I'm really not an angry Hippie

So a friend of mine who read my last post (and didn't leave a comment) said she's worried I've become an angry hippie. She thinks I need some yoga, which isn't a bad idea anyways!

All kidding aside...

I do get angry sometimes reading about how big corporations and the government are just messing with our food and other things my son comes into contact with on a daily basis. I was reading today that the FDA is having another meeting about BPA. This chemical has been proven in study after study to mess with hormones and reproductive systems, but the FDA is still listening to the industry telling them it's really just fine. Other countries have already banned it's use and retailers have removed it from their shelves, but the FDA says it's still just fine...

but anywho...on to what I'm not angry about. Since I've started on the Green Journey there are tons of things that make me happy!

1. Cutting our trash down to a not-full-bag a week
2. Venturing out and eating way more vegetables than my parents ever thought I would
3. Making my own laundry detergent
4. Local food!!
5. Discovering wonderful handmade items

The best thing? Hearing my son talk about keeping the Earth clean, not wasting electricity and gas, recycling, and about organic ('ganic) food. Just today, he was talking about keeping the Earth clean. It just makes my heart full to the brim.

Things I can't stand...

So, a few weeks ago on a bulletin board the question went around "what can't you stand". I didn't think about it again until tonight while watching TV.

I've noticed that I have a problem watching all those ads that are trying to sell us things we don't need and are horrible for the us and/or the environment. (This includes a stupid ad on Facebookfor Tide that won't go away) What set me off tonight was the new Soft Scrub scrubby pads.

They are pre-loaded with Soft Scrub and you get them wet, then scrub away on your appliance. In the commercial, the woman is scrubbing away while the stove makes suggestive sexual comments. But that's not what bothers me. No, what bothers me is that once she is done molesting :) the stove she just THROWS AWAY the scrubby. And that's what the website says to do, "just throw away when the job is finished" GRRR!

Beyond the fact that I don't think you really need to use the cleaning chemical, can't you just buy the bottle and use a scrubby pad that you don't just THROW AWAY?

I've included some other things that really annoy me.

• Trash day and having to drive by all the houses with literally dozens of trash bags full of stuff that could probably be composted, recycled or freecycled
• Plastic packaging that can't be recycled - just make it recyclable people, it can't be that much different!
• Every time my MIL talks about how we don't have paper towels - I KNOW she didn't have them growing up, why are they necessary NOW?
• Having the cashier search for the UPC on my reusable bag that I just pulled out of my purse, and then asking if I know what this is and how much it costs

HFCS: More Not So Sweet news

I've posted about High Fructose Corn Syrup before - here and here. Now it's come out that in many cases it is contaminated with Mercury. You heard that, MERCURY! This contaminated Mercury was found in 31% of the random products tested by The Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy and 45% of the straight HFCS samples tested by an FDA researcher - in 2005. But this research wasn't published by the FDA. No the FDA, I guess, decided that we didn't need to know that much of the processed food on our shelves might be contaminated with mercury. She quit last year and began working for Environmental Health, who published the study this week. So three years has passed with the FDA aware of products on our shelves containing mercury-laced HFCS.

Grist.org has a great article about how the mercury probably got into the HFCS so I won't go into it here.

I must say that I am getting very frustrated with the government agencies that are tasked with keeping the food supply safe failing the job miserably, either through poor knowledge OR on purpose. Neither of these two possibilities are OK with me.

One more thing, you know how HFCS is supposed be "natural" (according to the FDA) and really just the same as sugar? Did you know that the following chemicals are used to MAKE HFCS? Caustic soda, hydrochloric acid, alpha-amylase, gluco-amylase, isomerase, ilter aid, powdered carbon, calcium chloride, and magnesium sulfate.

soooo, natural, right?

Take our Planet Back

I've liked will.i.am for a while now - everytime I hear him speak it's about important things and he actually has something to say.

Here's a new song and video he's done - I really like it and hope you do, too!

PS I got the video code from Grist.org - a site I cannot recommend strong enough!

Rebates, Get your red hot Rebates!

The Denton Municiple Electric has begun GreenSense program and is giving rebates to residents who make energy-saving improvements to their homes. So, now's the time to install those solar panals you've been eyeing. But if that still isn't in your budget even after up to a $15,000 rebate, you can also get rebates on programmable thermostats, solar screens, and even insulation. 

The energy rebates only apply to work done after the 1st and the money is given on a first come, first served basis. Once it runs out, it's gone - until the program gets more funds in October. 

Hurry up and get your red hot rebates!! Program information and forms can be found at the Denton Municple Electric website.

Electronic Recycling

A few weeks ago when the Green H went to the Denton landfill to recycle our glass, we noticed the HUGE container for the electronic recyclables was missing. In its place was a sign informing us that the City of Denton would soon be charging for taking in TVs and monitors, $15 to be exact. Shinerman said he was surprised it took so long, that it was overflowing the last time he was there. They started charging the 1st of January.

The apparent reasoning behind the move was the immanent change over to digital TV - February 19th, that is unless the Obama transition folks get it delayed. I understand the reasoning, but really if people won't/can't pay the 15 bucks, they'll just put it on the curb for trash pick-up. In my view that's not taking care of the problem, it's just shuffling it to another area. Plus, the city won't be able to make money from the (shrinking) commodities market off all those TVs that end up in the landfill. Granted it's not the kind of money they would have made last year, but it's better than nothing.

Don't despair fair Denton recyclers, they will still be accepting most electronics for free for city residents. 

OT - I love that esurance commercial with the peppy song "Lucky Today"  - it just played so thought I would mention it.

Green Cement Update

Thought I'd give a (late) update on my post about the green cement. Last week the Denton City Council voted to buy cement from companies that use the more eco-friendly dry-kiln techniques. Yea! 

Those of you who contacted the City of Denton's council, feel free to pat yourself on the back...