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Greetings!
Green Shockers
(To Keep Us on Our Toes)
In the past two weeks, I have read or re-read what I call some real green shockers - the kind of statements that make your head spin or make you shake your head in disbelief. And, yes, at times even make you a little sick or angry or taken advantage of. How could I not share them with you?
Re: Green Shocker of the Cleaning Products Kind -The Environmental Working Group is an organization I trust and respect for many reasons. They recently published their Hall of Shame report about toxic cleaning products. Here is a link if you want to read the entire report (HIGHLY recommend it).
But let me give you just one example of a "Shame on You Shocker." Brace yourself for one of the WORST offenders:
Simple Green Concentrated All-Purpose Cleaner. It's labeled "non-toxic" and "biodegradable." It contains:
- 2-butoxyethanol, a solvent absorbed through the skin that damages red blood cells and irritates eyes; (IS THAT ALL?)
- A secret blend of alcohol ethoxylate surfactants. Some members of this chemical family are banned in the European Union. (But fine for us USA folks - right?)
Worse, the company website instructs the user to dilute the product significantly for even the heaviest cleaning tasks. Yet it comes in a spray bottle that implies it should be sprayed full-strength. Such use would result in higher exposures. That's just one of many examples. Draino? Over the top awful! Easy Off Oven Cleaner? No wonder I remember getting sick after using it once. Glade Air Freshener? OMG times a hundred.
Mrs. Green's PLEA: Have you ever heard me use the word PLEA? I think not. Please, please, please take the time to read this report. Not only does it tell you what to beware of, the article provides you with great, green tips as alternatives to using harsh, damaging, disease causing toxins in your home - like cleaning your oven with baking soda and water instead of harsh chemicals. Not going to read it? Purchasing anything that reads "fatal if swallowed" as a warning on the label should be crossed off your list!
Re: Green Shocker of the Oceans Kind - Do you honestly know anyone who doesn't love the oceans? Who doesn't gasp at the sight of a whale breaching - even if only watching it on TV? Who doesn't realize what a wonder of nature, teeming with life, nourishing our bodies and souls that the oceans are? And on top of all that, did you know that tiny ocean plants create half the oxygen for every breath you take? Oceans are life giving - clearly.
Soooo - did you know that around 85% of global fish stocks are over-exploited, depleted, fully exploited or in recovery from exploitation? I did not. And did you know that, on average, people eat FOUR times more fish than they did in 1950? So do you think the oceans are producing four times more fish? Or do you think maybe we need to worry about depleting the supply? I'm just sayin'.
Re: Green Shocker of the Meat Eating Kind - Did you know that going meatless for just ONE meal a WEEK is estimated to save about 84,000 gallons of water per year? Check this out. I admit I have never consciously connected massive water use to meat eating. Truth be told, one of the biggest personal challenges I am facing right this moment, as we speak, is that of reducing the amount of meat in my diet. After watching Food Inc. and Forks over Knives and several other shocking films about animal cruelty, I now live with blessed unrest.
On the other hand, I know some amazing people involved in the cattle industry who are about as committed to the environment and to our health and the health of the planet as I am. Check out Double Check Ranch. They are wonderful people, raise happy cows, are animal welfare approved, are beyond organic and to know them is to love them. I call it guilt free beef eating. But, hey, that's just me.
I don't want to write any more about this because as the tag line on my radio show reads: "We don't tell you want to think, we just want you to." Blessed unrest indeed. Wish me luck in taking a few more steps forward.
A bit of News on the Bright Green Side!
After all that "stuff" to think about, here's a bit of good news. Needless to say, I am proud of the relationships we have with all of our sponsors. Thought I would share this little tidbit with you about Ecco Bella - because they sent me really good news this week. They have come out with an entirely new collection called Enlightenment. Gotta love it and NOTHING to worry about with their products - not a toxin among any of them.
Little Green Steps
(of the Mrs. Green kind...)
Given my never ending commitment to share ideas and information about how to move your life in an intentionally greener direction, may I request the following for you to consider?
If you have never listened to my show, please consider it. Here is the link to the podcasts on my website. Trust me when I say it is NOT about me. It's about the quality of the guests from all over the country that I am blessed to interview on a weekly basis, talking about the great things they are doing to make OUR world a better, healthier, more sustainable one.
If you like what you read here every two weeks, forward this newsletter (by using the forward email link at the bottom of the page) to a friend, or two or three, with your own personal recommendation for why you read it. Sharing is caring and I hope you do.
