Welcome to EcoLife!
This blog, which is hosted by Portland State University students, aims to motivate, inform, and inspire change. We want you to learn about the complicated issues surrounding homelessness, while going beyond the tip of the iceberg. We hope to establish a connection with you through our posts regarding the lives and experiences of homeless individuals, expressed in these numerous stories and articles.
We hope you enjoy our blog!
It’s that time of year when people start to plan their
winter vacations to warm place.One item that you don’t want to forget is your sunscreen.Let’s protect our skin and our oceans
at the same time!
Coral reefs inhabit a million different plants and animals
that couldn’t survive without the reef present.With an estimated 6,000 tons of sunscreen being released by
swimmers per year, the coral reefs are under attack.Most of the sunscreens responsible for this attack are those
containing a petroleum based.
Tips When Buying and
Using Sunscreen
·Look for the coral safe logo.
·Look on label for it to say biodegradable.
·Put on 10-15 before you go into the water so it
can absorb into your skin and less into the water.
BPA (Bisphenol), a plastic that is actually biodegradable
that has started to spread like wildfire in our oceans, our bodies and in
animals.BPA is used a year to
make food containers, re-useable water bottles, the liner of can goods, baby
bottles, toys, CDs and DVDs to name a few.Our industrial revolution has made a product that keeps on
giving, but not in the best way.1
million pounds are released into the environment a year leaving harmful side effects
on our health.
The side effects of BPA exposure is not limited to the
following study based on 400 Americans; 95% of them had BPA levels in their
urine.
Source: www.ewg.org
5 Ways to Protect Yourself From BPAs
·Use stainless steel or glass water bottles and
food containers.
·Buy BPA-free canned goods such as Eden Foods.
·Don’t use plastic bags; make your own cloth
re-useable ones!
·Ask for paper next time you are at check out
line.
There is so much information out there about what to eat and
what not to eat.There mare many
questions being asked,“Should I
eat organic or conventional, does it matter?”
Not all of us have the opportunity to eat organic, locally
grown fresh out of your backyard.But those that do have a choice of eating organic need to remember it
isn’t only about the food you choose to eat, it also is about the
environment.The more you choose
organic the less consumption of toxins and it less impact on the environment. The list provided below is great to help you identify the
most highly contaminated produce and the least contaminated.
The Environmental Working Group has
added to the Dirty Dozen call it the Dirty Dozen Plus™ and also have a Clean
15™.
The saying Reduce Reuse, Recycle is as popular as Nike’s
slogan Just Do It. But what do we know? Yes, we know we have recycling service
along with our trash service.You probably
know that we can put old newspapers, plastic bottles, glass bottles, and cardboard
boxes into your recycling can or box. Other than that, how much do you actually
know about recycling? Do you know what do with your old computer? What about
your old or unused motor oil? What about those drawers filled entirely pesky
plastic bag you have stored somewhere in your house?
Reducing Landfills
As a reminder recycling isn’t just for show and tell.Recycling greatly reduces the problem of
overflowing landfills. As most waste is put into landfill, the bigger the
problem gets. Products that are not biodegradable or slow to decompose can
remain in landfills for centuries, often emitting gases that could be harmful
to the environment.
Reduce Energy Consumption
Recycling often uses less energy than manufacturing products
from virgin sources. Making paper that is using recycled pulp, for instance, is
less energy intensive that using new wood.
Decrease Pollution
Waste from landfills gives off gasses as it rots. The
absolutely pollutes the environment, and if you have driven past one you know
how they smell in the summer time on a hot day. Recycling products also emits
less carbon which reduces the carbon footprint of a product.
Your local community is there to help, giving you the
opportunity to act responsibly with the products you purchased and used up.
Here is a list of common products people use in the household if recycled and
help reduce the harmful effects of just throwing them into the landfill.
Unbroken glass: Only bottle glass is acceptable. Exceptions:
Ceramics, Pyrex, windows, mirrors, and light bulbs. Clean and Dry Newspapers: Pack newspapers tightly in
brown grocery bags or tie with twine to keep together. Exceptions: Product
samples, moldy or dirty newspapers, and other contamination. Empty metal cans, caps, lids, bands and foil: Metals
can be recycles over and over again. Exceptions: Full cans, spray cans (unless instructed)
cans with hazardous paint or waste. Plastics #1 and #2 (marked usually on the bottom):
This one is tricky, because there are a lot of exceptions, most plastics aren’t
recyclable numbers 3, 4,5,6,7 especially #3.
EARTH911.COM
Plastics grocery bags: Most grocery stores have
barrels where you can return them. Exceptions: dirty and contaminated. Motor Oil: Contact your garbage company, local quick
lube/tire shop or call 1800-MOTOROIL Automotive batteries: Take to an automotive or security
dealer for recycling or trade in. Laser/Ink printer cartridges: Search for the brand of
the cartridge online and contact their recycling division. I-pods, Laptops, computers: Contact the manufactures
via the web for the best option. The batteries inside these electronics are
extremely toxic a and should disposed of properly.
Help the environment and the people who live in it.
by Jeana Malcolm
Fair Trade is a trade system in which products (typically grown/produced in the developing world) are certified to have met certain ethical and environmental standards. Fair Trade aims to reduce poverty by helping farmers and other workers to grow and make high quality, sustainably made products, and in turn offers a high price to those producers for their goods. Consumers sometimes pay a slightly higher price than they would for goods from larger producers, but get a high quality product that they can be assured was produced ethically and sustainably.
You can currently find the Fair Trade label on several different products, most prominently coffee, tea and chocolate, but also bananas, beans and grains, cooking oils, sugar, honey, herbs and spices, wine, flowers and even clothing.
How does Fair Trade help farmers and other producers?
The impact that Fair Trade has on the lives of producers is great and consists of several different aspects. Fair trade farmers form cooperatives to help them get the best prices for their goods and cushion against unforeseen economic disruption. They are given access to healthcare and education that they may otherwise have never received. Women are guaranteed many rights, including freedom from harrassment and discrimination. All workers are empowered to fight for fair wages and fair treatment, and work under safe conditions.
How does Fair Trade help the environment?
Fair Trade promotes organic agriculture, and nearly half of all Fair Trade products that are currently being produced are also organic. Use of pesiticides is quite limited in even their non-organic products, however, and use of genetically modified crops is strictly prohibited. They also promote water and ecosystem conservation and agricultural diversity, as well as some more specific farming methods such as shade-grown coffee (which promotes ecosystem diversity).
Where can I purchase Fair Trade products?
Your local health food store likely carries plenty of Fair Trade products. Coffee, tea and chocolate are the most commonly found, so much so that they can sometimes even be found now in conventional grocery stores. If you cannot find a local source, Visit this link for a long list of online sources for all kinds of different fair trade products.
So
you're making your own lunches with sustainable, local ingredients. Why
pack those lunches in brown paper bags with plastic sandwich bags, disposable
napkins and plastic utensils? There are a lot of different options for
lunch packing that are reusable, fun and stylish.
Bento Boxes:
Bento boxes are the standard for toting your lunch in Japan, and are becoming very popular in the Western world, as well. They come in many shapes, sizes, colors and materials to suit your individual needs and preferences. Pack your whole lunch directly into your bento; you can buy smaller containers to fit inside for sauces or anything else you want to keep separate.
You can also purchase a type of bento system that comes with multiple containers that fit into a larger tote, popularized by Laptop Lunches. These are perfect for both kids and adults who prefer to keep each dish in its own space, and they come in many different configurations and designs.
Sandwich Bags:
Instead of relying on flimsy, single-use zip-top bags for your sandwiches and snacks, try a reusable cloth bag instead. These bags are available in many stylish designs and are machine washable. Many seal with Velcro-style hook-and-loop closures, while some seal with magnets or zippers. They are usually lined on the inside to prevent leaks.
Bamboo Utensils:
Tired of spending money to throw out plastic utensils? Don't want to lug around your metal forks and spoons? Try bamboo! Bamboo utensils are sustainable and biodegradable, lightweight and easy to wash. They don't stain, and they don't absorb odors like other wooden utensils. They can even be organic!
Cloth Napkins:
Don't forget to top off your lunch with a sturdy cloth napkin! Try organic cotton, hemp or bamboo for a soft, sustainable napkin that you can throw in the wash with your sandwich bags and reusable grocery bags.
Go Shopping:
Check out these websites to fulfill all your lunch-ware needs!
There is other ways to have a good workout that doesn’t depend on electricity, automotive
transportation, and useless gear. Purchase
electricity-free equipment, like Mats, stepping blocks, dumbbells and
self-powered machines (rowers). The biggest thing is watching your labels of
your shakers for your protein shakes. Make sure they are recyclable and BPA
free.
Average use of
a machine
•1500 watts: Power consumed by an average
treadmill.
•.75 kilowatt-hours: Energy used during
30 minutes on that treadmill.
•2 pounds: Amount of CO2 a treadmill gives off during a
30-minute workout.
•350 watts: Continuous power generated by the Team Dynamo and Spin Bikes
Possible solutions are
-Walk to the supermarket/ or store
-Ride your bike to work
-Hiking or running
-Gardening
-If you like going to the gym focus on the
eco-friendly emanates a gym or equipment has to offer.
-Yoga, or
Pilates Create a simple stretching routine that you can
do outside
-Jumping rope
-Play outside with your
children, or with the pets.
- Swimming in a lake or river or state park.
-Abs and core with your own body weight.
-Yoga, or Pilates Create a
simple stretching routine that you can do outside
-Jumping rope
-Play outside with your
children, or with the pets.
- Swimming in a lake or river or state park.
-Abs and core with your own body weight.
Workout videos are link at flash athlete, and will show how to do a work out on a step by step program
Apartmenttherapy.com
