The Bush Administration Strikes Again

I wish I could say that nothing the Bush Administration does shocks me anymore.  But I cannot.  I admit it, I am still flabbergasted by the devious, underhanded, corrupt, double-dealing, country-crushing, soul-crushing deeds of the current Administration.  In fact, the mere thought of the havoc that those nuts are wreaking on this country, and the entire world, with their hair-brained, self-aggrandizing schemes, makes me want to throw up.  I want to be a role model to people with how I live my life-simply and sustainably and soulfully. I want to be a good person. I really do.  But Bush and his Administration is really pushing my limits.  

Here is the latest news from the AP about how the chief of staff of the pollution enforcement division of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) actually had the balls to send out a memo to his staff telling pollution enforcement officials not to talk with congressional investigators, reporters or even the agency's own inspector general. Read the full story here. That really sounds like a memo from someone who wants to hide something.  Or a lot of somethings-maybe a bunch of corporate polluters getting away with mucking up the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat.  

This country needs to wake up!  There are no representatives for the people in Washington DC. The only people who get represented are the people with the most money to buy off the greatest number of politicians.  Washington DC does not give a damn about everyday, working class people.  We need to stand up and fight for ourselves now, or there is not going to be a world left to finally stand up and fight for when we finally decide to do what is right.

Recycling In Chicago

Did you know that the City of Chicago's blue bag program (ending this summer), run by the Department of Streets and Sanitation, serves only residential buildings from single family homes to four-unit apartment buildings?  If you live in an apartment complex five units or larger (like I have for most of the 14 years I have lived in Chicago), your recycling will be taken by a private contractor, not by the City, and they are not required to recycle the blue bag contents.  Well, I did not find this out until last week.  I have always suspected that the Blue Bag program was ineffective, but it was the only method of recycling available to me.  I don't have a car, so I put my recycling in a blue bag, and then the garbage truck came and took it away. Tragic waste.  How many people long to recycle like me? 

Well, Chicago is finally rolling out its new recycling system called the Blue Cart program. People are getting blue carts to put their recycling in, and the city will pick it up once every two weeks, separate from the regular trash.  But there are two major problems with this program.  One, it has only rolled out to a few wards thus far. Two, only residential buildings with four units or less get the blue carts. What are the thousands of people living in high rises supposed to do? What are businesses supposed to do?  

Come on, Chicago, if you want to be one of the greenest cities in the United States, you have got to come up with a more convenient way to recycle for everyone.  I will be walking my recycling to Uptown Recycling, but what about people who are not nuts about the environment like I am.  If you need more information on recycling in Chicago, check out the Chicago Recycling Coalition's website (not the City of Chicago's website).  You can find everything from what is recyclable to where you can drop off your recycling. 

A few more things the city needs to do:

• Provide a means for businesses to recycle, not only everyday items like glass and aluminum, but things like old office equipment, computers, desk chairs, etc.
• Provide recycling receptacles for aluminum cans and plastic bottles along the streets with the regular garbage cans.  In San Francisco, they make garbage receptacles that include a slot for aluminum cans and plastic bottles right on top. 
  
• Ban plastic bags.  They are harmful to the environment, and their production requires petroleum and often natural gas, both non-renewable resources.  Several cities in the US, San Francisco being the first, have banned plastic shopping bags. Some countries have even banned them, including China.                         
  

Watch Al Gore's Energy Independence Speech

Al Gore gave a very impassioned speech last week about how the US needs to take on the challenges we face today-energy independence and climate change-head on and tackle them like we did when we put a man on the moon in the 1960's.  He issued his 10 year challenge.  And I, for one, would be proud of this country if we could take a stand and declare that we want to lead this world again and show them that we can reduce our impact on the climate and we can be energy independent, and we can do it if we work together. Join We Can Solve It today, and let your representatives in Congress know, let the current Administration know, let the candidates for President know that we as a people want to solve this crisis.  And take steps to reduce your own energy dependence and your own carbon footprint.            

Eco News

From the August 2008 issue of Body + Soul magazine:

The United States consumes an average of roughly 30 million trees a year to make books.  

According to Food & Water Watch, the average American uses 1,190.5 gallons of H2O a day (spent on energy, cleaning, and eating). To calculate your water usage and learn how to reduce it, go to h2oconserve.org.

Check your local cable provider for the just launched Planet Green channel.  

