Green Poppies

Toxic Kisses

2013-05-08T06:07:00.000-07:00

I am not a lipstick lover myself and neither is my husband if you know what I mean. But being concerned about health and environment I really wanted to go further into the subject.

The first question is, can these products be making women sick? can they be safely used by everyone? Better information would help consumers understand and limit their daily exposure. So here is a bit of what I found:

Researchers asked a group of women to hand over their lipsticks and glosses and tested them for toxic metals, including lead and cadmium. It happens that metal content varies widely from brand to brand, but in general they found that women who apply lipstick two to three times daily can ingest up to 20 percent of the daily amount that's considered safe of aluminum, cadmium, chromium, and manganese. Hey, and what about those girls that keep all day a glossy smile and apply it 14 times a day or more, they are surpassing the daily recommended exposure to chromium, aluminum, and manganese.

Cadmium is a carcinogen that has been found in breast cancer biopsies and shown to cause cancer cells to multiply in lab experiments. Why are metals often used in mineral dyes? It is because they give lipstick its pigment. What's concerning is that we look pretty in color, but consumers don't really know what they're putting in their lips.

Several health problems will arise such as headaches, but they can go from miscarriages to seizures in adults. In children, lead exposure to more important body changes and health issues.

For some reason (lobbying i.e.) here in America we have to be more alert. Over the years, the US has banned only 22 chemicals outright. For comparison, the European Union currently bans more than 1,300 chemicals.

So what's important is:

1. Read the labels and find lipsticks with low percentage of these metals.

2. Do not apply lipstick when is not "necessary".

3. Don't apply lipstick just before eating.

4. Try not to let your princess to play with your lipsticks

Want to know more about it?

http://safecosmetics.org/downloads/A%20Poison%20Kiss_report.pdf

To swap or not to swap

2013-04-12T06:25:00.000-07:00

A clothing swap is a fun type of meeting where participants exchange their valued but no longer used clothing for clothing they will really be able to use. Clothing swaps are considered not only a good way to de-clutter and refill one's wardrobe, but also are considered an act of environmentalism. Love it!

The truth is that the notion of swapping is not a new concept. Many groups and organizations hold clothing swaps to raise money and clothes for charitable donations. Although some people say clothes swapping originated in the United States in the late nineties, I believe that friends and sisters might have been doing it all around the world even earlier!

Clothes swapping is the latest fashion craze to hit the UK. But you can find it also in Australia, where The Clothing Exchange is now run as a social enterprise by Kate Luckins and Juliette Anic and in Canada where a non-profit organization called The S.W.A.P. Team organizes and facilitates large-scale clothing swaps partnered with charities that accept the leftover clothing at the end of the swap.

Private Swapping parties for women, how does this work? Well, all ladies must bring at least one item of clothing to swap, and in return can choose anything they want!

But this trend has gone viral too, for example, Swishing.co.uk is an online service where you get virtual money credits for the items you send and you can instantly order any item showing on the site. This way you don’t have to limit yourself to your small circle of friends.

Online clothes swapping has become popular, with these websites offering an environmentally friendly and frugal alternative to shopping you can find swapping parties in your community, so that transport and/or shipping doesn’t become an issue.

Enjoy swapping and benefit your community!

Photo from: http://good.net.nz/blog/rebekah-white/donate-pre-loved-clothing

5 things you can reuse with no hassle

2013-03-31T14:52:00.001-07:00

These five objects are easily reusable. Completely hassle-free reusable stuff!

As simple as that!

Of course if you want to embellish them you can do so by painting or wrapping or glueing. But if you are not a crafty person and you are a green one, then go ahead and reuse!

Houseplants that can clean your home!

2013-03-26T08:30:00.000-07:00

In case you have thought of taking care of good air cleaning plants that will take care of you also, I present here the a list that is based but more comprehensive than the NASA list.

