BASIL & SPICE--LIVING GREEN!

RTI: Nanofiber-Based Lighting Technology To Revolutionize Power Usage

At Basil & Spice — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 18:01:05 +0000

Nanofiber-based lighting technology provides high-efficiency, environmentally friendly lighting

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C.—RTI International has developed a revolutionary lighting technology that is more energy efficient than the common incandescent light bulb and does not contain mercury, making it environmentally safer than the compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulb.

At the core of RTI's breakthrough is an advanced nanofiber structure that provides exceptional lighting management. Nanofibers are materials with diameters and surface features much smaller than the human hair but with comparable lengths.Solid-State Lighting Device

RTI's technology, which was funded in part by the Department of Energy's Solid-State Lighting program, centers around advancements in the nanoscale properties of materials to create high-performance, nanofiber-based reflectors and photoluminescent nanofibers (PLN). When the two nanoscale technologies are combined, a high-efficiency lighting device is produced that is capable of generating in excess of 55 lumens of light output per electrical watt consumed. This efficiency is more than five times greater than that of traditional incandescent bulbs.

"By using flexible photoluminescent nanofiber technologies for light management, RTI has opened the door to the creation of new designs for solid-state lighting applications," says Lynn Davis, Ph.D., director of RTI's Nanoscale Materials Program. "This new class of materials can provide cost-effective, safe and efficient lighting solutions."

Additionally, RTI's technology produces an aesthetically pleasing light with better color rendering properties than is typically found in CFLs. The technology has demonstrated color rendering indices in excess of 90 for warm white, neutral white, and cool white illumination sources.

"Because lighting consumes almost one-fourth of all electricity generated in the United States, our technology could have a significant impact in reducing energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions," Davis said. "The technology also does not contain mercury, which makes it more environmentally friendly and safer to handle than CFLs and other fluorescent lamps."

RTI is continuing development of this technology and is actively pursuing commercialization opportunities in the marketplace. It is anticipated that commercial products containing this breakthrough will be available in three to five years.

About RTI International

RTI International is one of the world's leading research institutes, dedicated to improving the human condition by turning knowledge into practice. Our staff of more than 2,800 provides research and technical expertise to governments and businesses in more than 40 countries in the areas of health and pharmaceuticals, education and training, surveys and statistics, advanced technology, international development, economic and social policy, energy and the environment, and laboratory and chemistry services. For more information, visit www.rti.org.

RTI International Presents Strategy for Palestinian Technology Hub

UN: "Tokyo Two" Anti-Whaling Activists To Stand Trial 02/15/2010

At Basil & Spice — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 17:52:47 +0000

Tokyo, Feb 8, 2010— The Japanese government breached a series of internationally guaranteed human rights by detaining two Greenpeace activists who had uncovered major corruption in the Japanese whaling programme, according to a working group of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC).

Junichi Sato and Toru Suzuki, known as the “Tokyo Two,” are due to stand trial on February 15th, but it has been revealed that the UNHRC’s Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (WGAD) informed the Japanese government in December that the rights of the two men have been breached by the Japanese justice system.German Activists Support Tokyo Two; Photo Credit: Greenpeace

“Junichi and Toru acted in the public interest to expose a scandal that involved corruption in the taxpayer-funded whaling programme. Now it is clear that this is not just the opinion of Greenpeace, but also of the competent United Nations body,” said Greenpeace International Executive Director Kumi Naidoo. “We expect the Japanese courts to take note of this opinion and judge the case accordingly.”

The Working Group noted that Sato and Suzuki had “…acted considering that their actions were in the greater public interest as they sought to expose criminal embezzlement within the taxpayer-funded whaling industry.” It recognises that they willingly cooperated with the police and the Public Prosecutor, that this cooperation was not acknowledged, and that the Government did not itself submit any essential information, such as details of their activities as environmental activists, the investigation they carried out, the evidence they gathered or the help they gave to authorities to formally investigate their allegations.

The Working Group concluded: “The right of these two environmental activists not to be arbitrarily deprived of their liberty; their rights to freedom of opinion and expression and to exercise legitimate activities, as well as their right to engage in peaceful activities without intimidation or harassment has not been respected by the Justice system.” As such, the Working Group found that the government has contravened articles 18,19 and 20 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and articles 18 and 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. It also took the view that Sato and Suzuki had been denied the right to challenge their detention before an independent and impartial tribunal in fair proceedings, and requested that the remainder of the trial be conducted fairly.

“The decision to engage in this political prosecution was made by the previous government in Japan. The new administration can remedy the shame of this damning opinion by ensuring the trial will now be fair, adhering to international legal standards. In the interest of transparency they should welcome observers from other governments to the proceedings,” said Dr Naidoo, who is travelling to Japan later this week to observe the trial. “Prime Minister Hatoyama must also order a re-examination of the original allegations made by the Tokyo Two,” Dr Naidoo added.

Since their initial arrest in June 2008, more than a quarter of a million people have signed a petition to demand justice for Sato and Suzuki, and legal experts including Supreme Court advocates worldwide have expressed concern about the prosecution. International human rights and advocacy groups such as Amnesty International and Transparency International have questioned the legitimacy of the prosecution. A week of protests at Japanese embassies worldwide began today in the run up to next Monday’s hearing.

Greenpeace is an independent, global campaigning organization that acts to change attitudes and behavior, to protect and conserve the environment, and to promote peace.

2010 State Of The Union Address: Greenpeace Responds

1650 Garden Bloggers: We Are NOT Geeks!

At Basil & Spice — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 13:00:08 +0000

Allan Becker--

Recently, I have noticed many garden bloggers are calling themselves geeks; refer to their knowledge as plant-geek, and to their gardens as geekdoms. It is time to stop this self-deprecation. We are not geeks!

We gardeners generate pleasure and joy not only for ourselves, when we practice our craft, but also when we help others. There is nothing nerdy about gardening. There is nothing nerdy about our expertise. That we are misunderstood is unfortunate. That our passion mildly amuses non-gardeners, rather than impresses them, is their problem and their loss. Our opinion of ourselves should not be molded by the ignorance of others.

I am proud of who I am and what I do. I watch peoples’ eyes light up when I deliver a colorful plant; I see their ecstasy when that flower is planted in their garden. I hear their joy when they tell me how they run to their window each morning to see a plant newly in bloom. On their way to work each morning, people stop to admire my garden. Some get out of their cars to take pictures. That does not make me a geek; that makes me a local celebrity, even though I do not seek out that honor.

The history of geeks is quite different from our own. Years ago, industry kept their technical staff in the back room, where no one could see them. Behind the scenes, they were responsible for fine-tuning the machinations of commerce or machinery itself. They were mostly invisible because, through no fault of their own, they had focused on developing the brain at the expense of social graces. Businesses did not want the public to notice them for fear that their awkward manner might frighten customers away.

Then the computer was born and only the technically inclined could understand it; only they could explain it to others. Suddenly, clients who needed technology demanded to talk directly to those that really knew. Now industry had no option but to move the geek from the back room to the front office, then to the head of the company and finally to the forefront of industry. Suddenly, the geek became a prince.

In 2008, the National Gardening Association reported that about 84 million households participate in some form of gardening activity. Unfortunately, these numbers do not differentiate between those that maintain lawns and other outdoor living spaces and those that specifically focus on growing flowers or vegetables with a passion. The congested parking lots at nurseries in spring, and the size of the perennial flower display at all big box retail stores, indicate that the number of passionate gardeners is greatly underestimated.

The garden blog website Blotanical reports that over 1650 people who garden also write blogs on garden related topics. That number does not include those who tend to gardens without writing garden blogs. Nor does it reflect the thousands of unique visitors that access garden bloggers' sites weekly. The readership number for these sites explodes during the gardening season.

Gardeners are not awkward; nor do we lack social graces. We are passionate, hard-working, creative people, who are happy to talk to others, to share our knowledge and our plants. We deserve respect. More importantly, we deserve to respect ourselves because in the garden, we are royalty.

