June 8, 2011

Issue 87     

Mrs. Green's World

Find us on Facebook 
Follow us on Twitter 

 
     Visit Our Sponsors
Chapman Tucson
 The Fairfax Companies
 Tucson Electric Power
 Miraval
 Bookmans
 Clean Cities Tucson Regional Coalition
 WellHome
 HabiStore
 Shaffer Dry Cleaning & Laundry
 EDG
 Wells Fargo
 aPriori
 Big John the Toilet Guy
 

Visit Our Advertisers

 Rise Equipment Recycling Center
 Geo Innovation
 Cartridge World
 Sea of Green
 Seaver Franks
 Sahuaro Girls Scout Council
 The New Southwest
 Food Conspiracy Co-op

Greetings!

 

What the Frack?

(Author's note: I have a big announcement in the next section of this newsletter but I had to get this fracking conversation out of my head because I really DON'T think it's all about me. So please read this and then read on.)

Three years ago, I guarantee you, I had no earthly idea what fracking was. I doubt that I even knew there was such a word and if I had heard it, I probably thought someone was substituting it for profanity. I think my life was simpler then but that was then and this is now. What I know now is just enough to make me dangerous, so reader beware.

"Horizontal hydrofracking," commonly referred to as fracking, is deep-shale natural gas drilling that uses high-pressure injection of water, sand and chemicals to release the trapped gas.

Sounds good, mostly water and sand, high-pressure but then there's that chemical part. And when you start "digging" you start reading about fairly well-documented spills, blowouts, leaking wells, and other accidents and release of contaminants. You research a little more (down the rabbit hole we go) and find out that it doesn't appear that gas companies are under the jurisdiction of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). And if you dig deeper and deeper and deeper, you still can't find out EXACTLY what those chemicals are and your mind starts to wander/wonder. Why won't they tell us EXACTLY what they are and their impact to the land that is being fracked?

When one keeps doing the rabbit hole thing, it's easy to find reports of poisoned drinking water, polluted air, mysterious animal deaths, industrial disasters and explosions now commonly referred to as "fraccidents." Could I make that up? So it comes as no surprise that every environmental group in this country is against fracking, that a movie (Gasland) was made about the horrors of the impact of fracking on humans, animals and the earth, that it could make a grown man cry, and that the number of lawsuits throughout the country is growing rapidly.

So we should all hate fracking, right? I am so very, very sorry but you are going to have to make up your own mind. Enter one Don Siegel, a Syracuse University hydrology professor who says he has enough scientific evidence to prove that drilling for natural gas in the state of New York was a better choice than almost any alternative. From what I can find, Siegel doesn't work for a gas company, presents some compelling data about why we need to continue to tap into the cleanest and most abundant source of fossil fuel, and is very perplexed about why people continue to resist natural gas drilling. If you want to put your brain on "what is my opinion of fracking" overload, I encourage you to read the entire article like I did.

So what do I think? I think I am suspicious of big companies who won't disclose what chemicals they are using in their fracking process. I wish they would just tell us and honestly disclose what the risks are (it's that dreamer thing again) and what they are doing to minimize them. I think I am suspicious of many big companies because they are solely bottom line driven and will crush the little guy in the blink of an eye for earnings per share and if they think no one is looking. I also think that many radical groups often try to use fear to make their points or win our support for their position, frequently leaving out the other side of the story and omitting facts that may help us make informed decisions. Give me the whole story and let me make up my own mind. And I think some days I just get tired of thinking. What do you think?

THE BIG ANNOUNCEMENT

Mrs. Green is moving her radio show - to the Internet! After nearly a year of researching, meetings, talking with "experts" from around the country, researching more, and letting facts get in the way, we are taking Mrs. Green's World's talk radio show to the Internet. Our first show from the Mrs. Green in her new studioMrs. Green's World Radio Network will be streaming live on July 2nd at 12:00 PM Arizona Time.

Our first guest will be Deron Beal, founder of Freecycle. Deron started Freecycle by sending emails out to a dozen or so friends, inviting them to come by his place and take some "stuff" he had accumulated - for free. Truth be told, Deron was a collector of all known things that were rapidly taking up any available living space, and his wife said - enough already! The Freecycle network is now made up of 4,949 groups and has over 8,514,235 members around the world. We can only hope that the magic of Freecycle is contagious and that Mrs. Green's World will follow happily in their footsteps to spread the good green word around the globe.

