Natural Life - Navajo Tribal Utility Authority

Transcription

Natural Life
Simple
s
Organic
Simple
Summer Living
Healthy, Green
Building Ideas
Rediscovering
Old Ways
Through
Renewable
Energy
July/August 2004
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Bringing it Home
A Home Business Start-Up Guide for You and Your Family
by Wendy Priesnitz
Hundreds of tips on how to research and start a successful home
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What’s inside
Natural Life
6
Dressing the World Organically
6
Pioneering company brings natural, organic fibers
to a lifestyle near you.
12
8
Rediscovering Old Ways Through
Modern Energy
Indigenous people are finding their way back to harmony with
the natural world via the introduction of renewable energy.
11
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle...Replant
Replanting trees to offset paper use.
12
Summertime and the Living is Simpler
A pot pourri of healthy ideas for keeping summer simpler and more environmentally sound.
15
Healthy Picnics & Barbecues
Healthy tofu alternatives to high-fat, high-calorie summer foods.
16
Building Green
The Built Green Idea Home illustrates how to have
a healthy, economical, environmental home.
18
Earth Rangers Centre
A wildlife rehab centre that is also a showcase
of sustainability and leading edge technology.
8
Natural Life
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s Organic s
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Balanced
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Natural Life
From the Editor’s Desk
Simple s Organic s Balanced s Real
July/August 2004
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Editor: Wendy Priesnitz
Contributors:
Kristin Boeding, Kate Cheesbrough,
Rolf Priesnitz, Kate Worfolk
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Trash to Treasures
T
here is an old saying that one
person’s trash is another person's treasure. An international
grassroots recycling movement is
proving that statement to be more
than a cliché. Using the power of
email and websites, hundreds of
thousands of people around the
world are giving away things they
no longer want and accessing
things they need.
One of the groups
leading the movement
is
The
Freecycle
Network
(www.freecycle.org).
It was launched last
year in Tucson, Arizona by a local group
dedicated to promoting waste reduction
and saving desert
landscape from being taken over
by landfills. It quickly expanded to
close to 700 other cities across
the globe.
Using a network of simple Yahoo! Groups e-mail lists set up by
and for people in each area, the
over 100,000 members can post
notes about items they’d like to
give away or for items they are
seeking. Membership is free and
the only rule is that every item
posted must be free. The actual
exchange transactions are carried out directly between the interested parties. You can join your
local group through the main
website or start your own if one
doesn’t exist.
As the so-called “freeBay”
movement grows, there is a growing list of other places on the
Internet to recycle and reuse.
Craig’s List (www.craigslist.org)
is one of the largest, focused on
the San Francisco Bay area. (The
story of this site is an affirmation
of all that is simple, sustainable
and uplifting; see the site to learn
more.) Some cities are even setting up their own systems, like the
Madison
Stuff
Exchange
(www.madisonstuffexchange.com)
which is run by Dane County and
the City of Madison,
Wisconsin.
The Free Market
for Minneapolis and
St. Paul, Minnesota
(www.twincitiesfreem
arket.org) has 75,000
users who have given
away 2,000 tons of
material, most of
which would have
gone directly to landfill sites. According to Eureka! Recycling,
which runs the site, one in five
items are electronic devices, such
as VCRs, computer printers and
other things can are difficult to
discard because they contain
lead, mercury and other toxins.
These programs are providing
a great service to simple livers,
low-budget non-profit organizations and the environment. But
they are also contributing to the
preservation of an inclusive,
non-commercial, human voice on
the Internet. And they are helping
define and build community by
connecting like-minded people in
local neighborhoods and around
the world.
Not a bad record for such a
simple concept.
Wendy Priesnitz, Editor
Cover Photo: ArtToday, Inc
NaturalLifeMagazine.com
Page 3
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Addressing contemporary health,
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Native Plant Gardening, Taming the Power of Possessions, Fight Prostate Cancer with Diet, Castor
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September/October 2002
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The Hazards of Smelling Pretty, Green Roofs, Entrepreneur Recycles Waste Wood, Soy – The Miracle Bean, Preventing Noise-Related Hearing Loss,
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LOHAS
January/February 2003
January/February 2004
Learning in the Wild with Dr. Jane Goodall, Sustainable Housing for Empty Nesters, Talk Cafés –
Think Globally, Talk Locally, Creating Healthy Air in
Your Home, Mold Misery, Recycling Computers
Recycled Fashion, Growing a Healing Garden,
Macrobiotics for Health, Helping Kids Respect Nature, Greening the Screen, Sustainably-managed
Forests, Recycled Wood
March/April 2003
March/April 2004
Electric Boats, Micro-Hydro, Environment- Friendly
Condos, Asian Simplicity, Growing Beans, Healthy
in Your Eye – Understanding Iridology, Cultivating
Weeds
Building a Passive Solar Straw-Bale House, Guide
to Buying a Hybrid Car, Luring Beneficial Insects to
Your Garden, Eco-Tourism Helping Save the Great
Barrier Reef, How to Get a Good Night's Sleep
May/June 2003
May/June 2004
Feng Shui for a Simpler Home, Talking to Children
About War, Community Food/Community Kitchens,
Illness and Search for Meaning, Building a Healthy
Family
Have a Weed-Free Lawn Without Pesticides, Stylish Organics for Your Bed and Your Body, Deal
With Stress the Hawaiian Way, X-Rays - The Phantom Killers, Healthy Holidaying
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From our Readers…
Liking Natural Life
Dear Natural Life;
I have just received and read cover to
cover my May/June 2004 Natural Life
Magazine. I’ve been reading Natural
Life since issue #1 in 1976 and, as always, I find the pages full of relevant information and interesting material.
I congratulate you for the over 28
years you have kept your content current
to the “green scene”. And you present
your information in ways that are interesting to read and just the correct length.
I am very happy you have kept a hard
copy option because when I am finished,
each magazine goes on a journey to several other households and ends up in our
local library.
We all especially enjoy the News
section – dispatches from around the
world about healthy, sustainable living.
We also like that you haven’t gone to a
glossy interior, that your ads are all green
conscious offerings, that the length is not
fat and that this all comes for the bargain
price year after year.
Please renew my subscription.
These renewed batteries are being given
away to cyclists and volunteers, among
others. A portion is sold to pay for the
project processing cost.
Your readers may send their used alkaline batteries (only clean, non-leaking
ones) to: Battery Refill Program c/o
Mother’s Herbs & Vitamins, 119 Lonsdale Avenue, North Vancouver, BC,
V7M 2E7, Canada. The program’s email
is batteryrescue@canada.com.
D. Sanders
Vancouver, British Columbia
Write to Natural Life!
We welcome your comments,
ideas, praise, criticism and tips.
Write to us by email or regular
mail at the address on page 3.
Please let us know that your letter is intended for publication.
Rowena Eloise,
Argenta British Columbia
Recycling Batteries
Dear Natural Life;
Disposable household batteries are
responsible for up to 70 percent of all
heavy metals in landfills. In North America, the average person throws away
eight batteries every year. This adds up
to billions of toxic little time bombs,
which may affect the health of future
generations.
Until recently, there wasn’t much we
could do about disposable batteries.
However, now the “Battery Refill Program” has started in Vancouver, Canada.
This process refuels non-rechargeable
batteries – conceptually similar to inkjet
refilling.
Thousands of used batteries have
been diverted from landfill, to refill.
Page 5
Dressing the World
Organically
Pioneering company brings natural, organic fibers to a lifestyle near you.
Wendy Priesnitz
A
First housed in a small shop in British Columbia, Of the
n Oregon-based company called Of the Earth has redeEarth started to produce natural fiber clothing for children. With
fined what it means to live simply, dressed in style and
increasing demand for their designs and products, Richard and
comfort, treading lightly on the Earth.
Hélène’s small company began to expand. In 1997, while still
The inspiration for Hélène Bisnaire’s and Richard Ziff’s
manufacturing in Canada, OTE began to direct-source fabrics
unique apparel company grew from their passion for outdoor
from China, improving the fabric weaves, and also shifting to a
experiences. Drawn together by that and other similar interests
global perspective.
such as organic foods,
Concerned
with
meditation, yoga, crehuman rights, Richard
ative arts, music and
and Hélène were
respect for the environOf the Earth cofounders Hélène Bisnaire & Richard Ziff
pleased to discover
ment, Richard and
factory conditions that
Hélène began a rowere often better than those in North America. Production
mance with natural fibers when they co-founded Of the Earth
moved to China in 1998, bringing some of the first consistent
(OTE) in 1992, dedicated to the concept that fine natural fiber
quality hemp apparel pieces into the North American market.
apparel could actually be a way of life.
Richard and others at OTE began to work with factories on de“Armed with the knowledge that ten percent of all agriculveloping custom, signature weaves, while assisting Chinese
tural chemicals in the United States are used to produce convenmanufacturers in establishing many of the standards currently
tional cotton, we decided to investigate the alternatives,” says
used for hemp fabrics.
Ziff. “Hemp, ramie, linen, organic cotton, silk, wool, soy and
As the company grew at an exponential rate and relations
bamboo are part of a solution that we have been exploring and
with the Chinese strengthened, OTE made the decision to move
pioneering for the past ten years. In fact, OTE is in the process
forward and actually grow, spin, weave, knit and sew all of Of
of organically certifying all farm land cultivating fibers for our
the Earth’s clothing in China.
collections.” Of The Earth currently has third-party USDA and
That same year, Hélène and Richard continued their roIFOAM organic certification on soy, linen and cotton.
mance….with each other as well as the company. Married in
He adds that natural fiber clothing, like organic food, has
1998 and inspired by a desire to promote apparel for healthy,
had to overcome the perception that it’s not as good as convensimple family lifestyles, the couple traveled through China, Intional counterparts. “Many consumers believe natural clothing
dia and Thailand, expanding their horizons and bringing new
is akin to burlap, when in fact organic fabrics like linen, silk and
perspectives to the business.
wool are exemplars of quality and comfort.”
“It’s not what we do, it’s how we do it.”
Page 6
Of the Earth
co-founder
Richard Ziff relaxes on a hill of
organic cotton,
which is just one
of the fibers his
company uses
to produce its
leading edge
line of environmentally friendly
clothing.
Richard has spent
over two years in
China during the past
seven years, building
relationships, establishing OTE’s own
factories and facilities
and fair trade for its
employees who work there.
In order to ensure consistently high quality, OTE is a vertical
operation, overseeing all aspects of production from raw fiber to
finished goods. And this Spring, they opened a flagship store in
Bend, Oregon. It’s a strategy that has paid off. Despite economic downturn and conservative sales projections, they reported a 35 percent sales increase in 2003 over 2002.