Allan Becker has been designing and planting flower gardens, since he was a teenager in the 1960s. Now retired from the soft goods industry, where he held several positions in design, product development, and marketing, he has turned his passion for gardening into a second career, as a garden designer for private clients in Montreal, Canada. In spring and summer, he supervises his assistants, mostly college students, who transform his designs into flower gardens. In winter, he reviews books on garden-related topics and writes a gardening blog http://allanbecker-gardenguru.squarespace.com

Allan earned a B.A. from McGill University, followed by two years of studies in Design at Sir George Williams College [now Concordia]. He lives in the Montreal suburb of Cote St Luc with his wife and travels regularly to Toronto and Boston to visit his children and grandchildren.

Book Review: Chakra Gardens by Carol Cumes

5* Green Product Review: its-laS-tik Reusable Shopping Bag (Feb 2010)

At Basil & Spice — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 14:21:48 +0000

By Randall Radic

MADE IN USA Series

According to theologians, God has the monopoly on omnipresence. At the risk of being accused of blasphemy, it would appear – based on statistics – that plastic bags enjoy the same privilege. They’re everywhere!

Somewhere between 4 to 5 trillion – yes, trillion – plastic bags are manufactured in the world each year, requiring 12 million barrels of oil. Americans use more than 380 billion polyethylene bags per year. Of which they throw away 100 billion. Which means the bags end up in the land fill. And what is even worse is that it takes 1000 years for polyethylene to break down. Which means the bag you threw away last week will still be around hundreds of generations from now.

To put it bluntly, plastic bags are a major source of pollution. Which is not cool.

All that being said, there’s another really good reason not to use plastic bags. They are hecka ugly! Which is definitely not cool. Let’s face it, walking around with a white or green or brown plastic bag that’s got some grocery store’s name and logo on it is totally tasteless. Talk about a fashion faux pas! You drive to the local supermarket in your Lexus, walk into the store in all your sartorial splendor, and then walk out carrying three or four tacky-looking plastic bags that have absolutely no line, texture, illusion or drama.

Humdrum, boring and ugly are the words that immediately come to mind.

The answer to your fashion problem is here. Not only will it provide you with an air of elegance, but it will save the environment at the same time. What is it? Bag as objet d’art.

In this case, it’s what’Surbag’s reusable shopping bag. What’Surbag calls them its-laS-tik. Like Pygmalion, what’Surbag has taken the concept of reusable shopping bag and infused it with sass and spring and softness. The designers took the common, dowdy reusable bag and, like Versace or Chanel, gave it class and extravagance.

The bags come in four sizes: pouch, medium, large and backpack. And they are made of stretchy, sculpted material in a rainbow of shiny colors, such as gold, silver and violet. The sample bag they sent the reviewer was silver with black edges. And since the human eye responds to edges – the boundaries between light and dark – the bag creates lines that suggest shapes that become images.

Oh, and get this: they work great for carrying your stuff. Function and art in one handy item.

In a word, what’Surbags are chic. But that’s not all they are. They are machine washable and a percentage of the company’s profits go to help the city of New Orleans, which, by the way, is where the bags are made. So you’ll not only look haute couture as you shop, you’ll also be a philanthropist. You can’t beat that.

On the Rate-O-Meter, which ranges from 1 star (tacky) to 5 stars (fantastique), what’Surbag’s its-laS-tik carries 5 stars. And remember, “Two is better than one, if one is better than none.”

Find its-laS-tik online.

This product was provided by whatSurbag to the reviewer.

Randall Radic is a former Old Catholic priest. He is a graduate of the University of Arizona. He holds a Master of Theology, from Trinity Seminary, a Doctorate of Theology from Trinity Seminary,Th.D., and a Doctorate of Sacred Theology, S.T.D. from Agape Seminary.

After a midlife crisis, he spent time behind bars. Today, he has emerged a changed man. He is the author of Gone To Hell: True Crimes of America’s Clergy (ECW Press/ Oct 2009), and A Priest in Hell: Gangs, Murderers and Snitching in a California Jail. Radic writes the 2012 EXPOSED series exclusively for Basil & Spice.

**5* Product Review U-Turn 2 Tap Stainless Steel Water Bottle (Jan/2010)**

Climate Change Speeding Up Insect Breeding: Ramifications For Ecosystems

At Basil & Spice — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 12:22:32 +0000

Sally Kneidel Ph.D.--

Those of us concerned about greenhouse gases and climate change have a new study to ponder. This study, from Dr. Florian Altermatt at UC Davis, documents once again the biological effects of global warming.

Altermatt examined insect data from Central Europe. Temperatures have been increasing there for decades, but particularly since 1980. This European warming trend is increasing the number of generations per year for some insects.

Altermatt discovered this by analyzing climate records and population data for 263 butterfly and moth species in Central Europe. He included only species that are known to have more than one generation per year, at least occasionally.

Because the warming trend in Central Europe has been more dramatic since 1980, he compared insect-breeding data before 1980 to insect-breeding data after 1980.

He found that, for 190 of the 263 species examined (=72%), the second or subsequent generation became more pronounced after 1980 compared with before 1980. In other words, for most of the species he examined, there were more generations per year after 1980.

So what?

What difference does that make to the ecology of our planet? Actually, there are lots of potential repercussions, few of them good.

For one thing, many crop pests are larvae of moths or butterflies, such as the cabbage white and the tomato hornworm - to name just a couple from my own garden. A population that is having more generations per year will grow in number faster than a population with fewer generations per year, all other things being equal. So global warming could mean faster-proliferating insect pests, hence higher numbers of insect pests on crops.Photo of Orange-Sulphur Butterfly by Alan Kneidel

In addition to that, higher numbers of a particular insect species can lead that species to deplete its food source, or out compete and eliminate its competitors for limited resources such as food or breeding sites.

Ecosystems can be altered if just one species goes awry

Another potential result of an overblown insect population could be increases in the predators of this insect species. Predators of butterflies, moths, and their larvae include birds, lizards, mice, toads, parasitic wasps, and many more. If these predator populations increase, this could have a dampening effect on the other prey of these predators, prey could have economic value - or could be significant species in their respective ecosystems. As ecologists have demonstrated repeatedly, eliminating any species from an ecosystem, or even just changing the density of one species, can have profound effects on the stability of the ecosystem as a whole. Ecosystems are highly complex systems whose parts are intricately interdependent.

The principle that Altermatt demonstrated is far more significant than the particulars he reported. Specifically, he showed that 72% of the moths and butterflies he looked at in Central Europe have more generations per year now that the climate is warmer. But his data suggest something far more sinister....that any or all terrestrial invertebrates may have their breeding disrupted in some fashion by climate change.

Most animal species are invertebrates

The vast majority of animal species on this planet are invertebrates, which are much more directly susceptible to temperature changes, since their body temperature fluctuates with the air or water around them. When invertebrates are warmer, all of their physiological processes are speeded up. This is unlike warm-blooded mammals and birds (including humans), whose body temperatures remain the same regardless of ambient temperatures (disregarding accidents such as a plunge into frigid waters).

Are negative consequences inevitable?

We don't really know. Animals that have more generations can adapt faster to changing conditions. Or maybe more insects could mean more prey for birds that are declining. It's conceivable that there could be benefits to having insects breed faster. Is that the most likely outcome? I don't know. But I don't think so. The few stable ecosystems we have remaining are the result of millions of years of co-evolution. It's hard to think that a few years of random interference is going to improve millions of years of fine-tuning.

What can be done?

Reduce your own carbon footprint. Residents of the United States generate more greenhouse gases per person than residents of any other country in the world.

The easiest thing you can do, every day, is to eat fewer animal products (see "Livestock and Climate Change" by Worldwatch Institute). The Worldwatch Institute, a prominent environmental think-tank, reports that the livestock sector generates 51% of greenhouse gases worldwide.

Find ways to drive less. Carpool, ride your bike, take public transportation. If you do drive, use a fuel-efficient car.

Choose a passive-solar home, which can reduce your heating and cooling needs to almost nothing.

The Union of Concerned Scientists has reported that our diets, our transportation, and the way we heat and cool our homes are the biggest consumer contributions to greenhouse gas emissions and pollution in general.

Take the Environmental Footprint quiz and learn more about how to reduce your own carbon footprint.

We have only a short window of opportunity over the next few years to have any hope of slowing global climate change. Once the ice sheets are all melted, the loss of all that white ice reflecting solar radiation away from the planet will accelerate the process of global warming.

For more practical suggestions about how to reduce your carbon footprint, see our book Going Green: A Wise Consumer's Guide to a Shrinking Planet. The book offers strategies regarding diet, housing, transportation, clothing, and other consumer choices that we all make every day.

Sources:

Florian Altermatt. 12/22/2009. "Climatic warming increases voltinism in European butterflies and moths." Proceedings of the Royal Society B.

Sally Kneidel, PhD, and Sadie Kneidel. 2008. Going Green: A Wise Consumer's Guide to a Shrinking Planet. Fulcrum Books.

Sally Kneidel, PhD, is the author of eleven books on nature, conservation, and science topics. Two books from Fulcrum co-authored by Sally and Sadie Kneidel are Going Green: A Wise Consumer's Guide to a Shrinking Planet (May, 2008) and Veggie Revolution: Smart Choices for a Healthy Body and A Healthy Planet (Nov, 2005). Sally Kneidel can be found online at www.veggierevolution.blogspot.com and at SallyKneidel.com

Sea Level On N. Carolina Coast Could Rise 4.6' In Next 100 Years

Trees Dying Twice As Fast As They Did 50 Years Ago

Kilimanjaro Ice Caps Will Be Gone By 2022

2010 State Of The Union Address: Greenpeace Responds

At Basil & Spice — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 12:13:32 +0000

Washington DC— In his State of the Union address Greenpeace was encouraged to hear President Obama speak of clean energy jobs as a priority for the new year.

The country needs the President to continue to speak publicly and start campaigning aggressively for policies to reduce global warming pollution. It was, however, disappointing to hear the President promote coal, offshore drilling, and nuclear power, since these forms of dirty energy are expensive distractions that stall the fight against climate change. Last year, Big Oil and King Coal showed that they will spare no expense and sink to any level to keep Americans addicted to fossil fuels; their clients in Congress have begun 2010 with attacks against the Clean Air Act that fly in the face of science and public health. President Obama must start the year by defending the tools he has already, particularly through the Environmental Protection Agency, and use those tools to show that the United States is serious about the global effort to avoid cataclysmic climate disruption.

Jan 26, 2010: Target Replaces Farmed Salmon With Wild Alaskan

At Basil & Spice — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 16:15:32 +0000

Target Charts New Course for Sustainable Seafood

Company Becomes First Major Seafood Retailer To Eliminate Farmed Salmon In All Stores

Minneapolis, United States — Citing the significant environmental degradation caused by salmon farming, Target announced today that it will discontinue sales of all farmed salmon products in its stores. Salmon is second only to shrimp in seafood purchases in the United States and the announcement is a first by a major seafood retailer.

"Greenpeace applauds Target's decision to replace farmed salmon with wild Alaskan salmon, a relatively sustainable and healthy product, throughout its operations,” said Casson Trenor, Greenpeace’s Senior Markets Campaigner. “The company’s decision to address this issue represents an incredible willingness to challenge old paradigms in favor of sound science and environmental preservation, as well as provide real market value to its customers. We have no doubt that the leadership will set a new standard for the seafood industry; one we hope is echoed by other retailers."

Target is one of 20 seafood retailers profiled in Greenpeace’s sustainable seafood guide, Carting Away the Oceans, which is published several times ayear based on an analysis of sustainable seafood policies and practices among major retailers. In the most recent edition, Target had moved to 4th place. Read the report

Of the 20 largest supermarket chains in the United States, nine have still made no visible effort to increase the sustainability of their seafood operations and continue to ignore scientific warnings about the crisis facing global fisheries and the marine environment. These include: Aldi, Costco, Giant Eagle, H.E.B., Meijer, Price Chopper, Publix, Trader Joe’s, and Winn Dixie. Despite the progress of many companies, all continue to stock “red list” seafood like orange roughy, swordfish, or Chilean sea bass – some of the world’s most critically imperiled species. While several retailers are working to make improvements, none of the companies featured in the report can yet guarantee that their seafood is legal, much less sustainable.

