So when Brian Williams is asking me about what’s a personal thing that you’ve done [that's green], and I say, you know, ‘Well, I planted a bunch of trees.’ And he says, ‘I’m talking about personal.’ What I’m thinking in my head is, ‘Well, the truth is, Brian, we can’t solve global warming because I f—ing changed light bulbs in my house. It’s because of something collective’.“

during the campaign trail?

Am I the only one who know finds this kind of humorous:

Obama Seeks Better Light Bulb

“I know light bulbs may not seem sexy,” Mr. Obama said, “but this simple action holds enormous promise because 7 percent of all the energy consumed in America is used to light our homes and our businesses.”

By Jennifer Jaykins

Pollution levels have historically been calculated using sensors on the ground.  Because of a lack of resources and funding in many populated areas, a scientist decided to use satellite data to see if they could determine air pollution levels.  What they found is that particulates are 5 to 10 times higher than guidelines set by the World Health Organization (WHO).

At this point, there is nothing reported about remedies to the situation.  More than likely, a cross section of scientists will look at the data, determine its statistical significance and evaluate future methods of measuring air quality.

In the meantime, be aware that the air might not be as clean as we think.

by Jennifer Jaykins

In a new report released about our children and their exposure to mercury, we find that it is much more common than expected and quite expensive to clean up.

In fact, in a four year period, 37,000 calls were made to the Poison Control Center  regarding possible mercury exposure.  While many are centralized to broken thermometers, there are a significant amount due to mishandling in science labs at schools.  One researcher found that of 300 schoools inspected, 40% of schools have high levels of mercury in the atmosphere due to unknown or unreported spills.

Despite the high level found in schools, 75% of mercury exposure comes from the home.  The EPA feels that the way to reduce is exposure is to educate parents and children on proper clean up techniques, as well as, reminding them what products contain mercury.  For exmple, with the positive shift to an eco-friendly lifestyle, CFL’s have become the most common household item to contain mercury.  These lightbulbs cannot be disposed of by placing them in the normal trash, where they contaminate the land fills and surrounding areas.  They need to be disposed of properly.

Mercury poisoning symptoms start within hours of exposure and are indicated by tremors, chills, vomiting, abdominal pain, headache and anxiety.  If you feel there is cause, take the individual to the emergency room immediately for treatment.

While the cause is still unknown, many experts believe that the most likely suspect is environmental triggers on genetically susceptible individuals.  This is why this site has always stressed the need to get back to basics when it comes to food and food containers, cleaning products, and lifestyle choices, such as turning off the television.

In a related article, Discovery investigates why the autism/vaccine controvery continues, despite, their belief, that it shouldn’t.

by Jack Golde

Which is why I have even surprised myself by sharing with you a contestant for Miss USA.  Meet Amal Bennett-Judge.

She has hopes of being the next Miss USA.  Unlike many of her contemporaries that are on the campaign trail against gay marriage, Miss Bennett-Judge is on the green trail… and she does it all wearing used clothing!

I think this is a woman that can speak to what the youth of America are concerned with.  She may have a way of doing it that I might not fully agree with, but her message is fantastic.  Maybe this is a case of the ends justifying the means.

by Jennifer Jaykins

We have created a society where it is valued to smear products on our face, put chemicals in our food and homes, and where we walk through god knows what being emitted from business and cars.  As a result, our bodies get beaten up by this stuff.

Over the last few years, a group of women gave blood samples to determine the amounts of chemicals the body stores from exposure.  The thing that is important to know about these women is that they all work for various environmental agencies.  The significance is that these women, we can assume, are aware of toxic exposure in face products, make-up, non-organic foods, etc., and probably try very hard to stay away from those ingredients.  However, each of these women had anywhere from 25-45 foreign chemicals in their bloodstream.

Can you imagine what is in the blood stream of someone who is unaware?  Imagine the person who is heavily marketed to by various corporations.  Or, imagine the low income worker who is trying to scrape by a living and doesn’t have the priveledge of trying to stay away from this stuff.  And, then imagine a society that then will not give them healthcare when they get disease after disease from exposure.

It really is a shame.  The only thing we can do is stop using certain products ourselves and try to educate and advocate for as many people as possible so these chemcials are illeminated from the mainstream consumer goods.

I know we are all done with this flu…. we are all sick of hearing about it.  Even the media is moving onto more attention grabbing topics.

