Archive for the ‘Green living’ Category
In many U.S. cities, the drinking water is perfectly safe, and across the country, municipal supplies are tested daily for some contaminants, weekly and monthly for others. But after hearing reports of pesticides, pharmaceuticals and other industrial contaminants in water supplies, people often turn to water filters for added peace of mind.
The best way to ensure clean and safe drinking water is to protect our watersheds, which act as natural filters absorbing chemicals, pollutants and sediments. In the meantime, a temporary solution is to filter the water in your home.
Always select filters certified by the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF), which tests products to ensure that they remove what the manufacturers say they do. NSF has an extensive searchable database on their website, www.nsf.org/Certified/dwtu/.
No filter will remove every contaminant of concern, but here are the most common types and the major contaminants they can handle.
Carbon-filter models include carafes (pitchers), faucet-mounted models, undersink models (usually require a permanent connection to an existing pipe) and whole-house or point-of-entry systems (usually installed in the basement or outside). Carbon, a porous material, absorbs impurities as the water passes through.
What they remove: lead, PCBs, chlorine byproducts (chloramines and trihalomethanes), certain parasites, radon, pesticides and herbicides, the gasoline additive MTBE, the dry-cleaning solvent trichloroethylene, some volatile organic compounds, some levels of bacteria (such as Cryptosporidium and Giardia) and a small number of pharmaceuticals.
Reverse-osmosis systems push water through a semi-permeable membrane, which acts as an extremely fine filter, and they’re often used in conjunction with carbon filters. However, they waste four to nine gallons of water for every gallon filtered.
What they remove: perchlorate, sulfates, fluoride, industrial chemicals, heavy metals (including lead), chlorine byproducts, chlorides (which make water taste salty) and pharmaceuticals.
Ultraviolet light disinfects water, killing bacteria. Countertop units can be found for under $100, but most whole-house units cost $700 and up for NSF-certified models.
What they remove: bacteria; use with carbon filter to remove other contaminants.
Distillers, probably the least practical home method, boil and condense water. While countertop units are available, distillers use lots of electricity, generate excess heat and require regular cleaning. Explore filters or other alternatives to remove your contaminant, or, in a pinch, buy distilled water.
What they remove: heavy metals (including lead), particles, total dissolved solids, microbes, fluoride, lead and mercury.
Shopping Tips
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Your water may not need to be filtered at all. Read your water utility’s annual consumer confidence or “right to know” report, which you can get from your utility or online at www.epa.gov/safewater/dwinfo.htm, to find out if your water has contaminants. These can be difficult to interpret, so download a guide to reading them at www.safe-drinking-water.org/rtk.html
Usage Tips
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Change the filter cartridge as recommended by the manufacturer. Improper maintenance allows bacteria and other contaminants to build up.
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Lead can enter your water through old pipes. Pregnant women and parents of young children should have their water tested for lead. Tests run from free to $15. For a list of state-certified lead-testing labs, see www.epa.gov/safewater/faq/sco.html or contact your county health department.
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If your water comes from a private well, the EPA recommends that you have it tested annually by a state-certified lab for nitrate and coliform bacteria, more often if you live near farms or factories. For more information, see www.wellcarehotline.org or call your local health department.
Source: The Green Guide
Koch Industries has “become a financial kingpin of climate science denial and clean energy opposition,” spending over $48.5 million since 1997 to fund the climate denial machine, according to an extensive report today by Greenpeace.
The Greenpeace report reveals how Koch Industries and the foundations under its control spent far more than even ExxonMobil in recent years to fund industry front groups opposed to clean energy and climate policies. Koch spent over half the total amount -nearly $25 million – funding climate denier groups from 2005 to 2008, a period in which Exxon only spent $8.9 million.
Greenpeace’s attempt to lift the veil of secrecy inherent to a private company like Koch Industries is no easy task. Because it remains privately owned, Koch faces few of the disclosure requirements designed to increase transparency among publicly-traded companies.
