Forward Not Back Climate Change Vote November

Forward Not Back on Climate Change, Vote this November. In the next few months Americans have to make a important choice of who to elect as President of the United States of America.  While this isn’t a political post, it is a call to action.  President Obama tonight said in his speech that “climate change isn’t hoax” and we can make a difference in the coming election.  I’ve heard so many people say that the record heats this year has really changed their mind about climate change.  Watching the fires in Colorado was heart breaking.  Seeing a friend post on facebook a record high of 126 degrees blew my mind.  It is scary for me to think that this could get worse.  I can’t imagine how bad it might get.  Living a green lifestyle couldn’t be more important.  In this election this November it couldn’t be more important to really plug in to the important issues of each party.  Keeping in mind that we live on this planet Earth and that protecting the environment isn’t about saving the planet, it is about saving ourselves, it is however, the only planet we have.  The planet will survive, we however will have a harder time surviving.

When the heat gets much hotter (during the warm months)  our vegetables won’t grow, the cattle will have a hard time surviving. All plant life will have a hard time surviving.  Our entire lifestyle might have to change to adapt to the increasing temperatures and also the lower temperatures during the winter. The effects of Climate Change have already started to occur.  Climate change isn’t just about a hotter climate it is an imbalance in temperatures.  Erratic temperatures that will be extremes in both directions. Massive natural disasters will continue to occur.  Scientists have been preaching this for decades. The time has come for us to act.

Being green isn’t a luxury, it is a necessity.  Working together as a nation to do our part to lesson the disasters of this planet due to climate change is a positive step forward. I for one choose to go Forward not Back in the next 4 years.  I feel that our survival and our children’s survival is important.  I hope that no matter what your stance is on the election, you will educate yourself on the issues and vote this November!

How Green is it?

Today was speaking to a lady that had a light bulb in her hand.  It was a CFL blub.  I ask her if she likes the CFL’s because they are very popular now.  She said “not really they save energy but” … I said “they have mercury in them”… she said “Yes!  I need to dispose of this one.”  I said “Yes it is funny how some Green products have a non green aspect to them”.  Though CFL’s are Green in the way that they save lots of energy, they can be toxic to the person or environment.  LED’s, I told her, will soon be more in the mass market and affordable.  The term Greenwashing came up.

As we move into another year and another presidential election, food for thought is: How Green is it?  Greenwashing has been a common term used the past several years.  It is important to know if it is indeed Greenwashing or just the technology as far as we have it, up til now. Though controversial CFL’s have saved people money and energy use, they have been the topic of much debate, but now that LED”s are coming into the market, the technology has been made much more Green.  For me when shopping, that is an easy choice, buy the Greenest most non-toxic environmentally friendly product, I can.  As most American’s, that is all we can do.

Greenwashing is a term used to describe  a company is portraying themselves as Green while behind the scenes doing something detrimental to the environment, or marketing a product that claims it is more Green than it is. It’s a gray area for sure, but worth understanding.  If we have only gotten so far in our technology then a product is as Green as it can be until technology progresses to being more Green. Taking into consideration a number of factors.  Saying solar panels is Greenwashing is extreme in that technology  is the best it can be to that point. However, dumping toxic chemicals in a river after producing a Green product would be Greenwashing.  Producing energy by way of landfill is a great way to be Green, but if the products they are producing are toxic cleaning products that cause health issues in people that use them; and the manufacturer labels them Green because they were produced using Green energy, that is Greenwashing most especially since that manufacturer can use non-toxic alternatives to the toxic ones it chooses.  (has nothing to do with lack of technology) Some of the products that I sell are not 100% Organic and the manufacturer is open and honest about why it is, that is not Greenwashing.  Being transparent is of utmost importance so that people can make a informed decision. Know what’s in the products you buy. Hidden ingredients and behind the scene toxic coverups is not being transparent.

In 2002, during the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg, the Greenwashing Academy hosted the Greenwash Academy Awards. The ceremony awarded companies like BP, ExxonMobil, and even the US Government for their elaborate greenwashing ads and support for greenwashing.Wikipedia

 

When choosing products that are Green, be aware that things aren’t always the way they are advertised to be. Read labels not just the elaborate markings on the label and know how to spot toxic chemicals.  It takes time to check them out, but once you know if they are indeed Green you can purchase with confidence.  I find it much easier to check the products out than to suffer the reactions my body has using so called Green products ( such as cleaning products).  The benefits outweigh the time used for research.

As a consumer we have the power to make a difference in the marketing and manufacturing of future products.  Every purchase we make is a statement to corporations.  The Occupy Wall Street movement across the globe, is also a strong statement to corporations. The choices they make to control with financial investments, in not only the government, via presidential donations, but the fact that they also contribute, through lobbying, is slowing down the progress of technology that can make this a Greener, Healthier, Fair wage and equal opportunity planet for everyone.

So, when your buying products take into consideration that vast impact your purchase can make.  The impact that product has on your health, your well being, the country you live in and the planet as a whole.  You may think your minor purchase can’t make that big of a difference, but if you multiply that by millions of people then it is a huge impact on the world.

Living sustainably has never been more important as we step into the next generation of world leaders.  It has been an amazing year watching masses of people who have finally had enough speak out and cause a massive Wave across the world.  Let’s end Greenwashing, corporate lobbying and work together to end a toxic  unfair world that only caters to the 1%.  We the 99% can make  a difference!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mothers all over the world making a difference

Mothers all over the world making a difference

September 30, 2010
| by itshiptobegreen

This year has been a difficult one in many ways.  It has been a year of economic changes, challenges and discord among the parties.  It has been a year of devastation to many due to the Gulf Oil Spill and the many lives it has effected or killed; human, plant and animal.  It has been a year of record heat in some areas and devastating cold and flooding in others.  One thing I’ve noticed about myself and other Mothers around the world,  we are getting more outspoken about our children’s health and future on this planet.  I feel a deep passion within me, that just has to speak out, about the issues that have been procrastinated to the point of ridiculous proportions and do something about it.  It saddens me that all this procrastination on laws being hung up in government quick sand just may cause us to not make the changes in time to prevent major irreversible climate devastation..  I see it everywhere, Mom’s taking the stance to do something to make some kind of noise loud enough to be heard.  Some have radio talk shows, some t.v shows, some blogs and some get into government and me, I write letters to the White House, my local and state government.  This is the time that women around the world feel compelled to stand up and be heard.  For so many centuries women had the back seat, and then the passengers seat in matters such as this.  I’ve seen decades go by where women’s rights have been fought for and won. I’ve seen women get stronger and more powerful over the years. Still we have not been heard enough and haven’t stood up and said ” I’m not going to let you ignore me”, but now we are!  But, this isn’t a battle over women’s rights this is a fight for our children’s future. This is a great time for women all over the world to unite and say ” I want to see change now so that my children will have a future!”. One thing about Mom’s, we will fight for our children’s safety. Now is the time. I hope that the clean energy bills will be passed and I hope that everyone goes out and votes this November, this is a very important election.  Vote for the change that we need to get the world cleaner air and safer food for everyone, but especially for our children.

Women are responsible for 85% of the purchases made in households. With that much buying power we have the ability to make changes based on our purchases.  This is why, as a Mom, what we buy for our children and our families has a huge impact on the changes that occur in the marketplace.  By buying Green, Non-toxic, chemical free products, we are speaking out with our buying power and the manufacturers are following suit.  We can also call manufacturers and tell them we want Greener products.  Ask them why they are not producing a more eco friendly product.  I have called manufacturers to tell them they need to offer replacement parts , use Greener plastics and I’ve written HP and told them they could do better in the Green department.  If a company gets enough calls they will listen.

On the other side of purchasing, Women also have power by refusing non essential items when purchasing.  I refuse plastic bags ( and they really try hard to get me to take one), I refuse plastic eating utensils, I refuse plastic toys at fast food restaurants, and I refuse to have my bed sheets changed everyday when I travel.  Mom’s, we have the power to make a huge difference in our children’s lives now and in the future.  Let’s take advantage of the power and be heard!

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