Showing posts with label environment. Show all posts
Showing posts with label environment. Show all posts

22 March 2013

6 Ways to Celebrate World Water Day the Whole Year



Today we celebrate World Water Day for the 20th consecutive year. This year under the motto Cooperation. Although a lot has been discussed about freshwater in recent years people often assume that conserving water is a grand enterprise, the responsibility for which lies on the backs of organizations and governments.
While many people are worried about global warming, and the climate change, experts are predicting that the water crisis that is upon us will soon leave different cultures with no options about securing water for consumption and agricultural uses.

In fact, if each and every one of us tries to see a slightly bigger picture, one that cannot be seen from the mega-polices we live in, one that we don't even think about in our daily struggle with stress, chores and just trying to survive, then we will realize how connected we are to our planet, to nature, to water sources, to wildlife, to people in need living on distant continents. There are people on Earth -- about 900 million of them -- who don't even have access to safe water supplies.

According to the Stockholm International Water Institute, polluted water kills more people than wars or earthquakes, and about 3.6 million people -- including 1.5 million children -- are estimated to die each year from water-related diseases, including diarrhoea, typhoid, cholera and dysentery.

Lack of action makes you and I responsible for the lives of many, even though they are either far away or we have never seen them.

Regardless of color, religious belief or place of living, we all share the same enormous home and it is high time we realize that whatever we do may affect the rest of the residents of this home. It is important that we all do our part to make the best use of the resources we have, which means finding ways to reuse water and reduce our daily consumption.

Here are 6 ways to join the celebration of World Water Day and to start conserving water every day. The best way is to keep track of the amount of water that you use in one day and find ways to reduce it:
  1. Change your toilet to a low-flow one. Toilets use about 30% of the total water used in a household. If you cannot afford replacing your old toilet with a more efficient one, it’s easy to convert your existing one to a low-flow toilet.
  2. Fix your leaking faucets and dripping shower heads, they  are some of the biggest household water wasters. It is estimated that just a small drip from a worn faucet washer can waste as much as 70 liters of water per day.
  3. Change your diet. A vegetarian diet uses 10 times less water than a carnivorous one. It takes 25 liters of water to produce one potato, but it takes 7,000 liters of water to produce a steak. The less meat you eat, the less meat will be produced and the less fresh watter supplies will be used (added bonus -- you will be healthier). See this chart for more information about the amount of water that is used to produce your favorite foods.
  4. Steam instead of boil. Steaming vegetables uses less water than boiling and is healthier. In some cases you cannot avoid boiling, but you can save the water for your garden, soup stock, or use it to clean pots.
  5. Reduce food waste. About one third of all food is wasted throughout production, storage, transportation, consumption and disposal. Learn  how long you can store food in your freezer. Other ways to reduce food waste are only buying what you plan to eat, using leftovers to create new meals or donating food you can’t use to soup kitchens.
  6. Use rain water. A staggering 40% of household water used in the U.S. is used for watering lawns and gardens, washing automobiles, maintain swimming pools, and cleaning sidewalks and driveways. This can be done with the same effect with rain water. You can install rain catchment systems on your roof or rain barrels around your home.
It is more important than ever to open our eyes and take action. By helping others we will help ourselves too. Water is one of the reasons we came into being and without we cannot survive. 

Now it's your turn. What is your opinion about conserving water?



02 July 2012

Cancer Causers at Home You Should Get Rid of



We have grown to believe that our home is our castle. But things have changed long ago and nowadays our homes might be hiding more danger than safety.  Indeed quite a lot information has been shared about the infamous formaldehyde, nitrobenzene and methylene chloride - all carcinogens that can be found in everyday items such as rubber, plastic, dyes, perfumes, shampoos.

art supplies can have cancer causing ingredients
Photo: Ujwala Prabhu
Take a look at a few of the items you thought harmless and see the health problems they can provoke. Then make sure you take the right decision and rid your home of many cancer-causers and ensure a healthy environment for you and your family.


Candles
According to a study by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), 40 percent of candles on the market contain lead wires inside their wicks. Scented candles most commonly contain lead wicks. Fragrance oils soften the wax, so the manufacturers use lead to make the wicks firmer.

A candle with a lead-core wick releases five times the amount of lead considered hazardous for children and exceeds Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) pollution standards for outdoor air, says the CPSC. Exposure to high amounts of lead may contribute to hormone disruption, behavioral problems, learning disabilities, and many other health problems.

If you want to keep your home softly lit and cozy without risking your health go for beeswax candles with cotton wicks. For more information on how to make your own beeswax candles read How to Make Beeswax Candles.

Art supplies
Certain art supplies like Epoxy and rubber cement glues, acrylic paints and solvents, and permanent markers contain chemicals linked to allergies, organ damage, and cancer.

Children are particularly vulnerable to toxins because of their higher metabolisms, and immature immune systems, so it pays to exercise extra care with the products they use. To find nontoxic and green alternatives to common art supplies, or recipes for making your own, read Are Art Supplies Toxic?


Air fresheners
Many air fresheners have carcinogens, volatile organic compounds and toxins such as phthalate esters in their formulas. A Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) study of 13 common household air fresheners found that most of the surveyed products contain chemicals that can aggravate asthma and affect reproductive development.

According to a 2008 study by Anne Steinemann of the University of Washington, all air-fresheners tested gave off chemicals regulated as toxic or hazardous under federal laws, including carcinogens with no safe exposure level. None of these chemicals, however, were listed on  the product labels or Material Safety Data Sheets. As a replacement, try natural fragrances from essential oils.
 

Shampoos
Unlikely as it may sound, conventional shampoos have too many toxic ingredients. Funny as it may sound,  their effects are still being researched, and there is no scientific consensus  whether they cause cancer. But if you want to be on the safe side, you can use any of the myriad of handmade shampoo bars, offered on etsy, or you can start washing your hair with baking soda, just like I do.


