Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Words of Wisdom

"It is a curious situation that the sea, from which life first arose should now be threatened by the activities of one form of that life. But the sea, though changed in a sinister way, will continue to exist; the threat is rather to life itself." – Rachel Carson

There are a number of ways our oceans are currently threatened - by pollution, climate change and human plundering.  For two of these three outcomes we cannot argue our culpability.  Some still argue our influence on climate change.  Regardless of that argument, we can agree that sentient, evolved beings are ones who see the consequences of their actions and make choices accordingly.

I read a book a number of years ago, Ishmael.  The author, Daniel Quinn, has come up with a unique viewpoint about how and why the human community, as we know it, has rationalized the taking of nature for our species' benefit.  It's a viewpoint that is worth taking a look at because it raises questions that each one of us would benefit from answering.  It's viewpoints like this that inform our character and subsequently shape the way we live our lives.

"The world today will either be stepping forward into an era where conservation and the environment really matter, or it will be stepping back into the Dark Ages, where the people of the world think that the slaughter of whales using grenades, electric lances and shooting them with rifles is something that we should accept."
Ian Campbell, Australian Environment Minister - 57th IWC AGM, Monday, June 20, 2005
from http://www.whales.org.au/

Take an action this week - read a book, question the status quo, send a letter, fund a group that works to heal our environmental sores.

Always remember, doing a little is more fulfilling than thinking that a little won't matter.

Monday, November 17, 2008

Healthy Home Candles

If you love the ambiance of candles and you are interested in a healthy home environment you will want to check these out:  SparxCandles.com.

I met the founder, Ally, and learned that she developed pretty serious asthma from her exposure to unhealthy candles.  This personal experience led her to develop a product that is healthy, beautiful and environmentally friendly.

Burning unhealthy candles puts poisons into your home or office air - things like lead, petroleum, zinc.  It may seem like a small thing, but if you are concerned about a green world, even the small things matter and each time everyone makes a small difference, it adds up.  These seem like excellent holiday gifts - pretty, aromatic, useful and clean for your home.

Always remember, doing a little is more fulfilling than thinking that a little won't make a difference.