Monthly Archives: October 2010
Fall Decorating and a New Blogger
| October 27, 2010 | Posted by Lisa Sharp under Uncategorized |
My friend and fellow blogger, Beth aka Fake Plastic Fish, just posted a post by me on her site. It’s about decorating this fall without plastic. I share items in my own home and tips in the post. Go check it out.
One other thing you may notice while on Fake Plastic Fish, is a comment by a young girl asking Beth if she could start a blog called Fake Plastic Guppy. Beth of course said yes and the blog has already been started.
This girl is only eleven years old but is an admirer of Beth’s and is already trying to eliminate her plastic use. She has her first post up about reducing plastic use when caring for your teeth. Go check it out and give her some support!
International Nestle-Free Week 2010
| October 26, 2010 | Posted by Lisa Sharp under Uncategorized |
October 25th thru October 31st is International Nestle-Free Week. This week “is a time for those who support the boycott to do more to promote it and for those who don’t boycott to give it a go, at least for a week, by avoiding Nescafé, the principal target of the boycott, and other Nestlé products.” By doing this we can tell Nestle we don’t like their unethical business practices.
If you are unfamiliar with Nestle’s practices here is a quick overview.
Nestle and Formula Marketing
“Nestlé is targeting mothers and health workers with the claim its formula ‘protects’ babies even though babies fed on formula are more likely to become sick than breastfed babies and, in conditions of poverty, more likely to die. Nestlé is accused of undermining the ‘breast is best’ message by claiming its formula is ‘The new “Gold Standard” in infant nutrition’. Nestlé is also accused of refusing to provide important information to parents and carers who use formula. Nestlé has already received thousands of emails, but is so far refusing to drop this marketing campaign.The International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes, adopted by the World Health Assembly in 1981, prohibits companies from putting idealising text and images on labels and limits them to providing scientific and factual information to health workers, who are given responsibility for advising parents.
Nestlé is also accused of refusing to warn on labels that powdered infant formula is not sterile and may contain harmful bacteria and the simple steps to follow to reduce the risks. Following a Baby Milk Action campaign, such warnings now appear on powdered formula labels in the UK.” - read more
The boycott of Nestle because of their unethical marketing of formula has been going on since the ’70′s, yet Nestle still refuses to change it’s ways.
Slave Labor in Your Chocolate?
Nestle buys it’s chocolate from the Ivory Coast, where child/slave labor are common place. The workers do not get paid fair wages and have terrible working conditions.
“So in July 2005, International Labor Rights Fund filed suit against Nestlé in Federal District Court on behalf of a class of children who were trafficked from Mali into the Ivory Coast and forced to work twelve to fourteen hours a day with no pay, little food and sleep, and frequent beatings. What was Nestlé’s response to court questioning? “We are only buyers of a product.” -read more
Orangutan Blood in Your Kit Kat Bar?
Kit Kat and other Nestle products use palm oil and palm oil production contributes to deforestation and habit loss for the critically endangered Sumatran Tiger and Orangutan.
Greenpeace UK has a campaign to get Nestle to stop using unsustainable palm oil in their Kit Kat bars (which by the way are at least Fair Trade in the UK).
Nestle and Bottled Water
“As water becomes the next “oil”, large multi national corporations like Nestle, and other bottled water companies have been quietly buying negotiating to acquire the rights to extract enormous amounts of water from municipal water supplies all over the United States. Often these deals are negotiated behind closed doors, and done so quietly (some would say secretly) that the deal is done before local residents even know that a deal is in discussion. These corporations are essentially buying off local water officials for pennies while these corporations secure millions of dollars in long term profits to be gained from a thirsty global populace.” -read more
This is what happens when Nestle wants your water.
As you can see there are many reasons to go Nestle free, so try it out this week. You can find a list of Nestle products here.
More Information
International Nestle-free Week 2010: Join Us- PhD in Parenting
Boo Nestle
Activism Across Party Lines: The Nestle Boycott- Sorta Crunchy
Dr. Bronners and Drugs
| October 22, 2010 | Posted by Lisa Sharp under Uncategorized |
I’m tired and have a headache so in place of a post watch this video. It’s rather funny and informative. Enjoy!
Spirit Day
| October 20, 2010 | Posted by Lisa Sharp under Uncategorized |
Today is has been declared Spirit Day, a day to remember those who have taken their lives because they were different, because they loved the wrong gender. One of those gay suicides was in my own state, in the town where I do my grocery shopping, Norman, Oklahoma.
A city council meeting was a factory in this teens death. A meeting where the gay community asked for a proclamation declaring October GLBT history month in Norman. It passed 7-1 but had a heated debate from the community. A lot of hateful comments and naive statements were made. I’m sure these people weren’t out to hurt anyone but that’s what these comments do.
Some say being gay is a sin and if you believe that it’s fine. My problem is we don’t see people going to meetings and fighting because people are eating shrimp. The bible says that’s a sin but I have yet to see a protest at Red Lobster. Many Jewish people don’t eat pork but they aren’t protesting at BBQ restaurants.
Being raised a Christian and still being spiritual I was taught we are all sinners and we all fall short. Therefore calling out gays all the time is hypocritical. I see so much lying and cheating from Christians that are fighting against equal rights for gays. We seem to turn a blind eye to the men everyone knows are cheating on their wives as long as they are only sleeping with woman.
No matter what your personal beliefs are hate is never the answer. It wasn’t long ago women were fighting for equal rights and some of the same arguments were used to try and stop that fight. So if you believe being gay is a sin, don’t be gay. And remember the kids that are bullying are learning from someone, often someone in their own home.
And to all of you out there wanting to support those who have recently taken their lives over this issue wear purple today. Purple represents spirit on the LGBTQ flag and is a great way to show our support for those struggling today with the same thing that has already taken so many lives.
Green Holiday Guide Preview
| October 19, 2010 | Posted by Lisa Sharp under Uncategorized |
Leading up to Christmas I will be having a green holiday event. The event will include giveaways, reviews, gift guides, tips and more. I’m hoping to also line up a Twitter Party or two. There are already some great sponsors lined up like Reuseit.com, Lucky Crow, Purrfectplay, SodaStream, Wild Dill, TerraCycle, and Everyday Minerals.
I’m still looking for more sponsors so if you have a green company or Etsy store contact me for more info.
I also will be having a blog carnival one day where bloggers can submit their posts on having a greener holiday season. If you would like more information about this contact me.
I can’t wait to share with everything all the great information and prizes!
Discloser: I am an affiliate for Reuseit.com and Wild Dill. I earn a small amount if you buy from them using my link. I only become an affiliate for companies I believe in and always share my honest views about them. I also will be receiving review items from some of the sponsors, however I’m not paid for them and give my honest views about the products I review. You can read my full disclaimer policy here.
Blog Action Day: More Than Just Conservation
| October 15, 2010 | Posted by Lisa Sharp under Uncategorized |
Earlier this year the U.N. declared water a basic human right. Yet 4,500 die each day due a lack of access to safe water and sanitation.It’s hard to believe that when here it the U.S. we just go to the tap and have clean water. Sadly for around one billion people safe water is something they can only hope for.
One problem plaguing many is the lack of proper sanitation. Every 20 seconds, a child dies due to poor sanitation.This is also a leading cause of water contamination.
“In a parable, two friends were walking by a river and one of them saw a baby in the river, he jumped in to save it only to see at least ten more. He yelled to his friend to come help but his friend continued to walk upstream. The first friend kept yelling asking him why he wouldn’t help. The second friend replied that he was going upstream to see who was throwing them in.
We not only need to save the babies but stop the people who are throwing them in the river. This relates to water because all to often we focus on cleaning the dirty water and not on finding out why it’s so dirty. We must fix the cause to truly fix the problem.”- read more
This is my post for Blog Action Day, to get involved go to http://blogactionday.change.org or use the button sign the petition for safe water.
Mac & Cheese
| October 14, 2010 | Posted by Lisa Sharp under Uncategorized |
Who doesn’t love mac and cheese? This is one of my favorite mac and cheese recipes. It’s full of creamy, cheesy, goodness.
What the Frack?
| October 14, 2010 | Posted by Lisa Sharp under Uncategorized |
This morning as I was waking up my house started to violently shake. It didn’t take me long to realize it was an earthquake. This is not something you feel everyday in Oklahoma. I went to Facebook to make sure it was an earthquake and sure enough my feed was full of comments about it.
While Oklahoma has reported a lot of earthquakes they are normally to small to feel. This earthquake was felt in Kansas and Texas as well as Oklahoma.
Oklahoma has been having an increase of larger earthquakes lately. While I have lived in Oklahoma 23 years this is only the 3rd earthquake I have felt in Oklahoma and all three have been within the last year or two. Today’s earthquake was also not on a known fault line. This leads one to ask why.
One theory for why areas that formally didn’t have earthquakes are now having them is something called fracking. Fracking is a form of natural gas drilling where they inject salt, water, and chemicals into the rock that is holding the gas. I have written about this subject in the past as it’s harmful to our water sheds.
Many studies are being done to see if there is a connection between gas fracking and earthquakes. After a large number of earthquakes have been reported in an area in Arkansas fracking is one option being looked at.
“Scott Ausbrooks, geohazards supervisor with the Arkansas Geological Survey, said the quakes are likely a product of Mother Nature, though geologists have not ruled out the possiblity that the quakes are being caused by oil and gas deep injection disposal sites.”- read more
The same research is being done in West Virgina where the Oklahoma based company Chesapeake is fracking.
“Some geologists suspect high pressure and wastewater have lubricated old fault lines, allowing them to slip and trigger small earthquakes. Chesapeake isn’t so sure, but it has agreed to reduce the volume of fluid it’s injecting.” -read more
And yet another story about Chesapeake and the possibility of a link between fracking and earthquakes.
Chesapeake happens to be the former owner of the Arkoma Basin Woodford Shale which is near the site of the 5.1 earthquake this morning. It is now owned by BP and there is still a lot of fracking going on there.
While the earthquake could have just been caused by nature one has to wonder if there could be more to it. No matter how you look at it we need to a serious look at fracking.
Photo credit: danielfoster437
Support the Breast Cancer Prevention
| October 11, 2010 | Posted by Lisa Sharp under Uncategorized |
I talked about pink washing and how we need to look more at prevention, well one group is already doing that. The Breast Cancer Fund is looking at causes so we can better understand and prevent breast cancer.
You can support them and reduce your waste at the same time with PeopleTowels. Unlike many companies that are donating to breast cancer causes PeopleTowels has LOWERED the price of their special edition towels and will donate a dollar for everyone they sell.
PeopleTowels are great to keep in your purse to use for napkins and paper towels while out. I keep one in my purse at all times. So go check them out and pick up a few and help prevent cancer and reduce your waste!
*Disclaimer: I was not paid for this post, this is my honest opinion. I am a PeopleTowels Ambassador.. For more info please read my full disclaimer.*
10/10/10 a Day for Change
| October 10, 2010 | Posted by Lisa Sharp under Uncategorized |
Tomorrow is 10/10/10, it seems to be a day businesses are using to have sales but it’s also a day to fight climate change. 350.org is having Global Work Party tomorrow to do just this. Take a moment and just think what does your town need to help it be a greener and happier place?
For my town my big dream is cleaner air. This is my reason for fighting against local polluters like the Holcim cement plant, I have talked about before. This is something that will be a big fight and take a long time and a lot of people. However, there are little things we can do now like clean up the parks and pick up litter.
I’m sure your town is like mine with big issues that seem overwhelming but look closer, surely there is a park you can clean, litter to pick up and many more easy things. This is what 10/10/10 is about, people coming together to fix our towns problems. Together we can do so much!
Here are some ideas for you to help your town. Even if it’s to late to do this tomorrow do it next week, next month, just do it!
This is a post for the Green Moms Carnival on climate change. It is hosted by our newest member, ClimateMama. Be sure to check out the other posts on 10/10/10 (tomorrow) on ClimateMama.com blog.