Antiperspirants
Most conventional deodorants and antiperspirants contain several ingredients linked to virulent cancers. Since deodorants and antiperspirants are designed to stay on our bodies for hours, this allows the potential absorption of harmful chemicals through the skin. After I read this article on Green Living Ideas I completely stopped using antiperspirants but am yet to write an extensive post about that.


Shower curtains
Plastic shower curtains leach toxic chemicals not only into your shower or bath, but also into the environment, emitting harmful chemicals called volatile organic chemicals or VOCs.


Reducing your contact with any of these products, in addition to conventional cleaners, will surely make your home your castle.

Did I miss anything? Share your opinion in the comments!

Republished from Green Living Ideas with some edits.



08 June 2012

How to Take Action on World Oceans Day



If you have read some of my posts on keeping the ocean clean, the ocean bacteria that feed off plastic or how to make a difference on World Water Day, you surely know by now how passionate I am about our oceans.

Today we celebrate World Oceans Day, the UN-designated day for the global community to celebrate and take action for our shared ocean. One of the greatest threats to the ocean is also one of the most insidious because chances are it’s so mundane you don’t even notice it. Look around you right now: how much plastic do you see?

The ocean is downstream from all of us so no matter where we live, we can all help address the issue of plastic pollution in the ocean. Each year a huge amount of plastic eventually makes it into coastal waters and harms ocean life. Many animals such as seabirds, sea turtles, dolphins, and whales die every year from plastic entanglement or starvation because they fill up their stomachs on plastic they mistake for food.

Here is a video we shot earlier this year, featuring swans, seagulls, a raven and tens of singing birds in the background. Let's make something for them starting today! 


Here is how you can take action for World Oceans Day and prevent plastic from harming ocean wildlife!

Reduce plastic use
Help stop plastic pollution at its source! As consumers, we each have the power to reduce demand. And if you encourage family and friends to do the same, the more good we can do to keep the ocean clean and safe. Here are a few disposable plastic products everyone can reduce in our daily lives:
  • Plastic water bottles. Invest in a reusable water bottle, and filter water if necessary. Help the ocean and save money; it’s a win-win for you and the blue. On average, Americans now use 4 plastic water bottles a day—the highest ever recorded! Let’s turn the tide against wasteful plastic consumption. 
  • Plastic bags. People use nearly 1 trillion plastic bags each year, and unfortunately, many of those end up ingested by sea turtles that mistake plastic for jellyfish. Remember to bring a reusable bag for food (including vegetables) and other shopping and save a life! 
  • Straws, cups to-go, food containers, and utensils. Bring your own reusable products like mugs when you get coffee and take a pass on the plastic utensils when you get take-out food. And if you must have a straw, there a number affordable options! 
  • Be aware of packaging. Pay attention to how much incidental plastic that comes with what you buy—your candy, headphones, pens, etc., all come in plastic packaging. Strive to cut down on your daily plastic consumption and reward corporations that package responsibly!
Act for World Oceans Day!
Hold a ‘Switch for the Sea’ contest! Ask friends and family to switch one of their disposable plastic habits for a sustainable, ocean-friendly one: such as bringing reusable food containers from home when eating out for your ‘doggie bag.’

Organize an aquatic clean-up! Head out to your nearest and dearest body of water with some friends and pick up all the trash you find. You’ll be surprised at how much of it is plastic.

Ban the bag in your town. Many communities around the world are banning plastic bags from being used at their stores. Learn how to start a campaign to stop plastic bags use in your town!

There are hundreds of events being held all over the world, find one near you and celebrate with a purpose this World Oceans Day! You can also go the extra mile and organize an event yourself using ideas and free materials provided at WorldOceansDay.org!



04 June 2012

Natural Homemade Drain Cleaner



It happened again. The drains are clogged. The problem we have is that our drains are all connected - kitchen, bathroom sink, bathroom drain... so if any given one gets clogged down go all. To cut a long story short we have to find an eco-friendly way to unclog our drains because let's face it - even though there is a great number of lye-based drain cleaners, these toxic products can damage not only the pipes and our lungs but will also add to the amount of toxic chemicals already floating in the ocean.

Natural Drain Cleaner
Photo by Attila Acs


I found a very simple recipe on Green Living Ideas, which turned out to be the most effective solution ever! If you have followed the Kanelstrand blog long enough you wouldn't be surprised to see baking soda and vinegar in the recipe!

Baking soda and vinegar are natural, non-toxic ingredients posing no health dangers while unclogging drains. They are preferable to the sodium hydroxide, commonly known as lye, found in most drain cleaners.

When baking soda (base) is combined with vinegar (acid), they form carbon dioxide and sodium acetate. This presents as the bubbles scrubbing the drain’s insides. These natural, non-toxic ingredients get flushed further down ensuring a clog-free drain.

Now, on to the actual drain cleaner.

Ingredients:
  • 2 cups baking soda
  • 4 cups boiling water
  • 1 cup white vinegar

Application:
  1. Pour 1 cup of baking soda down the drain, making sure that it makes it down the drain.
  2. Pour 2 cups of boiling water down the drain. The baking soda mixed with boiling water will dissolve the sludge and gunk in the pipe.
  3. After a few minutes pour the second cup of baking soda then add 1 cup of white vinegar and plug the drain immediately. There will be foaming and bubbles and you will hear some sizzling from the drain.
  4. When things get calmer, add the remaining boiling water down the drain.
  5. Repeat this process if necessary.

If the drain remains clogged, read more on Green Living Ideas.

A monthly treatment helps prevent future clogs. Pour a cup of baking soda down the drains followed by boiling water.

How have you been dealing with clogged drains?



11 May 2012

Plastic-Free: How I Kicked the Plastic Habit and How You Can Too



Do you remember Beth Terry's interview during the Simple Living Challenge in February? At the time I admitted that after spending a great deal of my life in blissful ignorance about plastic, there came a time when I started opening my eyes for the plastic problem. I read about the increased accumulation of microplastic debris in the oceans coming from the waste-water of washing machines. The polyester and acrylic particles from my own clothes were going straight into the bodies of sea animals and back to me in the fish I was eating. I read about the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, and the terrible effects human consumerism has on innocent animals.

But let me admit that ever since I stumbled upon Beth Terry's website My Plastic-Free Life her influence on my life has been immense. This lady with a vision is with me in every decision I take that has to do with plastic. Although I often think like many of you, that a single person cannot make a difference, I was inspired by her refusal to take "no" for an answer and fought for changing the routines in major companies. 

Photo via MyPlasticFreeLife.com

Beth Terry spent a year researching and writing her book: Plastic-Free: How I Kicked the Plastic Habit and How You Can Too. The first amazing fact about this book is that, staying true to her agenda, Beth had it printed with absolutely no plastic whatsoever. 

She did a great job balancing between inspiring stories, useful resources, and practical tips with information about the problems with plastic, the facts about recycling, the differences among bioplastics and the impacts of the various kinds, the truth about silicone, and why we can’t buy our way out of the mess that we are in.

In Beth Terry's own words:
What’s also exciting about the book is that it’s filled with tips from you, the plastic-free community. My hope is that this is a book you will want to share with your friends and family who may not read blogs or who may not have thought as much about these issues as you guys have.


But there is more! Don't think this is your average anti-plastic book. Beth Terry is walking the talk. She has teamed up with buyGreen.com to even ship the book plastic-free.  When you order it via buyGreen.com, the price will be a little higher than from the giants Amazon and Barnes & Noble, but you’ll know that you are not only guaranteed to get the book without plastic, but also that a higher percentage of the proceeds will come back to Beth and support her work.

And this is where I come in.

Look to the left sidebar - right under the Simple Living Pledge button you can see a link to pre-order Beth Terry's book. Yes, I wanted to be part of her amazing crusade for getting rid of plastic! Purchase Plastic-Free through the link on my left sidebar and I will get a small portion of the price that I will put to use and keep on researching and posting awesome information for you!

Read even more about how to start a plastic-free life on My Plastic-Free Life.




20 April 2012

How to Celebrate Earth Day



This is a guest post by Debra Duneier.

If you have not celebrated Earth Day in the past, this April 22nd would be a great time to start. You may feel a little awkward at first because you just may not know what to do. Do you invite people over for a party? Does one put candles on a cake? What kind of toast would be appropriate? Can you send a card? Is buying flowers or chocolates the right touch?

cherry blossom tree
Photo: kanelstrand


The first Earth Day was in 1970 and since then it has grown to a worldwide environmental event. On this day, we celebrate our planet and its gifts of biodiversity.  It is the time of year to reinstate our commitment to protect plants, animals, soil, seas and fresh drinking water. It is also the birthday of the US Environmental Protection Agency which was created to protect our air, water and land from pollution. Senator Gaylord Nelson founded Earth Day to bring environmental concerns to the attention of the national agenda. If you ever question what one person can accomplish remember that one by one, 20 million protesters around the country came out in support of Earth Day and a cleaner and safer environment…they were heard.

Pitch in and make a big difference by making small changes in your daily life. Here are some EcoChi Green Tips to get you started:
  1. Reduce your “product carbon footprint” by purchasing locally grown produce whenever possible.
  2. Bring reusable shopping bags with you to the supermarket, rather than having your groceries packed in plastic bags (plastics take 500 years to decompose). 
  3. Keep landfills at reasonable levels by recycling your garbage as much as possible. Paper, plastics, metals and even electronic equipment can be conveniently recycled in most towns.
  4. Set your thermostat 2 degrees higher in the summer and 2 degrees lower in the winter to cut back on energy use.
  5. Do not run the water while you brush your teeth. Turn the faucet on only when needed. Help save our most precious resource, fresh drinking water.
If you decide to throw a party on April 22nd:
  • Send electronic invites
  • Use beeswax candles on the cake instead of candles made with petro fuels
  • Recycle your wine bottles
  • Send an E-card or one made of recycled paper
  • Decorate with fresh flowers and serve chocolate which always tastes great!
Still unsure what to do on April 22nd? Get over any awkwardness that accompanies a new experience and instead create traditions for the future. After all, cleaning up our planet means we may be able to leave our Earth a better place for future generations and that’s worth celebrating!

Debra Duneier is an accredited LEED® Green Associate, Certified Eco-Designer, Feng Shui Master Practitioner, Creator of EcoChi® and Author of EcoChi: Designing the Human Experience.



09 April 2012

One Day Without Shoes



I am not wearing shoes tomorrow. It is exactly 32 degrees Fahrenheit but you bet I'll do this.

Tomorrow, April 10th, is the day we all have a chance to spread awareness of the impact a single pair of shoes can have on a fellow human being's life.

one day without shoes


Millions of children around the world live without shoes, exposed to diseases and injuries. A fact that is hard to grasp from the coziness of your warm and insulated home.

Go barefoot! 
Help spread information about the way millions of children suffer and the more we become, the more solutions we will find!

Screenshot from One day without shoes

Some facts
4,000,000 people suffer from podoconiosis, a highly neglected but seriously debilitating and disfiguring soil transmitted disease. In 2011, podoconiosis was added to the World Health Organization's Neglected Tropical Disease list, which was an important milestone in raising global awareness of the condition.

Podoconiosis is the reason behind this condition, called Elephantiasis. Photo: Oscar G. Mason
740,000,000 people have hookworm, which is the main reason for maternal and child morbidity. In susceptible children hookworms cause intellectual, cognitive and growth retardation. A third of all pregnant women in developing countries are infected with hookworm, 56% of all pregnant women in developing countries suffer from anemia, 20% of all maternal deaths are either directly or indirectly related to anemia. 

Learn more about One Day Without Shoes project here. Download additional information to be prepared to answer the question "Why are you wearing no shoes?"

Would you risk your comfort tomorrow?




22 March 2012

How To Make a Difference on World Water Day



Today is World Water Day, celebrated for the 19th time. I wonder how much more we have polluted the world ocean since that first World Water Day in 1993. Ironically, the frequency and vigor with which more and more people around the world work for the environment do not correspond to the increasing pollution. 


