on each table let guests know that this was in lieu of party favors. "Better than a little bag of M&M's," says Nelson.</p><p>Legg, 26, and Nelson, 25, are graduate students at Cornell University. Both went into engineering with an interest in improving living standards in the developing world. As a researcher at Cornell's Johnson School Center for Sustainable Global Enterprise, Legg has explored how the private sector is addressing environmental concerns.</p><p>The best way to reduce greenhouse gases and global warming, of course, is to conserve energy, use public transportation or drive more energy-efficient cars. But this is an alternative that promotes awareness and interjects an ethical approach into a major life event. It shows that doing better by the environment (and your conscience) doesn't have to be punishing. You can get pretty creative with it.</p> <p><strong>Rehka Basu is a columnist at the Des Moines Register.</strong></p>Live Healthyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17161681627086932191noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2401189461508640552.post-92230466915072988712008-06-30T10:55:00.000-07:002008-06-30T10:56:49.267-07:00Make Your Car More "Green"<p> If you have been to the pump lately it might be your wallet that makes you want to go more "Green" with your car then before. As it relates to the environment automobiles account for 20% of all greenhouse gases emitted into the air. How <a href="http://www.naturesorganicmarket.com/">ecological friendly</a> you handle your car is one of the best ways to reduce your carbon footprint. Still the only way to offset your carbon footprint is to plant trees. Listed below are the Top 10 things you can do to make your car more "Green."<br /><br />1. Buy a Hybrid Car or Green Car<br /><br />Yes, it doesn't take rocket science to understand that if you buy a more environment friendly car you have reduced your carbon footprint. Hybrids now come in sedans, SUV, and luxury vehicles. If buying a hybrid right now isn't in your budget choosing a car with excellent gas mileage is going to make a big difference.<br /><br />2. How You Drive<br /><br />You drastically increase the fuel you consume and the emissions your car gives off when you accelerate quickly and stop quickly. Driving the speed limit and more smooth as it relates to aggressive driving through the city will save on your gas bill. Also, the more you can take care of all your errands in one trip is better than many short trips to the store.<br /><br />3. Keep Your Car in Shape<br /><br />Regular tune ups of your car will keep your car producing less greenhouse gases, using less gas, and prevents future trouble. It is estimated that if every American's tires were properly inflated to the right level we would save 3 billion gallons of gas every year.<br /><br />4. Offset Carbon Footprint<br /><br />You can plant trees to offset the greenhouse gases you are emitting each year. Planting trees is the only way to offset your carbon footprint.<br /><br />5. Carpool<br /><br />If you have been on the freeway during rush hour you see all the commuters driving by themselves. Not only will you drastically lower your impact on the environment by carpooling you get to go in the carpool lane, as well.<br /><br />6. You Don't Need a Car for Everything<br /><br />For short trips you can take your bike or walk. With cars we don't even think about the other ways we can travel; we just hop in our cars and off we go. Many store items can easily be carried on a bike with a backpack. Also, you can get an electric scooter to get places faster.<br /><br />7. Drive Half Way<br /><br />For some trips walking or your bike isn't the complete answer. Driving your car and then getting on mass transit or driving your car and then parking to then go on your bike both work. Many times if you are going during rush hour, driving until the traffic gets thick and then going on your bike will get you there faster than sitting in the bumper to bumper traffic.<br /><br />8. Use Less AC<br /><br />Using a windshield protector can reduce how hot your car gets allowing you to use less air conditioner in the car. Turn your AC on low instead of high uses less gas. Don't forget to park in the shade to also keep your car cooler.<br /><br />9. Use the Web<br /><br />With the easy access to the web these days you can have video conferences, send email, and buy your products online. A video chat can be just as good as a face to face meeting without using gas and your car.<br /><br />10. Go without a Car<br /><br />For those that are willing to take it on it can be done. You would be surprised with a change in thinking how it is possible for some to go without a car. Using physical transportation like a bike and mass transit can get you around. Also, for those that want to it may be important to live closer to work or the stores you need or making your work day virtual so your home is your office. </p><hr /> Erase Carbon Footprint offers services to <a href="http://www.erasecarbonfootprint.com/plantatree.html">plant trees</a> to reduce your <a href="http://www.erasecarbonfootprint.com/">carbon footprint</a>.Live Healthyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17161681627086932191noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2401189461508640552.post-69927937880178977872008-06-26T06:28:00.000-07:002008-06-26T06:29:01.096-07:00Canyoneering Adventure of Real Life Survival<object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ax0mNHfvlSE&hl=en"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ax0mNHfvlSE&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" height="344" width="425"></embed></object>Live Healthyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17161681627086932191noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2401189461508640552.post-23462615171721253002008-06-13T11:28:00.000-07:002008-06-13T11:29:59.440-07:00Making Black Cars GreenNow that congestion pricing is behind us (at least for now), attention can turn to other PlaNYC 2030 proposals to lower the <a href="http://www.erasecarbonfootprint.com/">carbon footprint</a> of some of the traffic we see every day in our city.<br /><br />To do that, the Taxi and Limousine Commission recently approved regulations will increase the fuel economy of all new "black cars" that service the city's business community to a minimum of 25 miles-per-gallon (mpg) next year and to a minimum of 30 mpg beginning in 2010.<br /><br />The proposal to green the city's roughly 10,000 black cars is an obvious follow-up to last year's regulation that is, slowly but surely, converting the city's yellow cabs to fuel-efficient hybrids, thanks to Local Law 72 of 2005.<br /><br />Switching to more fuel-efficient models (whether hybrid or not) cuts fuel costs for drivers and operators, <a href="http://canyoneering-adventure.blogspot.com/">while reducing</a> the global warming impacts of the overall industry.<br /><br />Though this new regulation is well intentioned, it may not provide as much global warming as possible.<br />The Myth of MPG<br /><br />Here's why: the use of "mpg" ratings (set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for all cars sold in the U.S.) as the performance indicator is an imperfect way to measure the global warming impact of these vehicles. It's imperfect for two reasons.<br /><br />First, the agency's mpg ratings are flawed because they are based on the agency's assumptions regarding the typical style of driving in cities and on highways across the nation. These assumptions bear no relationship to the way black cars are actually driven in New York City. To put it as simply as possible, EPA assumes cars drive faster, sit in less traffic, idle less, and use less air-conditioning than any city black car.<br /><br />Second, mpg ratings are imperfect because there are significant, so-called "upstream" global warming emissions that stem from the manufacturing and transport of the vehicles to New York, as well as from the production, refining, processing and/or transport of whatever fuel is used (i.e., gasoline, diesel, biofuels, or alternative fuels such as natural gas or electric power). The agency's ratings govern only the amount of fuel that one can expect to use in typical city or highway driving, not the actual global warming pollution that comes from the driving (and the production) of the car.<br />A Footprint Approach<br /><br />A more comprehensive approach would be to measure the full, life-cycle "carbon footprint" of the vehicles. Such an approach would ensure that the city is driving the black car industry towards the vehicles that provide the least amount of global warming pollution.<br /><br />Of course, requiring car fleets to calculate their carbon footprint is a bit harder than simply reading the EPA mpg ratings. So, a practical solution would be to give fleets a choice: fleets could choose to comply with the regulation simply by using vehicles that meet the mpg threshold —- or they could use vehicles that provide, on a life-cycle basis, an equivalent or better carbon footprint. Providing this option would open the door to alternative fuel vehicles that may have very low upstream emissions, yet that do not meet the Environmental Protection Agency's mpg threshold of the regulation.<br /><br />How could this work?<br /><br />The city could add an alternative compliance mechanism to its newly approved regulations that allows (but does not require) fleets to use a full, life-cycle global warming analysis to demonstrate compliance with the new rule. With such an alternative compliance mechanism in place, a vehicle with low upstream impacts could comply with the rule, even if its mpg rating does not meet the 25 or 30 mpg threshold (or, as in the case of some vehicles that are retrofitted to run on alternative fuels, no EPA mpg rating at all).<br /><br />Adding such a mechanism would move the city closer to the ground-breaking approach being proposed in California. In that state, regulators are considering a "low-carbon" approach to regulating fuels and vehicles, rather than regulating mpg or biofuels. The city should share California's goal: to encourage the fuels and vehicles that are the lowest in global warming impact on a life-cycle basis, rather than rely on the more-limited view of the miles-per-gallon of the vehicle, the amount of biofuels used, or the emissions at the tailpipe (all of which are used in various PlaNYC 2030 proposals).<br />Setting Standards<br /><br />Lawyers reading this may say, "Wait a minute - the City cannot set its own emission standards."<br /><br />That's right: only the Environmental Protection Agency and California can set emissions standards for vehicles, and other states can choose to follow them (New York tends to follow the more stringent California standards). But the approach summarized above would not run afoul of the federal restrictions on the city's ability to set vehicle emission standards, because it would not be a mandatory requirement on the fleets. Instead, it would simply be an alternative compliance mechanism that could be used by the fleets or not, as they wish. Thus, such a mechanism should comply with the federal restrictions on the city's ability to regulate vehicle emissions.<br /><br />The Taxi and Limousine Commission deserves support for its plan to improve the environmental performance of the city's black cars.<br /><br />Like the yellow cabs, these vehicles drive more miles, consume more fuel, and emit more pollution than other cars on city streets. However, the commission can make a strong plan even stronger by amending the final rule to enable fleets to use life-cycle analyses to unlock the potential of lower-carbon vehicles that could provide effective service in the five boroughs.<br />Rich Kassel is a senior attorney at the Natural Resources Defense Council, where he focuses on urban air pollution and transportation issues. He also chairs the Tri-State Transportation Campaign, a regional transportation advocacy organization and blogs on a variety of environmental issues on the NRDC switchboard.Live Healthyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17161681627086932191noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2401189461508640552.post-48925834207466578072008-06-12T15:15:00.001-07:002008-06-12T15:17:15.592-07:00Help Save The Environment With Your Oil Changes<p> Would you like to change your vehicle oil only once a year or 25,000 miles whichever comes first, better protect your engine, save substantial money, get up to <a href="http://www.erasecarbonfootprint.com/green-car.html">8% better gas mileage</a>, and help the environment by reducing waste oil by a factor of eight. All this can be done by a simple switch to the best synthetic oils and filters available today while enhancing your engine's performance and protection.<br /><br />Let's first look at the economics of the oil change business. In some cases the auto repair and quick lube businesses use the oil change as a lost leader to be able to sell you the higher margin products they carry, such as; fan belts, air filters, PVC valves, windshield wipers, fuel filters, transmission oil changes, etc. They want you to come back every 3,000 miles to give your contributions to their cash flow. They take advantage of women, in particular, by selling them items that they could probably do without. The following will give you an idea of the direct savings by using premium synthetic oils. Conventional petroleum based oil with a 3,000-mile drain interval for 25,000 miles per year will cost you $148.00 (8 changes per year). Premium Synthetic Oil with a 25,000 mile drain interval (1 change per year) will cost you only $51.55.<br /><br />Right away your saving, $96.45 per year on your oil change, 7 trips to the quick lube (your time and inconvenience), improved gas mileage, and reduced vehicle maintenance. 25000milemotoroil.com has further information on the synthetic oil products.<br /><br />Most people do not want to change because they have been thoroughly indoctrinated to the 3,000-mile oil change interval. Let's change this falsehood because it is not good for our pocketbooks, the environment, or our dependence on foreign oil. The lubricating oil consumption in the US is estimated to be approximately 2.7 billion gallons by 2008. If everyone used premium synthetic oil, the US could save 2.315 billion gallons or 42 million 55 gallon drums of lubricating oil per year. If the 42 million drums were stacked end to end they would go for 23,863 miles or almost completely around the earth.<br /><br />There is still another used and proven technology available to us today where we can eliminate oil changes altogether. This technology is the By-Pass Oil Filtration System that can be installed in all vehicles. This system uses two filters, a full flow filter and a by-pass filter. These are high quality nano-fiber filters that can eliminate particles below one micron in diameter and water from your engine's oil. Standard filters only remove particles down to 25 microns in size, but studies have shown that over 60% of all engine wear is caused by particles in the 5 to 20 micron range. This system is set up so the full flow filter provides the unrestricted flow that the engines needs, while 10% of the flow goes through the by-pass filter that removes the fine particles down to the one micron range. The oil capacity of the engine flows through the by-pass filter every five minutes while driving at approximately 45 miles per hour. Your engine oil is thoroughly and continuously cleaned every five minutes. A Mack truck with an E7-400 engine was driven over 400,000 miles without an oil change (only the oil filters were changed every 25,000 to 60,000 miles), the engine was torn down for inspection, and the engine wear was moderate and equivalent to the wear of an engine that had it's oil changed every 15,000 miles with conventional oil. This is some testimony to the performance of premium synthetic oil.<br /><br />The environmental impact of reducing our country's lubricating oil consumption by 2.315 billion gallons is beyond our imagination and this environmental abatement can begin today if every one becomes aware of their ability to contribute by using premium synthetic oil and filtration products. The EPA estimates that 200,000,000 gallons of used oil are not disposed of properly each year. The cost of reclaiming and processing used oil is significant and affects all of us by higher prices and increased taxes. One gallon of improperly disposed of oil can render one million gallons of fresh water undrinkable.<br /><br />The United States accounts for 26% of the world's consumption of lubricating oils. The economic growth in China and other parts of the world will spike the requirement for lubricating oils which will greatly contribute to the contamination of the earth's environment unless we make strides in using the most effective and efficient ways to keep our wheels in motion.<br /><br />The United States uses an average of 385,000,000 gallons of gasoline each day. This amounts to 140,525,000,000 gallons of gasoline per year. If we can increase our gas mileage 4% by using premium synthetic oils we can save 5,621,000,000 gallons of gasoline a year. These are steps we can take now before we need to take bigger steps, such as going to a hydrogen infrastructure. Even with hydrogen replacing the gasoline, we will still need the lubricating oils to keep all the parts of our cars, trucks and equipment in motion without abrasion.