Please mark your calendars to join Mrs. Green at 12 o'clock on Saturday, July 2nd on your computer, iPhone or Android! Oh the places we will go - again!
Three Things You WANT to Know About Bookmans 

 

Three things? Next to impossible but here goes:

  1. Bob Oldfather purchased "the business" from his Dad over 30 years ago for $1.00 and baby, look at him now!
  2. Bookmans now has 6 locations throughout the state of Arizona. Books you say? Tons! And CDs, DVDs, magazines, books on tape and lots of other interesting "stuff." Mrs. Green highly recommends spending time there - whether you are a native or planning to come to Tucson. It's even great for people watching.
  3. Harrison Kressler and the creative team at Bookmans are ROCK STARS! They just won a NATIONAL Silver Addy Award from the American Advertising Federation for the Bookmans Does Book Dominos video. They were competing against the big dogs like Coca-Cola and McDonalds but good taste and creativity prevailed. They are audacious! Check it out!

That was only three things, right?

 

 

 

The Voting Has Begun

It's official - the voting has begun in our Best Summer Staycation Ever contest. You can vote every day and we hope you do. It's a way of getting your own green on and supporting those who made the effort to share their ideas for the entire world to see. And besides, it's fun and the prizes are outstanding.

Best Summer Staycation Ever! 

 

Upcoming Shows

  

Renee's Organic Oven

June 11

 Live remote from Renee's Organic Oven (formerly Eclectic Pizza)

Mrs. Green will interview Renee Kreager, owner of this great dining establishment, to talk about why the name change, what it means to be a gluten free kitchen. We will also interview a representative from New Belgium Brewing Company, maker of Fat Tire, about why they are considered one of the greenest, most sustainable companies in the world. Come out or tune in - either way you will learn and have fun. 

 

David BlumeJune 18 

David Blume - Alcohol Can Be a Gas

David has one of those bios that is about four pages long. So let it suffice to say he has done quite a bit since showing up on the planet. We will spend time talking with David about his book which is being hailed as the bible of alcohol fuel production. I have heard him speak and trust me when I say there shall not be a dull moment! Tune in and get ready to learn and have some fun. This show sponsored by Chapman Tucson.

 

Chapman Automotive

June 25 

Neb Yonas, Chapman Tucson - National Trends in the Auto Industry

Neb Yonas, General Manager, Chapman Tucson. With gas prices inching up to $5/per gallon before summer and with the impact of the Tsunami on Japanese imports, Neb will have lots to share with us about what car buying trends he is seeing in the industry nationwide. Neb has his finger on the pulse of this constantly changing, volatile, fast-paced industry. This show sponsored by TEP.

 

Deron BealJuly 2 

Deron Beal - founder of Freecycle

Deron and Freecycle are a world phenomenon - thus our invitation for Deron to be the first guest on Mrs. Green's World Radio Network. Deron started Freecycle by sending emails out to a dozen or so friends, inviting them to come by his place and take whatever they wanted - for free. Truth be told, Deron was a collector of all known things that were rapidly taking up any available living space and his wife said - enough already! The Freecycle network is now made up of 4,949 groups and has over 8,514,235 members around the world. And I hope at least half of them will be listening live! This show sponsored by The Fairfax Companies. 

  

Carolyn Parrs

July 9

Carolyn Parrs - Women of Green

Women of Green is a news source and online community with a singular purpose: To be the change we need in the world right now. How are they doing it? By turning up the volume of the voice of women on behalf of our planet, and the web of life that it supports. Sounds like they have quite a few things in common with Mrs. Green. It's an intriguing concept and one I can't wait to explore with Carolyn. I am totally impressed with the women from around the world who are a part of this expanding community and am eager to find out more. This show sponsored by The Fairfax Companies.

 

Mrs. Green's World GREEN TALK RADIO Show
Please remember to tune in to Mrs. Green's World every Saturday at 12:00 pm Arizona time, live streaming on the internet at www.mrsgreensworld.com 
 
Spread the Green Word!

If you enjoyed this newsletter, please pass it on to a friend using the "forward email" link below. Thank you!
 
Mrs. Green welcomes your comments and feedback:
[email protected]