Author: Elaine

No more plastic bottled water.

There are many problems with buying plastic bottled water: polluting plastic manufacturing, contaminating landfills and oceans, expensive, transporting water wastes fuel, and lugging gallons of it around is taxing on our lumbar spine and joints.

In the USA, a simple and economical way to get filtered water is a Brita Elite Replacement Filters (Disclosure: I have no financial interest with Brita).

Each filter can filter up to 120 gallons of water. Drinking 8 cups of water daily equals 2 quarts or half a gallon per day. If there are two people in your household, estimate 1 gallon per day at a minimum. This requires more frequent filter changes. Filtering one gallon per day means replacing the filter every 4 months. If you also use filtered water for cooking, you are using even more. To increase accuracy, you could do a one-week experiment, measuring the amount of filtered water used by filling a measured container first and keeping a tally. More frequent filter changes are recommended if you live in a hard water area. Relying on taste alone is not enough.

Another bonus with these filters is no water waste compared with reverse osmosis (RO). RO can waste up to 5 gallons of water for every gallon purified.

Brita filters are now rated to remove the ‘forever chemicals”: per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PUFA). I recommend you contact your water district to get a list of the contaminates in your water. Water districts do treat your tap water. Our water district measures for many contaminates, including PUFA and Arsenic. If you depend on well water, it can be independently tested. Fortunately, as per our water district, our tap water does not contain any PUFA or Arsenic.

With this system, you can easily fill in the water bottle size of your choice. Filtering your water has its benefits. You know the water had been purified, whereas purchased plastic bottled water can be fraudulent. Some contain just tap water.

For performance and with NSF certification, Brita Elite filters provides an economical and convenient water purification system. Here is an NSF link to assist in finding a filter that works for your area. https://info.nsf.org/certified/dwtu/

Another sustainable plus is Brita recycles these filters. When you accumulate 5 pounds of filters, they will send you a return label https://www.brita.com/better-world/recycling-filters/.

On a larger scale, many airports, hotels, and city streets have drinking water filters. With the drought situation in California and Texas, some cities have mega-filters that recycle sewer water safe to drink.

On the preventive end, put a stop to how humans cause the pollution of waterways – industrial chemical effluence, farm pesticides, landfill runoff (batteries, paint and paint thinners, gasoline. There are many things we can do to lower this risk personally. Use rechargeable batteries, and ensure hazardous waste is disposed of properly – at hazardous waste sites (google it for your local programs). Use biodegradable, chemical-free products as much as possible.

Bring our reusable bottles to do our part to protect the earth’s water

Ref:

https://info.nsf.org/certified/dwtu/

https://www.nsf.org/about-nsf/mission-history

https://www.forbes.com/home-improvement/home/reverse-osmosis-water-pros-cons/

https://www.brita.com/landing/municipal-clean-water-initiative/

https://www.lifesourcewater.com/blog/toilet-to-tap-drinking-purified-sewage-water

https://www.sandiego.gov/public-utilities/sustainability/pure-water-sd

https://www.epa.gov/watersense/point-use-reverse-osmosis-systems

https://calrecycle.ca.gov/reducewaste/batteries/

https://www.brita.com/performance-data/

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0013935117303419#:~:text=Effluent%20arsenic%20concentrations%20are%3A%20ZeroWater,20.1%25%20removed%20by%20filtration). Comment – I doubt the improved Brita Elite Filter was used in this report. The Brita Elite/Longlast was introduced in Mar 2017.

https://scitechdaily.com/scientists-find-new-way-of-cooking-rice-that-removes-arsenic-and-retains-nutrients/.

https://zerowastememoirs.com/is-silicone-bad-for-the-environment/.

https://waterdefense.org/water-filter/reviews/best-countertop-water-filters/.

https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/features/stricter-federal-guidelines-on-forever-chemicals-in-drinking-water-pose-challenges/.

Life Without Plastic: The Practical Step-by-Step Guide to Avoiding Plastic to Keep Your Family and the Planet Healthyby Jay Sinha and Chantal Plamondon

Bars (not the drinking kind).

Please consider switching to natural ingredient bar soaps, shampoo, and conditioner.

Bar hand soap, dish soap, shampoo, and conditioner consumers, reduce plastic waste and fossil fuel consumption used during transportation. Weight for weight, and volume for volume, the bar products provide more washes, hence less fuel used during and for transportation.

For example, an 80 gm shampoo bar will last approximately 60 to 70 washes, depending on hair length. Whereas, if two teaspoons (10 ml) of liquid shampoo are used per wash, a 500 gm bottle produces only 50 washes. Less washes for more than 6 times the weight (assuming a density of 1). Plus, the bar shampoo container is smaller and made of more sustainable materials than the giant plastic bottle of liquid shampoo.

As the bar dish soap wears down, it becomes more difficult to use by the above method. To use every last bit, the soap can be cut into hand soap size pieces or grated. The grated soap can be added to the dish water or your brush can be dipped into it. Cool not to waste anything.

Remember to click on the FOLLOW button….Thank you 🙂

We can do this!

Those Who Plant Trees Under Whose Shade They Will Never Sit Understand Life

Plant a tree. What type of tree? Start with what grows locally and grows fast. Young trees absorb CO2 as they grow.

Trees cleans our air, absorb heat, prevents erosion, provides wildlife habitats, and rebalances our soil.

If planting a tree is not practical for you then contact your mayor’s office to plant some trees in parks, empty lots, or to line streets. If they say they don’t have the money then ask them to install solar panels over open parking lots to raise money to plant trees, with the added benefit of protecting your car and making clean energy.

What to say to the Climate Change Deniers

Some people argue for the status quo. They demand to stay on the same course. They think the threat of climate change is BS. They claim that the history of our planet has naturally cycled through temperatures of highs and lows. Coincidently, many of the same people have a financial interest in fossil fuels. Many are older and they are uncomfortable thinking about a future in which they will not be participants. Ego-driven, with no skin in the game people, cannot see beyond themselves. Many cannot be bothered to consider the world they are leaving their grandchildren. Many cannot fathom the shift they would have to make because their cognition cannot cope. Sadly, it takes being near the end of life to realize that the whole concept of ownership ultimately is meaningless. Some are living a life in crisis mode and any shift will push them into the abyss. At least that is the fear. For whatever reason, they cannot see that sustainable ideas are to make the world better. They continue to deny what is happening around us. Extreme climate patterns, droughts, wildfires, temperatures so hot airplanes can’t take off or tolerate violent turbulence as a result of wind pattern changes, and destruction of wildlife.

But look at the data- never did the rate of temperature rise increase as quickly as it is now and at the same time, the planet has nearly an unprecedented 8 billion mouths to feed.

We have or will soon cross a boundary of no return. Fortunately, as time passes, the number of deniers will dwindle.

Hopefully, this will give you some talking points when someone denies climate change.

What gives me hope are the brilliant and dedicated younger generations who are fighting for their future. A new wave has started.

How long can you hold your breath while counting your money?

There is no planet B.

A NEW WAVE HAS STARTED

REFERENCES:

Gen Z, Millennials Stand Out for Climate Change Activism, Social Media Engagement With Issue

https://www.eurekalert.org/multimedia/641775

https://pngtree.com/freepng/toxic-gas-emission-environmental-pollution_6249556.html

https://phys.org/news/2019-08-jet-stream-aircraft-turbulence-climate.html

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-40339730

Save the Bees.

A few years ago, my lavender bushes used to be swarming with bees. But now it is bee-less. This disappearance is a wake-up call to everyone. Without the bees, the world will not survive as we know it.

Bees have been declared The Most Important Living Being on Earth. They are now on the endangered species list! What have we done?

The disappearance of bees is real. Time to get active. Think Global. Act Local. Stop using pesticides and herbicides, especially neonicotinoids (neonics). Eat organic. Better for you, better for farmers, and better for the environment. Sure it might cost a little more. But when it comes to food, consider higher quality and lower quantity. The majority of the western world could eat less to abate the obesity epidemic.

