Is Canada Melting Away?

The Toronto Star recently published and article about the melting ice in Canada's Arctic. Read the article if you have time as it is pretty long. I like how it shows the changes that are happening there and how they are really impacting the area in so many ways. In more moderate climates it is difficult to see what is happening. We've become used to the weather the way it is or we're so busy all we care about is sun versus rain so we know how to plan our leisure time. We'll have to start making changes soon or who knows what could happen. Canada may not be the land of igloos and polar bears for much longer.

Green Homes Are the Place To Be

I found this blog post (click the title) the other day and found it quite interesting. If you are following this type of news you probably noticed that this is getting more coverage in the "mainstream" media. Now if more people could make a few changes the combined impact on the planet and our health would be significant. After the Kaiser Family Foundation report on the rising cost of health insurance we will be forced to make changes somewhere to lower the costs in dollars and lives. Lifestyle changes are, in my opinion, the single biggest way individuals can contribute. At least vote with your wallet and the choices you make if you feel elections are not getting you anywhere.

Toxins everywhere?!?!?!

We are exposed to so many chemicals on a daily basis. Many of them come from everyday products and we don't even know that they are there. Greenpeace has an excellent website that provides information on a vast array of products that may be contributing to your toxic exposure.

I realize that industrialization, mass production and economic development have provided a comfortable lifestyle for many of us in North America. I think we haven't realized the cost of our comfort. We may all pay with our lives for the convenience and comfort we have enjoyed. It is important for all of us to start paying more attention to the impact our purchasing decisions have on ourselves and the world around us rather than what Katie Couric is wearing or if "TomKat" and there baby will come out in public.

A New Energy

There has been much talk about renewable and/or alternative energy sources in recent months as a result of the last year of high energy prices. Now that crude oil and natural gas prices are down sharply from their highs the sense of urgency seems to have faded.

Why would anyone switch their energy mix? Let's look at it from the perspective of a single family home. We want all our lights available when we want, hot water, every appliance running, and comfortable temperatures. Is this possible with ways other than current electrical grid and home heating options? The Solar Decathlon shows that it can. Obviously, this event is an display of excellent engineering talent but it demonstrates that with some changes it would be possible for "average" citizens to live using solar energy. You may not want to make these complete changes but you could make some changes and add solar, wind or other sources to your power supply. With grid-tied systems and net metering becoming more widely available it will be easier to live in a hybrid system where you have the constant supply you are used but with the ability to generate your own electricity. In addition, numerous tax and financial incentives in the U.S. and Canada the financial costs are reduced even further.

There is loads of information out there on the internet for you to find out more about the energy decisions that are right for you. To make a difference you need to be proactive and find ways not only to reduce your overall energy use but to change the type of energy you do use.

Pollution From Cruise Ships

Cruise ships have been described as "floating cities" and like cities, they have a lot of pollution problems. Their per capita pollution is actually worse than a city of the same population, due to weak pollution control laws, lax enforcement, and the difficulty of detecting illegal discharges at sea. Cruise ships impact coastal waters in several US states, including Alaska, California, Florida, and Hawaii.

Information About Teflon

Check out these links below for important information regarding the use of products containing Teflon.

Can Nonstick Make You Sick

Red Flag Over Teflon

Teflon and similar chemicals are in many products that we use every day. Unfortunately few people are aware that potential harm exists. Hopefully further research will be able to determine the extent of the damage caused to human health. More importantly, we need to prevent the widespread adoption of similar products without fully understanding the effects to our health.