Trash Talk

It’s pretty frustrating when environmental activists are jumping on board the compact fluorescent bulb (CLF) wagon, and not realizing that we’re just putting off another polution problem. Sure, CLF bulbs use less electricity, but they contain MERCURY. LEDs do not. So, I think there should be a “green tax” that’s put on every bad bulb that is given towards research to improve LED bulbs that do NOT pollute, and use less electricity.

This is one of my issues: WHY are we encouraging buying the lesser of 2 evils? (just like politics - ha ha) The companies that are making and selling CLFs are making a fortune selling this toxic bulb, and have NO INCENTIVE to develop something safer and better.

I’ve been using a big expensive LED bulb over my art desk. I’m designing the artwork to go on our organic fairtrade reusable shopping bags. But the light from the LED is not sufficient alone, and I have to combine it with a fluorescent bulb. But at least I know that it’s TOXIC, and has to be disposed of properly (with other toxic waste).

So I propose that we all start writing to the manufacturers of CLFs and tell them that we want them to develop a bulb with NO mercury - and write to the environmental groups that are pushing these things as well. Use the power of the dollar (as small as it seems - it adds up - just like the mercury!)!

I’m reading ODE Magazine’s latest issue which is dedicated to the topic of “Silence”. It is brilliant in concept, because it is something that effects us all, but we are rarely aware of the effects that noise has upon us - until it’s turned off!

I am blessed, AND cursed with wonderful hearing. It’s a blessing to be able to hear well: the ability to discern tone, inflection, patterns, accents and from very low to very high pitch. My partner Tim describes my ability as akin to a “wolf”, but alas, it is also a miserable thing. I hear every car on the main street 1/2 mile away to much further; aircraft that goes by, every dog from miles around that barks, the refrigerator chilling down, electrical sounds, and at night, every snore(!! - even my own!!!)… In fact, my method of meditation utililzes sound: I follow every sound that comes into my space - and of course, do my best not to judge it, just observe it.

What gives people the right to ride noisy motorcycles that wake up hundreds of thousands of people as they speed in the city by at night? What gives people the right to play music (generally the bass sounds are the loudest) that makes my heart attempt to join the pattern? The military officers I frequently complain to about the change in practice patterns on their “Thunderbolt” aircraft don’t seem to care that it feels like I too, am living in a war zone. I see the use of this noise as a power play - that with their sound power, they are all in some way controlling others. Loud and continuous noise has been used as torture. When I don’t deliberately distract myself, or close my windows on lovely days, it can become very miserable for me.

Nature can also been loud - all you have to do is sit outside after the cicada bugs have hatched; or a thunderstorm, waterfalls, waves crashing on the beach…. but of course these natural sounds don’t have the same effect on us, do they? They are “natural”.

Have you ever gone out in nature trying to get away from civilization and noise, only to find that noise pollution finds you anyway? Recently, when Tim & I were in Maui in this magnificent park (Ios Needle), it was so disconcerting to be in the presence of a person who thought it acceptable to allow his dogs to be barking constantly, destroying the peace that would have been so meaningful to others & myself. I was not the only one complaining. I think of myself as a non-violent person, but I was conjuring up some violent method to shut up those dogs, and let the owner know what I thought of his insensitivity to others!

Isn’t it nice to sometimes just shut off everything - music and news, and my books on tape, and just bathe in silence? All I can say is, the person who invented the earplugs that I rely on deserves the Nobel Peace Prize! Is that why they say: Silence is Golden?

Summer is here in Tucson, and although it’s a “dry heat” as the people like to say, it’s hot as hell. When I open my door to go outside it reminds me of opening the door of a pizza oven right in your face! If you’re going outside to exercise, the best time is definitely in the EARLY morning - from sun-up to about 7:30 am. It’s the opposite of the winter time for most of the rest of the country - we stay in during day. In the evening, even with the sun down, it still takes a while to “cool” down.

You’d expect that there would be a lot of solar collectors, but it costs a lot of money to set up a solar system, and unfortunately there aren’t many high paying jobs in Tucson. I was thinking during my walk to the grocery store (with my reusable bag, of course), about alternative energy, since I had to walk past a gas station where today the lowest grade of gas was selling for $3.74. One of the problems here is that there is limited public transportation - try sitting outside in 108º waiting a half hour in the sun for a bus. NOT fun. NOT even healthy, unless you have a big bottle of water, and an umbrella, or at least a hat, and are wearing sunscreen! Most people drive in big SUVs and trucks - I wonder how long they’ll be able to continue to do that?

There are people who don’t even have air conditioners here. There’s a less expensive alternative that works for a good part of the season - it’s called a “swamp cooler” which uses an evaporative system with water to cool down the air. But coming from NY where it’s a lot more humid, that “coolness” from a swamp cooler feels like a day in NY heat. ugh!

Even if you do have the money to put in a solar system it’s important to first make your house more energy efficient, so that you won’t need so many panels! One of the most important ways is to caulk your windows and doors. If you can afford it, replacing old inefficient windows is also a great investment. It makes it a lot more comfortable in your house too, and it works in both cold and hot seasons. Insulation in your attic is so important - as is having venting so that the hot air can rise and escape out of the attic space. You can also plant trees on west facing areas to shade your home. There are some agencies that give away shade trees in Tucson. Maybe you can find something like that where you live.

Another good alternative is to use awnings to block the sun from hitting your west facing windows. We keep small fans going - the “wind chill factor” allows us to keep the a/c set at 80º, and I’m comfortable. Sometimes I go outside to heat up, and then come back inside to really feel chilled again!

I take solar showers when I can - in fact, the water in the hose is TOO hot! I’m doing my best to save water, and look forward to putting in cisterns to collect water with the monsoon season coming up (we hope!). Happily, I can report that we do have a solar panel to make hot water, and I’m thinking about getting a solar oven for cooking - but they’re still pretty pricey. Maybe I’ll look online for direction on how to make our own.

The point is, we have to pay attention to where we are wasting energy, and come up with creative solutions - and share them with others. Remember, we have to be the change that we want to see!

It’s really hard on anyone who’s NOT rich in this country to watch the gas prices and the resulting rise in prices of EVERYTHING that’s related to our petroleum based economy. I hate to see these already rich pigs who are benefitting from their obscene profits make even more money, and not care about the personal effects on people. However, it’s also important to realize that while oil prices were low in the US, they have been high in other countries for YEARS! AND, now that the prices are so high, a new generation of inventors and creative people are doing research to find better, less polluting ways to fuel our energy needs.

Perhaps people will see a concomitant increase in their personal health when they start walking, biking, and cutting back on wasteful habits because they can’t afford them anymore. Just think about this: when I was a youngster, I took public transportation (I lived in Brooklyn, NY). So, I had to walk to the bus, and then to the subway, and then to where I was going. That took some muscle energy - not a lot, but more than when I had a car! Because, by the time I was an adult, things had changed so much that I not only had my own car, but, I used an electric garage door opened, clicked open the locks, used electric windows to lower the window, and drove right out from my house. My more fortunate friends worked in jobs where they had a parking spot assigned to them! No energy expended.

Think of kids today. Their parents are buying them motorized toys! They sit in front of TV sets watching other people live their lives, while the kids vegetate eating fast foods with trans fats and corn syrup sweeteners: getting fatter and less fit than ever before! AND their parents drive them to all their “activities”.

Maybe with the oil prices rising so high, the air may become cleaner because less people will be riding in cars…. less use of petroleum based fertilizers poisoning our food…? Who knows what positive effects will come out of these greedy actions on the part of the oil companies?

Most people don’t realize that those ubiquitous plastic bags that are all over the planet stuck in trees, storm drains and killing animals, are made from oil! It’s been said that making 14 plastic bags uses the same amount of oil as it takes to move an average car 1 mile. Now that gas is so expensive, I bet it’s down to 7 bags! And that’s another good thing: let’s find alternatives to plastic that we use for nearly everything in our lives!

I’m starting a project to take photos of everything that I’m touching during 1 day that’s made from plastic. Why? Because plastic NEVER biodegrades, and it’s time that we start realizing that all this “stuff” is going to be on this earth long after we’re gone and biodegraded! We must start looking for alternatives. So, join me by either sending pictures, or ideas of where plastic is present in your life! It should be very illuminating!

It’s amazing how we all use the phrase: “Throw away” - WHERE is AWAY anyway?? Ecology has the perfect solution: anything that is thrown away biodegrades and becomes food for something else. But humans are the only animals that think that they don’t have to follow the rules of nature: we’re linear instead of circular. We use something, created out of Frankenstein ingredients, and then there’s nothing in nature that can “eat” it. I think the first Trillionaire (that’s a thousand BILLION!!) will be the person who creates a microbe that “eats” plastic. But that may create it’s own new problem: the thing will become the next monster that then needs to be thrown “away”!

Back to the mundane: there are lots of disposable things in offices and homes. I mentioned “pens” yesterday - and my love of my rapidograph or fountain pen which I refill from a GLASS inkbottle. (yes, I am a dinosaur!) Here’s more: For offices: I saw a great alternative to paper clips. It’s a device that bends the paper and sorts of scrunches to pieces together - thus no wasted paper clips.

At home: I’m using a tooth brush where I only replace the top brush part, and reuse the bottom. Remember when there were blades that went into razor handles? Buying soaps in bulk and putting them into reusable containers is also a good way to cut down on trash.

Plastic garbage bags are my thing - I’m selling them on my website - and they’re very strong, but will biodegrade. Of course, the best thing is not to have a lot of garbage to throw away! Reduce is the most important of the chasing arrows!

The theme that I’m on lately is noticing the world with new eyes. As I’ve said in a past posting, I’ve become hypersensitized to plastic. So, now I’m taking my camera out with me on walks, in the car (I know I should be riding my bike - but it’s over 100º in Tucson now!!) and wherever I go. The bags are blowing in the wind, caught in the trees, in the storm drains. But, you know what else is there: cigarette butts & soda, beer cans & fast food containers.

Why is it that people who smoke (thankfully, less of my friends fit in this category nowadays) throw their butts out their car windows - or the worse thing of all: EMPTY THEIR ASHTRAYS OUT THEIR CAR DOOR!!! Doesn’t it make you want to scream?? I’ve heard them say: “it’s biodegradable” - yeh, in 10 years!! Meanwhile, we have to see their filth all around us!

I guess people who pick up after their dogs deserve some thanks - but PLEASE remember, that when you use plastic bags, the poop is becoming mummified. YES that’s right - it can’t break down in naturally in nature when it’s in a non degrading airtight, watertight bag that will be buried in landfill. Besides using a biodegradable poop bag (we sell them on the site), we need our communities to come up with a better way to handle this sh*t!!

The one thing that gives me hope are the creative people I read about in ODE Magazine, and on TED (you HAVE to check out this website!! www.TED.com) who come up with ideas that are beyond my wildest imagination for solving problems. It’s truly inspirational, and takes away the depression when I read the regular corporate news and get the feeling that we’re all going to hell in an handbasket! (that’s one of my bumper stickers!).

I think we’re going to start asking for your worst offensive pictures of where we have trashed our environment in the near future. But PLEASE don’t set up the picture, just document it.

Now that I’m hyper-sensitized to plastic and it’s effects (from all the reading I’ve done, including Alan Weisman’s book: “The World Without Us”), it’s hard for me to see the world the same way as I did before I knew the effects of plastic. HOW did we survive before plastic? (that’s sarcasm).

There is hardly a food item that you can purchase that does not have some unnecessary wasteful packaging. Even when you buy loose produce, you are encouraged to take yet another plastic bag off a roll and use that for your purchase! Those plastic bags count too when considering the impact on our environment. Since you’re going to wash your produce once you get it home, why can we not just put it into a reusable cloth or hemp bag, take it out to be weighed, and then back into the sack?

It’s always such a struggle when I go shopping - should I buy locally grown items that may have pesticide, or the same item that is organic that is shipped in from far away? Again, should I buy a more expensive version that is in glass vs. plastic, despite the extra energy it uses because it’s being shipped from far away?

Sometimes I wish that I was ignorant, and didn’t have to consider so many options and variables when purchasing and cooking food! I guess that’s why they say: Ignorance is Bliss!

The most ubiquitous consumer item on Earth, the lowly plastic bag is an environmental scourge like none other, sapping the life out of our oceans and thwarting our attempts to recycle it.

By Katharine Mieszkowski

Dr. Richard Bailey, executive director of the institute, is most concerned about the bags that get waterlogged and sink to the bottom. “We have a lot of animals that live on the bottom: shrimp, shellfish, sponges,” he says. “It’s like you’re eating at your dinner table and somebody comes along and throws a plastic tarp over your dinner table and you.” read more

Most of the time we don’t even think about how disposable the objects we use have become. I’m certain that part of the reason has been created by advertising, and business that constantly wants us to BUY BUY and BUY MORE. That means that the things we have must become unfashionable and/or obsolete. Have you ever noticed how many products die right after the warrantee has expired?

Certainly, we notice this with fashion. But think about how colors can even become old fashioned! If you’re my age, you’ll remember “avocado green” appliances - If you walk into a house with those colors, you know exactly the last time they changed their kitchen!

We have been manipulated by advertising and business. I’m not sure of the psychology behind this (that may be another posting later on), but we act a lot like “SHEEPLE” - a combination of Sheep + People. Although teenager get the blame for this behavior “If your friend jumped off a roof would you?” parents say; adults can be exactly the same way. What’s the “in” purse to be carrying, or car to be driving, etc..

I think the bottom line, is that we have to look at ourselves and be honest. Do we “NEED” to replace something, or do we want to… and why? Can we change our belief system, and develop pride in saving something, or fixing it, instead of replacing it?

If you’re determined to change it, don’t trash it. There are countless other people who may find your outdated appliances and possessions as necessary and appreciated. In Tucson, we’re really proud to have the originator of “Freecycle” living here: Deron Beal. This online listserv connects people who are giving away goods with people who need or want them (and visa versa). It keeps things out of the landfill. And in my opinion, I feel completely blessed when someone wants an old chair, or anything else that I no longer need - and I can give it to them. I’ve also been happy to be on the receiving end as well! Check them out online: www.freecycle.org.

The bottom line is, the most important arrow in the “chasing arrows” is REDUCE. Think before you go out and buy!