As stated on the page of World Water Day, currently there are 7 billion people to feed on the planet. According to the statistics, each of us drinks from 2 to 4 liters of water every day, but most of it is embedded in the food we eat: 

1 kilo of beef consumes 15,000 liters of water.
1 kilo of wheat ’drinks up’ 1,500 liters.

We all need water to live, but the usage of water varies greatly from country to country. For example, people in Central Africa each use only 2% of the water used by people in the US.

To mark World Water Day, my husband shot a video of the North Sea this morning, which I am thrilled to show you. You can watch our beach in high definition, see the sun and the islands in the distance, listen to the waves and the singing birds. Think of that video as your 20 minutes of relaxation today and imagine you are there on the beach with us. Maybe, if we all join forces we can make a difference!



Here is a list of actions I suggested on Green Living Ideas last week, that I believe you can take too:
  1. A thing we have been doing in my household for years is to designate a glass for drinking water for each of us every day, or refill a water bottle. This action drastically cuts down the number of glasses to wash.
  2. Instead of thawing food under running water We defrost it in the fridge which not only conserves water but also ensures healthier food. This, of course, means that you have to plan your meals the day before, to allow the food to defrost fully in the fridge.
  3. Always run your washing machine and dishwasher only when they are full. By doing this you can save up to 1,000 gallons a month.
  4. It has long become a habit of mine to wash dark clothes in cold water. This action saves water and energy while and is beneficial for your clothes because they keep the color longer.
  5. If you accidentally drop ice cubes when filling your glass from the freezer, don’t throw them in the sink. Drop them in a house plant instead.
  6. Instead of running the tap to get cold drinking water, keep a glass bottle of water in the fridge.
  7. To minimize evaporation, water your lawn and garden when the temperatures are cooler, i.e. early in the morning or in the evening, after sunset.
  8. Turn off the water while you wash your hair to save up to 150 gallons a month.
  9. Collect the water after rinsing fruits and vegetables to then reuse it to water house or garden plants.
  10. Use the nutrient-rich water from cleaning your fish tank to water to your plants.
  11. Collect rain water from your roof to water your garden.
  12. Shorten your shower by a minute or two and you’ll save up to 150 gallons per month.
  13. Reduce the amount of flush water by inserting a displacement device (f.ex. a plastic bottle filled with water) in the tank of your toilet.

Let's make a difference this year and let this World Water Day mark the beginning of a more deliberate relationship with water! All changes are up to us, after all!

What are your ways of conserving water?




20 February 2012

Step 15: Wean Off Plastic



A full list of the Simple Living Challenge steps can be found here.

I spent a good deal of my life in blissful ignorance about plastic. I've never had a particular liking to it but I also didn't mind it too much. Until several years ago, when I started seeing more and more articles about the toxicity in plastic bottles and the dangers of plastic baby toys. At that point, my interest was purely personal, just like the one I had in makeup and cosmetics. But after opening my eyes to the plastic problem, I started seeing more - the amount of yogurt containers and milk boxes we were throwing away each week started to feel overwhelming.

I read about the increased accumulation of microplastic debris in the oceans coming from the waste-water of washing machines. The polyester and acrylic particles from my own clothes were going straight into the bodies of sea animals and back to me in the fish I was eating. I read about the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, and the terrible effects human consumerism has on innocent animals. Had I thought about them before? No. Did I want to hurt any animal? No way.

But what could I do, change industry? I didn't think so. At that point, I stumbled upon My Plastic Free Life - a website that opened my eyes to another reality - a single person CAN make a difference!

Beth Terry, the founder of My Plastic Free Life (previously known as Fake Plastic Fish) is joining us today for a powerful push towards simple living. Because plastic, the symbol of modern disposable life, is one of the greatest obstacles on our way to deliberate and inoffensive living.

Beth has been blogging since 2007, collecting and tallying her own plastic waste (in 2011 her plastic waste reached the minute 2% of the U.S. average!) and researching plastic-free alternatives.

Apart from receiving truthful information about the impact of plastic, on her website you can get encouragement to learn more about your habits by examining your garbage and calculating your plastic footprint. You can collect your plastic waste (both recyclable and non) for one week or more. Then photograph, tally, and post it on the Plastic Trash Challenge page. 

Before you go on to Beth's plastic-free interview, I would like to let you in on another great news -  you can already pre-order Beth's book, Plastic Free: How I Kicked the Plastic Habit and How You Can Too, which is going to be released in April 2012.




30 January 2012

10 Simple Ways to Go Green



Going green is not something that requires extra energy or efforts. In fact, it embodies a straightforward philosophy of life that can be applied to any person living anywhere in the world. While some of us naturally live a greener life, others need to make a deliberate effort at greening but hey, it is neither hard, nor scary.

Green has become something of a universal password bound to make consumers buy whatever products have the green/organic/eco-friendly label. But when you come to think of it, over-consumption is what got us here so why not put buying aside and concentrate on frugality for a change.



Here are several steps you can take along your green journey that will not only help you save the planet but some cash too.

Walk more, drive less
If you can walk or bicycle to work, why not do it? It is good exercise, gives you a couple of minutes to get in the mood and it's free. Add to that zero emissions and it tops the list.

Use public transport or carpool
Not all of us are lucky enough to live close to work, so in the cases when you have no other choice but to travel, use public transport or join a carpool. Both options save you money and reduce carbon emissions.

Reconsider your attitude to paper
You can stop printing in the first place. I recently stumbled upon a blogger giving frugality advice that was recommending printing them out. It is my opinion that trying to write things down or saving them on the Internet to have easy access from virtually anywhere is more environmentally responsible apart from being frugal.

Reuse paper. Ever since I remember myself we've been reusing paper pprinted on one side. It is easy to shred sheets of paper and use them for little notes or big ideas.

Oh yes... and give up paper towels. Most of thhe times you can do the job even better with the help of a cotton cloth that can eb washed and reused for a long time.