Don't throw out that old pair of Crocs.  You can recycle them.  The company recently launched a humanitarian shoe-recycling program called Soles United.  They reuse the Croslite material from old Crocs to create new pairs for those in need around the world.  In 2007, Crocs gave away 1 million pairs of shoes through this program.

  

      

Tips On Driving Green

Beyond buying a more fuel efficient car, here are some tips on driving green.

• Keep your vehicle well-maintained with regular servicing to keep it operating at its peak efficiency.
• Drive slower and with more patience.  The slower you drive and the less you accelerate, the less fuel you will use.  
• Get a membership with the Better World Club (the environmentalist's AAA).
• Keep your car clean without using a drop of water. "Waterless" cleaners save up to 100 gallons of H2O per typical driveway car wash and prevent pollutants from entering streams and groundwater supplies.  Some examples of cleaners include No-Wet Green and Clean Waterless Wax & Wash, Lucky Earth Waterless Car Wash, and Eco Touch Waterless Car Wash + Polish. 
• Plan out your car trips in advance to ensure you maximize your time while minimizing your mileage.  
• Carpool with coworkers, friends, neighbors and family. 
• Consider renting a car when you really need one instead of owning one.  Enterprise, Hertz, and Avis are good places to start.  I-Go Car Sharing is an organization that allows members living or working in the same area to have access to cars within a short walking distance.   
• Check out greenercars.org.         
  

Fun fact: Using a proprietary software to map out the routes for its fleet of 95,000 delivery trucks, UPS has cut out some 28.5 million miles, 3 million gallons of fuel, and 31,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide by optimizing the most efficient routes for delivery.  And this includes taking few, if any, left turns.      

Natural Remedies

Nature has provided us with everything we need.  Unfortunately, we have really gotten out of touch with her.  If you are trying to reduce the amount of chemicals in your life like I am, here are a few natural remedies I have gathered from various sources.  

Aloe Vera: Heals cuts and burns faster when applied to the affected area.  

Also makes a great gel for your eyebrows or hair.  

Can also be used as a shave cream.

Catnip Oil: Is ten times more effective against mosquitoes than DEET.  In a spray bottle, shake 6 drops of oil in 3 ounces of water for your own repellant.   

Green Tea: Sipping at least 1 cup of the decaffeinated kind between workout sessions may help pounds drop off faster.  Scientists say compounds in the tea may help convert flab to fuel.

Recent research suggests that consuming green tea daily may provide protection against skin cancer.    

Honey: Makes a great moisturizer.  Apply a small amount to the skin and rub in.  Rinse off after a few minutes.     

Lemon juice: Spray on hair for natural lightening.  

Papaya and Pineapple: Cut open the fruit and rub the fleshy part onto the sore spot of a bee-sting or bug-bite.  These fruits contain enzymes that break down the protein toxins in venoms that cause pain and swelling.

Olive Oil: Oleocanthal, a natural compound in extra-virgin olive oil seems to have anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving powers similar to ibuprofen.  Apply where it hurts.  

Olive oil is also a great moisturizer for your skin.  Apply a small amount to the skin and rub in. Rinse off after a few minutes.

Sea salt: To get natural waves, in a spray bottle mix 2 t. fine sea salt, 1 c. warm water, and 4-5 drops essential oil and shake well. Spray on hair and work through strands.  

Also makes a great exfoliating scrub when mixed with a moisturizer like honey or olive oil.  

Sugar: Makes a great exfoliating scrub when mixed with a moisturizer like honey or olive oil.

Vinegar: Lowers the pH level of skin on contact, which helps to lessen venom's toxicity and provides itch relief on a bite or sting.

Also makes a great toner for oily skin.

Environmentally Responsible Beer

Mothership Wit Organic Wheat Beer 

This is a USDA Organic certified beer.  It is by the same people who brew Fat Tire.  It is really tasty.  

The company that brews the beer, New Belgium Brewing,* is the first wind powered brewery in America.  It is located in Fort Collins, CO.  They are also a member of 1% For The Planet, an organization whose members donate 1% of sales to environmental groups around the world.    

The carton the beer comes in is 100% recycled paperboard.    

*Note: This is a website that requires your computer have a Flash player.   