<br /><br />We can also do a better job of recycling our used oil. Do you know where our used oil goes now? Look at the following data.<br /><br />40% is dumped on the ground or poured down the sewer. 21% is disposed of in our trash and goes to the landfills. 19% is reused for other purposes. 14% is recycled. 6% is burned.<br /><br />With only 14% of our waste oil being recycled, there is a big opportunity to do more. It's a total neglect to have 61% of our used and contaminated oil seeping back into our water ways and aquifers. You can help by using premium synthetic lubricating oils and having them properly disposed of when they are replenished. Reducing your oil consumption by a factor of 8 times is a tremendous help to the environment, your vehicle, and your wallet. </p><hr /> More information about <a href="http://www.25000milemotoroil.com/">Synthetic Oil</a> and <a href="http://www.25000milemotoroil.com/">Filters</a> can be obtained from 25000MileMotorOil.com along with details on extended drain intervals. This will aid you in helping the environment, improving your engine longevity, and saving you lots of money.Live Healthyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17161681627086932191noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2401189461508640552.post-63817292364862947672008-06-09T16:13:00.000-07:002008-06-09T16:15:19.561-07:00How Home Solar Electric Systems Work. Going Green (Part 2)<p> You are contributing to a <a href="http://www.erasecarbonfootprint.com/more-carbon-footprint.html">cleaner environment</a> by upgrading to solar generated electricity. You are also taking a step toward energy independence when you begin using solar power in your home.<br /><br />To better understand solar electric systems and how they work, you first need to understand the technical components making up a residential solar energy system.<br /><br />New solar rental services are emerging that offer solar power in new and simple ways. These new solar equipment rentals offer system wide efficiency and control and make a home's electric service more responsive, more reliable, and more renewable.<br /><br />The remainder of this article will explain and further define many of the common components making up home solar energy system.<br /><br />Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Panels<br /><br />The primary components of a home solar system are the Solar (PV) panels. These panels utilize solar cells to convert sunlight directly into home electricity. A number of cells strung together to make a panel that generates about 250 watts (w) of electrical current at peak sunlight capacity. The panels then route power through an inverter where a controller determines how to distribute the power throughout your home.<br /><br />Solar Energy Controller and Inverter<br /><br />The controller is the device that monitors and manages the distribution of electricity produced by a residential solar energy system. Its capability extends even further by monitoring and managing the flow of energy between the house, the solar (PV) panels & system, and the local utility company. Often these controllers also have the ability to manage secondary storage through the use of batteries for more flexibility and control.<br /><br />Coupled with the controller is the brains of the operation; the inverter. An inverter is in essence an electronic circuit that converts direct current (DC) to alternating current (AC). An inverter allows the 12 or 24 volt DC power produced from solar panels to supply AC power to operate all of the electrical needs around your house.<br /><br />Solar Array Mounting and Connection Components<br /><br />Connection components are made up of electrical wiring and the rail mounting structure. Several solar panels are arranged into a grid, secured by a rail mounting device, and connected together to make a solar (PV) array. Electrical wiring is needed to connect the solar panels to the controller, then to your meter box, and then to your utility company via the existing electricity grid. Little additional solar energy equipment is needed, other than the panels, controller and inverters, wiring, and the roof mounting system.<br /><br />The mounting rail is another simple structure that secures your solar (PV) array to your roof with the little need to drill holes through your singles. It is designed with maximum strength and allows for easy assembly of the solar array.<br /><br />Rental Options for Residential Solar Energy Systems<br /><br />Homeowners now have the ability to generate electricity right at home in safe, simple, and environmentally conscious way. Residential solar energy systems convert sunlight (i.e. photons) directly into usable home electricity. Residential solar energy systems, now offered to homeowners on a rental basis, provide a new source of reliable electricity and they enhance electric services without expensive investments in solar purchases.<br /><br />In a future article, we will continue this series related to residential solar energy systems. We will explain in common terms how to measure the power of the sun. One objection often voiced by homeowners researching home solar power relates to the quality of the sunlight.<br /><br />Is too cloudy? Is it too foggy? How does snow effect solar cell output? We will explain how to determine whether your geographic location receives enough sunlight hours to make solar suitable. </p><hr />At Solargies, we plan to make the right Eco-friendly, green solutions available to the American homeowners. My role involves the leadership, communication, and the education related to the adoption solar energy system rentals. Learn more about <a href="http://www.solargies.com/Residential_Solar_Energy.htm">residential solar energy</a>.Live Healthyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17161681627086932191noreply@blogger.com0