Avoid plastic
Anywhere, anytime think of what you are buying. If there is an option, go for the non-plastic pack. Watch your trash and sort your plastic for recycling but more importantly try to use less of it. Visit Beth Terry's website My Plastic-free Life to learn more about the consequences of plastic, and to follow her journey on reducing the amount of her plastic trash. Weaning off plastic is a fundamental green deed that can save the lives of a number of marine animals and birds.

Reconsider cleaning products and cosmetics
For every chemical out there, there is a natural replacement that works equally well or better but is not dangerous either for you or for the environment. If you take the time to learn and actually make your own cleaning products, soap and shampoo you will be saving a considerable amount of money and your health. Let's not forget that all chemicals that get washed away take the long journey from your home to the oceans, and settle in fish that we subsequently eat, so... whatever we do, we do it to ourselves (ignorance can't save us here).

Turn off the (energy saving) lights
Undoubtedly you should already be using energy saving bulbs or LEDs. If you are not, just buy some and change your old ones. Your wallet will thank you. Then, turn off the light when you leave the room. It will spare you even further on bulbs and energy bills.

Unplug appliances when not in use
Keeping your electronics plugged in standby not only adds up to your energy bill but also to the radiation in the house. Make sure you power them off completely to save you a substantial part of your energy bill.

Use less water
Take shorter showers, close the tap while you'r ebrushing your teeth, use bath water to water your plants - easy frugal ways to be green and earth-minded.

Dry your clothes on the line
The sun has the amazing quality to actually disinfect your clothes while they are drying. This is not only free and healthy but also green.

Grow your own food
The advantages are countless. You will know where your food comes from, you will have an emotional connection to what you are eating - something we all need, you will have an excuse for spending some time out. Even i you have the smallest of gardens or no garden at all, you can do this and make sure you eat healthy. The grow your food inside movement is in its swing right now because it helps people get back to nature even if they live in a small apartment.

The way I see it, green life is nothing more than simple, sensible life. We just need to get rid of what city life has instilled in us and keep our human roots even if we are to grow up and flourish in the grey concrete jungle.

What steps are you taking to make your life greener and how are they affecting your financial situation?



25 January 2012

The Solar Storm and the Aurora



The biggest solar storm in eight years hit Earth last Thursday. Doomsday aficionados were disappointed yet again because big as it was, it didn't have any impressive effect on the Earth apart form the amazing beauty in the sky. All around the top of the earth, solar particles colliding with the earth's magnetic field created an Aurora Borealis that was a sight to remember.

This image by NASA shows the creation of new solar active regions following the solar flare eruption. The loop structures are made of superheated plasma, each one several times larger than the size of the Earth.


While the solar storm interfered with satellite transmissions and forced some planes regularly flying near the North Pole to change route, the lucky dwellers of the far off northern regions of the Earth were able to witness a massive light show in the evening skies.

My dear friend Mary of Inside My Hideaway was the first to ask me on Tuesday if we managed to see the spectacular Aurora Borealis but alas, the skies above Southern Norway were way too overcast. That also means that I didn't have the chance to make a single photo myself but thankfully there weren't clouds further north and further south and I can show you some stunning Aurora photos by other watchful eyes.

Northern Lights over Trondheim, Norway on 22. January 2012 taken by Schwebbes
Northern lights above Kvaløya, Norway on 23. January 2012, taken by Lars Tiede
Northern lights above Sweden on 24. January 2012, taken by razaonetwo
Northern lights above Finland on 22. January 2012, taken by Janne
Northern lights above Reykjavik, Iceland on 23. January 2012, taken by Matthias Burch
Northern lights above Fairbanks, Alaska on 22. January 2012, taken by Jason Ahrns
Northern lights above Inishowen, Ireland on 22. January 2012, taken by leppre

Truth be told, I am envious of everyone who had a good view in the past few days and managed to take a glimpse photo of that surreal light show in the sky. I must confess that witnessing Aurora Borealis is one of the most intense experiences for someone interested in nature and the world around. It is unforgettable even for those uninterested!

I remember sitting on the roof with my husband one exceptionally cold October night in Iceland, celebrating our first wedding anniversary with an incredibly colorful and mind-blowing display of the Northern Lights that seemed to go on for an eternity. A show that I knew was staged just for the two of us. At some moments the Aurora resembled this photo:

Northern lights above Fairbanks Alaska, 22. January 2012, taken by Jason Ahrns


As if I was watching a 3D movie, only it was real, I could have reached out and touched the dancing lights but I was afraid not to spoil the moment, not to miss a thing and I stood still next to my husband, freezing under the Northern sky that was talking to me.

I still remember how humbled and in awe I felt that night and I wish you all to have a chance to see the Aurora with your own eyes one day. You will never forget it, I promise.


Mary, this video is for you:



Auroras 22.01.12 Birtavarre Norway from Ørjan Bertelsen on Vimeo.



24 January 2012

Simple Weather Forecasting



Living a deliberate life deepens our connection to nature, making us prone to its intricate changes not only through the seasons but during a single day too. I was surprised to learn in a recent talk with an elderly couple living in a village (i.e. close to nature) that they knew next to nothing about reading nature's signs and forecasting weather. This made me wonder why I, the city kid knew that when sparrows bathe in the sand it means that it will rain. Or that when birds are flying low the pressure is low as well.

Apart from some basic cloud-watching and air-smelling skills though, I don't have much more to offer but I found a very rich infographic about how to forecast weather without gadgets that brings out an array of curious methods.

Two weeks ago we witnessed a crazy sunset in Southern Norway that made us stop the car while driving back home. You cannot simply drive under an intensely red sky that is reflecting in the calm red ocean, can you? You need to quiet down and in turn reflect on this extraordinary beauty. alas, i don't have an actual photo to show you but it looked something like this only way much more intense and bright, and without a single cloud.

