next message in archive
no next message in thread
previous message in archive
Index of Subjects
Dear Sust-mar list, I do up this bi-weekly column of "enviro-ideas" for a local paper, the _Clare Shopper_. Hoping some of you might find them useful, I would like to pass some of them on. I'm taking out the French for most of the ideas in order to keep the message from getting too long, but would be glad to send the unedited version to anyone who requests it. I also want to wish us all, including "all our relations" as some native people would say, une bonne te heuresuse année, a happy new year, a happy, healthy and sustainable future! all the best, Jan *************************************************** Bugs! such as mosquitos come along with the growing season in Nova Scotia. Using insect replellents can harm people and other animals; it's better to wear protective clothing. You can also try non-toxic oils such as citronella oil or even vegetable oil. PLEASE do not touch amphibians such as frogs after using insect repellent. The chemicals can kill amphibians. *********************************************** ATV-users, please stick to roads & stay out of parks and protected areas. Streams and ponds are being turned into mud holes because people with time and money to burn are ripping through the woods with ATVs. Using motor vehicles, including ATVs, is a privilege, not a right. *************************************************** PESTICIDES such as "Round-Up" (aka "Vision"), "Weed 'n' Feed", etc. have been linked to many diseases such as leukemia & other cancers, Altzheimer's, MS & Parkinson's disease. Which is more important to you - health for you & your neighbours or getting rid of dandelions? BTW, dandelions are GREAT in salads (& contain plenty of cancer-fighting Beta-carotenes). Just make sure they haven't been sprayed! NOTE: A 1987 Environment Canada Report states: "Pesticides are poison or they wouldn't kill". And thanks to Phil Robertson of Digby for these leads on relevant web sites: http://www.qc.ec.gc.ca/ecotrucs/solutionsvertes/insects.htm http://www.austin360.com/community/groups/vanguard/Reducing_Outdoor_Pes.html http://www.safe2use.com/media/children.htm http://www.co.broward.fl.us/ppi02104.htm ************************************************************* Les PESTICIDES sont des poisons, sinon ils ne tueraient pas - selon une étude d'Environnement Canada (1987). Plusieurs études indiquent qu'il y a un lien entre plusieurs pesticides et des maladies graves. Est-ce que votre santé (et celle de vos voisins) ou la lutte contre les pissenlits vous importe plus? A propos, les pissenlits (qui contiennent des carotènes anti-cancérignènes) sont très bons à manger. Il faut, bien sûr, s'assurer qu'ils naient pas étés arrosés! Voici un site web du Québec qui vous donnerait des informations sur des solutions de rechange pour éviter les pesticides chimiques. http://www.qc.ec.gc.ca/ecotrucs/solutionsvertes/insects.htm ************************************************************************ NO SCENTS IS GOOD SENSE Please so not wear perfume, scented hairspray, cologne, scented deodorant, aftershave or other scented products. Odors from some shampoos, detergents & other cleaning products can also cause problems for many, especially people who have asthma, allergies & environmental illness. - inspired by a poster from the Nova Scotia Nurses' Union & Camp Hill Medical Centre AUCUN PARFUM : mieux pour chacun! S.v.p., ne pas porter des produits parfumés. Les odeurs de certains shampooings, détergents et autres produits de nettoyage aussi peuvent causer des problèmes pour beaucoup de personnes, surtout celles ayant des allergies, de l'asthme ou des sensibilités environnementales. ************************************************** 1-800-time for change! Although I love chewing gum, I only recently came to realize it's way too over-packaged. Plastic, paper and tinfoil - it's got it all! In intend to call the 1-800 # for my favourite brand and voice my concerns. In the meantime, it's bulk gum for me. Use the toll-free #s on packages to let corporations know how you feel about their products. You can make a difference - even in a small way. ********************************************* 1-800-pour un monde meilleur J'adore la gomme à mâcher, mais ce n'est que récemment que je vois à quel point l'emballage est de trop : papier, plastique et papier d'alu - quel gaspillage! J'ai l'intention d'appeler le # 1-800 de ma marque préférée pour expliquer mes préoccupations. En attendant, c'est la gomme en vrac pour moi. En appelant les #s 1-800 pour demander des changements positifs on peut aider, si peu soit-il, à changer le monde pour le mieux. Sue Davis, Weymouth, NS --------------------------------------------------- Re-using Envelopes For $4 you can order address lables to cover over addresses on envelopes so you can re-use them. (Or simply glue a piece of paper over the old address and postal code.) To order (& help save trees) send $4 to: Ursula Ringwald, Box 1197, Kaslo, BC V0G 1M0. ***************************************************** Earwigs? ants? The (federal) Committee on Environment & Sustainable Development sugggests: A mixture of molasses/lemon juice/water will attract & drown earwigs. Slugs react the same way to beer or honey. Peanut butter containing boric acid will attract & kill carpenter ants. ********************************************************* Lung health tips Motor vehicle exhaust is comprised of many dangerous air pollutants that can cause lung disease & irritation. Help yourself & others by keeping cars well tuned & walking or biking instead. Don't smoke! If you do, quit! Ask your Lung Association (1-888-566-5864) for help to quit smoking. Don't burn garbage which often contains plastic, rubber, styrofoam, all items which it is unlawful to burn. Smoke from garbage fires often contains cancer-causing dioxins and other poisons. Do plant trees and organic gardens! Green plants produce life-giving oxygen. ************************************************ Caring for each other is important all year round but especially at Christmas. You can help make Christmas more fun for yourself and your neighbours by buying gifts at local shops and attending local community craft sales and other events. Burn less gas and help keep our communities healthy (and wealthy! and wise?); it makes sense for us and our environment. *************************************************** Hair Care One small thing I have consciously done to care for our water supply is to have a short hair cut and no perm. We absorb so much through our skin that the chemicals for perms and hair colouring just can't be good for us. When I thought of where those chemicals went when they were rinsed from my head, I never had another perm. And I don't wash it everyday as I know some people are in the habit of. Cheers! . . . Valerie Rampone, BC <unicorn@saltspring.com> *********************************************** Say NO to gold! In earlier times, gold was found as nuggets, but nowadays it is usually extracted from poor ores by using massive amounts of cyanide. Cyanide is extremely poisonous to almost all forms of life, and there have been numerous environmental disasters as a result, many affecting very poor people. Gold is a luxury item. It is easy to avoid using or having gold, and by doing so you will make a contribution to the environment. Say no to gold! Martin Willison, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS ********************************************************** Don't eat fish sticks Fish sticks (and often canned pet food) are made from fish caught using unsustainable dragger technology. Sometimes juveniles of species such as redfish end up in fish sticks. These juveniles ought to be left in the ocean where they will provide food for other fish and some will be able to grow into adults. Ask for fish caught using hook and line (handline or longline) technology. [except swordfish!] This technology is much more selective than dragging or gill-netting and if the fish are brought up slowly, bycatch species can be released unharmed. Derek Jones, executive secretary, Canadian Ocean Habitat Protection Society, Newellton, NS *************************************************** APPRECIATING nature is crucially important. Mayflowers are in bloom; bend down & smell... but if you pick, take care to leave lots behind & especially not rip out the roots. Art Rice of Weymouth on the sunrise: "Just in case you might feel agnostic, then watching rising of the sun [with a welder's helmet to protect your eyes!] might change your mind... I look at it and appreciate where I am. I also look at it as a miracle... These are quiet times that teach you not to take things for granted." -*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*- The preceding message was posted on Sustainable Maritimes (sust-mar) -*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*- Looking for an old message? You'll find it in the sust-mar ARCHIVES ... http://www.chebucto.ns.ca/lists/sust-mar
next message in archive
no next message in thread
previous message in archive
Index of Subjects