Other factors, besides chemicals, that negatively affect pollinators are drought related to global warming, habitat destruction, lack of food, air pollution, and disease.

With all of these factors happening at once, our bees are overwhelmed. Like all living beings, the weaken bees become more sustainable to disease and death.

Here is how to help save our pollinators

1. Plant organic plants that attract bees.
2. Make your yard a pesticide/herbicide-free zone.
3. Buy organic.
4. Support sustainability initiatives.
5. Become an Activist in your local area. Call or write to your mayor’s office to suggest organic green spaces and allow residents to keep beehives.
6. Become a beekeeper. Keep your own hives. Bonus: free authentic honey.
7. Support Honeybee research at the University of California, Davis by adopting a honey bee (Projecthoneybees.com).
8. Live sustainability.
9. Reduce fossil fuel consumption.

The bees can live without us, but we cannot live without the bees.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=11&v=JilYBVrFiLA&feature=emb_logo

Since writing this, some of my bees have come back!

Toxicity of neonics:

• Widespread neonic contamination has gotten worse. According to the latest data from the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR), 93% of surface water samples in Los Angeles, [other], counties contain a neonic—up from 92% in 2019. In northern California, 67% of samples contained a neonic, a substantial increase from the 57% just a year earlier.
• Pregnant women may be especially at risk of exposure. A new study of 171 pregnant women tested, over 95% had neonics residues in their bodies. Neonics were most commonly found in Hispanic women, and neonics were detected more frequently—and at higher levels—over time. Widespread exposure among pregnant women is particularly bad news; neonics present significant risks to developing fetuses because they can interfere with the highly delicate development of the nervous system. Neonic exposure in the womb has been linked with birth defects of the heart and brain, as well as autism-like symptoms
• There is new evidence of effects of neonics on testosterone. Using data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, researchers have linked neonic exposure with a 20% decrease in testosterone, fueling concern about neonics’ reproductive and hormonal effects. Similar studies also suggest possible connections between neonic exposure and changes to fat metabolism and insulin regulation, as the list of possible human health harms continues to grow.
• https://www.nrdc.org/experts/lucas-rhoads/will-californias-bees-get-break-neonic-bill-gov

Capsule Wardrobe

Inspired by Laura de Jong, a capsule wardrobe expert. She writes:

“WHAT IS A CAPSULE WARDROBE?”

A capsule wardrobe is based on the idea of having a limited number of quality garments in your closet. Items that fit you well, are timeless, fit your personality and fit your lifestyle. Fewer items doesn’t mean that you always wear the same outfits. Did you know that you can create approximately 80 outfits with ‘only’ 30 to 37 items?” Excluding underwear and accessories.

The fashion industry creates tremendous waste. The EU plans to counter this by setting new rules to discourage disposable fast fashion by 2030. But we can start this now as informed consumers.

Buy quality items in classic styles to last you many years. It costs more but is an incentive not to gain any weight! When clothes get tight, time to cut back on calories and portions.

Another bonus of quality clothes will be that they will survive a second or even third owner. See Sustainabilty Tip #2.

Ideas to start your Capsule Wardrobe:

When purchasing products, if you cannot find them pre-owned, check if the materials used are recycled or biodegradable. Check if the manufacturer is eco-friendly or socially responsible.

There are companies that plant trees for every sale made or make a donation to charity or nonprofits. Find corporations that are socially responsible.

Shop at stores and do business with corporations that support your beliefs.

Some examples: Patagonia, Cariuma , Suavs, Tentree, Earth Breeze, Chnge, Bank of the West, Brabantia.

Vote with your wallet to support what you believe. Power in numbers. Numbers count. Your actions matter.

Power in numbers. Numbers count. Your actions matter.

Donate your clothes and paraphernalia that have served their purpose with you.

How do you decide which clothes to donate? Use this Marie Kondo method:

Take all your clothes and hang them on hangers with the hook facing out. After you wear them, hang them back with the hook facing in. Do this for a year.

After one year, look at the hangers still facing out. Consider donating the clothes on those hangers.

Remember one person’s garbage, is another person’s treasure.