Says Ziff, “As pioneers in this market, it’s very fulfilling to
see how this industry, that we had such vision for, has progressed. In 1992, not much was being produced in the way of
fashionable, alternative fabric apparel. But now, consumers are
becoming increasingly interested in organic lifestyles, which includes the clothing they wear. We’re
proud of our vision and the years of experience we’ve invested in this market.”
Success hasn’t made OTE lose its social or environmental conscience. Ten
percent of annual net profits are donated
to the Of The Earth Foundation, which
helps fund other non-profit environmental and grass roots organizations that are
action-oriented, helping to build public
involvement and support as well as accomplishing specific goals. The company’s headquarters are now nestled in
the dormant volcanic mountains of the
Central Oregon high desert. Hélène and
Richard feel that this natural environment
is an excellent reminder of their roots and
how important it is to play an active role
in helping maintain and protect all natural
environments.
From a personal dream of the ideal lifestyle in 1988 to the
joy and satisfaction of bringing natural fiber apparel to the
world’s lifestyles, the founders of OTE believe they can make a
difference. Says Richard, “What makes Of the Earth what it is
today is our love for the environment as well as the ability to be a
part of so many peoples’ lives through the art of sustainable, alternative fashion and design.”
Contact:
Of the Earth
P.O. Box 1124, Bend, OR 97709
Web: www.oftheearth.com
Page 7
Rediscovering Old Ways
Through Modern Energy
Indigenous people are finding their way back to harmony with the natural world
through the introduction of renewable energy.
The Oglala Lakota
Kate Cheesbrough
A
s an old Lakota proverb says, “when a man moves away
from nature his heart becomes hard.” When Wakan Tanka,
the Great Spirit, created life, he promised all would be well if all
living things learned to live in harmony.
The Oglala Lakota people have a long history of working together in harmony with nature. In fact, the word “Lakota”
means “people together”. Chief Luther Standing Bear of the
Oglala once said, “The old people came literally to love the soil
and they sat or reclined on the ground with a feeling of being
close to a mothering power.” As we enjoy the feel of our bare
feet in the grass, the Lakota took that joy and felt it was sacred.
However, given their oppressed place in modern society, the
Lakota have, in recent times, moved away from their ancestral
ways of living and towards the conventional North American
way of cutting down trees and using expensive energy sources
to heat their homes. In the late 1800s, millions of acres of the sacred Black Hills were taken from them and the people were assigned to live on the Pine Ridge Reservation. Their sustainable
Solar panels are helping the
Lakota save money and live in
harmony with their environment.
lifestyle, in harmony with the environment, crumbled. But they
are now trying to get back to their roots by fulfilling their role as
nature’s preserver. As Gus Yellow Hair, a resident of Pine
Ridge states, “There is a movement of people who seek to live in
better harmony with our beliefs.”
Along with cultural and environmental issues plaguing the
reservation, economic hardships have ground down the standard of living for some Oglala. In 1999, the U.S. Census Bureau
calculated that the average income of the Oglala people of Pine
Ridge was $6,286. That makes it hard to afford amenities like
proper heating, especially in a poorly constructed home on the
Page 8
cold and unforgiving plains of South Dakota. Some Oglala people spend 70 percent of their income to heat only a portion of
their homes, which they often share with otherwise homeless
family members. Irma Badwound, a soft-spoken yet eloquent
woman, is a tribal elder who lives on the reservation. When
asked about her financial situation, Badwound said, “I got a
$400 bill and asked for guidance because I was so upset.”
Many families use wood as their main source of energy, suffering through cold days and nights huddled in one room around
a fire. This is an unsustainable and expensive method of heating
that doesn’t fit well with the traditional Oglala way. According
to the Low Income Energy Assistance Program, the supply of
fuel-wood has decreased dramatically over the past few years.
In some desperate instances, scraps of painted and stained wood
have been used to throw in the fire, raising concerns about possible health risks.
However, solutions are being sought. A Colorado-based
non-profit organization called Trees, Water and People (TWP),
has partnered with several local organizations on Pine Ridge.
The partnership is intended to help communities develop energy
alternatives that are environmentally sound, culturally appropriate and economically beneficial.
The Oglala Oyate Alternative Energy Program partners
TWP with Youth Opportunity and the Oglala Lakota College’s
Natural Resources Department to conduct workshops that offer
alternative energy education and hands-on training about solar
heating and the benefits of planting shade trees.
Irma Badwound’s answer for guidance about her $400 energy bill came soon after, when her solar collector was installed
in March. “The next day, two people came to my door and said
we have solar heat panels and came to ask if I’d like them installed. I said, ‘how much?’ and they said, ‘nothing.’ The next
month my prayer was answered when my bill was $8.80.”
Although the two people who came to Irma’s door were
strangers to her at the time, they all became team mates who
worked closely together on the project. Irma and her family contributed the labor needed to construct the collector. Also as part
of the agreement, they also consented to participate in a study to
evaluate the program based upon energy-savings measures.
Each beneficiary will keep detailed records of energy consumption for comparison to consumption before introduction of the
Irma Badwound and her son Gerry sit by the solar collector that has
reduced their heating bill from $400 to $8.80. It was constructed
through sweat equity and the help of the environmental group TWP.
technology. And finally, every household that receives a collector must allow their collector to be used as a demonstration project that anyone in the community can watch and participate in.
According to field tests on Pine Ridge, the cost of the collectors, which is approximately $1,000 for materials and labor, can
be recouped in five to ten years. This amounts to an average saving of $150 to $200 per winter. With the system having a lifespan of 20 to 40 years, the return on investment is well worth the
effort.
Already, volunteers and residents have constructed six collectors, and the recipients are overwhelmingly pleased with the
early results. Along with a dramatic decrease in her cost to heat
her home, Badwound also says that the collector comes on automatically so she doesn’t have to worry about a switch. “It circulates the air in the house and I have not gotten pneumonia or a
cold like I did last year.”
Coupled with the collectors, is the planting of shade and
wind-blocking trees. This Spring, TWP and its partners planted
native species, including Rocky Mountain Junipers and Green
Ash, around homes on the reservation. According to some estimates, homeowners who properly place trees in their landscape
can realize savings of more than 50 percent on daytime air conditioning. The trees also help to replace forest resources previously cut down for fuel and, therefore, improve carbon and
pollutant sequestration and provide habitat for wildlife.
Just as important to the Lakota, is the fact that trees can improve sociologically ties in their surrounding community. According to a study by Texas A&M University, trees help create
relaxation and well being. With the planting of these trees, the
connection to nature and the traditional Lakota roles as stewards
of the land can once again be closely intertwined.
It is hoped that with the help of this program of simple, alternative solutions, the standard of living for the Oglala community will be raised so that basic human needs will be met and the
Oglala can claim their pride in their land once more.
continued
Page 9
The Navajo Nation
Kate Worfolk
E
choing back to earlier times when the Navajo Nation lived
entirely off the land, a renewable energy project has recently been completed on a modern Navajo Reservation in Arizona, as part of a multi-million dollar program, funded by the
U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), to install solar panels on
hundreds of Navajo and Hopi homes.
A new solar power initiative of the Navajo Tribal Utility Authority (NTUA) is bringing electricity to the homes of people
living in remote areas of the reservation. The DOE’s Sandia National Laboratories provides technical support.
The NTUA is an enterprise of the Navajo Nation headquartered in Fort Defiance, Arizona. It was established in 1959 by
the Navajo Nation Council to provide utility services to the Navajo People. It purchases electrical power from off the Navajo
reservation and transmits power to homes throughout the
25,000 square mile Navajo Nation, spreading across northeastern Arizona, northwestern New Mexico, and southeastern Utah.
According to the NTUA, there are an estimated 18,000
homes on the Navajo reservation without electrical grid connection. Because the majority of these homes are scattered in remote locations throughout the reservation, it has been difficult
for the NTUA to build line extensions. The cost of connecting to
the electrical power grid is between $25,000 and $40,000 per
mile, a prohibitive price. Solar power and windmills are better
options and have been embraced by the NTUA and residents.
A new network of 63 small, solar-electric power installations and small wind turbines scattered throughout the reservation now bring power to thousands of homes that were
previously without power. The 880-Watt residential PV Power
Sandia National Laboratories
Stations were designed and supplied by SunWize and assembled in Fort Defiance. They use Shell Solar modules, Southwest
engineer Marlene Brown checks
Windpower wind turbines and comply with the National Elecout a photovoltaic unit like the
trical Code. The portable units are readily transported and deployed on site.
ones she helps Navajo families
“It is our mission to provide quality utility services to our
customers,” said Larry Ahasteen, NTUA Renewable Energy
use and maintain at their homes.
Specialist. “It was through our strong partnership with SunWize
Technologies that we were able to bring the convenience of
electrical power to families who didn’t think it was possible.”
Each solar array delivers a minimum of 2 kWh/per day AC
Sandia engineer Marlene Brown, who travels once a month
in worst month conditions. A battery bank is capable of operatto Navajo country to provide technical support, says her job is to
ing an AC load for five days without requiring recharging.
help troubleshoot units at the houses in the rural areas. She goes
Homeowners monitor battery condition with a meter installed
to the sites with an NTUA technician who shows customers how
inside the home. All components were selected for their ability
to maintain and use the equipment properly. “The people are so
to withstand the environmental conditions found throughout the
pleased to have the units,” she says. “Before, many of them used
Navajo reservation, which can include hail, snow, blowing sand
generators for limited power or had no power at all. Now they
and wind gusts up to 90 mph.
have power provided by a clean, quiet source.”
Earlier use of photovoltaics on the Navajo Nation had a
This clean, quiet source of renewable energy is in harmony
problem, which is addressed in this effort – the systems somewith the Native American philosophy of Seven Generations.
times failed due to lack of maintenance. Operating under a lease
That philosophy is to care for the earth and the people on it, care
purchase agreement, NTUA performs the maintenance needed
about future generations, and live as sovereign people for seven
to ensure that the systems remain in working condition. After 15
generations to come.”
- NL years, the ownership and maintenance of the systems will be
turned over to the customers.
Page 10
Reduce,
Reuse,
Recycle...
Replant
Kristin Boeding
Right, a Central American tree
planter helps North Americans
offet their paper use. Jeff Ceaser photo
O
n average, each person in the United States uses the equivalent of six 12-inch diameter trees per year in paper and
wood products. The same environmental organization that is
helping people on the Lakota use solar energy to preserve trees
has created another innovative way to ensure the future health of
our forests.
Trees, Water & People has developed the “100% Replanted” program which consists of an online calculator that
gives businesses and individuals an easy way to figure out how
many trees they need to replant to offset their own paper use.
Participants can then pledge to cover the cost of planting saplings to replace what they used.
The 100% Replanted program is focusing on replanting
trees in the Guacerique watershed in Honduras and the
Magdalena Protected area in northern El Salvador.
Some of those trees pledged in the 100% Replanted program
are planted in tree nurseries that provide jobs for local people,
and all of the trees planted are in areas designated for permanent
protection. So they will not be harvested for timber.
Corporate donors receive the benefit of using the 100% Replanted logo on their promotional materials, such as websites or
brochures to communicate to their stakeholders that they are environmentally responsible.
Several organizations have already committed to replant the
trees that they use each year in paper and wood products through
the program. One such company is Thornton, Colorado-based
Allegro Coffee. Allegro Coffee has a long history of supporting
the environment, principally in their dedication to producing
coffee under socially and environmentally responsible conditions. “We’ve always been concerned with out impact on the environment,” says Darrin Daniel, Green Coffee Trade Traffic
Coordinator for Allegro. “With 100% Replanted we wanted to
get more involved internationally.”
Allegro used 65,577 pounds of paper for business operations in 2003, which is an equivalent of 328 mature trees. When
joining 100% Replanted, Allegro agreed to replant five trees for
each tree used in 2003, which resulted in 1,640 trees planted in
Central America.
“There are areas of Central and South America where deforestation is occurring very near where coffee is grown and in
some cases, trees are actually being cut down so that coffee
growers and other farmers can have land,” Daniel says. “100%
Replanted is an ideal way for us to give back and offset Allegro’s impact.”
Other businesses committed to the 100% Replanted program include Books of Discovery and Your True Nature, Inc.,
both Colorado-based organizations. Your True Nature produces
books, posters and greeting cards that inspire people to live in
harmony with themselves and the earth. They have planted or
sponsored more than 50,000 trees in order to account for all the
paper and wood products they have used.
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Resources:
100% Replanted/Trees, Water & People
Phone: (970) 484-3678
Web: www.replanttrees.org
www.treeswaterpeople.org
Allegro Coffee
Phone: (800) 666-4869
Web: www.allegrocoffee.com
Your True Nature
Phone: (800) 992-4769
Web: www.yourtruenature.com
Page 11
Summertime
and the Living is Simpler
(and Healthier)
Page 12
S
implify. It’s a year ’round urge for many, but always a priority during
the summer. This is when many of us have time to slow down and
relax, to read a novel, to chat with the neighbors, to spend time in
nature and to savor life's simple pleasures. Here are some healthy
ideas for keeping summer simple and environmentally sound.
Swing Your Cares Away
Have the urge to hang out in a hammock? If you are buying
one, pay attention
to the weight and
amount of rope in
the bed. The more
rope there is, the
stronger and the
more comfortable
the hammock will
be. Yucatan hammocks use fine
cotton but stretch
to hold a couple of
people.
To hang your
outside perch, use
heavy-duty steel
hardware.
And
make sure the
structure
where
you will hang it
can hold enough
weight. Most hammocks are made for two-person lounging with
a weight capacity in excess of 400 pounds. A hammock stand
makes situating your hammock easier. The most popular and
safest stands available are made of steel and easily assemble
without the need for any tools and can hold 450 to 600 pounds.
result, an equal amount of pool water must be released into the
environment...and chlorine is also poisonous to marine life.
There are substitutes for chlorine, however. Silver and copper are being increasingly used to destroy bacteria and algae in
pools. Silver is a bactericide whose properties have long been
known and copper kills algae. When used together, they reduce
chlorine needs by 90 percent. Another substitute for chlorine in
swimming pools is ozone, which does not degrade into harmful
chlorinated byproducts. The Chlorine-Free Products Association recently endorsed an ozone-only public pool built for the
city of Fairhope, Alabama and ozone systems for residential
pools are slowly becoming available.
Excessive energy use is another problem with backyard
swimming pools, primarily from pumps and heaters. Your
pump does not need to run around the clock and can safely be
turned off for half the day. To maintain or actually gain water
temperature at night, use a bubble or solar cover, which will also
reduce water loss.
Avoid wasting non-renewable resources to heat your pool,
by using a solar heater. The simplest solar collector is a black
hose lying in the sun with water circulating through. The sun
shines on the black hose and heats up the water flowing through
it. To increase the efficiency of collecting heat, there are several
types of commercially available solar pool heaters.
Most solar collectors are flat sheets, called absorber plates,
with tubes running from bottom to top. Headers at the top and
Swimming That’s Healthy
for People and the Environment
Everyone loves to spend a hot summer day in or beside a
body of water. The unbeatable combination of sun, fun and the
cool water make for one of life’s great simple pleasures. Unfortunately, this pleasure is diluted by the health and environmental
burden of many pools, so if possible, find your local quarry or
natural swimming hole. If you can’t do that, or if you have a
pool in your backyard, there are ways to green up pools.
The primary health and environmental drawbacks to swimming pools are water waste, energy waste and overuse of chlorine. Chlorine reacts with organic waste and forms a large
number of highly toxic chloro-organic compounds, which are
well known carcinogens. Researchers have also been reporting
cases of serious respiratory injury after brief exposure to vapors
from solid chlorine compounds, erosion of dental enamel
among competitive swimmers and increased toxicity due to increased levels of exercise in a pool environment. Pools usually
use makeup water to dilute these dangerous compounds. As a
Page 13
bottom supply the fluid to be heated. Some have a glazing over
the top of the collector that aids in preventing the wind and cold
air from carrying away the heat before it can get to its destination, but this greatly increases the cost of the collector.
Solar collectors are made of a variety of materials. Collectors that operate only when temperatures are above freezing can
be made of lower cost materials such as thermoplastic rubber or
polypropylene. These collectors can be used year round in the
far southern part of the U.S. and for outdoor seasonal use pools
in other areas.
The best place to locate the collector for a solar pool heater is
on a south facing, sloped roof. But be sure the roof is equipped
to handle the collector so the weight, as well as expansion and
contraction, don’t damage the roof. They can also be mounted
on a deck, a rack or on the ground.
Be a Kid Again
Celebrate summer as a family by helping your kids create
fun activities...and connect with your neighbors at the same
time. An envirofriendly
bike
parade is just
one such idea.
The kids can
decorate their
bikes with flowers, recycled paper chains and
streamers, tin
cans, old playing
cards
clipped to the
bike spokes, and
other creative
ways to use materials from the
recycling bin.
The kids will
probably
be
happy to parade through the local park just for fun, but you
might want to reward every participant with a prize (environ-friendly, of course). End the event with a potluck barbecue
or picnic lunch for all the families.
Summer-Up Your Home
Although much summer living takes place outdoors, this is
the time to simplify our indoor environment as well. Bring a
breath of fresh air to your rooms by thinking simple, natural colored cottons, linens and lightweight wools.
Pack away those heavy chenilles, tapestries and drapes. You
might even want to bring new life and a refreshing bit of informality to living room furniture with crisp white slipcovers. Strip
down to cool basics by removing throw pillows and other accessories such as blankets. And clear table tops of clutter for a
clean, streamlined look. The feeling of a bare floor is great
under bare feet in the summer, so roll up those oriental rugs and
scatter mats; they feel new when you bring them out again in the
Page 14
fall. Think white on white decor and you’ll feel cool just looking
at your rooms.
Live Without Air Conditioning
Air conditioners and heat pumps account for two-thirds of
electricity use during peak summer demand periods. But it is
possible to live comfortably without these appliances. All it
takes is creative thinking. Here are some tips to get you started.
Close all the windows and curtains except in the room
you’re in. Hang roll-up bamboo blinds over the outside of east
and south windows; you still get light and most of the view but
shade the glass. Evaporative heating is one of the most effective
forms so wet your shirt, wring it out and wear it. Keep a supply
of damp washcloths in plastic bags in the freezer for cooling off
and set a bowl of ice in front of a moving fan. Spritz your head
and neck as needed from a spray bottle filled with cool water.
Run cold water over your wrists. Use an old-fashioned hand fan
while reading, watching TV, talking on the phone or going for a
walk. Drink plenty of water and avoid caffeine and alcohol. Eat
lightly, as in fruits and raw vegetables. Go easy on protein, since
it increases your body’s heat production. Be lazy!
- NL -
Sun Safety
Skin cancer is one of the most preventable
cancers, yet it is also the most common, accounting for almost half of all cancers. Long-term sun exposure
can also cause wrinkles, burns and age spots. Still, many people
equate pale skin with lack of health.
• Look for shaded areas to enjoy outdoor activities. Reduce the
time you spend in the sun, especially between noon and 4 p.m.
• Cover up – wear long sleeves and a hat with a wide brim. Wear
sunglasses with UV (ultraviolet) protection.
• Use sunscreen with SPF (sun protection factor) 15 or higher and
UVA UVB protection.
Healthy
Picnics &
Barbecues
Try these healthy tofu
alternatives to high-fat,
high-calorie foods this
summer
A
lot of attention is being paid to the amount of fat and calories we eat indoors. But what about what we eat outdoors? Potato salads and chips, hot dogs, grilled chicken and steaks, even that peanut butter and jelly sandwich are loaded with fat, cholesterol
and calories. Now that summer is here, it’s time to rethink classic picnic and barbecue menus and replace some of the worst offenders
with lighter, healthier fare. By changing and substituting certain ingredients, we can enjoy classic picnic and barbecue favorites that
are better for you and still deliciously satisfying.
Thai Peanut Pasta Salad
Tofu Fruit Smoothie
1 package of Japanese or Chinese Noodles
1 package of Nasoya Thai Peanut Marinated Tofu
1 cup of broccoli flowerettes, cut into bite size pieces
1 cup carrot, cut into matchsticks
1 red pepper, cut into strips
Crushed peanuts as a garnish
½ package (8 ounces) Nasoya Silken Tofu
½ medium ripe banana
½ cup orange juice
¼ cup honey
¾ cup fresh or frozen strawberries or fruit of choice
1 cup ice
Cook noodles according to instructions on package and refrigerate. Once pasta has cooled, toss ingredients together and serve.
(Recipe courtesy Vitasoy, USA Inc.)
Blend together tofu, banana, orange juice, honey, and fruit until
smooth. Add ice, and continue to blend until creamy. Serve immediately. Makes 4 servings. (Recipe courtesy Vitasoy, USA
Inc.)
Potato Salad
3 cups potatoes, cooked and diced
¾ cup commercial or homemade soy mayonnaise
1 package of extra firm tofu, diced
1 cup chopped green peppers
¼ cup minced onion
¼ cup pickles or green olives, chopped
2 tablespoons fresh parsley, minced
1 teaspoon curry powder
2 teaspoons prepared mustard
¼ teaspoon pepper
1 clove garlic, crushed
Mix all ingredients together, chill and serve. Serves 6-8. (Recipe
courtesy Vitasoy, USA Inc.)