Photo: kanelstrand

Unlike many doomsday aficionados professing the world's terrible end in 2012 we didn't worry at all and thankfully, because I found a very common explanation of the stunning phenomenon:
If you see red sky during sunset looking to the west there is a high pressure system with dry air that is stirring dust particles in the air, causing the sky to look red. The dry air is heading towards you.
See? Plain high pressure combined with dry air! Long live watchful eyes and science! The world is saved!

Read on to learn even more on how to get by perfectly well without weather forecasting gadgets.


via visually

Do you have a secret way to forecast weather? Share it with us in the comments!



22 November 2011

The Dirtiest Public Surfaces - U.S. vs. Norway



With the advance of the colder months it is natural for people to turn their look inside and to start preparing for more time spent indoors. Since autumn and winter are also good grounds for developing flu and colds, at about the same time each year we tend to get over sensitive and protective to our health. But it is disturbing that as the years progress the dirt that we are exposed to in public areas gets more and more.

I would have thought that in a highly technological and developed society as is the case with our Brave Western World, people would have realized long the importance of personal hygiene but alas, the contradiction between technology and personal care not only persists but it is getting deeper.
Photo: NancyFphotos
The dirtiest surfaces in the USA
I believe by now most of you are well acquainted with the results of the Kimberly Clark sponsored research that revealed the top 7 dirtiest public surfaces in the U.S. According to Dr. Charles Gerba, Professor of Microbiology at the University of Arizona:
“This new testing is compelling because it underscores the importance of hand and surface hygiene. Most cold and flu viruses are spread because people touch surfaces in their immediate area and then touch their faces, other objects and other people. Washing and drying your hands frequently throughout the day, can help prevent your risk of getting sick or spreading illness around the office.”
From bad to worse the top 7 dirtiest public surfaces in the U.S. are:
7. Vending machine buttons
6. Crosswalk buttons
5. Parking meters
4. ATM buttons
3. Escalator rails
2. Mailbox handles
1. Gas pump handles

The dirtiest surfaces in Norway
Since things in Europe are always a wee different than in the U.S. I would like to let you in on a research conducted by the Infection Control Service in Kristiansand - one of the Southern municipalities of Norway. While the Kimberly Clark tests could be considered as misleading, with regards to their supposed hidden agenda (we all know what Kimberly Clark are selling, don't we?), the testing in Norway was not funded by any company and was conducted with the help of Eurofins, - a leader in food and pharmaceutical products testing. It is also number one in the world in the field of environmental laboratory services, and one of the global market leaders in agroscience, genomics and central laboratory services. 

Although different, the results of this research are mind-boggling. It employed a slightly different methodology - instead of measuring the levels of Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP) on public surfaces as was the case in the U.S., the number of bacteria was counted. Before I go on, I would like to point out that not all bacteria are harmful. Yet, it is common sense to try and reduce your contact with public surfaces.

6. Again, from bad to worse, the object with the lowest amount of bacteria is also the one with the smallest surface - a 20 kroner coin received as change. It proved to carry a total of 17 different bacteria.

5. The door handle of the town cinema follows with 60 bacteria.

4. As I already pointed out things in Europe are slightly different and here is another proof - the fourth place is reserved for gas pump handles. Unlike U.S. where they are the dirtiest, in Norway they only sport the humble number of 80 bacteria. I believe one of the reasons could be the disposable gloves you can use to grab the handle.

3. The ATM and the crosswalk buttons seem to be equally dirty, with a total of 100 bacteria found.

2. With an equal amount of germs, 120, here follow the handle to the medical center of Kristiansand and the mouse of a publicly used computer.

1. The dirtiest public surfaces in Kristiansand, Norway are the inside handles of the public toilets. They have not less than 400 bacteria. The number of germs on the public W.C.s equals the combined number of all other tested surfaces!

The only conclusion I came up with, and one which has long been my private suspicion is that people don't wash their hands after they go to the toilet. I shudder when I think about this - the handle on the outside of the toilet door is cleaner than on the inside. 

I am having hard time coming to terms with the fact that in a world where you have the cleanest toilets possible, offering disinfectant liquid to clean the seat before you use it (though personally, there is no force on Earth that might make me actually sit on a public toilet), warm water, soap, paper tissues AND blow driers to chose how to dry your hands, you can be as lazy, careless and clueless as to not wash them. I don't understand that.

If anyone can explain that, please do! In the meantime, wash your hands for a minimum of 30 seconds.

Source: Kristiansand Avis, Nr. 46 - 17 November 2011



08 November 2011

Ocean Bacteria Might Help Clean the Oceans from Plastic



We may not see them but the results of our throw-away culture are killing the oceans' inhabitants. Enormous patches of plastic trash lure ocean animals into mistakenly taking it for food. Albatrosses fly tens of miles to feed their young with colorful plastic debris, sea lions wear necklaces of plastic bags and sea turtles grow with mutated shells because of plastic rings that once got stuck around their bodies.

Over a million seabirds, and more than 100 thousand marine mammals die every year from ingesting plastic debris. Some researchers estimate that there are over 13 pounds (6 kg) of plastic for every 2 pounds (1 kg) of plankton in the Pacific Garbage Patch.

Photo: Tom Magliery
The history of plastic
The first synthetic plastic material, parkesine, was patented by Alexander Parkes, in UK in 1856. But the development of plastics has gone a long way - from the use of natural plastic materials (chewing gum, shellac) to chemically modified natural materials (rubber, nitrocellulose, collagen, galalite) and finally to completely synthetic molecules (bakelite, epoxy, polyvinyl chloride).

The first plastic based on a synthetic polymer was made from phenol and formaldehyde, with the first viable and cheap synthesis methods invented in 1907, by Leo Hendrik Baekeland, a Belgian-born American living in New York.

Since the 1950s, one billion tons of plastic have been discarded and may persist for hundreds or even thousands of years. A great percentage of the discarded plastic that is not in landfills finds its way into the oceans either blown by the wind or floating on the rivers from regions that are thousands of miles far from the sea. Plastic comprises 80% of the trash floating in the oceans. The weight of just one of the great garbage patches,  the so-called Great Pacific Garbage Patch, floating between Hawaii and California has been estimated to about 4 million tons.

