Bye Bye Car! Hello Bike, Bus, and Carpooling!
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DEAR READER

tannertan36
Stranger Things
AnasAbdin
he wasn't even looking at me and he found me
NASA
Today's Document

Product Placement

titsay

roma★

blake kathryn
we're not kids anymore.

if i look back, i am lost

⁂
Not today Justin
Sade Olutola
RMH

ellievsbear
PUT YOUR BEARD IN MY MOUTH
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@greenresolutions
Bye Bye Car! Hello Bike, Bus, and Carpooling!
Greening My Home With Houseplants
Minimize (Week 23)
Ditch the Meat- Going Vegetarian (Week 22)
There are currently 7.8 billion people living on Earth today and as the world’s population continues to grow, our requirement for food will also increase.
As I continue on taking on new Green Resolutions, I am thinking of how I can create lasting environmental changes in my life that will go well beyond this 52 weeks this "green challenge" I've created is asking for. I am attempting to slowing adjust my diet to eventually become vegan. I am SLOOOOOOOWWLY taking steps to increase my protein, reduce (or eliminate) sugars, and eliminating meat from my diet. I struggle with it daily in the decisions I make on what I should eat, but I am conscious to being kind and forgiving because I know this is a habit transformation and I should celebrate the baby steps and, eventually, succeed in that will lead to lasting change in my diet. I'm reading Potatoes Not Prozac to help increase protein and reduce my sugar intake.
This week for Green Resolutions, I have eliminated all meat from my diet (aka became vegetarian).
Buy only 1 or less "want" a month (week 21)
Have you every seen The Story of Stuff? If you haven't, STOP READING AND WATCH NOW! If you have, STOP READING AND WATCH AGAIN! Then please continue reading my blog :)
"The Story of Stuff Project’s journey began with a 20-minute online movie about the way we make, use and throw away all the Stuff in our lives. Five years and 40 million views later, we’re a Community of 750,000 changemakers worldwide, working to build a more healthy and just planet." http://storyofstuff.org/
Want vs. Need: Basic Economics
A need is something you have to have, something you can't do without. A good example is food. If you don't eat, you won't survive for long. Many people have gone days without eating, but they eventually ate a lot of food. You might not need a whole lot of food, but you do need to eat.
A want is something you would like to have. It is not absolutely necessary, but it would be a good thing to have. A good example is music. Now, some people might argue that music is a need because they think they can't do without it. But you don't need music to survive. You do need to eat.
The average person living in the United States uses 300 shopping bags worth of raw materials every week - weighing as much as a large luxury car. We would need the resources of three planets for everyone on Earth to live as people in the United States do. World Resources Insitute, Center for a New American Dream
We are targeted by over 1,500 commercial messages a day, up from 560 per day in the 1960s. Advertisers are increasingly targeting young people. Companies spend more than $200 billion on advertising in the U.S. each year (and $435 billion worldwide). Less than $50 billion a year could provide adequate food, clean water, and basic education for the world's poorest. People around the world spend much more than this amount on makeup, perfumes, pet food, ocean cruises, and ice cream Center for a New American Dream, Worldwatch Institute
The world's richest countries make up only one-fifth of global population but account for 45% of all meat consumption, 58% of total energy use, 84% of paper use, and 87% of vehicle ownership. At the other end of the spectrum, the poorest fifth of the world's population - more than one billion people - still lack food, shelter, housing, water and sanitation, and access to electricity. United Nations Development Programme
I read this amazing book called The 100 Thing Challenge. The author, Dave Bruno, spoke beautiful words on our American consumer culture. Some quotes I found inspiring:
"What is we all stopped making foolish credit card purchases that placed us in debtors prison? What if, as a result of making do with fewer things, we prioritized buying BETTER things that were a little more expensive and make by tradesmen instead of factory workers? What if we stopped using our homes as storage facilities and de-cluttered the places which we live so they can become SANCTUARIES from the daily grind?"
"The crux of American-style consumerism is that our common lives lack provision. Somehow we have come to believe that there is always a purchase that will transform what is ridiculously amazing into what is perfect... as if a sunset is more beautiful when I'm watching it while wearing the "right" brand clothing. As if owning the right things would clarify my faith and make my hopes more real. As if possessions, instead of love, were the force that could knit my relationships together more tightly. As if the accomplishments of my life were largely about the stuff I used to get things done."
Because of the above reasons/thoughts, and so many more, I decided to limit the wants in my life to 1 new "want" purchase a month. My January purchase? Jasmine Essential Oil
Documentary Recommendation:
"Consuming Kids throws desperately needed light on the practices of a relentless multi-billion dollar marketing machine that now sells kids and their parents everything from junk food and violent video games to bogus educational products and the family car. The film focuses on the explosive growth of child marketing in the wake of deregulation, showing how youth marketers have used the latest advances in psychology, anthropology, and neuroscience to transform American children into one of the most powerful and profitable consumer demographics in the world."
Recycle Correctly (week 20)
I believe my "environmentalism" began with a very strong desire to get people to recycle. It seemed to me like such a simple yet important action.
Over the years, my knowledge of caring for the environment in a more profound way has developed and, frankly, recycling is now a minute (extremely small) thing that I do and assume everyone else in our country knows how to do correctly.
Putting Bamenda on Blast! The Environmental State of Bemenda, Cameroon. (Weeks 18 and 19)
As stated in my last Green Resolution, Present on Climate Change, I recently took a trip with my husband, our friend Brian, and my father-in-law to Cameroon, Africa. The intentions were the following:
1) Help out in whatever way with our Cameroonian brother's environmental non-profit called The Greens.
Presentation on Climate Change (week 17)
I have been unbelievably blessed recently. I have been offered the opportunity to travel, for a second time, to Bamenda, Cameroon with my husband, his (our) friend Brian, and my Father-In-Law Richard. We will be traveling soon to Cameroon to reunite with our friend Ngalim to volunteer with this organization The Greens.
Using a Diva Cup (week 16)
Did you know that the average woman has her period once a month for around 40 years and uses somewhere between 11,000-17,000 tampons in a lifetime adding up to a whopping 250 to 300 pounds of garbage and $3,000 spent on pads, plugs, and applicators?
I didn’t…
This week on Green Resolutions I thought about taking an inevitable event that happens in my life whether I like it or not and greening it up a bit. How to turn “My friend in her little red car”, as some call their menstrual cycle, into “my friend driving a hybrid car”?
I’ve spoken with a couple friends about the idea of a menstrual cup. A menstrual cup is a silicone cup that fits into your vagina and can stay there for up to 12 hours and has the potential to last for several years depending on each individual’s usage and care taken to preserve it.
The idea of a “cup” made me squeamish but I felt confident that I could adjust my way of doing things “down there” for the sake of the environment.
I read several reviews of The Diva Cup that ranged from horrifying stories of getting it “stuck”, to the cup leaking, feeling very uncomfortable and causing severe cramping. Despite the negative reviews, there were several positive reviews of The Diva Cup being comfortable, reliable, and easy to use once you get the hang of it. The biggest factor for me was safety and the cup being much more environmentally friendly. So I bought it for $30.
A week after purchasing it, my friend in her little red car came by for her monthly visit (aka, I got my period). It was, like, 1:30 am when I woke up realizing I needed to take care of this situation and, I’m sorry, but at 1:30 in the morning I was not ready to use a silicone cup for the very first time. So I used a tampon and fell asleep.
I woke up and was ready to make the switch.Without going into too many graphic details, I had no problems with the cup.
It was a bit nerve-wrecking to take it out for the first time and getting through the whole“I think the cup is stuck!” bit involved a lot of self-talk, but I got through it with no incidents.
I’m happy to say that I think I’m hooked on The Diva Cup!
Additionally, I researched health impacts of using tampons and pads and didn’t like what I read. Here’s an excerpt from anarticle written by Alanna Ketler via Collective Evolution:
"Almost all sanitary napkins and tampons are made with bleached rayon, cotton and plastics. These products can leave behind fibers in your vagina that can cause bladder or vaginal infections, and the dreaded Toxic Shock Syndrome. Tampons are also known to absorb the natural fluids and bacteria’s that the vagina produces to stay clean and healthy. The number 1 ingredient in generic tampons and sanitary napkins is Rayon. Rayon is a fiber that is made from cellulose fibers, cellulose is a natural fiber, but to produce Rayon chemical procedures are needed that include: carbon disulphide, sulfuric acid, chlorine and caustic soda. Side effects from exposure to too much Rayon can include: nausea, vomiting, chest pain, headaches and many others. Tampons and pads are also bleached using chlorine, which results in the production of dioxin, which is linked to breast cancer, endometriosis, immune system suppression and various other ailments."
I found this nice visual of random facts on the history of the tampon:
Compost Food (week 15)
Ever since Colby and I joined a Community Supported Agricultural (CSA) program (week 8) and cutting beef out of our diet (week 14), we've been heavily consuming vegetables to make our meals at home.
Week 2 of Green Resolution- No Plastic Grocery Bags, has also stopped me from using those thick plastic trash bags that cover scents oh so well. I now use a Planet Wise reusable trash bag which does not smell pretty after several days of rotting fruit/vegetable scraps.
No Beef (week 14)
I think this week's Green Resolution makes me the most happy to apply to my life. I LOVE animals and when I look at how contented they are with their life it makes me question why I choose to eat them. I think overall I wish we didn't kill ANY living thing... however, I know that perhaps animals such as cows, pigs, chickens, goats, etc. are available for humans to consume by some divine plan.
Still, it's scientifically obvious that we, like most things, have abused the privilege of hunting and consuming meat. Not only have we abused the amount of meat we are raising to slaughter, we are taking the ways in which we raise and slaughter to a new and dangerous level.
