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Cooking Up Change

The push to clean up the crappy school lunches that assault the bodies of our kids is on. And thankfully, kids are guiding some of these changes. Check out what the Healthy Schools Campaign is doing:

Today, March 2, Christie Vilsack [National Honorary Co-chair of Cooking up Change 2010 and wife of Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack] will [...]

Toxic Cleaning in Schools

A study conducted by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) revealed some dirty info about cleaning products used in U.S. schools:

EWG’s tests showed that as a group, these 21 products release into the air no fewer than 457 distinct chemicals, some of which are no doubt the source of that nice clean smell. The trouble [...]

“Lunch Encounters of the Third Kind”

Lunch Encounters of the Third Kind from Parent Earth on Vimeo.

 

Healthy, locally sourced school lunches benefit us all. Children receive better nutrition (which reduces their risk for many behavioral, emotional and physical issues), parents will have healthier and happier children (that means less stress) and our local agricultural communities can be supported (which means less [...]

Joe the Camel Sells Fruit Cups.

 

Big Tobacco created a new marketing strategy when research revealed cigarettes could cause cancer. What was this new strategy? Lie. And when you get caught, just keep lying.

Yup, it’s a pretty simple strategy:  Just pay scientists to create “supporting” research, hide damning documents, pay off politicians, lobby like crazy and ultimately confuse the public with [...]

Hands Out of Healthcare?

 

 

 

I saw something today that left me absolutely depressed. While heading to work, I saw about 20 people protesting on the sidewalk. They were shouting and raising their signs at cars passing by on Washington Ave.– one of the busiest streets in Minneapolis.

Their signs read, “Hands Out of Healthcare!”

Now, I’m all about peaceful protest, but I equate this display to [...]

Eco Wiping

 

 

 

There are some really easy ways to help save our planet. Here are two:

1.  Use recycled toilet paper.

2.  Buy a reusable snot rag.

The video below describes the importance of these simple changes. Thanks Fox News

 

 

Click here if you would like to send a friendly email to [...]

Recycle Your Old Kicks!

 

Don’t throw away your old shoes! The ReUSE a SHOE program from Nike and the National Recycling Coalition will take your old, beat up athletic shoes and transform them into a playground or a basketball court!

Nike also uses the old shoes for zippers, athletic mats, accessories, tennis courts, synthetic turf, tracks and other surfaces. Click [...]

National Health Care Day of Service

One of the most important lessons I’ve learned is that I can’t expect change if  I just sit around and wait for someone else to take care of it. 

If I want something different for this world, I should peacefully work my hardest to create it. And, if I don’t make that effort, then I have no right to whine [...]

School Junk Food Quiz

I just tested my IQ on school junk foods. I ddn’t do so hot.

It seems that the USDA and I don’t see eye to eye on which foods served in our schools should be considered junk foods.

Give it a try- click here to take the quiz (the quiz is in PDF form, just click [...]

Earth Day 2009

Happy Earth Day & week & month & year… Earth day is a day to celebrate everyday!

 

The film opens today! Hubs and I are going to see it tomorrow afternoon. Be sure to buy tickets from the website  for opening week and Disney will plant a tree in your honor.  Also, check out the rest of [...]

Urban Farming

Very cool:

 

 

Let’s start planting! Find out more at the Urban Farming website.

WWF Change the Way You Think

About that morning latte…

 

 

 

I thought this was a more positive follow to my earlier post about punching litterbugs in the throat.

I’ll be honest though, I have a hard time remembering my travel mug when I head to the coffee shop. So, two of my goals [...]

No More Toxic Tub

 

The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics has an important new initiative, “No More Toxic Tub.” 

Here’s what the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics has to say:

Despite marketing claims like “gentle” and “pure,” dozens of top-selling children’s bath products are contaminated with the cancer-causing chemicals formaldehyde and 1,4-dioxane, according to the March 2009 Campaign for [...]

Health Care Discussion

Last night, I gathered with a group of about 30 to discuss our current healthcare crisis (it’s a crisis in my opinion).

Change.gov initiated discussions like ours to encourage communities to gather and talk about healthcare. The discussions started on December 15th and must be completed by today (December 31). Summaries of the discussions must be submitted to Change.gov (i.e. Tom Daschle, Secretary-designate [...]

Healthcare or Sickneglect?

I’ll put my money on Sickneglect. It’s obvious, our current healthcare system is not working.

 

 

We’re just now starting to see the stats of how truly unfair, inefficient and greedy our system has become. People are dying everyday because they don’t have enough insurance. In 2004, the Institute of Medicine estimated that 18,000 [...]