Photo of Salmonella typhimurium invading human cells by: Rocky Mountain Laboratories, NIAID, NIH through Mycrobe World

Plastic eating bacteria in the oceans
But maybe there is light in the tunnel. Scientists working on environmental pollution have noted that although global plastic production has grown fourfold in the last 20 years, the quantity of trash in the oceans has remained the same. An ocean bacteria may be eating the plastic but the consequences of that are yet to be researched. It s not yet clear if plastic digestion produces harmless by-products, or whether it might introduce toxins into the food chain.

Tracy Mincer, a marine microbiologist in the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in Massachusetts says:
“It has been proven that microbes can degrade plastic. What's significant is that the plastic is being degraded in a nutrient-poor area of the sea, an "ocean desert." We are seeing the plastic particles as a type of artificial reef that certain types of microbes can colonize. Since plastic has a much longer residence time in the water column than any other natural particle in the water column, this could be making a significant impact."
The bacteria was found in a region of the North Atlantic Ocean called the Sargasso Sea. It is  breaking down the plastic, but it is yet to be researched if the byproduct is environmentally-friendly waste or a toxin.

The great garbage patches found in the regions of the five ocean gyres that have been considered by scientists devoid of life may turn out to be full of unknown living communities. They are now seen as an artificial reef that certain types of microbes can colonize.

But the discovery of the plastic-eating bacteria poises further questions about the effect on other aquatic life. Scientists are yet unsure of the way the byproducts will influence the overall microbial balance of the ocean. The part of the Sargasso Sea where the bacteria is found is quite poor in nutrients and depleted of phosphorous, challenging scientists to find out if it is “stealing away” phosphorous from others that normally receive this share.

New bacterial species
It has already been proven that the bacteria on plastic are different than the ones in nearby seaweed or in the surrounding water. The DNA analysis by the Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole so far shows that almost 25% of the bacteria on one polyethylene surface are vibrios - bacteria from the same group as the cholera bacterium. Evidence of eukaryotes, which are organisms with more complicated cells than bacteria have also been found on the plastic. With our collective strive for a fast-paced, disposable civilization we have obviously created a new world without even realizing there might be consequences but now they are a fact and we will have to find a way to deal with them, for better or worse.

How can YOU change the situation?
Humans have been playing with plastics for the past 60 years and it is no wonder that nature is looking for ways to adapt. If no organisms exist to decompose them, it is estimated that plastic bags and bottles will last for at least 400 years. Even after that period, the small bits of plastic may remain.

With or without plastic-eating bacteria, plastic still is a major problem for humanity.  Here are several things you can do to lessen the use of plastic in the world and give your grandchildren a chance:
  • avoid food packed in plastic
  • avoid disposable plastic dishes and cutlery
  • refuse plastic bags 
  • look for bio-degradable plastic products
  • place your trash in a closed bin
  • take care that your plastic is being recycled.




    01 November 2011

    Cleaning the Oceans from Plastic - Mission Impossible?



    Far from our eyes islands have been forming in the oceans - plastic islands floating  along the oceanic gyres, luring fish and birds with their bright colors. We have been killing innocent animals with each plastic bottle cap that has not landed safely in the trash bin. And all the floating colorful plastic bits of civilization are at the core of a very modern and ironic question - is cleaning the oceans from plastic possible at all?

    Debris from the 2011 Japan earthquake and tsunami
    Much has been said recently about the enormous floating island of debris from the March earthquake and tsunami in Japan that is about to hit Hawaii and the West Coast of the U.S. Some claim that it comprises of anywhere between 5 and 20 million tons of houses, boats, cars, tractors, even human bodies.

    Several months ago, researchers from University of Hawaii came up with a simulation model showing part of the vicious circle the debris will make around the North Pacific - floating past Hawaii by about mid 2012 and reaching the US shores by 2013 before heading back to Asia. In fact, if the lighter items are not blown ashore by winds or get caught up in another oceanic gyre, they will continue to drift in the North Pacific loop and complete the circle in about six years.

    Simulation of the trajectory of debris from the 2011 Japan tsunami and earthquake. University of Hawaii Mānoa International Pacific Research Center










    Although the vast amount of debris was washed into the ocean before the release of radioactive water from the destroyed power plants it is possible that some of them are in fact contaminated with radioactive material.

    Of course, a great part of the debris is plastic, which will increase tremendously the already high level of pollution of the ocean. But here is where I am starting to look perplexed - why is all the media getting so animated about the harmful plastic from the Japanese tragedy when the amount of tsunami debris, although massive, is a mere nothing comparing to the plastic trash that is dumped into oceans on a regular basis!

    I read opinions that Japan should take care of the trash "their" earthquake produced and I assume it is simply easier for everyone to find the one to blame and just pour the blames. How about the anonymous polluters thanks to whom more than 1 million seabirds, 100000 mammals and sea turtles are dying each and every year?

    According to a report by the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy  released 7 years ago roughly about 20% of the plastic in the oceans comes from ships or offshore platforms; the rest is blown, washed off the land or simply thrown away.

    Marine debris found in the gastrointestinal content of a juvenile green turtle accidentally captured in Bahía Samborombón, Argentina. Photo: Victoria González Carman

    Plastic not only damages marine animals habitats but it also kills the ones that eat it or get tangled in it and drown. Plastic bags, colorful bottle caps and polystyrene foam coffee cups are often found in the stomachs of dead sea lions, dolphins, sea turtles and other sea animals. 

    Bill Macdonald, vice president of the Algalita Marine Research Foundation, a Long Beach, California-based nonprofit environmental organization says:
    "In the sea, big pieces of plastic look like jellyfish or squid, while small pieces look like fish eggs. I have seen albatross parents fly huge distances to feed their young a deadly diet of plastic bottle caps, lighters and light sticks.
    The sheer volumes of plastic in oceans are staggering. In recent years Algalita researchers have sampled a huge area in the middle of the North Pacific, and found six pounds of plastic for every pound of algae."

    New trash discoveries in the ocean
    Even before the tsunami, the World Ocean was the collective bin for the trash of the world - flowing in from rivers, washed off beaches, neglected from oil and gas platforms or from fishing, tourist, and merchant boats. For many years now marine debris has become a serious problem for marine ecosystems, fisheries, and shipping.


    According to Nikolai Maximenko at the University of Hawaii, the trash which does not degrade, is not washed off on shores, does not end up at the ocean's bottom or in the animals stomachs is directed by ocean currents and gyres to five major regions in the World Ocean, which have turned into “garbage patches”: The so-called Great Pacific Garbage Patch, floating between Hawaii and California has been growing since the 1950s. Its weight is estimated to about 4 million tons and 80% of it is plastic. There is another one, north of the Caribbean which is similar in volume to the Great Pacific Garbage Patch and is reportedly taken care of (for now). The South Atlantic, South Indian Ocean, and South Pacific patches have just been found.

    Map source: NASA

    At this point no one sees it possible to clean this whole mess. On the contrary, there are predictions that it will only get bigger thanks to our throw-away culture, addicted to plastic. To quote Miriam Goldstein of The Oyster's Garter:
    "... [T]he trash gyre would be very, very hard to clean up. The plastic is so small, and so scattered, that it would take high-intensity trawling similar to that for shrimp. And shrimp trawling kills 10 pounds of non-targeted life (sharks, turtles, fish, you name it) for every pound of shrimp gathered... The mortality caused by trying to remove all the trash in the gyre would probably be similar. We’re just going to have to live with it and try to prevent it from getting any bigger."
    There is something the majority of people simply don't get and it is this: Most plastics do not biodegrade. Unless removed, they will remain in the sea for hundreds of years, breaking up into ever-smaller particles. Recently British scientists discovered that microscopic pieces of plastic can be found everywhere in the oceans, even inside plankton, the keystone of the marine food chain.

    The Washing Machine Problem
    Yes, you and your washing machine could be contributing to the devastating pollution of the World Ocean. According to a recent report published in ACS' journal Environmental Science & Technology there is increased accumulation of microplastic debris in the oceans coming from the wastewater of washing machines! The bits of polyester and acrylic smaller than pin heads go into the bodies of sea animals and could be transferred to people who eat fish. The microplastic can stay into their organisms for months.

    During a wash cycle more than 1,900 fibers can rinse off of a single garment and these are the exact same microplastic debris found in the sea. Maybe it is about time we consider the clothes we are wearing and hopefully there will be further research which will lead to developing methods for reducing the release of microplastic in wastewater.

    In the meantime, there are simple things we can all turn into habits in order to help reduce the ocean pollution:
    • Reduce, reuse and recycle as much as possible.
    • Whenever you shop choose recyclable products.
    • Don't use plastic bags, except if they are biodegradable.
    • Think about where you are throwing your trash, even the smallest bit. It might end up in your stomach.
    • When you think of trash, try to think beyond your trash bin - plastic doesn't leave your life after you throw it away.
    • Take real action and collect the trash that you see on the street. One item a day makes 365 for a year, times 7 billion... you can do the math.
    • Educate your children about recycling.
    • Pass this message on!

    With information from NOAA, University of Hawaii, Deep Sea News.



    28 October 2011

    The Week in Links and Photos



    I am back again with another edition of The Week in Links and Photos.



    This week I blogged at Green Living ideas about the fat tax imposed in Denmark in the beginning of October which is applied to any food product that has a saturated fat content of more than 2.3%. 

    I have also been reading extensively about the Ocean pollution that is getting from bad to worse.

    The increase of the world's population gives food for thought and requires reconsidering of our old ways. A good way to realize where we are exactly is this. Try it out!

    Technology has changed our lives immensely but have you thought about the way YouTube minimized TV? If not, take a look here.

    Have a colorful weekend!



    30 September 2011

    The Week in Links and Photos




    Autumn is officially here and now that we will be spending more time indoors, why not read my article on how house plants help clean the air from the most common chemicals.

    Learn how to take care of your skin and prepare it for winter - the natural way.

    Some shocking news about organic strawberries - it turns out they are not so organic after all.

    A seabird known as the New Zealand Storm Petrelsthat was believed to have gone extinct 150 years ago but now it makes its glorious comeback.

    Ever wanted to ride a bike with nifty metal wheels? Well, now you can, thanks to London-based designer Ron Arad and his team, who created an awesome bike sporting wheels made out of ribbons of tempered steel.

    Have a lovely weekend!



    23 September 2011

    The Week in Links and Photos



    Our bunny on an autumn walk to enjoy the last remains of fresh green grass



    This week, inspired by the advance of Autumn I wrote about the benefits of eating walnuts on Green Living ideas. Check it out, I am sure you will find something you didn't know about them!

    Talking about healthy eating, here are 8 things you didn't know about whole foods.

    For many years researchers have been aware of the link between climate change and outdoor air quality but here is proof that climate change affects the air indoors as well.

    Here is some modern art with recycled products on display during Valencia Design Week 2011.

    Thanks to NASA satellites we now have a clear view of the most polluted cities on Earth.



    16 September 2011

    The Week in Links and Photos




    This week I was active not only on the green front, writing about how to save the planet with a click (it is so easy and exciting, you should try it!), but also thinking about the 3 major mistakes bloggers tend to make.

    On September 17, Slow Food USA is holding the $5 challenge. They are asking each participant to pledge to share a fresh, healthy meal that costs $5 or less.

    Across parts of Australia, reports have been pouring in of strange voices chattering high in the treetops - mysterious, non-sensical conversations in English.

    With more and more people working from home, it is time to dust off a few trusty tricks for curbing electricity consumption without curbing productivity.

    Last but not least, make sure to check out the list of 100 women bloggers you should be reading. Eco Etsy's very own Ecokaren is included in the top green bloggers!


    Have a lovely weekend!