Water Conservation - Monday 7/28/2008

I really like this graphic on the cards they put out on the tables at Andrew's.

I actually drink the water, so I still get it!

Practicing Earthiness - Tuesday 4/23/2008

I'm going to talk a bit about Earth Day efforts, but first let's enjoy some of the amazing things the planet is doing for us right now. Like this cactus flower we saw on our evening hike around our local hills.


Hydra pointed out these nifty little flat white flowers. Not sure you can see them terribly well. These are survivors.



Okay, everyone's talking about what we can do to reduce our impact on the environment today. I'm up for it too. These are mostly small ideas, but I think that by making an effort to do them, I've become a bit more conscious about my impact on the world that I get so much pleasure from.

Awareness also makes one question things like a recent story on NPR about some Dutch designers who are building floating islands that can support buildings off the coast of Dubai. No one even asked about the environmental impact of casting huge shadows over the living water beneath them, and I was kind of astounded.

Here are some things I'm trying to do:

• Use reusable shopping bags
• Not buy bottled water
• Hang as much laundry as possible to dry rather than using the dryer (easier in a dry climate like ours, I know! They don't even all have to go outside.)
• Cancel unwanted catalogs and magazines
• Opt out of as much junk mail as possible
• Recycle cans
• Set aside batteries and other toxics to take to one of the bi-weekly collections
  

A lot of the things I'm doing I came across on Carbon Conscious Consumer, which sponsored monthly challenges to change in 2007.

For instance, here's their advice on stopping all that junk mail. I used their form letters to contact several direct mail companies. One of these companies sent me a big packet warning me of the dangers of opting out. Sheesh, like I'm going to miss another opportunity to spend my money.

I found a telephone number on my credit card statements where I could call and get extra mailings stopped. For Pete's sake, every time I get a sheet of zero balance checks in the mail, it's like I've received toxic waste. Into the shredder it goes. These seem like ripe opportunities for fraud...a thief wouldn't even have to be smart enough to steal my identity with one of these.

I'd started calling to cancel catalogs a while back, but then I heard about Catalog Choice on NPR. We still receive a few catalogs from companies we have never ordered from as a result of having Hydra's mother's mail forwarded to us after she passed away in 1999! I guess I kept thinking they'd give up, but no. Action is needed.

Avoiding those plastic bags in grocery stores and other shops is not as easy as it sounds. If you're not right on the ball, your stuff is already in a bag. I'm going to e-mail some of my local grocery stores today and bring this up in a pleasant and helpful way. The bag boys seem completely flummoxed by my reusable bags and end up tossing something like a single container of laundry soap into a bag all by itself, even though most of the stores are selling their own reusable bags.

Anyway, there are some ideas. Not trying to preach. It actually makes me feel good to think a little about how I can make a difference.

Trader Joe's - Making It Easier to be a Good Person - Sunday 7/15/2007

Isn't this the coolest bag? It's very strong and light and it's got a nice wide bottom (sound like a retired gymnast to anyone else?) And only $1.99!

I am really trying to use reusable bags and not take home the dozens of plastic ones all kinds of stores want to give me. Kind of flustered the cashier at Kohl's the other day, but really.

She'd just taken the shirt I bought off the hanger and offered me the hanger. When I said I'd take it, she started to fold the linen shirt and the hangar into a small bag. They were out of the right size or I might have let it pass.

Waaaaait a minute. Why don't I just take the receipt and the shirt and hang them in my car?

I walked out with a big (flourescent) light bulb over my head!

Griffith Park on Fire - Friday 3/30/2007

Jeez! First behind my house. Now behind where I work!

Not that I'm the center of the universe, but if someone's trying to tell me something, I'm listening.

The fires was brought under control, but there was an amazing amount of smoke and our electricity at work flickered several times.

Meanwhile, Griffith Park is under threat of development. I can't begin to say how much this upsets me. When Hydra and I first came here from Indiana, we lived near Griffith Park and it was a life-saver for me. Having grown up in a rural area, this access to hiking trails, trees, etc was critical for me. We went to the Griffith Observatory often, and always took visitors there for a free and fabulous view of the city and a walk around the historic and filmicly interesting grounds.
Smoke invading the sky.

This park needs to be defended. If you go to the Save Griffith Park website you will find out what various organizations are doing and how you can help. You can also get a free bumper sticker!