That intentional secrecy allows Koch Industries, the second-largest privately-held company in the United States, to fly largely below the public’s radar. Few Americans have likely heard of Koch, even though it operates crude oil refineries and pipelines across North America and owns such well-known consumer brands as Dixie cups, Brawny and Quilted Northern paper products, Stainmaster carpet, CoolMax and Lycra.
The company’s founder, Fred Koch, who once earned $5 million building oil refineries in the Soviet Union during Joseph Stalin’s reign, was a co-founder of the libertarian John Birch Society. Charles G. and David H. Koch, two of Fred’s four sons, each now own 42% of the company’s stock. According to 2009 Forbes rankings, the Koch brothers are tied for the 19th-richest person in the world, and for ninth-richest American, each worth between $14 and $16 billion, more than George Soros or the founders of Google.
The Koch brothers use three foundations to spread Koch Industries’ influence, including support for roughly 40 organizations that doubt or downplay climate change or otherwise oppose policy solutions to build a clean energy future. Greenpeace also notes that Koch Industries has been the largest oil and gas industry contributor to electoral campaigns since the 2006 election cycle, and its done its fair share of lobbying as well. During the 2008 elections, Koch Industries contributed over $1.8 million, 88% to Republican candidates. Koch’s political action committee (PAC) also spent more than $2.5 million on contributions to federal candidates for that period, more than any other oil-and-gas sector PAC.
Koch Industries has bankrolled Americans for Prosperity to the tune of over $5 million since 2005. AFP – known primarily for its role in organizing the tea party movement in the U.S. – brought notorious climate denier Lord Christopher Monckton to the Copenhagen climate summit as its guest speaker. Despite Lord Monckton’s reprehensible behavior in Copenhagen – where he repeatedly compared college students advocating for a clean energy future to “Hitler Youth” and “Nazis” – Americans for Prosperity continues to host Monckton at its events in the United States, including a recent appearance in Wisconsin.
While in Wisconsin on AFP’s dime, Monckton booked a side gig at a GOP fundraiser where he described President Barack Obama as a “monster.” I wonder if David Koch – the second richest man in New York behind Michael Bloomberg – is even aware that Koch’s funding of AFP is in part providing support for Monckton to run around the world labeling American college students “Hitler Youth” and calling the President of the United States a “monster”?
Koch was also one of the funders of the 2007 polar bear junk science “study” authored by prominent climate deniers (including Sallie Baliunas, David Legates and Tim Ball) that claimed to prove that polar bear populations were not affected by anthropogenic climate disruption in the Arctic. Dr. Willie Soon, one of the non-peer-reviewed paper’s authors, disclosed in the acknowledgements section that he had received direct corporate funding for the work, stating “W. Soon’s effort for the completion of this paper was partially supported by grants from the Charles G. Koch Charitable Foundation, American Petroleum Institute, and Exxon-Mobil Corporation.”
Although the paper was thoroughly debunked by actual experts on Arctic sea ice and polar bears, many of the front groups funded by Koch and Exxon rebroadcast the study widely, creating public confusion. The matter came to a head when Sarah Palin and her officers in the Alaskan government referenced the Soon/Baliunas polar bear paper before it was even published in Alaska’s formal protest of efforts to protect the polar bear under the Endangered Species Act. Both Soon and Baliunas have served as spokespeople, advisors and/or board members of multiple Koch-funded climate denial groups over the past decade.
The Greenpeace report notes Koch’s role in funding the Institute for Energy Research, which was behind the Danish study that attacked the viability of wind power. Greenpeace also points out the role that Koch’s web of climate denier groups played in supporting, disseminating and promoting the Spanish study attacking green jobs, including AFP, IER and the Heritage Foundation.
Greenpeace has helped to shed some much-needed light on Koch Industries with this report, providing several case studies, a detailed look at lobbying and campaign expenditures, and other little known facts about the Koch Brothers’ web of front groups.
If you thought you knew everything about anti-science front groups from hearing about ExxonMobil’s efforts over the years, think again. This expose of Koch Industries serves up a heaping pile of unsavory evidence that the climate denial industry is alive and well-funded, even with the scaling back of ExxonMobil’s support.
More attention needs to be paid to Koch Industries, and this report will hopefully encourage deeper investigation into the Koch web’s confusion campaign.
Source: Huffington Post by Brendan DeMelle
Earth Hour started in 2007 in Sydney, Australia when 2.2 million homes and businesses turned their lights off for one hour to make their stand against climate change. Only a year later and Earth Hour had become a global sustainability movement with more than 50 million people across 35 countries participating. Global landmarks such as the, Sydney Harbour Bridge, The CN Tower in Toronto, The Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, and Rome’s Colosseum, all stood in darkness, as symbols of hope for a cause that grows more urgent by the hour.
In March 2009, hundreds of millions of people took part in the third Earth Hour. Over 4000 cities in 88 countries officially switched off to pledge their support for the planet, making Earth Hour 2009 the world’s largest global climate change initiative.
Earth Hour 2010 takes place on Saturday 27 March at 8.30pm (local time) and is a global call to action to every individual, every business and every community throughout the world. It is a call to stand up, to take responsibility, to get involved and lead the way towards a sustainable future. Iconic buildings and landmarks from Europe to Asia to the Americas will stand in darkness. People across the world from all walks of life will turn off their lights and join together in celebration and contemplation of the one thing we all have in common – our planet. So sign up now and let’s make 2010 the biggest Earth Hour yet!.
It’s Showtime! Show the world what can be done.
Earth Hour by WWF
Earth Hour is organized by WWF. With almost 5 million supporters and a global network in over 100 countries, it’s one of the world’s largest and most respected independent conservation organizations. WWF’s mission is to stop the degradation of the Earth’s natural environment and build a future where people live in harmony with nature.
Earth Hour timeline
Turn back the clock on Earth Hour and discover why, how, where and when it all started.
Why get involved?
Put simply, because our future depends on it!
Earth Hour has done a lot to raise awareness of climate change issues. But there’s more to it than switching off lights for one hour once a year. It’s all about giving people a voice on the future of our planet and working together to create a sustainable low carbon future for our planet.
The future can be bright
New economic modelling indicates the world has just five years to initiate a low carbon industrial revolution before runaway climate change becomes almost inevitable. But it can be done, and the long term benefits will be enormous.
So now’s the time to take a stand and give world leaders the mandate they need to make the right climate deal.
Source: www.earthhour.org
Myth: The science of global warming is too uncertain to act on.
Fact: There is no debate among scientists about the basic facts of global warming.
The most respected scientific bodies have stated unequivocally that global warming is occurring, and people are causing it by burning fossil fuels (like coal, oil and natural gas) and cutting down forests.
The U.S. National Academy of Sciences, which in 2005 the White House called “the gold standard of objective scientific assessment,” issued a joint statement with 10 other National Academies of Science saying:
“the scientific understanding of climate change is now sufficiently clear to justify nations taking prompt action. It is vital that all nations identify cost-effective steps that they can take now, to contribute to substantial and long-term reduction in net global greenhouse gas emissions.” (Joint Statement of Science Academies, 2005)
The only debate in the science community about global warming is about how much and how fast warming will continue as a result of heat-trapping emissions. Scientists have given a clear warning about global warming, and we have more than enough facts — about causes and fixes — to implement solutions right now.
Myth: Even if global warming is a problem, addressing it will hurt American industry and workers.
Fact: A well designed trading program will harness American ingenuity to decrease heat-trapping pollution cost-effectively, jumpstarting a new carbon economy.
Claims that fighting global warming will cripple the economy and cost hundreds of thousands of jobs are unfounded. In fact, companies that are already reducing their heat-trapping emissions have discovered that cutting pollution can save money.
The cost of a comprehensive national greenhouse gas reduction program will depend on the precise emissions targets, the timing for the reductions and the means of implementation. An independent MIT study found that a modest cap-and-trade system would cost less than $20 per household annually and have no negative impact on employment.
Experience has shown that properly designed emissions trading programs can reduce compliance costs significantly compared with other regulatory approaches. For example, the U.S. acid rain program reduced sulfur dioxide emissions by more than 30 percent from 1990 levels and cost industry a fraction of what the government originally estimated, according to EPA. Furthermore, a mandatory cap on emissions could spur technological innovation that could create jobs and wealth.
Letting global warming continue until we are forced to address it on an emergency basis could disrupt and severely damage our economy. It is far wiser and more cost-effective to act now.
Myth: Water vapor is the most important, abundant greenhouse gas. So if we’re going to control a greenhouse gas, why don’t we control it instead of carbon dioxide (CO2)?
Fact: Although water vapor traps more heat than CO2, because of the relationships among CO2, water vapor and climate, to fight global warming nations must focus on controlling CO2.
Atmospheric levels of CO2 are determined by how much coal, natural gas and oil we burn and how many trees we cut down, as well as by natural processes like plant growth.
Atmospheric levels of water vapor, on the other hand, cannot be directly controlled by people; rather, they are determined by temperatures. The warmer the atmosphere, the more water vapor it can hold. As a result, water vapor is part of an amplifying effect.
Greenhouse gases like CO2 warm the air, which in turn adds to the stock of water vapor, which in turn traps more heat and accelerates warming. Scientists know this because of satellite measurements documenting a rise in water vapor concentrations as the globe has warmed.
The best way to lower temperature and thus reduce water vapor levels is to reduce CO2 emissions.
Myth: Global warming and extra CO2 will actually be beneficial — they reduce cold-related deaths and stimulate crop growth.
Fact: Any beneficial effects will be far outweighed by damage and disruption.
Even a warming in just the middle range of scientific projections would have devastating impacts on many sectors of the economy. Rising seas would inundate coastal communities, contaminate water supplies with salt and increase the risk of flooding by storm surge, affecting tens of millions of people globally.
Moreover, extreme weather events, including heat waves, droughts and floods, are predicted to increase in frequency and intensity, causing loss of lives and property and throwing agriculture into turmoil.
Even though higher levels of CO2 can act as a plant fertilizer under some conditions, scientists now think that the “CO2 fertilization” effect on crops has been overstated; in natural ecosystems, the fertilization effect can diminish after a few years as plants acclimate. Furthermore, increased CO2 may benefit undesirable, weedy species more than desirable species.
Higher levels of CO2 have already caused ocean acidification, and scientists are warning of potentially devastating effects on marine life and fisheries. Moreover, higher levels of regional ozone (smog), a result of warmer temperatures, could worsen respiratory illnesses. Less developed countries and natural ecosystems may not have the capacity to adapt.
The notion that there will be regional “winners” and “losers” in global warming is based on a world-view from the 1950’s. We live in a global community. Never mind the moral implications — when an environmental catastrophe creates millions of refugees half-way around the world, Americans are affected.
Myth: Global warming is just part of a natural cycle. The Arctic has warmed up in the past.
Fact: The global warming we are experiencing is not natural. People are causing it.
People are causing global warming by burning fossil fuels (like oil, coal and natural gas) and cutting down forests. Scientists have shown that these activities are pumping far more CO2 into the atmosphere than was ever released in hundreds of thousands of years. This buildup of CO2 is the biggest cause of global warming.
Since 1895, scientists have known that CO2 and other greenhouse gases trap heat and warm the earth. As the warming has intensified over the past three decades, scientific scrutiny has increased along with it. Scientists have considered and ruled out other, natural explanations such as sunlight, volcanic eruptions and cosmic rays. (IPCC 2001)
Though natural amounts of CO2 have varied from 180 to 300 parts per million (ppm), today’s CO2 levels are around 380 ppm. That’s 25% more than the highest natural levels over the past 650,000 years. Increased CO2 levels have contributed to periods of higher average temperatures throughout that long record. (Boden, Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis Center)
As for previous Arctic warming, it is true that there were stretches of warm periods over the Arctic earlier in the 20th century. The limited records available for that time period indicate that the warmth did not affect as many areas or persist from year to year as much as the current warmth. But that episode, however warm it was, is not relevant to the issue at hand. Why? For one, a brief regional trend does not discount a longer global phenomenon.
We know that the planet has been warming over the past several decades and Arctic ice has been melting persistently. And unlike the earlier periods of Arctic warmth, there is no expectation that the current upward trend in Arctic temperatures will reverse; the rising concentrations of greenhouse gases will prevent that from happening.
In North America this time of year, when not much else is in season, winter squash is an easy vegetable to come by and prepare in an variety of different ways. You can steam, roast and bake them. You can enjoy winter squash in soups, salads, entrees or just all by itself, freshly baked right out of the oven — like this recipe.
Equipment
Rimmed cookie-sheet, unbleached parchment paper.
Ingredients
2 medium size butternut squashes.
Instructions
1. Pre-heat oven to 350 F, line cookie-sheet with parchment paper.
2. Wash and dry squashes, and trim off top stem along with a little skin.
2. Cut in half lengthwise and scoop out seeds and membranes with spoon.
3. Arrange halves on cookie-sheet cut-side down.
4. The time it takes to bake varies from 20 to 60 minutes depending on size, but begin checking after 20 minutes for smaller squashes, 30 for medium and 40 for large. Brown spots on the skin indicate it’s fully baked.
Notes
Bake squash until it has some brown spots on the skin when intended to eat right out of the oven or as puree for another dish, such as pumpkin pie.
Bake 10 to 15 minutes less when intended to be used in salads, so it can be peeled and diced into cubes. Poke skin with fork for doneness. The fork should poke trough somewhat easily.
Source: Vegetarian Organic Life
Transition To Green Bi Monthly Community Event – Burbank / Toluca Lake
| Date: | Sat March 27 2010 to Sat March 27 2010 Saturday, 2 pm – 4 pm |
| Where: | Mo’s Restaurant 4301 W Riverside Dr Burbank California, 91505 [ Map it!] |
| Event Type: | Other(see description) |
| Web Site: | www.transitiontogreen.org |
Mark your calendars! The theme for for TToG’s next bimonthly meeting on March 27th is Spring Cleaning and Organizing.
We will learn about the difference between toxic and non-toxic cleaners and the effects on your health and home. Plus we will have a professional organizer from Under The Clutter come in and speak about cleaning, de-cluttering and organizing your home. We will also have someone from Got Junk? to help figure out what to with all the stuff you cleaned, organized and de-cluttered!
Let’s get together to learn, meet one another, play some games & win some prizes. TToG will pay for your refillable type beverages only. You may order & buy food if you are hungry. If you are a vegan or a vegetarian Mo’s has a great salad selection. The management is interested in learning more about making a transition to green, so let’s help them out. Remember your first meeting is free.
Transition To Green is a non-profit organization and all dues collected help cover expenses of the meetings.
We look forward to seeing you there!
For more information, see website linked above, or www.meetup.com/Transition-To-Green-Community-Clubs/calendar/ 12659088/
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The “Transition To Green” Community Club’s mission is to educate and help people to become more aware of all the green alternatives that exist in the marketplace today. To effect real change, we need to effect the supply and demand in favor of eco-friendly products. Our dollar votes going towards those choices will create a demand for manufacturers to switch out their practices and come on board faster. Individual transitions to green can happen over a period of weeks, while businesses and corporations tend to lag behind for years. So the sooner we make the changes in our lives, the sooner the rest of our economy will follow.
Source: Ecopalooza
Food Fight – The LA Premiere
| Date: | Wed March 24 2010 to Wed March 24 2010 Wednesday, 7:30 pm |
| Where: | Crest Theater 1262 Westwood Blvd Westwood (LA) California, 90024 [ Map it!] |
| Event Type: | Film/Video Showings |
| Web Site: | www.foodfightthedoc.com/ |
| The multiple-award-winning food documentary, FOOD FIGHT, will be screening at the Crest Theater on March 24th. There will be a Q&A panel afterwards with James Beard Award-Winning chef Suzanne Goin (of Tavern, Lucques, AOC, and Hungry Cat), Evan Kleiman (host of KCRW’s “Good Food”), Russ Parsons (author and Food Editor of the LA Times), director Chris Taylor, and organic farmer Thetis Sammons.
FOOD FIGHT tells the story of how American agricultural policy and food culture developed in the 20th century, and how the California food movement rebelled against big agribusiness to launch the local organic food movement. The film stars Alice Waters, Michael Pollan, Marion Nestle, Wolfgang Puck, Suzanne Goin, MacArthur Genius Grant Winner Will Allen, and 20 other interviews. Uniquely among food films currently in release, FOOD FIGHT is a positive celebration of the relationship of farmers, chefs, consumers, and activists in the economics of how our food is grown. VARIETY called the film “well-intentioned and informative…with an abundance of personality.” LA WEEKLY said “Chris Taylor’s cheeky documentary serves up the history and politics of how America eats in a breezy, amusing way.” Tickets for the screening can be bought ahead of time at the event website: www.indiedocs.net or at the theatre box office on Wednesday. FOOD FIGHT is screening as part of the “Something to Talk About” documentary film screening series, a unique independent series of films that are meant to provoke conversation about positive change in society. The films will screen monthly at the Crest Theater in Westwood. The next film in the series will be “Revolution Green” in April. Crest Theater: 310-474-7824 |
Go Green with RainXchange March 24th 6:30pm FREE
One of the most exciting components of the Green movement is the new found interest in conserving and managing our precious water resources. Although we are called the Blue planet did you know only 1% of our resources are fresh available water? Over the next 10 years it is predicted that our longstanding tradition of taking our precious water resource for granted will lead us into commodity volatility similar to the oil industry. In our region, water shortage is not always a concern, however the new urbanization that brings excessive rainwater runoff and pollution potentials are.
Learn how you as a responsiblehomeowner/business owner can collect, store, and reuse rainwater in a remarkably user/eco-friendly way! The RainXchange system goes way beyond the capacities and limitations of the rainwater barrel. In the Midwest and California these systems have been a major part of “Greening the Community”. Be the first in Saratoga County to learn firsthand about this exciting new rainwater harvesting system.
Chips Landscaping is the husband wife team of Chip and SueAnn DuBois serving the Saratoga Region for 16 years. Chips specializes in the design and construction of indoor and outdoor water features. They are Saratoga County’s ONLY nationally Certified Aquascape Contractor (CAC). They provide sustainable landscape solutions through design, products, and practices. Sue Ann is also a Saratoga County Master Gardener and Chip is certified with the International Certified Pavers Institute (ICPI).
Grow Your Own Organic Vegetable Garden April 14th 6:30 FREE
How great would it be to eat delicious vegetables grown right in your own backyard? I know many people don’t have the time or know how to accomplish this vision, that’s why we are having Beth and Michael of Urbavores come and talk to you about how they can help. Whether it is just a consultation and plan or full blown installation and maintenance they can help make your vision a reality! RSVP appreciated!
Rain Barrel Workshop April 17th 9:00 am Cost $55
Come build a rain barrel using a recycled 55 gallon food grade barrel. Plants love the ambient temperature and non chlorinated water that comes from rain harvested from your roof. Additional benefits include saving on your water bill and reducing the amount of runoff entering storm drains. Attendance is limited to 9 people so don’t wait to sign up as its first come first serve! Call 306-5196 or e-mail Karen@green-conscience.com
What to Look For:
Plastics are classified by their “resin identification code”—a number from #1 to #7 that represents a different type of resin. That number is usually imprinted on the bottom of your container; flip it upside down, and you’ll see a recycling triangle with the number in the middle.
Here’s a quick breakdown of plastic resin types:
#1 polyethylene terephthalate (PET or PETE)
Examples: Disposable soft drink and water bottles
#2 high density polyethylene (HDPE)/
Examples: Milk jugs, liquid detergent bottles, shampoo bottles
#3 polyvinyl chloride (V or PVC)
Examples: Meat wrap, cooking oil bottles, plumbing pipes
#4 low density polyethylene (LDPE)
Examples: Cling wrap, grocery bags, sandwich bags
#5 polypropylene (PP)
Examples: Cloudy plastic water bottles, yogurt cups/tubs
#6 polystyrene (PS)
Examples: Disposable coffee cups, clam-shell take-out containers
#7 other (plastics invented after 1987; includes polycarbonate, or PC, and polylactide, or PLA, plastics made from renewable resources as well as newer plastics labeled “BPA-Free”)
Examples: Baby bottles, some reusable water bottles, stain-resistant food-storage containers
What To Buy:
#2 HDPE, #4 LDPE and #5 PP: These three types of plastic are your best choices. They transmit no known chemicals into your food and they’re generally recyclable; #2 is very commonly accepted by municipal recycling programs, but you may have a more difficult time finding someone to recycle your #4 and #5 containers.
#1 PET: Fine for single use and widely accepted by municipal recyclers; avoid reusing #1 water and soda bottles, as they’re hard to clean, and because plastic is porous, these bottles absorb flavors and bacteria that you can’t get rid of.
PLA: plastics made from renewable resources such as corn, potatoes and sugar cane and anything else with a high starch content; although you can’t recycle these plant-based plastics, you can compost them in a municipal composter or in your backyard compost heap.
Plastics to Avoid:
#3 PVC: Used frequently in cling wraps for meat, PVC contains softeners called phthalates that interfere with hormonal development, and its manufacture and incineration release dioxin, a potent carcinogen and hormone disruptor.
#6 PS: Polystyrene-foam cups and clear plastic take-out containers can leach styrene, a possible human carcinogen, into food.
#7 PC: The only plastic made with bisphenol A, polycarbonate is used in baby bottles, 5-gallon water-cooler bottles and the epoxy linings of tin food cans. Bisphenol A has been linked to a wide variety of problems such as heart disease and obesity.
Shopping Tips
Plastics are classified by their “resin identification code”—a number from #1 to #7 that represents a different type of resin. That number is usually imprinted on the bottom of your container; flip it upside down, and you’ll see a recycling triangle with the number in the middle.
When purchasing cling-wrapped food from the supermarket or deli, slice off a thin layer where the food came into contact with the plastic and store the rest in a glass or ceramic container or wrap it in non-PVC cling wrap.
Usage Tips
Avoid storing fatty foods, such as meat and cheese, in plastic containers or plastic wrap.
Hand-wash reusable containers gently with a nonabrasive soap; dishwashers and harsh detergents can scratch plastic, making hospitable homes for bacteria.
A “microwave-safe” or “microwavable” label on a plastic container only means that it shouldn’t melt, crack or fall apart when used in the microwave. The label is no guarantee that containers don’t leach chemicals into foods when heated. Use glass or ceramic containers instead.
Source: The Green Guide
Last night I had dinner at my favorite and perhaps one of the most well known vegan restaurants in New York City, Angelica’s Kitchen. When I dine there and I am by myself I like to sit at the “community table” where I have met some very curious and delightful individuals. Angelica’s has daily specials that are usually so enticing that I rarely order from their regular menu. As was the case last night- I had the Saag Paneer, healthy & delicious. Supporting a business like Angelica’s is a pleasure because they have a great product and a philosophy of kindness and sustainability. Angelica’s Kitchen is truly an example of a green restaurant on a mission to help our planet and promote mindful eating and organic foods.
Not only is Angelica’s devoted to serving clean fresh and local foods, but they maintain direct relationships with the farmers and customers who support their business. Angelica’s Kitchen believes in fair trade and makes sure that it’s ingredients are purchased from vendors who use renewable sources of energy. They are active participants in the food donation program City Harvest, which collects food from restaurants throughout the NYC area and redistributes it to the homeless.
Visit them at http://www.angelicakitchen.com/
