Plastic Polluted Ocean – Blog Action Day

Today is Blog Action Day and the subject is the environment. It’s a movement to get as many bloggers as they can all blogging about the same thing on the same day. So far there are 15,000 blogs all around the world writing about the environment, and I am going to be another one.

I’m pretty passionate about the environment when I stop and think about it. I mean, I can read stories about entire species going into extinction, or stories of how many plants are dying because of urban sprawl, and it physically will upset me. Yet at the same time, I completely forget about these things and throw away aluminum and paper that can easily be recycled. I am ashamed of myself, I really am. There is no excuse for my laziness, and there is no excuse for yours. In fact, if this story doesn’t impact the way you purchase products, and the way you dispose of your garbage, I don’t know what will.

In the middle of the Pacific Ocean is a vortex of plastic. It is sometimes referred to as the North Pacific Garbage Patch, and it’s main occupant is plastic. So much plastic that this patch is as big as the state of Texas. It is made up of everything from tiny pieces of plastic debris to large nets lost by the fishing industry.

300 billion pounds of plastic is produced around the world every year, and only a fraction of this is recycled. The rest ends up in landfills, or in the streets clogging up the drain gutters, and eventually making it’s way to the ocean. Plastic is made to last for hundreds of years, and it’s doing just that. Floating in a big pile in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.

Plastic is often mistaken for food and has been found inside marine life of all sizes, from whales to zooplankton. It has been directly blamed for the death of a wide range of animals including albatrosses and sea turtles. They see the plastic floating in the water and they think it’s food. This leads them to die from digestive trouble and even starvation. Their bellies are full, but it’s full of plastic, not the nutritious food they thought they were eating to stay alive.

Oh it just makes me sick to my stomach thinking about it, and I need to make an effort to really change my habits. Here are a few things that will make a difference, especially if every single one of us does their part.

• Every time you see litter, pick it up and dispose of it properly.
• Reduce, Reuse, Recycle – you’ve heard it before, but now you know what happens when you don’t. Be conscious of all that you buy, and be sure to avoid products with excessive packaging, especially in disposable products.
• Demand more and better recycling facilities in your area.
• Take part in local stream, river and beach cleanups – or organize one yourself. Though these don’t solve the problem, they are very effective at drawing attention to the greater problem offshore.
• If you live near the ocean, or a river that drains into it, your storm drains are probably washing garbage right out to sea. Be conscious of this and any other potential sources of marine litter in your area. Demand that these are eliminated.
• Be very conscious of your ecological footprint. Encourage change though your decisions and do no accept the current paradigm of use and waste.

It’s a group effort guys! Who’s willing to change their habits with me?

Blog Action Day, environment, pollution, oceans, plastic pollution

Nature Valley Roasted Nut Crunch Bars

I wrote about these on my personal blog, but I wanted to share them here also. These are perfect for your backpack, and a quick trail snack when you need them.

I recently picked up some Nature Valley Roasted Nut Crunch Bars in both flavors, Almond Crunch and Peanut Crunch. My kids are pretty hooked on chips and preservative loaded snacks, so I was surprised when they devoured these two boxes in about three days.

They are fire roasted nuts and tasty sunflower seeds that contain 2 grams of fiber, 7 grams of protein, and no cholesterol. They are available nationwide, and you can find them in your regular supermarket.

You’ve got to try them, they are very delicious, and your kids are going to love them! I don’t know about you, but it makes me very happy to see them love healthy snacks.

Nature Valley Roasted Nut Crunch Bars, General Mills

The 2007 BP Solar Decathlon

As you know, we love everything green, and have taken small steps to living a greener lifestyle. These have been small changes around the house like recycling more, and using energy efficient light bulbs. This has started our interest in building a home completely off the grid in a small community in Colorado that is looking to be the first completely green city in America. Now if that development job comes through with Google, we can start working towards our goals.

In regards to this topic The BP Solar Decathlon is coming up in a couple days. They didn’t have it last year, but I did follow their progress the year before, and it was really neat to watch. Every two years 20 university teams from around the world design, build and operate livable, enery-efficient, and completely solar-powered houses. This year one of the main sponsors in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Energy is BP, the only energy company that was sponsored this type of event.

One of the goals of the Solar Decathlon is to show the world that we can all use solar power in our homes, and BP is working to make solar energy a more affordable source of energy in our homes and businesses. Solar power is going to be one of the main sources of energy really soon, and it’s nice to see an energy company like BP getting behind this movement and making it happen for us, and the earth.

Solar Decathlon, BP, solar energy

MeatStock – September 28

I’m just going to repost this here for people who don’t read my personal blog at Julie’s Journal…

I’ve been a total slackass today when it comes to writing about the weekend, and I got called out here. Damn them! I just wanted to catch up on my DVR tonight and “wash the grey right out of my hair.” Can you believe I still have not watched the season premiers of The Office or Desperate Housewives, and I’m sitting here with 1.5 inches of old lady hair showing on my head? It’s brutal and rough, and a good thing I don’t Vlog.

Because Michael and I are both slackers and didn’t pack until Friday night, we didn’t hit the freeway until 8PM, which means we rolled onto the dry lake bed right about 10PM. I quickly jumped out of the car to say hi to everyone I hadn’t seen since SoupStock, while Michael set up our spot on the playa. He found me about 30 minutes later (bless his heart) and the party started.

Ernie and Michelle were already there, and the Fancy was wandering around in his chocolate induced haze, with Skrinkle close behind. Man, I love these guys. They are such great friends. I am truly blessed in the friends department. We hung out with everyone, Ron, Violet, Amber, Captain Bill, Nate, Turtle, Indigo, Cameron, and a few others. I don’t remember everyone’s names, but they are all awesome in their own way.

I have to leave you with the watered down version of Part One…my hair is SCREAMING for color. Really.

Here are some pictures in the meantime…Pictures and more pictures.

MeatStock, DarkSkies, Delamar Lake, Nevada

Tecnu Extreme

For all you campers and hikers out there, you all own a first aid kit, riiiight? Well you should have one, and it should be stocked with Tecnu Extreme cream. Tecnu Extreme is a poison ivy cream that can prevent you from ever getting it, or treat it once you have it.

Urushiol is the stuff that gets on your skin and causes you to itch. Tecnu Extreme, when used within 8 hours after exposure to the plants, can remove the urushiol thoroughly enough so that a person may be able to avoid the rash in the first place. If the rash has started, Tecnu Extreme can help stop the rash in its tracks and help with the itching.

The forest services use this, and so do landscapers, and others that work around foliage. It’s really easy to buy as you can find it in any drug store, or you can order it online here. So make sure to add this to your first aid kit!