Curried Egg Salad
6 eggs, hard boiled
1 stalk of celery, chopped fine
½ teaspoon curry powder
1 tablespoon Parmesan cheese, grated or nutritional yeast
¼ cup plain yogurt or blended tofu
freshly ground black pepper to taste
Cool eggs enough to peel. Mash eggs in a bowl with a fork. Add
curry powder. Stir. Add cheese, yogurt and pepper. Mix until
blended. Serve as is on a bed of lettuce or as a sandwich filling,
or chilled slightly. Makes 2 cups. (Recipe from the Natural Life
Cookbook, 1993, The Alternate Press)
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Page 15
Building
Green
The Built Green Idea Home
illustrates how to have a home
that is healthier to live in, costs
less to operate, is more durable
and greatly reduces impacts on
the environment.
O
ne of the best ways to get information and inspiration
about how to make your home healthier and more environmentally friendly is to tour a home that actually walks the talk.
In Issaquah, Washington, thousands of residents were able to
tour the Puget Sound Energy Built Green Idea Home earlier this
year and pick up tips about healthy paints, finishes, carpeting
and ventilation, plus lots more great green ideas.
The Puget Sound Energy Built Green Idea Home is a
hands-on showcase of simple, environmentally friendly design
and product ideas. From top to bottom, inside and out, no detail
was overlooked to make this a comprehensive display of nearly
100 of the latest green building techniques.
The result is an attractive home that emits few toxins, is easy
to clean and light, features paved outdoor areas that rainwater
can permeate and exchanges air with the outside while retaining
its heating or cooling value.
The suburban Craftsman-style bungalow uses 25 percent
less energy than required by the Washington State energy code,
and 32 percent less water than a typical home.
Water reduction is attained through the use of low-flow faucets and dual-flush toilets, with one button sending away fluid
waste and another dispatching solids. An on-demand, tankless
hot water system heats water right where you need it, so you
never run out of hot water and don’t have to keep gallons of waPage 16
ter hot all day. The serene bathroom also features recycled
tile-product floors and counters.
Water is conserved outdoors too. Rainbarrels stand under all
downspouts, collecting water that is used in the vegetable and
flower gardens, all of which are planted with drought-tolerant
materials.
A great deal of energy is saved via the basic design of the
house and its heating system. Large, low-E windows and deep
eaves on the south and west sides of the home capture low winter sunlight, to be released slowly as heat by slate floors in the
area. Angling of walls creates a variety of nooks and crannies
where sunlight can enter the home. Cement subfloors also retain
heat in winter and coolness in summer. Extended eaves block
the sun from heating the interior in the summer.
Hot water radiators are located inside one wall of each room
and a fan blows the warm, slightly moist air into the room at a
low level, allowing the heated air to rise naturally, avoiding
drafts.
With a tightly built envelope, indoor air can sometimes become polluted. In the Idea Home, the entire ventilation process
is centrally controlled. A schedule of air exchanges keeps the air
fresh and exhausts stale air that might carry allergens or pollutants. In the process, the system transfers 80 percent of the heat
from the exhaust air to the incoming fresh air. In summer, if the
outside temperature is higher than inside, the system works in reverse, removing heat from the incoming air.
Car exhaust can be both unpleasant
and downright dangerous. In this home,
a special ventilation fan is wired to the
garage door on a timer to remove car exhaust and other pollutants (from stored
paint, glue and other chemicals) every
time the garage door is opened. In addition, garage air is sealed from the main
home.
Interior finishes can be highly toxic
and polluting. In the Idea Home,
Sherwin-Williams’ Harmony paints are
used. These are low-odor during application and have very low volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The paint
also provides a durable, washable,
anti-microbial surface.
Floor coverings are another important feature of a healthy house. Some
floors are tile or wood, but where carpeting is desired, wool, as featured in the
master bedroom, does not release chemicals and comes from renewable resources. Wool is also more durable than
synthetics, so it will last and look better
longer. Cabinetry and trim is all made
from natural wood with low-toxin stains.
The Built Green Idea Home is located in Issaquah Highlands. Issaquah
Highlands is whole community of environmentally aware homes, which have
earned the “Built Green” certification.
The first such development in the Puget
Sound area, it requires all of its builders
to be certified by the program. Many of
the same features found in the Built
Green Idea Home are also included in
other homes for sale at Issaquah Highlands. Built Green is a program of the
Master Builders Association of King and
Snohomish Counties in the state of
Washington.
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Resources:
Issaquah Highlands
www.issaquahhighlands.com
(425) 427-8736
Built Green
Master Builders Association
Of King and Snohomish Counties
335 116TH Avenue SE
Bellevue WA 98004
(800) 522-2209
www.builtgreen.net
Page 17
Saving Wildlife and the
Environment
Rolf Priesnitz
A
five-year-old wildlife rehabilitation and education organization called Earth Rangers has recently completed a
60,000 square-foot facility just north of Toronto, Canada, which
is a showpiece of environmental responsibility and sustainable
building. The $22 million Earth Rangers Centre, located on 31
acres on the grounds of the Kortright Centre for Conservation
near Kleinburg, Ontario, includes a world class veterinarian
hospital, Canada’s only oil spill response unit dedicated to wildlife and interactive educational displays that will attract people
of all ages, including local school children.
The Centre will rescue animals in distress and rehabilitate
animals of all sizes, from hummingbirds to white-tailed deer,
then release them back into the wild where possible. Eventually,
the organization hopes to inspire an international network of
wildlife and environmental education organizations.
The Centre is expected to use over 60 percent less energy
than a building designed to the national energy code, a major
achievement considering the major ventilation requirements of
a health-care facility. In addition, an on-site intern residence
was built to the highly efficient residential R-2000 standard.
One of the major contributors to the Centre’s energy efficiency is the fact that it uses a large amount of concrete in a variety of innovative ways. The building envelope is reinforced
concrete with load bearing masonry walls. Water tubing embedded in the concrete floors and ceilings heat and cool the building
and take advantage of the significant thermal storage of the
heavy concrete construction. Water for the radiant slabs is
heated by a high efficiency natural gas boiler.
The ventilation system also utilizes concrete, using a European
technology
called “earth tubes”,
which are nine 10meter long tubes
formed by placing
sections of precast
Concrete “earth
tubes” reduce
the demand for
energy but provide optimum
ventilation.
Page 18
Skylights, solar water heating, a green
roof, radiant heating and cooling and
many more innovations make the Earth
Rangers Centre one of the most sustainable buildings of its kind in the world.
concrete pipe below the frost line. Prior to entering the building’s air-handling unit through the tubes, air is pre-tempered,
then fed along a double foundation wall, providing further natural heating and cooling. This is the largest installation of earth
tubes in North America.
Potable water requirements for the facility are supplied from
a well. Sanitary wastewater is treated onsite using a ZENON
membrane bioreactor and UV light sterilization. The treated water is then re-used within the facility for toilets, animal ponds, irrigation and floor washing. Rainwater is harvested from roof
runoff and stored in a buried concrete tank to supplement the
treated water and provide fire protection.
North-facing skylights provide natural light, reducing lighting energy requirements by 50 percent. Controls turn lights
down or off when daylight is sufficient or when rooms are unoccupied. The south faces of the skylights are sloped at 45 degrees
to accommodate solar panels for heating domestic hot water.
The rest of the roof area is covered with natural vegetation to
provide additional insulation and reduce rainwater runoff.
Wherever possible, environmentally advanced building materials were used, such as recycled plastic roof tiles; high efficiency lighting; double-glazed, argon-filled windows with
low-e coatings; Interface carpet tiles; and eco-friendly paints.
In its short life, Earth Rangers has attracted a variety of partners and donors who share its vision. The principles underlying
all of Earth Rangers’ activities are that each of us has a responsibility to help animals injured, orphaned or displaced as a result
of habitat destruction and other human activity, and that change
begins when we educate the next generation.. The new
sustainably built Earth Rangers Centre is sure to inspire people
of all ages to work towards a sustainable future for all creatures
that share this planet.
Contact:
Earth Rangers,
9520 Pine Valley Drive, Woodbridge ON L4L 1A6
(905) 417.3447 ext. 2231, www.earthrangers.ca
News
Dispatches from around
the world about healthy, sustainable living
Finding Less
Toxic Products
P
aper or plastic bags? Bottled or tap
water? Making healthy, environmentally responsible purchases can be a
daunting goal. Fortunately, concerned
consumers in can now find answers to
many of their questions on the Internet.
Good Stuff? A Behind-the-Scenes
Guide to the Things We Buy, is an online
publication produced by the Worldwatch
Institute, an non-profit research organization based in Washington, D.C. It
traces what goes into the production, use
and disposal of 25 common consumer
items, including compact discs, cell
phones, baby goods and chocolate.
In addition to educating buyers about
the environmental and social impacts of
their purchases, the guide includes practical suggestions for living a “greener,”
healthier life. It also contains a fun
“eco-IQ” quiz and a “challenge” page
where readers agree to take three actions
for a better environment.
“The news is always filled with
seemingly insurmountable environmental challenges like global climate change
or air and water pollution,” says Research Associate Lisa Mastny, who
co-directed the Good Stuff project. “But
as individual consumers, we have surprising power to bring about positive
change through our purchases. Consumers often don’t realize how everyday
items like cleaning products, plastics,
and beauty products can affect their
health. In most cases, people just don’t
know what to be concerned about, or
what alternatives to look for when they
go shopping.”
Good Stuff is available for free online
at www.worldwatch.org/pubs/goodstuff.
The Guide to Less Toxic Products,
published by the Nova Scotia Allergy
and Environmental Health Association,
is a first for Canada. Not only is this
guide packed with information about
toxic ingredients commonly found in
make-up, personal care, cleaning and
baby care products, but hundreds of
brand name products are evaluated so
that people can easily select less toxic
products.
“Our aim was to address the needs of
a wide range of people – from those who
must avoid fragrances or other chemicals, to people who want to provide a
healthy environment for their children,
decrease their exposure to carcinogens
and reproductive toxins, or be more environmentally responsible consumers,”
says project coordinator Barb Harris.
“Our philosophy has always been that
the most effective way to deal with illness is to prevent it," says Harris. “The
Guide is a tool for prevention, as well as
a way of helping people cope with existing allergies and sensitivities.”
The Nova Scotia Allergy and Environmental Health Association is a charitable, volunteer-run organization. The
Guide to Less Toxic Products is available
at www.lesstoxicguide.ca.
- NL -
Asthma Out of Control
P
oor and minority inner-city children
will face a worsening “epidemic” of
asthma linked to global warming and air
pollution unless steps are taken to reduce
fossil fuel burned by cars, trucks and
buses, according to a warning from Harvard experts and the American Public
Health Association.
Asthma rates in the U.S. have mushroomed out of control, nearly tripling in
the last two decades, resulting in particuNaturalLifeMagazine.com
Researchers say Greenland
may be disappearing.
larly severe problems for urban youths.
The culprits include climate change and
increases in atmospheric CO2 (due
largely to fossil fuel combustion) that are
prompting the above-normal growth levels for molds and the production of ragweed pollen. The outlook: Even greater
percentages of U.S. children likely will
end up with asthma, particularly in urban
areas, unless steps are taken to mitigate
the ill effects of global warming and to
reduce fossil fuel dependence through a
transition to clean energy use.
- NL -
Greenland Disappearing
G
reenland’s icy mountains and the
island’s entire ice cap could disappear in the next 1,000 years because of
global warming, warn European scientists. If that occurs, sea levels will rise by
seven meters, drowning low-level coastlines around the world.
Greenland is covered by the biggest
ice sheet in the northern hemisphere: almost 772,000 square miles of ice which
is up to 1.9 miles thick, the base of which
is below sea level. But Jonathan Gregory
of the Hadley Centre for Climate Prediction at the University of Reading along
with colleagues from Brussels and
Bremerhaven, reported in the journal
Nature that an average annual warming
in the region of 2.7C (37F) would mean
that the rate of melting would outpace the
annual snowfall.
The greater the warming, the faster
the snow melts. The worst-case predictions for Greenland, made by an intergovernmental panel of scientists, involve
an average warming of 8C (46F). At
those temperatures oceans that have
risen by 2.5mm (less than one-tenth of an
inch) a year will start to rise by a steady
7mm a year.
continued
Page 19
There are already signs of melting –
in 1999 the Greenland ice sheet was thin- NL ning by about a meter a year.
Fair Trade Achieves
Record Growth
T
ransFair USA, an independent,
third-party certifier of Fair Trade
products, recently announced that it experienced unprecedented demand for
Fair Trade Certified coffee during 2003.
For the period of January 1 through December 31, 2003, TransFair USA certified 18.7 million pounds of coffee, up
from 9.8 million pounds in the previous
12 months – a year-over-year growth rate
of 91 percent. Supplemental income generated for coffee farmers during that
same period totaled $15.9 million, bringing the total additional income farmers
have received from U.S. sales of Fair
Trade Certified coffee in five years to
$34 million. In 2003, 100 new companies signed up to sell Fair Trade Certified
products and approximately 8,000 new
retail outlets began selling Fair Trade
Certified products for the first time,
bringing the total to almost 20,000 cafes,
restaurants and supermarkets nationwide.
Fair Trade Certified coffee imports
have grown at a dramatic 75 percent average annual growth rate since TransFair
USA launched the label in late 1998. The
increase demonstrates both increased
consumer demand for Fair Trade coffee
and the concept’s entry into mainstream
distribution channels like Dunkin’ Donuts.
“The accelerating growth of this market in 2003 reaffirms that Fair Trade certification is a win-win for farmers,
businesses and consumers alike. This
growth confirms what market research
has been indicating for some time now:
consumers are increasingly concerned
about where their products come from,
as well as the social and environmental
impact of those products,” says Paul
Rice, CEO and President of TransFair
- NL USA.
Indian Environmentalists
Win Award
T
wo women survivors from the
world’s worst industrial disaster –
the Bhopal gas tragedy in 1984 – have
won one of the most prestigious international environmental awards. Dubbed
the “Nobel Prize for the Environment”,
the Goldman Environmental Prize has
been awarded to Rashida Bee and
Champa Devi Shukla, for their role in
keeping the memories of the disaster
alive, and for leading the struggle for justice since the poisonous gas leak from
Union Carbide’s pesticide factory in
Bhopal, India, killed thousands of people.
On December 3rd, 1984, more than
40 tons of poisonous gases leaked from a
storage tank at a Union Carbide pesticide
factory into the heart of Bhopal city, immediately killing 8,000 people. Since
then, more than 20,000 deaths have been
attributed to the disaster. Survivors and
their children continue to suffer
long-term health effects ranging from
cancer and tuberculosis to birth defects
and chronic fevers.
Rashida and Champa have led a trade
union struggle for the livelihood rights of
more than 80 women survivors, and rehabilitation and justice for all victims of
Page 20
the disaster. They have mobilized thousands of survivors from the slums of
Bhopal by making them aware of their
rights and the pending liabilities of Union Carbide, which is currently owned by
DOW Chemical Company.
They have traveled the world to gain
wide support and to bring attention to the
ongoing tragedy of Bhopal. In the course
of their struggle and campaigning, both
women have faced strong pressure and
harassment. They have been threatened
with lawsuits and arrested by the police
during protests.
“This prize will go a long way in
helping reconstruct the lives, jobs and
health of people devastated by Union
Carbide/DOW. In addition, we will use a
portion of the money awarded to set up
our own national prize in India for those
people, who are also fighting against corporate crime”, says Champa.
Rashida says, “The Goldman Award
for Bhopal puts Union Carbide’s legacy
squarely in DOW’s face. The world is
awakening to the crimes in Bhopal and
this award shows that DOW can no longer ignore the Bhopal liabilities it has acquired. The longer DOW stalls in
meeting their liabilities, the worse it will
be for the company and its shareholders.”
- NL -
Garlic Repels Birds
G
arlic oil shows significant activity
as a nontoxic bird repellent for use
against crop damaging birds, according
to a joint study by the University at Albany and the Monell Chemical Senses
Center in Philadelphia. Garlic-based
products, which are environmentally benign as pesticides, could be useful as bird
repellents for airport, agricultural and urban applications.
The research, published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry,
found that European starlings, a species
which causes considerable damage annually to crops, significantly reduce their
food consumption with as little as one
percent of garlic oil containing granules
mixed with their food.
- NL -
GE Wheat Dead
T
he environment and consumers
were both winners as Monsanto announced this Spring that it will suspend
development of its genetically engineered (GE) Roundup Ready wheat.
Since 2001, a diverse body of groups has
opposed the release of Roundup Ready
wheat.
Pat Venditti, Genetic Engineering
Campaigner for Greenpeace Canada,
says, “Let’s hope GE wheat permanently
joins GE flax, GE tomatoes and GE potatoes in the dustbin of bad ideas. Rather
than having to restage this battle in four
years time, we hope that Monsanto has
heard loud and clear that genetically engineered wheat is a non-starter.”
The company said that it recognizes
the business opportunities with Roundup
Ready wheat are “less attractive relative
to Monsanto’s other commercial priorities”. The translation of that is that consumers have spoken loudly against GE
wheat. According to the Canadian Wheat
Board, 87 percent of Canadian wheat
buyers now require non-GE certification
of wheat. In a survey of countries willing
to accept GE wheat by the US Department of Agriculture, only four – Peru, Sri
Lanka, Pakistan and Yemen – said they
would buy it.
- NL -
Heavy Pesticide
Body Burden
N
ew research reveals that government and industry have failed to
safeguard public health from pesticide
exposures.
While Canada refuses to monitor the
chemical and pesticide body burdens of
its citizens, many U.S. residents carry
toxic pesticides in their bodies above
government assessed “acceptable” levels, according to a report from Pesticide
Action Network North America (PAN),
Sierra Club of Canada and Coalition for
Alternatives to Pesticides(CAP).
Chemical Trespass: Pesticides in
Our Bodies and Corporate Accountability makes public for the first time an analysis of pesticide-related data collected by
the US-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in a study of
levels of chemicals in 9,282 people
nationwide.
“None of us choose to have hazardous pesticides in our bodies; indeed communities are banning the cosmetic use of
pesticides in an attempt to limit our exposure,” says Michel Gaudet, President of
the Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides. “Yet the CDC found pesticides in
100 of the people who had both blood
and urine tested. The average person in
this group carried a toxic cocktail of 13
of the 23 pesticides analyzed.”
Many of the pesticides found in the
test subjects have been linked to serious
short- and long-term health effects including infertility, birth defects and
childhood and adult cancers. The synergistic effects of multiple exposures are
unknown, but a growing body of research, including a recent Canadian report from the Ontario College of Family
Physicians, suggests that even at very
low “acceptable” levels, the combination
of these chemicals can be harmful to our
health.
Chemical Trespass found that children, women and Mexican Americans
shouldered the heaviest “pesticide body
burden”. For example, children – the
population most vulnerable to pesticides
– are exposed to the highest levels of
nerve-damaging
organophosphorous
(OP) pesticides. The CDC data show that
the average 6- to11-year-old sampled is
exposed to the OP pesticide chlorpyrifos
at four times the level U.S. Environmental Protection Agency considers “acceptable” for a long-term exposure.
Chlorpyrifos, produced principally by
Dow Chemical Corporation and found in
numerous products such as Dursban, is
designed to kill insects by disrupting the
nervous system. In humans, chlorpyrifos
is also a nerve poison, and has been
shown to disrupt hormones and interfere
with normal development of the nervous
system in laboratory animals.
Dave Bennett, Canadian Labour
Congress (CLC) Director of Health,
Safety and Environment was shocked by
the findings. “Not only do vulnerable
groups such as children and workers
have an elevated burden of pesticides in
their bodies, but the general population
does at well. The only answer is to severely restrict the use of chemical pesticides, by elimination or the substitution
of less unsafe alternatives.”
The CLC has long argued that the
pesticide registration system should be
changed and that alternative pest management strategies must get priority over
spreading chemical poisons on human
beings and the environment.
The report also found that women
have significantly higher levels of three
of the six organochlorine (OC) pesticides
evaluated. This class of pesticides is
known to have multiple harmful effects
when they cross the placenta during
pregnancy, including reduced infant
birth weight and disruption of brain development, which can lead to learning
disabilities and other neurobehavioral
problems.
- NL -
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Page 21
tar), Zac Matthews (mandolin), Bryan
Horne (bass), and Erik Yates
(flute/banjo) took a month to hike with
instruments through the Sierra Nevada
mountain range. The result was their
trademark raw, organic, and refreshing
sound, inspired by a simpler time and
place, high-trail hikes, campfires and
laughs and stories with good friends.
With the recent addition of Aaron
Redner (fiddle), a classically trained musician, the band’s music is climbing to
new musical elevations. But their commitment to the environment remains unchanged, as they shop for a new bus that
will take them to farther flung destina- NL tions, also fueled with bio-gas.
Global Warming on
America’s Back Burner
Bluegrass stringband Hot Buttered Rum tours the country in a diesel
school bus converted to run on recycled vegetable oil.
Bio-gas Bluegrass
A
San Francisco Bay Area-based
bluegrass group called the Hot Buttered Rum String Band is committed to
using its music as a vehicle to encourage
grassroots environmental, social, and political change. And that vehicle just happens to be vegetable oil-fueled.
The Bio-Bus, a diesel school-bus
converted to run on recycled vegetable
oil (RVO), was purchased from students
at Middlebury College in Vermont on
eBay last summer. It has been used to
tour the band across the country ever
since, to promote its latest CD In These
Parts, released in December 2003.
Page 22
Band member Zac Matthews says,
“We oppose the environmental degradation resulting from fossil fuel use, yet our
musical goals necessitate continuous
travel around the country. The Bio-Bus
enables us to remain true to our values,
and to show people a sustainable alternative to conventional transportation.”
With a rocking repertoire of high-energy, high-altitude bluegrass and a growing fan base spanning from young
revelers to bluegrass aficionados, Hot
Buttered Rum is quickly establishing itself on the bluegrass and jam band scene.
Hot Buttered Rum was formed in the
summer of 1999 when Nat Keefe (gui-
L
ast year at this time, the Gallup polling organization reported that global
warming was “a bit of a yawn” to most
Americans. Today, one might say the
public is practically dozing, according to
a new Gallup Poll Briefing.
The percentage of Americans who
worry “a great deal” or “a fair amount”
about the “greenhouse effect” or global
warming slipped seven points over the
past year, from 58 percent in March 2003
to 51 percent today. Nearly as many (47
percent) now say they worry “only a little” or “not at all” about the issue.
As a result, global warming ranks
near the bottom of the list of specific environmental issues for which Gallup
measured public concern in this year’s
annual Environment poll, conducted in
March. The related problem of damage
to the Earth’s ozone layer is rated only
slightly higher. Water pollution, toxic
waste and air pollution register much
higher levels of concern.
Additionally, there has been a slight
increase since 2003 in the percentage of
Americans reckoning that the seriousness of global warming is generally exaggerated in the news – from 33 percent
to 38 percent. For the first time, this
skeptical group now outnumbers those
saying the issue’s seriousness is underestimated.
Unfortunately, Gallup’s long-term
environmental trends indicate that waning public concern about global warming
is part of a larger pattern of declining
concern about many environmental issues. This year’s poll records a statistically significant drop (five to seven
points) in stated concern for six of the 10
environmental issues rated. Across all 10
issues, the average percentage-point decline in concern since 2003 was nearly
five points.
- NL -
B for Bones
F
olate and other B vitamins, which are
already known to prevent severe
birth defects and heart attacks, may also
ward off broken bones from osteoporosis, according to two new studies published in the New England Journal of
Medicine.
B vitamins reduce levels of
homocysteine, an amino acid already
linked, at high levels, to an increased risk
of heart attacks, strokes and Alzheimer’s
disease. Now research shows high
homocysteine levels at least double the
risk of osteoporosis-related fractures.
A Dutch report found the risk of such
fractures was twice as high in men and
women with homocysteine levels in the
top 25 percent as those with lower levels.
And a U.S. study found the risk nearly
quadrupled in the top 25 percent of men
and nearly doubled in the top 25 percent
of women, compared with the 25 percent
at the lowest levels.
In addition to a vitamin supplement,
foods rich in B vitamins and calcium, including dairy products, leafy green vegetables, carrots, avocados, cantaloupes,
almonds and peanuts, reduce the risk of
broken bones.
- NL -
Hybrid Vehicle
Sales Accelerate
R
ecent record-high gas prices may already be causing people to rethink
what and how they drive. According to
reports in the San Diego Union-Tribune
and USA Today, demand for gas-electric
hybrid vehicles has automakers scrambling to keep up.
Ford’s new Escape hybrid SUV
won’t go on sale until August, but by
mid-May, 30,000 people had already expressed the desire to buy one via the
company’s website; Ford had projected
it would sell just 20,000 a year.
Meanwhile, waiting lists for the Toyota Prius are growing, prompting the
company’s U.S. arm to request a substantial increase in manufacturing from
the Japanese factory that produces the
hybrids. Toyota’s initial goal was to sell
34,000 this year; it now expects to sell
50,000. Sales of the Prius have increased
150 percent over last year. - NL -
STONEBRIDGE COLLEGE
CORRESPONDENCE COURSES IN:
Life on Mars?
HOLISTIC HEALTH
“I
believe there is life on Mars...because we sent it,” Andrew
Schuerger of the University of Florida
recently told the Lunar and Planetary
Science Conference in Houston, Texas.
Schuerger has been granted funding
from NASA’s planetary protection office to help develop better sterilization
techniques for future space missions. He
says that of all the space probes sent to
Mars, only the two Viking craft in 1976
were adequately heat sterilized. The procedures used for all missions since then,
including NASA’s twin rovers and Europe’s Beagle 2, would have left some
microbes aboard. And he thinks there is a
good chance they have survived.
According to New Scientist magazine, images and chemical evidence from
the recent orbiter and rover missions suggest that briny, acidic water may have existed for a long time in Martian soil.
Some kinds of acid brine could be liquid
even under today’s frigid conditions, so
Earth organisms might just find their
way to a moist environment where they
could grow.
- NL -
Asthma Warning
P
oor and minority inner-city children
will face a worsening “epidemic” of
asthma linked to global warming and air
pollution unless steps are taken to reduce
fossil fuel burned by cars, trucks and
buses, according to a warning from experts at Harvard Medical School’s Center for Health and the Global
Environment and the American Public
Health Association.
Asthma rates in the U.S. have mushroomed out of control, nearly tripling in
the last two decades, resulting in particularly severe problems for urban youths.
The culprits include climate change and
increases in atmospheric CO2 (due
largely to fossil fuel combustion) that are
prompting the above-normal growth levels for molds and the production of ragNaturalLifeMagazine.com
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Page 23
Bamboo, which is gaining popularity as a sustainable flooring material,
is proving not to be so sustainable after all.
weed pollen. The outlook, according to
the medical community, is that even
greater percentages of U.S. children
likely will end up with asthma, particularly in urban areas, unless steps are
taken to mitigate the ill effects of global
warming and to reduce fossil fuel dependence through a transition to clean
energy use.
- NL -
Bamboo’s Popularity
Causing Problems
B
amboo has become the darling of
the green building industry, due to
its fast growing nature and versatility in
replacing other types of endangered
woods. However, bamboo deforestation
is endangering about a third of the
world’s 1,200 bamboo species and
threatening rare animals such as giant
pandas and mountain gorillas that depend on the plants for food and protection, according to the United Nations
Environment Program (UNEP) and the
International Network for Bamboo and
Rattan (INBAR).
The report, entitled Bamboo Diversity, is a comprehensive analysis of the
impact of deforestation on bamboo species. The fates of Asia’s giant pandas,
which eat only bamboo, Africa’s mountain gorillas, Madagascar’s golden lemurs and the mountain tapir in South
America as well as other animal and bird
species are linked to bamboo.
Bamboo, which is a giant, woody
grass, is popular in India and China for
everything from food and cooking to furniture, paper, musical instruments, boats
and houses. A single bamboo clump can
produce up to 9 miles of usable pole in its
lifetime, according to INBAR.
- NL -
Norway Tests Large-Scale
Fuel Cell Storage
O
ne of the issues with most renewable energy sources is how to store
it – when the wind doesn’t blow or the
sun doesn’t shine, for instance.
An island off Norway is being used to
test ways of overcoming the storage
problem. Norsk Hydro ASA will be testing a combination of technologies, including wind power and hydrogen fuel
cells, in a project located on the island of
Utsira.
This is the first full scale project of
this type in the world, according to project manager Paal Otto Eide, whose company is leading the multi-year, $5.8
million effort.
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Page 24
Simple Recipes for Healthy Living
Over 90 delicious, simple,
meatless, sugarless, low-fat
dishes using in-season,
local, organic ingredients.
A celebration of natural food
from the kitchens of the staff
of Natural Life magazine
The company has built two 600-kilowatt wind turbines to use with a hydrogen generator and a fuel cell, which, as of
this summer, will provide all the electricity for the 10 homes on Utsira, population 240. When it’s windy, the wind
turbines will produce more electricity
than needed. The excess power will be
used to produce hydrogen fuel so a hydrogen combustion engine and a fuel cell
generate electricity at windless times.
Some excess power may also be sent to
the mainland.
- NL -
Something Rotting with
US Organic Standards
The Organic Consumers Association
(OCA) has raised an alert about changes
announced this Spring to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Organic Program.
The Bush administration has “pulled
the plug” on policing organic labels on
non-agricultural products. The decision
made by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Organic Program on
April 14 is “literally opening the door for
unscrupulous companies to put bogus organic labels on products such as fish,
body care products, pet foods, fertilizer,
and clothing,” writes the OCA on its
website
www.organicconsumers.org,
which also includes a petition that readers can send to Anne Venneman, the
USDA’s Secretary of Agriculture.
As if this isn’t scary enough, the
USDA announced controversial new directives on national organic standards
that state as long as the farmer and the organic certifier don’t know the specific ingredients of the pesticides applied to the
plants, the crops can be sold as “organic”.
The USDA will now allow cattle and
beef that were fed non-organic fishmeal
– which often contains mercury and
other dangerous chemicals to be sold as
“organic”.
Why is this happening now? According to the OCA, corporate agribusiness
and the biotech lobby have apparently
decided that strict organic farming practices and the booming organic market
constitute a threat to their bottom line.
Consequently, says OCA, they have
called on their friends in the Bush administration to degrade organic standards
and prepare for a restructuring of organic
production so as to facilitate the use of
industrial agriculture practices such as
pesticides, antibiotics, non-organic feed,
growth hormones and even GE animal
drugs.
- NL -
PVC-Free, Affordable
House
A
family is New Orleans, Louisiana
has moved into a unique house,
sponsored by Greenpeace, the New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity and the
Healthy Building Network. The house is
designed to be as environmentally
friendly as possible while remaining
within a standard Habitat for Humanity
budget.
The main building components of the
house are PVC-free, which has generated controversy as the vinyl industry has
objected to Greenpeace’s sponsorship of
the project. Greenpeace has a
long-standing campaign against PVC for
its health and environmental problems.
“Like homelessness, pollution is a
global problem – one that disproportionately affects the poor and communities of
color,” says John Passacantando, Executive Director of Greenpeace. “This historic partnership between Greenpeace
and the New Orleans Area Habitat for
Humanity is proof that you don’t have to
choose between a healthy environment
and affordable housing.”
One of the most widely used plastics,
PVC is also the most toxic, releasing hazardous chemicals such as dioxin during
its lifecycle. These chemicals can build
up in the air, water and food chain, causing severe health problems such as cancer, immune system damage and
hormone disruption. Pollution from PVC
plants has displaced entire towns and disproportionately affects low-income and
African-American communities, particularly in the Baton Rouge-New Orleans
corridor known as “Cancer Alley”.