I wanted to draw your attention to this interview through Grist.  Not only is it from someone that seems rational but it confirms what the media is not telling you: that, yes, indeed, this has its genetic origins in the grand old U.S. of A.

HERE is the interview.

There is a class of chemical called C8 or PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid) which is used in some manufacturing processes and has been found in items like stain resistant carpeting and cookware.  It has been found in the bloodstream of peoples living in the areas which it is made and is known to cause a host of issues like cancer and infertility.

This has always been seen as a problem only to those people who have worked or lived by DuPont plants, as they are the primary manufacturer.  Because of the chemical being seen in large groups of people outside that area, scientists took a look to see where else it may be coming from.  And, they found out.

The chemical is used in the production of food wrappers, which is then leached into the food you eat, according to the Charleston Gazette.

Previous research by Tim Begley of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration found that chemicals used to make food wrappers grease proof could migrate into some foods.

The new study examined a group of chemicals called polyfluoroalkyl phosphoric acid diesters, or diPAPs, which are used in food wrapper coatings.

Researchers found the chemicals in the low-parts per billion range, providing a much clearer link between consumer products and human exposure.

Obviously, I feel this is just one more reason to stay away from fast food, or other such items.  Although, not as prevalent as Bisphenol-A or phthalates, this is still a chemical that causes irreprable damage to the body.  More studies will be conducted, and you can be sure a marketing campaign for DuPont will ignite touting the benefits fo PFOA…. in the meantime, you might want to be wary of what your food comes in.

I posted earlier about what the media isn’t telling you about swine flu.  But, there is something else the major media conglomerates have decided to not tell you about either: a pulitzer prize winner.

From Salon.com:

The New York Times‘ David Barstow won a richly deserved Pulitzer Prize yesterday for two articles that, despite being featured as major news stories on the front page of The Paper of Record, were completely suppressed by virtually every network and cable news show, which to this day have never informed their viewers about what Barstow uncovered.

What did he uncover?  That retired generals, that were working with major news outlets, were co-opted by the Pentagon to make the case for the Iraq war.  In fact, this is what was written about what Brian Williams of NBC had to say on that evening’s broadcast:

No mention that among the five NYT prizes was one for investigative reporting.  Williams did manage to promote the fact that one of the award winners was an MSNBC contributor, but sadly did not find the time to inform his viewers that NBC News’ war reporting and one of Williams’ still-featured premiere “independent analysts,” Gen. Barry McCaffrey, was and continues to be at the heart of the scandal for which Barstow won the Pulitzer.  Williams’ refusal to inform his readers about this now-Pulitzer-winning story is particularly notable given his direct personal involvement in the secret, joint attempts by NBC and McCaffrey to contain P.R. damage to NBC from Barstow’s story, compounded by the fact that NBC was on notice of these multiple conflicts as early as April, 2003, when The Nation first reported on them.

So why should you care?  Because the media is supressing a story.  A benign story at that.  So, it makes you wonder… what more to it is there?  And if they are withholding information on this, possibily because of corporate obligation, don’t you wonder what else they are withholding for those same reasons?

This was a prize won by a journalist who discovered that generals were being paid by the White House and the Pentagon to sell us the Iraq War through the use of mainstream media.  If you were a true journalist, like Couric, Williams, Brokaw, and all claim to be, wouldn’t you be mad that you had been lied to?  So why is it they are not mad and not telling you what happened?

For months there has been extensive research and findings on hormone altering chemicals.  Whether we are talking about Bisphenol-A, phthalates, or any other endocrine disrupting chemical, they are all dangerous and they are all affecting our children, and more than that, our male children.

Canada has been a leader in banning these chemicals from being used in products.  But one such ban is causing legal issues that I think no one was quite expecting.  

Quebec has placed a ban on a common pesticide, 2,4-D, made by Dow Chemical.  In response, Dow is suing Quebec under the North American Free Trade Agreement and asking for millions of dollars in damages, according to Miller-McCune.  Dow claims that “the ban lacks scientific support and amounts to an “expropriation” of its business in the province (several Dow products contain 2,4-D).”

There are many legal complications to this case.  For example, at one time, every country found no proof of harm being caused by these chemicals and do those studies count as equally as the current studies which are conclusively finding the opposite to be true.  And, then there is another dilemma, does NAFTA override what a country’s elected officials vote on.  

This is a case that will determine future rules, regulations, and authority amongst countries to determine what is right for its people.  Its criticality is immeasurable.