It's Not Always Easy Being Green-Part III

Made an unexpected shopping trip to the Clybourn Corridor.  There are a lot of home stores, so I figured I could look for an organic shower curtain.  First I went to Z Galleria.  They have interesting stuff but nothing organic.  Then I tried Crate & Barrel, and they have the same stuff in every store, so they do have organic towels and bath mats, and some bamboo accessories, but no organic shower curtains.  My last stop before going home was the Pottery Barn.  At first, all I found was organic towels and bath mats, but after asking a sales associate for assistance, I found that not only do they have 100% organic cotton shower curtains, but organic bedding as well, and in the fall they are expanding their organic offerings and are even going to have organic furniture. No surprise that Pottery Barn is taking the initiative to stock more organic goods because their headquarters are in San Francisco.  I still want to find a 100% organic cotton comforter, but that is for another day.     

It's Not Always Easy Being Green-Part II

I went to Green Mango Goods on Thursday afternoon to try and find a 100% organic cotton shower curtain.  They are located at the Andersonville Galleria on Clark St.  While I was disappointed that Green Mango Goods turned out to be a stall in a bazaar type mall with a select few items, and there were no shower curtains to be found, I did find a lot of eco-friendly shops all in one place, however small they may be.  Though I did not find a shower curtain, I did get a cute pair of black pants made out of bamboo from a store called Earthgirls Eco Boutique.  

I went to Target today, and though I still did not find an organic cotton shower curtain, I did buy a 100% organic cotton sheet set and some organic food items.  They actually have a decent selection in store, but an even better selection of organic items on-line.  I only have one shop left to try for my shower curtain-A Cooler Planet, but I cannot go until Tuesday because they are closed for the July 4th holiday.            

Eco-Friendly, Green Shopping in Chicago

Here are some stores that I have patronized and/or read about in Chicago.  Two of the stores are in Evanston, but it is just north of Chicago and accessible by the CTA.  

A Cooler Planet

2211 W Roscoe St 

Chicago, IL 60618

Eco-Pet

2950 W Cortland St, #3 

Chicago, IL 60647

Ethical Planet

1110 W Davis St

Evanston, IL 60201 

For Dog's Sake

1757 N Kimball

Chicago, IL 60647

Goodness Greeness

5959 S Lowe Ave

Chicago, IL 60621

Green Grocer

1402 W Grand Ave 

Chicago, IL 60642

Green Heart

746 N LaSalle Dr

Chicago, IL 60610

Green Mango Goods

5247 N Clark St 

Andersonville Galleria, Mezzanine Level

Chicago, IL 60640

Healthy Green Goods 

702 Main St

Evanston, IL 60202

The Fair Trader

1623 E 55th St

Chicago, IL 60615

There is always the stand-by of Whole Foods if these stores cannot meet your eco-friendly needs.   There are several Whole Foods stores in the Chicago area.  If there are any stores that I have left out, please leave me a comment with its name and address and website (if available).    

It's Not Always Easy Being Green

For instance, I have been searching high and low for a 100% organic shower curtain.  I had no idea it was going to prove to be so difficult to find one.  This past Saturday, I went to Evanston and went to two different "green" stores.  The first one, Ethical Planet, is an all vegan general store, but it is small and does not carry things like sheets, towels, clothes or shower curtains. The second store, Healthy Green Goods, had one type of shower curtain.  It was 100% organic cotton, but it was not my style at all.  I even tried Cost Plus World Market as well.  They had 100% cotton shower curtains, but they were not organic.  

The reason I want an organic cotton shower curtain is because cotton is the most pesticide-intensive crop grown on the planet. Check out the Organic Consumers Association for more troublesome facts about cotton, a fabric that people assume is "natural."  However, cotton shower curtains are better than vinyl shower curtains-the cheap, plastic-feeling shower curtains you can get for a few dollars from just about any store.  Check out the toxicity of vinyl here.  

Yesterday, I was downtown and decided that I would try and find a 100% organic cotton shower curtain again.  I tried Bed Bath & Beyond, Linens and Things and Crate & Barrel.  The first two stores were extremely disappointing.  Crate & Barrel did have a lot of organic towels and bath mats, they also had a lot of bamboo products.  They had 100% cotton shower curtains, but they were not organic.   

So I am going to try Target on Friday.  They have a lot of organic bath products on-line, so I am hoping to find an organic shower curtain in the store.  If I can't find one at Target, there is one more store I can try called A Cooler Planet.  I would much rather patronize a local store and save a ton of carbon emissions then buy an organic shower curtain on-line and have it shipped across the country or even the world.  I feel like that really defeats the purpose of being green. I am not just doing it for myself but for the planet as well.