Alternatives to PVC were used for
the siding, windows, pipes, flooring, carpeting, wiring sheathing and wall coverings. Instead of vinyl siding, a
cement-based
fiber-board
called
Greenpeace, the New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity and the
Healthy Building Network have collaborated to build an environmentally-friendly, PVC-free affordable house in New Orleans. Greenpeace Photo
Hardiplank was used. Aluminum was
used for the window frames. Copper and
ABS (an alternative plastic) were used
for the pipes. A natural linoleum was
used for the floors. The nylon carpeting
has a polyolefin backing. Metal conduits
were used for sheathing the wiring. Instead of vinyl wallpaper, low-emission
paint was used on the home’s walls.
The energy efficient heating and
cooling system results in lower utility
bills without ozone-depleting refrigerants. Compact florescent lights were
used in the light fixtures. The house is
also wired to be solar-ready, should the
family decide to add solar panels in the
future. Electricity for all power tools
used during construction was supplied
by Greenpeace’s Rolling Sunlight mobile solar power generator.
Sustainably harvested southern pine
was used for the framing of the house.
Also, the pressure treated wood used for
the front porch is arsenic-free and chromium-free.
- NL -
Corn Syrup
Linked to Diabetes
A
startling rise in diabetes is perfectly mirrored by our mounting
consumption of refined carbohydrates,
according to a new report published in
the American Journal of Clinical Nutri-
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Page 25
tion. The study, conducted at the Harvard
School of Public Health, found that the
increase in late onset diabetes is linked to
a corresponding rise in total calorie intake in developed countries.
The researchers collected information on consumption and food composition for the period between 1909 and
1997. They compared this with data on
disease incidence rates from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
They found, in a quite striking manner,
that the diabetes rise matches dropping
fiber consumption and escalating consumption of corn syrup. Corn syrup is
used widely as a sweetener in processed
foods.
Foods high in refined carbohydrate,
the argument goes, send blood sugar
soaring, requiring the pancreas to pump
out insulin. Over time, the body’s tissues
become resistant to the excess insulin
and pancreatic cells wear out, resulting in
diabetes.
This analysis backs the argument that
the recent trend to cut back on fat has
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Page 26
misfired. Some experts say such advice
led food manufacturers simply to replace
fats with carbohydrates, which ultimately fueled obesity rather than combating it. The study shows that the
amount of corn syrup people ate started
increasing at the time the low-fat health
- NL message was being broadcast.
Feisty Ferns
A
ccording to the journal Environmental Science and Technology,
scientists at Edenspace Systems Corporation in Dulles, Virginia have found that
water contaminated with arsenic can be
cleaned by growing ferns in it.
Mark Elless and his colleagues have
found that a species of fern called Pteris
vittata will suck arsenic out of tainted
water. The plants reduce the concentration to below the safety limit set by the
US Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) in less than a day. The procedure,
called phytofiltration, could provide a
cheap way to remove arsenic from water
supplies. The ferns would be grown di-
rectly in the water, similar to the wetland
systems currently used to remove organic waste.
Arsenic pollution of drinking and irrigation water has emerged as a massive
health threat in Bangladesh and India,
where wells drilled into aquifers have
turned out to be tapping poisoned water.
But the approach could also be valuable
in richer countries. For example, thousands of US water-supply systems exceed the new EPA limit for arsenic
concentrations in drinking water of 10
millionths of a gram (10 micrograms) per
liter. Presumably, small rural communities could use phytofiltration to achieve
this new limit of arsenic.
Pteris vittata will hold as much as 22
grams of arsenic per kilogram of plant
matter, and is hardy and fast growing.
Phytofiltration does not produce a difficult-to-dispose-of chemical sludge
by-product. Instead, squeezing the sap
from the plants removes most of the arsenic, which can then be recycled for industrial uses.
- NL -
Air Fresheners
Can Pollute
A
potentially harmful smog can form
inside homes through reactions between some kinds of air fresheners and
ozone, say researchers at the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
The reactions generate formaldehyde
and related compounds that are responsible for respiratory problems.
Especially thought to be a hazard are
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air fresheners that plug into electrical
outlets. Emissions from these devices,
such as pinene and limonene, were studied in reaction to ozone gas. Ozone, produced at ground level when vehicle
exhaust emissions react with sunlight, is
a common urban pollutant.
The study’s lead researcher Mark
Mason from the EPA’s National Risk
Management Research Laboratory, says
that merely opening a window on a
high-ozone day could trigger the formation of formaldehyde and other compounds. Additionally, some people use
ozone generators to remove unwanted
household odors, generating indoor
ozone levels higher than those studied.
Mason’s team found that mixing
ozone and air-freshening chemicals generated particles of formaldehyde-related
compounds at a concentration of about
50 micrograms in each cubic meter of air.
This is close to the EPA’s outdoor particle limit. The agency intends to do more
research before it regulates either ozone
generators or air fresheners.
- NL -
Cherries Help Arthritis
P
lump, juicy Bing cherries, eaten
fresh, may help people who suffer
from the pain of gout or other forms of
arthritic inflammation. That’s according
to preliminary results from research at
the Agricultural Research Service’s
Western Human Nutrition Research
Center in Davis, California.
The experiments are among the first
to track anti-inflammatory effects of
fresh cherries in carefully controlled
tests with healthy volunteers. Previous
studies have analyzed extracts from
sweet or tart cherries in the laboratory.
Researchers found that levels of uric
acid – a compound the body uses to form
Folk wisdom has long had it that
cherries are good for arthritis.
Now scientists are beginning to
agree.
painful urate crystals during
a gout attack – decreased
significantly in volunteers’
blood (plasma) over the five
hours after they ate a breakfast of 45 Bing cherries.
And levels of urate removed
from their bodies in urine increased over those five hours.
Findings from this newer investigation should be available later this year.
The grower-sponsored California Cherry
Advisory Board, Lodi, CA, helped fund
the research.
- NL -
Hydrogen Highway
T
he Government of Canada has announced funding for the world’s
first Hydrogen Highway, to be built between the city of Vancouver and the ski
resort town of Whistler.
The Hydrogen Highway is expected
to be up and running by the 2010 Olympics, which will take place in Vancouver
and Whistler. A showcase for sustainable development, it will allow visitors to
travel in fuel cell-powered vehicles between the Vancouver Airport and Whistler during the games.
“The Hydrogen Highway will take us
from the fossil-fuel economy we live in
now to the new hydrogen economy,”
said Prime Minister Martin. “Canada’s
going to show the world that hydrogen
fuel-cell transportation is more than a
great idea – it’s practical, efficient and
within reach.”
The Government of Canada is funding three new projects that will support
the Hydrogen Highway initiative, SacréDavey Engineering Ltd. will develop a
fueling station, Powertech Labs will supply a new hydrogen generator, and Fueling Technologies Inc. has contributed a
hydrogen dispenser that will increase the
energy available to fuel cells, allowing
vehicles to operate over a greater range.
The CTFCA will also provide $632,000
for management activities, for a total of
$1.1 million. Fuel Cells Canada, will
manage the project.
- NL -
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Page 27
Tools for the
Natural Life
Our picks of natural living products.
I
f you are looking for pure body care
products, you cannot go wrong with
Druide, an organically and ecologically
certified line made in Quebec.
Forty-three products manufactured by
Druide are the first in North America to
receive the ECOCERT cosmetic certification. ECOCERT is the international
organic accreditation organization that
endorses the Canadian General Standards Board standard for organic agriculture and tolerates absolutely no
synthetic ingredients.
Aside from seeking certification,
Druide has a strong social commitment.
For instance, it refrains from taking part
in advertising campaigns that focus on
what it calls “illusory fantasies”, preferring to simply offer ecological and effective products that customers really
need. Although all of the 25-year-old company’s products are gentle and suitable for those with sensitive skin, it has recently added
an unscented line of more than 100 products, which otherwise use
essential oils. The name Druide reflects the Druids who were wise
healers and high priests with an understanding of the vital energy of
plants and how to use this art to maintain a healthy balance in the
body. Druide products
are available in health
food stores across the
U.S. and Canada, and
also at www.druide.ca.
H
omeowners are becoming increasingly environmentally
savvy. And book publishers are increasingly
publishing new titles to
provide the information needed to live in harmony with the Earth. Here are three new books that accomplish the task very well.
The New Ecological Home (2004, Chelsea Green Publishing) by Dan Chiras provides an up-to-date overview
of green building techniques, materials, products and
technologies that are either currently available or promise
to be soon. Chiras is a leading authority on green building
and renewable energy, and the author of The Solar House
and The Natural House.
The Organic Home Garden (2004, Key Porter Books)
by Patrick Lima and John Scanlon is another beautiful
and practical guide from the authors of The Art of Perennial Gardening. It discusses a variety of fruits and vegetables in detail from seeding to harvest and will help both
beginners and veteran gardeners. It also offers a look at
the duo’s own rural Ontario garden.
Ecology for Gardeners (2004, Timber Press) by Steven B. Carroll and Steven D. Salt is a treat for serious
gardeners. The authors look at the structure, development,
genetics and reproduction of both plants and other garden
organisms like insects and nematodes. Once all the interconnections have been explored, the book considers how
gardeners can use ecological principles to wisely manage
their garden ecosystems.
B
abies love and need to be carried. Infant development researchers who have studied baby care practices around the world tell us that there are many significant
benefits for babies who are carried in sling style carriers. The LittleStar Babysling is
handmade by a Canadian stay-at-home, homeschooling, attachment mom, from a
blend of 55 percent hemp and 45 percent cotton, with an organic cotton version coming soon. Free of straps, snaps, buckles or rings to fuss with or to pinch you or baby, it
is cool enough to wear even during the hot summer months and can fold right up to fit
into a purse or bag. Cleverly designed, it has a curve sewn into it, which creates a deep
pouch and keeps the sides of the sling up on either side of the baby and supports the
developing curves of a young spine. Available in natural food and eco-stores across
Canada and the U.S., it can also be found at www.starslings.com.
Page 28
N
ature Clean, Canada’s original maker
of non-toxic, all natural, eco-friendly,
alternative laundry, household and body
care products has introduced some new
products just in time for cottage clean-up.
Nature Cleans’ new All Natural Household Disinfectant is composed entirely of
natural, food grade ingredients (FCC &
U.S. GRAS), this septic tank-safe product
is approved by Health Canada as a hospital
grade Disinfectant and Fungicide and Environment Canada Ecologo program certified. It is safe around children and will also
get rid of Salmonella, Staph., Pseudomonas and Athlete¹s Foot fungus. Other new
products from Nature Clean include All
Natural Furniture Polish, Hypoallergenic
Automatic Dishwashing Gel and All Natural Pet Stain & Odour Remover. Available
in Canada at most natural food stores, as
well as many grocery chains. In the U.S., Nature Clean is available
through mail order accounts or from www.franktross.com/nature/default.asp.
G
ot the blahs?
Depressed or
stressed? The Bach
Flower Essences
provide a safe,
calming, positive
energy to help you
balance your emotions and stay in
control. Best of all,
they are convenient
and can be taken
anywhere, anytime
to relieve everyday moods, stress, worries and anxiety.
Formulated almost 70 years ago by the noted British
physician Dr. Edward Bach, the Bach Flower Essences
are used successfully in 66 countries worldwide by millions of people. A healing system derived from flowering plants and trees, they are safe and effective, and may
be used on infants, the elderly and even animals. To figure out which remedy or combination is best for your situation, log on to www.bachquiz.com and create your
own personal formula. If you don’t have Internet access,
ask for the questionnaire at your local health food store
or call 1-800-314-BACH for a free copy.
A Rose By Any Other Name
T
he next time you decide to send a message with flowers, be careful what you say. Most flowers sold by florists and supermarkets
are grown in Latin America and Africa, in an industry that employs mostly women working without benefits and with forced
overtime during pre-holiday periods when flowers are in demand. The flowers themselves are doused with chemicals, often ones that
have been banned in other countries. Up to 20 percent of the pesticides used, in fact, are illegal here in North America. But dangerous
herbicides are also widely used here. For example, Atrazine, which is a known carcinogen, has been found in drinking water supplies
in many Midwestern communities.
Heavy application of pesticides in confined areas has significant impacts on both the environment and on workers. Studies in
Costa Rica have indicated that 50 percent of floriculture workers show symptoms of pesticide poisoning, and rates of miscarriage and
birth defects are higher in areas surrounding flower farms. Half of U.S.-sold flowers are from Colombia, where two-thirds of workers
suffer from such afflictions as headaches, impaired vision, asthma and miscarriages caused by the pesticides, according to the Pesticide Action Network North America.
There is also a risk of toxic pesticide exposure to the recipient from residues in a bouquet, since there are no guidelines for determining residues for either ornamentals or cut flowers. In fact, because there are laws saying that imported flowers must be free of insects, you can almost be guaranteed that a bouquet grown elsewhere will contain pesticide residue. Besides insecticides, fumigants
and fungicides are also widely used and sprayed directly on flower blossoms, increasing the potential for consumer exposure.
Fortunately, certified organic flowers have become more easily available.
Californian entrepreneurs Gerald Prolman and Dave Smith have created a new
category in the eco-friendly products market by supplying pesticide-free blooms
to U.S. retailers under the Organic Bouquet label. The flowers are also available
online at www.OrganicBouquet.com. Smith, co-founder of Smith & Hawken, the
garden tool retailer, estimates the potential market for organic flowers to exceed
$150 million by 2006. The company began with world’s first commercial crop of
certified organic roses in 2002 and has grown steadily ever since.
If you can’t locate certified organic flowers, ask your florist for blooms that
have been domestically grown, since they will not be as highly sprayed. Often,
bouquets sold at farmers’ markets and at the farm gate will be pesticide-free. Or
substitute a pot of organic herbs or a bouquet of wildflowers (don’t pick endangered species and avoid sprayed areas like road allowances). Best of all, if you
have room, grow your own.
- NL NaturalLifeMagazine.com
Page 29
The Green Marketplace
Resources for simple, healthy living
A 2-1/4 by 2-1/4 inch color ad in the Green Marketplace costs US$300/CDN$400
(plus GST/HST in Canada) prepaid for a whole year (6 issues). To book your
advertisement, call (416) 260-0303 or (800) 215-9574 or email rolf@life.ca. This
is a cost-effective way to reach consumers interested in natural lifestyles!
Learn
Reflexology
Links compatible singles
who care about
the earth, the environment
and a healthy society.
55 minute
Instructional Video
with foot chart
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+Taxes + S&H
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PACIFIC
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Books and products up to
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(sorry, no printed catalogs available)
ORDERS: 1-800-688-9748
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Aromatherapy Massage
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In-Class Programs:
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Location: Bruce Peninsula, Ontario Canada
Correspondence Program also Available
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Call: 519 795-7259
www.aromatica.on.ca
“Feel good about your daily grind”
Fairtrade, Organic,
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Gourmet Coffee
Order online at:
www. beantrends.com
40 Strada Blvd., St. Catharines ON
Canada L2S 3L8
toll-free outside Niagara:
1-888-38-BEANS (23267)
OR 905-688-4871
Page 30
Award-winning Packaging Material
A 100% Biodegradable Loose Fill
Made from Corn Semolina with no Additives
Reusable, Compostable, Economical
Lightweight, Dust Free, Anti Static
“Best Product on the Market” ~ Michigan State U.
~ Distributors Wanted ~
Naturpack, PO Box 279,
Wheatley, ON Canada N0P 2P0
www.naturpack.com
Parentbooks
201 Harbord Street Toronto ON M5S 1H6
1 800 209-9182
www.parentbooks.ca
Education/Special Education
Parenting/Family Health
Pee Wee's
Great Adventure
Pee Wee
and the Magical
Compost Heap
Certified Organic
Vegetable Seeds
- Over 20 varieties -
DOMINION SEED HOUSE
Since 1928 !
Help kids learn about composting &
vermiculture in an entertaining way with two
illustrated children's story books.
To Order our FREE catalogue
Visit us at
www.dominion-seed-house.com
or call 1–800-784-3037
(shipments to Canada only)
$3.95 each - Free Shipping! + GST in Canada
The Alternate Press.
Box 112, Niagara Falls NY 14304 or
508-264 Queens Quay W, Toronto ON M5J 1B5
NL41
Lyn-Dys
Self-Learners
Life-changing,
award-winning books
and resources
Organic Health Food
Certified Organic Food/Produce
Herbs & Spices Gluten-free Products
Homeopathic Remedies
Natural Vitamins/Supplements
Fresh Distilled Water
From credential advice
to inspiration
Open Mon-Wed 9-6, Thurs & Fri 9-7, Sat 9-5
Free newsletter
www.autodidactic.com
(519) 455-5573 www.LynDys.com
1016 Oxford St. E., London ON
Free Parking, Delivery Available
Sleep your natural best
All wool mattresses, mattress
toppers, comforters, pillows
and specialty items
Heirloom quality and fair prices
Canada 1 866 552 0167
US 1 800 966 5540
www.woolbed.ca
Page 31
Be nice to your skin
& the environment
with Natural Life's
hemp seed oil
body care sampler
A clean
you can feel good about...
$19.95 Special
Plus shipping: $3 per order to
Canada, $5 to the United States,
$10 to anywhere else in the world
Add 15% tax in NS, NF, NB & ON
and 7% in the rest of Canada.
We accept checks, money orders,
MasterCard and Visa.
Natural Life
PO Box 112, Niagara Falls
NY 14304 USA or
508-264 Queens Quay W,
Toronto ON M5J 1B5
Canada
Phone (416) 260-0303 or
toll-free 1-800-215-9574 or
email natural@life.ca
Our special hemp oil body care sampler contains:
Four 50-gram bars of Hemp Seed Scrub Soap - Help exfoliate dead
skin with this gently abrasive, natural looking, beige colored,
hand-made bar; great for washing up after being in the garden.
Four 50-gram bars of Hemp Oil & Tea Tree Oil Soap - A 100%
biodegradable, very gentle, pure white, hand-made moisturizing soap.
One 25-ml glass jar of Hemp & Tea Tree Oil Salve - Hemp oil plus
Vitamin E, beeswax and a variety of other
nourishing oils help speed the healing of
dry skin, cuts, burns and other skin ailments.
One 5-ml tube of Hemp Oil Lip Balm Moisturizes your lips from the inside out.
A base of calendula-infused oil plus hemp,
almond, wheat germ and apricot kernel oils.
Hemp seed oil is low in saturated fats and an excellent source of Omega-3 and
Omega-6 fatty acids, which have been demonstrated as having a positive effect
on skin. It also contains gamma linoleic acid, which is a rare and powerful antioxidant. None of our products have additives, scents or colorings.
CSNN_NatLife_FPAd_001.qxd
5/27/04
8:13 PM
Page 1
10 Years and Growing Naturally. Thank You!
The Canadian School of Natural Nutrition
(CSNN) is proud to celebrate its
10th Anniversary this year. In 1994,
the school was founded in Toronto
with a desire to bring natural nutrition education and practice to the
heart of Canadian communities.
Over the years, this dream has developed into 10 CSNN branches across
the country from Vancouver to Halifax,
and with close to 2000 graduates of the
Registered Holistic Nutritionist (RHN)
program. In addition, specialized
training in elder care is another
attractive and timely career path
now being offered at CSNN.
For more information about CSNN
and our programs, call us today or visit
our website at: www.csnn.ca
CSNN CALGARY
CSNN HALIFAX
CSNN OTTAWA
CSNN MISSISSAUGA
CSNN MONCTON
3930 29th St. N.E.
Calgary, Alberta
T1Y 6B6
(403) 276-1551
csnn.cal@shaw.ca
5663 Cornwallis St.
Suite 300
Halifax, Nova Scotia
B3K 1B6
(902) 462-0642
heather@csnnhalifax.com
1510 Merivale Rd.
Suite 4
Ottawa, Ontario
K2G 3J6
(613) 523-CSNN (2766)
wiggy@magma.ca
1107 Lorne Park Rd.
Suite 205
Mississauga, Ontario
L5H 3A1
(905) 891-0024
carolyn_377@hotmail.com
7 Beech St.
Moncton, New Brunswick E1A
4G3
(506) 866-7605
csnn_moncton@yahoo.com
CSNN RICHMOND HILL
CSNN SCARBOROUGH
CSNN TORONTO
CSNN VANCOUVER
10720 Yonge St.
Suite 220
Richmond Hill, Ontario L4C
3C9
(905) 737-0284
info@csnn.ca
2190 Warden Ave.
Suite 211
Scarborough, Ontario
M1T 1V6
(416) 497-4111
csnn@bellnet.ca
2221 Yonge St.
Suite 501
Toronto, Ontario
M4S 2B4
(416) 482-3772
toronto@csnn.ca
100 - 2245 West Broadway
Vancouver, B.C.
V6K 2E4
(604) 730-5611
van@csnn.ca
DISTANCE EDUCATION
DIVISION
P.O. Box 896
Uxbridge, Ontario
L9P 1N2
1-800-328-0743
CSNNdisted@aol.com
Branding and Strategy: es communications | Design and Concept: Provoq Inc. | Photography: David Chan
Play Together
Not Against Each Other
www.cooperativegames.ca

Natural Life - Navajo Tribal Utility Authority

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