If you have the time and inclination, subscribe to my blogs. I am working very hard at keeping them short, sweet, funny and relevant. And I LOVE guest bloggers! Any takers?
Follow me on Facebook, Twitter or Pinterest - whatever floats your green boat. As with all things in Mrs. Green's World, we want everything we do to work for you so feedback, likes, comments, suggestions - all are welcomed.
Thank you for your consideration of these requests.
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Tucson Non-Profit Ben's Bells fliesto Newtown, CT
This KGUN 9 News story reports that Tucson non-profit Ben's Bells will fly to Newtown, CT courtesy of Southwest Airlines to place handmade bells quietly around town, showing support through these random acts of kindness. Ben's Bells' volunteers will hang these handcrafted bells of kindness on January 8th, the 2 year anniversary of the shooting that took place in Tucson that targeted Congresswoman Gaby Giffords, and several other innocent victims.
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Upcoming Shows
February 2, 2013
To Frack or Not To Frack?
 Jennifer McIntosh, Ph.D, University of Arizona, Institute of the Environment
Jennifer is an Associate Professor, Hydrology & Water Resources at the UA. She and I have spent several hours talking about one of my favorite subjects - fracking. Because we REALLY don't want to tell you what to think, we just want you to, we are taking our conversation and different perspectives to the airwaves. Ready for ONE sentence from Jennifer's bio? "My research focuses on the elemental and isotopic chemistry of surface waters, groundwaters, saline fluids, and natural gas to better constrain the sources of solutes, residence times and flow paths of fluids and gas in the subsurface, and biogeochemical processes." I better do my homework. Please plan to join us. This show sponsored by Goodwill Industries of Southern Arizona.
February 9
Where to Shop and Save 100%
 Andy Ruben, Co-founder of yerdle
yerdle is a platform for giving away things to people you know, or getting things you need from them. By signing up, you access your Facebook network and are immediately connected to all that they have to offer. Ready for this? yerdle was built by former executives from Walmart and Saatchi & Saatchi. These founders (Andy Ruben & Adam Werbach) have big plans to create a global brand based on giving, sharing, reducing consumption, and maximizing reuse - precisely the opposite business model of their former employers. I don't know where I'll begin but I can't wait to hear yet another fascinating story. So yerdle that! This show sponsored by Chapman Tucson.
February 16
Wounded Nature, Working Veterans
 Rudy Socha, CEO of Wounded Nature - Working Veterans
All I could think about when I heard about Wounded Nature - Working Veterans was "I have GOT to interview them." And so I shall. Who are they? They are an agency that stations their houseboats offshore or on the beaches of cleanup areas in rural areas on the East Coast delivering workers in and out of smaller crafts - places where larger organizations don't want to go or don't have the capacity to go. The entire concept intrigues me and I can't wait to fire away my questions. This show sponsored by Goodwill Industries of Southern Arizona.
February 23
Zero Waste Lifestyle: Is it Possible?
 Amy Korst, author of The Zero Waste Lifestyle - Live Well by Throwing Away Less
Ready for this? Amy Korst and her husband Adam, chronicled a year in which they lived without throwing away ALMOST anything. They titled their journey The Green Garbage project and posted regular blogs during the entire year. Their goal was to produce ONE plastic grocery sack (or less) of garbage bound for the landfill. Join me to find out if they did, how they did it, and the challenges they faced along the way. This show sponsored by The Fairfax Companies.
For one year, we will produce as little trash as humanly possible - ultimately, we hope to produce one plastic grocery sack (or less) of garbage bound for the landfill.
March 2
UNS Energy: Developing Bright Solutions
 Paul Bonavia, Chairman & CEO of UNS Energy Corp & Tucson Electric Power Company
Wind? Solar? CNG? Coal? What's the head of a major utility company to do? How do you lead a company that answers to many masters from shareholders to consumers to environmentalists? All I know is that Paul Bonavia seems to figure it out on a daily basis and, in spite of the many challenges put in front of him by a newly elected governing body. TEP has won national awards for their achievements in renewable energy and as a company, and are viewed as leaders in this area. Lots to talk about? We won't skip a beat. This show sponsored by Tucson Electric Power Company.
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Mrs. Green's World
GREEN TALK RADIO Show
Please remember to tune in to Mrs. Green's World every Saturday at 12:00 pm PST, live streaming on the Internet.
Spread the Green Word!
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Mrs. Green welcomes your comments and feedback:
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