To help ensure the long-term sustainability of fisheries and marine ecosystems, Greenpeace advocates the creation of a worldwide network of marine reserves and fisheries management that is based on a precautionary, ecosystem-based approach. Today, supermarkets can help the oceans and meet consumer demand for sustainable products by refusing to sell seafood from fisheries that:

exploit endangered, vulnerable and/or protected species, or species with poor stock status;
cause habitat destruction and/or lead to ecosystem alterations;
cause negative impacts on other, non-target species;
are unregulated, unreported, illegal or managed poorly, and
cause negative impacts on local, fishing dependent communities.

2010 Pollock Catch Limit At 813,000 Million Metric Tons--A Model Of Unsustainability

Environmental Scientist Warns Of Dangers From Leached Food Packaging

At Basil & Spice — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 13:32:55 +0000

Dr. Jane Muncke--

Almost everything we eat comes with packaging. In my supermarket (in Switzerland) even the organic veggies are wrapped in plastic foil—apparently because of potential cross-contamination with pesticides from the non-organic competition just across the aisle. And because "organic" means "zero pesticides" they get the protective wrapping—but I always wonder why the foods that are already contaminated are not wrapped to contain their chemicals.

Crazy you think? Maybe not so much… experts working on leaching of chemicals from food packaging into food have said that "packaging materials [are] probably the greatest source of food contamination." In the U.S., food packaging chemicals in fact are treated as "indirect food additives," which means that they become part of the food. And the average consumer probably is entirely unaware of this.

Of course the use of chemicals in food packaging is regulated and controlled. Authorities will allow only a limited amount of packaging chemical to leach into the food, so you will never be eating huge amounts of any one given chemical. On the other hand, constantly consuming small quantities of packaging chemicals across a life time might have effects in itself—we simply do not know. But recent scientific research is helping to shed some light on this. Especially developing children are vulnerable.

What is more, food packaging is usually made of plastic, or has a plastic layer directly in contact with food (i.e. beverage cartons are lined on the inside with plastic, glass jars have a lid of plastic or with a plastic liner inside, carton or paper often have a "glossy," grease-proof finish which is also made of plastic). And some of the chemicals widely used in food packaging have been showing up in body burden studies, where pollutants are detected in people's blood or urine.

One of these chemicals that has lately come to fame is bisphenol A. This is a synthetic compound that is used to make hard polycarbonate (PC, #7) plastics and also is present as building block in can coatings. Bisphenol A mimics the natural hormone estrogen and it has been shown to cause many different adverse effects. Because of its sex-hormone properties, bisphenol A has been dubbed an endocrine disrupting chemical. These chemicals interfere with the body's own hormones and thus are of concern for damaging our health.

In a recent review article I looked at the presence and legal use of endocrine disrupting chemicals in food packaging. The main outcome of this study was a list of 50 compounds that are known or suspected endocrine disrupters and are allowed by U.S. or EU authorities to be used in the manufacture of food contact materials (packaging). This means, that we are exposed to many different chemicals that are possibly disrupting our hormone systems directly via our food, because plastic-type packaging is not inert and can leach its components. Unfortunately it's impossible to tell if a plastic will contain endocrine disrupting chemicals or not—unless you have a lab to help you research the packaging.

So what can you do to protect your health and reduce your exposure to plastic chemicals from food packaging? Most importantly, try to look for easy alternatives to plastic that suit you best. Here are some practical tips:

When you microwave foods or beverages, always use ceramic or glass containers. Never microwave directly in the plastic packaging as the heat will increase leaching of chemicals;
Store your left-over foods in glass or ceramic containers; there are some available with rubber or plastic lids which are fine as the food is not directly touching;
Eat as much fresh food as possible. I recommend locally grown, seasonal fruit and vegetables (they will require the least packaging and treatment due to short transportation distances) that were produced according to organic farming principles;
Choose glass containers if available; even though the lid will contain some plastic or be made of plastic in general there will be less chemicals that can leach because of a smaller plastic surface area; be careful to store jars and bottles upright to minimize contact between the food and the lid;
Store dry foods like cookies, rice, flour or cereals in a stainless steel, glass or ceramic container;
When you're cooking I suggest using stainless steel or wooden utensils;
Avoid products that are packaged in plastic-lined cans, like soft drinks, tomato sauce, soups etc. only some cans are not lined, e.g. for some fruit, but unfortunately it's impossible to tell the difference when you see them closed on the shelf;
Avoid products in beverage cartons, like orange juices, milk, soups or desserts. These foods are filled into the packaging while they are still hot, and the inside is lined with plastics. Heat enhances plastics to leach chemicals;
Avoid plastic-coated frying pans (same rule here: heat increases the release of chemicals from plastics).

I know that these tips can be frustrating, because very often you cannot get anything other than plastic or plastic lined packaging. As a consumer, you can ask your preferred brands to provide alternative packaging that will not leach chemicals. Most importantly, stick with easy alternatives and don't let yourself get overwhelmed.

Dr. Jane Muncke is an environmental scientist and am specialized in environmental toxicology; she trained in Zurich at the ETH (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology) and has an MSC and PhD from there. She has worked on removing endocrine disrupters and other pollutants out of the waste water stream, testing for hormonally active substances in rivers and lakes, and has become interested in the presence of endocrine disrupting chemicals in common food packaging. Currently, she is employed by the Swiss company Emhart Glass, a supplier company for the glass packaging industry. Dr. Muncke is writing a book, lives and works in Switzerland.

FL Recycling Law Falls Short With Bottle Bill Death: $40 Million Revenue Loss

What You Need To Know About Proven Pet Care Therapies

At Basil & Spice — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 13:24:44 +0000

Shawn Messonnier, DVM--

It’s interesting that many critics of natural medicine remain skeptical of evidence that has proven the effectiveness of a therapy by many years of clinical experience, yet easily accept “evidence” that is funded by and offered by pharmaceutical companies to promote the latest new drug.

As most of you know, I’m not at all against using conventional medications as part of an integrative healthcare plan for you or your pet. I simply want to make sure that if a drug is necessary, it is used properly and an alternative therapy that might be safer or less expensive is not available.

I’m going to share with you a true story; the names have been changed to protect the guilty.

A very common natural therapy for pets with arthritis is acupuncture. It’s been safely used for thousands of years to treat millions if not billions of patients and works quite well most of the time to relieve the pain associated with arthritis.

Now let’s look at a new drug to treat arthritis in pets, a drug we’ll call Drug X. The salesman for the pharmaceutical company which makes Drug X excitedly comes into my hospital to convince me to purchase this new miracle drug.

He tells me that Drug X just received FDA approval and was introduced to veterinarians one month ago. Studies funded by his company show that the drug is safe and is 80% effective in relieving pain in arthritic animals.

If I prescribe Drug X to only 5 pets a day, at a cost of $4 per pet, I’ll make $20 each day. That’s $600 a month or $7200 a year. Because this drug is a potent NSAID which may have side effects similar to other NSAIDS, I’ll need to check each pet’s blood and urine at least twice per year. At $100 per visit, that’s an extra $300,000 I’ll make each year.

For the next 2 months, to introduce this great new miracle drug, the pharmaceutical company is having a special offer: For each bottle of Drug X that I purchase, they will give me a bottle for free! This will increase my profit even more.

Additionally, the pharmaceutical company is spending $20 million over the next 12 months in consumer advertising and marketing to drive people into my office begging for this drug.

And finally, if he meets his quota in sales of this new miracle drug, the pharmaceutical company rep will get a free trip to Hawaii (wait!! What about my trip to Hawaii? Oh that’s right. I’ll make so much money from selling this new drug I can afford my own trip.)

Because I like to research new therapies, I ask him for any evidence that Drug X is safe and effective. He provides me with research funded by his company that tells me the following:

The company was required by the FDA to show that Drug X was safe and effective in 250, 5-year-old laboratory beagles that were fed a strict diet and not exposed to any other animals or people. (Do any of you own 5-year-old laboratory beagles? I doubt it since none of my clients do.) Additionally, the pharmaceutical company did additional clinical trials involving 20 different veterinary hospitals across the US, enrolling 1700 dogs in the study. In these additional 1700 dogs, the drug was also safe and effective.

So let’s see. I can use acupuncture in my arthritic patients, knowing that this therapy has been proven safe and effective for thousands of years in millions if not billions of patients. It’s cheaper for my clients than the new miracle drug as regular blood and urine testing for side effects never needs to be done.

Or I can use the new miracle Drug X, which has been on the market for one month and has only been used in a few thousand patients. I think for now I’ll continue to use the time proven therapy of acupuncture (after all, if acupuncture really didn’t work, doctors wouldn’t be using it anymore, right? Additionally, if I continued to use acupuncture knowing it was ineffective my actions would be immoral, unethical, and illegal, and I would lose my license to practice medicine.)

Fast forward 2 years. Drug X was recently taken off the market due to a number of pets becoming ill or experiencing “fatal unexpected adverse gastrointestinal consequences” that were never discovered during premarket testing to prove the drug was safe and effective. I’m sure glad I went with acupuncture as my therapy for arthritis!

My point is simply this-while many conventional medications are safe and effective, serious side effects are often not known until after several years of clinical use. If I have a choice of using a safe and effective natural therapy, or a new miracle drug that has not stood the test of time, I will always choose the safer, more effective natural therapy while waiting for additional clinical data that will inevitably result after years of using the new medication. Since my clients also agree with my choice, I will continue to meet their needs and offer the safest, most effective therapies for their pets, my patients, who put their trust in everything I do. I will continue to see the remarkable healing power of the natural therapies we choose to assist them in their journey to achieving true health.

Dr. Shawn Messonnier, DVM the host of the weekly award-winning radio show, "Dr. Shawn-The Natural Vet" on Martha Stewart Radio (Sirius 112 Tues 8-10 PM EST and Sat 9-11AM EST) sits on the advisory board of the Journal Veterinary Forum, and is a holistic pet columnist for Animal Wellness, Body + Soul, and Veterinary Forum. In addition to serving clients in his Paws & Claws Animal Hospital, he has written several books on the natural care of pets, including The Natural Health Bible for Dogs & Cats, The Allergy Solution for Dogs, 8 Weeks to a Healthy Dog, Preventing and Treating Cancer In Dogs and most recently Unexpected Miracles (Forge Books/ Aug 2009). He is also the creator of a new line of organic pet products, Dr. Shawn's Pet Organics (www.Dr.Shawnspetorganics.com) You'll find him online at www.petcarenaturally.com

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5* Product Review: PeopleTowels: Saving Water And Trees (Jan/2010)

At Basil & Spice — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 10:30:04 +0000

Review By Alice Berger

"This Is Not a Tree" is just one of the fun patterns on this new line of personal towels. In an effort to reduce waste, PeopleTowels were created for folks to carry with them whenever they washed their hands. In Japan, you would not be able to find disposable paper towels, and everyone carries a reusable towel with them. Now it's time to introduce this wonderful practice to the United States.

Made of 100% Certified Organic Fair Trade Cotton, these PeopleTowels are designed with people and the planet in mind. They're well-crafted, wash beautifully, and they come with a hang tag so they
can easily be clipped to a purse or backpack. And although you'll make an initial investment of more than the cost of a package of paper towels, these are meant to last for years.

According to their website, if you switched to PeopleTowels for a year, you'd be able to save 1/4 tree, reduce landfill waste by 23 pounds, and conserve 250 gallons of water. That sounds like a pretty
good reason to switch! And the feeling you'll have from knowing you're helping the planet is priceless.

Their website is http://www.peopletowels.com and a special Valentine’s Day Promotion: 3 “For the Love of the Earth” towels for $18.00 (normally $21) runs from Jan 25th – Feb. 14th

5 stars

This product was provided by PeopleTowels to the reviewer.

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