Sunday, November 27, 2011
Saturday, August 13, 2011
The story of SIP
Certified Sustainable Vineyards & Sustainable Wines
The SIP™ logo reflects care for people, farms, and the environment. Certified grape growers preserve and protect nature while treating their employees and communities with care.
Our award-winning program, developed over 15 years, continues to expand. It operates state-wide in California where we are considered industry innovators.
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
What Procter & Gamble Don't Want YOU To Know
Please visit Earthjustice and make your voice heard. You buy them, your family breathes them in, you don't even realize the impact these products are having on your life. Learn what you need to know to protect your family and hold this corporation accountable.
Remember, doing a little is more fulfilling than thinking that a little won't matter.
Here's a weirdly funny video
Remember, doing a little is more fulfilling than thinking that a little won't matter.
Saturday, May 8, 2010
The Clean Water Question
We are fortunate to live in a country where water is piped directly to our homes. The days of hauling water from an outside source are over for Americans. However, there is a price we pay for this convenient and somewhat safe system. Somewhat safe because we make a trade - our water is disinfected and much disease is prevented, but what we disinfect with has its own dangers.
Chlorine is universally used to chemically disinfect water. It kills germs, bacteria and other living organisms. Chlorine readily passes through the cell wall and attaches to the fatty acids of the cell, disrupting the life sustaining functions. Chlorine doesn't distinguish between a bacteria cell in the water or pipe and a human cell in your body. We know chlorine kills, that's why we use it; that it doesn't stop killing cells just because it enters our body is an important piece of information.
Chlorine is universally used to chemically disinfect water. It kills germs, bacteria and other living organisms. Chlorine readily passes through the cell wall and attaches to the fatty acids of the cell, disrupting the life sustaining functions. Chlorine doesn't distinguish between a bacteria cell in the water or pipe and a human cell in your body. We know chlorine kills, that's why we use it; that it doesn't stop killing cells just because it enters our body is an important piece of information.
Chlorine also transforms into some very dangerous carcinogenic substances, like, trihalomethanes. These form when the chlorine interacts with organic material in the water that is being disinfected. Nearly all municipal water sources have been tested and shown to have trihalomethanes. The removal of these is recommended before drinking, washing or bathing in water.
One half of our daily chlorine (and trihalomethane) exposure is from showering. Chlorine is not only absorbed through the skin, but also re-vaporized in the shower, inhaled into the lungs, and transferred directly into the blood system. In fact, the chlorine exposure from one shower is equal to an entire day's amount of drinking the same water, according to some estimates. Add to this the fact that vaporized chlorine forms toxic compounds, such as chloroform that remains in the air in your home long after the shower is over.
"Almost two decades have passed since known or suspected human carcinogens were first found in municipal water supplies. One of them, chloroform, produced by the chlorination process, exposes millions of Americans. The potential for a major public health problem is unquestionably there, and yet, progress has been slow." -Dr. Peter Isacson, M.D., Professor of Epidemiology, Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Iowa College of Medicine.
Families with young children, people with compromised immune function and the elderly are particularly at risk when exposed to toxic chemicals. There are many point-of-source filtration devices which reliably remove harmful substances from household tap water. The EPA has a pamphlet available online and further information can be found at the National Resource Defense Council's website.
Then, eat, drink and bathe merrily, knowing you've given your family one of the most fundamental sources of life - clean, living, healthy water.
One half of our daily chlorine (and trihalomethane) exposure is from showering. Chlorine is not only absorbed through the skin, but also re-vaporized in the shower, inhaled into the lungs, and transferred directly into the blood system. In fact, the chlorine exposure from one shower is equal to an entire day's amount of drinking the same water, according to some estimates. Add to this the fact that vaporized chlorine forms toxic compounds, such as chloroform that remains in the air in your home long after the shower is over.
"Almost two decades have passed since known or suspected human carcinogens were first found in municipal water supplies. One of them, chloroform, produced by the chlorination process, exposes millions of Americans. The potential for a major public health problem is unquestionably there, and yet, progress has been slow." -Dr. Peter Isacson, M.D., Professor of Epidemiology, Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Iowa College of Medicine.
Families with young children, people with compromised immune function and the elderly are particularly at risk when exposed to toxic chemicals. There are many point-of-source filtration devices which reliably remove harmful substances from household tap water. The EPA has a pamphlet available online and further information can be found at the National Resource Defense Council's website.
The ability to control your family's water quality is priceless, but the cost of the tools to do the job doesn't have to be astronomical.
Research a variety of providers and technologies. Make sure the system doesn't waste water while cleaning it. Make sure the filtration system doesn't strip the water of all minerals and energy. Choose a system that provides water of the proper pH for the body. Confirm the manufacturer's claims with the Water Quality Association and the National Sanitation Foundation. It's possible to achieve excellent, healthy, quality water for less than 20 cents per gallon.
Then, eat, drink and bathe merrily, knowing you've given your family one of the most fundamental sources of life - clean, living, healthy water.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Toxins, Flame Retardants Latest Study Released
There's important, new information on the effects of common flame retardant chemicals and fertility.
Here's an excerpt: "for every ten-fold increase in blood levels of four PBDE chemicals tested, there was a 30 percent decrease in the odds a woman would conceive a child during a month." You can read the full article at NaturalNews.com
You can also visit the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences for the abstract of the study. "Conclusions: We found significant decreases in fecundability associated with PBDE exposure in women. Future studies are needed to replicate and confirm this finding."
There is an action you can take to lower your risks. Learn about a Wellness Home - clean, energized air, clean, balanced water, restorative, safe sleep, whole-food, organic nutrition - give your body the tools it needs to combat the environmental stresses of your world. Visit this site to learn more.
Remember, doing a little is more fulfilling than thinking that a little won't matter.
Monday, December 28, 2009
Monday, November 23, 2009
Going Green with Clean Saves Green
WHY DON'T I WANT COMMERCIAL CLEANING PRODUCTS?
From Medscape.com
These chemical compounds vaporize at room temperature into gases from multiple liquid or solid sources. The individual chemical compounds may differ in level present in any one location; however, the combination of multiple VOC's is of serious concern. These gases emanate from a vast number of items in the home and school and are suspected of causing "sick building syndrome." A few of the common sources are pesticides, solvents, cleaning materials, air fresheners, bleach, household cleaners, spray product propellants such as furniture wax or hair spray, and nail polish and remover. These products contain an array of chemicals such as benzene, chloroform, vinylidene chloride, and formaldehyde, many of which are known carcinogens. VOC's will likely be higher in new construction and indoor air. (bold italics are mine)
In a word: VOC's; in 3 words: Volatile Organic Compounds
From Medscape.com
These chemical compounds vaporize at room temperature into gases from multiple liquid or solid sources. The individual chemical compounds may differ in level present in any one location; however, the combination of multiple VOC's is of serious concern. These gases emanate from a vast number of items in the home and school and are suspected of causing "sick building syndrome." A few of the common sources are pesticides, solvents, cleaning materials, air fresheners, bleach, household cleaners, spray product propellants such as furniture wax or hair spray, and nail polish and remover. These products contain an array of chemicals such as benzene, chloroform, vinylidene chloride, and formaldehyde, many of which are known carcinogens. VOC's will likely be higher in new construction and indoor air. (bold italics are mine)
For most of us removing the actual building materials that release harmful gases is unrealistic, but there are two actions we can take today to effectively reduce the amount of poison we and our children are exposed to.
One: DO NOT USE toxic cleaning products.
Two: Install an excellent multi-stage air filter that ionizes without producing any ozone. For information on one, visit my site: www.nikken.com/harbour, you can also view two videos here.
How to make a non-toxic cleaning kit - Follow the link to find 8 easy and economical recipes for creating a green housecleaning kit. At the end of the article you'll find an easy to read pdf and shopping list. These recipes will cost significantly less in dollars and in health.
Remember, doing a little is more fulfilling than thinking that a little won't matter.
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