The carpet of cigarette butts

2013-02-28T08:05:00.000-08:00

I found it logical that if in the main cities all over the world it is not allowed to smoke in the public transit, offices or public places, smoke-free and trash-free life would be more feasible, but the truth is that we still see many smokers smoke cast and pulling butts. I do not criticize smokers, hey! I was once a smoker!
I started to reckon and if about 1100 million people worldwide are smokers according to The World Health Organization, that means that over 15 trillion cigarette butts are thrown away per year.

The problem is that several butts contain toxic elements and may take up to 10 years to decompose as they are made of cellulose acetate.

In Montreal, Qc. For example, many buildings have outside arrangements for the disposal of cigarette butts and ashes; even so, the carpet of cigarette butts found mainly outside office buildings.
This accumulated cigarette butts forms a carpet that is not biodegradable, which is a high health risk. I do not know if you have noticed, but we are turning cities and parks in big ashtrays!.
In cities, butts thrown on the pavement cause terrible visual impact and raises the cost of cleaning services; in forests and parks butts can be ingested by animals causing them poisoning or asphyxiation; on beaches 26% of the trash are butts and one cigarette butt can pollutes up to 8 liters of water.
I did a little more research and I managed pessimism when I learned that in some places there are actions and projects about all this, for example:
1. In UNAM IZTACALA, in Mexico, a group of students in the career of Biology, recycle the butts by degradation . This biotechnology involves the growth of a fungus using cigarette filters and composting the bodies to obtain fertile soil. This project achieves the management and treatment of this waste, reducing the degradation time and creating a truly sustainable development.
2. In Viña del Mar, Chile, costume designer Alexandra Guerrero has initiated a project that begins with collecting cigarette butts from bars, restaurants and streets, only to be washed, dyed and incorporated a natural fiber yarn.
3. Blake Burich in Columbus, Ohio, invented a chemical solution that dissolves cigarette filters. By immersing the butts in the solution they are converted into a plastic-like material that is useful for protecting the oxide to automobiles.

While governments continue the campaign to stop smoking and certain NGO’s create new projects to recycle, reuse and transform butts, another series of strategies among individuals could be:
• Put messages against garbage in all cigarette packages and in advertising.
• Installing and, more important, maintaining outdoor ashtrays in areas where smokers congregate.
• Fines for smokers who throw cigarette butts.
• Do not throw away cigarette butts on the floor, do not throw them in the toilet, and of course neither in plant pots!

More info:

www.greenpoppies.com
http://youtu.be/WC_i9iJt5gs
http://www.slideshare.net/GrupoEducativoUniVO/20-las-colillas-de-cigarro-como-causa-de-degradacin-ecolgica
http://reciclajecolillas.galeon.com/

By: Cecilia Ramirez
www.greenpoppies.com

As tu pensé à Récupérer les Eaux de Pluie?

2012-10-03T18:41:00.001-07:00

Beaucoup des raisons pour récuperer les eaux de pluie. Voici quelques unes:

1. Pour disposer d'une réserve d'eau de qualité. Mettre des réservoirs pour emmagasiner de l'eau de plui constitue une réserve d'eau idéale pour l'arrosage du jardin et des plantes d'interieur. Il faudra placer le baril à une ceertaine hauteur pour profiter de l'effet de gravité au moment de l'arrosage.
La bonne nouvelle est ce que des équipements à cette effet sont déjà disponibles en quincailleries.

2. Pour les beaux aménagements paysagers. Si votre terrain s'y prête, envisagez l'aménagement d'un jardin de pluis. Installez-y des plantes qui aiment avoir de l'eau tout le temp! L'eau de pluie en surplus doit rendre toujours a cette place là.

Rappelez vous que nous sommes dans un contexte de changements climatiques.

Pour plus d'information rendez vous à: ville.montreal.qc.ca/environnement.

Photo from: http://climatechange.thinkaboutit.eu Photo from: www.tanksforless.com

Un ejemplo de lo que el diseño sustentable puede lograr.

2012-09-28T12:13:00.001-07:00

La diseñadora coreana Jihyun Ryou exhibe una serie de prácticos aparatos caseros para sustituir uno de los objetos más imprescindibles de la vida diaria, pero uno de los menos amistosos con el medio ambiente: el refrigerador.

Si bien hasta ahora el refrigerador es casi considerado la única manera práctica y eficiente para conservar nuestros alimentos frescos, también es un pesar para el ambiente. A causa de la situación medioambiental, los especialistas del sector de refrigeración y aire acondicionado ya comienzan a forjar mejoras en las prácticas de identificación de fugas y recuperación de refrigerantes. A nosotros, los usuarios, nos corresponde limitar su utilización, verificar el consumo de energía y evitar el desecho de los aparatos.

La continua actividad y gasto de energía convierten al frigorífico en uno de los objetivos principales para quienes desarrollan alternativas ecológicas aplicables en la vida diaria. Y este es el caso de Save Food from the Fridge, (Salva a la comida del refri), una colección de Jihyun Ryou. Una solución que juega entre lo práctico y lo artístico. Cada una de estas soluciones cumple impecablemente con el objetivo de conservar los insumos en perfecto estado sin emplear ningún tipo de energía sino, admirablemente, aprovechando las mismas propiedades de los alimentos y las condiciones ambientales del entorno.
La artista menciona que este proyecto nace del conocimiento acumulado de la experiencia y la transmisión oral tradicional. En particular este proyecto se logra concentrándose en la preservación de comida. Se une la simpleza tecnológica con un diseño notablemente inteligente. Esto es el hecho de traer aquel conocimiento de antaño a la vida diaria moderna.

Mientras más comida podamos salvar de la nevera, más pequeño tiene que ser el aparato y menos energía consumirá. Este que presentamos obviamente no es el único método; el almacenamiento de la comida en un sótano es algo que durante siglos hemos utilizado.

He aquí las técnicas puestas en el diseño de Ryou:

1. Al pie de una repisa de madera se encuentra una bandeja de vidrio con agua que sirve para humidificar los vegetales. Ellos necesitan esto para mantenerse en condiciones óptimas hasta que sean consumidos

2. Dentro de un contenedor de vidrio y bajo del tapón de corcho, un depósito de arroz para absorber la humedad que podría restar a las especies sus propiedades.

3. Por medio de un embudo de vidrio se agrega agua a la arena en una caja de madera para así garantizar la frescura de ciertos vegetales duros como las zanahorias.

4. En un cajón de madera, en la parte baja y protegidas de la luz, las papas se conservan mejor; arriba, el espacio se aprovecha para colocar manzanas encima de los orificios de ventilación.

Estas técnicas no son reliquias del pasado, son conocimiento para el futuro! En las manos de una diseñadora talentosa, como Jihyun Ryou, ellas pueden parecer hermosas, también.

A green lunch bag

2012-08-01T18:29:00.000-07:00

Everybody knows that going out to lunch every day can become a drain on your wallet, a potential heatlh harm, and ultimately a huge slap to the environment! If you are focusing on healthier eating, avoid harmful chemicals in food, looking to better budget your money and help the environment.
The answer is as simple as packing a GREEN, healthy and non-toxic lunch, which is made easy with these great tips:
The Carrier
Instead of using a brown baggie or a leftover plastic grocery store bag, transport your lunch in a reusable lunch bag made from 100% organic cotton. Compared to conventional cotton, the methods used to grow organic cotton have lower environmental impacts and are non-toxic because no pesticides are used. Another method for packing lunch is to use an insulated lunchbag made from materials and gels free from harmful chemicals. Before purchasing a lunchbag, check with the company to make sure the product has been tested!
The Containers
First of all, please swap out those plastic containers for non-toxic and reusable stainless steel food containers, which are dishwasher safe, and, more importantly, won’t leach chemicals like BPA into your food. If you need a microwave safe container, pack your food in a glass container. It might be heavier, but it is safer Not only is it ok for microwave use but glass is also one of the safest, non-toxic materials available. For food usually packed in plastic baggies, try using reusable snack bags and reusable sandwich bags that are non-toxic and environmentally friendly. But do not forget to reuse them!
The Tools
Reusable bamboo utensils are a great alternative to plastic utensils because they are reusable and made from bamboo, a renewable resource that won’t harm the environment.
The Liquids
Instead of packing a new plastic water bottle every day, try using BPA free bottles made from glass or stainless steel. Not only will you be reducing waste but you will also avoid exposure to BPA.
The Contents
Of course we will advocate for organic fruit and veggies. The more food you eat without conservatives, the better. Don't forget to balance your meals: protein, fiber, a little bit of healthy fat and some complex carbohydrates.

Easy and healthy, try it! Even if you cannot change everything inone shot, you might be able to focus on little changes day by day. Have a great one!

Plastic bottles banned

2012-07-01T06:17:00.000-07:00

May 1, 2012, something incredible happened: The city of Concord, MA turned in firstly city in the United States in prohibiting the water sale in bottles of plastic!

This is huge!! considering that bottled water is the second most popular beverage in the United States

Plastic bottles take 700 years to begin composting and of course more than 80% of plastic bottles are not recycled

I don't even understand why people continue to buy bottled water if 90% of the cost of bottled water is due to the bottle itself. Then we usually just dump the bottle. 38 million plastic bottles go to the dump per year in the USA from bottled water, these numbers don't even include soda!
Did you know that:

24 million gallons of oil are needed to produce a billion plastic bottles

The average American consumes 167 bottles of water a year

Bottling and shipping water is the least energy efficient method ever used to supply water.

Here is the link to CNN's video if you want to know more...and maybe start your own pursue.

">Plastic bottles banned

Des fleurs équitables

2012-06-24T06:33:00.000-07:00

Par Ariane Paré-Le Gal
Un extrait de cette chronique

Chez le fleuriste, seules les plus belles fleurs seront choisies par les consommateurs. Nous les voulons fraîches, colorées, symétriques et durables, bref, c’est la perfection que nous cherchons. En 2007, près de 16 millions de fleurs de toutes sortes ont été importées au Québec, dont plus de 65 % provenaient de l’Équateur et de la Colombie, où elles sont produites dans d’immenses villages de serres. Cette production de masse a un impact social, mais surtout environnemental très lourd, notamment à cause de l’usage abondant de pesticides. Cependant, il est maintenant possible d’acheter plusieurs variétés de fleurs équitables et écologiques au Québec.

Dans les entrepôts de Sierra Eco, des travailleurs s’affairent à classer et à vérifier la qualité des fleurs qu’un camion vient de livrer dans de grandes boîtes de carton. Plusieurs d’entres elles affichent le logo Sierra Eco, qui atteste de la qualité environnementale et équitable de leur contenu

La problématique du marché des fleurs coupées

Selon Tom Leckman, président de la compagnie d’importation de fleurs Sierra Eco, la production de fleurs coupée est parfois problématique. « En Amérique du Sud, il y a eu et il y a encore de gros problèmes reliés à l’utilisation des pesticides. Les travailleurs restent parfois dans les serres durant la fumigation, et sont donc directement exposés aux pesticides. De plus, immédiatement après l’épandage, ils manipulent les fleurs et s’intoxiquent au contact des pétales. » Tout cela joue sur la santé des travailleurs en causant des maux de tête, des étourdissements, des maladies sanguines et respiratoires, et même, dans des cas graves, des cancers. Outre les effets négatifs sur la santé, les quantités significatives d’eau et de pesticides utilisés dans des serres a évidemment un impact environnemental important. De plus, les déversements de pesticides contaminent les terres cultivées et les cours d’eau.

L’industrie se prend en main

Dans le but d’améliorer la réputation du marché des fleurs coupées, mais surtout par volonté de changer les pratiques existantes, l’industrie s’est prise en main il y a quelques années. La compagnie Sierra, a développé une certification basée sur des critères environnementaux et sociaux, en partenariat avec le Scientific Certification System, un organisme indépendant. « Ce sont donc des importateurs, comme nous, explique Tom Leckman, qui ont fait pression sur les producteurs pour que ceux-ci améliorent non seulement les conditions de travail de leurs employés, mais diminuent leur impact environnemental. »

La certification sur le terrain

Dans les serres, les conditions de travail se sont améliorées. Les travailleurs doivent porter un équipement qui les protège des pesticides. Un service de coopérative d’alimentation est souvent disponible, tout comme une garderie. Une infirmière est également sur place, et les femmes enceintes bénéficient de conditions de travail particulières. Finalement, le salaire des travailleurs a été majoré.

Du coté environnemental, «Les fermes certifiées on cessé l’utilisation de certains pesticides, et limitent l’usage d’autres produits, explique Tom Leckman. Des fermes qui utilisaient 110 à 130 kg de produits agrochimiques (pesticides, fongicides, etc) par hectare, par année, n’en n’utilisent aujourd’hui que 7 à 10 kg. De plus, ajoute-t-il, toutes les fermes certifiées ont le mandat d’élaborer un plan de transition vers l’agriculture biologique. »

« L’idée, ajoute Tom Leckman, ce n’est pas uniquement d’avoir des fermes certifiées. Il faut aussi changer toute la chaîne de production, de la culture à la distribution. Chez Sierra, nous sommes donc tenus de recycler tout le carton des boîtes à fleurs, nous minimisons notre consommation de carburant et d’eau, et nous devrons, sous peu, composter les restes de fleurs que nous recevons. Nous sommes encore à la recherche d’un site de compostage, mais nous avons 12 mois pour nous plier à la réglementation, sans quoi, nous perdrons notre certification. »

Où trouver les fleurs Sierra Eco ?

18 fleuristes offrent une douzaine de variétés de fleurs Sierra Eco, dans la région de Montréal, de Québec, à Longueuil, Laval et en Estrie aussi.

Dans sa boutique À la boîte à fleurs, à Laval, la propriétaire Francine Locas-Joly, propose à ses clients plusieurs variétés de fleurs Sierra Eco. « Entre 30 à 40 % de mon inventaire est composé de fleurs équitables. J’ai des alstromerias, des œillets, des chrysanthèmes, du limonium et des roses bien sûr. »

Impossible de voir la différence entre une fleur certifiée équitable et une fleur conventionnelle. « Les fleurs équitables sont aussi belles sinon plus que les fleurs non-certifiées. Elles durent aussi longtemps et ne coûtent que quelques sous de plus. » Mais ce qui compte beaucoup, pour Francine Locas-Joly, c’est de savoir qu’en achetant une fleur certifiée, « on achète non seulement une fleur dont l’impact environnemental est moindre, mais également une fleur qui a permis à un employé de serres d’Amérique du Sud de travailler dans des conditions favorables. »

Les fleurs équitables sont parfois difficiles à repérer, puisqu’elles ne peuvent être identifiées individuellement par le logo Sierra Eco, mais il suffit de demander à votre fleuriste si vous pouvez vous en procurer.

• Au Québec, vous trouverez principalement des fleurs certifiées Vériflor. Il existe cependant d’autres certifications : FLP en Allemagne, MPS en Hollande, Florverde en Colombie, Max Havelaar en France et son pendant canadien Transfair.

• Il est possible de faire livrer des fleurs écologiques et équitables avec la compagnie Florist transworld delivery (FTD).

• La compagnie Roses Drummond, à Drummondville, vend des roses produites sur place et ayant nécessité un minimum de pesticides.

• Les roses vendues dans les épiceries Métro sont certifiées équitables.

Cela dit, même si les fleurs équitables représentent une amélioration par rapport à la culture traditionnelle, il n’en reste pas moins que ces fleurs voyagent sur de longues distances en avion, générant du même coup des gaz à effet de serre. Peut-on acheter des fleurs qui ont moins voyagé ?

Au Québec, la compagnie Roses Drummond produit des roses pratiquement sans pesticides, mais le Québec n' est pas un joueur important dans l’industrie des fleurs coupées. Par ailleurs, toutes les productions canadiennes ne pourront jamais rivaliser en terme de volume et de coût avec ce que produit l’Amérique latine, qui d’ailleurs tire de cette industrie des revenus très importants pour son économie.

L’argument de l’achat local est plus difficile à mettre en pratique dans le cas des fleurs coupées. Par contre, en saison, vous profitez-en pour cultiver vos propres fleurs coupées ou allez cueillir des fleurs des champs.

El Rincón Verde

2012-05-23T10:14:00.003-07:00

Nunca antes de este tiempo y después de la revolución industrial habia sido más fácil ser ambientalista. ¡No!, no me refiero a ser activista y pararse frente al barco pesquero que mata delfines, me refiero a ser un amante del ambiente.
El Rincón Verde es una revista electrónica que nos prepara, nos brinda ideas y comparte información sobre como cuidar el ambiente, qué el lo que sucede en el ambito ecológico y todo lo que podemos hacer para lograr mejorar nuestro entorno.

http://www.scoop.it/t/eco-pekes

How Plastic Bags Get Recycled

2012-05-11T06:24:00.001-07:00

Nowadays with the global economy eficient packaging is more needed. The current mass packaging and other short-lived applications of plastic is obviously not sustainable and simply not acceptable. Producers have their part to blame, but consumers are a major actor and can minimize or eliminate the use of short-lived applications of plastic for example reducing the consumption of water bottles and plastic bags.

The environmental impacts resulting from the accumulation of plastic waste are huge and increasing. Plastic debris affects wildlife, human health, and the environment.

There are some solutions proposed. The easiest one could be material reduction, but we also encourage designers to createpackaging with end-of-life recyclability. Here we will see how the efforts to increase recycling capacity has gone to a success.
Check this video from Earth999.tv:

Plastic pollution is a problem, but the solution starts with recycling.
Recycling plastic bags and similar products isn't just a matter of capability. People need convenient access to plastic bag recyclers.
These materials can be recycled!! So let's do it.

Agriculture by Jonathan Foley - The Other Inconvenient Truth

2012-05-08T06:16:00.001-07:00

A skyrocketing demand for food means that agriculture has become the largest driver of climate change, biodiversity loss and environmental destruction. At TEDxTC Jonathan Foley shows why we desperately need to begin "terraculture" -- farming for the whole planet.

Sostenibilidad y la vida diaria

2012-05-01T06:05:00.000-07:00

La sostenibilidad se refiere al equilibrio de una especie con los recursos de su entorno. Se entiende a la relación de los seres humanos con su ecosistema. Por lo tanto, el término se aplica a la explotación de un recurso que debe realizarse SIEMPRE por debajo del límite de renovación del mismo. Si el recurso no tiene tiempo de renovarse es cuando el entorno empieza a desequilibrarse.

Pero la sostenibilidad no debe ser una palabra lejos del alcance de los actores de la vida diaria. No le tengamos miedo al término y dejemos de pensar que sólo el gobierno y las grandes empresas tienen el derecho y la obligación de emplearlo.

Sostenibilidad no solo es la conservación de espacios naturales, ni trabajar por una producción mas limpia, ni utlizar energias renovables, o consumir de forma racional. Sostenibilidad es el conjunto de todas estas acciones. "Sostenibilidad es actuar en el presente y pensar en el futuro", como lo dice el autor de este video:
Mensaje:Sostenibilidad es actuar en el presente, pensando en el futuro.
Autor:Juan Carrascal Ynigo

Evolution of Consciousness - Shore Slocum -

2012-04-02T07:00:00.001-07:00

"Awareness always preceeds any meaningfl change", Slocum says. There is indeed lots of things going on in the world and as humain beings is our responsability to become the change we want and to help the world to become a better place.

Plant/herbs markers for fun.

2012-03-28T06:27:00.002-07:00

Not that I drink wine a lot, but I have a huge container with corks in it and I just loved this idea, specially coming out when spring is about to...spring.

This may be used to identify the herbs in the kitchen, but also the pots in the garden when you just planted the seeds, you don't want to get confused, do you? So you have to name each pot and each plant.

You will only have to take the cork and write with a sharpie or permanent marker the name of the herb or plant. Change the color of the marker if you want and even make beautidul designs on it if you are that artistic. Then stick it to a bbq wooden stick, they sell these in the supermarket or even in the dollar stores. And voilá, you got yourself your plant/herbs markers.

Photo from:http://www.recyclart.org/2011/11/cork-as-plant-labels/

It is a great way to recycle, to reuse and spend your time under the sun!

Food for thought

2012-03-24T08:54:00.000-07:00

It is dangerous to be right when the government is wrong. -Voltaire-

Food for thought

2012-03-17T08:53:00.000-07:00

Food for thought

2012-03-10T08:51:00.000-08:00

10 actions that the ordinary citizen can take against environmental abuse

2012-03-05T06:16:00.004-08:00

1. Join with others to act startegizally.
2. Tell others!
3.  Use the democratic process.
4.  Get the media involved.
5.  Join the events.
6.  Be an aware consumer.
7.  Challenge the claims of companies that they are behaving ethically-we need proof,   not PR-.
8.  Ensure any money you have saved is invested ethically.
9.  Buy Fair Trade.
10. Keep on doing these things.

Excerpt from:
Take it personally
A globalization action guide
by Anita Roddick, founder of The Body Shop.
Harper Collins Publishers, 1991.

The twelve commandments of Responsible Business

2012-03-03T13:49:00.002-08:00

1. Regulate trasnational corporations and financial markets to curb speculation; money laundring; trade in arms and illegal drugs; corporate tax evasion; the international sale of chemicals and drugs banned in a corporation's home country; and anti-competitive practices such as price-fixing cartels.

2. Establish rules and institutions to give access to beneficial environmental, health, and other technologies, especially lo low income people and countries.

3. Provide safeguards to prevent the international migration of invasive allien species; the pirating of indigienous knowledge; the patenting of life forms; the reckless introduction of genetically modified organisms into food supplies and the environment; and the use of child and slave labor to subsidize export production.

4. Establish ways individuals and communities harmed by the reckless actions of local subsidiaries of global corporations can sue to recover damages from the corporate parent.

5. Eliminate market-distorting export and international transport subsidies.

6. Establish a strong international anti-trust regime to coordinate national actions aimed al breaking up global concentrations of corporate power.

7. Strengthen local, national and international food security through reforms that increase local and national food self-reliance; strengthen local ownership and protection of agricultural lands; encourage the use of sustainable organic mathods; protect fanily farms; increase genetic diversity and prohibit the use of subsidized food exports by one country to undermine the food security of another.

8. Restore the democratic right of people to regulate financial and trade flows across their nation's borders, and to set the terms and standards by which others will be allowed to do business within their domestic economy.

9. Eliminate the debilitating international debts of low income countries and bring trade and international financial accounts into balance between countries.

10. Require global corporations to adhere to the highjest international, local or home country standards regarding human rights, labor, environment, health or safety.

11. Provide a framework for sharing renewable resources fairly and phasing out reliande on non-renewable resources.

12. Penalize countries that attack others by dumping products at prices substatially below the real costs of production; use bullying tacticas to force country to open its markets to products it considers harmdul or unnecessary; or disrupt a country's economy by uniterally imposing an economic embargo not sanctioned by the UN General Assembly.

Source:
Take it personally
A globalization action guide
by Anita Roddick, founder of The Body Shop.
Harper Collins Publishers, 1991.

Food for thought

2012-03-03T08:47:00.001-08:00

Technological progress has merely provided us with more efficient means for going backwards.
-Aldous Huxley-

La historia de cómo llegamos a este punto.

2012-03-01T06:24:00.000-08:00

¿Cómo llegamos a estos niveles de producción y consumismo? No quisiera culpar a nadie porque esencialmente ha sido una vuelta de rueda que no ha podido parar desde mediados del siglo XVIII. Me refiero al momento en que se inicia la Revolución Industrial; ese periodo cuando la economía que estaba basada en el trabajo manual fue reemplazada por una nueva dominada por la industria. La manufactura se empieza a apoyar en las máquinas y es esta mecanización la que ayuda a lograr una mayor producción, más eficiente, más rápida y por supuesto la expansión del comercio. Las rutas de transporte mejoraron y posteriormente nació el ferrocarril con su esperanza de avance, comercio y comunicación entre lugares lejanos.

Y asi hemos vivido los últimos años, los últimos siglos. Las generaciones anteriores buscando el éxito económico y comercial no tenían tiempo de planear para el futuro. Los gobiernos no podía regular la explotación de los recursos naturales. Las comisiones especiales, no tenían tiempo para examinar todos esos inventos que a este momento aún no sabemos si han hecho bien o mal a la salud, al medio ambiente y a nuestra forma de vida.

El siglo XX en particular ha tenido el desarrollo tecnológico mas impresionante y altibajos extremos en la economía. Los valores cambiaron y el consumismo llega a su máxima expresión, sobre todo en el Nuevo Continente, donde las guerras no habían impactado tan drásticamente, donde los espacios libres aún existían y los recursos no habian sido aún catalogados en peligro de extinción.

El consumismo es la acumulación de bienes y servicios considerados no esenciales. Por supuesto en la década de los ochentas, la compra de bienes, de moda, de comodidad, es avalada, apoyada e incluso promovida por el sistema político y económico. Al promover el consumismo, se asegura la posición competitiva de las empresas y el crecimiento de la riqueza como signo de status y prestigio dentro de un grupo social.

Siendo que el consumo a gran escala en la sociedad contemporánea compromete seriamente los recursos naturales, los investigadores y la comunidad empiezan a dar un giro diferente a la forma de vida y es entonces cuando el término sostenibilidad nace con el objetivo de lograr regresar al equilibrio ecológico.

Es ahora hasta el siglo XXI cuando el término se difunde, se promueve y una parte de la población comienza a preocuparse por tomar las acciones adecuadas para proteger su entorno.

Knowing the carbon foot print of the products we buy

2012-02-29T06:01:00.001-08:00

As a consumer you might be interested on this, but as an environmentalist you will be thrilled to know about this. If everything goes as the government has planned, Quebec consumers will, within a few years, know the "carbon footprint" of each and every product they buy.

The Quebec government has launched a pilot project that should lead to large scale implementation certification of the "carbon footprint" of products and services.
What does this really mean? Ultimately, the consumer sector will be able to know the amount of CO2 generated throughout the "life cycle" of each product her or she buys. The life cycle of a product goes from manufacturing, distribution to use and disposal. This information will be indicated on the packaging.

The initiative aims to encourage consumers to choose products with the lowest carbon footprint possible. It is logic to think that when someone wants to buy a product and he sees that his carbon footprint is smaller than another one, it gives an advantage to the business.

In the short term, Quebec companies will therefore not charge more for their products as environmentally friendly as they are.

The carbon certification is also applicable in the service sector. Companies will be able to use it to quantify the ecological advantage for clients or simply inform the waste recycling policies, etc.

One of the main challenges of the pilot will choose from the different methodologies that exist in the world in the calculation, verification, certification and reporting on emissions of greenhouse gases.

Nevertheless, the beneficial effects of this certification or the "environmental labeling" are not guaranteed. That is why at the end of the pilot project, Québec will pay for companies that want to certify their products to low-carbon financial assistance of up to 40 percent of eligible expenses of marketing, and up to $ 150 000. The government has earmarked $ 24 million in total for this purpose.

Choices in fair Trade Flowers

2012-02-20T06:10:00.000-08:00

Lots of choices are now available in Fair Trade Flowers:

Roses,

Aster,

Alstromelias,

Agapanthus,

Hypericum,

Lillies,

Molucella,

Calla,

Campanulla,

Ornothogalum,

Carnations,

Sunflowers, etc.