I've decided that for the remainder of my Green Resolution year (and hopefully beyond) I will not be a consumer of any beef products.
Green Halloween (Week 13)
How to celebrate Halloween sustainably… Hmmm… ??
Well, for starters, I’m sure as heck not buying a new costume that I will wear for a few hours then never put on again. I’ve made that mistake before. Also, I think I should wear a costume that goes along with my ideals, interests, and sends a message. Obviously that means I should be a recycling bin! (Seriously though, if you ask anyone who knows me, they’ll probably tell you stories of my obsession with recycling.) I should create minimal to no waste for my costume because that would defeat the purpose of the message I’m trying to send using my costume. I should be able to recycle most, if not all, of my costume once I’m done. I should look cute. My costume should be so obvious and well put together that no one should question what I am. These are my standards.
Boom! Done…
Another part of Halloween that cannot be ignored is the very reason why most kids get dressed up in the first place…. To knock on doors and get some ChOcOlAtE!!!! I thought about how much waste is created with all the tiny candies individually wrapped up for that 5 seconds of yummy chocolaty goodness. This was a clear part of Halloween to avoid for someone undergoing an environmental challenge.
I found all these candy wrappers walking from one building to another on my middle school campus. These kids should be dressed as litter bugs next Halloween!!!!!
But there was something deeper than the waste created when consuming chocolate that I was thinking about. Where does this chocolate come from? What kind of life is the farmer who grew the cocoa beans living? How much should I know about this chocolate that I’m shoving into my mouth for 5 seconds that may be effecting the entire life of the individual(s) who produced it?
I researched this topic and found a SUPER cute children’s story that simply and concisely explains this issue. If you’d like to read the whole story you can go to this website:
http://www.globalexchange.org/sites/default/files/ChocolateActivityBook.pdf
Please enjoy the abbreviated version of this story below and learn about where those tiny candies you’re hoarding from Halloween came from.
Do YOU like chocolate?
What’s your favorite kind?
This isn't fiction.
Start a Garden (week 12)
Gardening is such a beautiful way to connect with nature. There's something so meaningful about plucking your own green pepper off the stalk that gives you such a sense of accomplishment.
This week's Green Resolution is to start a garden. Colby and I live on the second floor in a condo so there's no place I'd be able to dig into to plant. I have several plants on my balcony and am not against the idea of urban gardening. But we use our balcony as a sort of storage for our bikes, compost bin, push cart, and broom so there's not much room left.
No Fast Food (week 11)
Despite the understanding that a cheese quesadilla, fiery taco and beef chalupa, from Taco Bell will cause me to gain weight, kill my liver kidneys, and heart and cause me to have low self-esteem… I CRAVE them! I live about a 1 minute walk from Taco Bell and a 3 minute walk from McDonalds and when I’ve had a long day, I’m hungry and know I don’t want to go home and make something with the food in my refrigerator, I cave.
Water Restrictions (week 10)
Week 10 of Green Resolutions had me thinking about the amount of water I consumed daily. After some research, I chose the following actions to carry forth for the rest of the year:
1) Place a bucket in my shower to catch the extra water that otherwise would just go down the drain. I then will use that water to water my plants (I have 10 plants total to water) and any extra I will dump on a tree or bush to place back into our ground water.
2) Turn shower on only to: get it wet initially, rinse shampoo, condition, body soap.
3) Use dish washer instead of hand washing dishes. Why? The average dishwasher uses 6 gallons of water per cycle ; the average Energy Star-rated dishwasher uses 4 gallons per cycle while the average faucet flows at 2 gallons per minute. I don't think Colby and I wash our dishes in 3 minutes… which would be the equivalent of 6 gallons which is all my dish washer uses (if not less because I put it on water saving setting).
4) Make and use a toilet dam. What's that? Watch this video!
No more plastic bottles or cans (week 9)
I LOVE drinks. I should preface the rest of this by mentioning I do not drink alcohol, but teas, coffee, juices, flavored water, "vitamin" water, carbonated drinks, protein drinks; you name it I'll try it!
I have a habit of going to Circle K for gas and I'll add a Starbucks coffee in a can, Peace Tea, Snapple, Monster, your occasional pop (soda) to the bill. Or if I go to Spouts I’ll grab a large peach tea in a can to drink right then and there because I’ve convinced myself I need the extra caffeine.
Seems pretty normal, no?
That’s because it totally is normal. But that begs the questions, should this habit of drinking up a liquid trapped inside a container made out of various natural resources and other chemicals that are made to last forever, to only throw it in the nearest receptacle (most likely a trash can) where it will then be transported to a landfill that could be near by or states away to sit there, for thousands upon thousands of years be considered normal? Well, I don’t know about you, but I’m beginning to rethink what our society deems “normal”.
If Jennifer's doing it, I'm totally doing it!
This week’s Green Resolution was to give up anything contained in a plastic bottle or a can. Here’s why: