Earth Day 2018: Using Less Plastic, and Videos to Make You Think

Earth Day was started April 22, 1970. This year, we continue to celebrate the gifts of the Earth, our home, and try to be less careless about how we treat it.This year's theme is End Plastic Pollution. Consider...

• Re-usable cloth bags for shopping mean less plastic in landfills or recycling
• Use a washable and re-usable cup or water bottle instead of using disposable plastic ones
• Re-think that six pack of pop with the plastic ring device holding them together: They choke birds and animals when found in landfills or water
• Wash and re-use a glass container rather than buying something new in a plastic container
• Wrap sandwiches in butcher paper  or waxed paper instead of a plastic sandwich bag

• Donate to Goodwill...but buy from them as well, instead of getting something new
• Dispose of that last bit of paint at a waste-disposal location, don't throw it in the trash
• Challenge yourself to create less trash and recycling
• If you see garbage in the street (or anywhere), pick it up
• And don't simply toss something out a window or throw it on the ground. Throw it away!
• Use it up, wear it out, or do without 

Here are some videos that may make you think about what you can do to pollute less and cultivate more.

 

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=earth+Day+2018&&view=detail&mid=BBCE723B88468D68B0BBCE723B8846AB8D68B0&&FORM=VRDGAR

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=earth+Day&&view=detail&mid=651D5DA904BE91E4F269651D5DA904BE91E4F269&
Give Earth a Hand:  https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=earth+Day+hands&&view=detail&mid=6230388156EF924AC7CA6230388156EF924AC7CA&&FORM=VRDGAR

Water We Doing? Reasons Not To Use Bottled Water

**This was Triogenius' very first blog entry in April 2012.
We've taken on lots of topics since then, but this one is still valid......

Do you buy water in bottles?

Why?

OK, we know we need to be drinking plenty of water every day. In fact, an adult should have between 8 and 12 cups of water every day, more if you are exercising or otherwise losing water through sweat. Drinking more water helps hydrate your joints and tissues, helps keep your skin healthy, helps flush out germs, and generally is completely fabulous, not to mention the water we use for play: Pools, Watering the lawn, decorative fountains, ice.....

But….

Did you know that lots of bottled water is nothing but tap water? Yep, it’s true. Did you know that Dasani is a Coca-Cola product and Aquafina is from Pepsi? Perrier, Poland Spring, and Deer Park bottled water are distributed by Nestle. All of them are originally from municipal water supplies—simply put, water out of a faucet. It may have been filtered or processed in some fashion, but it originally was just obtained by turning on a faucet and filling up the container. At least 25% of bottled water sold in the United States is tap water (tap water is water that comes from a faucet).

The company selling the bottled water is required to put “Municipal Water Supply” somewhere on its label, and is not allowed to use the term “All Natural” unless the water has had absolutely no processing or altering. Check out the label of the last bottle of water you bought.

For more water facts to think about, check out this National Geographic video:  http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/env-freshwater-whycare
When you pay your local ‘water bill,’ you pay for the processing of the water that comes out of your faucet: Local water purification cleans the water adds fluoridation for the health of your teeth.

Remember that lots of people in the world don't have easy access to clean water. We never give a second thought to turning on a faucet and expecting that.

It’s important, too, that we make the effort to buy less plastic bottles for any liquids: They're used to package juice, milk, soft drinks, 'power' drinks, sauces, items used in baking, and soaps, and they come in lots of different colors. Consider getting a re-usable drinking water container (preferably not made of plastic!). You could get two, one you’re using and one that’s ‘in the wash.’ Simply wash it with hot, soapy water, clean out the ‘mouthpiece part’, and let it air dry or just refill and use again. Because…think about this:

To make plastic, you need petroleum. Petroleum is the base substance that can eventually be made into fuel such as gasoline. It is a limited resource. Is it worth wasting that natural resource for our convenience? And once it’s made, a plastic water bottle tossed in the garbage will last in a landfill an estimated 450 years before it degrades, if at all. Imagine that times the millions of plastic bottles that will be tossed in the garbage today. Recycling plastic is great, but it also takes heat and (believe it or not) chemicals to be re-used in another way.

Ironic: Using plastic water bottles creates plastic pollution in our water supply. Wait, what?? 

 

A small step can make a big difference. Make the effort to stop using bottled water today!

Tiny Houses

There's a new trend in housing: Tiny houses.

 

Some facts about tiny houses:

• They are usually built on a platform with wheels so they can be moved easily
• Space-efficient:storage is tucked away everywhere
• Sometimes they are solar-powered
• They can be built by the owner or someone else
• Tiny homes have features like any other house, only on a smaller scale, including washers, air conditioning, bathrooms, electricity
• They can be as tiny as 65 square feet up to about 900 square feet (the size of a 1960s rambler is about 1100 square feet)
• They are kinder to the planet: They use less materials to build, less electricity or gas for fuel, and create less waste

Here's some facts about housing costs--quite eye opening:

 

 

Advantages:
Less stuff: How much do we really need?
George Carlin about stuff:  http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=george+carlin+stuff&&view=detail&mid=0C9D83F33FC270ECA0790C9D83F33FC270ECA079&FORM=VRDGAR

 

• Smaller spaces are cheaper to heat and air-condition
• Minimal outside and inside maintenance
• Less stuff = less to clean up
• You'd learn to be better at food consumption--not a lot of storage
• You could live by the advice of: Make do, use it up, do without
• Deciding what to wear would not be a problem
• Cleaning house would take very little time
• They discourage consumerism, the habit of obtaining more to impress others
• As such, a tiny house confirms that 'things' aren't going to make you happy
• You will value and take care of those few things you really want to have
• You could stay in one place or move whenever you wanted to
• If your neighbors bother you, you can just move
• If you know someone with land, you could park your tiny house there and pay no rent
• You may be able to use campground hookups to temporarily park your home
• You won't need any yard equipment: Lawn mower, snow blower. A shovel for snow, maybe. There's nowhere to put them anyway.
• It is your own home, as opposed an apartment
• Would you rather have a tiny house that's affordable, or a big house you can barely pay for?

Here are some ways a tiny house makes better use of minimal space:

 

 

 

 

 

Disadvantages:

• If you like to have a lot of stuff, that would be a problem
• Close quarters can make it hard to live with someone-or not
• With a roommate, you'd have to agree on what stuff to bring into the house
• Often, the bed or one of the beds will be in a loft with very little headroom
• Permits to park your tiny house can be difficult to get
• Also, hookups for water or electricity might be a problem sometimes
• You would not have a garage. This could be a problem in a state with a long winter.
• You would need a P O Box to use as your address, perhaps one in several areas, in order to receive mail.
• Having an established doctor might be an issue

 

 

 

The first thing you'd have to do if you were considering a Tiny House, is to pare down your belongings to a bare minimum. This is, of course, hard to do if you already have a 'regular' sized house or apartment. If you are still living with your parents and/or in an apartment, it might be easier.

 

 

Here's one company that builds them or sells kits so you can do it yourself. Check out a few of their models:

 

https://www.tumbleweedhouses.com/tiny-houses-for-sale/elm/

 

Here's a video tour of a tiny house:  http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=tiny+houses&&view=detail&mid=53E82D2E3E86D9D24DE953E82D2E3E86D9D24DE9&&FORM=VDRVRV

 

Here's a tiny house that's pretty fancy:

 

Here's a little community of Tiny Houses in Portland, Oregon:
http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=tiny+houses&&view=detail&mid=3079CC125D1AC8CB28443079CC125D1AC8CB2844&&FORM=VDRVRV

 

Besides the obvious advantage of saving money on a house, imagine what they could do for the homeless: Wouldn't it be better to have somewhere safe, warm, and dry to sleep at night? A place where you call home, no matter how small? Check this out: People building tiny houses for the homeless:

 

http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=tiny+houses&&view=detail&mid=73E437E9D273CBD100B073E437E9D273CBD100B0&rvsmid=F142E7126782E063C3DEF142E7126782E063C3DE&fsscr=0&FORM=VDQVAP

 

 What do you think? Could you live in a tiny house? Would it be rewarding to you? Does it make you re-think traditional housing?

The Amazing Tree

Did you know that trees do amazing things? Like...........

• They absorb carbon dioxide, helping keep our air clean to breathe
• One tree releases 260 pounds of oxygen in a year, enough to sustain 2 people
• They help retain our soil
• They provide a barrier to glare from cars on our streets
• In its lifetime, one tree can absorb a ton of carbon dioxide

• A mature tree removes 70x more pollution than a newly-planted tree
• A tree in an urban (city) area may have a lifespan of only 8 years
• White and Red Pines can live for 100-150 years
• Maple Trees can live 150 years or more
• Birch trees live from 50 to 70 years
• In one day, a large tree can lift 100 gallons of water out of the ground and discharge it into the air
• Communities with more trees tend to have a lower crime rate

---from Discover magazine:
One, green spaces encourage people to spend more time socially outdoors, which discourages crime. It’s especially helpful for crime control when young and old people mix together in public places. And two, the presence of plants has a therapeutic effect. Vegetation decreases mental fatigue and its associated symptoms, such as irritability and decreased impulse control, both considered to be precursors to violence.

• A tree provides homes for birds, squirrels, and insects; in the rain forests, they house many frog species

• Trees give us shade, which can keep a home's cooling costs down by as much as 30%

• Trees provide building materials
• How would we get by without apples??

• Oak trees must live about 20 years before they will produce acorns.

• An average American uses about 750 pounds of paper every year, and 95% of homes are built using wood. That means each person uses the equivalent of one 100 foot tall, 16 inch diameter, tree every year for their paper and wood product needs.

• India has the most different kinds of trees, followed by the United States.

• In observing willows and poplars, scientists found that these trees 'talk' to one another, in a sense: if there are several living close to one another and one is stressed due to an insect infestation, it will somehow alert the tree next to it, and both will produce chemicals to fight the infestation.

How can we save trees?

• Get an e-reader such as a Kindle or Nook, or a reading app for your phone, computer, or Ipad.
• An e-reader can store up to 3500 books, newspapers, magazines, or blogs. Using your public library to borrow e-books will also save on the need for paper and save you money. Interestingly, if you download a book to your computer, it will take up very minimal space.

• Use every bit of every piece of paper.

                         This isn't exactly what we meant....but still...

• Set margins wider to avoid a 2-page letter.
• Share magazines with friends or donate them, rather than having multiple subscriptions.
• Route one copy to several people instead of giving everyone a copy, or email instead..
• Print double-sided whenever possible from your computer printer.
• Wrap gifts in newspaper or something other than paper, like leftover fabric.
• Use shredded paper in your compost pile.
• Use fabric diapers at least part of the time.

If every American family planted just one tree, the amount of CO₂ in the atmosphere would be reduced by one billion pounds annually. This is almost 5% of the amount that human activity pumps into the atmosphere each year.

American Forestry Association Tree Facts: Growing Greener Cities, 1992.


Give a shout-out to trees...and a hug wouldn't hurt!

Microblog: Minnesota Companies: Cargill

 

 

Cargill is a Minnesota-based company that produces foods, grains, feeds for animals, and services that relate to agriculture:

• Seeds and grains trading and distribution
• Palm oil
• Foods and beverages
• Food service
• Animal nutrition
• Bio-agricultural industry, including fuels
• Meat and Poultry/food safety
• Energy
• Personal care products
• Transportation
• Pharmaceuticals

Started in 1865 by William W. Cargill, the owner of a grain warehouse in Iowa, today Cargill's headquarters are in Minnesota, but they have offices all over the world in 70 countries: here is a list of them:  https://www.cargill.com/page/worldwide . Cargill has people working with Aquaculture, for healthy fish to eat as well as harvesting fish oil. Canola oil is another product Cargill helps produce. They also educate farmers worldwide to grow the best crops and feed their animals in the best way.

 

Cargill is the producer of Truvia, a naturally based sweetened substitute for sugar. They also produce shortening, corn syrup, sugar, and pectin (used in making jams and jellies).

 

 

Here is their history: https://www.cargill.com/about/cargill-history

 

If you are interested in a career with Cargill, you can look here for current opportunities:

https://www.cargill.com/careers/university-careers They have internships as well as careers for people who are newly-graduated, and those who have some experience in their fields as well.

Here are some careers available with Cargill:

• Engineer
• Computer Technologist
• Data Analyst
• Software engineer
• Land Management
• Accountant
• Biologist
• Nurse
• Lab Assistant
• Food Safety
• Human Resources
• Marketing

Videos for Earth Week

History of the planets: http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=videos+planet+earth&&view=detail&mid=BDD0C71015F6089940B2BDD0C71015F6089940B2&FORM=VRDGAR

Oceans and Animals and Stuff:  http://www.bing.com/videos/search? q=planet+earth+videos&&view=detail&mid=89E158CBC814490B8D9689E158CBC814490B8D96&FORM=VRDGAR

Time-lapse of the Northern Hemisphere: Can you identify the continents?
http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=planet+earth+timelapse&&view=detail&mid=17E7F1548D8342D1C72917E7F1548D8342D1C729&FORM=VRDGAR

What if the ocean could express how it feels when we pollute it? 

http://www.savevid.com/video/environment-sea-pollution-short-video.html    

Why care about fresh water? National Geographic explains .....  http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/env-freshwater-whycare

Let's try to make it Earth Year!

Saving the Environment: But What Can I Do?

Simple ideas using stuff you probably have and/or throw out in your house....

• Cardboard tubes from paper towels or toilet paper can be used to start seeds. Cut into shorter pieces, add dirt and seeds and add water. Once the ground is warm enough, plant the whole thing in the ground. The cardboard will eventually dissolve.
• Recycle more: Rinse glass and metal containers well, and put them in the recycling bin instead of throwing them in the garbage.

• Consider starting a compost pile: any 'food waste' such as peelings from fruits and vegetables, the cores of apples, egg shells, coffee grounds, etc. can be put in a pile or in a container. You can also compost the leaves you rake up in the fall, or dead bits of plants. Keep stirring and keep it moist, and aerated, and eventually it will make a rich 'compost' that works really well for growing new plants. Learn more about composting with a short video here: http://compostguide.com/

• Re-fill plastic water bottles, if you must buy them. You can wash and reuse them many times before you toss them in the recycling bin.
  

            Plastic bottle + two wooden spoons for perches = Birdfeeder

• Use water bottles and coffee mugs that you wash and re-use. And do the math: that $4 cup of coffee you buy three times a week adds up to $624.00 a year!

• Bring your own bags to bag up groceries. You can get fabric bags or just re-use the paper ones as many times as possible, then put them in the recycling bin.

• You can wash and re-use plastic sandwich bags, just let them dry overnight. A good alternative is to use paper to wrap them instead: freezer or butcher paper is waxed on one side and works great.

• Instead of throwing old clothes (or simply clothes you don't like or don't wear) in the garbage, donate them. And shop at stores that sell used clothing. One wash and they're just the same as things in your closet you've worn and washed.

• Consider getting shoes repaired or zippers replaced rather than throw out the item. You may know someone who can do that for you. Ask around.
• In the mood to be creative? Try making something using only recycled objects.
  

• Take TVs and other electronics to be recycled, don't just throw them in the trash. Best Buy accepts lots of them: http://www.bestbuy.com/site/global-promotions/recycle-faqs/pcmcat174700050009.c?id=pcmcat174700050009

• Use less gas in your car: Take friends along who also need to shop, group your trips so you're not backtracking, stay home sometimes when you don't really need to go anywhere.

*PS-- consider cutting up ragged old clothes into reusable wipes instead of using paper towels. Cut an old T-shirt, for example, into the same size as a paper towel, or half a paper towel. Keep them in a plastic or glass jar, use as needed, wash and then re-use. You'll never run out....or if they get super gross after several uses, then throw them out. You will probably have saved several paper towels in the process.


There are things you can do on a small scale that add up to saving the planet!

Why We Care About Lead Poisoning

You may have heard about the water problems they're having in Flint, Michigan.

 

Here's the basics: Flint always took its water from Lake Huron, but to save money, the City leaders decided it would use the Flint River instead. That river is very polluted; in fact, some residents thought it was a joke when it was first suggested. It was to be a temporary solution, but went on for several years.

 

The water coming out of faucets in homes was brown and tasted bad. Not only did people hesitate to drink the water, but also to bathe in it or cook with it. Complaints were made, but nothing was done. Two years after the switch, some researchers came in and found the lead levels in the water to be much too high-19 times the amount found in Lake Huron water. The City of Flint hadn't followed Federal law regulating water quality. It was revealed that if the City of Flint had spent just $100 a day for a chemical to treat the water, the lead would have been eliminated or greatly reduced.

 

Where does lead come from?

• It comes from old paint, which contained lead. Lead is no longer allowed as an ingredient in paint. Children have picked off pieces of old paint and eaten them, and if there is lead dust in the air it can be breathed in.
• In the past, pipes used to set up water systems in cities were either made of lead or contained lead. Since this was so many years ago, replacing the pipes is a huge undertaking. Pipes can be lined with a safe coating that seals it off. 
• Lead was also present in window blinds made long ago. Dust from these blinds can get into the air and be breathed in.
• The ways it gets into our bodies is through eating or drinking things with high levels of lead or it can also be breathed in and absorbed through the skin.

It looks harmless...

 *Interesting to note that it is closely related to tin. In the 1600s, tin used to be called "plumbum candidum (bright tin) and lead used to be called "plumbum nigrum (black tin)"...you see where the term 'plumbing' came to be.

 

But it's not meant to be put into the human body.

Here are symptoms of lead poisoning:

• Brain damage, loss of IQ
• Tooth decay
• Hearing loss
• Anemia
• Seizures
• Short attention span, ADD, hyperactivity
• Abdominal pain and disorders
• Memory Loss
• Stunted growth-it affects the human growth hormone

Children are particularly vulnerable to brain damage; their bodies absorb lead very easily. Tests done on children from Flint show that they have lost several IQ points due to lead poisoning.   

People who work in these lines of work have often been exposed to lead, through breathing in fumes or through absorption through their skin-

• Welders
• Printers
• People who work with X-rays and do not wear protective gear
• Metal foundries
• Miners

 

The lead dust can be brought into the home on the clothes of people and thereby expose the rest of the household by breathing or through their skin.

You can read about the ongoing crisis in Flint here, and about the doctor that made a connection and proved there was a huge problem.

http://edition.cnn.com/2016/02/03/us/flint-michigan-water-crisis/index.html

The lines on these bones are from lead poisoning: they should not be there.

 

Here is info from the Center For Disease Control:

 

http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead/